‘MAKE RBDF LEA DE RS DISCLOSE FINANCES’
Commodore King says requirement could help to combat corruption
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Chief
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
Reporter
DEFENCE Force Commodore Raymond King wants senior defence officers, particularly those involved in logistics, maintenance, and procurement, to be required to disclose their finances as part of efforts to combat corruption.
He told The Tribune yesterday that he recommended the proposal to the Davis administration, noting legislation is needed. He said the measure would help identify unusual financial transactions linked to service members and their bank accounts and serve as a strong deterrence against corruption
MOM TAKES SONS TO POLICE AFTER SEEING ABUSE VIDEO
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
A MOTHER turned her two sons in to police after a viral video showed them abusing another boy, according to National Security Minister Wayne Munroe. The video, which sparked outrage on social media, showed two boys punching the victim in the head and demanding he empty his pockets; the child said he did not have any money. Mr Munroe commended the mother of the perpetrators, saying her example is one others should follow.
Suspected
Colombian woman bites immigration officer and Baha Mar security guard
Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A COLOMBIAN woman was ordered to compensate an immigration officer and a Baha Mar security officer whom she reportedly bit
while they attempted to detain her at the resort last week.
Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr arraigned 30-year-old Daniela Torres on two counts of causing harm.
Torres allegedly refused to show immigration officer
Ashti Greenslade her passport when requested at the resort on February 22.
While resisting arrest, she
Cooper ‘pleased with outcome’ over Exuma anchorage deal
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
EXUMA and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper said he is pleased that the government has terminated its deal for Bahamas Moorings Ltd to install moorings around Exuma’s seabed, adding that he is not
surprised locals expressed outrage over the project.
“Let me just tell you, as the member parliament for Exuma, I’m pleased with the outcome,” he told reporters yesterday. “Whilst we encourage entrepreneurship, there is a correct way to do things. We have
By NEIL HARTNELL
nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas National Trust (BNT) has branded the now-aborted plan to “privatise” boat moorings throughout the Exuma Cays as “unfathomable” given the absence of strong regulatory safeguards.
The national parks manager voiced relief that the controversial Bahamas Moorings deal is not proceeding given that this nation lacks the necessary supervisory framework to “impose accountability” on private managers and operators of moorings/anchorages.
EXUMA MP Chester Cooper.
Cay dock yesterday. See
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
Suspected drowning at Potter’s Cay
A MAN died in a suspected drowning at Potter’s Cay Dock yesterday. The victim, believed to be in his 40s, was unofficially
water. Police are investigating.
Photos: Dante Carrer/ Tribune Staff
‘Make RBDF leaders disclose finances’
from page one
and receipt of kickbacks.
Under the Public Disclosure Act, parliamentarians, senators, and senior public officers must submit their financial disclosures to the Public Disclosure Commission by March of each year.
The requirement applies to the police commissioner and deputy police commissioner but does not extend to senior defence force officials.
Commodore King has said the RBDF has worked closely with the US Northern Command to develop ethics regulations to address corruption.
He said the regulations outline ethical standards, cultural awareness, and training while incorporating enforcement measures.
He said the regulations were submitted to the Ministry of National Security for consideration to strengthen existing laws.
For his part, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said he had yet to review the recommendations and would need to understand the rationale behind it.
He said no senior RBDF officer other than the commodore can award contracts.
Commodore King’s comments came as the business dealings of senior law enforcement officers have attracted attention and debate.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Anthony Rolle faced scrutiny recently after it was revealed that the government awarded a nearly $1m contract to a company he founded.
Cooper ‘pleased with outcome’ over Exuma anchorage
deal
from page one
been blessed with a great environment, pristine surroundings in the Exumas.”
“Whilst we know as the government has laid out that moorings are desirable and helpful to preserving marine life and helpful to reducing damage to the ecosystem and the seabed, there’s a correct way of doing things and we want to ensure that there are the appropriate approvals in place by the environmental experts, by the Port Department, because we want them to be installed safely.”
“Of course, overall, we want to ensure that there is consultation with Exumians led by local government and therefore, the outrage
was not surprising to me.”
Bahamas Moorings’ actions drew scrutiny when the public learned the company was installing moorings/anchorages and associated infrastructure in Exuma without the required approvals, prompting a cease and desist order.
Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said on Wednesday that the matter had forced officials to review marine policies, claiming they still cannot determine how the project advanced without certain approvals.
The Tribune has reported that many involved in the Bahamas Moorings deal have close links to the Office of the Prime Minister.
Sandra Kemp, deputy communications director in the Prime Minister’s Office, signed as a witness to the signing of Bahamas Moorings’ 21-year lease on the company’s behalf. She is the wife of Philip Kemp, one of the two principals in the company.
Mr Davis did not address her role in his speech, only saying that investigations are ongoing.
Former Bahamas National Trust (BNT) executive director Eric Carey has challenged the government’s environmental justifications for the nowaborted deal, saying many of the 49 sites selected for the lease did not impact or cover “sensitive areas”.
ROYAL BAHAMAS DEFENCE FORCE COMMODORE RAYMOND KING
EXUMA AND RAGGED ISLAND MP AND DPM CHESTER COOPER
Davis: We are first
to address rehires with facts
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrusssell@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip
“Brave” Davis praised his administration’s transparency in disclosing the number of rehired retirees, saying no previous government had provided such information.
He addressed the backlash following Public Service Minister Pia Glover-Rolle’s recent revelation in the House of Assembly that 491 retirees had been rehired, with 480 receiving both a pension and a salary. Many argued the re-engagement of retirees was unfair to young Bahamians struggling to secure public-sector jobs and those already in the system seeking promotions.
Mr Davis praised Mrs Glover-Rolle for her transparency in revealing the figures.
“We are the first government who has addressed this issue by providing the facts,” he said during a Golden Gates branch meeting held at Sybil Strachan Primary on Wednesday.
“Pia told Parliament and the Bahamian people the truth even though that
truth was controversial. But she handled what followed with her, with her usual strength and grace.”
Mr Davis also responded to criticism from the Free National Movement (FNM), which has repeatedly rejected his administration’s justification that retirees were rehired due to a lack of succession planning. He said the FNM had also re-engaged retired public servants in the past.
For her part, Mrs GloverRolle said the Davis administration has hired over 2,000 young Bahamians under the age of 35. She reiterated that 213 of the rehired retirees are police officers.
Mr Davis said that, given the country’s crime challenges, most Bahamians would support bringing back experienced officers to assist. He said in most instances, many of these officers had completed their required years of service but had not yet reached retirement age.
Meanwhile, Mr Davis reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening the public service, highlighting an ongoing review of public service salaries.
Govt announces Fiscal Responsibility Council appointees
By KEILE CAMPBELL
Staff Reporter
AFTER years of
uncertainty over its operational status, the government formally announced the Fiscal Responsibility
Council (FRC) on Thursday, revealing that the body had actually been constituted in October 2024.
The FRC is an independent corporate body under the Public Financial Management Act 2023. While efforts are underway to secure office space and staff, Financial Secretary Simon Wilson expressed confidence that the council, composed of experts from both the public and private sectors, would enhance fiscal oversight and accountability.
Crystal Sands, a financial services lawyer and partner at Johnson & Co, chairs the newly appointed council. She has over 25 years of experience in Bahamian and cross-border financial transactions, with expertise spanning hospitality, energy, capital markets, and business law. Other members include business executive Pedro Rolle, banking and financial services professional Dr Gezel Farrington, civil engineer Stefan Knowles,
and economist Rupert Pinder.
The council is tasked with reviewing the government’s fiscal strategy report, annual budget, midyear review, and preelection economic updates, ensuring compliance with fiscal responsibility principles outlined in the law. It will submit annual reports to Parliament assessing government spending and financial management.
Ms Sands said the council has established protocols to secure necessary financial data and that the Ministry of Finance has committed to full cooperation.
She acknowledged concerns about the council’s long dormancy but attributed it to the transition between legislative frameworks rather than neglect. She also noted that while the council aims to meet reporting deadlines, delays
may occur as it sets up operations.
