WOMAN & HEALTH
‘2,500
VOTERS ARE MISSING,’ SAYS AG
Numbers undermine confidence in Golden Isles by-election, says Pinder
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
ATTORNEY General Ryan
Pinder has acknowledged that the Progressive Liberal Party did struggle to verify thousands of registered voters in Golden Isles ahead of last month’s by-election — directly contradicting Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson’s assurances about the accuracy of the register. His admission yesterday came after Free National Movement officials renewed calls for the “outdated” register to be cleaned up, warning it undermined confidence in the Golden Isles result. Commissioner Thompson has dismissed the opposition’s claims,
‘I always thought he was Canadian’Cooper questions Rick Fox’s nationality
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE family of a missing Long Island woman are criticising local officials for linking the discovery of human remains to their loved one, saying that as yet there is no evidence and are demanding answers for closure.
Relatives of 82-year-old Plumetta Major, a dementia patient, last saw her on
September 27. Her only sister and roommate, 78-year-old Veronica Taylor, recalled joking with her the night before her disappearance only to wake up the next morning to find she was gone. She said it was not the first time her sister had disappeared, but noted that police would always find her and bring her home. She said that despite her Outgoing
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
FACULTY at the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute launched industrial action yesterday, accusing outgoing President Dr Linda Davis of misconduct and mismanagement — allegations the institution has not publicly addressed.
Unionised faculty staged a sit-out demanding Dr Davis’ immediate and permanent removal. In a series of statements, they accused her of “blatant disregard and disrespect” for staff, blocking processes, and refusing to work collaboratively with the union. The claims represent the union’s account; neither Dr Davis
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
ACTING Prime Minister Chester Cooper claims he has never been sure if Ambassador-at-Large Rick Fox is even Bahamian.
“If Rick is a Bahamian, he is free to run for politics,” he said yesterday. “I don't know what his nationality is. I always thought he was Canadian, but if he is Bahamian, he can certainly
offer himself for politics in The Bahamas.” The comments will be judged by some as deliberately inflammatory, given it is well-known that basketball player-turned-actor Mr Fox, born in Canada to a Bahamian father and an Italian mother, has dual citizenship and grew up in the Bahamas. Mr Cooper’s comments came days after Mr Fox said
ATTORNEY GENERAL RYAN PINDER
DPM Chester Cooper.
Photo: Nikia Charlton
BTVI faculty take industrial action over outgoing president Dr Linda Davis.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr
From The Grove to Mount Fitzwilliam -
‘Mother’ Pratt opens doors to her life story
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
THE longtime family home of Governor General Dame Cynthia “Mother” Pratt has opened its doors as a museum. Government leaders and community members gathered yesterday for the official opening of the Dame Cynthia “Mother” Pratt Legacy Hall — a personal tribute built inside the longtime family home of the Governor General, the first Bahamian woman to hold office as Deputy Prime Minister.
The residence on Sixth Street, Poinciana Avenue, better known as The Grove,
is the house where Dame Cynthia, a prolific philanthropist and community developer, lived through most stages of her life.
The Legacy Hall, meticulously curated with photographs, artefacts and historic displays, traces her journey from her humble beginnings in The Grove to her rise as the nation’s head of state. Calling the project a “lifelong dream,” Dame Cynthia said the hall preserves her story and stands as a testament to perseverance, faith and purpose.
The ceremony featured the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Band and performances by students from EP Roberts Primary School, Ridgeland
Primary School and Stephen Dillet Primary School — all inner-city schools near the Governor General’s residence. Friends and relatives, including her daughter, offered reflections celebrating her resilience and leadership.
During her remarks, Dame Cynthia delivered a candid account of her early years, recalling life in a family of 16 children where food was often scarce. She spoke of Sundays when one chicken had to be shared between all the children, leaving her, child number 13, to hope for whatever remained.
She described climbing plum and dilly trees to eat, escaping to a basketball
court, and sometimes having to choose between “picking the roaches out of the rice or starving.”
“I crossed my leg and I picked out the wing and the foot,” she said, “and I ate to my heart’s content. And today, I am Governor of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”
She spoke of her mother, a straw vendor who could not read or write, and recalled chasing tourists through the Straw Market singing for a nickel to buy lunch.
In one of her stories, she remembered meeting a Canadian couple as a young girl — tourists she escorted to the Buena Vista Hotel while telling them about her life.
The couple, moved by her spirit, spent 20 years returning to The Bahamas trying to find her, hoping to adopt her. By the time they did, she had already become a Member of Parliament.
“God had another plan,” she said. “What you see today is not where I started. But I didn’t stay where I was. When God has a plan for your life, and no man can move it.”
Dame Cynthia was also a college athelete, leading the Bahamas women’s national softball team to a bronze medal at the 1981 Wolrd Games in Santa Clara, California. It was during these games that
she was given the name "Mother" which today remains. She was also a member of the National Basketball and Netball Teams. On September 1, 2023, she was sworn in as the 12th Governor-General of the Bahamas during a ceremony at Government House. In her inaugural address, she said: "As a mother my eyes and ears are always open to the needs of our young people and the importance of doing all we can to uplift them so that as they grow into adulthood and inherit full responsibility for the continued development of our nation.”
GOVERNOR GENERAL Dame Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt stands next to a photo of herself in the Governor General’s seat during the opening of the Dame Cynthia “Mother” Pratt Legacy Hall - a personal tribute built inside the longtime family home of the Governor General, the first Bahamian woman to hold office as Deputy Prime Minister.
Photos: Nikia Charlton
AG backs FNM claim on outdated register despite Thompson’s denial
saying his department received no complaints about missing names or outdated entries.
Addressing the Senate, Mr Pinder said both major parties could only find about 5,500 people listed on the constituency register despite aggressive ground work.
Parliamentary registration officials recorded 7,926 registered voters in Golden Isles; only 3,884 cast ballots – a turnout of just 49%.
“Why,” Mr Pinder said during debate on the Data Protection Bill, 2025, “was this the case that there were some 2,500 voters on the register that couldn’t be found by either party? Why is that the case?”
He attributed the problem to the absence of active voter transfer exercises since the introduction of the permanent register nine years ago. He pointed to the pandemic as one factor, saying transfers simply stopped for two years.
“Nobody is transferring on the voter registration during the two years of COVID. Just naturally, your home, you’re under curfew, you’re under this, you’re
under that. You’re just not on transferring to any new place right?”
He said the early election called by the Minnis administration also halted routine scrutiny exercises meant to determine whether voters have moved, require updates, or still reside in the constituency.
Mr Pinder said the Parliamentary Registration Department has recently resumed these exercises, pausing only for the by-election. He urged Bahamians to get verified to help ensure the register’s accuracy.
“These are the reasons why one, you may have had inaccuracies in the register, and two, why the amendments that we did to the Parliamentary Elections Act are so important, especially in the context of the biometric registration, because going forward with the biometric registration, updating the register will be much simpler,” he said.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper also acknowledged that the register needs updating and encouraged residents who have not transferred their voter information to do so.
Pinder assures unions new bill offers ‘most sophisticated’ safeguards for healthcare staff
By KEILE CAMPBELL
Staff Reporter
ATTORNEY General and Senator Ryan Pinder said the new Data Protection Bill will guarantee “maximum protection” for biometric data, assuring unions that the government intends to implement the most robust data-protection framework the country has ever had as the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) prepares to replace its paper security cards with
biometric access.
“We are putting in the most sophisticated and strenuous data-protection elements, especially with respect to biometric data, that this country has ever seen,” Mr Pinder said. Senator Pinder, during his contribution to the debate in the Upper Chamber on the new Data Protection Bill, acknowledged union concerns regarding how biometric data will be collected, stored, accessed and protected. He framed those concerns as valid and
“These are the reasons why one, you may have had inaccuracies in the register, and two, why the amendments that we did to the Parliamentary Elections Act are so important, especially in the context of the biometric registration, because going forward with the biometric registration, updating the register will be much simpler.”
expected when sensitive personal information is involved.
Healthcare unions have publicly questioned the PHA’s plan to introduce fingerprint-based access and time-tracking, warning that the proposed system could breach worker protections and place sensitive data at risk. The Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU), which represents PHA support staff, has argued that compulsory fingerprinting may contravene Section 67 of the Employment Act and
advised members not to comply until legal questions are resolved. The Bahamas Nurses Union has also cited privacy fears, noting that biometric identifiers cannot be changed if compromised and require strict oversight. The attorney general said unions and employees can feel confident that their information will be safeguarded, with the new law mandating strict privacy rules and further regulations to clarify procedures. He urged unions to continue engaging with the PHA on
any outstanding questions, underlining transparency as essential and adding that the Authority should facilitate responses to concerns raised by their members.
