WEEKEND
The McRib always scores big
FIRED FLIGHT ATTENDANT
LINKED TO $106K SEIZURE
Man says he was unfairly targeted after probe into funds found on Bahamasair flight to Haiti
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Digital Editor aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
A FORMER Bahamasair flight attendant says he was suspended, questioned by police financial crime officers, and ultimately fired over a Haiti flight linked to US$106,000 allegedly seized by authorities in Cap Haïtien.
He has provided documents supporting his account, including a termination letter referencing the cash seizure and an internal investigation.
Principal
says she
pretended
There is nothing to link the incident with Opposition Leader Michael Pintard’s unsubstantiated claims of multiple passports being found on board a BahamasAir flight. However, the documents the sacked flight attendant provided demonstrate that an internal probe and police involvement did occur in connection with the March 1 flight. The ex-employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the saga began when a
to be
dead to survive violent attack at East GB school
AN 81-year-old man is in hospital after being shot by police after he first opened fire on them.
Officers from the antigang taskforce were executing a search warrant for drugs and firearms at a two-storey home off West Bay Street.
Acting on information, police said they approached the home and informed a female occupant of the warrant, but she refused to grant access. Officers then breached the door and announced their presence.
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
As they cleared the third floor, a male occupant refused to open a door in the northern room. When police breached the door, he allegedly fired multiple shots at officers and, fearing for their safety, officers
A SCHOOL principal said she believed she would die as she endured a violent attack at McLean’s Town Primary School, describing in court yesterday how she pretended to be dead to survive the June assault. Simone Butler-Cornish broke down repeatedly as she recounted the June 20, 2025 attack before Magistrate Charlton Smith in Grand Bahama. Her husband and colleagues sat behind her in support.
At the outset, Assistant Superintendent Veron Rolle applied to amend Farrington’s charge from assault with a deadly weapon to causing grievous harm. Magistrate Smith read the new allegation, which claims Farrington
The accused, Kenneth Farrington, who is on bail and unrepresented, was present in court.
“intentionally caused harm” to Mrs Butler-Cornish on 20 June. Farrington pleaded not guilty and chose to remain in the Magistrate’s Court. Mrs Butler-Cornish told the court the attack happened shortly after she
‘Many persons have called me daddy’
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip Davis brushed aside calls to push for the removal of Golden Isles Returning Officer Neil Campbell yesterday, declaring: “Many persons have called me daddy.” Mr Davis said there is no reason to dismiss Mr Campbell, who recently referred to him as his “adopted father”, a remark the Free National Movement argues establishes a clear conflict of interest ahead of Monday’s by-election. Mr Davis, however, emphasised that knowing people in a small country does not undermine one’s credibility or ability to do a job.
“What that has to do with the process?” he asked. “Guardrails are in place to ensure the transparency, integrity of the election process. All of us have our
PRIME MINISTER PHILIP ‘BRAVE’ DAVIS
A Bahamasair Boeing 737 preparing to land
Teen takes his love of music and Junkanoo to US college
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
JUNKANOO made its way to Langston University, a historically Black university (HBCU) in Oklahoma, after 19-year-old Bahamian Sharano Hanna composed a melody for the school’s marching band. The performance left many Bahamians beaming with pride and amazed American bandmates with its distinctive rhythm and sound.
Mr Hanna, a member of the Saxons Superstars and a sophomore at Langston University, said his love for music began at a young age. Recalling the proud moment to The Tribune, he said he and other Bahamians spent long hours teaching the American students the Junkanoo rhythms.
“I was just in charge of writing the music and delivering it to the band and teaching it,” he said. “When
I first did it, the United States students were like, what the hell is this on the paper? The music was so foreign to them.”
It took the band five days to learn the piece. Mr Hanna admitted that at first, some US band members were hesitant. He added: “But eventually, when the music got put together, everybody was like, this actually good.”
A video of the November 15th performance went viral on social media, receiving over 3,000 likes and over 1,000 shares by press time. The video showed the band performing Bahamian songs such as Island in the Stream, Come Go with Me to Bimini, and I’m a Boatman, with members swaying in unison like a traditional Junkanoo troupe.
Mr Hanna joined Langston University in August 2024, and quickly met dozens of fellow Bahamians in the marching band who shared his love for
music. A few months ago, he proposed the idea of a Junkanoo performance to his music director.
However, it wasn’t an easy road. At first, his director supported the idea and even wanted to get traditional costumes for the performance, but the band would need funding from its school.
“Unfortunately, the school didn't fund our event, but we still went along with it,” he said. “When we got the news that they didn't accept it, I was just like, I don't care what they say. Let's still go with the programme. Nobody could take that away from us.”
The music director later told Mr Hanna and his fellow Bahamians that the performance could proceed once they had written the music and taught it to the other band members.
The performance took place during the university’s last football game.
The five-minute Junkanoo melody left a lasting impression on many firsttime listeners. The crowd reacted with surprise and excitement at the riffs, beats, and horns, and several professors said they had never heard anything like it before. Fellow Bahamians on the sidelines recorded the performance with pride. Mr Hanna said his love for Junkanoo has always been strong. He plays five musical instruments and writes melodies for the Saxons and the Superstar Rockers in Freeport.
Asked if he plans to continue showcasing Junkanoo while studying business administration abroad, he said: “My plan was to bring the culture of Junkanoo everywhere I go. That opportunity that the professors gave me, that was the greenlight that started everything.”
The 19-year-old said he is preparing to return to New Providence this Christmas to play brass in the upcoming Junkanoo parades.
Saxon and Colours Junkanoo group leaders honoured for their contributions by Cuba Libre
By JADE Russell Tribune Staff Reporter
CUBA Libre’s annual “Warm the Shacks” campaign this year honoured Saxons Superstars leader Percy “Vola” Francis and Colours Entertainment leader Chris Justilien for their continued contributions to the Junkanoo community.
At a press conference yesterday, Cuba Libre launched the 2025 campaign, announcing a donation of one pallet (120 cases) of Cuba Libre to A-category Junkanoo groups and half a pallet to B-category groups.
The event, held at Poseidon Sports Bar on East Bay Street, was attended by representatives from several Junkanoo groups, including the Valley Boys, Roots, Colours, Fancy Dancers, Genesis, and others.
Gavin Christie, a director at Cuba Libre, described Junkanoo as “the Superbowl of The Bahamas.”
Founding director Gary Christie said this year’s launch includes a new tradition of honouring Junkanoo icons. Each year, leaders from one A-category and one B-category group will be recognised. This year, Mr Francis and Mr Justilien were each presented with $1,000.
Mr Francis, widely seen as a Junkanoo monarch, has led the Saxons for more than 50 years, making it one of the largest and most popular groups. He expressed gratitude for the donation and said icons such as the late Winston “Gus” Cooper, founding leader of the Valley Boys, helped shape the art and heritage of Junkanoo. Mr Justilien was also celebrated for his longstanding contributions. He
Mr Christie highlighted the blood, sweat, tears, and long nights Junkanoo members devote to preparing a dazzling Bay Street performance. He said the beverage brand has demonstrated its support for Junkanoo over the years and hopes this donation will help make the season a little easier for participants.
SHARANO HANNA and his bandmates at Langston University hold up a Bahamaian flag.
Sherano Hanna plays the Trumpet with the Langston marching band.
University of The Bahamas, where he has taught scores of students,
CUBA LIBRE’S annual “Warm the Shacks” campaign this year
honoured Saxons Superstars leader Percy “Vola” Francis and Colours
Entertainment leader Chris Justilien, presenting them each with $1,000 for their continued contributions to the Junkanoo community.
‘I feel like I was just a pawn’, says fired flight attendant
BAHAMASAIR
from page one
colleague asked him to take a small bag to Cap Haïtien – something he described as common practice among crew during his three years at the airline.
He allegedly met the colleague at the gas station early that morning and received a reusable shopping bag containing a single passport, clothes and a pair of heels. He said he placed it in his flight bag before reporting for duty, passed through domestic security screening and flew to Haiti without incident.
Upon arrival, he said he handed the package directly to a woman Bahamasair agent on the air stairs.
“We were on the ground in Haiti for about an hour, hour and a half,” he said. “I gave the package to a female agent there and she took it to wherever it needed to go. Then we loaded back up with passengers and came back to Nassau. It was a routine day.”
Days later, he said he began hearing rumours of a Bahamasair worker “on the run” and US$100,000 seized by Haitian authorities.
“I was confused,” he said. “I was like, okay, who is this? I didn’t hear about anybody on the run. It didn’t make sense.”
He said he and his crew were later summoned before the Bahamasair board and asked general questions about the flight — whether anything seemed out of the ordinary or whether they had observed suspicious baggage.
He claims he did not initially mention the bag because the questions did not appear to relate to ‘routine’ crew-to-crew package transfers.
“Because they didn’t ask, ‘Did you take anything?’ I didn’t feel compelled to say anything,” he said. “As far as I was concerned, what I carried didn’t have anything to do with that.”
He continued flying, but said his first sign of a deeper issue came when US Customs officers began pulling him into secondary screening during transits. On one occasion, a CBP officer directly asked him: “So
what happened on the flight to Haiti?”
In May, he was informed he would be taken off duty pending investigation after Bahamasair security officers allegedly said the Haiti-based agent had identified him as handing over a package.
He said he then provided full disclosure, including WhatsApp messages showing the colleague’s request.
The Tribune has viewed the correspondence.
The ex-employee said he was interviewed twice by police — once earlier in the year, and again in late August by financial crime officers. During the second interview, he said he was placed in handcuffs, held in custody for three hours, and then questioned at the Central Detective Unit on suspicion of money laundering.
“They kept asking me about ‘the $100,000’,” he said. “The main focus of the police investigation was money. There was nothing about passports.”
He claims investigators later told him, off the record, that they believed he had been “innocently brought into” a wider scheme. He was never charged or placed on bail.
