WEEKEND FRIDAY
Satisfy sweet cravings today
HIGH 84ºF LOW 73ºF
CARS! CARS!
The Tribune L AT E S T
N E W S
CLASSIFIEDS TRADER
O N
T R I B U N E 2 4 2 . C O M
Biggest And Best!
Volume: 123 No. 21, Friday, December 19, 2025
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1
PRISONER DIES IN POLICE CUSTODY 35-year-old suspect ‘became unresponsive’ following struggle with officers at Fox Hill station By KEILE CAMPEBLL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net AN investigation has been launched after a 35-year-old prisoner died during an altercation with four police officers inside the Fox Hill Police Station. Police said the man ‘became unresponsive’ as two officers initially tried to restrain and subdue him while attempting to escort him from his cell to court. The man had been in custody for two days on burglary charges and was scheduled to appear before a magistrate when the
THE BODY of a man who died during an altercation while in police custody is removed from Fox Hill Police Station yesterday. Photo: Shawn Hanna
incident unfolded shortly after 10am yesterday. Assistant Commissioner of Police Anton Rahming, speaking to reporters outside the station, said officers were forced to intervene after the detainee resisted efforts to remove him from his cell, repeatedly refusing to go to court. ACP Rahming said two officers initially attempted to escort the man, but additional help was called when he resisted and became aggressive. “The officers attempted to handcuff him,” said ACP Rahming. “At
MAN CLAIMS HE WAS HELD OVER MP’S MISSING FIREARM AT BAR By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net AN Andros man says he spent more than 24 hours in a police cell while being quizzed about a missing firearm allegedly belonging to a sitting Member of
Parliament which is said to have mysteriously vanished during a night out at a bar. Zakari Campbell said he was detained in connection with the missing weapon, despite no evidence being found and no charge being laid - an episode that has raised serious concerns on
the island. He detailed his account in a Facebook post that has since circulated widely, drawing concern from residents who say the circumstances raise troubling issues of power and accountability. According to Mr
Campbell, the matter stems from a Friday night outing at a bar known as Round Two, where the MP arrived with several other people. He said the manager attempted to close the bar around 2am but claimed the MP objected and signalled the DJ to continue playing.
The group remained for another half-hour before the venue eventually cleared. “Before leaving the establishment, there was no indication that anything was missing,” Mr Campbell FIREARM - SEE PAGE SEVEN
Healthcare on ‘unsustainable track’ with $24m deficit forecast by 2026 By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net FINANCING for Bahamian public healthcare is “on an unsustainable track” with a $24m annual deficit predicted by the upcoming 20262027 fiscal year, it has been revealed, with this
shortfall set to worsen due to an increasingly elderly population. The Bahamas’ just-released National Health Strategy Report for 20262030, which has been obtained by Tribune Business, discloses that this widening financing gap - which is forecast despite a total $35.3m
increase in the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ budget allocation for the current 2025-2026 fiscal year - threatens to expand inequality and “impoverishment” by forcing more families to fund medical care from their own funds. SEE BUSINESS FOR STORY
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
DEATH - SEE PAGE FIVE
Mother of murdered teen braces for ‘darkest holiday season of her life’
See PAGE THREE
NEXT WEEK’S OBITUARIES WILL BE IN THE TRIBUNE ON WEDNESDAY
PAGE 2, Friday, December 19, 2025
THE TRIBUNE
Junkanoo Festival hits Bay Street
PEOPLE attending day one of the daytime “Junkanoo Rush” event at Pompey Square yesterday were treated to live music from a band and a colourfulk junkanoo rushout.
Organised by the National Junkanoo Committee (NJC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, the event kicked off the start of the slated events for this week’s Bahamas Junkanoo
Festival. The NJC said the activities will feature cultural demonstrations for both visitors and locals. Photos: Nikia Charlton
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, December 19, 2025, PAGE 3
‘I don’t know if I’m going make it’ By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrrolle@tribunemedia.net THE mother of a 17-year-old boy murdered just weeks before Christmas says she is bracing for what she expects will be the darkest holiday season of her life, telling The Tribune: “I don’t even know if I’m going to make it.” Shanique Griffiths spoke yesterday of the crushing grief left by the killing of her only son, Javaughn Deveaux, whose body was discovered on a dirt road off Gladstone Road on December 8 with injuries to his head and upper body. Only weeks earlier, Ms Griffiths said, she and her son had been planning Christmas photos — small moments of joy now rendered unbearable by his sudden death. “I wanted to do something to make him happy,” she said, adding that Javaughn had also planned to surprise her by introducing his girlfriend, something she only learned after he was gone. Instead, she said, the approach of Christmas has barely registered. The mother of three — who also has daughters aged
four and ten — said she has abandoned all plans for the holiday. “I’m not even checking to say go do my hair, go do my nails, go buy my clothes or plan to go do nothing for Christmas,” she said. “I don't want nobody by me for Christmas. I mean, other relatives could take out my kids, but I don't think I'm able to, like participate.” Ms Griffiths said she shared an exceptionally close bond with her son, who was due to graduate from CI Gibson next year and hoped to become a police officer. She described him as gentle and supportive, saying he was often the one who calmed her during moments of stress. “If I’m angry about something, if I upset about something, just like how he die now, if he could’ve whisper and say ‘Mummy, don't worry’ with everything that happen to him, he would’ve said that,” she said, recalling that he hated seeing her sad. She said those words of reassurance were among the last she remembers from him, recalling a recent conversation while she was hospitalised, when he told her she would be fine.
“I’m not even checking to say go do my hair, go do my nails, go buy my clothes or plan to go do nothing for Christmas. I don’t want nobody by me for Christmas. I mean, other relatives could take out my kids, but I don’t think I’m able to, like participate.” “It’s hurt me so much,” she said. “I don't know how to get over that. Because I lose a sister before I lose my granddaddy, but it's so close to me like he’s my child and he just gone like that.” The pain, she said, lingers in the smallest details. Javaughn’s food is still in the fridge, untouched, left there from the last meal she cooked while waiting
JAVAUGHN DEVEAUX
for him to come home. She said she cannot bring herself to throw it away. “This the worst feeling
ever,” she said. Deveaux’s killing pushed the country’s murder count to 80 for the year, according
to The Tribune’s records. Police have since charged a 15-year-old boy in connection with his death.
Miami conference spotlights LPIA braces for holiday travel surge Bahamas investment opportunities A MIAMI-BASED investment conference earlier this month highlighted The Bahamas as a key destination for real estate, tourism and long-term development investment, organisers said. The Agency Bahamas hosted its annual Exploring the Caribbean Conference under the theme “Gateway to Growth: Investing in the Future of the Caribbean.” The event brought together more than 100 developers, investors and industry professionals from across the region. According to organisers, the conference focused on expanding the pipeline of development and investment opportunities in The Bahamas, with discussions centred on real estate, tourism, finance, digitisation and sustainability. Danny Lowe, founder and managing partner of The Agency Bahamas, said interest in Caribbean real estate continues to grow, particularly in stable jurisdictions. “This was a highly successful conference that allowed participants to reimagine existing opportunities and identify new paths forward,” Mr Lowe said, adding that The Bahamas continues to attract lifestyle-driven and long-term investment. Representatives from the public sector also addressed the conference, outlining the country’s investment framework. Phylicia Woods-Hanna, director of investments, said The Bahamas offers an investor-friendly environment supported by strong institutions and clear policy. “Through the Bahamas Investment Authority, we operate as a one-stop-shop to simplify the investment process, evaluate major tourism and commercial projects, and help both Bahamian and foreign investors streamline business operations,” she said. Jonathan Lord, regional
AN AERIAL view of the parking lot at the Lynden Pindling International Airport.
manager of yachting and sports at the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, highlighted yachting and sports tourism as emerging growth sectors. “Yachting and sports represent powerful verticals where The Bahamas has a natural advantage and untapped potential,” Mr Lord said. The conference also featured regional officials and private-sector leaders,
including Turks and Caicos ministers E. Jay Saunders and Zhavargo Jolly, along with executives from The Agency’s Caribbean operations. Organisers said the event reinforced The Bahamas’ position as a leading investment destination and forms part of ongoing efforts to promote Bahamian real estate and development opportunities in international markets.
