‘PAY US WHAT
OWED’ SAY STUDENTS
Young people struggling to pay rent and bills after delays in grants
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
FOR months, Phillawn Strachan has balanced teaching and studying at the University of The Bahamas (UB), but late financial aid payments have left her struggling to cover rent and basic necessities.
The delays, which have impacted others, have left some facing eviction, according to the university’s Student Government Association (SGA), which criticised the institution
yesterday for its failure to resolve the issue, saying the delays have persisted for years despite assurances from administrators.
“I’ve had to use my personal funds to cover my rent and other needs,” Ms Strachan told The Tribune yesterday. She said her teacher stipend and accommodation grant — $475 and $500, respectively — should ease the burden, but inconsistent payments have forced her to rely on family support.
MINISTER: GOVT WILL AMEND LAW ON CAR INSURANCE DATES
By JADE RUSSELL
Staff Reporter
Tribune
jrussell@tribunemedia.net
OVER 1,600 tickets were issued for uninsured vehicles in New Providence during the first eight months of 2024, according to Minister of Transport and Energy Jobeth Coleby-Davis. During her contribution to the mid-year budget debate in the House of Assembly yesterday, she also reiterated that the government will amend the Road Traffic Act to remove the “birth month” requirement for auto insurance coverage that was set to take effect soon. She emphasised that this change is necessary to avoid “additional charges” that consumers might face from insurance companies. Last month, the Davis administration introduced legislation in Parliament
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis staunchly defended his administration’s travel expenditures during his contribution to the mid-year budget debate, asserting that the benefits of international trips far
outweigh the costs.
He said the frequent travels have successfully promoted The Bahamas, led to strategic partnerships, and fostered coalition-building on critical global issues. His comment came after The Nassau Guardian reported that the Davis administration’s travel expenditures in the first three and a half years of its term significantly exceeded what was spent by the Minnis administration during its four and a half years in office.
Mr Davis said these trips’ long-term advantages are significant and have already started to yield substantial benefits.
Pintard: Who complied with law on disclosures?
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
AFTER the chairman of the Public Disclosures Commission suggested facility issues are slowing down processing of public officials’ declarations of assets, liabilities and income, FNM leader Michael Pintard said his commission must be more forthcoming about who has
complied with the law.
“A problem with the office does not affect all of us filling out the information and sending it in,” Mr Pintard said. “Even if not all the details are there, the flexibility allows you to get in the core information and to update it. So really, we ought to be submitting that information.”
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis in the House of Assembly yesterday.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
FNM leader Michael Pintard.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
Police walkabout in Grand Bahama
POLICE in Grand Bahama held a walkabout through various parts of Grand Bahama yesterday, including Hudson Estates, Pioneers Loop, Sea Grape and Eight Mile Rock. They were joined by pastors and local government officials.
Photos: Vandyke Hepburn
‘Most BPL home customers had bills under $125 in January’
By JADE RUSSELL
Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
MINISTER of Energy and Transport Jobeth
Coleby-Davis said 62 percent of Bahamas Power and Light’s (BPL) 94,500 residential customers received electricity bills under $125 in January.
She said the implementation of the Equity Rate Adjustment (ERA) has created a fairer tariff structure, ensuring households no longer subsidize large commercial consumers. Under the ERA, the base rate for the first 0 to 200 kWh has been reduced to zero.
According to BPL’s latest analysis, 9,636 households received electricity bills between $5 and $19.99 in January 2025. Additionally, 41,014 households were billed between $20 and $99.99, while 8,283 received bills ranging from $100 to $124.99.
“This means that approximately 58,933 households, or 62 percent of residential customers, received bills under $125 during the month of January,” Mrs Coleby-Davis said during her mid-year budget contribution in the House of Assembly.
She acknowledged that energy consumption tends to be lower in winter and noted other factors, such as the fuel charge, but said the impact of the ERA cannot be ignored.
“It is also worth mentioning that lower electricity bills also mean less funds paid in VAT — more money in the wallets of Bahamians,” she said.
BPL’s new rate structure took effect on July 1, 2024. Under the revised plan, residents no longer pay for the first 200 kWh of electricity each month, eliminating the previous charge of 10.95 cents per kWh and saving customers $21.90 per month. Additionally, the fuel charge was reduced by 2.5 cents per kWh for the first 800 kWh.
The ERA encourages energy conservation and protects low-energy users, ensuring those who consume less pay less.
MINISTER: GOVT WILL AMEND LAW ON CAR INSURANCE DATES
from page one
amending the Road Traffic Act to eliminate the “birth month” requirement. This marked a significant shift from the government’s previous stance in June 2024, which sought to encourage compliance and reduce the number of uninsured vehicles. The original requirement caused concern among drivers, who were anxious about meeting the deadline for insurance payments.
“To be clear, the government is keen to avoid placing financial hardship on Bahamians while we fight to stop uninsured vehicles from being on our streets,” Mrs Coleby-Davis said during her contribution to the mid-year budget in
‘As drivers, we must do better. Please slow down. I repeat, as drivers, please slow down.’
Minister of Transport JoBeth Coleby-Davis
the House of Assembly. He said according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, a significant number of road traffic accidents involve uninsured vehicles.
She said her ministry, the Road Traffic Department, the Insurance Commission of The Bahamas, the
Bahamas Insurance Association, and the Traffic Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force are collaborating to address the issue of uninsured vehicles.
She said road safety must be a key priority for the Road Traffic Department, noting that more than 60 traffic fatalities were recorded last year, with young Bahamians under the age of 45 being the most affected demographic.
On Tuesday, two people were killed in separate traffic accidents, bringing the country’s road traffic fatality count to 12, according to The Tribune’s records. However, Mrs ColebyDavis later reported that 14 traffic fatalities have been recorded so far this year.
“We’ve installed road
UPGRADES TO MARSH HARBOUR SHIPPING PORT ‘TO BEGIN SOON’
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Reporter
Tribune Chief
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
TRANSPORT Minis-
ter JoBeth Coleby-Davis announced yesterday that long-awaited upgrades to Abaco’s shipping port in Marsh Harbour will soon begin, with a Bahamian company selected by US partners to restore the transhipment port.
She said the upgrades will include improved lighting, stormwater drainage, an administrative and security building, CCTV connections to backup generators, power connections to new buildings, paving, and a perimeter fence.
However, she did not provide details on the future of Cooper’s Town Port, saying more information will be announced before the end of April. Her comments in the House of Assembly came amid growing concerns over the fate of Abaco’s two commercial shipping ports, with the island’s private sector warning it is critical to address the devastation Hurricane Dorian inflicted on the facilities more than five years ago. Abaco businesses have described the lack of repairs and improvements at the Marsh Harbour port since Hurricane Dorian as “the sword of Damocles hanging
over our heads.”
They have repeatedly warned that continued delays could lead to the port being declared non-compliant with international shipping regulations.
Bids from private sector operators to invest in and take over the management and operations of each were submitted in August 2023.
Former Abaco Chamber of Commerce president Daphne DeGregory-Miaoulis recently said: “How can businesses expand, and how can businesses attract new business when we don’t have a secure port of entry for goods to come into the country?”
safety awareness billboards throughout New Providence and the Family Islands, with more to come,” she said. “We’ve released several video messages on road safety and increased our engagement with schools, especially high schools on road safety.”
