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Volume: 123 No. 233, Thursday, October 29, 2026
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Royal Rush By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net KING Charles III swapped royal reserve for a cowbell yesterday, dancing down Bay Street in a Junkanoo rush-out as the crowd cheered him on. “That’s it,” one participant shouted as the 77-year-old monarch moved to the Bahamian classic Naughty Johnny, swinging a cowbell in the national colours. Culture Minister Leslia Miller-Brice and Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister Jomo Campbell, a well-known Junkanooer, guided him through the rush at the cultural festival in Parliament and Rawson Square. The King first watched from the sidelines, where he was greeted by Junkanoo icon Percy “Vola” Francis, who was taking part in the rush. He then stepped in to join the fun, and before long had disappeared among the feathered costumes. “I think it’s fair to say King Charles LOVED Junkanoo in the Bahamas! We completely lost him!” Rebecca English, royal editor of Britain’s Daily Mail, wrote on X.
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RUSH - SEE PAGE THREE
KING Charles III got the Junkanoo fever as he dances down Bay Street with Bahamian colored cowbells at yesterday’s cultural festival at Parliament and Rawson Square.
Photo: Tim Aylen/BIS
Jitney operators strike over fare row By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net COMMUTERS were left stranded at bus stops across New Providence yesterday after bus operators pulled their vehicles off the road to demand a higher fare, warning they will take further action if talks with the government on Friday fail.
Operators want the standard adult fare raised from $1.50 to $2, saying rising fuel prices and operating costs have made the service unsustainable. An official estimated that more than 100 buses were represented at the protest at RM Bailey Park, where drivers from different STRIKE - SEE PAGE FOUR
BUS operators park their buses at RM Bailey Park yesterday as they strike to demand higher fares. Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
A royal taste of Bahamian culture PAGE 2, Thursday, October 29, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
KING Charles III embraced Bahamian culture during a lively festival in Parliament and Rawson Squares yesterday, joining Junkanooers in a rush-out along Bay Street. The monarch danced to the sounds of Naughty Johnny, swinging a cowbell decorated in the national colours as spectators cheered. Before joining the parade, he toured booths showcasing locally made products, chatted with Bahamian vendors, watched a conch fritter-making demonstration and greeted members of the crowd. The King spent nearly 50 minutes at the festival, taking in the sights, sounds and traditions of The Bahamas. Photos: Tim Aylen/BIS
...as locals and visitors enjoy the King’s visit Photos: Nikia Charlton
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 29, 2026, PAGE 3
‘Now he reach!’
King Charles dances in Junkanoo rush-out RUSH from page one Spectators lining the street waved Bahamian flags, and the King stopped to shake hands with some of them. The rush-out came a day after he drew laughs at Clifford Park by naming three of Junkanoo’s biggest rival groups, the Valley Boys, the Saxons Superstars and One Family, and joking that the Prime Minister would want him to declare his allegiance. Before joining the parade, the King toured booths showcasing Bahamian products, including Native Sloops, Tasty Tea, The New Duff and My Bahamas Sponge. He asked vendors plenty of questions but did not sample any food. “What are the ingredients?” he asked a vendor who appeared to be selling pepper sauce. “Fiery goat
peppers, sour, onions, garlic – all locally sourced,” the vendor replied. “Very hot,” the King said. He also watched a demonstration of how conch fritters are made, and asked what was done with the shells. He was told they are sold as souvenirs. Not everyone in the crowd was there to celebrate. Members of the Bahamas National Reparations Committee were on Bay Street, where one sign read “Pay us what you owe us”. The King left after nearly 50 minutes, but the party carried on. His rush-out appeared to win over some Bahamians and royal watchers alike. Tom Hartley, Britain’s former High Commissioner to The Bahamas, shared footage of the moment on X with a twoword verdict in Bahamian dialect: “Now he reach.”
KING Charles III dances with cowbells in a Junkanoo rush-out on Bay Street yesterday accompanied by Members of parliament Jomo Campbell and Leslia Miller-Brice. Photo: Tim Aylen/BIS
‘We’re family’, King tells Flamingo survivor By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net A FLAMINGO survivor who pulled his shipmates from the water as Cuban jets fired on them said King Charles III told him yesterday that they were “family”, after the two men discovered they had trained at the same naval college in England. Retired Captain Whitfield Neely met the King at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s Coral Harbour Base, where the monarch laid a wreath for the four marines killed when HMBS Flamingo was sunk in 1980. Captain Neely, who holds the MBE, said the King asked about his service and what rank he held aboard Flamingo when it was attacked. He was a junior recruit at the time. On May 10, 1980, two Cuban fighter
jets attacked the RBDF patrol vessel after its crew intercepted two Cuban fishing boats suspected of fishing illegally in Bahamian waters. The ship sank, killing four of its 19 crew: Able Seaman Fenrick Sturrup and Marine Seamen Austin Smith, David Tucker and Edward Williams. Their bodies were never recovered. After the attack, Captain Neely helped rescue marines who were in the water under fire. He told the King that in his early years in the force he had cleaned buckets and bathrooms. He said the King laughed and replied: “I fully comprehend that because I was there one time ago also.” Captain Neely then told him he had also attended Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, where the King trained in 1971, and that his room
HMBS Flamingo survivor and retired RBDF Captain speaks with King Charles III yesterday as the king toured the Defence Force’s Coral Harbour Base. Photo: Jade Russell/Tribune Staff Reporter had not been far from the King’s former quarters. He said the King told him that their shared
KING Charles III inspects marines during a visit to the RBDF Coral Harbour Base yesterday.
experience at the college made them “family”. At the Flamingo Monument, the King laid a
Photos: Nikia Charlton
wreath for the fallen four. A handwritten card signed “Charles R” carried the message “in
everlasting remembrance”. He spoke with relatives of each of the four marines about their loved ones. Officers in crisp white uniforms stood at attention as the royal convoy arrived. The King, wearing military medals, was welcomed by Commodore Floyd Moxey, Commander of the Defence Force, and greeted by National Security Minister Myles LaRoda and Owen Wells, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness. He inspected officers in formation, stopping to speak with several, and later toured HMBS Lawrence Major, a vessel used mainly for disaster relief and named after the force’s first commander. He also met members of the RBDF, the Bahamas National Youth Guard and other officials involved in protecting the country’s borders.
PAGE 4, Thursday, October 29, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Jitney operators warn of further industrial action if Friday’s government talks fail STRIKE from page one routes gathered, although some operators left their buses at home and travelled there by car or with others. Passengers reported waiting an hour or longer at bus stops, with little to no service on some routes. Although a few buses stayed on the road, many commuters struggled to get to work, school and other daily commitments. The stoppage compounded the disruption on New Providence’s roads, which have seen closures and diversions for King Charles III’s motorcade since his arrival on Tuesday, when major roads and intersections from Lynden Pindling International Airport through western New Providence, downtown Nassau and Paradise Island were closed or restricted. “If that meeting is not successful,” said Harrison Moxey, president of the United Public Transportation Company, “then we believe that we will have to take further steps to make our petition known, and we’re prepared to do whatever it takes.” Transport Minister Leon Lundy later said services would resume at 3pm after discussions with industry leaders, who agreed to avoid further disruption ahead of the meeting, set for 1pm on Friday. Earlier in the day, Mr Lundy said the ministry had already received and responded to an industry proposal and had arranged Friday’s meeting. “With that process already underway,” he said, “today’s industrial action is particularly
JITNEY bus drivers strike as they seek to increase fares to $2 amid rise operational and fuel costs. Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr disappointing and does little to support the spirit of good-faith negotiations that we believe is necessary to reach a resolution.” He acknowledged the operators’ concerns but said the thousands of Bahamians who depend on public transportation should not have to bear the consequences of the dispute. Ezra Strachan described the action as a “sick day” rather than a strike. He apologised to commuters, including regular passengers who rely on familiar drivers to get around, but said operators also had families, children and bills to pay. He said drivers were regularly called on to support major national events and political campaigns, pointing to the King’s visit, but faced delays when they sought
meetings about their own financial pressures. “We need to actually have some issues that need to be addressed, and we need some results, not just talking it. We need some options to be shown,” he said. Mr Moxey said operators had reached “the point of the straw that has broken the camel’s back” after years of financial strain and repeated attempts to get the government to act. He said operators sent a letter outlining the industry’s concerns about fuel prices and inflation to the Ministry of Finance in June, but never received a satisfactory response. He said bus owners and drivers were effectively subsidising public transportation by absorbing ever-rising costs, citing a driver
who earned $126 on Tuesday but needed about $130 to refuel the bus for the next day. Mr Moxey asked: “How do we go home every day with our financial obligations, with our bank loans, with our mortgages, experiencing the same inflation that the country has experienced?” He said operators wanted to meet Mr Lundy directly rather than through intermediaries, because the minister was responsible for transport policy and sat at the Cabinet table. A meeting scheduled for Tuesday had not materialised, he said, and operators had been frustrated by the lack of a confirmed date and time until Friday’s meeting was arranged. He said they had faith it would go ahead. The standard adult fare rose by 25 cents to $1.50 on May 1, 2024, the first increase in 16 years. Operators say costs have overtaken that rise and that a $2 fare had previously been promised to them. John Hepburn, a bus driver for more than 30 years, said fares had gone up by only $1 in all his time in the business. He said fuel now cost more than $8 a gallon and that filling a bus had climbed from about $20 when he started driving to between $150 and $160 a day, while some parts had doubled or tripled in price over the past five years. He said operators needed the increase to maintain a safe, reliable service, and pointed out that they had not asked for higher fares for senior citizens or primary schoolchildren. Rudolph Taylor, president of the Bahamas Unified Bus Drivers Union, said the frustration had been building for years and was
not simply a reaction to recent fuel prices. He said his last meeting with a transport minister and the minister’s team was in 2024, and that operators had repeatedly raised their concerns in letters and discussions without getting meaningful answers, including whether fares would keep pace with the cost of living. He said tyres that once cost about $140 now cost $190, a bucket of oil had risen from about $120 to $175, and brake parts had gone from about $40 to between $60 and $70. Mr Taylor said drivers did not want to strike because they understood the hardship it caused the public, but questioned whether operators were appreciated for the hours they worked. Some drivers worked Monday to Sunday, he said, and operators also needed time to rest and look after their health. In a second statement, Mr Lundy said Friday’s meeting would go beyond fuel prices and operators’ finances to cover road safety enforcement, compliance with public transport regulations and codes of conduct, possible changes to bus routes and the potential resumption of a pilot programme for a more centralised public bus system, with scheduled services and better coordination between routes. Successive governments have tried for decades to unify New Providence’s privately owned jitney routes into a single scheduled system, with several pilot projects backed by the Inter-American Development Bank announced since the 2010s.
