EX-CHIEF SUPT FACES
NY COURT IN SHACKLES
Curtis appears before judge in prison gear as prosecutors detail trafficking scheme involving ‘corrupt’
govt officials
Elvis Nathaniel Curtis, 51, who previously oversaw operations at major Bahamian airports, including Lynden Pindling International, and four others, are accused of facilitating the trafficking of cocaine to the US.
Migrant who alleged severe beating by Immigration officers has been deported
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
A HAITIAN detainee who was allegedly severely beaten by immigration officers has been deported, his lawyer Martin Lundy said yesterday. Mr Lundy told The Tribune he last spoke with the 31-year-old on Monday and only received confirmation yesterday that Fegens Laguerre had been sent back to Haiti. He said he remained unclear about the circumstances surrounding the removal.
Mr Lundy previously said he observed apparent physical injuries when he visited Mr Laguerre at the Detention Centre last Monday. He said his client struggled
to walk upright, complained of dizziness and spine pain, and said doctors told him he had “died twice” while receiving medical care after he was allegedly punched, slapped and beaten about the face and body by immigration officers. Before that visit, Mr Laguerre’s whereabouts
After shuffling into the court room, Curtis, who was dressed in a faded brown prison-issue top and trousers, appeared calm, listened attentively and briefly stood when his name was called.
After the 20-minute hearing, the case was adjourned until February. The most incendiary allegations concern Curtis, who
CURTIS -
WIDOW MOURNS DROWING VICTIM
- ‘I KEEP EXPECTING HIM TO WALK THROUGH THE DOOR’
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
A GRIEVING wife says she keeps expecting her husband to walk through their front door, days after he was found submerged in waters in Eleuthera in what police believe was a drowning after he slipped and fell while collecting salt water.
Mom kisses son ‘goodbye’ in funeral service for slain officer
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
THE mother of trainee correctional officer Ashantio “Clevorn” Johnson kissed her son’s face in his casket as he was laid to rest during an emotional funeral service on Friday.
Grief poured through the sanctuary as relatives, friends, and colleagues gathered to honour the 23-year-old from Eleuthera, who
was remembered for his warmth, manners, and humility. He was fatally stabbed last month, and two squad-mates were injured, during a violent altercation at Blu Ice Restaurant & Bar just months after his proud father cried tears of joy watching him graduate from the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services training programme, The church was filled with fellow
Lynn and Derek Rahming had recently marked their tenth wedding anniversary at their Waterford home. Mrs Rahming said the shock of his death only began to settle over the weekend.
“I'm always used to him being home and yesterday, when he didn't come it was
FORMER RBPF CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT ELVIS CURTIS
DEREK RAHMING
‘Novie’s Grill’ and The Tribune bring joy to children in Inagua. See PAGE 13 for full story.
Emotional service for
‘calm-spirited’ recruit
correctional officers in uniform and mourners dressed in green and gold. Ahead of the service, video tributes played with photos of Johnson, including one in which a relative recalled their lifelong closeness.
“We graduated high school together. We went to church together,” one relative said. “We had our first big girl-big boy jobs together. That was my boy. He wasn’t just my cousin. He was my brother, and he always made everyone around, especially the females, feel safe. We experience unconditional love from a male, and not many females can say that nowadays.”
Leading the procession was his mother, dressed head-to-toe in gold. She approached the casket calmly at first, then broke down, crying out “Clevorn” and calling on God. She walked to her seat trying to keep her composure.
“Look at my baby,” the mother said, walking down the church aisle. “Oh Clevorn, why do this to mummy? Oh Jesus. My heart, I can’t take it”.
At one point, she returned to the casket, weeping, and attempted to close it. Several relatives were inconsolable and had
to be helped to their seats.
Former Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson gave a Bible reading, and tributes poured in from friends and fellow officers.
Chief Corrections Officer
Zhavonne Mackey, who oversaw Johnson’s medical and training process in 2024, delivered one of the most affecting reflections. He described how the recruit gravitated toward him, calling him “Paps”.
“As the months went by, training intensified. Ashantio Johnson gravitated toward me,” he said. “Our spirits connected. That’s when he started calling me ‘Paps,’ and I called him ‘son.’”
Mr Mackey said Johnson never raised his voice, even when corrected. “He would just smile” and say, ‘Paps, you had a good day today,’” he recalled.
He remembered rushing to Princess Margaret Hospital after learning Johnson had been stabbed.
“Just seeing him lying there,” he said, “I felt pain, grief, anger but I heard his voice saying ‘Paps, hold your head’. I remembered I had his family up there I had to console and be strong.”
He urged Johnson’s fellow trainees to honour his temperament.
“I say to his squad mates left behind, remember
his still voice,” he said.
“Remember his calmness. He would not want you to take revenge. Johnson was a calm-spirited person, so just remember that.
“God does not make mistakes. It hurts now, but he does not make mistakes. Johnson, my son, as you dance in heaven as you love to do, your Paps loves you.”
Prison Commissioner Doan Clear said Johnson had begun building his legacy early, volunteering to go on the battlefield. He recalled recruitment efforts in Eleuthera, where Johnson was one of only two recruits found at the time.
“This is rough. Y’all don’t know what I’m feeling. This my child.”
Several mourners knelt by the casket, some hyperventilating as Johnson’s body was lowered into the ground.
Classmates from North Eleuthera High School’s Class of 2020 recalled him as unforgettable — full of humour, joy, and energy. At the graveside, the grief deepened. One mourner’s voice broke:
Last month, a man was remanded to prison in connection with Johnson’s death. Police allege that Michael Petty, 21, fatally stabbed Johnson around 2am on November 5 on Baillou Hill North. Petty is also accused of attempting to kill two of Johnson’s squad mates, Perry Butler and Gregory Bullard, who were reportedly injured during the same incident.
Family launches GoFundMe for funeral of hit-and-run victim
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter
THE family of 29-yearold hit-and-run victim
Devon Butler has launched a GoFundMe appeal to raise $7,000 for his funeral, saying they are still fighting for answers about his death.
Mr Butler, a father of one, had celebrated his birthday only weeks before the tragedy. He was walking east on Robinson Road around 2am when he was struck by a darkcoloured Acura, then run over by a second vehicle. Police said the first driver stopped, but the second did not.
His sister, Latoya Smith, said yesterday the family is struggling to cope. She noted that their mother was also hurt in a hit-andrun earlier this year and that months later their father died from illness, leaving the family emotionally and financially drained.
Ms Smith said she believes those responsible for the crash should contribute to the funeral expenses. She called the situation painful and unfair to a family already overwhelmed, but said police told her it is their responsibility to pay for the burial. She added it was unfortunate her brother did not have life insurance.
Ms Smith said the loss
has shaken her deeply. “Every day I just can't eat, I can’t sleep,” she said tearfully. “I have nightmares trying to figure
out what happened to my brother.”
She said she has repeatedly contacted police for updates but has received no information. She said officers initially told the family that the first driver was in custody and cooperating, but she has never been informed of the result. She said she was also never told whether the second driver who fled was caught.
Mr Butler leaves behind a young son he worked hard to support.
Ms Smith said even her own child has been struggling, noting that the boys attended church together every Sunday.
This will be the family’s first Christmas without Mr Butler, and Ms Smith said the holiday season feels profoundly different.
She added that although she and her
siblings endured a difficult childhood, including time spent in children’s homes, her brother always pushed for better. “I admire about Devon, he would keep trying and pushing, regardless of the situation,” she said. “He was a happy, joyful person. He died in his work clothes.” As of press time, the GoFundMe effort had raised $320.
THE mother of trainee correctional officer Ashantio “Clevorn” Johnson kissed her son’s face in his casket as he was laid to rest during an emotional funeral service on Friday.
DEVON BUTLER
‘Life of the party’ drowns in ankle-deep water near his home
really, really, really bad,” she said, holding back tears.
She recalled that on the morning of Thursday, December 4, her husband walked her to the porch as usual before she left for work. When she returned from her security shift, she realised he had never come home. She said he normally called throughout the day to check on her.
Hours later, she was told her husband’s car had been spotted parked at the gate of a nearby marina — lights on, trunk open, and the key still in the ignition. She went there with the person who found it, noting the location was only about a two-minute drive from their home.
At the scene, she saw his vehicle and a water jug she believed he intended to use to collect saltwater. She called out his name repeatedly but heard nothing. She reported him missing to the police. According to preliminary police reports, shortly after 7pm, officers, acting on information, arrived at a creek, where they found an unresponsive man submerged in the water. He was retrieved and later pronounced dead by a doctor. Police said initial information suggests the deceased was the missing man from Waterford.
Mrs Rahming said police responded promptly. A diver located her husband’s body.
“The diver said it was like steps away from where
the water bottle was, which you could see right there. It was not far, not in any deep water. The water was like ankle deep,” she said.
She said she was overwhelmed when the diver told her her husband had been found.
“He was turned face down,” she said emotionally.
“The police and everybody, they went in. I went in the jeep and sit down, because I did not want to see him like that.”
Mr Rahming’s body was found about two hours after he was reported missing. Mrs Rahming believes he may have slipped and fallen while trying to fetch seawater.