Despite this, Bahamasair dismissed him on June 17.
The termination letter, signed by human resources director Zakia Winder, states that his employment was ended “for cause” following an internal investigation into “the discovery and confiscation by the Haitian National Police of US$106,000 illegally transferred into Cap Haïtien” on March 1.
The letter says the investigation found “a major breach,” citing concerns about discrepancies between his initial verbal and written statements, and alleged involvement “in an illegal activity while on duty on Bahamasair property and involving Company equipment.” It says his conduct “potentially jeopardized Bahamasair’s integrity and international relations.”
The employee said he was never shown the evidence
referenced in the letter and maintains he was not involved in any wrongdoing.
“I feel like I was just a pawn,” he said.
“It’s no secret that flight attendants carry packages for each other. We do it for managers too… We just do it as a favour. That’s all.”
He appealed the decision with union representation, but said managing director Tracy Cooper upheld the dismissal and refused to share the evidence he said linked him to the alleged smuggling.
“It felt like going to a parent who had already made up their mind,” he said. “I was treated like a criminal.”
He claimed several colleagues later confided that they had also carried packages for the same flight attendant on Haiti routes, and were shocked he had been singled out. One said he refused to carry a bag after discovering multiple passports inside.
The Davis administration has repeatedly dismissed Mr Pintard’s description of a ‘bag of passports’ found on a Bahamasair aircraft. Senior officials say the airline, the Passport Office and police have confirmed no such discovery occurred and no employee was dismissed as a result.
Yesterday, Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe said the Opposition has still not met the burden of proof for its “bag of passports” allegation.
In March, Bahamasair issued a statement following Haitian media claims about a US$100,000 seizure at Cap-Haïtien involving a flight. The airline said it was aware of the alleged matter, was taking it seriously, and was cooperating with Haitian authorities, including the Royal Bahamas Police Force and Interpol.
For his part, the former flight attendant said he wants to clear his name.
“I just want this to be treated fairly because I was wronged,” he said. “I’ve never had a criminal record in my life. I never did anything wrong.”
Calls placed to Bahamasair executives and the Commissioner of Police were not returned up to press time.
Mexican man accused of murder girl on yacht to enter plea before Supreme Court in December
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MEXICAN man accused of murdering Paige Bell, a 20-year-old South African woman killed on a super yacht in Eleuthera in July, was told this week he will enter a plea before the Supreme Court in December.
Brigido Munoz, 39, of Monterrey, Mexico, was served and signed his voluntary bill of indictment on a murder charge before Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley.
While standing silently,
the defendant was told that his matter had been transferred to Justice Guillimina Archer Minns and that he would next appear before her court on December 12. He was also informed of his notice of alibi. Munoz allegedly killed Paige Bell aboard a yacht docked in Harbour Island, Eleuthera, on July 3. Officers found the deceased with visible injuries in the engine room sometime after 1pm that day. The suspect allegedly attempted suicide, as he had serious
MUNROE: OPPOSITION HAS NOT MET BURDEN OF PROOF ON ‘BAG OF PASSPORTS’ CLAIM
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Digital Editor aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
MINISTER of National Security Wayne Munroe says the Opposition has still not met the burden of proof for its “bag of passports” allegation — even as The Tribune’s reporting reveals that a former Bahamasair employee was fired after an internal probe involving a March 1 Haiti flight and a cash seizure.
Speaking to The Tribune yesterday in response to questions about the account, Mr Munroe said none of the information raised alters the fundamental issue: Michael Pintard’s original claim has not been supported by any evidence.
“His claim was that there was a bag of passports on a Bahamasair airplane,” Mr Munroe said. “A bag of passports is a lot different than a bag of cash.”
He said police inquiries known to him relate only to cash movement and suspected laundering, not passports.
Mr Munroe insisted Mr Pintard’s assertion — that passports were found on a Bahamasair aircraft and
that a police investigation had been launched — remains incorrect.
“[Mr Pintard] said, one, there was this bag of passports, and two, there was an active investigation — and it’s not so. Neither thing is correct,” Mr Munroe said.
Asked whether the former employee’s account of carrying a bag containing a single passport to Haiti suggests any overlap with Mr Pintard’s allegation, the minister rejected that interpretation.
“Cash going on flights to Haiti isn’t what Michael Pintard was talking about,” he said, adding that longstanding practices of staff carrying routine documents are unrelated to claims involving large sums of money.
Mr Munroe said if the Opposition Leader wishes to refine or change his allegation in light of new reporting, the government will respond accordingly.
“If he wants to say that that’s inaccurate and correct it, he can,” he said.
“And then we can respond to his corrected allegation. And you might find that that has as much veracity as the first allegation.”
Mr Munroe noted that Haitian reports earlier this year referenced Bahamasair agents dismissed in relation to cash seizures, but emphasised that those reports did not involve passports.
Mr Pintard raised the allegation during a rally in Golden Isles on November 13, telling supporters that he had been informed of an incident involving a package of passports found onboard a Bahamasair aircraft "heading south", and that people had allegedly been fired.
At the rally, Mr Pintard said: "Somebody else tell the story this way, that the bag burst and the passports fell on the ground, and an investigation had to happen. And so this flight that was heading south had a package of those passports." Mr Pintard doubled down on his claims when he appeared as a guest on the Guardian Radio talk show “Talking Heads” with hosts Naughty and MJ on Tuesday.
“I believe that the national airline has been used to transport money and passports,” Mr Pintard said.
Man hospitalised after gun fight with police at his West Bay Street home
SHOT from page one
returned fire. The 81-year-old suspect was struck in the elbow and buttocks, police said,
injuries to his arms. He was successfully treated for those injuries at a local clinic.
Both the defendant and the deceased were crew members aboard the vessel.
The deceased was killed days before her 21st birthday.
The victim’s parents, John and Michelle Bell, told The Tribune on Wednesday that they are still reeling from the loss of their daughter and that her murder “stole their world.”
Inspector Deon Barr was the prosecutor.
adding that they recovered his firearm and he was subdued before being treated by EMS and transported to the hospital. Officers reportedly conducted another search and
found a second firearm and additional ammunition in the man’s room in the presence of a female caretaker. The 66-yearold woman was also taken into custody.
PAIGE BELL
‘Familiarity does not translate to influence’
election agents. All of us are present during the course of the process.”
Pressed about the public perception of his connection to Mr Campbell, Mr Davis said personal familiarity does not translate into influence.
“Listen, I know you, right?” he said. “This is a
“If anything happens during the course of that, they could record it. Once it’s complete, you can challenge it in court. Any manner of means to correct whatever wrong they might see. I’ve not seen anything. There’s been no particulars provided to suggest to me that he needs to be removed.”
small country. I know many persons in this country. Many persons have called me daddy. Many. That’s because of who I am as a person, has nothing to do with them being influenced to do anything for me. They have a job to do, and I’m satisfied the job will be done in accordance with the law.” The FNM has demanded
Mr Campbell’s removal, saying his description of Mr Davis as an “adopted father” confirms their concerns about political proximity and makes him unfit to oversee the by-election.
FNM Chairman Dr Duane Sands said the admission highlights a conflict of interest and erodes confidence in the fairness of the process. The Progressive Liberal Party has rejected the opposition’s calls as an effort driven by “fear and distortion”, accusing the FNM of trying to mislead Bahamians and undermine trust in the electoral system. The party said it would not allow the opposition to smear public servants, intimidate
workers, or undermine public confidence in the voting process.
National Security Minister Wayne Munroe has said the Royal Bahamas Defence Force will assist police on Monday to ensure a peaceful voting process and will be instructed to maintain order if any group attempts to disrupt proceedings.
JUNKANOO GROUPS PREPARED TO BRING THEIR ‘A’ GAME DESPITE CHALLENGES LEADING UP TO PARADES
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
DESPITE challenges leading up to the season, Junkanoo groups say they are ready to deliver a dazzling performance for the upcoming Boxing Day and New Year’s Day parades.
John Williams, frontline chairman of the World Famous Valley Boys, said the group always intended to participate in the national parades. When asked whether they received government seed funding, he said he was unsure.
Last year, we didn't receive the seed funding, and we placed third,” Mr Williams said yesterday. “Our focus is not on the seed funding. Our focus is on getting our costumes done, getting our music ready, getting our dance prepared, and getting ready for Bay Street. If we get the seed funding, that's a plus we're going with it. But we've been without it and we’ll do it again.”
Roots public relations director Kyle Stubbs said the group has long been viewed as the “underdogs” of the season. He added that although they do not engage in trash talk or “noise in the market”, they should not be underestimated.
When asked what the public can expect, Mr Stubbs said the world is celebrating something “special” and the Roots plan to join in. He declined to provide more details since he did not want to spoil the surprise. He said fans should expect a strong performance.
Many Junkanoo fans have been eagerly awaiting the season, especially after uncertainty about whether major groups would participate in the government run parades.
Tanya Sampson, secretary of Genesis, said her group is “bringing their A game” and keeping
their themes tightly under wraps. She said being a relatively new group means they must work harder than others.
“We cannot be distracted by anything that's going on in the day to day. So we are staying focused, like I say, the work is ongoing,” she said.
Preparations are also underway for B groups.
Chris Justilien, leader of Colours Entertainment, described the process as up and down but said his group remains focused on delivering a strong performance despite recent controversies within the Junkanoo community.
“We're going to bring two Bahamian themes,” he said of their parade entries.
“We always deal with things that are happening locally in our communities, and even if they are controversial, they are nonetheless Bahamian.”
Earlier this month, during a press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister, the National Junkanoo Committee confirmed that the Shell Saxon Superstars, Valley Boys, Roots, One Family, Genesis, and Music Makers will all compete.
The announcement followed a tense standoff between the government and the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence, the traditional manager of the parades. The dispute raised questions about the organisation’s role and whether major groups, often called the “big boys”, would participate in the national festival.
