11122025 NEWS

US TRANS DEPORTEE

‘LOST IN LIMBO’

ICE sends transgender woman to country she hasn’t seen since birth

By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Digital Editor aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

HANDCUFFED, shackled, and escorted up a plane’s steps, Deanna Richardson said an officer leaned close and said: “In Trump’s world there are only two genders. Put him back with the other men.” Hours later, she was on Bahamian soil — a country she had not seen since she

Rare sighting in Exuma Sound

was two years old. Three and a half weeks after that flight, Ms Richardson remains in limbo. With no Bahamian identification, no job, and nowhere permanent to live, the 47-year-old trans woman spends her days at a government-assisted shelter trying to make sense of a life uprooted. “I’m still trying to wrap

PMH PATIENTS DETAIL LONG WAITS, POOR CONDITIONS

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A 23-YEAR-OLD accident victim who said he slept in a chair for two days waiting for treatment and a young mother whose citizenship bid has stalled for months because she is unable to retrieve her hospital records are among the latest to highlight frustration with conditions at

Princess Margaret Hospital. The motorbike victim, who declined to give his name and had visible injuries to his face and hands, described his experience at the country’s main public hospital as “dreadful,” saying overcrowding and lack of staff left him without a bed for days. “They had me in the little waiting section,” he said. “I couldn’t

Dogs that attacked young boy have been euthanised

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

TWO pitbulls which mauled a seven-year-old boy on Saturday were owned by the youngster’s restuarant operator’s father, it was revealed yesterday. The dogs have now been euthanised. The boy suffered serious injuries to his right hand during the attack, which occurred in the rear of the father’s restaurant on Rosetta Street. Officials said three dogs were loose on the property, two of which became aggressive and attacked the child.

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

Police said officers arrived shortly before 4pm and found the boy drifting in and out of consciousness. He was taken to hospital by Emergency Medical Services and underwent surgery.

FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard said yesterday he will be “good regardless” of the outcome of the November 24 Golden Isles by-election, rejecting claims that the race could be a referendum on his leadership. He dismissed speculation that his political future hinges on the result, accusing Progressive Liberal

Party insiders of trying to shape that narrative. He said his focus is on residents' needs rather than partisan gamesmanship.

“I’m here representing the Bahamian people, I’m not representing myself,” he said. “I’m going to be good regardless of what happens this election, by-election, or general election. I’m good, it’s not about me.”

Mr Pintard said his party’s attention is on issues

Photo: Natalie Hodges

Govt reveals Bahamix Limited board of directors calling it a ‘major step in modernising roadworks operations’

THE Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs has officially established the Board of Directors for Bahamix Limited, marking what officials describe as a major step in modernising and streamlining the government’s roadworks operations.

Now operating as an independent entity under the ministry, Bahamix Limited is expected to deliver greater efficiency, transparency, and financial autonomy in asphalt production and road maintenance across New Providence, officials said.

The new board comprises chairman Owen Wells, Sandy Morley, Stiene Leedee Campbell, John Gibson, and Quintin Carey.

Permanent Secretary Dr Anya Symonette serves as an ex-officio member. The board held its inaugural meeting yesterday at Bahamix’s new offices on Fire Trail Road West.

Works Minister Bacchus Rolle said the restructuring reflects the Davis administration’s commitment to improving

public infrastructure and institutional performance.

“For decades, Bahamix has served as a vital part of the government’s road maintenance system, though operating under a structure that limited its ability to perform at full capacity,” he said. “Historically, the company functioned as a private entity that invoiced the government, creating paving delays and sometimes creating financial liquidity issues. With the incorporation of Bahamix Limited and a fully functional board now in place, we are streamlining how the government paves, patches, and maintains roads across The Bahamas.”

He said the new structure provides the company with the autonomy and oversight to deliver projects more efficiently and ensure quality results.

“This transition brings autonomy and accountability while strengthening our ability to execute roadworks efficiently. Bahamix will now have the flexibility and oversight necessary

to deliver projects on time, within budget, and at the highest standards of quality,” he said.

During his contribution to the 2025–2026 Budget Debate in June, Mr Rolle said the government’s $90m loan agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank will support upgrades to Bahamix’s facilities, equipment, and operational capacity as part of wider infrastructure modernisation efforts.

“We are not just repaving roads — we are rebuilding the foundation of how public works are delivered,” he said. “This restructuring gives Bahamix the autonomy to respond faster, work smarter, and help us meet the growing infrastructure needs of a developing Bahamas.”

The ministry said the incorporation of Bahamix Limited is expected to reduce bureaucratic delays, improve financial management, and strengthen accountability as the company plays a central role in the nation’s infrastructure development.

WATER AND SEWERAGE COMPLETES WORK ON EAST BAY STREET - ROAD REPAIR EXPECTED SOON

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

AFTER weeks of evening traffic snarls caused by a damaged pipe along East Bay Street near Montagu, the Water and Sewerage Corporation was last night expected to have completed repairs, paving the way for road restoration and bringing relief to frustrated motorists.

Public Affairs Manager Nikolette Elden said the damaged line opposite the Nassau Yacht Club was removed and replaced after

the corporation was alerted to compromised infrastructure in the area. Crews discovered the ageing ‘force main’ had failed, prompting urgent weekend repairs.

While the excavation remains open, the site has been barricaded and coned off to protect motorists and pedestrians.

The work had intensified congestion along the busy stretch during peak hours as drivers navigated lane closures and detours.

In a separate update, Ms Elden confirmed that Crooked Island’s water

supply has been fully restored after service interruptions caused by Hurricane Melissa. Power issues had temporarily affected customers in higher areas such as Cabbage Hill, while lower-lying communities continued to receive service.

“These issues have since been resolved, and normal water service has been restored across the island,” she said. “The Corporation continues to closely monitor system performance to ensure stable and reliable supply for all customers.”

MINISTER of Works & Family Island Affairs Clay Sweeting annouces the appointment of the first Board of Directors for Bahamix Limited at its Headquaters on yesterday. Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr

MOTORISTS squeeze through the narrow path left as Water and Sewerage conducts pipe repairs on East Bay Street near Nassau Yacht Club.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

‘They just jumped out the bushes and grabbed me up’

my head around it,” she said. “I worked seven days a week in San Diego. I had a home, a career, my dogs. Then, out of nowhere, I was grabbed off the street and shipped here. I’ve never felt so powerless.”

Ms Richardson migrated to the United States with her mother at the age of two but became a ward of the state when she was removed from her legal guardian after her mom’s death due to abuse.

When she became an adult, she was able to obtain a driver’s license and social security number with no barrier to employment. In 2017, during the first Trump administration, she was detained by the United States Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS) but released after several attempts by officials to verify her Bahamian status were unsuccessful.

Ms Richardson went on to build an independent

life and career in custodial management, transitioned to a woman, and legally changed her name.

She never suspected that one day she would be ambushed near her apartment by US immigration agents and shuttled through facilities in Texas and Florida before being flown to New Providence with nothing alongside 44 other deportees.

“They just jumped out the bushes and grabbed me up. I didn’t see a lawyer or a judge,” she said. “I kept asking to speak to my deportation officer — no one would tell me anything. They handcuffed and shackled me the whole way.”

“I had one phone call during that entire period; it was a few days after I’d been in detention and I was able to make one call to let my family know where I was, what had happened.”

Ms Richardson’s situation underscores the human toll of US immigration enforcement that has swept up long-time residents and

Young boy’s condition improving after being attcked by two pit bulls

(Fiscal Years 2021–2025)

*FY2025 reflects partial-year data as of Q1.

returned them to countries with limited resources to receive them.

According to data from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arrests and detentions of Bahamian nationals have climbed steadily in recent years, peaking in fiscal year 2024 with 128 arrests, 163 detentions, and 92 removals.

The Tribune understands that deportation flights from the United States carrying Caribbean nationals arrive in New Providence

roughly every other week, often with little notice.

According to a high-ranking source, Bahamian officials are typically given passenger information only shortly before take-off, limiting their ability to verify identities or prepare support services.

Local authorities have formed an inter-agency task force — linking the Consulate in Washington DC, the Law Enforcement team in Miami, and local Immigration and Social Services

units — to manage arrivals and assist families seeking information.

Upon arrival, Ms Richardson said she was processed by Immigration and INTERPOL before being taken to the Police Training College, where social workers placed her in temporary accommodation at a shelter.

Officials are said to be monitoring several “vulnerable” cases, including transgender deportees, and reviewing how best to support them.

However, Ms Richardson said she has struggled to obtain identification documents necessary for employment, banking, or housing.

“They keep sending me back and forth between offices,” she said. “I need an affidavit, but how can I possibly get one? I haven’t lived here in more than 40 years. One day they tell you to come back, you come back and they still don’t know anything. There are others here who’ve been waiting six months and still

don’t have documents.”

The lack of coordination between agencies, she said, has left deportees feeling abandoned.

“It’s just a merry-goround,” she said. “The government agencies here, nobody talks to each other, so nobody knows what any of the other agencies are doing. It’s so discouraging. You feel like you have no help.”

Ms Richardson described her return as a “culture shock” and said she fears for her safety in public spaces.

“I told ICE about the risks for people like me here, and they didn’t care,” she said. “I almost got attacked because someone thought I was something I wasn’t. I don’t feel safe; I just want to get my ID, get a job, and live.”

“My mental health is horrible right now, but I’m a survivor,” she added.

“I’ve survived everything life has thrown at me — but this, this I was never prepared for.”

TWO TEENS STABBED DURING FIGHT AT JC ACADEMY IN GRAND BAHAMA

TWO teenage boys were stabbed during a fight at JC Academy in Grand Bahama yesterday afternoon, leaving both with minor injuries. The altercation reportedly occurred shortly after 1pm on the school’s campus at Adventures Way and Frobisher Drive. Emergency responders took the injured students to Rand Memorial Hospital, where one was treated for a head wound and the other for an injury to his mouth.

Police said the injuries were not life-threatening and that the stabbing may have stemmed from an earlier altercation at another school.

Officers have described the incident as isolated but are continuing their investigation.

Pintard dismisses notion that history against FNM in

affecting Golden Isles, especially in Adelaide, where residents have long struggled with transportation. He announced that FNM candidate

Brian Brown will launch a shuttle service between Adelaide and Bacardi Road before Monday to help residents commute.

“The by-election is not about Brian Brown, Michael Pintard or the FNM and our prospects for the future,” he said.

“It is about the prospects for the future, for the residents of Golden Isles. Will they get the representation that they need in order to address the issues that are important to them?”

Mr Pintard said the FNM’s campaign aims to highlight the lack of consistent delivery from the Davis administration.

He dismissed the idea that history is against his party, noting that while no governing party has ever lost a by-election, the FNM would “fight this government no matter.”