“Without this framework, legislative gaps would remain, leading to lapses in public trust — something we cannot afford, especially with sensitive personal data,” Mr Pinder said.
Mr Pinder said biometric data is increasingly becoming part of public-sector operations in The Bahamas, requiring a strong legislative
backbone, consistent standards across agencies and public confidence in how information is handled.
“This is nothing unique. It happens all over the world. Hospitals are high-security areas, and the security element should be as robust as possible,” he said. “When you go to Latin American countries and access an office, they take your passport, take your picture, scan everything. They’re collecting your biometric data for security purposes, so this is not out of the ordinary.”
Travellers face mandatory facial scans entering and leaving US from December 26
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIANS and other non-United States citizens will soon be required to be photographed when entering and leaving the United States, as the Trump administration strengthens measures to combat visa overstays and passport fraud. The new rule, titled
Collection of Biometric Data from Aliens Upon Entry to and Departure from the United States, was announced by the US Department of Homeland Security. Effective December 26, it authorises US
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to collect facial biometrics from all non-citizens at airports, land ports, seaports, and other authorised points of entry and exit.
The rule removes prior exemptions, including those for diplomats and most Canadian visitors.
“It also removes limitations on pilot programmes and expands biometric collection to new transportation modalities, including sea exit, private aircraft, vehicle entry/exit, and pedestrian exit. Public comments related to this rule may be submitted on or before Nov. 26, 2025,” the Department Homeland Security said.
The department has published more than ten Privacy Impact Assessments on all aspects of CBP’s Biometric Entry-Exit programme, covering policies for gathering, storage, analysis, dissemination, retention, and deletion of data.
CBP discards US citizen
photos within 12 hours of the identity verification process. Noncitizen photos are enrolled in the DHS Biometric Identity Management System, where they may be retained for up to 75 years.
In October, the international news agency Reuters reported that the US was expanding the use of facial recognition technology to track noncitizens entering and leaving the country to combat visa overstays and passport fraud. The regulation also permits border authorities to use facial recognition for children under 14 and elderly people over 79, groups that were previously exempt.
“The tighter border rules reflect a broader effort by US President Donald Trump to crack down on illegal immigration. While the Republican president has surged resources to secure the U.S.-Mexico border, he has also taken steps to reduce the number of people overstaying their
visas,” Reuters said.
The increased use of facial recognition in US airports has raised concerns among privacy advocates about potential overreach and misidentification. A 2024 report by the US Commission on Civil Rights found the technology was more likely to misidentify Black people and other minority groups, according to Reuters.
Some Bahamians have already begun to feel the effects of the new regulations. Abaco pastor and broadcaster Silbert Mills reported yesterday that US authorities photographed Bahamasair passengers before their departure from West Palm Beach to return to Abaco.
One resident said they were waiting to board at Palm Beach International Airport when men dressed in military-style uniforms began taking photos of passengers without asking any questions or requesting names.
ATTORNEY GENERAL RYAN PINDER
Cooper claims he is ‘unsure’
if Rick Fox is even Bahamian
he will run in the next general election.
The former NBA player said his decision was driven by “passion for the country”. He did not disclose whether he intends to run independently or under a party, though he recently admitted meeting with both major parties and claimed FNM Leader Michael Pintard was “most aggressive” in pursuing him.
He said the country is running out of time to address issues such as youth empowerment, innovation, housing, healthcare, efficient governance and public safety.
His increased local profile has caused friction.
After Mr Fox criticised political behaviour in a Halloween-themed post last month, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell issued what many saw as a reprimand, reminding ambassadors that they serve the government that
appointed them and that “the honourable course is clear” if they disagree. But Mr Fox pushed back, arguing that he was being unfairly warned while “a sitting ambassador with a portfolio is openly endorsing a candidate while currently running for office himself,” referring to non-resident Ambassador Sebas Bastian. He urged Mr Mitchell to focus on the real challenge facing the country: voter apathy.
Asked directly whether Mr Fox should resign after announcing his bid for frontline politics, Mr Cooper said yesterday: “Ambassadors are appointed by the Prime Minister, so you can certainly speak with the Prime Minister about his position as it relates to that matter.”
Mr Fox has said he would have no hesitation giving up his Canadian citizenship if required for frontline politics. Born in Canada to a Bahamian father, Ulrick Fox Sr, and
an Italian mother, he has rejected any suggestion that his birthplace weakens his national identity.
“I don’t have to renounce my dual citizenship to vote. If what you are asking me is if I were to get into frontline politics, am I prepared to follow the laws of the
land, yes that goes without saying. That’s an easy decision,” he said. “I am a Bahamian. I own one passport and it’s a Bahamian passport and I’m proud of that status.”
Internationally known for his career with the Los Angeles Lakers and later as an actor and producer, Mr Fox has shifted his focus to national development.
As the country’s Sports Ambassador, he is also the founder and CEO of Partanna, a climate-technology company that produces carbon-negative building materials.
In 2022, he signed a memorandum of understanding with the government for Partanna to develop a carbon-negative concrete manufacturing facility. At the time, the first 30 affordable homes were set to be built with the sustainable material in Abaco the following year.
Niece slams officials for ‘audacity’ of public statement before notifying kin
illness, her sister was always happy and had never raised any concerns.
Police said they were acting on a tip early Sunday when they responded to an offduty road location off Constitution Drive near Deadman’s Cay Airport, where they discovered a body in an advanced state
of decomposition. They could not confirm the victim’s identity nor the cause of death.
Long Island MP Adrian Gibson, in a post on Facebook, said it is believed the remains may be those of Ms Major but would await confirmation from police.
However, Mrs Lightbourne, niece of Ms Major, said they were shocked and blindsided
by the post, adding that no one informed them beforehand.
She said the remains were found directly across from the home where her aunt lived with her mother.
“My mom took care of her since I was in grade six and she was living with my mom until that same night that had happened so I know she’s distraught,” she said.
She called for a thorough
investigation, describing the discovery as perplexing since no one spotted the remains despite searching the area with dogs.
“It’s impossible for nobody to actually smell any type of scent,” she added.
“The dogs were on Long Island. Her son was there and he went to the same track road and she was not there. The hurricane went and the water so how all of
Abaco residents fume as demolished shanty town becomes ‘regular dump site’
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
FRUSTRATION is mounting among Abaco residents who say their repeated calls for the government to clear debris from a demolished shanty town have gone unanswered, even as the area has become a dumping ground and fire hazard.
Videos shared on social media show piles of garbage bags, tyres, derelict vehicles, broken furniture, glass, and wood scattered throughout the site.
On Sunday morning, residents were alerted to a small fire in the Gaza shanty town near SC Bootle Highway, west of Murphy Town. Officials believe someone intentionally lit the blaze to dispose of garbage.
Danny Sawyer, fire chief for Central Abaco, said firefighters extinguished the fire, but he stressed the area remains a safety concern. Mr Sawyer noted that several fires have occurred at the site since the shanty town was demolished last year,
adding that the Ministry of Works never cleared the debris. He said the location has now become a “regular dump site.”
“You can see all the cans and bottles and just all the derelict vehicles that was left there,” he said. “It's right on the main highway. That's not a very good sight for our tourists to see.”
In February 2024, the Ministry of Works reported that more than 60 structures had been demolished at the Gaza shanty town, with more expected to follow.
Residents living near the area say they are now forced to inhale toxic fumes and contend with persistent fires sparked by the rubbish. Roscoe Thompson, chairman of the Marsh Harbour/ Spring City Township, also expressed concern about the debris. He said the Ministry of Works set the stage for uncontrolled dumping by failing to clear the site after demolition.
“They started a chain reaction that's just gotten out of hand. Local government can only do so much,” he said.
Mr Thompson said he has reached out to MP for North Abaco Kirk Cornish, MP for Central and South Abaco John Pinder, and Minister of Works Clay Sweeting about the issue. He said Mr Sweeting told him he was waiting on funds to complete the clean-up.
Mr Thompson questioned why clean-up efforts were not organised before demolition began.
Residents say they are
now left with an eyesore and ongoing fire hazard at their doorstep.
In March, Abaco residents again urged the government to clear debris from demolished shanty towns, warning that the rubble is fuelling fires that pose serious health risks to nearby communities.
Smoke from another fire in the Gaza shanty town was visible in surrounding neighbourhoods and to motorists travelling on the highway.
a sudden, she just popped up.”
She said they’ve been bombarded with calls since Mr Gibson’s post and bashed him and other officials for making the public statements without speaking to the family first.