To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394
SECURITY patrols will be increased and unattended vehicles will be towed at Lynden Pindling International Airport as authorities prepare for a major surge in holiday travel over the next several days. Airport officials say today (Friday) through Wednesday, December 24, will see the heaviest congestion around the terminals, prompting additional security support from the Airport Authority and the activation of LPIA’s holiday operations plan. In a statement yesteday, the Nassau Airport Development Company said unattended vehicles along the terminal curbside will be towed in order to maintain traffic flow and comply with international airport safety regulations, officials warned, as passenger volumes push the airport to or near full operational capacity.
Friday and Saturday are expected to be among the busiest travel days of the season, with an estimated 6,700 passengers arriving on December 19 and 7,600 on December 20. Passenger volumes are expected to remain elevated through Christmas Eve and increase again ahead of the end-ofyear travel period. To manage the surge, NAD said staffing levels have been increased in critical processing areas, including security, baggage handling and passenger services. Travellers are being urged to arrive early for flights — three hours ahead of US-bound departures and two hours ahead of international and domestic flights — and to allow extra time for ground transportation due to traffic congestion. Persons picking up arriving passengers are encouraged to use the airport’s free cell phone
Photo: LPIA
waiting lot or paid parking facilities, particularly if they need to exit their vehicles. Airport officials cautioned that parking facilities may also operate at or near full capacity during the peak period. Airport management also pointed to infrastructure pressures caused by sustained growth in passenger traffic. LPIA is approaching 19 years since the start of its redevelopment, with terminal facilities nearing 15 years of operation. Officials said the continued rise in passenger volumes underscores the need for future expansion to support demand, enhance the passenger experience and maintain operational efficiency. Passengers are advised to monitor LPIA’s website and official social media channels for updates throughout the holiday travel period.
PAGE 4, Friday, December 19, 2025
THE TRIBUNE
Rousing welcome for Gibson after securing nomination By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net FRAZETTE Gibson returned to Grand Bahama this week to a rousing welcome, met by a crowd of Free National Movement supporters at the airport just hours after securing the party’s nomination for Central Grand Bahama. Ms Gibson was ratified Monday night at a party meeting, emerging victorious from a contested field that included Darren Cooper, Dr Trevor Johnson, Reverend Ricardo Grant, and Johnyk Bevans. Her nomination was quickly followed by a visible surge of party enthusiasm on the ground. Lester Dawkins, chairman of the Free National Movement’s Central Grand Bahama Association, said the ratification had energised the party’s base and cleared the way for campaigning to begin in earnest. “We’re excited, and we’re ready to hit the road,” Mr Dawkins said. “She is a wonderful candidate — a lifelong member of the Central Grand Bahama community. She serves here, she lives here, she works here, and we are glad that we have her.” Mr Dawkins said the sense of anticipation is being felt across the association, with members eager to mobilise ahead of what is expected to be a competitive general election. “Everyone’s excited,” he said. “We cannot wait to get on the road.” In a statement following her ratification, Ms Gibson said she was “truly humbled and grateful” for the
FRAZETTE GIBSON speaks at the ratification event earlier this week after being announced as the candidate for Central Grand Bahama. confidence shown in her by the party. “I extend heartfelt thanks to my God, family, Mr Michael Pintard, Opposition Leader and FNM Leader, party executives, the entire membership and supporters,” she said. A longstanding figure in Grand Bahama’s civic life, Ms Gibson brings decades of public service experience to the race. Much of
her professional career was spent in education, and she also served three terms in local government representing Central Grand Bahama. Her advocacy on behalf of widows and senior citizens has been a defining feature of her public work and, she has said, remains central to her decision to seek higher office. “I have prayerfully and
passionately answered the call to serve at yet another level,” she said, framing her candidacy as a continuation of community service rather than personal ambition. Ms Gibson has also placed strong emphasis on youth engagement and civic participation. In August 2025, she accompanied a group of first-time voters to the Parliamentary
Registration Department, underscoring her push to ensure young voices are represented in the upcoming general election. “Registering to vote is how you make your voice count,” she said. “It’s how you help shape the future of your community and your country. “As a social studies, history, and civics teacher, I’ve spent years reminding
young people why registering to vote matters.” Looking ahead, Ms Gibson said she expects a hard-fought campaign but expressed confidence in her connection to the constituency she hopes to represent. “From birth to my present home and a record of trials and triumph, I am from and for Central Grand Bahama,” she said.
Ministry releases schedule for 2026 Pineyard Rush in Grand Bahama
THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH, Sports and Culture held a press conference on Wednesdayto announce plans for the upcoming 2026 Pineyard Rush Parade set to take place on January 9th following a long weekend of events. Shown from left: National Junkanoo Committee (NJC) member/ parade management chair, Shawn Bowe; Deputy Director of MOYSC, Norris Bain; chairman of the Grand Bahama Junkanoo Corporation, Andrew Been; Cultural Officer for Grand Bahama, Lashae Dorsett. Photo: Andrew Miller/BIS THE Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (MOYSC) has officially announced the schedule for the 2026 Pineyard Rush Parade, unveiling a four-day lineup of cultural events set to dominate the Majority Rule Day holiday weekend. During a press conference held on Wednesday, officials confirmed that the highly anticipated parade will take place on Friday, January 9, 2026. Organisers announced that nine groups are expected to participate in the rush, bringing vibrant costumes and music to the
streets of Grand Bahama. The ministry noted that the parade is just the beginning of the festivities. On Saturday, January 10, residents can look forward to an All-Bahamian Block Party and Concert, during which the official scores and results from the previous night’s parade will be announced. The celebration continues on Sunday, January 11, with a Gospel Concert Extravaganza. The holiday weekend will then conclude on Majority Rule Day, Monday, January 12, with a Junkanoo Festival to
be held at the Pelican Point Coconut Fest site. Tickets for the 2026 Pineyard Rush Parade go on sale on Friday, December 19. They will be available at Cash and Go locations and at the Division of Cultural Affairs office, located in the Regent Center East building across from RBC Royal Bank. The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture is encouraging all residents and visitors to attend and support the participating groups and the accompanying events celebrating Bahamian culture.
To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394
Probe after man dies in struggle with Police
THE TRIBUNE
DEATH from page one this time, he held on to one of the officers. Other officers who were present tried to assist with removing him from that officer. Eventually, as they subdued him, they realised he became unresponsive.” He said emergency medical services were immediately contacted. “At that point, officers contacted EMS personnel, who came to the location, examined the individual, and determined that he had succumbed at the station,” he added. ACP Rahming said the force used was what officers believed was required to secure the detainee, noting that the man had shown signs of aggression earlier that same morning.
Friday, December 19, 2025, PAGE 5
He said there were no visible injuries and no signs of vomiting observed before the man became unresponsive. Police also had no record of any medical conditions or health concerns for the detainee, though that information will now form part of the investigation. The coroner has been notified, and an investigation — including a post-mortem examination — is expected to determine the cause of death. Officers are also attempting to contact the man’s relatives. ACP Rahming said police could not yet provide an exact timeline beyond confirming that officers were alerted shortly after 10am. He also confirmed that there are no medical personnel stationed at the Fox Hill Police Station.