She remembered him as the “life of the party” and a loving husband who helped raise a blended family.
‘Blue’ Johnson to run as independent candidate for Freetown
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter
jrussell@tribunemedia.net
ANDREW “Blue” Johnson says he will run as an independent candidate in Freetown in the next general election, months after the Free National Movement declined to nominate him.
Notably, he said former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis briefly stopped by his campaign launch, though he did not personally invite him, and Progressive Liberal Party MP Leroy Major opened the event with a prayer. Dr Minnis has said he will run as an independent candidate in Killarney; Mr Major’s political future in the PLP is unclear.
Mr Johnson’s decision raises questions about whether he could influence the outcome of the race between the two major parties.
He said his move is rooted in a desire to represent the community where he grew up, adding that once the FNM passed him
over, he saw no one better suited to serve Freetown. He told The Tribune his campaign and constituency office were officially launched on Saturday, housed in the barbershop once owned by his late father.
In August, the FNM ratified several candidates ahead of the general election, selecting Lincoln Deal for Freetown. Mr Deal had previously sought the Killarney nomination, saying the assignment was about service rather than geography.
Mr Johnson said at the time of the FNM’s ratification event that while he remained loyal to the FNM, his supporters would not accept him endorsing anyone else if he was not chosen.
Asked whether he still supports the party, he said yesterday: “I am a, most of all, supporter of Free Town and its people. They would override any previous decision. I am not against the FNM, I am not against the PLP. I am not against the COI. I am for the people of
He said he has not spoken to FNM leaders since deciding to run independently and said is unconcerned about taking sides.
Mr Johnson said he will contest the next general election and has invested about $400,000 in his constituency office. He said he has used his own funds to repair at least 50 roofs, clear properties, remove derelict vehicles, help with school uniforms, and provide food vouchers.
“This is my community,” he said. “Everything I've done, I'm contributing back to my community. So it's a win, win, and they can expect more of the same. So imagine if I'm doing this now, just announcing my independent candidacy, what I can do with being a member, officially a member of parliament for the constituency.”
Mr Johnson, a former Shirlea FNM constituency chairman, was born and raised in Kemp Road. He owns and operates Elite Security Agency.
Freetown.”
DEREK RAHMING
ANDREW “Blue” Johnson officially announces his campaign as an independent candidate for Freetown and opens his campaign office at a launch cerremony.
Photos: Malik Smith
Drug case adjourned for former RBPF chief
is accused of taking bribes in cocaine to facilitate the trafficking operation.
According to the indictment, unsealed in November last year, Curtis claimed a “high-ranking Bahamian politician” would assist in moving the drugs with Bahamian law enforcement officials in exchange for a US$2m payment. The politician was not identified.
Also accused as alleged cocaine traffickers are William Simeon, 52, Luis Fernando Orozco-Toro, 58, Ulrique Jean Baptiste, 53, and Lorielmo SteelePomare, 59.
Prosecutors allege the scheme, which ran from May 2021 to late 2024, involved paying off “corrupt” officials to allow conspirators to ship drugs to America.
US District Judge Gregory Woods was told the volume of material in the case was “voluminous” and that defence lawyers required additional time to review it.
All five defendants appeared before the court charged with cocaine importation conspiracy, possession and carrying of firearms, and firearms conspiracy.
The defendants entered the courtroom through a side door and sat in a row in the jury box, with Baptiste seated in the row behind. All wore leg shackles and had their hands cuffed in front of them throughout the hearing.
Prosecutor Jonathan Bodansky said the intention
had been to set a trial date at Friday’s hearing because all evidence had already been turned over to the defence. However, since the last hearing in August, “additional” material had been disclosed.
Donna Newman, who represents Steele-Pomare — a Colombian national and the most recent defendant to be extradited to the US — said the material was “quite voluminous”.
It included “a lot of conversations in Spanish, not all of which have been translated”, she said.
She requested a date in late February, adding that even then she would be “under pressure” to complete her review.
Lawyers for the other defendants did not object.
Benjamin Silverman, who represents Baptiste, said he would be “ready to proceed” after the next hearing. Judge Woods scheduled the next conference for February 25, at which point he expects to set a trial date.
“Once I set a trial, you should expect it will be a firm trial date,” the judge said.
At least eight others are alleged to have been involved in the plot, though none has yet been arrested. They include Prince Albert Symonette, 52, a former RBPF sergeant whom prosecutors say “closely worked” with Curtis.
Both Curtis and Symonette are accused of taking a US$10,000 cash bribe in 2023 as a down payment for helping a future 600kg cocaine shipment pass through Nassau airport en route to the US.
The indictment also alleges that Simeon, a Bahamian citizen currently in custody, used several aliases, including “Romeo Russell” and “Dario Rolle”. He is accused of working “closely with certain corrupt RBPF officials and
others to transport cocaine into The Bahamas” and then onward to the US.
Orozco-Toro, a Colombian national, is also alleged to have “worked closely with corrupt Bahamian government officials” in furtherance of the trafficking
Laroda: More families need to try to assist as leased shelter rooms hits limit
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
THE government’s leased shelter rooms are at full capacity as officials struggle to balance residents seeking extensions with new people requesting emergency accommodation, according to Social Services Minister Myles Laroda.
Mr Laroda said the ministry leases about 150 rooms from private entities, excluding those at the Poinciana Inn Shelter. All are occupied. He said officials are also negotiating leases for two additional properties as demand grows.
“We have given extensions to people who may come for the first time and find out that their situation has not improved to the point that they could go on their own,” he said, noting that extensions are granted case by case but inevitably reduce space for new arrivals.
Asked about the strain of managing limited housing amid rising demand, Mr Laroda said the goal is to help residents regain independence.
activities. The hearing was the first since the guilty plea of Darrin Alexander Roker, 56, a former chief petty officer with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. Roker faces up to 20 years in prison when he is
sentenced next year on January 21, after admitting one count of cocaine importation conspiracy. Roker’s lawyer previously told The Tribune that the plea to a lesser offence ensured there was no minimum mandatory sentence.
TWO men escaped police custody in separate incidents on Saturday, with one still at large and the other later surrendering, police said. Officers said Thomas Minnis Jr, of Washington Street, escaped from the Grove Police Station shortly after 6.30am while in custody for possession of an unlicensed firearm. They said he had not been located up to press time.
“We are telling individuals that, look, this is a temporary fix,” he said. “We'll try to assist you. We'll try to assist you with finances and other stuff, to put you in a position to be on your own. Because, unlike the government housing programme, shelter assistance is supposed to be temporary.”
He said some residents need longer stays, including mothers fleeing unsafe situations or people who recently lost employment. Others, including Family Island residents seeking opportunities in New Providence, may stay only a month before moving on.
He stressed that officials do not want to deny assistance because others remain in shelters longer than planned.
He also urged families to play a greater role in supporting relatives in distress.
“While the government is here to assist,” he said, “we also want to reach out to family members, encouraging stronger families. Stronger families build stronger communities, build a stronger country.”
“We would encourage those family members who have members of their family who are in need to try to assist.”
In a separate incident, police said Cameron Pratt, of Step Street, escaped from the Fox Hill Police Station shortly after 8.30am while being held on a grievous harm charge. Pratt later turned himself back in.
Police appealed to the public for help
finding Minnis Jr and urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact their nearest station or the Crime Stoppers hotline. The escapes come a month after officers in Eleuthera reported recapturing two prisoners — Lavon Nairn and Kevin Jonassaint — after they fled custody on Harbour Island. Police said both men were found within two days. Meanwhile, authorities said D’Angelo Culmer is still believed to be on the run after escaping from the Nassau Street Court Complex on October 2. He is described as light brown in complexion, with a tattoo of lips on his neck and the name “Tiffany” tattooed on his right chest.
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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Why are shelters full if economy is booming?
AS much as the government touts the success of our economy, there continue to be warning signs that suggest not all is well.
Either the success is not as strong as has been heralded – or it is not percolating down to those in need.
Last week, there were reports of continued unrest among unions, from teachers to taxi drivers. Over in Grand Bahama, vendors at Port Lucaya Marketplace have talked of the lack of footfall and the sales that go with that.
Great Commission Ministry recently talked of how it nearly ran out of money ahead of Thanksgiving, while the precarious state of funding for the Ranfurly Home for Children has also been in the spotlight lately – along with an appeal for donors to come forward.
And now today, we report that the government’s shelters for those needing emergency accommodation are packed to the brim.
Social Services Minister Myles Laroda says the rooms are full – and demand is on the rise.
Think about that for a moment. Demand is on the rise. If needs are becoming greater, how does that sit alongside claims that our economy is firing on all cylinders?
Mr Laroda said about 150 rooms are leased by the government from private entities, apart from those at the Poinciana Inn. No room at the inn has a particular resonance at Christmas, but there is no room anywhere for those asking the government for help.
Some in the emergency accommodation have been given extensions as their situation has not yet improved, but as Mr Laroda notes, if an extension is granted, it means no space opens up for a new arrival.