“No one has ever contacted my mother to even say we don’t want to throw you off guard. My mom lived right across from the airport. That’s like
a walk away,” said Mrs Lightbourne.
“Having the audacity to actually post something on Facebook without ever speaking to her next of kin and to even say something like that, it’s horrible.” She claimed Mr Gibson never once visited the family to find out how they were doing, but said, “let it come to campaigning, he’ll be all over the island doing a bunch of crap.”
Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper
Former NBA player Rick Fox
VOLUNTEER firemen extinguish a fire at a demolished shanty town in Abaco that has turned into a dumping site.
The Tribune Limited
NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI
“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH, Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .
Publisher/Editor 1919-1972
Contributing Editor 1972-1991
RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.
Publisher/Editor 1972-
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Political opponents agree something’s wrong
DO you remember your school days?
Sometimes there would be worksheets with pictures on – say three oranges and a pear – and you would have to say which one was different, it did not belong. Let us play that game now.
In the wake of the Golden Isles by-election, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham raised concerns about the register of voters.
Mr Ingraham said that both the FNM and the PLP had hit the streets in search of voters on the campaign trail – and struggled to find the people named on the registry. Not one, not two, but hundreds. Even thousands.
His words were echoed by FNM chairman Dr Duane Sands, who warned that the national voters register was so outdated it undermined the accuracy of the by-election - calling the list “almost 15 years old,’ with as many as 3,000 voters “unlocatable”.
Dr Sands also pointed to Returning Officer Neil Campbell’s public admission that he referred to Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis as his “adopted father,” with Mr Davis later saying it meant nothing as lots of people called him ‘daddy.’
Dr Sands, understandably, questioned Mr Campbell’s suitability for the job.
Yesterday, from the PLP side of the equation, came the same song about the missing voters. Attorney General Ryan Pinder said the PLP too had struggled to verify registered voters in Golden Isles. He asked the Senate: “Why was this the case that there were some 2,500 voters on the register that couldn’t be found by either party? Why is that the case?”
Then came another voice, that of Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, also saying that the register needs updating.
So let us hear from the Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson, in whose hands we place our faith in the integrity of the election preparations.
Commissioner Thompson rejected Mr Ingraham’s concerns – before the echoing voices of Messrs Pinder and Cooper.
Mr Thompson insisted the registry was up to date and said no one had raised any concerns with his department about missing names or outdated entries.
Which one is different? No prizes there.
Whatever you think of party politics, the party machines of each of the FNM and the PLP are strong. Particularly in a by-election where there is no distraction of other seats, these operatives were hard at work on the streets. If they could not find the voters, you can bet your bottom dollar that the voters were not there to be found.
If Mr Ingraham had been wrong, it would have been easy for the PLP to score political points on the matter. Mr Ingraham’s comments could easily have been painted as sour grapes by the side that did not win the vote. That figures as senior in the PLP as the Attorney General and the Deputy Prime Minister not only did not call out Mr Ingraham but agreed with him and expressed concern shows both a political maturity and that something is indeed wrong.
Mr Pinder went on to give reasons why the register might not match up to the reality of the population in the constituency. He pointed to the COVID period when people might not have gone to the trouble of updating their location after moving, he pointed to the early election call by former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, which affected the usual voter scrutiny exercises.
Regardless of what the reasons might be, we appear to have a situation where those canvassing for votes are saying one thing and the man in charge of the process is saying another. Someone is incorrect.
As Mr Ingraham says, it may be too late in the game to solve the matter given the talk of a general election on the way, but it is not too late – as all sides have done – to call on voters to deal with the matter themselves. Those who have not transferred their registration are urged to do so.
The bigger picture also needs to be attended to. If the register is incorrect, that needs to be fixed. But in the meantime, all sides can make sure they strongly encourage people to register the constituency they are in.
The vote is coming. The margins of victory may be slim. It is your vote. You do not want to fall through the cracks.
Third partiesspoilers or not
EDITOR, The Tribune.
SINCE the by-election in the Golden Isles constituency, the debate has intensified as to whether or not third parties or independent candidates can be regarded as spoilers in our political process. There is a view held by many persons-some FNM’s supporters included-that third parties are essentially spoilers, since the chance of any third party winning the government is virtually non-existent. History has proven this.
Let’s start with the obvious. If you were to add the FNM’s number, the COI’s number and the independent candidate’s number together in the recent by-election, it would be more than the number of votes garnered by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). That much is true. So, from the FNM’s standpoint, these third parties and splinter groups are seen as spoilers, a term which some COI supporters find offensive. Some persons further argued that if the COI really wanted to defeat the government, then the logical thing to do would be to vote FNM. Yes; but that will never happen because
selfishness is the axis of humankind.
But follow me. If the COI and the other independent candidate were removed from the equation (just for the sake of argument), how do we know who their supporters would vote for? Yes, some might have voted FNM, some might not have voted, or none might have voted at all. The fact is we do not know. Secondly, if he third party voters and independent candidate voters thought that the two major parties were sufficiently appealing, they would simply join the major parties and not support the cause of any third party or independent candidate. Therefore, the idea of being called a spoiler is not as simple or clearcut. The argument is faulty.
Third parties spring up because persons with political ambitions, or who want to make a name for themselves, do not like the direction in which the major parties seem to be going, and these persons feel that they can do a better job in terms of leading a party; because everyone thinks he or she is a born leader. Sometimes, it’s a simple clash of personalities or egos. Maybe if the two
PICTURE OF THE DAY
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 LIVE sand dollar found at Jaws Beach. These invertebrates are covered in a flexible, velvety-looking layer of tiny spines they use to move, burrow into the sand, and move food to their mouths. While live sand dollars are often dark and “hairy,” the white, star-patterned skeletons commonly found on beaches are the remains of the animal’s rigid exoskeleton, called a test.
High praise for Rand staff
EDITOR, The Tribune.
HAVING had the unfortunate circumstance recently to require admission to the Rand Memorial Hospital—first through the Emergency Department and then into the Male Surgical Ward for a six-day stay—I feel compelled to share my experience. In the simplest terms, it was one of the most enlightening and uplifting encounters of my life.
Throughout my stay, I was lucid and fully aware, and I can state without hesitation that this institution is blessed with a cadre of professional doctors and nurses who are truly beyond reproach. As someone who has spent many decades observing human behavior and the fundamentals of proper training and service, I can say the Rand stands at the very top in terms of competence, discipline, and dedication. Brilliant young doctors working side-by-side with their more experienced colleagues gave me a profound sense that nothing was left to chance. Every detail of my care was examined, discussed, and attended to with remarkable precision.
One of the great joys of my observation was
witnessing the nurses—both young and seasoned—so deeply engaged in their notes, charts, and documentation. It reminded me of my days monitoring study hall at St Augustine’s College, where such diligent attention to reading and detail was encouraged. The sheer volume of paperwork and record-keeping they must manage boggled my mind, yet they carried out their duties with admirable focus and professionalism.
This country can be immensely proud of such an institution, dedicated to the health and well-being of our people. On a personal note, it fills me with pride to know that I have a niece serving as a doctor and a grand-niece as a nurse, both contributing to our national health system here in Nassau and Grand Bahama.
I can safely state that the taxpayers and supporters of this noble institution have every reason to hold their heads high. Despite the daily challenges—many of them unseen—the staff
of the Rand demonstrate an uncanny ability to rise above limitations. Whatever resources they may lack, they do not allow those constraints to diminish the quality of their service or the spirit with which they serve. Their attitudes are consistently positive and upliftings. Even when dealing with difficult or demanding patients, they manage to balance firmness with deep compassion. This is no small feat, especially in an environment where they are called upon to work under immense pressure and to care, at no cost, for many of our fellow citizens who are financially burdened.
I am not naïve to the realities of the system, nor blind to the challenges that persist. Yet I am heartened—deeply so—to witness firsthand that, in spite of those challenges, the staff of the Rand Memorial Hospital continue to uphold a standard of care that should make all Grand Bahamians profoundly proud.
Joseph Darville Advocate for Human and Environmental Rights. JOSEPH DARVILLE Nassau, November 1, 2025.
Life’s beginning needs to be enshrined
EDITOR, The Tribune.
major parties would tailor their messaging to meet the needs of the voters, become more cohesive (especially in the case of the FNM), and make themselves sufficiently attractive, perhaps voters might be more inclined to support their cause and might not see independent candidates and third parties as viable options. People need to see the wisdom in voting, and they need to feel that their vote would make a difference; otherwise, apathy or indifference would creep into the voting process; something we have just witnessed in Golden Isles. Truth be told though; these splinter groups and independent candidates have not done well historically, because the road of history is littered with the bodies of dead political parties. They do, however, make the political debate more interesting and have become quite a conversation starter at the gas stations and in the parking lots. But such is the beauty of democracy, where everyone has a right to choose. Watching from a distance!
