WEEKEND
Start right with McDonald’s breakfast
BAHAMIAN FUGITIVE
ARRESTED IN FLORIDA
‘JAIDO
WORLD’ GRANTED BAIL ON ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGES
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
WELL-known TikTok personality Elias Fritz has been granted bail by the Supreme Court on attempted murder and armed robbery charges. Fritz, 19, received $50,000 bail earlier this week from Senior Justice Cheryl Grant Thompson after more than a month of delays. He must be fitted with an electronic monitoring device, observe a nightly residential curfew and sign in daily at his local police station. He will be released once the bail is formally signed. Fritz — who has more than 300,000 TikTok
TIKTOKER - SEE PAGE THREE
Bowe will face US court system for grand theft auto and evading police before being handed over to local authorities
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
A BAHAMIAN fugitive who escaped from custody at the Carmichael Road Police Station was captured in Florida after a highspeed chase and will be handed over to Bahamian authorities once he has been dealt with by the United States justice system.
INSPECTOR TESTIFIES TO FINDING INMATE UNRESPONSIVE IN CELL
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A BAHAMAS Department of Correctional Services inspector testified yesterday that he found an inmate unresponsive in his cell in 2021, as the murder trial of Diallo Williamson continued before Justice Jeannine Weech-Gomez. Williamson is accused
of causing the death of 29-year-old inmate Mikhail Miller at BDCS on November 1, 2021. Inspector Denzil Beneby, who was the principal officer on F Block on the day in question, said he had instructed officers to remove slop buckets from cells when he was alerted to an incident in cell F2. When
PRISON - SEE PAGE FIVE
Suspected armed robber Tomal Bowe, 33, was arrested in St Johns County, Florida, following a pursuit that began when he allegedly fled a routine traffic stop.
Reports in Florida said Bowe has been charged with felony fleeing and eluding, grand theft auto, resisting without violence, possession of marijuana under 20 grams, and additional
FUGITIVE - SEE PAGE THREE
FAMILIES TO BENEFIT FROM $500K US HURRICANE
NEWLY SWORN-IN US Ambassador Herschel Walker presented a donation of $500,000 to the Bahamas Red Cross for the benefit of families in the Southern Bahamas that were affected by Hurricane Melissa.
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
THREE hundred families in the Southern Bahamas whose homes were damaged when Huricane Melissa tore across the islands at the end of October will benefit from a $500,000 grant to the Bahamas Red Cross from the United States. Newly sworn-in US Ambassador Herschel Walker presented the symbolic cheque during his first major public engagement, seen as a reaffirmation of the “strong and enduring” partnership between the two countries. Officials say the
BENEFIT - SEE PAGE TWO
Tomal Bowe pictured at time of arrest in Florida.
TIKTOK PERSONALITY ELIA FRITZ
New US Ambassador presents $500k donation to Red Cross
“I am truly glad that the United States have provided this assistance to the folks in Long Island and other impacted areas that can rebuild and return home and into a normal life.”
return home and into a normal life.”
money will strengthen the country’s disaster response machinery ahead of future storms. The grant will help with critical home repairs and replenish depleted stocks of shelter and relief supplies, including cots, hygiene kits and blankets.
Ambassador Walker said the US Embassy had already supported government-led operations during the storm, mobilising private aircraft to evacuate residents, providing critical overflight information and delivering relief to vulnerable communities. He rooted the assistance in the long and historic friendship between both nations, saying the United States and The Bahamas “have been friends since long before each country existed” and that this relationship had endured “in times of good and bad”.
He also highlighted a personal connection to the devastation Melissa left behind.
“My mother in law, Marilyn Blanchard, has lived in Long Island, Bahamas, for over 51 years, and I visited there at her home with Julie several times,” he said. Calling Long Island “a remarkable, beautiful place,” he said: “I am truly glad that the United States have provided this assistance to the folks in Long Island and other impacted areas that can rebuild and
Rhea Pierre, Programme and Operations Manager for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said the support allows the organisation to reinforce vital services for people most affected by Melissa. She noted that as government evacuations moved more than 2,000 Bahamians out of the storm’s path, the Bahamas Red Cross provided bedding and recreational items for children, offering “a sense of safety and security during a very frightening time”. Needs assessments are still underway, with recovery efforts focusing on shelter repair, water and sanitation solutions, hygiene promotion, and, importantly, the distribution of construction materials to help families rebuild. She said priority will go to damaged households, single-parent families, the elderly, children, pregnant women and people living with disabilities, emphasising that “no community is left behind”. Bahamas Red Cross President Edison Sumner described Ambassador Walker’s appointment as a reaffirmation of the “strong and enduring partnership and relationship” between the United States and The Bahamas. He stressed the critical role the US Embassy has played in disaster response over the years, calling the
partnership a cornerstone of the organisation’s ability to deliver life-saving assistance. Mr Sumner said the Red Cross is expanding its capacity and preparing to implement additional support programmes, including helping families purchase locally sourced construction materials for repairs.
He added that the initiative forms part of a broader regional push to deliver immediate relief while laying the foundation for long-term resilience, thanking partners across national and international Red Cross networks.
Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, who attended on behalf of Prime Minister Philip Davis, noted the long interval since The Bahamas last had a US ambassador, calling Ambassador Walker’s arrival “a breath of fresh air” for bilateral relations.
“Your support is not just a donation, it represents a shared commitment to humanity, solidarity and compassion in times of need,” Mr Cooper said, noting the country’s vulnerability to hurricanes, including Hurricane Melissa. “We are proud to acknowledge the support today, not only as a financial contribution, but as a testament to our shared values and to our enduring friendship. Together we can make a profound difference.”
US AMBASSADOR Herschel Walker (third from right) presents a cheque for $500,000 to the Bahamas Red Cross, represent by its president Edison Sumner (second from left). Also attending are Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper (centre) the US Ambassador’s wife Julie Walker and US Deputy Chief of Mission, Kimberley Furnish (right).
US AMBASSADOR HERSCHEL WALKER
From left: Deputy Prime Minister Chester Coooper, Bahamas Red Cross president Edison Sumner, and US Ambassador Herschel Walker
Armed robbery suspect caught in US years after station escape
FUGITIVE from page one
out-of-county warrants.
Police in The Bahamas told The Tribune yesterday that Bowe has a long-standing armed robbery case to answer when he is returned to this jurisdiction; they have not yet made contact with their US counterparts and do not know when he will be released into their custody. According to the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office, deputies first tried to stop a vehicle when Bowe allegedly sped off, triggering a chase that only ended after officers used a PIT manoeuvre to disable the car. He then allegedly ran from the disabled vehicle, stole a van from a nearby business complex, and drove into oncoming traffic on the I-95 before abandoning that vehicle as well and
disappearing into a heavily wooded, marshy area.
Air and K-9 units were called in as part of a largescale search, and Bowe was captured several hours later.
US authorities also revealed that Bowe entered the country on a legal visa.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating whether he had a Bahamian criminal history at the time the visa was granted.
The Tribune reported in 2020 that Bowe escaped from custody at the Carmichael Road Police Station,
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
THE Junkanoo season has opened to surging demand, with several prime viewing areas for the Boxing Day Parade already sold out and thousands more seats close behind as officials race to meet interest that briefly overwhelmed the ALIV Events ticketing platform earlier this week.
ALIV Application and Solution Developer Tanya Bain said yesterday that Boxing Day sections H, I and F are fully sold out. Rawson Square is 97 percent sold, with only a narrow band of seats still available, while Section G — covering Charlotte Street through Parliament Street — is also 97 percent sold. Seats remain in other areas of the route.
The company’s new VIP section, located in the
Cabinet Office parking lot and priced at $260, has just one remaining ticket for Boxing Day. VIP tickets for New Year’s Day are also moving quickly. “New Year's Day Parade is wide open and it's ready to be sold,” Ms Bain said.
The strong sales come after Junkanoo fans faced technical difficulties on Monday, when the ALIV Events app became inaccessible during a rush of early buyers. Social media erupted with complaints before ALIV issued a statement acknowledging that the platform had been hit by an unusually high volume of simultaneous purchases. The company said technicians worked urgently to restore access, and officials reported yesterday that the platform is now functioning normally.
National Junkanoo Committee Chairman Andrew Pinder said ticket sales opened to an enthusiastic
where he was being questioned in connection with an armed robbery investigation. At the time, Chief Superintendent Bruce Arnett, then attached to the station, couldn’t provide details but said it was the first recorded escape from that facility.
response, prompting the committee to expand its ticket pool from just over 5,000 in previous years to more than 8,000 this year. The NJC also announced new awards for the Boxing Day and New Year’s Day parades, including the King Beller Award, the Raw Zone Award and the Fanfare Award. Meanwhile, preparations continue for the Bahamas Junkanoo Festival, designed to keep the cultural celebration alive year-round. The festival will be held across two venues over five days—December 18 and 19 at Pompey Square, and December 20, 21 and 28 at the Government Printing building on Bay Street. Events will include live rush outs, a Junkanoo cultural village, costume-building demonstrations, youth workshops, a marketplace and nightly entertainment.