“Our role is to provide the best possible leadership option for residents and put that person before them,” he said.

Asked what makes Mr Brown a stronger candidate than his opponent, former Senator Darron Pickstock, Mr Pintard pointed to his record of grassroots service.

He said Mr Brown has lived among Golden Isles residents for years and helped families in need, from providing support after storms to assisting those who lost jobs.

He cited examples of residents Mr Brown has helped with repairs, employment, and funeral expenses, saying such hands-on involvement shows the kind of representative he has been long before running for office.

Mr Pintard contrasted this with what he called the PLP’s silence and inaction. He questioned why Mr Pickstock, despite having a national platform in the Senate, had not spoken up on issues affecting Golden Isles or any other community.

“Why should they trust you?” he asked. “You have said that your government has failed, did not return calls, did not deliver on the infrastructural developments, have not addressed the issues that they’re facing in their community — simple things, whether it’s lights, whether it’s roads, a variety of things.”

“The by-election is not about Brian Brown, Michael Pintard or the FNM and our prospects for the future.”

FNM leader pledges to build up to 2,000 homes per year if elected

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard has pledged that an FNM government would

build up to 2,000 homes each year if elected, promising visible results within six months of taking office.

Mr Pintard said construction would begin almost immediately through partnerships already in place and designs ready to go. “Within the first six months of being in office we would have commenced hundreds of homes,” he said yesterday on Morning Blend on Guardian Radio. “It’s just that simple. We are that far along in our discussions with local and international partners. We’ll do all the pre-qualifications, and you are able to walk into a house in less than three months. We’re not taking six, seven, eight months to build.”

He said his plan would make government-led housing construction more efficient and affordable, arguing that if private developers can build entire subdivisions with limited state support, the government should be able to do so at a lower cost. Mr Pintard said successive administrations have failed to use existing technologies and systems to speed up development, adding that regional neighbours are “dramatically” increasing housing production while The Bahamas lags behind. According to him, the FNM’s plan would combine modern and traditional methods to boost output and cut costs. “That means using panel construction methods where you can produce the majority of the components right here at home, and then assemble them quickly on site,”

he said. “We are still using eight-inch block, wood and metal framing where it makes sense. The point is that there are a variety of systems that can work side by side, and the government has to use all of them efficiently instead of being stuck on one old model.”

Mr Pintard said the party’s housing policy would emphasise design diversity, with seven architectural models already prepared and local architects encouraged to compete with new concepts reflecting Bahamian tastes and community needs. He said the plan also includes multi-storey condominiums and apartment-style units in densely populated areas like Nassau and Grand Bahama. “The key is responsible condominium associations — people who will pay their service charges, maintain common areas, upgrade where necessary, and carry out repairs after hurricanes. It’s about creating a culture of ownership and accountability so that these properties remain strong assets for the long term.”

Mr Pintard said an FNM administration would end what he called politically driven contracting, where housing contracts are awarded to people with no building experience or to major financiers who later subcontract real builders.

“What ends up happening is that they turn around and subcontract to real builders, and you get subdivisions full of houses in varying stages of completion and quality. We will not follow that system,” he said.

He said his government would work closely with private developers, offering concessions and guarantees on building materials in partnership with local suppliers. “Yes, they might make less money per unit, but they make it back in volume,” Mr Pintard said. “You don’t destroy your construction supply sector—you work in tandem with it.”

Mr Pintard said an FNM government would also overhaul the approvals process, cutting delays by outsourcing some inspections and ensuring agencies work simultaneously rather than sequentially. He said private engineers could be used to help the government meet deadlines.

“Too long there’s a delay because of Physical Planning or Environmental Health. Those two departments ought to be talking with each other in real time so that plans can be looked at simultaneously, not one after the other. We have to cut the time people are waiting on approvals.”

He said the housing plan would be tied to a broader effort to decentralise economic growth and population away from Nassau, with new developments in the Family Islands built through public-private partnerships and streamlined approvals.

“We are that far along,” he said. “This is not wishful thinking. Within six months, Bahamians will see hundreds of homes started, built by Bahamians, on Bahamian land, with systems already ready to go.”

UB workers protest over poor working conditions and failed salary reviews

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

FRUSTRATED employees of the University of The Bahamas (UB) protested yesterday over mouldy classrooms, poor working conditions, and the university’s failure to carry out a promised salary review.

Bahamas Public Service Union (BPSU) President Kimsley Ferguson joined staff who demonstrated outside the university. Some employees held signs calling for fair treatment and payment of money owed to them.

Speaking to The Tribune, Mr Ferguson said an industrial agreement covering 2020 to 2024 between UB and the BPSU included a commitment to conduct a salary review for staff. Although both parties signed off on the review, he said the university has failed to uphold its end of the agreement. The review

should have been implemented in 2023 and made retroactive to July 1, 2019.

Mr Ferguson claimed that other unions linked to the university, such as the Public Managers Union (PMU) and the Union of Tertiary Educators of The Bahamas (UTEB), have already received their salary reviews. However, BPSU members have not received one since the College of The Bahamas transitioned into a university.

“It's important to have the salaries assessed,” Mr Ferguson said.

Mr Ferguson said he has written to Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis about the matter but has not received a response. He also criticised Labour and Public Service Minister Pia Glover-Rolle for “bragging” about the number of industrial agreements signed without ensuring institutions uphold their terms. He called on her to intervene so UB workers receive their salary

review and other benefits owed to them.

Mr Ferguson questioned how UB could seek accreditation while failing to meet local standards for staff welfare.

He claimed employees continue to work in mouldy classrooms and buildings and often struggle to access basic supplies such as tissue and hand sanitiser. He claimed some staff members have been victimised for refusing to work in unsafe conditions.

About 350 UB staff are represented by the BPSU, including security officers, administrative, clerical, and support staff.

Mr Ferguson said UB President Dr Robert Blaine III recently promised to meet with the union regarding the salary review but has not followed up.

University of The Bahamas officials did not respond to requests for comment before press time.

OPPOSITION LEADER MICHAEL PINTARD

Woman waiting nearly three months for medical records

HOSPITAL from page one

blame them. All the wards in the back there done full. They ain’t got no space to put the patients.”

He said doctors placed his foot in a cast on Friday night but could not release him because no one was available to conduct a CT scan. “My foot was cast up, but they couldn’t really release me, because they didn’t have no doctors on to give me the CT scan I really needed,” he said. “I already take the X-ray. They couldn’t see what really happened.”

The man said he went days without showering and described poor sanitary conditions. “You get two of the stalls ain’t working,” he said. “The door can’t close with sense, and it stink too.”

His more outspoken father, who camped outside the hospital during the ordeal, said his car was towed and he had to pay $100 to retrieve it.

The man’s ordeal comes amid growing criticism of conditions at the 405-bed facility, which has been forced to open virtual wards to manage patient overflow and staffing shortages. The hospital was recently thrust into controversy after a senior nurse was suspended for publicly decrying leaking roofs, rodent infestations, and supply shortages.

In another case yesterday,

25-year-old mother Charmenda Saint Jean said she has been waiting nearly three months for her medical records from the same hospital, a delay she said has stalled her citizenship application and left her future uncertain.

Her ordeal is the latest in a string of complaints about delays, inefficiency, and poor treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital.

“I have a child now, you know, I have to make sure things good, so I put in my stuff from August,” she said, adding that officials told her to return on September 3 to collect the document. Despite repeated visits, she said she has yet to receive it.

Frustrated and in tears, Ms Saint Jean alleged that only those who pay bribes get prompt assistance. “I ready to report now,” she said. “If you ain’t tipping them they ain’t helping you, that’s (expletive) bad, bro. I put in my stuff from August. I ain’t have money to tip y’all.” She said she has no job, no money, and no family support. “I ain’t come in there begging for no paper. I paying my $11. Y’all have to help people but why people gotta tip y’all,” she said. “I need my stuff to carry to immigration. I can’t work. I don’t have no job. I don’t have no parents.”

Her case highlights how bureaucratic delays at public institutions

“If you ain’t tipping them they ain’t helping you, that’s (expletive) bad, bro.”

continue to disrupt lives. People born in The Bahamas to non-Bahamian parents can apply for citizenship between their 18th and 19th birthdays, but those who miss that window must apply under different provisions where approval is not

guaranteed.

Meanwhile, similar strains have been reported at the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama, where East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson said a constituent complained that a family member waited for days in the

Accident and Emergency Department due to a shortage of beds. Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said overcrowding at PMH is “cyclic,” fluctuating between periods of relief and congestion, driven partly by patients frequently returning with non-communicable diseases. He said the government is working to ease the burden by constructing two new hospitals. Public Hospitals Authority officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Temporary causeway expected to be complete by mid-December at Taino Beach Bridge

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

WORK on a 200-footlong temporary causeway to replace the deteriorating Taino Beach Bridge is moving ahead and is expected to be completed by mid-December, according to Lucaya Service Company (LUSCO).

The structure will allow demolition and full reconstruction of the bridge — the first since Freeport was founded more than 60 years ago.

Cory Cartwright, System Maintenance Manager at LUSCO, said the causeway should be completed by December 15. “In October, we signed a contract with Bahamas Hot Mix (BHM) to build a temporary causeway,” he said.

“They have 49 days to complete it. We’re looking somewhere around December 15 to be completed with the installation of the causeway.”

The bridge, which connects the Taino Beach and Smith’s Point area to the rest of Freeport, has been

under a ten-ton weight limit for months, preventing fire trucks, tractors, and other heavy vehicles from crossing. The restriction has disrupted essential services such as garbage collection and road maintenance, and raised safety concerns among residents and businesses.

LUSCO, a subsidiary of the Grand Bahama Development Company (DEVCO), and Tamarind Development are partnering on the project. Mr Cartwright said the temporary causeway will ensure “normal life” continues on the southern side during reconstruction.

“Once that is done, we will then begin the necessary contracts with the service providers, such as water, power, telephone and cable, to have their services relocated so we can demolish the bridge and reconstruct,” he said, adding that the new bridge will take a year to complete.

The temporary road will span about 200 feet, feature a 40-foot-wide carriageway, two ten-foot pedestrian paths, asphalt surfacing,

and lighting for night-time visibility.

A previous report revealed that the bridge’s poor condition had threatened a resort sale worth about US$18 million, as investors considered the lone access route “dilapidated and dangerous.”

East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell have both criticised delays in replacing the structure.

In a letter to residents and businesses, LUSCO said traffic will be redirected via Alan Circle and Tennents Road once the causeway opens. The tenton weight restriction will remain until the new route can handle heavier vehicles.

