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MONDAY
MOM: I SCREAMED AND PRAYED TO GOD
Mother of woman killed last week also recently lost
By JADE RUSSELL
Staff Reporter
Tribune
jrussell@tribunemedia.net
her son
TWO mothers are grieving after one of the first shootings of the year left a woman with four children dead and her boyfriend nursing gunshot wounds in the hospital. Shantol Miller, 33, was killed in Nassau Village last Wednesday when two armed men exited a black jeep around 6.30pm and opened fire. The driver tried to escape but crashed and overturned on Alexandria Boulevard. A third gunman fired more shots before all suspects fled in the jeep, which was later found abandoned on a dirt
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
EZEKIEL Miller dreamed of becoming a mechanic and starting a family, but his life changed dramatically when he stepped on a rusty nail at 14, causing a viral infection that led to the amputation of body parts.
the community in Grand Bahama is rallying around him after learning about his story, which was featured on ZNS last week. “I was walking home through a cut and when I come home I told my mommy I had a rusty
Fire ravages the Bay Restaurant
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
A FIRE yesterday ravaged the Bay Restaurant and Lounge, a popular nightlife spot on Arawak Cay. The fire, which started
after 3am, was fully controlled by fire services around 9am, but not before nearly destroying the space.
The owner, who requested anonymity, said he did not know what caused the fire.
“We will come back bigger and better,” he said.
“I closed up at 3am last night and everything was fine until I woke up to that early in the morning.”
The Bay, which had been at its current location for two years, following its renovation, was previously known as Junkanoo Village.
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
A LOCAL women’s rights activist has criticised the government for “dragging its feet” on the implementation of the Protection Against Violence Bill, accusing officials of using the bill’s passage to appear supportive of women’s rights while failing to do anything substantial. The bill would establish a commission that is is intended to support victims, liaise with police when victims face insufficient cooperation, and
GOVT CRITICISED for ‘dragging feet’ on anti violence bill IMF: PROPERTY and rental rates outpaced wages growth
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor
nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
PROPERTY prices and rental rates outpaced growth in Bahamian wages seven-fold during the decade to 2022 to deepen the housing affordability crisis, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revealed.
An IMF report on this nation’s economy said the “most vulnerable” persons in Bahamian society will have suffered most from real estate-related costs outstripping earnings and incomes.
Fire ravages the Bay Restaurant
The fire occurred just hours before the restaurant’s popular Sunday brunch, a fan favourite that typically draws large crowds.
“I’m pretty shocked that we can’t operate today because today is my biggest day,” the owner shared.
“We usually do a brunch event on Sunday. That’s our biggest day of the week.”
The owner received a call at 6.40am from a friend who had learned about the fire through contact among the firefighters.
In addition to messages of support, many patrons have taken to social media,
sharing memories of their time at The Bay and expressing their sadness over the loss of the venue.
“I already had hundreds, almost thousands of messages and calls with people just encouraging me and people volunteering to help,” the owner said.
“People really love the spot; a lot of people really enjoyed it here. They don’t go nowhere but The Bay.”
While the owner is still processing the situation, he remains optimistic about the future.
“It hasn’t really kicked in yet, but how people keep calling me, it makes me feel like it real, but when people don’t call me or say anything then I feel okay. But
I don’t think it kicked in it, but I still feel like it isn’t real,” he said. “So far I feel encouraged, I have a lot of support, I been getting a lot of calls. Trust in God, and I feel like with my team and the support, we will get back on our feet.”
The fire caused significant damage, and the owner estimates thousands of dollars in losses.
“I have a next business to sustain me,” he said. “I don’t think all is lost, but it’s a major setback, but I will call it a minor setback for a major comeback.”
The Bay’s 32 employees are also rallying around the owner, and plans for the future are already in the works.
Funeral Service for VERNELLE EDWARDS, 82
of #5 Mars End, Eastern Estates, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday 23rd January, 2025 at Holy Cross Anglican Church, Soldier Road at Highbury Park. Officiating will be Fr. Ethan Ferguson, assisted by other ministers of the clergy. Cremation will follow Vernelle was preceded in death by her Parents Godfrey & Doris Williams and all her birth siblings: Wenzel, Lloyd, Althea, Veronica, Valencia, & Willie.
Left to cherish her memory and life of sacrifice are her Children and their spouses: Gina and Trevor Mackenzie, DuWaine and Apryll Edwards, & Michael Edwards (Katrina Cartwright); Grandchildren: Trevor Justin & Reagan Mackenzie, Daniel & Kiera Edwards, Axel Cartwright Edwards; Brother & Sisters-in-law: W. Patrick & Eula Edwards, Eloise Edwards, Delores, Edwards, Betty Miller; Brothers-in-law: Anthony B. Dunn, Anthony Higgs; Nieces and Nephews: Monique Woods, Raymont, Anthenise and Terrinicka Higgs, Tona, Tarnicia,and Anthony Dunn, Kenya, Katisha, Felicia and Elijah Miller - all of Miami, Florida, Granlin (Ikena), and Ian (Deneshia) Edwards, Antoinette (Eric)Wilmott, Brent (Shamon), Neil (Jennifer), Jason, and Jerome (Junie) Edwards, Jerah Edwards-Gibson (Leuvasieur), Tashfi Hanchell-Edwards (Kyle); Numerous Cousins: Including Gerald and Camille Stuart & Family, Sylvester & Angela George & Family, Erica Williams & Family; Godchildren: Tivona Chandler, Anya Russell, Tieschka Fernander-Archer; Extended Family & Dear Friends: Dugald, Paula, Damien & Paul Small, Arthur Chase & Family, Philabertha Carter & Family, Gaynell & Miguel Bullard and Family, Sandra Alleyne & Family, Paulette Haven & Family, Alicia Greene & Family, Cleomie & Gerard, Dean & Family, Elsa Mackenzie & Family, Dr. Kenworth & Shira Newbold, Eloise Fernander, Ronald & Joyce Thompson and Family, Vivian Dean & Family, Tressie Lynch & Family, Rita Spriggs & Family, Mae Morton Curry & Family, Mary Russell & Family, Betty Hall & Family, April Turner & Family, Nurse Fiona