Tomal Bowe pictured at time of arrest in Florida, years after fleeing The Bahamas in 2020.
Pinder: FNM had ‘asylum bill’ ready to be tabled in 2021
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
ATTORNEY General
Ryan Pinder accused the Free National Movement (FNM) yesterday of taking a hypocritical stance on the Smuggling of Migrants Bill, saying the party previously endorsed a comprehensive asylum framework for migrants and drafted legislation to advance it.
He criticised the opposition as he defended the bill during debate in the Senate.
The legislation, which has become a flashpoint in recent days, was passed in the House of Assembly this week without the opposition’s support. It also passed the Senate yesterday.
FNM leader Michael Pintard has pledged to repeal it if he becomes prime minister.
However, Mr Pinder said that if he did, he would likely be advancing the FNM’s own version of an asylum bill.
He said characterising the legislation as an “asylum bill” is inaccurate and misleading “Nothing in this bill
More than 40 honoured for role in 40-year HIV fight
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
THE Bahamas’ decades-long fight against HIV and AIDS was celebrated yesterday as officials, health workers, advocates and community leaders gathered at Government House to honour more than 40 people whose work has shaped the country’s national response. The ceremony marked 40 years since the first HIV cases were identified in The Bahamas, reflecting a journey that officials described as one marked by early fear and uncertainty, transformed through “courage, compassion and unwavering determination” into a story of national resilience.
Delivering opening remarks, National HIV/ AIDS Programme Director Dr Nikkiah Forbes paid tribute to honourees representing every sector of the national response, including clinicians, nurses, laboratory scientists, social workers, policymakers, faith leaders, civil society groups and people living with HIV.
“Our response has been
addresses enhanced asylum protections in the Commonwealth,” he said.
He said anyone curious about what a real asylum bill looks like need only turn to the Minnis administration’s draft Nationality Immigration and Asylum Bill.
The 2021 draft legislation, released yesterday, outlines who is eligible for asylum, establishes a refugee unit, and details the rights of asylum seekers, among other things.
Mr Pinder said he met the draft bill upon taking office, claiming it was ready to be tabled and advanced by the FNM. However, he said the Davis administration — in line with its position on asylum — rejected the bill outright.
“I propose that if it were not for sudden snap
elections, the FNM government would have advanced and passed into law the National Immigration and Asylum bill of 2021,” he said.
FNM senator Reuben Rahming dismissed the remark as “misleading” and irrelevant to the debate, while former Cabinet Minister Darren Henfiled called the document ‘”fictituous,” noting it was never tabled and that the party is under new leadership.
Mr Pinder did not relent, pointing out that roughly 20 sections of the Minnis administration’s draft bill dealt with an asylum framework.
He then read an excerpt from a Cabinet conclusion showing the former administration had requested a final draft of the bill.
“This FNM or opposition
built by countless individuals who work tirelessly to care, to advocate, to educate and to lead with conviction,” Dr Forbes said. “Each of you has helped move this nation from the darkness of crisis into the light of resilience.”
She added that their efforts improved survival rates, expanded access to treatment, strengthened health systems and helped challenge stigma. “Our vision is clear,” she said, “to end AIDS as a public health threat and ensure that all people in The Bahamas can access high-quality, compassionate, stigma-free care.”
The ceremony’s location at Government House was described as symbolic, underscoring HIV as both a medical and national issue that has shaped families and communities.
Vice President of the Bahamas AIDS Foundation Dr Carlyne Smith-McKenzie delivered remarks on behalf of Foundation President Aramae Ford, praising the pioneers who stood at the forefront during the uncertain early years of the epidemic.
Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville reflected on the evolution of HIV treatment in The Bahamas and the legacy of the late Dr Perry Gomez, who led the national HIV programme for decades.
Dr Darville recalled working alongside Dr Gomez at the HIV wards in Grand Bahama, describing him as a mentor who sacrificed a lucrative private practice to lead the response. He asked attendees to stand and honour
led by the honorable Michael Pintard has no moral stance, no policy commitment, and frankly, they are not ready to govern,” he said. “The FNM cannot be trusted, especially when it comes to these types of things.”
Turning to the administration’s own legislation, Mr Pinder stressed that it does not alter the state’s authority to arrest, detain, or deport migrants under the Immigration Act, nor does it create any additional rights for them.
“The purpose of the bill is not to change who is allowed to stay,” he said.
“Its purpose is to give us sharper tools to go after the criminal smugglers who profit from exploiting desperate people and who add to the number of people in our country without a legal right to be here.”
Dr Gomez, calling him “a great Bahamian who led the charge for HIV.”
The minister highlighted national progress, noting a 31 percent drop in newly reported HIV diagnoses — from 226 in 2015 to 156 in 2024 — and a similar reduction in AIDS-related deaths. More than 2,900 people living with HIV are now on free treatment through public and private sectors, up from just over 1,000 in 2012.
He also reported that only one case of mother-to-child transmission occurred in 2024, and that The Bahamas is close to being certified for elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission. “I am very optimistic that it will happen before the end of 2025,” he said. Dr Darville credited advancements in research, digital health platforms, community outreach, reduced pill burden and expanded testing for strengthening the country’s response. He commended Dr Forbes and her team for their leadership and highlighted the contributions of early pioneers including Nurse Rose Mae Bain, Dr Sonja Lunn, Dr Herbert Olander, and Nurse Marva Jervis.
“The challenge of eliminating AIDS as a public health threat is continuous,” Dr Darville said, emphasising the need for inter-ministerial cooperation, community involvement and sustained education. He thanked the honourees for their dedication, saying their work “has preserved the health and dignity of thousands.”
EQUALITY BAHAMAS DEMANDS ACTION ON ‘ENTRENCHED CRISIS’ OF VIOLENCE
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter
EQUALITY Bahamas has renewed pressure on the government to confront what it describes as an entrenched crisis of gender-based violence, using the close of the global 16 Days of Activism campaign on Wednesday to demand long-delayed legal reforms and fuller compliance with international obligations.
The advocacy group said the country cannot continue avoiding decisive action, again urging the government to criminalise marital rape, modernise and pass the Gender-Based Violence Bill, and classify and report gender-based killings of women and girls as femicide. It also pressed officials to meet their commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and to
better inform the public about the convention.
The group hosted its annual events series under the theme “Reclaiming Rights,” using the campaign to highlight systemic failures and the human cost of inaction.
Alicia Wallace, the organisation’s director, referenced several high-profile killings in recent years as emblematic of the scale of the problem.
“We remember the murder of Lauren Saunders this year. We remember the rapes and murders of 12-year-old Adriel Moxey and 72-year-old Vernencha Butler in 2024. We remember the names of the people that made headlines, year after year, and the stories that were briefly discussed and, eventually, forgotten by many,” she said.
Equality Bahamas said sustained public attention is essential to tackling gender-based violence and
building collective power to shift the country’s trajectory. With a general election approaching, the organisation urged Bahamians to take a more active role in governance and demand stronger protections.
Beginning next year, the group will continue its Feminist Standards for Governance workshops, inviting citizens to help shape a people’s agenda for 2026–2031. The initiative will set priorities for education, health, women, LGBTQI issues, and the environment.
“These workshops are a space for small groups to talk about pressing issues, identify the root causes, and develop solutions that address the issues and their systemic underpinnings. Everyone is welcome to participate in the process, bringing their own experiences and perspectives to strengthen the output,” Ms Wallace continued.
ATTORNEY GENERAL RYAN PINDER
NATIONAL HIV/AIDS Programme Director Dr Nikkiah Forbes speaks during a ceremony honouring 40 workers for their role in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Photo: Nikia Charlton
Munroe says 500 officers hired under current administration
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
AFTER 28 weeks of intensive training, the allmale Squad A of Class 59 formally passed out yesterday at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services, marking the first step in what officials described as a demanding and consequential career in the correctional system.
Prison Commissioner Doan Cleare told the new officers their training is far from over, noting they face another four months of instruction, including firefighting and extensive riot-control training. He urged supervisors to enforce discipline using “swift justice” when policies and procedures are breached.
Commissioner Cleare also pressed the recruits to begin financial planning immediately.