Despite the announcement, the Free National Movement criticised the government’s handling of the FRC. In a statement, FNM leader Michael Pintard called the council’s delayed activation an example of the administration’s incompetence. He questioned why, despite its “massive and expensive PR machinery,” the government failed to announce the FRC’s reconstitution for four months. Mr Pintard said the council is already behind on at least eight overdue reports and urged the government to provide the necessary resources to clear the backlog. He pledged the opposition’s support for the council’s work but vowed to hold the administration accountable for ensuring it functions effectively.
MAN ACCUSED OF RAPE OF 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was remanded into custody yesterday after being accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl last month. Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans arraigned 31-year-old William Doreleus on a rape charge. Prosecutors allege that Doreleus had sexual intercourse with the teenage girl without her consent on January 24 in New Providence. He was informed that he was not required to enter a plea at this stage, as the case would be transferred to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). Doreleus was advised of his right to apply for bail in the higher court. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is scheduled to be served on May 29. Quinton Percentie represented the accused, while Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom prosecuted the case.
THREE YEARS JAIL FOR MULTIPLE RECEIVING CHARGES
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 23-YEAR-OLD man had his armed robbery charge dismissed in the Supreme Court yesterday but was sentenced to three years in prison for another offence. Justice Jeanine Weech Gomez informed Geovany Octavien that a nolle prosequi had been issued in his case, meaning the Director of Public Prosecutions no longer intends to pursue the charge. Octavien was previously accused of robbing someone at gunpoint in New Providence on September 20, 2021.
Although the armed robbery charge was dropped, he was sentenced to three and a half years at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services after pleading guilty earlier this month to multiple receiving charges before the Magistrate’s Court. Those charges were unrelated to the dismissed armed robbery case.
PRIME MINISTER PHILIP ‘BRAVE’ DAVIS
Mom takes sons to police after seeing abuse video
from page one
“We all saw two young men harassing another young man who seems to be special needs,” he said.
to report that the mother of the two young men, having seen the video, brought her children to the police.
“Many persons forwarded that video to me.
By the time I forwarded it to the commissioner of police, she was able
“The police were able to sit the mothers and the boys down and solve that issue. The point that I make is very simple — that was a mother who
took responsibility and acted when she saw the fault of her two young sons.”
Royal Bahamas Police Force Press Liaison Chief Superintendent Sharia King confirmed that no action was taken against the boys beyond issuing a warning.
Colombian woman bites immigration officer and Baha Mar security guard
from page one
bit Ms Campbell on the ankle. When security officer Paula Adderley-Williams intervened, Torres bit her on the left breast.
With the assistance of a Spanish translator, Torres pleaded guilty to the charges. She was ordered to compensate Ms Campbell $1,000 or face six months in prison. She was also ordered to pay Mrs Williams $500 or risk three months in prison.
After making the payments in court, Torres was granted an absolute discharge. She was then handed over to an immigration official.
Keevon Maynard represented the accused.
RF Bank speaker lineup for Economic Outlook
IN an era marked by escalating global conflicts and shifting power dynamics, understanding the intricate landscape of international relations is more crucial than ever. The annual RF Bahamas Economic Outlook conference, scheduled for March 12, 2025, at Baha Mar, offers an opportunity to gain insights from world-leading experts on these pressing issues.
This year’s conference centres on the theme “Escalating Global Conflicts: Power Shifts, and Opportunities.” As the modern world reaches a critical juncture, marked by conflicts and shifting power dynamics reshaping political, economic, and social structures, the conference aims to explore the challenges and opportunities arising from these dynamics.
Among the distinguished speakers is Keynote Speaker, KT McFarland, former US Deputy National Security Advisor, whose extensive experience and firsthand knowledge
of global affairs make her perspectives invaluable in today’s uncertain world. McFarland’s association with President Trump offers insights into the administration’s foreign policy decisions and strategic priorities. Her perspectives are particularly valuable for understanding the ‘America First’ approach and its implications on global alliances, trade agreements, and security partnerships. The conference boasts the following lineup of speakers, each bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience.
The Hon. Philip Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas Renato Grandmont, Managing Director and Chief Investment Strategist at Morgan Stanley.
Admiral Mike Rogers (Retired), Former NSA Director and head of US Cyber Command. Dr. Kimberley Amirault-Ryan,
Performance Consultant to the NBA, NHL, and Olympians Marla Dukharan, Economist and Leading Advisor on the Caribbean. Helen Papagiannis, AI & Immersive Technology Expert
Over 200 industry leaders, policymakers, and professionals from various sectors will gather once again at this one-day event to foster relationships that can lead to collaborative solutions.
As a CPD-certified event, attendees have the opportunity to earn 5 CPD credits, contributing to their ongoing professional growth. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.rfbeo.com. The event would not be possible without our event partners: Aliv, Doctors Hospital, PwC, Tribune, J S Johnson, BISX, BCSD, and Fidelity. A special thank you to our sponsors: Simplified Lending, Easy Car Sales, GSO and Graham Thompson.
SCREEN capture of a viral video of two teens abusing another young boy who may have been special needs. The two boys mother turned them in to police after seeing the video.
BEO Sponsors Gather to Announce Speaker Lineup (L-R) Back: Godfrey Arthur, Randol Dorsett, Elude Sturrup, Melissa Campbell, Ian Rutherford, Kevin Cambridge. Front: Charnette Thompson, Gowon Bowe, Michael Anderson, and Jana Johnson.
The Tribune Limited
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LEON E. H. DUPUCH
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RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.
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What tool will Trump’s NOAA cuts take?
THE news started filtering out on social media as much as by regular means – US President Donald Trump was firing hundreds of employees from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Veteran presenter Al Roker said on Twitter – or X as it is called now – that “going into the severe weather and hurricane season, this cannot be good”. He added: “The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is responsible for providing weather watches and warnings, monitoring and studying Earth’s climate, as well as operating weather satellites and protecting marine life.”
He talked about NOAA is more than just forecasts, it’s “fire weather. It’s severe weather outlooks. It’s climate. It’s information that our farmers use day in and day out.”
Other commentators said that some of the roles being eliminated were “mission-critical” or “life-saving”.
A New York Democrat representative called the cuts “unconscionable”.
Climate scientist Daniel Swain, from the University of California said the cuts were “spectacularly short-sighted, and ultimately will deal a major selfinflicted wound to the public safety of Americans”.
In total, about 10 percent of NOAA’s workforce is being cut, in two waves –the first of 500 and the second of 800. It is of course not just the US that will be affected, but The Bahamas too. We routinely use NOAA data for a range of purposes, from boating to flying to deciding whether we need to take an umbrella to work.
Crucially, the data from the National Hurricane Center saves lives. When a major storm comes, that data can inform life and death decisions.
Why is it happening? It is part of a drive across the US government to shrink the federal workforce. Trump
has called the workforce bloated and sloppy, and set loose Elon Musk – on whose X platform people have been reacting – to cut, cut and cut again.
Climate scientists are also part of that mix – with the data we have used to point out the effects of climate change, a cause held closely to this administration’s platform.
Activists have noticed considerable amounts of information being removed from government websites, particularly with regard to climate policies.
What have they done in response? They have started archiving data and posting it to public sites to ensure all that hard work does not go missing.
Some scientists have noted what they call a targeted effort to remove tools that show the effects of climate change, particularly mapping tools that give visual representations of what the effects might be.
The whole page of the Climate Change Center at the Department of Transportation has gone. That has been around for a quarter of a century. Crucial information gone in an instant.
Others have been noting the use of the Wayback Machine to capture snapshots of pages from before Trump took office again. The internet never forgets, they say. That’s not always true, but it often has echoes. We will soon see what the effects might be. Was the system really bloated and needing to be cut down, or is this like burning down the climate version of the Library of Alexandria? It is not unreasonable to be against spending too much in government, it is unreasonable to be against knowledge itself.
Above all else, we hope this does not have a deadly toll with a lack of information about where a storm might impact. Details count. Time counts. Lives matter.
Keep public services out of private hands
EDITOR, The Tribune.
NOTWITHSTAND -
ING the mutual agreement between the government and the principals of Bahamas
Moorings to cancel a much-criticised mooring lease, the execution of such a lease only brings to light the toxicity associated with many of these Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and Divestures which places public entities and services in the hands of private interest.
Oftentimes the entities or the individuals involved in these special arrangements are reputed to be closely associated or connected to the political leadership in government.