He said: “We are telling individuals that, look, this is a temporary fix. We’ll try to assist you. We’ll try to assist you with finances and other stuff, to put you in a position to be on your own. Because, unlike the government housing
programme, shelter assistance is supposed to be temporary.”
Mr Laroda appealed to family members to be a part of the solution, helping out those who are in need. But he noted that is not a solution for everyone, particularly mothers and their children who might be fleeing unsafe situations.
Of course, it is good that the government is offering support to those in need – but with a shortage of spaces, there are only two ways out, adding extra resources or finding ways to reduce the need. The latter is a much bigger picture.
In years gone by, miners in some countries used to take canaries into a coal mine to serve as a warning. If the miners encountered gases such as carbon monoxide, the canary would be killed before it affected the miners, giving them a chance to escape with their lives.
Each of the instances of economic hardship or frustration listed above is a canary in the coal mine. Each is a warning that the economy is not working to the extent that is needed to help those at the bottom levels.
In some cases, such as donations to organisations, that is a sign things are not right even above the bottom level. Those donations routinely come from across society – if they are not coming, it is a warning. The PLP should also take it as a warning for their election hopes. If economic benefits are not being felt throughout society, that could well have ramifications at the ballot box.
Former US President Bill Clinton’s advisor, James Cargill, is famous for his scathing assessment of what mattered on the campaign trail: “It’s the economy, stupid.” He was right, of course, and the same saying would be as true today as it was then. If the economy really is doing well, then people have to feel it.
And with numbers rising seeking help, and donations running short, people are feeling hardship, not hope.
Fox could be boost to interest in FNM
EDITOR, The Tribune.
NEWS of former NBA player Rick Fox, announcing that he wants to run for the House of Assembly in the upcoming general election, has gained traction internationally. I remember when Fox was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1991 where he had the privilege of playing with the legendary Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale. His stint with the Los Angeles Lakers would solidify his basketball career, when he took part in that team’s triangle offense that included Shaquille O’Neal and the late Kobe Bryant. The trio would lead Los Angeles to three consecutive NBA titles between 2000 - 2002.
I would argue that Fox’s NBA career was more accomplished than his Bahamian NBA predecessor Mychal “Sweet Bells” Thompson. While Thompson had the distinction of being the very first foreigner to be drafted first overall in the NBA by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1978; and while he did win two NBA championships with Ervin Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers in 1987 and 1988; his role with the Lakers was marginal at best. Conversely, Fox was a Bonafide starter for Phil Jackson’s talented unit that struck fear in opposing teams. Fox was also successful at the collegiate level, helping to lead the North Carolina Tar Heels to the 1991 Final Four tournament.
I am honored that Fox desires to take part in Bahamian politics. I am even more honored as a Bahamian that he desires to serve in the House of Assembly. Rather than questioning his citizenship, Fox should be embraced by the Bahamian people. His public spat with Tourism Minister Chester Cooper and Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell suggests to this writer that certain big wigs within the Progressive Liberal Party seem to be threatened by Fox. So far, I have heard nothing from Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis that would suggest to me that he takes umbrage with Fox for engaging in politics despite his diplomatic post. Fox was right to point out that while he is being held to a different standard, Mr Sebas Bastian, who is also an ambassador, is actively seeking to succeed Alfred Sears in Fort Charlotte as MP. If Fox was a supporter of the PLP, it would now appear that whatever goodwill that existed between him and the party has all but evaporated. At this point I cannot imagine Fox and Mitchell sitting in the same Cabinet or Parliamentary caucus meeting, as it would present an awkward situation for both men. I think this strained relationship has opened the door for the Free National Movement to woo Fox into its tent. I think it was a clever move by FNM Leader Michael Pintard to court the former NBA player, as his amalgamation with the FNM would give to that party a
PICTURE OF THE DAY
Will Fox be a revolutionary or a footnote?
EDITOR, The Tribune. ALLOW me some latitude to respond to Mr Fox’s writings wherein he is busy creating a tempest in a teapot. The latest being, “Let love rule.” Let me push him and others to move beyond the politics and toward a revolution.
Mr Rick Fox, I have read your statement and have heard your frustration. Your decades of global service and your measurable contributions to the Bahamian brand are not in question here. What is in question is the very framework of your challenge.
much-needed shot in the arm. Let’s be honest; the FNM is struggling to gain momentum. It has lost three elections dating back to September 2021.
Another general election loss would in all probability signal the end of Pintard’s tenure as FNM Leader. With Fox in the mix, interest for the FNM would rise among tens of thousands of otherwise disinterested young voters. The FNM needs to be bullish in pursuing Fox. His international celebrity status and accomplishments in professional basketball and in the film industry are impressive. I can envision Fox wooing thousands of swing voters and even some of the FNMs from the Minnis camp who have been a thorn in the side of Pintard to the FNM. Fox has the clout internationally to help propel The Bahamas forward. If elected to Parliament, that in itself would make headlines internationally, giving The Bahamas free advertisement. Some of the ideas he has expressed are very innovative. His desire for political transparency and to inspire Bahamians to relinquish their apathy for the electoral process are admirable. Pintard and the FNM should leave no stone unturned in pursuing Fox. He would be a welcome addition to the FNM and to Bahamian politics.
KEVIN EVANS
Freeport, Grand Bahama
December 4, 2025
You speak of accountability, transparency, and democratic integrityworthy goals, yet your proposed solutions skim the surface of a profound, systemic rot. Asking a Prime Minister where he stands on streaming elections is like asking the captain of the Titanic to adjust the deck chairs while the hull is split wide open. The issue isn’t the view of the sinking; it’s the design of the ship.
The state of The Bahamas is indeed reflected by the mindset of its leadership. A careful observation reveals a Bahamian leadership mindset that has been trapped in a 50-year cycle of consumption, cronyism, and political survival.
We have a secret we must tell ourselves: We can only be saved by Us. Nobody else is coming. Not foreign investors extracting wealth, not political parties trading promises for power, and not well-intentioned ambassadors who mistake political engagement for systemic transformation.
You are correct that questioning a Bahamian’s loyalty for speaking up is a dangerous precedent. But the greater danger is the system that makes such cheap shots politically profitable. A system where Bahamians don’t realize they are not poor, but are broke - trapped in a consumption economy designed to enrich a few and indebts the many.
That we are stuck in a system of social integration after Majority Rule. Rather than building an
empowered majority, politicians have fragmented our communities and made us economic guests in our own homeland, competing against each other for scraps.
That the fallacy of “Post-Racism” is a lie.
The economic and social architecture still bears the marks of its origins, and we pretend not to see it.
You cite your global value. But can you compare it to the Africans of the continent or African-American athletes who return to their communities with the millions of dollars earned, not just as brand ambassadors, but as community builders and capital deployers.
The diaspora is not just a marketing tool for tourism; it is a sleeping giant of intellectual, financial, and innovative capital.
Yet we are disconnected, disbursed. An African proverb states that when spiders unite, they can tie down a lion. We are not united.
Your critique of the Minister of Tourism is valid but insufficient.
The entire government is a host body feeding a parasite class of political cronies, overstaffed with unqualified loyalists. It is the largest employer not by design of productivity, but by design of political control. This drains the public purse and crushes entrepreneurial spirit. Therefore, your ideas, while well-meaning, are outdated and amateurish in the face of this reality. The idea of streaming votes? That’s 20th-century thinking applied to a 21st-century problem. Why not demand a secure, digital voting system like Estonia’s, with verifiable audit trails and transparency baked into its code?
You are calling for accountability without its twin pillars? Accountability is impossible without enshrined Freedom of Information and a potent, independent Anti-Corruption Agency with prosecutorial teeth. Without these, all calls
for transparency are just theatre.
Are you seeking to join either of the existing political structures? If you join the FNM, PLP, or even the COI as currently constituted, you will prove yourself not a revolutionary, but another political opportunist seeking a seat at the broken table. You will have underestimated the triumph of idiocracy within our party politics - the power of stupid people in large groups.
What we need is not reform. It is a bloodless revolution. A declaration of true economic and governance independence, built by Bahamians, for Bahamians. We must destroy the current system of manufactured chaos and castrated excellence and build anew.
We need a platform that transcends parties and unites the homeland with the diaspora around a concrete plan of action. Not politics but nation-building. Mr Fox, a new scale of thinking is required. The next generation is watching, but they are not waiting for a better-managed election. They are waiting for a country worth inheriting.
You have a platform. Use it not to ask permission from the gatekeepers of a failing system, but to build the new system alongside the people and the diaspora.
Our love for The Bahamas must be ruled not by sentiment, but by the ruthless, determined will to build a nation that works for the many, not the few. The lion is tied down. It is time for the spiders to unite and rebuild the village.
The choice is yours. Become another footnote in the cycle of political slop, or help ignite the bloodless revolution.
The Bahamas is waiting for its true independence. It will not be given. It must be taken and built.
A member of the unsilenced majority.
RABBI COMMON ZENSE Freeport, Grand Bahama December 4, 2025.
Photo: Ron Lightbourn
Sands: Merging hotel college with
‘worst decision I ever made’
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
COMBINING the former Bahamas Hotel Training College with what is now the University of The Bahamas was “the worst decision I ever made in my tourism career,” according to immediate past Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) president Robert Sands.
