Biggest And Best!
5OO BAHAMIAN JOBS
AS BEACH CLUB OPENS
By Neil Hartnell Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
BIMINI and Abaco marinas are warning that new and increased boating fees and regulations “are absolutely strangling” winter season business, with one operator revealing they will be satisfied “if we could settle in at 50 percent of what we did last year”. Multiple northern
Bahamas marinas told Tribune Business that the full impact of reforms that accompanied the 2025-2026 Budget is now “starting to bite” with what is normally a peak period for the industry being marred by “widespread cancellations from long-time repeat visitors”, “minimal reservations” and “a sharp drop in forward bookings.
• See BUSINESS for story
Royal Caribbean opens club pledging revenue sharing and local ownership despite fears for downtown businesses
By Fay Simmons Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
ROYAL Caribbean’s long-awaited Paradise Island beach break destination has finally opened, employing more than 500 Bahamians in management, hospitality, entertainment and food and beverage operations.
Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, speaking at Saturday’s formal opening of the Royal Beach Club, said the project will give Bahamians a tangible equity ownership in the tourism sector - the country’s largest industry.
Abaco mourns teacher and nephew car crash victims
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport
Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
CRIES and wails filled Full Assemblies of God Church on Saturday as mourners gathered in Abaco to say goodbye to veteran educator Monique Williams and her 13-yearold nephew, Terrance “TJ” Williams. Family members, educators, students, colleagues
and friends packed the church, many openly sobbing as tributes were delivered for Williams, remembered as an “extraordinary educator,” and her nephew, described as a “shining star” taken far too soon. Former prime minister and North Abaco MP Hubert A Ingraham was among those in attendance. The service unfolded
- SEE PAGE SEVEN
COUNTRY MAY HIT LOWEST NON-COVID MURDER COUNT IN OVER A DECADE
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas is on track for one of its lowest murder counts in over a decade. With three weeks remaining in the year, 80 people have been killed, well below last year’s pace. At the same point in 2024, 117 murders had been recorded, and the year ended with 120. The current trajectory
would mark the country’s lowest total since 2020, when COVID-19 restrictions suppressed violent crime. Excluding that year, the last time fewer than 90 murders were recorded was in 2009, when 86 people were killed. In more recent years, police recorded 128 murders in 2022 and 119 in 2021. The murder count stood at
MURDER - SEE PAGE FIVE
While Royal Caribbean holds a 51 percent majority stake, the Government and Bahamian investors will ultimately own the remaining 49 percent while 1 percent of revenues generated by the project will be directed to the Tourism Development Fund. The opening comes after long-standing controversy over land use, environmental concerns, governance and fears the project could divert cruise spending away from downtown Nassau.
• See PAGE THREE and BUSINESS for more
LOCALS AND VISITORS ENJOY BEAT RETREAT ON BAY STREET
DRUMMERS from the Royal Bahamas Police Force put on a show during the annual Beat Retreat at Rawson Square on Bay Street yesterday.
Photo: Shawn Hanna See PAGE 12 for more
JUNKANOO among the festivities during the opening ceremony for Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island.
Royal Beach Club holds official opening
KFC operators and union sign five-year industrial agreement
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Staff Reporter
RESTAURANT Bahamas
Limited, operator of KFC, and the Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association on Friday signed a five-year industrial agreement, bringing months of negotiations to a close in a process both sides said was marked by cooperation rather than conflict.
BHMA president Obie Ferguson KC described the agreement as a significant moment for both the company and the managers it represents, particularly given the absence of industrial action during talks.
“This is a very important event,” he said. “We have had what I consider to be constructive
negotiations, even though there were differences at the beginning of the process, the management, along with the Association, we have been able to work them out, and we now reach a conclusion of the agreement.”
Mr Ferguson said the process stood out in a national industrial relations climate where disputes often escalate into demonstrations or strikes.
"I don't know of any agreement, except this one, where there was not some industrial action. I don't know of one, and I represent 41 unions, 41 unions in The Bahamas," he said on Friday.
"I don't know of a case where there was negotiation, and there was no demonstration or a strike, or some industrial action, and in this particular agreement, in this
particular process, I should say there was no need for strike or anything of that nature. The management agreed to some things that I think was very healthy, and it was done, if I may say, at the very last minute, particularly on the wage package."
He attributed part of that outcome to a departure from traditional bargaining practices, noting that restaurant managers themselves were included directly in negotiations for the first time.
“It was not just traditional. The trade union leader, along with his team, would be the ones who would normally be a part of those negotiations. In this case, I decided that in order for them to know everything we were aware of, they are to sit there and they
can hear it,” he said.
Mr Ferguson said workers reviewed the final wage package and accepted it unanimously. With the agreement now settled, he said attention must turn to performance and productivity.
RBL director of human resources Nina Maynard said the agreement reflects the company’s stated commitment to its workforce, describing RBL as “in the people business first, in the restaurant business second.”
“This agreement reinforces our promise to safeguard the well-being, dignity and success of every member of our organisation. It ensures stability, opportunity and fairness, values we stand firmly behind,” she said.
Ms Maynard said the company preserved its major existing
benefits while strengthening the overall package for managers. The agreement includes paid vacation, a non-contributory pension fund, partially paid health insurance, sick-leave provisions and a salary structure approved by both parties.
The five-year agreement was described by both sides as sustainable and balanced, addressing the needs of the business while recognising the role of its managerial workforce.
Mr Ferguson said managers can expect a positive holiday season, noting that Christmas bonuses and benefits remain in place, and expressed hope that the tone and outcome of the talks could serve as a template for future industrial negotiations in The Bahamas.
PRIME MINISTER Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Chester Copoper along with govt and Royal Caribbean Bahamas officials cut the ribbon for the opening of the cruise line’s private beach on Paradise Island. See BUSINESS for story
NJC ‘deeply disappointed’ over court order to refer to group as Valley Boys
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
TENSIONS between the National Junkanoo Committee (NJC) and the World Famous Valley Boys escalated over the weekend after a Supreme Court judge ordered the NJC to refer to the group as the Valley Boys, with the NJC calling the group’s legal action “deeply disappointing.”
The interim court order by Justice Leif Farquharson, which also directed the Registrar General to immediately restore the group’s registration as a nonprofit organisation, was one of several findings reportedly favouring the junkanoo group, led by Brian Adderley.
He further ordered the
Department of Inland Revenue to reinstate their business licence and tax identification number once all statutory requirements are met, according to a statement by the World Famous Valley Boys. The written ruling has not been publicly released yet, but the decision followed an emergency application filed by the group, primarily challenging the NJC’s refusal to recognise them by their full name. The matter gained attention late last month after the NJC referred to the group as the “World Famous 1958” in a post revealing the parade order, sparking backlash. The group said the decision demonstrated nepotism, undermined trust, and left its members
vulnerable to potential victimisation.
After issuing a ceaseand-desist letter that reportedly went unanswered, the group escalated the matter to court, filing an emergency application addressing the naming dispute and other issues.
In a statement over the weekend, the NJC claimed the group’s legal action did not reflect the agreements reached with the government, calling it “a troubling departure” from the good-faith understanding between the parties.
The committee also rejected claims of favoritism, insisting no sides were taken and that every action was guided by the need to protect Junkanoo.
The NJC said it clearly
Mitchell warns Pintard ‘be careful what you do and say’
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter
PROGRESSIVE Lib-
eral Party chairman Fred Mitchell dismissed Opposition Leader Michael Pintard’s threat to publish the names of public officials who failed to meet the March 1 financial disclosure deadline, warning the FNM leader to “be careful what you do and what you say,” while accusing him of getting matters “almost always” wrong.
“This is a free country and the leader of the opposition does not have to threaten anyone,” he said in a voicenote over the weekend.
“If he believes that is what he ought to do in this free country, democratic country, he believes that’s his duty, don’t threaten, just go ahead and do it, no big deal. The problem with the leader of the opposition is that he almost always gets things wrong, so all I say to him is be careful what you do and what you say.”
Mr Mitchell’s comments followed a Tribune report detailing Mr Pintard’s criticism of the Public Disclosures Committee and its chairman, Bishop Victor Cooper. Mr Pintard accused Bishop Cooper of being indirect and unclear, leaving unanswered which MPs, senators and senior public officers met the March 1 filing deadline required under the Public Disclosure Act.
“He should release the information, and if he doesn't, we'll just go ahead and release that information to you,” Mr Pintard said outside the House of Assembly on Wednesday.
“There are some members of Parliament and members of the Senate who released consistent with the timeline. There are others who release, I guess they had explanations
after. There’s at least one member who didn't release at all.”
Mr Pintard argued there was no justification for withholding the list, contending that transparency is a legal responsibility of the chairman and that delays erode public confidence in the integrity of elected officials. He has repeatedly raised the issue this year, insisting the law requires an annual publication of a compliance list. While the disclosure deadline was March 1, and some officials reportedly sought extensions, the Public Disclosures Committee has previously attributed delays to accessibility problems and facility limitations — explanations critics argue do not satisfy the requirements of the law. In its 2024 investment climate report on The Bahamas, the United States noted that the Public Disclosure Commission failed for the past 13 years to meet its legal obligation to gazette reports concerning legislators’ declarations of assets, income and liabilities. The report said the most recently gazetted report was dated December
2011, and “it contained information on disclosures only up to 2008”.
Bishop Cooper also wrongly claimed last year that the commission was not empowered to gazette disclosures. Section 6(2) of the Public Disclosure Act states that after the commission examines parliamentarians’ declarations, “it shall publish a summary of that declaration in the Gazette in the form prescribed by Form B in the Second Schedule”.
That form calls for details including information about a declarant’s spouse and children, particulars of bonds, stocks, shares and similar investments, and an official’s annual income.