Rolle, Arlington Gibao Butler, Lillian Newbold, Claudia Ferguson, Audrey Ellis, Bertel & Barbara Holder and Family, Faye Dillette, Jessie Wallace, Karen Braynen, Sheryl Sealy, Debbie Smith, Adel Osterloh, Marjorie Culmer, Tony Bethell-Bennett & Family, Sanjeev & Sunita Gupta and Family, Janet Sargent & Family, Geraldine Smith & Family, Patricia Reid & Family, Lorelda Burrows & Family, Sandra Campbell & Family, Theda Weech, Bev & Shelly Archer, Tarran, Elizabeth & Alex Taylor, Paula Bowleg & Family, Brenda Vanderpool & Family, The College of The Bahamas (now University) Family & Quarter Century Club and the Lunch Bunch - including The Late Dr. Keva Bethel, Dr. Rodger Brown, Dr. Rhonda Chipman-Johnson, Dr. Eleanor Thompson, Mrs. Inez Peet and Mr. Alvin Rolle, and The Late Dr. Pandora Johnson, St John’s Old Scholars - including Arthur Hamilton Sr., Verdell Monroe-Ferguson, Judith Minnis, Harvey Tynes KC, and Felton Cox, The Edwards Family of Grand Bahama The Eastern Estates Neighbourhood, The Family of the Late Sir Arlington & Sheila Lady Butler, The Stuart (NYC/Singapore), Stubbs, Turnquest, Gray, Burrows, Watson, Archer, Turner, Nixon & Hilton Families Rev. Dr. Ethan Ferguson, Rev. Canon Norman Lightbourne, Rev. Fr. Berkley Smith, The Vestry and entire Parish Family of Holy Cross Anglican Church including the beloved Holy Cross Anglican Church Women, the Pastoral Care & Good Samaritan Ministries, Rev. Canon Peter Scott - former Rector, and a host of other relatives & friends
Thanks are extended to Dr. Patrick Cargill, Dr. Levard Roberts, Dr. Don Major, Dr. Zurina Salas, Dr. Adrian Cargill and Dr. Bridgette Sherman. May Her Soul Rest in Peace!
Friends may pay their last respects at Bethel Brothers Morticians & Crematorium, #44a Nassau Street on Wednesday 22nd January, 2025 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and at the church on Thursday 23rd January, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. until service time.
THE BAY on Arawak Cay after a fire ravaged the restaurant and bar yesterday. Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
Mom: I screamed and prayed to God
road off Charles Saunders Highway. The victims were taken to the hospital in a private vehicle.
Mary Miller, Shantol’s mother, recounted a worrying call last Wednesday from one of her daughter’s friends, asking where she was. Mrs Miller drove to her daughter’s part-time job at McDonald’s, but when she arrived, her daughter was nowhere to be found.
When the phone rang again, she learned of the shooting. She said all she could do was “scream and pray to God”.
Her grandchildren played in the background when she spoke to The Tribune yesterday.
“I’m not sleeping. You know, I just lost a son about seven months ago,” Mrs Miller said, noting the son died from a heart condition.
She said the grief of losing two children in such proximity is overwhelming, adding: “They are my babies.”
She described Shantol as a sweet, joyful person who loved laughter and noted that her grandchildren want justice for their mother’s death.
Alana McGregor, mother of Shantol’s boyfriend, said her son was being electronically monitored and has been attending court for a murder case. He was taking Shantol to work and stopped in Nassau Village to get gas money from a friend on the day of the shooting.
She said for a while, people held off from telling her son that his girlfriend had died. She said when she could no longer keep it from him, she told him, and he immediately broke down, asking about the well-being of her children.
She said her son would have also died if they waited for an ambulance. She said he told her Shantol could have survived, noting that she was talking on the way to the hospital; he believes medical staff took too long to help them.
She said her heart is broken over Shantol’s death, likening it to losing her own child.
Although her son did not have children with Shantol, Ms McGregor said her family had adored her from the start due to her spirit.
She said her son isn’t perfect.
“I want my son to get well and live, and for him to take this as a big example,” she said. “Let him know that God has warned him too many times.” from page one
Officer injured during House mace throwing incident still recovering
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Chief Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
KENDAL Pennerman, the police sergeant-atarms injured during last month’s chaotic macethrowing incident in the House of Assembly, is still recovering.
Sgt Pennerman, who has diabetes, injured his right leg and left elbow after falling while trying to stop Free National Movement MP Shanendon Cartwright from throwing the mace out of a window.
Deputy Speaker Sylvanus Petty, who also intervened during the incident,
reportedly suffered a blow to the head.
Photos of Sgt Pennerman lying on a stretcher in an ambulance widely circulated after the incident.
He told The Tribune yesterday that he spent four to five hours in hospital before deciding to recover at home.
“I’m out moving and about,” he said. “I just can’t be on the leg too long, but other than that, I’m coming on.”
He said he expects to return to duty next month and plans to meet with the House of Assembly leadership to discuss his
return. The mace incident led to the suspension of all FNM MPs, except Dr Hubert Minnis, for two sittings of the House of Assembly.
FNM leader Michael Pintard said the group will continue to stand their ground when they return this week and expressed
hope that the Speaker will act more fairly.
“The Speaker has not been fair in the way in which she has discharged her duties, and while we hold no anger towards the Speaker, we are disappointed that she doesn’t recognise that she is the leader of one of the three arms of government,” Mr
Pintard told reporters last week.
“We are going to stand our ground. We do not expect she’s going to continue the kind of behaviour she has exhibited. We were pulling for her success, and unfortunately, she’s squandering that opportunity. But she has a chance to hit the
reset button in this new year and allow the members of the opposition to have our say.” Speaker Patricia Deveaux said the incident has been referred to Parliament’s Committee on Privilege for further investigation. The status of the probe is unclear.
SHANTOL MILLER
SERGEANT KENDAL PENNERMAN
Govt criticised for ‘dragging feet’ on anti-violence bill
from page one
recommend a national strategic plan to combat violence. It would also work with the minister to ensure adequate shelters for victims across the country. However, the commission has yet to be established, and there has been little official communication about its progress.