NEW BGWU PRESIDENT DEMANDS TRANSPARENCY OVER BAIC PROMOTIONS By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net THE new president of the Bahamas General Workers Union has accused management at the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation of running a “secret” promotions exercise, as her newly elected team vowed to tackle years of unresolved grievances at the corporation. Natania Johnson, whose slate won the union’s elections last Friday, said BAIC’s general manager and assistant general manager of human resources had carried out a round of promotions without ever releasing a list of who benefited. “It was a secret operation. That should not be the case. It should be visible. It should be clear and transparent for everyone to see,” she said. Ms Johnson said several promotions had been awaiting approval before former chairman Darron Pickstock left the post, but
management then carried out a separate exercise without naming the successful employees. She said it was unprecedented for promotions at the corporation to be handled that way, and questioned who had authorised them. She also asked why employees whose managers had recommended them for advancement were still waiting, and alleged that workers with personal or family connections continued to receive preferential treatment. Her victory comes three months after she was on the losing side of a Supreme Court battle over control of the union. The dispute erupted on December 17, 2024, when the late BGWU president Linda Sands dismissed five executive council members, including then vice president Dave Beckford. In a July 29 ruling this year, Acting Justice Raynard Rigby found that the union’s constitution gave the power to dismiss officers to the executive council as a whole, not
FLYER showing the new slate elected officers for the Bahamas General Workers Union led by newly elected president Natania Johnson. to the president acting alone. He ruled in favour of Mr Beckford and the other ousted executives, and against Sands and Ms Johnson, then the secretary general. Justice Rigby urged the union to end its infighting,
which he said was not in the best interest of members, and to move quickly to hold nominations and fresh elections. The leadership battle left the union with a legal bill of about $100,000, Mr Beckford said in August, when the executive council also withdrew the union from the Trade Union Congress, whose president, Obie Ferguson KC, had represented Sands and Ms Johnson in court. Ms Johnson said the election was “more than a vote” and amounted to “a statement of confidence and a call for change”, citing strong turnout and saying it proved the union belonged to its members. Her executive includes vice president Windsor Bethel Jr, of Eleuthera;
secretary general Nathanya Bastian; treasurer Keisha Jones; trustees Kevin Moxey and Carla Forbes; and board members Tristan Deleveaux and Sheresa Nixon, of Cat Island. Ms Johnson said the union’s grievances at BAIC included outstanding promotions, unpaid salary increments, delayed performance appraisals and allegations of victimisation and cronyism, many of which had gone unresolved for years. “Employees should not have to repeatedly fight for what they have earned or live with uncertainty about their professional growth and future. Fair treatment and transparency and accountability must become priorities,” she said.
The union has complained for more than a year about pay at the corporation. In July 2025, Sands said BAIC workers had received only part of the salary increments approved since 2022 and had been without health insurance since October 2024. Ms Johnson said the union would pursue its concerns with BAIC’s new board, chaired by Sylvanus Petty, and expected an initial meeting with management by early November. She said Mr Petty was more accessible and receptive to workers’ concerns than his predecessor, Mr Pickstock, who now serves as Minister of State for Immigration and Foreign Affairs. She said a disciplinary warning issued to her also remained unresolved. BAIC gave Ms Johnson a “final written warning” in a January 2 letter, accusing her of disclosing confidential corporation matters when she appeared on a television programme in October 2025 to criticise management over outstanding payments and other workplace problems. “That is also one of the items that will be addressed expeditiously,” she said. The union also plans to negotiate a new industrial agreement to replace the one that expired in 2023, which Ms Johnson said remains in effect in the meantime. She said the executive would first consult members on the changes and benefits they wanted.
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 29, 2026, PAGE 5
Reparations leader says police barred protest placard at King’s Junkanoo celebration By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net THE chair of the Bahamas National Reparations Committee said police told her she could only watch King Charles III’s Junkanoo celebration in Parliament Square yesterday if she put away her poster calling for reparations. “I wasn’t allowed to display it, and that if I wanted to enjoy the Junkanoo, I would have to do so without the poster,” Dr Niambi Hall Campbell-Dean told The Tribune. She said she attended the celebration in her personal capacity as a Bahamian, intending to enjoy the culture while showing her opposition to the King’s failure to formally apologise for Britain’s role in slavery. She and others put their posters down at the direct request of officers, she said.
THE CHAIR of the Bahamas National Reparations Committee Dr Niambi Hall Campbell-Dean. British reporters travelling with the King also reported that police quickly moved on activists in the Parliament Square crowd who were holding placards reading “Pay us what you owe us”. The King watched the Junkanoo rush-out for several minutes before taking a pair of maracas and stepping into the parade himself. Dr Hall Campbell-Dean’s
account is the second complaint in two days that police tried to keep reparations protesters out of the monarch’s sight. On Tuesday, Rastafarian demonstrators demanding an apology, reparations and repatriation to Africa accused officers of repeatedly ordering them to move during the King’s youth rally at Clifford Park. Dr Hall Campbell-Dean said the committee’s campaign did not depend on the King apologising during his visit. “Our work and our movement is bigger than just this king apologising,” she said. “If he doesn’t, then we’re just going to continue to do the work.” She said the movement was also about teaching Bahamians the history of the country’s relationship with the British monarchy, through writing, seminars, workshops and talks in schools. “It’s also about bringing
Prosecutors seek deadline extensions ahead of Gardiner and Curtis drug trial By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net UNITED States prosecutors have asked for more time to answer Jonathan “Player” Gardiner’s challenges to the New York drug case against him, citing his “multiple pretrial motions” ahead of a high-profile trial also involving former police Chief Superintendent Elvis Curtis. In a letter to US District Judge Lewis J Liman filed on Tuesday, prosecutors in the Southern District of New York asked to push
back their deadline to respond to Gardiner’s motions by a week, from October 30 to November 6. Gardiner’s deadline to reply would move from November 6 to November 13. The government also asked for later deadlines on motions in limine, through which either side can ask the judge to rule in advance on what evidence and arguments the jury may hear. Those motions would be due on January 11, 2027 instead of January 4. Oppositions would be due on January 23 instead of January 11, and replies on
February 1 instead of January 15. Assistant US Attorneys Jonathan L Bodansky and Juliana N Murray said the extra time would allow the government to respond to Gardiner’s motions, avoid scheduling conflicts over the winter holidays and give both sides time to answer what they expect to be “potentially voluminous” motions in limine from multiple defendants. They said all defendants consented to the request, the government’s first for an adjournment in the case. The letter does not
awareness to the Bahamian people as to why it’s problematic for him to be here and not apologise,” she said. Speaking at Clifford Park on Tuesday, the King acknowledged the suffering and injustices of the past and said some of the best of Bahamian culture had been born out of darkness. He stopped short of a formal apology, instead pointing
to discussions among Commonwealth leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, which runs from November 1 to 4. Dr Hall Campbell-Dean said protests and the summit served different purposes. Demonstrations helped educate Bahamians, she said, while the
summit was a chance for governments to move the issue forward. She hoped leaders would go beyond calling slavery a dark chapter in British history and address responsibility for what was done. “It was a crime then, and it is a crime now,” she said. She said she was disappointed, though not necessarily surprised, that some Bahamians opposed reparations, blaming gaps in public understanding of slavery and its atrocities. “You know, we still have a long way in learning the truth about what happens in this system,” she said. “We don’t know a lot of the details that would allow us to fully understand all of the atrocities that were committed.” She said chattel slavery depended on denying the humanity of enslaved Africans so that treating them as property could be presented as lawful. “But if you’re no longer a person, then what I’m doing is not a crime, right? So they remove the humanity to try and add some sense of legality to a completely immoral act, you know,” she said. “And when we understand and learn these details, then I think the movement becomes very simple, you know. A crime was committed. You have to pay.”