Mr Cartwright said residents have largely welcomed the project. “The residents are happy at this time — the ones that have spoken with us because their lives were being interrupted,” he said. “While we have not spoken with everybody, we have been in communication with the chief councillor for the area, Valerie Lightbourne Edden, and she is pleased

to know that we are moving forward to get some relief to the area.”

The bridge serves as the only land route to Smith’s Point, home to the weekly Fish Fry and several resorts, restaurants, and attractions. LUSCO

and Tamarind Development said the causeway will restore safe access for light and heavy vehicles, supporting local commerce and tourism while longawaited reconstruction gets underway.

PRINCESS Maragaret Hospital in Nassau, New Providence.

TAINO Causeway rendering.

The Tribune Limited

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI

“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

Contributing Editor 1972-1991

RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.

Publisher/Editor 1972-

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Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207

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Looking at bigger picture over housing issues

FOR many Bahamians – too many –finding housing they can afford is a real challenge. Rents can be high, and mortgages can be hard to secure. Many have told The Tribune over the years of the challenge of jumping through all the hoops that some financial institutions put in the way of the dream of owning your own home. As for rent, there is plenty of discussion too about how rent has soared.

So when FNM leader pledges that if his party wins power, the government will build up to 2,000 homes a year, with “hundreds of homes” started in the first six months, he is tapping into a debate that provokes strong emotions.

It is not, however, a kneejerk move. Asked a couple of years ago by a senior Tribune editor what he would choose if he could name one policy that would make a difference if he were to become prime minister, he talked about the importance of property ownership – of sorting out issues over land rights and clearing the road blocks to giving people a place to call their own.

The theory over building more houses is simple – supply and demand. More housing stock means the prices are not driven up by excessive demand, making a roof overhead more affordable for all.

The picture, however, is not that simple.

Housing Minister Keith Bell has previously said that there is indeed a shortage – of more than 12,000 units.

The statistics say something a little different.

The last Census data showed that there were more than 25,000 vacant homes in The Bahamas. That data comes from 2022 – and also showed that homeownership increased by nearly a fifth between 2010 and 2022. In 2010, 60,543 homes were owned, rising to 71,990 in 2022. In Ragged Island, the homeownership rate hit 92.9 percent.

As for overcrowding, only 1.4 percent of households were classed as overcrowded – that rate hitting 1.6 in New Providence. Still, that is not a high percentage.

So how real is the supposed shortage?

One interloper has made a difference over the years. As the Bahamas Real Estate Association president, Carla Sweeting, told the media this week, Airbnb properties “have absolutely distorted the housing market”.

Vacation rentals have become a popular investment for those able to do so, cutting into the available housing stock. Meanwhile, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief executive Gowon Bowe, insisted

PICTURE OF THE DAY

that The Bahamas does not have a housing shortage, pointing to those 25,000 vacant homes in the census. That works out at about one in six residential dwellings, he said. And that number of unoccupied dwellings is up by 1,429 compared to 2010. There is certainly a question over how many of those properties are in a fit state to dwell in. Prolonged periods of properties being unoccupied can lead to them being run down – or worse, becoming prey to squatters or serving as drug houses.

Still, if there is stock there, perhaps the challenge should be how they might be brought back into use – how can the market be invigorated without the need for building plans that might be costly, might be eye-catching, but which might be unnecessary?

Mr Bowe told The Tribune last month that some banks have become “gun shy” when it comes to mortgage lending, saying: “The banks since the ‘great recession’ have not actively been in the mortgage space despite their public relations. If you don’t have new mortgages being written and more mortgages being paid off, that’s a natural result. The primary factor is all banks have shown a decline in their mortgage portfolio because new mortgages are not being written at the same pace that mortgages are being paid off.”

Mr Bowe put that down to various reasons – but some of those include the legal paperwork to deal with delinquent borrowers.

This too might be something Mr Pintard might put in his considerations – and perhaps his manifesto – to try to help people realise that dream of their own home.

Untangling the paperwork to make it easier for banks to deal with delinquencies might not sound as appealing to most citizens, but if it gets banks back to having strong mortgage portfolios, it might ease the passage for those who cannot get on the property ladder at all.

One thing seems clear – by the numbers, the picture when it comes to property shortages is more complicated than anecdotal conversations about high rents can encompass. How many of those vacant properties can be brought back to life – and without being turned into Airbnbs for tourists – might certainly be part of the answer. But easing the borrowing mechanisms will also play a part. It’s a bigger picture, and well worth serious consideration if it puts into people’s hands the key to their own door.

Acklins residents thank PM for evacuation

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Dear Prime Minister, ON behalf of the residents of Acklins who were evacuated to New Providence as a result of Hurricane Melissa, I wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Government of The Bahamas for the swift and decisive action taken to safeguard our lives. We are deeply appreciative of the coordination that made possible our safe relocation from Acklins, as well as the support provided by our fellow Bahamians from Inagua and other islands who also faced the storm’s impact. However, I must also express a growing concern regarding today’s repatriation exercise. While we understand the complexity of managing large-scale evacuations and returns, the process this morning—Friday—appeared to be poorly coordinated and communicated. Many of us received short notice to report to the Kendall G L Isaacs Gymnasium, where we were then transported to the Lynden Pindling International Airport with little clarity regarding scheduling, luggage handling, and transportation arrangements upon arrival back to Acklins. At approximately 12pm, evacuees departed the gymnasium and were taken to Odyssey Aviation, where we remained on the tarmac from 12noon until 4:30pm without access to food or water. We were later informed that our flight would proceed to Exuma for a connecting transfer to Acklins; however, the aircraft flew beyond Exuma to Inagua, then returned to Exuma, where we arrived around 8pm. At the time of writing, we are still in Exuma, having just been advised that smaller aircrafts will now be used to transport us back to Acklins later tonight. This situation has caused undue fatigue, distress, and confusion among evacuees—many of whom include elderly persons, children, and individuals with health challenges—and is, quite frankly, unacceptable.

We fully appreciate the tremendous logistical challenges faced by the government and relevant agencies in these difficult times. Nevertheless, it is our sincere hope that future repatriation efforts can be handled with greater structure, communication, and sensitivity to the needs of displaced residents—particularly the elderly, families with young children, and those with medical or mobility challenges. Again, we thank the Government for its tireless efforts and its commitment to the welfare of the people of Acklins. Our intention in writing is not one of criticism, but of constructive feedback— aimed at ensuring smoother processes in the future and the continued safety and dignity of all Bahamians affected by national emergencies.

(On behalf of the Evacuees of Acklins Island)

RULAME COOPER Acklins Island, November 12, 2025.

Public policies and elections

EDITOR, The Tribune.

ANY administration, at any given time, is mandated to ensure that sensible public policy initiatives are in place to ensure that the proper and effective ways and means are found to address the common issues, which are now the order of the day, such as: the escalating cost of living; affordability in housing; access to the basic and even ‘enhanced’ health & medical care for all; crime & punishment and, of course, good governance.

One of the major obstacles to achieving the actual implementation of doable public policy initiatives has been, under successive administrations, the glaring absence of a National Development plan, over all on a national basis and for specific Islands. It is trite acceptance that if one does not have an accurate road map to get to a particular destination, he/she would most likely not get there at all or without having to take a circuitous and very uncertain route. This, I submit, has been and remains a stumbling block to our national and individual advancements, at least for the past 53 fateful years.

The current campaigning for the upcoming bye-election over in Golden Isles is a classic example of the implementation of public policy initiatives. That constituency has proven to be ‘a swing constituency’ or one whereby the majority ‘owes’ no particular loyalty to any of the major political entities are are capable of electing and ousting candidates at will. My Brother, Senator Michael Halkitis, Minister of Economic Affairs, was comfortably elected as a PLP representative way back in 2012. Five years later, he was ‘rejected’ at the polls by the now deceased Hon Vaughan Miller.

No one should Ever refer to or talk about ‘the dead’ in a negative way if possible. Some residents over in Golden Isles have lamented, now that he’s gone, that Brother Miller was not as effective as he could or should have been in delivering on public policy initiatives for the constituency while he was alive. That may or may not be true, but perception is politically deadly.

A few weeks ago, after the death of Brother Miller, comprehensive remedial work was done to the Spikenard Road, South of Carmichael Road straight down to Cow Pen Road.

Some have opined that this work was only now being done because of the anticipated bye election. That may or may not be the case but that is the common and very cynical perception. Had we had a National Development Plan, such bogus perceptions may not arise. I am of the opinion, however, that it’s better, for the constituents, if a project comes late in a term, but better than never.

In respect to affordability, as a nation we must ramp up the work that is currently been done by an ‘independent’ group of Technocrats; business and professional , led by my good friend, Mr. Felix Stubbs, former IBM (Bahamas) Managing Director and now Chairman of the Doctors Hospital Group of Companies, to promulgate a realistic National Development Plan. That plan , whenever it is presented to the executive for debate and, I hope, passage in both Houses of Parliament, will be, I am sure, just what the Doctor would have prescribed.

Again, some say that the Davis administration is only now getting to certain constituency expectations and requirements, now that the Hon Vaughan Miller has crossed The Jordan. I do not, for one minute, subscribed to that unadulterated shaving cream, for want of a better description that would not be printable. It may well be that Miller did not sufficiently advocate in cabinet for Golden Isles, a fast growing middle and upper middle class area, not to mention upscale sections like Coral Harbor; Lyford Cay and Albany. It is not just Golden Isles where one is now able to feel and see public policy initiatives being played out.

Take the For Charlotte constituency, where I predict that the PLP nominee, H E Sebas Bastian, as true as night follows day, will be successfully elected. I am. by no means, suggesting that the Hon Travis Robinson, former MP for Bain & Grants Town, will simply roll over and play dead, But Sebas has hit the ground running since his inevitable nomination by the PLP. Already, one is able to witness the massive clearing of eye sores; abandoned and derelict automobiles and the usual electoral

handouts by this honorable gentleman. I, of course, applaud him for taking these incremental steps to improve Fort Charlotte. I have no doubt that the historic flooding in St Albans Drive and Perpall Tract, will, finally, be effectively addressed by Bastian. In fact, I submit, that a New Day, has arrived for the constituents of that area which, for countless years, would have been badly served by Bastian’s political predecessors, bar none.

And so, we shall see how the bye election goes. As a longtime observer of retail politics, I am convinced that the PLP will retain Golden Isle by a reduced margin. In order to assure that the PLP retains Golden Isles, however, the heavy lifters must be sent in, en masse.

More demonstrative implementation of Public Policy, on the ground, such as the comprehensive rehabilitation of Spikenard Cemetery (usually a Filthy looking and very badly maintained graveyard); paving of Cow Pen Road & Musical Avenue; the renaming of Bacardi Road to Life Changers Boulevard; rationalisation of obvious shanty towns; extension of available and affordable residential building spacious residential lots and, of course, separate and apart the granting and liberalisation of Crown Land.