The dispute began after the government transferred oversight of the parades to the National Junkanoo Committee and ordered an audit of the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence. The move prompted complaints about consultation, transparency, and funding. The JCNP privately suggested that major groups might sit out this season’s events.
Mr Williams, who also serves as the JCNP’s public relations officer, acknowledged yesterday the government’s position that the parades will be managed by the NJC. He stressed that the JCNP still exists and its groups will be on Bay Street.
In October, the JCNP said the government’s decision to remove it as manager would cost nearly $1m in losses and damages. It estimated losses of about $747,000, including $355,000 in unpaid sponsorship fees from ALIV, $335,000 from Commonwealth Brewery, and $57,000 invested in upgrading its scoring system. The JCNP said the changes nullify contracts and undermine years of collaboration.
Mr Williams said he could not speak to the organisation’s finances, when asked.
He added that the World Famous Valley Boys stand on the legacy of the late Winston “Gus” Cooper, who founded the group in 1958 and became an iconic Junkanoo figure. The Cooper family recently distanced itself from the Way Forward faction of the Valley Boys and stated that only the World Famous faction, led by Brian Adderley, would host this year’s birthday celebrations in Mr Cooper’s honour. When asked about the family’s comments, Mr Williams said the group was honoured to celebrate Mr Cooper last Sunday alongside his relatives and supported the family’s stance.
“We're not trying to continue all of the issues that we're having, but we were pleased to see that they stood along our side. It goes to show where the roots of this group is and what we are based on. As I said earlier, we stand on the shoulders of Mr Cooper.”
CAMPBELL from page one
GOLDEN ISLES RETURNING OFFICER NEIL CAMPBELL
PRIME MINISTER PHILIP ‘BRAVE’ DAVIS
PM refuses apology, says food programme still under police probe
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis says the Minnis administration’s National Food Distribution Task Force remains under police investigation and has refused to apologise to non-governmental organisations, despite an Auditor General’s report finding no misuse of public funds.
Mr Davis told reporters yesterday that the Auditor General’s review was not, in his view, “an audit of the propriety of the distribution of those funds”.
“I will respond at the appropriate time,” he said.
“The matter is still under police investigation and I'll await that. I don't want to say anything that will compromise that.”
The Tribune asked Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles whether the investigation is still active, but received no response up to press time.
Former Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said he intends to address the matter in the House of Assembly.
Task force chair Susan Larson said last month that the government’s
accusations caused lasting damage to volunteers and charities that gave their time and resources in good faith.
She also condemned what she called her “wrongful arrest,” recalling how four plainclothes officers came to her home claiming to be from a special investigative unit and told her she was being arrested for fraud without showing identification.
Early in his term, Mr Davis accused NGOs involved in the COVID19 food programme of holding substantial cash, claiming that one had nearly $2m in its bank account. He also claimed there was extremely poor record-keeping and said it was clear the initiative was not solely aimed at addressing food insecurity.
However, the Auditor General’s report tabled last month found no evidence of wrongdoing in the COVID-19 food programme, despite the prime minister previously alleging that a non-profit went on a “spending spree” with public funds. The second audit report to clear programme officials, it praised the programme’s workers for their “tireless” efforts.
Vote Pickstock to continue progress in Golden Isles, says Davis
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis appealed to Golden Isles voters last night to return the seat to his party with a vote for Darron Pickstock, warning that a choice for the Free National Movement would halt progress and stall change. Speaking at the Progressive Liberal Party’s rally last night, Mr Davis hit familiar themes during his speech, portraying Mr Pickstock as a hard worker who can deliver what
Golden Isles needs, while casting the PLP as a party of progress and transformative change. Still, he acknowledged that the party is far from perfect, telling supporters he knew that progress has not reached everyone and that much more remains to be done.
“I know the challenges are still real. I know the pace of change can feel slow. I know that people deserve more. A s a government, as a party and as a nation, we must do more. We must take the progress we started and carry it deeper into every
home and in every neighborhood, and with the strength of the Bahamian people, I believe we’ll get there together.”
Mr Davis admitted that recent work in Golden Isles was long overdue and only received attention because of the by-election, but added that, nonetheless, it was “attention you’re getting.”
“All of this can be lost. All of this can be lost because there are people who will stop everything in motion simply because their name is not on it,” he said, referring to the opposition.
GOVT SCRAPS DEGREE REQUIREMENT UNLOCKING PROMOTIONS
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
THE government has scrapped the degree requirement that once blocked promotions inside the Bahamas Department of Corrections, a change National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said has helped unlocked more than 400 promotions so far — with another 400 expected.
Mr Munroe said the former academic rule, unique among the law enforcement agencies, created a years-long backlog and left key ranks underfilled, despite officers serving for decades.
“This is the only force that you require degrees to be promoted,” he said yesterday at the BDOCS Long Service and Good Conduct Awards Ceremony at Government House. “It is
not required as a Defence Force or the Police Force.”
“You can have 15 years’ experience as a correctional corporal, knowing how to supervise persons and all of that, but unless you got that piece of paper that could have been an associate’s degree at looking at the sun, you could not be promoted.”
He said corrections had more than 1,000 personnel when the reforms began and that many officers had been stalled for years because they lacked academic credentials. The result, he said, was a hollowed-out supervisory tier.
“When I came, they must have had like three or four sergeants only, where they should have had like 60 or 70,” he said.
He said the government removed the degree requirement and introduced a new career path
that recognises qualifications and experience. He said the revised framework now allows officers without degrees to rise based on service time and performance at their previous rank.
“We have career paths now where if you have the piece of paper, yes you can be promoted, but if you do not have the piece of paper, experience and the rank will qualify you,” he said.
The more than 400 promotions issued after the change included elevations across all ranks and the confirmation of trainees to full correctional officer status,” he added.
Mr Munroe said promotion exercises continue across all agencies under the Ministry of National Security, with evaluations underway in the remaining organisations.
He said a vote for Mr Pickstock would mean a vote for progress, strength, and unity, rather than chaos and division.
Mr Pickstock, meanwhile, appealed to voters to support him not because of his backers, but because of his record and results.
“The FNM’s candidate has told you that his plan is that he lives here,” he said. “That is all. That is what he is offering you. His residency and his address. Is that the standard?”
Mr Pickstock continued: “That is not a plan, Golden Isles. That is not what representation is about. That is not what leadership is about.”
He reiterated his tenpoint plan for Golden Isles, centred on road repairs and community
upgrades, adding that the real work will begin after he wins.
He also promised consistent visibility and a strong presence, admitting that past MPs have too often left the community feeling unseen.
“You will see me working, Golden Isles and working hard for you, standing in your communities, helping you solve real problems in real time.
I want you to hold me, Golden Isles, to that.”
The night also featured fiery political messages, with party MPs drawing sharp contrasts between Mr Pickstock and the FNM’s candidate, Brian Brown.
They criticised Mr Brown as a man with little to show, while describing
Mr Pickstock as a man of action, often using puns on his name to emphasise their point, referring to him as “the pick of the stock.”
Sebas Bastian, the PLP’s candidate for Fort Charlotte, was pointed in his remarks, directing a specific message at Mr Brown, saying: “Your residency is not your resume.”
Economic Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis, a former MP for the area, fully endorsed Mr Pickstock, urging supporters to rally behind him.
Party veterans also delivered sharp criticism for the FNM, painting the party as desperate, its leader as unserious, accusing him of fabricating stories while dubbing them “red and scared.”
Evener Estelhomme, 57
of Moore’s Lane, New Providence, Bahamas will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, 22nd November, 2025 at Metropolitan Church of the Nazarene, East Street, New Providence. Officiating will be Pastor Robert Saintibert assisted by other ministers of the gospel. Interment will follow in the Southern Cemetery, Cowpen and Spikenard Roads, New Providence.
Left to cherish his fond memories are his daughters: Elaine Estelhomme, Natalie Estelhomme and Emily Estelhomme; siblings: Johnny Estelhomme, Emmanuel Monestime, Leonel Monestime, Sonny Poliard, Leon Poliard, Rolex Monestime, Girmadette Monestime, Guelita Monestime, Marc Monestime, Mella Joseph, Wilson Estelhomme, Micalo Estelhomme, Wilfred Estelhomme, Lesa Estelhomme; nephew and niece: Gina Poliard, Marc Monestime; and a host of other reletives and friends including: Idalia Telus, Delarise Simms and family, the management and staff of Liesure Tours, The Moore’s Lane Community. The family sincerely apologizes for any names missed spelled or invertedly omitted.
Viewing will be held in the Legacy Suite of Vaughn O. Jones Memorial Center, Mt. Royal Avenue and Talbot Street, New Providence and Talbot Street on Friday, November 21st, 2025 from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until service time.
PLP CANDIDATE for Golden Isles Darron Pickstock stands on stage with Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis and his wife Ann Marie Davis during a rally last night ahead of the the upcoming by-election.
Photo: Marvin Thompson/OPM
PRIME MINISTER PHILIP ‘BRAVE’ DAVIS
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Politicians should put up or shut up
OUR leaders really ought to know better when it comes to making allegations without substantiating them.
Both the FNM and the PLP leaders have made allegations in recent times without backing them up with anything close to evidence.
Indeed, the PLP has been outraged by the claims made by FNM leader Michael Pintard about a supposed bag of passports being found on board a Bahamasair flight.
And yet, that outrage is nowhere to be seen when Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis continues to suggest impropriety in the National Food Distribution Task Force, saying a police investigation is under way and shrugging off an Auditor General report that showed no misuse of public funds. It is a long time since Mr Davis first made those allegations. He claimed non-governmental allegations had been holding on to large amounts of cash. He talked of “startling findings” and “major deficiencies” without offering specifics.
The Auditor General picked out some areas which could have been done better – but found no evidence of wrongdoing, despite the Prime Minister claiming a non-profit had gone on a “spending spree” with public funds.