seek to move the trial, which is set to begin on March 1, 2027. Gardiner’s motions, filed earlier this month, ask the court to return $30,000 in cash seized from him and to suppress evidence. His attorney, Susy Ribero-Ayala, argues that officers opened a waterlogged notebook without a warrant and that a government affidavit painted a misleading picture of the money by leaving out that it was Election Day in The Bahamas. He has also sought dismissal of the charges, arguing that delays in bringing the case prejudiced his defence. Gardiner, a convicted cocaine smuggler, was arrested after he and 10 others were rescued when
their small plane crashed in waters off the US coast on May 12, the day of the general election. He has pleaded not guilty to cocaine importation conspiracy and firearms-related charges, and remains in custody after being denied bail. US prosecutors allege he could supply more than 2,000 kilograms of cocaine at a time to trafficking organisations, and that he used a business bidding on Bahamian government construction contracts to launder drug proceeds. His case is linked to a November 2024 indictment of Curtis, the former head of the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Airport Division, and 12 others, which alleges
that a trafficking network moved cocaine through The Bahamas with protection from corrupt Bahamian officials. Prosecutors allege that Curtis claimed a high-ranking Bahamian politician would facilitate drug shipments in exchange for $2m. Curtis has pleaded not guilty. Former Royal Bahamas Defence Force Chief Petty Officer Darrin Roker has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to four years in prison, and Colombian co-accused Luis Fernando Orozco-Toro is set to change his plea. Gardiner and the other defendants who have not pleaded guilty are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
A RASTAFARIAN protestor speaks to the press on Tuesday as another protestor holds a sign with ‘Pay us what you owe us’ on it. Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
PAGE 6, Thursday, October 29, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
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A better deal for teachers should reach every classroom MOST of us can remember a teacher who saw something in us before we saw it ourselves. Someone who insisted we could do better, noticed when we were struggling or refused to let us disappear quietly into the back of the classroom. We may have forgotten the lesson being taught that day. We remember how that teacher made us feel about ourselves and what we might become. People who take on that responsibility deserve a profession in which they can build a decent life. The new agreement between the Government and the Bahamas Union of Teachers is a welcome investment in that possibility. The Davis administration and the union deserve credit for reaching a settlement. Belinda Wilson and her negotiating team were entitled to advocate firmly for their members. The Government had to balance those demands against other public needs. Both sides can take satisfaction in finding a way forward. For teachers, better compensation can mean breathing room in a household budget, greater confidence about the future and another reason to remain in a demanding profession. We should want talented young Bahamians to see teaching as a career they can afford to choose. But anyone who has spent time in a classroom knows that professional fulfilment also depends on what happens after the morning bell. There is the child who is falling behind but is too embarrassed to ask for help. The student whose difficult behaviour conceals trouble at home. The new teacher trying to manage a classroom while still finding their own confidence. Meeting those needs requires patience, skill and support. Even the most committed teacher has limits. Better pay should therefore be accompanied by working conditions that allow teachers to give children their best. Appropriate materials, access to specialist assistance and school leaders who listen can make an enormous difference to a difficult day.
Professional development should help teachers solve the problems they actually encounter. Mentorship should give younger colleagues someone they can turn to without feeling that asking for help is an admission of failure. Experienced teachers should have the time and support to share what years in the classroom have taught them. On the Family Islands, supporting teachers also means understanding the personal demands of a posting away from home. Finding suitable accommodation, adjusting to a new community and living apart from family can be difficult. A warm welcome and practical assistance can help turn an unfamiliar posting into a lasting commitment. Parents have responsibilities here too. We cannot expect teachers to establish respect for learning if that respect is undermined at home. Reading with a child, ensuring homework receives attention and addressing poor behaviour are everyday contributions to a school’s success. Nor should legitimate disagreements become an excuse to humiliate teachers in front of their students. Parents must be able to raise concerns and expect fair answers. Teachers deserve the same courtesy. Fair compensation also carries professional obligations. Children are entitled to teachers who arrive prepared, use classroom time well and take their progress seriously. Where performance falls short, school leaders should provide support and take appropriate action. The strongest schools are built on that shared sense of responsibility. Teachers need to know their efforts are supported. Parents need to know their children are being taught well. Children need adults who work together on their behalf. This agreement offers an opportunity to strengthen those relationships. Years from now, a child sitting in a Bahamian classroom today may remember the teacher who persuaded them to keep trying. Our responsibility is to give that teacher every reasonable chance to succeed.
PM shows clear leadership EDITOR, The Tribune. THE visit of King Charles III was well prepared and executed by the Davis Administration. Yes, some of the cosmetics could have been done a bit earlier so as not to appear to be a ‘rush’ job but, overall, I have no major complaints. I extend congratulations to the coordinators of the event, especially the Hon Leslia Miller-Brice (PLP-Sea Breeze), our hard-working Minister of Culture! All of the participants behaved well and it would appear that His Majesty enjoyed the public events. He would have last been here in 1973 when the Union Jack, the British
flag, was lowered for the last time as we gained Independence. Fifty-three years later, here we are; progressing incrementally and looking forward to a ‘golden age’ under the guidance of the Rt Hon Philip Brave Davis, KC, MP. The Commissioner of Police; her team and all of the other law enforcement agencies, did a superb job in ensuring law and order; public safety and traffic control. Kudos! Permanent Secretary to Her Excellency, Jack Thompson, out did himself on this spectacular vent! The biggest congratulations, however, go to none other than our Prime
Minister. He demonstrated the ‘stuff’ of which Prime Ministers are made. He, having known King Charles III for a number of years, appeared completely at ease and jovial This showcase event, demonstrated, again, the PM’s grasp on international diplomacy and clear leadership! I predict that many benefits will accrue to The Bahamas as a result of this historic visit. To God then, in all things, inclusive of ‘God Save the King, be the glory!! Jr
ORTLAND H BODIE, Nassau, October 28, 2026.
GB’s next economy needs municipal autonomy EDITOR, The Tribune. THE Bahamas is home to an untapped economic powerhouse, and it’s time we harness its potential. Freeport, Grand Bahama, holds the key to our future growth. Freeport and Grand Bahama Island as a whole, however, urgently require autonomy, strong leadership, and a forward-looking economic vision to unlock their true potential and fulfill their purpose. Grand Bahama must view itself as an Emerging, Frontier, and Future Economy for The Bahamas and the wider region. While this vision applies to the entire island, Freeport, the Grand Bahama Port Authority, and the Hawksbill Creek Agreement must be at the forefront of this transformation. The Hawksbill Creek Agreement, established over 70 years ago, provided the legal and developmental framework that enabled Freeport to become a hub for industry, commerce, logistics, maritime activities, tourism, finance, and investment. It must be understood not just as a concession but as a crucial instrument for national economic development, capable of shaping Freeport as well as the economy of Grand Bahama and The Bahamas itself. Unfortunately, this promise remains unfulfilled. To become a true future economy, Grand Bahama must start with governance. Freeport can no longer operate under a model that is neither fully private, fully public, nor properly democratic. The Grand Bahama Port Authority needs to be revamped into a strong, transparent, accountable, autonomous municipal governance structure, ideally elected by the residents whose lives, businesses, property values, and opportunities are influenced by its decisions. This is where the future must begin. An autonomous governance model for Freeport would not only impact Freeport itself but would also shape the broader economy of Grand Bahama and, by extension, The Bahamas.
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Freeport serves as the engine; Grand Bahama is the platform. The Hawksbill Creek Agreement is the legal foundation, and the GBPA is the institutional center. If this center is weak, conflicted, outdated, or disconnected from the community, the entire island suffers. Grand Bahama needs more than mere development announcements; it needs robust governance capable of delivering tangible development outcomes. This includes local authority, accountability, revenue capacity, planning, economic strategy, public reporting, open debates, resident participation, transparent leadership selection, established benchmarks, and measurable results. Ideally, Freeport’s municipal leadership must be elected by residents through a serious democratic process that includes primaries, open debates, published platforms, and direct accountability. The people of Freeport must be able to scrutinise their leaders, challenge their plans, and assess their capability to manage the island’s most significant economic jurisdiction. Grand Bahama requires leadership that understands the changes reshaping the world, including emerging technologies, industries, capital systems, governance models, and economic platforms. This leadership must not be built on slogans, nostalgia, personal entitlement, or political convenience. A capable leader must possess the discipline to acknowledge their knowledge gaps and assemble a team with the necessary expertise. Grand Bahama’s future calls for economists, technologists, legal experts, municipal governance specialists, financial architects, engineers, urban planners, environmental planners, housing strategists, logistics professionals, tourism innovators, digital infrastructure experts, and community development leaders. No single individual can carry Grand Bahama’s
future alone, but the right leader can unite the right team. The objective must not be to weaken the Hawksbill Creek Agreement but to modernise and fulfill it. The Agreement must be adapted to the 21st century as a living framework for autonomy, investment, accountability, innovation, and economic growth. Freeport must become the leading platform for advanced logistics, maritime commerce, renewable energy, smart infrastructure, modern housing, financial technology, real-world asset tokenisation, artificial intelligence, digital governance, ownership-based development, and next-generation tourism in The Bahamas. None of this can be realised through distant decision-making, conflicted governance, outdated administration, or uninformed leadership. Grand Bahama must define the vision while Freeport leads the way. The GBPA must be restructured into a modern autonomous municipal governance body. The Hawksbill Creek Agreement must be seen as the foundation for a new economic era, not merely a relic of the past. This is not a call for separation but for responsible autonomy within The Bahamas. It is not a rejection of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement; it is a demand for the fulfillment of its original promise. This issue extends beyond Freeport; it concerns the future economic direction of Grand Bahama and The Bahamas as a whole. The time for waiting has ended. The time for superficial reforms has passed. The moment for leadership that comprehends tomorrow is now. Grand Bahama has the potential to transform into the Emerging Economy, the Frontier Economy, and the Future Economy of The Bahamas and the surrounding region. We must empower Freeport to lead this vital change. EDEN MERRY JOHNSON Freeport, Grand Bahama October 25, 2026.
