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Volume: 123 No. 235, Monday, November 2, 2026

THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1

‘A BILLION REASONS’ U.S. WANTS ITS SAY: WALKER And $1 billion Nine dead as Eleuthera-bound jet crashes in American investment means Freeport’s future not just domestic issue !"#$%&'()*#+,&&(&-. /012345#.678#)59:0650 !"#$$%$&'( )*%+#$,",-%./$,) US AMBASSADOR Herschel Walker has defended his decision to speak out against the government’s proposed changes to Freeport’s governance, insisting that the city’s future is not solely a domestic matter for The Bahamas when American companies have invested more than $1 billion in its development. “There’s more than one billion reasons that the future of Freeport is not only a ‘domestic’ matter for The Bahamas,” Mr Walker said in an apparent rebuke

of Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, who recently warned outsiders to stay out of the debate. Mr Walker said the investments represented thousands of jobs for Bahamians and Americans, adding that protecting those investments was part of his responsibility as ambassador. “My job as U.S. Ambassador is to look out for those investments, to look out for those families in The Bahamas and in the United States whose livelihoods depend on the success of these investments,” he said. His comments came after Mr Mitchell, in a voice note WALKER - SEE PAGE FOUR

Nine dead as Eleuthera0123,$45*6,",$)357%6%.!'3*,'85$-3)53.38!.$,36*.'93%$3)9,3.*,.3543:.!"3;,.693<5#$)=>3?!5*%-.>3=,'),*-.=/3 333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333@1:3:95)5A+70=#*>17?B AN Eleutherabound jet carrying nine people nose-dived into a South Florida neighborhood on Sunday, erupteding into a giant fireball that appeared to just miss homes before crashing near a busy roadway.

All passengers on board were killed, the nation's transportation secretary said. Video recorded by people inside their cars captured the terrifying moment the aircraft plunged from the sky, before striking near the

roadway and exploding. Flames flickered around chunks of pavement lining the crater as people milled about, expressing shock that it landed only feet from homes and only inches from passing vehicles. Thick black smoke engulfed the crash site.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted on X that the Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County at 12.50pm and called it a “horrific tragedy.” The Federal Aviation Administration is sending CRASH - SEE PAGE TWO

PM Davis open to our island Ex-PM nation becoming a republic disputes go-ahead on treasure hunt law ‘violation’ !"#*')%*$#!;<$*/012345#.678#)59:0650 ebowleg@ tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis says he is personally “quite agnostic” about whether The Bahamas should remove King Charles III as head of state, although he is open to the country becoming a

republic if that is the will of the Bahamian people. In an interview with the British TV news channel Sky News, Mr Davis said holding a referendum on the issue was not currently under consideration. The interview was released on October 30, a day after the king left The Bahamas.

PM PHILIP DAVIS

DAVIS - SEE PAGE THREE

Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper

• SEE BUSINESS section for the full story

PAGE 2, Monday, November 2, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

LAW enforcement officials respond to a plane crash in Palm Beach County Sunday, November 1, 2026.

(AP Photos/Mark Elias)

Nine dead as Eleuthera-bound jet nosedives into South Florida neighbourhood CRASH - FROM PAGE ONE a team to support the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation into the cause, he said. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the crash left a crater in the ground and spewed debris. There were no immediate reports of anyone on the ground injured or killed, he said. “It was a cataclysmic plane crash,” DeSantis told reporters at the scene on Sunday. “It looked like a missile going down and left a big crater on the side of the road.” Rain pounded the region on Sunday. A flood watch due to excessive rainfall was in effect through Monday afternoon, the National Weather Service said. The aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to the Bahamas, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Authorities did not immediately say what caused the jet to go down or who was on it. The plane was

heading east at 35,000 feet (about 11 kilometers) when pilots reported turbulence, icing and precipitation and requested to climb 2,000 feet (about 610 meters). Moments later, the plane entered a steep dive, first 10,000 feet per minute, then 20,000 feet per minute and up to 30,000 feet per minute, speeding the plane beyond its design limits, according to air traffic control recordings and flight tracking data. A pilot declared an emergency and issued distress calls. The plane banked sharply to the right before it crashed steeply into the ground. Minutes before the crash, the pilot reported ice accumulating on the jet and turbulence that was jolting it by as much as 700 feet, according to air traffic control recordings captured by LiveATC.net. “We have light, clear ice that is manageable and moderate turbulence,” the pilot told controllers. But the situation rapidly deteriorated. After encountering precipitation

THE moment the jet nosedives into the ground, killing all nine passengers aboard as it explodes into a fireball. and requesting to climb, the pilot declared an emergency as the aircraft began losing altitude at an alarming rate. “We’re descending 8,000 – mayday, mayday - we’re descending 10,000 feet per minute,”

the pilot radioed. “We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute,” the pilot radioed, before delivering a devastating acknowledgment of what was about to happen. “We’re going to crash into

the ground.” Jim Reynolds, a spokesperson for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, said it was a private aircraft. He could not immediately provide details about who was on the flight.

Local authorities are evacuating about 600 people from a nearby mobile home community while federal officials investigate the crash. The road will be closed until further notice, county officials said.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 2, 2026, PAGE 3

PM ‘quite agnostic’ about whether The Bahamas should remove King Charles III as head of state DAVIS - FROM PAGE ONE

PM and delegation in Antigua and Barbuda for Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting THE Commonwealth Heads of Government 2026 has officially begun in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. The meetings run through November 4. Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell, MP,

is part of a delegation led by Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis. Among The Bahamas’ agenda items at CHOGM 2026 are Intra Commonwealth trade, debt relief, poverty alleviation, climate change and the

World International Order. Minister Mitchell joined PM Davis at the Cathedral of St John the Divine at St John’s in Antigua and Barbuda for morning worship yesterday with Rev. Judith Archibald presiding.

Mr Davis said: “I was just elected in May this year. My mandate did not include a referendum on whether we should keep the king or not. So that’s not a question that I would I have on the table at this time.” The prime minister’s personal position neither favoured or opposed The Bahamas being a republic. “I’m quite agnostic about it. I mean, we have, the country has thrived. From 1973, when the king was here to where we are today. We have a tremendous advancement, development, and you can see how we have developed. So I’m very agnostic to the question. Again, I’m guided by the will of my people.” Asked directly whether he would be open to removing the king as head of state, Mr Davis replied: “I’m open to, yes”, but reiterated that he would be guided by the will of the people if the issue arose. He acknowledged that Bahamians remain divided over the country’s constitutional relationship with the monarchy. “I think we have some very passionate Bahamians who say we should be a republic equally,” he said. “We have many passionate Bahamians saying that we ought not to rid ourselves of part of our history. “For us to move to republic would require referendum. Referendum in this country is not fared well, but that question would be a question for our people.” His comments came amid renewed discussions about Britain’s historical involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and growing calls for an apology and reparations from the United Kingdom. Mr Davis said he would personally like King Charles to apologise for slavery, although he acknowledged that the monarch acts on advice. “I’d like to see him apologise again. That’s a personal a personal decision on his part after advice. At the end of the day, how repair would look once that is satisfactory, how it comes, I will be satisfied,” he said. He suggested that an apology could form part of a

broader process of redress, but maintained that reparations should not be limited to financial compensation. “I think acknowledgement, firstly, which we are, which has been the first step, which we have now recognized, acknowledgement, education, training, things of that nature. It could mean identifying.” He pointed to the historical export of cotton from Crooked Island and Long Cay, particularly Moss Plantation, to Liverpool. “The family might want to consider whether repair, but financial operation in and of itself I know could be challenging for a government.” “I mean, as a citizen, I would question why my tax paying payment ought to go to satisfy the debt of my ancestors 200 years ago, for an act that was deemed at the time, it was deemed. “I was told it was deemed, advisedly, lawful,” Mr Davis said. However, the prime minister rejected the notion that slavery was lawful and said critics of reparations in the UK must appreciate the historical burden that descendants of enslaved Africans continue to bear Mr Davis suggested that the British Royal Family could consider its historical links to the slave trade as part of reparatory justice, pointing to scholarships offered through the King’s Trust to Commonwealth citizens as one possible form of redress. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said over the weekend that he was open to a formal apology for his country’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, but ruled out financial reparations. He said he wanted a “dialogue with those affected” and was open to “calls for an apology”, but maintained that reparations were “not the right answer”. Separately, in a statement, Mr Davis said the Bahamian government welcomed the UK government’s expressed openness to discussions about an apology for slavery, describing it as a constructive development in the pursuit of reparatory justice. He said the development should be viewed against growing international recognition of the historical

injustices of slavery and their continuing consequences. Mr Davis highlighted a March 2026 United Nations General Assembly resolution recognising the trafficking and enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity. He said the resolution represented an important step in acknowledging the brutality of slavery and called for good-faith discussions on reparatory justice, including a formal apology and other appropriate measures of redress. The prime minister also pointed to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, where leaders agreed to pursue meaningful and respectful discussions on reparatory justice. He said The Bahamas looked to the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda as another opportunity to advance those discussions. Reflecting on the country’s history, Mr Davis noted that Long Cay and Crooked Island contributed significantly to cotton production for British mills during slavery. He also referenced the death of Poor Black Kate, remembered as a national heroine, as a reminder of the suffering endured by enslaved people in The Bahamas. “The Bahamas approaches this dialogue with a clear understanding that the issue is not simply one of historical remembrance. It concerns the enduring consequences of slavery and the importance of justice, acknowledgement and meaningful redress for the generations of Africans and their descendants who continue to live with its legacy.” “We must all meet the moment. The international community has made important progress in acknowledging this history and establishing a framework for meaningful engagement. The responsibility now rests with us to ensure that these developments translate into purposeful dialogue, genuine understanding and substantive outcomes.” He reaffirmed The Bahamas’ willingness to engage constructively with the United Kingdom and Commonwealth partners on the issue.