That was not even the first audit to clear officials – a previous one had done the same. Indeed, the Auditor General’s report praised the “tireless” efforts of workers.
The leader of the task force, Susan Larson, said the accusations caused lasting harm – especially to those who made those tireless efforts. For her own part, she said she would have to think long and hard about working with government again.
And yet, Mr Davis says the police are still investigating. Of the Auditor General’s report, he said it was not “an audit of the propriety of the distribution of those funds”.
He would not speak further, citing an ongoing police investigation. Somehow, then, we are to believe that not one, but two audits have completely missed matters of criminality that justify police involvement. And
the person making the allegations will not offer any hint towards what the problem might be.
Meanwhile, over at the FNM, leader Michael Pintard has been making accusations that Bahamasair has been used to transport money and passports. At a rally, he said there had been a probe into “bags of passports” that ended up with people being fired. The PLP say no such thing has happened. Mr Pintard claims he cannot say what credible information he has because if he was to reveal it, he would reveal his sources.
Yesterday, Mr Munroe denied that there was either a bag of passports or an active investigation.
Another story in today’s Tribune talks of a former Bahamasair flight attendant being fired over $106,000 allegedly seized by authorities in Haiti – but as Mr Munroe rightly points out, “a bag of passports is a lot different than a bag of cash”.
So instead, with both leaders, we apparently just have to trust them that bad things were happening. Heaven forbid we ask for proof. Heaven forbid we believe the evidence that has already been presented in the form of two audits. Heaven forbid we act like reasonable people and not simply trust every allegation that is made. Are these allegations going to linger on into the election cycle? Are voters expected to believe these claims as they go to the ballot box, even if it has not been backed up by facts? Bear in mind, these claims are not just political knockabout – they directly affect people. There are people at the heart of these claims. Bahamasair staff. Charity workers. Helpers. Volunteers. They deserve better than to be caught up in a round of finger-pointing.
To both sets of political leaders, it is time to put up or shut up. If you have the evidence, bring it. But don’t ask people to believe things for which you are not willing to provide proof. If wrongdoing really has been done, back up your claims, then we can talk about the actual evidence and what needs to be done. The rest is just noise.
Double standards have made God’s house a den of thieves
EDITOR, The Tribune.
Good morning men of the cloth.
I noted that the President of The Bahamas Christian Council was creased right up with the politicians the other day up in Washington, DC, no doubt, at taxpayers’ expense, during the opening of the refurbished Bahamian Consulate.
This was shortly after the good Bishop and, I assume the Council, issued a public statement that they/it did Not wish to get into what might be a Spat between the government and money, like from gambling and gaming, being involved in politics…
The mingling of church and state is one thing But what is being done to hold politicians accountable and transparent? Is the current ‘leadership’ of the so called Council impartial; up to date and possess compassion and hearts for the unwashed masses?
Where are the half way houses for ex offenders? Where are the shelters for battered and abused women and children? What is the stance of
The Bahamas Christian Council(what a bogus and patently Fake title) on Ganja? What about the Baptism of infants born out of wedlock and, possibly, illicit relationships? Of course the infant is Not responsible But God, I submit, without being holier than anyone else, is Not mocked!!
I also am of the opine that you, Bishop Delton, may be wearing Too Many Caps to the detriment of the body of Christ. Where is your ultimate loyalty and What is the Real Mandate of The Bahamas Christian Council. Only Baptist and Pentecostals seem to be in leadership roles or even retail participation! Why? We so called ‘Christians’ are faking and have been doing so for eons. Most want a seat at the head table; many covet social and human based recognitions and awards many more, to my direct knowledge, have prostituted themselves(long time in many cases, especially back in 2014 during the great debate on legalizing gaming... I personally saw/bucked up to at least Three (3)
PICTURE OF THE DAY
Beyond incrementalism: The need for creative destruction
EDITOR, The Tribune.
AT every table in the Bahamas, whether in business or at home, we should discuss the question: Why must the Bahamas ‘Break and Rebuild” its economic model?
Our current economic development model is stagnant, dysfunctional, unfocused, and outdated. It is off track and in need of significant improvement. The Bahamas is trapped in a cycle of dramatic speeches, superficial projects, and a gradual decline in real opportunities.
We are not failing because Bahamians lack talent; we are failing because our systems are designed to preserve the past rather than build the future. To break this cycle of stagnant national development and declining economic growth, we must embrace “Creative Destruction.” This concept involves deliberately and thoughtfully disrupting ineffective practices so that better models can take their place.
very prominent Baptist ministers collecting The Bag at Sandy Port from the late Bagman for the Gaming Industry, Philip Galanis...by the way, I also received a substantial bag, and it was not filled with peanuts. One of them is now ‘retired’ after a massive sexual scandal while the other is now, like myself, ‘rehabilitated’
The double standards in the collective church is mind boggling in the extreme while the Kingdom of God is a myth to most sensible Bahamians. Big edifices...Not a single shelter or half way house sponsored and financed by The Bahamas Christian Council. Not a single sanctuary with a realistic Savin’s & Asset Building Plan to economically Empower congregants while The Lord continues to tarry!! Many of you have made Our Father’s House a literal Den of thieves. Have a wonderful week and Stay Blessed.
ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, November 17, 2025.
For approximately 25 years, we have been governed by incrementalism. Committees, commissions, and pilot projects make small improvements, but the core systems of our economy, such as land and housing, energy, tourism, education, finance, immigration, and governance, remain largely unchanged. The future does not reward this approach; rather, as I have previously expressed, it punishes incrementalism.
Creative Destruction requires us to accept a hard truth: some structures and business models must come to an end for more inclusive and productive ones to emerge. This means transitioning from closed, insider-driven systems to open, competitive ones. We need to create new markets in housing, tourism, fintech, data, and energy, where Bahamians are not just employees and spectators but also owners, investors, and builders.
To achieve meaningful change, we need a new legislative leadership team, not just fresh personalities or catchy slogans.
This team should be capable of gathering a skilled group of legal,
technical, financial, and policy experts to create a comprehensive approach to “Reform: legislation, policies, programmes, processes, procedures, and protocols” that facilitates innovation while managing risks. We must focus on developing a cohesive framework that simplifies the building process, embracing new solutions rather than attempting to sustain outdated systems.
Additionally, this team must avoid hindering Bahamians who are eager to enter markets that are ready for disruption. Too often, regulations have been used to protect established businesses instead of serving the public interest. Licensing, approvals, and bureaucratic red tape are frequently employed to slow down new local entrants, while foreign or well-connected interests are quietly favored. This mindset is incompatible with any serious discussion about transformation.
We need a governance team that is capable of harnessing the collective intelligence of Bahamians both at home and in the diaspora. In today’s 21st-century world of digital platforms, data, and real-time collaboration, there is no reason to govern as if we are a small, isolated nation with limited intellectual resources. The tools are already available to engage thousands of Bahamian minds in problem-solving and design. Any leader who does not actively build and utilise these networks is choosing to govern without clear insight.
Disruption without access to Capital is merely a fantasy. If we are serious about fostering meaningful change, we must create pathways to unlock local, regional, and global capital for Bahamian-led projects. This includes modernising capital markets, leveraging crowd-based and community finance, establishing blended public–private funds, tokenising assets, and utilising other 21st-century
instruments that provide ordinary Bahamians with a genuine stake in the benefits of change.
This highlights the necessity for a Stronger Leadership Standard.
We need to closely examine each party leader who wants to be Prime Minister. If they have had the chance to build a skilled team and set up modern systems but have not done so, whether because they refused, failed, or never tried, we cannot spend another five years making excuses and seeing no action. In today’s fast-changing global economy, leaders who cannot create strong teams or efficient systems will struggle to meet the needs of the modern world. Any leader who has shown they can’t empower a capable team is not ready to handle the challenges ahead. This standard is even more important today, when leaders have access to powerful tools like digital platforms, data analytics, artificial intelligence, online collaboration, and modern financing. Anyone seeking to lead the Bahamas must be able to use these tools to build real systems, not just deliver speeches. We also cannot support anyone as a leader whose vision fails under financial scrutiny. The future demands verifiable systems, sound economic models, and leadership that can build effectively, not just promises that would fade after Election Day.
We cannot afford another decade of small actions and large excuses. We must either embrace Creative Destruction on our own terms or risk having external forces impose it on us. The decision is clear: we can either protect outdated structures and our own comfort or prioritise the future of our children. It is time to select and support a leader who will dismantle what holds us back and create a vision that will propel us forward. We must Disrupt and Build Back Better, Stronger Together. EDEN
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
A CARIBBEAN reef shark and a grouper cross paths
Photo: Michael Bogner
BID TO APPEAL MURDER CONVICTION DISMISSED BY COURT OF APPEAL
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
THE Court of Appeal has dismissed Craig Johnson’s latest bid to overturn his murder conviction for the 2013 killing of American sailor Kyle Bruner but advised him that the Privy Council may be the only remaining avenue to test his argument.
Justices of Appeal
Milton Evans, Sir Ian Winder and Gregory Smith on Tuesday rejected Johnson’s attempt to reopen his appeal, which relied on the 2012 case of David Collins. Johnson argued that because his two co-accused were eventually acquitted, he too should be cleared.
Johnson’s co-accused had their murder convictions set aside on findings that they were unaware the gunman intended to kill or even had a weapon. The panel ruled that the Collins precedent does not align with Johnson’s circumstances and said there was no injustice that would warrant reopening his case.
However, while dismissing the application, the Court of Appeal told Johnson he may still apply to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council for special leave. The judges described the point he raised as one that could benefit from determination by the apex court. Johnson, along with Anton Bastian and Marcellus Williams, was convicted in 2015 of murdering Bruner and of two counts of armed robbery. He was sentenced to 45 years for murder and 12 years on each robbery count. His co-accused originally received 40-year sentences for murder.