Prodesta Moore, president and founder of Women United, suspects substantial movement will take place closer to the next general election,
too late to benefit some who may need its powers sooner. She said her organisation has tried to meet with Minister of Social Services Myles Laroda but has been unsuccessful. She said that when civil society tries to engage with the government, it receives no respect or attention.
Additionally, she criticised the fact that discussions on violence are primarily held with the Bahamas Crisis Centre, while other NGOs are excluded. She argued
that the government is only interested in hearing from agencies it funds, as those agencies are limited in what they can say compared to independent NGOs.
“If you don’t have the NGOs in the forefront, those ones who are on the ground, in the trenches, grassroot NGOs who know the hurt and the pain, to bring them to the table, you’re going to continue facing the same challenges over and over again,” she said. “No election is going to change that because
women are going to be able to see that you are not taking us seriously.”
Ms Moore noted that several women’s groups opposed the passage of the Protection Against Violence Bill 2023, preferring the earlier draft of the Gender-Based Violence Bill, which they considered more comprehensive.
“Nothing has been done for the commission,” she said.
“I don’t know if they’re having private conversations with other government officials, but
it’s not coming forward to the public, and that’s a concern for me because this is something supposed to be coming down for the people, and why isn’t the people involved in this entire process.”
At last week’s first National Forum on the Primary Prevention of Violence in The Bahamas, Prime Minister Mr Philip “Brave” Davis acknowledged the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country. He highlighted the Protection Against Violence Bill
2023, which aims to safeguard and support victims, particularly women and children. Mr Davis also mentioned the establishment of the Protection Against Violence Commission, which remains unrealised.
Ms Moore said that government officials continue to mention the bill in speeches merely because it sounds good, but she added: “I don’t blame them for putting it in their speech, but we know the truth. Nothing’s happening.”
PRODESTA MOORE
Man’s life altered as rusty nail leads to amputations
from page one
feel it,” he told The Tribune yesterday. Due to severe swelling, doctors informed him it was too late to save the leg.
“My dream job was going to be a mechanic, and you know, make kids and start a family,” he said, adding that his health struggles prevented him from graduating school.
Currently unemployed and living with his mother, he requires assistance with daily tasks as a double amputee. While he can bathe independently, he still needs help with other activities.
“I do what I could do,” he said.
The 21-year-old lost his first leg at 14 and his second leg at 19. He also lost two fingers in 2024, leaving him with only eight fingers.
Since his story aired, he has received significant support from the community, with over 1,000 shares of the ZNS segment and a pledge from a local businessman to provide him with a weekly allowance.
“Thanks everyone for helping me,” he said, noting he can be reached at 816-6027.
To advertise in The Tribune, contact 502-2394
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NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI
“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”
LEON E. H. DUPUCH, Publisher/Editor 1903-1914
SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .
Publisher/Editor 1919-1972
Contributing Editor 1972-1991
RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.
Publisher/Editor 1972-
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EDITOR, The Tribune.
LAST week, the Prime Minister chastised the banking sector as a “barrier to progress” given what he characterised as lengthy waits to open business bank accounts and a failure to offer loan funding to critical sectors, among other alleged transgressions.
Frankly, the Bahamian people are tired of Prime Minister Davis’s posturing and grandstanding on the various issues that impact them daily.
violence
Govt needs to be careful to not leave out partners in fight against
WHEN the government last week held a forum – the nation’s first – on the primary prevention of violence in The Bahamas, it couldn’t help but be noticed that several prominent figures in the fight were not prominent.
First things first, let us be clear on how prevalent violence is against women in The Bahamas.
One in four women, according to a study released last year, has been a victim of physical or sexual violence in their life.
Survivors have pointed up the challenges in getting medical treatment, in getting support from social services –and in dealings with law enforcement.
At last week’s forum, Prime Minister Philip Davis acknowledge the prevalence of such violence – then pointed towards the Protection Against Violence Bill 2023 as a safeguard, particularly for women and children.
The problem is, many feel the Protection Against Violence Bill does not do enough – and does not have the protections that would have been in place through the previously mooted Gender-Based Violence Bill.
Equality Bahamas has previously pointed out that the gender-based bill was replaced with no notification to civil society, with the exception of a single organisation the government said it had consulted. What about the rest?
Equality Bahamas also pointed out that the Protection Against Violence Bill is void of any reference to gender.
The group’s cries for engagement seem to have largely fallen on deaf ears.
Prodesta Moore, of Women United, said that as far as engagement goes, her organisation has tried to meet Minister of Social Services Myles Laroda – but without success. That has been a familiar refrain The Tribune has heard with regard to the minister.
Ms Moore pointed out that the
government seems to listen to agencies it funds – not independent organisations. She notes that has a tendency to limit what they can say.
Prime Minister Davis points out the establishment of the Protection Against Violence Commission – which sounds good if only it really existed. Ms Moore notes: “Nothing has been done for the commission.”
Voices such as these should have played a prominent part in the forum.
What exactly is the point of hailing the creation of a commission that has not yet done anything? What is there to gain from saluting a bill that does not do many of the things activists and campaigners have called for?
Where are things such as the longoverdue domestic violence shelter?
The last we heard of that was October when a property had been bought, but few details were given. Could Mr Laroda perhaps come back and report to the public any time soon when women and children in desperate need of a roof over their heads to escape an abusive partner might possibly have somewhere they can seek refuge? Is that too much to ask for?
Now if the government is sincere in holding such events as last week’s forum, the problem is by not consulting widely and featuring a plurality of voices, it suggests that there is nothing more than lip service being paid. And that gets us nowhere and helps no one.
Heaven knows our country needs solutions to violence, and if efforts are genuine they do not need to be undercut by an oversight. If oversight it was. As Ms Moore said: “I don’t blame them for putting it in their speech, but we know the truth. Nothing’s happening.”
We do not need officials to be seen to be being busy. We need action. Let’s start with that domestic violence shelter. When will it open? Can government please answer that?
Frankly, the Bahamian people are tired of posturing and grandstanding. They didn’t elect Prime Minister Davis just to complain about the problems—they expect bold action.
Despite their bluster, this PLP administration has refused to take action on banking reform or any of the many impediments to doing business in The Bahamas.