Baha Mar forecasts strong festive season !"#$%&'()*#+,&&(&-. /012345#.678#)59:0650 lmunnings@ tribunemedia.net BAHA Mar is anticipating a strong festive season and continued growth this year, with advance bookings for the first quarter of 2027 also showing positive signs, according to its vice president of government and external affairs, Robert Sands. Mr Sands said the resort had enjoyed an encouraging year despite occupancy levels easing during the traditionally slower summer and early autumn months, adding that its overall performance should be assessed across the year rather than during isolated periods. He also said the recent visit by King Charles III had strengthened The Bahamas' international profile and added credibility to the country as a tourism destination. The king's visit was the first by a reigning British monarch to The Bahamas in 53 years. “I think the king's visit brought additional equity to the Bahamas brand. Having the the sovereign of one of the strongest nations in the world visit our country for the first time in 53 years gives additional credibility to the Bahamas as a destination,” he said. “While we may not be able to put

a tangible number on on what that may generate in the future, the equity in the positiveness of our public relations has been compounded significantly by the visit of the king here to the Bahamas.” He said the benefits might not immediately translate into measurable tourism figures but would strengthen the country's international reputation and generate positive publicity. On bookings, he said it would be wrong to charactise summer levels as ‘slow,’ although they hadn’t been as high as at other traditionally ‘prime months,’ adding ‘certainly this has been a very good year.’ He said the resort had used the traditionally quieter months to attract visitors through special events and activities, including its Bahamas Culinary and Arts Festival and basketball tournaments. Mr Sands said Baha Mar was preparing for a ‘very robust and strong festive season,’ while advance bookings for the first quarter of next year were equally encouraging. Asked whether the resort expected occupancy levels to improve during the winter season, he replied: “Absolutely, they're shining stars.” However, he declined to provide specific occupancy figures, instead pointing to the resort's projected

year-end performance. “Let's not look at this in snippets. Let's look at the aggregate. I can tell you that our year-end result will be better than it was last year in positive numbers, and that's growth. And so we always focus on growth,” he said. His comments follow previous reports by The Tribune that Baha Mar was recording stronger-thanusual occupancy during the traditionally slower summer period. In July, the resort reported occupancy levels in the low 90 per cent range for June, with July and August bookings tracking between the high 80s and low 90s. By August, Mr Sands said occupancy between August 15 and mid-October was expected to be 10 to 15 per cent higher than during the same period last year. The resort had previously reported occupancy of approximately 30 per cent in September 2024, while September 2025 was projected to experience a 20 per cent decline compared with the previous year. Mr Sands also addressed concerns about rising operating costs, particularly as businesses increasingly rely on backup generators amid recurring outages by Bahamas Power and Light (BPL). In August, Mr Sands defended Baha Mar's

participation in efforts to ease pressure on the electricity grid by switching to standby generation when requested by BPL. At the time, he described the practice as “good corporate citizenry” and declined to disclose the resort's generator operating expenses. Asked whether Baha Mar was also experiencing increased operating costs amid the outages, Mr Sands said businesses had to find ways to manage expenses while maintaining the value offered to visitors.

He acknowledged that businesses would continue to face external pressures but said Baha Mar would have to introduce value-added offerings to ensure guests remained satisfied with the services they received. "We are always concerned about costs because costs impact the value of money that tourists believe is an important element of their stake. We live in a geopolitical world that things in practice are totally beyond control. We have to work around those

issues and put in place what we call value-added items, so that our guests can feel satisfied and they feel that they would also get value for money for the cost that they spend," he said. "So yes, we're going to be continuously living with these types of geopolitical impacts that impact us negatively. But we have to find a workaround to ensure that, notwithstanding those elements, we can still provide a hospitable service for our tourists once they visit us here in the Bahamas."

PAGE 4, Monday, November 2, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

AMBASSADOR WALKER: ‘A BILLION REASONS’ U.S. WANTS ITS SAY WALKER - FROM PAGE ONE last week, criticised outsiders for intervening in the dispute over the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA), describing it as a matter that was “none of their business”. Mr Mitchell insisted there were no foreign affairs implications and dismissed concerns about expropriation. Mr Walker rejected suggestions that his intervention was inappropriate. “When I speak out about the shared importance of transparency, regulatory certainty, and a stable investment climate it is not an ‘error’ (nor a fumble),” he said. “The United States is your biggest investor, your best customer, your most reliable partner, and your closest neighbor.” Mr Walker highlighted US investment in Grand Bahama and the American government’s financial interest in the island’s development. “American investment is helping drive Grand Bahama’s economic revitalization. More than $1 billion in U.S.-linked development projects are under way or completed, and other U.S. companies are actively working to invest in new projects in Grand Bahama,” he said. “The U.S. government also has a direct financial stake in Grand Bahama’s development. The U.S.

Export-Import Bank approved a loan guarantee exceeding $71 million to support the reopening of the South Riding Point energy terminal. EXIM is eager for more projects in The Bahamas.” The ambassador previously warned that Prime Minister Philip Davis’s proposed changes to Freeport’s governance risked sending investors the message that the rules could change after they had committed their money. Mr Davis announced last week that the existing governance arrangement would end, arguing that the 1955 Hawksbill Creek Agreement had outlived its usefulness. The GBPA has defended its record, with co-chairman Sarah St George highlighting its contributions to education, infrastructure and community development. Ms St George said the authority had provided more than $10m in scholarships and over $50m in donations, alongside constructing St George’s High School, Jack Hayward High School, Eight Mile Rock High School and several school gymnasiums. She also cited support for arts, music, sports and community organisations, as well as facilities gifted to the government, including the courthouse, police headquarters, Rand Memorial Hospital, Children’s Village and sports centre.

Ms St George defended the GBPA’s role in maintaining Freeport’s infrastructure, including roads, electricity and water systems, garbage collection, wastewater, drainage and building standards. She stressed that Freeport remained part of The Bahamas and that Bahamian sovereignty was respected under the existing arrangement. While acknowledging that Freeport had not reached its full potential, she expressed optimism about increased visitor arrivals and economic activity, urging cooperation rather than confrontation. “We can all work together. The menu doesn’t have to be either or, surf or turf. Why not both as envisioned in the agreement, knowing that the decision we made today will determine the opportunities of tomorrow,” she said. Ms St George also called for “inventive interaction, not active intervention”, warning against abandoning the existing framework without considering what could be lost. The competing positions come as the government opened a six-month public consultation yesterday on its proposed reforms. The Green Paper, Grand Bahama: A Framework for Stability and Growth, proposes establishing a Grand Bahama Development Council, reviewing the Hawksbill Creek

US AMBASSADOR HERSCHEL WALKER Agreement and introducing legislation to improve islandwide governance and regulatory accountability. The government has assured investors that

legitimate property, contractual and investment rights will be respected, with no retrospective interference. The consultation runs until April 30, 2027, with a

White Paper expected on July 1, 2027. The Hawksbill Creek Agreement, signed in 1955, is scheduled to remain in force until 2054.

UK’s stance on its role in the slave trade is shifting, but reparations are off the table !"#$%&'()#*+(# ),,-./0123#452,, LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he is open to making a formal apology for Britain's role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, a significant shift in the United Kingdom's position in a long-running debate on whether — and how — the country should right the wrongs of its past. Ahead of his meeting with Commonwealth leaders in the Caribbean this week, Burnham said it is the “right thing to do” to have an honest conversation about the legacies of slavery instead of “sticking our heads in the sand.” While he rejected calls for the U.K. to pay reparations, Burnham proposed leading a programme of debt restructuring to help the poorest countries in the Commonwealth, an association of 56 independent nations that grew out of the British Empire. His stance received a cautious welcome, but the thorny issue of repayments remains unresolved. “An apology is an essential first step," a trade bloc of Caribbean countries known as Caricom said in a statement Saturday in response to Burnham's comments. “But an apology without repair is incomplete.” The Netherlands in 2022 apologised for its role in the slave trade, but no country has paid financial reparations to nations affected by slavery or enslaved people and their descendants. The U.K. has never formally apologised for its role in the trade, though some British institutions including the Church of England have started to own up to the parts they played. • Here's a look at the history behind the debate and where things stand:

!"#$#%&'()*+)%,-.)!/0,123)45265()78)9:;,<,=)>?055?) ?:)2??5,-)?15);55@4.)*0<35)+<,<(?50(')A/5(?<:,()(5((<:,) <,)B204<235,?)<,)C:,-:,D)E5-,5(-2.D)FG?:H50)IJD)I8IKL ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))M%*)*1:?:N67-80,#95".7O Britain's role in the slave trade and its abolition Britain became involved in the slave trade in the mid-1500s, following Portugal and Spain. At its height, Britain was the world’s biggest slave-trading nation and transported more than three million Africans across the Atlantic. Goods were traded in West Africa for captured slaves who were shipped across the Atlantic to work on British sugar and tobacco plantations in the Caribbean and the Americas. Goods produced in the so-called New World were transported back to England. In the 17th century, the Royal African Company, established under King Charles II and run by his brother, who later became King James II, trafficked 80,000 African men, women and children to slavery in the Americas. About 20,000 died before the company's monopoly on the English slave trade ended in 1698, when any Englishman could trade slaves. An abolitionist movement arose in England in

the late 1700s, supported by Quakers, some politicians and former slaves. U.K. politicians have traditionally focused on the country’s role in banning the slave trade in 1807 and outlawing slavery throughout the British Empire in 1833, a movement that helped spur other abolitionist drives elsewhere. But Burnham said it is now time for the country to face up to the other side of the story. “We are a country where brave people led the way in abolishing slavery, but we are also a country that participated in the trade in human lives,” he wrote in a piece in the Guardian published Friday. Burnham rejects reparations, suggests debt relief instead For decades, Caribbean countries have demanded reparations from Britain. Studies estimate Britain would owe between hundreds of millions and trillions of dollars in compensation to descendants of slaves. Burnham rejected the idea, in keeping with BURNHAM - SEE PAGE FIVE

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 2, 2026, PAGE 5

Mitchell dismisses criticism that government’s proposed GB reforms could be ‘catastrophic’ Describes claim as ‘foolish, ill-conceived statement’

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell

UK PM proposes leading programme of debt restructuring to help poorest countries in the Commonwealth BURNHAM - FROM PAGE FOUR be apologising because it

previous U.K. governments. “I do not think that British people today can be held liable for historical wrongs, however heinous, that happened in a different age under different laws and in which they played no personal part,” he said. Instead, he said he will work with other wealthy nations and investors to help poorer countries repay their high levels of debt over a longer period and at lower interest rates. Burnham said he is bringing in former Prime Minister Gordon Brown to help with this work. King Charles III, who is on a nine-day visit to the Caribbean, acknowledged “the great suffering and injustices of the past” this week. But the king, who remains head of state of several Caribbean nations, did not go further in addressing direct demands from the region’s leaders for an apology and reparations. Meanwhile, the opposition Conservative Party argued that Britain should not even offer an apology. “I don’t think that Andy Burnham needs to

is a lever to wedge open the door to ask for cash,” Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said yesterday. Caribbean nations welcome prospect of an apology but maintain reparations demands Philip J. Pierre, the prime minister of Saint Lucia and chair of Caricom, said he welcomed Burnham’s consideration of a formal apology and his offer of a “structured dialogue” with affected nations. “No British prime minister has gone this far before ... we are ready to engage,” he wrote. But he added: “A dialogue that begins by placing reparations outside the room cannot be a complete dialogue.” Pierre reiterated that Caribbean nations are seeking education and public health improvements; development programmes for Indigenous people; repatriation and resettlement for those seeking to live in their homeland; debt cancellation and monetary compensation, among other things. “Debt relief, however welcome, cannot be offered as a substitute for reparatory justice,” he said.

1)*(/*,2345*,&467/)%!3488894%!:(94/,.4;+</,/234=)*-!4>*,*3(!)4 >/)?4 @,(7#,<4 =7*%%*A94 )*&7(94 /((!,.4 /4 $)!/(7B%/<*,&4 C!)!B -#,<4 /(4 (7!4 6#--#,$!/%(74 D/)4 ;)/E!34 *,4 ;!#)&!(#$,94 ;+</,/94F)*./<94GC(#"!)4HI94JIJK04 44444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444L@=4=7#(#M92:518#*.::.5;<N

!"#$%&'$(#!)*($+ ,-./012#3456#&278-42!"#$%!&'()*"+,!-!.*/0,!( FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has dismissed criticism that the government's proposed reforms for Grand Bahama could be “catastrophic”, describing the claim as a “foolish, ill-conceived statement”. His comments came after The Nassau Guardian reported that former Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce president Dillon Knowles warned that “pulling the thread” on the Hawksbill Creek Agreement could prove “catastrophic” for Grand Bahama. Mr Mitchell accused critics of the Davis administration's proposed reforms for Freeport of spreading fear and making claims without any factual basis. “A bold step is being taken to shape the future by the government of the Bahamas, but it appears that we are beset on every side,” he said. “I’ve been mining the commentary on the announcement about Grand Bahama since the prime minister made it last week, and what struck me is one of the critics described the proposed changes for Freeport as catastrophic. “That is a foolish, ill-conceived statement that has no basis in fact. It is clear that those who describe the policy as catastrophic do not understand the meaning of the word catastrophic.”

He added: “This is clearly one of those times when those who use the word catastrophic should remain silent, and this is a time when those who hear the word catastrophic should speak up on this side of the divide and call it what it is — a contemptible, damnable lie.” Last month, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis declared that the current system of governing Freeport under the 71-year-old Hawksbill Creek Agreement would come to an end, describing the arrangement as colonial and insisting that reform was non-negotiable. The government subsequently published a Green Paper outlining proposed reforms, including a review of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement and a new Grand Bahama Development Act aimed at modernising governance and promoting island-wide growth. Mr Mitchell noted that the prime minister delivered his speech at a private, foreign-owned company that ranks among Grand Bahama's largest employers, arguing that this demonstrated there was no threat to the private sector or foreign investors. “Clearly, there was no foreign affairs implication in the speech, and there's no threat of expropriation,” he said. “The non-national investors sat, heard what the prime minister said, offered no hyperbolic response or comment.”

Mr Mitchell also accused opponents of the reforms of advancing political talking points associated with the Free National Movement. He criticised The Nassau Guardian and its executive editor, accusing them of creating unnecessary fears about the proposed changes. Mr Mitchell urged Bahamians to defend the government's position rather than remain silent in the face of criticism. “Bahamians, it's time just to stand up and remember this: what they said in Nazi Germany. First, they came for the communists. I was not a communist, so I said nothing. Then they came for the Social Democrats. I was not one of those, so I said nothing.” “Then the trade unions and the Jews. I was not one of them, so I said nothing. Then they came for us, substitute Bahamians, and there was no one left to speak up for us.” He concluded: “Please speak up for The Bahamas.” The government has launched a six-month public consultation, running from November 1, 2026, to April 30, 2027, to gather feedback on the proposed reforms. Following the consultation period, the government is targeting the publication of a White Paper on July 1, 2027, with legislation expected to be brought forward for passage during the first quarter of 2028.

PAGE 6, Monday, November 2, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

LEON E. H. DUPUCH, SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

AS I was stating in a previous piece, it is my viewpoint that the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) opened the door to the sweeping reforms outlined by Davis when it allowed the Free National Movement (FNM) government under then Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis to purchase the Grand Bahama International Airport in April 2021 for $1 and the struggling Grand Lucayan Resort from Hutchinson Whampoa in August 2018 for $65 million. This viewpoint has been reinforced by a February 18, 2026 Tribune article that states that the Davis administration had planned “to use its powers under the Acquisition of Land Act” to force the sale of the iconic International Bazaar for a purchase price of $1.5 million.

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991 RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,

C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-

Published daily Monday to Friday

Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax

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The senator Pintard chose Michael Pintard called Shanendon Cartwright his right hand. When a seat in the Senate was his to recommend, he found room for Rick Fox and none for his deputy. Now the senator is using the very floor Mr Pintard gave him to announce his leadership ambitions. “An ally with ambition is no ally at all.” Mr Fox has declared that he will seek a leadership position in the Free National Movement. He has not said which one. It would be premature to say he has challenged Mr Pintard for the top job. The political sting, however, is real. If passing over Mr Cartwright was meant to limit the rise of a potential rival, the calculation has backfired. Mr Pintard gave one man a national platform, left the other free to contest the convention, and now faces pressure from both directions. From the leader’s chair, that must look rather like a stab in the back. From the public’s side of the Senate door, it looks like a failure of political judgment. What, exactly, had Mr Fox demonstrated before his appointment that made him a better choice than the party’s own deputy? Mr Fox grew up in Stapledon Gardens and returned home in 2021. His Bahamian roots are not in question. His political preparation is. May was the first time he voted in a Bahamian election. He lost Garden Hills badly. Within months he was in the Senate declaring himself ready for party leadership. He says he wants to develop new leaders. It is fair to ask what the FNM did to develop him before deciding he was ready to develop anybody else. That question belongs as much to Mr Pintard as it does to Mr Fox. The FNM won eight of 41 seats in May. A leader answers for the defeat he presided over and for the condition in which he leaves his party. In Mr Pintard’s case, the second may prove the more lasting injury. Rebuilding constituency associations, preparing candidates and earning back voters takes years. Every month spent settling who may challenge him is a month his successor cannot recover.

Consider the alternatives. Kwasi Thompson brings experience, though it is difficult to see him exciting a disheartened base, much less the country. Lincoln Deal has something Mr Fox lacks: the confidence of a constituency that elected him. Whether his appeal in Freetown travels much further remains an open question. Dr Andre Rollins can fire up supporters from the floor of the House. His harder contest may be with party power brokers if they conclude he will be difficult to control. Of those three, only Dr Rollins has been reported as telling Mr Pintard he was considering a challenge. And as we’re written in here before, it appears that only Dr Rollins had the testicular fortitude to question what went wrong in the last general election during the party’s recent “conclave”. Who else might serve? There are men and women outside the House of Assembly who no doubt deserve a hearing. The best reason for an open convention is that the FNM may have dynamic faces unseen for the Bahamian people to consider. After all, the party’s leader does not technically have to come from within the halls of Parliament or the Senate. Before delegates choose, they deserve a proper election post-mortem. Put the constituency results beside the consultants’ findings. Let the people who knocked on doors say what they heard. Ask defeated candidates when they knew the campaign was in trouble, whom they told and what the leadership did about it. Publish the conclusions, including any that reflect poorly on Mr Pintard. A party that blames absent supporters owes them at least the courtesy of asking why they stayed home. Central Council has set April 30, 2027, as the latest date for the convention. The FNM has been dragged to this reckoning. Every contender should have to explain what went wrong in May, what part they played and what they would do differently. Bahamians deciding whether to trust this party again have a better question than who deserves Michael Pintard’s job: what has the FNM learned that would make worthy of their vote in the future?

Stop vaping - Choose life Dear Editor, I write as a concerned grandparent living red here in Nassau, deeply worried about the rise of vaping among our young people. As grandparents, we have lived long enough to see fashions come and go, from bell bottoms to skinny legs, but this vaping trend is different. This is not fashion. It is addiction. I remember the 1980s and 1990s when crack cocaine almost wiped out a generation of young Bahamian men and women. I watched families torn apart, young lives lost, and whole communities left broken. As a nation, we said, “never again.” I see the same pattern now — a highly addictive substance, marketed to our youth, being normalized before we understand the full damage. While vaping is not the same as crack, addiction is addiction, and history teaches us that when we ignore the early warning signs, we pay a heavy price. Today, bright, sweet-smelling vapes that look like highlighters are

Is this the beginning of the end of the Grand Bahama Port Authority? PART #2

being sold as harmless. They are not harmless. Most contain high levels of nicotine, a highly addictive drug. A single pod can equal a full pack of 20 cigarettes. Our children are getting hooked fast, often without understanding what is happening to them. I see the changes with my own eyes. Young people who were once focused and full of energy are now anxious, irritable, and unable to sit through class without needing to vape. Young employees on the job are hiding in the restrooms to vape. Parents tell me their children cannot sleep, cannot concentrate on their B.J.C.s and B.G.C.S.E.s, and are spending lunch money on pods. The health consequences are real. Vaping inflames and damages the lungs, causing persistent coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and a higher risk of illness. In the United States, about 5% of schoolchildren now vape, down from 20% at the peak, but here in The Bahamas we are seeing

the numbers rise as these cheap, flavored vapes flood our corner stores. God gave us fresh Bahamian sea air to breathe. Why are we letting our children fill their lungs with chemicals? As a grandparent, what worries me most is the brain. A child’s brain continues developing into their mid-20s. Nicotine damages memory, learning, focus, and decision-making. It increases anxiety and depression. These are the years they need to be sharp and on their game. To our youth, I say as your grandma and grandpa: You are worth more than a vape cloud. You are our pride, our future doctors, teachers, fishermen, and more. Please, do not let a company that does not know your name or love you steal your health and your future. Choose life. Breathe free.wqw To other grandparents, parents, teachers, and pastors: Let us talk to our children with love, not just scolding. We have been down the road of addiction

And no one can forget the landmark rulings by an arbitration tribunal in early 2026 that, while it rejected the government’s claims of being owed the hefty sum of $357 million by the GBPA, dismissed seven of the eight counterclaims by the GBPA, inclusive of it having the sole right to administer licensing, customs, immigration, land sales and being the sole regulator for utilities in Freeport. The arbitration tribunal effectively diminished the GBPA in the eyes of the Davis administration, which I believe, led to it becoming emboldened to go for the proverbial kill. The three foregoing acquisitions, in addition to the tribunal rulings, have opened the door for the central government to elbow the GBPA out of the way in Freeport. I am of the belief that had the GBPA taken the bull by the horn with respect to the purchasing of the Grand Lucayan Resort

LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net and the GB International Airport; we wouldn’t be having this discussion about its future. The GBPA, at least up until the death of Mr Edward St George in December 2004, was a very effective quasi-government that built a modern city replete with a nice network of roads and an infrastructure that is the envy of The Bahamas. St George was a talented negotiator who had international clout, as evidenced by the many investments he wooed to Freeport. Since his death, Freeport has deteriorated significantly, to the point it is no longer dubbed the Magic City. Notwithstanding its decline, the City of Freeport is far more advanced than Marsh Harbor in Abaco, Alice Town in Bimini, Georgetown in Exuma; Spanish Wells, Harbor Island and Nicholls Town in North Andros. Yet many of these Family Island capitals are flourishing from the tourism boom in a post COVID-19 environment while the City of Freeport remains in steep decline economically, despite the many predictions of an economic boom on the horizon. Carnival Key hasn’t moved the economic needle in a tourism sector lagging far behind Nassau, Paradise Island, Bimini, Abaco and Exuma. Grand Bahamians are wary of Freeport becoming overcrowded like Nassau; that is not zoned properly like Freeport. In Freeport, you cannot build a cemetery next door to a housing subdivision, like in New Providence where huge shopping centers, bar rooms, roadside mechanic garages are sitting next to

housing subdivisions. The layout of Nassau is jumbled, scattershot and confusing. But this is really no fault of the Bahamian government in post Majority Rule Nassau. Nassau is an ancient city that is 356 years old --older than Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. Freeport, on the other hand, is only 71 yearsold. Those who are against the reforms proposed by Davis point to the lack of development in East and West Grand Bahama. This is a valid criticism, although one can argue that West End was once the capital of Grand Bahama that fell victim to the rapid emergence of Freeport. But even these critics cannot deny that the central government has wooed big time investors to the capital. Some parts of Nassau reminds this writer of Fort Lauderdale, especially the area near the Margaritaville Resort. This writer does not want to see the GBPA come to an end. I am hoping that those who are pro-GBPA will not suffer any political retaliation by PLP fanatics who are demanding reparations from the St George and Hayward families. The GBPA and the PLP government should both sit at the table and discuss the reforms in an amicable manner. Change is most definitely needed. Freeport cannot continue lagging behind the rest of The Bahamas. Far too many Grand Bahamians have fallen into poverty. Far too many businesses have gone belly up. There is a world in which the GBPA and the government can coexist, even under a new dispensation. KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama October 28, 2026.

International diplomacy-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!! ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, October 28, 2026.

Residents call for action on power reporting EDITOR, The Tribune. Dear BPL Please stop asking us to report power outages on

your social media and service hub etc. It would be far less overwhelming, lengthy, tedious and stressful on you and your systems for us to

report where the power is on: Bankrupt Powerless Liars

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 2, 2026, PAGE 7

Tourist accuses immigration authorities of holding her in ‘inhumane’ conditions !"#'%6*'(#!9:('; +,-./01#2345#6178,31, ebowleg@ tribunemedia.net AN American tourist has accused Bahamian immigration authorities of holding her in “inhumane” conditions after she was arrested for marijuana possession during a cruise stop in Grand Bahama. The woman, who shared her experience on TikTok under the account name Shay Peezy, claimed she was detained in an overcrowded facility infested with rats, where detainees endured oppressive heat and inadequate sleeping arrangements. She also alleged she spent thousands of dollars on fines, flights and emergency travel documents before returning to the United States. However, Immigration Director Stephen Laroda said the woman remained in immigration custody following her criminal conviction because she had entered The Bahamas without a passport and could not return to her cruise ship. He said officials had to arrange her travel to Nassau so she could

obtain emergency travel documents from the US Embassy. The woman said she and her boyfriend had travelled aboard a Carnival cruise using her identification card and birth certificate rather than passports. Mr Laroda noted that some cruise ships operate under an agreement allowing US citizens to travel without passports. According to her account, the trouble began when the couple disembarked in Freeport and joined another couple in arranging a taxi to purchase marijuana. She claimed the driver handled the transaction and passengers never left the vehicle to buy the drugs themselves. However, she was stopped at a security checkpoint at Celebration Key, where officers discovered marijuana in her bag. The woman estimated the amount was slightly more than seven grams. She said officers told her marijuana was illegal in The Bahamas, regardless of the quantity. Authorities subsequently searched the couple’s cruise cabin but reportedly found nothing else. She said she initially expected to post bail, pay

a fine and arrange a flight home. Her boyfriend was not detained and offered to remain with her at a hotel, but she said he was told the US Embassy would not accommodate him. Instead, she spent the night in police custody in Freeport, where she claimed she could not make international calls and had little more than a narrow concrete slab on which to sleep. She eventually appeared in court without a lawyer after being advised that securing legal representation could delay proceedings for several days. She pleaded guilty and paid a $500 fine rather than face what she understood could be a two-month prison sentence. However, she said her ordeal continued after the court proceedings. She was instructed to purchase an airline ticket from Freeport to Nassau, believing she was being taken to the US Embassy to obtain travel documents. Instead, she said, she was handed over to immigration officers and taken for immigration processing.

She described the detention centre as a large dormitory, claiming it housed approximately 35 Haitian nationals, 25 Chinese nationals and several other foreign nationals, including herself as the only American. She alleged there was no air conditioning, large rats ran through the facility and some detainees had to sleep on the floor because of inadequate arrangements. She also complained about food distribution, claiming meals were handed out in buckets and detainees had to compete to obtain portions. “It’s also no air conditioning, so they just got all the doors to the dorm open and all the windows open,” she said. “That place is terrible,” she added. The woman eventually obtained passport photographs and completed the necessary paperwork through the US Embassy, paying for an expedited emergency passport. She subsequently purchased a flight to Miami, with immigration officers escorting her through the airport and accompanying her to her departing flight.

She said her expenses exceeded $1,000, in addition to the $500 fine imposed by Carnival, although she later described the overall cost of the ordeal as thousands of dollars. She said she was speaking publicly to warn other visitors rather than seek sympathy or financial assistance. “I don’t need y’all to feel sorry for me because it already happened. I’ve spent thousands of dollars to get back home,” she said. “I’m strictly doing this because what the f*** is going on over there is wrong. It’s inhumane, and I genuinely don’t think it’s legal.” Responding, Mr Laroda said the woman had to travel to Nassau because she did not have a passport and could not return to her cruise ship. Although she had paid her court fine, he said, she remained in the custody of the Department of Immigration following her conviction and was not free to move around the country. Immigration officials facilitated the process of obtaining her emergency travel documents while she remained in custody,

he said, adding that the arrangements could not be completed within 30 minutes. Mr Laroda said people subject to removal from The Bahamas are generally responsible for their own travel expenses and that the US Embassy is not ordinarily obligated to provide airfare or financial assistance. He noted that the Government spends more than $2m annually on removing people from the country. Addressing complaints about detention centre conditions, Mr Laroda said the department has an ongoing programme to improve its facilities. He also suggested detainees contributed to the challenges by damaging the premises. “The persons that we have in custody, they’re not happy to be in custody. As much as possible, they try to cause as much chaos and mayhem and destruction,” he said. “When they move from the detention centre, they’re not cleaning the place up before they leave. They’re doing as much chaos and destruction as they can before they leave.”

Man acquitted of 2014 Mason’s Addition murder !"#$%&'(#!%)('* +,-./01#2345#6178,31, !"#$%&'()*$"+,&-&.$#/,&) A MAN was acquitted of a 2014 murder in Mason’s Addition in which the victim was shot twice in

the head. Kirkwood Rolle, 35, was unanimously found not guilty of murder by a nine-member jury after several hours of deliberation. Justice Roberto Reckley told Rolle he was free to go, provided he had no

other matters before the court. Prosecutors alleged that Rolle shot Clarence “Drops” Newry Coakley in the head as he sat behind a house on Saxon’s Way in Mason’s Addition on May 7, 2014.

Armed robbery accused admits breaching bail conditions !"#$%&'(#!%)('* +,-./01#2345#6178,31, !"#$%&'()*$"+,&-&.$#/,&) A MAN awaiting trial for armed robbery and attempted murder admitted to breaching his bail conditions by failing to report to police for 122 days. Lavardo Dean, 25, failed to sign in at his local police station between

June 28 and October 27 in New Providence. He also breached his curfew at 3.14am on October 28. Dean was on Supreme Court bail on charges of armed robbery, attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He and accomplices, allegedly armed with a silver handgun, are accused of robbing Omar Clarke

of $700 in cash on the night of August 2, 2024. Dean pleaded guilty to two counts of violation of bail conditions before Magistrate Abigail Farrington. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his sentencing on November 15. Assistant Superintendent of Police Kendrick Bauld prosecuted the case.

Coakley, who was wearing an electronic monitoring device at the time, died at the scene. The gunman reportedly fled on foot. Testimony from an anonymous witness was entered into evidence, claiming that after hearing gunshots, the witness saw Rolle, dressed in all black and holding a

gun, running towards and entering a car. Rolle maintained his innocence throughout the trial, insisting he was nowhere near the scene of the shooting. During closing arguments, the prosecution sought to discredit the testimony of Marvinique, a witness who provided Rolle with an alibi.

Prosecutors argued that she had not told police she was with Rolle at Smith’s Motel on the night of the murder and had only come forward 12 years later. They also characterised her testimony as inconsistent. Kristin Butler-Beneby prosecuted the case, while Marianne Cadet represented Rolle.

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PAGE 8, Monday, November 2, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

Armed robber steals Eight month SUV containing cash prison sentence and luggage from over $7,000 airport-bound travellers marijuana COURT NEWS

POLICE are investigating an armed robbery in Pinewood Gardens early Saturday morning in which a gunman sprayed three men with a chemical substance before stealing their vehicle containing a large quantity of cash, electronic devices and official documents. According to police, the incident occurred around 5.30am on October 31 on Breadfruit Street, where a man was seated inside his vehicle preparing to transport two other men to the airport. An armed man approached the vehicle and allegedly sprayed a chemical substance into

the occupants' faces before ordering them out and instructing them to lie on the ground. The victims complied, after which the suspect drove off in the complainant's white 2013 Nissan X-Trail, licence plate AF4450. Police said the vehicle contained the victims' luggage, including a large quantity of cash, electronic devices and official documents. Meanwhile, police are investigating a separate robbery in the Sandyport area on Saturday morning in which a man was assaulted with a piece of

wood after being robbed of his cellphone and cash. Shortly before 10am, the victim reported to the Cable Beach Police Station that he had been waiting at a bus stop near Sandyport on West Bay Street when two unknown men approached him. The suspects allegedly restrained his hands, searched his pockets and stole his cellphone and a quantity of cash. One of the suspects then allegedly struck him with a piece of wood, causing injuries. Emergency Medical Services personnel later attended the police station

and provided medical treatment to the victim. One suspect was described as tall and slim, with a low haircut, wearing a dark blue shirt and long black pants. The second suspect was described as short, dark-complexioned, with a low haircut, wearing a blue shirt and dark blue shorts. Police are appealing to anyone with information about either incident to contact 911, 919, the Criminal Investigation Department at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS (8477). Investigations into both incidents are continuing.

seizure !"#;*<%=#!*'=%+ /012345#(9>?#:5780950 !"#$%&'()*$"+,&-&.$#/,&) A MAN was sentenced to eight months in prison on Friday after he was found with $7,000 worth of marijuana last week. Jamal Edgecombe, 33, was found in possession of 3.5lbs of hydroponic marijuana in New Providence on October 29. Edgecombe pleaded guilty to possession of

dangerous drugs with intent to supply before Acting Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans. After Edgecombe accepted sole responsibility for the drugs, the charge against his co-accused, Pedronique Brown, 25, was withdrawn. Edgecombe was sentenced to eight months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Inspector Deon Barr prosecuted the case.

Veteran says Junkanoo museum could create 50 jobs with more help JUNKANOO veteran Quinton “Barabbas” Woodside says his museum could create up to 50 jobs and expand its cultural programmes for young people if the government and tourism industry provided greater support. The 65-year-old founder of Junkanoo World Museum & Arts Centre said the facility has struggled to attract sufficient visitors despite Nassau’s booming cruise tourism industry, leaving him and his family to shoulder much of the cost of preserving traditional Junkanoo craftsmanship and providing free instruction to children. “We could hire at least 40 to 50 persons if it runs properly,” Mr Woodside said, pointing to potential employment for chefs, waitresses, bartenders, bus drivers and other workers. He called for stronger collaboration with tour operators, taxi drivers and tourism officials, arguing that the museum could become a greater economic and cultural asset while providing opportunities for young Bahamians. Although the museum welcomes visitors and offers cultural demonstrations, Mr Woodside said too few tourists are being directed to the facility, despite the large numbers of cruise passengers visiting Nassau. He said existing arrangements with tour operators have not generated sufficient visitor traffic to support an expansion of the museum's operations. “We have Majestic Tours when they come on Wednesday. That's not enough. Then we have the jeep tour comes when they get a couple people. That's not enough,” he said. The museum has also attempted to attract more visitors through Friday

night cultural performances featuring children involved in its programmes. However, Mr Woodside acknowledged that the initiative struggled to attract paying audiences after an initially successful free event. Mr Woodside questioned why cultural practitioners who spend their own money supporting young people receive what he considers insufficient government assistance, arguing that greater investment in community programmes would help preserve Junkanoo while providing opportunities for children. “You should find an avenue to work with that person, because it's not only you giving them money; they're bringing money into the country,” he said. Mr Woodside said he had raised the issue during discussions with Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Leslia Miller-Brice, whom he credited with holding meetings to better understand the needs of cultural practitioners. “I think she's gonna do well. To me, I think she's gonna do well,” he said. “However, you have other people in office who don't know how to do anything, or like that's too much money to do this, or too much money to do that, or he shouldn't have that money, or she shouldn't have that amount, and they don't know what it requires.” Keeping the museum operating has come at a considerable personal cost, with much of the financial burden falling on Mr Woodside and his family. He explained that he relies heavily on income from his upstairs shop, which sells costume materials, along with whatever assistance he can secure.

0123425567&)&*#,68+$,)9,6:;#*#""#<=6>99.<$.&?6@A?6B9+,.&*69B60+,C#,996>9*%.6D+E <&+-6F64*)<6G&,)*&/ “I don't have a large staff. My family support me, and a lot of them I can't even pay them what they deserve,” he said. He credited his family and neighbours with helping to sustain the museum, explaining that some continue to lend a hand even when he cannot afford to compensate them. The financial pressure is compounded by his efforts to help struggling families in surrounding communities, including some whose children attend the museum. Mr Woodside said he regularly provides groceries, food and financial assistance to people in need, sometimes helping families obtain medication. “Some of our children come in here; their parents need help, and we do that,” he said. Despite those difficulties, he insisted he would continue finding ways to sustain the museum rather than abandon the children and families who have come to depend on it. Mr Woodside traced the museum's roots to a Junkanoo shack with a history spanning approximately 50

years, explaining that the property eventually developed into an educational camp where children could learn the traditions passed down to him. He said the facility has continued to develop over the past three decades, providing children with opportunities to learn costume pasting, drum making and cowbell crafting. Over the years, it has also become a gathering place for young people from surrounding communities, where they receive guidance, learn practical skills and develop relationships that sometimes span generations. “Some of their parents grew up here. Some of their grandmothers went to school with me,” Mr Woodside said. “It's a joy to work with them to show them the right thing.” The museum's outreach has also included children with disabilities, with Mr Woodside describing activities involving autistic and deaf children, including some who have participated in Junkanoo rush-outs alongside him. He said the institution has worked with charitable

organisations, including the Rotary Club, while its community initiatives have also extended to assisting people with mobility challenges. During a tour of the property, Mr Woodside showed The Tribune an area where his stepson teaches welding, before demonstrating where children learn the traditional craft of goatskin drum making, from soaking and cleaning the skins to preparing them for use in the instruments. Mr Woodside said the Ministry of Culture also sends children to the facility during the summer to learn those skills, providing him with a stipend for the programme. However, children who visit the museum independently are not charged for instruction. Beyond Junkanoo, he said children receive guidance on discipline, schoolwork, personal responsibility and how to conduct themselves when interacting with others. Mr Woodside recalled watching some of the young people who passed through the facility grow into teachers, preachers, politicians and other professionals.

“When you think about teachers and preachers and welders and politicians grow up right here in this yard, we do need help to continue that,” he said. For Mr Woodside, the museum's work is also about preserving the knowledge of the cultural icons who helped shape Junkanoo. Walking through the facility, he pointed to photographs of Gus Cooper, Paul Knowles and Sammy Thompson, recalling the contributions of the veteran practitioners who taught him the traditions he now passes on to younger generations. “All of the leaders who taught me has passed on,” Mr Woodside said. He described those practitioners as his teachers and said their passing had strengthened his determination to ensure their knowledge was not lost. “They are my teachers. I learn from them. Now that's why I want to continue to teach these young ones and show them the other part of it,” he said. Mr Woodside said the museum's potential remains largely untapped and hopes greater investment and stronger relationships with the tourism industry will eventually allow him to expand its operations. He has spent years finding ways to keep the institution going, relying on his own resourcefulness, relatives and supporters at home and abroad. Even as he acknowledged the financial difficulties, he remained determined to continue teaching young people the traditions passed down to him. “We have to be proud of what we do. We got to keep fighting until the message get to the right set of people,” he said.

GB students explore career opportunities at fair !"#$%&'(%#)*+,-,.# /012345#60557809# :5780950# dmaycock@ tribunemedia.net HIGH school students on Grand Bahama explored a wide range of professions at a career fair organised by St George’s High School to expose them to opportunities available on the island. Held under the theme “What's Your Color?”, the event took place on Thursday in the school’s gymnasium, bringing together students in Grades 9 through 12 from several public schools, including Sister Mary Patricia Junior High and Jack Hayward High.

Students interacted with professionals from various fields, with career paths represented by seven colours to help them make informed decisions about their futures using a seven-colour career passport. Representatives from the private sector, government agencies and educational institutions participated, including The Tribune, ZNS Northern Service, Grand Bahama Power Company, the Freeport Meteorological Office, Sanctuary Bay, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Grand Bahama Health Services, the University of The Bahamas, Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), Cable Bahamas,

the Insurance Commission, the Department of Social Services and Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority (BANSA). Guidance counsellor Carlene Davis-Williams said the initiative was designed to take a different approach to traditional career fairs, where only a limited number of students may have the opportunity to attend. “Usually, when there’s a career fair, a lot of kids don’t get an opportunity to visit the fair. “So, we decided to bring the fair to the students,” she said. She explained that the event used colours to represent different career

clusters, allowing students to identify areas of interest and explore professions associated with each category. "The idea was to make career exploration more engaging and encourage students to conduct their own research into the fields that interest them," she said. Ms Davis-Williams thanked the Grand Bahama organisations that participated, providing information, interactive sessions and demonstrations. She said representatives from a diverse range of professions were invited, including the Freeport Meteorological Office,

which introduced students to meteorology and career opportunities in the field. Sanctuary Bay, which fell under the green category, provided information for students interested in marine biology, while BANSA introduced them to various aviation careers, including air traffic services and airport operations. Ms Davis-Williams said this year’s event was expanded to include Grade 9 students. “We wanted them to begin exploring career options before transitioning to senior high school, particularly because many young people are still uncertain about what they want to pursue,” she said.

She stressed the importance of career fairs in exposing students to professions they may not have previously considered. “When you ask some students what they want to become, they often say a lawyer or a doctor,” she said. “The career fair provides an opportunity to broaden their horizons and spark an interest in professions they may not have previously considered,” said Davis-Williams . Ms Davis-Williams said the initiative helped students better understand the career opportunities available to them so they could begin planning for their futures while still in school.

PAGE 8, Monday, November 2, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

Armed robber steals Eight month SUV containing cash prison sentence and luggage from over $7,000 airport-bound travellers marijuana COURT NEWS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2026

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

World View • Sir Ronald Sanders

A divided world:

a Commonwealth opportunity

WHEN Commonwealth leaders gather in Antigua and Barbuda for their annual meeting, which started yesterday and runs through 4 November, they should address a question that reaches beyond their association: how can countries of different size, wealth, and outlook sustain cooperation in a world increasingly driven by

confrontation? Sir Shridath Ramphal, who served as Commonwealth Secretary-General for 15 years, offered an answer worth recalling: “The Commonwealth cannot negotiate for the world, but it can help the world to negotiate.” That insight deserves a place at the centre of this summit. For Antigua and Barbuda, hosting the meeting is a source of pride and a considerable responsibility. The national contribution will include helping to create the conditions for frank discussion and decisions that serve the association and the wider world. My belief in the Commonwealth has been sustained over decades of service, study and advocacy. I served on the Governing Board of its Secretariat and was a member and Rapporteur of the Eminent Persons Group whose report, A Commonwealth of the People: Time for Urgent Reform, was presented to leaders at Perth in 2011. We chose that title deliberately. The Commonwealth’s worth must be evident in the lives of its people. Today, demonstrating that worth requires an understanding of what members owe each other and what they stand to gain by acting together. Britain, Canada and Australia have interests

in dependable markets, diversified economic relationships, and partners across regions. India and South Africa bring productive capacity, expertise, and diplomatic influence, alongside ambitions for a fairer international order. Small states, which form the majority of Commonwealth members, seek security, opportunity, and a meaning-

ful voice in decisions that affect their survival. These interests overlap. Even countries with substantial economies cannot secure reliable trade, stable international arrangements, or diplomatic support entirely through their own power. Smaller countries contribute markets, knowledge, regional relationships, and sovereign voices. They also bring experience of managing vulnerabilities that larger countries increasingly encounter themselves. The Commonwealth provides opportunities to turn these interests into cooperation. Its diversity gives it access to perspectives that narrower groupings cannot readily assemble. That’s the significance of Ramphal’s observation. When negotiations become trapped between established positions, countries need places where they can test ideas, understand each other’s constraints, and explore possible agreements. Commonwealth consultations can help prepare that ground. The summit’s Leaders’ Retreat offers an opportunity to begin. Heads of Government could identify a small number of international questions on which their different perspectives might help produce workable proposals. Climate finance and debt are obvious candidates. Commonwealth membership includes countries

seeking finance, countries providing it, and countries with influence in the institutions that determine its terms. A serious discussion could establish what each requires for agreement and where compromise is possible. Trade offers another. Members could explore how to preserve predictable trading arrangements

in making negotiations succeed. The summit’s theme, “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth,” provides an immediate opportunity to demonstrate that approach. Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey’s emphasis on investment is welcome. The Secretariat’s new platform brings together more than 60 projects submitted by 20 countries. The next task is to help sound proposals secure financing and produce employment, infrastructure, and economic activity. Project preparation remains a serious obstacle, especially for small administrations. Engineering studies, environmental assessments, legal advice, and financial planning can cost more than governments can readily afford. Commonwealth cooperation should coordinate access to existing expertise and project-preparation finance. Where gaps remain, members and their partners should agree how to fill them. Investors would gain better-prepared opportunities; countries would improve their prospects

PHOTOS Above: Bahamian Prime Minister Phillip Davis greeted upon his arrival at the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Goverment Meeting (COHGM) in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. while addressing concerns about economic security, employment and development. Such discussions would acquire international value if participating governments subsequently advanced agreed proposals in the relevant negotiating bodies. This work requires patient diplomacy, supported by analysis and sustained contact between capitals. A declaration of support for multilateralism becomes useful when governments invest effort

of securing investment on workable terms. Trade cooperation should be equally practical. A business that finds a customer abroad may still lose the sale because certification is expensive, payment is difficult, transport is unreliable or its representatives cannot travel readily to conclude an agreement. Governments should identify obstacles within their control and negotiate their removal. Willing members could begin with specific arrangements that

others may subsequently join, respecting their existing regional and international obligations. Small states must help shape this agenda. Their role includes proposing solutions, negotiating common positions and contributing expertise. Antigua and Barbuda’s hosting of the summit, and Prime

a manageable programme, assign responsibility, and establish when progress will be reported. Their citizens should be able to judge what has been achieved. The same accountability must extend to Commonwealth values. Dependable laws, accountable government, access to justice, and respect for rights support

Comment by the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, on the UK Prime Minister’s remarks on slavery and the Commonwealth THE Government of Barbados recognises and appreciates Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s acknowledgement that the transatlantic slave trade was a brutal and barbaric violation of human beings, and Photo: Caribbean News Global his offer of a structured dialogue, including his openness to a formal apology. Barbados is committed to that dialogue and will take part in good faith as a member of CARICOM. We also thank former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who in Samoa in 2024 joined fellow Commonwealth leaders in agreeing that the time had come for a meaningful conversation on reparatory justice. That decision opened the door to the process now before us. Barbados speaks on this with a particular memory. In 1661, under English colonial authority, the first comprehensive slave code in the English-speaking world was regrettably passed on our soil. It defined African men, women and children as non-human property and became the model for codes across the region and beyond. That system was built by law and enforced by the State. Dialogue matters because we are not yet on the same page on every element. On reparations in particular, our views differ, and we will say so plainly and respectfully. Honest disagreement on some questions should not hold back progress on the many others where we can readily agree. An apology, a commitment to eradicate a mindset that is anchored in Afrophobia and against all things “black”, investment in health and education, development partnership that fights systemic poverty and institutionalised inequality, and fairer terms on debt for vulnerable states as called for by the Bridgetown Initiative are a few of the areas where we believe understanding can be reached and settled. The CARICOM Ten Point Plan remains a clear guide for the parameters of dialogue. We should build on that common ground while we continue to talk through our differences –CARICOM, the AU and the United Kingdom. I say simply, as I have said before: we are not necessarily expected to complete the task, but neither are we at liberty to resile from it. I thank Prime Minister Burnham and his Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, for breaking new ground and recognising that this is the right thing, and the moral thing, to do by ensuring that we move to the next stage of engagement on this difficult and emotional issue. We all know that we cannot reach our destination if we do not start the journey. Minister Gaston Browne’s forthcoming stewardship as Chair-in-Office, demonstrate that leadership need not depend on population or economic weight. Responsibility for implementation belongs to every government. Larger members should use their influence to advance agreed Commonwealth positions internationally. All members should implement commitments, contribute according to their means, and provide the Secretariat with the authority and resources required for its work. Having served on its Governing Board, I know that ambitions eventually become questions of staff, budgets, and priorities. In 2012, reflecting on the reform process after the CHOGM in Perth, I warned against confusing adoption with implementation. That distinction remains essential. Leaders should agree on

both public confidence and economic opportunity. These obligations apply to every member. Antigua and Barbuda can provide the setting for a renewed Commonwealth bargain: each country contributes to cooperation from which all can benefit, and together they help sustain an international system in which negotiation remains possible. Ramphal understood that the Commonwealth’s service could extend beyond its membership. In today’s troubled world, that’s a responsibility its leaders should embrace. They should leave Antigua with practical work agreed, responsibility assigned, and a shared determination to help the world negotiate. (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s senior diplomat. He has served in many Commonwealth capacities and has published extensively on the Commonwealth)

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, November 2, 2026, PAGE 11

INSIGHT

Richard Palmer - Guest Columnist

Reflections on independence and the visit from a king KING Charles III left The Bahamas with fond memories of a first official visit in 53 years to a country with a special place in his heart. He has a longstanding connection with the islands that is both personal and constitutional and the reception he received during the trip has only increased his admiration for Bahamians, according to aides. “His Majesty was delighted to return to the islands, which have such a special place in his heart,” his spokesman said. “You will have seen the immense pleasure it gave him to be there, right across all elements of the programme, and I know he was deeply grateful for the warmth and scale of the welcome he received from so many people, including from the Prime Minister, of course. “The great wall of cheers he received when greeting crowds will echo long in his memory - and be a source of tremendous pride and encouragement as the tour continues to Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda.” Charles, 77, has described The Bahamas as a country that has always held a special place in his affections and a “home away from home” for him and other members of the Royal Family. He has enjoyed holidays on the islands and trips while he was in the Royal Navy but perhaps the most important moment in the relationship came in July 1973, when as a 24-year-old Prince of Wales serving in the Leander-class frigate HMS Minerva he witnessed The Bahamas become an independent nation, ending 325 years of British rule. His role representing his mother Queen Elizabeth II on July 10 that year was a key moment in his training for the life that lay ahead of him and one for which he prepared with painstaking attention to detail, according to his biographer Jonathan Dimbleby, who credited Charles’s mentor and great-uncle Lord Mountbatten for instilling the discipline in him. Charles has recalled fondly on several occasions attending three different independence balls in one night during the celebrations “and being danced into the ground – very nearly – by Mrs Pindling, the rather glamorous wife of the then Prime Minister”. In his Naval journals, setting aside his admiration for Lynden Pindling, the father of the nation, and his wife Marguerite, the then Prince was slightly less flattering at times about the exacting programme he undertook. It included delivering five speeches he had written himself when off watch from his duties as a navigation officer in Minerva, laying foundation stones, visiting schools and hospitals, and attending the flag-raising ceremony. He admitted losing his temper while playing polo in Nassau as part of the festivities after his horse ran away with him, galloping through the pony lines and injuring its shoulder. “The whole game was an unmitigated disaster,” he wrote in the journals. Dimbleby described how he struggled in the stifling heat of a garden party for 2,500 people and at an inter-denominational

a warm welcome to my family and myself and I know that my mother, the late Queen, and my late father retained equally happy memories of their five visits to The Bahamas between 1966 and 1994. The islands, of course, also played host to his great uncle the Duke of Windsor and the Duchess, the former Mrs Simpson, from 1940 to 1945 when the former King Edward VIII was appointed Governor to keep the couple away from Europe amid fears over their Nazi sympathies. In spite of that and the fairly infrequent royal vis-

Photo: Tim Aylen

service where the Rev Dr Reuben Edward Cooper, a key figure in the fight to achieve majority rule, “worked himself into an ‘evangelical frenzy’ that drove the congregation to ecstasies of fervour.” Charles himself wrote in his journals: “At the end of

anyone had expected him to get so swept

up in the carnival spirit that he would actually join the parade,” his spokesman said on Thursday. His presence at the handover of power ending British rule has also given him a very personal

country’s final court of appeal remains the judicial committee of the Privy Council in London. Yet before this last trip he does not appear to have visited the islands since February 1982, when travelling under the names Mr and Mrs Hardy, he and his first wife Diana, then five months pregnant with Prince William, spent 10 days at the home of Countess Mountbatten on Windermere Island with Norton and Penny Romsey, Lord and Lady Brabourne. It was, Charles wrote afterwards, “a second honeymoon” that allowed Diana to relax but there was controversy when The Sun and Daily Star newspapers in Britain were accused of breaching her privacy after running photos of her in a bikini.

connection to the history of the islands and the constitutional fix that has meant that as monarch he has succeeded his mother as sovereign of The Bahamas and currently 13 other overseas realms, as well as being ceremonial head of the 56-nation Commonwealth. He is represented in The Bahamas by the Governor-General, Dame Cynthia 'Mother' Pratt. Honours are handed out in his name and the

Since then, he has met Bahamian politicians, diplomats and ordinary citizens regularly, including a group of students who spent time studying traditional building crafts at Dumfries House, the headquarters of his King’s Foundation charity, last year. In a message marking the country’s 50th anniversary of independence in 2023, he said: “The people of The Bahamas have always given such

Photo: ncharltonn

his fantastic tirade there was practically a standing ovation and the Rev Cooper tottered back to his seat shaking all over and pouring with perspiration.” At one of the independence balls he wrote he

Photo: ncharltonn

danced “as I have never danced before – purely to show everyone that I was just as good, if not better than they were!” He has been dancing ever since, as anyone who watched his performance at the Junkanoo during his 2026 visit will testify, although it still catches his staff out. “The Youth Rally performances and the Junkanoo were particularly joyful standout highlights - but I don’t think

its since, the relationship between the Crown and The Bahamas appears to have stayed strong, even while Black Lives Matter and demands for slavery reparations have fuelled republican sentiment in parts of the Caribbean region. When the Prince and Princess of Wales, then still Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visited in 2022 on an ill-fated Platinum Jubilee tour of Belize, Jamaica, and The Bahamas dogged by protests, the warmest welcome was here. But in his only speech in The Bahamas, William appeared to encourage the people of all three countries to think about becoming republics. “We support with pride and respect your decisions about your future. Relationships evolve. Friendship endures,” he said. On the plane back to Britain, a senior royal source briefed those of us in the travelling media pack that William wanted to rethink his own relationship with Commonwealth countries and that he or other future British monarchs might not be the best choice to lead the association in future, although perhaps in time he would evolve into the right person for the job. It remains unclear exactly what his view is now but William is about to embark on a trip to the Common-

wealth’s biggest nation, India, and also has plenty of other regular meetings with leaders from its other nations. Certainly, his father and his late grandmother the Queen have all shared the view that it is up to the people of The Bahamas to decide who should be their head of state. It is the same with the other realms. When Barbados became a republic in November 2021, Charles was at the ceremony. Sources close to him said immediately afterwards that he believed the relationship between Britain and Barbados would remain as close as ever. The growing pressure from Caribbean nations for slavery reparations and the refusal of successive British governments to countenance any payments is a diplomatic challenge for him and also a source of shame because his royal ancestors profited from the trade. It will be once again at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, which started yesterday and runs until Wednesday.

But the monarchy remains an institution capable of bringing people together to resolve differences. It is also, as the King has shown in his relationship with Donald Trump, a powerful tool for soft power. Charles, who has stood up for Canada, Ukraine, and spoken of the need for urgent action to combat environmental problems in his dealings with the volatile US President, remains a highly influential voice and a champion of low-lying islands threatened by climate change. In his 50th anniversary of independence message, he noted that the “unchecked crisis of global warming and climate change continues to ravage these islands”. He and his aides believe his latest visit has helped to celebrate and reaffirm the modern partnership between The Bahamas and the UK, while acknowledging the great injustices of the past in a respectful way. His spokesman added: “In that sense, I think most would agree the visit has been both a sensitive balancing act and a strong diplomatic success.” Richard Palmer is a British Royal Correspondent with 20 years' experience of covering the House of Windsor around the UK and overseas.

PAGE 12, Monday, November 2, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

INSIGHT

Donnette Russell-Love, Esq. • Beyond The Borders

Travelling visa-free through preclearance (and what happens when that privilege ends)

EVERY month, Bahamian travelers arrive at Preclearance in Nassau with a valid passport, a fresh police certificate, and a boarding pass, only to be turned away. Some were told months earlier that their US visa had been cancelled or revoked, but assumed that affected only the visa, not their ability to travel "the old way." It’s the most common misunderstanding I see, and a costly one. The regulation explains why Canadians rarely face this confusion. A conditional exemption, not a right Under 8 C.F.R. § 212.1(a)(1), Canadian citizens are generally exempt from the visa requirement. The Bahamian provision, 8