Mr Sands made the remark during a panel discussion on workforce development at Thursday’s Bahamas Out Islands Promotion Board Annual General Meeting. He said he was among the industry representatives who supported the merger at the time, but now believed the decision removed an important pathway for practical, skills-based training in the sector.
He said that although some tourism professionals were academically inclined, most workers were “more practically endowed”.
Mr Sands added that combining the institutions “eliminated an opportunity for persons to matriculate in their passions”, noting that renewed efforts were being made to reintroduce vocational and skills-based training.
Mr Sands, who serves as chair of the University
of The Bahamas Tourism Programme Academic Committee, acknowledged the wider challenge of workforce development for the Family Islands. Panel moderator and BOIPB executive director Kerry Fountain described the issue as a “shallow workforce pool”, particularly affecting smaller islands.
Mr Sands said the problem was “very complex”, and more pronounced in the Family Islands than in New Providence. He said collaboration between UB and hotel operators over the past 18 months had signalled a stronger focus on addressing workforce gaps.
He said several hotel operators had partnered directly with UB to identify students suitable for employment in the sector.
Mr Sands pointed to the College of Tourism, Hospitality, Culinary Arts and Leisure Management as continuing to produce “a cadre of disciplines on a year-by-year basis”.
Mr Sands added that the sector had also contributed to workforce stagnation, noting that compensation structures sometimes left line employees earning more than their managers. He said hotels find themselves having to "work with and train up" middle managers for their positions.
"It's not that we don't have the cadre or pool of potential employees, but we have to find a way for them to matricule up and also compensate them accordingly, and that's some of the work that we're doing with UB and some of the other hierarchal opportunities," Mr Sands explained. He said the shortage of
middle managers reflected gaps in how the sector develops and advances talent, noting that more structured pathways were needed to help employees move upward..
He said his own advancement came through early opportunities to work abroad, citing his experience taking a pay reduction in 1982 to gain
exposure in Guyana. He contrasted this with the reluctance of many workers today to pursue similar pathways, not wanting to leave their "comfort zone".
"They sent me to Georgetown, Guyana in the middle of the jungle. Left my nice cushy job as deputy manager of the Nassau Beach Hotel to
go down south and I had a salary pay cut, but I saw that as an opportunity to make a step backward to make ten steps forward," he said. "I don't know if there's that same type of initiative and commitment to do that,"
He encouraged Bahamian hotel workers to "embrace" such opportunities when they arise.
Arawak Cay vendors working from cars as they await approvals
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
SOME Arawak Cay vendors are working out of their vehicles as they await rebuilding approvals after a fire tore through six stalls last month, according to Arawak Cay Conch, Fish, Vegetable and Food Vendors Association president Rodney Russell.
Mr Russell told The Tribune on Friday that stall owners are determined to restart operations even if they receive no outside
help.
He said vendors need the Ministry of Works to sign off on their rebuilding plans once they are submitted.
“We're not waiting or depending on anybody to get us started,” he said. “We're not depending on funds from the government or any non-government agency to support us financially to get our business up and running. All we need is the Ministry of Works is to expedite our plans so we can go ahead and get temporary electricity and start the process.”
His business, Red Snapper, was among six stalls completely destroyed in last month’s blaze. Two others were damaged.
Officials have pledged to erect temporary structures within 60 days to house the affected vendors. Meanwhile, some business owners estimate rebuilding their permanent establishments could cost $200,000 or more.
Mr Russell said he cannot account for every vendor’s situation, but he has not seen widespread alarm among those
impacted.
He said many are improvising to keep money flowing.
“My neighbors, they come out every day, and they sell water and a little juice and small stuff like that to keep them going,” he said, “but we have
persons who are still trying to sell little conch salads and trying to come out and cook from their cars. The most important things is trying to get back into our place.”
Mr Russell said he has managed to stay afloat with help from friends, and he
expressed confidence that the rebuilding effort will gain momentum.
“I can assure you that the government is going to make sure that we are facilitated. The government, has every intention to make sure that we're up and running again,” he added.
FNM CHAIRMAN DR DUANE SANDS
‘Terrified’ detainee deported after alleging severe beating
were unknown for three days after a court appearance the previous weekend, as relatives received conflicting information about whether he was being held at the Detention Centre, the Prison, or a hospital.
A detainee who was released and housed in the same dormitory told people in the Haitian community he saw Mr Laguerre being carried out and believed he was deceased. Residents in the area where Mr Laguerre lived described him as polite, sociable and hardworking, with strong ties to family overseas.
Mr Lundy had demanded a full investigation into the allegations of abuse. He said yesterday he learned of the deportation only moments before The Tribune contacted him and still lacked key details.
“Unceremoniously just deported the man,” Mr
Lundy said. He added that after the alleged beating and the uncertainty over his location, Mr Laguerre had said he wanted to leave the country.
“He wanted to go home. He did not want to stay in The Bahamas. He was terrified and he actually expressed that to us when we were in the Detention Centre that he wanted to get out of the country as quickly as possible,” Mr Lundy said. “You only can advise some things to a client, but it is on them to make a decision.”
Mr Lundy said that until the government is required to answer before the courts for what happens to detainees who report abuse, such cases will continue.
An immigration official told The Tribune he would provide an update on the matter, but did not do so before press time. The department has also not addressed the allegations of abuse, despite saying it would.
The Department of
Immigration told The Tribune that after the initial complaint was made, the case was immediately passed to its Special Investigations Unit. Officials said interviews with both detainees and immigration officers did not yield any clear findings, prompting the department to obtain several independent medical assessments, including an MRI at Doctor’s Hospital. According to the department, none of the evaluations showed evidence of physical abuse, trauma, bruising, or soft-tissue injury.
The department maintained that it remains committed to impartial, comprehensive reviews, noting that medical examinations of this nature are time-consuming and resource-intensive.
Officials added that the detainee met with embassy representatives and legal counsel, and was ultimately cleared as fit for travel following both medical and legal review.
Man sentenced to three months for assaulting mother of his child
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
A CHARLES Vincent Street man was sentenced on Friday to three months in prison for assaulting the mother of his child during a disagreement at his home in September.
Javan Stubbs, 22, was also ordered to pay $500 compensation to the complainant, Jakquel Dennis. If he fails to pay, he will serve an additional two months. He was further ordered to complete three months of anger management. His sentence took effect from October 3.
The incident occurred around 4pm on September 27. Ms Dennis told the court she went to Mr Stubbs’ home to drop off their young son and asked him to keep the child while she went to braid hair. She said Mr Stubbs refused, and the pair argued on the porch.
Ms Dennis said Mr Stubbs pushed her and the child toward his mother’s vehicle and then closed the house door on her. She said they spent about ten minutes taking the child back and forth. She said it had
been raining and that Mr Stubbs eventually pushed both her and the boy into a pool of water on the ground. She said Mr Stubbs then opened the door of the vehicle she arrived in and told the driver to take her home. She said he hit her in the face after she tried again to hand the child to him. She said she attempted to hit him with her cell phone, but he knocked it from her hand.
She said she told him she was going to press charges because it was not the first time he had put his hands on her.
During questioning, Mr Stubbs asked Ms Dennis whether he touched her when she arrived at the door, and she said yes. He asked if she had hit him with her phone, and she said no. Ms Dennis told the court Mr Stubbs liked to put on a show in front of female guests. Mr Stubbs denied hitting her and asked why she was doing this to him. Ms Dennis told him he needed to stop hitting women. A police officer attached to the Grove Police Station testified that he interviewed Mr Stubbs on September 29. He said Mr Stubbs was informed of his rights. He said Mr Stubbs denied hitting Ms Dennis and claimed she pulled his shirt, causing him to remove her hand and causing her to fall. He said Mr Stubbs refused to review his answers and declined to give a written statement. He denied beating or forcing Mr Stubbs. Mr Stubbs told the court he had been with his cousin and two of her friends when Ms Dennis arrived. He said he told her he was busy and could not keep the child because he had an 8pm curfew and was going somewhere where children were not allowed. He confirmed the two carried the child back and forth. He said he opened the door of the vehicle Ms Dennis arrived in and asked the driver to take her home. He said she grabbed his shirt, and he removed her hand, after which she threw a tantrum. He said he tried calling the police for assistance but no one came. He said he asked his cousin to call the police but her phone battery was dead. He said Ms Dennis and their child left with the driver shortly afterward.
The magistrate convicted Mr Stubbs and imposed the sentence and compensation order. He was remanded to begin serving his time.
FOUR CHARGED WITH MURDER OF TEEN NEAR SUTTON STREET
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
FOUR men were denied bail on Friday after being brought before a magistrate on allegations that they murdered 18-year-old Tanaj Adderley near Sutton Street late last month. Lethario Davis, 32, of Kemp Road, along with Stephon Rolle, 23, of Montell Heights, Tyrone Smith, 23, of Montell Heights, and Jaquan Pinder, 22, of Joe Farrington Road, were charged with murder. They were also jointly charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Police previously reported that around 4pm on November 29, officers were called to Sutton Street, off Kemp Road, where they found an 18-year-old male suffering from gunshot injuries. Emergency Medical Services transported him from the scene, but he died en route to the hospital. Police said preliminary reports indicated the victim was near a cemetery when a grey vehicle pulled up, and its occupants opened fire. Mr Davis was the only defendant represented by an attorney. The other men appeared unrepresented. Bail was denied. They were remanded and are expected to return to court on March 30, 2026.