She stressed the importance of driving within the speed limit, wearing seatbelts, and not drinking and driving. She added that many drivers are found speeding during school hours.
The Road Traffic Department is also considered a key revenue collection agency for the government.
Between July 2024 and January 2025, the department collected over $24m.
“Just this week, a driver contacted my ministry to report that a young student on her way to Yellow Elder Primary School was almost hit by a speeding car while on the pedestrian crossing. As drivers, we must do better. Please slow down. I repeat, as drivers, please slow down.”
MINISTER of Energy and Transport JoBeth Coleby-Davis in the House of Assembly yesterday.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
‘It’s your fault,’ Moxey tells GBPA over hold-up on International Bazaar
PINTARD: WHO COMPLIED WITH LAW ON DISCLOSURES?
compiles reports, it does not have the authority to publish them in the Gazette.
Public Disclosure Commission chairman Bishop Victor Cooper told The Tribune on Tuesday that the committee had encountered “some setbacks” in processing disclosures.
While the law requires public officials to declare their assets by 1st March, he could not say who had failed to do so and was uncertain when the office issues would be resolved.
Previously, Bishop Cooper has falsely said that while the committee
Mr Pintard criticised the absence of a published list of compliant and non-compliant officials.
“The head of the Public Disclosure Commission is a pastor, so I would not want to characterise him as copping out,” he said. “I would only say that the commission has to be more forthcoming in providing us with the list.”
He noted that some senators were not compliant last year, yet the commission
refused to release the names of non-compliant members of Parliament, despite having an obligation to do so.
“This isn’t an option — they have to release the information,” he said.
He suggested that some government members, including at the Cabinet level, fundamentally oppose public disclosure laws.
“Philosophically, they do not believe that, and therefore, they’re not prepared to comply with a law that they don’t believe in,” he said.
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
GRAND Bahama Minister Ginger Moxey has blamed the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) for holding up the progress of the acquisition of land at the International Bazaar, where the government plans to establish an AfroCaribbean Marketplace.
Speaking in the House of Assembly yesterday, Ms Moxey asserted that the delay is solely the responsibility of the GBPA and not the government.
Her response came following questions raised by East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson, who referred to an article in The Tribune concerning statements made by GBPA executive Ian Rolle about a feasibility study and financial business plan for the project.
Although the government announced the project, Mr Rolle said the GBPA had not received a financial business plan or feasibility study.
Ms Moxey responded: “I want to put on record that communications have been had with the Grand Bahama Port Authority, and they know for a fact that we would have given
them what they needed in order to proceed.”
She added: “The Port Authority knows full well why it hasn’t closed yet, and it is the GBPA’s fault. It has nothing to do with the government. The government is prepared, the government is ready to go. The government has it budgeted for, and it is GBPA — not the government of The Bahamas.”
She said that in June of last year, the government signed a Project Preparation Facility to develop the Afro-Caribbean Marketplace. This included conducting a feasibility study and creating architectural renderings.
However, she said that the acquisition of the land remains stalled because of outstanding maintenance charges owed to the GBPA by Bazaar owners, dating back to 2006.
“This is a $1.5m amount that the Bazaar owners owed that should have been written off — this is almost 20 years,” she said. “And it would have been written off, and the GBPA indicated that they were prepared to write that off so that development can happen.”
She said the government should not have to step in to resolve the issue, as it falls
within the GBPA’s jurisdiction as city managers.
“The GBPA is right now holding on because of other matters, but at the end of the day, this will be done because the government is now working on this $1.5m that they say is owed,” she said. “But the GBPA, who is supposed to be the city managers, the developers of the city, they are the ones who are holding up the progress in their own city.”
She criticised the GBPA for failing to resolve the issue earlier.
“We are fixing a mess that no other government fixed and that the GBPA, who are city managers, did not fix. That’s why I can tell you that these are all outstanding fees that the GBPA could let go because, at the end of the day, the GBPA is going to benefit from licensees in this marketplace. We are fixing their problem.”
On Tuesday, GBPA president Ian Rolle denied claims that the Port Authority is responsible for any delays.
While Bazaar owners have outstanding charges, he said the Port Authority has informed the government that they are willing to work with them.
GRAND Bahama Minister Ginger Moxey in the House of Assembly yesterday.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
FNM leader Michael Pintard and former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis in conversation yesterday in the House of Assembly.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
$300m borrowing resolution ‘just a precaution’
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME
Minister Philip
“Brave” Davis said a $300m borrowing resolution tabled in the House of Assembly last week is a precautionary measure designed to offer flexibility, not an immediate commitment to borrow the full amount.
He said the authorisation would allow the government to borrow up to $300m, but only when market conditions are favourable, and the timing is right.
He said the funds would not be used to finance the government’s deficit or current projects.
He said the funds are designated for the National
Investment Fund, a strategic initiative to secure valuable assets for the country’s long-term growth.
The National Investment Fund, established to acquire assets that can foster prosperity for all Bahamians, must be properly capitalised, according to the prime minister.
He highlighted the importance of the National Investment Fund Act, noting that its passage was crucial in securing assets that will benefit future generations of Bahamians.
“What,” he said, “is the point of passing a significant piece of legislation like the National Investment Fund Act if we are not going to equip it with the necessary funds to succeed?”
‘What is the point of passing a significant piece of legislation like the National Investment Fund Act if we are not going to equip it with the necessary funds to succeed?’
Prime Minister Philip Davis
PRIME MINISTER DEFENDS TRAVEL SPENDING
from page one
However, the administration has hardly detailed the specific benefits of the trips, only speaking generally about the matter.
“These benefits will continue to accrue in the years ahead, bringing further
positive results to our country,” Mr Davis said.
Addressing criticism from the opposition, he took aim at what he described as politically motivated attacks on his administration’s travel budget.
“I encourage the members opposite to consider that their attacks on this issue may reflect how they view their political standing, rather than any thoughtful consideration of the matter,” he said.
“I accept that emotions must run high for them, as they see our administration move The Bahamas to a stronger position of influence in the world.
BAIL DENIED FOR DOUBLE MURDER ACCUSED
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter
A MAN was denied bail yesterday for a 2018 double homicide in Pinewood Gardens after his previous bail was revoked last year due to his failure to appear for trial.
Justice Neil Brathwaite denied 25-year-old Keontae Pinder bail on two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Pinder was granted bail previously concerning the fatal shootings of Rashad Bethel and D’Siorn Symonette in Pinewood Gardens on February 16, 2018. Another man was also reportedly seriously injured during the incident.
After being granted bail, the defendant allegedly breached his residential curfew five times in February of the previous year. For this, he was convicted by Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville and ordered to pay a fine of $3,500 or face three months in prison.
In his latest bail
application, Pinder claimed he was arrested in January 2024, and that before his release, officers seized his phone, which contained important information, and never returned it to him.
Justice Brathwaite pointed out that the defendant failed to appear for his murder trial on March 4, 2024. He added that Pinder’s bail was revoked on March 24, 2024, after sureties had ensured his attendance in court. Ashton Williams, representing the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, opposed Pinder’s bail application, saying Pinder was identified as one of the two shooters in the double homicide and that it was Pinder’s motorcycle allegedly used as the getaway vehicle.
Mr Williams also noted that Pinder had made multiple bail breaches in 2022.
The defendant’s attorney, Tonique Lewis, argued that her client was not a flight risk, highlighting that he had made no attempt to flee
during his release from 2021 to 2024. She also said there were no concerns for public safety, as Pinder had been on release for several years without incident. Ms Lewis further suggested that Pinder’s failure to appear for trial was a “simple mistake” and that he should not face further consequences for this error.
Ms Lewis also contended that it was “unlikely” Pinder’s trial would proceed on May 19, 2025, due to the trial court’s engagement in a long-running case that was unlikely to be completed by that date.
Justice Brathwaite explained that the decision to deny bail was based on Pinder’s prior failure to appear for trial despite the strict conditions attached to his bail. However, he noted that if the trial did not proceed as scheduled, “the situation might be different.”
Pinder will remain on remand at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.
“I understand the feelings of regret that their voices and views were not canvassed by international bodies, in the way that our presence is sought. But I do hope that they understand in turn, that when we travel, we do so for the good of The Bahamas and the betterment of the Bahamian people.” Mr Davis said much of the travel expenditure goes towards sending technical officers from various sectors, including the Family Islands, for training and enhancing government service delivery.
“I think it’s important for Bahamians to know that many of those who travel are young Bahamian experts, serving their country, for whom the professional development, exposure, and networking with colleagues are invaluable,” he said. “Investing in the next generation of policymakers is, in turn, surely indispensable to us as well.”
PRIME Minister Philip Davis yesterday.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
The Tribune Limited
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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YESTERDAY marked the start of the season of Lent.
Across the nation, people made their way to Ash Wednesday services.
Those ashy marks on foreheads were seen as we went about our daily business, sometimes with a nodded acknowledgement that we are all on the same journey. It is a time for reflection. A time for repentance.
Many will begin a period of abstinence or fasting - giving something up for Lent in order to give ourselves a reminder of the season, to show a purpose in what we are doing. That can be a substantial thing we quit, it might be frivolous. But it is the intent that matters.
The season can also be a reminder to ourselves to do better.
That can be at a personal level, or it can be at a national level.
What can we as a country do better?
We wrote in this column yesterday about the failings - over many years - of the country in reporting the financial disclosures our Parliamentarians are legally obliged to file.
Yesterday, FNM leader Michael Pintard echoed that demand to, well, do better.
Elsewhere, though, there were signs of the government responding to the voices of the public.
The Road Traffic Act brought in a requirement that people insure their car on their birth month - which led lots of people to wonder why the government was inserting itself into when might be convenient for people to buy their insurance. As long as the car was insured, what should it matter which month it was insured in, if insurer and insuree are happy with their private contract?
An amendment is now to be brought, the minister confirmed yesterday to Parliament. Quite right - though it should not have been needed in the first place. There is something of the same feeling in the air about the move by the government towards paying staff twice a month rather than monthly.
A considerable number of workers have questioned why such a move would be necessary - seeing as they are happy with the current arrangement.
Many have their mortgages or bank loans set to come out at specific dates, and splitting their salary payment suddenly might require some rethinking.
Why does government need to insert itself into that process too?
It may benefit some, certainly - so can it be offered as an option? Take your pick, which way do you want to be paid? Make it up to the worker what suits them, not the other way round.
Lately, there has been much talk about the amount the government has been spending on travel.
A lot of that discussion might well be very politicised - a government needs to travel to do its business. What the government could do with is bringing more transparency to the table. Let us have more details on the individual trips that take place.
Telling us one overall number for
www.tribune242.com @tribune242 tribune news network
travel does not really tell us that much overall.
Breaking it down into more detail is much more informative.
How many people travelled, who made up the party, where did they stay, what was the total cost of the individual trip, and so on.
After all, it is our money.
The sight of the Prime Minister defending that spending, however, does not sit well with the report that students have been left to wait, and wait... and wait to be paid the money they are owed in grants.
Those students are likely among those who can least afford to wait for such funds. Books need to be bought. Buses need to be paid for. After all the patting on its own back the government has done over ensuring school children have free breakfasts, the thought that older students are struggling to have the funds to pay for a meal does not fit the narrative.
It is not the first time we have heard of funds that were due not being paid out - including in schools where vendors for those self-same school breakfasts were left waiting for payouts.
What is the hold-up on payments? Not just for students, but across the board. Is there some kind of issue with cashflow?
Again, note the government wanted to adjust when they were paying workers, whether workers wanted it or not. But when people are waiting for pay from the government, there is not the same zeal to ensure everything is arranged.
Elsewhere there are discussions about providing Crown land for roadside garages. Some garage owners have welcomed the idea - but do we really think this will stop the bush mechanic who fixes cars in the yard of his house is going to up and relocate to a piece of land elsewhere for his work?
They will need tools - do they put up buildings on that property?
If tools are in those buildings, then there will be locks and fences, or else the mechanic comes back to a broken door and there goes his livelihood.
It seems like this is a solution that hopes that everyone will follow it - but human behaviour is very different from a single, prescribed solution.
Many of these points are matters that we can reflect on. So as we enter this season of Lent, it is perhaps a timely reminder to make that reflection.
To consider what we are doing, and how we might do it better.
To consider that what we want and what others need might not be the same thing.
To consider that one solution does not fit all.
To consider that no matter how well we think we are doing, there is always the room to strive harder, to reach higher, and to help others in any way we can. Reflect.
Cartwright should lead the FNM
EDITOR, The Tribune.
THE Free National Movement stands at a crucial moment in its history. The party suffered a significant defeat in 2021, and despite efforts to rebuild, it remains in a precarious position. Leadership is not just about guiding the party through opposition — it is about preparing it to win. And that is where the current direction must be questioned. Michael Pintard has been at the helm for nearly three years, yet the FNM has struggled to regain its footing. The party is stuck in a cycle of reactionary politics, failing to set a compelling national agenda. Pintard is a strong debater, but parliamentary performance alone does not win elections. His leadership has not translated into widespread public confidence, and the FNM risks going into the next election with a leader who does not inspire the broad appeal needed for victory.
This is where Shanendon Cartwright presents a stronger alternative. He is not just another party insider — he is a leader who brings fresh energy, real cross-party appeal, and an ability to connect with Bahamians beyond the FNM’s traditional
base. Unlike Pintard, who struggles to expand the party’s reach, Cartwright is respected across political lines. He is not seen as an entrenched partisan figure but as someone who engages with people, listens, and understands the issues facing ordinary Bahamians.
Leadership is also about temperament. Cartwright has shown that he is steady, thoughtful, and deliberate. Where others rely on political theatrics, he brings substance. Where others fuel division, he builds connections. This is the kind of leadership that wins elections, and it is the kind of leadership the FNM desperately needs.
Beyond politics, Cartwright’s deep involvement in civic life gives him credibility. His work in community development, youth mentorship, and national service shows that he is not just a politician — he is a public servant. Bahamians are growing tired of politicians who only show up at election time. They want leaders who have been present and active in improving their communities, and Cartwright has
demonstrated that commitment long before seeking political power.
Cartwright also brings the kind of charisma and communication skills that are critical in modern politics. He does not speak in rehearsed soundbites; he connects. He does not come across as another political operator; he feels real. This is an area where Pintard struggles — despite his political experience, he has not captured the imagination of the electorate.
The FNM must now decide what kind of party it wants to be in the next election. Does it want to continue down a path where it fails to inspire, or does it want to put forward a leader who can genuinely compete? The next election will not be won by default. It will be won by the leader who can reach beyond the party’s base and convince Bahamians that real change is possible.
Shanendon Cartwright is that leader. If the FNM truly wants to win, it must think twice about sticking to the status quo. It needs a leader who can do more than just manage the party—it needs someone who can win the country. And that leader is Cartwright.
Janice Kemp March 5, 2025.
Raise pay for casual workers
EDITOR, The Tribune.
SEVERAL weeks ago, an employee at a huge industrial company told me that he works for a company that acts as a middleman between staff members and the industrial company. As a casual worker, his salary is about $8 per hour. At $8 per hour, he would be earning $320 per week before NIB deductions. His $320 weekly wage is just $60 more than minimum wage laborers. As a casual worker, he is not entitled to holiday pay like permanent staff members. If he doesn’t work on, say, Christmas or New Year’s Day, he will not get paid. Moreover, there is no vacation pay and banks are hesitant to loan monies to casual staff members owing to the uncertainty of their jobs. Casual labourers in Grand Bahama are being exploited as if they’re undocumented aliens residing in The Bahamas. And no one in the government seems to care. I remember when $8 per hour was the average salary for drivers employed at small firms in the bonded areas in Freeport in 1994. That was 31 years ago when a gallon of gasoline was going for $2.30 and the average monthly
mortgage payment for a low-cost home was around $500. A trolley of groceries at Winn Dixie was about $70 and you would have been outraged if your monthly light bill exceeded $100. Fast forward to 2025 when the cost of living has skyrocketed, and certain industrial companies in Freeport continue to pay their workers as if we are still living in the mid nineties. It is absolutely unconscionable what Bahamian casual laborers are being subjected to. The system seems tailored to perpetuate abject poverty. At $8 per hour,
a casual laborer is earning $1,280 in a four week month. The average rent is going for $600 for a two-bedroom apartment in an area that would be considered below the middle-class level. I chose not to entertain a hypothetical scenario regarding mortgage payments for the simple fact that these casual labourers in Grand Bahama do not even remotely qualify for a mortgage. When you subtract his rent, he is left with $680 to pay his light bill, which would be anywhere from $150 to $200. This means he only has
about $480 remaining to pay his cable and internet bills and to buy groceries, which can average anywhere from $200 to $350 weekly, depending on the size of his family. After paying his monthly bills, he is left flat broke. As you can see, the $8 per hour wage is inhumane and sinful. It has no place in the lucrative industrial sector in Grand Bahama in the 21st century, especially given the fact that their counterparts in Europe, Canada and the United States are earning upwards of $25 to $40 per hour for the same work being done
on the island. The government must pressure these wealthy industrial companies to increase the salaries of their casual workers to a level they can afford to live with some semblance of dignity. I am asking for a rate of $25 per hour. I am sure that the industrial industry is more than capable, financially speaking, to increase the salary of casual workers to at least $13 per hour.
Grand Bahama February 27, 2025.
KEVIN EVANS Freeport,
Photo: Rose Frazier
‘Pay us what we’re owed’ say students
Anthony Ferguson Jr, a 21-year-old law and criminal justice major, has also been hit hard by the delays.
After moving from Grand Bahama to New Providence for school, he expected his financial aid to cover rent. Instead, he’s been forced to pay late fees, driving up costs.
“Although my landlord is lenient, she’s only lenient up to a certain date,” he said. “After that, the money begins to add up. Sometimes my bill goes from $750 to $1,000 because of how late the pay is.”
Ms Strachan, a senior student who also works at UB, said the strain is even greater because her wages from the university are often delayed as well. When she has no food, she turns to UB’s care pantry, a programme set up to help students in need.
“We are extremely fed up because the cost of living is extremely high,” she said.
“My landlord is not going to say that because they didn’t pay me, I could just take a break.” SGA president Chanté Deal estimates the delays
have impacted more than 100 students. “These funds are supposed to be distributed monthly, but this has not been the case for years,”
she said. “What has been happening is that students either receive them halfway through the semester — getting the first two months at once — then they receive
the remainder at the end of the semester.”
Education Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin apologised for the disruption yesterday, saying her ministry is investigating the cause of the delays. She later told the House of Assembly that students were informed last week that payments would be made by Friday. She said 225 students receive accommodation grants, 72 receive nursing stipends, and 88 receive education stipends.
However, Ms Deal said the issue has persisted under multiple administrations and remains “unacceptable”.
She said the problem has gone on long enough, adding that some students have struggled to afford school supplies, while Family Island students dependent on off-campus housing have faced eviction threats.
“We don’t think it benefits students to have a reactive response instead of a proactive one,” she said.
“We just want these funds to be in place so we don’t have to experience these delays in the future.”
The repeated financial aid issues have also raised concerns about UB’s financial status. The SGA is demanding answers on why payments continue to be late.
The Davis administration has faced several paymentrelated issues in recent months.
Earlier this year, some funeral homes refused to respond to police body removal requests due to unpaid government bills.
In 2023, Opposition Leader Michael Pintard highlighted delayed payments to contractors under the Urban Renewal programme in Grand Bahama.
The Tribune also previously reported that 900 participants in the Public Service Professional Engagement Programme (PSPEP) faced delays in receiving their wages.
“We just want what we’re owed,” Ms Strachan said.
MAN CHARGED OVER ALLEGED ABDUCTION AND ATTACK ON WOMAN
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A 52-YEAR-OLD
man accused of abducting and violently attacking a woman was charged in the Freeport Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Calvin Farquharson appeared in Court Three before Magistrate LaQuay Laing on four charges, including kidnapping, causing harm, threats of death, and stealing. It is alleged that on March 2, in Freeport, the accused unlawfully kidnapped Utah Maycock, caused her harm, and made threats of death, putting her in fear for her life.
During the drive, the attacker allegedly stabbed her multiple times in the left arm. She managed to escape, and the vehicle
Farquharson is also accused of stealing a Samsung cellular phone valued at $299, the property of Ms Maycock. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. According to police reports, a woman had arrived home when she was ambushed by a man she knew, who then directed her to drive to a certain park. Fearing for her safety, she complied.
crashed. Police arrived on the scene and arrested the suspect. The court prosecutor informed the court that kidnapping is classified as a Part C offence and requested that bail be
denied, referring the matter to the Supreme Court.
Magistrate Laing denied Farquharson bail and deferred the matter to the Supreme Court, where proceedings are scheduled to continue on March 31.
LENTEN PILGRIMAGE AND SPIRITUAL EXERCISES
“Love alone allows man to forget himself... it alone can still redeem even the darkest hours of the past since it alone finds the courage to believe in the mercy of the holy God.”
– Karl Rahner, S.J.
THE days of Lent are like a mini-pilgrimage, a retreat, a time for spiritual exercises, prayer and practices in preparation for the celebration of Easter and rebirth. We are forever leaning how to pray. This Lent may be an opportunity to renew one’s prayer life, including, potentially, new forms of prayer. “Lord, teach us to pray!”
The German-born theologian Fr Karl Rahner, with a deeply mystical and compassionate spirit, reminds: “When [a person] is with God in awe and love, then he is praying.” Because prayer is an engagement and attitude of love, we are forever striving to develop a richer and deeper prayer life.
How do we spend time with God in awe and love?
An older cousin and friend says the older he gets, the less he asks God for something. Much of his time in pray is now spent in awe and adoration of the sacredness of creation and life..
Fr Rahner also muses:
“We chatter so loudly to try to make ourselves forget that we are dying.” Lent is a particular time to remember that our earthly pilgrimage is not an end itself, that our own death may be more imminent than we realise, and that all that we do is in the context of the finitude of ever depleting days and nights.
We viscerally know that we do not have the time we think we have. But we are good at pretending. Lent is an opportunity to practice or to begin spiritual or other exercises that may help us to heal, to grow, to become kinder, and to do less harm to others.
We carry slights, burdens, injuries, traumas, disappointments and patterns of sin that are not easily arrested or ever fully healed. Sharing these burdens with a spouse or partner, a family member or friend, or a minister, priest or counsellor, may serve as a gateway to healing and greater freedom.
We spend inordinate time avoiding the essentials of life, anaesthetising ourselves through all manner of avoidances, pretensions and distractions.
This Lent, perhaps it is time to disclose dark areas of our lives which desperately need light. We might finally decide to seek help and advice in terms of spiritual direction, pastoral or grief counselling, or therapy from a psychologist or psychiatrist.
None of us are wise or strong or insightful enough to carry life’s burdens alone. Pride often renders us afraid to be vulnerable enough to disclose our deepest sins and failures, our daily struggles, and chronic spiritual and psychological wounds and pain, often from childhood, which often grow worse as we age. Our interior lives can become like undrained septic tanks, growing more toxic and filled with stench, which we transmit to others. Imagine a septic tank never drained or teeth never brushed or a wound never cauterised, bound and healed or a body never washed.
Our spiritual and inner lives can become as calcified, as sick and as dysfunctional. One of the most tragic things in life is those who can never truly disclose themselves to another, whether a cleric, a friend, a therapist or someone who can grant perspective and understanding. It is essential to human growth and recovery to have genuine witnesses to our lives, who know
the mess and pus or darkness of who we may be at times, and who may help us to heal and to restore our better selves, loving us mercifully to new life. It is liberating to disclose to another the detritus and truth of our lives. The truth of one’s life is that much of that life may have been erected on a foundation and scaffold of lies and untruth. Especially as we age, and grow closer to death, we might still summon the courage to bear more of our souls and wounds with another, who may help to unburden habits of the heart and mind which remain unhealed and which paralyse and pain us still, no matter our age or state of life.
As Rahner implores: “Love alone allows man to forget himself... it alone can still redeem even the darkest hours of the past since it alone finds the courage to believe in the mercy of the holy God.” And to
accept the mercy of our companions.
As people of faith, the ongoing disclosure of our full selves to the God of Mercy, may help to redeem, replenish and renew our spirits. It is this love and the sacrifice demonstrated through the Paschal Mystery or pilgrimage of love of Jesus Christ, that we will celebrate on Easter Sunday.
During these days in Lent, it is an opportunity to reflect on our need for ceaseless conversion. What practices, exercise and attitudes might we renew or adapt to promote greater interior and effective freedom.
Fr Karl Rahner’s Ash Wednesday meditation reminds us of our destiny. It is also a meditation on the need for humility and perspective about the nature of our brief and fractured pilgrimage. Rahner offers: “Dust –truly a splendid symbol. Dust, this is the image of
the commonplace. There is always more than enough of it. One fleck is as good as the next.
“Dust is the image of anonymity: one fleck is like the next, and all are nameless. It is the symbol of indifference: What does it matter whether it is this dust or that dust? It is all the same.
“Dust is the symbol of nothingness: because it lies around so loosely, it is easily stirred up, it blows around blindly, is stepped upon and crushed – and nobody notices. It is a nothing that is just enough to be – a nothing.
“Dust is the symbol of coming to nothing: it has no content, no form, no shape; it blows away, the empty, indifferent, colorless, aimless, unstable booty of senseless change, to be found everywhere, and nowhere at home.
“Truly, then, scripture is right. We are dust. We are always in the process of
dying. We are the beings who set our course for death, when we set out on life’s journey, and steer for death, clearly and inexorably. We are the only beings who know about this tendency to death. We are dust!”
And Fr Rahner invites us to be loving and gentler toward ourselves and others:
“Not everybody, however, has a genuine sense of humor. That calls for an altruistic detachment from oneself and a mysterious sympathy with others which is felt even before they open their mouths.
“Only the person who has also a gift for affection can have a true sense of humor. A good laugh is a sign of love; it may be said to give us a glimpse of, or a first lesson in, the love that God bears for every one of us.”
• A version of this column previously appeared.
Plenty of Trump jokes - and a few regrets?
AMID all the chaos, confusion, malice and mistakes currently reigning in Washington, someone suggested that a few laughs might be in order.
Here are a couple of chuckles, adopted from late night television last week:
A new poll indicates that some Americans feel buyer’s remorse about voting for President Donald Trump.
On Thursday’s “Late Show”, Stephen Colbert pointed out that’s mainly because, after six weeks in office, Trump has yet to eliminate inflation, as he promised during his campaign to do on Day 1 of his new administration. Gas prices haven’t dropped.
“That was his claim. He said it over and over again, but now his voters still think things are too expensive. Somewhere in Delaware, Joe Biden is shaking his head, chuckling to himself.” And he could be thinking, ‘maybe those voters are getting what they deserve for supporting a liar like Trump. They should have voted for me.’
That’s what Biden could be thinking, Colbert suggested. Then came the punch line.
“But actually, Biden was thinking, ‘why was it again that I came into this room? Can’t seem to remember…’”
Elsewhere on TV, another comedian offered the following trenchant commentary on an upcoming space launch: “So Jeff Bezos is launching a historic rocket mission in which Katy Perry, Gayle King and (Bezos girlfriend) Lauren Sánchez will be the astronauts on an allwoman mission. They’re calling it the ‘Real Housewives of Mars.’
“The mission will last four hours, but the women are expected to take six weeks to get ready. Also, there will be a booster rocket following their spaceship carrying all their luggage — because, you know, they’re women…” Billionaire Bezos, who has been tinkering with the editorial page policies of the Washington Post, has angered many of its liberal readers in recent weeks. His managing editor quit in protest. Many customers have cancelled their subscriptions to the Post in protest of Bezos’ apparent cozying up to Trump since the president moved back in to the White House.
The casually malign, often cruel machinations of another Trump-leaning billionaire, Elon Musk, have also made the news often in recent weeks as he leads a peripatetic, often confused foray through the federal workforce in Washington and elsewhere, firing thousands of civil servants for often whimsical and sometimes unexpressed reasons.
As the US Senate with its slim Republican majority watches with uneasy fecklessness, Trump and Company continue to follow the 2025 playbook conceived by for them conservative activists starting early in Joe Biden’s term as
STATESIDE
president. Though Trump often denied any knowledge or even acquaintance with this thick volume while campaigning for another presidential term, he and his team nevertheless arrived in Washington on January 20 eager to implement many of its provisions. With inflation still high, eggs only available at exorbitant prices as supplies dwindle due to a bird flu epidemic, anti-vaccination sentiment hindering efforts to extinguish an ominous outbreak of measles in West Texas, and memories still fresh of Trump and vice president JD Vance’s almost comically undiplomatic shouting match last week with the visiting president of Ukraine, polls are starting to edge more strongly against the new president.
A liberal friend wondered out loud if the US constitution’s intricate set of checks and balances on presidential power would ever be seen again.
“The Congress and the courts are supposed to have – and to exercise – the authority to check excesses like those we are now witnessing,” she lamented bitterly. “Where in the world are they?”
A cynic might answer that the legislative and judicial branches, having been recently dominated
and appointed respectively by Trump, are fearful of primary challenges, public ridicule and possible threats, and other risks and dangers that seem to accompany defiance of Trump.
Those factors may indeed be in play. But it is also true that many of the policies that are guiding Trump and his associates are long-term conservative and Republican goals.
A great example of this is the ongoing dismantling of the principal American non-military foreign assistance agency, the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Thousands of agency employees were fired last week, and there were pitiable reports of individuals being told to leave and clean out their desks with little or no advance notice.
While the methods and indeed legality of this massive reduction in force were new and certain to be challenged in court, the goal of disbanding USAID has long been a GOP objective. Forty years ago, then-chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jesse Helms of North Carolina succeeded in cancelling the independent US Information Agency and merging it into the State Department. He then turned to USAID with the same
intent. But he didn’t succeed then, because the foreign assistance agency had – and retains – powerful support outside Washington, particularly in the Midwest where thousands of big and small farms are subsidized and rewarded for their overproduction of grain and other foodstuffs by government purchases for use in foreign aid programs.
Trump’s lightning blitz has caught farmers and agribusinessmen by surprise this time, though they are catching on. The head of a Kansas farmers’ association, interviewed on TV, said he and his members should have read Trump’s proposed programme before they voted for him. “Might be too late now,” he offered.
It might be late, but it’s not too late. A quickly emerging consensus is building around the notion that Congressional backbones will be stiffened and some resistance to Trump will become apparent when the voters back home in Kansas and elsewhere start to register annoyance and anger at government cuts that reduce services or transfer payments they have come to depend upon.
And it won’t likely take too long before Trump’s heavy tariffs levied against the largest US trading
partners in Canada, Mexico and China begin to bite into the disposable income of voters. Retaliation is inevitable, and the cost of goods and even services in the US is bound to rise. And that might push the country fairly quickly into recession.
Musk and even Bezos might not care, but Trump has shown that he does care about those voters who supported him. The consensus is that when enough of those MAGAns register their unhappiness, he will grandly pull back his shock troops and restore services and stop the assaults on people’s lives.
Even if the president does tighten the reins on all the governmental reductions and eliminations, however, Trump is laying the groundwork for a colossal Republican defeat in November 2026. And such staggering political losses would not be recently unprecedented.
By 2010, Barack Obama’s big Congressional majorities had allowed him to pass the landmark Affordable Care Act that was designed to be the centerpiece and initiator of reducing or eliminating the large, structural underclass of American poor people.
The Republican opposition attacked the new legislation pervasively and quickly, and generated opposition that persists in Trump’s mind even today, years after Obamacare has been shown to benefit many millions of Americans.
By the end of November 2010, the mid-term elections had wiped out Obama’s comfortable Congressional
majorities. Similarly, in 2018, after the first two years of Trump’s first term had revealed his distaste and disregard for the conduct and organisation of government and his behaviour had offended millions, the GOP majorities in the House and Senate were wiped away in a Democratic landslide.
If Trump continues to direct the disassembling of government agencies and departments that actually deliver necessary assistance to US citizens, a powerful backlash seems inevitable.
But at the current pace of “scorched earth” swaggering through the corridors of the federal government by Trump’s minions and the Musketeers, the backlash may arrive much sooner than November 2026.
Many expect that after the Easter Congressional recess in April, congresspersons and senators will return to the capital full of their constituents’ distaste for what is happening in Washington. Then, four or five months into this new administration, a quiet pullback of the attack on the federal government is likely.
Meantime, the US federal court system led by the American Supreme Court will have faced numerous challenges to what seems to many as the most brazen exercise of unchecked presidential power in at least eighty years.
While the Supreme Court has been sympathetic to executive power in recent years, the justices are also sensitive to public opinion. They might also push back against Trump.
with Charlie Harper
PRESIDENT Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, on Tuesday.
Photo: Ben Curtis/AP
Mixed reaction to proposal to relocate roadside garages
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
SOME roadside garage operators are open but sceptical about the Davis administration’s desire to relocate such businesses from residential areas to designated zones, raising concerns over costs, space limitations, and unfulfilled promises from previous initiatives.
Works Minister Clay Sweeting told The Tribune earlier this week that the government secured Crown land to relocate roadside garages, aiming to regulate
businesses operating in residential areas. He said an inter-ministerial committee is engaging with business owners to develop a structured relocation plan, prioritising the largest operations.
He said discussions to fix the frustrating problem are ongoing, and no official policy had been finalised.
Andre Thompson, a mechanic who operates in a residential area without the necessary licenses, supported the move but stressed the need for government assistance.
“I work in a residential area without the necessary
licences because there was no alternative,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “It would be good if the government helped people like me transition to a proper facility so we could all work together in a better system.”
He emphasised the challenges mechanics face when working in residential areas, saying that keeping good relations with neighbours is critical to maintaining operations.
“In working in a residential area, you try to keep vehicles at a minimum and avoid annoying neighbours, but if mechanics
let vehicles take over the streets and cause congestion, then that becomes an issue,” he said.
Another garage operator, Alexander Smith, said he remained open to relocation but believed affordability and space remained major concerns.
“If the price was reasonable and they spread us out properly, then it could work,” he said. “But if they packed us into one small area, that would be a problem.”
He pointed to past attempts at specifying designated spaces for mechanics, saying
discussions took place, but no action followed.
“There was supposed to be property on Gladstone Road for this, but it never came through. They talked about it several times, but nothing happened,” he said.
Ricardo Major, who owns a roadside mechanic shop but specialises more in air conditioning and refrigeration repairs, expressed scepticism about the government’s push to relocate auto repair businesses.
While acknowledging the benefits for some, he questioned whether the move made sense for smaller operators like himself.
“You know, it sounds good, but at the end of the day, you’re just managing to keep your head above water,” he said, adding that his operation was minimal, servicing only a few vehicles per month.
“We just fix cars, but not every day. Some people bring their car, and we fix it for them. We’ll probably have three cars for the month,” he added.
He admitted that moving his business at this stage of life was not a priority.
“I’m 60 years old. I don’t have any time for that. If I was younger, then yeah,” Mr Major said.
HIGH COMMISSION HOSTS BAHAMIAN CAMBRIDGE ALUMNI
THE British High Commission recently hosted the Bahamian alumni of Cambridge University for a celebratory dinner.
The group of lawyers, barristers, conservationists, and financial leaders discussed their experience at Cambridge, which spanned from 1977 to 2020 - their personal highlights included, Shakespeare in the gardens, punting on the Cam, formal halls, and May Balls!
Over dinner, which ended with Androsian-style pancakes to mark the traditional British Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) cooked by chef Niki Lightbourne, the group committed to support the next generation of Bahamian applicants to the university. They agreed to meet again to watch the Cambridge-Oxford Boat Race on April 13.
Prospective Bahamian students considering applying to Cambridge or Oxford
are encouraged to speak to the group, who can offer mentoring and experience sharing, including in choosing a college. You can connect via the British High Commission or at alumni.cam.ac.uk/group/ bahamas-alumni-group
British High Commissioner Thomas Hartley said: “Mrs Hartley and I have such fond memories of our time at Cambridge, and we were thrilled to connect to an eminent group of Bahamians who also enjoyed their experience. I’m excited to see more students apply, and am grateful to the Cambridge alumni for committing to offer support. My particular thanks to Dr Maynard KC, chair of the alumni group, and Mrs Viana Gardiner, who were both instrumental in bringing together this wonderful group. The British High Commission would like to meet other Bahamian alumni of
Temple Christian School 2025 – 2026
Temple Christian School invites applications from qualified Christian persons for the following positions for the 2025-2026 school year:
British Universities, who can register with the British High Commission by emailing their course, year, and university name to ukinthe. bahamas@fcdo.gov.uk.
The group included: Viana Gardiner (Newnham
Applicants must:
Be a practicing born again Christian who is willing to subscribe to the statement of faith of Temple Christian School.
www.templechristianbahamas.com and at the Applications are to be submitted to: Dr. Samuel L. Rutherford
Christian School 4th Terrace East, Collins Avenue P.O. Box N-1566 Nassau, Bahamas Ph: 325-1095 / 322-5157
The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday, March 14, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
College); Lashanti Knowles (Wolfson College); Maurice Glinton KC (St John’s College); Paula Adderley (St Catherine’s College); Marion Bethel (Wolfson College); Jennie Hartley (Robinson
College, Newnham College); Thomas Hartley MA (Robinson College); Hillary Deveaux (St John’s College); Kevin Burrows (Churchill College); Lindy Clyde Knowles (Darwin College); Tyrone Fitzgerald
(Hughes Hall); and Dr Peter Maynard KC (Jesus College). Apologies were received from Dr Desiree Cox, Dr Nicolette Bethel; Dr Valentine Grimes; and Peter Young OBE, all also alumni.
CAMBRIDGE ALUMNI BAHAMAS, from left, front to back: Viana Gardiner; Lashanti Knowles; Maurice Glinton KC; Paula Adderley; Marion Bethel; Jennie Hartley; Thomas Hartley MA; Hillary Deveaux; Kevin Burrows; Lindy Clyde Knowles; Tyrone Fitzgerald; Dr Peter Maynard KC.
READY TO SHARE SAXONS MEMORIES
THE SAXONS announced the launch of a comprehensive memoir yesterday as it celebrates 60 years of its existence. The book will highlight the group’s milestones and colourful history, with a release set for June. The announcement follows their double victory in the 2025 New Year’s Day and 2024 Boxing Day parades.
MAN ACCUSED OF GUN CHARGES ADMITS CURFEW BREACH
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was sentenced to six months in prison after admitting to breaching curfew conditions related to a pending drug and firearm trial, following the discovery of 100 rounds of ammunition at his home last year.
Senior Magistrate Raquel Whyms arraigned Rolie Henfield, 44, on the violation of bail conditions.
Henfield and his accomplices had been granted bail on charges including
possession of a prohibited weapon, an unlicenced firearm, ammunition with intent to supply, dangerous drugs with intent to supply, and ammunition.
Henfield was arrested after police allegedly discovered a banned black and brown Draco rifle in an orange cloth bag at his residence on Windsor Lane on September 5, 2024. Police also seized 16lb of marijuana in a blue and white cooler. The drugs recovered in this case have an estimated street value of $16,000. Additionally, Henfield was reportedly found in possession of a black Taurus 9mm pistol,
139 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and four rounds of 9mm ammunition.
While on release for these charges, the defendant allegedly breached his court-ordered residential curfew on March 1.
Henfield pleaded guilty to the charge and accepted the facts of the case. He was sentenced to six months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Before being taken into remand, the defendant was informed of his right to appeal the sentencing.
BUSINESSMAN ADMITS THROWING STONES THROUGH WINDOW
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A GRAND Bahama businessman who pleaded guilty to causing damage at a local business establishment has been ordered by a magistrate to undergo evaluation and treatment at the Diah Ward of the Rand Memorial Hospital before sentencing.
Calvin Fowler, 46, was ordered to remain for 14 days for psychiatric assessment and treatment.
Additionally, he must pay $1,751 in compensation for the damage caused, along with a $500 fine.
Fowler appeared before Magistrate LaQuay Laing charged with causing damage at Fowlco Maritime and Project Services on Queen’s Highway.
According to the prosecution, on February 25, Fowler threw two stones, shattering two glass windows at the establishment.
His brother, Curtis Fowler, the principal owner of Fowlco, reported the incident to police on February 27. On March 4, police arrested Calvin Fowler.
The court heard Fowler was remorseful. “He let his emotions get the better part of him, and he ought to be given a second opportunity,”
said his attorney. The attorney pleaded with the court for leniency, saying Fowler was willing to pay for the damage and requesting a conditional discharge. In his mitigation, he noted that Fowler is a businessman and a conviction for causing harm would do more harm than good. The lawyer said Fowler had been involved in a longstanding dispute with his family, which had escalated. He said Fowler had already arranged to see a doctor for evaluation and requested he be remanded to the Diah Ward at the Rand Memorial Hospital for 14 days instead of being sent to prison.
Magistrate Laing noted Fowler had previously been before the courts on other matters and had already been given two chances.
“This is his third chance,” Magistrate Laing said. “He is here again, and he is making a mockery of this court.”
While the magistrate acknowledged the importance of second chances, he indicated he was inclined to impose a custodial sentence. Fowler was remanded for 14 days at the Diah Ward, pending a doctor’s report. The matter was adjourned to March 18 for sentencing.
PROBATION OVER STOLEN BIKE
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was placed on probation yesterday after admitting to receiving a stolen motorcycle last week.
Senior Magistrate Anishka Isaacs arraigned Shannon Nixon, 21, on a charge of receiving. The defendant was reportedly found by police in possession of a 2025 Yamaha XTZ125E motorcycle, which had been stolen from Jarred Evans.
Nixon was aware that the motorcycle had been obtained through an offence.
The vehicle in question was valued at $2,722.73. Nixon pleaded guilty to the charge and accepted the facts of the case.
Magistrate Isaacs sentenced Nixon to one year on probation. Should he breach the terms of his probation, Nixon would face a fine of $6,000 or six months in prison. Assistant Superintendent of Police Bould served as the prosecutor.
GUILTY OF CUTLASS ASSAULT
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was placed on probation yesterday after admitting to assaulting a landowner with a cutlass while attempting to pick bananas.
Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr arraigned Michael Pierre, 54, on charges of trespassing, assault with a dangerous weapon, and threats of death.
Pierre reportedly assaulted the landowner
with a cutlass while trespassing on a vacant lot in New Providence on February 20. He also threatened the victim with death.
After pleading guilty to the charges, the defendant explained that he had only been attempting to pick fruit and expressed remorse for his rash actions. Pierre was placed on six months probation, with a six-month prison sentence to be imposed in the event of a breach. Sergeant 3008 Forbes served as the prosecutor.
On Saturday, March 22, 2025, Temple Christian School will hold its Entrance Examination for students entering grades 7, 8, 9 and 10.
TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
LOCATION:
High School Campus, Shirley Street
Application forms are available at the High School Office and should be completed and returned to the school by Friday, March 21, 2025. The application fee is twenty-five dollars ($25).
For further information, please call telephone number: 394-4481/394-4484.
Inspiring young readers
By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
FOR Kertorra Davis, faith, family, and community are at the heart of everything she does.
A devoted wife, mother, entrepreneur, and now a Christian Bahamian author, Kertorra has added another meaningful title to her name with the release of her debut children’s book, Fruit Treasures of Heaven.
Officially launched early this month, the book introduces children to the biblical concept of the Fruit of the Spirit in a way that is engaging, relatable, and inspiring.
The idea for Fruit Treasures of Heaven was born from a women’s Zoom session called “242 Birthing Movement,” founded by Rev Katherine Hamilton. In one of the sessions, the topic of discussion was the
Fruit of the Spirit, as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23. It was then that Kertorra felt a divine calling to create a children’s version of this powerful biblical teaching.
“The Lord spoke to me during that session and told me I should write a children’s book on the Fruit of the Spirit,” the author told Tribune Religion. “It was truly inspired by God.” Her inspiration was further fueled by her two daughters, Shaniya and Shanae, whose daily stories about school and interactions with their peers made Kertorra realise the importance of teaching children moral values in a way they could understand. Observing the struggles that kids often face in embodying kindness, patience, and love, she knew there was a need for a book like Fruit Treasures of Heaven.
Within three to six months, Kertorra wrote and published the book, making
her dream of becoming an author a reality. But this is just the beginning. “Yes, this is my first book, but more books are on the way. I am already working on another children’s book,” she said.
Fruit Treasures of Heaven she told Tribune Religion is more than just a book — it is a tool for instilling spiritual values in children. Through storytelling, scripture, and engaging activities, presents the characteristics of Jesus in a way that children can grasp. The book emphasises love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control — qualities that are essential in shaping strong moral character.
“This book teaches children about morals, standards, and good behavior. “It is filled with real stories and activities that can bring the entire family together,” she said. With the rise of technology and distractions from
electronic devices, the author believes it is more important than ever to encourage children to read and engage with faith-based content. She hopes her book will not only help improve literacy but also nurture a generation of children who carry the principles of faith into their daily lives.
At its core, Fruit Treasures of Heaven delivers a powerful message: to foster a generation that values compassion, integrity, and faith. The author wanted to create a resource that children could carry with them, even if they do not regularly attend church.
“Many children don’t attend church often, so I wanted to provide something they could access anytime, anywhere,” she said. “The Fruit of the Spirit are like seeds we plant in our hearts. When we nurture them with love and kindness, they grow into beautiful fruits.”
torra also sees this book as an opportunity for children to empower one another.
“Children influence other children. By learning about the Fruit of the Spirit, they can share what they’ve learned with their friends, impacting their generation in a positive way.”
As Kertorra continues her journey as an author, she remains dedicated to uplifting and inspiring others — whether through her book, her ministry, or her entrepreneurial efforts.
As the founder of the Sistas Empowering Sistas Net-
she understands the importance of creating supportive communities, and she hopes Fruit Treasures of Heaven will build a foundation for young readers to develop strong faith and character.
Her passion for faith and family shines through in her work, and she believes that by investing in the spiritual growth of children, we are planting seeds for a brighter future.
“It’s all about being a Kingdom Kid,” she said with a smile.
MP TO HOST INTERCESSION EVENT IN COMMUNITY
In a time when crime, fatalities and suicides are of serious concern for Bahamians, Member of Parliament for Sea Breeze Leslia Miller Brice is hosting a “Call to Prayer” Gospel concert and intercession event.
She said prayer and praise are two weapons that everyone can use to combat social ills on a spiritual level. The event will take place on Friday, March 14, at 6.30pm at the Charles Carter Park off Charles Saunders Highway. The intercession will feature Gospel performers including Edison Sumner and the Voices of Praise; Pastor Simeon Outten; Cara T Newton; Revolution Church, Living
Waters Kingdom Ministries, Bishop Lawrence Rolle, Davian Chase and Shaback.
Participating churches include: Living Waters Kingdom Ministries; Curry Memorial Methodist Church; Redemption Seventh Day Adventist Church; New Dimensions Ministries; Christian Life Church; Victory Baptist Church; Angelic Baptist Church Embassy of Revival Church; Grace Communion International Church; Victory Chapel Church of the Nazarene; Miracle life Global Church; and Revolution Church. Refreshments will be on sale, and seating will be available.
EMBRACING THE TRUE MEANING OF LENT
By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net
ACROSS the Bahamas yesterday, the faithful made their way to cathedrals and churches throughout Ash Wednesday, some attending early morning Mass, others slipping in during their lunch breaks, and many gathering after work to mark the beginning of Lent.
At St Francis Xavier Cathedral in Nassau, the solemn yet hopeful atmosphere set the tone for the 40-day journey of spiritual renewal.
As worshippers received the cross of ashes on their foreheads, Deacon Eardley ‘Danny’ Price delivered a moving morning sermon, challenging believers to see Lent as more than just a time of giving things up.
He challenged believers to reconsider the purpose of their fasting, emphasising that Lent is more than just giving up sweets or skipping meals, it’s an opportunity to grow closer to God through meaningful action.
“Rather than trying to figure out what to give up, why not commit to something different?” Deacon Price asked. “Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Attend daily Mass. Offer your time in prayer and reflection. If you love television and social media, why not reduce your screen time and spend that hour in conversation with God?” he said.
His words resonated deeply, reminding believers Lent is not just about deprivation but about deepening faith and serving others.
The deacon’s message emphasised internal change over outward appearances. He spoke of Lent as a journey of spiritual renewal, where individuals are called to acknowledge their sins, seek forgiveness, and grow in faith.
He said Lent calls us to transformation. It challenges us to take a hard look at ourselves, to acknowledge our shortcomings, and
to express sorrow for the things that are not pleasing to God. It is a time to bring real spiritual focus into our lives through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving—not for public recognition, but with sincerity in our hearts.
As the congregation listened attentively, the weight of his message was evident.
Worshippers bowed their heads in silent prayer, reflecting on their personal journeys and the ultimate sacrifice made by Christ on the cross.
For many attending the service, Lent holds deep personal meaning. Visiting from the nearby cruise port, Canadian visitor, Rachel Thompson attended Mass while on vacation. She said: “Back home, Lent has always been a time for me to slow down and reconnect with God. Being here in the Bahamas and experiencing this service was incredibly moving. It reminded me that no matter where we are, our faith remains the same.”
Bahamian local Sakina Rolle echoed similar sentiments, emphasising the importance of using this season for self-reflection.
“I used to see Lent as just a time to give up something like meat or coffee,” she admitted. “But as I’ve grown in my faith, I realise it’s about becoming a better person, one who serves, prays, and loves more deeply,” she said. Like many others, this season holds a special place in my heart. It is a time when I find myself drawn even closer to God, reflecting on His grace and the immense sacrifice Christ made for us. As Deacon Price so powerfully reminded us, Lent is a time to strip away distractions, renew our commitment to God, and embrace the love He so freely gives. It is not just about what we give up but about what we take on, acts of kindness, deeper faith, and a heart fully surrendered to Him.
