11192025 NEWS

RETURNING OFFICER

DEFENDS IMPARTIALITY

High-speed chase ends with man killed by police in morning Kemp Road shoot-out

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune

Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

CHAOTIC scenes erupted in Kemp Road yesterday morning after police shot and killed a man in his early 30s during a highspeed chase that scattered residents and sent officers swarming through narrow lanes. Police said the dead man was the only suspect struck as the vehicle’s other three occupants fled on foot.

By mid-morning, crowds

pressed against fences and clustered outside a yard, trying to piece together what happened. Some residents said they heard gunfire; others were unsure what sparked the confrontation. Children played nearby or stared from windows as officers cordoned off the scene. One mother, shaken, said the commotion dredged up the trauma of losing her own son to a police shooting two years ago. When The Tribune arrived, residents and

reporters had climbed onto a house roof for a clear view as investigators examined the suspects’ battered silver vehicle, which had shattered windows and a torn-off front bumper.

Campbell dismisses allegations of a conflict of interest despite admitting he calls PM Davis his adopted father

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribubemedia.net

THE returning officer responsible for overseeing the Golden Isles by-election has defended his impartiality after Monday’s chaotic standoff over the handling of advance poll ballot boxes - despite admitting he called Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis his ‘adopted father. Neil Campbell — the official tasked with supervising the vote count, certifying the results, and ensuring polling procedures are legally followed — found himself at the centre of the dispute after FNM leader Michael Pintard accused him of having political conflicts of interest, including claims he once served as PLP leader Mr Davis’ campaign general. Mr Campbell dismissed the allegations as unfair and unfounded, saying his personal relationships have never influenced his

SHOOT-OUT - S EE PAGE THREE

Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Roberto Goodman said officers initially responded to a ShotSpotter alert around 9am reporting gunfire on St James Road. A patrol was dispatched, and shortly after, police received PM’S MEETING ARAWAK CAY VENDORS ‘LIKE A PHOTO

BY LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A MEETING between Arawak Cay vendors affected by Sunday’s blaze and the prime minister was not favourable for business owners, the association’s president charged yesterday, describing the talks as “more like a photo op.”

“Nothing significant happened for the vendors,” Rodney Russell, president of the Arawak Cay Conch, Fish, Vegetable and Food Vendors Association, told The Tribune yesterday, referring to the outcome of Monday’s meeting with government officials. His stall, Red

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

SPACEX hopes to resume Falcon 9 booster landings in Bahamian waters before the end of the year, with up to 20 additional recoveries planned at the Exuma Sound site once government approval is finalised.

The update came during the Ministry of Education’s Starlink rollout at CH Reeves Junior High School. SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis told The Tribune the company is close to completing regulatory requirements for a second landing at the same deep-water site used for

THE BODY of a man killed by police in a shoot-out on Kemp Road yesterday is removed from the

Photo: Nikia Charlton

GOLDEN ISLES by-election returning officer Neil Campbell during a press conference at the Parliamentary Registration Department yesterday.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

TO RESOLVE’ INTERMITTENT ISSUES AFFECTING LANDLINE AND ALIV NUMBERS YESTERDAY

THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company Limited (BTC) said it is actively working to restore full service after customers experienced intermittent issues when calling landline and Aliv numbers yesterday.

BTC Director of Technology Operations Drexel Woods said that despite the issue, incoming calls and mobile data were not affected and apologised for the delay.

“Our network engineers, along with our technology partners, are actively working to restore full service as quickly as possible. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate our customers’ understanding as we work diligently to resolve this matter. BTC will continue to share updates through our WhatsApp and social media channels,” he said in a statement.

Funeral Service For

Mrs. Remona Frances Delaney, 93 (née Burrows)

a resident of Treasure Cove, New Providence, Bahamas, who passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, 16 November, 2025 will be held on Saturday, November 22nd, 2025, 10:00 a.m. at Evangelistic Temple, Collins Avenue, New Providence, Bahamas. Officiating will be Rev. Dr. Vaughan Cash, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God of The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands. Interment will follow in the Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road, New Providence, Bahamas.

She is survived by her eight children: Deborah; Prescott (Patricia) of Ohio, USA, Ricardo (Juanita) of Freeport, Grand Bahama, Anthea (Jeptha Ricardo Cox); Pedro (Joy), Vaughn (Barbara), John (Daphne), and Dr. Sean (Susan) of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She is also fondly remembered by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, together with many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Viewing will take place at Butlers’ Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Ernest and York Streets on Friday, 21st November, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and at the church from 9:00 a.m. until service time.

May her soul rest in peace.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Butlers’ Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Ernest and York Streets, New Providence.

THE MINISTRY of Education and Technical and Vocational Training hosted the 33rd Annual Bahamas Young Chef 2025 Culinary Competitions alongside the 9th Annual Bahamas Young Chef Culinary Conference yesterday, at the University of The Bahamas, Choices Restaurant.  Notable presenters include Chef Emmanuel Gibson (pictured above), owner of Manuelo’s Restaurant on Village Road, and Chef Bruce Ozga of St Thomas University.    Photos: Patrice Johnson/BIS

Judge rejects father’s moral attack on wife granting custody to mother

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A SUPREME Court

judge shut down a father’s bid to cast his estranged wife’s same-sex relationship as a moral threat, saying he had no credibility while openly carrying on an adulterous relationship that produced a child.

“While this court accepts that the wife's lifestyle is not the ideal situation for the children, she has demonstrated to the court that she has a much greater interest in the welfare of these children,” Justice Hope Strachan wrote in a detailed ruling released this week that granted the couple joint custody but awarded care and control of both children to the mother, who the court found had consistently provided the only stable and structured environment the children had known in recent years.

The father, a boat captain who works between Eleuthera and Abaco, argued in his affidavit that the children, particularly his six-year-old daughter, were being exposed to an “LGBTQ lifestyle” that was immoral and harmful. Beyond voicing disapproval, however, he offered no evidence that the mother or her partner

behaved inappropriately in front of the children.

Justice Hope Strachan pointed out that the marriage had collapsed because of his own affair with the woman he now lives with in Abaco and with whom he has a child, adding that his moral objections were “akin to the biblical admonition ‘He that is without sin cast the first stone.’” The judgment emphasised the stark contrast in how each parent approached their daughter's day-to-day needs. The father’s affidavit mentioned nothing about her schooling, health, activities, or routines beyond his concern about sexual orientation. The mother, by contrast, provided comprehensive details of the child’s life: that she is enrolled in preschool and ballet, that she meets all grooming and educational costs, and that she takes her on trips and ensures consistent structure.

She said the girl returned from a long visit with her father last summer with a fungus in her hair that required medical care, which she attributed to his neglect. The judge described his attention to the child as “negligible” and said the condition of the child’s hair after her stay with him showed clear signs of insufficient care.

Much of the dispute, however, centred on the couple’s 14-year-old son, whose recent emotional struggles have alarmed both parents but whose decline the court found the mother had taken far more seriously. The father insisted the boy thrived academically while living with his grandparents in Long Island in 2019, listing a series of accomplishments. He maintained that the move back to New Providence caused the boy’s behavioural issues, citing a school bus fight in which the boy was struck with a bottle and a photograph in which the teen posed with a gun that belonged to a family member of the mother. He claimed New Providence was a “hostile” environment and said the boy had no extracurricular activities there.

The mother, however, said his suicidal thoughts and self-harm attempts began in Long Island and that none of this was communicated to her until months later. She said the child admitted he had attempted suicide with a kitchen knife while in his grandparents’ care. She further alleged that the father exposed the boy to heated altercations with his partner in Abaco, one of which left the child having to sleep in

an airport. According to her affidavit, the boy was also exposed to discussions about miscarriage and abortion, to sex toys and masturbation, and engaged in explicit conversations with other children after learning such material. She said he witnessed domestic abuse while with his father. The father did not provide detailed rebuttals to these claims.

In contrast to the father’s focus on the boy’s academic performance, the mother documented extensive steps taken to address her son’s psychological needs. She engaged psychiatrists and doctors after learning of his suicidal behaviour, worked with his school’s dean and guidance counsellor, enrolled him in the Gentleman’s Club and the Defence Force Rangers, blocked inappropriate content on his devices, placed him in multiple sporting groups, arranged a discovery flight to encourage his interest in aviation, ensured his entry into the National Spelling Bee, and took both children on a trip to the Berry Islands to provide emotional balance.

Justice Strachan said the mother had “turned over every rock” to get help for the child, while the father focused only on academics

and made no effort to support therapeutic intervention even after troubling incidents such as the gun photograph.

The father asked the court to place the children in his care so that they could live in Long Island with him and his parents, saying he was willing to relocate if necessary. The court found this proposal unrealistic. As a boat captain, he works between islands, and if he moved to Long Island, he would be unemployed and “totally dependent” on his parents.

The judge said it appeared the father intended to rely heavily on his parents to raise the children, and that his job’s instability made his plan unsuitable.

The ruling also addressed finances, noting that the father’s contributions to the children were “inadequate and sporadic,” including his failure to consistently pay the $500 monthly ordered on an interim basis. The mother, who earns $2,000 a month, said she spends beyond her income due to the children’s needs and receives some assistance from her partner and family.