“You must do it, because I have seen persons exodus this institution and still can't meet the daily needs,” he said. “So financial planning, we will bring in the experts to talk to you and talk to the other offices here
also. But my thing is do not be quick to party. Don't be quick to buy flashy cars. Don't be quick to do excessive spending.”
The ceremony highlighted ongoing developments within the BDCS, including 84 people assigned to the inmate industries programme and the donation of two buses — one from the Ecological Park and another from a private business — to support operations.
National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said the institution has undergone substantial staffing expansion during this administration.
He said that of the existing 1,005 civilian and officer staff, 500 have been recruited and engaged over the past several years.
“We have great plans for this facility. We have great plans for the staff there,” he said. “We intend for this to be the first certified Correctional Facility in this region, and we are pushing hard for that.”
He added that professionals such as psychiatrists, nutritionists and occupational therapists are engaged for the first time.
Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper told the recruits their true measure will be reflected in the impact they have on colleagues and the people in their custody. “ It will be reflected in the impact you have on this institution, on your colleagues, and, more importantly, on the residents in your care. Be the difference in this institution, make a difference so that you can create and leave a legacy worthy of respect and emulation,” he said. He reminded them that law-enforcement service is often unseen but essential. “Law enforcement and officers sacrifice may be quiet and constant and often unseen, but it should always be deeply felt in our communities. You stand here today as men who have chosen a path grounded in purpose, one rooted in service, integrity and honor and the correctional service is not merely a profession. It is indeed a calling. It demands confidence without arrogance, strength anchored in compassion and leadership shaped by humility.”
Trial continues into death of inmate at correctional facility
PRISON from page one
he arrived, he saw Miller lying on his back at the rear of the cell with three inmates present, including Reno Blanche and Williamson.
Inspector Beneby said he called out to Miller and checked for a pulse. When he asked the inmates what had happened, they all responded that they did not know. He said he then secured the scene by placing the inmates in adjacent cells before requesting a medical orderly and Dr Hasting Johnson to examine the body. Police later arrived to process and
photograph the scene. A photograph shown in court depicted the deceased shirtless and wearing lightcoloured trousers.
Under cross-examination by Dorsey McPhee, Inspector Beneby denied asking Williamson to check Miller’s pulse. He said he had been informed of the incident by Dwayne Lockhart, who was on bottle duty that day.
The officer said wellness checks are conducted each morning and inmates are able to report any medical concerns. He told the court he did not know Miller had a mental health condition until after the incident.
Mr McPhee highlighted what he said was a discrepancy between Inspector Beneby’s statement and testimony, noting that the officer wrote that he called Miller by name but testified that he had only called out to him. The inspector responded that he did not know the deceased’s name at the time and had simply called out.
Inspector Beneby said he had no knowledge of any allegation that the defendant moved the body, adding that he could only speak to what he personally observed.
The prosecution is led by Gary Rolle III and Kara Butler-White.
Traffic death involving a Supreme Court Justice ruled accidental by jury
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A CORONER’S Court
jury found yesterday that a 2024 traffic accident involving a Supreme Court Justice’s SUV and a 17-yearold motorcyclist was an accidental death.
The decision in the death of Brieon Sweeting came early in the afternoon after four days of testimony before Coroner Kara Turnquest Deveaux. The jury had the option of returning an adverse finding of gross negligence manslaughter, but did not do so. Justice Gregory Smith’s SUV collided with Sweeting’s motorcycle on September 8, 2024. Sweeting lost control of the bike and crashed into the gate of a nearby residence on the western side of the road. Justice Smith was not present for the full proceedings; however, his statement was read into the record. No members of the deceased’s family attended the reading of the findings. Evidence indicated that Justice Smith, driving a black Ford Explorer, struck Sweeting’s black Yamaha
XTZ125E motorcycle while attempting to turn west while heading northbound. Sweeting was travelling north on the western side of the road at the time of the collision. He was later pronounced dead at Princess Margaret Hospital.
A pathologist testified that Sweeting died from a fractured skull caused by blunt force trauma. Toxicology results showed he had high levels of alcohol in his system at the time of his death.
Donard Leslie Brown served as the evidence marshal.
Grand Bahama man denied bail again due to extensive criminal record
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter
A GRAND Bahama man has again been denied bail on attempted murder and firearms charges after the Supreme Court ruled he posed a threat to public safety because of his extensive criminal record.
Donovan Collie was refused bail by Justice Andrew Forbes, who said the defendant’s history and the seriousness of the allegations made him unsuitable for release. Collie is accused of firing into a crowd near a gas station in Grand Bahama on 7 March 2023. He had been denied bail twice last year before renewing his application in October. Collie argued he would comply with any
conditions and said he was the father of three children, aged 16 to three, for whom he provided financial and emotional support. He told the court he would not interfere with witnesses, would not commit further offences and maintained his innocence. Prosecutors opposed bail on public-safety grounds but did not claim he posed a flight risk.
Justice Forbes noted that Collie had previously been charged with murder and attempted murder on 30 December 2021. The judge said the defendant was not of good character, citing numerous prior convictions, including a 12-year sentence for armed robbery and causing harm. Collie also has three additional causing-harm convictions and was
sentenced to 32 months in prison for firearm and ammunition possession in 2023. The judge said the evidence against the defendant in the present case was cogent and that he had been identified by witnesses. It was also said in court that Collie admitted in his police interview to firing at a man known as Jody.
Justice Forbes found that Collie had shown a wanton disregard for human life and concluded that no bail conditions could adequately protect the public. Bail was therefore denied. Brian Hanna represented the defendant. The prosecution was represented by Eureka Coccia. Collie is scheduled to stand trial in November 2026
DEPUTY PRIME Minister Chester Cooper inspects officers during the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services passing out ceremony yesterday.
Photos: Shawn Hanna
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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We must better protect our animals
THERE is no room at the inn – or the shelter – this Christmas for unwanted animals.
In what continues to be an age-old problem in The Bahamas, we too regularly see animals in need of help.
Across New Providence, shelters for animals are overcrowded, an all-too-familiar and all-too-often situation in our country.
The solution to such a problem lies within our hands – our nation can solve this as soon as we collectively want to do so.
You know the problem yourself – you see the many stray dogs running around our streets, over the years you will have heard the calls from groups such as non-profit organisation BAARK to neuter animals so they do not end up as unwanted animals roaming in search of food.
Again, you will have seen the number of those dogs on our streets that are suffering.
There are many neighbourhoods where dogs roam around. Some get hit by cars and, if lucky to survive, limp around our streets. Some lack a home where they are cared for. Some lack veterinary treatment when they are hurt or ill.
There are glimmers of hope, however.
The Bahamas Humane Society reports a ten percent rise in the number of people bringing in dogs to be neutered – while just under a third of the dogs brought to the society for rescue have already been neutered, significantly up from previously.
Perhaps the many years people have spent urging people to get their pets neutered are paying off. Time and again, The Tribune has reported on efforts to encourage people to neuter their pets to stop us ending up with streets full of roaming animals.
If the message is getting through, it is very welcome – but the packed shelters show it is a solution that will take time. Sadly, there also continue to be cases of cruelty or animal neglect – so if the message is being heard on neutering, it is far from being heard on simple compassionate treatment of animals.
Then there is the bad news – the continuing number of cases of cruelty. In
fact, BAARK shows the number of cruelty cases is going up.
They catalogue a list of horrific cases – with dogs suffering from poisoning, machete wounds, burning or starvation, as well as those who are hit by cars.
We have heard stories ourselves of people deliberately steering their vehicle towards a stray animal in an effort to harm or kill it. What kind of person would do such a thing?
It has long been observed that there is a correlation between the people who inflict harm on animals going on to do the same to humans. People maliciously harming animals is a red flag not just for the animal kingdom but for what that person might do to harm others.
The general manager at BHS, Percy Grant, highlights some of the other concerns, from malnutrition to animals being affected by worms. Responsible pet owners will agree that there is no love quite so unconditional as that of the love of a pet for its owner.
Why then would we so often betray animals that would seek to give such love and affection?
We have laws that can help to protect animals, but they are so seldom used.
How we treat animals is not just something that should be important to us, it is also something by which we are judged by animal lovers, be they local or tourist.
There have been plenty of times tourists have seen how we treat our animals and then go on to blast the country on social media for letting dogs run free.
We can do better than this. It is sometimes said that how a nation treats animals is a marker for the greatness of a nation.
If we fall short in caring for animals, we fall short of greatness too.
One of the steps we should be taking more often is criminal prosecution. But beyond that, we should simply be asking what we can do to improve the care of animals.
So step up the legal measures, keep the percentage of neutering cases rising – and above all, just show our animals a little love. It should not be so hard to show how much we care
Mortician defends handling of body
EDITOR, The Tribune.