We rarely hear them mention improving the “ease of doing business,” and they have never offered any coherent plan
Tired of PM’s empty rhetoric Supporting breastfeeding a priority
EDITOR, The Tribune.
AS A mother of four children, I have lived the beautiful and sometimes challenging journey of breastfeeding. I nursed all of my children - three of them exclusively, weaning them around 18 months. My eldest daughter, on the pediatrician’s recommendation, was supplemented after a few months and, to my surprise, chose to wean herself just shy of her first birthday. Each of these experiences was unique, but together they deepened my belief in the unmatched power of breastfeeding—not just for its countless nutritional benefits, but for the emotional bond it creates and the strong foundation it lays for our children’s growth and well-being.
Breastfeeding is more than just nourishment; it is an intimate nurturing bond between mother and child that supports physical health, emotional security, and cognitive development. I deeply value the time I had to dedicate to this practice, and I strongly support giving other mothers the opportunity to do the same, without stigma or discrimination.
The Bahamas National Breastfeeding Association (BNBA) has done exceptional work supporting mothers in their breastfeeding journeys.
I first connected with The BNBA nearly 30 years ago, when the late Carlotta Klass, “Mother
to improve the businessenabling environment in The Bahamas. In fact, this Prime Minister, as Minister of Finance, and his agencies have added more regulations and bureaucracy that have made life harder for many businesses, with the tax agencies often taking a combative and confrontational stance with business owners. We demand that the Prime Minister stop with the rhetoric and spin and instead get to work. His presentation last week should have clearly outlined specific policies and timelines for banking reform and improving the ease of doing business in The Bahamas.
Last August, the FNM outlined a series of what we maintain are critical banking reform efforts. These policy initiatives would encourage more bank ownership, expand
access to underserved family island communities, utilize technology to speed up account opening processes, sharpen regulatory oversight of bank fees, and mandate lowfee/no-fee accounts for marginalised population segments to improve financial inclusion.
These proposed initiatives are consistent with what other proactive governments—in jurisdictions, large and small—are doing elsewhere in the world, including right here in the Caribbean.
Again, we offer these recommendations to the Prime Minister so that he can take action, but we expect little progress after three-plus years of experience.
We once again commit to making banking reform happen for the benefit of Bahamians across the entire archipelago in the coming FNM administration.
MICHAEL C PINTARD MP Leader, Free National Movement January 19, 2025.
of Breastfeeding” in our country, and others helped me navigate the process. That experience left such an impression on me that I later worked alongside the association for years to help promote their message. Today, I maintain a relationship with The BNBA and continue to admire their commitment to supporting mothers through education, advocacy, and hands-on assistance.
The BNBA’s call for extended maternity leave is critical. Currently, Bahamian law provides 12 weeks of maternity leave, which the Association rightfully argues is insufficient to allow mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the recommended six months, thus they have proposed 20 weeks of maternity leave, or a compromise of 16 weeks. As a mother who has reaped the benefits of breastfeeding, I find it disheartening that only 22 percent of mothers in The Bahamas are able to exclusively breastfeed, compared to the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) 60 percent target. The BNBA’s research reveals that many mothers are forced to stop breastfeeding early because of the need to return to work. This is a societal issue that demands thoughtful solutions.
At the same time, I acknowledge the concerns raised by The
Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation about the potential economic impact of extended maternity leave. Many small and medium-sized businesses may struggle to absorb the costs of hiring temporary staff or managing extended employee absences. These are valid considerations, and we must balance them with the undeniable benefits of supporting mothers and their children. This matter requires a national conversation that brings together policymakers, businesses, healthcare advocates, and families to explore solutions that work for everyone. Whether through extended maternity leave, workplace accommodations for nursing mothers, or government-funded initiatives, we must find a way to give Bahamian mothers the support they need to breastfeed successfully. Breastfeeding is not just a personal choice; it is a public health priority. It is an investment in the future of our nation, as healthier, stronger children grow into healthier, stronger adults. By supporting breastfeeding, we are not just nurturing individual children; we are building a more resilient Bahamas. Building a Bahamas for all Bahamians.
SENATOR MAXINE SEYMOUR
New Providence January 19, 2025.
Over 700 participants of 52 Week Programme have status formalised
MORE than 700 participants in the Public Service Professional Engagement Programme (PS-PEP), formerly the 52 Week Programme, have received letters confirming their status as public servants, according to Minister of Labour and Public Service Pia Glover-Rolle.
She said the confirmation letters, issued to 725 individuals this month, address longstanding concerns about job insecurity among programme participants, some of whom had been waiting for over a decade to formalise their roles.
“We are fixing this
process, not only for those who were waiting to be regularised, but for those who will join the next cohort of PS-PEP,” she said. “This past year, we did not recruit a new cohort because it was paramount that we fix this programme before bringing new participants in.”
POLICE INVESTIGATING A BAILLOU HILL ROAD SHOOTING THAT LEFT A MAN HOSPITALISED
POLICE are investigating a shooting on Baillou Hill Road that left an adult male hospitalised on Saturday.
Preliminary reports said the incident occurred after 9pm outside a business near Moonshine Drive. The 31-year-old victim and the suspect were arguing when the confrontation escalated.
The victim reportedly drew a knife, while the suspect pulled out a firearm and fired several shots at the
victim before fleeing the scene. The victim sustained gunshot wounds to his face and lower body and was transported to the hospital in serious condition.
In Grand Bahama, police arrested a 56-yearold female visitor from Georgia, US, on Friday after seizing ammunition.
Officers, acting on information received, went to Harbour Drive at around 3.15pm. Upon arrival, they arrested the suspect, who
was found with a quantity of ammunition. In Eleuthera, police confiscated a quantity of suspected drugs on Friday and arrested two men.
Officers executed a search warrant at a residence in Cupid’s Cay and found suspected marijuana weighing one pound and five ounces. The two men, aged 69 and 25, are in custody and assisting with the investigation. The street value of the drugs is currently unknown.
Mrs Glover-Rolle said the revamped PS-PEP will now operate as a genuine 52-week initiative, with participants undergoing assessments throughout the year. Successful candidates will be eligible for permanent government employment after completing the programme and a probationary period. The ministry said the announcement has been met with praise from newly confirmed public servants.