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER Anton Rahming is pictured speaking to media at a press briefing at Fox Hill Police Station following the death of a male suspect who became unresponsive while in police custody on Thursday. Photo: Shawn Hanna
DEATHS in police custody have sparked public controversy in The Bahamas before, with several cases in the early 2010s prompting protests, inquests and long-running questions about accountability and oversight. Two of the most prominent involved young men who died while being held at the Central Detective Unit in Nassau. Jamie Jamico Smith — 2013 Jamie Jamico Smith died in February 2013 after being taken into police custody and held at the Central Detective Unit. His
death followed an altercation with officers, and questions were raised almost immediately about the level of force used while he was restrained. Smith’s family and human rights advocates argued that he was already under police control when he became unresponsive, fuelling calls for accountability and reform. The case became one of the most high-profile in-custody deaths of the decade, keeping sustained attention on police restraint practices. A coroner’s inquest later concluded that Smith died from
positional asphyxia during the struggle. While the finding acknowledged the role of restraint, no criminal convictions followed, an outcome that continued to draw criticism from those who believed the case exposed gaps in accountability. Tyrone Saunders Jr — 2012 Tyrone Saunders Jr died in June 2012 while in police custody at the Central Detective Unit, where he had been taken in for questioning and later found unresponsive in his cell. His death triggered public
Officers help family who lost home days before Christmas
ELUTHERA POLICE officers present $250 in groceries to family left homeless by fire in Current, Eleuthera. By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net POLICE officers on Eleuthera stepped in with food and support this week, donating groceries to a family left homeless by a fire just days before Christmas. Officers assigned to the Eleuthera division donated about $250 worth of grocery items, including rice, tuna, sugar, cream and corned beef, to the family whose home was destroyed in Monday’s fire in Current. The house, which had stood for more than 30 years and was home to seven relatives, was fully engulfed by the time police arrived, despite efforts by neighbours and volunteers to control the flames. A nearby garage and an abandoned vehicle were also damaged. No one was injured. Superintendent Franklyn Neely, head of the Eleuthera division, said the donation was made after officers saw public appeals for assistance circulating online and decided to respond as a team. “They were appreciative
to the fact that at the police came great numbers. I took the whole executive team from them. When they saw us listen, it was almost like Christmas, trust me, they were most appreciative,” he said. The home is owned by the family’s grandfather. Danielle Delancy, one of the residents, said the family had been buying household items to prepare for Christmas just a day before the fire. In the days since, a fire relief fundraiser has been organised, with organisers seeking toiletries, school supplies, shoes and bottled water to help the family rebuild. Superintendent Neely said the response reflected the close-knit nature of Family Island communities. “All of us are God's people. All of us are Bahamian citizens, and it affects one especially on the family Island. In that area that he's from is a close knitted area, close knitted community. I heard the cry. I saw a person posted their status that anyone that can donate grocery, clothes, anything. We just heeded the call,” he
said. The fire remains under active investigation. Superintendent Neely said support from the capital is expected, with Fire Department officers due to arrive to assist and determine the cause of the blaze. The incident has also reignited concerns about fire response capacity in North Eleuthera, where residents again questioned the absence of a local fire truck. The nearest unit responded from Palmetto Point, about 50 miles away. Residents said a fire truck in the area had been donated by American homeowners on the island. Superintendent Neely said government support for fire services is ongoing. “I know that a few weeks ago a fire truck was donated to Whyme’s Bight community, and they are actually voluntary firefighters all over that - north, south, central,” he said. “So it is not that we lacking engines and we have voluntary firefighters come to assist us on a daily. So if we get a new fire truck, it will be in addition to what we have here.”
protests and repeated appeals from his family for transparency, with unresolved questions about how he was monitored and whether earlier intervention could have prevented his death. The case became a flashpoint for broader concern over delays in inquests and the handling of deaths in custody. Years on, Saunders’ case remained part of a wider public unease about whether such deaths were being investigated with sufficient urgency and independence.
TYRONE SAUNDERS JR
PAGE 6, Monday, Friday, December 19, 2025
THE TRIBUNE
The Tribune Limited
PICTURE OF THE DAY
NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI “Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH,
Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH,
Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt . Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991
RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON,
C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972-
Published daily Monday to Friday
Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207 TELEPHONES News & General Information Advertising Manager Circulation Department Nassau fax Freeport, Grand Bahama Freeport fax
(242) 502-2350 (242) 502-2394 (242) 502-2386 (242) 328-2398 (242)-352-6608 (242) 352-9348
Have a cool, fun, interesting, amazing photo? Have it featured here in The Tribune’s picture of the day! Email your high quality image to pictureoftheday@tribunemedia.net
WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK www.tribune242.com
@tribune242
tribune news network
Place cameras in police stations The death of a man in custody at Fox Hill Police Station is a matter of great concern. Over the years, The Tribune has reported on numerous allegations of abuse in custody. This death occurred as the man, who had been in custody for two days facing burglary charges, was to be taken to court. Police said that the man refused to leave his cell. Two officers were involved at first but more were called as the man resisted, said Assistant Commissioner of Police Anton Rahming. In the scuffle that followed, police said the man “became unresponsive”. The matter will now go into the hands of the coroner, but there are some questions that leap immediately to mind. For example, the police could not provide an exact timeline. In this column, we have frequently questioned why there is not routine camera coverage of the inside of police stations – especially anywhere that a detainee has any interaction with officers. Time and again, people go to court and tell the magistrate or judge that they were beaten in custody. CCTV footage could quickly and easily verify those claims – or prevent officers from doing such things if they are true. If the police cannot quickly verify the timeline in this instance after a death, we can presume it is unlikely there is camera footage of the incident, which would answer that question with a quick look at the timestamp. Back in July, there was outrage over video footage of an American woman in a Bahamian police station who was forced to defecate on a police station floor. The footage appeared to have been taken by an officer – and off-camera voices repeatedly mocked and provoked the woman. It was not body camera footage, but seemingly taken on a phone or similar device in a far from official capacity. Two officers subsequently were due to face a police tribunal, though Commissioner Shanta Knowles had not revealed the specific charges. We have the technology to be able to monitor how suspects are being treated in custody – so why are we so reluctant to make the investment and use it? The Tribune previously reported on three people who claimed they were
tortured in Governor’s Harbour Police Station back in January 2018. The three – who were all subsequently released without charge – said they were beaten, had hot sauce poured in their eyes and waterboarded in custody. Then there are cases such as Jamie Jamico Smith – who died in custody in 2013 and a coroner later ruled he died of positional asphyxia. No charges followed. Or the case of Tyrone Saunders Jr, who died in 2012 in custody. Protests followed, questions were raised about how he was monitored, but answers remained few. There have been numerous other allegations over the years, and yet despite all of those, no measures taken to ensure recordings are taken to either prove the abuse, or clear the names of officers who have done no wrong. After all, we do not for a moment presume that every claim of abuse is true. Plenty of criminals may well be making those claims in court to try to get out of being remanded, or to secure a place in a hospital bed rather than a prison cell. The point, however, remains. If there is a recording, that is evidence. What it is evidence of – abuse or false claims – does not matter, it is an unbiased observer taking note of whatever occurs in front of its lens. We do not know what happened in this instance – we only have the police’s comments so far. We have seen in previous cases that sometimes the behaviour officers – such as in the case of those taunting the American woman – do not meet the standards expected. Whatever the outcome in this instance, we ought to ask is there anything we can do to better ensure people are treated appropriately across the board, in every station. That should start with recordings and proper monitoring. From the moment an incident occurs, there should be a chain of evidence and a timeline that should be very easily obtained. We await the coroner’s verdict when it comes – and remember these cases can take a long time – but just as this week changes were recommended after the crash of the prison bus, so too should we hear the voices of the minister and the commissioner on measures to be taken inside police stations. It is simply a matter of providing investigators with the tools they need – to ensure the truth is known.