Neither party asked the court to impose a specific maintenance figure; both said expenses should be shared, though the judge noted the mother had not

itemised the children’s costs separately from her own. After reviewing the evidence, Social Services assessments, and a report from the National Parenting Programme that both parents completed, Justice Strachan ordered joint custody, with the mother receiving care and control of both children. The father was granted liberal access, including shared holidays and alternating birthdays, and both parents must equally share travel, educational, medical, dental, optical, and lunch expenses. The court declared that these arrangements were “the best that can be devised in the circumstances” as required by law.

In the end, the judge’s ruling made clear that the father’s attempt to anchor his argument in moral objections to the mother’s sexuality carried little weight against the overwhelming evidence that she has been the parent who consistently shows up, makes decisions, seeks professional help, maintains structure, and pays attention. Whatever either parent’s lifestyle, the court concluded, the welfare of the children rests most securely in the home where their daily needs are actually met — and that is with their mother.

One man dead as three others escape in police shooting

SHOOT-OUT from page one

reports of a silver vehicle discharging firearms in the area.

Officers located the car, triggering a chase that ended at Cooper’s Terrace. The four male occupants allegedly opened fire.

“The officers then engaged those persons in safety for their own lives, where shots were returned at that vehicle,” ACP Goodman said. “Three of the persons were able to run from that vehicle. One of the persons was shot in the vehicle was fatally shot in the vehicle by police officers.” Emergency services pronounced the man dead at the scene. Her Majesty’s

Coroner attended. ACP Goodman said officers will review surveillance footage and nearby cameras as the investigation continues.

No officers were injured, though a police vehicle allegedly sustained multiple bullet strikes. A firearm was allegedly recovered from the front section of the suspects’ vehicle. ACP Goodman said the deceased — believed to have been driving — was not previously known to police.

The chase began on St James Road, and police reported no bystander injuries.

The shooting follows a violent spate in the area. Last week, three men were shot on Apache Alley, off

Kemp Road, shortly after 10pm on November 16. A 22-year-old was found with gunshot injuries and taken to hospital by ambulance; two others, aged 35 and 25, arrived by private vehicle. Asked whether that attack was linked to yesterday’s chase, ACP Goodman said it was too early to tell. In September, relatives of 24-year-old Eric Smith told The Tribune he was killed in Kemp Road while trying to shield children from gunfire. Mr Smith and two others were shot around 3pm near St James and Kemp Roads. One victim died at the scene; Mr Smith died in hospital; a 71-year-old was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

According to the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s

mid-year crime report, there were four police-involved shootings between January 1 and June 30.

ACP Goodman also used the incident to issue safety warnings ahead of

the holiday season. “Particularly those persons who are, at nighttime, parking up by their residence while still on the phone late in the night, persons who still pulling

up to beaches late in the night, I still want to just caution them take the necessary precaution to ensure safety for their own lives and for their property,” he said.

THE BODY of a mna killed by police in a shoot-out on Kemp Road yesterday is removed from the scene. Photos: Nikia Charlton

Association chief: govt should focus on partnership not ‘dictatorship’

Snapper, was one of six structures that was completely destroyed in Sunday’s blaze. Two others were also damaged.

Mr Russell said while the government agreed to building several temporary structures within 60 days and outlined plans to vendor, no concrete long term plan was announced.

He claimed a “non-minister” offered an aerial view of the entire Arawak cay strip and suggested how vendors should rebuild.

However, Mr Russell argued that the government should instead ask business owners what support they need and focus on partnership rather than “dictatorship.”

“Persons sitting in government offices in air condition and having a view of what they perceive this place ought to be, should not be making decision for who builds this place,” he said.

His comments came after Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis posted photos of the roundtable meeting on social media, pledging his government’s commitment to supporting the vendors.

He had earlier said the tragedy underscores the need to upgrade the site and promised immediate cleanup and rebuild planning.

“I assured them that my government will stand with them. We will walk every step of this journey alongside vendors who helped make Fish Fry what it is today,” Mr Davis said. Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, speaking after the meeting, told ZNS it was too early to provide details, noting that no decisions have been made on how the government will assist. He added that those discussions will take place in the weeks ahead.

However, vendors who spoke to The Tribune said they were disappointed with the meeting’s outcome, saying no financial support was pledged.

“Nothing was promised,” Mr Russell said.

“The way the meeting went, I think it was just a photo op for the Prime Minister to say to the

public that I have met with those persons involved, and we have looked at some possibilities of assisting them but there was no commitment made.”

Teshell Mackey, another affected owner, said she felt the government could have provided more information about its long term plans for vendors. She said she appreciates

the government’s plan to offer temporary assistance, but noted that questions remain about when vendors will be able to return to their permanent spots. She estimated that rebuilding would cost at least $230,000 for her establishment, On the Edge.

“We need funds. We have employees. Our staff

which we want keep so there’s a lot of things,” she said. “I’m more worried about them.”

She said the restaurant is her only source of income and expressed hope that vendors will receive some start-up assistance.

However, she said she cannot wait too long, as she has staff to support.

Ministry of Education has filled most teacher gaps but language arts most difficult to staff

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Education has filled most teacher gaps in core subjects, though language arts remains the hardest post to staff, according to Director of Education Dominique McCartney-Russell.

Mrs McCartney-Russell said shortages in mathematics, language, science, social studies, physical education and health and family life, have largely been resolved. Language arts, however, continues to lag as recruitment efforts stretch into the school year.

“We do have some persons who we have interviewed and we’re just waiting for them to go through the process,” she said yesterday. Applicants must submit through the ministry’s online portal and be vetted by the National

Accreditation and Equivalency Council of The Bahamas before their files are forwarded to the Public Service.

Mrs McCartney-Russell said officials were encouraged by the calibre of candidates. “Some persons, their credentials, their interviews, they did very well,” she said. “We would have placed them in several of our Family Islands, but there is always a need for more officers, particularly, like I said, in language arts.”

Teacher shortages have dogged the system since September, when the ministry confirmed vacancies across multiple subjects and leadership roles. The Bahamas Union of Teachers has repeatedly raised concerns about staffing levels, the impact on classroom management, and the rollout of new campus safety measures.

Mrs McCartney-Russell

also gave an update on the long-delayed student identification card system, a part of the ministry’s security overhaul. She said the ministry is now working with contracted companies to provide school logos, student names, emergency contacts, and photo-taking logistics. “Once that is completed, they will start that process of taking photos and putting the IDs together,” she said. The IDs form part of a broader plan to control campus access, track movement on school grounds, and improve safety. Officials acknowledged in October that production had not yet begun, citing logistical hurdles including data coordination, scheduling, and supplier requirements. The BUT has criticised the lack of consultation and sought clarity on how the system will be implemented across all public schools.

PRIME MINISTER Philip ‘Brave’ Davis and other Cabinet Ministers and govt officials spoke with vendors who lost stalls in Sunday’s fire that destroyed six businesses.

Photo: OPM

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION DOMINIQUE MCCARTNEY-RUSSELL

Officials insist polling stations were orderly and lawful

professional conduct. He pointed to his Cat Island roots, noting he returned there as a teacher and voted like “everybody else who was registered.”

He said his ties run across party lines: Mr Pintard is his cousin, he has known FNM candidate Brian Brown since childhood, and his mother considered Mr Brown her adopted son.

“I call Mr Davis my adopted father,” he said.

“What I choose is like every other Bahamian. They have the right of choice. No one could say how I act professionally, because, regardless of where I am, I have an oath just like anybody who will even take the prime minister’s office. They have an oath to serve everyone.”

He added that the public criticisms now leave him questioning whether he would be treated fairly if

others take office. “When we make certain statements, I now believe if you take that oath and I will now be your target,” he said. “I’ve never said anything about anybody for them, to feel that they will not be treated fairly by me.

“But when you start making statements against me, if you take your office, I now believe that I’ll be victimised. That’s what I would believe, because I never said to anybody, that I’m no general. I know I’m a public servant. I know that I’m from Cat Island. I know Mr. Davis is from Cat Island.”

He stressed that he has never worn partisan clothing or acted politically. “No one has seen me in no Progressive Liberal Party shirt, FNM, shirt or whatsoever. But somebody’s choice is their choice, and in The Bahamas, how we vote and who decide to support is personal to us. It’s private and confidential,” he said.

When reporters asked whether he volunteered for

Mr Davis’ campaign, Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson intervened said reporters were getting personal with their questions.

The Department of the Parliamentary Registration held a press conference yesterday to address the confrontation, which erupted after FNM and Coalition of Independents supporters blocked the removal of ballot boxes, claiming officials were deviating from an agreement about how the boxes would be transported.

Officials insisted the process inside the polling station had been orderly and lawful, and that agents witnessed and signed off on every step of the sealing procedure.

Mr Campbell is the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and Cat Island’s former island administrator. He said he has served in five general elections, seven local

government elections, ten labour elections, and several Bahamas Union of Teachers elections, with international training on election observation.

Monday’s dispute erupted after the advance poll closed. FNM and COI supporters blocked the exit, claiming returning officers were not honouring a Wednesday agreement allowing party representatives to accompany the ballot box to the Parliamentary Registrar.