Why impress the King as we neglect our own? EDITOR, The Tribune. “All Hail the King” I’M writing to you as a 21-year-old Bahamian, greatly concerned and disappointed with the current state of our Bahama land economically, politically, socio-politically, and mentally. On the eve of King Charles visit and some weeks prior, I have watched black Bahamian workers toiling away, in many cases late at night, paving roads and beautifying the island ( though notably, only along routes relevant to the King’s passage). This level of urgency is rarely ever seen or the people living here year-round. Well, with the brief exception of election season, which, of course, we are all aware that those initiatives are never truly for us. It is incredibly aggravating, disappointing, and ridiculous to witness. And what makes it worse is
that our school children are being encouraged to attend events for the King. It is almost laughable, the ridiculousness of wanting the future of our country to celebrate the visit of a man who represents a system and a country that does not truly care about Their future, present, or past. A crown, a parliament that has no intentions of formally apologising for slavery nor supports financial reparations. Speaking of finances, we are told there is no money to fix our own communities, but how do resources appear overnight (I use the term loosely) for a royal visit? Concurrently, we are expected to parade and perform for a King, a symbol of the British monarchy, but neglect the truth of his position as a symbol of the empire that enslaved our ancestors for centuries? And I ask you, dear Editor, what message does
this send when our own people must labor into the night to impress that very symbol of colonialism, rather than to build up our own future? And this is what truly disturbs me the most. The mindset that we must make ourselves perfect for approval from the crown; that we must still seek validation from the coloniser! We are an independent people (once again, I use the term loosely), but mentally are we truly free if we still rush to beautify ourselves for a king, a parliament, Whomever, that will not even acknowledge the debt owed to us? If we can mobilise like this for a king, we can and must mobilise like this for ourselves! This is what colonialism looks like in 2026 and I, a 21-year-old Bahamian, am tired of it. PSEUDONYM Nassau, October 26, 2026.
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Thursday, October 29, 2026, PAGE 7
All sex assault charges dropped against Two charged with murder over former children’s home administrator Comfort Street drive-by shooting By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net THE former administrator of the Elizabeth Estates Children’s Home, who was accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in his care, is a free man after prosecutors dropped all charges against him yesterday. Justice Renae McKay told Ray Nairn, 62, that his case would not proceed because the prosecution had entered a nolle prosequi, a formal notice that it will not continue with a case. The decision came before a jury had been empanelled to hear the matter.
Nairn had been charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a dependent child, attempted unlawful sexual intercourse with a dependent child, cruelty to children and two counts of indecent assault. Prosecutors had alleged that he inappropriately touched the teenager between January 1 and June 24, 2024, and that he exposed her to alcohol on January 12, 2024, causing her unnecessary suffering or injury to her health. He was further accused of indecently assaulting her again on December 16, 2024, and of having and attempting to have unlawful sexual intercourse with her on the same date.
Nairn was first arraigned in December 2024 before Senior Magistrate Anishka Isaacs, when he was not required to enter pleas and was remanded in custody. He was told at the time that he would have to apply to the Supreme Court for bail. The Elizabeth Estates Children’s Home was opened by the government in 1992 and cares for children who are referred by the Department of Social Services and the courts after being abused or neglected. Ryan Eve represented Nairn. Calnan Kelly appeared for the prosecution.
Repeat offender sentenced to three months jail for stealing propane tank By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A REPEAT offender has been jailed for three months for stealing a 100lb propane tank on Bilney Lane on Monday.
Dwayne “DJ” Johnson, 39, pleaded guilty before Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr to stealing and receiving the tank, which belonged to Clement McIntosh. Inspector Sherquell
POWER OUTAGE AT GB SCHOOL LEAVES STUDENTS IN THE DARK
HUGH Campbell Primary School in Grand Bahama. By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net A GRAND Bahama primary school was without electricity for two straight days this week with no word to parents, according to one parent who said children were left to learn in the dark. When The Tribune visited Hugh Campbell Primary School on Mahogany Street, Freeport, yesterday, there was still no power. The administration office doors had been propped open, apparently to let air into the building. Classes had not been dismissed and students were outside for lunch. The parent, who wrote to The Tribune this week, said they discovered the outage while dropping their child off on two consecutive mornings. “When this becomes a repeated issue, parents deserve some communication and reassurance that the matter is being addressed,” the parent wrote. The parent said classrooms without power lacked proper lighting and ventilation, and that while unforeseen problems happen, families should not be left in the dark about them. “Our children’s education, safety, and well-being must remain a priority. We need answers, and we need to know what measures are being taken to ensure that our children can learn in an environment that supports their needs,” the parent wrote. “Concerned parents deserve to be heard.” The school’s principal was not on campus
yesterday, and The Tribune was directed to the district superintendent or the deputy director at the Ministry of Education. At the ministry’s offices, a reporter was told education officials were in a meeting with school principals. Deputy Director of Education Michelle Bowleg said in response to messages that the Director of Education would issue an official statement last night. At press time, no statement had been received, and neither Director of Education Dominique McCartney-Russell nor Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson had responded to requests for comment. It is not clear what caused the outage or whether it affected only the school. The complaint comes amid wider frustration over power problems at government schools since classes resumed in September. Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Chester Cooper has called outages “an inconvenience” and said the ministry does not immediately send students home when the power goes off, but tries to continue instruction. Opposition deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright has repeatedly demanded to know what contingency plan the ministry has to keep schools running during prolonged outages. Hugh Campbell Primary has lost power before. In June 2014, it was among 18 public schools in Grand Bahama disconnected by the Grand Bahama Power Company over more than $1m in unpaid government bills, before the Ministry of Finance settled the debt.
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Forbes, prosecuting, told the court Johnson had previous convictions of a similar nature. He was ordered to serve his sentence at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net TWO men have been charged with murder over a drive-by shooting in which a 25-year-old man was gunned down as he tried to run from his attackers. Prosecutors allege that Ashton Dawkins, 24, and Stefano Lightbourne, 28, opened fire from a dark-coloured vehicle on
Clauvensly Augustin as he walked on Comfort Street around 11.30pm on August 9. Mr Augustin ran north on Comfort Street but was shot and collapsed on the west side of the road, near Hay Street. His attackers fled. He was found with gunshot wounds to the body. Dawkins and Lightbourne appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans and were
not required to enter a plea. They were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until February 25, 2027, when they are due to be served with a voluntary bill of indictment sending their case to the Supreme Court. They were told they could apply for bail in the higher court. Inspector Deon Barr prosecuted.
Counselling order for man who injured baby and her mother during dispute By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN who injured his two-month-old daughter and her mother during a domestic dispute in Fox Hill has been ordered to attend counselling or face two years in prison. The 27-year-old, whose name is being withheld to protect the child’s identity, pleaded guilty earlier this month to causing harm,
cruelty to children and threats of death before Deputy Chief Magistrate Shaka Serville. He injured the infant and her mother during an altercation on Brice Street on October 12, and threatened to kill the woman. Magistrate Serville reprimanded him for his violent behaviour, saying it had endangered the baby’s life. He was granted a conditional discharge and
ordered to be of good behaviour for two years, during which he must attend counselling at the Community Counselling and Assessment Centre. If he fails to comply, he will serve two years in prison. He had spent one night on remand at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services before he was sentenced. Inspector Cordero Farrington prosecuted.
PAGE 8, Thursday, October 29, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Simon • Front Porch
Unity and collegiality in party politics THE Free National Movement (FNM) met last week in conclave to reflect on its terrible general election loss, a second consecutive and crushing defeat. The party will not renew itself nor return to office if it’s not committed to the path of greater unity and collegiality. The party must be ruthlessly honest about the causes cum sources of disunity and the mindset and quality of leadership required to bring the party “All Together”, the party’s motto, and a perennial theme and guiding principle, chosen by the Founding Fathers. They appreciated— because of their own political experience—the necessity for unity, in great part because of the history of disunity in the Progressive Liberal Party, out of which they initially became the Free-PLP. Former UK prime minister Tony Blair, who took Labour to three consecutive electoral victories, pressed for genuine unity over superficial unity. Genuine unity brings members together with a coherent direction and shared vision and plans. He compared superficial unity with being happy in a bus together while going over a cliff. The goal of a political party is to win elections and to govern in the interests of a country. Unity is a sine qua non or indispensable, essential condition, for winning elections. It’s not a matter of kumbaya and members holding hands in loving embrace. Instead it’s the hard work of reconciling differences and personalities sufficiently to present a united front, and machinery required to gain and hold political power. The PLP has often been better at this. Unity is demanding work, requiring compromise with individuals and groupings of which one may not be fond. The party should always be bigger than a given leader.
Still, it requires a strong and unifying figure who has the political and personal maturity to subsume his or her needs to the good of the party. Unlike political parties in many countries, neither
Unable to abide Sir Cecil’s “my way or the highway” attitude, much of the core of the FNM left, forming the Bahamian Democratic Party (BDP). The 1977 results were disastrous for the Opposition.
The question was which individual would improve the party’s electoral fortunes. After considerable and heated debate Sir Cecil stepped aside in favour of Sir Kendal Isaacs.
Photo: Tribune File
the FNM nor the PLP tend to be divided philosophically and ideologically on matters of policy. The divisions are mostly over personalities and who enjoys power in the party. A leader must know when it’s time to step aside in the interest of the party and the nation. Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield, Sir Kendal Isaacs, and Hubert Ingraham all stepped down as FNM Leader. The story of Sir Kendal is instructive. He was the quintessential unifying figure, who put the FNM on the road to growth, recovery, and victory. A man of carefully chosen and sometimes few words, he was a tremendous listener. In 1976 came a great split in the Opposition, resulting in a rump FNM and the new Bahamian Democratic Party (BDP).
The BDP faction became the Official Opposition. The FNM faction under the banner of the Free National Movement, led by Sir Cecil, lost a stunning 22 deposits. Had the BDP contested the two seats in Grand Bahama, that the FNM faction won, the latter would probably have been wiped out in the House of Assembly. The PLP garnered 54.7 percent of the popular vote and 30 seats. The BDP got 26.9 percent of the popular vote and six seats, while the FNM got two seats and 15.6 percent of the popular vote. Voters rarely vote for a party that is not united. The seeds for the reunification of the Opposition were planted on election night. The PLP won Delaporte, carrying more votes than the Opposition’s combined tally.