One need only take a casual drive from Cow Pen Road East of Faith Avenue and straight pass Spikenard and one would see scores of cobbled together wooden shacks occupied by persons suspected of being and sounding like our brothers and sisters to the South- who may be Haitians. Regardless of who they are or might be, they are, in a large number of cases, squatting on valuable Crown and other land with, seemingly, impunity.

If Mr Brian Brown of the FNM Brian Rolle of the COI and Miss Kim Butler, Independent, wish to make a serious dent in Golden Isles and, maybe get their deposits back, they must clearly understand and appreciate that the Davis led PLP will not surrender or abdicate a single iota of political ground to them. They will, like Brother Pickstock, Earn his/her place into the hallowed halls of the House of Assembly. To God then, in all things, be the glory... ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, November 9, 2025.

BELOVED mutt of The Bahamas - the potcake.

Photo: Nobu Otsuka

Widow testifies slain husband was in fear for his life but never told her who they were

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

THE widow of Emmanuel Brown, who was gunned down on Seventh Street in 2022, told a Supreme Court jury yesterday that her husband had been living in fear for his life but never revealed who he was afraid of.

Testifying before Justice Jeannine Weech-Gomez in the trial of Donte “Drey” Deveaux, 28, Cherrelyn Joseph-Brown said her

husband confided that he “had issues” and believed people were out to get him, though he never said who they were. She later identified his body at Princess Margaret Hospital’s morgue on May 4 2022. Prosecutors allege that Deveaux shot and killed 34-year-old Emmanuel “Manny” Brown and tried to kill Samuel “Fish” Joseph during a shooting at Seventh Street, Coconut Grove, on the night of May 2, 2022. Reserve Inspector

Kirkland Sands, one of the first officers on the scene, said he found a crowd gathered near a car wash and followed a trail of blood to a man lying face up on the ground. He said the victim was bleeding heavily, breathing fast, and in pretty bad shape.

Inspector Sands said Brown identified himself and told him that he and Joseph had been shot by a man he knew as “Drey” while they were talking. Brown pleaded, “don’t let me die,” before losing

consciousness, Insp Sands said.

The officer said he then heard another man calling for help from the southern end of the property and found Mr Joseph suffering from gunshot wounds to the face, throat, and head. Mr Joseph was holding part of his jaw in his hand, choking on blood, and struggling to speak. Insp Sands said Mr Joseph confirmed that the same man had shot them multiple times.

He said he called for two

Video of men exiting car and shooting at another man shown in court during attempted murder trial

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

SECURITY footage was shown in court yesterday of two men exiting a vehicle and opening fire on a man in broad daylight on East Street, as the trial for a 2022 attempted murder continued.

Mauricio Webster Jr, 23, and Malik “Chopper” Hanna, 27, appeared in the prisoner’s dock as

Officer Roberts presented the footage before Justice Franklyn Williams. The men are accused of attempting to kill Adam Newbold on East Street, near “Big Yard” in Coconut Grove, around 11.50am on December 18, 2022. The footage showed a white Mitsubishi subcompact stopping on the left side of the road. The doors opened and two men in dark clothing exited, ran into a yard, and opened fire

on the victim. They then ran back to the vehicle and sped off as pedestrians fled from the gunfire.

Officer Roberts said police were able to extract the vehicle’s licence plate number, AV5841, by zooming in on the footage. However, she could not confirm whether the vehicle was left or right-hand drive, nor whether police ever recovered it. She told the defence that she could not

determine which of the men fired the weapons and said the shooting took place over about eight seconds. When questioned about whether a rifle was used, she said the footage showed the suspects using handguns.

Desiree Ferguson and Gwendolyn Brice-Adderley prosecuted the case, while Keith Seymour and Alicia Delancey-Richardson represented the defendants.

Police investigating viral footage allegedly of students hanging out at abandoned building during school

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

POLICE are investigating viral footage allegedly showing students from a local high school hanging out at an abandoned building during school hours.

The first clip, posted on Friday by TikTok user “tyronewilson166”, showed several students in blue and grey uniforms leaving what he described as “an

abandoned house”, while he urged parents to “come for your children.” The video has drawn hundreds of reactions and shares on social media, sparking debate over youth supervision and school accountability. Days later, Mr Wilson returned to the property with Superintendent Keith Ferguson, head of the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s School Policing Division, to inspect the site. Mr Wilson said his goal was not to get students in trouble but to

steer them “in the right direction.”

Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr Chaswell Hanna, who oversees the division, said police have launched inquiries in partnership with the Ministry of Education’s attendance unit. “We are thankful to members of the public who provide us with any information that they believe is worthy of the police looking at,” he said. “That matter is being looked at.”

Dr Hanna encouraged

residents to report similar cases, noting that while incidents of students loitering in derelict properties were uncommon, officers often found pupils skipping school at barber shops and eateries. “We have been working with those business owners to let them know they cannot entertain students during school hours. It is a violation of the Education Act,” he said, warning that licences could be revoked for repeat offenders.

Cable Beach Boaters Association defends acting Port Controller

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

EXECUTIVES of the Cable Beach Boaters Association yesterday defended the Port Department and acting Port Controller Berne Wright against accusations of harassment and selective enforcement, insisting that efforts to regulate the water sports industry are focused on fairness, structure, and safety — not victimisation.

Their response followed complaints from several operators who accused the department and the association of using new enforcement measures to sideline small businesses and reward insiders.

The association, formed just over a year ago and comprising more than 20 licensed members, said its purpose is to bring order to the industry, protect the environment, and strengthen cooperation among operators, the Port Authority, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the police, and the Ministry of Tourism.

Executives said the group is open to all licensed operators at Cable Beach and that membership is voluntary.

They explained that members pay dues, attend meetings, and are expected to follow the same rules established by the Port Authority.

The association, they said, works closely with the Port Department but does not replace its authority. They described the group’s role as helping to bring structure,

reduce friction between operators, support hotel coordination, and promote safety for tourists and residents.

Executives said the formation of the group, along with the government’s new rotation system, has sharply reduced conflict and confusion on the beach, replacing the previous free-for-all with a structured system. Before the change, they said, operators often clashed over tourists, sometimes leading to violent incidents.

The association now enforces a daily rotation system that they said ensures fairness by giving each registered operator an equal opportunity to work. The list, which functions like a taxi call-up system, runs from 9am to 5.30pm, with carryover to the next day. They said only operators with vessels properly registered through the Port Authority are included in the rotation, and that the system prevents unlicensed or unauthorised operators from working in the area.

Executives rejected suggestions that the association acts as a regulatory body, saying the Port Authority remains the sole regulator. They added that some of the operators claiming exclusion were previously members who withdrew after refusing to follow the rules, while others are registered in different areas but continue to operate illegally at Cable Beach.

According to the association, coordination between its members,

Executives said the formation of the group, along with the government’s new rotation system, has sharply reduced conflict and confusion on the beach, replacing the previous free-for-all with a structured system.

the Port Department, the Defence Force, and the police has resulted in a noticeable decline in beach-related crime and safety incidents reported by the United States Embassy. They credited the rotation system and stricter enforcement with making the area safer and more professional.

Executives said the association’s doors remain open to all operators who meet the Port’s licensing, insurance, and safety standards. They argued that those who follow the rules have no issues, while the ones protesting are often those who fail to comply. They also praised the Port Department’s leadership, saying Mr Wright has been approachable and responsive to concerns.

The association acknowledged complaints

ambulances, but by the time emergency personnel arrived, Brown had died at the scene. Under cross-examination by defence attorney K Melvin Munroe, Insp Sands said he knew both victims “professionally” and that Brown “was on the wrong side of the law.” He said he recognised both men by their street names.

Mr Munroe questioned alleged inconsistencies in the officer’s testimony, including his description of the defendant’s clothing

and the scene layout. Insp Sands maintained that Mr Joseph had been lying to the south of the car wash and insisted his account was accurate. When the defence suggested he had not spoken to Brown because Brown was already dead when he arrived, Insp Sands pushed back firmly, saying he knew what he saw that night and that the defence attorney wasn’t there.Calnan Kelly, Tenielle Bain and Timothy Bailey were the prosecutors.

MAN ACCUSED OF RAPING WOMAN ON FIFTEEN SEPARATE OCCASSIONS

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused of raping and indecently assaulting a woman 15 times has had his trial set for 2026. Richardson Bien-Aime, 34, is accused of raping a 26-year-old woman in New Providence on November 12, 2022. He also allegedly indecently assaulted the same

woman on 15 separate occasions between April 1 and August 31 of that year.

Bien-Aime, who is currently out on bail, was informed by Justice Guillimina Archer-Minns that his trial will begin on September 21, 2026. His next status hearing is scheduled for February 25, 2026. Family members of the defendant were present for his latest court appearance.

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE IN FATAL TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVOLVING TEEN

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 61-YEAR-OLD man was remanded to prison yesterday after being accused of causing a fatal traffic accident in February that claimed the life of a 19-year-old man in Eleuthera.

Police allege that while driving south along Bluff Road around 8.16pm on February 16, Elasnet Saintilus caused an accident that seriously injured Dashawn Grant. Grant died from his injuries at Princess Margaret Hospital on March 26.

from some operators, including Reno Deveaux Jr of 10 Summaz Adventures, who said he has been unfairly targeted, as well as Derlano McMinnis of Aquanaut Adventures and Sterling Martin of SJS Adventures, who claimed they felt pressured to join and were hurt by repeated equipment seizures.

Executives described those claims as isolated, saying most stem from operators unwilling to meet safety or licensing standards. They said stricter rules were long requested by compliant members and are now being properly enforced.

They added that the focus should now shift toward helping struggling operators meet requirements and transition to legitimate opportunities through training or alternative employment.

They said tourism has become increasingly fragile, making it vital to preserve recent progress and provide realistic pathways for those left behind.

In defending Mr Wright, members described him as accessible and solution-oriented, saying he has been willing to meet and address issues raised by stakeholders.

Senior Deputy Port Controller Craig Curtis, speaking previously on behalf of the department while Mr Wright was abroad, has said there is no victimisation, only enforcement of licensing, insurance, and safety standards — and that those who “cry foul” often fail to meet the requirements.

Saintilus was not required to enter a plea to the charge of vehicular manslaughter when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Kara Turnquest Deveaux.

The case is expected to proceed to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). Saintilus was advised of his right to apply for bail in the higher court and will remain at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until the service of his VBI on February 16, 2026. Inspector K Wilkinson was the prosecutor, while Myra Russell represented the accused.

TEENAGE GIRL HOSPITALISED IN SUSPECTED SUICIDE ATTEMPT

A TEENAGE girl was hospitalised on Monday after allegedly ingesting a quantity of medication in what police suspect was a suicide attempt. The incident occurred at a home in Pinewood Gardens. Emergency medical personnel transported the teen to hospital, where she was last reported to be in stable condition. It follows a similar incident over the weekend in Grand Bahama, where police said a girl ingested a large amount of over-thecounter medication before being taken to hospital for treatment and evaluation. Her condition was not disclosed.

The recent cases come amid growing concern about rising suicide and self-harm rates among Bahamians. A nationwide survey this year found that suicidal thoughts have more than tripled, self-harm has nearly tripled, and loneliness has more than doubled among Bahamian teens over the past 25 years, with one in five having attempted suicide.

COUPLE ROBBED AT GUNPOINT

A MAN and a woman were robbed at gunpoint late Monday night while parked at a beach in western New Providence. Shortly after 11pm, two armed men dressed in dark clothing approached the couple and ordered them out of their vehicle, a brown 2010 Nissan Cube. The robbers then stole the car and several electronic devices before speeding away south along New Providence Highway. No injuries were reported. Police are appealing for anyone with information about the suspects or the stolen vehicle to contact the Criminal Investigations Department.

TWO ARRESTED AND GUNS SEIZED

TWO men were arrested and two guns seized in separate police operations in New Providence on Monday. Shortly after 12.30pm, officers assisted by the Canine Support Unit searched a business on Boyd Road and discovered a firearm with ammunition. A 24-year-old man was arrested. In a second incident around 7pm, Operation Black Scorpion officers were on foot patrol on Market Street when a man fled into a nearby establishment after seeing police. Officers pursued him and found a gun with ammunition inside the building. Two men, both 36, were taken into custody. Operation Black Scorpion is a joint initiative of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force aimed at strengthening public safety and combating crime.

A liveable wage: essential, but still a pipe dream?

THERE have been several news stories onthe cost of living in The Bahamas, the inadequacyof minimumwage, and the clear needfor a living wage.These havesparked conversationsthat havenot been sustained. Regardless, these conversationsare often metwithcriesofimpossibility from theprivate sector rootedin fearand greed and vague commentary from government about theneed for change rooted inpersonal comfort divergent interests.

Most peopleare workingas muchas theycanalready, often juggling morethan one jobto makeends meet,while peoplein positionsofpower decide that the wellbeing of

the people isthe least important element when there an inequitable economic system to maintain.

When we call, as employees,for moremoney,” Ministerof LaborandPublic Service Pia Glover-Rolle said thisweek, “wemust callfor moreproductivity aswell.I'm sure as businessowners we can say we don't mind rewardingwith betterbenefits andbettercompensationpackageswhen wesee moreproductivity. So, we think that as agovernment, whilewe're workingto bringemployee salariesandcompensationtoa good placeand liveableplace, weshouldalso havetheexpectationthat productivityis improved.”

Thiscomment shouldbe disturbing toanyone whoun-

derstandsthe purposeofthe liveable wage and the burden of labour and insufficient incomeon employeesinthe name of profitand financial gainfor theowners ofcapital.

To make an increase in productivity a requirement for a liveable wageis toignorethe reasonitexists anditsnecessityinThe Bahamas.Noone should work full time and be unable to meettheir basic needswith theincomefrom that job. Businessesand the government may have productivityissuestoaddress,but they are not relevant to the discussionon payingemployees a wage that enables them to cover thecost of housing,food, water,transportation,and othernecessities. Particularly as public services deterioratefurther and force peopleto pay for education, healthcare, and other criticalservices that ought to bepublicly funded and/or subsidized.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) defines a liveablewage as the wage levelthat isnecessary toafford a decentstandard of living forworkers andtheir families, takinginto account the country circumstances and calculated forthe workperformed duringthe normal hours of work.”

Similarly,theGlobalLiving Wage Coalitiondefines a livingwage as “remuneration received fora standardwork week bya workerin aparticular [time and]place sufficient toafford adecent standard ofliving, including food,water, housing,education, healthcare,transport, clothingand otheressential needs, including provision for unexpected events.”

Theliveable, orliving wage,isnotaprizeorabonus. It isnot ashiny baubleto dangle infront ofpeople, trying to convincethem to work more or work faster. It is astandard.It isarecognition that people work to get money thatthey thenuseto paybills andacquirethe itemsthatnot only sustaintheir lives,but thatmake itpossible forthem to continue to work. It is the bare minimum.

When people are not able to sustain theirhouseholds with income from their full-time jobs, theyhave tofind other sources ofincome. Itis self-

defeating todemand more workof employeesthan a40hourwork week,because doingso contributestothe conditions that forcethem to takeon additionalpaidwork. And this reducesthe time availablefor rest,whichaffects productivity.

“A LivingWage forThe Bahamas: Estimates, Potentials, and Problems”, published in the International Journal of Bahamian Studies in2021,capturedtheattention of Bahamians with its estimatethat abasicdecent standardof livingfortwo adults and two children in a householdrequires $4400per month in New Providence and $5750permonthinGrandBahama.

“With statutorydeductions included, our gross living wage estimate is$2625 for New Providenceand $3550 forGrandBahama, thereport said.

“Our NewProvidence living wage estimate is nearly 200%and 100%higherthan the country s nationalminimumwage andpovertyline, respectively. Theseindicators

notonly confirmthat theminimum wagerate doesnot ensureworkers liveabovethe poverty linebut alsosuggests thatmuchneeds tobedoneto ensure that everyone who works can live decently.”

Three yearslater, in How Much Does It Cost to Be Middle Class inThe Bahamas? authorLesvieArcher determined that a family of fourneededamonthlyincome of$10,200 inNewProvidence, and $10,100 in Grand Bahama. The report also updatedthe costofliving fora working-class familyof four, stating that “the 2024cost-ofliving estimatefor aworkingclassfamilyof fouris$5,000 per monthin NewProvidence and$6,600 permonthin Grand Bahama.”

In November2024, Prime MinisterPhilip Davisissued his response tothe cost-oflivingreport. From the outset, weraised thenational minimum wage,provided public sectoremployees with much-needed promotionsand pay adjustments, and reduced the dutieson anumber ofimported items byBahamian families.These changesare part of aphased approach to improvewages acrossthe board, helping Bahamians earn a fair, liveable income. Raisingthe minimumwage didnotsolvetheproblem.Itis still nota liveable wage.It is notenough tomeet aperson’s basicneeds inTheBahamas. Promotionsand payadjustments are littlemore than campaign material,appearing tobesomething onthesurface, but thathave little effect onthesystemic issuessuchas poverty.

Thechallengeswefaceare complex and requirebold action, the prime minister said. “And we know that structural change takestime. Butthis

A

government is committedto a fairer, morecompetitive economythatworksforeveryBahamian.”

InMay 2025,Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation (BCCE)labour divisionhead, Peter Goudie, addedhis own thoughts on the matter.

“There is noappetite for [a living wage] atthe moment. We haven tdone astudy, so we really don’t know what it’s goingto looklike. Andthen you’ve got toworry about how you implement higher wageswhenbusinesscostsare stillveryhigh. Therearea bunch of issues there.

There isa clearmisunderstanding--or clear action to produce misunderstanding--of the liveable wage,its necessity, andthe role ofpeople in positions ofpower tomake it reality. People willsleep in cars with theirchildren. They willleave theirchildrenwith people they barelyknow to worka secondor thirdjob. Theywilleatcheap,unhealthy food and sufferhealth consequences. Theywill launch fundraisers tocover thecost of surgicalprocedures and participatein illegalactivities just to get more money.

They experience mental health crises and often struggle to leave violent households.Very fewofthem ever make the news. But they listento third-partycommentary on the stories of the

peoplewhodo.Sufferinggoes on with varying degrees of visibility. And there are financial and social coststo The Bahamasand tothe peopleof The Bahamas. Theseare theconsequences of a system that government officialsand businessowners wantusto believeisagood system that worksand requires us only to work hard. It is easier totell us that we simply do not work enough to earn the moneyit takes to have a decent life here. Itismorebeneficialtothem toconvince usthat oursuffering is due to our own shortcomings,notduetothedesign ofthesystems thatkeepus down while wetry to find waystomake themworkfor us.Therewillbenoconsensus from people focused on maximizing profitto paya liveable wage.

It must be imposed.

A governmentadministration must connect the everydayproblemsweseeand complainabout toeveryday systemic issues. It mustsee the issueas one worth solving, and it must championthe people.Itmust want to seeevery employee have adecent standardof living. It must want that more than itwantstoexploitusbyseeing ourneedsandrefusingtomeet them,while offeringtemporary, ineffectiveincrements in exchange for votes.

Ways to Support Jamaica Post-Hurricane Melissa

Relief efforts continue in Jamaica following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. Direct donations to organizations based in Jamaica, with connections to the community, are the most impactful.

GirlsCARE Jamaica - Donations can be made via PayPal with girlscareja@gmail.com as the recipient.

Kindred on the Rock - Donations can be made at gofund.me/f/support-menddigap-incs-vital-mission

TransWave Jamaica - Donations can be made at rustinfund.org/2024/10/08/transwave-jamaica

WE-Change Jamaica - Donations can be made at gofund.me/5b6a69a3f

look at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 inductees and how they were honored

By ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP)

The Rock &Roll Hall of Fame has inductedits 2025 class of music giants.

Theceremony heldSaturdayatLosAngeles'Peacock Theaterwas amix oftributes, speechesandperformancesby acts likeSoundgarden, SaltN-Pepa andBig Boiof Outkast,along withnumerousAlist musical guests.

Artists become eligible for thehall 25years aftertheir first music release.

Here'sa lookat thisyear's Rock Hall class, a few of their defining songs and who inducted them.

Outkast

Americanrap duothat began in the 1990s. Key songs:"Hey Ya,""Ms. Jackson" and "Roses."

Inducted by Donald Glover. Medley performanceincluded Big Boi, Janelle Monáe, JID, Doja Cat,Killer Mike,Sleepy Brown Bad Company English rockband formed inthe1970s.Keysongs:"Feel LikeMakin'Love,""Can'tGet Enough," "Bad Company."

Inducted by Mick Fleetwood. Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke was joined by Nancy Wilson of HeartandJoe PerryofAerosmith on guitarsandBlack Crowes leadsinger Chris Robinson on vocals.