The parliamentary commissioner said the issue was raised but no final decision had been made. “Like I explained to them in my time as returning officers, the agents never ride in the bus with the ballot box,” he said. “The Bahamas is the only place that is requested.”

Mr Thompson called the confrontation deeply regrettable and entirely avoidable, saying public officers were threatened despite a smooth, lawful

voting process.

“In moments like these, sober judgment and responsible leadership must prevail. Yesterday, they did not,” he said.

Advance poll presiding officer Montez Williams said there had been no complaints and nothing improper inside, leaving officials “shocked and surprised” by the chaos outside.

Mr Campbell said he visited the parliamentary commissioner throughout the day to clarify previous agreements he had missed. He said party representatives agreed at noon to convoy behind the vehicle carrying the ballot box.

He said agents requested multiple additional steps that officials accommodated, including slowing the count, recounting stacks, showing materials again, and even tapping the bottom of the ballot box.

He said sealing took longer because every

envelope had to be signed at multiple tables.

Mr Campbell said tensions rose after he overheard a phone call from Senator Michela Barnett-Ellis mentioning a vehicle change. She warned the gate would be blocked. He said as he walked outside with officers, a crowd surged toward him. He said he tried to calm the situation but was confronted again.

A compromise was reached to transport the box on a larger bus so party agents could ride along. Mr Campbell suggested allowing two agents; in the end, three were permitted — matching the number allowed inside the precinct. Mr Campbell said the hostility has rattled senior civil servants. “Now for the episode last evening, we have a whole team now saying that they’re not going to work for this election,” he said. “These are senior government officials.”

PINTARD SAYS ‘UNEXPLAINED WEALTH’ AMONG PUBLIC OFFICIALS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

“UNEXPLAINED

wealth” among public officials and their relatives is cause for concern, says Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard, who accused the country’s disclosure system of failing to hold anyone accountable as delays drag into yet another year.

Mr Pintard said he has grown increasingly concerned that the Public

Disclosure Committee has still not produced a full compliance list for this year, despite the legal requirement for MPs, senators, and senior civil servants to file their declarations by March 1. The committee has cited accessibility issues and facility challenges as reasons for the holdup — claims critics dismiss as excuses.

Mr Pintard said he has written to the committee seeking a complete report but has only received information

about senators, not parliamentarians. He called the alleged growth of unexplained personal enrichment a fundamental problem and pressed again for an independent body empowered to investigate how officials acquire their wealth.

He suggested individuals in office may be benefitting from contracts to enrich themselves or their party.

He said the issue reaches far beyond elected politicians. “We need to guard against that by looking at unexplained wealth by government officials, not just the politicians. It could be a permanent secretary, a deputy permanent

secretary, somebody who sits on a procurement committee, etc. Those are issues we have to deal with. Other than that, the system is going to constantly be corrupted,” he said during an appearance yesterday on Guardian 96.5.

Asked what consequences currently exist for officials who fail to disclose, he noted there are effectively none. “Because right now we don't know. In my view, the PLP Members of Parliament, not all of them have disclosed,” he said.

Under the Public Disclosure Act, only the prime minister or the leader of the opposition

“We need to guard against that by looking at unexplained wealth by government officials, not just the politicians. It could be a permanent secretary, a deputy permanent secretary, somebody who sits on a procurement committee, etc.”

can act on delinquent filings. Either can table the information in the House or Senate or send it to the attorney general or commissioner of police, exposing offenders to a $10,000 fine or up to two years in prison.

Governance advocates and the US Department of State have long criticised The Bahamas for failing to publish public disclosure

records for more than a decade, urging reforms to restore transparency.

Mr Pintard said the pattern of weak enforcement continues and accused the government of showing little urgency on anti-corruption measures.

“That's why I find it so laughable when they start accusing people of who's being truthful or untruthful,” he said.

Golden Isles by-election return officer Neil Campbell speaks during a press conference at the Parliamentary Registration Department, yesterday seated beside Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson, attorney Donna Smithand Golden Isles by-election presiding officer Montez Williams.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

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If economy is booming why are there so many in need?

THERE is a mismatch in our coun-

try. We often hear talk of how our economy is booming – and yet, at the sharp end, more people are finding it hard to make ends meet, and asking for a helping hand from non-profit organisations. If this sounds familiar, it is. Last year, around this same time, Bishop Walter Hanchell said that the need was “greater than ever”.

At the time, he said that Great Commission Ministries, where he and his colleagues do such a sterling job of helping those in need, had seen a 20 percent increase in people seeking food assistance.

That was in December – and historically we have seen the need for assistance amply demonstrated in the run-up to Christmas each year.

You have seen the pictures year in, year out as donations are given to the community – those Christmas turkeys and hams, sometimes from non-profit groups, sometimes from MPs or would-be MPs. With election season in sight, you can expect to see plenty of donations from those latter categories this year.

But those festive donations are just the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of people who are in need day in, day out.

In today’s Tribune, you can read about the struggle in Grand Bahama.

The Red Cross there, as well as Reach Out Ministries have reported a surge. There is a rise in those needing help every week – but beyond that there are those walking in for help and pleas to be added to feeding programmes on the island.

The administrator at the Red Cross, Kimberley Outten, says the meals on wheels service has been at full capacity for months. Months.

Imagine the reality of what that means. That is people so hungry they can only make it through thanks to the help of others. Every weekday, hot meals are distributed to those with disabilities or the elderly – and demand is outstripping the service’s ability to help.

Then there are grocery parcels –again, there is a greater demand than there is supply. Ms Outten says it does not stop there. People are asking for help with home repairs. Help with their rent. Next week, the Red Cross is preparing to feed more than 10,000

people for Thanksgiving. Think of the resources that are needed to keep this level of donations up – and then think of the number of times we have heard from organisations in recent years that it is harder and harder to bring in the donations.

The same is happening over at Reach Out Ministries, where founder Dudley Seide, when contacted by The Tribune, said he had received six calls for groceries just this morning.

He noted as well that some older people were “not getting their pension on time”. Again, if our economy is doing so well, why are payments running late?

Thank goodness for those who are there to help. Thank goodness for the likes of the Red Cross and Reach Out. Thank goodness for the Bahamas Feeding Network. Thank goodness for the Great Commission. Thank goodness for businesses who step up to the plate and ask how they can help out –either through donations or through their own programmes, such as AML Foods Limited’s Feed 5,000 holiday programme, now in its tenth year of helping. Over the past decade, it has distributed more than half a million dollars in food vouchers and helped over 100,000 people. Our nation only has 400,000 population, or thereabouts – even if that is some of the same people each time, think what a large chunk of our population has been in need over the years.

Booming economy or a country full of people in need – one of these things is not like the other. If the economy is truly as some would boast, it is not filtering down to those on the edge of poverty.

Over the coming weeks, there will be ways in which you can help. You will see calls for donations, requests to add a little to your grocery bill to assist, calls for canned food to be given to churches or schools for those in need. Remember when you do hear such requests how often we have heard that donations have been drying up – and contrast that with the stories of how many people are in need. Give what you can, it really can make a difference.

But also ask questions of how we got here when we keep hearing how good things are. A surging economy should be like a rising tide, it should lift all boats. Right now, too many are being left behind.

FNM have more to lose

EDITOR, The Tribune.

KINDLY allow me space in your valuable column to articulate an opinion on the upcoming by-election in the Golden Isles Constituency. I believe it was a former Prime Minister who said, elections have consequences. And I believe there are consequences for both the leader of the official opposition the Hon Michael Pintard and Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis, depending on who crosses the finish line first. Personally, I won’t bet on either candidate. And that’s based on the behaviour of the voters in the past elections of being swing voters. One minute, they vote for the FNM, the next they vote for the PLP. The late member of parliament Juan Miller won the seat as an FNM, but

was re-elected as a PLP. So who knows which way the pendulum will swing. However, I believe Michael Pintard finds himself in precarious position. Presently, he is 0-1, winloss against Prime Minister Philip Davis. Should he lose, it may be difficult probably almost impossible to go into a general election with voters having the confidence in him to carry the FNM over the finish line. Obviously, the momentum will be with the PLP. In addition, there may be rumblings within his own party calling for the head of one Michael Pintard. I believe Pintard must win this by-election to survive as leader and to avoid the daggers that will be aimed at him. However, on the other hand, on paper the PLP should win. They are the

PICTURE OF THE DAY

PLP will do what they always do

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE Scorpion Parable: A scorpion once asked a frog to carry it across the river. The frog hesitated, saying, “You’ll sting me.” The scorpion smiled and replied, “If I sting you, we’ll both drown.” Believing that reason could overcome instinct, the frog agreed. However, halfway across the river, the sting came. As the poison spread, the frog gasped, “Why?” The scorpion answered, “Because it’s in my nature.” The story isn’t about betrayal; it’s about predictability.

The scorpion didn’t act out of malice; it acted according to its nature. Similarly, the frog didn’t die because of trust; it died because it overlooked obvious patterns in favour of appealing promises. This is the lesson that the Bahamian electorate repeatedly fails to grasp, especially regarding the Progressive Liberal Party.