Tricia Sylvester, a participant since September 2022, reportedly began as a janitorial staff member before transitioning to a filing assistant role at the Ministry of Labour and the Public Service. Reflecting on her journey, Ms Sylvester said: “Now that I have received my letter, I feel like I can truly make progress in the public service. There’s less hand holding, more accountability, more job security, and better pay.”
Another participant, Decaldo Whylly, expressed similar gratitude after his fourand-a-half-year wait for confirmation. “The race is truly not for the swift but for those who endure to the end,” Mr Whylly said. “People now have an opportunity to fulfill their purpose, dreams, and aspirations. We have more income and are better able to make decisions for ourselves and our families.”
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• Responsible for gathering and reviewing initial data, documents, and other information provided by the client
• Preparing fduciary requests/distributions, monitoring and execution of instructions preparation of minutes and other ancillary documents related thereto
• Respond to client queries in a timely and accurate manner
• Prepare correspondence to benefciaries and interested parties as needed
Company incorporation and establish Trusts with related regulatory flings
• Ensures account is in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements relating to governing documents
Report preparation for Management, along with Compiling and assembling information, data input, spreadsheet support and output
• Conduct regular account reviews to identify additional requirements and/or defcits.
Key Qualifcations & Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, or related feld.
• Minimum of 2- 3 years’ work experience in a similar role
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently
• Profcient in Microsoft Suite applications
Demonstrated written and verbal communication
• Excellent interpersonal skills and strong adherence to professional standards and confdentiality
Please apply online at: https://www.rfgroup.com/careers Deadline to Apply is Friday, 7th February, 2025
LABOUR
FULLGOESHERE
THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS
Straight answers needed on anti-violence measures
By MALCOLM STRACHAN
FOR all the talk of needing to tackle crime collectively, from the outside looking in, it can be hard to discern what is the government strategy on the matter.
Last week, I wrote about how we had been blessed by a slow start to the year in the murder count – certainly in comparison to last year. For new police commissioner Shanta Knowles, and all of us, that was something to be thankful for. But in terms of where we are going forward, that is an open question.
Carlos Reid has his ear to the street – and is a consultant to the Ministry of National Security – but has now warned that things are likely to get worse before they get better.
“We didn’t get here overnight,” he said – and that is certainly true. He added: “There has to be a
systematic approach, and there are some things that we working on behind the scenes that can bring some systematic approach to this country.”
He goes on to say that all of us have a role to play –a familiar refrain we have heard over the years. But without knowing what is going on behind the scenes, we certainly aren’t being treated as part of the same team. Take the violence interrupter programme that the government launched when it came into office. It was announced in 2022 – and yet it still has not been implemented.
Mr Reid was recruited to be part of that – yet he said last week that “the level that we want it to be at has not been rolled out as yet”.
Rodney Moncur was another recruited to be part of that, according to the Office of the Prime Minister, though later contradicted by National
“...without knowing what is going on behind the scenes, we certainly aren’t being treated as part of the same team.”
minister could not get answers on it, with Dr Hubert Minnis asking in Parliament for the reasons behind Mr Moncur’s appointment in particular.
He asked: “What is his expertise? How much is he being paid, and is he receiving other benefits?”
Even voices on the PLP side were doubtful –former Cabinet minister Leslie Miller saying: “This is a real country, man, stop it.”
He added: “What are their job descriptions? Violence interrupters? What is that? Critical in doing what?”
He said: “What are their credentials? Experience with what? Doing what the fellas is do, hey? That’s what they used to do? They used to kill and rob people? That’s what they get the experience from? Or just hanging with them? What about retired police officers who have distinguished records on the force? Young men who would have served their time and now would like to make a contribution? Have you ever thought of picking those people, who know who these guys are? That idea ever enters anybody’s mind?”
These are perfectly valid questions. There is no reason for the public not to know such things. It is, after all, our money that is paying for it.
Equally there should be no reason not to know why the programme has been
delayed. Last year, there were 119 murders. It is not as if there is not a pressing need for action. This programme was put forward for a reason. At the time the public learned of it, Office of the Prime Minister communications director Latrae Rahming said: “We believe that in order to solve community crimes you have to use people from the community who understand the dynamics of the community, who understand the gangs in the community and I can certainly say that Mr Moncur has been a proponent and advocate for quite a few years, particularly a proponent of the death penalty.
“It is our hope that individuals like Carlos Reid and Mr Moncur who have an extensive understanding about the inner (city) community could help enhance government, the police force, intelligence on hot spots or possible persons who could be at risk in the community, young people.
“So I think we have to have that appreciation that crime exceeds policing and the issue of crime means using persons who are familiar with the community who could reach people who ordinarily cannot be reached. So I think Rodney Moncur has that experience.”
If it is so important then, why has it not gone forward? And how much money has been spent on something that has not even been implemented
since its announcement nearly three years ago?
Anyone watching the to and fro of politics in this country, with leadership being passed from party to party like a game of pass the parcel, will realise that with the countdown now on to the next election there will be little time for this programme to deliver results now. And if the government is reluctant to give information to the opposition about the programme, you can bet it will be ripe for stop, review and cancel.
So what are we doing that is different from what went before? There is the anti-gang legislation implementation on the way, of course – and we will see how that goes.
But beyond that, what?
Going back to Mr Reid, he talks of collective responsibility.
“It has to start with all of us,” he said. “All of us have to live in this country. All of us have a role to play. We cannot sit back and say, this is a government problem, this is a police problem, this is a church problem.” He is right. But working together means just that – together. Until then, we are left to wonder if things such as the violence interrupter scheme is a payday for a consultant and nothing more. But let’s start with straight answers. And if we don’t get those straight answers, don’t be surprised if we draw our own conclusions.
Security Minister Wayne Munroe. Straight answers were not to be found
anywhere.
Even a former prime
Lamentations 4
1
How the gold has lost its luster, the fne gold become dull! The sacred gems are scattered at every street corner.
2
How the precious children of Zion, once worth their weight in gold, are now considered as pots of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!
3
Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but my people have become heartless like ostriches in the desert.
4
Because of thirst the infant’s tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth; the children beg for bread, but no one gives it to them.