Cyndi Lauper

Americansinger andsongwriterwhose solocareer began in the early 1980s. Key songs: "GirlsJust Wanna HaveFun," "TimeAfter Time," "True Colors." InductedbyChappellRoan. Lauperperformedamedleyof her hits, includingduets with AvrilLavigne, RayeandSaltN-Pepa. Soundgarden Americanrockbandformed in 1984. Keysongs: "Black Hole Sun," "Fellon Black Days," and "Outshined." Inductedby JimCarrey. Surviving Soundgardenmem-

bersperformed withTaylor Momsen and Brandi Carlile, who took the place of late vocalistChris Cornell.Cornell's daughter, Toni, also performed with Nancy Wilson. Salt-N-Pepa American rap group formed inthe 1980s.Keysongs: "Push It," "Let'sTalk About Sex" and "Shoop." Inducted by Missy Elliott, the group performed a medley of theirhits with aspecial appearance from En Vogue.

Chubby Checker

Americansingerwhobegan releasingrecordsinthe1950s. Keysongs: "TheTwist," "LimboRock," "Let'sTwist Again." Inducted via video tribute. Checker acceptedremotely via a video feed. Joe Cocker English singerwho began releasingrecords inthe1960s and died in2014. Key songs: "You AreSo Beautiful,""Up Where WeBelong," "Witha Little HelpFrom My Friends." Inducted byBryan Adams. Medley performanceby Teddy Swims, Tedeschi TrucksBand, alongwith Adams, Lauper,Chris Robinson and Nathaniel Rateliffwhotookthestagefor a rendition of "With A Little Help from My Friends."

The White Stripes

American rock band that began in the 1990s. Key songs: "Seven Nation Army," "We're Goingto BeFriends," "Doorbell."

Inducted byIggy Pop. TributeperformancebyOlivia Rodrigo, Feistand Twenty One Pilots.

Warren Zevon American singer-songwriterwho beganreleasing solorecordsintheearly1970s and died in2003. Key songs: "Lawyers, Guns and Money," "Werewolves ofLondon," "Keep Me in Your Heart." Inducted byDavid Letterman.Honored withperformance by the Killers.

Carole Kaye American session musician who played on scores of hits startingin the1950s, primarily on bass.Key songs: The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations," Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots are Madefor Walkin'," Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were."

Inducted via video tribute.

Thom Bell

American musicproducer and songwriter startingin the 1960s who died in 2022. Key songs:the Delfonics'"La-La (Means ILove You),"the Spinners' "TheRubberband Man," theStylistics' "You Make Me Feel Brand New."

Inducted via video tribute.

Nicky Hopkins English sessionmusician who played keyboards on dozens ofhits startingin the 1960sanddied in1994.Key songs:the Beatles'"Revolution," theRolling Stones' "Sympathyfor theDevil," Cocker's"You AreSoBeautiful." Inducted via video tribute.

Minister Pia Glover-Rolle

BCCE's Peter Goudie

Inductees Big Boi, left and Andr 3000 of OutKast during the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Chris Pizzel

Feist, leftand Olivia Rodrigoperform during the2025 Rock andRoll HallofFame InductionCeremonyon Saturday,Nov. 8, 2025, at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

China rolls out its "H-1B" visa to attract foreign tech talent

Called

K-visa,

scheme mirrors US program

By CHAN HO-HIM AP Business Writer

HONG KONG Vaishnavi Srinivasagopalan, a skilled Indian IT professional who hasworked inboth Indiaand the U.S.,hasbeenlookingforworkinChina. Beijing's newK-visa programtargeting science andtechnology workerscould turn that dream into a reality.

TheK-visarolled outbyBeijinglast monthispart ofChina'swideningeffort tocatchupwiththe U.S.intheracefor globaltalentandcuttingedgetechnology. Itcoincides withuncertainties overthe U.S.'s H-1B program under tightened immigrationspoliciesimplementedbyPresident Donald Trump.

"(The)K-visa forChina(is) anequivalenttotheH-1B fortheU.S.,"said Srinivasagopalan, who isintrigued by China's working environment and culture afterherfatherworked ataChineseuniversity a few years back. "It is a good option for people like me to work abroad."

The K-visa supplements China's existing visa schemesincluding the R-visa forforeign professionals,butwith loosenedrequirements,such asnotrequiring an applicantto havea joboffer before applying.

Stricter U.S. policiestoward foreign studentsandscholars underTrump,including theraising of fees forthe H-1B visafor foreignskilled workersto $100,000fornew applicants,areleading some non-American professionals and students to consider going elsewhere.

"Studentsstudyingin theU.S.hoped foran(H-1B)visa,butcurrentlythisisan issue," said Bikash Kali Das, an Indian masters student ofinternational relations at Sichuan University in China.

Chinawantsmore foreigntechprofessionals

China is striking while the iron is hot.

The ruling Communist Party has made globalleadership inadvancedtechnologiesatop priority,payingmassivegov-

ernmentsubsidiestosupportresearchand developmentofareassuchasartificialintelligence, semiconductors and robotics.

"Beijing perceivesthe tighteningof immigrationpoliciesintheU.S.asanopportunity to positionitself globallyas welcoming foreign talentand investment morebroadly,"saidBarbaraKelemen,associate director and headof Asia at security intelligence firm Dragonfly.

Unemployment amongChinese graduates remains high, and competition is intense forjobs inscientific andtechnical fields.But thereisaskills gapChina's leadership is eager tofill. For decades, China has been losing top talent to developed countries asmany stayedand worked in the U.S.and Europe after they finished studies there.

The brain drain has not fully reversed.

ManyChineseparentsstillseeWestern education asadvanced andare eagerto send their childrenabroad, said Alfred Wu,anassociateprofessorattheNational University of Singapore.

Still,inrecentyears,agrowingnumber ofprofessionalsincludingAIexperts,scientistsand engineershave movedto China fromthe U.S.,including ChineseAmericans. FeiSu, achip architectat Intel,and MingZhou,a leadingengineer at U.S.-basedsoftware firmAltair, were among thosewho havetaken teaching jobs in China this year.

Manyskilled workersin Indiaand Southeast Asia have already expressed interest aboutthe K-visa,said Edward Hu, aShanghai-based immigrationdirector at the consultancy Newland Chase.

Questions about extra competition from foreign workers

Withthe joblessratefor Chineseaged 16-24excludingstudents atnearly18%, the campaign to attractmore foreign professionals is raising questions.

"The current jobmarket isalready underfierce competition,"saidZhou Xinying, a 24-year-old postgraduate student in behavioral science at eastern China's Zhejiang University.

While foreignprofessionals couldhelp "bringaboutnew technologies"anddifferentinternational perspectives,Zhou said, "some Chinese young job seekers may feelpressure dueto theintroduction

Gemini AI poised to transform Google Maps into a conversation

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer

GOOGLE Maps is heading in anew direction with artificial intelligence sittingin thepassenger's seat.

Fueled byGoogle's GeminiAI technology,the world'smostpopularnavigation appwill becomea more conversationalcompanionas part of a redesign announced Wednesday. The hands-free experience is meantto turnGoogle Mapsinto somethingmore like aninsightful passenger abletodirect adrivertoa destination while also providing nearby recommendations on places to eat, shoporsightsee,whenasked for the advice.

"Nofumbling required now youcan justask,"

Googlepromised inablog postabout theapp makeover. The AI features are also supposedto enableGoogle Maps to bemore precise by calling outlandmarks todenote the place to make a turn instead ofrelying ondistance notifications. AI chatbots,like Gemini and OpenAI's ChatGPT, have sometimeslapsed into periods ofmaking thingsup known as"hallucinations" in techspeak but Google is promising that built-insafeguards willprevent Maps from accidentally sending drivers down the wrong road.

Allthe informationthat Geminiis drawinguponwill be culled fromthe roughly 250 millionplaces storedin GoogleMaps'databaseofreviews accumulated during

of the K-visa policy."

Kyle Huang, a26-year-old software engineer based in the southern city of Guangzhou, said his peersin the science and technology fields fearthe new visa scheme "might threatenlocal job opportunities".

Arecent commentarypublished bya state-backednews outlet,theShanghai Observer,downplayed suchconcerns, sayingthatbringing insuchforeignprofessionals will benefitthe economy. As Chinaadvancesinareas suchasAIand cutting-edge semiconductors,there isa "gap andmismatch" betweenqualified jobseekersand thedemand forskilled workers, it said.

"Themorecomplextheglobalenvironment,themoreChinawillopenitsarms," it said.

"Beijing will needto emphasizehow selectforeign talentcancreate, nottake, localjobs," saidMichael Feller,chief strategist at consultancy Geopolitical Strategy."But evenWashingtonhas shownthat thisispoliticallya hardargument tomake, despite decadesof evidence."

China's disadvantages even with the new visas

Recruitment andimmigration specialists say foreignworkers facevarious hurdlesinChina.Oneisthelanguagebarrier. The ruling Communist Party's internet censorship, known as the "Great Firewall," is another drawback.

Acountryof about1.4billion,China hadonly anestimated 711,000foreign workersresidingin thecountryasof 2023.

TheU.S. stillleadsinresearch andhas the advantageof usingEnglish widely. There's also stilla relatively clearer pathway to residencyfor many, said DavidStepat, countrydirector forSingapore atthe consultancy DezanShira & Associates.

Nikhil Swaminathan, anIndian H1-B visaholderworking foraU.S.non-profit organization afterfinishing graduate school there,is interestedin China'sKvisa but skeptical. "I would've considered it. China's a great place to work in tech, if not forthe difficultrelationship between India and China," he said.

Easy car renews partnership for all-electric pickups

EASY CARSALES has announced a renewed and strengthened partnership with Geely Riddara Group. Felicia Shang,International Regional Director, recently visited Nassau to sign a threeyear DistributorAgreement, reinforcing along-standing relationshipbetweenthetwo companies.

Asthe onlyAuthorised Dealerand Warrantyprovider fortheir electricRiddara pick-up trucksinThe Bahamas since2024, Easy Car Saleshas introduced two highly anticipated 2026 models: theGeely Riddara RD6 and the Riddara RD6 Econ

Designed to deliver performance, reliability, and spacious modern design, these fully electric pickups

are ideal for both work and play lifestyles. Thisis anexcitingstep forward ,said IanJohnson, General Manager ofEasy Car Sales. The Geely Riddara brings fresh options toBahamiandrivers,andwe areproud tobe theirexclusive authorised distributor andwarranty provider. Our customerscan purchase with confidence, knowing they will receivefull aftersalessupport fromour highly trainedand experienced tech team.” Easy Car Saleswas the first andcontinues tobe the only 100%electric vehicle dealerin TheBahamas, committed to cleaner, more efficient and cost-effective transportation for Bahamians.

US voters anger at high electricity bills and data centers looms over 2026 midterms?

By MARC LEVY and JESSE BEDAYN Associated Press

the past 20 years.

GoogleMaps'newAIcapabilities will be rolling out to both Apple's iPhone and Android mobile devices.