However, the law does not empower the commission to disclose who failed to declare. Instead, the commission can report non-compliance to the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, either of whom can have the information disclosed in the House of Assembly or the Senate, or have the matter referred to the attorney general or commissioner of police for further action.
communicated from the outset that the group would not be recognised as the World Famous “Valley Boys” unless specific conditions were met. It said the group was informed their parade application would be approved conditionally, with the understanding— confirmed in meetings with an executive—that the group would be recognized as World Famous 1958 unless they provided the required documentation to claim the Valley Boys name.
However, the NJC added that, to date, neither the ministry nor the committee has received supporting documentation needed to substantiate the application. Despite this, the NJC said the junkanoo group
was still allowed to compete and given seed funding despite “having missed the original registration deadline.”
“At no time did this accommodation constitute validation or endorsement of any claim to the Valley Boys name,” the statement read. “To date, the Ministry and the NJC have not received the supporting documentation required to substantiate the group’s application under the name World Famous Valley Boys.”
“While the matter was actively before the courts, the Ministry and the NJC acted responsibly and advised that the group would not be referred to as Valley Boys, so as not to prejudice the legal process.”
The NJC called the
group’s decision to proceed to court as “deeply disappointing,” saying it did not accurately reflect the conditional nature of its registration or the agreements reached with the Government following earlier discussions. It’s unclear whether the Way Forward Valley Boys faction has met the NJC’s conditions needed to be referred to as the Valley Boys. In a recent court ruling, the Court of Appeal suggested the Registrar General allowed the Way Forward to “highjack” the Valley Boys name. The World Famous Valley Boys thanked the Supreme Court for its ruling in a statement, saying they look forward to delivering a vibrant performance at the upcoming parades.
Police continue searching for man who slipped his restraints while at hospital
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
POLICE were still searching last night for a man who slipped his restraints and escaped custody while under treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital, the latest in a string of breakouts that has kept law enforcement chasing fugitives.
Raymond Duncombe, 28, of Yellow Elder, was in custody for theft when he broke free from handcuff restraints on Friday, police said. He was last seen after 2am near the Queen’s Staircase, shirtless and wearing long blue jeans.
Police said officers tried to subdue him, but he evaded both police and security personnel and remained at large.
National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said he was waiting on the outcome of the police investigation into how the escape happened, but said he expected any shortcomings to be addressed to prevent it happening again.
Mr Munroe said the inmate may not have been treated as a high security risk given the nature of his alleged crime, which could explain why the hospital ward was not fully locked down or staffed with more officers.
He said it was unusual for someone to risk a longer sentence by running for an offence likely to bring six to nine months.
“If the fellow is there for armed robbery or be a murder, there would likely have been two to three police officers, something you wouldn’t do with stealing or vagrancy or something like that,” he said. “You would put more resources the more dangerous the person is. ” He added that serious cases require securing an entire ward, and said the
design of the new prison includes an on-site medical facility to avoid such complications in the future.
“If they were to now tell me they want to lock an entire hospital ward down to make sure they keep one man in custody for stealing, I would think that's a little bit extreme, yes, and they would have to come back with something else, right?
So that is why I would say you have to look at every instance why it happened to address it.”
Duncombe’s escape came just a week after two other men broke free from custody.
In November, police recaptured two prisoners in Eleuthera after they escaped custody. A third, Michael Thompson, 35, escaped from the Nassau Street Police Station on November 22 and was later recaptured.
Police were also still investigating the escape of 34-year-old D’Angelo Culmer, who has been on the run for more than two months. Commissioner Shanta Knowles told The Tribune last month that three police officers were under investigation in connection with that incident. Asked if he was alarmed about the uptick in escapes, Mr Munroe replied: “As I said the police will investigate how they happened to address any shortcoming.”
Police said Cameron Pratt, held for previous harm, escaped from custody in Fox Hill around 7.30am on December 6, while Thomas Minnis Jr, in custody for firearm offences, escaped from the Grove about an hour earlier. Both incidents triggered an island-wide manhunt and the release of a wanted poster. Pratt later surrendered to police the same day. It remains unclear whether Minnis Jr was ever found.
PLP CHAIRMAN FRED MITCHELL
NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER WAYNE MUNROE
Murder count at 80 with three weeks left in year
COVID-19 LOCKDOWNS
OUTISDE of the year 2020 with its COVID-19 lockdowns 2025 is tracking to be the lowest murder total in more than a decade. Excluding that year, the last time fewer than 90 murders were recorded was in 2009, when 86 people were killed.
MURDER from page one
95 in 2019, 91 in 2018, 122 in 2017, 111 in 2016, 146 in 2015 and 123 in 2014. The country first recorded more than 100 murders in 2011, with 127.
National Security Minister Wayne Munroe acknowledged this year’s trend yesterday but said he was not satisfied with the current number, saying
even one murder is too many.
He believes the drop could be linked to youth intervention programmes, targeted Urban Renewal projects and legislative changes, including amendments to the Bail Act that automatically revoke bail for those who violate their conditions.
“It would be interesting to see if that has had the effect of addressing persons
who the police were saying were either themselves falling victims or themselves then re-offending because that is what we look at to see what other steps we need to take to continue to put pressure on,” he said. Mr Munroe said he was more concerned with the trends driving homicides, including whether they were gang-related, adding that the most recent cases appeared to be
interpersonal. A sustained decline would be welcomed by Commissioner Shanta Knowles, who assumed leadership of the Royal Bahamas Police Force last December following the resignation of former Commissioner Clayton Fernander. Mr Fernander repeatedly said he wanted to keep the country’s annual murder count below 100.
Mother advised son to plead guilty to get help before he was killed while in prison
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MOTHER testified about how she urged her mentally challenged son to plead guilty to a crime in the hope he would receive treatment, only to learn weeks later that he had died alone in a prison cell after following her advice.
Rose Miller testified on Friday in the murder trial of Diallo Williamson, who is accused of causing the death of 29-year-old inmate Mikhail Miller at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services on November 1, 2021. The deceased was found unresponsive in his cell.
Ms Miller said the last time she saw her son was in court on October 8, 2021, after she searched for him at a police station and was told he was in court. She said her son was mentally challenged and that she was trying to get him help. She recalled being told that if her son pleaded guilty – to a crime that wasn’t revealed in court – the judge could refer him to Sandilands.
Ms Miller said she urged him to plead guilty, and he did, resulting in a threemonth prison sentence. She recalled telling him, “Son, I love you, but I need you to get help”.
Ms Miller said Judge Turnquest told her Sandilands was no longer taking
people at the time because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there would be a letter sent so her son could get help while in prison. Before he was remanded, Ms Miller said she hugged him and told him she loved him. She cried softly as she said that was the last time she saw him alive, adding that he smiled at her that day. She described him as mannerly, with an infectious smile, but said he could become aggressive without his medication.
She said a neighbour had previously suggested she take him to Sandilands.
Ms Miller also said a blood sample indicated the marijuana he smoked was laced, and she said he suffered from psychosis, heard voices, and sometimes went out at night. She told the court she repeatedly tried to get him on the right path and sought counselling and spiritual guidance.
She also said that before his incarceration, he was bound to keep the peace after repeatedly calling a neighbour’s daughter his wife, and that he had wanted to be a police officer.
Ms Miller said she tried to contact the prison before his death to find out whether he needed anything. She said that on November 1, 2021, she received two calls from a strange number. When
she answered the second call at a grocery store, she recalled the prison chaplain telling her, “I am on my way to the morgue, your son is dead”.
Ms Miller said she passed out in the store and, when she came to, she wept uncontrollably. She said her daughter later picked her up, and she told her that her brother had died. Ms Miller said she struggled to tell her younger son, and later told him after he realised something was wrong. She recalled him asking how his brother had died.
She said she did not sleep that night, but opened her Bible and read scripture.
Ms Miller said she had never been told her son was sick or informed of his health condition in prison. She said she went to the prison on November 2 seeking answers and asked to speak with Doan Cleare, now Commissioner of BDCS, but was told to return the following day after a call. Ms Miller said she questioned Mr Cleare about what happened and said she still does not understand.
She said she identified her son’s body at the morgue on November 4. Ms Miller said she did not recognise him at first when she saw the photograph, but recognised him when she saw his eyes. She said his head was the size of a coconut and that he
26-year-old accused of murder after body found in Gambier
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was remanded to prison on Friday after prosecutors accused him of murdering Kevin Poitier, whose body was found with multiple lacerations in Gambier Village earlier this month. Prosecutors alleged that Arnwell Cash, 26, caused the death of 30-year-old Poitier sometime between December 2 and 3. Poitier’s body was found in the area of Fernander Road at around 7am on December 3, with multiple lacerations to his upper body. He was reportedly a resident of the area. Cash was not required to enter a plea before Deputy Chief Magistrate Kara Turnquest Deveaux. He was told the matter would proceed to the Supreme Court by way of voluntary bill of indictment and was informed of his right to apply for bail in the higher court. Cash was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until service of his VBI on March 16, 2026. Inspector K Wilkinson prosecuted.
Officers injured and teen airlifted in weekend of violence
SEVERAL violent incidents across the country between Friday night and early Sunday left multiple people injured, including a juvenile who was seriously stabbed, a man shot during an apparent carjacking attempt, and two police officers hurt during a confrontation in Grand Bahama.
The first incident occurred on Friday night on Grand Bahama. Shortly before 9pm, officers executed a search warrant at a residence in the Pine Forest Subdivision of Eight Mile Rock. Upon entering the property, several ferocious dogs surrounded one of the officers, prompting the officer to discharge their service weapon and injure one of the animals.