I WRITE to address to most ingenious act of ingratitude displayed by any family member throughout my tenor as a mortician I reference recent article in the news article dated reported earlier this week. Ragged Island is approximately 200 miles from New Providence, and is approximately 60 miles from the Northern tip of Cuba. The journey is over the infamous Atlantic Ocean.
Once you arrive, the airport has no lights, fuel or fob facilities, and there are no hotels or restaurants. As a result, no mortician or pilot would embark on a flight to Ragged Island late in the afternoon under any circumstances.
On the 7th December, 2025 Mr Curling died at his home on Ragged Island.
The exact time is unknown, but it was brought to the attention of the officer in charge of the family island that afternoon. The police requested that I go
immediately to Ragged Island. I informed them it was impractical due to the conditions, but, I will embark the morning of the 8th of December, 2025. We left Nassau around 10am, and arrived at our destination approximately an hour and a half later.
At the Airport the Defence Force, officer in charge of the island was waiting to transport us to Mr Curling home, where a thorough investigation was undertaken. During the time we waited, outside the family home, we sat on rocks, buckets and the back of the truck. The family did not have the common decency to offer us a chair or even a cup of water as we waited in the sun.
Our return journey we had to stop in Exuma for fuel. Ironically, this is where the government responsibility should have ended primarily there was nothing suspicious to Mr. Curling death. But a decision was made to transport him to
PICTURE OF THE DAY
Govt should halt Migrant Bill
EDITOR, The Tribune. I HAVE been exceedingly privileged to have lived long enough, by the tender mercies and grace of The Lord God, Jesus Christ, to have witnessed the arrival and departure, either through death or political defeat, of All of our Premiers and Prime Ministers as the case may have been.
The era of the late great Sir Roland T Symonette, who was the titular leader of the then infamous United Bahamian Party (UBP) and a business and financial genius, without equal in the 1950’s and 1960’s was a ‘good’ one for many Blacks and Conchy Joe Bahamians. Thousands of ordinary Bahamians were able to acquire residential building lots in developments initiated by ‘Pop’ as he was affectionately called.
Nassau. We an arrived just before official sundown.
To hear Mr Curling sister cry foul, fabricate untruth posterise them all over social media which even caught the attention of the Official opposition is incredulous, and leave one to wonder what is the motive.
I wish to salute the fine officers from the top brass of the police force to the members that flew on the small plane, the Defence force who volunteered their time, T even, Sgt Johnson c/o Control Room who took a break, left his post walked to the hospital and pulled rank to have Mr Curling registered. Despite the mischief in the face of Good, You are the unsung hero performing a thankless task. Ambrose Gibson L.F.D.E. St Ambrose Funeral Home.
AMBROSE GIBSON Nassau, December 10, 2025.
The down payments were reasonable and the monthly payments were affordable. Developments like Ridgeland Park, East & West along with parts of Montell Heights; all of Garden Hills # 1&2, et al, were Pop’s enterprises. His Tin Shop, then located on Wulff Road opposite the Annex Baptist Church, also provided easy access to building and construction material. He was also a founder of what is now The Commonwealth of The Bahamas and Laurentide Insurance Company. He served the country well as our first Premier.
Then the Lynden Pindling era came in during the mid 1960’s, first as our second Premier and then our first Prime Minister following Independence in 1973. He, of course, helps power for decades. Sir Lynden, as he later became, along with his compatriots, ushered multiple societal changes and developments. In fact, the bulk of our national institutions and safety nets came about during his long tenure. He was and remain the standard by which Bahamians should ‘measure’ our PMs. His distraction came in the form of massive transshipment of illegal drugs through our country on his watch...
After Sir Lynden was publicly ‘humiliated by his successor, Hubert A Ingraham, he resigned from public life. Ingraham was also transformative, to a degree but his apparent haughty and oversized attitude did not bode well, in
my view. Mind you, Ingraham was a political genius of no small measure But in retail politics; attitude and perceptions are everything. His distraction was holding a Constitutional Referendum that was doomed, from the get go to fail. He too, has fallen off center stage. Brother Perry G Christie also came and has, mercifully, faded out. In my view he was a grossly ineffective Prime Minister who squandered his political capital during the so-called Gaming (allegedly Non-Binding) Referendum and his attempts, like Ingraham, to bring about vacuous amendments to our Constitution. These were his distractions Other than the Bahama Resort complex and the now established gaming industry, I cannot think of Anything else which he may have accomplished after a lengthy parliamentary career.
The Honorable Doctor Hubert A Minnis (FNM-Killarney) burst on the political center stage in 2017 after Christie was sent packing. Of course, after a transitional period, the Rt Hon Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, KC, MP (PLP-Cat Island) emerged as undisputed Leader of the PLP and thank God. Prime Minister. By 2021 his administration, such as it was, was in tatters and the infighting within the dying FNM had reached legendary proportions. Add these to the fact that a large number of Bahamians, especially the Black ones. were dead MAD with he and his hapless team over their reaction to COVID-A9. These were his distractions. All of these factors paved the way, again, thanks to God, for the election for The New Day PLP and accession of Brave. He has stabilised the chaotic economic regime inherited from Minnis; he has strengthened our social safe net such as NIB and our health care systems across The Bahamas. Yes, there is more that has to be done But his is a work/job in progress. The new hospital Must come out of the ground Before the PLP goes into the general elections; the
proposed housing subdivision of Spikenard & Cow Pen Roads Must also become a reality and fairly allocated in short order. Our educational plant Must be beefed up and a serious look taken Now at our curriculum. While academics are important, I suggest that for too long we have concentrated on those disciplines at the gross expense of the trades and vocational training.
At some point, in a second consecutive term for Brave and The New Day PLP, real and sellable Constitutional Amendments Must be brought forward, such as us becoming a Republic and, of course, citizenship issues. A second consecutive term is within reach and just around the corner. The recent first reading of the so-called Migrants Bill 2025 has unleashed a political firestorm that is definitely Not Needed or even practical at this time. This Bill, while well intentional, is akin committing to self destruction, at this critical juncture. Far too many ill-informed; misguided and politically ‘wicked’ Bahamians, who all should know better, have suggested that The Migrants Bill 2025 as introduced in the HOA, seem to have the patently Bogus view that that Bill is specifically designed to facilitate the migration and assimilation of mainly Haitians coming into our wonderful nation as asylum or refugee seeks. Of course, the detracts are suggesting that these Haitians, who do come in, if at all, will support and vote for the incumbent PLP!! Clap trap; Tin Gods and Iron Men/ Women!!
Many Bahamians are gullible, especially along party lines. The public and possibly Negative comments just before general elections, could be fatal for the PLP and our opportunity at a second consecutive term. I caution the enlightened and progressive PM Davis Not to move forward with this Migrants Bill 2025 at this juncture. There is no need to generate self-distractions so close to general elections. To God then, in all things, be the glory.
ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, December 7, 2025.
A PAIR of dolphins come up for a look.
Photo: Crystal
Power fully restored across Abaco after two-day outage
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Power and Light says power has now been fully restored across Abaco after a prolonged outage that stretched into a second day and left residents and business owners counting thousands of dollars in losses.
The company said generation at the Wilson City Power Station was restored at 2.11am yesterday, following hours of load testing on a replacement compressor. Crews then began closing feeders and re-energising communities, with full restoration across mainland Abaco and the cays completed by 3.25am, except for a small pocket of customers in Hope Town and White Sound. Those areas remain offline because of an unrelated cable fault, with specialised equipment being transported to complete repairs. The update came after
widespread frustration from residents in Central and South Abaco, Hope Town and Sweeting Village, many of whom said they endured more than 24 hours without power, repeated service failures, damaged appliances and spoiled food.
Northern Family Island Regional Manager Marvin Green said BPL employees worked around the clock in difficult conditions.
“Our hardworking teams, some of whom have slept at the power plant for the last two days, have given everything they had,” Mr Green said.
“Our Field Operations Team on the Distribution side worked through the nights to ensure we could share the little power we
had available, even while their own families were in darkness. And our Generation Team never wavered. When one thing failed, they pressed forward. They kept going.” He said staff shared the emotional toll felt by customers.
“It pains us to see our customers and our families suffer,” he said. “We understand the frustration because we are in the very same boat. I want to publicly thank our teams for their strength and resilience as we continue to ‘Build for Better,’ despite the challenges.”
The company’s statement follows mounting complaints about communication and the length of the outage. Some residents said they received
little information before BPL provided a full technical explanation on Wednesday afternoon. Meanwhile, business owners say the outage has hit at the worst possible time, with the holiday tourism season approaching. Others reported damaged household appliances and daily service disruptions even before this week’s breakdown. BPL apologised for the inconvenience and thanked customers for their patience, saying crews worked through the night to complete the restoration effort. The company said work is continuing today to restore the remaining customers affected by the cable fault in Hope Town.