To add insult to injury the government goes out of its way to defend these arrangements by conveniently cloaking them as being in the national interest while at the same keeping relevant details
secret and bypassing a competitive selection process. If a venture is in the national interest, the need for full disclosure and an open RFP becomes even more compelling to improve the prospects of attracting the best and most sustainable outcome for the Bahamian people. The government seems not to be concerned or alive to the fact that these public assets belong to the Bahamian people and should be put to use mainly for their benefit and not for the purpose of creating generational wealth for cronies and associates of politicians. Any disposition, partial or otherwise, of public assets should be done in a fair, open and transparent process and their management and use thereafter ought to be properly regulated to mitigate abuse and greed.
PICTURE OF THE DAY
Improve tra fc for commuters
EDITOR, The Tribune. EVERY damned day for the past several damned decades, my damned daily routine takes me past Saunders Beach heading both east in the morning and west in the evening. The time spent in traffic from about the go slow bend heading east in the morning and from Marcus Bethel Way going west in the evening is less than a mile, yet it takes an unacceptable amount of time to get past Saunders Beach for one reason and one reason only, especially heading west in the evening. The Fast Food outlets and commercial plazas opposite Saunders Beach. Governments and traffic engineers both have a common mission. Improve the quality of life of
citizens. Why then has no government, past or present, and traffic flow engineers at their disposal, resolved this issue. It is an easy one to fix. Place a roundabout at Ferguson Road and link the roundabout with a median from Ferguson Road to the roundabout that abuts the Saunders Beach Parking lot. There is ample easement space on the southern side of the road to allow for a median.
Studies have been conducted to prove that this will alleviate traffic, as traffic will not have to stop to allow for vehicles entering
and existing those plazas thereby interrupting traffic flow.
I don’t want to hear about money. Instead of wasting money on sidewalks in remote areas where there is no pedestrian traffic or painting curbs that are dirty the very next day or on all sorts of contracts that only benefit party generals (PLP and FNM), focus on improving the quality of life for the maximum amount of citizens. You some times wonder if the people in charge traverse the area. Surely those with the power to do so, should look to effect changes that reduces the drudgery and frustration associated with these solvable matters.
ED FIELDS February 27, 2025.
Given the scarcity of information and disclosure relative to many of these public private partnerships and leases, it becomes difficult for the public to ascertain the true financial beneficiaries of these initiatives and to what extent, if any, the decision makers and advisors are themselves benefitting financially or otherwise from these ventures.
While I am not opposed to private participation in the management of public facilities and the delivery of public services, I am opposed and at odds with this administration apparent enthusiasm and zeal in monetizing public facilities and assets for the benefit of the wellconnected few who seem to have an inside lane on these financially lucrative initiatives.
CLAUDE B HANNA Nassau, February 26, 2025.
Seek out
Time actually at a desk? Yes politics will and none of the above will happen... simple as that...election is already cranked up and that is 28 plus months away If only we governed for the real interest of all! J FLOWERS Nassau, February 26, 2025.
in The Bahamas.
Photo: Timothy Roberts THE SINGULAR cause of traffic flow issues in West Bay Street.
Man accused of killing two people in 2017 denied bail
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
A SUPREME Court judge denied bail to a former fugitive accused of killing two people in 2017, including an eight-year-old boy. Perry Pickering, 32, was arraigned last September on two charges of murder.
According to reports, on September 25, 2017, gunshots killed Dennis Moss, 23, and Eugene Woodside, 8. Before he later died, the adult victim reportedly identified the gunman as “Peer”, adding that he was the boyfriend of a woman named Deanva.
Deanva, identified as Pickering’s ex-girlfriend, confirmed he was known as “Peer” and spoke about difficulties in their relationship.
“She further indicated that she lived in the area, and heard the screams
after the shootings, and saw the victims being assisted.
Fifteen minutes later, the witness claims that she received a telephone call and a voice that she recognised as the applicant’s stating, ‘I am going to kill you’,” the judgment noted. A wanted poster for Pickering was circulated after the incident, but he was not arrested until he was deported from the United States seven years later.
Pickering’s counsel argued that the evidence does not suggest he would fail to appear for trial, re-offend, interfere with witnesses, or require custody for his safety. He urged the court to impose conditions to ensure Mr Pickering’s attendance at trial and grant bail.
The judgement said:
“Counsel submits that the evidence is not cogent, as the Crown’s case relied on one anonymous witness, who appears to have been in a relationship with
the ex-girlfriend of the applicant.
“It is further submitted that there is no basis to conclude that the applicant will interfere with witnesses or abscond, and that the applicant is not a flight risk. Counsel further suggested that it could not be inferred that the applicant knew he was wanted by the police, as an article publicising that fact was not printed until one year after the incident and that the applicant was deported from the United States for unrelated reasons.”
However, the prosecution argued that the evidence was strong, raising concerns about the likelihood of Pickering absconding. Prosecutors also insisted that he be kept in custody for the safety of witnesses, as the ex-girlfriend reported receiving a death threat.
Justice Neil Brathwaite acknowledged that no direct evidence suggested Pickering would not appear
GB native first Bahamian in UK pursuing SuperYacht certification
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter
GRAND Bahama native
Aaron Farrington, 22, is breaking new ground as the first Bahamian in the United Kingdom to pursue training in the elite world of superyachting — an industry that remains largely untapped by Bahamians.
He is currently enrolled at the United Kingdom Sailing Academy in Cowes, where he has already completed phase one of the Superyacht Cadetship. This certification enables him to captain vessels up to 100 gross tons and nearly 100 feet.
After completing the superyacht cadetship program at UKSA, Farrington will receive his qualification as a superyacht officer, the second in command to the captain, with the ability to sail globally.
“Now that I’ve completed Phase One, I’m moving on to Phase Two, where I’ll be working with yachts, building up my sea time, and progressing further,” he said in an interview with The Tribune.
“I feel great. It was a lovely experience — it is definitely different from what we get on this side in terms of training.”
His journey has already taken him across the UK, as well as to France and Germany. “It was nice to get that experience.” Currently in his first year of the programme, Mr Farrington expects to complete the entire training within five years.
Adjusting to life in the UK, however, has come with its challenges.
“I’m still getting used to the cold — we love our warm weather and food back home in the Bahamas. But the best part is when we go out to sea for our training and we take our 50-foot vessel and log our sea time. During those trips, we do rotational cooking, and I even got to prepare some Bahamian food — that was
completed his phase
probably the best meal I had.”
From a young age, he knew he was meant to work on the water. Growing up in Grand Bahama, he participated in an eco-fishing camp in West End, where he gained a deep appreciation for the ocean.
His passion only grew as he attended sailing camp and later joined the maritime cadets in Freeport, setting the foundation for his future.
However, his journey was far from easy. When Hurricane Dorian devastated Grand Bahama in 2019, he and his family were forced to relocate to Texas. There, he completed high school, only to face another setback with the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting his plans to attend the University of Plymouth in the UK.
Undeterred, he decided to enter the workforce, landing a job with Overseas Marine, where he gained hands-on experience in marine salvage, oil spill response, and emergency operations. Over three years, he worked his way up to marine technician and lead deckhand, further solidifying his skills.
Despite his success, Farrington knew he wanted more — specifically, a career in the superyacht industry. Through research and perseverance, he travelled to the UK for an open day at Solent University, exploring opportunities in yachting.
Although circumstances prevented him from enrolling at the time, he remained committed, returning to Grand Bahama to continue working while preparing for his next step.
His determination paid off and he encourages other Bahamians to do the same.
Mr Farrington believes more Bahamians should explore opportunities in the superyacht industry.
“A lot of Bahamians don’t realize that yachting is open to them. It’s a closeknit industry, very different from the commercial side with cruise ships. It’s quieter but extremely rewarding once you get in,” he said.
“My advice to Bahamians is to go for it. Do your research. The UKSA is always available, and I’ve been speaking to cadets, letting them know this industry is open to them. My contacts are available for anyone interested.”
Three-years jail for stealing, receiving and possession of unlicenced shotgun
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was sentenced to three years in prison yesterday after admitting to breaking into a home in Eleuthera and stealing a safe containing $10,000 and a shotgun earlier this month.
Magistrate Lennox Coleby arraigned 44-yearold Keston Pinder on charges of housebreaking, stealing, receiving, and possession of an unlicenced shotgun. Pinder reportedly broke into the home of Edgar White in James Cistern, Eleuthera, between 2.15pm and 6pm on
February 6, stealing a safe containing $10,000 and a black Maverick 12-gauge shotgun. He was allegedly found with the stolen shotgun on February 20. During his police interview, Pinder admitted to breaking into the house and said he got the shotgun out by throwing it through a window. While he denied being caught with the firearm, he pleaded guilty to the charges. Magistrate Coleby withdrew the stealing and receiving charges. Pinder told the court he spent the stolen money on clothes. Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln
for trial. However, given the seriousness of the charges and potential penalties, there was a risk he might not attend.
“In reviewing what has been placed before me, I note that the affidavit in response states that the applicant has been identified by an eyewitness and that one of the victims gave what may amount to
McKenzie, who prosecuted the case, noted that Pinder had prior convictions for similar offences. In response, Pinder insisted he had changed and was now a fisherman. However, Magistrate Coleby dismissed his claim, pointing to his previous shopbreaking charges. Pinder was sentenced to three years at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. The court recommended that he be enrolled in plumbing or electrical courses during his incarceration.
Before he was taken into custody, Magistrate Coleby warned him that this should be the last time he appeared in court.
a dying declaration identifying the applicant as the perpetrator,” Justice Brathwaite said. He also determined that Pickering is a flight risk and that the case involved an attack motivated by jealousy, posing a “serious danger” to witnesses.
“In considering whether conditions could be imposed to ensure the
attendance of the applicant at trial, I am mindful of the usual conditions, which include reporting, electronic monitoring, and curfew. In my view, these conditions would not suffice to ensure the attendance of this particular applicant at his trial, nor would they suffice to ensure the safety of the witnesses,” he said.
Funeral Service for ELSIE JANE KNOWLES-ROKER, 87
of Daisy Lane, Beaumontia Avenue and formerly of Long Island, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday 1st March 2025 at Christ the King Anglican Church, Ridgeland Park West. Officiating will be Archdeacon Dwight H.L. Rolle, assisted by Deacon Anetol Ferguson, Canon Stephen Davies and Fr. Cameron Saunders. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Gardens, Soldier Road. Elsie is preceded in death by her daughter: Dellerese; brothers: Richard, George, Edward and Theophilus Knowles; sisters: Ellen Knowles and Lorene Deal.
Left to cherish memories are her children: Levi, Ricardo, Michael, Wellington Jr., Llewellyn (Natasha), Kermit (Fernique) and Tavares Roker, Barbara Moss, Sherelle Roker, Carolyn (Tally) Foster, Pernell, Delphane and Daphane Roker; Grandchildren: Dominique (David) Williams, Vandissa, Latasha, Rashad and Shaquille Rolle, Jemerson Levi Knowles, Shaniah, A’Quille, Aaliyah, Amir, Shanyhah and Dale Bowe, Ricarra (Julius) Rahming, Barbara Small, Lekeshia Mackey, Recarla Saunders, Carlisa Rolle, Erica Hepburn Bevans, Vanessa McDonald, Vashni Ellis, Dashinique Bain, Ricardo Bowe, Keno, Geno, Deovano Davis, Tanaz and Torei Bowe, Alicia, Shakeva, Lashan Edwards, Shenice Roker, Alexander Lorenzo (Crystal) Roker, Chantique Roker and Zanae Rolle, Louquesha, Remelda, Alexiou and Antoneshe Roker, Tamika and Sanchia Forbes, Darneka, Timothy Jr. (Angel)& Demetrius Forbes, Antonio (Maude) Roker, Ashley Whylly, Randy (deceased), Claysandra, Shirrell, Ken Jr., Tyon, Prosper, Noeisha, Sammy Munroe, Domnick and Terrel Bridgewater, Keyron, Kiante’ and Kianna Roker, Tavantae, Tavares Jr., Tavanya, Tiara, Tavari, Tavarion Roker, Derek Dawkins Jr., Huniquea and Doneisha Ferguson; Great Grandchildren: Davia, Mark, Makia, Desmond, Lyrica, Melody, Trevonne, Trevonte, Davia, Ayla, Rashawn, Nazaire, Lashantae, Alexander Jr., Alexyanna, Alexceiyo, Raneisha, Myiesha, Kyrie Forbes, Christopher Jr., Reagan, Aiden, Amiyah, Trinity, Skylar, Shamiah, Bentley, Randy Jr., Jarveah, Rashawnae, Kayden, Dominic Jr., Tyrie Roker, Taylin and Tayveon; Brother: Clarence (Altamese) Knowles; Sisters: Ethelyn Woodside and Yvonne Cooper; Mother-in-Law: Louise Roker of Miami, Florida; Brothers-in-law: Al and Andrew Roker; Sisters-in-law: Matilda, Arabella, Mavis and Hester Roker and Lavern Gray; Nieces and Nephews: Victor Knowles, Hortence, Esmae Ramsey, Anastacia Bain, Ellennor Goodman, Etienne, Craig, Dienne, Satish & Edney Knowles, Glen (Lynn) and Gladstone ‘Jethro’ Woodside, Seadrid Ferguson, Violet Bain, Billy (Vincent) Dorsett, Jennis Simmons, Marilyn (Otto) McLounder, Rochelle Woodside, Alva (Craig) Ritchie, Former Senator Viana Gardiner and Wendell Gardiner, Craig Knowles, Prescott (Annarine) Knowles, Sandra (Michael) Bennett, Michelle (Willard) Munroe, Ranae, Kendal (Katherine) Knowles, Delerise (Dwayne) Daley, Marcus (Abby) Knowles, Marcia St. Vil, Emmanuel St. Vil, Rosemary Knowles, Raymond Sr., Samuel and Wendell Knowles, Gregory (Mary), Gerard (Jacqueline), Jeffrey Sr., Kelvin Sr., Ruis Sr., Megel Sr., Chandro Sr., Nicoya and Alexandria Knowles, Christine Knowles Smith, Michelle Knowles, Uchi, Henson, Daxson, and Darren Knowles, Remelda Woodside, Michelle, Lyndon, Cresville, Paulette, Hazel, Nadine, Jarred and Wayne Roker; Other Family & Friends: Helen, Arnett and Adrian Fritz and Family, Alex (Santino) Morley, Ranae (Teddy) Shanar Butler Petit-Frere, Olivia, Demetrius Horatio, Marco (Tina), Mario, Hellarian Jr. (Ashley) and Absalom Butler, Dino, Christalena, Christopher, Adrian Smith, Dency Knowles-Taylor, Raymond Jr., Lana Keldra (Philip) Pinder, Nathalie, Nadia, Shavon, Brendie, Craig Jr., Brendon, Prescott Jr., Percius, Perez, Preston, PeAndra, Maquelle, David, Ambernique, Kendal Jr, Keron, KayKayla, Akia, Maygen, Alexis, Myra, Giovannie, Atiya, Jennifer Knowles, Savana Rolle, Chaka, Deidre Rolle, Davinia Blair, Jasmine Ferguson, Brenda (Brian) Jones, Eddington, Rayshad, Deon, Rhonda & Shanny Marshall, Alicia Johnson & Family, Vincent, Laverne, Tracy, Tia, Tina & Ian Goodman, Jasmine & Rebecca Roker, Ashley Neely, Prince Roker Jr., Cecil Roker, Jaden McPhee, Lilamae Wilson & Family, Raquel, Don, Scott, Stella Farrington & Family, Thor Adderley & Family, Inderia, Rose,& Rochelle Kelly & Family, Ryan Saunders, LaJah Wallace, Nathaniel, Ruth Smith & Family, Lorraine Reckley & Family, Angela McKenzie & Family, Derek Rolle & Family, Henry, Christie Powell & Family, Franon & Shelly Wilson, Sir Franklyn & Lady Sharon Wilson & Family, Bishop Neil & Patricia Ellis, Jackie Knowles & Family, Lamount & Crystal Feast & Family, Angela Morley & Family, Brown Family, Andrea Knowles, Sonia, Opal, Sheena, Ramona, Deala, Richmond &Mark Maycock, Randy Williams Sr., Jackie Knowles & Family, Joel Hepburn & Family, Hilton McIntosh & Family, Ursula Gibson & family, Erica Bryan Jackson & Family, LeShaun Baily, Lana (David) Forbes & Family, Wendell Stubbs, Catherine & Bernadette Braynen & Family, Karess Perrigod, Waltia Lockhart, Archdeacon Dwight Rolle & Members of Christ the King Anglican Church, Apostle G. Anthony Chisholm and the New Beginning Deliverance Ministries Family, Pastor T.G. Morrison & Zion Baptist Church Family, Maxine Livingston & Family, Beverley Neely & Family, Alynden Munroe, Joey Scott, Mel Gibson & Family, Beverton & Rose Family, Stephanie & Steve Hanna, Lynden Curtis, Mark (Najah) Finlayson & Family, Everette Ingraham, Laurette Lockhart & Family, Louise Brice & Family, Buster (Helen) Bethel & Family, Raquel Deveaux & Family, Erica Minnis & Family, Betty Scott & Family, Mary Saunders & Family, Betram (Veronica) Bowleg, Theodore Curry and Family, Vincent Moxey, Shannon Morley, Nathalie Evans & Family, Glenis Saunders, Superintendent Andy Sweeting & Family, Charmaine Higgs, Dasha Clarke, Vardo Bowleg & Family, Mary Bodie, Tony Braynen and Family, David Williams and Family, William Edwards and Family, Ronette Hall and Family, Apostle Raymond Wells and The Living Waters Kingdom Ministries Family, Henry Adderley, Hon. Mario Keith Bowleg Member of Parliament Garden Hills & Family, Hon. Dr. Michael Darville Minister of Health & Wellness, Senator Hon. Dr. Erecia Hepburn Forbes, Dr. Kendal Major Former Member of Parliament, Princess Margaret Hospital Housekeeping Department, Yellow Elder Primary School Family, Testing & Evaluation Science Unit, House of Assembly Staff, Ministry of Transport Staff, Marriott Courtyard Staff, Garden Hills #1 Family and many others too numerous to mention. Special Thanks to: Dr. Agreta Eneas Carey, Dr. Crispin Gomez, Dr. Delton Farquharson, Dr. Duane Sands, Nurse Alia Gibson, Nurse Zari Miller and the Sick and Shut in Committee at Christ the King Anglican Church. (If we inadvertently left out your name, please don’t charge it to our hearts.)
May Her Soul Rest In Peace!
Friends may pay their last respects at Bethel Brothers Morticians and Crematorium, #44a Nassau Street (TODAY) Friday 28th February 2025 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and at the church on Saturday 1st March 2025 from 9:00 a.m. until service time.
BAHAMIAN AARON FARRINGTON, of Grand Bahama, is pursuing training in superyachting in the UK. He has
one of his training, obtaining his SuperYacht certification.
Rum-runner SS Sapona runs aground at Bimini in 1926 hurricane
ONE of the more intriguing and visible shipwrecks in the Bahamas for the last century was built of concrete up a North Carolina river, became a floating casino in Florida, then a Prohibition warehouse for booze owned by a quiet war veteran named Bruce Stanley Bethel. Then she was a hurricane casualty in 1926, and finally the target for a different kind of federal agency: the US military. The last mission of Flight 19, missing since December 5, 1945, was to bomb SS Sapona.
Nowadays this unusual and tenacious shipwreck still lies more out of the water than in it, just south of Bimini, visible to many boats and planes arriving in The Bahamas. It was the subject of Ian Fleming’s book Thunderball, though it was not in the film version. Viewed by innumerable anglers, boaters, and online viewers, this oddly photogenic wreck is that of the freighter SS Sapona, named for a hamlet in North Carolina south of Winston-Salem so small that only a swim club bears that name.
According to historians Richard Lewis and Erlend Bonderud, “hull number 1562” began in a cement mixer on 3 March 1919, when Sapona was built by the Liberty Ship Building Company in Wilmington. In April 1918, President Wilson approved $50m to build 24 concrete ships as a wartime emergency fleet. Forty acres with 2,000 feet on the Cape Fear River waterfront were selected to build seven ships. Sapona was 2,795 gross tons, 46’ wide, 25’ deep, 267’ long before the stern was blown off. Her engine was 1,400 ihp and she could make 11 knots. For a ship with such
By Eric Wiberg
a short life afloat, she had many names, starting with Corrine, thanks to the US Shipping Board, but she was launched as Old North State, due to the local chamber of commerce. She entered the water on October 11, 1919, but a month later the Liberty Shipbuilding yard closed, taken over by the Newport Shipbuilding Company. Two months later, her name was changed to Sapona.
The ship was soon bought by Miami Beach developer Carl Fisher, who had the motor taken out by a dredging company in exchange for dredge work; as a result, the ship became just an oil storage hulk, possibly after a stint as a floating casino. By April, 1924, Fisher sold Sapona to Bahamian entrepreneur Bruce Stanley Bethel (1883-1951), who was “a quiet, retired British soldier. A polite man who was said to have attended church regularly”, according to historian Jane Feehan. “‘Bethel of Bimini’ helped island inhabitants, mostly blacks, make a comfortable living from the brisk export liquor trade. A veteran beset with debilitating war wounds; Bethel welcomed smugglers with a few heavily padlocked warehouses of liquor. His business was licenced.” She adds that “the amount of liquor stored there was impressiveenough to ‘bewilder the mind.’ A bar was installed, where conviviality reigned
and customers were encouraged by one of Bethel’s minions (he rarely entered the warehouses) to sample rather than buy.” New York Times chronicled how Sapona, “once US pride, is now a rum runner – the mothership for South Florida rum runners, ….sold to Bruce Bethel, a Nassau liquor merchant, for $2,000. The decks are being piled high with burlap sacks, hams of liquor, due to be rushed by speedy motor boats into the palm-covered Florida shoreline.”
When the Volstead Act of 1919 opened the window to Prohibition, Bethel saw opportunity. His brother operated a liquor store in Nassau, and “Bruce looked at a map and pointed to the boomerang-shaped Bimini, rationalising that a supply of liquor close to the Florida coast could reap profits”. Florida historian Feehan writes that “he loaded up two chartered schooners with liquor and set sail for the tiny island, and opened a business within hours of arrival. Within a few years, Bethel’s prestige among the island’s 300-500 British subjects was rivaled only by that of its resident commissioner, WT Cleare. A case of liquor from one of those warehouses purchased for $18 sold for $100 in Florida. By 1928, Bethel estimated that he had sold more than $3 million in liquor. Soon, though, it was over.”
Bethel towed Sapona just south of Bimini, where she was used as a floating storage warehouse for rum and whiskey and envisioned using the ship as a nightclub. However, in the hurricane of September 17, 1926, Sapona ran aground on shallows, with the stern breaking off. Bahamian hurricane historian Wayne Neely writes that “six vessels were wrecked at Gun Cay and two sank at Bimini”, accounting for 26 deaths - all vessels spare one - and all provisions were lost. Unfortunately for Bethel, his liquor stocks were destroyed, and he died penniless in February, 1951, to be buried at Eastern Cemetery in Nassau.
Today Sapona lies in 17’ of salt water, four miles south of Bimini’s Port Royal and north of Gun Cay. Bombs, waves, and winds have removed most of the concrete from the hull, which has become a fish and tourist-aggregating device: an artificial reef. A blogger comments how “shaped by salt water, and pockmarked with holes, the concrete hull provides refuge for hundreds of species of tropical fish”. Captions on social
media today are varied and creative; one records how “south of Bimini, a ghostly structure sits fixed on the horizon, halfway between the big game capital and the palmed private island of Cat Cay. The rusted red hull of SS Sapona starkly contrasts the cerulean blue water that Bimini is known for. Its concrete carcass has been bombarded by the elements”.
Another snorkeler relates how “sliding into the water, the visibility is high. In 15’ of water, Sapona is a shallow wreck to free-dive. Entering through a gash in the bow, the interior of the wreck is
a grotto of rusted ruins and orange corals. Hidden in the ship’s crevices are large spiny lobsters and ochrecolored sea stars. Queen trigger fish and grunts swim leisurely past divers, unconcerned by their presence. ….I’m struck by the quiet. Fractured sunlight filters through holes overhead, lighting up the watery ruins below.” This modest ship has outlasted so many others as a beacon, magnet to the curious eye. Not bad for being made of stone; the ship has outlasted the Prohibition’s version of Gomorrah and stands sentinel like a modern-day Lot’s wife... having the last laugh.
SAPONA in recent times, the stern, broken free in 1926, visible to the left.
SS Sapona being launched as the Old North State on Wilmington, North Carolina, October 11, 1919.
Greed has an insatiable appetite
‘The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifes, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.’ Gordon Gekko - Wall Street
GREED is a hungry animal. It feeds with a fury like a bear preparing to hibernate, an infant desperate for milk. Feed it incessantly - all the money it can grab, all the cars it can drive, all the women it can conquer, sex it can manage - no amount is enough. Hand it everything - glamour, clothes, jewels, attention, and still there is craving for more. Devoid of ethics, free of the morals that constrain the rest of us, greed is its own boss, pushing, shoving, barreling past the boundaries. Beware. Greed’s greatest craving of all is the craving for power, that which imbues the holder with the sense that they have the right to do whatever they want to do because they hold the power to do it. Where power reigns without restraint, greed owns the outcome. Greed has an insatiable appetite. Who cares? You ask. Legitimate question. What does it have to do with our daily life? Should we not ask practical questions like ‘When will the price of eggs come back down to earth?’ or ‘Why does it take so long to renew a business licence when it already costs the earth?’ Or, how about something like this, ‘Why do we allow signage to block the view of Montagu Bay or roadworks to close one lane on an already overly trafficked road during peak hours instead of requiring crews to work under the lights?’ Those are the dayto-day questions and there are hundreds more, questions about the quality of education and lack of gun control with AK-47s as
By Diane Phillips
easily available for rent as a pistol? Why don’t we ask ‘How safe are we going to be ten years from now if gangs continue to explode in numbers?’
POWER FEEDS ON ITSELF
Why we care about greed is because it seeps through every layer of who we trust and what we do. Only when it shouts its presence, no longer hiding behind curtains to protect it, do we stand up, take notice and protest. If we do not have systems in place to curb its appetite, it continues to feed and its power grows fatter and fatter, the holder no longer caring, growing obese with the gluttony of greed.
There is every reason to care, to block the actions that allow greed to escape rather than provide loopholes for it to slither through. The greedy put themselves before others. Instead of walking a mile in another’s journey, they taking a step to further their own path forward and whether they say it is essential to the success of an individual or the operation of an institution is irrelevant, it hurts the victim.
Entire treatises have been written about power and greed by people far smarter than I, one of the most interesting a paper called The Good, The Bad and The Ugly which takes
a look at all sides of the equation. “Greed is about getting more of what you want. It is an insatiable desire for more income, more possessions, more influence, more power, more sex, more privileges, more of anything good. Greed is a strong drive for acquisitiveness with respect to valued outcomes. What can be bad about that? What is wrong with striving for what you long for? Moreover, greed is considered to be an important motivation behind economic growth and prosperity [7], making it good for society as a whole. Indeed, some praise greed indirectly for its beneficial consequences: ‘Capitalism has been called a system of greed—yet it is the system that raised
the standard of living of its poorest citizens to heights no collectivist system has ever begun to equal, and no tribal gang can conceive of.’ [28]. However, despite these perceived benefits, greed is typically not applauded.”
POSITIVE SIDE OF SELFISHNESS
If you think of the concept of greed in the sense that the desire for acquisition drives ambition, and ambition leads to success, as the late author Ayn Rand detailed in The Virtue of Selfishness, you can make a point for a national selfishness – note national, not individual - but what do you do when it blows up, when a scandal in The Bahamas creates distrust or an Elon Musk’s DOGE slashes thousands of jobs in the name of a better country without regard for what it does to people’s lives? It’s the squirrely, unsettled rift where separation festers between the powerful and those who see themselves
as powerless. It is not just that greed benefits one or a group at the expense of others, but the company that greed keeps. The distance between greed and power and fraud is short. As the oft-quoted John Grant says, “Fraud is the daughter of greed.” Greed also inflicts pain on those driven by it –stress, anxiety, depression, exhaustion – conditions or symptoms not totally unlike those produced by too much of any harmful substance.
BANK EXPERIENCE
If that arouses sympathy in a funny kind of way, which I think it does, the following example might be more of a wake-up call. It was actually a coworker’s bank experience that led to dedicating this column to greed. The executive needed to conduct a routine online transfer, moving $500 from a savings account at a local bank to her checking account at another local
bank to pay a bill to someone who requested a check rather than an online transfer. She thought little of it until she saw the fees and her eyes popped nearly out of her head. The first bank charged her $5.90 to send the money from her savings account. A minute later, the second bank charged her $8.25 to accept the funds into her checking account, a total of $14.15 to transfer $500 from bank to bank in an era when most of us are only too happy to give up checks altogether and move to a digital payment solution, but we have to ask ourselves, how do we do that when the fees are fueled by something we don’t understand. And I am left wondering, is it a means to satisfy shareholders or necessary to meet operational costs or did a bit of greed slip in, unnoticed, as we were looking the other way? There is, after all, a need to understand greed in our everyday lives. And that is the real reason this column focused on greed.
MICHAEL Douglas as Gordon Gekko in ‘Wall Street’.
Trump plans tariffs for Mexico and Canada for Tuesday while doubling 10% tariffs on China
WASHINGTON Associated Press
PRESIDENT Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting Tuesday, in addition to doubling the 10% universal tariff charged on imports from China.
In a Truth Social post Thursday, Trump said illicit drugs such as fentanyl are being smuggled into the United States at “unacceptable levels” and that import taxes would force other countries to crack down on the trafficking.
We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA, and therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled,” the Republican president wrote. “China will likewise be charged an additional 10% Tariff on that date.”
The prospect of escalating tariffs has already thrown the global economy into turmoil, with consumers expressing fears about inflation worsening and the auto sector and other domestic manufacturers suffering if Trump raises import taxes. But Trump has also at times engaged in aggressive posturing only to give last-minute reprieves, previously agreeing to a 30-day suspension of the Canada and Mexico tariffs that were initially supposed to start in February.
The threat of tariffs frightened the stock market with the S&P 500 index falling 1.6% on Thursday. The S&P 500 is now just 1.4% higher than it was after Trump won the election in November, giving up almost all of the gains that the president once cited as evidence of an economic revival.
Asked Thursday about the fact that tariffs are
largely paid for consumers and importing companies, Trump dismissed any concerns by saying: “It’s a myth.” It’s possible for a stronger US dollar to offset some of the costs of tariffs, but Trump’s statement goes against most economic modelling given the breadth of his planned taxes.
Trump intends to put 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, with a lower 10% tax on Canadian energy products such as oil and electricity. The move, ostensibly about drug trafficking and immigration, led Mexico and Canada to respond by emphasizing their existing efforts to address these issues. Canada created a fentanyl czar, and Mexico sent 10,000 members of its National Guard to its border with the United States.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that she hoped to speak with Trump after the Cabinet-level meetings occurring in Washington this week. Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente was scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday afternoon. Trump, “as you know, has his way of communicating,” Sheinbaum said. But she said that her government would stay “cool-headed” and optimistic about an agreement coming together to avoid the tariffs.
“I hope we are able to reach an agreement and on March 4 we can announce something else,” she said. She said Mexico’s security chiefs were discussing intelligence sharing with their American counterparts that would allow for important arrests in the US On the economic front, she said Mexico’s goal is to protect the free trade pact that was negotiated during
the first Trump administration between Mexico and the United States. That 2020 deal, which included Canada, was an update of the North American Free Trade Agreement from 1994.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country has invested more than 1 billion Canadian dollars to improve border security, adding that his government’s ministers and officials are also in Washington this week.
“There is no emergency for the United States at the border with Canada when it comes to fentanyl, and that is exactly what we are demonstrating at this time,” Trudeau said in Montreal. “If the United States goes ahead and imposes tariffs, we already shared the details of our plan. We have $30 billion worth of US products that will be subject to tariffs. And $125 billion of tariffs that will be applied three weeks later. But we don’t want to be in that position.”
Trump did impose a 10% tariff on China for its role in the manufacturing of chemicals used to make fentanyl, and that tax would now be doubled, according to his social media post.
On Thursday, China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao wrote to Jamieson Greer, the newly confirmed US trade representative, that differences on trade should be resolved through dialogues and negotiations.
The 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada would amount to a total tax increase on the US public of somewhere between $120 billion to $225 billion annually, according to Jacob Jensen, a trade policy analyst at the American Action Forum, a center-right think tank. The additional China tariffs could cost consumers
Oscar-winner Gene Hackman, wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were dead for some time, warrant shows
SANTA FE
Associated Press
OSCAR-WINNER
Gene Hackman, his wife and one of their dogs were apparently dead for some time before a maintenance worker discovered their bodies at the couple’s Santa Fe home, investigators said. Hackman, 95, was found dead Wednesday in an entryway, and his 65-yearold wife, Betsy Arakawa, was found in a bathroom next to a space heater, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office detectives wrote in a search warrant affidavit. There was an open prescription bottle and pills scattered on a countertop near Arakawa.
Denise Avila, a sheriff’s office spokesperson, said there was no indication they had been shot or had any wounds.
The New Mexico Gas Co. tested the gas lines in and around the home after the bodies were discovered, according to the warrant. At the time, it didn’t find any signs of problems and the Fire Department found no signs of a carbon monoxide leak or poisoning. A detective wrote that there were no obvious signs of a gas leak, but he noted that people exposed to gas leaks or carbon monoxide might not show signs of poisoning.
The gruff but beloved Hackman was among the most accomplished actors of his generation, appearing as villains, heroes and antiheroes in dozens of dramas, comedies and action films from the 1960s until his retirement in the early 2000s.
“He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa,” his daughters and granddaughter said in a statement Thursday. “We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”
Worker found bodies of Hackman and his wife
According to the search warrant affidavit, a maintenance worker reported that the home’s front door was open when he arrived to do routine work Wednesday, and he called police after finding the bodies. But in a 911 call, the maintenance worker said he was unable to get inside when the operator asked whether the people in the house were breathing.
“I have no idea,” the subdivision’s caretaker said. “I am not inside the house. It’s closed. It’s locked. I can’t go in. But I can see she’s laying down on the floor from the window.”
He and another worker later told authorities that they rarely saw the homeowners and their last contact with them had been about two weeks ago.
Hackman appeared to have fallen, a deputy observed. A cane was nearby.
A dead German shepherd was found in a bathroom closet near Arakawa, police said. Two healthy dogs were found on the property — one inside and one outside.
Sheriff’s officials said autopsies conducted on both bodies did not determine the manner and cause of death, noting that carbon monoxide and toxicology test results were pending. The search warrant affidavit suggests that police appear to have a working theory that “some kind of gas poisoning” happened, but that they don’t know yet and aren’t ruling anything out, Loyola Marymount University law professor Laurie Levenson said. “They don’t have clear evidence that it’s any type of homicide, but they’re asking for blunt instruments or other weapons that could be used,” said Levenson, who has no connection to the investigation. “It doesn’t also look
up to $25 billion.
The potential for higher prices and slower growth could create political blowback for Trump, who promised voters in last year’s presidential election that he could quickly lower the inflation rate, which jumped during Democratic President Joe Biden’s term. But Trump also campaigned on imposing broad tariffs, which he plans to launch on April 2 by resetting them to match the taxes that he determines are charged by other countries on American goods.
“The April Second Reciprocal Tariff date will remain in full force and effect,” Trump said as part of his new social media post.
In an interview with News Nation, Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House National Economic Council, said progress by Mexico and Canada on fentanyl “was not as impressive as the president had hoped.” There are significant
differences between Canada and Mexico on the scale of drug smuggling.
US customs agents seized 43 pounds (19.5 kilograms) of fentanyl at the Canadian border during the last budget year, compared with 21,100 pounds (9,570 kilograms) at the Mexican border.
Hassett stressed that the reciprocal tariffs would be in addition to the ones being placed on Canada and Mexico.
Trump indicated Wednesday that European countries would also face a 25% tariff as part of his reciprocal tariffs. He also wants separate tariffs on autos, computer chips and pharmaceutical drugs that would be levied in addition to the reciprocal tariffs.
The president already announced that he’s removing the exemptions on his 2018 steel and aluminum tariffs, in addition to planning taxes on copper imports.
The prospect of a broader trade conflict
should other nations follow through with their own retaliatory tariffs is already spooking US consumers, potentially undermining Trump’s promise to unleash stronger economic growth.
The Conference Board reported on Tuesday that its consumer confidence index had dropped 7 points to a reading of 98.3. It was the largest monthly decline since August 2021, when inflationary pressures began to reverberate across the United States as the economy recovered from the coronavirus pandemic. Average 12-month inflation expectations jumped from 5.2% to 6% in February, the Conference Board noted.
“There was a sharp increase in the mentions of trade and tariffs, back to a level unseen since 2019,” said Stephanie Guichard, a senior economist at the Conference Board. “Most notably, comments on the current administration and its policies dominated the responses.”
like some kind of planned double-suicide.”
William & Mary Law
School professor Jeffrey Bellin said the request for a search warrant was somewhat unusual because investigators who file one usually believe a specific crime was committed. In this case, no alleged crime was mentioned, Bellin said. Police tend to overstate what they know, but this is the opposite, said Bellin, who also isn’t tied to the investigation. It just struck me as very careful in a way that search warrant affidavits often are not,” he said.
Actor known for his versatility
Hackman routinely showed up on Hollywood lists of greatest American actors of the 20th century. He could play virtually any kind of role, from comic book villain Lex Luthor in “Superman” to a coach finding redemption in the sentimental favourite “Hoosiers.”
Hackman was a five-time
Oscar nominee who won best actor in a leading role for “The French Connection” in 1972 and best actor in a supporting role for “Unforgiven” two decades later. His death comes just four days before this year’s ceremony. Tributes quickly poured in from Hollywood.
“There was no finer actor than Gene,” actor-director Clint Eastwood, Hackman’s “Unforgiven” co-star, said in a statement. “Intense and instinctive. Never a false note. He was also a dear friend whom I will miss very much.”
Hackman and Arakawa settled in Santa Fe
Hackman met Arakawa, a classically trained pianist who grew up in Hawaii, when she was working parttime at a California gym in the mid-1980s. They soon moved in together and relocated to Santa Fe by the
end of the decade. Their Southwestern-style ranch on Old Sunset Trail sits on a hill in a gated community with views of the Rocky Mountains. The sprawling four-bedroom home on 6 acres (2.4 hectares) was built in 1997 and had an estimated market value of a little over $4 million, according to Santa Fe County property tax records.
Hackman and his wife also owned a more modest home next door. Hackman also co-wrote three novels, starting with the swashbuckler, “Wake of the Perdido Star,” with Daniel Lenihan in 1999,
according to publisher Simon & Schuster. He then penned two by himself, concluding with “Pursuit” in 2013, about a female police officer on the tail of a predator. In his first couple of decades in New Mexico, Hackman was often seen around the historic state capital, known as an artist enclave, tourism destination and retreat for celebrities. He served as a board member of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in the 1990s.
Hackman’s later years In recent years, he was far less visible, though even the most mundane outings
caught the attention of the press. There were articles about him attending a show at a performing arts center in 2018, as well as pumping gas, doing yard work and getting a chicken sandwich at Wendy’s in 2023. Aside from appearances at awards shows, he was rarely seen in the Hollywood social circuit and retired from acting about 20 years ago. His was the rare Hollywood retirement that actually lasted. Hackman had three children from a previous marriage. He and Arakawa had no children together but were known for having German shepherds.
PRESIDENT Donald Trump stands before British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrives at the White House, yesterday in Washington.
Photo: Evan Vucci/AP
ACTOR Gene Hackman arrives with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, for the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, Sunday, January 19, 2003.
Photo: Mark J Terrill/AP
BAHAMAS STATE ASSOCIATION OF ELKS
The Bahamas State Association of Elks under the leadership of bro Julien U Sands, State President and Dgt Alison Sawyer held its 42nd State Summit. The theme was “Empowering Members, Changing Lives” on February 21st to February 23rd, at St Agnes Parish Hall. We closed out Summit with worshipping with St Agnes Anglican Church at their 10.30am mass.
ST JOHN’S COLLEGE GIANTS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS
IT IS a time of great celebration for St John’s College Giants, Family and Friends. As we approach our 80th Anniversary in 2027, Giants are on the move!
In the last few weeks in particular, our St John’s College family has had much to celebrate. This includes winning the All-Age Category at the 2025 Junior Junkanoo Parade; winning three of the four BAISS Basketball Division Championships (Junior Boys, Junior Girls and Senior Boys)... our Senior Girls were also runners up; and our Jr Girls team is headed to the semifinals of the Hoyte Jonquel Jones Basketball Tournament in Grand Bahama with a 4-0 record.
To celebrate these and other accomplishments for the 2024 – 2025 Academic Year, we are planning a week of celebrations to reflect our Giant pride.
The list of activities include:
Friday PAINT THE ISLAND GREEN, 9.30am, motorcade throughout the streets of New Providence. Departments to organize booths to raise funds.
1.30pm–3pm High School
Dance Saturday
All day from 12 noon, Mardi Gras.
In addition to celebrating our Champions and promoting our Mardi Gras, we also intend to use this week
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to help raise much needed funds for ongoing projects.
St John’s College has had a rich legacy since it was founded in 1947 - and Saint John’s Preparatory Department in the early 1950’s; they were located at Market Street Hill and George Street respectively.
In January 1979, both the primary and secondary schools were moved to their present location on Bishop Michael Eldon Drive, off Bethel Avenue, in Stapledon Gardens.
Since 1947, Giant Land has produced many greats in the areas of academics, sports and all spheres of society. We won’t start calling names to get ourselves in trouble but we have our current Prime Minister, our current Chief Justice of The Supreme Court, greats in the areas of law, medicine/ health, education, civil society, music & arts, Ministry (church), etc — track & field and other sporting greats like the late Thomas A Robinson, André Rogers, Tonique Williams, Dennis Darling, Dominic Demeritte… and the list goes on.
We also cannot forget our great team of administrators, teachers, coaches and other support personnel that have contributed in making our institution top tier over the years.
In the words of our Motto in Latin: RESPICE, ADSPICE, PROSPICE
(Look to the Past, Present and Future). The last line from our School Song “We’re a True Blend of Hearts” by the late Susan J Wallace says “St John’s must ne’er die, nor its name ever fade.” GO GIANTS!
SUNSHINE PILOT CLUB OF NASSAU
The Sunshine Pilot Club of Nassau proudly hosted its 15th Anniversary Gala Banquet on December 7, an
elegant gathering of members and guests at the Balmoral Club, Sandford Drive.
The event brought together club members to honor their Past Presidents and Chartered Members for their outstanding contributions and to celebrate their achievements. The evening highlighted the dedication and accomplishments of
some 22 individuals whose efforts have significantly impacted the mission of the club and by extension the wider community.
16 Chartered Members were recognised for their lasting commitment remaining active members of the club. Additionally, 13 Past Presidents were honored for their initiatives and activities
during their year as President. Several of the Past Presidents are also Chartered Members of the club.
“We are deeply grateful for the commitment and passion of our honorees, who continuously demonstrate their service to the club and actively seek to showcase our club theme for the year which is ‘Striving for Excellence as we Do More, Care More and Be More in our community’”, said Tyrell Farquharson, President,
The Sunshine Pilot Club of Nassau. “This event is a testament to their invaluable impact, and we are honoured to celebrate them.”
The event featured award presentations to the honorees in the presence of Past President of Pilot International (2008-2009) Deborah Archer and current Pilot International President (2024-2025) Nickola Dawkins. In addition to presentations to the honorees, four organisations that contribute to youth development and the treatment of brain related disorders were each presented with donation cheques of $500 each. The organisations were, Seahorse Institute, Hope Academy, the Children’s Emergency Hostel and Aquinas College.
Co-chair for the event Deanne Johnson, President-Elect of the club shared, “We felt it only fitting to honor the ladies who have laid the foundation for the amazing work that we do in our club supporting the community”. The comments were echoed by co-chair Amanda Bethell, Vice President: “It was a pleasure to honor the ladies of this great organisation who have paved the way for many of us today and who continue to exhibit the core values of being a Pilot.”
The upcoming major initiative for the club is the successful execution of the President’s Project which is “Pilots In Action (PIA)” As part of its mission, the Sunshine Pilot Club conducts activities aligned with its focus on brain related disorders and we support activities to lift the spirits of caregivers, those who care for others. The club is also immensely proud of its two anchor clubs, the Anchor Club of Aquinas College and the Anchor Club of Hope Academy. The anchor clubs are a testament to the positive energy of young people engaged in activities to benefit their community.
ST John’s College is celebrating its history and future this week.
THE BAHAMAS State Association of Elks held its 42nd State Summit.
MEMBERS of The Sunshine Pilot Club of Nassau at the 15th Anniversary Gala Ball held at the Balmoral Club, Sandford Drive.
BAHAMAS GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION
Girl Guide Week was held from February 16-22 under the theme: “Our story: 110 years of guiding”.
Hundreds of Sunflowers, Brownies, Guides, Rangers, Leaders and Council members participated in a wide variety of activities.
Beginning with the service at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, members heard of the early development and contribution of the early Commissioners and Queen’s Guides. Hundreds of Sunflowers spent the afternoon frollicking at Camp Discovery on Monday.
Morning Devotions were conducted by the guides during the entire week.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Eastern Division Brownies gathered at Camp Discovery and Western Division met at St Joseph’s School playing field for Brownie Revels. They spent the afternoon learning about the history of the BGGA and playing games.
On Wednesday, some 33 Rangers from around the islands were immersed in an environmental camp, engaging in survival skills
and personal challenges over a three-day period.
The Girl Guides too met at Camp Discoery. Guided tours of the BARBARA Legacy, exploration of the natural environment and learning about the Pioneers of camping filled their Wednesday.
Thursday found council members and the property committee working with vendors to furnish the dorm in the new headquarters building to accommodate 23 girls and leaders from around The Bahamas who were delegates to the 2nd
Annual BGGA/CIBC
Delaney Leadership Seminar. A generous grant from Sandals Foundation made this possble.
Friday, saw the realisation of a ten-year dream fulfilled when 17 girls and four leaders were the first guests of the Granger Lodge.
Saturday was World Thinking Day. It was celebrated in grand style with 91 delegates attending the 2nd Annual BGGA/ CIBC Leadership Seminar. They were addressed by Pia Glover-Rolle on the
from February 16-22.
“Impact of Leadership: the Power of Communication”.
The week ended with the World Thinking Day ceremony at Xavier’s Lower School at 6pm. An overflowing audience were taken through Guiding through 110 years in drama, presentation of clothing and uniforms, culminating with a video presentation of hidden figures of the association.
Rembered among others were: Corrine Thompson, Emma Poitier, Mrs GVE Higgs, Peggy Pinder,
Dorcas Shuttleworth, Diane Dean, Lisa Bain, Audrey Culmer Sharon Sawyer, Mrs Daniels and Veronica Smith.
Gratitude is extended to the leaders, the members of the BGGA, parents and the general public for their participation in and celebration of another Great Guide Week.
ROTARACT CLUB OF EAST NASSAU
The Rotaract Club of East Nassau is proud to
present its 13th Annual Entrepreneurship Panel, set to take place on Friday, March 7, at 6.30pm at Le Chateau on East Bay Street. This highly anticipated event brings together some of the brightest minds in business to share their expertise, insights, and success stories with aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals.
This year’s panel will feature industry leaders, startup founders, and business innovators who will discuss key topics such as business growth strategies, overcoming challenges, and seizing opportunities in today’s dynamic economy. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions, ask questions, and network with like-minded individuals looking to make an impact in their respective fields. The Rotaract Club of East Nassau, known for its dedication to service and professional development, continues to foster a spirit of leadership and innovation among young professionals through events like this. Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur, a seasoned business owner, or simply curious about the world of entrepreneurship, this panel is not to be missed!
THE BAHAMAS Girl Guides Association celebrated Girl Guide Week