After the search, officers returned to their vehicle to leave the residence when a 50-year-old man entered a vehicle, accelerated toward the marked police car and intentionally collided with it, according to preliminary reports. The man was taken into custody and cautioned in connection with the incident. Two officers were injured and received medical attention.
Later that night on Abaco, shortly after 11pm, police were alerted to a stabbing on Don McKay Boulevard. Responding officers found a teenage male suffering from apparent stab wounds. He was
taken to a clinic for treatment and was scheduled to be airlifted to New Providence because of the seriousness of his injuries.
Preliminary reports indicate that the stabbing followed an altercation involving a group of males.
Four males, aged 33, 19, 18 and 17, were later arrested in connection with the incident.
Early Saturday morning, a man suffered a minor gunshot injury during an apparent carjacking attempt on Bernard Terrace. Shortly before 1.30am, the victim was seated in his white Honda Fit, licence plate AE8225, when an unknown man wearing dark clothing approached armed with a firearm and demanded the vehicle.
The victim sped away, and the suspect allegedly opened fire, grazing him on the right arm. The victim drove himself to hospital, where his injuries were classified as non-life-threatening.
Violence continued into the early hours of Sunday, when a 29-year-old man was stabbed during a physical altercation at a business establishment on Providence Avenue in the Chippingham area shortly before 1.30am. He was stabbed in the lower back and abdomen and transported to hospital by private vehicle, where he remains in critical condition.
Inmate hospitalised after assault by other prisoners
had a laceration under his eye. At the end of her testimony, Ms Miller asked for a moment to compose herself as she wept into her hand. The defendant told her everything was going to be alright as she passed him in the prisoner’s dock while leaving court.
The prosecution is led by Gary Rolle III and Kara Butler-White. Dorsey McPhee represents the defence.
A 30-YEAR-OLD inmate was hospitalised early Thursday after he was allegedly assaulted by other inmates at the Bahamas Department of Corrections. Initial reports indicate that the incident occurred shortly after 2.30am on
December 11, when the inmate sustained injuries to his body during the alleged assault. He was taken to hospital, where he is undergoing medical assessments.
Police are working with the Bahamas Department of Corrections as investigations continue.
The Tribune Limited
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“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH,
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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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Facing tourism’s mixed picture
THE ups and downs of the tourism business are on full display in today’s Tribune . On one hand, the ribbon cutting of a development that will bring jobs to 500 Bahamians. On the other hand, winter tourism in the marina business faces being cut in half because of fees and regulations.
Put those against a background where stopover tourism is still suffering a slight decline – down 1.3 percent in the first half of the year – and tourism remains a mixed picture.
On Saturday, the good news was being saluted. Prime Minister Philip Davis was there as the ribbon was cut on the new Royal Caribbean Beach Club development on Paradise Island. Despite early friction over a neighbouring project, the Royal Caribbean plan has forged ahead, and aims to be fully open later this month.
Mr Davis pointed out that there is 49 percent Bahamian ownership involved in the project, saying: “Ownership means Bahamians are not standing outside watching success pass by.”
In practice, the resort will also employ more than 500 Bahamians in a range of roles.
Across the water, on Bay Street, some continue to worry that the new resort will draw tourists away in boat taxis, leaving less money in the pockets of Downtown traders. Whether the 500 extra on Paradise Island will have to balance up for a shortfall of cutbacks on Bay Street, we shall have to wait and see.
Frankly, though, if Downtown cannot deal with the competition, it has had long enough to try to offer a compelling alternative for visitors.
We cannot remain stagnant as an attraction for those who come to our shores. If people want to visit the new resort, it is because there are not more attractive options elsewhere. Competition should mean all sides step their game up.
By contrast, the picture facing marinas is not a shortfall because of competitors, but because red tape makes the competition look more attractive. We are strangling our own opportunities there.
In today’s Tribune Business, you can read how multiple businesses are
reporting that they are seeing a drop in business because of reforms in the Budget. Right now, it should be a peak period. Instead, there are widespread cancellations and a sharp drop in bookings.
Abaco Beach Resort’s Emanuel Alexiou talks of how “everyone’s down” for the winter season, while at Brown’s Marina in Bimini, just three of 18 slips are occupied when they are normally almost full at this time of year.
We often talk of how if the US sneezes, The Bahamas catches a cold. Right now, the marinas closest to the US are feeling the most pain. It seems we are giving US visitors a cold right now, or at least cold feet.
The rise in boat fees has made visitors look around and consider other locations instead. It is not just the fees either, but the manner of their implementation. Many boaters have talked on social media about how they feel such fees have been dropped on them without warning, or without consideration of how to make the whole process easy on visitors.
In Abaco, businesses are particularly concerned, warning that such marine traffic forms the backbone of its boating community.
Whereas with the Royal Caribbean project, that is a simple case of a new development bringing competition, the marina changes have been a self-imposed wound that makes our nation less attractive, and less competitive.
Along with the continued battle to try to remedy the shortfall in stopovers, it means our tourism sector is not thriving as much as we might hope right now.
Solutions do not come along as easily as problems, but we appear to sometimes being putting more hurdles in our way rather than clearing the ones we have.
For now, the Royal Caribbean ribbon cutting saw the sun shine down amid strong hopes for its future. That is welcome, not least of all for the workers starting their new jobs there. We wish all concerned great success –as we watch the storm clouds gather elsewhere.
American expansion creating a zone of fear
EDITOR, The Tribune.
LATIN America from the shores of Mexico to the tip of the continent down south are preparing for a conflict not seen since the turn of the century. America is flexing its muscles are nations large and small are cringing at the possibility that they maybe in America’s cross hairs. Who should be on the lookout for Naval, Arial or land invasions: Well, the island of the Caribbean are important strategic points in America’s way down south. Needing friendly ports of call for America’s Armed Forces, America will challenge China’s hard bought and won friendship with the Caribbean Elites. Wake up one morning to find several hundred Marines on your shoreline. That is not unheard of these days’ folks. America will expand as it offers or forces its view of what “democracy” truly
can be. Also realise that any nation that is not with America is against America! Neutrality no longer exists on this planet. Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, Cuba and even Jamaica face possible challenges from this expanding giant. Jamaica’s anti-American attitudes may force an economic action against them. Being friends with the Communist Giant China will have repercussions folks if you’re located in America’s Continental Zone. American diplomacy has become less friendly particularly with nations that see advantages dealing with other super powers. China, Russia and even the EU are seen as unfriendly challengers. Whether you’re an Authoritarian State, middle of the road tyrant friendly or a peaceful democratic state the rules have been set. America Interests 1st with your interests
Beware political distratctions
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.
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.
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.
secondary. Even America’s greatest ally Canada fears their cousins to the south. Canadian Prime Minister Carney has no way of understanding what the American President will do in the next hour, let alone the next year. No one does. Is Manifest Destiny a thing of the past or the New Doctrine of the Day? American might has become the source of conflict all over the world be it seen economically, militarily or politically. President Teddy Roosevelt’s “Big Stick Doctrine” has been applied to all within the American Zone of Influence. Be Afraid all you former enemies of America for like an elephant that never forgets America is coming for yah. Look out!
STEVEN KASZAB Bradford, Ontario December 12, 2025
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
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.
Caring for our strays
EDITOR, The Tribune. AS we approach the joyful Christmas season, it is important to remember not only our families and friends but also the stray animals that share our communities. Many of these animals go hungry each day, and the holiday season is a perfect time to show them kindness and care. If you have extra food during the holidays, please consider sharing it with our stray animals. A simple bowl of water and some plain rice or protein can make a huge difference to a hungry dog or cat. There is plenty of food in the Bahamas during Christmas, so instead of wasting it, let’s
put some aside to feed those who cannot ask for it. It is very important not to give them sweets, bones, or any food that is harmful. These are not suitable for dogs or cats and can make them very sick. Safe, nourishing meals like plain rice and protein are what they truly need. For those who would like to go a step further, purchasing hard or soft dog and cat food to feed the stray animals in your community is also a wonderful idea. Even small contributions can provide comfort and nourishment to animals that are often overlooked. Beyond food, showing kindness can mean so much. Leaving water bowls outside, providing simple shelter from the elements, and treating these animals with patience and care are small gestures that make a big difference. Let us remember that these animals rely on us for survival and that our compassion can bring hope and warmth to their lives. This Christmas, let us open our hearts not just to our loved ones but to the stray animals around us. A small act of kindness can save a life, and together, we can ensure that no animal goes hungry this festive season.
LATESHA CLARKE Nassau, December 12, 2025
HEADS up, everyone: there’s a new cartoonist in town – and nobody in authority or power should consider themselves safe from his pointed pen. The Tribune’s brilliant new cartoonist, Lamaro Smith, will be skewering hypocrisy, highlighting absurdity, and giving readers plenty to think about. You can follow Lamaro on Instagram @lamarosmith.
Abaco mourns ‘extraordinary’ teacher and nephew killed in highway crash
against the shock that has gripped the Treasure Cay community since November 21, when Williams, her nephew and another student were travelling to school and were involved in a head-on collision on the SC Bootle Highway.
Williams and her nephew died in the crash. The third student survived and continues to recover from injuries. The collision involved a Ford Excursion driven by American tourists who were reportedly on the wrong side of the road.
Tributes focused heavily on Williams’ decades-long commitment to education. The 53-year-old spent more than 30 years teaching students in Treasure Cay, Green Turtle Cay, New Providence and her hometown of Cooper’s Town.
Speaking on behalf of the school principal, a colleague described her as a “teacher par excellence,” whose humility, wisdom and infectious
smile shaped generations of students.
“She poured herself into education as her God-given purpose,” the colleague said. “She took great pride in her students’ accomplishments and celebrated their successes as if they were her own.”