$40m hybrid energy project launched for three Family Islands
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter
AS the Davis administration advances its push to provide sustainable, clean, and reliable power to the Family Islands, Renugen Pro, a Bahamian company, is preparing to launch a more than $40m hybrid energy project on Cat Island, San Salvador, and Long Island.
Renugen Pro was formed through a partnership between locally based
Wilkem Tech and Canadian firm Roswall Development. Through a partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Transport and Bahamas Power and Light, the company will install hybrid microgrids on the three islands.
The project will utilise a clean-energy hybrid design combining solar PV, battery energy storage, and clean natural gas generation.
During an Office of the Prime Minister press briefing yesterday, Daniel Roscoe, CEO of Roswall,
Spaying on the rise but cruelty cases escalate
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas’ animal-welfare landscape showed contradictions this year: while more owners are sterilising their pets and surrendering fewer unaltered dogs, animal-rescue groups are confronting many cruelty, neglect and abuse cases.
The Bahamas Humane Society (BHS) reported a ten percent increase in the number of people bringing in dogs to be spayed or neutered. Roughly 30 percent of dogs surrendered this year have already undergone the procedure — a significant change from past trends.
BHS General Manager Percy Grant said this shift
reflects a growing public understanding of responsible pet ownership.
“I think education and I think people are now experiencing the difficulty in trying to get rid of puppies and dogs that they don't want,” he said. “It isn't as easy as that anymore when they can just walk up and just say, ‘I’m going to give up my dog.’” He said shelter overcrowding across New Providence is forcing people to reconsider surrendering their animals and has strengthened the push to control the dog population.
“There is a space issue, and at many times, and it's not just us, I think it's all around,” he said. “So I think people are now realising they need to try spayed and
said officials are designing hurricane-resistant systems tailored to each island. Mr Roscoe said the systems were developed to meet current electricity demand and to grow with the islands, including during peak tourism periods such as Regatta and other festivals.
Cat Island’s system will include 1 MW of solar PV and 2.4 MW of natural gas, serving 90 percent of its energy demand.
Long Island will have 3 MW of solar PV and 3.6 MW of natural gas, serving
neutered their dose to get the population down and have these issues resolved.”
With kennel space stretched thin, Mr Grant said the Humane Society now accepts animals only in extreme circumstances.
“We'll take an animal in a case where all roads have come to an end. I always say very last resort. We will try to take an animal in a desperate situation, but we try not to. We give out food,” he said.
“We have a food bank to feed the animals. We get to do that donations, and we will give them food. Get to hold them off and until we get our numbers down.”
While intentional mutilation by humans has declined compared to earlier years, neglect remains pervasive. Mr Grant described embedded collars — leashes left on puppies that slowly cut into their necks as they grow — as among the worst cases now seen.
‘LITTLE LATCHES’ INITIATIVE DONATES 30 BREAST PUMPS TO RAND
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
MOTHERS delivering at Rand Memorial Hospital will now have expanded access to breastfeeding support following the donation of 30 breast pumps from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Pi Upsilon Omega Chapter — an initiative hospital officials say will directly strengthen care for newborns and mothers struggling to breastfeed.
The presentation, made on Thursday, December 11, marked the launch of the Sorority’s ‘Little Latches, Big Love Breast Pump Initiative,’ a drive that exceeded expectations after drawing strong support from members and partner schools.
Chapter President Sasha Rolle said the effort originated during a visit to the hospital earlier this year.
“When we came here to donate books to the Pediatric Ward in August, Dr Williams informed me that they see a lot of mothers who are unable to afford breast pumps,” Mrs Rolle said. “I spoke with my vice president, and we thought it was a good idea to create a
drive for breast pumps that we call "Little Latches Big Love.”
Donations flowed in from Sorority members and from students at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Academy and Eight Mile Rock High School. The chapter initially aimed to collect 20 pumps but surpassed that target with ease.
Mrs Rolle, a nurse, said many mothers face challenges maintaining breastfeeding after returning to work because they cannot access the required equipment. While she could not confirm whether the project would become an annual effort, she stressed the continuing need.
“In this climate, a lot of mothers are unable to afford breast pumps, and we know that we prefer breast milk for babies - we call it the golden standard,” she said. “If it is something we can keep doing, I think we should.”
Hospital officials welcomed the donation, noting its immediate impact.
Linda Curtis, area manager for the Maternal and Child Health Unit, said breast pumps are crucial for mothers dealing with
MEMORIAL
complications such as flat nipples or delayed milk production.
“It is our goal to promote breastfeeding exclusively,” Ms Curtis said. “Some mothers become devastated when they cannot breastfeed. This donation will assist them so they’re still contributing to the well-being of their infant by providing breast milk.”
Dr Valeria Ingraham-Wells, a pediatrician at Rand Memorial Hospital, said breast pumps help stimulate milk production, particularly in the early days after birth when the body is adjusting.
“This helps to stimulate all of the transmission from the brain to the breast,” she said. “Our mothers can pump on the ward and learn how to use the breast pumps properly.”
She emphasised the extensive benefits of breast milk, from strengthening immunity to lowering risks of infection, obesity and diabetes.
“We are so appreciative of this gesture,” Dr Ingraham-Wells said. “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts."
80 percent of its energy needs.
San Salvador will have 1 MW of solar PV and 1.6 MW of natural gas, serving 90 percent of its demand.
“All of these designs will provide major improvements to grid stability, capacity and the resilience of these islands, and as more said, increase the quality of life for both the residences and businesses that rely on energy to meet their needs,” he said.
Officials have been working on the project for two
“There’s been malnutrition, people just not feeding dogs, but a lot of times, people just don't give a proper care, vet care because a dog looks skinny and a lot of times full of worms,” he said. The Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness (BAARK!) has documented an escalation in cruelty reports from 2023 to 2024. The organisation said recent cases include intentional poisoning, machete wounds, deliberate burning with hot oil or water, starvation caused by tethering dogs on very short leashes, and animals being struck by vehicles and left to die.
years and are currently conducting geotechnical studies. Completion is expected in 2027 on all three islands.
Financing is underway and is being facilitated by Leno Bahamas, with opportunities for Bahamians to invest directly. The total combined value of the three island projects is estimated between $40m and $45m. Once geotechnical assessments, engineering work, and financing are finalised, equipment procurement will begin. Mr Roscoe said
the company will work collaboratively with the government, local communities, and BPL in executing the projects. In June 2025, new power purchase agreements were signed between the government, the Family Island Microgrid Company, and Renugen Pro Company Limited for the provision of solar power. Renugen Pro was selected to implement utility-scale renewable energy projects on San Salvador, Long Island, and Cat Island.
In April, two people were convicted of animal cruelty in what advocates say is the first successful prosecution under the Animal Protection and Control Act.
Wilson City Power Statio, Abaco.
Bahamas Humae Society
How many Bahamians are being deprived the vote?
By Mario Carey
The Bahamas isin a quandary. We urge everyBahamian to get out and vote. We open voterregistration officeswith greatfanfare. Werue thelow voter turnout andtalk about the consequencesof an apathetic publicthat failsto goto thepolls,hoping tolure them tothe polls,using everything from a sense of responsibilitytoa threatthatif you don tvote, youwillget exactlythe governmentyou deserve.
Weremind youthatyour vote is your voice, your power. Vote,we plead.Exercise your right to be counted. Andthenwhat dowedo?We makeit impossibleforthousands--maybetens ofthousands--by putting alegal stumbling block infront of themcalled“Chapter18ofthe 1992 Voting Rights Act that deniesthem thevery rightthe Constitution grants them.
I never fully appreciated thisuntilit happenedtomy own family. My daughter could not vote
Mydaughter, whocares deeply about the future of The Bahamas, was living for a timein theUS aftercollege. She has sincereturned home, new family in tow, unlike far too manycapable, competent, skilledBahamians whoare part ofthe BrainDrain. But whileshe wasabroad,she wanted to vote, only to find outwhensheattemptedtothat she did not havethe right to vote because she had not lived inthe constituencyforthree months. So here we have our Bahamas Constitution signed into law on the10th ofJuly 1973, guaranteeingthat everycitizen hasthe rightto vote.”
But less than 20 years after that landmark foundational legislation calledthe Constitutionwas laudedandapplauded -- a document that we continue tocelebrate and cherish today -- the legislature passed the Voting Rights Act of1992. Chapter18 ofthat Act stipulateda requirement thattovote inaconstituency, youhadto belivinginthat constituency for atleast three months.
