WOMAN & HEALTH
‘WE WANT JUSTICE’ AFTER TWO MURDERED
By LEANDRA ROLLE
...AS BARBER’S DEATH
By PAVEL BAILEY
Staff Reporter
AFTER months of uncertainty surrounding the death of a popular 19-year-old barber, Jamesly Richmond, police have now classified his case as a murder and charged a man in
CLASSED AS MURDER
connection with his killing. Thomas Johnson, 24, was remanded to custody yesterday after being arraigned before Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley on charges of accessory after the fact to murder, accessory after the fact to armed robbery, and accessory after the fact to receiving.
Grandmother killed in Abaco crash
By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
AN Abaco family is devastated after 57-year-old Madjorie Mills, a cherished mother and grandmother, was killed in a car accident on her way home from work last week.
Police reported that Mills was travelling east on Forest Drive after 10pm last Thursday when her vehicle collided with another travelling in the opposite
direction. Both drivers sustained serious injuries, but Mills tragically died at the scene,
leaving behind her husband, six children and 16 grandchildren. Her daughter, Shirley Mills, said the accident occurred while Mills was on her way home from her second job at the family’s eatery at a local fish fry.
She said she usually rides home with her mother after closing, but on that day, her mother left without notice.
“This was so shocking to me that my mummy didn’t
SOCIAL Services Minis-
ter Myles Laroda said there has been increasing demand for food, rental, and burial aid assistance.
“We are inundated, would be the correct word, with requests from
TIME TO SHINE
SCENES from the first day of the New Providence Adjudications in the E Clement Bethel arts Festival.
Photos: Eric Rose/BIS
‘We want justice’ after two murdered
from page one
According to Rolle’s aunt, he had just gotten off work and went to his aunt’s home — a regular family gathering spot — to relax with his cousins when gunmen approached and opened fire on the group.
Rolle, a father of one, was fatally shot, while his cousin was seriously injured after being hit in the chest. According to the family, the cousin underwent surgery yesterday morning and was last listed in stable condition.
Jestina Moxey, Rolle’s aunt, told The Tribune yesterday the family believes he was not the intended target, as he never bothered anyone.
She described her nephew as quiet and “goofy”, someone who loved to make others laugh. His dream was to become a boat captain — a goal he proudly achieved earlier this year after earning his boat licence.
“He was just at the wrong place at the wrong time,” she said, “because he just got off from work, and, like my sister said, he came home, started to proceed to wash his clothing for the following day, and then he went over to our aunt’s house.”
“He really stuck to himself and mostly kept close to family.”
Ms Moxey said the family is taking Rolle’s death hard — especially his three siblings.
In a Facebook post yesterday, his child’s mother expressed heartbreak over the killing, questioning how she would explain to their young son that he is no longer here.
She said they had been planning how he and his son would spend the summer together.
“Words can’t even come to my mouth to explain what kind of person you were,” she added.
Rolle’s death, which brought the country’s murder count to 16 for the year, came hours after 20-year-old Jaidyn Henfield was killed.
Henfield was at his home on Boyd Road when he was
approached by two gunmen in a light-coloured Japanese vehicle.
His sister, Janyiah Henfield, described his death as a devastating blow to the family.
The family is also mourning the recent loss of Henfield’s uncle, who passed away last week due to complications from diabetes.
“We could have seen if he was a kind of person that deserved this, but he wasn’t. It wasn’t called for. It was unnecessary,” Henfield’s cousin told The Tribune.
The grieving sister said their father was with Jaidyn when he took his last breath and is struggling to cope with the loss.
She learned of his death while at the beach with friends.
“His friend called me and said ‘hey, you know what I just hear?’ I said ‘what you hear?’ and he said, ‘I just heard Jaidyn’s dead,’ and so I started trembling and freaking out.”
She also remembered their last conversation before his death on Saturday when he asked her to put on his hand chain because his hands were wet.
After doing so, she told him, “I love you. I’ll see you later. Be safe,” and texted him to ask if he could take her to a nail appointment the next day — but he never responded.
Ms Henfield said her brother, one of four children, was a quiet and loving person who didn’t speak much but always showed his care in other ways.
She added that he aspired to sell clothes and renovate their family’s home.
“He never used to go out. Once or twice he’d go out and ride his bike on the track and things on Sunday and come straight home and go by his girlfriend,” she said.
Henfield’s family also pushed back against critics linking him to a widely circulated video showing a man dancing with two highpowered weapons. The man’s face is covered in the video.
His father, Jason Henfield, denied it was his son, telling The Tribune: “That photo is not even of my son.
It got like 500 (shares) and now everyone thinks it’s him.” He said the situation has left him distraught.
“I have a very big problem with that,” he said. “Trust me, my son was a very good son. He was the life of the party.”
BARBER’S DEATH CLASSED AS MURDER
from page one
Johnson allegedly helped others evade the law following Richmond’s murder and armed robbery on June 23, 2024, in New Providence. Richmond was reportedly struck by a vehicle near Sanford Drive while riding his black XTZ-125 Yamaha motorcycle, valued at $3,295. His attackers then allegedly stole the motorcycle, leaving him badly injured on the road. He succumbed to his injuries at Princess Margaret Hospital on June 25, 2024. For months, Richmond’s family expressed frustration with the police, claiming authorities had yet to classify his death despite their belief that he had been robbed and murdered.
His cousin, Jacques Israel, told The Tribune last
August that the family had received no updates on the investigation.
Johnson was not required to enter a plea at this stage and was informed that his case would proceed to the Supreme Court via a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He was advised of his right to apply for bail through the higher court. In court, Johnson claimed he was unaware of the charges against him until he arrived and said he did not know who the complainant was. He said the situation was stressing him out. He further claimed that he had been in custody for the past seven months due to four separate pending armed robbery charges. Johnson will remain at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is served on May 29. Inspector Deon Barr served as the prosecutor.
TEENAGE WOMAN IN REPORTED SUICIDE ATTEMPT
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
Mr Henfield said his son rarely hung out in the streets, only going out to ride his motorbike.
Henfield worked at
Burger King and Nassau Motor Company. Police have not arrested anyone in connection with the fatal incidents.
THE SCENES of two murders on Sunday. The first took place in Boyd Road, above, followed by a later murder in Kennedy Subdivision.
Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
JAMESELY RICHMOND
Grandmother killed in Abaco crash
from page one
take me with her home, and we always ride home together,” she said.
Recalling their last encounter, the grieving daughter remembered how her mother had made two salads for a customer and asked her to drop them off.
After replying, “Okay,” she turned around to join her mother, only to find that her mother had already left, with the salads still on the counter.
“By the time we reach home, Mommy was not home,” Mills added.
The family waited for a while, hoping she would show up, but she never did.
Later, her daughter received a call from a cousin who had witnessed the accident unfold but didn’t want to break the news of her death.