SEVEN MIGRANTS FROM FIVE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES FINED AS TWENTY DEPORTED
SEVEN foreign nationals from five different countries were convicted of immigration offences in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, with fines ranging up to $3,000. The group, which included three Haitian nationals, one Jamaican, one Dominican, one Cuban, and one Ecuadorian, appeared before Magistrate Abigail Farrington in Magistrate’s Court No. 6. They were charged with overstaying and illegal landing.
Magistrate Farrington convicted the defendants and imposed fines ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. Failure to pay the fines will result in custodial sentences of three to six months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS). The court ordered that all individuals be handed over to the Department of Immigration for deportation upon payment of their fines or completion of their sentences.
In a separate matter on Tuesday, December 2, a Haitian woman was convicted in the Magistrate’s Court for overstaying. She was fined $800 or, in default of payment, sentenced to six months in prison. The court rulings come amid ongoing deportation exercises. Immigration officials reported that between November 29 and December 5, twenty individuals were deported to their respective homelands. That group included 19 Haitian nationals and one Brazilian national.
The United Nations is fading—we should worry
By SIR RONALD SANDERS
THE UNITEDNATIONS is beingquietly starved.This monthinNew York,theSecretary-General, AntónioGuterres,warnedtheGeneralAssembly s budgetcommittee that the UN is entering a “race to bankruptcy.
The organisation ended 2024 with aboutUS$760 mil-
cing a condition thatthe Organization of American States (OAS) knows all too well. For morethan15 years,theOAS has also struggled with inadequate funding. Next year, its regular budget will be significantly lower in real terms than in 2010, even though mandates have multiplied.
lion inunpaid contributions fromMemberStates mostof it still outstanding. A further US$877 million duefor 2025 had not yet been received. In all, Member Statesnow owe the UNregular budget roughlyUS$1.6 billioninarrears.Any institutionaskedto safeguard global peace, development, human rights, public health,and humanitarianrelief wouldbuckle underfar less.
Facedwith thisshortfall, theSecretary-General hadno choice but to propose painful cuts for 2026: a 15 per cent reduction more thanUS$577 million and theelimination of 2,681 posts,almost one in five. Someof thesteepest reductions fall on Special PoliticalMissions, theveryoperations that help hold fragile peace processes together
Yeteventhese cutswillnot repair the cash crisis, because, whileinefficiencies existin every institution,the central causeisneitherwastenormismanagement. It s insufficient and unpredictable finan-
Both organisations global and hemispheric are caught in the samebind: overreliance on ahandful ofcountries to paythe lion s share, and delayed or withheld payments from key contributors.
Who’s not paying and why it matters The UN’s regularbudget is apportionedaccording tonationalincome. TheUnited States isassessed at22 per cent, the largestshare. China issecondat closeto20per cent. When eitherof them pays late,the UN s financial circumstances immediately deteriorates.
In the United States, debates overfederal spending especially foreign expenditures haveled torepeated delays. Thecurrentadministration hasadded another dimension:postponing paymentswhileitreviewscertainaspects ofUNoperations. China continues to meet its obligations but has in recent years tended to pay much later intheyear, leavingtheUN
NEW YORK CITY Mayor-electZohranMamdanilistensasPresidentDonald Trumpspeaks intheOval Officeof theWhite House, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Washington.
ALEX MURDAUGH, convicted of killinghis wife,Maggie, and younger son, Paul, in June 2021, listens during a hearing, Jan. 16,2024, atthe Richland CountyJudicial Center,in Columbia, S.C.
AP Photo/Gavin McIntyre/The Post and Courie
WASHINGTON arrives at a specialscreening of "Highest 2 Lowest" on Wednesday, Aug. 13,2025, in Los Angeles.
AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
short ofcash. OtherMember States, including several middle-income countries,are also paying behind schedule.
But theimpact isgreatest when thelargest contributors are late.A predictablebudget cannot survive unpredictable cashflow.
Small states: exposed and at risk
FortheCaribbeanandLatin America regions ofsmall, open economies and climateexposed societies the consequences are immediate and severe.
UN developmentand humanitarian programmesare already shrinking. Development financing long the backbone of support for the leastdeveloped andsmallisland states iseroding atthe very momentclimate impacts are accelerating.
For Small Island Developing States (SIDS), this is a survivalissue.Everydollarremoved fromUN development and climate-adaptation programmes widens the gap between thethreats facedand the ability torespond. As the impactsof climatechange worsen, the loss of UN support will carry real human costs.
Peacekeeping at a crossroads
The picture in peace and security isequally troubling. Peacekeepingis oftenthelast buffer before catastrophe. Whenbudgets shrinkandreimbursements slow,missions are forced to operate with fewer resources, weaker mandates, and diminished capacity to protect civilians.
Some majorcapitals are now considering reducing or restructuring theircontributions topeacekeeping. Such debates are understandable: taxpayers everywherewant accountability for money spent abroad.But ifthe UN retreats,the worldwillrely moreheavily on ad hoc coali-
tions or regional deployments, often withfewer safeguards, less transparency, and less legitimacy.
As withthe OAS,when resources dwindle, only the activitiespreferred bythe richest countries survive. That is nota recipefor balanced multilateralism.
A narrowing United Nations
As budgets tighten,theUN isbeing reshaped often unintentionally intoanarrower institution. Itwill stilldebate, negotiate, and setnorms. But without adequate financing, its capacityfor fieldoperations, developmentsupport, and humanitarian action will decline.
That snot theUN thatthe world needs.
Indisaster recovery,health crises,climateresilience,arms control, andthe defenceof small-state sovereignty, we rely on the UN to deliver support. If insolvencyforcesthe UN into retreat,the weakest and smallest states will be the first to feelthe vacuum. And vacuums rarely remain empty. They are usually filled by the interests of the powerful.
What Must Change
The wayforward requires onlypractical stepsthat MemberStates havealready contemplated. The UN’sfinancial instability isfundamentally a problem oftiming. Contributions that arrive late, especiallyfrom thelargesteconomies, create liquidity shocks thatno amountof internal belt-tighteningcan absorb. The organisation would be strengthened considerably ifallMemberStates,largeand small, regardedtimely paymentofassessedcontributions as integralto themandates theyapprove. Suchpredictability is essential not only at the UN but also within the OAS. There is also an outstanding proposal before the General Assemblytosuspendtheautomaticreturnofunspentbudget credits when liquidity falls below a safe threshold. This is financiallyprudent. Itmakes little sense for theUN to refund creditswhile simultaneously cuttingstaff and scalingback programmesdue to lack of cash. A modest buffer could prevent unnecessary disruption.
TheOASfacesasimilaran-
omaly: states receivea bonus for paying dues on time, while others incurno penaltyfor paying late or not at all.
The UN is needed now more than ever Smallcountries needthe UN most.It s intheir interest tolead byexample paying contributions ontime, honouring obligations, and encouragingthe richestnations todothesame.Thealternative is a weakened,less effective international systemand a drift toward a world governed less by law and more by power. The UNis alreadyin arace to bankruptcy. Should it stumble,the worldwilllearn quickly that when multilateralism weakens, the strong grow stronger.And thesmall stand alone.
(Theauthor istheAmbassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the UnitedStates and the OAS, andDean ofthe OAS Ambassadors accreditedto theOAS. Responsesandprevious commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com)
Mamdani, the Louvre make list of most mispronounced words of 2025
By JAMIE STENGLE Associated Press
DALLAS(AP) From the election of Zohran Mamdani to theintriguesurrounding the jewel heist at the Louvre, keeping up with this year's news alsoleft some Americans strugglingwith pronunciations. That's put both the name of New York City's incoming mayor and thefamedParis museumona list ofthe mostmispronounced words in 2025.
The language-learning company Babbel and closedcaptioningcompanyTheCaptioning Group onThursday releaseda listof thewords thatnews anchors,politicians and other public figures in the U.S.struggled withthemost thisyear, givinganoverview of thepeople andtopics that had Americans talking.
AsMamdani madehis political rise, the democratic socialist'sname oftenwas mangled. When he takes office in January, the 34-yearold will become the city's first Muslim mayor, firstborn in Africa andfirst ofSouth Asian heritage.Babbel said hisname which shouldbe pronounced zoh-RAHN
mam-DAH-nee was most commonly mispronounced whenpeopleswappedthe"M" and "N" in his last name.
Mamdani has said he doesn't mindif someonetries to pronounce his name correctly and misses but that some mispronounce it intentionally. Duringone mayoral racedebate, hechidedformer NewYork Gov.Andrew Cuomo's pronunciationof his name, tellinghis opponent: "The name is Mamdani. M-AM-D-A-N-I."