What the righthand giveth, the left took away.
Bahamian citizens denied the right to vote
The very voting right that made every man and woman equal,and thatwas nolonger tiedto landownership,now nolonger countedforthe thousands of Bahamians. Like my daughter. Those who may reside elsewhere,even temporarily, but who want to vote inthe landoftheir homeand where their heart still resides.
Official estimates of the numberof Bahamiansliving abroad arelow. Unofficialestimates put thenumber from a low of 34,000 to as many as 100,000. This is the untapped reservoirof voterswhocould swing an election,the untapped reservoir ofpeople who care, despiteseeking employment oreducation elsewhere, temporarilyor for longer periods.
Theyare Bahamianswhose rights have beenstolen. Many of them say they long to come home and would, if only there were opportunities. They mighteven beable tohelp create some opportunities if they voted in a government they felt would listen. But their voicesare silenced,their education ignored,their rights trampled.
We complainabout low voterturnout,and aswellwe should. Wehave everyreason toworry. Everyrecentelection hasbeen decidedby a
The government must make registration easier, amend the Voting Rights Act to allow for mail-in votes from those living abroad, expand early voting options, and create ease of voting for seniors and the disabled.
minority. In the recent byelection, there were7,926 registered voters, but only 3,884 turned out.The Memberof Parliament for Golden Isles was decided by 49 percent of the eligiblepopulation--less thanhalf--and thesuccessful candidate won by a mere 236 votes.
Thelast generalelection waseven moreastounding. Despite allthe hoorahsabout alandslide, thecurrentprime minister waselected by34 percent ofthe eligiblepopulation and 52 percent of the registered voters.
Rwanda 98 percent voter turnout
Comparethe 49percent turnoutto aplacelike
Rwanda, where voter turnout is over 98percent, or Turkmenistan, or Singapore,or Angola, orUruguay. Every one of thosecountries have a 90percent orhighervoter turnout for national elections. In Australia, you can be fined hefty sumsfor not voting.And youwouldbe hard pressedto guesswhich countryhas thehighest turnout inthe world?It s Equatorial Guinea, asovereignstate onthewest coastof Africa with a population of less than 1.8million, but whose citizens embrace voting because they believe they matter.
Weare notalone inlow voter turnout. In the US the highestturnout inmore thana centurywas in2020when AmericansvotedinJoeBiden.
Therushtothepolls--some66 percentofeligiblevoters--was hardlya stampede.Bythe time Americans wereready to wave goodbyeto Bidenbut not quite readyto embrace Kamala Harris,Trump was swept back into office with 64 percent voter turnout. The difference your vote makes Politicalanalysts listall sorts of reasons why people don’tvote.But whatitall really amounts to is this: they don’t think theirvote will make a difference. They feel a sense ofhopelessness. They don’t believepoliticians hear them or listento what they wantorneed.Theydonotfeel needed,appreciated, orimportant, so theystay home, takeaday off,andwatchthe resultstosee ifblueandgold or red wins. They declare victoryor defeat.Butthetruthis,weareall defeated when the population does not participate. And this isthe conundrum wefind ourselvesin. Wewant to increasevoter turn-out,yet weblock thousandsstudying orlivingabroad whowantto votebut cannot.And wefail tomakeit easyforanyoneto vote,localor abroad,bynot offeringelectronic ormodern options. The result isnot a reflection of the full Bahamian population.
The silent majority Onereport statestheobvious result: When citizens do not take part in the democratic process,the powerofdecision-making is left in the
hands of a smaller group. This canleadtogovernmentsbeing elected by aminority,while the majority remains silent. Exactly whathas happened inThe Bahamasoverand over. You can call it low turnout, buttherealityisthatagovernment gets elected by a minority because wedo not know whatwould have happened if larger numbers hadturnedout.Allweknowis that,ofthose whodid,more than half voted a certain way. Whatifallthoseindividuals living abroad could vote? And whatwouldtheoutcomebeif-whathas beenassertedis true--a substantial contingent of newly-mintedBahamians turns out to vote?We have no proof that such is the case, but thereis noisein themarketplace. The goal for whomever tosseshis/her hatin thering forthe generalelectionmust be toget outthe vote.The government mustmake registrationeasier, amendthe Voting Rights Act to allow for mail-in votes from those livingabroad, expandearly votingoptions,andcreateease ofvoting forseniors andthe disabled who,until now,have had tostand inlong lines without any special attention.
We absolutelyMUST make it easier,friendlier tovote, expand the capacity to those abroad, modernise withelectronic voting capability. Whatever it takes, whatever is available, we must be openmindedenough toconsider everyoption: avotingapp with clear instructions, blockchain, mail-in. Wemustwake up toa modernworld (where we do everything else electronically) and ask ourselves: Why are we not using it in the one process that gives all of us an equal voice?
Non-voting speaks distrust
Or, we cancontinue to acceptlivingwithanadministration ushered in by a minority with fewer toanswer to, and less toanswer for.When we don’t vote, we get exactly the governmentwe deserve.Our non-vote speaks volumes about our distrustor disengagement, about our belief that what wethink and want and believe isgood for our Bahamas won t matter.
Ifwe losehope, otherswill decide our future. And then what will we do? We will bellyache and complain. We’ll callintoradio,orfussaboutit on a familyisland WhatsApp chat groupwhere ourvoice will be heard and answered. But thereis away tofix this, andit startswith the thousands livingabroad. While weincrease citizenship numbersprior toeveryelection,wecontinuetoignoreour very own whosevotecould make the difference.
All I askis for Bahamians to thinkabout it andto know yourvoteis power.TheConstitutiongivesyou therightto vote.
Napolean brooch fetches millions
GENEVA(AP) A diamond broochthat French emperor Napoleon lostwhile fleeingfromthe Battle of Waterloo in the early 19thcentury soldfor more than3.5 million Swiss francs (about $4.4 million) at a Geneva auctionon Wednesday,Sotheby's said. The brooch, which can also be wornas a pendant, features anoval diamond weighing over 13 carats surrounded bysmaller cut diamonds. Thesale price vastly outstripped the high endof thepre-saleestimate of 200,000 francs.
The hammerprice was 2.85 millionfrancs, excluding fees and other charges thatwere included inthe finalaggregate price. Thecircular jewelwas found in astash of Napoleon's personalbelongings in carriages that got held up on muddy roads as he and his troops fled the Duke of Wellington's BritishforcesandthePrussian army under Field Marshal vonBlücher, Sotheby's said. Formore thantwocenturies, the jewels featured as part of heirlooms of the Prussian Royal House of Hohenzollern. Sotheby's did not disclose the identity of the seller or buyer
Wrecks on Castle Island, off Acklins, Bird Rock, Joulters & Green Cays
JUSTOFF thesouthern tip of Acklins Island on the northernrim ofa keyshipping channelconnecting the Windward Passage with theNorth Atlantic,sits CastleIsland. Andonthat island sits amassive hundreds-years-old lighthouse, whose Fresnellens isnow riddled with bullet holes, courtesyof smugglers.The abandoned lowerlevels are cluttered with the clothing of desperate immigrants--likely Haitians--whosefate isunknown, but who disappeared to meettheir fatewithout their worldlypossessions, or clothing.
The island is lovely, mystical,eerie. Awrecked freighter shadows an old stoneramp,andasalinepink lake in the middle of the islandcontainsthe frameofa World War II bomber that landed thereon itsway to supply the Chinese via Africaand overtheBurma Hump. There are grave markers, awrecked seaplane, and plenty of sharks.
It’s a magical place, and I m privilegedto havebeen ableto visitseveraltimes overtheyears. Ithasalso, understandably, seen its share of shipwrecks, and at least four air wrecks over the centuries. Theseare the stories of some of them.
¸In 1847,a British barque sailing shipnamed Isabel struck and ranaground at Castle Island, where it wrecked. Builtin 1836,the ship was just 215 tons.
¸Thirty-one years later, in 1878, anAmerican sailing schooner named SF Seabury struck and wreckedat Bird Rock Light,a solidold stone structureclinging toa shallowrock northofLand-
rail. At 220tons, the ship was just fiveyears old and sufferedone fatality.Bird Rock is the next major light, at Crooked Island, about 90 nautical miles north past Albert Town’s hand-lit light at Fortune Island or Long Cay.
¸In 1908,the Norwegian 847-ton steamer Yumuri ran agroundandwaswreckedon Castle Island.The shipwas 18 years old at the time.
¸Then in1912, a Norwegian steam oceanliner of 2,831tons–alargeshipbuilt in 1891 named Madeirense, struck Bird Rock Light, ran aground, and also wrecked.