Prosecutors said Johnson shot and killed Bruner on 13 May 2013 as the sailor tried to help two women being robbed at gunpoint. Johnson robbed one woman of a green handbag valued at $30 and an iPhone valued at $900. He robbed another person of a black handbag valued at $20, a black iPhone valued at $300 and $30 cash.
In 2024, the Privy Council quashed Bastian’s
convictions and directed the Court of Appeal to consider a manslaughter retrial. The Crown chose not to proceed because of the passage of time and difficulties securing witnesses, and Bastian was resentenced to just over eight years for robbery.
The court also quashed Williams’ convictions for murder and armed robbery and substituted convictions for robbery on both counts. After credit for time on remand dating back to May 2013, he was sentenced to 11 years, 11 months and 20 days on each count, to run concurrently.
After the trio were convicted of Bruner’s murder, they were spared the death penalty when Justice Indra Charles imposed lengthy prison terms instead. The Crown later sought to challenge that decision. In 2016, the Court of Appeal allowed the Crown to proceed, finding no prejudice to the men, who were also appealing their convictions and sentences at the time.
Geoffrey Farquharson represented Johnson, while Jacklyn Burrows appeared for the Crown.
Judge denies bail to murder accused ‘Freddy’ Reckley
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor
A SUPREME Court judge has refused bail to murder accused Dominique “Freddy” Reckley, ruling that the evidence against him is strong, the charge is serious, and there is a real risk he may not return to court if released.
Justice Jeannine WeechGomez delivered the ruling on November 19, denying the October 28 application filed by Reckley, who is charged with murder under section 291(1)(b) of the Penal Code. He represented himself during the bail hearing on 11 November. Reckley told the court he had been held on remand for one year and four months and wanted bail so he could see his family and hire a lawyer. He said he was not gang-involved and simply wanted an opportunity to prepare his defence.
However, prosecutors opposed the application, relying on an affidavit from Attorney Betty Wilson of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The affidavit outlined the Crown’s case, which alleges that Reckley fatally stabbed 20-year-old Thyrique Nathan Francis during a confrontation in Sunshine Park around 10pm on 18 June 2024.
According to the affidavit, the two men were familiar with each other and initially got into a verbal dispute. Francis allegedly followed Reckley home after the exchange but returned to Sunshine Park moments later. Prosecutors say Reckley and another man then returned to the park, where a physical fight ensued and Francis was stabbed multiple times. A statement given by Francis before his death was
exhibited as part of the Crown’s evidence, along with his death certificate.
Wilson’s affidavit also said that an eyewitness, Clifford Miller, reported being present during both the verbal and physical confrontation and positively identified the person he knew as “Freddy” as the one involved in the altercation with the deceased.
The Crown also relied on a recorded interview conducted with Reckley on July 22, 2024, in which, according to the affidavit, he admitted to producing a knife that was used to stab the victim. The interview was submitted as an exhibit.
Prosecutors argued that the evidence was strong and cogent, that the offence was grave, and that Reckley should remain detained for public safety. They also noted that a warrant of arrest remained outstanding for Reckley relating to a separate dangerous drugs matter, which they said supported the risk that he might abscond if released.
In considering the application, Justice Weech-Gomez emphasised that Reckley is presumed innocent under Article 20(2)(a) of the Constitution. The judge also cited Article 19, which protects personal liberty but allows detention on reasonable suspicion of having committed an offence, and section 4(2) of the Bail Act, which restricts bail for serious offences such as murder unless the accused has not been tried within a reasonable time, is unlikely to be tried within a reasonable time, or should otherwise be granted bail after considering all relevant factors.
While noting that no evidence was presented suggesting Reckley would deliberately fail to appear
Principal claims man suddenly attacked her after she retrieved report card
ATTACK from page one
arrived at the campus, between 9.28am and 9.30am, on the last day of school. After opening the gate, parking, and placing her phone and keys on her desk in a classroom, she said Farrington appeared at the door.
“He appeared at the door and said good morning and asked for the report card of a student,” she testified. She said he appeared normal. After retrieving the card from the cabinet and examining it, she said Farrington suddenly attacked her.
“The first blow was dizzying, disorienting. It was loud. He was hitting me in the back of the head,” she said. “He gripped my shoulders and started hitting me about my head.”
She said she screamed repeatedly while Farrington remained silent.
“I’m not talking about a just hit. I’m talking about it was full force, like a hacking sound.”
She tried to flee into the adjoining classroom, but Farrington pulled her back and continued the assault. She eventually reached the door and ran outside, but he followed.
“So I’m screaming to
for trial, the judge said the potential penalty for murder raises a real possibility that he may not return to court. She observed that the seriousness of the charge and the strength of the evidence are long-established considerations in bail decisions.
Justice Weech-Gomez referenced Court of Appeal authority confirming that judges should not conduct a mini-trial when hearing a bail application but must determine whether the prosecution’s case appears plausible on its face and whether a prima facie case exists.
After reviewing the witness statements, the deceased’s account, the identification evidence, and the recorded interview, the judge found that the prosecution’s case met that threshold. She said the material before the court shows that Reckley was identified by both the deceased and a witness, and that he admitted in an interview to having a knife and using it to stab the deceased.
She said the incident appeared to be a targeted attack stemming from an earlier confrontation and that the presence of a weapon heightened concerns for public safety. The judge concluded that the evidence amounted to a strong prima facie case and that Reckley posed a danger to public order.
Justice Weech-Gomez said a previous 2022 conviction for possession of dangerous drugs did not factor into her assessment. However, she did consider the outstanding warrant in another drugs case, finding it indicated he may be a flight risk.
The judge concluded there was nothing unjust or unfair about Reckley’s current detention and agreed with prosecutors that he was not a fit candidate for release at this time.
MAN AND WOMAN ACCUSED OF STEALING OVER $50K FROM A LAND COMMITTEE WERE BOTH GRANTED BAIL
By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune
Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN and woman were granted bail yesterday after being accused of stealing more than $50,000 from the Tarpum Bay Commonage Land Committee over a four-year period.
Prosecutors allege that 42-year-old Shakera Carey-Gardiner stole $48,165 from the Eleuthera committee between 15 October 2019 and 18 August 2023.
Her co-accused, 42-year-old Tyson Morley, is accused of stealing $2,210 from the committee between September 8, 2023 and November 18, 2023. Carey-Gardiner pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of stealing, while Morley pleaded not guilty to two counts before Senior Magistrate Kendra Kelly-Burrows. Morley was granted $25,000 bail. Carey-Gardiner was granted $9,900
bail. Under their bail conditions, Morley must sign in at the Rock Sound Police Station on the first Monday of every month. Carey-Gardiner must report to the East Street South Police Station every Friday by 6pm. Both are scheduled to return to court for trial on March 23, 2026. Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom prosecuted the matter. Tai Pinder-Mackey represented the accused.
the top of my lungs on the outside,” she said. She collapsed while running toward the student gate.
On the ground and screaming for help, she said Farrington stood over her and continued striking her head.
“I decided to stay still and not move so he could stop. And I called out ‘Jehovah’ four times.”
“I felt like I was going to die,” she said, pausing to regain her composure.
After seeing Farrington’s legs running away, she said she remained motionless for two minutes before running east in the direction of the police station, government dock and ferry service.
A janitress, Ms Laing, helped her and arranged for ferry operators to take her to the High Rock Community Clinic. A nurse determined her injuries were too severe, and she was transported by ambulance to Rand Memorial Hospital.
Asked by ASP Rolle if she saw her attacker in court, she pointed to Farrington, seated on the front bench, wearing a black multi-colour shirt and locks.
When asked if she saw anything in his hand during the assault, she said she did not recall seeing anything.
Mrs Butler-Cornish confirmed she knew Farrington from a decade earlier, when she lived in Freetown while serving as principal at the Freetown Pre-School.
She said she once helped him find odd jobs but later barred him from the preschool grounds after learning he wore an ankle monitor.
Representing himself, Farrington asked only two questions: “I was standing at the door, did you tell me to come inside?”
Mrs Butler-Cornish replied: “Yes.”
“Did I lock the door?” he asked. She answered that the door “was closed and locked,” but Farrington said, “I never locked the door.”
He asked no further questions.
The trial was adjourned to December 19 for continuation.
She said she received “countless stitches”, was referred to a neurologist and psychiatrist, and was diagnosed with Post-Concussion Syndrome and PTSD. At times she paused, visibly shaken. “Right now, the room is spinning,” she said, adding that she is no longer able to communicate as effectively as she once did.
Cazalet Shoal: A mystery name, but very real treasure
HOW MANY ofus have heard of the Amelia Cazalet Shoal nearDuncan Town Ragged Island?
It is 33 nautical miles from Cochinos Banksand 60 from Mucaras Reef.But whence it s name, which originates in Francein the1500s andthe UK in the 1700s?
In1847 theBostonDaily Advertiser statesthat
“….Cazalet s1stCordage or ship’s ropes are for sale at Ames Ingersoll &Co. on Central Wharf.An Irish woman named Marianne Amelia Cazalet was born in 1820andlived for27years, being buried in Wicklow Church. JamesCazalet, possibly herfather, lived from 1782 to 1855.
Still,we don’t know how thereefgotit’sname,whether fromapersonorashipnamed after a person.