Thatwill giveGoogle's Gemini amassive audience to impress or disappoint withitsAIprowess,given the navigation app is used by more than 2billion people around the world. Besides making it evenmore indispensable, Google is hoping the AI featureswill turn into ashowcase thathelpgives Gemini acompetitive edge against ChatGPT.

Prodded by OpenAI's release ofChatGPT inlate 2022, Googlehas been steadily rollingout moreof its owntechnology designed to ensure itsproducts continuetoevolve withtheupheavalbeing unleashedby AI.

VOTER anger over the cost ofliving ishurtlingforward into nextyear's midtermelections, when pivotal contests will be decided by communities that are home to fastrising electricbills orfights overwho'sfooting thebillto powerBig Tech'senergyhungry data centers.

Electricitycosts wereakey issue in thisweek's elections for governor inNew Jersey andVirginia, adatacenter hotspot, andin Georgia, where Democratsousted two Republican incumbents for seatsonthestate'sutilityregulatory commission.

Voters inNew Jersey,Virginia, California and New York City allcited economic concernsas thetop issue,as Democrats andRepublicans gird for a debate over affordability inthe intensifying midtermbattletocontrolCongress. Already, President Donald Trump is signalingthat he'll focus onaffordability next

yearasheandRepublicanstry tomaintaintheirslimcongressional majorities,while Democrats areblaming Trumpfor risinghousehold costs.

Front andcenter maybe electricity bills,which in many placesare increasingat aratefasterthanU.S.inflation on average although not everywhere.

"There's a lot of pressure on politicians to talk about affordability, and electricity prices are rightnow the most clear example of problems of affordability," said Dan Cassino,a professorofpolitics and governmentand pollster atFairleigh DickinsonUniversity in New Jersey

Rising electric costs aren't expected to ease and many Americans could see an increase ontheir monthlybills in themiddle ofnext year's campaigns.

Higher electric bills on the horizon

Gas and electric utilities are seekingor alreadysecured rateincreasesofmorethat$34 billionin thefirst threequarters of 2025,consumer ad-

vocacy organizationPowerLinesreported.Thatwasmore than doublethe sameperiod last year.

With some 80 million Americans strugglingto pay their utilitybills, "it'sa lifeor death and 'eat or heat' type decision thatpeople haveto make," saidCharles Hua, PowerLines' founder.

In Georgia, proposals to build datacenters haveroiled communities,while avictoriousDemocrat, PeterHubbard, accusedRepublicans on the commission of "rubberstamping" rate increases by Georgia Power,a subsidiary of power giant Southern Co. Monthly GeorgiaPower bills haverisen sixtimes over the past twoyears, now averaging $175 a monthfor a typical residential customer Hubbard's messageseemed to resonate with voters. RebeccaMekonnen,wholivesin the Atlanta suburbof Stone Mountain, saidshe votedfor the Democraticchallengers, andwantstosee"moreaffordable pricing.That's themain thing. It's running my pocket right now."

(L toR) John Farmer, Presidentof Easy CarSales, Felicia Shang, International Regional Directorfor Geely Riddara, Mr IanJohnson,General ManagerandAltermizeMissick-Russel, CFO for Easy Car Sales.

Palestinian villages in West Bank attacked by masked Israeli settlers

By JOSEF FEDERMAN, SHLOMO MOR and MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press

Dozens of masked Israeli settlers attacked a pair of Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, setting fire to vehicles and other property before clashing with Israeli soldiers sent to halt the rampage, Israeli and Palestinian officials said.

It was the latest in a series of attacks by young settlers in the West Bank.

Israeli police said four Israelis were arrested in what it described as “extremist violence,” while the Israeli military said four Palestinians were wounded. Police and Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency said they were investigating.

Videos on social media showed two charred trucks engulfed in flames, with a nearby building on fire.

Settler violence has surged since the war in Gaza erupted two years ago. The attacks have intensified in recent weeks as Palestinians harvest their olive trees in an annual ritual.

Earlier on Tuesday, tens of thousands of Israelis attended the funeral of an Israeli soldier whose remains had been held in Gaza for 11 years, overflowing and blocking surrounding streets as sombre crowds stood with Israeli flags.

The burial of Lt. Hadar Goldin was a moment of closure for his family, which had travelled the world in a public campaign seeking his return. The huge turnout also reflected the importance for the broader public in Israel, where Goldin became a household name.

Hamas returned his remains on Sunday as part of the US-brokered ceasefire deal that began last month. The bodies of four hostages taken in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, are still in Gaza.

Settler violence in the West Bank

The UN humanitarian office last week reported more Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank in October than in any other month since it began keeping track in 2006. There were over 260 attacks, the office said.

Palestinians and human rights workers accuse the Israeli army and police of failing to halt attacks by settlers. Israel’s government is dominated by West Bank settlers, and the police force is overseen by Cabinet minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a hardline settler leader.

In Tuesday’s incident, the army said soldiers initially responded to settler attacks in the villages of Beit Lid and Deir Sharaf. It said the settlers fled to a nearby industrial zone and attacked soldiers sent to the scene and damaged a military vehicle.

Palestinian official Muayyad Shaaban, who heads the government’s Commission against the Wall and Settlements, said the settlers set fire to four dairy trucks, farmland, tin shacks and tents belonging to a Bedouin community. He said the attacks were part of a campaign to drive Palestinians from their land and accused Israel of giving the settlers protection and immunity. He called for sanctions against groups that “sponsor and support the colonial settlement

terrorism project.”

French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the attacks during his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Paris on Tuesday, saying that “settler violence and the acceleration of settlement projects are reaching new heights, threatening the stability of the West Bank.”

Palestinians in Gaza still struggling to access food

Displaced Palestinians in central Gaza said they continue to rely heavily on charity kitchens for their only daily meal, as soaring market prices and the lack of income leave them struggling.

Scores of people, most of them children, lined up with empty pots at a charity kitchen in Nuseirat refugee camp on Tuesday waiting to be served rice — the only food available that

day.

“The rockets and planes stopped but increasing living costs has been the hardest weapon used against us,” said Mohamed al-Naqlah, a displaced Palestinian.

On Tuesday, Gaza’s Health Ministry said the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza has risen to 69,182. Its count, generally considered by independent experts as reliable, does not distinguish between militants and civilians, but the ministry says more than half of those killed were women and children.

The latest war began with the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel when around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and 251 people were kidnapped.

Close adviser to Netanyahu resigns

Cabinet Minister Ron Dermer, one of Prime

There’s no timeline on when flight cuts will ease up after the government shutdown ends

By RIO YAMAT, JOSH FUNK and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press

Airlines have cancelled more 9,000 flights across the US since the Federal Aviation Administration ordered flight cuts late last week, mostly to ease demand on control towers that are short-staffed during the federal government shutdown.

Although the government appears to be moving to reopen in the coming days, airport disruptions, flight cancellations and economic losses won’t go away all at once.

Here’s how the air travel network is being impacted:

Flights remain disrupted as the shutdown nears an end

Another 1,200 commercial flights were scratched Tuesday as the Federal Aviation Administration bumped up its target for reducing domestic flights at the nation’s busiest airports to 6%, up from an initial 4% cut at those 40 airports. However, the cancellations so far Tuesday have been less than in the past couple of days. Cancellations are unlikely to ease right away

The FAA hasn’t put a timeline on when it will ease back on the flight limitations. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the cuts won’t go away until safety measurements improve and staffing levels stabilize at air traffic control facilities. And the cuts will jump to 10% on Friday.

Flight cuts won’t end until FAA sees safety improve

Duffy has declined to share the specific data that prompted FAA to imposed the flight cuts last week. But at a news conference Tuesday at Chicago’s O’Hare airport, he said he was seeing reports of loss of separation between planes in the air, more runway incursions and airline pilots telling the FAA they were concerned with the responses they were getting from controllers.

Air traffic controller shortages won’t go away either

The nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers isn’t new, but the shutdown exposed just how fragile the system is. Controllers who weren’t being paid have increasingly called off work during the shutdown, citing increased stress and the need to take side jobs to pay bills. Union leaders said this week that the number of controllers who retired or quit during the shutdown

was “growing” by the day.

Airlines must readjust after FAA order is lifted

The flight restrictions have upended airline operations in just a matter of days. Many planes were rerouted and aren’t where they’re supposed to be.

It’s hard to say how quickly airlines can recover

Former FAA official Mike McCormick expects operations to recover within days, similar to after a major snowstorm. Eric Chaffee, a Case Western Reserve professor who studies risk management, warned the disruptions could last weeks as airlines face “complex operational hurdles” and winter weather complicates recovery before Thanksgiving.

“It’s similar to if you start pulling threads out of a tapestry,” Chaffee said. “What you may find is that lots unravels in addition to what you are trying to remove.”

Holiday travel outlook darkens amid persistent disruptions

The pace of airline ticket sales for Thanksgiving travel has slowed as more travellers reconsider whether to fly amid all the delays and cancellations. Aviation analytics firm Cirium said ticket sales during the busy travel season at the end of November are still expected to be up over last year, but only slightly.

Major airports bear the brunt of flight cuts

Hub airports in Denver, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and the New York

area have seen the bulk of the cancellations. They’ve also been plagued by long delays caused by staffing shortages in regional air traffic control centres and towers.

Trump posts a demand to get back to work

The head of the air traffic controllers union emphasized this week that the controllers were not walking off the job as part of an organized protest and were committed to their work.

However President Donald Trump on Monday blasted those who’ve taken time off during the shutdown, posting on social media “get back to work, NOW!!!” He also called for docking pay for those who didn’t stay on the job, and a $10,000 bonus for those who kept working.

Airlines face mounting losses

Cancelled flights and mounting delays are adding to big losses for the airlines. The lost revenue is likely to add up to “hundreds of millions of dollars a day,’’ said Greg Raiff, CEO of the Elevate Aviation Group. He expects the toll to show up when the airlines start issuing earnings warnings for the fourth quarter.

Millions of people were affected

An estimated 5.2 million passengers have been affected by staffing-related delays or cancellations since the shutdown began on Oct. 1, according to Airlines for America, an industry trade group. However, it said cancellations really didn’t become a significant issue until the FAA ordered the flight cuts last week.

Funeral for soldier whose remains were held 11 years

Goldin was 23 when he was killed two hours after a ceasefire took effect in the 2014 war between Israel and Hamas. For years before the 2023 attack, posters with the faces of Goldin and Oron Shaul, another soldier whose body was abducted in the 2014 war, stared down from intersections.

Israel’s military long ago determined that Goldin had been killed based on evidence found in the tunnel where his body was taken, including a blood-soaked shirt and prayer fringes. On Tuesday, it announced it had dismantled the tunnel shaft where his body was found. The military retrieved Shaul’s body in January.

Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s closest confidants, announced his resignation on Tuesday, citing family reasons.

In a letter, Dermer said he had promised his family to serve two years but extended his term by an additional year to deal with Iran’s nuclear program and “to end the war in Gaza on Israel’s terms and bring our hostages home.”

The US-born Dermer is a former Israeli ambassador to Washington. As strategic affairs minister, he served as Netanyahu’s envoy throughout the war in dealing with the United States and ceasefire negotiations.

Eulogies from Goldin’s siblings, parents, and former fiancée at his funeral never mentioned Netanyahu, who was prime minister when Goldin was kidnapped and for most of the period since. They thanked the Israeli military, including reserve soldiers, who tirelessly searched for Goldin’s body over the years.

Netanyahu did not attend the funeral, though Israel’s military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, gave a eulogy on behalf of the military.

For years, Israel had four hostages in Gaza: Goldin, Shaul, and two Israelis with mental health issues who had crossed into Gaza on their own and were held since 2014 and 2015. All four were returned in the past year.

RUSSIAN COURT EXTENDS JAILING OF TEENAGE SINGER OVER STREET PERFORMANCE OF ANTI-WAR SONGS

Associated Press

A RUSSIAN court Tuesday extended the jailing of an 18-year-old street singer on charges seen as punishment for performing anti-war songs, an action denounced by human rights activists as part of a rampant crackdown on free speech over the war in Ukraine.

Diana Loginova was ordered held for another 13 days by the court in St. Petersburg on charges of violating public order with her October performance. It was the third consecutive sentence for Loginova, who has remained in custody since her initial arrest on Oct. 15.

Loginova, a music student who goes by the stage name Naoko in the band Stoptime, also was ordered to pay fines for “discrediting the Russian armed forces.” Alexander Orlov, a fellow Stoptime member, has been handed repeated sentences along with Loginova. They denied any wrongdoing.

Amnesty International said the repeated detentions, which it called “carousel arrests,” were intended to keep them in custody without filing more serious criminal charges. Human rights activists say Loginova and fellow Stoptime band members have been targeted for performing songs by other musicians who had opposed the Kremlin’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and left Russia.

Videos of the performance with crowds joining in by singing lyrics critical of the Kremlin and the war have been widely viewed online, triggering calls from pro-Kremlin activists for police to take action.

“The repeated arrests of Naoko and her bandmates are punishment for their public performance, which have become a breath of fresh air in a country gasping under repression and self-censorship,” said Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s deputy director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

“Authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Naoko and Aleksandr Orlov and other street musicians detained for acts of anti-war protest, simply exercising their right to freedom of expression,” he said in a statement. “Their only ‘crime’ is singing songs that challenge the suffocating official narrative.”

The Stoptime case triggered similar performances in solidarity in some Russian cities, leading to arrests and fines for several performers.

Russian authorities have ramped up their crackdown on dissent and free speech after the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine, relentlessly targeting rights groups, independent media, members of civil society organizations, LGBTQ+ activists and some religious groups. Hundreds of people have been jailed and thousands of others have fled the country.

Diana Loginova, an 18-year-old Russian singer of Stoptime street band who served two consecutive 13-day prison sentences on various misdemeanor charges, sits during a court session in St. Petersburg, Russia, yesterday.

Photo: Dmitri Lovetsky/AP

SECURITY checkpoint closures are displayed on an information board in the terminal at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Baltimore, Monday.

Photo: Stephanie Scarbrough/AP

PALESTINIANS walk through the destruction caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive in Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood in Gaza City, yesterday.

Photo: Jehad Alshrafi/AP

Rare killer whale sighting recorded in Exuma Sound

Scientists warn industrial sound from proposed SpaceX landings could threaten deep-diving whale species

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Digital Editor aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

A RARE sighting of orcas, also known as killer whales, was recently recorded by scientists off Eleuthera – an encounter that thrilled researchers and renewed concern about the potential effects of industrial noise on marine mammals in Bahamian waters.

Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) researcher Natalie Hodges was conducting a deep sea survey of beaked whales in the Exuma Sound when she and her team encountered three orcas, two of which were later identified as repeat visitors to The Bahamas.

“It was really exciting, very special,” Ms Hodges told The Tribune. “I actually spent a few years living in British Columbia where the orcas are very culturally significant, so yeah, really special to see them over here in The Bahamas. One of the individuals in that sighting is actually from the BMMRO catalogue, first seen here in 1995. So it’s been visiting for over 30 years.” She said the orcas appeared to be mammal-eating animals, likely feeding on smaller whale species found in the area.

“We do think they may have been engaged in a hunt and it’s typically the mammal-eating ecotype of killer whales that pass through The Bahamas,” she said. “I think all good signs of a healthy, thriving ecosystem — if you have apex predators present within the same region.”

The last orca sighting was documented by CEI

researchers in the same area in 2021.

This time, CEI noted one of the animals appeared to be entangled in fishing gear.

“Based on our observations, the animal has been entangled for quite some time and it has embedded itself,” the institute said in a statement. “Even an attempt to remove it at this point would leave the animal with open wounds.”

Ms Hodges said her research focuses on understanding the distribution and habitat use of deep diving toothed whales in the Exuma Sound — one of only two regions in The Bahamas where species such as the Gervais’ beaked whale are reliably observed.

“The focus of my work is trying to better understand patterns in distribution of deep diving toothed whales in Exuma Sound,” she said.

“Cape Eleuthera scientists have been documenting sightings of toothed whale species in Exuma Sound for about ten years. I believe it’s 14 different species that have been observed, but my work is focused on actually more comprehensively surveying the region to understand patterns and where the different species are spending more of their time. And then that can be used to predict other potential suitable habitat for them or otherwise maybe identify areas that should be candidate protected areas.”

She said the work has become even more significant given the SpaceX Falcon 9 booster landings in the Exuma Sound, which are expected to continue into 2026.

“The concern with this proposed new activity introducing noise into the sound as a semi enclosed basin,” she said, “is we don’t at the moment have a robust enough baseline understanding of how these animals are using the region. It seems like they show quite high site fidelity to one area, which suggests that’s where they’re getting a high density of prey. So if we’re introducing noise, it means that they can’t tolerate it, it’s above their threshold; are there places within The Bahamas that they could migrate into?”

Ms Hodges said the concern was underscored by a Gervais’ beaked whale stranding in February, one week after a SpaceX booster landing test.

“The landing was in February, and one week later a dead Gervais’ beaked whale was found on a beach in Exuma,” she said. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible for there to be a post mortem on that individual. The carcass was towed out to sea, I believe, to just not attract sharks into the region. So it wasn’t possible to establish cause of death, but the last stranding of a beaked whale in Exuma Sound was in 1968.”

She added: “They’re very rare. On average, maybe for the whole of The Bahamas, one or two events per year. So seven days after the landing event, for one to be in such close proximity, it is concerning.”

Ms Hodges said historic mass strandings of beaked whales in The Bahamas have been linked to naval sonar activity, which has since been recognised by the US Navy.

Central and South Abaco FNM candidate releases book on House of Assembly history

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A NEW book tracing the origins and evolution of the House of Assembly from 1729 to 1900 has been released by Free National Movement Central and South Abaco candidate Jeremy Sweeting.

Titled The House of Assembly: The Journey of Bahamian Democracy, the first of two planned volumes explores the establishment of the legislature under Governor Woodes Rogers and key moments that shaped the country’s political development.

Mr Sweeting said while historians such as the late Dr Gail Saunders and Patrice Williams have documented The Bahamas’ broader history, his work focuses specifically on the

creation and growth of the House of Assembly. “I'm currently researching and writing the second volume,” he said. “This first volume covers from 1729 when the House of Assembly was established under Governor Woods Rogers in his second stint, and it goes right up until the end of the 19th century, about 1900. The second volume will pick up in 1901 and will come to the present day.”

The book lists the first members of Parliament from 1729 to 1890, when representation was limited to New Providence, Eleuthera, and Harbour Island. It highlights notable political families, including the Pinders, Wyllys/ Andersons, Adderleys, and Sawyers. The volume also examines major political

“So we know locally and also globally, they’re sensitive to anthropogenic noise and noise above their tolerance threshold has resulted in mass stranding events in the past,” she said. “That would be the concern — that as the noise introduced by the landing event goes beyond what they can tolerate comfortably, is it a level of harassment that would drive them out of an area that’s currently providing them with enough food, or would it be at a level that could actually cause a level of discomfort that they rapidly ascend from depth,

which can cause decompression related injuries that can lead to death?”

Despite the concern, Ms Hodges said the orca sighting is a reminder of the

conflicts, including those between the original settlers of 1648 and Loyalist refugees from America, the abolition of slavery, and the disendowment of the Anglican Church.

Mr Sweeting said the two volumes together will chart the gradual expansion of voting rights and the steady dismantling of racial, gender, and class barriers in Bahamian politics.

Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and former Attorney General Sean McWeeney wrote the forewords. In his foreword, Mr Ingraham called the work an “excellent addition” to the retelling of The Bahamas’ evolution from a “small colonial outpost” to a “burgeoning democracy.” The House of Assembly: The Journey of Bahamian Democracy is available at Logos Bookstore.

richness of Bahamian marine life.

“If you have apex predators present,” she said, “that’s always a good indicator that the ecosystem is healthy.”

AUTHOR and FNM candidate for Central and South Abaco Jeremy Sweeting presents his book titled “The House of Assembly - The Journey of Bahamian Democracy” to Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham who wrote the foreword at Mr Ingraham’s office on Thursday. Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Photos: Natalie Hodges

Echoes of Bahamian history to go under the hammer at Baker Estate

These items are among a trove of Bahamian history which will go under the hammer next month when the Baker Estate hosts the first public sale of private antiques from a single Bahamian home.

Telephones from the 1920s, a Semflex camera, an old record player in a case and a collection of vinyl records are among collectables that will go under the hammer at the December 5–6 auction at the restored 1920s Colonial residence on William and Shirley Streets.

Coins dating back to 1843, first-edition Bahamian stamps from the 1930s, vintage furniture, fine chinaware, collectible books, and rare pieces salvaged from the historic Windsor Hotel will also feature.

Organisers say the event doubles as a heritage exhibition celebrating the legacy of Anthony Baker, the Lebanese immigrant who founded A Baker & Sons in 1894 and helped shape Bahamian commerce.

Established in 1894, the store began as a small dry-goods shop on Bay Street and grew into a cornerstone of commerce, importing fine English goods and revolutionising local trade with large display showcases that drew crowds to Bay Street’s windows.

Organisers say the auction doubles as a heritage exhibition, offering a window into how one man’s determination helped shape Bahamian commerce and domestic life.