¸Eightyears later,in 1920, a shipnamed Oakmar, owned by the Calmar steamshipcompany, wascarrying four millionsquare feetof lumberpast Castle Island when it ran aground and wreckedthere. Theshipwas builtthatsame yearasthe William Campion
¸OnJuly16,1925,the USS Omaha alarge warshipran agroundatthebaseof Castle Island Light. Thevessel wasenroutefromPanamato Charleston, South Carolina, when unusuallyand unfortunately struck theisland due tonavigational error.Tugboats were sent from GuantanamoBay, Cubaand other points.These included theoiler Salinas,thetug Pat-
riot,and USCoastGuard cutter Pandora. The incident wassuch significantnews thatthe commandersentupdates on theircondition to the press while grounded.
¸Inthe firstweek ofFebruary 1929,the freighter Alaskan wasonitswaynorth toNew Yorkwith alarge lumber cargo, when it also grounded at Castle Island
¸In1975, anAmerican diesel ship named Eastern Cloud wrecked off Long Cay at sea. We know fewdetails beyondthat,unfortunately.
¸Four years later, a Yugoslavian motorship of 8,120tons groundedand wrecked northwestof Acklins.Theship wasbuiltin 1960 and was diesel powered.
In other remotecays: the Joulters nearAndros, Findlay, andGreen Caynear Exuma
¸During a particularly vicioushurricane thatstruck east Androsin September 1929, the 36-year-old steam 3,868-ton tanker Potomac ran aground and sank near Mastic Point
¸The motor vessel Tropic Ace of 116 tons sank atthe Joulters Cays between northeast Andros and the southwestern Berry Island in 1969, near Chub Cay.
¸Finally, in1974, the American motor vessel of 149tons named Tejana III hit the long barrier reef off MasticPoint andfoundered. The shipwas over30 years old atthe time andhad a diesel engine.
The routespast CastleIsland--with Hogstyand Mira Por Vos and Bird Rock Light andFortune Islandand Diana Banknearby assentinels to shipwrecks can
make anycaptain sweat, even in goodweather. But thepassages stillentertain regular ship traffic.
Somuchso,infact,thatin the1980s--before GPSand other technologieswere commonplace,my mentorin theshipping business,Roger M.Jones, toldme therewas an effort to put ship-spotters atCastleIslandformonthsat atimetoreportonhowmany
Network that trafficked stolen antiquities across Europe dismantled
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) Law enforcement agencies working across several countries dismantledasophisticated criminalnetworktrafficking stolencultural goodsacross Europe, Bulgarian authorities said Thursday.
A coordinatedoperation spanningseven countriesworkingwith EurojustandEuropol led to thearrest of 35 suspectslinked to a smuggling ring that was attempting to sell thousandsofancient artifactsstolenfrommuseumsacross Europe.Around20 peopleface charges of antiquities trafficking and money laundering,Bulgarian ProsecutorAngel Kanev told a news briefing.
Kanev said the criminalgroup has been operatinginWestern Europe,theBalkans,the United States and other countries for over 16 years.Themoneylaunderinginvestigationhas identified over $1 billion in illicit funds.
On Wednesday, judicialand law enforcement authoritiesfrom Albania,Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and the UnitedKingdomexecutedcoordinatedactions in their respective countries.
According to a Europol news release, the
ships actually transited the passages. Rogerwas a former PT boat commander, who raiseda familyin Nassau with wife Peggy. What a jobthat would have been, Ithought at the time.
These days,however, a quicksearchoftheMarineTrafficsiteon yourphonecan provide allthat information and more!
THIS IMAGE showsantique artefacts, as law enforcementagencies working across severalcountries dismantleda sophisticatedcriminal networktrafficking stolen culturalgoods across Europe.
AP Photo/Bulgarian Interior Ministry operationincluded 131searchesof houses, vehicles and bank safes in those countries. More than 3,000 artifacts were seized,includingantiquegoldenandsilver coinsand otherantiquitieswith anestimatedvalueofover100millioneuros($116 million).Other seizeditems includedartworks, weapons,documents, electronic equipment,largeamounts ofcash,andinvestment gold.
CASTLE IslandLight showing the shoe wreck from the 1990s so named due to its cargo. Tribune file photo
BIRD ROCKLIGHT, Landrail Point, Crooked Island.
Photo: Marinas.com
CROOKED Island and Acklins.
Photo: Google Earth
Noem links the seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela to US antidrug efforts
By MEG KINNARD Associated Press
HOMELAND Security
Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday linked the seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela to the Trump administration’s counterdrug efforts in Latin America as tensions escalate with the government of President Nicolás Maduro. Noem’s assertion, which came during her testimony to the House Homeland Security Committee, provided the Republican administration’s most thorough assessment so far of why it took control of the vessel on Wednesday. Incredibly unusual, the use of US forces to seize a merchant ship was a sharp escalation in the administration’s pressure campaign on Maduro, who has been charged with narcoterrorism in the United States. Trump officials added to it Thursday by imposing sanctions on three of Maduro’s nephews. The Venezuelan leader discussed the rising tensions
with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin reaffirmed his support for Maduro’s policy of “protecting national interests and sovereignty in the
face of growing external pressure.”
Asked to delineate the US Coast Guard’s role in the tanker seizure, Noem called it “a successful operation directed by the president to ensure that
we’re pushing back on a regime that is systematically covering and flooding our country with deadly drugs and killing our next generation of Americans.” Noem went on to lay out the “lethal doses of
The man accused of killing Charlie Kirk appears in court for first time as a judge weighs media access
By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM
Associated Press
THE 22-year-old Utah man charged with killing Charlie Kirk made his first in-person court appearance Thursday as his attorneys push to further limit media access in the high-profile criminal case.
A Utah judge is weighing the public’s right to know details in the prosecution of Tyler Robinson against his attorneys’ concerns that the swarm of media attention could interfere with his right to a fair trial.
Robinson’s legal team and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office have asked Judge Tony Graf to ban cameras in the courtroom.
Prosecutors have charged Robinson with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 shooting of the conservative activist on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem, just a few miles north of the Provo courthouse. They plan to seek the death penalty.
cocaine” she said had been kept from entering the US as a result.
Asked Thursday whether US operations in the region were about drugs or oil, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also gave a bifurcated answer, saying the administration was “focused on doing many things in the Western Hemisphere.” She noted that such seizures could continue, arguing that the commodities being transported were used to fund the illegal drug trade.
“We’re not going to stand by and watch sanctioned vessels sail the seas with black market oil, the proceeds of which will fuel narcoterrorism of rogue and illegitimate regimes around the world,” she said.
The Justice Department had obtained a warrant for the vessel because it had been known for “carrying black market, sanctioned oil,” Leavitt said, adding that “the United States does intend to get the oil” that was onboard the tanker.
after his attorneys argued widespread images of him shackled and in jail clothing could prejudice future jurors.
Several university students who witnessed Kirk’s assassination attended Thursday’s hearing.
Zack Reese, a Utah Valley University student and “big Charlie Kirk fan,” said he had skepticism about Robinson’s arrest and came to the hearing seeking answers. Reese has family in southwestern Utah, where the Robinsons are from, and said he believes they’re a good family.
Brigham Young University student William Brown, who said he was about 10 feet from Kirk when he was shot, said he felt overwhelmed seeing Robinson walk into the courtroom Thursday.
“I witnessed a huge event, and my brain is still trying to make sense of it,” Brown said. “I feel like being here helps it feel more real than surreal.”
Trump told reporters a day earlier at the White House that the tanker “was seized for a very good reason.” Asked what would happen to the oil aboard the tanker, Trump said, “Well, we keep it, I guess.” The US has built up the largest military presence in the region in decades and launched a series of deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean, a campaign that is facing growing scrutiny from Congress. Trump, who has said land attacks are coming soon but has not offered more details, has broadly justified the moves as necessary to stem the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the US
Venezuela’s government said in a statement that the tanker seizure “constitutes a blatant theft and an act of international piracy.” Maduro has insisted the real purpose of the US military operations is to force him from office.
share their images with other news organizations. Additional journalists can typically attend to listen and take notes, as can members of the public. Judd wrote in recent filings that an open court “safeguards the integrity of the fact-finding process” while fostering public confidence in judicial proceedings. Criminal cases in the US have long been open to the public, which he argued is proof that trials can be conducted fairly without restricting reporters as they work to keep the public informed.
The defendant had previously appeared in court via video or audio feed from jail.
A coalition of national and local news organizations, including The
Robinson arrived in court with restraints on his wrists and ankles and wearing a dress shirt, tie and slacks. He smiled at family members sitting in the front row of the courtroom, where his mother teared up and wiped her eyes with a tissue. Robinson’s father and brother sat next to her.