5
Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets. Those brought up in royal purple now lie on ash heaps.
6 The punishment of my people is greater than that of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment without a hand turned to help her.
7 Their princes were brighter than snow and whiter than milk, their bodies more ruddy than rubies, their appearance like lapis lazuli.
8
But now they are blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick.
9 Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of famine; racked with hunger, they waste away for lack of food from the feld.
10With their own hands compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food when my people were destroyed.
11The Lord has given full vent to his wrath; he has poured out his ferce anger. He kindled a fre in Zion that consumed her foundations.
12The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of
the peoples of the world, that enemies and foes could enter the gates of Jerusalem.
13But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous.
14Now they grope through the streets as if they were blind. They are so defled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments.
15
“Go away! You are unclean!” people cry to them. “Away! Away! Don’t touch us!”
When they fee and wander about, people among the nations say, “They can stay here no longer.”
16The Lord himself has scattered them; he no longer watches over them. The priests are shown no honor, the elders no favor.
17Moreover, our eyes failed, looking in vain for help; from our towers we watched for a nation that could not save us.
18People stalked us at every step, so we could not walk in our streets. Our end was near, our days were numbered, for our end had come.
19Our pursuers were swifter than eagles in the sky; they chased us over the mountains and lay in wait for us in the desert.
20The Lord’s anointed, our very life breath, was caught in their traps.We thought that under his shadow we would live among the nations.
21Rejoice and be glad, Daughter Edom, you who live in the land of Uz. But to you also the cup will be passed; you will be drunk and stripped naked.
22Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion; he will not prolong your exile. But he will punish your sin, Daughter Edom, and expose your wickedness.
OAS secretary general election and renewed OAS consensus
THE upcoming election for the Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS) on March 10 presents an opportunity to reshape the future of the institution.
The OAS has always been an organisation where achieving broad consensus on contentious issues is difficult. In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on the ideological or national positions of some countries, which seek to use the OAS as a platform for advancing their own foreign policy objectives rather than bridging divides and building consensus on difficult issues. This situation has weakened the organization’s ability to function as a unifying force in the hemisphere. The OAS needs a new vision of how best it can serve the peoples of the Americas in addressing the shared and deep challenges that confront them. While this vision must ultimately come from governments themselves, a SecretaryGeneral who can bring a healing touch is essential to this process.
It is in this context that the 14 independent Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries have decided to endorse Albert Ramdin, the Foreign Minister of Suriname, for the post of SecretaryGeneral of the OAS at the election on March 10. Given the OAS’s current challenges, CARICOM’s decision to endorse Ramdin is both timely and fitting. It is important to note that in supporting Minister
World View
By SIR RONALD SANDERS
Ramdin, CARICOM countries are not seeking a dominant position in the OAS. If he is elected, CARICOM envisions
Minister Ramdin as a Secretary-General who reflects the consensus of all member states, not one who takes instructions from any
single country or bloc. The Western Hemisphere is at a crossroads. Issues such as climate change, migration, economic inequality, and threats to democratic governance demand coordinated and decisive action.
CARICOM’s support is rooted in the belief that, at this time, Ramdin is the candidate who possesses the most appropriate credentials for the role. This approach is consistent with CARICOM’s track record: at the last election for the post of Secretary-General, Antigua and Barbuda, along with several other CARICOM countries, nominated and supported a non-CARICOM national, Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador. She was chosen by the majority of CARICOM countries not because of her nationality or gender, but because of her unparalleled experience, knowledge, fluency in all the languages of the organisation, and her vision for the organisation’s future. While Espinosa would be an excellent candidate even today, the lack of support from her own country during the last election underscores the challenges of securing the election of a candidate despite their excellent qualifications.
Regrettably, for many governments, they either want their own chosen national candidate or a candidate who aligns with their national or ideological objectives, while the real criteria for the candidate should be knowledge of the OAS, a vision for how it can serve the collective interest of the
member states, and how to overcome its financial and governance challenges to make it relevant to the changing times and the peoples of the Americas. This is why CARICOM has settled on endorsing Ramdin. He has decades of experience in diplomacy and governance, which, in this case, is bolstered by his ten-year tenure as assistant secretary-general of the organisation. He knows very well what the pressing challenges are facing the Western Hemisphere today. This knowledge has been enhanced by his work as Suriname’s foreign minister, in which he has participated fully with foreign ministers of the hemisphere.
Ramdin has already made it clear that, should he be elected as secretarygeneral, his key priorities would include reforming the OAS to address its financial and administrative challenges. The organisation’s lack of sufficient financial support from its member states is a significant concern to all member states, including the US, which carries almost 50 percent of the burden. Without adequate funding to fulfil its mandates and deliver tangible benefits to the people of its member states, the OAS risks becoming little more than a debating forum that amplifies divisions rather than narrowing them. As the saying goes, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”
Ramdin has pledged to bring a renewed focus on securing resources, ensuring transparency in
administration, and justifying expenditures. Beyond all this, CARICOM countries, except Haiti, have been joining the OAS as active members since 1967. Haiti was a founding member in 1948. Despite this, and the fact that CARICOM countries represent 44 percent of the OAS membership, the Caribbean has never held the position of secretary-general. Minister Ramdin’s election would not only correct this inequity, but it would also be a recognition of the contribution that CARICOM countries have made to strengthening and developing the OAS. Ramdin’s candidacy has been officially endorsed by CARICOM Heads of Government during their 46th Regular Meeting in February 2024 and reaffirmed by the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) in May 2024. These endorsements reflect CARICOM’s united commitment to advancing strong and effective leadership within the OAS. It is a call to all member states to support a candidate who is qualified and also dedicated to the principles that underpin the organization. The election of Ramdin would signal a commitment to equity, inclusivity, representation, and the revitalisation of an institution that remains critical to the Western Hemisphere’s stability and progress.
The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS. The views expressed are entirely
ALBERT RAMDIN, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Suriname.