Thetheft ofFrance'scrown jewels from the Louvre in Octoberhad manypeoplemispronouncingthe nameofthe world's most-visited museum. Babbel saysthe correctpronunciation is LOOV-ruh, with a verysoft pronunciationon the"ruh,"whichcanbeachallenge for English speakers.
"A lot ofthese words come from differentlanguages and so we have to adapt to a sound thatwe've nevermadebefore," saidEsteban Touma,a linguistic andcultural expert at Babbel.
Otherwords andnameson the list include:
Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in the Tylenol, is pronounced uhSEE-tuh-MIH-nuh-fen. PresidentDonald Trumpgave comedians plenty of material when he stumbled over the word ashe imploredpregnant women to avoidtaking the painkiller despite inconclusive evidenceabout whethertoo muchcouldbe linked to autism.
Alex Murdaugh, the prominent South Carolina attorney who wassentencedto life in prison for the 2021 fatal shootings ofhis wifeand son, is pronounced AL-ick MURdock. This year the case was dramatized in aseries on Hulu.
Mounjaro, pronounced mown-JAHR-OH, is part of a waveof diabetesandobesity medications that soared in popularity becauseof the weightpeople havelostwhile taking the injections. Several wordson theUS list, includingLouvre and
Mounjaro, alsomade thelist for the UK,which was compiled by Babbelandthe BritishInstitute ofVerbatim Reporters, anorganization for subtitling professionals. Storm Éowyn, which batteredIreland,NorthernIrelandand ScotlandinJanuary, put that name onthe UK list. Babbel says the correct pronunciation is ay-OH-win, said with a three-beat pattern. Throughoutthe year,captioners note wordsthat come up over andover as difficult to pronounce,spell orare newly emerging. Linguists at Babbelalso tracknewpronunciation challenges they see. In a pronunciation surprise of the year,actor Denzel Washington told late-night talk showhost Jimmy Kimmel thathe wasnamed after hisfather andtheir first names are actually pronounced DEN-zul. But, he said, that became confusing so his mother decidedto pronounceher son'snameDenZELLE.
A CARPET at Le Louvre museum, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025 in Paris.
AP Photo/Christophe Ena
GENERIC acetaminophen capsules are shown Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019, in Santa Ana, Calif.
AP Photo/Chris Carlson
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
DENZEL
Welcome to The Bahamas, Mr. Ambassador!
By Malcolm Strachan
THE new USAmbassador is in town.Herschel Walkerarrivedlast weekafteragap of14yearssince Nicole Avant, the lastperson to fill that role. Frankly, it felt like longer. There are stillsome formalities –he needsto present hiscredentials to theprimeminister andthegovernor general, and he needsto make sure all the cobwebs aredusted off at the official residence at Liberty Overlook and settle his dog Dukeinto his new surroundings.
Butwhen thepapers arehanded over, and the word “designate” is removed from his title, he will find plenty to do here in The Bahamas. More tothe point,he ll findThe Bahamas has plenty to do with him. There willbe aneager queueof people looking to do business. With that in mind,here are some ofthethingshe mightwanttobe aware ofas he getsused tohis new role.
China
Let s start with thebig one – after all, thiswas oneof thequestions he faced at his confirmation hearing.
Mr Walker himself said that China is trying to increaseits influence in theregion,and thathis measure of
CHINESE Ambassadorto TheBahamas Yan Jiarong
success wouldbelettingBahamians know that the US is their “country of choice”
There are a lot of reasons why that should bethe case. The USis our biggesttrading partner,it iswhere most of our visitors come from, and
it iseasier to deal withpartners who arein thesame timezone andspeak the samelanguage thannegotiating other global hurdles.
The Bahamaswants todo business. Theeasiest wayto makesure thecountry choosestheUS todo businesswithrather thanChinais make surethe investmentis available. Ifpeople can t get adeal with one partner, they won’t shelve their idea, they llgo talk tosomeone else. If the US is there at the start, people won’t need to go look elsewhere.
That said,we are a nationwith a globaloutlook.We wanttohave friends everywhere.These days, when it is easier than ever to connect around the world, that is something that is important to every nation.
Crime Here’s one where we have common interests.The USdoes not want drugscoming throughThe Bahamastoreachitsshores.Weagree–we don t want ithere either. We also don’t want guns tobe coming back the other way and getting into the hands of gangson our streets.
This is something we have been working on togetherfor years, and shouldbeasimple winforallconcerned just by keeping doing what wehavebeen doing,andaddingto that where possible.
Cuba
Haveyoueverhadtwofriendsyou know who are fighting with each other andyou justget caughtin the middle? Thatfeels like uswith the disputebetween theUS andCuba. Wefound ourselvesinit becausewe hired a bunch ofCuban medics and teachers to fill the gaps in our educationandhealthcaresystems,andnow it seems we’re runningourcontract process pastthe US to makesure we don’t get in their bad books.
With the greatest respect to all concerned, we just want to hire some people sothere’s someoneat the frontof theclassroomorthere inthe emergencyroom whensomeone needs help.
Should we bemaking sure the hiring process is done right and we re paying thosepeople rather than paying theCuban government? Absolutely. Butsometimes youjust wish those friendswho are arguing could sit and sort it out between themselves and keep us out of it.
Education
The US has longbeen one of the main destinations forBahamian students, and that is likely to remain the case.
ities he can bring will be more than welcomed too.
Thisisthekindofrelationshipthat lasts alifetime. Investinginyoung people nowmeans theyremember those connections whenthey come back home and become business leaders or even afuture prime minister. For those who stay, the sharpest minds can bean asset in theUS too.
It’s the very definition of a win-win.
The drugyears of the1980s were a time that harmed The Bahamas long-term,not justfor thedrugs themselves but forthe corruption thatwent withthem. Today,we should standshoulder-to-shoulder tacklingnot justthe smugglingbut those who allow itto happen. After all, theUS indictmenton adrug and gun smugglingconspiracy hassuggestedahigh-rankingpoliticianisinvolvedinsomefashion.Let’sstartby makingsure theBahamianauthorities know who that is so we can take ourown actiontobackup theUS prosecutions.
There have beensome concerns overstudent visasand whatpeople worrymight behiccupsin thevisa process, but talkto Bahamian studentsaboutwhere theyplantogo and they will name a bunch of US collegesfarmoreoftenthantheywill name destinations elsewhere.
The brightestand the bestcan be an assetfor both countries – and the newambassador isabout tomeet plenty of those young people.
Anydoorshecanhelptoopenwill be rewarded by the relationship between our two nations only getting stronger.Any scholarshipopportun-
Detroit's own crime-fighter, RoboCop, finally stands guard in the Motor City
By COREY WILLIAMS and MIKE HOUSEHOLDER Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) RoboCop has finally found a permanent home in Detroit.
A statue looming 11 feet tall (3.3 meters) and weighing 3,500pounds (1,587 kilograms) has been drawing fans since it began standing guard over the Motor City on Wednesday afternoon, after about 15 years in the making.Even inasnowstormin thedark, peopleweredrivingbytoseeit,saidJimToscano,co-owneroftheFREEAGEfilmproduction companywhere thebronze-cast statue now stands bolted near the sidewalk. "RoboCop" hit theatres in 1987, por-
trayinganear-futureDetroitascrime-ridden andpoorlyprotected byabeleagueredand outgunned policeforce, untilactor Peter Weller appeared as anearly invincible cyborg, createdby anefarious corporation bent on privatizing policing. There wasa timewhen Detroitpushed back on anything pointing to its past reputationas anunsafecity,and themovie,which developeda cultfollowing, spawningtwo sequels and a reboot, didn't help its image. But thingshave changed.Violent crime has been trending down for years. Homicide numbershave droppedbelowmid-1960s levels.And cityofficialsoffered noobjections to the statue'sinstallation, Toscano said.
Sports links I couldn’thelp butnoticethat when US Chargéd Affaires Kimberly Furnishwelcomed theformer NFL star on his arrival, she passed himafootballas awelcomegift.Mr Walker did the samewhen he met Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell. Itwouldbegreatiftheambassador couldbringsomeofhissportingconnections to our table. Now, the slate isnotblank here.Wealreadyhave hadsuch eventsas theBahamas Bowl, with college football teams playinghere overthe festiveperiod, orthe Battle4Atlantis withbasketballteamsbattling itoutonParadise Island.Comingup soonistheDerek Jeter Invitationalat BahaMar featuring celebritygolf somewhere alongside the partiesand fundraising.
But if there’s anareaofexpertise
"I thinkthere will bea lot more acceptance,"Toscano said. "Detroithas comea long way. You put in a little nostalgia and that helps."
The statue campaign appears to havestarted around 2010when DetroitMayor Dave Bingwas taggedin a tweet that noted Philadelphia's statue of boxer Rocky Balboa and said RoboCopwould be a "GREAT ambassadorfor Detroit."
Bing tweetedback, saying therewereno suchplans.But someDetroiters ranwiththe idea, crowdfunding it through a 2012 Kickstarter campaign that raised morethan $67,000 from more than2,700 backers worldwide, and Detroit sculptor Giorgio Gikas finished the statue in 2017. Then, it gotstuck, stored away from public view.