Associated Press, is fighting to preserve media access in the case.
Graf has already made allowances to protect Robinson’s presumption of innocence before a trial, agreeing that the case has drawn “extraordinary” public attention.
Graf held a closed hearing on Oct. 24 in which attorneys discussed Robinson’s courtroom attire and security protocols. Under a subsequent ruling by the judge, Robinson is allowed to wear street clothes in court during his pretrial hearings but must be physically restrained due to security concerns. Graf also prohibited media from filming or photographing Robinson’s restraints
Michael Judd, an attorney for the media coalition, has urged Graf to let the news organizations weigh in on any future requests for closed hearings or other limitations.
The media presence at Utah hearings is already limited, with judges often designating one photographer and one videographer to document a hearing and
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has called for full transparency, saying, “We deserve to have cameras in there.” Her husband was an ally of President Donald Trump who worked to steer young voters toward conservatism. Robinson’s legal team says his pretrial publicity reaches as far as the White House, with Trump announcing soon after Robinson’s arrest, “With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” and “I hope he gets the death penalty.” Attorney Kathy Nester has raised concern that digitally altered versions of Robinson’s initial court photo have spread widely, creating misinformation about the case. Some altered images show Robinson crying or having an outburst in court, which did not happen.
US and Japan hold joint flight drills as China ups military activity near Japan
By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press
US strategic bombers joined a fleet of Japanese fighter jets in a joint military exercise meant to demonstrate their military cooperation around Japan’s airspace, defence officials said Thursday, as tensions with China escalate.
The exercise showcasing joint Japanese-US air power came a day after Chinese and Russian bombers flew together around western Japan, prompting Tokyo to scramble fighter jets, though there was no airspace violation. It also follows China’s military aircraft locking radar on Japanese jets Saturday, another incident that has caused Tokyo-Beijing relations to further deteriorate.
Japan’s Air Self DefenseForce and the US military conducted the joint exercise Wednesday as “the security environment surrounding our country is becoming even severer,” the Japanese Joint Staff said.
It said the allies “reaffirmed the strong resolve to prevent unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force and the readiness between the SDF and the US forces.”
Two US B-52 strategic
bombers and three Japanese F-35 stealth fighter jets and three F-15 jets conducted their joint flight drills near Japan’s western airspace, above the waters between the country and South Korea, officials said.
Exercises held as the security environment grows more tense
The Joint Staff denied that the exercise was conducted in response to a specific incident, but acknowledged Chinese military aircraft’s recent radar-locking on Japanese jets and the China-Russia joint bomber exercises Tuesday as examples of a worsening security environment around Japan.
Relations between Japan and China have deteriorated after Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in early November that Japan’s military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own. The row escalated over the weekend when separate Chinese drills involving a carrier near southern Japan prompted Tokyo to scramble jets and to protest that Japanese aircraft were targeted by repeated radar-locking — a move
considered as possible preparation for firing. Tokyo protested to Beijing, asking for an explanation and preventive measures. China denied the allegation and accused Japanese jets of interfering and endangering the Chinese exercise.
Washington stressed its “unwavering” alliance with Japan, saying the incident was not “conducive to regional peace and stability.”
The exercise came one day after Chinese and Russian strategic bombers conducted joint long-distance flight from the waters between Japan and South Korea down to the Pacific, the Joint Staff said.
Two Russian strategic bombers Tu-95 that flew down from the airspace east of the Korean Peninsula joined a pair of Chinese H-6 bombers over the East China Sea for a joint flight down to the Pacific off the southern coast of Japan’s Shikoku island. The four bombers were also joined by four Chinese J-16 fighters as they flew back and forth between two Japanese southwestern islands Okinawa and Miyako, the area where China is expanding its military presence.
HOMELAND SECURITY Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during the House Committee on Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, yesterday.
Photo: Mark Schiefelbein/AP
TYLER ROBINSON, accused of the murder of Charlie Kirk, appears during a hearing in Fourth District Court in Provo, yesterday.
Photo: Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune/AP
BriannHumes (center) receivedher giftsfor outstanding participation inthe InternationalDay ofthe GirlChild Leadership Programme. Pictured are (L-R) Bianka Bullard, Presenter; Dr.Fann Bowe, Presenter; Mrs.Phedra Rahming-Turnquest, Permanent Secretary; and Dr. Ann Higgins, Founder.
Thirty graduate from girls' leadership programme
THIRTYhopeful younggirls stepped confidentlyinto their next chapteron Saturday,as theygraduated fromtheInternational Day of the Girl Child Leadership Programme.The ceremony,heldattheEdmund Moxey CulturalCentre, brought togetherfamilies, mentors, andcommunity leaders to celebrate eight weeks ofempowerment, learning,and personaltransformation.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, Mrs. PhedraRahming-Turnquest, delivered words thatsetthetonefor the day. Speaking directly to the girls, she urged themto“holdyour head high, no matter your circumstances, and never letanyone define whoyou are.” She encouraged them to conduct themselves with dignity, to remember thatGod
Fields, King new Girl Guide leaders
Dr. Ruth Sumner ended her seven-year tenure as President, and received the recommendation from the Nominating Committee toappoint Mrs.Michele Fieldsas the President,and Mrs.Richenda Kingas the1st VicePresident. The nominations were unanimously approved.
BothMrs.FieldsandMrs.Kingarelong-servingmembers ofCouncil, former Guides who representedthe Association abroad, and who value the contributionof the Guidesto theirlives. Asthe currentchairperson ofthe Legacy HouseFundraising Committee, Mrs.Fields is awareof thepressingneed to obtainfundsfor thepurchase of an elevator, generator, office furniture, and landscaping.
TheAssociation looksforward totheapplicationof Mrs. King's extensive organizational skills inmatters related to the support ofprogrammes andexpansion of Guiding throughout The Bahamas, in addition to fundraising.
They are encouraging all former guides to visit Legacy House and become involvedand support the exciting work of Guiding. Phone: (242) 322-4342 or email bggassociation@yahoo.com.
loves them, andto stand firmlyon goodmoralsand principles as they navigate life.
Findyour passionand pursue it,” she told them. Moneywill come but what youwillhave istruefulfilment. By doingyour best as girls,youlaythefoundationto become the influential women of tomorrow.”
This year’s programmewas guidedbytheinspiringtheme: TheGirl IAm,The ChangeI Lead Girls on the Frontline of Crises.
Classeswere heldevery
Friday afternoon from October 6 to December 5, providing thegirls witha structured,supportivespaceto grow week by week.
Theinitiative--apartnership between theWorld Congress of Dance – Nassau Section and the Ministry-- was spearheaded by Dr.Ann Higgins, Presidentof theInternational Dance Council–CID UNESCO. Dr. Higgins has devoted her life to using dance andthe performingartsas tools for positive change, especially in the lives of children. Her vision for this leadership programme was to
equipadolescent andteenage girls with theconfidence, discipline, and life skills needed to thrive.
Overtheeight-weekcourse, the girls participatedindynamic sessionson leadership, wellness, finance,performing arts, and socialskills development.The finalsession,delivered on graduation day,focusedonfinancialliteracyand was taught byAchara GrantWash, Economic and Trade Officer,who encouragedthe girls to bethoughtful, responsiblestewards oftheirresources.
BSHRM reinstates student chapter at UB
ON November 19, 2025, the Bahamas Society for Human ResourceManagement (BSHRM) proudlyreinstated theUniversity ofThe Bahamas SHRM (UB SHRM) Student Chapter atthe Harry C.Moore Library.Thissignificant relaunchintroduces a dynamic Executive Board dedicatedto leading,learning, andinnovatingin thefieldof Human Resources (HR).
BSHRMserves asthenational chapter translatingthe global vision of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) into local impact,addressing theunique challenges and opportunities withinthe Bahamianworkforce.
FRONT ROW: Carla Hamilton - BSHRM Secretary, Sanyu Johnson - UB SHRM PR Officer - Dereka Rolle, Treasurer, Lashanta Smith -BSHRM President,Radiyah Finlayson-UB SHRMPresident, GwenDeveaux- UBSHRMSecretary,J'Kya Turnquest-UB SHRM VicePresident, Justina Stubbs,BSHRM Directorof Programs/UB SHRM Advisor BACK ROW: BSHRM & UB SHRM Members
THIRTY adolescent and teen girls participated in theInternational Day of the Girl Child Leadership Programme
AMEAH WALLACE, center, beamswith her certificate from the International Day of the Girl Child,presented by PSPhedra Turnquent and Dr Ann Higgins
MISS Teen Bahamas, Chloe Walters,were amongst the young ladies who completed the leadership programme.
DAANYA