Times like these
THIS past week, I’ve been both riveted and absolutely saddened by the wildfires sweeping across California. We’re now just barely three weeks into the new year and are already witnessing one of the worst natural disasters of our modern age. To date, more than 38,000 acres have burned and more than 12,000 structures have been destroyed, which in land mass is larger than the city of Paris. The ensuing days will be crucial. Exacerbated by wind-gusts of up to 100mph, the situation has been so bleak that firefighters were sent to help from as far away as Canada and Mexico. Pictures of the destruction starkly resemble those from war zones of yesteryear.
Initially at least 150,000 people had to evacuate their homes with another 166,000 people evacuated as the fires progressed. A curfew from 6pm to 6am is in effect for the Pacific Palisades and Eaton evacuated areas. Beyond that, more than half a million students are out of school and warnings have been issued for those who remain to not use tap water for drinking, bathing, cooking or hand washing. A tangible threat of mudslides now smolders. And although it hasn’t received any fair media coverage, it’s also worth mentioning that thousands upon thousands of all manner of wildlife have also lost their homes, their families and their lives.
As horrific as this already is, the aftermath will be equally catastrophic. Attention will be laser focused on the lingering smoke which has already damaged whatever crops remain and is likely to devastate California’s annual $58m wine industry. But that pales in comparison to the ensuing insurance crisis; a possible deluge of bureaucratic red-tape, pay-out avoidance and bankruptcy filings which will undoubtedly have ramifications that reverberate far beyond their borders. Given that most, if not all, local insurance carriers have a US home insurance affiliate, concerns are mounting that home insurance costs in The Bahamas may be indirectly, yet still deleteriously, affected.
Since the late 80s, California lawmakers have imposed price controls on home insurance providers in an effort to make home insurance more affordable. After the wildfires in 2017 and 2018, however, there was a mass exodus of
insurance providers from the state and the few providers who remain have either refused to write new policies or have canceled the policies of thousands more. Because of this, half a million Californians are dependent on state insurance (California Fair Plan) which only has a reserve of $377m (with 5.75 billion in reinsurance to cover the plan’s losses). Damage in the Pacific Palisades alone is estimated to be over $30bn. For financial comparison, that would equate to the damage inflicted to The Bahamas if we’d had ten Hurricane Dorians. By law, the insurance companies in California will have to cover the difference but there will be pushback.
Those are the bare statistics and financial realities – consequences of the fires that can be measured, counted, calculated and reported as facts. But the bare truths don’t begin to touch the emotional toll placed on the exhausted front-line workers or the displaced homeowners who’ve lost some or everything they own. Nor do those facts begin to explain the side effects of such horrific loss.
This is how Barbara Sternig, a writer now living in California, described this loss in an e-letter shared with former co-workers and colleagues at a national publication in the US after she’d just gotten off the phone with a friend whose house had burned to the ground: “In all, the city whose haunts and shortcuts and streets and history, whose eateries and memories and antics and denizens are part of my life and the lives of all of us, now altered into nightmare for thousands, with devastated square miles of unbelievable ruin.”
If the financial devastation, vanquished homes and loss of lifetime touchpoints are hard to comprehend in their totality, the most consequential ultimate loss in all of this is the loss of life. Twenty-nine people have died as a result of the wildfires and there are countless more families mourning their loss. In times like these it’s easy to forget that each one of those 29 people, like all of us, recently celebrated Christmas and toasted to the
start of a new year with hope and eager anticipation. That hope is now ash.
So, given what’s happening to our US neighbors I wanted today’s column to discuss what happens medically when the human body is exposed to fire. It’s not hyperbole when I say that it’s infinitely more nightmarish than what you may imagine.
I revert to a previous column I wrote in September 2022 entitled ‘Almost flew west’. In it, I told the story of a man named AJ who had a fuel transport business. In 2017, he and his brother were transferring gas from one truck to another and, without warning, the delivery truck exploded. AJ’s brother was caught in the path of the explosion and his entire body became engulfed in flames in a fraction of a second. Although the fire was extinguished quickly, he died the following afternoon.
The pain of being burnt alive is so explosively intense that the human body almost immediately goes into shock. Before this, and within seconds of exposure, the lungs begin to drown from all the emitted carbon dioxide and you become hypoxic. Simultaneously, the skin is ripped apart and eventually melts, the muscles contract and all of the internal organs shrink before shutting down completely.
Almost immediately, the person’s blood literally begins to boil as body temperature rapidly spikes from a normal 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. For context, wildfire temperatures exceed on average 1,472 degrees Fahrenheit. Although death is likely to occur in minutes, the body can continue to burn long after. This is because as subcutaneous fat melts and liquefies, it becomes a fuel source and the body continues to burn until only charred bones remain. Holocaust survivors who survived Nazi concentration camps recalled the smell of burning bodies and described it as an unforgettable and loathsome stench.
A slower, more agonising death however is from extensive smoke inhalation. Beyond the initial damage sustained to the windpipe,
By DR KENNETH D KEMP
breathing passages and lungs, the risk of developing cancer and heart disease increases exponentially. PM2.5 are fine particles in wildfire smoke that enter your lungs and bloodstream. For people with pre-existing heart and respiratory issues, the consequences can be dire.
There will be time, once the all-clear is given and the California wildfires have either been entirely extinguished or adequately contained, where pointing fingers will be appropriate. But in the long term, I believe
that history will remember these wildfires as a tragedy of too little. Too little water, too little firefighters, too little maintenance of power lines, too little deforestation, too little irrigation and too little insurance companies to mitigate the financial crisis in its aftermath.
But as always, in times like these, there are often more than enough people willing to come together amid the rubble to re-build and help those affected move forward. That in its finest display is human nature. Those efforts will continue until another tragedy strikes and attention is diverted. This is the circle of history.
The start of a new year symbolises a renewed opportunity to fulfill latent goals and forge deeper connections and memories with
loved ones. The victims of the wildfire won’t get that opportunity and neither will the Bahamians who’ve died this year. So, it’s up to us, the living, to use this opportunity that a new year grants to work harder, climb higher and have more compassion. We owe it to those we’ve lost and more importantly we owe it to ourselves. This is The KDK Report.
AN AERIAL view shows the devastation by the Palisades Fire Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Malibu, California.
Photo: Jae C. Hong,/AP
JOBETH FOR DEPUTY
New bathroom facilities unveiled for work release programme at prison
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Depart-
ment of Correctional Services (BDOCS) unveiled a newly constructed bathroom facility at the prison’s work release programme dormitory on Friday.