How daylight saving time changes affect you and what you can do about it By LAURAN NEERGAARD AP Medical Writer
Still, many thought that a united opposition may have carried the seat, considering its vote and the number of voters who stayed home or were disaffected to a united PLP. Five years later in 1982,
People often find the spring switch harder, losing that hour of sleep we allegedly recover in the fall. But many people also mourn fall's end of daylight saving time, when days already are getting shorter and moving the clocks can mean less daylight after school or work for
extra hour of daylight in the evening. But health groups, including the American Medical Association and American AN extra hour of sleep is Academy of Sleep Medon the way for most Ameriicine, have long urged cans, though the "fall back" adopting standard time to standard time will bring year-round. That's because darker afternoons, too. it aligns more with the sun, One tip: Try to get outwhich rises later in the side for some morning sun winter, and with human — it'll help your body clock biology, what's called reset faster. the circadian rhythm. Daylight saving time Brighter mornings and ends at 2 a.m. local time less light at night on Sunday, which are key to keeping means you should that rhythm on set your clock back track, making it an hour before easier to wake you go to bed. up on time Standard time and stick with will last until healthy sleep March 14, when patterns. we will again Most coun"spring forward" tries do not with the return of observe daydaylight saving time. light saving time. There's a lot of For those that do grumbling about the — mostly in North twice-a-year time changes. America and Europe An AP-NORC — the date that poll last year found DAN LaMoore adjusts the hands on a Seth Thom- clocks are changed varies. In the U.S., that only 12% of as Post Clock at Electric Time Company, Oct. 23, Hawaii and most American adults 2020, in Medfield, Mass. were in favor of AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File of Arizona don't change and stay on it, while almost standard time. half opposed it. Here's what Lawmakers in exercise or outdoor fun. The Washington took up the poll found that, if forced to to know about the twiceissue yet again over the choose, most Americans yearly ritual. How the body reacts to summer. would prefer to keep that light
the FNM won the seat. On election night 1977, the Opposition’s two losing candidates in Delaporte, Sir Arthur Foulkes of the BDP and Basil Nicholls of the FNM, started talking reunification over a round of beers. The Opposition’s turmoil continued after 1977, with another split resulting in the formation of the Social Democratic Party, headed by Norman Solomon, becoming the Official Opposition for a period. Meanwhile, talks continued between the BDP and the FNM, with reunification coming before the 1982 general election. The party now had to decide on the best person to lead it into the election. That decision was made at the home of the party’s leading Founding Father, Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield. The brain has a master clock that is set by exposure to sunlight and darkness. This circadian rhythm is a roughly 24-hour cycle that determines when we become sleepy and when we're more alert. The patterns change with age, one reason that early-to-rise youngsters evolve into hard-to-wake teens. Morning light is key to synchronizing that internal clock. By evening, levels of a hormone called melatonin begin to surge, triggering drowsiness. Too much light in the evening — whether from later time outdoors during daylight saving time or from artificial light like computer screens — delays that surge and the cycle gets out of sync. And that circadian clock affects more than sleep, also influencing things like heart rate, blood pressure, stress hormones and metabolism. How do time changes affect sleep? Even an hour's change on the clock can throw off sleep schedules because even though the clocks change, work and school start times stay the same. Right after the spring change, darker mornings and lighter evenings make it harder to fall asleep on time. Those first few days have been linked to increases in car crashes and even an uptick in heart attacks. During the fall and winter, some people with seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression usually linked to the shorter days and less sunlight, often struggle. Many people easily adjust to the clock switch,
Sir Kendal was highly intelligent and articulate. He understood our parliamentary system and was an effective voice inside and outside of parliament. Given his mild-mannered nature, some thought of him as a conservative by nature. His record proved that he was fundamentally a progressive. He was a leader of the cooperative movement and an economic moderate. He was broadly liberal in his thinking on a range of social, economic, and political matters. He was also incorruptible, a stark contrast to Sir Lynden and the PLP. Whether they were inclined to vote PLP or FNM, most people though that Sir Kendal had the intellectual depth and ability to serve as prime minister.
He famously repeated the well-known aphorism that “politics is the art of the possible.” He unified the FNM, making it more appealing. In 1982 the FNM jumped to 11 seats and by 1987 that number was 16. The 1987 general election is thought to have been fraudulent on many levels. The irregularities were widespread, including a compromised register of voters. Fast-forward to 2026. The mass of voters are dissatisfied with the major parties. Though the PLP’s base continues to mostly hold, it’s not attracting significant numbers of new voters. Still, because its base is larger than the FNMs, it’s able to win a walloping number of seats despite its inability to win the majority of voters. The FNM continues to have many supporters, though its base has diminished, and it continues to haemorrhage support. Still, it has a basis for renewal and victory, including a rich history, a record of governance, a brand, and many talented supporters. The path to renewal will require ongoing study and analysis. It will require a leader who can be a source of unity, can appeal to voters on an emotional level, and can fulfill Napolean Bonaparte’s understanding of a leader: “The role of the leader is to define reality and give hope.” The reality of The Bahamas is stark. The nation is collapsing on many levels and various democratic norms are under attack. Inequality is increasing. There is widespread corruption in government. Most Bahamians want genuine change and hope. As it did in 1992, the FNM can be the deliverer of both. The party however, must get its house united and in order under a leader who can offer a new direction for the FNM and the country.
A WOMAN plays with her dog at sunset, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at a park in Kansas City, Mo. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File like how they recover from jet lag after traveling. But a time change can add pressure on shift workers whose schedules already are out of sync with the sun, or those regularly sleep-deprived for other reasons. About 1 in 3 U.S. adults sleep less than the recommended seven-plus hours nightly, and more than half of U.S. teens don't get the recommended eight-plus hours on weeknights. Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to heart disease, cognitive decline, obesity and numerous other problems. How to prepare for the time change In both fall and spring, changing bedtimes by as little as 15 minutes a night in the days before the change can help ease into it. But sunshine in the morning is critical to
helping reset your circadian rhythm for healthful sleep. If you can't get outdoors, sit by windows. Will the US ever get rid of the time change? Every year, there's talk about ending the time change. The nation even tried it in the 1970s, but it lasted less than a year after a public outcry. The latest attempt came in July, when the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent. President Donald Trump backs the idea and is pressuring reluctant senators to support it, even posting the cellphone number of Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, an opponent, on social media.
PAGE 10, Thursday, October 29, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Charlie Harper • Stateside
Will Canada have effect on US midterms? Time will tell THE US elections are finally here, as we are all numbingly aware, notwithstanding the great distraction of our historic visit this week by King Charles. And as the king travels onward to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting next week, we are reminded of our kinship with the dozens of our fellow Commonwealth member nations. Including Canada. While US President Donald Trump and his beleaguered Republican Party try to figure out how to rationalize or overturn the results from what seems to be an electoral blue tsunami heading straight for them, wouldn’t it be interesting if Canada turned out to play a major part in making sure that tidal wave really washes away much of the advantage that Trump has accumulated or seized during the past two years? A significant Republican defeat at the polls is likely to happen, according to virtually every public opinion poll. Trump and the Republicans are certainly acting as if they expect it to happen. For the past several weeks, it’s become increasingly clear that the president is unwilling or unable to pivot to acknowledge that higher prices in the US are threatening to take huge chunks out of his base of support. The polls say that at least 25 percent of those Republican and MAGA voters don’t plan to vote or, even worse, to vote for a Democrat. Many polled GOP supporters say they have never before even considered voting for a Democrat, but will now reluctantly do so. Pundit and former senator Claire McCaskill said on national TV the other day that she thinks that Trump, realizing that the war in Iran cannot be won quickly and that prices are likely to remain uncomfortably high for most Americans in the weeks or months to come, has come to terms with the likelihood that the GOP will have to cede control of the US House of Representatives in January, and that it’s more than simply conceivable that the
Republicans will lose the Senate too. The president might well be playing defense. Democrats in the House are already incautiously promising to turn their investigative prerogatives on Trump from virtually the moment when they return to power. Many Dems are muttering about a third impeachment; almost all
But Trump’s tariff wars with several foreign countries have also ratcheted up prices, and this is where Canada enters the midterm election picture. On Sunday, Trump became the first sitting president to ever visit Port Huron, Michigan, a town north of Detroit across the St Clair River from Ontario.
toward Canada. Intermittent impositions of tariffs on Canadian goods have been his pri-
and could cost the Republicans control of the Senate. At a time when voters say they are focused on the cost of living, tariffs are a visible step that obviously drives prices higher. And the trade war with Canada has hurt the residents of border states especially hard. Three of those border states most affected feature contentious Senate elections next week. They are Maine, New Hampshire and Michigan. In Maine, Trump’s tariffs are perhaps the major reason the Democratic challenger to 30-year incumbent GOP senator Susan Collins is still afloat in a state where Collins has long defied Democratic efforts to push her out of office. In New Hampshire, Democratic congressman Chris
Photo: Edmond Dantes/Pexels
of them are loudly looking forward to revealing Trump’s alleged corruption. It remains to be seen, however, how keen will be the appetite of the American electorate to witness yet another spectacular commission of inquiry, when there is no chance that it could make their lives more affordable. While many observers are now reporting that Trump’s corruption has become the top issue for voters, it says here that is unlikely. The key issue is the same as in most national American elections: How will voters answer the question, “Am I better off today than I was a couple of years ago?” For most Americans, higher gas prices are simply the clear leading edge of strong inflationary trends in the US economy that have unquestionably been exacerbated by the ongoing American war with Iran and related disruptions in the global oil markets.
