The Tribune
‘NO FORCED LABOUR
IN NATION’, SAYS PM
Davis pushes back on claims over Cuban workers
By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Digital Editor
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip Davis yesterday rejected any suggestion of forced labour practices in The Bahamas after The Tribune report on the US expansion of its Cuba-related visa restrictions policy. The US is threatening
to revoke visas for foreign government officials such as those in The Bahamas involved in Cuba’s labour export programme. While maintaining that there has been no wrongdoing, Mr Davis said the government would review its current practices and provide further feedback to
EXUMA RESIDENTS CALL ON GOVT TO RESOLV E DE V ELOPER DISPUT E
By RAS HAD ROLLE Tribune N
Editor
ews
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
Man found hanged in suspected suicide
The town hall was held as Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club, backed by environmentalists, intensified its
HUNGRY for jobs and community development, Exuma residents at a town hall meeting Tuesday night brushed aside a wealthy developer’s environmental complaints concerning a nearby project but questioned why the Davis administration wasn’t getting more involved in resolving the dispute. “What can we do?” said Black Point resident David Brown. “Our hands are tied.”
POLICE suspect a man committed suicide last night on Royal Palm Street.
Police press liaison Chief Superintendent Sheria King told reporters a resident of one of the apartments in the area arrived home and
Pinder: Govt
found the relative –– a man in his 40s –– hanging in one of the bedrooms.
“This is now another suicide in our country,” she lamented, adding: “If you
conducted due diligence before agreement on SpaceX landings
By LE ANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net
ATTORNEY General Ryan Pinder defended the Davis administration’s agreement with SpaceX amid concerns raised over a failed rocket launch last week that scattered debris across parts of the Bahamas. Speaking in the Senate, Mr Pinder said the government conducted due diligence before entering into any agreement with the Elon Musk-owned aerospace company. He said officials retained expert counsel on space law
HEALTH officials are raising alarms about a sharp increase in chlamydia cases that experts warn, if left unaddressed, could lead to a rise in other STIs and HIV. There were 131 laboratory-confirmed cases of chlamydia in February 2025, a significant surge from previous months. Health Minister Dr Michael Darville and Dr Nikkiah Forbes, director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease
CLIFTON Heritage National Park unveiled educational panels yesterday detailing the lives of historical women featured in the Sacred
Women’s Day and the site’s 20th anniversary. See PAGE 16 for more.
Photo: Nikia Charlton
THE BODY of a man suspected to have committed suicide being removed from the scene on Royal Palm Street last night.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
Pinder: Govt conducted due diligence before agreement on SpaceX landings
from page one
and carried out a full evaluation of the operation.
“Even post incident, we continue to do a complete evaluation and we’re tied in on a daily basis on what is happening on recovery, like cleanup and any liability that may exist,” Mr Pinder said.
He again stressed that last week’s incident was not linked to the government’s current agreement with the SpaceX.
His comments came after the opposition raised concerns about debris from a SpaceX Starship rocket, which broke apart midflight on March 6 and was later found in The Bahamas.
Debris, including heat shields, was recovered along the coast of Ragged Island and is being tested to determine whether it poses any risk to marine life.
The search has also expanded to Andros following reports that additional debris may have washed ashore there.
Environmental watchdogs have also raised alarm, questioning whether the material could be harmful
to the environment despite previous assurances.
“Anything that actually explodes and burns has certain elements in it that can be very destructive to land and to sea and so, you know, I take everything they’re saying about the security of it and how it’s going to be handled and what it’s made of, I take it with a huge grain of salt,” environmentalist Joseph Darville told The Tribune last week.
Mr Pinder said that when the debris fell, it did so outside the country’s regulatory remit.
However, he noted The Bahamas has several legislative tools to address aviation and marine-related incidents, including the Environmental Planning and Protection Act.
He called the latter legislation “probably the most robust” legislation to deal with such incidents in the country.
The attorney general also pointed to the country’s obligations under international space law, highlighting that The Bahamas is a party to several treaties governing liability for such incidents.
He added: “Those international space liability treaties make it very clear from an international law point of view, that the launching state, if they are signatory, which United States is those entities who are launching have strict liability.”
He explained this means launching entities are automatically responsible for remediation, safety measures and any damage caused in foreign jurisdictionsregardless of intent or fault.
“That is why the next day, SpaceX was in the country doing an assessment with our environmental regulators to see the scope of what had happened and to understand and realise that they bear all of the necessary costs of exposure with respect to that one incident,” Mr Pinder said.
The government has approved up to 20 landings this year, though each requires regulatory approval.
Officials have said they are taking “measurable precautions” by working with environmental experts to monitor potential impacts.
A SPACEX Falcon 9 rocket booster seen from Cape Eleuthera during an event to mark the first landing of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster on a drone ship off of Eleuthera on February 18, 2025.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
‘No forced labour in nation’, says PM
from page one
US officials in due course.
“The decision is based upon the fact that there is a belief that we are engaging in forced labour by hiring Cubans,” Mr Davis said on the sidelines of the RF Bahamas Economic Outlook Conference at Baha Mar.
“Our laws, starting from our constitution, prohibits that kind of engagement. This government will never and don’t intend to engage in any forced labour. It is our law and we are a country of laws, but we have indicated that we don’t think that we have done it, we will review where we are and get back to them in due course.”
Responding to US news commentary that the country was in for a “wild ride”, Mr Davis pointed to his remarks at the conference that referenced historical moments of uncertainty.
“My speech was all about uncertainty; the wild ride is about uncertainty,” he said. In a statement, Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell said the government is considering the US policy, “but The Bahamas believes that it follows all international best practices in the recruitment of labour”.
Mr Mitchell confirmed that he was part of a meeting with US officials yesterday; however, he declined to provide further details on the outcome of those talks.
‘We W ill not be dictated to, and W e W ill not be sidelined’
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip
“Brave” Davis pledged that The Bahamas will navigate emerging trade challenges, including potential tariff wars, through intentional trade diversification during his keynote address at the RF Bahamas Economic Outlook Conference at Baha Mar yesterday.
He highlighted the importance of new trade partnerships, noting that a single relationship with a new source market can significantly reduce the cost of goods. For example, he pointed out that the cost of eggs dropped dramatically after the government found a new source market. He stressed that The Bahamas can and will weather these challenges as trade alliances shift through diversification strategies that strengthen resilience against shocks from any single market.
“This is by no means the only solution to this particular problem,” he said. “As we forge new trade partnerships, we are also investing in agriculture because lowering our food import bill is another means through which we can bolster our resilience.
“We will start with egg production. Next up is the poultry industry, and eventually, similarly large investments in meats, fruits, and vegetables, as well as specialty Bahamian produce. The dual objectives of expanded partnerships and investments in domestic opportunities are not mutually exclusive as long as they drive progress toward the same goal. So, trade diversification and local food production both serve a need in different ways.”
Earlier this month, US
President Donald Trump launched a trade war against America’s three biggest trading partners, drawing immediate retaliation from Mexico, Canada, and China. President Trump has also increased tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to 25 percent, challenging US allies and vowing to take back wealth “stolen” by other countries.
Mr Davis noted that throughout history, the world has faced uncertainty. Economic instability, geopolitical shifts, and changing power dynamics have left many nations grappling with questions of security, growth, and relevance. However, he emphasised that these moments of uncertainty test leadership and the ability to prevail.
“Let me be equally clear: engagement does not mean compromise,” he said. “We will not abandon our national priorities to fit neatly within the designs of others.”
“We will not be pressured into choices that do not serve the best interests of our people. Within our strategic development framework, we must ensure that our solutions, even when reliant on international support and partnerships, always prioritise the well-being of our people first.”
“The Bahamas has made its choice. We embrace international opportunities as a partnership between equals. We will not be dictated to, and we will not be sidelined.”
Mr Davis emphasised the need for The Bahamas to ask whether “external shocks” will dictate the country’s future or if it will forge strategic partnerships that reinforce resilience. These partnerships must, he said, be mutually
beneficial to the nation’s interests.