Previously, more than 80 residents were forced to share just two toilets and two showers, resulting in overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and disrupted rest due to long queues.
Residents often resorted to filling buckets for bathing due to inconsistent water supply, according to Ferron Scavella, who served as a key contributor to the project.
The new facility, featuring six toilets, four urinals, six basins, and eight showers, offers an upgrade. With the addition of hot water and proper plumbing, the amenities ensure more hygienic conditions and contribute to a sense of dignity for residents.
“Even when you venture out, when you return home, you’re gonna want a bathroom to look something like that,” Mr Scavlla said.
Pastor Keith Rolle, who managed the project, described the upgrades as “top class”.
“In the morning, when
they are getting ready for work, at least they get adequate sleep. Without sufficient rest, you can lose your balance mentally and psychologically,” he said.
Pastor Rolle’s involvement was celebrated throughout the ceremony. He has been involved in improving conditions since 2014.
Commissioner of Corrections Doan Cleare referred to him as an “angel” for his role in addressing systemic issues at the facility.
“You didn’t post this on social media to get public praise, and that speaks volumes about your character,” said National Security Minister Wayne Munroe.
“You truly care about the work and the people you serve.”
The Work Release Programme allows inmates to gain job skills and financial independence, preparing them for successful reintegration into society.
Mr Munroe touted the importance of such efforts in reducing recidivism.
“Treating them with dignity, providing them with skills, and giving them a sense of worth ensures they re-enter society as productive citizens,” he said.
He highlighted the critical importance of financial stability for inmates preparing to reintegrate into society. He emphasised that people released from correctional facilities often face significant challenges, including a criminal record that lingers for at least two years, making it difficult to secure employment.
inmates to earn money while incarcerated, helping them avoid financial instability upon release.
He stressed the need for programmes like the work release programme to allow
“These are persons who will be released in under two years, and it’s important that they get some work, to earn some money. You’ve heard the account of being able to support your family, even when you’re in here, so your family doesn’t become desperate,” he said.
“If you have young sons, they don’t feel they have to do something desperate to support their mothers. If you have young daughters, they don’t feel that they have to prostitute themselves to support their households.
He warned of the systemic consequences of releasing individuals without resources or prospects.
“Could you imagine releasing somebody not only broke, but who has a criminal record and will not get a job from many places? That is a recipe for disaster,” he said.
Munroe: Parole bill before Law Reform Committee for review
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said the long-promised parole legislation has advanced to the Law Reform Committee for review and finalisation before being presented to Cabinet for approval.
He expressed hope that the bill will be tabled in Parliament by the end of the current quarter.
Mr Munroe noted that under the present structure, inmates often serve a portion of their sentence within the community after release without further oversight. The new law would eliminate this practice, seeking to ensure greater accountability for inmates.
“No time will disappear,” he said. “You will serve 12 months, maybe eight months in the facility, and four months in the community.” He added that if a parolee reoffends while on parole, they will be required to
AMERICAN WITH GB CONNECTIONS KILLED IN DRIVE BY IN FLORIDA
By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport
Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
AN American man with connections to Grand Bahama was killed in a drive-by shooting in broad daylight outside a Fort Lauderdale warehouse last week.
Gregory Bradford, also known as “Lurch,” was gunned down around 11.20am on Thursday outside the 1600 Block of SW 3rd Avenue. According to reports in the Miami Herald, a witness told police that Bradford, who rented a bay at the warehouse facility, operated an import/export business there.
Video surveillance footage on social media showed Bradford walking toward a white vehicle and speaking with its occupant shortly before a second vehicle arrived. Two suspects, armed with what appeared to be semi-automatic weapons, exited the second vehicle and fired multiple shots at him. Bradford attempted to flee but collapsed in the street, succumbing to his injuries at the scene. Bradford, a father of one, is believed to have been in his 40s.
Casey Liening, a
spokesman for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, said investigations are ongoing.
In Grand Bahama, news of Bradford’s death shocked those who knew him.
The man reportedly lived in Grand Bahama for many years before being deported to the United States in 2005 following a shooting incident at the Grand Bahama International Airport.
He was brought to Grand Bahama as a young boy by his mother and was raised by his grandmother, who is now deceased.
“I don’t know what to say because you’re still trying to wrap your mind around what happened,” said a friend who knew him well but did not want to be named.
“He was a really nice person; he looked out for everyone. He was very friendly and loved his friends and people. And he would give what he had and go out of his way to help someone — he did a lot for a lot of people.”
Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe said he was unaware of the matter but that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is generally notified of incidents involving Bahamians in the United States.
return to prison to complete the remainder of their sentence. He noted that the law would not apply
retroactively to current inmates, as it will only affect those whose punishment begins after the legislation is enacted.
He said during consultation sessions with inmates, officials explained that those interested in voluntarily opting into the new parole system would need to give back any time already deducted from their sentences.
“We were looking at the long-term ones, and if they wish to sign up for it, they would have to give back the four months we had already taken off,” he said.
Commissioner of Corrections Doan Cleare also expressed optimism about the bill’s potential impact.
“Hopefully, this year, the parole bill will be passed, and we can just do that for these residents. Some of them are there, working very hard in the communities, and they are doing well,” he said. In 2016, the Christie administration initiated this process by appointing a Parole and Re-entry
Steering Committee to propose a policy framework for reintegrating offenders into society. However, legislation was not tabled during that administration.
In April 2023, Mr Munroe announced plans to introduce the parole bill for consultation.
While the Parole Bill promises a new era of structured reintegration, conditional release mechanisms are already in place under the Correctional Services Act, 2014. Part VII of the Act empowers the GovernorGeneral to grant licenses for conditional release, with terms designed to facilitate rehabilitation and ensure public safety. The legislation details that correctional authorities monitor compliance, and licenses can be revoked if conditions are breached, requiring the person to return to custody.
PROJECT manager Pastor Keith Rolle speaks on the importance this project will have on the work release inmates and his passion for
doing what’s best for the country at Bahamas Department of Corrections on Friday.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe speaks speaking at Bahamas Department of Corrections on Friday.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