Port Huron’s district has often voted overwhelmingly for Republicans, so Trump’s visit was consistent with his push to rally his most loyal supporters ahead of Tuesday’s elections. But this choice also highlighted a major political liability for Trump. That liability is the economic fallout from his trade war with Canada. Throughout his second term as president, Trump has scuffled with Canada. It was widely reported that strained personal relations with former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau may have been a key element in the president’s apparent distaste for Canada. And Trudeau’s successor, banker Mark Carney, was chosen by Canadian voters at least partly because he pledged to stand up to Trump’s bullying tactics. He has lived up to that promise. Anyhow, for whatever reasons, Trump has not spoken nor acted positively
Photo: Town and Country today
mary cudgel. Furthermore, Trump has often referred to Canada disparagingly as the ‘51st US state.’ Now, Trump’s recent tariffs of up to 50 percent on some Canadian goods are becoming a major campaign issue in border states
Pappas seems headed for victory over former GOP senator John Sununu as they contend to fill a vacant seat. Again, the sour relationship Trump has maintained with Canada is a factor in what could be a pivotal element in control of the Senate next year. Michigan, though, is the key state in the Canada equation. In August, a group that supports conservative fiscal policies like lowering taxes released a report saying that tariffs have cost Michigan households an additional $5,619 compared with what they were paying in 2024. That was the largest impact felt by any state, the report concluded. Polling has consistently shown that voters are paying attention to the tariff issue, and their adverse reaction has considerably boosted the electoral chances of Democrat Dr Abdul Al-Sayed in his close contest with former GOP congressman Mike Rogers.
Rogers appreciates his predicament, and has tried to show independence from Trump’s unpopular tariffs. “Here in Michigan, we know that Canada is not our enemy,” he says in a widely aired campaign advertisement. We need to end this tariff war — now.” Last Friday, perhaps in response, the Trump administration lifted tariffs on some Canadian products in an apparent bid to help Collins, who had reportedly requested exemptions for products including blueberries and apples. The partial rollback could also benefit Rogers and Sununu. “We’re getting close to a deal,” Trump said in Michigan. “A deal could happen that is going to be good for everybody, especially the United States.” Perhaps that is true. Maybe not. Sixty-seven percent of Michigan voters oppose the tariffs on Canadian goods, according to a New York Times/Siena poll taken in September. Even worse for Republicans, the poll found that roughly one-third of Trump’s own 2024 voters in Michigan opposed the tariffs. Part of the political problem for Trump is simply that most Americans hold positive perceptions of their northern neighbor, especially in key battleground states along the border where people commonly work, worship, and shop alongside Canadians. “Michiganders view Canadians far more favorably than they view Donald Trump,” said a leading local public opinion sampler. “The only place I’m seeing a modicum of support on tariffs is with the MAGA base, and even there you start to see them peel off.” Michigan’s core auto industry is deeply integrated with Canada’s, built up over decades of advantageous trade conditions that encouraged cross-border cooperation. But Trump’s tariffs on raw materials, parts and equipment have driven up costs for Michigan manufacturers, which include Detroit’s Big Three automakers -- General Motors, Ford and Chrysler -- as well as hundreds of auto parts suppliers. Those costs have been passed along to consumers as automobile prices rise. “There’s no question it has impacted the cost of producing a vehicle and that it has made its way to the showroom,” one pollster said. “You’ve got to look at what the consumer is dealing with, from ground beef to the fuel pump to the average transaction price of a vehicle. The pressure is real, and people talk about it.” Trump would do well to recall that Obama’s aggressive steps to bail out the American auto industry in 2011 were a major factor in his reelection success the following year.
A VISITOR views artwork “Invisible Anna” by Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa at the Kueppersmuehle Museum, in Duisburg, Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. AP Photo/Martin Meissner
THE TRIBUNE
Thursday, October 29, 2026, PAGE 11
World News
Smoke from LA fires exposed millions of people to high levels of toxic heavy metals, study says By DORANY PINEDA Associated Press AT the height of the Los Angeles fires in 2025, millions of residents were exposed in a 24-hour period to toxic lead levels from smoke that were 80 times higher than the typical background level, according to a new study. Researchers from the California Institute of Technology compared the chemical composition of smoke from the Eaton Fire with that of a wildfire and found that the urban plume had more lead, arsenic and halogens (which include chlorine and bromine) linked to burning vehicles, building materials and electronics. “The main, key finding is really that wildfire smoke is very different fundamentally from the urban smoke,” said Nga Lee “Sally” Ng, an author of the study published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances. With the new technology they used to measure what was in the smoke, they were able to “actually see the very detailed component of these particles that we are breathing.” Co-author Haroula Baliaka said understanding the different chemical compositions of smoke from an urban versus a wildland fire helps bridge a missing gap in research. Wildfires are growing larger, more intense, faster-moving and more frequent largely because of drier and warmer weather associated with
A FIREFIGHTER battles the Eaton Fire, Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. human-caused climate change. As urban growth and climate change push more fires into cities, researchers said monitoring and emergency response will have to adapt. Ed Avol, professor emeritus in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California who has researched the health effects of air pollution for decades, said significant exposure to heavy metals is consistent with what he’d expect, “but certainly surprising because we haven’t been able to document this sort of thing.” “One of the real advantages of this study is that it had the opportunity to make measurements sort of hour-by-hour across
the sampling network. And typically we make measurements of airborne particulates and so forth a couple of times a week, at best,” said Avol, who wasn’t involved in the study. Thousands of structures burned, releasing toxic chemicals The two wind-whipped infernos in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades that ignited on Jan. 7, 2025, killed at least 31 people and destroyed more than 16,000 structures, mostly homes, and everything in them — cars, paint, furniture, chemicals under sinks and more. Millions of people were exposed to smoke, which across the entire United States has been linked to tens of thousands of deaths
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Photo: Ethan Swope/AP
annually. A recent study found that metal mixtures in the leftover smoke, ash and debris from the deadly 2023 Maui wildfires were harmful to the lung health of people living nearby long after the burning ended. During the fires, researchers measured trace elements of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, every hour reported by instruments in the Atmospheric Science and Chemistry mEasurement NeTwork ( ASCENT ), a relatively new network of air quality monitors across the US that measures the size and chemical composition of these particulates in real time. Ng said ASCENT is the US’s first measurement network able to measure the
chemical composition of airborne particles in real time. Researchers were able to see what chemicals were in the smoke, track how its composition changed over the fire’s course, and distinguish emissions coming from burning structures. From there, they estimated how many people across Los Angeles were exposed to the heavy metals, particularly lead, during the fire’s first days. They compared the typical value of lead before the fires and the chemical makeup of smoke from a 2024 fire in Riverside County that burned mostly vegetation with data from the Eaton Fire plume. Contrasted with the wildfire smoke, the plume from the LA fire contained 50 times more lead, three times more arsenic, and seven times more halogens. At the peak of burning, about 7 million people were exposed for 24 hours to lead levels more than 80 times what’s typical. Lead is a neurotoxin that can stunt children’s development, lower IQ scores and increase blood pressure in adults. Scientists still don’t know how short-term, high exposure to lead impacts human health. Arsenic exposure is associated with various cancers. Yaguang Wei, assistant professor in the department of environmental medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai who researches the
health impacts of air pollution, wildfire smoke and severe weather, said their findings reinforced some conclusions of a recent study he co-authored that found, in part, that PM2.5 from wildfire smoke was more toxic than particulates from other sources. “I think their findings are not surprising,” said Wei, who was not involved in the study. When fires burn properties, they’re also burning “a lot of lead on your wall paint and the plastics and electronics and those are very toxic” when they burn, he said. Monitoring, policies and emergency response need to adapt, experts say Wei said the study has “important policy implications.” He thinks governments should take stronger actions to protect public health during these fires by investing in more wildfire monitoring and public alerts, and having more prescribed fires. For Avol, the study is a reminder of our “strange and increasingly dangerous new world” where urban and wildland intersect — and increasingly catch fire. “It reminds us to be cautious and be concerned and, you know, think about what we can do to minimize this. We’re not going to stop using all these materials containing metals and halogens and so forth in our homes,” he said. “How do we protect people from being exposed to that?”
PAGE 12, Thursday, October 29, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
k n a b a ti o c S : s e y E ir e h T Through helps students discover the power of art at FUZE
SEEING the world through someone else’s eyes and imagining the possibilities, a student pauses to take in a larger-than-life portrait. A YELLOW jacket challenged one student’s idea of what art could be. For another, a sculpture addressing pollution revealed beauty in an unexpected place. Across the FUZE Art Fair, students found inspiration in art that invited them to look closer, ask questions and imagine new ways to express themselves. For the second consecutive year, Scotiabank partnered with the Baha Mar Foundation to support
the FUZE school tours during The Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival at Baha Mar, presented by Scotiabank. The tours gave students the opportunity to experience art from The Bahamas, the Caribbean and around the world, meet artists and discover the stories and ideas behind their work. Scotiabank team members joined the students as tour guides, helping them explore the artwork and connect with the artists. For ISBET Grade 11
Immersed in the experience, an ISBET student takes time to learn more about the art featured at FUZE, exploring the stories and creativity behind the works on display.