Every few years, the PLP comes back to the public with the same polished message: “We’ve changed. This time will be different.” The people, weary yet hopeful and desperate for stability, listen and hesitate before trusting them once more. However, halfway through the term, the familiar issues return: rising costs,

governing party. They control the purse-strings of the treasury. They are backed by deep pockets. They are paving roads and building sidewalks in golden isles, and lord knows what else. The fact of the matter is Philip Davis does not want to go into a general election called a loser. Can the PLP lose the golden isles by-election and still win the general elections? I think so.

Madam Editor, in a previous letter I predicted that the PLP will win 25 seats and lose 14 in the next general elections. Will golden isles constituency be in the winning or losing column? Only the voters in golden isles can answer that question.

PAT STRACHAN Nassau, November 18, 2025.

political favouritism, stalled projects, disappearing transparency, and the ongoing focus on self-preservation rather than national progress.

As the poison seeps into the nation’s veins, the people whisper, “Why?”

The answer, as always, remains the same: it is their nature.

The behaviour of the PLP is not a result of poor leadership; it is a deliberate pattern. It flourishes in systems that prioritise loyalty over logic. It continues to exist through dependency rather than through progress. Its goal is not reform but rather control. To anticipate transformation without making structural changes is as unlikely as expecting a scorpion to swim.

None of this is personal; it’s about political biology. The nature of the PLP was shaped by the nationalism of the 1960s, characterised by charismatic leaders, emotional appeals, patronage networks, and a narrative centred on liberation. This approach was effective at the time and rewarded those who believed in it.

However, in the 21st century, that revolutionary

instinct has solidified into a reflex that prioritises the protection of power over the pursuit of progress and focuses on personality rather than policy. Bahamians continue to wade into the river, not out of foolishness, but out of hope. Hope is our national belief. We often confuse charisma with competence and slogans with systems. We convince ourselves that the next bridge will be different, even though the water beneath remains unchanged.

The wise must understand: kindness cannot override instinct, and promises cannot alter established patterns. No political party can reform itself from within; it can only adapt when faced with structural pressures and consequences. So, don’t blame the scorpion, and don’t feel sorry for the frog. Instead, learn the lesson.

Construct systems that rely on accountability rather than trust. Establish institutions resilient to challenges. In the upcoming election, when another scorpion requests a ride, remember: if history repeats itself, it’s not a coincidence, it’s nature.

NOĒSIS — CRITICAL THINKER Freeport, Grand Bahama November 18, 2025.

Have a cool, fun, interesting, amazing photo? Have it featured here in The Tribune’s picture of the day! Email your high quality image to pictureoftheday@tribunemedia.net

CUTE Atlantic spotted dolphins swimming in the blue ocean in the Bahamas.

Photo: Christina Redd

Mom and daughter deny trying to killing tenants as trial closes

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MOTHER and daughter attempted to murder their tenants in Fox Hill in 2021, the prosecution argued yesterday, while the defence insisted the women never held the firearm used in the attack.

Michelle Williams, 57, and her daughter, Glenresha Williams, 37, appeared for closing submissions in their trial before Justice Renae McKay. They are charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

The pair, along with a male accomplice, are accused of attempting to kill Adrian Cooper and Savannah Bain with a handgun on an unnamed road near Komer Street on 21 October 2021.

Defence attorney Raphael Moxey argued the prosecution failed to prove its case despite calling sixteen witnesses. He said a gun recovered in a shack near a Fox Hill apartment carried no fingerprints linked to either defendant and urged the jury to disregard it.

Mr Moxey added that an officer testified the person seen firing a gun in surveillance footage was male.

After noting the shooter was seen firing into the air, he submitted that no one had attempted to kill the complainants.

He said Mr Cooper called Michelle about a plumber at 6am — which he described as odd — and that Michelle told him the plumber would come at 10am. When Michelle arrived at 8am, Mr Cooper allegedly refused to let her in. Mr Moxey said his client observed Mr Cooper’s hand bleeding from her position at the door.

He reminded the jury that Glenresha testified she and her mother had been receiving repeated calls from Mr Cooper while

Judge warns divorcing couples against altering court deadlines

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor

A SUPREME Court judge has warned that divorcing couples cannot privately alter deadlines set by the court, after a woman lost her chance to retain the matrimonial home because mortgage delays and informal agreements pushed her past the legally binding cutoff date.

Justice Hope Strachan delivered the ruling in a family dispute in which a divorced mother sought more time to buy out her former husband’s share of their home. Although both sides had agreed to delay the timeline while obtaining a new appraisal, and although the woman had already begun the mortgage process, the judge ruled that their informal arrangements could not displace the strict deadlines imposed by an earlier court order.

The judge found that the woman’s three-month window to purchase her

former husband’s 40 percent interest had expired, regardless of whether time was counted from the date the ruling was delivered or from when the order was formally filed. By the time she applied for an extension, the husband had already secured loan approval to buy her out.

Justice Strachan stressed that once an order is perfected — signed, sealed, and filed — the court’s decision is final and cannot be varied under the Re Barrell principle. She found that any attempt to revisit the timeline months later would be outside the court’s jurisdiction and amount to an abuse of process.

The ruling highlighted the practical consequences of relying on mortgage approvals that take months to complete. The woman argued that her lender, the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation, had required additional documents and moved slowly, leaving her unable to complete the purchase before the time

expired. But the judge noted that delays at financial institutions did not entitle litigants to unilaterally extend court-mandated deadlines, and she found that the woman had not properly sought an extension before her time ran out.

The judge also pointed out that the parties’ decision to privately treat the appraisal date as the new starting point for the buyout period created a situation the court could not fix after the fact. Because the court was not part of that agreement, it could not rewrite the consequences once the agreed timeline slipped.

As a result, the husband is now free to purchase the woman’s 60 percent interest in the home. The judge also accepted his claim that the wife had fallen behind on her portion of the existing mortgage and ordered that any arrears be deducted from the amount he must pay her. Costs of the application were awarded to him.

Carjacking accused remanded until trial

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was remanded to prison after being accused of an armed carjacking on Eighth Street and Bahama Avenue last week. Prosecutors allege Albert “Fat Boy” Ferguson, 21, and accomplices, while masked and armed with a handgun, robbed Colina Rolle of her black 2013 Honda Fit as she sat parked outside a business around 3pm on November 12.

The suspects allegedly fled north on Eighth Street. At about 6pm that same day, police encountered the stolen vehicle occupied by several men on Martin Street. Officers said the suspects fled on foot in different directions while brandishing firearms. Although they escaped, police recovered the vehicle, valued at $6,000. Ferguson was not required to enter a plea to charges of armed robbery and abetment to commit armed robbery before

Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley.

He was told that his case would proceed to the Supreme Court by way of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI) and informed of his right to apply for bail through that court. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until service of his VBI on March 26, 2026. Ian Jupp represented the accused, while Inspector Deon Barr prosecuted.

POLICE INVESTIGATE TWO SEPARATE ARMED ROBBERIES

TWO armed robberies yesterday saw victims threatened at gunpoint and property stolen in separate incidents on New Providence.

In the first case, shortly after 11am, a complainant told police that a female acquaintance asked him to help a man he knew deliver funds to her home. During the drive, the man allegedly pulled out a firearm, pressed it to the complainant’s head, and ordered him to drink a liquid substance. The complainant refused, struggled with the

suspect, and managed to escape from the vehicle. The suspect then drove off in the victim’s black 2011 Nissan Serena, licence plate AW5772, along Milo Butler Highway.

In the second incident, shortly before 9pm, a female complainant said she was in a business parking lot on Joe Farrington Road when she noticed a blue Nissan Note parked across the street. Two masked men armed with firearms approached, demanded cash, and fled with her bag after she complied. The bag

contained cash and other personal items. Meanwhile, police on Abaco recovered a firearm magazine and ammunition on Monday after a vigilant resident discovered the items near the airport. Shortly after 3pm, the person alerted authorities after spotting a silver-andblack object believed to be a firearm magazine while landscaping along the westbound lane near the airport entrance. Officers responded and recovered the magazine along with a quantity of ammunition.

they were on their way to the Registrar General’s Department. She claimed Mr Cooper used obscene language, and despite her telling him her mother was busy, he continued to “carry on,” prompting her to hang up.

Mr Moxey acknowledged Glenresha sent a disturbing text to the complainants stating their child would still be alive if they didn’t do drugs, noting the complainants had lost a newborn a week earlier. He said Glenresha and Savannah exchanged harsh words during a call, and the defendants told them they were heading to the apartment.

He said both sides met on the road. He noted discrepancies in whether the vehicles stopped side by side or facing each other, and who exited first. He said Glenresha and Savannah got out to continue arguing about the lost child, and Michelle stepped in with Mr Cooper to help stop the confrontation.

Although Mr Cooper testified he saw an armed male exit the defendants’ vehicle, Mr Moxey argued the defendants were the only occupants at that point. He said that after the defendants drove off, Glenresha persuaded her mother to give a ride to a man known as “Renaldo,” whom she recognised from school. They discussed her having returned home after studying abroad.