ZEPHANIAH
BURROWS Nassau, November 29, 2025.
BAHAMIANS from all across our archipelago rightly expressed outrage and disgust over the recent murders of pregnant mother, Lauren Saunders, and the seven-month-old baby in her womb. Yes, I refer to the killing of the unborn child as murder even though our law, as currently written, holds otherwise. Our law is wrong and needs to be corrected by Parliament. Human life begins at conception, and societies that genuinely believe in the sanctity of human life protect it in law from conception to final breath.
However, Bahamians should be equally outraged by a connected reality: There will be no true justice for Lauren Saunders and her seven-month-old baby. Even if the person charged before the courts is found guilty, the government will not punish him by taking his life; instead, the government will reward him by preserving his life in prison. Sadly, this has been the case for the past 25 years. The last victims of murder in The Bahamas who received justice were a German couple, Horst and Trude Hennings; they were brutally murdered by David Mitchell, who was justly executed for their murders on January 6, 2000.
Since January 2000, there have been about 2,300 murders in The Bahamas. While some who committed
murder during this period faced ‘street justice’ and were ‘executed’ by other criminals, those brought to court and convicted were unjustly rewarded by having their lives spared through imprisonment, rather than being justly punished and having their lives taken away through state execution. This will continue to be our lot in The Bahamas if successive governments continue to reward murderers with imprisonment rather than punish them through execution. Regarding this state of affairs, many are quick to blame the Privy Council. However, the Privy Council is not a hindrance to carrying out the death penalty in The Bahamas. We can (and should) amend our constitution to ensure that those convicted of murder are mandatorily executed by the state, which an overwhelming majority of Bahamians support. However, successive governments have refused to initiate a referendum to allow Bahamians to vote for this change. This, in my view, is undemocratic. No doubt, some will object to my support for the death penalty by arguing that it is not a deterrent to murder. Others will object by saying it is un-Christian. Time and space do not allow me to respond at length to either objection, so I will make two brief responses as I conclude this letter. First, fundamentally, the
death penalty is not about deterrence; instead, it is about the punishment fitting the crime. Punishment by state execution is the only just and fitting punishment for the crime of murder; sparing a murderer’s life is truly a reward, even if that reward is imprisonment for life.
Second, rather than being un-Christian, the death penalty is Christian and also supported by the New Testament, not only the Old Testament. For example, in Romans 13:1-7, while teaching about civic and governmental duties, the apostle Paul issued the stark reminder that the government does not bear the sword in vain. The sword was the means of execution in that day. In fact, Paul himself faced the death penalty and did not object to it other than to say he had done nothing worthy of the death penalty (Acts 25:11). While many might view it as wishful, my prayer is that one day, The Bahamas will have a government that truly values human life at all stages and in all circumstances and pass laws reflecting the same. This necessarily includes protecting babies in the womb from conception and meting out the just punishment for murder. Towards this end, may the Lord have mercy upon us as a nation.
PASTOR CEDRIC MOSS Nassau, November 28, 2025.
Photo: David Leigh
Defence Force officer dies after crashing into tree on Tonique Williams Darling Highway
A DEFENCE force officer believed to be in his late 20s died after crashing into a tree off the Tonique Williams Darling Highway early yesterday morning. Police received reports of a car collision just west of Ecology Park shortly after 5am. Responding officers found an overturned Nissan Juke with extensive damage and a man trapped inside. Superintendent Coran Jennings, second in charge of traffic division, said preliminary information indicates the Juke was travelling east on Harold Road when the driver lost control
and collided with a tree. He said speed may have been a factor and urged anyone with information to come forward.
Police have not officially released the victim’s identity, but sources say he is Marine Seaman Demeris Armbrister.
In a statement yesterday, Commodore Floyd Moxey praised Armbrister for his dedication and energy. He said the divisional senior rate had recently highlighted his exceptional zeal, describing him as a marine who consistently lifted the standard and morale of his team.
“We have lost a shipmate who showed up every day ready to serve with a positive attitude that inspired those around him,” he said. He added that the entire force is shaken by the loss and extended condolences to Armbrister’s family.
Yesterday, Superintendent Jennings reminded residents to exercise caution when driving particularly at night, noting that some areas are poorly lit.
This latest crash brings the total number of traffic fatalities for the year to 61, according to The Tribune’s records.
Jury directed to enter ‘not guilty’ verdict in procuration trial
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A JURY was directed to enter a not guilty verdict in the case of a 41-yearold man accused of asking a teen boy to ejaculate at a gas station on Baillou Hill Road in exchange for money last year.
Justice Guillimina Archer-Minns instructed the jury to acquit Fred Williams on a charge of attempted procuration, bringing the
week-long trial to an end.
Prosecutors alleged Williams attempted to solicit sex from the then 14-yearold boy on 22 February 2024. The teen testified last week that the defendant approached him at the Shell Service Station while he was on his bike. He told the court the defendant asked if he could keep a secret and then asked if he knew how to “come”, which he understood to mean ejaculating. He said the defendant then
asked how far he could come and offered him $20 to $30. The complainant also testified the defendant asked “how far can you peel it back,” referring to his privates. He said he reported the exchange to police after officers pulled up in a truck, leading to the defendant’s arrest. Nathan Smith represented the accused, while Eucal Bonaby and Brent McNeil represented the prosecution.
FIFTH SUSPECT IN GANG RAPE OF TEEN GIRL REMANDED
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A FIFTH suspect was remanded to custody yesterday, accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in a
bathroom on Kemp Road in August.
Prosecutors allege Paul Francois, 27, forcefully had sexual intercourse with the girl at a house she was visiting on 13 August.
Francois was charged with
unlawful sexual intercourse before Magistrate Abigail Farrington. His co-accused — Karshorn Deveaux, 22, Henrico McPhee, 18, Charlton Curtis, 23, and a 15-year-old boy — were arraigned in August.
MAN HELD ON CHARGE OF HAVING SEX WITH TEEN BOY
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was remanded to custody yesterday, accused of twice having sex with a 14-year-old boy. Prosecutors allege Lavardo Newton, 20, had sexual intercourse with the underaged boy on two occasions between October 1 and 31 in New Providence.
Newton was charged with unlawful sexual intercourse before Magistrate Abigail Farrington.
He was not required to enter a plea. The case will proceed to the Supreme Court via a voluntary bill of indictment, and he must apply for bail in the higher court.
Newton was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until service of his VBI on 27 March 2026. Assistant Superintendent K Bould prosecuted.
MURDER ACCUSED SENT TO JAIL UNTIL HIS VBI TRIAL
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday after he was accused of fatally stabbing his roommate at their Hepburn Estates apartment last week.
Prosecutors allege Kirklyn Munroe, 32, stabbed 25-year-old Jervon Edgecombe in the neck and body on the night of 26
November during a physical altercation. They say the pair, who lived together, argued shortly before the incident, with the defendant allegedly throwing the victim’s belongings outside before the conflict turned violent.
Munroe was not required to enter a plea to the murder charge when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley. He was told that the matter would proceed to the Supreme Court by way of a voluntary bill of indictment. Munroe was advised of his right to apply for bail in the higher court. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is served on 2 April 2026. Inspector Deon Barr prosecuted. Ryszard Humes represented the accused.
MARINE SEAMAN DEMERIS ARMBRISTER
The culture of slackness: how an unpoliced system breeds exploitation and damages society
THEREWAS atime inThe Bahamas,when pride inone s workwas considered asessential asthe workitself.People understood thateffort wasnot merely a steptoward achieving a task, but areflection of character, integrity, and self-respect. Excellencewas notaccidental; it was deliberate, habitual, and rootedinaculturewherepeople believed that how you work reveals who you are.
Today, however, mediocrity has becomethe newnorm. We seeit everywhere our workplaces, public institutions, schools, andeven inour daily routines. Itis notmerely that standards have lowered;it is thatmany haveforgottenwhat standards ever lookedlike. The rot of complacency has set in so deeply that it feels natural. Mediocrity is no longer an exceptiontobecorrectedbutaculture to be defended. We excuse it, rationalise it, andin doing so, allow an entiresociety to decay quietly from the inside.
A Culture Built on Excuses Mediocrity does notappear in a single moment; itenters through small, seemingly harmless compromises. A late arrival here, an unfinished assign-
ment there. A lazy shrug when service is poor.A laugh when a colleague proudly admits they are getting paidtodo nothing.” These smallindulgences becomehabits, and then expectations,until entire systems absorb the mindset. Wehave becomeasociety ofexcuses. Weexcusethe worker who strolls in late because trafficwas bad. We excuse the publicofficer who delaysa simpletaskbecause “the systemis slow.” We excuse the teacherwho gives halfeffortbecause the pay is low.” We excuse the student who cheats because everybodyelseis doingit.” Eventually, theexcuses becomethe system itself.What beginsas toleranceends asacceptance. And what isaccepted is soon perpetuated.