Williams was remembered as someone who treated students and colleagues with equal care and respect, known for her generosity and her quiet but powerful presence. The colleague said she had been looking forward to retirement.
Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson also paid tribute, describing Williams as an accomplished educator whose work raised the standard of education nationwide.
“Ms Williams made her mark in education, which she exhibited through her hard work, dedication, and commitment to her students,” she said.
“I can truly say that the education system in The Bahamas was better because of Monique Williams. She left a legacy.” Wilson also remembered young Terrance and offered prayers for the recovery of Calsey Rolle Jr. Terrance “TJ” Williams was remembered by his homeroom teacher as gentle, kind-hearted and deeply rooted in faith.
“I did not birth you, but I loved you as my own,” the teacher said.
She recalled his kindness to classmates, his soft-spoken apologies and his attentiveness during lessons about Jesus.
“To his family and village, you raised an exceptional child,” she said. “You taught him respect, kindness, love.”
Members of the Class of 1989 of the former Cooper’s Town High School, now SC Bootle
High School, also honoured their classmate, remembering Williams as dependable and gentle.
“She had a smile that could light up a room,” a classmate recalled. “She was the sensible one — the friend you could always depend on.”
A colleague urged those in attendance to honour the lives of Monique and Terrance Williams as
“legacies of love.”
On behalf of Cooper’s Town Primary School, she extended condolences to the Williams and Russell families and the wider school community.
“It will not be the same without her,” the colleague said. “But we take comfort knowing they are at perfect peace — loved by us, but loved best by God.”
EMOTIONAL FAREWELL FOR YOUNG MARINE SEAMAN DEMERIS ARMBRISTER KILLED IN CRASH
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
A VIDEO played during the funeral service for Marine Seaman Demeris Armbrister Jr on Friday traced his life from childhood through adulthood, offering a final, intimate reflection on a young man whose death has shaken the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and his wider community.
In the video, Armbrister described himself as “ chasing God”, acknowledging his own imperfections while expressing a desire to live better.
“I don’t have it all together but I’m trying,” he said, adding that he was doing “all the right things instead of all of the wrong things.”
The montage moved between milestones and lighter moments, including scenes from his graduation and casual “fit checks, before ending with footage from his vigil, where loved ones gathered outdoors with balloons and prayers to celebrate his life.
Armbrister died earlier this month after crashing into a tree off the Tonique Williams Darling Highway. His funeral was conducted with full military honours, attended by senior officers of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and top brass of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
As officers in green and white uniforms filled the sanctuary, Armbrister’s family processed in blue and black towards the open casket. Many mourners struggled to contain their grief, while others stood silently in disbelief. When the casket was closed, one relative became overwhelmed and needed assistance.
Tributes from officers, family members and political leaders were read throughout the service, painting a picture of a disciplined, ambitious young marine who took pride in service and carried himself with purpose.
RBDF Commodore Floyd Moxey said Mr Armbrister brought “genuine intensity” and “pride” to
his work, describing him as a marine whose zeal and energy consistently lifted standards and morale within his division.
Since Ambrister joined the Defence Force in January 2023, Commodore Moxey said he served with distinction in Commander Squadron, the Squadron Department and the administration section, where he worked in gym management.
His path into the force, the commodore said, was also deeply personal. Three years ago, Armbrister’s grand-uncle placed his application directly into Commodore Moxey’s hand even before it was formally submitted, convinced of his potential from the outset.
“Upon joining, he represented exactly what a modern marine should be,” Commodore Moxey said. “The entire Royal Bahamas Defence Force is shaken by this tragedy. We grieve the loss of a young marine with tremendous promise and a heart of service.”
National Security Minister Wayne Munroe noted that Armbrister enlisted on January 14, 2023, as part of New Entry 60, New Entry 29, and said the force became an extension of his home.
Golden Isles MP Darron Pickstock said leadership qualities were evident in Armbrister from an early age, noting that during his high school years, he was selected to serve as a prefect.
One of the most personal tributes came from a female squadmate, who spoke of his dedication to fitness and his influence on those around him as a gym manager.
“He was someone I cared for deeply, someone whose presence made the long days lighter. He was so vibrant, so determined to accomplish his goals,” she said.
“To love him was to work out with him. To love him was to listen to him, to dance, to laugh, to sing, to be goofy and enjoy life.”
Additional tributes were read from Armbrister’s cabin mates, with the eldest member of the group speaking on their behalf. Armbrister was the
youngest in the cabin.
“Words can’t explain the love our cabin had for each other,” one tributer said. “I remember our last conversation we had. That week was Thanksgiving on base. The minute you saw me you hugged me, you swing me around. If I knew this was going to be our last time seeing each other. I would’ve talked to you even longer.”
A cabin mate paused to compose himself before presenting Armbrister’s family with a plaque in his honour.
Grief intensified at the graveside, where mourners cried out Armbrister’s nickname, “DJ”, as RBDF officers carried his casket. Loved ones placed red roses atop it as it was lowered, and one woman collapsed to the ground.
“Oh DJ, you didn’t tell me you was leaving me like this,” a mourner cried.
Family members mourn Terrence Williams and Monique Williams during an emotional funeral Saturday. The teacher and her nephew were killed in a traffic accident on November 21.
FAMILY, friends and colleagues pay their respects during a funeral service for Marine Seaman
Demeris Armbrister Jr.
‘Manufacturer’s error’ blamed for delay to Rand morgue
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
HEALTH Minister
Dr Michael Darville said long-delayed renovations to the Rand Memorial Hospital morgue are now expected to be completed within weeks, after what he described as a manufacturer’s error stalled the project.
Dr Darville addressed the issue on Friday while speaking during the annual Governor General’s visit to the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama, following renewed public concern earlier this month when a temporary reefer trailer used to store bodies collapsed and had to be replaced.
“Our morgue facility was delayed tremendously because of an error from the manufacturer who sent us a system that could not fit the renovated space,” he said. “There have been
back-and-forth negotiations, and finally the problem is corrected, and we are back on track, and in a matter of weeks, we believe that this particular
morgue facility will be installed and completed, and will provide the service that has definitely affected our loved ones who we are responsible to take care of
even in death.”
The new morgue facility has been under construction for more than two years. A $1.6m contract for morgue upgrades and
related renovations at the Rand Memorial Hospital was signed in June 2022 with Pinnacle Investment Company Limited. The project, which was intended to modernise the morgue and expand its capacity, was originally scheduled to be completed within six to seven months.
Dr Darville acknowledged that broader capital works at the Rand have faced significant obstacles.
“There have been many setbacks, frustrations, and challenges, but I want to let the people of Grand Bahama know that even though they are not completed, we are moving rapidly to complete this work before our term in office is over,” he said.
He also said renovations to the hospital’s modular units were ongoing and are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
“We will restore the
dignity of the final chapter associated with the issues associated with those modular units,” he said. Beyond the morgue, Dr Darville said progress was being made on other healthcare infrastructure on Grand Bahama. He reported that a contract has been awarded for the renovation of Davies House, which will expand oncology and mammogram services and allow patients to receive care on the island. He also said construction of the Freeport Health Centre remains on track, with phase one scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2026. Phase two, which will include inpatient surgical suites, urgent care facilities and beds intended to eventually replace Rand Memorial Hospital, is expected to proceed following a tender process in early 2026.
US grandmother returns home after paying $8,000 gun fine
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
A US grandmother who pleaded guilty to firearms offences after being arrested in New Providence has returned home following the payment of an $8,000 fine, funded largely through an online campaign that raised more than $12,000.
Mary Robinson, 69, of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, was arrested earlier this month after Interpol officers boarded a cruise ship at Prince George Wharf and discovered a firearm and ammunition in her possession. Police said the arrest occurred around 3pm, and that investigations into the matter remain ongoing.
Ms Robinson admitted to possession of ammunition and was fined $8,000 for bringing a black KelTec .380 pistol and four rounds of ammunition aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship on December 2. Her family launched a GoFundMe campaign on December 3, appealing for public assistance to help secure her release. The fundraiser, organised by her granddaughter Graci Exendine, described the situation as one requiring “a miracle to happen for her.”
On December 5, Mrs Exendine posted on Facebook that the fine had been paid, and three days later confirmed that her grandmother had been released.
Ms Robinson spent about three to four days in custody at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services before her
release, The Tribune understands.
According to the GoFundMe description, Ms Robinson had been travelling on a cruise to celebrate her adopted son Johnny’s 12th birthday. Mrs Exendine said her grandmother regularly carried personal protection while travelling but typically left it in her car when boarding ships.
“She is 69 years old and on her trips she usually bring some kind of protection but usually leaves it in the car since you aren’t allowed to bring it on the ship. Well accidentally she didn’t leave it and it was found in her bag when they checked at The Bahamas and she was arrested.” Ms Robinson apologised to authorities, explaining that she had forgotten the gun was in her purse and noting that her home state permits open carry.
The Daily Mail reported that security personnel at Port Everglades failed to detect the weapon when Ms Robinson boarded the Liberty of the Seas on December 1.
"Port Everglades security failed to spot the palm-sized Kel-Tec .380 pistol when she boarded the 1,900-cabin Liberty of the Seas on December 1."
"But cops were called to Port Nassau a day later when Robinson returned from an excursion and it was found in her purse along with four bullets."
The publication also reported that her attorney, Bjorn Ferguson, said Ms Robinson has a “touch of dementia” and that the firearm had been a gift from her aunt more than 50 years ago.