The defence said Michelle believed Mr Cooper was following her after picking

up the male. Mr Moxey said video footage showed Renaldo exiting the car and firing shots into the air. The gun was never recovered. He said Michelle remained in the car while shots were fired and that Glenresha believed Mr Cooper shot at them, causing her to report the incident to police. The defence said Glenresha did not realise Renaldo was the shooter until seeing surveillance footage.

Mr Moxey argued it was unlikely Mr Cooper was following the car solely to obtain its registration number, saying he had ample opportunity earlier. He suggested Mr Cooper was stalking the defendants. He insisted neither woman ever had a gun and they did not know the complainants were following them. He noted Michelle testified she had no animosity toward Mr Cooper and said both defendants lacked intent to kill.

Mr Moxey said his clients had lived with the charges for more than four years, during which the ordeal drained them mentally and financially. He urged the jury to end their nightmare, consider the evidence dispassionately, and return not guilty verdicts.

Lead prosecutor T’Shura Ambrose said the defendants confronted the complainants about unpaid rent, and during that exchange, one defendant warned that her family “doesn’t play.” The prosecution said

Mr Cooper testified the defendants cut him off and that Glenresha attacked his then-girlfriend Savannah. Mr Cooper said that as he tried to pull Glenresha off Savannah, Michelle pushed him. During the struggle, the prosecution said, a male exited the defendants’ vehicle and fired at the complainants.

Ms Ambrose reminded the jury that Mr Cooper said he thought he was dead after a bullet grazed his face. She said Savannah also saw the man fire at them and recalled Savannah testifying that she told Mr Cooper she didn’t want to die as they followed the defendants’ car to get the registration number.

The prosecution said 9mm casings were recovered from the scene and that the defendants refused to participate in an identification parade.

Ms Ambrose said Michelle admitted driving the car seen in the footage and admitted hearing gunshots. She added that Glenresha admitted sending disturbing texts to Savannah. She argued the defendants were not truthful about what happened and said the Crown had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

After telling the jury it could have been their own relatives who were targeted, Ms Ambrose urged them to return guilty verdicts.

The matter concludes later this week. Ashton Williams also prosecuted.

TEEN PLEADS GUILTY TO HAVING LOADED GUN

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A TEENAGER has been sentenced to 20 months in prison after admitting he had a loaded gun in his Rosewood Street home last week.

Robbie Delancey, 19, was found with a black Taurus G2C 9mm pistol and ten rounds of ammunition around 7pm on November 13. He pleaded guilty yesterday to possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition before Magistrate Lennox Coleby.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN awaiting trial for a 2023 armed robbery was granted $20,000 bail yesterday.

David Higgs, 27, was granted bail by Justice Franklyn Williams.

Prosecutors allege Higgs and an accomplice, while

Delancey’s co-accused, Rashad Hanna, 31, and Quentinique Bethel, 27, pleaded not guilty. After

armed with a black handgun, robbed Sean Green of two iPhone 14 Plus devices — one white and one purple — together valued at $1,699 on Cambridge Drive on December 14. The pair also allegedly stole $410 in cash from Mr Green that morning.

Delancey accepted sole responsibility, prosecutors withdrew the charges against them. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison, during which he may enrol in trade classes.

Levan Johnson represented the accused, while Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie prosecuted.

At the time of the alleged offence, Higgs was wearing an ankle monitor for three prior armed robbery charges. Under his bail conditions, Higgs will be fitted with another monitoring device. He must sign in at East Street South Police Station daily by 5pm. He was also given a 6pm to 7am curfew and warned not to interfere with any witnesses. Any breach of these conditions could result in his bail being revoked.

Funeral Service For

Mrs. Remona Frances Delaney, 93 (née Burrows)

a resident of Treasure Cove, New Providence, Bahamas, who passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, 16 November 2025 will be held on Saturday, November 22nd, 2025, 10:00 a.m. at Evangelistic Temple, Collins Avenue, New Providence. Officiating will be Rev. Dr. Vaughan Cash, Superintendent, Assemblies of God of The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands. Interment will follow in the Woodlawn Gardens Cemetery, Soldier Road, Nassau Street, New Provience, Bahamas.

She is survived by her eight children: Deborah; Prescott (Patricia) of Ohio, USA, Ricardo (Juanita) of Freeport, Grand Bahama, Anthea (Jeptha Ricardo Cox); Pedro (Joy), Vaughn (Barbara), John (Daphne), and Dr. Sean (Susan) of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She is also fondly remembered by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, together with many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Viewing will take place at Butlers’ Funeral Homes and Crematorium, Ernest and York Streets on Friday, 21st November, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and at the church from 9:30 a.m. until service time.

May her soul rest in peace.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Butlers’ Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Ernest and York Streets, New Providence.

SpaceX engineer expects ‘very in-depth’ environmental studies to be completed soon

LAUNCH from page one

The Bahamas’ historic February 18 recovery.

“We are currently working through the regulatory process to ensure that the environmental review is complete and that we are meeting all the required monitoring and upkeep,” Ms Gillis said. “I think we are pretty close on that process towards a second landing in Exuma, and we are working with all the regulatory authorities to make sure it happens soon.”

She said the company hopes to complete another landing before the end of 2025. “I believe they are shooting for something before the end of this year,” she said. “We do not have too much left of the year, so it should be coming along soon.”

Ms Gillis said future landings would all use the Exuma Sound site and that SpaceX expects to perform “an additional 20 landings here in the Bahamas on the Exuma Sound landing site” once approved.

Environmental concerns surfaced after February’s landing, including questions about marine impacts and sonic booms. Ms Gillis said the current review includes extensive assessment.

“There is a very in-depth environmental assessment going on in terms of what the impacts might be to the environment,” she said.

“We have done all sorts of modeling and predictions to make sure it is going to be safe, the site is far enough away from sensitive areas so that we are not endangering anything, and then there is also going to be a lot of before the launch, during the landing and then afterwards to make sure we are tracking the environmental impact, if there is anything. But all the predictions show that it should not be impactful. Aside from the instantaneous sound from the sonic boom coming in, it should be very, very low impact overall.”

She said discussions with Bahamian regulators have been positive.

Falcon 9 landings form part of SpaceX’s reusability programme, which reduces launch costs by allowing boosters to return to Earth and be flown multiple times.

An Environmental Impact Assessment released in September found the first landing produced “minimal” environmental effects, though it highlighted gaps in underwater noise measurements and recommended stronger monitoring and instrumentation for future missions.

300 Starlink satellite internet terminal donated to Ministry of Education by SpaceX

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter

SPACEX donated 300 Starlink satellite internet terminals to the Ministry of Education yesterday, providing a year of service for each unit and bolstering digital resilience across every public school. The rollout took place at CH Reeves Junior High School, where Sarah Gillis, a Lead Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX who completed a commercial spacewalk in 2024, demonstrated the equipment alongside ministry officials. She unpacked a terminal in front of students, explained how Starlink works, and fielded questions about space.

“I love talking with these students,” Ms Gillis said. “They are so excited and curious and ask great questions about space.” She described her first visit to The Bahamas as “an incredible trip” and said SpaceX saw the donation as part of its mission to expand global connectivity. Earlier in the programme, she said the company was working

“hand in hand with the ministry to enable this resilient connectivity across all of the schools.” More than 200 terminals have already been installed, with the remainder expected to be completed soon.

Director of Education Dominique McCartney Russell said the partnership strengthens redundancy across the school system and aligns with the ministry’s strategic plan and four pillars of education. “This redundancy forms part of our broader strategy, which includes six intermediate goals and 78 initiatives, literacy being the top or the prior priority,” she said.

Deputy Director of Education for Technology and Innovation Julian Anderson said the Starlink

rollout would help eliminate long-standing bandwidth challenges, especially in the Family Islands, and create equitable digital access nationwide. Officials said the secondary internet connection will protect teaching and administrative operations during outages on local networks.

US PLAN FOR GAZA WON UN BACKING BUT CARRYING IT OUT COULD BE DIFFICULT

By LEE KEATH Associated Press

THE UN Security Council has backed the United States’ ambitious plan for the future of the Gaza Strip.

How and when it will be carried out remain largely unknown.

In a twist unimaginable across the tumultuous history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the plan would mean US President Donald Trump becomes the de facto ruler of Gaza. The territory remains devastated by Israel’s campaign to eliminate Hamas after its Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war.

An international body known as the Board of Peace, chaired by Trump, is to govern Gaza and oversee reconstruction under a 2-year, renewable UN

mandate. An armed International Stabilization Force is to keep security and ensure the disarming of Hamas, a key demand of Israel. Major questions hang over nearly every part of the plan and the timeframe for implementation. In the meantime, nearly all Palestinians remain displaced and dependent on humanitarian aid, Hamas retains significant control over nearly half of Gaza and the rebuilding of the territory has barely begun.

Challenges at every step

Some talks over the next steps have taken place behind the scenes among the US, Israel, Qatar, Egypt and other countries. But serious negotiations have not begun because Israel and Hamas remain in the first phase of the ceasefire

deal that came into effect in October. The militant group is still required to hand over the bodies of the last three hostages.

The UN resolution passed Monday gave the plan international legitimacy. That opens the door for Arab and Muslim-majority nations to participate, particularly by contributing troops to the ISF. The US is hoping that the more those countries are involved, the more palatable the international rule will be for Gaza’s more than 2 million people.