Pintard walking the walk on empowering women EDITOR, The Tribune. IN a political landscape where promises of inclusion are often made but seldom kept, Michael Pintard has already proven to be a man of his word. With 28 candidates already ratified and 11 more yet to be named, the FNM has already set a new internal record for the number of women nominated. This development is not a radical reinvention, but it suggests a deliberate effort by the party’s new sheriff to restore and expand a legacy that once made the FNM the standard-bearer for women’s advancement in Bahamian politics. That legacy includes electing the country’s first woman MP, Janet Bostwick, the first female Speaker of the House, Italia Johnson, the first woman Governor General, Dame Ivy Dumont, and—albeit controversially—the first woman to serve as Leader of the Official Opposition, Loretta Butler-Turner. But the momentum stalled in the Minnis era, which fielded only four female candidates in 2017. Although all four were elected, the party
only marginally improved its numbers in 2021, with seven women out of 39 candidates. Pintard has reversed that decline. So far, 11 of the 28 ratified candidates are women, surpassing every previous election cycle. That’s nearly 40 percent. Promisingly, with the exception of party veteran Heather Hunt, all of these women are first-time FNM candidates. They include a cross-section of professions: Educators (Terrece Bootle, Frazette Gibson), attorneys (Heather Hunt, Arinthia Komolafe, Michela Barnett-Ellis), a mortician (Denalee Penn-Mackey), business owners (Heather McDonald, Trevania ClarkeHall), local government leaders (Philippa Kelly, Debra Moxey-Rolle) and a medical doctor (Dr Jacqueline Penn-Knowles). It’s a deliberate shift in philosophy that Pintard has articulated both in word and deed. “The FNM has a proud tradition of ensuring that talented Bahamians are strategically placed, and talented women are strategically placed,” Pintard said at a press conference in July 2025. “We had a fall off the
last time we were in government, but I assure you that is being corrected”. That correction means a party that looks more like the country it seeks to govern. Women make up the majority of the Bahamian electorate and shoulder much of the burden in family, business, and community life. Their underrepresentation in public office has long been a disconnect. Pintard’s slate offers a glimpse into a new chapter. Compare the current 11 of 28 candidates to the party’s previous high watermark in 2002, 2007, and 2012, when the FNM nominated nine women. At the close of 2025, the FNM has already blown past that with more than a quarter of the slate yet to be revealed. Indeed, the “generational shift in leadership” Pintard often ascribes to his tenure is materialising. We should give credit where it’s due. Under new management, the FNM is once again positioning itself as the party unafraid to change the face of Bahamian politics. JAYSON BRAYNEN Nassau, December 18, 2025.
SHIPWRECK on the Caribbean Shores of Bimini, The Bahamas
Photo: PTZ Pictures
Fox and black Bahamian prejudices EDITOR, The Tribune. SEVERAL weeks ago, I posted on Facebook that former NBA player Rick Fox would make a good Parliamentarian for the Free National Movement and encountered significant opposition from FNMs, Progressive Liberal Party and Coalition of Independents supporters. One PLP commented that we’d better put that “Canadian where the whites and elites are.” She further commented that Black people would “eat him alive” in the ghetto. Her warped thinking reveals her low, condescending view of Black Bahamians. Only Blacks reside in the ghetto, according to her thinking. Another individual, presumably an FNM, said “Rick Fox should go back to Canada.” Another commented by pitting Fox against Mr Sebas Bastian, even though the OP was solely on the subject of Fox. Based on the myriads of reactions on Fox, I am left with the assumption that the former NBA player’s public announcement about entering active politics has unwittingly exposed the latent prejudices of Black Bahamians. There also seems to be a latent resentment towards Fox for identifying himself as Canadian. This resentment is more pronounced when the point of Fox playing for Canada in the 1990 and 1994 FIBA Basketball World Cup tournament is raised. There’s a segment of Bahamians who have yet to forgive Fox for not playing for The Bahamas national basketball team. That his father was a Black Bahamian who was born in The Bahamas is irrelevant to these people. Fox was born in Toronto in July 1969 to parents Ulrick Fox and Dianne Gerace. The elder Fox migrated to the US,
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net where he worked in Massachusetts before moving to Canada where he met Gerace. Gerace’s parents had migrated to Canada from Italy. About nine months after the birth of Rick Fox, the family moved to Nassau in 1970, where the elder Fox established several successful businesses, most notably Holiday Ice on Mackey Street, Nassau Street and Soldier Road. Fox, who became a car salesman in Canada, would also open a car lot on Mackey Street, called Nascan Auto Sales. Rick Fox would recount the story of his family attending the Independence celebrations at Clifford Park on the night of July 9. While living in Nassau, Fox attended Kingsway Academy and Faith Temple. In the process of time, Fox relocated to North America, where he pursued a career in professional basketball. Had he remained in The Bahamas, it unlikely he would have ever made it to the NBA. Despite his willingness to identify with Bahamians, we seem determined to punish Fox for being born to a White Italian woman in a predominantly White North American country. Our opposition towards him makes no sense, and further exposes Black Bahamians as walking contradictions. While we are harboring a deep-seated prejudice towards Fox, we welcome over seven million North Americans as visitors annually -- over 80 percent of whom are Caucasian. Without this racial demographic sustaining our number one industry, The Bahamas would be no better off than Haiti, Somalia and Sudan. Some years
ago, I read Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn -- a fictional story set in and around the Mississippi River in the 1840s. Huck ran away from home in St Petersburg, Missouri and came across a runaway slave named Jim, who belonged to a Miss Watson. Jim wanted to escape the Deep South for Illinois in the North. At the outset of the story, Huck repeatedly uses the derogatory racial epithet “boy” when addressing Jim. To him, Jim was a N-word. At the tail end of the story, Huck refers to Jim by his name. Their time together on the run reveals to him the humanity of Jim, which caused him to reject the societal norms of the Deep South. I would hope that those Black Bahamians who are giving Rick Fox such a hard time would do away with their prejudices and view him, first and foremost, as a fellow human being; and secondly, as a Bahamian who loves this country and desires to make a contribution via the political process. I see nothing wrong with Fox wanting to run for Parliament. I am very disappointed in the pettiness and prejudice attitude of Black Bahamians. We often talk about attracting the very best and brightest to return home to help the nation. Fox decides to do just that, and we decide to act like fools. I encourage Mr Fox to continue pursuing a career in front line politics in this country. The Bahamas can use an individual with his clout, vision, notoriety and innovation. There is a growing segment of Bahamians who would love nothing more than to see Fox in the House of Assembly. KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama December 17, 2025.