Man fined over $40,000 for 28lbs of marijuana and gun
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was ordered to pay more than $40,000 in fines and licensing fees after admitting to having 28lbs of marijuana, a shotgun and ammunition at his Dawson Street home. Brian Conliffe, 55, was found with a large supply of marijuana, a black Tristar shotgun and 25 rounds of 12-gauge ammunition at about 11.30pm on December 9, the court heard. On Friday, he pleaded guilty before Magistrate
Lennox Coleby to possession of an unlicensed shotgun, possession of ammunition with intent to supply, and possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.
Conliffe told the court he had a shotgun licence but failed to renew it.
He was fined $40,000 on the drug charge, or faces five years in prison if he does not pay. He was also ordered to pay his outstanding shotgun licensing fee, or faces two years in prison.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie prosecuted.
MINISTER OF HEALTH and Wellness Dr Michael Darville speaks during the visit if the Governor General Dame Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt to the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama. Photo: Vandyke Hepburn
CARICOM should stand together. Here's why.
By SIR RONALD SANDERS
THE CARRIBEAN is living througha momentof risinggeopolitical tension.As the United States intensifies pressureon theMadurogovernmentin Venezuela,the ripples reach CARICOM shores fast. Noneof these countries chose this confrontation, yeteach ofthem is forced to navigate its consequences. This is nothingnew. Small statesalwayslive attheedge of power.But recentevents have exposed, with painful clarity,howthin theshieldof individual sovereignty becomes when the pressure of great-power politics mounts. Community tested by high politics CARICOMhas longdescribed itselfas a Community ofSovereign States.” It sa noblephrase,suggesting unity grounded in mutual cooperation. Yet this crisis has shown how fragilethat unity becomes when confronted with high politics especially politics involvingthe United States, a country on which many CARICOMeconomies depend.
In mid-October,CARICOM Heads of Government reaffirmedthe region s doctrine: the Caribbeanmust remain aZone ofPeace; disputes must be resolved by dialogue; andsovereignty and territorial integritymust be upheld in international law. But the inkwas barely dry when divisions surfaced. Trinidad andTobago reserved its position and later distanced itself fromthe collective statement. Guyana facing a territorial claimand militaryposture fromVenezuela thathave overshadowed itfor 63 years welcomed the US presence as adeterrent. Some governmentsstayed silent.A few reiteratedthe needfor deescalation and respect for law. Within days, CARICOM’s supposed unity became a patchwork of national interests. The Zone of Peace became less a sharedprinciple thana sloganofinterpretation. The peril of fragmentation This fragmentation should alarm allCARICOM peoples.
Smallstates cannotendureas isolated fragments.They last onlyas partofsomething larger. When thesmall divide, thestrong decide.And ifthe Caribbean cannot speak with onevoicein defenceoflaw, others will speak for it in the language of might.
Ourregion mustconfronta truth thatis uncomfortable, but unavoidable: sovereignty for thesmall isboth precious and precarious.It s precious because it affirms the moral equalityof nations,giving each nomatter itssize a rightfulplace intheinternational system. Yet, precarious becausetrue sovereigntydepends on thecapacity to exercise it a capacitynoCARICOM state truly possesses.
Global politics operates through hierarchy. Five countries wieldveto poweratthe UNSecurityCouncil.Wealthy shareholders dominatemultilateral institutions.Trade outcomes favour power,not fairness. Climate diplomacy leaves the smallest states--like Sisyphus--pushing a boulder up amountain, fightingfor compensationfor thedestruction caused by others.
Small Caribbean nations live these realities every day. Economic fragility,limited defence resources,reliance on external markets, and exposure to natural disasters narrow the practical meaning of sovereignty.
The case for collective strength
Yetbecauseofthesevulnerabilities, sovereignty matters more,notless. It s the shield that preventssmall nations from being swept away by the currentsofpower.Butashield is useful onlyif wielded with strength, and nosmall state has that strength alone.
Sovereignty mustbe asserted individually but exercised collectively. Thatis the heart of the Caribbean project and its most persistent challenge.
Too often,governments allowexternal relationshipsto influence internaldecisionmaking. Too often, they anticipate what a powerful partner wantsand actaccordingly evenwhen doingso weakensthe regionalcollective. Sovereigntycannot survive ifcontinuously surrendered through self-censorship.
Why some African countries are prone to military takeovers
By MARK BANCHEREAU Associated Press
DAKAR,Senegal(AP) Ithad become a familiar scene in West Africa. Agroup ofsoldiers appearedon statetelevision inBenin onSundaytoclaimtheyhadseized power. Afew hours later,the presidentannouncedthecouphadbeen foiled.
Just two weeksearlier, soldiers seized power in another West African country,Guinea-Bissau, after a closelycontested presidential election.
Since 2020,nine countriesin Africa have experienced coups. Hereis whattoknow aboutwhy some nations on the continent are prone to military takeovers.
Growing grievances
The recent coupsin Africa reflect deepening socioeconomic grievances, weakenedinstitutions andfrustrations withciviliangovernments' handlingof security crises, accordingto Beverly Ochieng,an analystwith theControl Risks Group consulting firm.
"In many West African countries, wheremilitaries remain deeply involvedin dailypolitics, crises such as insurgencies and sustained socioeconomic grievances often push soldiers to step in when they believe civilian leaders arefailing torespondeffectively," Ochieng said.
It's notjust in WestAfrica. In October,military leaderstook poweron thesouthern Africanis-
land ofMadagascar following youth-led protests demanding President Andry Rajoelina's resignation. He later fled the country whilethe parliamentvoted forhis impeachment.
In2023, soldiersin theoil-rich central African country of Gabon toppledlongtime PresidentAli Bongo shortly after he was declared theelection winner.Coup leader BriceOligui Nguema,a cousin of Bongo,took power and wasannounced thewinner ofa presidential election in April.
In Chad, following his father's death in April2021, army general Mahamat Idris Deby seized power, extending hisfamily's threedecade rule ofthe central African nation.
In September 2021,a group of soldiersinGuinea ledbyMamady Doumbouya removed President AlphaConde, whohadchanged the constitution to standfor a third term. Doumbouya is running in the presidential election in December, after areferendum thisyear allowed junta membersto participate.
In Sudan,the military,led by Gen.Abdel-Fattah Burhan,staged acoup inOctober 2021,deposing Omaral-Bashir,who hadruledfor 26 years.
Militaryleaders havealsotaken powerbyforceinMaliin2020and 2021, in Burkina Faso in 2022 and Niger in2023. Thethree countries in the arid Sahel region have been plagued byextremist attacks,
10, 2025.
The remedyis notuniformity of views.It s consistency of process. Debate withinthe family.Decisions jointlyreached andcollectivelymaintained.Ifwecannot
U.S. Attorney General's Office/X via AP
A region at a crossroads ThisiswheretheCaribbean countries stand today: geopolitical pressuresdemand coherence, butdomestic calculationsoften pullthemapart.
Sovereignty must be asserted individually but exercised collectively.
resolve differencesamong ourselves,we inviteoutsiders to define theregion’s positions. Law as the discipline of power Power willalways shape the internationallandscape. Small states cannot pretend otherwise. But law moderates itssharpest edges.Internationallaw doesnotabolish power politics,but itdisciplinesit. Ittransformsmight into obligation. It turns coercionintoan actthatmustjustify itself. Courts, tribunals, and international forums allowthesmalltoconfrontthe large using reason and norms not force.
CARICOM hascome far--but not farenough--in buildinga political communitycapable of withstanding global storms.
Caribbean governments must continueto affirmthat lawappliesas muchtothe powerful as tothe powerless. Theyshould resistanyorder that tries to turn might into right. Andthey mustensure theregion doesnot slipback into patterns where external powers pickoff statesone by one.
The real work of Caribbean integration todayis existential. It s aboutensuringthat sovereignty isstrengthened by community. Ifthey stand
together on principle,on dignity, and on the sovereign equality promised inthe UN Charter theneveninaworld of risinggeopolitical storms, the Caribbean will not merely endure. It willshape its own course. Give to get: working together with the reality of power
Theseconcepts neednot collide. They canbe reconciled,ifwe acceptthatboth the mighty and the small must be persuaded through reasonandreciprocity toacceptlimits onautonomyout of enlightened self-interest. The old doctrines of absolute sovereignty, and the old formulas ofdevelopment and aid,must giveway. Allcountries including small ones mustlearn togivein order to get. Only then can we build aninternational orderin whichcooperation isatwoway street anchored in human rights andhumanitarian law, giving small states a chance not only to survive, but to prosper.
But nosingle CARICOM country, nor apartial group, can negotiatesuch astrategy. All must do it together. This commentaryis based onmy 2025Distinguished Lecture of the Organisation of Caribbean Bar Associations.
while pledging to provide more security to citizens. Widespread perceptions of corruption among politicalelites and their inabilityto reinin insurgencies hasled manyyoung Africans togrow disillusionedwithdemocratic governance in their country.
A survey bythe Ghana-based Afrobarometer researchnetwork lastyear foundthat whileyoung people inAfrica preferdemocracy to any kind of authoritarian alternative, they aremore likely than their eldersto bedissatisfied with the way democracyworks in their countries.
Former French colonies more
prone to coups With the exceptionof Sudan, a former British colony, and GuineaBissau, aformer Portugueseone, the coupsin Africa inrecent years havetakenplace informerFrench colonies.
BakarySambe, whoheadsthe Senegal-based TimbuktuInstitute, saidtheprevalence ofcoupsin Francophone Africa largely can be explained bycountries' political systems heavily influenced by France,with strongpresidential powers and economicdependence on France after independence. "Add to thisweak governance
markedbycorruptionandtheinability to address jihadist threats in the Sahel, and you have fertile ground for militaries positioning themselves as'saviors'," Sambe said.