C.F.R. § 212.1(a)(3), is built the other way around. It states that a visa is required of Bahamian nationals unless, before boarding, the traveler satisfies the US officer in The Bahamas that he or she is "clearly and beyond a doubt" entitled to admission. The default rule is that a visa is required. Visafree travel is an exception earned at every crossing under an exacting standard. Any doubt about criminal history, prior immigration violations, or the truthfulness of past applications returns the traveler to the default rule: obtain a visa. Who is eligible? US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) permits

visa-free travel only when the traveler: • holds a valid Bahamian passport; • presents a Royal Bahamas Police Force certificate issued within the past six months (required at age 14 and older); • departs by air through Preclearance at Lynden Pindling International Airport (the Freeport facility has not reopened since Hurricane Dorian, so Grand Bahama travelers must route through Nassau or hold a visa); • is traveling for business or pleasure; and • is not inadmissible under any ground in INA § 212(a). Arrivals by sea, travel from Canada or any third country, and trips that

transit the United States on the return leg all require a visa. What visa-free admission actually means The police certificate is not a visa, but an eligible traveler is not admitted without status either. CBP admits the traveler in B-1 (business) or B-2 (pleasure) classification, the same status a visa holder receives, with an I-94 record and the same limits: no employment, and departure by the I-94 date. After arriving, check the record at www.i94.gov. The admit-until date shown there, not the return ticket, controls, and even one day past it is an overstay. Admission covers the whole United States, not just Florida. Travelers may continue to any

state, including Alaska and Hawaii, and to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, all of which fall under US immigration law. American Samoa is the exception; it controls its own entry. What ends eligibility The police certificate speaks only to the Bahamian record. CBP checks US and shared databases. Eligibility is typically lost when those records show: • a US arrest, charge or conviction, even one that was later dismissed but never documented; • a prior overstay, unauthorized employment or other status violation; • a prior refusal of admission or withdrawal of an application for admission; • a fraud or misrepresentation finding under INA § 212(a)(6)(C)(i), which is a lifetime bar absent a waiver; • a controlled-substance "reason to believe" finding or a prior removal order; or • a revoked visa. The State Department may revoke a visa under INA § 221(i), sometimes "prudentially," based on information that is not a conviction. A revocation signals unresolved doubt, which is precisely what defeats the "clearly and beyond a doubt" standard. Once a visa is revoked, a traveler should assume the police-certificate route is closed until a new visa is issued. Options when the door closes 1. Apply for a B-1/B-2 visa at the US Embassy in Nassau. Answer every DS-160 question truthfully; an answer that conflicts with CBP's records can trigger a fraud finding. 2. Seek a nonimmigrant waiver under INA § 212(d)(3)(A) if a ground of inadmissibility applies. Waivers are discretionary and time-limited. The traveler remains inadmissible, so future trips are generally made on the visa and waiver, not the police certificate. 3. Build the record first. Gather certified court dispositions, a current police

certificate and proof of ties before the interview. When the privilege is taken away by mistake Errors happen: a name match, an outdated case record, a genuine document noted as counterfeit. There is no formal appeal of a Preclearance refusal and no application to "reinstate" visa-free travel. Two steps matter immediately: • At the counter: ask the specific ground, request a supervisor and, where offered, accept withdrawal of the application rather than a formal refusal. • Obtain all related records pertaining to your incident where relevant. • Seek legal counsel Whether visa-free travel can be restored depends on why it was lost. Where a ground of inadmissibility genuinely applies, the police-certificate route is effectively closed, and the visa-and-waiver path becomes permanent, although time-limited bars, such as the unlawful presence bars, can expire. The harder case is that the CBP office got it wrong. In practice, CBP rarely restores the privilege even when the error was its own, and the Embassy often refuses the visa because of that same record. That traveler is stuck. The bottom line Do not test your status at the airport. If your visa has been revoked or cancelled, or you have been refused at Preclearance, seek qualified advice, and have them obtain your records and review them before you book your next flight. Donnette Russell-Love, J.D., CAMS is the CEO of Global Risk Compliance Group and a Cross-Border Compliance Advisor Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration law and agency practice change frequently, and outcomes depend on individual facts. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific situation.

MEXICAN DAY OF THE DEAD

A MEXICAN hairless xoloitzcuintle dog and its caretaker attend a xoloitzcuintle dog parade as part of Day of the Dead festivities in Mexico City, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. AP Photo/Ginnette Riquelme

PAGE 14, Monday, November 2, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

World News

China's plenum backs tighter party discipline, a priority for Xi. Why it matters By E. EDUARDO CASTILLO and KANIS LEUNG Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) — China's Communist Party leaders ended a closely watched four-day meeting this week by endorsing a core priority for President Xi Jinping: tightening internal discipline and fighting corruption. The decisions could set the stage for personnel changes in key leadership bodies next year, when Xi is expected to secure a fourth term as party leader. The Central Committee's fifth plenum adopted a resolution Thursday on strengthening discipline and combating corruption. It also ratified the expulsions of more than 30 senior officials from the party, including one who was until early this year the army's top general, and promoted the remaining

general serving on the commission that oversees China's military to the Politburo, one of the top decision-making bodies. On Friday, party officials outlined plans to carry out the plenum's decisions, emphasizing tighter discipline.

Here's what to know and why it matters: Nearly 1,000 senior officials disciplined since Xi took power Xi has made loyalty and fighting corruption defining features of his government since taking power in 2012, but party officials acknowledged Friday that disciplinary violations persist. "Problems of misconduct and breaches of discipline are persistent, entrenched and recurring," Zhang Fuhai, deputy director of the Central Committee for Discipline Inspection, told a press briefing with other

IN this photo provided by China’s Xinhua News Agency,In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, members of the Politburo Standing Committee from left, Li Xi, Cai Qi, Zhao Leji, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Wang Huning and Ding Xuexiang raise their hands as they attend the fifth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held in Beijing, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. Li Xiang/Xinhua via AP

officials to discuss the plenum's decisions. "Efforts to address them require

unwavering commitment over the long term." Zhang said disciplinary and supervisory agencies had opened 8.1 million cases and disciplined 7.9 million people since the party's 18th National Congress in 2012, when Xi became its leader. Those disciplined included 963 senior officials under the direct management of the party's central leadership. The party vows to maintain tough punishment One of the officials also made clear that punishment will continue, and it will be harsh.

"By severely punishing officials who have become corrupt, it encourages and protects those who serve with integrity," said Huang Jianfa, deputy head of the party's Central Organization Department. "In practice, some party members and officials fail to act or are slow to act for a range of reasons: some lack motivation and are unwilling to act; others fear getting into trouble and dare not act; still others lack the skills to act effectively." Dongshu Liu, a professor in the department of public and international affairs at the City University of Hong Kong, said that the expulsion of senior officials "certainly reflects Xi's new efforts to tighten control, especially over military system." Xi has expelled officials in the past due to doubts over their loyalty or egregious corruption, but the more recent purges suggested his frustration with officials' lack of enthusiasm for his ambitious policy agenda, Benjamin Hillman, a professor at the Australian National University, said. Tighter control could discourage initiative, analysts say Some analysts say stricter discipline could make officials more cautious and less willing to take initiative. Beijing also wants officials to be innovative and effective,

making the balance difficult to strike. "There is a famous argument in political science called 'competency-loyalty trade-off,' which basically argues that you cannot have someone who is very competent but also very loyal to you," Liu said. In his view, Xi's approach could translate to having a system "further sacrificing its meritocracy to promote people who are less competent but loyal to Xi personally, which also means the problem-solving skills is questionable." Harsher discipline could lead to superficial compliance, such as holding meetings, workshops and training sessions, to demonstrate loyalty without actually doing anything, Hillman said. "Officials are increasingly cautious of trying new things because mistakes can be costly," he said. Ruby Osman, a senior policy adviser at London's Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, said that Xi clearly sees corruption as the biggest threat to the party's grip on power in the long run. "Beijing is worried not only about corrupt cadres but ineffective ones too," she said. But she cautioned that "ensuring Beijing's priorities are actually delivered across China's vast bureaucracy is often easier said than done."

Rains flood Bankok

PEOPLE wade through a flooded street after heavy rain in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

THE TRIBUNE

Baha Mar hosts student career initiative and employee benefits fair

Monday, November 2, 2026, PAGE 15 By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net BAHA Mar gave students from public and private schools an opportunity to explore the tourism industry and learn about career opportunities during a week-long educational initiative that concluded on Friday. The programme included tours of the resort, allowing students to explore its facilities, learn about its various departments and gain insight into employment opportunities within the hospitality industry. Robert Sands, Baha Mar's vice president of government and external affairs, said the initiative had three main objectives: allowing students to experience a day as tourists; introducing them to the

resort's amenities; and exposing them to potential career paths. He said the resort offered a wide range of careers requiring different skills, including culinary arts, customer service, information technology and hospitality. The students, who were in Grades 9, 10 and 11, also learned about the benefits available to Baha Mar employees. Mr Sands said the initiative was intended to encourage young people to consider their career options before graduating from high school. Although the programme was being held on this scale for the first time, he said Baha Mar regularly conducted outreach visits to schools to introduce students to the tourism industry.

Meanwhile, Baha Mar hosted its ninth annual benefits fair on Friday, bringing together 29 external vendors offering information and services in areas including healthcare, finance and fitness. Kelli Rolle, the resort's director of benefits, said this year's fair was held under the theme “Travel With Benefits, Travel Towards Better”, with an airport-inspired setting designed to encourage employee participation. The event allowed employees to meet vendors, ask questions and learn more about available benefits and services. Ms Rolle said several vendors offered special discounts and packages, while others hosted raffles and promotions for employees who signed up during the fair.

PAGE 16, Monday, November 2, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

Radio House hosts spectacular annual kids trick-or-treat party NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS — Hundreds of costumed children and families gathered on the grounds of Radio House on Friday, October 30th, for the annual Radio House Kids Trick-or-Treat Party, hosted by 100 JAMZ, Y98.7 FM, and KISS 96.1 FM. The event delivered a safe, vibrant, and fun-filled afternoon packed with Halloween excitement, music, and sweet treats for local youth. From miniature superheroes and princesses to creative spooky attire, kids enjoyed photo opportunities, live entertainment, custom backdrop drapes by Illustrative Artistry, festive balloon setups by The Party Parlour, and a full slate of activities managed by the Radio House promotions team. "Community engagement is at the heart of everything we do across our stations," said Handel "Reality" Sands, Marketing & Promotions Director at Radio House. "Seeing the excitement

on the children's faces and giving back to our listeners and their families is what makes this annual tradition so rewarding. We are tremendously grateful to all our corporate partners who stepped up to make this year's party a massive success." The event was made possible through the generous support of corporate partners and sponsors: PartyMania Thompson Trading The Party Parlour Domino’s Everything Cup-Cake Illustrative Artistry Lickety Split & Fun Foods Tings by Cookie Ever Rest Funeral Home Mario M & M Wholesale Unique Arts BWA Island Wholesale C.O. Entertainment AML Foods