“Instead of her telling us right away what was wrong, she just told us try to call our mommy and see if we could get her because they hear it’s been an accident,” she said, “and the whole time she’s talking to us like that, she’s right here on the scene looking at her godmother dead and she didn’t want to break the news to us like that.”
Shortly afterwards, the family received another phone call asking them to go to the police station. However, when they arrived, no one was there. She said relatives visited the clinic after noticing the ambulance lights. What they saw upon arrival, though, devastated them.
“Soon as we turn the corners to come around to the back part where the emergency entrance is, I saw the stretcher with my mom in a body bag laying on it in front of the morgue’s door,” she said. “That was total hell.”
She described her mother as a rare gem, an upfront woman unafraid to share her thoughts. Mills’ death brought the
ROAD PROJECT AFTER YAMACRAW BEACH DEATH
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
A PEDESTRIAN awareness project has been launched in honour of a young mother who died after her car plunged into the sea off Yamacraw Beach earlier this month.
St Anne’s MP Adrian White announced the project in the House of Assembly yesterday in memory of Shyann, a mother of two whose fatal crash at the intersection of Eastern Road and the eastern end of Prince Charles Drive sparked concerns about road safety.
He said his constituency has partnered with Bahamas Striping Group of Companies to improve conditions in the area. Glass bead lining has been applied to the road, and a
stop sign has been painted at the intersection.
“We’ve also commenced a pedestrian awareness project for the St Anne’s constituency, which I’ll say would be in honour of Shyann,” Mr White said.
“We put down a pedestrian walkway from the vacant lot, where a lot of vehicles park across to the waterfront there, so her memory will live on.”
The victim, a Yellow Elder resident, died at the scene after her black Honda Fit was submerged around 2am on March 1. She left behind a newborn and a two-year-old.
Widely circulated footage showed the vehicle hurtling through the intersection at high speed before launching into the air and crashing into the water. Debris scattered on impact before the car disappeared beneath the surface.
Speed appeared to be a factor, though speculation has also arisen about the possibility of suicide. Authorities have not revealed their conclusions about the matter.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) found no signs of life upon arrival. Police later retrieved Shyann’s body and the wreckage of her vehicle. She reportedly suffered upper body injuries, and an autopsy will determine the exact cause of death.
Superintendent Coran Jennings acknowledged similar incidents have occurred in the area and urged motorists to exercise caution. He noted poor lighting may be a contributing factor and said police will discuss improvements with the Ministry of Works.
ROBBERY ACCUSED BEHIND BARS
By PAVEL BAILEY
A MAN was remanded to custody yesterday after being accused of robbing another man at gunpoint
country’s traffic fatality count to 13 for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.
MADJORIE MILLS, left
THE VEHICLE recovered after the fatal crash at Yamacraw Beach earlier this month and, left, Adrian White MP at the scene.
Photos: Chappell Whyms Jr
Pintard calls for transparency over govt’s SpaceX dealings
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard has urged the government to be more transparent about its dealings with SpaceX following the discovery and recovery of debris from a SpaceX Starship rocket that broke apart mid-flight on March 6.
The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said on Sunday that officials are conducting environmental assessments to determine whether the fragments pose any risks.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr Pintard said that when he saw the alarming images of debris falling from the sky, he prayed for the safety of Bahamians and the environment. He noted that while the Starship differs from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets, the government must take proactive steps as The Bahamas becomes more involved in space tourism.
He also questioned why the government has not been more forthcoming about its own SpaceX-related agreements.
“From the beginning of the project, a number of Bahamians have said, and we echo their sentiments, the government should just share as much information as possible on this matter,” Mr Pintard said on the sidelines of the House of Assembly.
“Now that there’s been a disaster, people are even more concerned, and they don’t know what the
potential damage is to the Bahamian environment. We don’t want to bet against a project that may have tremendous benefit for the Bahamian people, but it is difficult to endorse a thing that you don’t know sufficient details about.”
Mr Pintard added that there should have been more public consultation before the government partnered with SpaceX. He also questioned whether the agreement includes a penalty clause in case the environment is harmed by rocket boosters.
In February, government officials sought to ease environmental concerns as The Bahamas prepared to host its first of 20 planned SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster landings this year. They assured the public that safeguards are in place to protect marine ecosystems and that the partnership does not conflict with the country’s climate change advocacy.
Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper said environmental protection remains a top priority and that foreign investors must meet strict environmental
standards before conducting operations in The Bahamas. He said officials are taking “measurable precautions” by working with environmental experts to monitor potential impacts. He also highlighted The Bahamas’ proximity to Florida, stable weather, and open waters as ideal conditions for SpaceX operations.
The government has approved up to 20 landings this year, though each requires regulatory approval. Mr Cooper said every launch must receive a licence from the Civil
Aviation Authority of The Bahamas (CAAB), and officials will be notified before each landing.
On Thursday, SpaceX made headlines when a rocket launched from its Starbase facility in Texas lost communication and disintegrated about nine minutes into its flight. It was intended to re-enter over the Indian Ocean but instead exploded, with debris visible from Florida, Cuba, The Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and Turks and Caicos. The explosion was widely seen throughout The
Bahamas, with images and videos circulating from residents in New Providence to Ragged Island. Many were left stunned, with some describing it as looking like an asteroid plummeting toward Earth.
The government said SpaceX has committed to covering all costs associated with debris removal and environmental assessments. Officials said recovery efforts would continue until all debris is accounted for, and final findings will be shared with the public once the process is complete.
RISE IN DEMAND FOR SOCIAL SERVICES HELP
from page one
“We are inundated, would be the correct word, with requests from individuals due to the inflation crisis that is going all over the world,” he said recently in the House of Assembly. He stressed the financial strain on the ministry, reporting that the Department of Social Services had spent $6.8m on assistance in New Providence as of December 2024. This included $2.6m for food assistance, $1.6m for temporary accommodations, and $731,000 for medical assistance.
“We do have genuine cases of individuals who are in need, and so we are working towards a system where receiving pension benefits or receiving a salary is not a disqualifier,” he said.
Mr Laroda acknowledged that while assistance is available, it is not automatically granted.
He emphasised that assistance is only available to those who meet specific financial criteria and that aid is not guaranteed.
“What we found was that there have been people who were receiving Social Services assistance who are now back to work and fully
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employed, and that is part of the reason why individuals would have been taken off food assistance,” he said.
“Notwithstanding, I receive messages and calls from the public and from MPs on both sides indicating that their situation is still dire, notwithstanding that they may be working because we do have a working poor.”
He said his ministry has recommended increasing allowances for grocery items because of the financial distress nationwide.
He also highlighted efforts to extend aid through grants, noting that
$4.2m in grants had been provided to various civic organisations as of December 2024.
“Some of the grant recipients have expressed a need for additional funding outside what has been allocated, citing an increase in demand in the services that they have provided,” he said. “We cannot allocate additional funds at this time; however, we will make recommendations for increases in the 2025-2026 budget.”
To ensure accountability, he emphasised financial reporting requirements for grant recipients.
Regarding temporary
shelters, Mr Laroda acknowledged the challenges faced by the Department of Social Services, particularly at the Poinciana Inn, which became a full shelter in 2023 and has helped 489 individuals to date.
“The Department of Social Services has been inundated with requests for temporary shelter,” he said. “There are times when all of the designated facilities are filled to capacity, or persons have not been able to successfully transition to independent living after being accommodated.”
He recognised the contributions of partners such as the Great Commission Ministry and The Salvation Army in providing additional support for temporary shelter needs, while also encouraging families to support each other. Efforts to improve rent assistance processes continue, with Mr Laroda requesting patience from the public.
“Some challenges still persist, particularly with rent assistance payments, but solutions are being sought to shorten the waiting time, and we request your understanding until the process is refined and resolved,” he said.
FNM leader Michael Pintard in the House of Assembly 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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Govt still reticent to consult
THERE is a regular pattern we have seen under this administration when it comes to consulting those affected by decisions - or rather on the lack of consultation.
We have seen it with the recent Bahamas Moorings story - with those in the know at the Office of the Prime Minister far more up to speed on the topic than the Exuma residents who would be affected by the outcome.
We have seen it with the U-turn in government policy on making people buy their car insurance in their birth month, seemingly to fit some government requirement than to cater to the needs of civilians or insurance companies.
We have seen the back and forth between public workers and the government over the proposal to pay staff twice a month - regardless of whether those workers want to be paid in such a fashion, and the repercussions they would have to sort out for such things as salary deductions and mortgages.
The weekend just passed saw the celebration of International Women’s Day - though many activists joining the marches have noted the lack of consultation on issues affecting women.
We are still nowhere near any kind of measures to bring equality in citizenship, and marital rape legislation continues to be an issue that the government shies away from rather than addressing head-on.
Then there is the issue of the women’s shelter that was much promised - but with not much sign of being delivered.
Social Services Minister Myles Laroda said again that a building has been bought for use as a shelter - but that was what we were told back in October. What’s new?
And again this is an area that has been hit by a lack of consultation. Activists have been ready and willing to talk about the needs of those who will likely be using the shelter, but the ministry has not been engaging those who know best.
We are sure you can think of many more areas where the government has not reached out as much as it could - or should.
The latest such area is the announcement by the Health and Wellness Minister, Dr Michael Darville, of an expansion in free medication coverage under the National Health Insurance programme.
Dr Darville announced a sweeping expansion of provision of free medication to NHI members with chronic non-communicable diseases.
You would think he would have discussed that with the pharmacists.
His announcement was swiftly followed by comments from the Bahamas Pharmaceutical Association, which called hte announcement “insane” for lacking details on cost, logistics... and lacking in consultation.
After all, it would likely be pharmacists who would be dealing with the
outcome of that decision - and would be dispensing the medicine.
Dr Marvin Smith, president of the association, noted how the industry might not have enough of a workforce, or an adequate supply chain, and would need to expand to meet an anticipated increase in demand as a result of the move.
A former president of the association, Shantia Heild-McBride, said she heard the announcement the same time as everyone else.
It is not for the want of trying on the part of the pharmacists to play their part. Dr Smith said pharmacies had written to Dr Darville twice last year seeking details on the government’s plans - but did not receive a response.
In a comment that sounded so weary you could feel it in your bones, he said: “It is tiresome. All we’ve been asking from day one, let us partner with you to help you make what you’re trying to do the best possible thing for the Bahamian people and every single time, we have to beg and ask and almost go into the public media and embarrass them to the point where they have to talk to us.”
As for how much it is all going to cost, Dr Smith wondered if it would mean a tax increase. In today’s Tribune Business, Dr Darville says that no new revenue is needed to finance the expansion. Really? If it is to be in any way, shape or form a major expansion, then it is going to cost more. How are you going to fund it?
Dr Darville says the project “ain’t no pie in the sky” but if there is no extra cost to meet, then it isn’t going to be a significant change for anyone. If it does mean free medication for a sizeable number of people, then the cost has to be met. What is that cost? And how will it be funded?
Those are not outrageous questions to ask - but the fact we are not being told what the cost will be raises skepticism from the start.
Dr Darville seems to be suggesting that spending money on the drugs will mean there will be less of a need to spend money on the wards where people will be in hospital beds.
A reduction in one pot brings the opportunity to spend in the other pot.
But put some meat on the bones of this plan - and for goodness sake, talk it through with those on the frontline.
This is not the first area, nor would we wager is it the last area where the government will find people asking for more consultation - or even any consultation.
What is the problem with talking?
After all, the government is voted in by the people of the nation. It must therefore answer to the people of the nation. It can do so in the course of its administration. Or if the people do not feel they have been listened to, they can answer at the ballot box. Which do you think is the better outocome?
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leave after attending the
All change for America relationship
EDITOR, The Tribune. I THOUGHT I would never have to say these words, but now one thing is true: the Americans are not coming.
For decades, The Bahamas has operated in the quiet assurance that when a crisis arose—economic, political, or securityrelated—the United States would be there. Not necessarily with generosity, but at least with engagement. This assumption has shaped everything from our foreign policy to our economic strategy, and in many ways, it has made us comfortable. But that era is ending.
Donald Trump’s resurgence is not simply about the return of an individual—it is about the transformation of American foreign policy into something more transactional, more conditional, and more ruthless. His doctrine is clear: loyalty is not enough, nor is history, nor even strategic interest. To be on the right side of Trump’s America, nations must demonstrate absolute fealty, not just in words but in action.
For small states like The Bahamas, this shift is deeply consequential. We exist in the shadow of a superpower that has decided it no longer wishes to bear the burdens of leadership but is unwilling to relinquish its control. It demands compliance without commitment. It expects deference without offering stability. And those who do not fall in line—whether for reasons of sovereignty, necessity, or principle—risk
being cast as adversaries. Consider the cases of Cuba and Venezuela. Trump’s previous administration made it clear that any engagement with Havana’s medical programmes, regardless of their humanitarian value, would be met with penalties. Countries that relied on Cuban doctors to fill critical gaps in healthcare suddenly found themselves under scrutiny, subject to economic threats and diplomatic pressure. The Bahamas, like much of the Caribbean, has long walked a fine line between pragmatism and allegiance in its dealings with Cuba. But in Trump’s world, there is no fine line. There is only the expectation that we choose a side. Then there is China. In previous decades, Caribbean nations, including The Bahamas, have benefited from Chinese investment in infrastructure, tourism, and development. These relationships have been largely pragmatic—born out of necessity, not ideology. But under Trump, necessity is no defense. His view of China is not merely competitive; it is adversarial. And countries like ours, which have accepted Chinese investment in ports, roads, and airports, are now cast as part of the problem. We must now ask ourselves: what will it take to stay out of Washington’s
crosshairs? If history is any guide, it will not be enough to simply maintain friendly relations. We will be expected to make choices— to distance ourselves from China, to sever ties with Cuba, to affirm, repeatedly and publicly, our allegiance to the US agenda. We will be asked to bend, to bow, and if necessary, to kiss the ring.
And what do we receive in return? Not necessarily investment, nor security, nor economic guarantees. Certainly not respect. If the past is any indication, we will receive lectures about governance, threats about compliance with financial regulations, and the ever-present possibility of punitive measures should we fall out of favor.
This is the new reality. The Americans are not coming—not as partners, not as protectors, not as a stabilising force. They are watching, demanding, and, when necessary, punishing. For The Bahamas, this is a moment of reckoning. We must decide whether we will shape our own path or be shaped by the shifting moods of an unpredictable superpower. We must assess whether our sovereignty is worth the cost of standing apart. And we must prepare for a world in which the privileges of past relationships no longer apply. Because the Americans are not coming. And if they do, it will not be as friends.
JANICE KEMP March 10, 2025.
Mitchell a man out of time
EDITOR, The Tribune.
FRED Mitchell is beyond his time. This is not a question of intelligence. By any measure, Fred Mitchell is brilliant—articulate, widely read, and deeply knowledgeable about politics. His command of history and his ability to argue his case are, at times, unmatched in Bahamian political life. But intelligence is not the same as vision. And in this regard, Mitchell’s politics are not a bridge to the future but a monument to the past. The real issue is not his capacity to govern—it is his political indifference.
Mitchell represents a style of thinking that is not about progress but about preservation, not about leading forward but about defending what is already known. His instincts, once radical in their defiance, have hardened into something reactionary. And what is so damning is that Mitchell today is the very opposite of his younger self. The firebrand who once demanded change now sees it as a threat. The man who once challenged orthodoxy now enforces it.
But this is not just about one man—it is about the broader stagnation of the Progressive Liberal Party.
There is a generational divide that has hardened within the party, one that has less to do with age and more to do with attitude. The PLP has always been a party of resilience, of survival, of adaptation. But today, in too many quarters, it clings to the past rather than shaping the future. It is wary of new ideas, suspicious of fresh faces, and often dismissive of the very change that would secure its long-term success.
Mitchell is simply the most glaring example of this problem. He is not alone in thinking that politics should be about keeping order, maintaining rank, and
reminding people of their place. But his prominence makes him the most visible symbol of a party that risks mistaking endurance for relevance.
The irony, of course, is that Fred Mitchell once stood for something different. He once represented the sharp edge of reform. But politics, at its worst, turns idealists into gatekeepers. And so we are left with a man who has not run out of intelligence but has run out of imagination—a man who, in defending his place, has forgotten what it was to fight for something new. One might argue that Mitchell’s longevity in
politics is, in itself, a mark of achievement. And certainly, he has survived. He has outlasted political foes, reemerged after defeats, and ensured his voice remains central in the national conversation. But at what cost?
To remain in power is not necessarily to remain relevant. To hold onto influence is not the same as wielding it effectively. And to be an institution is not the same as being indispensable.
This is, after all, a man who once railed against the old guard, who once believed in tearing down barriers rather than building them. He was once the
outsider, the challenger, the disruptor. Yet today, he speaks with the weary cynicism of those who believe that the world is best run by those who have already shaped it, rather than those who seek to remake it. His tone is no longer that of a man with something to prove, but of a man determined to protect what he has already built. And that is the tragedy of Fred Mitchell. Not that he has stayed too long, but that in staying, he has become the very thing he once opposed.
THE GATEKEEPER March 11, 2025.
FLAG bearers
annual Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration at Westminster Abbey, in London, on Monday.
Photo: Yui Mok/Pool Photo via AP
NO WORD ON LOCAL GOVT FOR NEW PROVIDENCE
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter
THE Davis administration has not indicated it will fulfil its pre-election promise to introduce local government to New Providence.
In the Blueprint for Change, the Progressive Liberal Party’s pre-election manifesto, the party committed to creating a local government regime in New Providence, but the administration has said little about it since winning the 2021 general election.
In 2022, Works and Family Island Affairs Minister Clay Sweeting said the government hired consultants to redraft the Local Government Act to give more power to Family Island councils, including greater ability to raise revenue.
Mr Sweeting helped launch national Local Government Month yesterday during a flag-raising ceremony and proclamation reading.
Asked about local government in New Providence, he said: “We have to ensure that local governments has the proper structure and that the mandate is carried properly to ensure that local governance is properly constructed before it’s enacted in New Providence.”
“There were some challenges, and there will continue to be some. This new act that was passed in December, enacted in December, would help to alleviate a lot of that. So we’ll see how all that plays out, but local government plays an instrumental role in Family Islands and how it’s constructed, the role of administrators, the role of local councils.”
Throughout Local Government Month, local council administrators nationwide will hold activities and small projects.
Mr Sweeting highlighted the Local Government Act 2024, enacted in December, which decentralises some processes traditionally managed by local government.
“Local government stands as a cornerstone of our democracy,” he said. “It amplifies the voices of our communities, and most of all, it champions their causes. So by decentralising authority, we’ve created a system where active civic engagement, where citizens and these family islands could really play a vital role in shaping the decisions that directly impact their lives.”
“The contributions of local councils are farreaching. They oversee critical services such as public health, sanitation, infrastructure, maintenance, while driving initiatives that stimulate economic growth to create job opportunities and enhance the quality of life in Family Island communities.”
“Projects such as bus stops, boat ramps and fishing communities, playgrounds, recreational ground upkeep and public bathroom facilities demonstrate the invaluable work of local councils in addressing community needs.”
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
ENVIRONMENT and Natural Resources Minister
Vaughn Miller said major roadside garages on Joe Farrington Road, Soldier Road, and Augusta Street have agreed to relocate to the Gladstone Road area. During his mid-year budget contribution in the House of Assembly, he said funding for the relocation initiative is included in the current budget.
Works Minister Clay Sweeting told The Tribune
last week that the government has secured Crown Land for the move to regulate businesses operating in residential areas. He said an inter-ministerial committee is working with business owners to develop a structured relocation plan, prioritising the largest operations.
Mr Miller also addressed the issue of derelict vehicles, saying their rapid reappearance after cleanup efforts has contributed to the spread of roadside garages. “It is unbelievable the
issue of derelict vehicles and where they are coming from because we will clean up an area today, and two or three days later, derelict vehicles are back again, and this has contributed to the proliferation of roadside garages,” Mr Miller said.
Some roadside garage operators previously interviewed by The Tribune expressed mixed reactions. While some were open to relocation, others remained sceptical about whether the Davis administration would follow through.
FINED FOR MISSING BAIL CHECK-IN
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter
A MAN awaiting trial for murder was fined after admitting he failed to check in at his local police station, violating his bail conditions.
Senior Magistrate Anishka Isaacs arraigned Omar Atkinson, 24, on the charge. Atkinson had been granted Supreme Court
bail in connection with the murder of Fred Lifaite, 47, in Coconut Grove on October 29, 2022. At the time of his death, Lifaite had been facing a pending murder charge for the alleged 2021 fatal shooting of Kendino McDonald.
Last December, Atkinson was ordered to compensate a police officer $200 after admitting to threatening Police Constable 4269
Neely while detained at a police station. While out on bail, Atkinson failed to check in at his designated police station on March 3. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $2,000. Failure to pay will result in four months’ imprisonment. Murrio Ducille represented Atkinson. Assistant Superintendent of Police K Bould served as the prosecutor.
Minister Vaughn Miller in the House of Assembly yesterday. Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
CLAY SWEETING, Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs, at a flag-raising ceremony yesterday to mark Local Government Month.
Photos: Nikia Charlton
We’re nothing more than two-bit hustlers FACING
BY IVOINE INGRAHAM
“NEITHER a borrower nor a lender be” is advice from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It suggests it’s best to avoid lending and borrowing money to maintain financial independence and avoid potential conflicts. Many of us work and plan our finances and budgets to live within our means. We work, prioritise, care for our responsibilities, save, and do without.
It is too bad that many of us have become hustlers and parasites. We have no shame or conscience. We beg anyone and throw a tantrum if we do not get what we want. Politics has exposed the shamelessness of those who unconsciously beg repeatedly, even if they have already benefited. It’s sickening!
We have developed a skill of spending what we do not have. Without conscious thought, people repeatedly spend every dime, go next door, and borrow groceries from neighbours. Sadly, we hate people who have, envy them, and call them hogs if they do not satisfy our unquenchable thirst for things.
Unfortunately, it is practised by some who make no plans to progress but live in an ad hoc world, flying by the seat of their pants. We go shopping when we need an onion, a small loaf of bread, and a quarter-pound of sausage. We do not see the wisdom in getting groceries for a few days or a week. This behaviour has nothing to do with whether we have
enough money; it is all about doing what we saw our parents do. On the other hand, our children watch us, and now we have our girls who have become so many things, and our boys believe they can get what they want without working for it. Our society has become a people who want something for nothing; worse, we are fiscally irresponsible.
PRIORITY IS PRIORITY
For instance, we could
allocate a certain percentage of our income to essentials, another to savings, and the rest to discretionary spending. This way, we can ensure we’re living within our means and not running out of money before we run out of week. This simple act of planning can empower us and put us in control of our financial situation, making us feel capable and in charge. Our tendency to keep up with the Joneses forced us to live above our means. We developed expensive habits,
so we borrowed from friends and family with the plan never to honour our debt. This caused us to borrow from institutions, knowing we can’t or will not repay. Now, we are a nuisance and have worn out our welcome.
Instead of trying to keep up with others, we could focus on our financial health and well-being. This might mean attending events in clothes we own or finding free or low-cost activities to enjoy with friends.
Our every move is a competition with others. We use our overhead money to party, dine out, visit Fish Fry with friends, drink shot after shot to boast about, and then face eviction the next day. This pattern is passed down through the generations. We can’t afford the lifestyle we pretend to have. Our fantasy of eating steak and lobster on a sausage salary has dug a hole, sometimes insurmountable to get out of.
So what do we do? We beg from everyone, and we always become a nuisance hustling. All shun us because they know we have become parasites. Then, a head game is played on relatives and friends designed to make them feel obligated to help.
Our children are placed in schools we cannot afford because it has a psychological effect if we brag about our children attending ‘private school’ as if the public schools are inferior. These selfinflicting wounds go on to be catastrophic as they relate to our mental state from all this pressure to be accepted. It’s crucial to realise that succumbing to societal pressures can lead to financial ruin and mental distress.
We allow festivities like Christmas and birthdays to force us to celebrate like we see others do. We spend every dime on presents for people, especially family, who don’t like us.
In our foolish stupor, we spend every dime we save for eleven months in December, and some even borrow more from the bank. So much so that every January, we start the new year in the red, behind in our rent and
‘We
go shopping when we need an onion, a small loaf of bread, and a quarter-pound of sausage. We do not see the wisdom in getting groceries for a few days or a week. This behaviour has nothing to do with whether we have enough money; it is all about doing what we saw our parents do.’
utilities, with no red cent to rub against the other.
But we learn nothing because we don’t want to be left out; we must keep up. Since the last paycheck was on the fifteenth of December, we ate wind pies until the end of January, six weeks later, which is the highest level of asininity imaginable. The most inhumane part of these many horror scenarios is that we are forced to degrade ourselves because of vulnerability and desperation. Exploitation is employed by those who use the opportunity to pounce, but all of this could be avoided. We insist that we must be part of the crowd. If we cannot afford to spend on necessary things and plan according to our salaries, then we will not belittle ourselves because of our insecurities. Instead, we will take charge of our finances, plan wisely, and live a life of dignity and respect. Breaking free from societal pressures can liberate us and allow us to live a life of independence and self-respect, bringing a sense of relief and freedom.
The culture of destroying your finances through poor planning, then going to the government for assistance and blaming them for your inconsistencies is not only ungodly but also dishonest.
Facing reality will help us stop pretending to be who we are not and will cause us to live sensibly, covering our overhead first and making provisions to be more strategic. Keeping up with others would only trick us into competing, where we will only become losers. This emphasis on facing reality will make us feel grounded and sensible.
Our hustling turns us into parasites, and the truth is, more people have continuously contributed to this parasitic behavior. Borrowing without the intention of paying back has severe repercussions. Loan sharks do not take kindly to delinquent customers, and the consequences of such actions can be dire, leading to a life of constant fear and stress. These consequences should serve as a stark reminder of the importance of financial responsibility. While our burrowing may not be from organised institutions, the truth is that when we burrow, we should hasten to pay back because we do not know what sacrifices we made to lend.
Be wise!
‘My year-long battle with taxman over $14,000’
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@trubunemedia.net
A YEAR after paying nearly $14,000 in property taxes, an Eleuthera homeowner is embroiled in a dispute with the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR), claiming the agency has failed to recognise his payment.
The issue has prevented him from obtaining a building permit, which he says is costing him thousands, and leading him to describe the experience as “the biggest farce” he has encountered.
Marty Bihn, a US national working in mortgage lending, told The Tribune that he and his wife fell in love with Eleuthera during the COVID-19 pandemic and decided to purchase two acres of beachfront land in Current, Eleuthera, with plans to build.
The pair currently live in an apartment beneath his parents’ home.
He said they spend six to seven months of the year in Eleuthera.
After purchasing the property, Mr Bihn sought
to handle his tax affairs as a new property owner in The Bahamas. However, he said he soon noticed discrepancies in his first Real Property Tax Bill.
According to Mr Bihn, he was listed as delinquent despite making a $13,772 credit card payment, which he claims DIR did not process correctly. He also believed the first four months of 2023 should have been tax-exempt.
He said he made the payment as part of a government tax collection exercise in Eleuthera, which involved officers from the National Insurance Board, DIR, and other agencies.
“They called them raids,” he said. “They had somebody from National Insurance, somebody from Inland Revenue, somebody from the police department checking cars, somebody from ports checking boats and moorings. They were going around to every business and every home, all over Eleuthera, checking everything.”
Mr Bihn said officials assured him they would correct the issue and offered a ten percent discount, so he
proceeded with the payment via credit card.
Financial records reviewed by The Tribune purported to show a credit card payment of $13,722.15 to DIR on April 2, 2024.
A bank statement under his wife’s name reflects the transaction, which was officially posted two days later.
Additionally, a DIR receipt indicates the payment was processed via a Capital One Visa at 11.08am on April 2, 2024. The receipt states the payment was “approved” and includes a signature and an official reference to DIR.
Despite this, Mr Bihn said DIR has failed to credit his payment, leaving him listed as delinquent, assessed with additional penalties and interest, and unable to obtain a tax certificate — effectively preventing him from securing a building permit.
Email exchanges between Mr Bihn and government officials show ongoing efforts to verify and apply the payment, but the issue remains unresolved.
“I have spent hundreds of hours trying to sort this out since last April,” he
said. “After nine months, I don’t even know what to do, but they have misplaced almost $14,000 of my family’s money.”
The emails indicate that officials acknowledged the payment during the tax collection exercise but that internal records do not reflect the transaction. Mr Bihn said he was repeatedly asked for wire transfer details, despite insisting the payment was made via credit card.
“They had the whole crew there, and we discussed the first-year property tax issue,” he said. “We settled up to that day, and they took a credit card from us for almost $14,000, promising they would get it sorted out. Then in December, I got a bill, and they have not credited our $13,600. They assessed me more penalties and interest, didn’t apply the ten per cent discount, and now I can’t get a building permit while I have $200,000 worth of building materials sitting on the lot.”
Emails reviewed by The Tribune show attempts within DIR to escalate the matter, with local
YOUNG DANCERS GET A PEEK BEHIND SCENES AT BALLET DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, PETER YOUNG’S
representatives reaching out to higher offices for clarification. However, officials reportedly instructed Mr Bihn to initiate a bank trace for a transaction that was not wired.
“I haven’t paid this year because the first-year bill has never been correct,” he said. “I was told that if I paid it, I’d never get the money back.”
Frustration mounted as the issue remained unresolved, with emails showing continued efforts to seek intervention from DIR’s head office.
When contacted by The Tribune, a DIR representative said an initial review found no formal complaint from Mr Bihn regarding the missing payment. However, the official confirmed that the matter was now under investigation and that DIR representatives would contact him via email or phone.
One response indicated that the payment could not be found in official records, contributing to further delays.
Despite Mr Bihn’s assertions that he has been trying to resolve the matter for nearly a year, the DIR
YOUNG dancers got to see professional ballet stars up close and personal last week during the build-up to the Iconique performance at Old Fort Bay Club.
The Shirley Hall Bass Foundation brought dancers aged 15-21 and their teachers from a number of private dance schools throughout the island to a preview of Iconqique - a ballet performance featuring stars from around the world.
The group attended the dress rehearsal, in an event sponsored by British High Commissioner Thomas Hartley and organised by the foundation’s outreach officer, Shara Goldsmith.
The Shirley Hall Bass Legacy Project arranged transportation for the budding dancers, who gathered at the University of The Bahamas’ library before being bused to the exclusive Old Fort Bay Club venue.
During the performance, dinner was provided by Tropical Gyros. In a special highlight of the evening, students were able to meet the performers from the Covent Garden Dance Company, ask questions about their careers and techniques, and take photographs.
The intimate theatre setting provided students with an up-close view of professional dance artistry rarely accessible to young performers.
Mr Hartley said: “Dance is such an essential part of Bahamian culture and I am thrilled that students working with the Shirley Hall Bass Foundation were able to come and see rehearsals and meet the international dancers from the ‘Iconique’ British ballet. Last
year we committed to having Bahamians involved in the performance, and so it was excellent to have Courtney Spears and Vernal Adderley on stage this year. Who knows, it could be one of these young dancers on stage in the near future!”
Shara Goldsmith added: “The students were all quite impressed by the level of talent and technique of the dancers and were very excited to see our very own Bahamian performers, especially Courtney Celeste Spears. We had a wonderfully engaging discussion afterward on the bus as students shared their perspectives of the choreography, music, staging, rehearsal process, and performances.”
Dance instructor Gillian Springer, who accompanied students from her studio The Bahamas Dance Theatre, said: “My students couldn’t stop talking about the technical precision and emotional depth of the performances. They’ve returned to class today with renewed determination and fresh perspectives on their own practice.”
Prior to the Iconique event, the foundation took part on Monday in an artist panel discussion at Fiona’s Theatre at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, moderated by Ian Poitier.
The panel featured Bahamian creatives Courtney Celeste Spears, Vernall Adderley, Giveton Gelin and Phylicia Ellis whose work premiered at “Iconique”.
The artists shared valuable insights about their creative and collaborative processes in developing “In Time”, choreographed by Ms Spears.
official maintained that there was no prior record of a formal complaint regarding the missing $13,772.15. The agency is now reviewing the case and has requested any additional documentation that could assist in locating the payment.
As the dispute drags on, Mr Bihn said his frustration has reached a breaking point.
“If I’m being honest, I’m ready to sell the land and do something else. I’ll get back on a boat and cruise around because this is insane,” he said.
Despite his love for Eleuthera, he admitted that the ongoing battle with DIR has dampened his enthusiasm for investing further in The Bahamas.
“I’ve spent hundreds of hours trying to sort this out, and they’ve misplaced almost $14,000 of my family’s money. Meanwhile, I have $200,000 worth of building materials sitting on a lot that I can’t use,” he said.
While Eleuthera’s blue waters initially drew him in, the frustration of navigating government bureaucracy has left him disheartened.
COURT TOLD OWNING SEIZED GUNS WAS AN ‘ACT OF WAR’
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A PROSECUTOR called the possession of weapons seized during a major firearm bust in Bain Town last week an “act of war”, while the lawyer for the two men charged with the offence described them as “pillars of the community”.
Magistrate Lennox Coleby arraigned Bernard Miller, 43, and Raymond Miller, 36, on 16 charges that included three counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, three counts of possession of ammunition with intent to supply, possession of unlicensed firearms with intent to supply, three counts of possession of ammunition, six counts of possession of component parts of a firearm, and possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.
Prosecutors allege that during a raid at the defendants’ residence on Rupert Dean Lane on March 5, police seized several firearms, including a black and brown Micro Draco AK-47, a black AR-15 rifle, a green and black American Tactical rifle, a black Glock 19 9mm pistol, and a black Herstal Belgium FN pistol. The police also seized ammunition, including 58 7.62 rounds, 123 .223 rounds, 37 5.7 rounds, 15 9mm rounds, one .380 round, 11 .45 rounds, as well as a black drum magazine, an extended magazine, a banana clip magazine, a speed loader, a homemade magazine, three black suppressors, and a quantity of marijuana.
The defendants were not required to enter a plea at this stage. They were informed that the case would proceed to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).
Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie objected to the defendants’ bail, citing public safety concerns. One of the defendants asked why the officer had objected, but was advised by his attorney to stop speaking.
ASP McKenzie explained that assault rifles had been frequently used in recent murders, adding that the weapons found in the raid could be linked to ongoing investigations. He described the possession of such weapons as an “act of war” and argued that granting bail could pose a threat to the defendants’ safety. Defence attorney Gary Russell countered the prosecutor’s statement, arguing that it was an unfair characterisation of his clients. He described the Miller brothers as “pillars of society”, emphasising their contributions to and respect within the Bain Town community. Russell insisted the pair were not criminals, had no gang affiliations, and posed no threat. He said the defendants had even built the bars used in the courthouse and several police stations. The defendants were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until March 24 when their bail hearing will take place. They will return to court for service of their VBI on May 29. Before being taken into remand, the defendants exchanged words with family members present in court.
CARGO SHIP AND TANKER ABLAZE AFTER COLLISION OFF UK COAST
LONDON Associated Press
A CARGO ship hit a tanker carrying jet fuel for the US military off eastern England on Monday, setting both vessels ablaze and sending fuel pouring into the North Sea.
One crew member was missing hours later, and search efforts
continued, the cargo ship’s owner, Ernst Russ, said in a statement.
Earlier, local lawmaker Graham Stuart said all 37 from both ships were safe and accounted for, with one hospitalised. The collision triggered a major rescue operation by lifeboats, coast guard aircraft and commercial vessels.
Stuart said he was concerned about the “potential ecological
impact” of the spill. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch was investigating its cause.
The US-flagged chemical and oil products tanker MV Stena Immaculate was at anchor near the port of Grimsby on Monday morning after sailing from Greece, according to shiptracking site VesselFinder. The Portugal-flagged container ship
Solong was sailing from Grangemouth in Scotland to Rotterdam in the Netherlands when it struck the tanker’s side. US-based maritime management firm Crowley, which operates the Stena Immaculate, said the tanker “sustained a ruptured cargo tank containing Jet-A1 fuel”, when the container ship struck it, triggering a fire and
“multiple explosions onboard”, with fuel released into the sea. It said all 23 mariners on the tanker were safe and accounted for. The Stena Immaculate was operating as part of the US government’s Tanker Security Program, a group of commercial vessels
83% of USAID programmes scrapped
By ELLEN KNICKMEYER Associated Press
SECRETARY of
State Marco Rubio said on Monday the Trump administration had finished its six-week purge of programmes of the sixdecade-old US Agency for International Development and he would move the 18 percent of aid and development programmes that survived under the State Department. Rubio made the announcement in a post on X, in one of his relatively few public comments on what has been a historic shift away from US foreign aid and development, executed by Trump political appointees at State and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency teams.
Rubio in the post thanked DOGE and “our hardworking staff who worked very long hours to achieve this overdue and historic reform” in foreign aid.
President Donald Trump on January 20 issued an executive order directing a freeze of foreign assistance funding and a review of all of the tens of billions of dollars of US aid and development work abroad. Trump charged much of foreign assistance was wasteful and advanced a liberal agenda. Rubio’s social media post on Monday said that review was now “officially ending”, with some 5,200 of USAID’s 6,200 programmes eliminated. Those programs “spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even
harmed), the core national interests of the United States,” Rubio wrote.
“In consultation with Congress, we intend for the remaining 18 percent of programmes we are keeping ... to be administered more effectively under the State Department,” he said.
Democratic lawmakers and others call the shutdown of congressionally funded programmes illegal, saying such a move requires Congress’ approval.
USAID supporters said the sweep of the cuts made it difficult to tell what US efforts abroad the Trump administration actually supports.
“The patterns that are emerging is the administration does not support democracy programmes, they don’t support civil society
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... they don’t support NGO programmes,” or health or emergency response, said Andrew Natsios, the USAID administrator for Republican former President George W Bush.
“So what’s left”?” Natsios asked.
A group of former US diplomats, national security figures and others condemned what it said was an opaque, partisan and rushed review process and urged Congress to intervene.
“The facts show that lifesaving programmes were severely cut, putting millions of people in allied countries at risk of starvation, disease and death,” while giving Russia, China and other adversaries opportunities to gain influence abroad as the US
retreats, the group, the US Global Leadership Coalition, said.
The Trump administration gave almost no details on which aid and development efforts abroad it spared as it mass-emailed contract terminations to aid groups and other USAID partners by the thousands within days earlier this month. The rapid pace, and the steps skipped in ending contracts, left USAID supporters challenging whether any actual programme-by-programme reviews had taken place. Aid groups say even some life-saving programmes that Rubio and others had promised to spare are in limbo or terminated, such as those providing emergency nutritional support for starving children and drinking water for sprawling camps for
families uprooted by war in Sudan.
Republicans broadly have made clear they want foreign assistance that would promote a far narrower interpretation of US national interests going forward.
The State Department in one of multiple lawsuits it is battling over its rapid shutdown of USAID had said earlier this month it was killing more than 90 percent of USAID programmes. Rubio gave no explanation for why his number was lower. The dismantling of USAID that followed Trump’s order upended decades of policy that humanitarian and development aid abroad advanced US national security by stabilising regions and economies, strengthening alliances and building goodwill.
CANADA’S NEXT PRIME MINISTER SAYS TRANSITION WILL BE QUICK
TORONTO Associated Press
CANADA’S next prime minister met with outgoing prime minister Justin Trudeau on Monday and vowed a quick transition.
Mark Carney said he had a long meeting with Trudeau in which they discussed US-Canada relations, national security issues and the timing of the handover in power.
“That transition will be seamless and it will be quick,” said Carney, adding there would be an announcement soon.
Carney, a two-time central bank chief, will become
WASHINGTON
in.
Carney is widely expected to trigger a parliamentary election in the coming days or weeks amid US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff and annexation threats. Or the opposition parties in Parliament could force one with a no-confidence vote later this month.
POST COLUMNIST QUITS AFTER PIECE CRITICISING OWNER BEZOS IS REJECTED
By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer
A COLUMNIST who has worked at The Washington Post for four decades resigned on Monday after she said the newspaper’s management decided not to run her commentary critical of owner Jeff Bezos’ new editorial policy.
“It breaks my heart to conclude that I must leave,” Ruth Marcus, who has worked at the newspaper since 1984, wrote in a resignation letter. Her exit is the latest fallout from the billionaire owner’s directive that the Post narrow the topics covered by its opinion section to personal liberties and the free market. The
newspaper’s opinions editor, David Shipley, had already resigned because of the shift.
The storied newspaper has been in a free fall, financially and editorially, over the past year. Marcus, who worked in the news and opinion departments during her career, is “the bedrock of The Washington Post, embodying the history of the place as well as the talent and accomplishments of its journalists”, said Paul Farhi, a former media reporter there. Marcus said that the Post’s publisher, Will Lewis, declined to run her column, which she described as “respectfully dissenting” from Bezos’ edict. It was the first time in nearly 20 years of writing columns that she’s had one killed, she said.
The decision “underscores that the traditional freedom of columnists to select the topics they wish to address and say what they think has been dangerously eroded”, she wrote. Her resignation letter was first reported by The New York Times.
A Post spokesperson said Monday that “we’re grateful for Ruth’s significant contributions to The Washington Post over the past 40 years. We respect her decision to leave and wish her the best.” In January, editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes resigned after her work depicting Bezos and other billionaires genuflecting before a statue of President Donald Trump was rejected, a decision Shipley explained was because it was repetitive.
MARK CARNEY
SMOKE billowing from a vessel after a cargo ship hit a tanker carrying jet fuel off eastern England on Monday, setting both ablaze and sending fuel pouring into the North Sea.
Photo: AP
Making a splash with BREEF
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Education Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF)
kicked off its first public beach activity of the year with a snorkel event at Sea Beach Promenade on West Bay Street, engaging the local community in marine conservation.
The event offered participants an educational and exciting underwater experience. Approximately 30 people, ranging from children as young as 8 years old to adults, participated in the activity. Before heading into the water, participants were given a tutorial on how to use snorkel gear and were provided with fish identification slates to help them spot various marine organisms.
As they snorkelled, participants were treated to a breathtaking view of the vibrant marine life
JUNIOR
surrounding the coral reefs. Blue tangs, grunts, and wrasses were spotted swimming among colourful corals, while conchs, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins rested on the shallowwater reefs. The experience allowed the participants to witness firsthand the rich biodiversity of The Bahamas’ underwater world and understand the importance of protecting these fragile ecosystems.
Eden Cartwright, 18 years old, a first-time snorkeler at the event, shared her enthusiasm, saying, “This was my first time snorkelling in Nassau, and the event was great. I had an amazing time, not just seeing but learning about the reefs and the fish that live there too.”
For 12-year-old D’liam Clarke, who has attended BREEF snorkels before, the event was equally memorable. “I started going to BREEF snorkels last year and I really enjoyed this
one,” he said. “I learned so much about reefs, and I would love to attend future BREEF events, especially snorkelling ones.”
Farrah Flowers, a 17-year-old BREEF BESS intern, reflected on the experience, saying, “It was a wonderful experience to volunteer for the snorkel and watch the community connect with the ocean. We helped people discover the amazing beauty hidden just beneath the surface of our Bahamian waters.”
Jasmond Collie,
BREEF’s outreach and education officer, emphasised the importance of such experiences for youth and marine conservation.
“At BREEF, we believe that seeing these incredible underwater creatures firsthand makes all the difference,” she said.
“When we can see the amazing marine life in person, it truly remains in our sight and in our minds. That experience not only inspires us to be more responsible citizens who protect our oceans, but it’s also fun and memorable for everyone involved!” For more
ACHIEVERS HELP OUT FAMILIES IN NEED
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
JUNIOR Achievement (JA) Grand Bahama Shipyard Squad made a generous donation of food items to the Urban Renewal Commission last month to help needy families in Grand Bahama. Marrisa Roberts, company president, said the initiative is about giving back to the community while also supporting local businesses. As part of their
community service pro ject, the donated food items to go to seven fami lies selected by the Grand Bahama Urban Renewal Centre.
“It is an honour to help ease the burden these fam ilies face,” said Miss Roberts. “We also made it our mission to buy all the food locally, ensuring we support businesses in our community.”
Named as 2024 JA Company of Year, Ms Roberts said the donation speaks to their company’s com mitment to corporate responsibility.
Mr Lloyd Grant, deputy director of Urban Renewal Northern Bahamas, thanked the Junior Achievers for their efforts.
“This is what Urban Renewal is about — helping those in need. The food packages will be distributed across Grand Bahama. We have seven centres in GB; one in High Rock, Sea Horse Village, Marco City, Pineridge, Central Grand Bahama at Lewis Yard, West End and Eight Mile Rock.”
JA Bahamas was established in 1979 in New Providence and expanded
to Grand Bahama in 1983. It is a nonprofit organisation that helps high school students become future entrepreneurs. Achievers are placed in companies, mentored by advisors, and taught valuable life skills such as financial literacy and work readiness. They earn salaries and dividends based on their company’s performance at the end of the JA year.
JA Grand Bahama programme coordinator Dequann Carroll stressed that community service is a key part of JA’s mission as they mentor young men and women to be future entrepreneurs.
information on BREEF and upcoming events, visit www.breef.org.
GOVERNOR General Dame Cynthia Pratt, hosted a ceremony at Government House, where she witnessed the signing of a partnership agreement for a $2m scholarship programme. The programme, aimed at supporting technical and vocational training, is provided by The King’s Trust International.
JUNIOR Achievers present food items to the Urban Renewal Commission as part of a community service project.
MAKING CAT ISLAND PROUD
The students, and adults who took part in the event
sang and a
group of first
a poem by Dr
The adjudications ended with a Junkanoo performance.
Prime Minister Davis gave words of encouragement to the participants, and thanked the parents and teachers for their support.
“I am pulling for you,” Prime Minister Davis added. “Let’s do very well, and continue to make Cat Island - and your MP - proud.”
PRIME Minister Philip Davis made a special video call during the recent E Clement Bethel National Arts Festival Cat Island Adjudications, as it visited the Arthur’s Town Comprehensive School, on February 28, 2025.
danced,
small
graders recited
Reginad Eldon.
Photos: Eric Rose/BIS