In the springof 2008, a team under permitby the Antiquities,MonumentsandMuseums Commission(AMMC) conducted anarchaeological reconnaissance of three cays in the chain of small islands known as the Jumentos Cays or RaggedIsland Range.” Their goalswere tofind a Spanish shipwrecksurvivors’ campsite from about 1550 based onleads foundin
archivesof theArchivoGeneral de Indiasof Seville. On their visit, theyalso located evidencethat Lucayansvisited, with six or seven small andephemeral siteswere identified.” As for a Spanish shipwreck,that isquite atale, whichgoes likethis: “In1554,twosurvivorsofa shipwreck;a blackslave woman and a young Spanish deckboy,reachednorthCuba, unable toidentify where they hadbeen stranded,but told Spanish authoritiesan intriguing tale. Having drifted onacrude [raft] .they arrivedona smallsandyisland that was part of [the Bahamas].Totheirgreatsurprise theydiscovered twomakeshift enclosuresmade of [coral] stones on top of a sand bluff. These contained two separate treasures in the form of silver bars,gold in various forms (ingots,jewelry), silver coins ingreat quantityand precious stones. There was alsonoone elseontheisland. .officersin Cubawereunableto identify the small sandyisland [and]thestory was eventually forgotten. Let us lookcloser at what these shipwrecksurvivors found after a week of hopping from cay to cay southwards towards Cuba.According to
another account, there were three fishermen not a slave woman, as reportedby Hernándo del Castilloto the Crownon 29December 1597, his[male] companion was Andrés de Samaniega. Del Castillo said “they landed on an island that was much longer with a rather high bluff andmuch morevegetation thanthe previousisletsthey hadvisited. .the last stop before their long crossing to Cuba. Havingreached shore and climbed above the high bluff, theynoticed inthe distance a curiousformation that appearedto beman-made. theyrealizeditwasasortof enclosure madeof cutblocks of coral andballast stones. Upon entering,they founda large numberof silverbars neatlystacked,and ontopof thestackswereweatheredand worn burlap bags from which silvercoins, jewelry,small goldingots – some elongated,
someintheshape ofadisk –large gold chainsand other gold artifacts were spilling out.”
Understandably, the temptation was great for the threefishermen, andthey began looting precious objects, butdecided totake only afewitemssoasnottoarouse suspicion. They then stayed there threedays, then “…they discovered numerous objects visible beneath the water s surface and realized they had found several shipwrecks. Therewas artilleryclearly visible fromthe surface.” Then they boarded their launchandrowed west,and in36hours sawtheCuban highlands. Inlanding on Cayo Romano, “oneof the three fishermen, drowned. During the accident,all but a fewitems werelost. Onlya large goldchain anda few coins survived. de Samaniega lost everything.” They then walked to Havana. Another historiantells the storyof theoriginaltreasure ships thus: “The original wreck survivorsreportedly got offthe groundedships,
unloaded thevessels ofall their cargoes, including precious and utilitarian items, and partially dismantled the wrecked ships to build a vessel of fortune.This could have only been possible if the shipshadnotencounteredany majorbarrier reef.” A cartographic study bythe Caribbean Geography Society, citing Paretand deBry 2006 suggest that Water Cay is the best candidate.” Located in the Jumentos, or Raggeds, WaterCay is a longand narrowislet solidlyanchored on a limestone platform, so called for itsbrackish spring. Instarkcontrast toallthe rocky islands ofthis region, mostofWater Cayissandy and powder-soft.Twelvemeter bluffs runthe island's length. Having sailedpastit, Iattestthatthisisdesolateand stunning. The accountsare supported bytheRoyalSpanishCourtas well as theTreasury, who recordthat “some40 yearsago twogalleons loadedwith silver werewrecked upona small island inthe Old Bahama Canal while trying to evadea violentstorm [inor near Cayo Santo Domingo], the survivorshaving set foot on the said island, had savedthe silverand placedit inside a corralthey had made ofstones.Thiscorralwassplit inthemiddlebyanothersmall wall of stones inorder to separatethecargoesfromthetwo wrecked ships. .they built a
small ship made of parts, and thatwiththis shipoffortune they had attempted to reach Cuba, were wrecked on CayoRomano,whereallwere drownedwiththeexceptionof a sailor and a black female slave;” Andrésde Samaniega seems tohave forgivenbeing describedinthat way,orshe as him.The islandbeing miniscule, they concluded, noonehasbeenabletofindit. The treasurewas saidto be 50,000ducats,withtwothirds offered to the finder, valid for eight years fromJuly 6, 1592, as signed byThe King, Juan de Ibarra. Thesewere ofcoursenot theonly wrecksin theregion. InJulyof1885theMaineship San Cheta struck Pears Reef (not Piers Cay near Harbour Island), and 11 years later the TapiaTaponhitMucarasReef in June.The eightcrew from theAmerican barquesailed 160 miles toNassau under Captain H.R. Coombs.They had been bound from New England to NewOrleans in theirship whichwas builtin Salemin1870of600tons.No doubt the cargo of jetty stones are still at Mucaras, east of Cay Lobos and Labandaras. Though notwell knownto mostof us,these smalland widespread islands have rich histories toshare, andfor many marinersin daysof yore, they hid evidence of tragictales aswell.on Southern Reefs: Amelia Cazalet,& MagallanesBank.
Ancient canoe "parking lot" discovered
By TODD RICHMOND Associated Press
MADISON,Wis. (AP) Archaeologists have identified more than a dozen ancient canoesthat Indigenouspeople apparently leftbehind ina sortof prehistoric parking lot along a Wisconsin lakeshore.
The Wisconsin HistoricalSociety announced Wednesdaythat archaeologists have mappedthe location of16 canoes submerged inthe lake bed ofLake Mendota in Madison. Tamara Thomsen, the state's maritime archaeologist, said that the sitelies nearanetworkof whatwereonce indigenous trails,suggesting ancient peopleleftthecanoes thereforanyoneto useas theytraveled,muchlike amodernday e-bike rack.
"It'sa parkingspot that'sbeen usedfor millennia, over and over," Thomsen said.
LakeMendotaisasprawling,15-squaremile (38.8-square-kilometer)body of water onMadison's west side.The state CapitolbuildingandtheUniversityofWisconsin-Madison are locatedon an isthmus thatrunsbetweenitandLakeMonona,a5square-mile (13-square-kilometer) lake to the east. The discoveriesbegan in2021 whenarchaeologists uncoveredthe remainsof a
1,200-year-oldcanoesubmerged in24feet of water in Lake Mendota. The following year they found the remains of a 3,000year-oldcanoe, a4,500-year-oldcanoe under it and a 2,000-year-old canoe next to it,alerting researchersthatthere wasprobably more to the site than they expected. Working withSissel Schroeder,a UWMadison professor who specializes in Native American cultures,and preservation officers withthe Ho-Chunk Nation and the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa,Thomsenhas nowlocatedthe remains of 12 additional canoes, he said. Radiocarbon dating showsthe oldest of the16 canoesdatesbackto 5,200years ago, makingit the third oldestcanoe discovered ineastern NorthAmerica, she said.ThetwooldestwerefoundinFlorida, with the oldest ofthem dating back 7,000 years, Thomsen said. Wisconsinexperienced adroughtbeginning about 7,500yearsagoand lastingto around 1000 B.C., Thomsen said. The lake intheareawhere thecanoeswerefound wasprobably only4 feet(1.2 meters)deep overthatperiod,shesaid,makingitagood placeto disembarkfor foottravel. Thecanoes likely were shared among community members and stored at designated points like the Lake Mendota site.
1530 printed map showing Xumento (Jumentos) Cays Bahamas, by Spanish mapmakers
Five things The Bahamas did first
ON November 12, a relatively small mint in Philadelphia produced the last penny that would be made in the United States. It brought an end to the production of the once popular coin that had been filling pockets and piggy banks since 1793 but had become increasingly irrelevant. The piece of bubble gum or candy it once bought now cost a lot more and in fact, it cost a lot more to make a penny than a penny was worth, four cents apiece, according to US Treasury officials.
It took a little while for the penny to drop in the US
The Bahamas not only stopped making pennies –we stopped taking them in as currency nearly five years earlier in 2020, citing the same reasons. The cost of production was higher than the value of the coin, and let’s face it, it would take nearly 300 of them to buy a cup of coffee that once took only 10.
That got me to thinking: What else has The Bahamas led the way with? I was surprised by the list. It’s pretty impressive -- banning the plastic straw, banning single-use plastics, protecting sharks, naming the world’s first marine park, developing a government-backed digital currency, creation of a regulatory framework around cryptocurrency (well, maybe that didn’t work out quite as regulatory as we wanted, but we learnt). For all of our infrastructure foibles -- and there are many and consistently apparent -- we can be a pretty progressive country when our people and our leaders interact and ideas that make sense are born and presented with purpose. Something else occurred to me. With the exception of the applaudable Central Bank innovations, each of those ideas popped out of the private sector. Whether it was the serious ecominded who fought for the ban on single-use plastics or the eager in financial services who saw the potential of crypto and hoped to secure The Bahamas’ place in the market minus the volatility, the ideas that thrust The Bahamas ahead of others were based on sound principles. And the beauty of it was that with every one proposed, successive administrations listened. They were ideas that resonated beyond the arena of partisan politics and either made so much sense or had such popular appeal that climbing on board and riding the wave was easy. We trust that the next great plan to win all sides’ support will be the National Development Plan. Meantime, here’s a quick summary of the five things
The Bahamas did first in the world or the region. Goodbye, little penny, goodbye
The Central Bank launched the long goodbye to the penny in January of 2020, giving the nation a year to part ways with the minimal value currency that would still retain value for another six months, until June of 2021. It wasn’t the first time Bahamians said goodbye, penny, goodbye. The first time a penny was introduced in The Bahamas was in 1806 when the then Governor of the colony ordered £500 of them struck in a mint in the U.K. The coin was large and heavy, made of copper and featured King George III on one side and a sinking pirate ship surrounded by two small vessels on the other. Bahamians decided they neither liked nor trusted the bulky copper coin and firmly rejected it, choosing the finer silver and gold to which they were
By Diane Phillips
better accustomed. The order was never repeated.