"Postcolonial Anglophone institutions, on the other hand, influencedby amoredecentralized Britishmodel, havefosteredmore stable democratic transitions, with diversified economies andless external monetarycontrol," he added.
Ochieng said the role of the military in politicsalso differs between manyformer French colonies and former British ones.
THIS IMAGE fromvideoposted onAttorneyGeneralPam Bondi'sXaccount, andpartially redactedbythe source,showsanoiltanker beingseizedbyU.S.forcesoff the coast of Venezuela, Wednesday, Dec.
PRESIDENT Nicolas Maduro waves a flag during a rally marking the anniversaryof the Battle ofSanta Ines, whichtook place during Venezuela's 19th-century Federal War, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025.
AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez
SOLDIERS ride in a military vehicle along a street amid an attempted coup in Cotonou Benin, Sunday Dec. 6, 2025.
AP Photo
After
all the talk, whose responsibility is it really?
By Malcolm Strachan
IT HASBEEN astrange couple ofweeks in politics.
The feveredreaction tothe Smugglingof Migrantsbill erupts at the same time of year as when we honour a travelling family who could find no room atthe inn.Unfortunately, much of the response to the migrant bill seemed to be rooted instoking up fears rather than debating the facts.
The national chairman of theCoalition ofIndependents evenwent sofaras todeclare onFacebook that,forBahamians, “this isour last election, and after 2026 General Election, you willtrulysee what majority rule looks like.
She typed the last part in all capitalletters,oftenasignofa point without merit.
Itwouldbehelpfulifwedebated the actual lawand the wider reasons for bringing it in,ratherthan reactinakneejerk fashion.
Smugglingmigrants isan international crime because, by its very nature, it crosses borders.Therefore, itshould be unsurprisingto notethat wearesigning uptointernationaltreaties totacklecrimes that cross borders.
As long ago asthe turn of the century, theUnited NationsGeneral Assemblycreated a convention called the UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime. One hundred and ninety three countries have signed onto it,including 187 UNmember states.Weare one ofthose states.Only four UNmembersdidnotsignup–Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu, and the Republicof the Congo, which signed but did not ratify the convention.
The goalof thatinternational agreement was to tackle organisedcrime acrossna-
tions, human trafficking, and terrorism.
Oneof thesupplementary protocols of that convention is specificallyto tacklethe smuggling ofmigrants by land, sea and air. So, internationally, wehave goneout, discussed thesematters, and said,yes, absolutely,weare signing up to tackle that. The convention came into force in 2003, soit should beno surprise to anyone.
What isoften not a part of the conversation herein The Bahamasis theinternational dimensionof ourexistenceas a nation.
Take another example, back in 2022:Attorney General Ryan Pinderannounced that hisministry hadcompiled what he called a “suite of legislation to meetthe country’s internationalhuman rightsobligations. Thisincluded lawson gender-based violenceand maritalrape. At thetime, hetold reportersthat some of the recommendations fell in line with international commitments made by the previous administration that were not fulfilled.
Equally,wehaveseenlegislationcrafted tomake surewe stay clear of international blacklists, particularly in the realm of finance.
Sothe nexttimerepresentatives of anyadministration go offto report to theUN on progress oflegislation incertain areas, tunein. You ll see Bahamian officials saying that we have implemented this, we have donethat. Someof it comes acrossas having checked a box, particularly whenyou contrastwhatwe saywe havedoneinternationally with whatwe have actually accomplished at home. But it highlightsthe fact
that we have made commitments,and withcommitment comesarequirementtofollow through.
The tick-the-boxnature of some of those commitments can cause frustration because, for all the commitments we havemade internationallyon issuessuchasmaritalrape,for example, there iszero progress here at home.
So, does theSmuggling of MigrantsBill comeaboutbecause of international obligations? Let me ask you this: have youread it? Nevermind the talk back and forth into microphones, on cameras, and on social media.
Have you read the bill? Because rightthere in thebill, it talksabout araft ofinternational commitments.
Ittalksaboutthe 1957Convention Relating to the Status ofRefugees. Ittalks aboutthe 1987 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumanor DegradingTreatment orPunishment. Ittalks aboutthe 2010 International Conventionfor theProtection ofAll Persons from Enforced Disappearance. It talks about the Protocol againstthe Smuggling of Migrantsby Land, Sea andAir aspart ofthat UN Conventionagainst Transnational Organised Crime.
Nowall ofthat doesn’t fit the narrative of those who would wish to whipup fear of foreigners. (Butthen again, you can task smallmindsto consider the big picture.)
One point upon which everyoneseems toagreeis thatthiskind ofsmugglingis absolutely taking place. We know that peoplepay to escape from countries--such as Haiti, the countrymost cited
Archaeologists uncover section of ancient Jerusalem wall
By MELANIE LIDMAN Associated Press
JERUSALEM (AP) Archaeologists have finished uncovering the longest continuous remains of an ancient wall that encircled Jerusalem, including possible evidenceof a 2,100year-old ceasefire between warring kingdoms. Last week, archaeologists finished excavating themost complete partever discovered ofthefoundationsof thewalls,whichsurrounded Jerusalem during the time of the Hasmonean Kingdom, when the story of Hanukkah took place.
In Hebrew, Hanukkahmeans "dedication," and the holiday marks the rededication of the Temple inJerusalem in thesecond century B.C.,afterasmallgroupofJewishfightersliberated it from occupyingforeign forces,and the Hasmonean Kingdom that followed. Jewscelebrate theeight-day holiday,which this year begins on Dec.14, with the ritual of lighting a nightly candle, inhonour of the tiny supply of ritually pure oil that they found in thetemple thatlasted foreight nightsinstead ofjust one.Many alsoeat friedfoods suchas potato pancakes,called latkes,to memorialize this miraculously long-lasting oil. The Hasmonean wall foundation, whose excavation was finished lastweek in Jerusalem, waslikelybuiltafewdecadesafterthestoryof Hanukkahbythesame rulers.It'salmost50 meters (164 feet) long,around half the length ofa footballfield, andaround5 meters(16 feet) wide.It heldwalls, whichaccording to
estimationsand somehistoricalwritings, were taller than the current walls surrounding Jerusalem's Old City.
Much of the current walls surrounding Jerusalem's OldCity dateback hundredsof years to the Ottoman Era. The Hasmonean wallsencircled an area muchlargerthanthecurrentOldCityofJerusalem, with60 watchtowers alongthe wall that were morethan 10 meters (33feet) tall, according toancient writings. Thepart recentlyuncovered isoneofthe longestsections found intact from the foundation of the Hasmonean walls.
Separation wall and ceasefire
Oneofthemost interestingaspectsofthe foundation wasthat the wall aboveit seems tohavebeen purposefullyanduniformlydismantled toa uniform height,not chaotically destroyed bythe ravages oftime orwar, said Dr.Amit Re'em,oneofthe leadarchaeologistsfortheproject fromtheIsraelAntiquities Authority. Expertswonderedwhy anyleaderwould take apart a perfectly good security wall in an area that was constantly threatened by invasion.
In132or133B.C.,HellenisticKingAntiochustheSeventh,anheirtotheAntiochusthe FourthfromthestoryofHanukkah,laidsiege to Jerusalemand theJudean Kingdom,according toancient JewishhistorianFlavius Josephus. As the Judean army struggled, Jewish king
by those whipping up xenophobia. For some, thatpayment isall up front,for others it’s an ongoing payment to the gang masterswho smuggled them. This we know.
Knowing that,you haveto try to find ways to tackle it, or you just accept criminality as a commonplace.
The particulars ofthe bill, though,are absolutelyupfor debate. Thecrucial question thatthe discussionzeroedin onwas whetheror notthere should be someform of immunity for thosebeing smuggledin orderto getthem totestify againstthosedoing the smuggling.
There iscertainly reasonto feel uncomfortable about this. Those who are paying to be takenacross bordersillegally know they are not doing things the rightway. They too are committing a crime.
Accordingly, while passing the bill, the government removed that clause after the re-
action to it.
That safar cryfromsome of the rhetoricbeing circulated, however, thatthis was somehow aploy toflood the nation with migrants to make Bahamians aminority. That kind ofnonsense deservesto be treated with contempt.
PrimeMinisterPhilipDavis pointedtothedifficultyofgettingprosecutionsaspartofthe reasoning behind the bill’s wording. “The issuewiththe migrant andthe smuggleris thatifyouchargebothofthem underthe Act,could youtell mehowwe couldgetaconviction if they’re both charged under the Act? You need them to be your witness to establish your case, he said.
That feelsslightly disingenuous. I doubt that it s the fear of prosecution for testifying against smugglersthat’s stopping illegal migrants from coming forward.
But MrDavis didgo onto
point out theother areas that need tackling, matters closer to home: those whorent property to thosehere illegally;those who provideboats orother vehicles; thosewho arepart of the infrastructurethat supports smuggling.
That s part ofour own bigger picture. Smuggling would not exist ifit was not tolerated throughout every step ofthe chainby enoughpeople togive itanopening. Andyet we seldom seea shanty town landlord in court. We seldom see the employerof workers without permits prosecuted. Inall ofour dealings,but particularly those that cross borders, keep asking the question what is the big picture? Where we have agreed to international commitments, don t besurprised whenthat is followed by local action. Indeed, ratherask this: whereistheactiontofollowup onthings wehave saidwe woulddo internationallyand have not yet done?