He also addressed the challenges of globalisation, including economic imbalances, shifting labour markets, and external vulnerabilities. He noted that The Bahamas has positioned itself as a leader in global discussions relevant to its future through engagement.
He cited examples such as The Bahamas’ role in CARICOM, which has helped influence decisions on climate change and fair global financial policies. He also highlighted the country’s seat at the table as a proactive and influential member of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on the United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.
“We must build coalitions, reinforce strategic partnerships, and assert our interests with clarity and confidence. And we must remain open to the possibilities brought about by partnerships, because history does not favour the rigid,” Mr Davis said.
Man of Haitian descent and parents accused of fraudulently obtaining Bahamas passport
By PAVEL BAILEY
Staff Reporter
A MAN of Haitian descent and his parents were granted bail yesterday after being accused of fraudulently obtaining a Bahamian passport and a National Insurance card.
Senior Magistrate Anishka Isaacs arraigned Wikender Cleare, also known as “Wikinder Edmond”, 22, on two counts of fraud by false pretences and two counts of possession of false documents. His co-accused, Ylveta Marcelus-Cleare, 49, and Kavan Cleare, 43, were charged with possession of a false document, two counts of uttering a false document, and two counts of fraud by false pretences.
Wikender allegedly fraudulently obtained a Bahamian passport in his name on August 20, 2019. He is also accused of obtaining a National Insurance card under false pretences on November 20, 2024. He was allegedly found in possession of the fraudulent passport and NIB card on March 3. Mr and Mrs Cleare are accused of possessing a fake République d’Haïti birth certificate in Wikender’s name on July 4, 2019. They allegedly presented this fake birth certificate at the National Insurance Board and the Passport Office on July 27, 2019, and July 9, 2019, respectively. The defendants are further accused of
fraudulently obtaining a National Insurance card and a Bahamian passport in Wikender’s name on June 27, 2019, and August 20, 2019. All three defendants pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police K Bould raised no objections to bail, which was set at $6,000 with one or two sureties for each defendant.
Under the conditions of their bail, they must sign in at the East Street South Police Station every Friday by 7pm. Their trial begins on May 7. Ian Cargill and Murrio Ducille represented the accused.
A Creole translator was present during the arraignment.
PRIME Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis speaks to the press at RF Economic Outlook at Baha Mar yesterday.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
Chlamydia rise sparks alert on sex infections
Programme, called for urgent action during a press conference yesterday.
“This uptick in cases is a cause for concern as chlamydia is one of the most common STIs,” Dr Darville said. “When left untreated, it can lead to serious health complications, particularly for women, including infertility and pregnancyrelated issues. Additionally, an increase in one STI may also signify a risk for the transmission of other infections, such as gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV.”
The most affected age groups are people aged 15 to 19 and 20 to 24, each accounting for approximately 27 percent of cases.
Dr Forbes noted that women make up 76 percent of cases, while males account for 24 percent.
“Females are more likely to seek healthcare than males,” she explained. “If
they have abnormal vaginal discharge, pain during urination, or other symptoms, they will visit a physician.”
“Males, on the other hand, may have chlamydia without symptoms or
experience only mild burning, making them less likely to seek medical attention. Additionally, laboratory testing involves urine tests or urethral swabs, which can be a deterrent for some
men.”
She said the 131 confirmed cases in February far exceeded previous highs, which typically ranged from 46 to 89 cases per month in 2024.
“If left untreated, STIs can lead to serious complications, including infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and in the case of syphilis, damage to the brain, the heart, and other organs,” she said.
“They can also cause an increase in HIV transmission. The breach in the private area and the inflammation in the private area makes it easier to get HIV with unprotected sex, and we do not have a currently widely available cure for HIV. It’s a very serious infection.”
Chlamydia and many other STIs are curable with proper treatment.
Dr Forbes outlined the symptoms of common STIs, emphasising that
some people may have no symptoms, making regular screening essential. Chlamydia symptoms include pain during urination, abnormal discharge from the vagina, penis, or rectum, and lower abdominal pain.
Gonorrhea presents similar symptoms but can also cause pain and swelling in the testicles for men and pelvic pain for women. Syphilis begins as a painless sore, then progresses to rashes, swollen lymph nodes, and, in later stages, severe organ damage affecting the brain and heart.
Health officials said they are taking immediate action to address the rising numbers. These efforts include strengthening public awareness campaigns on prevention, testing, and treatment options; expanding access to STI treatment at public health clinics; strengthening contact tracing efforts
to ensure exposed individuals are notified and treated early; and collaborating with the Ministry of Education to enhance sexual health education in schools through programmes like Focus on Youth.
Dr Forbes also urged sexually active people to take preventive measures.
“We are seeing a practice, a sexual practice, where there’s a drop-off in people using condoms, and this is a matter of concern,” she said. “It will cause an increase in STIs and HIV. Use condoms correctly and consistently throughout the sex act from beginning to end.”
She encouraged people to consider Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a daily pill that significantly reduces the risk of contracting HIV. She said it is “ up to 97 percent or more effective if taken properly and as prescribed.”
Glover-Rolle hopeful negotiations with CPSA conclude soon despite delays
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
DESPITE the government’s repeated assurances that negotiations with doctors are progressing, the Consultant Physicians Staff Association (CPSA) is still waiting for officials to follow through.
The government had initially set a goal to finalise a new industrial agreement with doctors by February 2025. However, Minister of Health Dr Michael Darville confirmed on March 12, 2025, that negotiations remain ongoing, particularly concerning junior doctors.
Minister of Labour Pia Glover-Rolle acknowledged that the process has been slowed by scheduling
conflicts, including travel commitments and ongoing budget debates.
“Yes, we are still hopeful that we will bring this matter of the doctors’ signing to conclusion in short order, schedules being as they were,” she recently told The Tribune “We did have an initial negotiation meeting, and then there was — stakeholders had to — on all sides had to travel, and there were scheduling issues, and now we are, as a government, hoping to draft a proposal, a new proposal, that will be presented to the doctors’ unions.”
While the government has not provided a firm deadline, she indicated that the revised proposal should be presented to the unions within March
2025, with the hope of resolving the final sticking points.
She emphasised that while the government wants to conclude negotiations as soon as possible, certain complex matters require time.
While the government insists it is making progress, CPSA President Dr Charelle Lockhart says doctors have been waiting for weeks, with little communication and even fewer concrete actions.
“I am not holding my breath,” she said yesterday. “Put it that way. And I don’t hold my breath. I become a little bit more, I shouldn’t say patient, because I’m not patient with it. I’m just allowing it not to raise my blood pressure and not like holding on to their promised
words, because it doesn’t mean anything to me.”
The union says it was supposed to receive a draft proposal on February 21, but the government cancelled the meeting. A new deadline of February 26 was set, yet two weeks later, no document has been presented.
Dr Lockhart said she has been the one repeatedly following up with officials, only to receive vague and unconvincing responses.
She said the entire matter could be resolved in a single day if the government took the process seriously.
“I’ve given them loads of options, including, you know, we have one major stalling issue, and I told them, since they didn’t bring it up at the beginning of our negotiations, then they should leave it out of this contract and allow us to sign the contracts without that clause, and then we can continue to negotiate on that one thing,” she said. “But in the meantime, my membership was suffering because, you know, we have an agreement that we could sign.”
The main issue causing delays, she said, is the government’s insistence on a time and attendance clause that would require senior doctors to clock in and out.
“It’s not practical for us,” she said. “It doesn’t make sense for us the way we work. It doesn’t make sense. Our work is not
solely done in the four walls of any institution. A lot of our work is providing oversight and expertise at all hours of the day and night, in and out of the institutions, and they have no way to capture what we’re doing outside of the institution, so they should not be demanding to know how much time we’re spending in the institution. It just doesn’t make any sense. We’re not like shift hourly workers.”
Dr Lockhart noted that junior doctors, who operate on a fixed-hour system, have a different perspective on the clause.
“They work differently than us, so they work 40 hours. They’re expected to be there for 40 hours, but they work so much more than that.”
Despite the delays, Dr Lockhart said the CPSA has already made significant compromises to
speed up negotiations.
“We’ve given a lot up — a lot of what we initially asked for in the beginning of our negotiations,” she said. “And so at this particular time, we have pretty much agreed on how they would like to compensate us, base salary, financial wise, that way.”
She also pointed out the lack of health insurance for senior doctors as a major issue, calling it an embarrassment.
Dr Lockhart also revealed that the CPSA proposed non-cash alternatives to salary increases — such as tax breaks — but the government outright refused.
“We’ve asked them for non-financial things like, you know, tax breaks and things like that, and they have straight up said no, they don’t want to make that, you know, allow us to make that a precedent.”
HEALTH AND WELLNESS MINISTER DR MICHAEL DARVILLE
MINISTER OF LABOUR PIA GLOVER-ROLLE
Exuma residents call on govt to resolve developer dispute
opposition to plans for a neighbouring $200m ultraluxury Rosewood Exuma resort spearheaded by the little-known Yntegra Group.
Bob Coughlin, the principal of Turtlegrass, highlighted the environmental risks of the nearby project. He also stressed that the Davis administration approved his $75m development first but is now ignoring his complaint that some elements of Yntegra’s plans would ruin his business. He has threatened to pull the plug on his project.
He argued that Yntegra’s planned docks and marinas would force large barges to pass directly in front of his resort, obstructing views for guests and disrupting operations.
“We can’t be successful with barges moving right in front of us,” he said.
He claimed that he had met with Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis and Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper twice, as well as with Mr Cooper and Yntegra’s principal, Felipe MacLean, but said the conversations failed to produce meaningful action.
Bewildered town hall attendees expressed sympathy for his challenge but emphasised that they want both developments to coexist.
“It seems like they more in favour of Felippe tingum than you,” one man said, referring to the government.
“I understand your plight because you feel the government grant you the permit to do what you doing and now since the other thing came on stream, they ignoring you.”
“You saying you invest $2.5m in Exuma. That’s the deputy prime minister’s area so I don’t know what’s the problem. We would like for the two of y’all to get together and resolve this. We don’t want y’all fighting.”
Some attendees dismissed concerns about dredging, arguing that the marine environment is resilient.
More than anything else, they stressed that their economic needs take priority.
“Right now,” said Mr Brown, “you’re thinking with $70 or $100m in your pocket. I’m thinking with $0 in my pocket. So when investors come in to The Bahamas, we want investors. You guys is all we got. We only got sun, sand, and sea. We got nothing else to offer.”
Mr Coughlin and his team have been pushing back against Yntegra’s development for months.
A formal petition was submitted to the government demanding that environmental approvals
be denied until a more comprehensive study of the project’s impact is conducted.
The petition argues that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), released in July 2024, lacks a proper analysis of the seabed dredging required for the project. It states that Yntegra has failed to provide sufficient detail on how dredging — estimated at 240,000 cubic yards — will affect marine ecosystems despite the EIA acknowledging that the activity will have a severe negative impact on the marine environment.
Environmentalists say the dredging will destroy seagrass beds, wetlands, and marine habitats, potentially altering the underwater landscape of East Sampson Cay.
Yntegra’s Environmental Impact Assessment confirms the risks, stating that constructing the marinas, fuel depot, and service dock will disrupt critical marine habitats. The study notes that the dredging and marina construction will destroy an estimated 15 acres of seagrass, a vital nursery for juvenile fish, conch, lobster, and endangered species like the hawksbill turtle and Nassau grouper.
It also warns that increased sediment from construction could smother corals and reduce water
MAN FOUND HANGED IN SUSPECTED SUICIDE
clarity, affecting reef ecosystems. The removal of some mangrove areas could weaken coastal protection, while increased boat traffic, fuel storage, and wastewater discharge could degrade water quality and disrupt marine species.
More vessel activity could also lead to accidental sea turtle and manatee collisions, along with underwater noise pollution that affects fish and marine mammals.
Yntegra has promised mitigation efforts, such as replanting mangroves, installing sediment barriers,
and creating artificial reefs. Its $200m resort, set to open in 2028, will include 33 beachfront suites, a luxury spa, six dining venues, and two marinas designed to attract high-networth visitors and yachting enthusiasts.
The project is currently under review by The Bahamas’ Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP).
Phase I of the Turtlegrass Resort project— a $25m investment — is underway, featuring six beach cottages, water processing and waste management systems,
solar power infrastructure, and maintenance facilities. It was expected to be completed by September 2025. However, Phase II, originally scheduled for September 2024 to December 2025, was put on indefinite hold in April 2024 due to concerns over Yntegra’s impact. That phase was set to add a primary clubhouse, dining facilities, swimming pools, and additional accommodations.
Turtlegrass says the delay has disrupted its development timeline and jeopardised millions in investment and hiring plans.
are struggling with any circumstances, if you are having a hard time, reach out to a trusted friend, a pastor, someone where you can confide in and see whether or not they can render assistance to you.”
CONSTRUCTION along the beach during a media tour of Turtlegrass Resort on Big Samson Cay, Exuma on January 28, 2025.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
THE BODY of a man in his 40s was found hanging in a bedroom in what police say is a suspected suicide on Royal Palm Street last night.
Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr from page one
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LEON E. H. DUPUCH
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SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .
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Being prepared in a quickly changing world
AN ARRAY of speakers yesterday took the stage at the RF Business Outlook event.
It is a successful event held at Baha Mar – The Tribune is one of the supporters – but what is most notable is that it aims to cover a host of topics, bringing the global issues to our doorstep.
Those global issues have been on our doorstep for a long time. They feel more pressing than ever given some of the items in the news lately.
One of the speakers was a former deputy national security advisor under US President Donald Trump in his first tenure.
Her topic veered toward the tariffs that are prompting so many headlines and so much economic concern around the world.
She talked of how Trump is using the “leverage” of the US being the world’s largest trading market “and he’s using that”.
She talked of how “no presidents have really exploited that before, but Donald Trump is going to use it”.
This comes at a time when the US is using another form of leverage – pressuring senior officials by putting their visas at risk because of Cuban workers having been brought to our country.
Prime Minister Philip Davis yesterday denied the suggestions that the workers here in The Bahamas are “forced labour”.
Mr Davis said: “This government will never and don’t intend to engage in any forced labour. It is our law and we are a country of laws, but we have indicated that we don’t think that we have done
PICTURE OF THE DAY
it, we will review where we are and get back to them in due course.”
Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell also insisted that “The Bahamas believes that it follows all international best practices in the recruitment of labour”.
Part of the focus of the event yesterday was on helping businesspeople navigate this landscape of uncertain and changing times internationally, so the issues at the forefront of the news are timely – if troublesome. What is clear however is that such discussions matter.
The on again-off again tariffs being applied by the US government are causing turbulence economically.
Businesses thrive on stability. A company wants to know, for example, if it makes a decision now to launch a product or to take on staff what the financial costs are likely to be on supplies, that inflation is not likely to spike and so on. Knowing the costs it faces to do business is crucial for a company to know whether the investment is a good idea –or whether it might backfire expensively.
This is the whirlwind world we are operating in – but in the middle of it, we have one another to rely on, one another to listen to, to gain advice from. If there is one lesson from the changes around us that we should learn, it is that we need to stand on our own feet as much as possible. Together as a nation. Depending on others leaves us stranded when others cannot be depended on.
For all our sakes, we should be prepared for this changing world as best as possible.
EDITOR, The Tribune. LINCOLN Bain’s Coalition of Independents has ratified 28 candidates since September 2024. The fringe political organisation’s Vision 2030 at the Fusion Superplex was well attended, drawing tens of thousands of views on Facebook and YouTube. And while these latest developments with the COI have little bearing on the Free National Movement, it does cause one to question when will the party officially name its standard bearers for the upcoming general election, which must be held no later than September 2026. That’s 18 months away.
FNM Leader Michael Pintard, I believe, is in a serious bind regarding the future of former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis in Killarney. Killarney is an FNM stronghold. You get the sense that with Minnis being in the House of Assembly, Pintard always has to keep an eye over his shoulder for the Killarney MP. While he did win the FNM leadership election at the party’s one day convention in June 2024 in convincing fashion, scoring 486 votes to Minnis’ paltry 163, it seems as if the current leadership team in place is on an interim basis. For the Minnis camp, Pintard’s convention win is not enough. That is the narrative being spun by those who are unwilling to accept Pintard’s leadership. This is especially the case since the West Grand Bahama and Bimini by-election in November 2023, when the FNM candidate lost to the PLP’s Kingsley Smith by 874 votes. It would appear that Minnisites were salivating over the FNM’s embarrassing loss just as much as the Smith campaign machinery, apparently not taking into consideration that area’s decades-old ties to the PLP. FNM troublemakers are now disingenuously putting forward the names of Dr Duane Sands and Shanendon Cartwright as possible replacements for Pintard, despite the fact that the former isn’t even an MP. No one, to my knowledge, is suggesting that there’s a conspiracy within the Progressive Liberal Party to oust Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis as leader and replace him with either Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper or PLP
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Chairman Fred Mitchell. Outside of the tenure of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, it seems as if no FNM leader is safe, when it comes to his position within the party, owing to the many alleged cutthroats within the party. What has transpired over the past 13 years within the FNM now brings to light the reason Ingraham ruled the party with an iron-fist. He had to, in order to keep the FNM rebels at bay.
This atmosphere of uncertainty and insecurity within the current FNM breathes mistrust and disunity. A leader must have the faith of his party officers and Parliamentary caucus that they are all standing behind him. Unfortunately for Pintard, this solidarity does not exist within the FNM. He is always on the docket being subjected to harsh scrutiny by individuals hellbent on undermining his leadership. The elephant in the room for Pintard is what to do with Minnis, who isn’t going anywhere. Minnis remains very unpopular nationally, yet has a strong base of support among FNMs. Any attempt to sideline Minnis would automatically alienate his base, who number in the thousands. In a recent Tribune article concerning former Democratic National Alliance Branville McCartney on The Rundown with Clint Watson, McCartney voiced his support for Minnis being given the nod in Killarney, despite his refusal to subject himself to a training module.
In the same article, an FNM council member, who supports Minnis, warned that she has four votes in her house. I interpret her veiled threat that if Minnis is denied a nomination, her four votes won’t be going to the FNM. For the Minnis camp, this entire training procedure is beneath him as a former Prime Minister and a sitting MP of nearly 18 years. If Minnis remains adamant in not submitting to Pintard in this regard, will Pintard deny him a nomination? If Minnis is rejected by the FNM leadership, then the party must be prepared to lose Killarney. I don’t believe the
FNM is strong enough to win Killarney without Minnis, who will most certainly run as an independent candidate. Despite his unpopularity as competent authority under the emergency orders during the COVID-19 health crisis, Minnis still managed to stave off his PLP challenger, Ronnie Duncombe, by winning 2,501 or 51 percent of the votes cast. Only 4,881 or 69 percent of the 7,112 registered voters participated in the 2021 general election in Killarney. This would then mean that Minnis only got an abysmal 35.17 percent of the votes from the 7,112 registered voters. I am convinced that hardworking, productive MPs such as Dionisio D’Aguilar and Travis Robinson were partly punished at the polls because of Minnis’ unpopularity. Winning 35 seats in 2017, the FNM lost a staggering 28 seats in 2021. The FNM had little alternative but to make drastic changes to its leadership. This is a reality that the Minnis camp is unwilling to accept. Having said that, I believe Pintard should just bite the bullet and run his predecessor if he is unwilling to lose Killarney. An independent Minnis in Killarney will only pave the way for a PLP candidate to win that constituency with very little resistance. If Pintard values Minnis’ absence from the House of Assembly more than winning Killarney, then he should just come out and state that Minnis will not be on the FNM ticket. This decision could mean the difference between being in opposition for another five years or winning the government. In an ideal world, Minnis would announce in a nationally televised press conference that he fully supports Pintard and will be retiring from frontline politics ahead of the next general election. He would then urge his loyal supporters to throw their collective weight behind Pintard. But none of this will happen. Pintard is faced with the difficult task of fielding Minnis in Killarney, knowing full well that the former FNM leader is still harbouring thoughts of regaining his post within the party.
KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama. March 10, 2025.
in the median…but first but watch out plenty will follow. Where there should be bushes of flowering plants. Billboards! Love Beach off the road both cable Cos have billboards...ugly a location where there should be any. The link road off Airport Road to West Ridge BTC
a big billboard… through
to grow every week. The Real Estate Co with the four-six or more plywood sheets on Airport Road… has theirs there erected last week. Why is the relative authority licensing these billboards? We should be beautifying not doing the opposite but then we seem to like...UGLINESS!
Beach after Super
Shopping Center the billboards
PAULA MINNS Nassau, March 9, 2025.
Photo: Ron Lightbourn
Man charged with assault of woman with intent to rape
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter
A MAN was remanded to prison yesterday after being accused of assaulting a woman with intent to rape her last week.
The complainant in the case attempted to withdraw the charges, but prosecutors proceeded with the matter.
Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr arraigned Alvin Alfred, 22, on charges of assault with intent to rape, causing harm, and damage.
Prosecutors allege that Alfred assaulted a young
woman with intent to rape her on March 1 in New Providence. He is also accused of injuring the same woman during the incident. Around 10pm that same day, he allegedly caused $200 worth of damage to a man’s four car tyres.
Although the complainant asked to withdraw the charges in court, she was informed that only the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) could authorise such a withdrawal. Magistrate Allen advised her to make her request directly to the DPP if she wished to proceed
with dropping the case. Alfred was not required to enter a plea at this stage. He was informed that his case would proceed to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).
Following a verbal exchange with the magistrate, Prosecutor Sergeant 2257 Wilkinson objected to bail. However, Alfred was advised of his right to apply for bail in the Supreme Court. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is served on June 27.
Woman accused of assaulting two females with her vehicle
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A WOMAN was granted bail after allegedly assaulting two women with her vehicle on Hospital Lane earlier this week.
Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville arraigned
Chakara Burrows, 38, yesterday on two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Prosecutors allege that following a heated verbal altercation, Burrows assaulted Shaketra and Santasia Brown with her vehicle on March 10. She pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Govt efforts ongoing to return public school immunisation requirements to normal post-COVID
By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
Burrows’ bail was set at $2,500 with one or two sureties. Under the conditions of her bail, she must sign in at her local police station every Sunday by 7pm.
The trial is set to begin on June 25. Inspector Cordero Farrington served as the prosecutor.
CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF GUN AND AMMO
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was granted bail yesterday after being accused of having a loaded gun in the area of Virginia and Augusta Streets earlier this week.
Magistrate Lennox Coleby arraigned Terrance Riley, 36, on charges of possession of an unlicenced
firearm and possession of ammunition. Prosecutors allege that tourism patrol officers found Riley with a black Ruger .380 pistol and six rounds of ammunition at 11pm on March 10. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Riley’s bail was set at $7,500 with one or two sureties. His trial is scheduled to
ENTRANCE EXAMINATION 2025
– 2026
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.
begin on May 26. Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie served as the prosecutor.
EDUCATION director
Dominique McCartneyRussell said immunisation requirements for students registering in the public school system were relaxed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but since last year, efforts have been made to return to normal protocols. She said the relaxation of medical documentation requirements was due to overwhelmed medical practitioners and logistical challenges during COVID-19. The immunisation policy requires parents to provide medical and immunisation
information when registering their children for school, typically in grades one, seven, and ten.
Mrs McCartney-Russel’s comments came after Gina Rose, national coordinator of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), warned on Tuesday that The Bahamas is at risk of measles because the vaccination rate has dropped below the levels needed for herd immunity. Ms Rose said children under five are the most vulnerable. In 2023, the vaccination rate was between 86 and 87 percent, falling under the 95 percent needed for widespread protection against diseases.
The education director said she is aware of three students who were not up to date with vaccinations. However, she said officials do not deny students the right to register.
“Every student who presents themselves for registration, school-age student, they are provided a spot,” she said. “They are not denied. We do have some parents who have their children participate in homeschool, you know, and maybe for religious reasons they may not want their child immunised. They get to participate in the virtual platform, and so they have access to the opportunities utilising our virtual platform.”
Where shopping is not a pleasure!
SCORES of Bahamians
have shopped over the decades at the Publix Food and Pharmacy grocery stores.
The chain began in 1930. It has grown since then with stores throughout Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Their well-advertised slogan, “Where shopping is a pleasure”, is known by millions. Whatever the location, the stores are generally modernised and well-kept. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the largest major grocery chain here at home, whose facilities are in desperate need of refurbishment and modernisation.
The parking lot at the Cable Beach shopping plaza, which houses the largest grocery store in that area, is finally being repaved after years of temporary patching of potholes which were constantly being refilled and repatched instead of paved.
Given the number of business establishment it was disgraceful that such a highly trafficked parking lot was so rundown and in a state of constant disrepair. The potholes were often deep and wide.
Quite a number of people dropped into the holes, especially after a heavy rain. Some had to change tires after falling into them.
The supermarket chain,
which has a large store in the shopping plaza, in various ways resembles the historic poor state of the parking lot in terms of its facilities. However, it is not only store in the chain that is dilapidated. Despite the considerable millions made by the shopping chain over the decades, and the super wealth of the owners, customer have had to endure for many years, facilities desperately in need of modernisation. The décor, tiling, and entrances to the stores make the store appear feel like they are stuck in the 1950s or 60s. While there have been some cosmetic and other upgrades, like removing freezers that should have
be removed and replaced years earlier, the décor has not been more significantly renovated and renewed to provide a contemporary aesthetic.
Take for example, the tiling on the floor. Certain commercial tiling and/or flooring tends to be less expensive. Look at the tiling on the floors of the various shops in the chain. There are often many
cracks, considerable mold, and encrusted dirt, making the flooring dinghy and unappealing.
Why we are we paying such huge prices and receiving this third world service? Why are the owners treating us with a certain contempt in terms of the quality of their facilities throughout New Providence?
The entrances are often dirty, unappealing, and ramshackle. There is removable gunk near the doorways. An American tourist entering one of the chain’s stores in Cable Beach remarked that the entrance reminded him of a “ghetto” store in a rundown urban area in Philadelphia.
The area where shopping carts are stored are sometimes grimy and in need of better maintenance and cleaning.
Security guards should not be sitting on milk crates outside of stores, which are professional enterprises. It looks tacky. Can one imagine a security guard sitting on a milk crate outside of an insurance company or other establishment?
The back areas of various stores where employees work, unload goods, and prepare various foods for presentation are also in urgent need of remodeling and modernization. There are often scuffed floors and walls, peeling paint, and other signs of disrepair in the back areas that may surprise those shopping out front.
The physical state of the stores is a message to both customers and employees. This parlous state suggest that the owners put little stock into making the customer and employee experience more inviting and pleasurable.
The grocery chain possesses a number of friendly managers and wellmannered and generally well-trained packers. They deserve better facilities in the back and front area in which to work.
To their credit, the owners of Cost Right and Solomon’s have refurbished their previously run down
stores. The two adjacent stores off East West Highway have been modernized and refurbished, making the shopping experience more pleasurable.
Maxwell’s Supermarket in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, offers a considerably more appealing facility in which to shop than the stores of the largest grocery chain in New Providence.
Why is it that the owners of various businesses of all sorts are happy to live in beautiful homes, while being comfortable with their employees and clientele having to endure poor facilities in which to work and do business?
A friend notes that though she is unable to afford many of the prices at Solomon’s Fresh Market, she does shop there for some items, in great part because she appreciates how modern and well-kept are the stores.
After three and a half decades, the chain in question finally decided to move from stamps to a smart card, which has been delayed. This sluggish approach to embracing a smart card suggests a mindset stuck in the past, finding it difficult to modernise, reform, and adjust.
Smart cards have been utilised in other jurisdictions for decades in everything from grocery stores to retail clothing stores. Why is the main grocery chain just now catching up? Other stores in The Bahamas have also been using smart cards for some time.
Just as we need smart cards, we need smart grocery stores, with things like more scanners to check prices. In many other jurisdictions fruit, vegetables and meat are better packaged and presented for purchase in a more appetising manner.
Why do we still so often see blood running in some meat products, something one rarely finds at various grocery stores at home and abroad?
Why do deli sections still look so rundown, poorly appointed, and
again, in desperate need of refurbishment?
A college student after returning home from her first year in college overseas marveled at how clean and contemporary were the grocery stores in which she shopped in the Midwest in the United States.
She asked: “Why do we put up with such rundown facilities in need for remodeling?” The reality is that owners of a certain age are often comfortable with the look and appearances of their businesses. They fail to see the need for change. It often requires successive generations to press for and realise such change. Near monopolies or duopolies, with limited competition, are often anesthetised into complacency and are resistant to change.
With the extraordinary amount of money Bahamians spend in various grocery stores, we need and should demand more quality markets that will afford us enhanced super values.
These values including reasonable prices, a greater valuing of customers and employees, and ethical values which translate into more decent, attractive and modernised facilities.
The physical quality and aesthetics of a business sends a message about the owners of an establishment. While some owners may have fewer resources in various establishments, the owners of this chain have the funds necessary to make their stores more appealing and inviting.
The current state of the stores is not about a lack of money. It is more decidedly about the mindset of the owners and whether they can summon the wherewithal to treat their customers and employees with greater respect.
From commercial banks to insurance companies to various medical enterprises, Bahamian consumers are constantly taken advantage of by those who enjoy huge profits, while often indifferent to those who finance their lifestyles and well-being.
A PUBLIX grocery store deli counter.
THE FRONT of a Publix food store.
The frenetic pace of change under Trump
THE pace and content of change in Washington DC is certainly striking these days.
US President Donald Trump had pledged before he was reelected to shake things up in Washington. That can certainly be counted as a campaign promise kept.
Most observers feel that Trump will eventually fall out with billionaire Tesla Motor and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who may have purchased the November election for Trump and who is clearly enjoying the headlines and notoriety he has gained since Trump put him in charge of eviscerating the American government.
But Trump doesn’t like others edging him out of the headlines. Musk evidently really likes being in the spotlight. Something’s got to give here.
However, other than their publicly slavish devotion
STATESIDE
with Charlie Harper
to Trump as their “dear, supreme leader”, there’s been a lot to like about Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz. They are so far clearly engaged in classic American shuttle diplomacy in what appears to be a genuine effort to halt the grinding, dismal RussoUkraine War. They have both deftly navigated the obstacles placed in their path by the relentlessly thoughtless, whimsical and spontaneous nature of
Trump’s off-handed comments on anything that’s on his mind. Of course, American diplomacy, as always for the past 80 years, has been buttressed by the financial and military supremacy of the US.
Still, it’s not hard to be optimistic that some kind of ceasefire will be the result of Rubio and Waltz’s efforts.
If you think that expelling or disenfranchising Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank as Israel more formally appropriates those territories is a good way to
Photo: Saul Loeb/AP
NOTICE
ensure Middle East peace, you’ll be pleased at recent developments there.
Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and their supporters have abandoned any pretense of sympathy for the Palestinians. Like the Kurds nearby in the Middle East, the Palestinians have no sovereign homeland. The Kurdish problem, often at the center of Turkish foreign policy in the region, has proven to be intractable and unavoidable. But it has not yet sparked wider war.
Maybe however the Palestinian “problem” is resolved won’t incite regional wars either. But there is a new sheriff in the region, and his name is Trump. Expect Ukraine to remain front of mind
for American diplomats and policymakers until some kind of cease fire is negotiated.
But then, it is anticipated that the White House will turn again to the Palestinians and Israelis. If Netanyahu is still in control in Jerusalem when that happens, Trump may well join an effort to resolve Israeli security concerns by acquiescing in more formal annexations of territory.
The Iranian president muttered the other day that “Trump can do whatever the hell he wants”. That seems to hold true generally in the Middle East, at least for now.
Meantime, a real crisis is brewing between the Americans and their reliable neighbors across their northern border. As Trump ramps up his attacks on Canada, it looks likely that after elections in the near future, the leader in Ottawa will be a former investment banker and central banker who has never been elected to public office.
Mark Carney has headed the central banks in both Ottawa and in London,
where he was the first non-
British born director in the nearly 600-year history of the British central bank. Carney has come out swinging. He said: “Trump’s attacking Canadian families, workers and businesses and we cannot let him succeed and we won’t. We didn’t ask for this fight. But Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves. The Americans should make no mistake: in trade, as in hockey, Canada will win.”
A strong recent surge in Canadian nationalism has bolstered Carney’s Liberal Party’s chances in upcoming parliamentary elections.
“The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country. If they succeed, they would destroy our way of life,” Carney said. “In America health care is big business. In Canada it is a right.” Carney said America is “a melting pot. Canada is mosaic,” he said. “America is not Canada. And Canada will never, ever will be a part of America in any way, shape or form.”
Life imitating art
SOMETIMES
life does imitate art.
The following item appeared in The Tribune the other day. It brought to mind an intriguing 30-yearold film that was quietly notable for several reasons. Here’s the news item:
“Bahamasair has confirmed an incident involving a flight attendant at CapHaïtien International Airport in Haiti on March 1.
“The airline stated that it is taking the matter seriously and has launched an internal review while cooperating with Haitian authorities, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and local Interpol.
“Reports indicate that the flight attendant allegedly escaped and returned to The Bahamas before authorities could detain them. The circumstances surrounding the detention and escape remain unclear.”
Details about the Bahamasair incident remain unclear. But what facts we can glean from the brief Tribune story recall a 1997 Hollywood film called “Jackie Brown”. In many ways, the film isn’t especially memorable. It features undeveloped characters, casual violence and some pretty improbable twists and turns.
Corporate Secretary
But look at the cast: Robert DeNiro; Samuel L Jackson; Michael Keeton; Bridget Fonda; Chris Tucker; Isaac Hayes. And those are just supporting players. The stars of the film were Pam Grier, still alive and still making films despite various lifestyle issues that might have ended things for her, and Robert Forster, now deceased but with a gravelly voice that even moviegoers
who don’t know his name would recognise.
The movie’s director was Quentin Tarantino, who has achieved considerable renown since “Jackie Brown”. The movie was based on a book by an author whose spare prose, unsurpassed skill at appropriating and employing authentic dialogue, and fascinating character development made him in many minds the most consequential American author of the last half of the 20th Century. That author was Elmore Leonard.
Never heard of him? One critic wrote that “Leonard’s mastery of free indirect discourse, a third-person narrative technique that gives the illusion of immediate access to a character’s thoughts, is unsurpassed in our time, and among the surest of all time, even if we include Jane Austen, Gustave Flaubert, and Hemingway in the mix.” Leonard is often compared to Ernest Hemingway, though his characters are far less noble.
Here’s another critic: “If you’ve never read him, or if you’d never heard of him until yesterday, or if you merely need a fitting way to relax, pick up 52 Pick-Up, LaBrava, Swag, or Glitz, and tune into the voices of America—calling loud and clear, and largely ungrammatically, from Atlantic City, Miami, Hollywood, and Leonard’s home turf of Detroit. Elmore Leonard got them right, and did them proud. He was an author.” Here’s where the Bahamasair story comes in.
Elmore Leonard sold a lot of movie scripts in Hollywood, including “Jackie Brown”, that was based on
his novel “Rum Punch”. In the movie, Jackie Brown is a stewardess whose sideline is smuggling illegal money into the US from Mexico for a menacing, murderous character played with evident relish by Samuel L Jackson.
After off-handedly shooting an associate, Jackson moves on to threaten Pam Grier’s character. But she unexpectedly pulls a gun on him, and the whole zany cast is off to the races.
A note about Pam Grier: She was cast in several of the most notable “blaxploitation’” films that were made between 1970-75.
As one film historian notes, “blaxploitation was born of crisis. Hollywood was in big trouble in the 1960s. The bloated studio system was dying under the weight of big-budget flops, shockingly out-of-touch products, and the rising popularity of television. On the brink of financial collapse, production companies were saved by an unprecedented boom in films that featured black casts and targeted black audiences.”
Pam Grier was called the “Queen of blaxploitation films”. Her role in “Jackie Brown” was an homage by Tarantino to the films that rescued Hollywood 25 years earlier.
Grier is now 75 and reportedly living on a ranch in Colorado. Tarantino has called her “cinema’s first female action star”. Grier is considered to be “an iconic figure in American cinema and pop culture, overcoming racism and violence to become an early African American action hero.” Wonder if the Bahamasair flight attendant has ever heard of her?
GOLDEN ISLES MP CELEBRATES COMMONWEALTH DAY W I TH A MESSAGE OF UNI TY AND
STUDENTS across The Bahamas joined in celebrating Commonwealth Day under the theme “Together We Thrive.” At Adelaide School Primary, Golden Isles Member of Parliament and Environment and Natural Resources Minister, Vaughn Miller, delivered a message emphasising unity, teamwork, and national pride.
Addressing children aged 5 to 12, Miller highlighted The Bahamas’ role in the Commonwealth, a global family of 56 nations. The remarks encouraged students to be proud of their culture, respect others, protect the environment, and work together for a brighter future.
“The Commonwealth believes in young people
like you because you are the future,” Miller stated. “When we work together, we all succeed.”
Students participated in cultural performances and activities showcasing The Bahamas’ rich heritage, including a display of our national symbols by preschoolers. These activities reinforced the importance of collaboration and shared values among Commonwealth nations. Other Commonwealth countries, such as St Lucia, Jamaica, Grenada, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago, were also highlighted through dance, poetry, skits, and other creative presentations. The celebration underscored The Bahamas’ commitment to fostering
unity and resilience among its youth and neighbouring Commonwealth of nations, ensuring that “Together, We Thrive!”
From soup cans to airplanes, steel and aluminum a fundamental part of American life
Associated Press
STEEL and aluminum are ubiquitous in Americans’ lives. A stainless steel refrigerator holds aluminum soda cans. A stainless steel drum tumbles inside an aluminum washing machine. They’re the metals used in cars and airplanes, phones and frying pans, skyscrapers and zippers.
That’s why President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports — which went into effect Wednesday — could have widespread impact on manufacturers and consumers.
Here are some of the industries and products that rely on aluminum and steel:
CONSTRUCTION
The construction industry uses about one-third of all US steel shipments, more than any other industry, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The industry depends on a global supply chain to build everything from airports to schools to roads, according to Associated Builders and Contractors, a trade group with more than 23,000 members.
The group says some contractors were able to lock in prices on steel or aluminum ahead of the tariffs. But if they are prolonged, the import taxes will ultimately raise prices at a time when the construction industry is already struggling with higher costs for labour and materials. And uncertainty around the tariffs will make it less likely that companies will commit to big building projects, the group said.
Annie Mecias-Murphy is the co-owner and president of JA&M, a contractor for commercial buildings based
in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
Some of the main materials her company uses are rebar, or reinforced steel, and post-tension cables, which reinforce concrete after it’s poured.
“In attempts to get ahead of the tariffs, we do try to lock in our prices and work with our trade partners and clients on different strategies,” Mecias-Murphy said. “But ultimately, the rising costs make it difficult for small business owners
like myself to contemplate large-scale multi-year projects.”
STEEL CANS
Tin mill steel is used for a wide variety of packaging, from soup cans to hairspray. And the US currently imports 70% of its tin mill steel, according to the Can Manufacturers Institute.
The institute said the more limited tariffs
Trump imposed in 2018 resulted in the closure of nine tin mill lines in the US as manufacturers shifted to other types of steel or simply shut down. As a result, only three US tin steel lines remain open.
Mick Beekhuizen, the president and CEO of The Campbell Co., said in an earnings call last week that his company imports tin mill steel from Canada. Beekhuizen said Campbell is working with its suppliers to mitigate the impact of tariffs, but it may need to raise prices.
The Consumer Brands Association, which represents packaged food makers, said it’s urging the Trump administration to exempt aluminum and steel products that aren’t available in adequate quantities in the US Otherwise, consumers will likely see higher grocery prices.
“We encourage the Trump administration to recognize the different needs of different US manufacturing sectors,” said Tom Madrecki, vice president of supply chain resiliency at the Consumer Brands Association.
AUTOS
Most of Ford, GM and Stellantis’ steel and aluminum already comes from the United States, reducing the direct impact the companies would feel from higher duties.
But experts have warned that tariffs might mean the three Detroit automakers have to raise their prices. Domestic steel and aluminum producers will have to increase their capacity to meet demand or risk a short supply in the near term, making these products more expensive and driving up vehicle costs.
Another automaker who could feel the pain from tariffs: Elon Musk’s Tesla. During a January earnings call, Tesla’s Chief Financial Officer Vaibhav Taneja noted the uncertainty around tariffs.
“The imposition of tariffs, which is very likely... will have an impact on our business and profitability,” Taneja said.
This could be detrimental to an already inflation-sensitive American car buyer. The average transaction price for a new vehicle was just over $48,000 last month, according to Kelley Blue Book.
And as with the steel and aluminum tariffs of Trump’s first term, automakers are likely to have to revisit their
financial outlooks for the year as they brace for impact.
APPLIAN CES
Makers and sellers of products ranging from microwaves to dishwashers are having to navigate cost increases.
Some like Whirlpool, which produces 80% of what it sells in the US domestically, appear to be more insulated from the tariffs. Whirlpool executives told analysts at an investor conference earlier this month that Whirlpool has locked in contracts for a minimum of one year for most of its raw materials, including steel.
“We are in a pretty good position as of right now,” said Roxanne Warner, a senior vice president and controller at Whirlpool.
But Abt, a familyowned appliance and consumer electronics store in Glenview, Illinois, received notices this week from manufacturers that said they would raise the suggested retail price of countertop products like espresso makers and toasters anywhere from 10% to 15% starting April 1, according to Richie Palmero, the store’s small appliance buyer.
Abt sells coffee makers that range from $100 to $500, as well as espresso makers priced from $1,000 to $5,000.
Palmero said that putting another $250 on the price of a $2,500 is a lot, but she said she doesn’t think sales will suffer significantly.
“I think customers would still buy it because it’s good quality,” she said. “But they might think about it. They might take longer to buy it. It might not be an impulse buy. I don’t think they’re going to go down to Mr. Coffee or a $20 coffee maker.”
During Trump’s first term, tariffs were slapped in early 2018 on washing machines, and prices for the appliances spiked 12%, according to the American Economic Review, an academic journal. Clothes dryers became pricier as well, even though they weren’t targeted. The median price of washing machines and dryers increased by about $86 and $92 per unit, respectively, according to the academic journal.
Aluminum cans
US beverage companies use more than 100 billion aluminum cans each year, according to the Can Manufacturers Institute.
Most of the thin rolled sheets of aluminum alloy that are used for cans are made in the US, but can makers do import a small percentage, the institute said. The Brewers Association, which represents 9,500 independent US craft beer makers, estimates that 10% of US cans are made from Canadian aluminum. Aluminum tariffs will force small brewers to pay more for cans, the association said, even as steel tariffs drive up the cost of equipment like kegs and fermentation tanks.
But not all manufacturers are worried about aluminum tariffs. Molson Coors says it shifted production in recent years and now gets “almost all” of its aluminum for US consumption from US sources.
Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey said during a recent earnings call that if aluminum cans get more expensive, Coke can shift to other materials like plastic bottles. Quincey told investors he didn’t want to exaggerate the cost of aluminum tariffs.
“You should not conclude that this is some huge swing factor in the US business,” he said. “It’s a cost. It will have to be managed. It would be better not to have it relative to the US business, but we are going to manage our way through.”
AVIATION
Airplanes have a mixture of metal parts, from aluminum frames, wings and door panels to steel landing gear and engine parts. Many are extremely specialized and sourced from overseas.
The Aerospace Industries Association, which represents nearly 300 aerospace and defence companies, says tariffs put their industry — and national security — at risk.
“We are concerned about additional downward pressure on an already stressed American supply chain,” Dak Hardwick, the association’s vice president of international affairs, said. “We are investigating mitigation strategies that would minimize the impacts of new tariffs on our industry, and we hope to work with the Trump Administration to highlight the critical role we play in America’s economic prosperity, national defence and deterrence.”
WORKERS at the United States Steel Corporations Edgar Thomson Plant end their shift at the plant on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Braddock, Pensylvannia.
Photo: Gene J. Puskar/AP
Families reflect on sacrifice and renewal during Lent
By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
AS LENT begins, families across The Bahamas are embracing a season of reflection, sacrifice, and spiritual growth.
Traditionally observed for 40 days leading up to Easter, Lent is a time for Christians to deepen their faith through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. While some choose to give up personal luxuries, others focus on acts of service and gratitude.
For many, Lent is an opportunity to reset priorities and be more intentional in daily life. Whether it’s a child learning the value of sacrifice by giving up sweets or a parent trading screen time for family devotionals, the season is a reminder that small changes can lead to spiritual renewal.
While many take an individual path, several Bahamian families have taken the time to make sacrifices together as way to deepen their faith and grow their bonds.
For the Thompson family, Lent is about mindfulness and self-discipline.
“We always tell our kids that Lent isn’t just about giving something up—it’s about making room for something better,” said Jennifer Thompson, a mother of two. “This year, we’re giving up eating out and donating the money we would have spent to a local charity.
Jennifer and her husband, David, said they want their children to understand that sacrifice can benefit others. Their son, Daniel, 14, she said is taking on his
own challenge by giving up video games.
“My son shared with me that he is giving up video games after school. Instead he want to help his younger sister with her homework. He knows it will not be easy but he is ready for the challenge.
Jennifer added that her younger daughter Mia, 10, decided to give up soda and candy.
Jennifer said Lent is not just about temporary sacrifices but about forming better habits. “Maybe after 40 days, we’ll eat out less and appreciate our meals more. Maybe Daniel will keep spending more time with his sister. The goal is to grow beyond the season.”
For the Johnson family, Lent is about replacing distractions with faith and connection.
“We’ve decided to give up social media in the evenings and replace it with family prayer,” said Don Johnson, father of three. “It’s easy to get caught up in distractions, but this season reminds us to refocus on what really matters.”
His daughter, Sofia, 16, admitted that this change won’t be easy. “I spend so much time scrolling through my phone, so I know this is going to be a challenge. But I also think it’ll help me be more present with my family and in my faith.”
Her younger brother, Mateo, 12, is giving up his favorite YouTube videos and has agreed to read a Bible passage each night instead.
While Don said he is grateful that his family is learning to sacrifice, he also hopes this will also bring them closer together as a
family.
“It’s not just about sacrifice — it’s about making space for something better,” she said. “Even if it’s just 30 minutes a night, it’s time well spent as a family.”
Meanwhile, the Farrington family is taking a different approach by focusing on acts of kindness rather than personal sacrifice.
“We’re trying something new this year,” said Deidre Farrington
“Instead of giving up something, we’re adding something — every day, we’re doing a small act of kindness, whether it’s donating an item, saying something kinds everyday, or just showing extra patience.”
Her husband, Ron, has encouraged their two children to get involved in the challenge.
Their son, Rohan, 10, is excited about the idea while Anaya 13, is collecting grocery stamps to donate.
Deidre believes this approach helps her family experience the true spirit of Lent. “It’s easy to think of Lent as a time to ‘give up’ things, but I love that my kids are seeing it as a time to give to others.”
While each family has a different approach, the heart of Lent remains the same — a time to reflect, grow, and prepare for Easter.
Death Notice For
The bereaved family announces the death of Naomi Zelma Barr a resident of Golden Gates #2, who died on Tuesday, March 11th, 2025.
Mourning her passing are her daughter: Talecia Newbold
Sister: Sharon Ferguson
Brothers: Anthony and Stephen Ferguson
Nieces: Tanya Ferguson, Dorend Williams, Tallisha Williams, and Andira Minnis
Nephews: Williams Ingraham, Valentino Coleby, Antoine and Kataran Ferguson
Numerous cousins and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Clarke’s Funeral Home and Crematorium and will be announced at a later date.
Clarke’s Funeral Home & Crematorium Clarke’s Funeral Home & Crematorium
FUNERAL SERVICE
Age 52 years of Fish Street, Rock Sound, Eleuthera who died on Thursday, February 13th, 2025 will be held on Saturday, March 15th, 2025 at 11:00am at Faith Tabernacle Assemblies of God, Rock Sound, Eleuthera. Officiating will be Reverend Tyrone L. Sands along with other Ministers of Religion. Interment will follow in Yellow Ground Cemetery, Rock Sound, Eleuthera.
Left to cherish her memories are her Children: Tyiesha and Takeo Leary, and Tashon Smith.
Mother: Winifred Hall
Grandchild: Keyanna Thompson
Sisters: Maria Smith, Sheina Thompson, and Nadine Rolle.
Brothers: Cedric Hall Jr. and Valentino Hall.
Nieces and Nephews: Lakera Turnquest, Ashlyn and Ian Adams, Sheniqua and Phillip Stubbs, Shandia Thompson, Shanice and Savannah Butler, Chrislyn and Wayne Munroe Jr., Justice, Shamiya and Minaj Hall. Deangelo Hall, David Cohen, Cedric Jr., Nathan, and Alyssa Hall, PC 190 Jaydien Demeritte, Prince Thompson Jr, and Curlin Rolle Jr.
Brothers-in-law: Ednald Smith, Prince Thompson Sr. and Samuel Butler.
Sister-in-law: Melisa Hall
Aunts: Cynthia Roberts, Betty Lou Knowles, Emerald Rahaming,
Sheila Gibson, Margaret Symonette, Mary, Adrianna and Alva Culmer, and Marionette Hall.
Uncles: Robert, Charles and Cyril Hall, Douglas, Martin and Reno Culmer, Samuel Roberts, Willie Knowles, Evan Gibson and Clevland Symonette.
Grand Nieces and Nephews: Lanayia Richards, Ianthe and Ianna Adams, Nori Hall and Vanreya Butler. Rakai and Rylee Turnquest, Zacari Munroe and Janari Demeritte.
Special Friends: Pat Musgrove, Trevor Lincefort, Nelson Strachan and Lateica Kemp.
Numerous cousins and a host of other Relatives and friends including: Pastor Tyrone Sands and family, Hazel Sands and family, Keva Culmer, Patsy Rolle, Terrence Thompson and family, Breon Leary and Family, Marlon Leary and Family, Whitney Bastian, Gloria and Monique McSweeney, Andrew Sears, Lashan McKinney, Wilton Richards, Calvin Ingraham, Advardo Whylly, Shekera Munnings, Vaughn Musgrove, Neil Musgrove, Karvin Bain, Marshon Smith and Family, Ashley Strachan, Anthony Carey, Zilchus Thompson and Family, The staff of Sky Juice King, Pastor and members of Faith Tabernacle Assemblies of God, Rock Sound and the entire community of Rock Sound, Eleuthera.
Viewing will be held at Faith Tabernacle Assemblies of God Church in Rock Sound, Eleuthera on Friday, March 14th, from 5:30pm until service time at the church.
PRAYER SERVICE AT RAWSON SQUARE
THE nation was called to pray as Dr Patricia Johnson Pratt, founder of The Prayers and Inspiration Network, hosted a prayer service for inviting Bahamians to join together in Rawson Square on Sunday. The purpose was to encourage the nation and to remind them God still answers prayers and the church of the living God is very much alive and united. Church leaders from different denominations throughout The Bahamas prayed, touching and agreeing, believing in God for
a revival, law and order, peace and for healing in our land. These leaders included, Apostle Dr K Bradley Moxey, Apostle, Dr Brenda Pratt, Prophetess, Dr Shekera Sears, Prophet Lance Maycock, Prophet Trevor Miller, Pastor Kellen Russell, Pastor Corol Moss, Pastor Leonardo Allen and Elder Maxine Brown.
“I firmly believe that in spite of what we continue to see and hear, God is still on his throne and is still at work on the behalf of His people,” Dr Johnson said.
INSTALLATION OF SAINT GEORGE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH VESTRY
SAINT George’s Anglican Church recently held the vestry installation service for the new church wardens and other vestry members. Church Wardens are Andrew Knowles, Priest Warden and Stankisha Pinder, People’s Warden. The new vestry includes Darius Ferguson, Charleen Kerney, Cleomi Parker, L Robert Knowles, Godfrey Arthur, Petrina Cartwright Elijah Knowles, Kayla Marshall, Patrice Antonio, Algier Cartwright, C Dianne Bingham, Jerome Knowles, Brenda Archer (Music) Renee Davies (Usher Board,) Deborah Ferguson (ACW), Camille Puckerin (Guild to Sick), Andre Conliffe (Sunday School),
Deveaux
Cameron
(Altar Servers) and ACM, and Secretary to the Vestry Deborah Ferguson were all installed by the rector of the parish, Canon Fr Andrew Toppin.
Father Eric Miller, Dean of Students and Chaplain at Saint Anne’s School Fox Hill and Associate Priest at Christ Church Cathedral delivered the sermon. He reminded the vestry of their duties encouraging them to be servants of the people and to carry out the parish’s vision and not be divisive.
He also told them to work together in love for the growth and development of the parish and the community.
DEACONESS CELEBRATES 70 YEARS
By VANESSA C SMITH
PASTOR Stephen Smith and the Ebenezer family in Farmer’s Hill, Exuma, recently celebrated the 70th birthday of Deaconess Bernese Rolle Marshall during their worship service. All of her children and some of her grandchildren joined in the celebrations. Mrs Marshall is the widow of the late Deacon Dudley Marshall. She is a loving mother, grandmother, sister, friend and community leader.
Anyone who encounters her can confirm that she is a no-nonsense woman who stands firm on her belief in God and the sound principles of life. She loves her God, she loves her children and she loves her pastor and church. Deaconess Marshall is a giver and she is always willing to lend a helping hand. Her favourite scriptures are Psalm 27 and Philippians 3:10
The Ebenezer family is proud to have Deaconess Marshall as an executive member of the church. A former businesswoman,she
now enjoys her retirement as an avid backyard farmer and a distinguished taxi driver of the tourism industry in Exuma. She is a true ambassador for the Bahamas always smartly dressed in her business suits ready to greet the guests as they arrive by commercial flights, private jets or yachts. Deaconess Marshall is determined to continue embracing the joys of life and all that God has in store for her.
She always admonishes her children to take care of their children.Her legacy includes her children: Pastor Kendrick Ferguson and Joelette Ferguson- Pastor of Freewill Christian Center in the United States, Ikemond and Carol Black, Pleydelle and Teresa Rolle, Telecia Marshall Murphy and Nicholas Murphy and Ashynique Marshall; and her grandchildren: Drickell Ferguson, Kayla Ferguson, Joshua Ferguson, Dejah Ferguson, Nalitza Rolle, Malik Rolle, Mahki Rolle, Carine Black, Jaheim Marshall, Rio Wilson and Ramaeo Andrews.
Pamela
(Youth), Justin Ingraham (Audio Visual),
Wallace
RCI Beach Club site media tour
THE ROYAL Beach Club construction site on Paradise Island where President Philip Simon and Royal Caribbean Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider spoke to the press during a media tour on Tuesday.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
ROYAL Caribbean Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider
ROYAL Beach Club at Paradise Island President Philip Simon.
Clifton Heritage National Park commemorates International Women’s Day
CLIFTON Heritage National Park unveiled educational panels yesterday detailing the lives of historical women featured in the Sacred Space sculptures, commemorating International Women’s Day and the site’s 20th anniversary. The event also marked the addition of two new figures, St Kate Moss and St Mary Prince, honouring their role in the British Caribbean abolitionist movement.
Photos: Nikia Charlton