But the Palestinian public’s acceptance is far from certain. Without it, the Board of Peace risks becoming seen as a foreign occupation working on behalf of Israel, further thwarting their dream of self-determination and statehood.

The plan gives Palestinians

almost no voice in govern-

ing Gaza. Because of Israel’s fierce opposition, it doesn’t promise statehood, offering only a vague reference that it might one day be possible. It also gives only an ambiguous timetable for reconstruction to begin and for the Israeli military to withdraw from the around 50% of the Gaza Strip that it still holds since the ceasefire began. Will disarmament happen?

Disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza are the keystones to the whole plan. But there’s no detail on how that will happen.

So far, the militant group has not agreed to disarm. In a statement after the UN resolution’s passage, Hamas said the fate of its weapons is connected to ensuring a path to the end of the Israeli occupation and the creation of a Palestinian state.

The International Stabilization Force is tasked with ensuring disarmament and the destruction of Hamas’ military infrastructure. The ISF will also oversee a Palestinian police force, made up of vetted members trained by Egypt and Jordan.

A number of nations have been cited as possible contributors to the ISF, including Egypt, Indonesia, Turkey and Azerbaijan. But none has committed to sending troops yet, and Israel opposes Turkey participating in the force.

They are unlikely to want their soldiers to take Hamas’ weapons by force. Hamas warned that trying to do so would turn the ISF “into a party to the conflict in favour of the occupation.”

Hamas is under heavy pressure, particularly from Qatar and Egypt, to find a compromise. One possible idea is a “decommissioning” – handing the arsenal over to the ISF for safekeeping -- which Hamas could argue is not a permanent surrender of its right to armed resistance. Without disarmament, much of the rest of the plan could stall. Israel’s troop withdrawal is linked to the pace of Hamas demilitarization and the deployment

of the ISF. Reconstruction is also unlikely to happen in most of Gaza unless Hamas disarms.

Many Palestinians fear the end result will be a partition of Gaza between an Israeli-controlled zone, where some reconstruction might take place, and the rest, where almost all of the population of more than 2 million live with little rebuilding.

Who will make up the Board of Peace?

Trump has said the board will be made up of “distinguished leaders” from other countries, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and that its members will be named in the coming weeks.

But who they will be is unknown, and even Blair’s participation has not been confirmed.

The UN resolution gives the Board complete say in Gaza with powers over the ISF, reconstruction and economic recovery. The Board is also to oversee a “technocratic, apolitical committee of competent Palestinians” who will run the day-to-day civil service in Gaza.

Who are these independent Palestinians?

The members of the Palestinian committee are to have no connection to either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, which currently administers scattered parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israel has rejected any role for the PA in Gaza.

The plan doesn’t specify who will select the members, but that likely will fall to the Board of Peace. Israel will want to have a strong say in who can be included.

In an online post, Palestinian political analyst and pollster Khalil Shikaki said the committee should be picked through “an all Palestinian” process to boost its support, consulting among political factions, trade syndicates, local leaders and women’s and youth organizations.

But if the Board and the committee are seen as a tool for the US or Israel, prominent Palestinians may be reluctant to join. In its

statement Monday, Hamas denounced the “international guardianship” that the UN resolution places on Gaza, saying it aims to further Israel’s interests. What is all this leading to?

The plan emphasizes two goals for Gaza – demilitarization and reconstruction. Anything beyond that remains largely blank.

The UN resolution offers the possibility of the Palestinian Authority eventually taking control of Gaza if it carries out a slate of internal reforms to the satisfaction of the Board of Peace – everything from fighting corruption, increasing efficiency to holding elections.

The Palestinian Authority welcomed the UN resolution in a statement Monday and said it was prepared to step in to govern Gaza. But Israeli opposition raises doubts whether that will ever be allowed to happen.

Under pressure from Arab allies, the United States inserted a reference to Palestinian statehood in the UN resolution.

But it remains only a vague nod. It states that if the Palestinian Authority “faithfully” carries out reforms and if Gaza redevelopment advances, “conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.”

The lack of a clear path to self-determination threatens to complicate every other step. For example, Shikaki wrote, without a path to statehood, “disarmament will be seen as capitulation; with it, demobilization can be framed as part of national strategy.”

For much of the population, the priority is to see reconstruction and a revival of Gaza’s economy so families have livelihoods. If that comes, it could paper over reluctance toward international rule, at least for a time. If it doesn’t or if Palestinians see no progress toward self-determination, resentment is likely to mount.

A SPACEX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying a NASA probe bound for Jupiter lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, last year.

Photo: John Raoux/AP

Zanzibar's 'solar mamas' are trained as technicians to help light up communities

By JACK DENTON Associated Press

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania

(AP)- Whendarknesscame, so did the smoke.

HamnaSilima Nyange,like halfof the2million peoplein

Tanzania's semi-autonomous archipelago ofZanzibar, did not have ahouse connected to the electricitygrid. After sunset, she wouldturn to smokyoillampsthatprovided the only light for her eight children to study.

"The lightwas tooweak," Nyangesaid. "Andthesmoke from the lamp hurt my eyes."

Thenone dayaneighbor, Tatu OmaryHamad, installed solar panels andbulbs that lit her home withhelp from the strong sunlight along the Indian Ocean coast.

"Todaywe haveenough light," Nyange said.

Training womento besolar technicians

Hamadisone ofdozensof "solar mamas"trained inZanzibar byBarefoot CollegeInternational,aglobalnonprofit, through a program that brings lighttoruralcommunitiesand provides jobs for local

women.Sofar inZanzibar,it has lit 1,845 homes. The programselects middle-aged women,most with little orno formal education, fromvillages without electricity and trains them over six monthsto become solar power technicians.It is one of a smallnumber of programsin Africaincluding Solar Sister.

The women returnto their communities withat least50 sets of household solar panel kits as well asthe skills and equipment to setthem up and keep them running.

Barefoot College International focuses on middle-aged women because they tend to have the strongestlinks to their communities while not often involved in intensive child care.

"We wantto trainwomen who becomechange makers," said Brenda Geofrey,the director of BarefootCollege International Zanzibar The Zanzibarcampus isin its10th yearof teachinglocal women.Before that,itsent women fortraining inIndia, where BarefootCollege Inter-

national was founded.

One was Khazija Gharib Issa,whohad beenanunemployedwidow.Now sheisa master trainer.

"Igotajob. Igotaplaceto stay. Before,I didn'thave one," Issa said.

The importance of health Improvinghealth isatthe heart of theprogram's mission.

Alongside itsflagship solar power course, Barefoot Col-

By SHAWN CHEN APTechnology Writer

NEWYORK (AP)

It's the most wonderfultime of the year,unless youwant to find the perfect gifts for tech lovers.

There's a lot of slop to sift through as we get closer to theholidays, manyinterests to appeal to and a whole bunch ofdeals-that-aren'tdealsflashing beforeour screens. So here's a guide andsomesales tohelpyou get started on your gift shopping journey.

For your gamers

legeInternational offersprograms for women intailoring, beekeeping andsustainable agriculture. Everywoman who completes aprogram is trained in general health knowledge thatthey areexpectedto takeback totheir villages.

The "solarmamas" are health catalysts in another way,by replacingharmful light sources like kerosene.

Site selected for unmanned aerial competition

TULSA, Okla.--(BUSINESSWIRE)--Nov 17,2025-Skyway Range, the premier test rangeoperated byOsage LLC, hasbeen selectedas the officialhost sitefor theRoboNation's 2026 Student Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS)Competition, oneof the nation'slargest annualunmannedaerialsystemscompetitions foruniversity andhigh performing high school students. Theevent willbeheld September 14-17, 2026. Skyway Range, the premier test range operatedby Osage LLC, has beenselected as the officialhostsitefortheRoboN-

ation's2026 StudentUnmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS)Competition, oneof the nation'slargest annualunmanned aerialsystems competitions for universityand high performinghigh school students.

The annual competition draws hundredsof students, faculty, andindustry leaders fromacross theUnitedStates and abroad todesign, build, andflyautonomousaerialsystemsthrough complexrealworldmission challenges.By

hosting the event, Skyway Range will serveas the nationalstageforthenextgenerationofinnovatorsandthefuture of autonomous flight. SkywayRange, locatedin northeastern Oklahoma, provides a uniquely equipped environment for testing and demonstration of uncrewed and autonomousaircraft systems.The facilityintegrates 1,200 squaremiles ofdiverse outdoor environments with WindShape's state-of-the-art indoor controlledenvironment testing facility.next generation of innovators within our native communities and throughout the world."

TheNintendoSwitch2was the biggest andmost anticipated consolelaunch of2025, andifhistory isanyindication, it willbe increasingly harder to findas Christmas approaches. Butfor the gamers inyour life both young andadult thisis the gift to get.

Nintendo's BlackFriday deals forthe consoleand gameshave beenannounced but the best bang for your buckmay betheconsole bundles. TheSwitch 2is still availableas justtheconsole onlyfor$449orbundledwith MarioKartWorldfor$499.A new $499 bundle is now availablewheretheconsoleis packaged withPokémon Legends:Z-A. Gamesretailfor about $70 a piece,so you do save a little with bundles.