John Hyrcanus I decided to strike a deal with Antiochus. He raided KingDavid's tomb for 3,000talents ofsilver andoffered 500hostages, including his own brother, according to the writings of Josephus. "AntiochusSidetes (theSeventh) reacheda ceasefireagreement withJohnHyrcanus, saying,ifyouwant metoremovemyarmy, you yourself, the Jewish king, must raze to the ground the Hasmonean fortification that you and your father built,"Re'em said Monday. Josephus'writings statethat afterAntiochus acceptedHyrcanus' deal,they "pulleddown the walls encircling the city." Wall under a prison Thecurrent sectionof thewall wasuncovered underneathan abandonedwing ofthe buildingknownas theKishleh,whichwas built in 1830 as amilitary base. The wing was usedas aprison, includingbythe Britishup until the 1940s, andthe walls were covered with graffiticarved by prisonersin English, Hebrew and Arabic. Theremnants of the iron bars of the cells are still visible in the ceiling.
A VESSEL transporting illegal migrants, intercepted by the Bahamas Defence Force.
Photo:Tribune/file
A SHANTY TOWN community in Abaco.
Photo:Tribune/file
THE JERUSALEM RegionalArchaeologist for the Israel Antiquities Authority,Dr. Amit Re'im, walks in a section of an excavation site where, according to the institution, a city wall from the Hasmonean period, dating to the late 2nd century BCE, was uncovered under the Tower of David Citadel Museum, in the Old City of Jerusalem, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025.
AP Photo/Leo Correa
RBPF holds theior annual Beat Retreat
focused on ‘Christmas past and present’
HOLIDAY RHYTHMS filled Rawson Square on Sunday as band members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force hosted their annual Christmas Beat Retreat, drawing a large crowd into a festive display of music and seasonal cheer.
Photos: Shawn Hanna
Nine-year-old student collects teddy bears for kids spending Christmas in PMH
NINE-YEAR-OLD
Bethany Barr, Head Girl and Student of the Year
nominee at Sadie Curtis Primary School, is spreading holiday cheer by collecting teddy bears and making cards for children spending Christmas at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). With help from her classmates, Bethany organised a special Christmas Bear Drive, “Bethany’s Blessing Bears,” at the school on Friday. The initiative aims to make every child feel loved, supported, and uplifted during a challenging time.
Photos: Nikia Charlton
MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER EAST STREET ATTACK
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
TWO men were remanded to prison on Friday after one was charged with murder and attempted murder in a triple shooting outside Twin Brothers on East Street, and the other was charged with helping the gunmen evade police.
Prosecutors alleged that Shaquno Sweeting, 20, opened fire alongside accomplices after pulling up in a silver Nissan Cube near Julian Newbold and Marvin Williams outside the restaurant at around 5pm on July 31. Newbold, 24, was shot and died at the scene. Williams and a restaurant employee, Johnesha Eugene, were also shot and injured, prosecutors said. One of the male victims was in a vehicle at the time of the shooting, while the other was collecting food. Prosecutors further alleged that Trevanto
Taylor, 23, knowingly helped those involved in the shooting to evade police custody later that same day.
Sweeting was charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder. Taylor was charged with accessory after the fact to murder and two counts of accessory after the fact to attempted murder. Neither man was required to enter a plea before Deputy Chief Magistrate Kara Turnquest Deveaux. The court was told the matter would proceed to the Supreme Court by way of voluntary bill of indictment. Both defendants were informed of their right to apply for bail through the higher court and were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until service of their VBIs on March 16, 2026.
Inspector K Wilkinson prosecuted, while Levan Johnson represented the accused.
Father and son kill at least 15 people in attack on Hanukkah event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach
By KRISTEN GELINEAU, CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-McLAY and ROD McGUIRK Associated Press
TWO gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi beach, killing 15 people, including a child, officials said Monday, in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called an act of antisemitic terrorism that struck at the heart of the nation. The shooters were father and son, authorities said.
The massacre at one of Australia’s most popular beaches followed a wave of antisemitic attacks that have roiled the country over the past year, although the authorities didn’t suggest those and the shooting Sunday were connected. It was the deadliest shooting in almost three decades in a country with strict gun control laws.
One gunman, a 50-yearold man, was fatally shot by police. The other shooter, his 24-year-old son, was wounded and was being treated at a hospital, said Mal Lanyon, New South Wales police commissioner.
Police said one gunman was known to security services, but Lanyon said authorities had no indication of a planned attack.
Those killed were aged between 10- and 87-yearsold, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns told reporters. At least 42 others were being treated at hospitals on Monday morning, several of them in a critical condition.
“What we saw yesterday was an act of pure evil, an act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism on our shores in an iconic Australian location, Bondi Beach, that is associated with joy, associated with families gathering, associated with celebrations,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese said Monday. “It is forever tarnished by what has occurred.”
The shooting targeted a Jewish celebration
The violence erupted at the end of a summer day when thousands had flocked to Bondi Beach, an icon of Australia’s cultural life. They included hundreds gathered for the Chanukah by the Sea event celebrating the start of the eight-day Hanukkah festival. The festivities included face painting and a petting zoo. Then mayhem erupted. Chabad, an Orthodox Jewish movement that runs outreach worldwide and sponsors events during major Jewish holidays, identified one of the dead as Rabbi Eli Schlanger, assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and an organizer of the event.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the death of an Israeli citizen, but gave no further details. French President Emmanuel Macron announced a French citizen, identified as Dan Elkayam, was among those killed.
None of the victims have been publicly named by Australian authorities. The gunmen haven’t been officially named either.
But stories of the victims began to emerge in local news outlets on Monday. Larisa Kleytman told reporters outside St Vincent’s Hospital that her husband, Alexander Kleytman was among the dead, according to The Australian newspaper.
The couple were both Holocaust survivors.
Police said emergency services were called at about 6:45 p.m., responding to reports of shots being fired. Video by onlookers showed people in bathing suits running from the water as shots rang out.
Separate footage showed
two men in black shirts firing with long guns from a footbridge leading to the beach. One dramatic clip broadcast on Australian television showed a man appearing to tackle and disarm one gunman, before pointing the man’s weapon at him, then setting the gun on the ground.
Minns called the man, identified by relatives to Australian media as fruit shop owner Ahmed al Ahmed, a “genuine hero.”
Witnesses fled and hid as shots rang out
Arsen Ostrovsky, a lawyer attending the Hanukkah ceremony with his wife and daughters, was grazed in the head by a bullet. Ostrovsky said he moved from Israel to Australia two weeks ago to work for a Jewish advocacy group.
“What I saw today was pure evil, just an absolute bloodbath. Bodies strewn everywhere,” he told The Associated Press in an email from the hospital. “I never thought would be possible here in Australia.”
Lachlan Moran, 32, from Melbourne, told the AP he was waiting for his family when he heard shots.
“I sprinted as quickly as I could,” Moran said. He said he heard shooting off and on for about five minutes. “Everyone just dropped all their possessions and everything and were running and people were crying and it was just horrible.”
Antisemitic attacks have roiled Australia
Albanese vowed the violence would be met with “a moment of national unity where Australians across the board will embrace their fellow Australians of Jewish faith.” Some of his political opponents and Israel’s government accused him of not having done enough to prevent such a horror.
Australia, a country
Egypt reveals restored colossal statues of pharaoh in Luxor
BY SAMY MAGDY and AHMED HATEM
Associated Press
EGYPT on Sunday revealed the revamp of two colossal statues of a prominent pharaoh in the southern city of Luxor, the latest in the government’s archaeological events that aim at drawing more tourists to the country.
The giant alabaster statues, known as the Colossi of Memnon, were reassembled in a renovation project that lasted about two decades.
They represent Amenhotep III, who ruled ancient Egypt about 3,400 years ago.
“Today we are celebrating, actually, the finishing and the erecting of these two colossal statues,” Mohamed Ismail, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, told The Associated Press ahead of the ceremony. Ismail said the colossi are of great significance to Luxor, a city known for its ancient temples and other antiquities. They’re also an attempt to “revive how this funerary
temple of king Amenhotep III looked like a long time ago,” Ismail said.
Amenhotep III, one of the most prominent pharaohs, ruled during the 500 years of the New Kingdom, which was the most prosperous time for ancient Egypt. The pharaoh, whose mummy is showcased at a Cairo museum, ruled between 1390–1353 BC, a peaceful period known for its prosperity and great construction, including his mortuary temple, where the Colossi of Memnon are located, and
of 28 million people, is home to about 117,000 Jews, according to official figures. Antisemitic incidents, including assaults, vandalism, threats and intimidation, surged more than threefold in the country during the year after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel launched a war on Hamas in Gaza in response, the government’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal reported in July.
Last year, the country was rocked by antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne. Synagogues and cars were torched, businesses and homes graffitied and Jews attacked in those cities, where 85% of the nation’s Jewish population lives.
Albanese in August blamed Iran for two of the attacks and cut diplomatic ties to Tehran.
Israel urged Australia’s government to address crimes targeting Jews.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he warned Australia’s leaders months ago about the dangers of failing to take action against antisemitism. He claimed Australia’s decision — in line with scores of other countries — to recognize a Palestinian state “pours fuel on the antisemitic fire.”
another temple, Soleb, in Nubia.
The colossi were toppled by a strong earthquake in about 1200 BC that also destroyed Amenhotep III’s funerary temple, said Mohamed Ismail, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. They were fragmented and partly quarried away, with their pedestals dispersed. Some of their blocks were reused in the Karnak temple, but archaeologists brought them back to rebuild the colossi, according to the Antiquities Ministry.
In late 1990s, an Egyptian German mission, chaired by German Egyptologist Hourig Sourouzian, began working in
“Your government did nothing to stop the spread of antisemitism in Australia ... and the result is the horrific attacks on Jews we saw today,” Netanyahu said.
Police will investigate what happened
Authorities were not looking for anyone else in connection with the massacre, said Lanyon. Police pledged a “thorough” investigation, he added.
Further inquiries are likely to be announced.