Sharknado
Two years after the popular business show Shark Tank aired on national TV in the US, sharks were circling, living and prowling more freely in the waters of The Bahamas. On July 6, 2011, the government passed an amendment to the Fisheries Resources Act banning all commercial fishing of sharks, protecting the species that has given rise to everything from that popular TV show to Syfy’s Sharknado series. While dive shop operators and others celebrated protecting the $100 million industry that grew up around the public’s fascination with sharks and shark feedings (research by The Island School and Cape Eleuthera Institute), marine biologists hailed the victory for the king predator of the sea saying it was essential to the marine eco-food chain. Jill Hepp, manager of global shark conservation for the Pew Environment Group was widely quoted in publications and features around the globe, saying "2011 is fast becoming the year of the shark. Today's announcement permanently protects more than 40 shark species in Bahamian waters. We applaud the people and government of The Bahamas for being bold leaders in marine conservation." With 243,000 square miles of waters for sharks to swim and prowl with relief that they were no longer being hunted for their fins, teeth or other body parts, The Bahamas was right in line with Palau, the Maldives and Honduras in prohibiting the taking, killing, selling, poaching of any shark regardless of size or species.
Bring on the totes
Carrying a reusable tote bag to the green-grocer, baker or fishmonger in the U.K. has long been standard behaviour but it made its way across the pond to Bahamian households on January 1, 2020, when the Environmental Protection (Control of Plastic Pollution 2019) Act took effect. Technically, the act sets out to “prohibit single-use plastic foodware and non-biodegradable, oxy-biodegradable and biodegradable single-use plastic bags, prohibit the release of balloons, regulate the use of compostable single-use plastic bags and for connected matters.”
While that’s the legalese, in practical terms it means we all have a car swarming with reusable totes that no matter how neatly we try to stack them, they have a
mind of their own despite the fact that the one you really want as you head into the store is by the front door at home where you dropped it after emptying it from the last time. We adjusted easily to the new ban on single-use plastics because, except when it came to seat belts, we are generally a pretty obedient population.
The single-use plastics ban was part of a sweeping regime of environmental legislation during the period that environmental lawyer Romauld Ferriera served as Minister of Environment and Housing. His impact was lasting, buoyed by a strong national campaign that included young and old, rich and poor marching to the dump that was a constant threat to health and well-being. Nowadays, if we go to the US and see all those little green plastic bags at a Publix or red and white at Costco, we stand a little taller, throw our shoulders back a little straighter and just can’t help but feel a little bit superior as we wonder when the reality of the poisonous plume of plastics burning will hit home and America can follow The Bahamas in the pathway to less rubbish in the landfill and the pursuit of purer air.
Water, water everywhere
Sixty-six years ago, 1959 – the same year that saw Fidel Castro overthrow the government and rise to power in the Cuban Revolution, the same year that Alaska was admitted as the 49th state of the United States of America, a much quieter ceremony was taking place in The Bahamas. It was the setting aside of land and water in the first national underwater park in the world. Today, the Exuma Land and Sea Park encompasses 112,640 acres of protected waters. To get an idea of just how vast that is, think of it this way. It’s 176 square miles, or more than twice the size of all of New Providence which is 80 square miles.
As for that regulatory framework
Let’s face it. When Sam Bankman-Fried landed on Bahamian shores, every organization welcomed what appeared manna from Heaven. Crypto was the hottest thing to come down the pike since the smart phone. FTX landed like Space-X without the environmental concerns, just riches flowing. Not since the drug days of the ’80’s had money flowed like milk and honey on Bahamian shores. Non-profits benefitted. Real estate agents pocketed commissions. Office space
out west was being gobbled up like a just-baked turkey on Thanksgiving. And The Bahamas patted itself on the back for attracting hot shots in this newfound currency transactional space by quickly producing the first solid framework around money you could not touch, see or feel, but certainly felt real when you went to spend it. So maybe we didn’t see all the nuances of certain transactions, understanding the vulnerability of Bitcoin, for instance that could rise with the dawn and fall with the dark only to rise again, but still The Bahamas was first and today’s non-volatile, stable digital currency is making a huge improvement in the lives, ironically, not of the very wealthy, but of those who are the unbanked, underbanked and underserved and now have a way to get paid or pay their bills through SandDollar or other digital currency. SandDollar, a first no one can follow
The Bahamas was first out of the gate with a government-backed digital currency, the SandDollar. Others may follow with another branded currency, but no other country can claim they did government-backed digital first. Because it is virtual legal tender, SandDollar is safer than carrying cash. It poses less risk to the individual or business, makes it easier to do business – to pay staff or workers, to pay rent, utility bills or buy goods on all those islands, especially, experiencing reduced traditional banking or non-existent banking facilities. No one has yet held up anyone saying, ‘Give me your SandDollars.” Never intended to replace cash, dialing for SandDollars is now as easy as clicking on the folder on your smart phone to pay for a fish snack or settle a bill. The recipient receives the payment in real-time, no waiting for a paper document to clear the account. Peer-to-peer, by the time Bamboo Shack slides that snack out the window, the funds are in the hands of the business and the food is in the hands of the hungry. Getting simple stuff right?
So. If The Bahamas stands out in so many spaces – from keeping sharks to our currency safe, from protecting marine resources in the world’s first national underwater
park to banning straws and the release of gas-filled balloons, why can’t we do the basics right? Why does the power never go off in Spanish Wells yet just a few miles away in Eleuthera, it’s up, down, on, off and fluttering like a butterfly in spring. If we are so good at so many hard things, why are we failing at so many routine responsibilities – health care, for instance, potholes in roads, how we care for our seniors and those with disabilities, housing. If we are so good at protecting our environment, how can we approve plans for overdevelopment? How do you pat yourself on the back for all the forward-thinking moves and yet feel sick inside about the play-catch-up mentality?
May the National Development Plan become the critical starting point with many other steps to follow -- true local government, standardized incentives,
not punishment, for appropriate sized sustainable development, clear lines about what goes where so the typical neighborhood is not the four pillars at play today – church, school, bar, gaming house – but every community has a park and a community garden and green space. As a Bahamian, I am proud to be the first at something. Proud to stand tall and take our rightful place on the world stage, but we’d all be even prouder if we got the regular stuff right – if the lights stayed on, the water did not contain enough chlorine to bleach our skin, the roads did not kill our cars and spirits, the constantly changing taxes and high fees did not lower our incentive to produce, crime did not keep us locked inside at night when we’d love to go for a walk. So much to be proud of. So much left to do.
ABOVE: a tourist gets up close with a couple nurse sharks. BELOW: an aerial picture of the
A BAHAMIAN PENNY. Govt stop producing pennies in 2020.
Christmas comes to London, Paris Christmas comes to London, Paris
US Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida charged with stealing disaster funds
By KATE PAYNE Associated Press/Report for America
A federal indictment chargesU.S. Rep.Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Floridawith stealing$5millionin federaldisasterfunds, launderingsomeofthemoney through strawdonors toher congressional campaignand then conspiring tofile a false tax return, the Justice Department announced.
Federal prosecutors accusedthe Democratof stealing Federal Emergency Management Agencyoverpayments thather family health carecompany received throughaCOVID-19vaccination staffing contract. Cherfilus-McCormick hasdenied thecharges andhas noplans to resign,according toa statement shared byher chief of staff.
"This is an unjust, baseless, shamindictment and Iam innocent. The timingalone is curious and clearlymeant to distract fromfar more pressing national issues," Cherfilus-McCormick's statementreadsinpart."Ilookforward to my day in court. Until then, I willcontinue fighting for my constituents."
Here's what to know:
What's in the indictment?
The indictmentreturned by afederalgrand juryinMiami onWednesday accusesCherfilus-McCormick and several
co-defendantsofconspiringto steal $5 million in overpayments toher family'shealth carecompany, TrinityHealthcare Services, under a 2021 contract toregister peoplefor COVID-19 vaccinations.
Prosecutorsallegethefunds weredistributedtovariousaccounts,including tofriends andrelatives whointurn donated to thecampaign that got her elected to Congress. A "substantial portion"of the misappropriated funds were used for thecampaign or for the"personal benefit"of Cherfilus-McCormick and others accused,prosecutors claim.
How has she responded?
Cherfilus-McCormick maintains her innocence. She alsosaidshe'scooperatedwith "every lawfulrequest," and will continueto doso "until this matteris resolved,"according to a statement provided by her chief of staff. "Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormickis acommitted publicservant, whois dedicated toher constituents. Wewillfighttoclearhergood name," wroteher attorneys David OscarMarkus, Margot Moss and Melissa Madrigal. Cherfilus-McCormick won a special electionin January 2022to representFlorida's 20thDistrict inpartsof Broward and Palm Beach counties afterRep. Alcee Hastings died in 2021. What didprevious investig-
ations find?
InDecember 2024,a Floridastate agencysued Trinity Healthcare Services, sayingthecompanyownedby Cherfilus-McCormick's family hadovercharged the state by nearly$5.8 million for work done during the pandemic and wouldn't give the money back.
The FloridaDivision of Emergency Managementsaid it discoveredthe problem aftera single$5 millionoverpayment drewattention. Cherfilus-McCormick was the CEOof Trinityat the time.
The HouseEthics Committee unanimously votedin
July to reauthorize an investigative subcommittee to examinethe allegationsinvolving the congresswoman.
TheOffice ofCongressionalEthicssaidinaJanuary report that Cherfilus-McCormick's income in 2021 was more than$6 million higherthanin2020,drivenby nearly$5.75 millioninconsulting and profit-sharing fees receivedfrom TrinityHealthcare Services.
The indictmentcharges Cherfilus-McCormick and her2021 taxpreparerwith conspiring tofile afalse federaltax returnbyfalsely claiming politicalspending and otherpersonal expenses.
Quarterly
profit slide at Target hints at a challenging holiday season for the retailer
By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer
NEWYORK (AP)
Target's third-quarterprofit tumbled asthe retailer struggles to lure shoppers that are being pressed by stubbornly high inflation.
The Minneapolis company saidWednesdaythatitexpects its salesslump toextend through thecritical holiday shopping season. The company also announced that it's planning to invest another billiondollars nextyear toremodel stores,build newones, increasingthe totalcostfor the makeover to $5 billion.