BTC’s lousy management EDITOR, The Tribune. BTC, posing as a telephone company is a national disgrace. They won’t recognise service if it was as big as Jamaica. I heard that is where the head office is. I have to call Jamaica. Sometimes, now I’m learning why I have problems when I call JA. We have sensibly and necessarily had 914 up to 918 I think in place for many years, they dismantled them, Why? Did the Genius replace them with something better? No!!!. Nothing near as good. In this world of progression, who has a severe digit no for emergency services? Who has an automated
system for information, especially when you have so many peculiar problems, not anybody with sense. I very recently had a phone problem, and tried to lodge the complaint by means of the all in one phone no. 225-5282. The young lady said no, she could not take the complaint over the phone. I would have to physically go into Batelco to Batelco to make the complaint. I refused, and asked if there was somebody else I could speak to, she said, not before tomorrow morning at 9:00am. Any person with even limited intelligence will tell you that such an arrangement is foolish, nonsensical and counterproductive.
I am telling you now, you may have Liberty, but dog gone it you are not going to have licence to wreck the fledgling economy of this country with your primitive, untested and unworthy antiquated management style. with BTC. Ms whoever the union spokes person is, kind to the management, but, you won’t be so lucky with this customer, and there are more to follow. ASAP, pack your bags and go Now!! The critical independent speaks. CRITICAL INDEPENDENT Nassau, December 17, 2025.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, December 19, 2025, PAGE 7
Andros man detained for 24 hours over MP’s missing firearm at bar FIREARM from page one
wrote on Facebook. “No one expressed concern. No one searched. No urgency was shown. The night ended without any suggestion that a firearm or any other item was unaccounted for.” He said the MP and others left in their own vehicles, while he and a friend departed separately. The following day, he said he was told police were reviewing
security footage from the bar because the MP had “lost something ,” though no one could say what the item was. On Monday, officers arrived at Mr Campbell’s workplace and took him into custody. He said he had recently started the job, which involved handling large cash flows, and described the experience as humiliating. “I followed them outside,” he wrote. “Once inside the police vehicle, the inspector told me they
had a search warrant for ‘stolen property’ related to something missing from Round Two on Friday night. I asked what item was allegedly stolen. I was told they could not tell me.” Police searched his home in the presence of his mother but found nothing. He was still taken to the station, where he noticed one of the men he had seen in the bar on the night in question in a holding cell. Mr Campbell said officers then accused him of taking the MP’s firearm — the first
time, he claims, he was told what the missing item actually was. “This was also the first time I was told that the missing item was allegedly a firearm,” he wrote. He told officers he had never seen a firearm. He said he was then placed in a cell without being told why he was being detained or informed how long he would be held. He said it was only after his mother intervened the following day that he was released at 4:50pm.
“I spent over 24 hours in a police cell,” he wrote. “No charge. No explanation. No apology. This is not about drama. This is about power, protection and the unequal application of the law.” Former North Andros MP and FNM candidate Carlton Bowleg, who is related to Mr Campbell, said residents have been calling him non-stop seeking answers. He questioned whether the MP’s firearm was properly licensed and whether the MP was
questioned by police. He also raised concerns about why the weapon was allegedly in the MP’s possession. “This gun is still missing,” Mr Bowleg said. “The whole community - it isn’t just myself - is concerned as to why he even had a gun inside the place.” Police in Andros referred questions to Chief Superintendent Sheria King, who declined to comment. The MP said to be at the centre of the matter did not respond to calls or requests for comment.
COURT REVOKES BAIL FOR MOTHER AND DAUGHTER IN ATTEMPTED MURDER CASE By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net THE Court of Appeal ruled that a mother and daughter convicted of attempting to murder two of their tenants on an unnamed Fox Hill road in 2021 should remain in prison until they are sentenced in January. Court of Appeal President Justice Milton Evans, along with Justices Bernard Turner and Gregory Hilton, ruled in favour of the prosecution that
Michelle Williams, 57, and Glenresha Williams, 37, should remain in custody as they await sentencing for attempted murder. Last month, the pair were found guilty by an 8–1 jury verdict of two counts of attempted murder before Justice Renae McKay. Although Justice McKay initially allowed the convicts’ trial bail to be extended until their sentencing hearing on January 27, the prosecution, led by T’Shura Ambrose, strongly objected. The pair had remained on bail pending
the outcome of Ms Ambrose’s appeal. In her submissions, Ms Ambrose said the women were convicted of an offence that warranted a custodial sentence, adding that the presumption of innocence falls away upon conviction. She argued that the complainants had expressed fear of retaliatory violence should the defendants be allowed to remain on bail pending sentencing, and said the convicts faced no exceptional circumstances justifying their release.
Ms Ambrose also warned that allowing the pair to remain on bail would open the floodgates for other convicted people to apply for bail while awaiting sentencing. In response, defence counsel Ian Cargill and Tamika Roberts argued that the trial judge had properly exercised her discretion in allowing the convicts to remain on bail pending sentencing on January 27. With the Court of Appeal ruling in favour of the prosecution, the convicts will
remain in prison until their next court date. The women, along with a male, were accused of attempting to kill Adrian Cooper and Savannah Bain with a handgun on an unnamed road near Komer Street on October 21, 2021. The victims testified that the pair cut them off on the road, after which Glenresha confronted Savannah outside their vehicles. They said they were then shot at by a male who exited the defendants’ vehicle. Adrian told the court he thought he was going
to die after a bullet grazed his face, while Savannah expressed similar fear for her life during the ordeal. Glenresha testified that she believed the shots came from elsewhere and said she did not know the male in their vehicle had fired until surveillance footage of the incident was played. Before the shooting, the defendants had reportedly contacted the victims requesting rent money. Along with Ms Ambrose, Ashton Williams appeared for the prosecution.
Three women arrested for having drugs Judge denies bail despite teen’s claim of prison attack By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A 19-YEAR-OLD man awaiting trial for a 2023 shooting on Key West Street was again denied bail on Wednesday, despite claiming he was attacked in prison. Cristan Johnson was refused bail on charges of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life before Justice Jeannine Weech-Gomez. Prosecutors allege that Johnson, along with another male, got into an argument with 19-year-old Barry Knowles on Key West Street on the night of December 8, 2023. As the situation escalated, Johnson, who was known to the victim, allegedly produced a handgun, chased Mr Knowles down the street, and shot him in the upper torso. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment. Johnson was previously
denied bail by Senior Justice Cheryl Grant Thompson on October 30, 2024. Justice Thompson ruled that he posed a risk to public safety, finding that he had gang affiliations and that the victim was a member of a rival gang. She also noted that the two lived in close proximity to each other. In his latest bail application, Johnson claimed he was stabbed several times in the torso while in prison in July by a man known as “MJ”. He said he was housed in K Block while his alleged attacker was in L Block, which he said was directly across from it, and claimed he did not feel safe in custody. Johnson also said he would relocate to Andros if granted bail and maintained there was no evidence that he was a gang member. The prosecution objected to bail, arguing that no conditions could adequately ensure public
safety or prevent interference with witnesses. Prosecutors also noted that the victim had identified Johnson as the shooter and described him as a gang member, and that the victim wished for the accused to remain in custody. In reviewing the application, Justice Weech-Gomez found that Johnson had provided no evidence to substantiate his claim that he was attacked in prison. She noted that Johnson had known the victim since high school and said his alleged gang affiliations increased the risk of retaliatory violence. Justice Weech-Gomez denied bail, finding there had been no change in circumstances since the previous bail application and that the risks associated with Johnson’s release remained. Ian Jupp represented the accused, while Timothy Bailey appeared for the prosecution.
Prisoner who broke handcuffs and escaped hospital sentenced to eight months jail By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN was sentenced to eight months in prison after admitting to breaking out of his handcuffs and escaping from Princess Margaret Hospital while in custody earlier this month. Raymond Duncombe, 28, broke free from his
restraints and escaped from police custody at PMH after 2am on December 12. He was reportedly seen fleeing the area near the Queen’s Staircase shirtless and wearing blue jeans. Duncombe had been in custody for stealing at the time of his escape. He was apprehended on Monday following a threeday manhunt, during which
a wanted poster was issued. Duncombe pleaded guilty to escape from lawful custody before Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville. After admonishing him for the seriousness of the offence, Magistrate Serville sentenced Duncombe to eight months in prison. Inspector Cordero Farrington appeared for the prosecution.
Suspect accused of robbing woman at gunpoint granted bail for $9,000 By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN awaiting trial for a 2024 armed robbery was granted bail by the Supreme Court yesterday. Carlos Butler, 24, was granted $9,000 bail with one or two sureties on a charge of armed robbery before Justice Joyann
Ferguson. Prosecutors allege that Butler and accomplices, while armed with a black handgun, robbed Tiffany Charlton of a grey Samsung Note valued at $800, along with $500 in cash, on July 17, 2024. Under the terms of his bail, Butler will be fitted with a monitoring device and must surrender his
travel documents. He must also sign in at the Elizabeth Estates Police Station every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday by 6pm. He was warned not to have any contact with witnesses or risk having his bail revoked. Once his bail is signed, Butler will be released from the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.
GRAND Bahama police arrested three women after seizing a significant quantity of suspected marijuana and ecstasy pills. Police said officers executed a search warrant at
a residence on Melbourne Crest, where the suspected drugs were discovered. Two women, both aged 61, and another aged 32 were arrested in connection with the seizure.
Police reported that the suspected hydroponic marijuana had an estimated street value of $4,000, while the suspected ecstasy pills were valued at $400.
PAGE 8, Friday, December 19, 2025
BDOCS celebrates Christmas with tree lighting & Junkanoo
MEMBERS of the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services celebrate the holiday season during a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, which concluded with a Junkanoo rush out yesterday. Photos: Shawn Hanna
THE TRIBUNE
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, December 19, 2025, PAGE 9
There was good news this week and then there was….this IT was bound to happen, a prison bus crashing into a vehicle that either did not or could not get out of the way fast enough short of slamming into a wall. It’s a choice every one of us makes all too often, sometimes daily, sometimes more than once a day. We hear it behind us and then it is upon us, a bus driving like a bat out of hell, sirens blaring, lights flashing and every rule of the road ignored. If you were dropped here from a place where nothing like this ever happens, you’d likely think what you are seeing and hearing is a once in a century response to crisis that you just happened to be in the path of, a moment in history you witnessed live, never suspecting that it is a routine run, a transportation nightmare that drivers dodge daily, gripping our steering wheel, begging our car to follow orders, holding our breath till the prison bus passes. It makes so little sense. Inside that racing bus risking the lives of everyone from the driver to the innocent bystander is a group of prisoners who are not only shackled, handcuffed and guarded, but probably smart enough to know that if they try to escape during the ride to court or the breakneck journey back to His Majesty’s hospitality at Fox Hill, one of those strapping officers would not hesitate to use the fully-loaded weapon in his possession. So why do it? As I said, it makes no sense. And obviously I am not alone in saying this. It’s been said repeatedly – it’s only a matter of time until the prison bus screeching through peak hour traffic on narrow roads, racing at speeds which the rest of us would be hauled off for, nearly up on two wheels, almost spinning out of control, hits someone. It happened this week. Five people, including the innocent driver of the Honda Fit it collided with, taken to hospital along with two officers and two inmates. Fortunately, no one was killed. That doesn’t mean their injuries aren’t serious or they are not in pain. Surely, they are and we feel for them. This should never have happened when we have so many alternatives. First, there are brand new courts close to the prison now. Why use that convenient and modern space for Family Court and not for criminal cases? Instead, we march our prisoners on remand or convicted felons awaiting sentencing right into the heart of town, parading them in their finery of ankle bracelets or
By Diane Phillips shackles and handcuffs for jewelry in front of our visitors. The families, friends, foes, loved ones gather in the circle nearby under the tree, not far from the House of Assembly or Senate, often yelling to get attention. The scene is like something out of a TV series filmed pre-Netflix. In addition to more convenient court space, why are we not asking ourselves how many of those cases could be tried or sentencing pronounced via Zoom? Some of the world’s biggest transactions or most important discussions in the medical, corporate, technology or academic world take place or at least get their initial start on a Zoom or Teams call. Yet we can’t let a magistrate or judge pronounce a sentence staring at the individual on a monitor in a safe environment via an electronic means rather than zipping them through the streets of New Providence, depositing them in a court in the heart of town and racing them back, an outing for which no one is any happier and everyone in its path is at risk. Finally, if neither of those ideas appeals to authorities – a court space closer to or adjacent to the prison or an electronic, visual hearing with an oversized screen
or monitor, how about the simple suggestion that transport at high speeds take place at non-peak hours? Other than that, a very good week As the holidays grow nearer, there is good reason to celebrate. Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island opened for a sneak preview on Saturday, preparing for its actual opening to Bahamians and cruise ship guests next week. Everything about it was what Royal promised and more – already 550 real jobs in every category with every one of those employees earning money that stays in The Bahamas. Entrepreneurs are in place, management is totally Bahamian, 12 artists were selected through the Artist Discovery Program, their work is displayed on buildings and they will continue to sell on site, musicians and other creatives are being given opportunities, the once desultory, dilapidated and abandoned properties have been transformed into a lushly landscaped beach experience that will be available to Bahamians at a reduced rate and in a first-of-its-kind arrangement the government hopes will become a model for other investments, Bahamians will
We welcomed a new ambassador FINALLY, in this special week The Bahamas welcomed Herschel Walker, the first American Ambassador to The Bahamas in nearly 15 years. He and his lovely wife, Julie, have hit the ground running, taking time to talk at length with people they meet and already ticking all the boxes that guarantee popularity. They are unpretentious, seem genuinely happy to be in The Bahamas and grateful to be included in activities and invitations. The presence of an ambassador is important for The Bahamas, particularly in case of crisis, disaster or emergency when urgency calls and an ambassador can pick up the phone and reach the White House. With the new US Embassy and the wellliked Charges d’Affairs Kimberly Furnish now assuming the role of Deputy Chief of Mission while the Ambassador is on the ground, the relationship between America and The Bahamas feels like it has gained a renewed sense of purpose and forged an even stronger bond. For those celebrating Chanukah or about to celebrate Christmas, may the holiday season be a time of giving and forgiving, for loving and accepting love, filled with heartwarming moments that turn into lifelong memories and whatever you do, wherever you are, forget the calorie-counting and count your blessings instead. Newly appointed US Ambassador to The Bahamas See you next year! Herschel Walker
THE 21-YEAR-OLD driver of a Honda fit and a prisoner transport collided earlier this week at the foot of Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge. Several were taken to the hospital included the driver of the Fit. own 49 percent. One day later The following day after the celebration on Paradise Island complete with the full marching Royal Bahamas Police Force Band, Music Makers Junkanoo, stilt walkers, dancers, all the food and drink that dignitaries including the Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis, DPM Chester Cooper and American Ambassador Herschel Walker and his wife Julie could enjoy,
BahaMar’s Royal Blue golf course played host to a full sell-out for the Bahamas Feeding Network’s Fidelity Tee-off for Hunger Golf Tournament. It was the fourth consecutive golf tourney for the NGO which has provided more than five million meals through its distribution network of over 100 churches and feeding centres since it was founded in 2013. The golf course was packed with 108 players. Nearly 30 sponsors stepped up, headed by
Fidelity returning as title sponsor, Doctors Hospital, Paradise Games, Sagoma and Simplified Group of Companies coming in at the Platinum level and Poop Deck golf club throwing its support behind the cause and the club’s players hitting 18 rounds and donating another $5000 to fight hunger. Bahamas Feeding Network is waiting for a final figure, but said it was the most successful tournament yet with more than $80,000 raised.
PAGE 10, Friday, December 19, 2025
THE TRIBUNE
GRIEVE 10-YEAR-OLD US announces massive package of arms sales to MOURNERS KILLED IN BONDI MASS SHOOTING Taiwan valued at over $10 billion, angering China AS AUSTRALIAN LEADER PLEDGES WASHINGTON Associated Press PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s administration has announced a massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion that includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones, drawing an angry response from China. The State Department announced the sales late Wednesday during a nationally televised address by the Republican president, who made scant mention of foreign policy issues and did not speak about China or Taiwan. US-Chinese tensions have ebbed and flowed during Trump’s second term, largely over trade and tariffs but also over China’s increasing aggressiveness toward Taiwan, which Beijing has said must reunify with the mainland. If approved by Congress, it would be the largest-ever US weapons package to Taiwan, exceeding the total amount of $8.4 billion in US arms sales to Taiwan during President Joe Biden’s Democratic administration. The eight arms sales agreements announced Wednesday cover 82 high-mobility artillery rocket systems, or HIMARS, and 420 Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS — similar to what the US had been providing Ukraine during the Biden administration to defend itself from Russia — worth more than $4 billion. They also include 60 self-propelled howitzer systems and related equipment worth more than $4 billion and drones valued at more than $1 billion. Other sales in the package include military software valued at more
PRESIDENT Donald Trump speaks during an address to the nation from the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Washington. Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times/AP than $1 billion, Javelin and TOW missiles worth more than $700 million, helicopter spare parts worth $96 million and refurbishment kits for Harpoon missiles worth $91 million. The eight sales agreements amount to $11.15 billion, according to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry. The State Department said the sales serve “US national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability.” “The proposed sale(s) will help improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region,” the statements said. China’s Foreign Ministry attacked the move, saying it would violate diplomatic agreements between China and the US; gravely harm China’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity; and undermine regional stability. “The ‘Taiwan independence’ forces on the island seek independence
through force and resist reunification through force, squandering the hardearned money of the people to purchase weapons at the cost of turning Taiwan into a powder keg,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun. “This cannot save the doomed fate of ‘Taiwan independence’ but will only accelerate the push of the Taiwan Strait toward a dangerous situation of military confrontation and war. The US support for ‘Taiwan Independence’ through arms will only end up backfiring. Using Taiwan to contain China will not succeed,” he added. Under federal law, the US is obligated to assist Taiwan with its self-defense, a point that has become increasingly contentious with China, which has vowed to take Taiwan by force, if necessary. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry in a statement Thursday expressed gratitude to the US over the arms sale, which it said would help Taiwan maintain “sufficient self-defense capabilities” and bring strong deterrent capabilities. Taiwan’s bolstering of its defense “is the
foundation for maintaining regional peace and stability,” the ministry said. Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung similarly thanked the US for its “long-term support for regional security and Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities,” which he said are key for deterring a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, the body of water separating Taiwan from China’s mainland. The arms sale comes as Taiwan’s government has pledged to raise defense spending to 3.3% of the island’s gross domestic product next year and to reach 5% by 2030. The boost came after Trump and the Pentagon requested that Taiwan spend as much as 10% of its GDP on its defense, a percentage well above what the US or any of its major allies spend on defense. The demand has faced pushback from Taiwan’s opposition KMT party and some of its population. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te last month announced a special $40 billion budget for arms purchases, including to build an air defense system with high-level detection and interception capabilities called Taiwan Dome. The budget will be allocated over eight years, from 2026 to 2033. The US boost in military assistance to Taiwan was previewed in legislation adopted by Congress that Trump is expected to sign shortly. Last week, the Chinese embassy in Washington denounced the legislation, known as the National Defense Authorization Act, saying it unfairly targeted China as an aggressor. The US Senate passed the bill Wednesday.
Brian Walshe is sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife, whose body was never found BOSTON Associated Press A BOSTON-AREA man was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for the grisly murder of his wife, who disappeared nearly three years ago and whose body has never been found. Brian Walshe, 50, was convicted Monday of first-degree murder in the killing of Ana Walshe, 39. The sentence carries no possibility of parole. He pleaded guilty in November to misleading police and illegally disposing of a body after admitting he had dismembered her body and disposed of it in a dumpster. He said he did so only after panicking when he found she had died in bed. Judge Diane Freniere called Walshe’s crimes “barbaric and incomprehensible” and she chastised him for “deceitful and manipulative behaviour.” Walshe showed no emotion as the sentence was read. Children ‘without their mother’s hand to hold’ Before the sentencing, Ana Walshe’s sister Aleksandra Dimitrijevic told the court how the death has devastated her family, especially because they have no body to bury. “I struggle with the grief that comes without warning, hoping every morning that this is just a terrible dream,” she said. “The most painful part of this loss is knowing her children must now grow up without their mother’s hand to hold. They now face a lifetime of milestones, big and small, where her absence will be deeply and painfully felt.” The Walshe’s were married for about six years, and their three children are in state custody. No chance to properly grieve Walshe was also sentenced to 19 to 25 years for witness intimidation and two to three years for improper disposal of a body. Those sentences are to run consecutive to his life sentence, the judge ruled. Walshe’s lawyer,
BRIAN WALSHE is brought to a prisoner transport van after he was sentenced in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts, on yesterday. Photo: Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald/AP Kelli Porges, described the consecutive sentencing — which prosecutors requested due to the severity of the crimes — as “excessive.” Freniere disagreed. “You had no regard for the lifelong mental harm that your criminal acts inflicted on your then two, four and six year old sons, not only in taking their mother, but also, as is specific to this charge, and never being able to properly grieve that loss, to say goodbye to their mom,” Freniere said to Walsh during sentencing. Assistant District Attorney Gregory Connor defended the sentence. “When I looked behind me after the closing arguments, I realized that was the closest day that those people had come to a wake, because they never got together to mourn her. And that happened three years later,” Connor said. “We recognize it’s harsh,” he said of the sentencing recommendation, “but we think it’s appropriate based on the facts.” Online searches reveal dismemberment and disposal plan Ana Walshe, a real estate agent who immigrated from Serbia, was last seen early Jan. 1, 2023, after a New Year’s Eve dinner at the couple’s home. When initially questioned by investigators, Walshe said his wife had been
called to Washington, D.C., for a work emergency. But witnesses testified there was no evidence she took a ride service to the airport or boarded a flight. Walshe didn’t contact her employer until Jan. 4. During the trial, prosecutors leaned heavily on digital evidence found on devices connected to Walshe, including online searches for “dismemberment and best ways to dispose of a body,” “how long before a body starts to smell” and “hacksaw best tool to dismember.” Investigators also found searches on a laptop that included “how long for someone missing to inherit,” “how long missing to be dead,” and “can you throw away body parts,” prosecutors told the jury. Surveillance video also showed a man resembling Walshe throwing what appeared to be heavy trash bags into a dumpster not far from the couple’s home. A subsequent search of a trash processing facility near his mother’s home uncovered bags containing a hatchet, hammer, shears, hacksaw, towels and a protective Tyvek suit, cleaning agents, a Prada purse, boots like the ones Ana Walshe was last seen wearing and a COVID-19 vaccination card with her name. Prosecutors told the jury that the Massachusetts State Crime Laboratory examined some of the items
and found Ana and Brian Walshe’s DNA on the Tyvek suit and Ana Walshe’s DNA on the hatchet, hacksaw and other items. A failing marriage and a life insurance policy Prosecutors floated several possible motives for the killing. An insurance executive testified that Brian Walshe was the sole beneficiary of Ana Walshe’s $1 million life insurance policy, suggesting a financial motive. But prosecutors also portrayed a marriage that was falling apart; Brian Walshe was confined at their home in the affluent coastal community of Cohasset, about 15 miles (24 kilometres) southeast of Boston, awaiting sentencing on an art fraud case. Ana Walshe meanwhile commuted from their home to Washington, D.C., where she worked. The year before she died, his wife had started an affair, details of which were shared in court by her boyfriend William Fastow. Brian Walshe’s attorney denied that his client knew about the affair. In his opening, Walshe’s attorney, Larry Tipton, argued it was not a murder case but what he called a “sudden unexplained death.” He said the couple loved each other and were planning for the future. But Walshe’s defense never called a witness and Brian Walshe declined to testify. During the trial, prosecutors did an excellent job of introducing circumstantial evidence and providing the breadcrumbs that led the jury down the path toward finding premeditation, said Daniel Medwed, a law professor at Northeastern University. “Here, the evidence about dismemberment and improper disposal of a body was overwhelming, so I suspect the defense goal was to concede that through the guilty pleas, and make the case all about the murder and the absence of direct evidence about intent and cause of death,” Medwed said.
NEW LAWS AGAINST HATE By CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-McLAY, KRISTEN GELINEAU and TRISTAN LAVALETTE Associated Press HUNDREDS of mourners bearing bright bouquets and clutching each other in grief gathered at a funeral in Sydney on Thursday for a 10-year-old girl who was gunned down in an antisemitic massacre during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach. Matilda, whose last name is being withheld at the request of her family, was enjoying a petting zoo at the festivities on Sunday just before she was killed along with 14 other people in a mass shooting targeting Jews. The suspects, a father and son, were inspired by the Islamic State group, Australian authorities have said. Beaming photos of Matilda have become a focal point for Australia’s grief at one of the worst hate-fueled attacks ever committed in the country. The massacre has prompted a national reckoning about antisemitism and questions about whether the country’s leaders took seriously enough the threat to Australian Jews. Matilda’s parents, who arrived in Australia from Ukraine, “moved away from war-torn Eastern Europe to come here for a good life,” Rabbi Dovid Slavin told The Associated Press as he entered the service. “They did something that a parent is OK to do, take their child to a family event at Bondi beach,” he added. “If it ended this way, it’s something for collective responsibility for every adult in this country.” Albanese vows to enact fresh hate laws Speaking to reporters in Australia’s capital Canberra at the same Matilda’s service began, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled a tranche of legislative plans he said would curb radicalization and hate. Among his proposals were measures to broaden the definition of hate speech offenses for preachers and leaders who promote violence, to bolster punishments for such crimes, to designate some groups as hateful, and to allow judges to consider hate as an aggravating factor in cases of online threats and harassment. Officials would have greater powers to reject or cancel visas “for those who spread hate and division in this country, or would do so if they were allowed to come here,” Albanese added. He didn’t suggest a timeline for the reforms, citing their legal complexity. “There have been organizations which any Australian would look at and say their behavior, their philosophy and what they are trying to do is about division and has no place in Australia,” Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told reporters. “And yet for a generation, no government has been able to successfully take action against them because they have fallen just below the legal threshold.” The announcement followed Albanese’s pledge to tighten Australia’s gun controls, which are already some of the toughest in the world. State leaders, too, have promised additional initiatives on firearms and stricter rules for protest gatherings. Still, the fact that Albanese has not attended any of the victims’ funerals so far — with local media reporting he has not been invited, despite the presence of other political leaders — hints at the fury among some Australian Jews feel toward the leader. Albanese said measures his government has already enacted, including a ban in February on Nazi salutes, show that he has taken the threat of
antisemitism seriously. “I of course acknowledge that more could have been done and I accept my responsibility for the part in that as prime minister of Australia,” Albanese said Thursday. “But what I also do is accept my responsibility to lead the nation and unite the nation.” A probe into suspected shooters unfolds Meanwhile, investigators continued to probe the suspected gunmen’s links in Australia and their travel to the Philippines before the attack, said Krissy Barrett, the country’s police chief. Authorities earlier divulged that the younger shooting suspect, Naveed Akram, 24, was investigated for six months by Australia’s security services in 2019. The older shooter, Sajid Akram, 50, who was shot dead on Sunday, had amassed the guns used in the massacre legally. His gun license was granted in 2023, after his son came to the attention of authorities. Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Año told The Associated Press on Thursday that there was no indication that the two received any training for the attack in the Philippines. He said that the suspected gunmen had stayed in a budget hotel in downtown Davao city for the whole of their visit in November. Año, a former military chief of staff, said in a statement that “the duration of their stay would not have allowed for any meaningful or structured training.” Naveed Akram is being treated at a Sydney hospital and was charged Wednesday with 59 offences, including murder and committing a terrorist act. He has not entered a plea and many details of the case against him are suppressed by a judge. Health authorities said Thursday that 16 other people are being treated in hospitals across Sydney. Two are in critical condition, with the status of one having deteriorated to critical that morning. Mourners attend funeral after funeral As the investigations unfolded, Sydney’s closely-knit Jewish community made their way to funeral after funeral. As well as the service Thursday for the youngest person killed, Matilda, mourners attended a funeral for the oldest, 87-year-old Alex Kleytman. The Holocaust survivor was protecting his wife when he was shot dead, she told reporters outside a hospital this week. Others killed included rabbis, a man shot while throwing bricks at one of the gunman, and a married couple who were fatally shot when they tried to tackle one shooter as he got out of his car to begin the attack. At Matilda’s funeral, a rabbi read a tribute from teachers at the 10-year-old’s school, who described her as “our little ray of sunshine.” Matilda, who had been delighted to win a national literacy prized two days before she died, “had an incredible gift to bring joy to those around her,” her school’s tribute said. Grief overflowed as the coffin was carried out of the hall. Around the mourners, bumblebee balloons bobbed in the afternoon breeze, a reference to her family nickname Matilda Bee. Mourners and reporters alike were handed stickers featuring a smiling cartoon bumblebee holding a menorah. Above the image was Matilda’s name printed in purple, her favorite color. “I don’t want to sound selfish,” Slavin said. “But I and many others are thinking, this could have been my child.”
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, December 19, 2025, PAGE 11
Junkanoo groups preparing ahead of Boxing Day Parade
MEMBERS of World Famous Valley Boys, Shell Saxons Superstars and One Family Junkanoo groups continue work on various costume pieces as they prepare for Boxing Day and New Year’s Junkanoo Parades. Photos: Shawn Hanna
PAGE 12, Friday, December 19, 2025
THE TRIBUNE
Seniors enjoy their annual National Council for Older Persons Christmas Luncheon and Social
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL for Older Persons of the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting held its annual Christmas Luncheon & Social for the elderly on yesterday at the Paul Farquharson Centre, Police Headquarters. In attendance were Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting Myles LaRoda, Permanent Secretary Phedra Rahming-Turnquest, assistant director of Rehabilitative Services Sonia Saunders, and chairperson of the National Council for Older Persons Dr Indira Grimes. The event featured trivia games, carol singing, and a fashion show by elderly patrons. Towards the close of the luncheon, Dr Grimes was honoured for her hard work and dedication in overseeing the work of the National Council for Older Persons. Photos: Mark Ford/BIS