STUDENTS from Xavier’s Catholic Lower School look closely at an art installation, discovering how imagination can transform everyday materials into something extraordinary.
student Takarie Brown, a yellow jacket offered a fresh perspective. “This opened my eyes to realise fashion could be art as well. You get to express yourself,” Takarie said. The chance for students to discover what is possible through art is one of the reasons Roger Archer, Managing Director, Scotiabank Bahamas, is passionate about the partnership and the school tours. “It is important for us to support the arts within The Bahamas. Art is important in preserving our stories and connecting generations,” Archer said. “Having students here over the week gave us the ability to show them pieces that express who we are as Caribbean people, who we are as Bahamian people, and for them to understand that they have the ability to use art to tell those stories.” Government High School Grade 10 student J’Leiah Johnson was drawn to an artwork addressing pollution. Its tall structures and burnt materials caught her attention, showing her how an environmental issue could be transformed into something beautiful. Fellow Government High School student Suze Augustin, in Grade 12, was inspired by seeing how artists bring their ideas to life. The experience encouraged her to put her own ideas on paper and explore her creativity with greater confidence. As Scotiabank celebrates 70 years in The Bahamas, its continued support for the tours reflects its commitment to investing in young people and creating opportunities for them to learn,
A MOMENT of inspiration: Scotiabank Bahamas Managing Director Roger Archer shares a work by Bahamian artist Jason Bennett with students from St. Francis & Joseph Catholic Primary School, encouraging them to see the possibilities for their own creativity. The piece was featured in Scotiabank’s art exhibition at FUZE. grow and explore their potential. For educators, FUZE offers a valuable opportunity to take learning beyond the classroom. Rashelle Thompson Wright, Visual Arts Subject Coordinator at Government High School, said meeting artists and seeing their work firsthand helped students recognise that they can begin developing their creative interests now. “It is not just something you have to wait to go off to school to do. You can start doing this now in the classroom,” she said. Cian Sawyer of Holon Learning, who brought students to the fair for a second year, said seeing work that reflects Bahamian and Caribbean culture gives young people an opportunity to connect with their identities and histories. “I hope they take away from it feeling somewhat connected to their own Bahamian roots and the wider Caribbean at the same time,” Sawyer said. “And that they feel inspired, and that they experience beauty, and that it fosters questions.” Through its continued support of the FUZE school tours, Scotiabank is helping young people
A TEMPLE Christian School student steps inside a flower-filled telephone booth at FUZE, discovering a familiar sight from an earlier generation through a creative new lens. experience the arts, connect with their culture and
imagine new possibilities for their own creativity.
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Thursday, October 29, 2026, PAGE 13
World News
The Latest: As votes are counted, no clear winner emerges in Israel's election Associated Press
THERE was no clear winner Wednesday in Israel's election, likely meaning the beginning of weeks of wrangling among parties to form a governing coalition. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains as interim caretaker head of the government. Neither Netanyahu's political bloc nor that of his main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, appeared likely to gain the 61 seats needed for a majority in the parliament, known as the Knesset. Israelis vote for parties, which then form alliances to create a majority coalition. Here is the latest: Trump will 'take a look' at helping Netanyahu form a government U.S. President Donald Trump said he hadn't thought about getting involved in efforts to form a Netanyahu-led government. "I will take a look," he told Axios. Trump also said he thought Netanyahu was in "pretty good shape." He endorsed the prime minister in the final stretch of his campaign and praised him as a strong partner in the war with Iran. Netanyahu's party claims Arab voters 'stole' the election Arab-led parties made a historic showing in Tuesday's election, capturing nearly 15% of the vote, according to emerging results, But Netanyahu's Likud party claimed the election was "stolen" by Arab parties and said it had asked Israeli authorities to investigate. It did not provide specific evidence to support its claims. Likud alleged "serious criminal offenses involving bribery, threats, violence, falsification and the use of prohibited software to mobilize voters." The Central Elections Committee said it was examining Likud's submission as it does any submission from political parties about election integrity. Dean Livne, the acting director-general of the elections committee, said Tuesday that the overall number of reports about irregularities or issues at polling stations was much lower than in previous elections. Huckabee says he doesn't know if strikes on Iran will resume U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said
2021, none had joined a coalition government.
ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by his wife, Sara, waves to supporters at Likud party headquarters in Jerusalem after the release of the first exit poll results in Israel’s general election, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg/AP
he did not know whether fighting with Iran would resume. He had been asked if Israel's uncertain election results or the possibility of Netanyahu's government continuing to serve as caretaker would affect the timing. "Frankly, there are only two people on the planet who actually know if something is going to happen, and if so, when, and that's President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu," Huckabee told the conservative network Newsmax. Local media are projecting seat breakdowns Voting percentages are one thing. But in Israel, where parties form coalitions to obtain a majority of the 120 parliamentary seats to govern, the number of seats is key. As vote-counting nears its end, local media are projecting 53 seats for Netanyahu's Likud and allied parties, 48 for Eisenkot's Yashar and allied parties, and 19 for Arab-led parties. Under those projections, no one reaches the 61-seat majority alone. Final results are expected by the end of the week. Israel's president explains next steps President Isaac Herzog has a key role in choosing someone to put together the next government. Here's what he said today about next steps: "I will receive the official election results next week, when (the deputy president of the Supreme Court) presents them to me. I will then begin the process of
the consultations here, hearing from each and every faction, asking questions, and holding discussions." He added: "One thing must be clear, and I said this before the elections too: We must do everything we can, certainly after yesterday, to avoid another round of elections. So I expect everyone who comes here to come with an open mind." The president usually chooses the leader of the party with the most votes to put together a government, but isn't required to do so. Residents of one Arab city hope for change In Nazareth, one of Israel's largest Arab cities, the emerging election results bring some hope. Brosli Elias called the preliminary results indicating a strong showing for Arab-led parties excellent: "God willing, we will have something for us in the government, something that will bring us our rights." Residents cited rising crime and more job opportunities as central issues, but Awni Zoabi also thanked God for a possible return to rationality in a country where extreme rhetoric has increased. "You walk around today, and they don't want you in certain places to speak in the Arabic language," Zoabi said. "The Arabic language has become as if it were a crime."
Return of Machado
VENEZUELAN opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado greets supporters in Valencia, Venezuela, following her return to the country after months abroad, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. AP Photo/Pedro Mattey
Head of one Arab-led party speaks out Yousef Jabareen, leader of the Joint List of Arab parties, is calling for a "true and equal" Jewish-Arab partnership to help oust Netanyahu's government after a strong showing by Arab-led parties. "Against a government of bloodshed, against politics of supremacy, racism and exclusion, we offer a completely different alternative," Jabareen wrote in an X post that was deleted within minutes. Arab-led parties have long served in opposition to a system they believe is fundamentally unfair. Until
People in Gaza don't expect much to change People in Gaza were following the election results closely, hoping that anyone but Netanyahu will form the next government. "All of their policies toward Gaza are tough, but we choose the lesser of two evils," said resident Ayman Ahmed, who hoped that main challenger Gadi Eisenkot would prevail. Mohammed Abed said he didn't expect major changes no matter who is in power. "An Eisenkot victory will not dramatically change the situation, because their policies are almost similar," Abed said. "In the end, it will be the same." Israelis don't know what comes next Jerusalem resident Ran Cohen says Netanyahu should assemble a governing coalition because "he's the only one who knows how to do the job properly, knows how to speak to the world." Also in Jerusalem, Moshe Meri Cohen says Netanyahu and chief rival Eisenkot should form a unity government because Netanyahu "is a diplomat and Eisenkot brings a fresh perspective. Both are important." And Uzi Levy believes there will be another election to sort things out, "and then the people will come to their senses and choose correctly."
Mixed reactions to Israeli elections in the occupied West Bank A headline in one Arabic-language newspaper in the occupied West Bank says: "Arabs bring down Netanyahu." However, votes are still being counted and emotions are mixed after a significant showing by Arab-led parties. Palestinians in the West Bank had no vote on Tuesday, but they watched as Israel's Arab citizens did. "The Israeli elections will not change anything," said Khaled Shawar al-Tamimi in Hebron. "The two major parties, Yashar and Likud, are two sides of the same coin." But Fahed Ahmro from Hebron hoped for "a government of law that lifts the injustice that has befallen us over the past three years or during the previous regime of this oppressive and unjust government." Oman's top diplomat warns Israel over Iran Oman's foreign minister says that whoever is chosen as the next Israeli leader, they should "leave Iran alone" and focus on finding a just resolution to the Palestinian question. With tensions high in the region over the possibility of renewed American or Israeli attacks on Iran, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi told Britain's Channel 4 News on Tuesday that he hoped Iran and the United States would return to the negotiating table.
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Picture of the Day
Thursday, October 29, 2026, PAGE 15
ALL SMILES: Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis shares a special moment with His Majesty King Charles III yesterday during their visit to the Bahamas Boxing Academy. Day two of the King’s visit to The Bahamas took him to the boxing academy, where he met young boxers, coaches and parents and witnessed the development of a facility that aims to use the sport to build discipline and opportunities for young Bahamians. Photo: Shawn Hanna SEE SPORTS FOR THE FULL STORY
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Young athletes impress King at Bahamas Boxing Academy
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By JADE RUSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net KING Charles III burst out laughing yesterday when he was handed a T-shirt showing him as a boxing champion, complete with crown, gloves and title belt, during a visit to the Bahamas Boxing Academy. Before being handed the shirt, the king stopped to speak with children as he entered the academy and watched young boxers sparring in front of a host of dignitaries, including Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, US Ambassador Herschel Walker, Sports Minister Mario Bowleg and academy founder Nick Maughan, who was awarded a CBE by the king last year for services to philanthropy. The king seemed in no rush, spending time chatting with many of the youngsters at the event, including the two sparring partners,
Thursday, October 29, 2026, PAGE 17
Mario Goddard and Shantao Fernander, both 19, who said they had not expected
chasing their ambitions as The Bahamas works to raise the profile of boxing
The world-class facility, designed to empower young athletes and provide critical support to young people, was funded by Maughan after he was approached by the prime minister about opening an outlet for local youngsters. to meet him personally and were pleasantly surprised. They said he asked about their passion for the sport, and that the encounter encouraged them to keep
internationally. Before leaving, the king and the prime minister unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the royal visit.