Complicity by Commission and Omission
Therearetwo kindsofcontributorstoa cultureofslackness: thosewho commit mediocrity andthose whoallowit.Some openlycontribute to decay through laziness, carelessness, dishonesty, oropen defiance of standards. But manymoreare guilty through silence. They watch as
Ivoine Ingraham
facing Reality
standards fall, as incompetencerises, asintegritybecomes a relic of the past and they say nothing. Neutralityis amyth.Silence in theface of declining standards isnot innocence;it is consent. Every time we mutter that s just how things are”or“notmybusiness,”we reinforce asystem thatrewardsslacknessandpunisheseffort. Andbecause everyone contributes tothe decay, the decay becomes universal.
The Civil Service: A Case Study in Institutionalised Slackness
Nowhere is this cultural rot morevisible, and more damaging, than in the civil service. Public institutions should embodyreliability, discipline, andefficiency. Instead, in manyplaces, they have becomesanctuaries for those seeking minimal effort with maximum reward. Peopleare notclamouring forgovernment jobsbecause theylongto serve.Theyare clamouring because they know theycan get away with pretending to work while collecting a guaranteed salary
simple: show up just enough to appear employed, but never enoughto beheldaccountable.
The patternsare familiar and widespread:
Every time we say “it’s not my business” or “that’s just how things work here,” we tighten mediocrity’s grip on our society.
•Workers stroll inlate, withoutapology or consequence. breaks begin early, not because of workload, but convenience.
Manyleave topickup children and return late, or not at all,without adjustingtheir hours.
The performancemeasurement methods usedin manyMinistries fail to detect genuine productivity. They measure activity, not outcomes.Theyrewardpresence, not performance. And so, the game becomes
Vecteezy.com
Some workersperform only when asupervisor isnear, then abandon diligence the moment oversight disappears. The idea of a fair day s work for a fair day s pay has been turnedinside out.Now,many expectafull day s pay even when doing littleor nothing, and feelinsulted if heldto account. Such erosion does not merely harm individuals it corrodes thesocial fabric. When pride disappears, quality collapses. Infrastructure decays. Services weaken. Deadlines becomejokes. Morale evaporates.We start tolive ina worldwhere everything “sort of” works: Roads sort of” get repaired. Projects “sort of” get completed. Promises “sort of” get kept. People sort of do their jobs.
Mediocrity whispers, “This is good enough, even whenit clearly is not.
The High Cost of Low Standards
• Mornings start slow, afternoons taper offearly, and full days of real work shrink into a handful of hours.
• Whenaddressed about their poor output,they react not with shame but with outrage.
The reaction to accountability isthe mostrevealing part ofthe culture.Instead ofcorrecting their behaviour, some workers respondwith hostility, entitlement, or manipulation. They threaten supervisors, boast ofpolitical connections, or suggest theywill “call their MP ifany disciplinaryaction istaken. Inenvironments like this, supervisors become hesitant, standards collapse further, and the cycle intensifies.
This is why servicesin severalMinistriesmoveataglacial pace.Whatshouldtakeminutes drags into days even weeks not becausethe taskis inherently complicated,but becausethe cultureofslackness overtakes efficiency. The publicthen sufferstwice:once from the poor service, and againfromthe costofcorrective work.
The Decay of Pride and Effort
Once upon atime, people tookpride inwhatever jobthey held.Whethersweepingastreet orleadingadepartment,theexpectation was the same: work with dignity andconscience. Today,that senseof honourhas eroded. Many desire full pay for halfthe work andfeel no shame in this inversion of ethics.
We nowapplaud theillusion of effortrather thanthe reality.
The financial costof mediocrity is staggering, though rarely calculated. Every time a taskmust beredone because it wasn tdone rightthefirsttime, wearepaying ataxonincompetence. Everydelayed form, everybotched project,every unnecessary backlog translates intowasted resourcesand wasted time. Government inefficiency is notjustpoorservice itis robbery disguisedas work. The publicpays forincompetence once, then pays again to fix it. We also lose time, perhaps the mostundervalued commodityinourculture.Meetings start late. Appointments are treated as suggestions. People arrive late notfrom misfortune but intention because they knowtherewill benoconsequences. Tardiness has become a badgeof misplaced pride, as if disrespecting others timesignals importance. When time losesvalue, discipline collapses. Productivity shrinks progress stalls.
When Slackness Becomes the Norm
Slacknesshas notonlybecometolerated ithasbeeninstitutionalized.In toomanyoffices, inefficiency is the norm and effort is the exception. Workers who perform well are overburdened because others cannot betrusted to deliver. Punctual employees are mocked as too eager. Those who care are labelled “tryhard, asif diligencewerea flaw.
Whenleadershipparticipates in theslackness arriving late, signing off onincomplete work,ignoringcorruption the messageis unmistakable: excellence isoptional, mediocrity isacceptable. A culturethatrewardsslacknesswill always suffocate excellence.
Fear of Accountability
Why do people not call out thisculture?Whydosupervisors hesitate toenforce standards? The answerlies infear fear of confrontation, fearof backlash, fear ofpolitical interference, fear of being disliked. Many choosepeace overintegrity,harmony overhonesty. Butsilence is the oxygenthat mediocrity breathes.When peoplestop namingwhat iswrong,the wrong becomesnormal. Over time, eventhe mostdedicated workers lower their expectations. They adaptto the surrounding indifference. They become partof theculture they once resisted.
The Lost Art of Calling Things by Their Name Onereasonmediocritythrives isthatwe softenourlanguageto avoiddiscomfort.Werenameincompetenceas“trying,”laziness as burnout, irresponsibility as stress, anddishonesty as “cleverness.” When welosethe courage toname aproblem, we also lose the ability to fix it. Toaccept paymentwithout working is notsimply unethical itistheft. Itmaynotinvolve weapons, but it robs institutions of value and drains public trust. Wrong iswrong whether it happens on a street corner or behind a desk.
Reclaiming Excellence
The antidote to mediocrity is not grand policy, but individual accountability. Everyrevolution of characterbegins withone personwhorefusestotolerateor imitate slackness. Excellencemust becomepersonal before it can become institutional. We must hold ourselves to higher standards regardless of who iswatching. Wemust be willingto calloutslackness in colleagues, in institutions, and most importantly, inourselves. To demandbetter isnot harshness; itis respectfor ourpotential.
Enforcing Standards: Consequences Matter
Facing reality,culture does notchange throughwords alone it changes through consequences. When lateness, incompetence,or deceptioncarry real penalties, behaviour changes.When accountabilityis visible and consistent, respect for standards grows.
Authoritiesmust leadfrom the front:
• arriving on time, rewarding diligence, disciplining slackness,
• refusing excuses. Butthefirstenforcementmust comefrom withineachindividual. Excellence should not be performance itshould bea habit.
Awakening from the Comfort of Mediocrity
Wehavespenttoolongasleep in abed paddedwith excuses. Butnonation,noinstitution,and nocommunitycan riseonthe foundationof mediocrity.Progress demands urgency. Renewal demandsaccountability. Transformation demands effort. When wereclaim pridein the small things punctuality, honesty, diligence,precision the big thingswill follow.And perhaps one day, we will speak of this age of slackness not as “how things are,” but as “how things used to be.
New UK coin honours Freddie Mercury
By HILARY FOX Associated Press
LONDON (AP) Britain's Royal Mint iscelebratingFreddie Mercurywithanew coindesign thatmarks40years sincehis iconic Live Aid concert performance.
The coin features an image of the Queen front man,head thrown backand holding the microphonestand midperformance.A musical stavethat runsaround theedge of thecoinrepresents hisfour-octavevocal range.
Thefirst coinwasstruck byMercury's sister KashmiraBulsara at theRoyal Mint in Wales last week.
"AsFreddiediedyoung,hedidn'tgetthe chance of being awarded a royal medal for his talents in the music world. So to have a royal coin this wayis wonderful and very fitting," she said.
"The coinperfectly captureshis passion andthejoyhe broughttomillionsthrough hismusic," sheadded. "Ithink thedesign is very impressive and they managed to catch themost iconic poseof Freddie, which is so recognizable worldwide."
The Royal Mint's director of commemorative coin,Rebecca Morgan, saidthe timing wasperfectforMercury tobecelebratedwith his own coin. She saidfans had been "calling out" for it and "this feltlike the year to do it," because it's40 yearssince hecaptivated audiencesat the1985LiveAid concert,hailedby many as the greatest live gig of all time.
Photo:
THIS photo provided by Royal Mint on Nov. 15, 2025,showsa UKcointocelebrate oneofthe greatest showmen of alltime, Freddie Mercury.
Photo:Royal Mint via AP
Lifeboat washes ashore as crew seem to abandon ‘mystery’ ship off Albany
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
FOR months, a foreign vessel has sat idle in Bahamian waters, a mystery that drew public attention only after its bright orange lifeboat washed ashore last week near Albany.
Royal Bahamas Defence Force Senior Commander William Sturrup identified the vessel as the Caribbean Energy, saying it has a local agent. He said the tanker entered The Bahamas on September 3 with eight people on board. Six crew members later left and returned to their home country, leaving two men on the vessel.
Those remaining two reportedly abandoned the ship on September 20 and came ashore near Albany.
“The owner is trying to procure tickets for those two persons to get out of the country, and he said he's flying in nine crew members sometime this week, they sail that boat out of the country,” Commander Sturrup said.
He added that a salvage company has been hired to remove the lifeboat and any related debris from the beach. The two crew members still in The Bahamas have been checking on the vessel before returning ashore.
Bahamas Port Controller Berne Wright confirmed he has been in contact with the vessel’s owner, who plans to bring in a replacement crew from Venezuela to move the ship. However, he said the owner has struggled to get the new crew into the country and is considering alternatives.
Asked whether the owner would face penalties, Controller Wright said: “There are international conventions that speak to this type of situation that we'll have to confer with the Attorney General's office to determine that course of action.”
The vessel’s owner is from the Dominican Republic, and The Tribune understands the commercial vessel also originated there.
According to VesselFinder. com, the Caribbean Energy is a 1992 Chemical/Oil Products Tanker sailing under the flag of Mongolia and registered in the Dominican Republic. It is about 124 metres long.
The situation drew attention on Wednesday when the lifeboat washed up on the beach at Royale Beach Estates. It was discovered by Percy Vreeken of Detroit, Michigan, whose family owns a condo in the area.
“My daughter was on the beach and said, ‘Hey, look, there’s an orange boat on the beach over there,’” Mr
Vreeken told The Tribune “We all went down to have a look.” Mr Vreeken said he believes the lifeboat came from a cargo vessel anchored offshore. “I’m 100 percent sure the vessel it came from is right out front,” he said. “It’s anchored, the lifeboat is missing, and the lights are off – which to me looks like the crew abandoned that ship, got onto that lifeboat and simply disappeared.”
“Typically, the owner probably didn’t pay its crew and they finally said, ‘We’re out of here,’ turned off the lights and engine, got on the lifeboat and headed to the nearest beach,” Mr Vreeken told The Tribune.
He said the vessel is easily seen from their pool deck, sitting among the yachts that typically anchor off Albany. He added that Defence Force officers appeared to board the ship last week. “On Thursday we went down again, and finally the Bahamian military came out,” he said. “Soldiers with M16 rifles searched the vessel, but they didn’t really do anything.”
Authorities have not confirmed whether the vessel is abandoned, whether any crew remains aboard, or whether the beached lifeboat is connected to the Caribbean Energy.
A MYSTERY VESSEL - the Caribbean Energy - sits idle off Albany, seemingly abandoned by its crew, while one of its lifeboats broke free and is now ashore on the beach. Photos: Chappell Whymns Jr
BTVI staff launch industrial action demanding immediate removal of outgoing president
nor BTVI’s administration responded before press time.
Among the most serious allegations are that Dr Davis questioned the accredited qualifications of faculty members in ways they say affected benefits tied to those credentials, stalled negotiations on a new industrial agreement, withheld approvals for professional development and sponsored training, and delayed signing job letters. Staff also alleged that long-service recognition funds went unused and that salary increments due from July 1, 2025 have not been paid.
Union representatives said they met with BTVI’s board of directors multiple times — most recently on September 11
— but claimed no action was taken. They accused the board of allowing “chaos” to continue without intervention.
Faculty also alleged that Dr Davis diverted government-allocated funds earmarked for outstanding benefits and salary
adjustments to finance what they described as a “lavish” celebration of her legacy. In a statement released by protesting staff, they claimed that after months of being told there was no money for professional development, salary increases or long-service
recognition, the president and her management team “found money” for a party featuring a DJ, MC, Junkanoo rush-out and travel expenses for accreditation guests.
Bahamas Union of Auxiliary Professionals in Education President Ernesto Williams told The Tribune that staff were left without increments, certification allowances and degree appreciation payments that had already been approved in industrial agreements, while celebrations proceeded.
He said the decision “sent the wrong message” and reinforced the view that staff welfare had been sidelined. “You should put your focus into making sure that the employees get what they need, but with Christmas around the corner you put money and focus into planning a
celebration for your legacy at the institution,” Mr Williams said. “You can find money for that, but you can’t find money for the people, what they rightfully deserve.”
He said the silence from Dr Davis has left staff feeling disregarded. “You haven’t communicated with your employees. You haven’t made any commitments. It gives the impression and it gives the perception that you don’t care and it’s about your personal gain.”
Heading into the holidays, he said workers are anxious. “You want people’s Christmases to go without the money that they’ve worked for.”
Mr Williams said faculty have supported Dr Davis for four years as the institution pursued accreditation, “for the good of the institution and the
nation”, but now feel their cooperation has not been returned.
He urged Dr Davis to use her remaining 19 days in office to address outstanding payments and benefits, noting she still has authority to release funds and engage government personnel. He recommended she “take the opportunity to alleviate some of these concerns so that BTVI’s next president is not forced to inherit unresolved issues.”
“As long as that contract is still intact, as the CEO of the institution she has the authority to ensure that those funds are released in time. Nineteen days remain — simply honour it. Just release it,” he said.
Mr Williams warned that leaving the issues unresolved could place staff in limbo and erode confidence in BTVI’s leadership.
WILSON HITS BACK AT PM’S ‘GIFT’ COMMENT SAYING PAY RISES CAME FROM TAXPAYERS
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson says teachers are preparing to decide how they will escalate industrial action as anger intensifies over the government’s salary adjustments, warning: “it ain’t long now.”
Ms Wilson said yesterday she had circulated a second poll to determine “what form of industrial action we’re going to take and when and what time,” stressing that industrial action extends beyond marching or protesting.
Her remarks follow a vote by teachers to take action. A union survey released on
Sunday showed 87.8 percent of respondents supported industrial action and 92 percent backed taking a strike vote, though it was unclear how many teachers participated in the poll. The vote came after Ms Wilson sharply criticised the government’s recent salary increases — which she said ranged from $150, $200 and $341 — as “crumbs”. She said civil servants were frustrated that some workers received more than $3,000, with payments retroactive to September 2024, and have demanded clarity on how the increases were calculated.
Last week, Office of the Prime Minister Director of Communications Latrae Rahming said more than
17,000 civil servants received adjustments, costing the government $20m annually.
Prime Minister Philip Davis previously said he was surprised by the backlash, noting the increases were not negotiated but rather something he “gave to them”. He said: “They will have an opportunity during the course of their negotiations for their new industrial agreements to raise those issues there.”
Responding yesterday, Ms Wilson said: “I don't know why the Prime Minister would be surprised of the reaction of civil servants,” noting that unions had met with him, marched on Parliament twice, and submitted letters and messages outlining their
concerns. She said teachers expected increases “between two percent and eight percent” based on statements Mr Davis made publicly and in meetings. She said government messaging about the salary review was misleading, arguing that only middle management and technical officers were assessed. “It is not a gift,” she said. “The funds did not come out of the Prime Minister's personal bank account or the Prime Minister's pocket. It’s the taxpayers’ money.”
“The second thing is, it is not a gift, because in our previous industrial agreements we have in those agreements where there shall be a salary review or a compensation study,
deriving from the compensation study, we should get raises that will be equivalent to what the gaps are that the study would have uncovered.
“So the prime minister said that they did a comprehensive salary review that was not so. The salary review was only middle management and technical officers. So if they did a comprehensive salary review, then they would know what the gaps would the gaps are truly, and they would be able to peg the salaries based on the recommendations from the salary review.”
Union leaders across the public service have criticised the rollout, saying some workers received
meagre adjustments while others received nothing at all. The increases, which award at least two increments retroactive to September, are part of a phased effort to narrow gaps between public service salaries and wider public-sector wages.
The first phase targeted middle management at the end of June; the second covers the remainder of the service. Union leaders say they still do not know whether the exercise is complete, given that many civil servants have yet to receive payments.
Ms Wilson said teachers remain dissatisfied and are preparing to escalate their response. “So stay tuned,” she said. “Ain’t long now.”
FACULTY of BTVI stage a sit out yesterday over outgoing presidents stalling on paying salary increments.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
Abandoned baby inspires Pi Xi Chapter of Omega Psi
Fraternity’s
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
$10,000 donation to PMH Children’s Ward
GOVERNMENT NOTICE
INSPIRED by a baby found abandoned in bushes last October, the Pi Xi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity donated $10,000 to the Princess Margaret Hospital’s Children’s Ward during a presentation at the facility yesterday.
P.O BOX N-1615
SUMMERWINDS PLAZA
NASSAU, N.P. BAHAMAS
Nine organisations to join them next year “so we can add a few more zeros” to next year’s donation.
MINISTRY OF ENERGY & TRANSPORT ROAD TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT
Officials from the Public Hospitals Authority were present to receive the donation. Alana Major, the authority’s Director of Foundations, Corporate and Community Relations, described the gesture as significant.
and President of the Pi Xi Chapter, said the incident moved members of the organisation. “We were very touched last year in October with the infant that was found in the bushes,” Mr Clarke said. “We saw it fit, being uncles, fathers and grandfathers, that we want to now give back to assist the Children’s Ward with allowing this infant and other infants who may be in the same situation to be in a better position.”
A Public Sitting of the Road Traffic Authority Board will be held at Kendal G. L. Isaacs Gymnasium off University Drive, on the 11th December, 2025 at 10 am
The cheque handover took place outside the Legacy Entrance of PMH at noon. Fraternity members said the discovery of the infant, which drew national concern at the time, prompted them to act in support of vulnerable children receiving care at the hospital.
James Clarke, Basileus
He said the fraternity wanted the donation to reflect Omega’s emphasis on service. Mr Clarke added that members hoped to partner with the Public Hospitals Authority on future efforts and encouraged other Divine
The Board will be considering applications for the grant of Self Drive Cars/Scooters Private Schedule Omnibus Franchises and Variations in accordance with the Road Traffic Act, Chapter 220.
Further, in accordance with the provisions of Road Traffic Act Chapter 220, any person is entitled to object to the grant of any franchise, however a person who would wish to be heard as an objector should within fourteen (14) days of the date of this publication lodge in writing, two (2) copies of his/her objection, setting out therein, all the grounds of his/her objection(s).
“We are extremely grateful to the Pi Xi brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity for this $10,000 cheque that is being donated to the Children’s Ward,” Ms Major said. “On behalf of nurse Johnson and all of the administrators here at PMH and at PHA we say thank you.”
The under-mentioned persons or their representatives are required to attend: Applicants who submitted their application(s) previously but have not been included on
contact the Franchise Section of the Road Traffic Department.
SELF-DRIVE CARS
SELF-DRIVE SCOOTERS
CHUKWUNA DAVIS & CHARMAINE DELEVEAUX NASSAU, BAHAMAS
6 RONALD DUNCOMBE NASSAU, BAHAMAS
7 ELEAZER ORLANDO FERGUSON Robinson Road NASSAU, BAHAMAS
Requesting
THE MEN of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity decided to come together and donate $10,000 to the Princess Margeret Hospital’s maternaty ward yesterday to help the hospital with their capability to care for those in the ward.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
White House says admiral ordered follow-on strike on alleged drug boat, insists attack was lawful
WASHINGTON Associated Press
THE White House said Monday that a Navy admiral acted “within his authority and the law” when he ordered a second, follow-up strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea in a September US military operation that has come under bipartisan scrutiny.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt offered the justification for the Sept. 2 strike after lawmakers from both parties on Sunday announced support for congressional reviews of US military strikes against vessels suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.
The lawmakers cited a published report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order for a second strike that killed survivors on the boat in that September incident.
Leavitt in her comments to reporters did not dispute a Washington Post report that there were survivors after the initial strike in the incident. Her explanation came after President Donald Trump a day earlier said that he “wouldn’t have wanted that — not a second strike” when asked about the incident.
“Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic
strikes,” said Leavitt, referring to US Navy Vice Admiral Frank Bradley, who at the time was the commander of Joint Special Operations Command.
“Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated.”
The lawmakers said they did not know whether last week’s Post report was true, and some Republicans were skeptical. Still, they said the reports of attacking survivors of an initial missile strike posed serious legal concerns and merited further scrutiny.
“This rises to the level of a war crime if it’s true,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.
Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, when asked about a follow-up strike aimed at people no longer able to fight, said Congress does not have information that happened. He noted that leaders of the Armed Services Committee in both the House and Senate have opened investigations.
“Obviously, if that occurred, that would be very serious and I agree that that would be an illegal act,” Turner said.
Trump on Sunday vigorously defended Hegseth.
“Pete said he did not order the death of those two men,” Trump said. He added, “And I believe him.”
Leavitt said Hegseth has spoken with members of Congress who may have expressed some concerns
about the reports over the weekend.
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also spoke over the weekend with the four bipartisan lawmakers leading the Senate and House Armed Services Committees in which he reiterated “his trust and confidence in the experienced commanders at every echelon,” Caine’s office said in a statement.
The statement added that the call focused on “addressing the intent and legality of missions to disrupt illicit trafficking networks which threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Monday broadly defended the operations, echoing the Trump administration position that they’re necessary to stem the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States.
Thune said the committees in Congress will conduct oversight looking into what happened. “I don’t think you want to draw any conclusions or deductions until you have all the facts,” he said of the Sept. 2 strike. “We’ll see where they lead.”
After the Post’s report, Hegseth said Friday on X that “fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible
warriors fighting to protect the homeland.”
“Our current operations in the Caribbean are lawful under both US and international law, with all actions in compliance with the law of armed conflict—and approved by the best military and civilian lawyers, up and down the chain of command,” Hegseth wrote.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called Hegseth a “national embarrassment” over his response to critics. Schumer added that the armed services committees should demand that Hegseth release the video of the strike and testify under oath about what happened.
Trump later on Monday met with his national security team to discuss the ongoing operations and potential next steps against Venezuela.
The US administration says the strikes are aimed at drug cartels, some of which it claims are controlled by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Trump also is weighing whether to carry out strikes on the Venezuelan mainland.
Trump on Sunday confirmed that he had recently spoken by phone with Maduro but declined to detail the conversation.
Speaking to supporters in Caracas on Monday, Maduro said that US pressure has
“tested” the country, but that Venezuelans are ready “to defend it and lead it to the path of peace.”
“We have lived through 22 weeks of aggression that can only be described as psychological terrorism,” Maduro said.
The September strike was one in a series carried out by the US military in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean as Trump has ordered the build up a fleet of warships near Venezuela, including the largest US aircraft carrier.
More than 80 have been killed the strikes on small boats that the Trump administration alleges smuggle narcotics for drug cartels.
Venezuela’s National Assembly has announced the launch of an investigation into the lethal strikes carried about by the US Sunday’s announcement by the Assembly’s president, Jorge Rodríguez, marked the first time that a Maduro government official explicitly acknowledged that Venezuelans have been killed in the monthslong US military operation.
Rodríguez, Maduro’s chief negotiator, said a group of lawmakers will come together to investigate “the serious events that led to the murder of Venezuelans in the waters of the Caribbean Sea.”
Hong Kong fire probe reveals unsafe netting as public mourns and government stifles
HONG KONG
Associated Press
HONG KONG officials said Monday that their investigation into a deadly blaze that killed at least 151 has revealed some of the netting that covered scaffolding used in renovations was not up to fire-safety codes, as a wave of public sympathy and support was met by government moves to stifle criticism.
Wednesday’s blaze, which took until Friday to fully extinguish, started on the lower-level netting covering bamboo scaffolding around one building in the high-rise Wang Fuk Court complex. It then swept inside as foam panels placed over windows caught fire and blew out the glass. Winds carried flames from building to building that all were covered in scaffolding and netting, until seven of eight were ablaze.
Initial tests of the netting showed it was up to code, but subsequently investigators collected 20 samples from all areas, including higher floors, and found seven failed safety standards, suggesting contractors skimped to make greater profits, said Eric Chan, Hong Kong’s Chief Secretary.
“They just wanted to make money at the expense of people’s lives,” he told reporters.
Donations for survivors of the fire had reached 900 million Hong Kong dollars ($115 million) as of Monday, authorities said, as a steady stream of people placed flowers, cards and other tributes at a makeshift memorial near the burned out block of buildings.
“When something happens, we come out to help each other, “ said Loretta Loh, after paying her regards at the site. “I have a heavy heart.”