Need a new iPhone?

TheiPhone AirandiPhone 17Pro Maxcapturedthe headlines thisyear whenthe new lineup launched, but the baseiPhone 17receivedan upgraded camera (telephoto lens),morebasestorageanda longerbattery life.Giventhe price for this model hasn't changed, you're straight up gettingmoretechforthesame price. If yourgift recipient's currentiPhoneisafewgenerations behind, this is a good time to consider an upgrade. What aboutAI? The iPhone 17 doesn'tmake as manyleaps intothetechnology as itspredecessor, but the new iOSand processer preparesthephoneforanyadvancements that maycome in 2026.TheiPhone17retailsat $800.

Ormaybe you'dlikea foldable phone?

Ifyou orsomeone inyour life hasever beencurious about a foldable phone, con-

sider Samsung'snewest Galaxy Z Fold 7 model. This phone solvesmany of the issuesusers havebeen concerned about since fold phones hitthe market:It's muchthinner andlighter thanitspredecessors 0.17 inches thickwhen unfolded and lessthan halfan inch folded and it weighs slightly less than half a pound, impressive considering theyboosted thesize of all the screens.

Butthe priceof afold phone remains steep compared to the flagship iPhone and Galaxydevices. TheZ Fold7currentlyisrunninga sale onits sitebut normally retails starting at $1,999.

Planning toshoot more video or pictures? Foranyone interestedin doing more filming or photography with their mobile device, this supremely portable tripod by SelfieShowoffers solidstability even when extended to its maxheight of 71 inches.The mountingarm alsooffersa widearrayof positioning for shooters on thego. Andtherig cancollapseintoaretractableselfie stick. This portabletripod retails for $19.99.

Recording clearer audio For aspiringinfluencers,

podcastersor vloggersin yourlife, trythesewireless microphones byHollyland. TheLark M2WirelessMicrophone mics areeasy to use,havegoodrangeanddo well infiltering outbackgroundnoise.Youcaneasily attachthesetoclothesforinterviews or even hold them for thetiny miclifestyle.

A "Solar Mama" technician wires up a solar charge controller at the campus of Barefoot College International in Kinyasini, Unguja, Zanzibar, July 23, 2025.

AP Photo/Jack Denton

A "Solar Mama" techniciantakes atraining sessionon the campusofBarefootCollege InternationalinKinyasini,Unguja, Zanzibar, July 23, 2025.

AP Photo/Jack Denton

Tribute to a true hero advocate: Alice Wong. RIP.

DisabilityJusticeAdvocate, Founder of Disability Visibility Project, and writer Alice Wongdiedatthe ageof51on

November 15.A MacArthur Genius Award-winner, Alice was known for her brilliant ways ofpresenting current realities andpossibilities, fierce advocacy, openness about herlife, andwonderful sense of humour.

Alice was bornwith muscular dystrophy. Sheuseda powered wheelchairand assistive breathingdiverse, and she openly shared her experiencesinmedicalcaresettings, havinghomecare,andtheimportance of care networks populatedby peoplewho listen.

“Care isnot achecklist of tasks andresponsibilities,” she said. Care isa shared value andactions operatingin a larger political context within a hyper-capitalist, racist, ableist societythat devalues certaintypes oflabour and bodies.”

Alice Wong wrote Year of the Tiger: AnActivist’s Life (2022), and sheedited Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century (2020)and Disability Intimacy:Essays onLove, Care, and Desire (2024).

Alice wasgenerous inher engagementthrough herpublished workand hersocial mediapresence. Shewas quickto notonly offercommentary on and guidance through the COVID-19 pandemic, recognizingit asa mass disabling event,but to support peoplewith long COVID in navigating their new realities. Her writing in Teen Vogue feltnot only personal toher, butto thepeople reading. It was a conversation.

In October2022, Teen Vogue published an excerpt from Year of the Tiger: An Activists Life.In it,Alice emphasized the importance of self-acceptance and community, and she did so in a waythat implicitlyaligned with her positionon institutions that we shouldall try tobefreeofthem,andinstead lean on our communities and experiencethehighestformof care at home.

“Growing up and becoming more comfortable in our own skin is a tough, nonlinear pro-

cess. I am still working on myselfas Iimagine youare, too, shewrote. In the midst of yourchallenges and searches,I hopeyouare takingtimeto findjoyinthe world.Building andnurturing relationshipsgives mejoy.It might take awhile, but you will eventuallyfind people who have your back whether they havethe samedisability orcomefromthesameculture ornot.Andmaybetherearen’t anysolutions orimmediate answers tothe questions you re asking. All we can do is discover whator who makes us happy now. ”

It wasand isa messagefor youngpeople, forpeople going through transitions, for peoplewith disabilities,and for people who are learning how to be themselves.

Alicefounded theDisabilityVisibilityProject(disabilityvisibilityproject.com), whichisanonlinecommunity that centres and amplifies disability media andculture. She believedthat disabled narratives matter and that they belongto us.” Hergoal wasto buildonline spacesfor people toshare, organize,and connect, and to organize and facilitate events, give presentations, and participate on panels.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Next week Tuesdayis the firstdayoftheGlobal16Days Campaign, also known as 16 Days ofActivism Against Gender-Based Violence. As with many days,weeks, and months, ithas beenco-opted by variousgroups, including multilateralentities,whoserelated activities ignorethe roots of the campaign, which areinfeministorganizing.Itis uptothose ofuswhoknow betterto dobetter,moving beyondthesymbolicorangetshirts and pinsto undertake the change-makingwork that must be done year-round.

Tuesday,November 25is also InternationalDay forthe Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW). Itisadaytoacknowledgethat women disproportionatelyexperience gender-basedviolence. It is nota time for whataboutism. Itis nota timeto wring hands about other

groups of people and their particular experiences.It isa daytofacereality:womenexperience gender-basedviolenceat analarmingrate, worldwide, inthe Caribbean, and in The Bahamas.

Thereport onthe TheBahamas Women s Health Survey was completed in 2022, andit has yet tobe released. At amedia briefing, someofthe datawasshared. One in everyfour women reported that theyhadexperienced physical and/or sexual violence.More thanonein every five women who survived physical and/or sexual violence did not talkto anyoneaboutit.Sixty-fiveper cent of survivors of physical violence saidit wassevere (punched,hit withanobject, dragged, choked, burned, threatened with a weapon).

Women are experiencing violenceathighratesandhigh levelsof severity.Manyof them are notreporting to the policeor seekinghelpelsewhere. They are suffering in silence, oftenhiding thehorrific truth. We have built an environment thatis unsafefor womenin manyways.Violence has been normalized-survivorsareoftenblamedfor theviolencetheyexperienced- andit doesnot seembeneficialtoreport orevenshare whatis happeningwith others.

We do not lack awareness. There are data and there are storiesthatletusknowwhatis happeningall aroundus,and thatitdoes notjusthappento certain“kinds”ofwomen.We allknowandlovewomenwho have experienced genderbasedviolence, andthereare manyamongus whohavenot been deemed “safe people,” whowould listenandoffer support.

Theapproachtotheissueof violence against womenis ineffective. Itdoes notcentre theneedsof survivors.Itdoes not focus oneliminating stereotypesandsystemsthatproduceviolence. Itdoesnot make use of available data to build coordinated reporting and care systems. It does not reachyoung peoplewithcritical information about consent, bodily autonomy, emotional intelligence, emotional regulation, nonviolent communication, or healthy relationships. It doesnot leverage international human rights mechanisms andthe available resources to support systemic change.

AsInternationalDayforthe Elimination of Violence Against Women approaches, find ways to: Let peopleknow that you are against violenceand you

'Mellon Blue' diamond sells for $25.6 million

GENEVA (AP) A blue diamond weighing nearly 10 carats has sold at auctionin Switzerlandfor 20.5 million Swiss francs ($25.6 million)including fees.

The pear-shaped9.51carat "Mellon Blue" namedfor thelateAmericanarts patronRachel "Bunny" Mellon had beenexpectedtofetch$20$30millionattheChristie's auction on Tuesday. Thehouse saidthestone camein ontheestimated range. Thefinal priceincludes the"buyer's premium" and other fees.

groupatChristie's,haileda "notable moment"for his team, "evidencing the elite appetite among collectors for extraordinaryand storied gems."

“Hi everyone, it looks like I ran out of time. I have so many dreams that I wanted to fulfil and plans to create new stories for you. There are a few in progress that might come to fruition in a few years, if things work out. I did not ever imagine I would live to this age and end up a writer, editor, activist, and more.

As a kid riddled with insecurity and internalized ableism, I could not see a path forward. It was thanks to friendships and some great teachers who believed in me that I was able to fight my way out of miserable situations into a place whereI finally felt comfortable in my skin. We need more stories about us and our culture. You all, we all, deserve the everything and more in such a hostile, ableist environment. Our wisdom is incisive and unflinching. I'm honoured to be your ancestor and believe disabled oracles like us will light the way to the future.

“Don't let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”

are prepared to support women who have experienced violence.