The MichiganScience Centrein Detroitultimately nixed plans tohost the sculpture in 2021, citing pressures from thecoronavirus pandemic andthe needto focus museumresources.Officialsin Stevens Point,Wisconsin raised their hands,hoping to honourWeller, anative sonof that city,by erectingit
the
or
thatMr Walkercanbring thatwould put smileson plentyof Bahamian faces,itis buildingupthosesporting links.
Couldhe encouragean NFLteam to holda training camphere? Perhapsevenstart byconnectingBahamian teamswith scoutingnetworks to give rising stars here a chanceto followinthe footstepsof Buddy Hieldor JazzChisholm or Jonquel Jones. I m sure Mr Walker,with his history, will have betterideas than me, but this would bea great way of building friendships, and giving starstruckBahamiansa chancetomeet their favourites.
One last tip
TheBahamasis goingtowelcome you.By allmeans,goout, getto know the Family Islands, dance to Junkanoo, getto knoweveryone, try a conchsalad. But ifsomeone offers youaconch pistol,makesureyou know what it is.
Di like you've never seen her before . . . in wax!
BUDDY Hield
Photos: Shawn Hanna
PEOPLE pose for photos with a RoboCop statue that stands outside a business in Detroit's Eastern Market area, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.
AP Photo/Mike Householder
outside
police station
in a park.
Princess
GREVIN Museum employees set the life-size wax figure of LadyDiana presentedatGrevinMuseum inParis,France, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025.
AP Photo/Christophe Ena
British High Commissioner urges Bahamas to join global child-care charter while visiting hostel
BRITISH High Commissioner Smita Rossetti has encouraged The Bahamas to consider signing the Global Charter on Children’s Care Reform, saying the country’s commitment to vulnerable children would be strengthened by joining the international framework.
Mrs Rossetti raised the issue during a pre-Christmas visit to the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel on Wednesday, where she and Mrs Ann-Marie Davis, spouse of the Prime Minister, donated art supplies and stationery for the children.
Both officials described the visit as a shared commitment by The Bahamas and the United Kingdom to protecting vulnerable children.
Mrs Davis said: "In my view, this is one of the institutions where the greatest level of care and support is needed, particularly because many of the children are infants. These early years are the most formative, and the demands on the Hostel extend far beyond daily feeding and basic supplies."
She continued: "The children require constant nurturing, guidance and developmental support. It is essential that we help
identify their abilities, address challenges, and provide an environment that encourages growth, learning and emotional stability."
During the visit, the pair met with staff and children, took part in after-school activities, and thanked caregivers for their work supporting infants and young children who rely on the facility for protection and stability.
Mrs Rossetti said: "This joint visit reflects our commitment that each child deserves safety, dignity and a chance to thrive. I am grateful to the [Mrs Davis] for her leadership and commitment in championing the rights of some of the most vulnerable, and to the dedicated caregivers at the Hostel whose work makes a profound difference every day.
"The Hostel is one of several operating in Nassau, including also Ranfurly Homes for Children, all of whom are central ensuring no child faces crisis alone," Mrs Rossetti said.
"The environment that the leadership team and caregivers at the Hotel have created is truly special, with so much warmth and attention, and drawing on the skills of trained teachers and nurses who are now part of the staff
team. However, the ongoing needs are clear, and I know the Hostel, as well as other children’s care homes in The Bahamas will welcome private donations of support."
The Children’s Emergency Hostel is a non-profit organisation that cares for children aged 0–12 in need of immediate protection and shelter, providing accommodation, food, clothing and medical care for up to 35 children at a time.
As part of the visit, the children received stationery and art supplies donated by UK-based retailer TG Jones. The company’s supply chain director, Simon Ellison, said the firm was “more than happy to help” after being contacted by the High Commissioner.
The High Commissioner said the Global Charter on Children’s Care Reform, launched earlier this year by UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy while serving as foreign secretary, urges all signatories to invest in families, strengthen protections for vulnerable children, support caregivers, and promote safe, family-based alternative care when appropriate. Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda have already signed on.
Mitchell welcomes new US Ambassador Walker
US Ambassador-Designate Herschel Walker, presented his Copie d’ Usage to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell and paid a courtesy call on Permanent Secretaries Melvin Seymour and David Cates, Foreign Affairs Director General Ambassador Jerusa Ali, and Heads of Bureau, on Friday at the ministry’s offices, Goodman’s Bay Corporate Centre. In attendance at the presentation was US Deputy Chief of Mission, Kimberly Furnish.
FOREIGN Affairs
Minister Fred Mitchell yesterday welcomed newly appointed US Ambassador to The Bahamas Herschel Walker during a courtesy meeting ahead of the diplomat’s formal credential presentations.
Mr Mitchell said the meeting marked the beginning of a “new chapter” in the longstanding relationship between the two countries. Ambassador Walker, a former businessman and professional football player, presented the minister with a football, which he autographed.
Ambassador Walker is expected to present his credentials to Governor General Dame Cynthia Pratt and later to Prime Minister Philip Davis.
Mr Mitchell noted that the ambassador has family ties to Long Island and said he offered to accompany him on a visit during his tenure.
Mr Mitchell said The Bahamas looks forward to working with the new ambassador and continuing strong bilateral relations throughout his tour of duty.
Photos: Patrick Hanna/BIS
THE BRITISH HIGH Commissioner Smita Rossetti and Wife of the Prime Minister Ann Maire Davis at the breadfruit tree Mrs Davis planted two years ago.
Tribune’s Santa Claus brings joy and gifts to children of MICAL
The Tribune’s annual Santa Claus events began over the weekend as we partnered with local businesses for Christmas tree lighting parties and bringing toys to children in the MICAL islands of Inagua, Crooked Island, Mayaguana and Acklins. Hundreds of local children received a host of early Christmas presents, including basketballs, hoops, and dolls. In Inagua, we partnered with Novelet Lavon Turnquest’s ‘Novie’s Grill’. Novie’s Grill Tree Lighting started in 2022 after her daughter fell sick and almost died from COVID-19. What started as a medical fund-raiser became an annual event.
The Tribune’s Santa Claus event was started by former publisher, the late Sir Etienne Dupuch in 1963, with the aim of bringing joy to as many of the community’s children as possible. Many years later, Robert Dupuch Carron, Tribune president and one of Sir Etienne’s grandchildren, on his return from Notre Dame University, decided to ressurect the charity in memory of his grandfather. Thousands of young people have benefitted over the years.
Further Santa Claus events will be held in Elizabeth Estates, on December 13, and Centreville, on December 19.
Soon no Pearl Harbor survivors will be alive. People turn to other ways to learn about the bombing
By AUDREY McAVOY Associated Press
SURVIVORS of the 1941 Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor have long been the centre of a remembrance ceremony held each year on the military base’s waterfront.
But today only 12 are still alive — all centenarians — and this year none were able to make the pilgrimage to Hawaii to mark the event Sunday.
That means no one who attended had firsthand memories of serving during the attack, which killed more than 2,300 troops and catapulted the US into World War 2. The development is not a surprise and is an evolution of an ongoing trend. As survivors fade, their descendants and the public are increasingly turning to other ways of learning about the bombing.
“The idea of not having a survivor there for the first time — I just, I don’t know — it hurt my heart in a way I can’t describe,” said Kimberlee Heinrichs, whose 105-year-old father Ira “Ike” Schab had to cancel plans to fly in from Oregon after falling ill.
Survivors have been present every year in recent memory except for 2020, when the Navy and the National Park Service closed the observance to the general public because of coronavirus pandemic health risks.
“I can still see what was happening.”
Survivors typically present wreaths to honour the dead, though active duty troops have assumed this job in recent years. Survivors also would rise to salute active duty sailors who themselves salute as their ship passes the USS Arizona Memorial, which sits above submerged hull of the battleship sunk in the attack.
About 2,000 survivors attended the 50th anniversary event in 1991. A few dozen have showed in recent decades. Last year, only two made it. That is out of an estimated 87,000 troops stationed on Oahu that day.
Many survivors were jovial despite the occasion, happy to catch up with old friends and pose for photographs. Even so, harrowing recollections were seldom far from their minds.
In 2023, Harry Chandler gazed across the water while telling an Associated Press reporter how he was raising the flag at a mobile hospital in the hills above the base when he saw Japanese planes fly in and drop bombs. Chandler and his fellow Navy hospital corpsmen jumped in trucks to help the injured.
He spoke of seeing the Arizona explode, and of hearing sailors trapped on the capsized USS Oklahoma desperately tapping on their ship’s hull to summon rescue. He helped care for Oklahoma sailors
The ceremony began with a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m. local, the same time the attack began on Dec. 7, 1941. Solemn rituals followed. Fighter jets flew overhead in “missing man formation,” in which one jet peels off to symbolize those lost.
after crews cut holes in the battleship.
“I can still see what was happening,” Chandler said. He died the next year at a senior living centre in Tequesta, Florida.
Lessons from the past
The bombing has long held different meanings for different people, the historian Emily S. Rosenberg wrote in her book “A Date Which Will Live: Pearl Harbor in American Memory.”