Some 4,600 people lived in the Wang Fuk Court complex in the suburb of Tai Po.
Hong Kong police Disaster Victim Identification Unit staff had searched five of the burned buildings but only made partial progress through the remaining two, said Tsang Shuk-yin, head of the police casualty enquiry unit. Teams were assessing the safety of the other buildings, including the one that caught fire first and suffered the worst damage.
On Monday they recovered another eight bodies, including three that firefighters found earlier but could not retrieve. Dozens of
dissent
people remain unaccounted for, but some are likely among the 39 bodies not yet identified, Tsang said.
“We will have to wait until we get through all seven blocks before we can make a final report,” she said.
Private donations and 300 million Hong Kong dollars ($38.5 million) in start-up capital from the government will be used to help victims rebuild their homes and provide long--term support, local officials said. The government has also given survivors cash subsidies to help with expenses, including funerals, and is working to find them housing.
By Monday, 683 residents had found places in local hotels and hostels, and another 1,144 moved into transitional housing units. Two emergency shelters remained open for others, authorities said.
Residents had complained for almost a year about the construction netting, Hong Kong’s Labor Department said. It confirmed officials had carried out 16 inspections of the renovation project since July 2024 and had warned contractors multiple times in writing that they had to meet fire safety requirements. The latest inspection was just a week before the fire.
Hong Kong’s anti-corruption authorities and police have arrested 14 people, including the directors and an engineering consultant of a construction company, according to Chris Tang, the secretary for security.
People increasingly have been questioning whether government officials should also be held responsible.
“People are angry and think that the HK (Hong Kong) government should be accountable,” said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a locally-based political scientist and senior research fellow at Paris’s Asia Centre think tank.
But the leeway for dissent is limited in the former British colony, which came under Chinese control in 1997 and has moved to quiet public criticism on national security grounds.
“There are rumors being spread by bad people giving fake news about the firefighters not employing the correct tactics to fight the fire, or victims being charged 8,000 Hong Kong dollars a night to stay in hotels - these are all false,” Tang said.
“We will arrest these rumor mongers.”
PRESIDENT Donald Trump speaks with reporters while in flight on Air Force One from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida to Joint Base Andrews, on Sunday.
Photo: Alex Brandon/AP
Students hatch new skills as school farms grow
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
STUDENTS acrossNew Providence and the Family Islandsareexpandingtheiragri-
culturalskills throughnew support fromthe Bahamas Agriculture andMarine ScienceInstitute (BAMSI)and the Ministry of Agriculture’s National LayerProgramme. Theinitiative supplied25
layinghens andlayer feedto R MBailey SeniorHigh Schooland GovernmentHigh Schoolto strengthenschoolbased agriculture and introduce students to career pathways in the field.
Students at both campuses are now caring for thehens as partof theiragriculture coursework, learning daily management practicessuch as feeding, housing, biosecurity and flock health.The handson experienceallows themto connectclassroomtheorywith practical responsibilities while building confidence and problem-solving abilities.
BAMSI generalmanager Deon Gibson said the institute, as the country’s only tertiary institution dedicated to agriculture andmarine resources, aims to help students exploreopportunitiesasfuture farmers, agriculturalists, fishers and marine scientists. Headded thatthedonations reinforce boththe National Layer Programme and the Ministry of Education’s efforts todeepen agricultural learningthroughpracticalprojects.
Students atseveral other NewProvidence schoolsare
MSC Foundation boosts U of B research lab with major donation
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter
jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE MSC Foundation has expanded itssupport for the University of The Bahamaswithamajordonation to the Small Island Sustainability (SIS)Research Complex laboratory. The upgraded facilities will increase UB’s capacity for applied research on small islandchallengesandgivestudents greater hands-on learning opportunities in fieldscentraltothecountry’s environmental future. The investment builds on ongoinginitiativesthatplace UB studentsdirectly inthe field. Throughimmersive coralstudy visitsatthe
Foundation s Marine Conservation Centre on Ocean Cay, students gain practical experience in coral conservation and marine monitoring.The Foundationis alsodeveloping for-credit internshipswith UBand BAMSI todeepen academic exchangeand strengthen nationalexpertise in marine science. Inadditiontofieldwork and laboratory support, the MSC Foundation continues toexpand student engagement throughoncampus activities. Guest lectures andcollaborative projects introduce students to emerging areas in conservation, sustainable tourismandclimateresilience.
alsobenefitting, includingD W Davis, H O Nash and L W Young junior highschools, as wellas ProgrammeSURE. Support has also reached the Family Islands,with students atGrand CayAll-AgeSchool in Abaco; Farmer sCay AllAge School and L N Coakley High School in Exuma; and Arthur s Town Comprehensive School and Old Bight High School inCat Island receivingbirds orsupplies. BAMSIalso coordinatedthe donation of eggcartons to supportsmall-scale salesand introduce students to basic agribusiness concepts. At C V BethelSenior High School,students recentlyreceived seeds and growing materials to expand their crop production programme during aBAMSI outreachvisit.Additional contributionsare un-
derway for studentsin Eleuthera, CatIsland and other FamilyIsland communities.
Through these efforts, studentsare gainingbroaderexposureto agriculturewhile contributing to the national goal of buildinga sustainable school agriculture network thatpromotes agriculturalliteracy and supports long-term foodsecurity inTheBa-
Eleuthera students benefit from scholarship/supplies
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
ROMALIA'S Townhouse has donated 100 backpack schoolbags and 100 drawstring bags filledwith school supplies, nutritionalsnacks andtoiletries tostudents at Harbour Island All-Age School (HIAAS), North Eleuthera HighSchool and surrounding communities.
Theinitiative supportedstudentsin Grades 10 to 12 at HIAAS while additional supplies were distributedto other children across the island.
Emma Moss, a Grade 11 student at HIAAS, received the 2025 Ninth Annual Romalia’sTownhouse LegacyScholarship Award as well as the Third Annual Legacy ScholarshipAward. Shewas presentedwith an Acer laptopand a school bagfilled with supplies,toiletriesand snackstosupporther studies.
Emmahas maintainedagrade pointaverage of 3.0 or higher, passed five BJC examinations in Grade 8,was named Student oftheYearin2022andplacedseventhinthe NationalStudentof theYearCompetition. Shehasalso earnedawardsinacademics, the arts andfinancial literacy, completed RBDF cadet training, and is active in sports, themarchingband andcommunityservice. She hopes to pursue a career in paediatrics.
Lorette and MarlonAlbury, owners of Romalia’s Townhouse, stressed the import-
anceofsupporting youngpeopleinthe community.
“We believe it’s important for community leadersto providestudents withthe resources,support, andopportunitiesthey need to thrive, said Mrs Albury.
Thescholarshipandschoolbaginitiatives form part of abroader mission to honour the legaciesof Romalia VAlbury, Regina NixonJohnson andSister CeciliaAlbury, OSB, all of whom dedicated their lives to community service.
"This is our 9th Annual presentation of schoolbags and the Romalia's Townhouse Legacy Award in memoryof my grandmother, RomaliaV. Albury whowas a teacher from age 14 in Harbour Island and subsequently in Nassauuntil her demise," addedRomalia's TownhouseownerLorette Nixon Soudatt.
"We also presented the 3rd Annual Romalia'sTownhouse LegacyAwardin honor of my mother Regina Nixon Johnson (nee Albury)and aunt Sr.Cecilia Albury, OSB who are the daughters of Romalia and whoprior totheirdemisein 2019and2020 assisted withpresenting theScholarship andSchoolbagsin memoryoftheir mother."
The Alburys extended special thanks to communityvolunteers andpartnersincluding DeltaAir Linesand M/V Bahamas Daybreak forassisting withcoordinating and deliveringthe suppliesacross Eleuthera.
BAMSI donated 25 laying hens and layer feed to R.M. Bailey Senior High School and Government High School to support agricultural education and youth development.
BAMSI donated 25 laying hens and layer feed to R.M. Bailey Senior High School and Government High School to support agricultural education and youth development.
Ruby Neely, Lab Manager, Dr Kristen Welsh-Unwala, Executive Director, Small Island Sustainability Research Complex, Daniela Picco, MSC Foundation Executive Director, Emeline Bouchet, MSC Foundation Marine Program Manager.
Left to right: Emeline Bouchet, MSC Foundation Marine Program Manager,DrRobert J.BlaineIII, President of University of The Bahamas, Daniela Picco, MSC Foundation Executive Director.
Govt and PAHO hold South Beach cleanup
SOUTH BEACH MP Bacchus Rolle carries bags of waste found on the beach during a cleanup campaign at South Beach on Saturday.
Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr