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Volume: 123 No. 22, Monday, December 22, 2025
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‘POLICE BRUTALITY KILLED MY SON’ ‘You can’t trust the police,’ says mother of mechanic who died while in custody By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net THE mother of Lasheiko Pratt is demanding an independent autopsy after her son died during a struggle with four police officers inside the Fox Hill Police Station, saying she does not accept official claims about what happened and believes police brutality may be responsible. Cheryl Larrimore spoke with The Tribune after she and her daughter identified her son’s body at the LASHEIKO PRATT
RAHMING THREATENS LEGAL ACTION AGAINST COUSIN OVER ‘ATTACKS’ By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
THE Office of the Prime Minister’s Director of Communications, Latre Rahming, has threatened
BRUTALITY - SEE PAGE FIVE
Another arrest made in barge looting probe
legal action following what he described as sustained personal attacks, prompting a public and highly charged response from his cousin, social media COUSIN - SEE PAGE FOUR
morgue. She said she saw no visible bruises or marks and described her family as confused, grieving and distrustful of the police account. “Everybody is very upset and very sad about the situation, because, knowing the nature of him, he was a very nice, quiet person,” Ms Larrimore said. “It don't add up. It look fishy and suspicious. He gone in there, healthy, good as ever, and then come out in a body bag. That cannot be.
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS IN OPM LATRAE RAHMING
Attorney calls arrest of Andros man ‘unlawful’ By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net AN ANDROS man detained for more than 24 hours over a missing firearm allegedly belonging to a sitting Member of Parliament was arrested unlawfully, his attorney said yesterday, signalling possible legal action
against the police. Elsworth Johnson, who represents Zakari Campbell, said the circumstances of his client’s detention were “irregular and unlawful” and would be raised directly with the Commissioner of Police in an effort to resolve the matter UNLAWFUL - SEE PAGE FOUR
ANOTHER arrest has been made in the fallout from the mass looting of a container barge that ran aground off Abaco last month, as police continue to track goods believed to have been taken from the stranded vessel. Chief Superintendent
Michael Thurston said an adult male from Blackwood, Abaco, was arrested on December 12 after officers recovered six tyres suspected to have been stolen from the Brooklyn Bridge barge. The arrest comes as part of an investigation sparked by the grounding of the barge after its tow line LOOTERS - SEE PAGE THREE
THIS WEEK’S OBITUARIES WILL BE IN THE TRIBUNE ON WEDNESDAY, DEC 24
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
Long Island teen killed in motorcycle accident
THE TRIBUNE
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Digital Editor aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
A LONG Island community is in mourning following the tragic death of 16-year-old Amare Miller, a North Long Island High School student who was killed in a traffic accident on Thursday afternoon. Police said the fatal collision occurred along Brandville’s Road shortly before 1pm. Preliminary reports indicate that a white 2006 Jeep Wrangler was travelling west when it reached Beach Lane and collided with a black and white Yamaha motorcycle operated by the juvenile male. The teen became unresponsive following the impact and was taken to the local clinic, where medical personnel attempted lifesaving measures. He later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead by the attending physician. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, police said. Long Island Member of Parliament Adrian Gibson confirmed the victim’s identity in a social media post on Friday, describing the loss as “tragic
Monday, December 22, 2025, PAGE 3
and sudden,” and revealing that Amare was a relative. Mr Gibson said he visited Amare’s parents, Latoya and Alex Miller, on Friday morning to offer condolences on behalf of his family and the wider Long Island community. “Long Island is mourning,” he said, describing Amare as a bright, respectful young man who was well loved throughout the island. He also called for a full and thorough investigation by the Royal Bahamas Police Force and urged the Ministry of Education to provide grief counselling and support services to the student’s classmates. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy and Transport announced the closure of both Road Traffic Department offices on Long Island on Friday as a mark of respect following the teen’s death. In a public notice, the ministry said the closure was in support of a staff member, Ms Latoya Adderley, following the passing of her son, and extended condolences to the family. Police said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash are continuing.
16-YEAR-OLD AMARE MILLER
Man from Blackwood in Abaco held Final prosecution evidence heard in GB after police find tires from barge
principal assault trial By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net THE prosecution has closed its case against Kenneth Farrington, accused of brutally attacking McLean’s Town Primary School principal Simone Butler-Cornish with an iron pipe and leaving her for dead during a violent encounter on June 20. Farrington, who is charged with causing grievous harm, appeared last Friday before Magistrate Charlton Smith in Court Two for the continuation of his trial. The prosecution informed the court that it does not intend to call any further witnesses, submitting that it has established a prima facie case against the accused. Six witnesses were called for the prosecution, including the virtual complainant Mrs Butler-Cornish, Erica Roberts, Margaret Laing, Dr Esteban, Police Sergeant 3189 Saunders, and Detective Constable 466 Rolle, the lead investigator. Mrs Butler-Cornish was present in court for Friday’s proceedings. According to the prosecution, Farrington went to the school on the day in question and launched
BOATS TIE up to the Brooklyn Bridge as the vessel was looted while stuck on a reef near Nunjack Cay in Abaco last month. LOOTERS from page one snapped in severe weather, leaving it stranded on a reef near Nunjack Cay, North Abaco and exposing much of its cargo. The incident quickly drew national attention after widespread looting was reported. Trailer Bridge, the US-based operator of the barge, later said an estimated 90 percent of
the containers were compromised following the grounding. The company also criticised what it described as a slow police response and rejected claims circulating at the time that residents were invited aboard the vessel to assist or to “lighten the load,” calling those assertions “entirely false.” Police launched an investigation into the incident
and established a special task force, which has already led to multiple charges. Last month, Darren Lightbourne, Ferail McIntosh and Mossell Smith appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans after police alleged they played roles in the looting. Lightbourne and McIntosh are accused of stealing items from the grounded barge, while
Smith is accused of receiving stolen goods. All three men have denied the allegations. They were granted bail — $30,000 each for Lightbourne and McIntosh, and $7,000 for Smith — and ordered to sign in at their nearest police station once a week. Police have not said whether further arrests are expected as the investigation continues.
the attack, causing Mrs Butler-Cornish to sustain serious head injuries that rendered her unconscious. It is further alleged that Farrington later admitted he believed she was dead and left the school premises. In November, Mrs Butler-Cornish gave harrowing evidence detailing how Farrington allegedly entered the school’s compound around 9.30am on the last day of school to collect a student’s report card. While she was retrieving the report card, Farrington allegedly launched a vicious attack with an iron pipe, striking her repeatedly about the head. She testified that she ran outside, collapsed, and pretended to be dead so Farrington would stop the attack. Following the close of the prosecution’s case, Magistrate Smith advised Farrington of his options, explaining that he could remain silent and give no evidence, or give evidence himself and call witnesses in his defence. Farrington indicated that he intends to give evidence. The matter was adjourned to January 12, 2026, at 11am, when the defence is expected to begin its case.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, December 22, 2025, PAGE 5
Family rejects police account of death BRUTALITY from page one Something ain’t right.” Ms Larrimore said the family is seeking justice and intends to pursue legal action. “You can’t trust the police, because if he gone up there with the police, he’s supposed to be in good hands,” she said. “If you can’t trust the police, who you could trust?” Pratt, 35, who worked as a mechanic with the Ministry of Works, had been in police custody for two days on burglary charges and was scheduled to appear in court when the incident occurred shortly after 10am on Thursday. Ms Larrimore said she was already at the Magistrate’s Court that morning, prepared to sign bail for her only son, but he never appeared. “They show me his name on the list to appear to court, but no appearance,” she said. “I all about looking. So I go on to CDU, I still didn’t know. They didn’t call me to say nothing about my son dying in their custody.” She said she only learned of her son’s death through social media. “My daughter, she’s the one say she saw it upon Facebook, a 35-year-old dead in Fox Hill, in the station out there.” In custody deaths involving police are rare. Before Pratt’s death, the two most recent cases involved Jamie Smith, 33, and Aaron Rolle, 20, which happened within 24 hours of one another in February 2013. Police have said Pratt, who had no children, died after officers intervened when he refused to leave his cell to attend court. Assistant Commissioner of Police Anton Rahming told reporters outside the station on Thursday that officers were forced to act after the detainee repeatedly resisted instructions. He said two officers initially attempted to escort Pratt, but two additional officers were called when he allegedly became aggressive. He said during efforts to restrain and handcuff him, the detainee held onto an officer and was eventually subdued, at which point officers realised ‘he had become unresponsive.’ ACP Rahming said the force used was what officers believed was necessary to secure the detainee and noted that he had shown signs of aggression earlier that morning. Ms Larrimore rejected that explanation, saying she had not received a single phone call from her son while he was in custody and did not even know he had been taken to Fox Hill Police Station until after his death was reported online. She said the burglary charge arose from a complaint by a neighbour with whom her son had a troubled history. Pratt was arrested at his mother’s home off Faith Avenue. “It always was a problem with his neighbour with him,” she said. “It’s like his neighbour was jealous and some kind of jealousy. He gonna say he thief something off his car. He don’t need to thief nothing off his car. He was working.”
“You can’t trust the police, because if he gone up there with the police, he’s supposed to be in good hands. If you can’t trust the police, who you could trust?”
Employee robbed of $20,000 in weekend crime spree A SERIES of armed robberies was reported across New Providence over the weekend, including incidents involving business employees, motorists and residents. In the first incident, shortly after 6pm on Friday, an employee of a business was about to make a deposit at a financial institution near Town Centre Mall on Baillou Hill Road when she was confronted by a masked, armed suspect. The suspect robbed the woman at gunpoint of more than $20,000 in cash belonging to the business before fleeing in an unknown direction.
In the second incident, shortly after 1am on Saturday, a man was robbed at gunpoint on East Street near Palmetto Avenue by two unknown males, who stole a rental burgundy Nissan Cube. Police later spotted a vehicle matching the description and pursued it. The brief chase ended at Strachan Corner, off East Street, after the vehicle collided with a parked car. One male exited the vehicle and fled, while the other occupant, a 17-year-old male, was arrested. In the third incident, shortly after 7pm on Saturday, a man entered a
business on Robinson Road and allegedly brandished a firearm. He reportedly robbed staff and patrons of cash and personal belongings before fleeing the scene. The suspect was described as wearing an orange construction vest and an orange helmet. In the final incident, shortly after 2am on Sunday, a man was accosted by three males at his residence on Sunlight Cottage, off East Street. The victim was assaulted and robbed of cash and personal belongings by two of the suspects, who were reportedly armed with firearms. The suspects fled in the direction of East Street.
THE BODY of Lasheiko Pratt (pictured left) is taken from the Fox Hill Police Station last week where Pratt reportedly died after a struggle with officers there. Photo: Shawn Hanna
PAGE 6, Monday, Monday, December 22, 2025
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Will PM ‘lift the veil of secrecy’ now? Who is the MP at the centre of the incident in Andros that led to a man being detained for more than 24 hours? The incident is a peculiar one. We have not named the MP involved – and neither have authorities. But should there be any reason not to? The question must be whether or not the MP in question has done anything wrong. Let us take a look at what happened. Zakari Campbell says he was in a bar in Andros when the MP arrived with several others. The first unusual event was when the bar manager reportedly tried to close the venue down at about 2am. The MP apparently intervened and told the DJ to keep playing. The venue stayed open for another half hour. It is odd that an elected official would overrule a business manager and get his way – but it is no crime. Where things get stranger is the next day, when Mr Campbell says he was told that police were reviewing security footage because the MP “lost something” – but without specifying what was lost. Police searching for someone’s lost property would be an oddity – until the nature of the missing item was revealed. Officers showed up at Mr Campbell’s workplace and arrested him, he says, and questioned him about a missing firearm, the first he says he’d heard that the missing item was a gun. Mr Campbell says he was detained for more than 24 hours – and his lawyer says that arrest and detention was unlawful. Two obvious concerns arise from this situation. One should easily be answered – whether the MP had a licence for the firearm. If the answer is yes, then again, the MP has not committed any crime in that regard. The second concern is whether the MP exerted any influence to direct the investigation. If a firearm is reported as missing, then the police should of course make efforts to secure it. No one wants a firearm to fall into the wrong hands – who could then use it in a crime. Quite how that investigation caught Mr Campbell up in it is a different matter – and
whether there was evidence for him to be detained. If all is above board and no crime has been committed, there should be no reason why the MP could not come forward and explain what happened. The silence is curious. There are other concerns, of course. Why an MP would take a gun to a bar is chief among those. Drink and guns do not make a good combination. Even if the MP did not have a drink themselves, being around others who are drinking can be an environment that can lead to arguments. Having a weapon present can escalate matters dangerously. The police ought to be more forthcoming about what happened in this incident, what drove them to investigate in the manner they did, where the firearm is now, and whether or not it was legally owned and licenced. All of that is a simple matter of transparency. The MP himself, knowing someone has been detained for a missing weapon and then released without charge, ought also to comment. A citizen should not lose their liberty – however temporarily – over something that could as far as we know be a matter of carelessness rather than criminality. Being open about how the gun came to be missing and the circumstances leading up to it would help clear the air instead of the suspicion that comes with silence. This is especially the case if the MP has committed no action that could be construed as a crime. Why not be open about the matter if that is the case? There have historically been too many cases where the powerful have been protected. We have heard it many times in the past here in The Tribune. The stories went so far as to become a national scandal when the “Nation For Sale” headline attacted international attention in the drug years of The Bahamas. That fuels distrust. It fuels suspicion. If all is well, this does not have to be a matter that generates suspicion. Remember, Philip Davis in his first speech as Prime Minister committed to “lifting the veil of secrecy”. The opportunity to do so is before us.
Disappointed by Fox’s political posturing EDITOR, The Tribune. I HAD the privilege of once heading basketball in this country. During that time, the then Minister of Sports, Dr Norman Gay, took the national coach and me to the NCAA Final Four basketball championships, in which Rick Fox was participating for the University of North Carolina. Mr Fox was appreciative and grateful for our presence and support, and he was very personable. A few years later, when The Bahamas was pursuing qualification for the Olympic Games in basketball, we approached Mr Fox to be a part of the national team. Once again, he was personable but explained that he had previously made a commitment to Canada and was therefore unable to play for us. We understood and accepted his decision. Nonetheless, he used his influence to assist us by supplying essential equipment.
Thereafter, to my knowledge, he always assisted when asked and, in my view, quietly demonstrated both philanthropy and loyalty. Like many Bahamians, I have appreciated his successes in both sport and film and felt that he was an appropriate choice to be named Ambassador-at-Large to represent and promote The Bahamas. I saw him and spoke with him a few weeks ago, and more recently we have spoken by telephone. That being said, I am now baffled and somewhat disappointed by his most recent political utterances and posture. While he certainly has the right to express an opinion, I am almost one hundred percent certain that he has never participated in our electoral process at any level. This makes his current posture, statements, and actions difficult to reconcile, renders his knowledge of our electoral
system somewhat suspect, and gives the impression that he assumes his international fame and exposure entitle him to a leadership role in our domestic affairs. What should we expect next—Lenny Kravitz advising on our cultural posture or Klay Thompson opining on our judicial system, since they would possess the same level of entitlement? I humbly advise our esteemed Ambassador that, unlike many other nationalities, Bahamians are not star-gazers. He should ingratiate himself to our people not as a celebrity, but as a concerned citizen, first demonstrating dedication, action, and patriotism. In time, his voice will then carry genuine clout. Just saying. ARNOLD F BAIN Nassau, December 17, 2025.
Have a cool, fun, interesting, amazing photo? Have it featured here in The Tribune’s picture of the day! Email your high quality image to pictureoftheday@tribunemedia.net A SEA turtle waves as he swims overhead.
Photo: ishootforthegram
Beware of the tax cheats EDITOR, The Tribune. Cc: The Director of the Department of Inland Revenue, Gladstone Road, New Providence, The Bahamas. FOR the past several months, I have been traversing western New Providence and I must say how building construction has picked up, rather been progressing, but these were mostly foreign ownerships I surmised, based on the locale and I am aware that with this progression, means additional revenue to the public treasury of the Bahamas, but there is a downside also if vigilance were not advanced. What exactly am I trying to say? Very glad that you have proffered up the inquiry. As the jitney transportation was driven by many of them, It occurred to me that there was construction taking place, whilst some had MOW building permit, these were taking place on existing lots and the thought arose, **I wonder in their filings, were they being honest with the department of inland revenue by reporting that they have added another building to the property (costing xyz, inter alia)? From my observation the areas affected were the following: 1. all of that area on the southern side of West Bay Street commencing from Orange Hill Beach on down to Gambier Village, an area that seemed to be developing swiftly, and there is something very strange about it, those lots were quite small like much less than 100 by 40 feet or less, why though, who were the sellers and insult to injury provision
LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net were not made for the what is owned by the government according to what used to be that from the side of the street, the government owned five feet into the property, for the conveniences of the system? 2. and from Compass Point on going west, encompassing the Love Beach Estate, these buildings were going up specifically on the beachside and wonder was the department of inland revenue aware of all of the construction taking place there? 3. there is one property in particular that has a wall around the front half of the property well over 10 feet (give or take), there is no way if allowed, and after gated, based on the particular kind of gate, the authorities will not be able to try and figure out what might be happening there, is indeed against the law, walls supposed to be at a height that anyone wanting to see over it, would be able to, etc. 4. another area of concern, between Old Fort Bay, West Bay Street, someone installed 10 speed bumps, these were unlike any on New Providence south of this residence, could be condo, motel, hotel but, there is construction taking place on that existing lot sitting on the Old Fort Cove, and I do believe that the department of inland revenue should make an inquiry into their tax filings for compliance purposes, just saying.
5. on Windsor Field Road, west Airport Industrial Park, lies several structures three in operation and another two under construction nearing to the roof being installed, I do think that the authorities should look into this. 6. not very far away is the One West plaza with some new additions, could be nothing but you never know? 7. just before Solomon’s Fresh Market Across the wall on the north side of the street there is a construction nearing completion, it should be examined for quality assurances. 8. Western Road is usually referred to as Lyford Cay Road, but at that roundabout sitting on the northwestern side in the corner is this new kind of corporate building, but the strange thing about it, I didn’t see any name, what could they do that they refused to name their building? Not very far away affixed to two poles was the Berkshire Hardaway something business, I don’t suppose that that sign belongs to the new gate structure? In conclusion, I do believe that it is not enough to rely on what property owners filed; we need to give a team in place able to cross reference what exactly were the facts on the ground, just saying? Without the proper collections of the people’s taxes, just how might the authorities be able to defray the expenses of the government? FRANK GILBERT Nassau, December 17, 2025.
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THE TRIBUNE
Monday, December 22, 2025, PAGE 7
Three Bahamians arrested after $18.4m cocaine seizure at sea THREE Bahamian men and a Jamaican man have been arrested after the United States Coast Guard intercepted a go-fast vessel near Cuba and uncovered an estimated $18.4m worth of suspected cocaine. Police said the interception occurred while the US Coast Guard was conducting a routine patrol in international waters, acting on intelligence, on December 7. The white vessel was stopped and four men
— Bahamians aged 57, 44 and 30, and a 36-year-old Jamaican national — were taken into custody. According to police, a search of the vessel uncovered a large quantity of suspected cocaine concealed within the vessel’s hatch. Officers also discovered approximately seven pounds of suspected marijuana, along with an illegal firearm and ammunition. The suspected cocaine weighs an estimated 2,252
pounds, or approximately 920 kilograms. Police estimated its street value at $18.4m. The marijuana has an estimated street value of $7,000. The suspects were transported to New Providence and handed over to the Drug Enforcement Unit on December 18, where they were arrested and cautioned in connection with the matter. Police said investigations are ongoing.
Murder accused gets six months for bail breach By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN awaiting trial for a 2020 murder in the Carmichael area was sentenced to six months in prison on Friday after breaching his bail conditions for more than a month.
Philip Murphy, 23, failed to report to the Elizabeth Estates Police Station for 47 days between August 27 and December 12 while on bail for murder. Murphy is accused in the shooting death of Edward Charles on an unnamed road in the Carmichael area on March 8, 2020. He pleaded guilty to
violating his bail conditions before Senior Magistrate Raquel Whyms. After accepting the facts of the case, the magistrate sentenced Murphy to six months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Sergeant 2257 Wilkinson prosecuted the matter.
Double murder accused denied bail for second time By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN accused of a Third Street gun attack that left two men dead and two others wounded will remain behind bars after a Supreme Court judge refused bail again, despite his murder trial failing to start last month. Domonique Rolle, 29, was denied bail on Friday before Justice Guillimina Archer-Minns after his trial did not commence on
November 3. Prosecutors alleged that Rolle shot and killed Akeem Davis and Lavonne Dawkins as they stood outside a residence in Coconut Grove on May 14, 2021. He is also accused of attempting to kill Shakeem Campbell and Deshawn Rogers in the same incident. Rolle had already been refused bail earlier this year. In July, Justice Franklyn Williams denied his application, citing what he described as the cogency
of the evidence and Rolle’s prior convictions for gun offences. Justice Williams found there were no conditions he could impose that would adequately protect public safety. The case has also been marked by violence beyond the shooting at the centre of the charges. Rolle’s co-accused, Leonardo Collie, was shot and killed on Market Street on March 17, 2022 while out on bail in the matter. Damian White represented Rolle.
Man granted $12,000 bail in kidnapping case By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A MAN awaiting trial for kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon was granted Supreme Court bail on Friday. Kermit Evans, 39, was granted $12,000 bail with
one or two sureties before Justice Joyann Ferguson. As part of his bail conditions, Evans is to be fitted with an electronic monitoring device and must surrender his travel documents. He is also required to sign in at the Grove Police Station every
Tuesday and Saturday by 6pm, and was warned not to have any contact with prosecution witnesses or risk having his bail revoked. Once his bail is perfected, Evans will be released from the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.
Teen granted $5,000 bail on firearm charge By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A 19-YEAR-OLD man was granted bail on Friday after being accused of having a loaded firearm at his home on Rupert Dean Lane last week. Prosecutors allege that Mauricio Davis was found in possession of a black .40
Glock pistol and 11 rounds of ammunition at his residence at about 3am on December 17. Davis pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition before Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville. He was granted bail in the sum of $5,000 with one or two sureties. As part of his
bail conditions, Davis will be fitted with an electronic monitoring device and is required to sign in at the Quakoo Street Police Station every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday by 7pm. Davis is scheduled to return to court for trial on February 3, 2026. Inspector Cordero Farrington prosecuted the matter.
THE NASSAU WATER Tower near Fort Fincastle.
Fort Fincastle and Water Tower renovations to wrap up in January RENOVATIONS to Fort Fincastle and the nearly 100-year-old Water Tower are expected to be completed sometime in January 2026, though an exact reopening date has not yet been confirmed, officials said this week. Don Cornish, director of the National Museum of The Bahamas at the Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation (AMMC), said the contractor is aiming to complete work by January 6, after which the Ministry of Works will carry out inspections before determining whether the sites are ready for occupancy. “The contractor has indicated to us that he should be out of there by January 6 based on the scope of work left to be done,” Mr Cornish said during a press conference on Tuesday, December 16. “What that means is that the Ministry of Works will then do its inspections and determine whether they are ready for occupancy.” He added that the AMMC expects that process to take several weeks. Mr Cornish said
renovation work at the Water Tower included the removal of spalling concrete, restoration of original architectural elements, and replastering and refinishing of the structure. He also noted that several buildings on the Bennet’s Hill site, including vendor stalls, had previously been condemned due to longterm neglect, wear and tear and termite damage. According to Mr Cornish, the AMMC’s executive, technical and management teams recently conducted a full inspection of the Bennet’s Hill complex, which includes the Queen’s Staircase and the Water Tower. Following an assessment with the Straw Market Authority, work began about a week and a half ago to improve the vendor stalls. He said several stalls have since been stabilised, restored and professionally painted, and will be ready once operations resume. Vendors were temporarily relocated to Fort Charlotte when renovations began in March. Mr Cornish said the
AMMC has been holding ongoing meetings with key stakeholders to address concerns related to the site’s reopening and operations. Stakeholders include the Taxi Cab Union, the Royal Bahamas Police Force Commissioner’s Office, the Ministry of Works, site contractor Knowles Construction, the Ministry of Tourism, the Tourism Development Corporation, the Straw Market Authority and several tour operators. Additional upgrades planned for the site include the installation of an elevator at the Water Tower, new wayfinding and interpretive signage highlighting the history of Fort Fincastle, the Water Tower and the Queen’s Staircase, as well as improvements to landscaping, lighting and cleanliness around the perimeter. Mr Cornish said the AMMC is also exploring additional cultural services and experiences in partnership with local creatives and tour operators to encourage longer visitor stays once the site reopens.
Woman charged in traffic death granted $25k bail By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net A WOMAN accused in a fatal traffic accident that claimed the life of a 59-year-old woman on Market Street in September was granted $25,000 bail on Friday. Prosecutors allege that Philicia Brown, 43, was driving dangerously southbound along Market Street
when she struck Phelina Felix at around 8.45am on September 9. Brown was driving a blue 2023 BYD Yuan Pro at the time of the incident. Felix later succumbed to her injuries at Princess Margaret Hospital on September 20. Brown was not required to enter a plea to a charge of vehicular manslaughter when she appeared before Senior Magistrate Shaka
Serville. She was informed that the matter will proceed to the Supreme Court by way of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). Brown was granted bail in the sum of $25,000 with one or two sureties. She is expected to return to court on March 2, 2026, for service of her VBI. Inspector Cordero Farrington appeared for the prosecution.
DON CORNISH, Director of The National Museum of the Bahamas, Antiquities, Monuments and Museums Corporation (AMMC), provided an update on the ongoing renovations to Fort Fincastle and the Water Tower. Carol Johnson, Secretary to the AMMC also attended the press conference. Photo: Ulric Woodside/BIS
PAGE 8, Monday, December 22, 2025
THE TRIBUNE
TDC highlights entrepreneurship think tank, youth participation THE Tourism Development Corporation (TDC) is hailing the success of its 2025 Entrepreneurship Think Tank, which brought together entrepreneurs, business owners and tourism professionals for a practical discussion on responsibly accessing capital to grow Bahamian businesses. The event, held on November 13 at the National Training Agency, focused on the theme “Responsibly Accessing Capital to Start, Grow, and Scale Your Business,” with participants receiving guidance on preparing for funding, strengthening operations and taking strategic next steps. As part of the initiative, TDC also awarded an Entrepreneurship Jackpot valued at $6,000, providing one entrepreneur with business planning support, website development and a small business grant. Keynote speaker Hartley Thompson, CEO of Microblink, urged participants to focus on readiness as they pursue financing opportunities. “Access to capital is important, but being prepared for growth is even more important,” Mr Thompson said. “When entrepreneurs understand their numbers, their customers, and their goals, they put themselves in a stronger position to
succeed.” TDC chief executive officer Ian Ferguson said the strong turnout reflected a growing entrepreneurial spirit in The Bahamas, encouraging participants to learn from those who have already navigated the business journey. “The energy in the room tonight reminded us that Bahamians are ready to build, create, and lead,” Mr Ferguson said. “We don’t have to leave this country to make an impact — we can create greatness right here at home.” In a related initiative, TDC also recognised students from ISBET School who participated in a Youth Entrepreneurship Think Tank earlier this year. The corporation presented the school with a laptop and tablet to support students’ continued learning and interest in entrepreneurship. Mr Ferguson said introducing young people to entrepreneurship and tourism early helps build confidence and creativity among future leaders. The 2025 Think Tank forms part of TDC’s wider effort to support Bahamian entrepreneurs at every stage of development by providing access to knowledge, mentorship and practical tools aimed at strengthening the tourism economy.
TDC REPRESENTATIVES and Government Officials: (From left) Dwight Gibson, Latia Duncombe, Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, Rafique Symmonette, and Ian Ferguson.
YOUTH THINK Tank participants.
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2025
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
Suspension of US Visas: a moment that calls for clarity, calm, and (hopefully) cooperation THE RECENT proclamation issued by the Government of the United States, announcing its intention to suspend the entry of nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and the Commonwealth of Dominica, effective at 12:01 am on 1 January 2026, has understandably caused concern among citizens of the two Caribbean countries. Since then, it has been learned that nationals of other Caribbean countries, including government ministers, have been denied US visas. For many in these countries — as in the rest of the Caribbean — access to the United States for family ties, education, medical care, business, and opportunity is deeply valued. Any uncertainty about that access naturally gives rise to anxiety, not only for individuals but also for economies that are closely linked to the United States through trade, tourism, investment, and people-to-people exchange. There is therefore an urgent and legitimate need for clarity about what will apply after 1 January 2026, particularly with respect to existing visas. From the moment the proclamation was published, Prime Minister Gaston Browne and I have been actively engaged with senior representatives of the United States Government to seek clarity and to work constructively toward resolution. Those efforts are ongoing. It’s relevant to note that the proclamation came as an unexpected development, including to officials within the US system responsible for Caribbean affairs. It would be disingenuous not to acknowledge that it was disappointing for Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica that this proclamation was issued without advance notice to
By SIR RONALD SANDERS either government. This is especially so given that, for almost a year, representatives of several departments of the United States Government and the governments of the
late to CBI programmes and residency requirements, and that is therefore the issue that must be addressed directly, factually, and constructively. Antigua and Barbuda fully recognises the sovereign right — and indeed the responsibility — of the United States to protect its citizens from external threats and to ensure that visas are not used for illicit or harmful purposes. We share those objectives. That is why we remain ready to work
the basis of speculation. Diplomatic engagement must proceed on the basis of the reasons formally stated by governments themselves. In this instance, those reasons re-
with the United States to establish and refine all necessary safeguards and guardrails to ensure that the systems we operate present no risk to US security.
Caribbean countries and the United States have shared a tradition of cooperative, and mutually beneficial relations for 250 years. five Caribbean countries operating Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes have been engaged in sustained and detailed discussions on precisely these issues. That engagement was constructive
A nightly tradition brings light and hope to children at Michigan hospital By MIKE HOUSEHOLDER Associated Press ROYAL OAK, Mich. (AP) — Volunteers gripping flashlights waved them high above their heads when the clock struck 8 p.m., shining beams through the frigid night sky — and into the hospital's windows. Exactly 10 minutes later, the enthusiastic crowd, still holding their flashlights aloft, in unison hollered "sweet dreams" toward children in the hospital several stories above them. The nightly Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams tradition is again lighting up the night outside Corewell Health Children's hospital in Royal Oak in suburban Detroit. For 10 minutes each evening, volunteers standing outside the hospital shine flashlights toward the paediatric rooms above, delivering a message of hope and joy. The kids return the sentiment with their own lights, which they shine toward those below. "To be stuck in the hospital and feel like the world is moving on without you outside feels a little bit isolating, a little lonely, feels like maybe you've been forgotten in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season," said Amanda Lefkof, a child life specialist at Corewell. Among the children in the hospital is 4-year-old Zoe Hostetter, who is undergoing chemotherapy treatments. On a recent night, she shone her own flashlight toward the bundled-up well-wishers below with her grandfather, Tim Schuele, by her side. "It's just a big group of people that they don't know, but they see the love being sent by the lights," he said. "They're here kind of by themselves or with just close
and undertaken in good faith on all sides. Moreover, the five countries took collective steps — based on recommendations from U.S. officials — to streamline and strengthen the legislative and regulatory frameworks governing their CBI programmes. The stated reason for the proclamation, as it applies to Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, is that these countries have historically operated CBI programmes “without residency.” In Antigua and Barbuda’s case, that characterisation does not reflect the full facts. Antigua and Barbuda has always had a residency requirement, and in November of this year Parliament significantly strengthened it as part of a broader package of legislative reforms. Dominica has also enacted extensive reforms. These measures were taken precisely to address concerns raised and to align systems with the highest international standards. Some surprise has also been expressed that Antigua and
Barbuda and Dominica were identified for visa restrictions when three other Caribbean countries operating similar programmes were not included. This, too, is a matter that merits calm clarification through dialogue. There has inevitably been speculation by commentators and political activists about what they describe as the “real reasons” behind the proclamation. Governments, however, cannot conduct relations on
family and that's it for days." On these nights, though, the children are far from alone. Kevin Barringer was among those flashing lights toward the windows one night last week. Barringer's son, Connor, spent two months at the hospital in 2020 recovering from a spinal injury, and they were on the receiving end of the lights. "It gets pretty dark up there for the kids and for parents as well," Kevin Barringer said. "Having people down here letting them up there know that there are people with them and sending all their light up that way, it means a lot." Stephanie McMillan, sitting in a darkened room, held her 3-month daughter, Wren, in one arm and a flashlight in the other, shooting a beam in the direction of those gathered below. "It helps the people inside here not feel so alone and the community members being able to be a part of bringing that Christmas joy to the people that are in here," McMillan said. The hospital also hosts holiday parties, blanket-making and story time events for families. Plus, a volunteer dresses as Santa and visits patients in their rooms and at the parties. Corewell has been overseeing the Moonbeams event since 2017. This year's edition started Dec. 9, and runs through Hanukkah and every night until two days before Christmas. Participants this year have included groups of high school students, Scout troops and sororities, said Lisa Muma, a registered nurse and one of the event's organisers. Sports teams often join, including a youth hockey squad who showed up with lights affixed to their sticks.
For 250 years, Caribbean countries and the United States have shared a tradition of close, cooperative, and mutually beneficial relations — economically, socially, and strategically. That relationship has served all our peoples well. It is that tradition which must now guide us: preserving security while maintaining lawful and legitimate access for citizens to each other’s countries. This moment therefore calls not only for calm, but for timely clarity. Prolonged uncertainty benefits no one. For citizens who have already been vetted and issued valid visas by United States authorities, it is reasonable that lawful travel be allowed to continue — subject to any additional checks the United States considers necessary — while longer-term solutions are finalised for new visa applicants. Antigua and Barbuda approaches this matter in good faith, with respect for the sovereign responsibilities of the United States and confidence in the value of our longstanding relationship. We look to that tradition of dialogue and cooperation to ensure that security is upheld without unintended harm to ordinary people, legitimate commerce, education, and family ties. That work has already begun, and mechanisms are now being examined by officials of the United States and Antigua and Barbuda with the intention of identifying early and practical solutions. That balance has been achieved before. It can — and should — be achieved again. (The writer is the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda and Dean of the Group of Western Hemisphere Ambassadors accredited to the United States)
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, December 22, 2025, PAGE A11
INSIGHT
When the news headlines hit close to home By Malcolm Strachan IT WAS a double murder that shocked the world. But for some families, including right here in The Bahamas, the deaths of Rob and Michelle Reiner had a more personal connection. We’re not talking about those who lamented the death of a director who made some of their favourite movies – though there were plenty of people taking to Facebook to talk about how much they loved When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride or A Few Good Men. No, this is more about the circumstances the Reiners found themselves in, dealing with a family member dealing with addiction and prone to outbursts of violence. The investigation of the Reiners’ deaths is still ongoing, but the stories of what led up to it have been circulating. They centre on their son, Nick. Some of that story has played out on the movie screen. In 2015, Rob Reiner directed a movie called Being Charlie, written by Nick Reiner and based on Nick’s own experiences of heroin addiction and homelessness. It also deals with the relationship of the lead character with a famous father. At the time of making it, Rob Reiner said making the movie with his son “only brought us closer together.”
The story of the lead-up to the stabbings of Rob and Michelle Reiner is disturbing in a way that others dealing with a troubled family member will recognise. Nick was living in a building on the couple’s property – staying at home despite being a grown man. He went with them to a party at Conan O’Brien’s house, where it is reported he was snapping rudely at people asking them if they were famous and getting into an argument with his father that apparently led some people to discuss calling the police. The Reiners left – and then later the bodies of Rob and Michelle were found with multiple stab wounds. Nick was later arrested, and there have been reports since of his troubled and sometimes violent history. For me, all of this felt close to home because I know of families who have gone through similar troubles – without the spotlight of fame, and without the helping hand of influence or money to provide the chances of rehabilitation or doctors that listen. John – not his real name – was one such case. One day he showed up at work with his arm in a sling. We asked what had happened, and it all came flooding out. His son had attacked him with a metal rod and broke his arm. What was a shock to us was this was just one of many instances John
had had to deal with over the years. His son had been a smart kid and had done pretty well at school. But somewhere along the way, he started taking drugs. It was mostly weed, though increasingly stronger. But there were other drugs too, John said. From being on
when his son would turn violent against him. At the time his arm was broken, his son was living in a car on his property and attacked him when John pleaded for him to take the medication he was supposed to be taking. For many years, John had struggled with all of this
track for a good career, the son fell off society’s radar. Jobless and suffering increasingly from mental issues, he got into tangles with the law. A couple of convictions for minor drug offences made getting a job even harder, even though he wasn’t looking much at all. But while society forgets about people all the time, families can’t do that. John and his wife split up, but John kept trying to help his son, even
alone. And in truth, he still has to. But he’s not alone in one thing: there are plenty of other people going through the same situation. Another person I am close to has a son who is getting back on track, but only after losing five or six years to drug addiction and a prison term for theft from his place of employment. This was a family from a good background. The son did
These instances are not about poverty, or deprivation, or struggling to make ends meet. Even those born into privilege can lose their way.
not have to steal, his family would provide for him if he was in need. He disappeared down a rabbit hole of addiction, keeping secrets and running up debts. He has a chance again now, thanks to their love and support, but even that situation had tensions that could have turned violent. “When a family member turns on you and hurts you, calling the police is often the last thing on your mind,” said that son’s mother. “You’re trying to help him, and if you call the police, that would hurt him even more-- make things worse for him--so why would you do that?” And there is another family I know, where the parents struggle every day with the knowledge that their son became a killer. He is now in prison. They try to see him when they can, and--unlike those who cry “my good son” outside court--they know he did it. They are a churchgoing family and they wonder how things could have gone so wrong. Across society, there are people struggling to deal with family members who have lost their way. Drugs, and the descent into crime that goes with it, are often a common denominator in these stories. But too many are having to deal with violence close to home. That’s not even counting the many women who suffer
from domestic violence – too many of whom will be wondering how they are going to get through Christmas without a black eye when the man who supposedly loves them gets too drunk or too angry and hits out. If the Reiner case shows anything, it is that these instances are not about poverty, or deprivation, or struggling to make ends meet. Even those born into privilege can lose their way and become driven by demons that hurt those closest to them most. When John got to tell his story, just being heard made a huge change. Imagine keeping all those secrets for all that time, with the pressure of secrecy piling on to the pressure of the violent situation. There is no easy solution to this. No trite resolution that I can come up with to end the article with some word of wisdom. Just know this is more common than we acknowledge and that there are probably people you know who are going through all of this right now, but who just cannot tell anyone. Families are the last lifeline for many of those going through such addictions, but they are also the first on the frontline having to deal with its consequences. I wish they did not have to keep such secrets, and I wish they had the support so they wouldn’t have to go through this alone.
Good news: Behind the scenes of some of 2025's most uplifting stories By MICHAEL MELIA Associated Press IT WAS one of the year's biggest stories — the selection of the first American pope — and an Associated Press journalist was interviewing the pope's brother at his home in suburban Chicago. Suddenly, they heard a ringing coming from the basement. "That might be the pope," the new pontiff's brother said. Indeed, the man who had emerged hours earlier on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica as Pope Leo XIV was calling to catch up with his older brother. Obed Lamy, a video journalist, listened and recorded as the conversation played out on speaker. "I was shaking because I didn't know what the pope would say," Lamy said. "Am I supposed to say something or not say anything?" In a year marked by political strife, natural disasters and other calamities around the world, 2025 also had its share of uplifting moments. AP journalists were in the middle of many of them. Some found stories of joy amid disaster, including a wedding in a typhoon-flooded church in the Philippines and a youth theatre group that staged a production weeks after a devastating wildfire in California. Some became part of the stories they were covering, simply by being there. In Seattle, an AP photographer broke the news to a scientist that she had won a Nobel Prize. Here are their stories. The pope was on the line 1. Lamy, a video journalist, was among many reporters who went to the home of John
media outside, I knocked on the door. Prevost let me in. As we talked, a ringing came from the basement. Prevost hurried to a tablet downstairs and I followed, my camera on. He found he had a few missed calls from his brother. He called the pope back, using a speaker to play the audio out loud. The pope picked up. I got the shot — the new pontiff's voice speaking to his older brother, asking him why he hadn't been answering his calls. "Well, first you need to know you're on the air right now," the older brother responded. "This is the first time
NEWLYWEDS Jade Rick Verdillo, right, and Jamaica kiss during their wedding inside a flooded Barasoain church in Malolos, Philippines, July 22, 2025. AP Photo/Aaron Favila
MARY E. Brunkow speaks on the phone during an interview after winning a Nobel Prize in medicine for part of her work on peripheral immune tolerance, in Seattle, Oct. 6, 2025, next to her is her dog Zelda. AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson I'm hearing that this thing rang." The conversation went on for just a few minutes. They talked like any other pair of siblings. He told the pope, "Oh, we're coming to Rome." And the pope said, "Oh, where are you going to sleep?" It was interesting the pope himself
JOHN PREVOST, brother of new Pope Leo XIV, holds a portrait of the three Prevost brothers from 1958, Pope Leo, 3, left, John, 4, and Louis, 7, at his home, May 8, 2025, in New Lenox, Ill. AP Photo/Obed Lamy Prevost in New Lenox, Illinois, after his brother became the pope. I had arrived at Prevost's home in the early evening after driving three hours from Indianapolis, where I am based. After walking by other
was dispatched before dawn to the home of Mary E. Brunkow, a scientist in North Seattle. Wasson broke word of the honour before the Nobel committee could reach Brunkow. When I arrived, I wasn't completely sure I was at the right house because my GPS had taken me to the back. After walking through a neighbour ’s pitch-black driveway, I arrived at the front door. It was clear nobody was awake. Thankfully, when I knocked, their dog barked and woke Mary's husband, Ross, who spoke to me through the glass door. I identified myself
did not know what the accommodations for his family would look like. Breaking the news to a Nobel winner 2. When the Nobel Prize in medicine was announced, photographer Lindsey Wasson
and asked if a Mary lived there and if he knew why I was there. Not wanting to spoil it but seeing no other way in, I told him, "Sir, your wife just won the Nobel Prize." Thankfully, he let me in, and I took a quick frame as he brought Mary to the kitchen while telling her the news. They were still in disbelief, so I handed my phone to Ross with our initial AP story, which he read aloud in part to Mary. The initial mood, very understandably, was a mix of tension, annoyance and disbelief at being woken up at 3:45 a.m. Ross told me that when he first went into their bedroom with the news, she said, "Don't be ridiculous." As soon as Mary and Ross began to process the news and reali sed all those missed calls from Sweden overnight weren't spam, the mood shifted to one of joy. I was able to follow along with my camera as Mary sifted through an avalanche of emails, text messages and phone calls from family, friends and other journalists hoping to speak with her. Capturing a wedding that went on despite typhoon flooding 3. Photographer Aaron Favila has covered floods for years in the Philippines, which
sees at least 20 typhoons a year. He raced to cover a wedding at a flooded church just north of Manila after getting a tip from a photographer colleague. I had an hour window to make it to the venue and had to drive out of town and cross several flooded roads during a heavy downpour. The flooding in the area was too deep for our vehicle, so we had to stop. Luckily, a rescue truck passed by, and I rode that. I got there right before they opened the door for the bride. The groom, Jade Rick Verdillo, told me they were eager to go ahead with the ceremony despite the floodwaters. "We've been through a lot.
This is just one of the struggles that we've overcome," he said. If I was shooting for a deadline story, I would have run out after the first kiss. But for this one, I stuck till the end to make sure I captured every moment … just like a wedding photographer. A youth theatre production rises from wildfire ashes 4. Reporter Jocelyn Gecker covered opening night of a Southern California youth theatre group after the Palisades wildfire destroyed their theatre and many cast members' homes. Rehearsals for the group's upcoming musical, "Crazy for You," had started on Jan. 6.
The next day, the Palisades Fire ripped through their community. But the show would go on, said director Lara Ganz, whose family also lost their home. It was about restoring togetherness, hope and routine and showing the kids who had lost so much that life was not over. Witnessing opening night was a gift. It was an evening of such intense emotions jumbled together: joy and pain, heartbreak and happiness, grief and pride. It was a light in the darkness, as one father told me. One teen said when he sang and danced to the music of George and Ira Gershwin, the weight of his loss lifted. He only felt happiness.
CALLUM Ganz, 17, center, gives a pre-show pep talk to castmates in Crazy for You on opening night as the Theatre Palisades Youth group returns to the stage after losing their theater in the Palisades fire, in Los Angeles, Feb. 28, 2025.
Fox backs ‘super reef’ project using carbon-negative concrete PAGE 12, Monday, December 22, 2025
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Digital Editor aturnquest@tribunemedia.net A CLIMATE-RESILIENT “super reef” using carbon-negative concrete is set to be deployed in Bahamian waters as part of a new partnership between the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) and Partanna, a climate-technology company led by Bahamian-born former NBA star Rick Fox. The initiative, launched last week, aims to construct a 100-square-metre demonstration reef using
Partanna’s proprietary concrete material, which absorbs carbon dioxide as it cures and strengthens when exposed to seawater. To support the project, Partanna has announced a $25,000 matching challenge, pledging to match public donations dollar-for-dollar to fund the reef’s deployment. According to PIMS, the project comes amid mounting concern over coral loss following mass bleaching events in 2023 and 2024, which severely impacted Caribbean reefs. A Global Coral Reef
THE TRIBUNE
Monitoring Network report previously found that nearly 14 percent of the world’s reefs were lost between 2009 and 2018. “Traditional concrete is an imperfect ally,” said Lily Haines, PIMS communications and marketing director and a marine biologist. “It degrades over time in saltwater. We needed something that acts more like nature itself.” Unlike conventional cement, which is responsible for an estimated eight percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, Partanna’s material bypasses
Portland cement entirely and undergoes a chemical reaction with seawater that mimics coral calcification, PIMS said. The reef will be built using Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) constructed from the carbon-negative concrete. The structures will first be placed on healthy reefs to allow colonisation by marine organisms before being relocated to a degraded site, where thermally tolerant coral genotypes will be introduced. Dr Aaron Hartmann, lead scientist on the project, described the approach as ecosystem-wide restoration
rather than simple coral planting. “We are doing much more than planting a garden; we are building an underwater city,” Dr Hartmann said. “By combining heat-resilient corals with the many species a reef needs to thrive, all on a foundation of Partanna’s carbon-negative material, we are giving this ecosystem a fighting chance.” The project will be implemented through the Reef Rescue Network, a PIMS-led coalition coordinating coral restoration efforts across the Caribbean. Mr Fox said the Bahamas was the natural
location for the initiative, given the country’s reliance on healthy reefs for food security, tourism and coastal protection. “The Bahamas is my home,” he said. “Here, coral reefs aren’t optional — they’re our food, our tourism, our protection, and our future.” PIMS said the demonstration reef is intended to serve as a model for scalable, climate-resilient reef restoration using low-carbon construction materials. Members of the public can contribute through PIMS’ Holiday Reef campaign, with all donations matched up to $25,000 by Partanna.
PARTANNA CEO and NBA Champion Rick Fox poses with PIMS Coral Researcher Taylor Walters, while holding up a Partanna concrete ARMS unit.
AN INFOGRAPHIC detailing the five-step restoration process developed by the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) in partnership with Partanna. The roadmap illustrates howcarbon-negative cement blocks are transformed into Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS).
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, December 22, 2025, PAGE 13
FOAM Christmas giveaway assists struggling families By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net SINGLE mothers, government workers and married couples struggling to make ends meet amid rising living costs were among those assisted at Families of All Murder Victims’ (FOAM) annual Christmas giveaway. Scores of residents gathered at FOAM’s Nassau Village headquarters on Friday, where free clothing, hot meals and toys were distributed to families. Grocery and gas vouchers, as well as home appliances, were also awarded, helping to ease the financial burden on households during the holiday season. When The Tribune visited the scene, the atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation. Single mothers searched through piles of clothing, hoping to find items that would fit their children, while older men and women smiled as they selected shoes or dresses. Many residents said the giveaway came at a time when everyday expenses have become increasingly difficult to manage. Children played joyfully in the yard, laughing as they enjoyed hotdogs, popcorn and sweets, while volunteers assisted families throughout the event to ensure everyone had an opportunity to receive support. FOAM president Khandi Gibson said the giveback officially began at noon, but residents started arriving as early as 8am in hopes of receiving assistance. She said many people are still struggling to secure basic
necessities, including food, clothing and housing. “I realise eviction is on the rise and even something as simple as paying rent people can’t afford it now,” she said, adding that since the COVID-19 pandemic many tenants have faced steadily increasing rental costs. Ms Gibson urged the public to partner with organisations that are actively reaching vulnerable communities, rather than relying solely on the government to address growing needs. She said it is important for society to function as a village and provide support before desperation leads to suicide, crime or violence. She noted that in previous years FOAM’s Christmas giveback largely assisted unemployed individuals and single parents. However, she said the organisation is now seeing married couples, government workers and employed residents seeking help, as salaries remain stagnant while the cost of living continues to rise. Bernice Kemp, a Nassau Village resident of 50 years, said it was her first time attending the Christmas giveaway and described the initiative as a meaningful way to give back to the community. Ms Kemp said she was invited to attend and decided to bring her grandchildren along. A retiree, she said she is grateful that her financial situation is not as challenging as that of others, but acknowledged that she still feels the pressure of rising living costs, particularly high utility bills.
SINGLE MOTHERS, govt workers and married couples struggling to make ends meet attended FOAM’s annual Christmas giveaway at its headquarters in Nassau Village on Friday. Photos: Nikia Charlton
THE TRIBUNE
PAGE A14, Monday, December 22, 2025
BREEF unveils new underwater sculpture
A NEW underwater sculpture by internationally renowned artist Jason deCaires Taylor has been installed at the BREEF Sir Nicholas Nuttall Coral Reef Sculpture Garden, expanding one of The Bahamas’ most prominent marine conservation and education sites. The sculpture, titled Lady of Coral, has been added to the underwater garden located within the Southwest Marine Managed Area off Clifton Heritage National Park. The site functions as both a coral nursery and an outdoor classroom used by students and visitors throughout the year. Mr deCaires Taylor is best known in The Bahamas for Ocean Atlas, the world’s largest underwater sculpture, which has become a major landmark since its installation more than a decade ago. According to the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF), Lady of Coral was created using environmentally friendly, marine-grade materials designed to encourage coral growth while providing habitat for fish and other marine life. BREEF Executive Director Casuarina McKinney-Lambert said the sculpture garden continues to evolve as both an art space and a living ecosystem. “The sculptures are living art, changing as corals and other marine life grow over their surfaces, and vulnerable to threats such as pollution and warming waters,” Ms McKinney-Lambert said. “The sculpture garden is a focal point for celebrating the wonders of the ocean and inviting members of the public to join us in protecting it.” The artwork explores the relationship between land and sea through a pair of identical sculptures positioned on opposite sides of the Atlantic. One sits beneath the waters off Nassau, while its counterpart stands on land in a wildflower meadow. Each is intended to support new life, with corals seeded underwater and vegetation growing on land. “Through this dialogue
LADY OF CORAL becoming home to fish and other marine life at the BREEF Coral Reef Sculpture Garden Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor between ocean and land, the work evokes the interdependence of our world, reminding us that every ecosystem is part of a greater whole,” Mr deCaires Taylor said, noting that the sculpture was donated to the garden. Installed adjacent to BREEF’s coral nursery, the new piece is intended to support reef restoration efforts and strengthen climate resilience in local marine ecosystems. The Coral Reef Sculpture Garden also features works by Bahamian artists Andret John and Willicey Tynes, and forms a central part of BREEF’s education programming. Each year, thousands of students visit the site through snorkel field trips and marine literacy initiatives. BREEF said the installation was made possible with support from volunteers and partners, and reaffirmed its commitment to marine conservation through education, advocacy and sustainable practices.
SCULPTURE in place on a sandy part of the ocean floor with L to R, artist Jason deCaires Taylor, BREEF Executive Director Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, and BREEF volunteer Synaee Cash Photo: Michael Friefeld
LADY OF CORAL joins Ocean Atlas at the BREEF Coral Reef Sculpture Garden Photo: Jason deCaires Taylor
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, December 22, 2025, PAGE M17
Bahamas formally recognises Kosovo By BY KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
OPM Signing of Joint Communique with the Republic of Kosovo Photo: Nikia Charlton
THE Bahamas has formally recognised the Republic of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state, marking the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani Sadriu signed a Joint Communiqué at the Office of the Prime Minister on Friday.
OPM Signing of Joint Communique with the Republic of Kosovo Photo: Nikia Charlton
Last US cents sold at auction for a sum of $16.76 million were worth a pretty penny By OLIVIA DIAZ Associated Press/Report for America TO THOSE who argue that the U.S. penny had no value: some coin collectors beg to differ. In fact, they doled out millions for the final pennies circulated in the U.S. before the government ended the cent's production back in November. The U.S. Mint sold 232 three-cent sets for a whopping sum of $16.76 million at an auction last Thursday hosted by Stack's Bowers Galleries. The 232nd set — containing the last three pennies ever made — sold for $800,000. That bidder also got the three dies that struck those Lincoln cents. John Kraljevich, director of numismatic Americana at Stack's Bowers, said it was the kind of auction where you don't know the items' market value until people make their bids. "I've been going to coin auctions for 40 years, and I can tell you, I've never seen anything like this, because there's never been anything like this," Kraljevich said. Stack's Bowers President
US Treasurer Brandon Beach holds one of the last pennies pressed at the U.S. Mint, in Philadelphia, Nov. 12, 2025. AP Photo/Matt Slocum Brian Kendrella said: "They captured the public imagination like few rare coins we've ever handled." When it was introduced in 1793, a penny could buy a biscuit or a piece of candy. Now most of them are tucked away into jars or junk drawers. They can also be relics of history for coin collectors. Each set comprised 2025 pennies struck at the Philadelphia Mint, the Denver Mint and a 24-karat gold penny to cap off the end of an
BLANK COINS wait to be the last pennies pressed at the U.S. Mint, in Philadelphia, Nov. 12, 2025. AP Photo/Matt Slocum
A DIE for a penny press is seen at the U.S. Mint, in Philadelphia, Nov. 12, 2025. AP Photo/Matt Slocum
era. Each cent also bore a unique Omega symbol. There were 232 grouplets to reflect each year the coin had been embedded in American culture. "American culture has incorporated the penny into our lexicon, into our pop culture, into all of this stuff," Kraljevich said. "And I think for a lot of people, the ending of production of cents for circulation is an item of nostalgia."
Prime Minister Davis highlighted the significance of President Osmani travelling to The Bahamas to formalise the recognition in person, describing the occasion as “the beginning of a relationship that we seek to strengthen”. “There are many aspects of cooperation that we would be pursuing, particularly in a world where there are so many geopolitical challenges that impact us all, and particularly all the challenges that Kosovo would have gone through over the centuries,”
Mr Davis said. He added that shared values and experiences would guide future engagement between the two nations, noting that he looked forward to possibly visiting Kosovo in the new year. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008, following decades of ethnic tension and conflict in the Balkans. The declaration came after the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s and the 1998–1999 Kosovo War,
which placed the territory under international administration prior to statehood. More than 100 countries have recognised Kosovo, although several states — including Serbia, China and Russia — do not recognise its independence. President Osmani expressed gratitude to the Bahamian government and people, describing the recognition as a historic milestone for a nation shaped by generations of struggle and sacrifice.
THE TRIBUNE
Monday, December 22, 2025, PAGE 21
What we know about the plane crash that killed NASCAR’s Greg Biffle and his family Associated Press A PRIVATE jet crashed at a regional North Carolina airport and erupted into flames Thursday, killing seven people, including retired NASCAR star Greg Biffle and three members of his family, officials said. Here are some things to know about the crash. What happened? The plane took off Thursday morning from Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Charlotte. Shortly after takeoff, the jet turned back toward the airport and crashed while attempting to land, according to tracking data posted by FlightAware. com. Video from WSOC-TV showed first responders rushing onto the runway, where flames burned near scattered wreckage. Investigators have said it is too early to determine what caused the crash. There was some drizzle and clouds at the time, according to AccuWeather. Statesville Regional Airport offers corporate aviation facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams, according to its website. Who was on board? According to a joint statement released by the victims’ families, there were seven people aboard the plane, including Greg Biffle; his wife, Cristina Grossu Biffle; their son, Ryder; and Greg Biffle’s daughter, Emma. The statement identified the other victims as Craig Wadsworth, Dennis Dutton and Dutton’s son, Jack, all “beloved by many in the NASCAR community.”
“Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives,” the statement said. Biffle, 55, won more than 50 races across NASCAR’s three circuits, including 19 at the Cup Series level. He also won championships in both the lower-tier national Truck and Xfinity Series — the first driver to do so — and spent almost his entire career driving for Roush Fenway Racing, headquartered about 40 miles south of the crash site. Wadsworth, a longtime behind-the-scenes employee with several NASCAR teams, was friends with Biffle and had helped him with odd jobs, including delivering supplies to places hit by Hurricane Helene a year ago, according to Wadsworth’s roommate, Benito Howell. Biffle joins a somber roll of athletes who died in plane or helicopter crashes.
Greg Biffle holds his daughter, Emma, before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Sunday, September 2, 2012, in Hampton, Georgia. Photo: Rainier Ehrhardt/AP
What type of plane was it? The plane was a Cessna C550, a popular mid-sized business jet with an excellent reputation, aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti said. Flight records show the plane was registered to a company run by Greg Biffle. The plane was scheduled to fly to Sarasota, Florida, and then to Treasure Cay airport in the Bahamas before returning. Biffle’s plane was built in 1981 and would have likely cost between $1 million and $10 million, depending on how it was outfitted, Guzzetti said. The Cessna 550 Citation has two engines and typically seats six to eight passengers.
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