Investors have punished Target's stock recently, sendingitdown 43%overthe pastyear. Shareswereessentially flat inearly trading Wednesday. Turningaround the19% profit slide in the most recent quarter isthe latestchallenge forincoming CEOMichael Fiddelke, a20-year company veteran who is replacing CEO Brian Cornell in February. Thehandover arrivesasthe retailertriesto reverseapersistent sales malaise and to re-
drivingthe changeourselves right now."
With about1,980 U.S. stores, Targethas struggledto find its footingsince inflation caused Americans to curtail muchof theirdiscretionary spending. At thesame time, Targetcustomers havecomplained of messy stores lacking the budget-priced niche that longago earned the retailer thenickname "Tarzhay."
Consumer boycottssince lateJanuary, whenTarget joined rival Walmartand a numberof otherprominent American brands in scaling backits corporatediversity, equityand inclusioninitiatives, have compounded the predicament.
Other,more recentmacro headwinds, arebuffeting the entire retail sector. Foralmost ayear,retailers have struggledto navigate President DonaldTrump's wide-rangingtariffs onimports and his immigration crackdown that threatenedto shrinkthe supplyofworkers available to U.S. companies. The justended 43-dayfederalshutdown isexpectedto
vive its reputation as the place togoforaffordablebutstylish products.
Comparable sales those from establishedphysical stores and onlinechannels dipped2.7%initslatestthreemonth period.That's worse thenthe1.9% dropintheprevious quarterand thethird straight quarterly decline.
Target's troublesstand in stark contrast to rival Walmart,the nation'slargestretailer, which is thriving. Walmartreportsonitsmostrecent quarterly performance Thursday.
Target announcedin Octoberthat itwaseliminating about 1,800 corporate positions to streamline decisionmakingand acceleratecompany initiatives.The cutsrepresent about 8%of Target's corporate workforce.
To pump upsales, Target is offering more than 20,000 new items, twice as many as lastyear, andit haslowered prices on thousandsof groceriesand otheressential items.
"The environment around us continues to evolve, whether it'sshifting consumer demand, changing competitor dynamics, or broader macroeconomic pressures," Fiddelke said on an earnings call Wednesday. "But let me be clear. We are notwaiting for conditions toimprove. Weare
be another dragon an economy. Government contract awardshaveslowedandmany food aid recipientshave seen theirbenefitsinterrupted,both ofwhichcan cutintoconsumer spending at places like Target.
Fiddelke toldreporters that thecompany sawaweaker Septemberbut hesaid itwas "tricky forus toisolate" the different factors behind that.
The retailer'sprofit fellto $689 millionin thethreemonthperiodendedNov.1,or $1.51per share.Adjustedper share results added up to $1.78. That is better than the $1.71thatWall Streetwasexpecting, according to a poll by FactSet, but belowthe $1.85 per sharethe companyearned in the same period last year.
Salesfell 1.5%to$25.27 billion,justshyofanalystprojections.
Salesgains infoodand beverages wereoffset bycontinued weaknessin discretionary goods, withanxious shoppers focusedincreasingly onbuying essentials,even during the holidays.
Forexample,customersthis year customersbought candy andcostumes forHalloween, but spent less on decorations, said RickGomez, chiefcommercial officer for Target. Gomez thinks they will make similar tradeoffs during the winter holiday season.
CHRISTMAS lights are displayed on Regent Street, in London, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. AP Photo/Kin Cheung
SPECTATORS attend the Champs Elysee Avenue illumination ceremony for the Christmas season, in Paris, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025.
AP Photo/Thibault Camus
REP. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., condemns hate speech and misinformation about Haitian immigrants during a news conference at the Capitolin Washington, Sept. 20, 2024.
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Power outages drop by 86% since Bahamas Grid Company took over
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
POWER outages in New Providence have declined by 86 per cent due to the government’s energy reform initiatives, Energy and Transport Minister Coleby-Davis claimed yesterday.
Mrs Coleby-Davis credited the improvement to the Bahamas Grid Company’s accelerated work to modernise and upgrade the island’s transmission and distribution network, noting the project has surpassed its initial timeline.
Her comments came during the opening of the ministry’s two-day energy summit yesterday.
The upgrades form part of the government’s agreement with the company, which has a 25-year contract to manage and modernise New Providence’s electricity grid.
Yesterday, Mrs Coleby-Davis outlined key progress in the government’s partnership with BGC, noting the replacement of 488 steel poles, the installation of 9,295 feet of underground cable, and the integration of 47 intellirupters on the most vulnerable feeders to allow automatic reclosing during faults. She said the intellirupters will significantly minimise outages.
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Power and Light and the Inter-American Development Bank have signed a $90m loan agreement to modernise the state utility’s operations, the first time the government has designated BPL as the direct borrower for a major international loan.
The loan carries a 25-year amortisation period with a 5.5-year moratorium on repayment. Repayments begin 66 months after signing, with a variable interest rate tied to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate and an added bank margin.
Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said the programme is built around three components aimed at long-standing issues facing families and businesses.
The largest component, valued at $81.39m, focuses on digitalisation and system modernisation. He said customers have pushed for faster outage response, clearer billing, and more reliable service, and these challenges are now being tackled with advanced tools such as digital meters that offer more accurate and transparent insight into household energy use.
”This helps families manage their monthly costs and gives BPL real-time data to detect problems before they become widespread. SCADA systems will be expanded across New Providence and the Family Islands, offering real-time visibility of operations. This is essential for an archipelago, where each island has unique needs and challenges,” he said.
“An Outage Management System will allow BPL
Additional upgrades include the repair and installation of 74 streetlights and the installation of 45 trip savers to provide more localised protection for neighbourhood distribution lines
“I am also pleased to share that power outages on New Providence have decreased by 86 percent and that the project is currently 28 percent ahead of schedule,” she said. “At this rate, the Bahamas is on track to boast one of the most advanced electricity grids in the region.”
She said affordable electricity remains a priority for the Davis administration, noting that the country is at a crucial moment in its push for sustainable energy. She added that a cleaner, more sustainable energy future is not only necessary but achievable.
Concerning Independent Power Producers, she said 18 new power stations are being built nationwide, introducing state-of-theart solar, LNG, and battery energy storage systems across communities.
She added that the ministry is closely overseeing each development, with most stations expected to come online by the fourth quarter of next year — calling this as “ a remarkable accomplishment as projects of this scale typically take several years.”
“The Ministry of Energy and Transport, in partnership with BPL, is committed to delivering these energy solutions on schedule, striving to reduce both electricity costs and the overall cost of living for all Bahamians. Whether you live in Bimini or Inagua, the Ministry of Energy and Transport is dedicated to ensuring reliable, affordable, sustainable, and low-carbon electricity for everyone.”
In his keynote remarks, Prime Minister Philip Davis acknowledged that energy reform has been one of the country’s greatest challenges but said he is proud of the progress made.
He pointed to several initiatives under his administration, including multiple power purchase agreements, an updated National Energy Policy, and plans to introduce new LNG solutions for New Providence.
“The world is watching the steps we are taking, and many see The Bahamas as a model for how a small island nation can act with determination in the face of climate pressure and economic constraints,” Mr Davis said.
“The path ahead will not be simple. Transformational change takes time, careful planning, and the willingness to face obstacles with steady leadership. But our country has chosen progress. We have chosen action instead of delay.”
to pinpoint issues faster and restore power with far greater efficiency. A full Geographic Information System will guide long-term planning and support more strategic maintenance.”
“Control rooms will be modernised to meet international standards, giving our technicians the tools needed to react quickly and keep the grid stable. This loan also allows BPL to purchase critical transmission equipment that supports the safe and reliable integration of renewable energy. Across several islands, solar and hybrid microgrid projects are moving forward with
private sector partners. To bring these projects onto the grid in a safe and stable way, we need modern transmission systems. This investment makes that possible.”
The second component, valued at $3.7m, focuses on strengthening BPL’s institutional capacity. Mr Davis said it supports improved planning, stronger financial management, better risk oversight, and advanced data analytics. It also funds staff development, training, enhanced governance, and pre-feasibility studies for future programmes.
The third component, at $4.4m, supports the
administration and oversight of the loan, including project coordination, monitoring, evaluation, and compliance with international standards.
Energy Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis said the loan will drive a major modernisation effort, including the completion of BPL’s digitalisation programme, the purchase of equipment to support Family Island projects, and the expansion of internal capacity for digitisation and enterprise risk management.
“As Minister of Energy and Transport, I am advised that the lion’s share of the funding will go toward the
digitalization programme.
At the core of this transformation is the move to Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). AMI will involve both the installation of new metering systems at BPL’s headquarters and the replacement of over 115,000 meters around the country,” she said.
Shirley Gayle, IDB country representative, said the bank believes in projects that don't just make headlines but change lives.
“This is more than an energy project. It is a foundation for a Sustainable industry that creates jobs, attracts investment, and builds a future of
opportunities. I have a word for the people of The Bahamas that the IDB reiterates his commitment to walking the path with you. We're walking the path with your service provider.”
“We're walking the path with the government, with the Ministry of Finance and all the other stakeholders involved. Together, we're not just improving service. We are shaping a new era in The Bahamas of resilience and sustainability.”
BPL chairperson Christina Alston said expanded on the advanced metering infrastructure, which will allow BPL to detect outages and customer issues in real time while giving users clearer insight and greater control over their energy consumption. It is expected to help customers anticipate bills and enable BPL to identify and resolve outages more quickly, improving reliability and resilience across the grid.
The metering rollout is projected to take between 16 and 36 months, with the first meters likely to be installed by the end of next year. A request for information to pre-qualify companies under IDB rules is expected in January, followed by a response window and a request for proposals.
The rollout will unfold in two phases, beginning in denser communities while allowing flexible expansion based on GIS data and communication needs. The aim is real-time, two-way communication with customers across the grid, supported by new community meters and upgraded equipment in New Providence.