• Engage withyour Member of Parliament orany candidate orpartythat wantsyourvote, applying pressure forthem to articulate a plan to end genderbased violence against women.

Talkto theyoung peoplein yourlifeabouthealthyrelationships,redflagsinrelationships, consent, and nonviolent communication.

Pressure thecurrent governmentadministration topublish thereport onTheBahamas Women’s Health Surveyand to implement thecomprehensive care model.

• Pushback againstharmful gender stereotypeswhenever and wherever yousee them, includingathome, intheworkplace, and in social settings.

Recommendations

1. Genocide Bad by Sim

James

Kern. Publisher notes: “Part activistmemoir, partcrash course inJewish and Palestinian history, Genocide Bad dismantlesZionist propaganda in 10 unapologetic essays. Drawingconnections between Biblicalpromises and explodingpagers, medievaldresscodesandmodernday apartheid,Kern sketches asweepinghistoryofimperialism with a characteristic blendoffar-rangingresearch, pop-culture insights,and scathing humour.” Feminist BookClub, hostedby Equality Bahamasand Poinciana PaperPress isreading Genocide Bad this month, and meetingto discussit on Wednesday,November 19at 6pm. Register: tiny.cc/fbc2025

2.Global 16DaysCampaign. This campaign, to focus on ending genderbasedviolence, beginson

November 25(International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) and December10 (Human RightsDay). EqualityBahamas ishosting itsannual series ofevents duringthe campaign,and thefulllineup is available at Lu.ma/16days25 Eventsinclude adiscussionabout memoryandreparations withThe Bahamas National ReparationsCommitteeChair NiambiHall Campbell-Dean on November 26 at 6pm, the screening of Two Faced: GenderInequalityinTheBahamas” at theNational Art Gallery of TheBahamas on November27 at6pm, andan erasure poetry workshop with SoniaFarmer atPoinciana Paper Press on ParkgateRoad onDecember 6at 9:30am.All eventsare free and open to the public.

Bond fantasist jailed for seven years in UK for trying to spy for Russia

cissistic tendencies and an overblown senseof hisown importance."

"Geopolitical tensions -fromthewar inUkraineto Trump'stariffs and a weakened Chinese economy that kept many usual buyers away,left theroomdistinctly cautious,"hesaid inastatement.

Auctioneer RahulKadakia, chairmanof thegloballuxury

"Not the dazzling moment I expected," said Tobias Kormind, managing director ofonline jeweler 77 Diamonds. He said the gemwas "tippedasthe season'sheadlineact"butwas weighed down bya broader market mood.

Itwasa farcryfromthe peak salefor ablue diamond:Christie's saysits highestprice foravivid bluediamond wassetin Geneva in 2016when the 14.62-carat Oppenheimer Bluesold formorethan $57 million.

TheMellon Bluewas previouslysold in2014, the yearthat Mellondied, for $32.6million, which was one of the highest pricesever paidfora coloreddiamond atauction, Christie's says. For decades, the stone was partof Mellon's private collection.

LONDON (AP) A British manwho would "dream aboutbeing like James Bond"was jailed Friday for seven years after trying to spy for Russia.

Howard Phillips,65, was found guiltyin Julyfor trying to pass information about former DefenseSecretary GrantShapps, whomhe knew, totwo men whohe believed wereRussian intelligence agents. However, the 'agents' were undercover British intelligence agents.

"Youwere preparedtobetray your countryfor money," Justice BobbieCheemaGrubb told Phillips at his sentencing hearingat Winchester CrownCourt, inthe southof England.

The judge said that Phillips had "a personalitywith nar-

The trial heard that Phillips intended toassist Russian agents between theend of 2023 and May 2024 Shapps was defense secretary betweenAugust 2023and July 2024 when his ConservativeParty wasoustedfrom powerandhe losthisseatin Parliamentatthegeneralelection.

Specifically, the trial heard how Phillips had tried to hand overShapps'contactdetailsas wellasthe locationwherehe kept his private plane to "facilitate theRussians in listening on British defense plans."

The defendant's ex-wife toldthe courtthatPhillips "woulddream aboutbeing

likeJames Bond,"and watchedfilms aboutthe Britishsecret servicesbecause hewas "infatuatedwith it."

In avictim impactstatementreadtothecourt,Shapps expressed his shock at learning of Phillips' activities. He recalled goingto dinnerat Phillips' home in 2002.

"Whatis unacceptableis one individual's reckless behaviorexposing myentire family to theextremely serious risks thatcome from a foreign intelligenceservice's activities," he said.

Bethan David, headof the Crown Prosecution Service's Counter Terrorism Division, said the conviction sends "a clear message toanyone considering spying for orassisting Russia."

This is Alice Wong’s final message to the world, shared on the day of her death:

BRITAIN'S Defence SecretaryGrantShappsarrives

Soaring demand pushes GB food aid groups to their limit

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

SOARING demand for food aid is pushing Grand Bahama’s major feeding organisations to their limits, as more residents turn to non-profits to help stretch dwindling grocery budgets.

The Grand Bahama Red Cross Society and Reach Out Ministries are reporting a surge in weekly calls, walk-ins, and pleas to be added to their feeding programmes, signs, they say, of deepening hardship across the island.

Kimberly Outten, administrator at the Grand

Bahama Red Cross, said the organisation’s long-running Meals on Wheels service has been operating at full capacity for months. The programme delivers hot meals Monday through Friday to people with disabilities and elderly residents, with “about 50 to 55 persons on that programme.”

Demand now far exceeds those numbers.

“We definitely are seeing and have been seeing a lot of people coming in looking for assistance, trying to get on that programme, but we are non-profit and we can’t accommodate everybody,” she said.

Many of those seeking help told the Red Cross they had already exhausted other avenues. Ms Outten said people often arrive after visiting Social Services or churches, only to be redirected to the Red Cross.

“When we try to direct them to other organisations or agencies like Social Services or churches, a lot of them say they’ve been there and Social Services sent them to the Red Cross,” she said.

The Red Cross also distributes monthly grocery parcels to 22 families. Still, new walk-ins continue to overwhelm capacity. “In addition to the ones that

we already have on our programme, I would say we get between 12 and up to 20 weekly are seeking help,” she said.

Requests often go far beyond food. “People come to us for everything. We don't provide everything. A lot of people come in looking for home assistance like home repairs and rent assistance, but we don't do that,” she added.

As Thanksgiving approaches, the organisation is preparing for next week’s Feed the 10,000 initiative, a mass feeding supported by community, business, and church partners. Ms Outten said: “I

actually think that it's more than 10,000 meals that will be provided next Thursday. Anybody can come and get a Thanksgiving meal. We'll be one of the various stations on the island where people can come.”

Reach Out Ministries is seeing the same pressure. Founder Dudley Seide said the calls keep coming. “It’s been steady. I received six calls for groceries early this morning,” he said, adding that the organisation typically receives 60 to 70 requests for assistance and continues its weekly Sunday feeding at its community centre from noon to 4pm.

The group will also join next week’s Thanksgiving effort and is preparing for its annual C feeding programme and Christmas giveaway. Mr Seide added that new initiatives, including a girls’ mentoring programme launched three months ago, have expanded their outreach footprint.

He said the sharpest need is among older residents struggling to stay afloat. “We are seeing the old folks that are needing assistance,” he said. “They’re not working and they are not getting their pension on time, and so they are facing challenges.”

Government announces senior diplomatic postngs at commissioning ceremony

LOWELL Mortimer has been appointed Ambassador-at-Large, one of several senior diplomatic postings announced during a commissioning ceremony at Government House on Monday.

Peter Nicholas Symonette was named Non-Resident High Commissioner Designate to India; Dr Lorraine Bastian was appointed Ambassador-at-Large Designate for Foreign Service Education and Training; and Winston Pinnock was appointed Non-Resident Ambassador Designate to Italy.

The ceremony also featured the presentation of Foreign Service Medals and was attended by Governor General Cynthia Pratt, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, and Jack Thompson, secretary to the Governor General.

Mr Mitchell told the newly commissioned diplomats they hold important jobs and said the prime minister also extended his congratulations.

Mr Thompson said the Foreign Service Medal Awards recognise people whose sustained commitment to excellence, professionalism, and integrity has strengthened the ministry’s strategic interests at home and abroad. “Honorees are distinguished citizens, as well as serving and retired employees who are celebrated for delivering exceptional results, upholding the Ministry’s highest standards, and strengthening The Bahamas’ voice on the global stage,” he said. “Each medal, formally approved by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign Service Committee, is presented during a special ceremony that highlights the recipients’ outstanding contributions and lasting impact on the nation’s foreign service.” Medals awarded included: the Lynden Pindling Medal for Leadership; Paul L Adderley Medal for Excellence; Clement Maynard Medal for Innovation; Janet Bostwick Medal for Women in the Foreign Service; Foreign Service Bravery Medal; Distinguished Foreign Service Medal; and Frederick Mitchell Medal for Statesmanship.

PETER SYMONETTE

FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER FRED MITCHELL

GOVERNOR GENERAL CYNTHIA ‘MOTHER’ PRATT

PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY JAMAHL STRACHAN

LOWEL MORTIMER

WINSTON PINNOCK

LORRAINE BASTIAN