Two improvised explosive devices were found at the scene. Bomb disposal experts rendered them safe.
Lanyon described them as “rudimentary” devices that would have been detonated by a wick rather than a phone or electronically.
Shooting deaths in Australia are rare
Minns said there would “almost certainly” be gun law changes after the massacre. The 50-year-old gunman who was shot dead was found to have six firearms when law enforcement raided the property where he’d been staying, police said.
Questions about how he was able to acquire them gathered pace on Monday, in part because mass shootings in Australia are extremely rare. A 1996 massacre in the Tasmanian town
the temple area, including the assembly and renovation of the colossi.
“This project has in mind … to save the last remains of a once-prestigious temple,” she said.
The statues show Amenhotep III seated with hands resting on his thighs, with their faces looking eastward toward the Nile and the rising sun. They wear the nemes headdress surmounted by the double crowns and the pleated royal kilt, which symbolizes the pharaoh’s divine rule.
Two other small statues on the pharaoh’s feet depict his wife, Tiye. The colossi — 14.5 meters (48 feet) and 13.6 meters (45 feet) respectively — preside
of Port Arthur, where a lone gunman killed 35 people, prompted the government to drastically tighten gun laws, making it much more difficult to acquire firearms.
Significant mass shootings this century included two murder-suicides with death tolls of five people in 2014 and seven in 2018, in which gunmen killed their own families and themselves.
In 2022, six people were killed in a shootout between police and Christian extremists at a rural property in Queensland state.
World leaders express shock and grief
After the massacre, messages flooded in from leaders around the world.
King Charles III said he and Queen Camilla were “appalled and saddened by the most dreadful antisemitic terrorist attack.” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on X he was horrified, and his “heart is with the Jewish community worldwide.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on X: “The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Australia targeting a Jewish celebration. Antisemitism has no place in this world.”
over the entrance of the king’s temple on the western bank of the Nile. The 35-hectare (86-acre) complex is believed to be the largest and richest temple in Egypt and is usually compared to the temple of Karnak, also in Luxor.
The colossi were hewn in Egyptian alabaster from the quarries of Hatnub, in Middle Egypt. They were fixed on large pedestals with inscriptions showing the name of the temple, as well as the quarry.
Unlike other monumental sculptures of ancient Egypt, the colossi were partly compiled with pieces sculpted separately, which were fixed into each statue’s main monolithic alabaster core, the ministry said.
EMERGENCY WORKERS transport a person on a stretcher after a reported shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, yesterday.
Photo: Mark Baker/AP
CRUISE CAPTAIN AND TOURISM OFFICIALS
HOLIDAY CHEER TO HUGH CAMPBELL STUDENTS
FIRST and second grade students at Hugh Campbell Primary School received an early dose of Christmas cheer this week as the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation joined forces with the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) for their annual holiday gift drive.
Captain Vittorio Cantu of the Celebrity Constellation led a 20-member team to the campus on
December 10, delivering bags filled with toys to excited students.
The festive event featured appearances by Santa Claus and his elves, who led the children in Christmas carols and posed for photographs with the students. Captain Cantu described the visit as an honour, noting the joy of bringing smiles to the children’s faces during the holiday season.
Senator Kirkland Russell, who attended the presentation, praised the
“invaluable” collaboration between the government and the FCCA. He highlighted the social significance of the donation for the community.
“Seeing the elation on the students’ faces and knowing that, for some, it would be the only gift they receive this Christmas made the moment extra special,” Senator Russell said.
Photos: Andrew Miller/BIS
Royal Caribbean donates 40k lbs of ham and turkey to Bahamas Feeding Network
M ORE than 2,800 families will have a happier, heartier holiday this year, thanks to Royal Caribbean Group’s donation of 40,000 pounds of turkey and ham to the Bahamas Feeding Network (BFN).
This is the fourth consecutive year the popular cruise line has brightened the holidays in partnership with BFN, which distributes the turkeys and ham through its network of more than 100 churches, feeding centres and soup kitchens.
The donation was presented at a holiday celebration at the Feeding Network’s headquarters on Fox Hill Road on December 8.
Several Royal Caribbean executives were on hand to meet and mingle with recipients and lend a hand with the distribution as Royal Caribbean Group Bahamas President Philip Simon noted that since the partnership had started, Royal had been “a partner without peer” and among its many contributions to the fight against hunger, had donated more than 124,000 pounds of
As the first of this year’s families collected their ham and turkey at BFN headquarters, the network’s executive director, Nicolette Fountain Archer, said Royal Caribbean’s donation went beyond putting food on the table, saying: “This means that a family might be able to buy a little doll or a little car or a little something else, because the food is taken care of.”
“Today is not about business, it’s about friendship, about family, it’s about gratefulness. It’s about the connection between Royal Caribbean and The Bahamas, and it’s about community,” said Mr. Simon.
He added: “Some seven years ago, Royal Caribbean’s present CEO, Michael Bayley, donned an apron and helped plate hot meals for those in need.
Michael Bayley was so moved by what he saw and what he felt, he made sure the Bahamas Feeding Network has had a very special place in the heart of Royal Caribbean ever since.”
Bahamas Feeding Network chairman Felix
meat, helping over 7,000 families.
Stubbs noted the importance of the donations
becoming a regular event, saying: “Christmas is a time that many of us want to make sure that we have time with our families. When this time comes around, many persons who need sup -
forward to this day, because they know that they could depend on Royal Caribbean Cruise Line to help make their Christmas a joyous one.”
The latest donation is expected to feed around
port are really looking
2,800 families this
Christmas – and people cheered loudly as the back of the container opened and the hams and turkeys began to be passed out.
Volunteers at the scene helped some who were struggling to carry their food to their vehicles, with some recipients saying how much of a difference this would make to their Christmas.
“I wouldn’t have been able to afford this,” said one woman at the event, “so I really want to say thank you.”
The Bahamas Feeding Network said Royal Caribbean’s continued support “helps the network bring warmth, joy, and nourishment to families across The Bahamas
this Christmas. Because of you, many families will enjoy a lovely holiday meal together”.
The Bahamas Feeding Network has served more than five million meals since it was formed in 2013, sharing hot meals, groceries and food vouchers through a network of more than 100 churches, soup kitchens and feeding centres. The Royal Caribbean donation will provide meals in both New Providence and Grand Bahama.
For more information about the network, visit www.bahamasfeedingnetwork.org or follow Bahamas Feeding Network on social media.
HELEN O’CONNELL, Royal Caribbean AVP of community engagement, assisting with food distribution.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN BAHAMAS president Philip Simon presents a turkey at the event.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN’S VP of government relations for the Americas, Russell Benford, joining in the distribution of food at the
Registrations for govt’s new Upskill Bahamas programme exceeds 8,000
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
DEMAND for the government’s Upskill Bahamas programme has exceeded expectations, with officials now seeking to expand capacity to meet the growing interest, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said on Friday.
The platform, launched in November, offers more than 40 courses from over 30 institutions, allowing Bahamians aged 16 and older to study fields including technology, business, finance, health, marketing, hospitality, foreign languages, artificial intelligence and skilled trades, and earn certificates at no cost.
Mr Davis said the programme was capped at 8,000 participants, but registrations have exceeded that limit and negotiations are now underway to increase capacity by a further 5,000.
“The response has been strong: over 8,000 Bahamians registered, 27 courses started, and over 2,000 applications came from the Family Islands. Those numbers tell a story. They
tell the story of a people who are hungry for forward movement,” he said during a press conference. The programme is run by Forte Global, contracted by the government to connect learners with training providers.
“The max we signed up for was 8,000. We very quickly went over above that,” Mr Davis said, “And so we we are now in negotiations to expand that 8,000 to another 5,000 and as demand increases, we are committing ourselves to increasing the quota of persons who could be engaged in it and we must remember that is free, and the government is footing the bill for all of that.”
Officials said registrants span a wide age range, with some over 60 years old. The highest demographic of participants are women in their 30s, while the most popular offerings are entrepreneurship and marketing courses.
Bahamas Academy student Orion Dean, 17, who is enrolled in an artificial intelligence course and has completed about 30 percent of the course, described the programme as a valuable
learning experience so far.
He said he wanted to learn more about AI because of its wide-reaching impact on students, adding that the course helps participants understand how to use the technology responsibly and integrate it effectively into classrooms.
“I’m in school and I could see my peers using AI in their everyday life, so I realized that if students are using this now, imagine later on in the future when I would become a teacher, or if someone else become a teacher, and they come into the classroom.”
Shaquille Hepburn, a 32-year-old police officer, is another registrant, currently enrolled in Power BI and SQL courses. He said the programme empowers him to turn raw data into actionable insights.
Asked how he balances work and study, Hepburn said it’s all about being intentional, which motivates him to take advantage of every opportunity that comes his way.
Danielle Miller, an event planner, said she signed up because she has never been certified in event planning
and is enjoying the course so far.
Prime Minister Davis, who met with registrants on Friday, urged participants to finish strong. He encouraged them to wear their certificates with pride and use them to pursue new opportunities. He said the platform was
designed for every Bahamian, from the single mother seeking a better job to the father looking to move from day-to-day work into a more stable career. He also urged those who have been procrastinating to start learning without delay.
“Go to opphub.gov. bs. Look at what is available.
Pick one course that fits your life. Start - because the hardest part is deciding that you matter enough to invest in,” he said.
Upskill Bahamas was first announced in the 2025/26 budget and is a centrepiece of the Davis administration’s push to expand digital learning.
PRIME MINISTER Davis attended Upskill Bahamas event that is meant to provide Bahamas with opportunities to build skills for the workplace at Community Centre, Baillou Hill Road on Friday.
Photo: Nikia Charlton
BEACH CLUB