SPORTS Minister Mario Bowleg presents a gift to King Charles III during his visit to the Bahamas Boxing Academy yesterday.
KING Charles III stops to speak with young people during his visit to the Bahamas Boxing Academy. Photos: Shawn Hanna The world-class facility, designed to empower young athletes and provide critical support to young people, was funded by Maughan after he was approached by the prime minister about opening an outlet for local youngsters. The academy trains boys and girls, aged eight to 18. It is based at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium Sports Centre in Nassau. It aims to develop young boxers through professional training and mentorship, and plans to offer nutritional guidance, academic help, mental health services and life skills training, as well as hosting national and regional competitions. It has also drawn on international expertise, including from Rick Ogden, co-founder of BoxWise UK, a non-profit that uses boxing to promote social mobility in underserved communities.
BAHAMAS Boxing Academy founder Nick Maughan shakes hands with King Charles.
BAHAMAS Boxing Academy founder Nick Maughan pictured with US Ambassador Herschel Walker.
Said Maughan: “Today our young people met their king at the Boxing Academy. It was a great honour to welcome His Majesty. These young people train here, study here and share so much together every day, guided by coaches who once boxed for the country. His Majesty took the time to see that for himself and we are incredibly grateful.” The shirt that made the king laugh was designed by Jermaine Gibson, vice-president of the Bahamas World Boxing Federation. It shows a cartoon of the king with a crown, gloves and a championship belt, with the Bahamian flag worked into the design. “I hope you like it,” Mr Gibson was heard telling the king as he handed it over. British reporters travelling with the King said he pointed at the shirts, laughed and replied: “How generous.”
Mr Gibson told The Tribune the visit was something the children would never forget, and that the academy had brought in a team of boxers from Grand Bahama to share in it. “This has been a long day coming. We’ve been battling for so long to get the eyes on boxing, you know what I mean. And with this, the world is going to see what the Bahamas is doing, and that’s one of the major things that we want,” he said. The king also had a private meeting with youngsters from the Ranfurly Homes for Children. Since 1959, the home has provided a safe, structured home for hundreds of Bahamian children who have been orphaned, abused, neglected or abandoned. It is the only private, non-affiliated children’s home in The Bahamas and is one of the largest.
PAGE 18, Thursday, October 29, 2026
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KING Charles III smiles during his visit to Government House yesterday.
Photos: Shawn Hanna
Governor General welcomes King ‘home to The Bahamas’ By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net GOVERNOR General Dame Cynthia “Mother” Pratt told King Charles III last night that she hoped his visit had shown him the “legendary hospitality” of the Bahamian people, as she wished him a long reign and welcomed him “home to The Bahamas”. “Your Majesty, may your reign, sir, be long. Let me say that loud so you can hear me good. Your Majesty, may your reign be long, blessed, and marked by peace across the Commonwealth,” Dame Cynthia said at a garden reception at Government House, one of the final engagements of the King’s three-day visit. King Charles smiled and laughed at several points during her speech. Addressing community leaders, government officials, union representatives and other guests, Dame Cynthia said she was honoured to welcome the King back more than 50 years after his last visit as Prince of Wales, when he represented his mother at the 1973 independence celebrations. It is his first visit as monarch since succeeding Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. “During your brief stay with us, you would have witnessed a modern Bahamas that cherishes its past while pressing forward toward a promising and productive future,” she said. She said she trusted the King had seen the country’s strength, creativity, deep-rooted traditions and passion for its culture, which she said told the story of who Bahamians are as a people. Dame Cynthia described
Governor General Dame Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt stands by the King along with Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis and his wife Ann Marie Davis.
Government House as an estate that has stood for more than two centuries as the official seat of state, welcoming monarchs and
world leaders, and welcomed the King as its latest guest. She said she hoped his visit would strengthen the bonds of friendship
between the Crown and The Bahamas. After the speeches, the King greeted guests including former prime ministers
Hubert Ingraham, Perry Christie and Dr Hubert Minnis, as well as representatives of the disability community, the creative industry and the health profession. The reception capped a packed day. The King toured the Royal Bahamas Defence Force base at Coral Harbour, where he laid a wreath for the four marines killed in the 1980 HMBS Flamingo attack, before visiting Bonefish Pond National Park and the Bahamas Boxing Academy. In Parliament Square, he joined a Junkanoo rush-out along Bay Street.
His visit has also drawn protests from the Rastafarian community and the Bahamas National Reparations Committee, who are demanding that Britain apologise and pay reparations for slavery. At Tuesday’s youth rally at Clifford Park, the King said it was “only right” to acknowledge “the great suffering and injustices of the past”, but stopped short of an apology. He leaves for Guyana today before travelling to Antigua and Barbuda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which runs from November 1 to 4.
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Thursday, October 29, 2026, PAGE 19
King Charles’ curiosity impresses conservationists at Bonefish Pond By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net KING Charles III asked so many questions during his tour of Bonefish Pond National Park yesterday that the head of the Bahamas National Trust said he “partially led the tour”. The King, who is patron of the BNT, quizzed conservationists about the park’s mangroves, the species that live among them and how the trees protect coastal communities from storm surges. “To be quite honest, I would say he partially led the tour because the questions that he asked and what he inquired on was really in alignment to what the tour centered itself around,” BNT executive director Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle said. Mrs Anderson-Rolle said one of the first things the King told the BNT team was that he was its patron. “He recognised that he is actually the patron of the Bahamas National Trust and so that was one of the first things he said to us was that ‘yes, I’m happy to meet you all. I am the patron of the BNT’,” she said. Bonefish Pond, on the southern coast of New Providence, protects 1,235 acres of coastal wetlands and is one of 33 national parks managed by the BNT. The park was created in 2002 on land that had been used as an illegal dumping ground, and it serves as a nursery for marine life. Before the tour, the King, dressed in a grey suit and sunglasses, briefly greeted Environment Minister Zane Lightbourne, Housing Minister Keith Bell and Minister of State for Immigration Darron Pickstock and discussed matters related to their ministries. He was then led through the park by New Providence parks manager Anwar Rolle. Local media were not allowed to accompany him on that part of the visit. The tour included a stop at a pavilion at the end of the park’s 650ft boardwalk, where students from LW Young High School, Bahamas Academy, Anatol Rodgers High School and CV Bethel Senior High School were kayaking and snorkelling among the mangroves and observing the species living among their prop roots. The King watched a demonstration of a withal collector, a device used to monitor species in the pond. “So what His Majesty was able to view would be some of the species, some of the marine life that typically makes their way into the creek before they grow and move out onto the reef system,” Mrs Anderson-Rolle said. She said the King was particularly interested in the students, asking how many visited the park and what activities they took part in. He also spoke with the head boy of Bahamas Academy, who was excited to meet him. “He was really engaged, and so we were really excited to be able to show him firsthand one of the 33 national parks that has
been entrusted to us to care for,” she said. Representatives of the Perry Institute for Marine Science, the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation and the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust also took part. The King helped unveil a plaque commemorating his visit, smiling afterwards, before planting a silver buttonwood, a tree associated with the mangrove ecosystem. It is one of three buttonwoods that will be planted in the area to mark the occasion. Lindy Knowles, the BNT’s acting director of science and policy, told him the buttonwood grows closer to land and is one of the last lines of defence against the sea, helping to shield coastal areas from the effects of climate change. The King asked whether the tree was resilient and how large it grew. Mr Knowles assured him it was hardy and showed him a fully grown buttonwood nearby. The King then scooped up soil and packed it around the newly planted tree. Mr Pickstock said the park was worth protecting. “It’s the last trove of mangroves in New Providence,” he said, “and so it’s important that we preserve this for future generations and so it is important for him to see, as he is the patron, what in fact is happening and what the BNT Bahamas National Trust is doing to preserve and protect the mangroves here.” Conservation has been a central theme of the King’s three-day visit, his first to The Bahamas as monarch. Shortly after arriving on Tuesday, he told young people at Clifford Park that low-lying island nations were especially vulnerable to rising seas and other climate threats, pointing out that 90 percent of The Bahamas’ land sits less than two metres above sea level. He urged young Bahamians to help build a sustainable future, drawing on more than 50 years of work with young people across the Commonwealth. Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the King’s interest in the environment was long-standing. “He’s very interested in the environment,” Mr Davis said. “His voice was one of the first voices to warn about climate change and its consequences from way back in the early 70s and so he went to Bonefish Pond so he can see some of the actual evidence of how climate change is impacting our small island.” Mr Davis said the visit had brought The Bahamas welcome international exposure, and that he had been getting calls from around the world about the King’s presence and the country’s hospitality. Asked about the cost of the royal visit, he said he did not know the total. Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has also declined to give a figure, saying only that the spending is appropriate and will not “break the bank”. The King travels to Guyana today, then to Antigua and Barbuda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting from November 1 to 4.
BNT xecutive director Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle walks alongside King Charles III during a tour of Bonefish Pond yesterday, where she said the king asked many questions. Photos: Nikia Charlton
PAGE 20, Thursday, October 29, 2026
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King Charles III tours RBDF’s Coral Harbour Base
KING Charles III visited the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s Coral Harbour Base yesterday, where he inspected officers, toured HMBS Lawrence Major and met with serving personnel and members of the National Youth Guard. The King also paid tribute to the four marines killed in the 1980 HMBS Flamingo attack, laying a wreath in their honour and speaking with their families. Photos: Tim Aylen/BIS