Some say it highlights the need for a well-prepared military and a vigilant foreign policy. To some it evokes then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt administration’s “ineptitude or deceit” and the unfair scapegoating of the military. Others focus on the “treachery” of Japan or the heroic acts of individual troops, she wrote.
Asked what he wanted Americans to know about Pearl Harbor, Chandler said: “Be prepared.”
“We should have known that was going to happen. The intelligence has to be better,” he said.
Lou Conter, who was Arizona’s last living survivor when he died last year at 102, told the AP in 2019 he liked to attend to remember those who lost their lives.
“It’s always good to come back and pay respect to them and give them the top honours that they deserve,” Conter said.
Heinrichs’ father has been six times since 2016. The former tuba player on the USS Dobbin likes
to go not only to remember those killed but also in place of his late band mates; his three brothers who fought in World War II; and the now-deceased Pearl Harbor survivors he has met.
Recording the remembrances before the survivors are gone
Retired National Park Service Pearl Harbor historian Daniel Martinez said the circumstances resemble the early 20th century when Civil War veterans were dying in increasing numbers. Awareness grew that soon they wouldn’t be able to share their stories of Gettysburg and other battles, he said.
Martinez knew something similar could happen
with Pearl Harbor survivors and recorded their oral histories. During a 1998 convention, he conducted interviews 12 hours a day for three days. The Park Service today has nearly 800 interviews, most on video.
“They remain as a part of the national memory of a day that changed America and changed the world,” Martinez said.
The Park Service shows some in its Pearl Harbor museum and aims to include more after renovations, said David Kilton, the agency’s Pearl Harbor interpretation, education and visitor services lead.
The Library of Congress has collections from 535 Pearl Harbor survivors, including interviews, letters, photos and diaries.
Over 80% are online. They are part of the library’s Veterans History Project of firsthand recollections of veterans who served in World War I onward. Many were recorded by relatives, Eagle Scouts and other amateurs interested in documenting history.
The Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors gives presentations in schools and marches in parades to share the stories of their families. The California chapter has added six new members this year, including two great-grandchildren of survivors.
“When they’re all gone, we’re still going to be here,” said Deidre Kelley, the group’s president. “And it’s our intent to keep the memory alive as long as we’re alive.”
Unseen photos of Rosa Parks return to Montgomery, Alabama, seven decades later
By SAFIYAH RIDDLE Associated Press
SEVEN decades after Rosa Parks was thrust indelibly into American history for refusing to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, new photos of the Civil Rights Movement icon have been made public for the first time, and they illustrate aspects of her legacy that are often overlooked.
The photos were taken by the late Civil Rights photographer Matt Herron, and they depict Parks at the march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965 — a five-day-long, 54-mile (87-kilometre) trek that is often credited with galvanizing political momentum for the US Voting Rights Act of 1965.
History lessons tend to define Parks by her act of civil disobedience a decade earlier, on Dec. 1, 1955, which launched the Montgomery Bus Boycott. On Friday, some boycott participants and many of the boycott organizers’ descendants gathered to mark 70 years since the 381day struggle in Alabama’s capital caught national attention, overthrowing racial segregation on public transportation.
The never-before-seen photos released to the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery on Thursday, taken a decade after the boycott, are a reminder that her activism began before and extended well beyond her most well-known act of defiance, said Donna Beisel, the museum’s director.
“This is showing who Ms. Parks was, both as a person and as an activist,” Beisel said.
Never printed before
There are plenty of other photos placing Parks among the other Civil Rights icons who attended the march, including some that were taken by Herron. But others were never printed or put on display in any of the photographer’s numerous exhibits and books
throughout his lifetime.
Herron moved to Jackson, Mississippi, with his wife and two young kids in 1963 after Civil Rights activist Medgar Evers was assassinated. For the next two years, his photos captured some of the most notable people and events of that time. But in most of his photos, Herron’s lens was trained on masses
of everyday people who empowered Civil Rights leaders to make change.
Herron’s wife, Jeannine Herron, 88, said that the photos going public this week were discovered from a contact sheet housed in a library at Stanford University.
The photos weren’t selected for print at the time because they were blurry or included people whose names weren’t as well known In Parks’ case, the new photos show her sitting among the crowd, looking away from the camera.
Now, Jeannine Herron is joining forces with historians and surviving Civil Rights activists in Alabama to reunite the work with the communities that they depict.
“It’s so important to get that information from history into local people’s understanding of what their families did,” Jeannine Herron said.
A
joyous reunion
One of Herron’s most frequent subjects throughout the Selma to Montgomery march was a 20-year-old woman from Marion, Alabama, named Doris Wilson. Decades after he captured her as she endured the historic march, he still expressed his desire to reconnect with her.
“I would love to find where she is today,” Herron said in a 2014 interview among Civil Rights activists and journalists who witnessed that transformative period in the Deep South. Herron died in 2020, before he had the chance to reconnect with Wilson. But
on Thursday, Wilson joined other residents of Marion, a rural town in the Black Belt of Alabama. Milling around an auditorium in Lincoln Normal School, a college founded by nine formerly enslaved Black people after the Civil War, people looked at black and white photos that Herron took over the years, pointing out familiar faces or backdrops.
Some photos were familiar to the 80-year-old. But others, including ones where she was the subject, Wilson had never seen before.
One of the photos depicts Wilson getting treatment at a medical tent along the path of the march. Wilson had intense blisters on her feet from walking over 10 miles each day.
The doctor who was tending to her injuries, June Finer, also flew in from New York to reunite with Wilson for the first time since Finer gently cared for Wilson’s bare feet six decades earlier.
“Are you the one who rubbed my feet?” Wilson asked, as the two women laughed and embraced.
Finer, 90, said she wasn’t even aware that people were taking photos — she was laser-focused on the safety of the marchers.
Later, Wilson reflected on how meaningful the reunion had been.
“I longed to see her,” Wilson said.
Robert E. Wilson, Wilson’s eldest son, said he had never seen the photos of his mother that were on display in the old school building where she went to school. He was a young child when she completed the march.
Years of searching
Cheryl Gardner Davis has faint recollections of the evening in 1965 when her family hosted the weary walkers on the third night of the march to Montgomery. She remembers hordes of strangers erecting tents on her family’s farm in the rural Lowndes County, Alabama. Just four years old at the time, she remembers how her mother and older sister had to mop up mud inside their hallway from people who had come in to use their landline phone. It wasn’t until she was an adult that she fully understood the significance of her family’s sacrifice: Her mom’s job as a teacher was threatened, the family’s power was cut off and a neighbour menaced them with his rifle. For years, she scoured the internet and libraries for photo evidence of their hardship — or at least a picture of her family’s property at the time.
Among the hundreds of photos that made their way back to Alabama in the first week of December, were pictures of the campsite at Davis’ childhood home. Davis, who had never seen the photos before, said it was a vital way to bring light to the people who often are an afterthought in the recounting of that transformative historical period.
“It’s, in a sense, validation. This actually happened, and people were there,” Davis said.
“I’m so stunned. She always said she was in the march, but I never knew she was strong like that,” the now 62-year-old who was raised in Marion said.
WORLD WAR II veterans and government officials salute during the 84th Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony, Sunday, December 7, 2025, in Honolulu. Photo: Mengshin Lin/AP
ROSA PARKS delivers remarks in front of the Alabama State Capitol at the conclusion of the 54 mile march from Selma to Montgomery. Alabama State Capitol, Montgomery, Alabama, March 25, 1965. Photo: Matt Herron/Jeannine Herron/Stanford University Libraries/AP
Music Makers to lead both parades
JUNKANOO enthusiasts and scores of residents gathered at Montagu Beach on Saturday for the annual number picking ceremony, a high-energy tradition that officially shifts the Junkanoo season into top gear.
Crowds watched as representatives from the major groups drew their positions to determine the performance order for the upcoming Boxing Day and New Year’s Day parades.
For the Boxing Day Parade A Category, the Music Makers secured the number one spot. They will be followed by the Shell Saxons Superstars, The Prodigal Sons, The Valley Boys, Roots, One Family, Genesis Warhawks and World Famous 1958.
The B Category lineup for Boxing Day will be led by The Ultimate Force, followed by Redland Soldiers, Dynasty Junkanoo Group, Foundation Junkanoo Group, Chipping Knights, Colours, Body of Christ Crusaders, The Immortals, Fancy Dancers, The New Viking and The Mighty Eagles.
For the New Year’s Day Parade, the Music Makers also secured the lead position in the A Category. The full order of entry is Music Makers, World Famous 1958, The Valley Boys, Shell Saxon Superstars, Genesis Warhawks, One Family, Prodigal Sons and Roots. The B Category order for New Year’s Day is Z Bandits, Chipping Knights, The Ultimate Force, Conquerors of Christ, Mystical Bombers, Foundation Junkanoo Group, Dynasty Junkanoo Group, The New Viking, Body of Christ Crusaders, Redland Soldiers, The Immortals, Fancy Dancers, Colours and The Mighty Eagles.
JUNKANOO supporters gathered at Montagu Saturday to hear the parade order selected.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr