that
The Tribune PUZZLER
PM: HEADS WILL ROLL OVER A BACO DELAYS
Davis gave blistering rebuke of slow pace of ongoing reconstruction
By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis issued a blistering rebuke of public officials and contractors on Friday, warning that “heads will roll” over the slow pace of reconstruction in Abaco. In a private Progressive Liberal Party branch
meeting on the island, Mr Davis condemned delays and mismanagement in the storm-battered community’s recovery, vowing to hold accountable anyone who has failed to deliver. “Let me say this plainly — what has happened in Abaco is unacceptable,” he said, according to a
CONTRACTOR CRITICISES $183M NO-BID ROADWORKS CONTRACT
By DEN I SE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
A GRAND Bahama contractor has criticised the government’s decision to award a $183.5m no-bid roadworks contract to a Nassau-based company, saying local firms were shut out of the opportunity without explanation.
Godfrey Waugh, of Waugh Construction in Freeport, said it was unfortunate that the contract was not put out to tender, preventing Grand Bahamabased contractors from competing for the work.
I don’t know why it did not go to bid. You know, it seems like a lot of money
Merchant
surprise as sweets and sugary drinks not included in VAT cut
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A CABINET minister yesterday hailed the decision not to give candy and sugary drinks a 50 percent
VAT rate cut despite the initial confusion this caused for food store merchants.
Dr Michael Darville, minister of health and wellness, told Tribune Business that the late move - which took retailers by surprise - is aligning
tax policy with efforts to tackle The Bahamas’ chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) crisis by encouraging consumers to switch to healthier foods.
Judge denies man’s bail over ‘highly irregular’ affidavit to withdraw charges
By LYNAIRE MUNN I NGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
A MAN accused of armed robbery — while already on bail for murder and attempted murder
— was denied bail for a third time after the Court of Appeal raised alarm over an affidavit allegedly filed by the complainant asking to withdraw the matter.
The court described the affidavit as “highly irregular and unusual”, noting that it could not verify whether the virtual complainant genuinely authored or swore to it. The judges also questioned how the
By PAVEL BAILE
A 40-YEAR-OLD man was remanded yesterday after he was accused of molesting his 12-year-old stepdaughter twice over the past ten months.
Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans arraigned the defendant — whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of the child — on two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a
Photo: Nikia Charlton
VAT compliance checks carried out
CONSUMER Affairs inspectors conducted special checks yesterday to ensure stores complied with the new 5% VAT rate. Inspections took place at Solomon’s Supercenter, Cost Right, Buy 4 Less, Budget Meat, Super Value, and John Chea and Sons.
Photos: Nikia Charlton and Chappell Whyms Jr
PM: Heads will roll over Abaco delays
transcript obtained by The Tribune and verified by attendees. “The delays, the confusion, the excuses. Too many people have been paid to do a job and haven’t delivered. Too many agencies have treated Abaco like an afterthought.
“If you’re standing in the way of progress, you will be moved. If you’ve been collecting a salary but haven’t delivered results, you will be replaced. If you’re sitting on files, causing delays, you will answer for it. Heads will roll. The people of Abaco deserve no less.
I didn’t come here to offer soft words or sweet talk—I came to make it clear that accountability has reached the top, and it’s moving all the way down.”
Government officials did not respond to requests for comment about which projects have frustrated the prime minister, but The Tribune understands they are infrastructure-related, with his ire directed particularly at technocrats in the Ministry of Works.
Attendees were surprised by the prime minister’s frank comments but welcomed them.
“This is not politics,” he said. “This is about restoring dignity and results to a community that has already sacrificed too much. And for every official or contractor who’s been playing
games with your future, I will direct the Minister of Works to consider banning them from future government projects. The recovery of Abaco can’t — and won’t — be dictated from Nassau. The days of top-down decision-making without listening to the people who live here are over.”
Contractor criticises $183m no-bid roadworks contract
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was just awarded without any kind of bid,” he said. “It is unfortunate for sure. We are here ready and willing to do the work. I don’t know why they have to bring a Nassau contractor into Grand Bahama to do the work.”
The Ministry of Finance awarded the $183,459,476.40 contract to Abaco Caribbean Holdings Limited — an affiliate of Bahamas Striping Group of Companies — on December 18, 2024, for the paving of roads in West Grand Bahama. It was the single largest contract awarded during that period.
According to official
procurement records published by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Procurement Department, 102 contracts worth nearly $193 million were awarded in December. Of that, $183.8 million came from the Ministry of Finance. Under the Public Procurement Act 2023, government contracts must go through competitive bidding unless specific exceptions apply. Section 31 of the Act allows for direct awards in limited circumstances, such as emergencies, contract extensions, or when the value is under $100,000. The law also requires entities to document and justify the use of a direct award.
No public explanation has been provided for why the contract bypassed competitive bidding.
Mr Waugh said there has been little clarity on the contract’s scope.
“We don’t really know what the full scope of work is either. From the description, we don’t even know if it’s just roads or more work or what,” he said. “It is unfortunate, we are sitting here in Freeport and we don’t even have a functional airport, yet they could find some $183 million to spend out in West Grand Bahama — I don’t see the wisdom of it.”
He said local contractors should have been part of the project.
Father struggling to cope after his son’s murder leaves him devastated
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Chief Reporter
THE father of a teenage boy shot and killed over the weekend said his son’s death has left him devastated and struggling to cope.
“I ain’t feeling too good,” he said yesterday. “I can’t eat nothing right. I can’t drink nothing right now.”
According to police, the teenager was walking with a family member in the area of McCullough Corner, off East Street, around 2.15am on Saturday when a lone gunman approached them from behind and opened fire. He was taken to
hospital by ambulance but subsequently died from his injuries.
The man’s father, who declined to give him or his son’s name, said he was shocked to hear of his son’s death, as he was at home when he received the tragic news.
The father recalled his son’s ambitions of going to college and saving money to start his own business.
The CV Bethel student, who had recently completed high school, was his only child but his mother’s fourth.
According to the father, his son was a quiet young man who spent most of his time playing games on his laptop.
“He told me when he finish school, he’ll try and go to college and work and after that, he’ll try to make his own business. That’s all I know.”
He added that his son was not troublesome and had never had any run-ins with the police. Though he did not live with his son and the boy’s mother, he said their relationship was “alright” and they had spoken just a week before the incident.
Asked about his own goals, the father said he hoped to build a house one day.
Police have not yet arrested anyone in connection with the incident as investigations continue.
“Certainly, we should be involved in some way. Again, I don’t know what the overall plans are, but if they really are going to spend all that money here, you’d think they would hire some local contractors to assist,” Mr Waugh said. “We’ve been in Grand Bahama for almost 50 years now, and you’d think we’d be getting a shot to bid on work like that — it is unfortunate the way it has played out.”
Leonard Sands,
president of the Bahamas Contractors Association, said the government continues to operate without transparency.
“The government is doing whatever it wants to do; that is what contractors are saying,” he said. “What can you do? What is there to say?
“It’s been happening, it has not stopped happening. It is what it is. What is there to say about it? We all have eyes, we see what is happening, and no one is doing
anything about it.”
He expressed frustration over the ongoing issue.
“We have been speaking out for 40 years and it hasn’t changed. So, what is the point? It is exactly what people see. If a dog bites me, there is no story there. If I bite a dog, that is a story. It is exactly what we see,” he said. Attempts to obtain comments from other Grand Bahama roadwork contractors were unsuccessful up to press time.
THE ABACO Hurricane Shelter (pictured above), which has faced several delays, is now expected to be completed by end of May. Pictured left: Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis.
Bahamasair says no communication breakdown with union representatives
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMASAIR said there has not been a total communication breakdown with union representatives, despite ongoing tensions over labour negotiations.
Managing director Tracy Cooper acknowledged friction but said discussions with unions, including the Airport Airline and Allied Workers Union (AAAWU), are ongoing. “There’s always a fight,” he said. “But we continue to talk to our unions each and every day.”
He added that the Department of Labour remains involved to help resolve disputes.
In December 2024, the Supreme Court declared strike actions by the AAAWU unlawful, issuing an injunction that ordered
employees back to work. The sickout caused major disruptions during the peak holiday travel season.
A separate injunction later barred several unions, including the Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers Union (BATCU), from taking industrial action. These challenges come as the country moves ahead with its most ambitious aviation expansion to date under the National Aviation Strategic Plan (NASP).
Dr Kenneth Romer said the $10m effort launched at Lynden Pindling International Airport has expanded into a full national strategy, with upgrades now underway at Bimini, New Bight, Arthur’s Town, Governor’s Harbour, and Exuma, along with planning for new international airports in North Eleuthera and Grand Bahama.
New ATR 72-600 to land this week adding to Bahamasair’s fleet
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMASAIR has officially added a new ATR 72-600 aircraft to its fleet as part of efforts to relieve pressure on inter-island routes amid growing demand and recent service disruptions.
The 70-seat turboprop departed France earlier this week and is expected to arrive in The Bahamas within days, according to managing director Tracy Cooper. He said the new aircraft will help improve service quality, particularly to the Family Islands, where population growth has increased travel needs.
Mr Cooper noted that the addition is not a replacement for any specific aircraft but rather part of a broader plan to expand capacity. He said one previously grounded aircraft may return to
service by mid-year, but two others remain offline awaiting engines from Pratt & Whitney.
The new plane arrives following a difficult holiday season last year, during which only two of Bahamasair’s five ATRs were operational. Two ATR 42s had been grounded since August due to delayed engine repairs, while a 70-seat ATR 72 was taken out of service after suffering a blown tire while taxiing at Palm Beach International Airport.
Although the mechanical issue was later resolved, the airline had to adjust its flight schedule, increase operating hours, and rely more heavily on its 737 jets to maintain service.
Mr Cooper said the new aircraft is intended to strengthen overall reliability and ensure Bahamasair can meet rising travel expectations.
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dependent child.
Prosecutors allege that the accused had unlawful sexual intercourse with his stepdaughter in New Providence between June 1 and June 30, 2024. He is further accused of molesting her again when she was 13, between February 1 and 28, 2025. With the aid of a Creole translator, the defendant
was informed that he was not required to enter a plea at this stage. The matter will proceed to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He was also informed of his right to apply for bail in the Supreme Court. The defendant will remain on remand at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until July 16, when the VBI may
be served.
Magistrate Vogt-Evans instructed the man not to speak to family members present in court. Before being taken into custody, the defendant raised his hands in apparent disbelief as he looked at his family.
Assistant Superintendent S Coakley served as the prosecutor. Gary Russell represented the accused.
DR KENNETH ROMER
A BAHAMASAIR ATR 72-600
BAHAMASAIR managing director Tracy Cooper speaks to reporters during the Bahamas Aviation Agencies Service Excellence Training event at Baha Mar yesterday.
Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff
US concerns over jet ski safety warranted, says Sands
By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter
jrussell@tribunmedia.net
FORMER Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) president Robert Sands says the United States’ concerns about jet ski safety in The Bahamas are legitimate and are being taken seriously.
He noted that a jet ski task force has been working to improve the sector.
On Sunday, the US Department of State issued an updated travel advisory highlighting concerns about jet ski safety. The advisory said that boating in The Bahamas is not well regulated, leading to injuries and deaths. It also cited reports of sexual assaults by jet ski operators. Due to these risks, US government employees are prohibited from renting jet skis or personal watercraft from independent operators on New Providence and Paradise Island.
“Water craft may not be safe, and some operators are not licensed or insured,” the US advisory said. “Watercraft operators sometimes ignore weather forecasts. Always follow local weather and marine alerts.”
The US Embassy has notified US citizens that the Department of State has updated the language in its standard Travel Advisory regarding jet ski safety in the Bahamas.
When asked about the advisory’s statement on boating regulations, Mr Sands said he did not believe the US was blaming anyone, but rather raising valid concerns.
“We do not believe that this is a finger-pointing exercise at all,” he said. “I think the intent of the US Embassy is that they are raising a legitimate concern of issues that impact their citizens who participate in this activity once they’re here in The Bahamas. The
task force recognises that a number of those concerns are, in fact, legitimate, and there is the opportunity for big improvement and correction in this area, and that is precisely what we’re working on to achieve.”
Mr Sands, a member of the water sports task force, said the group was formed to address safety concerns in the industry, particularly following the fatal shark attack on an American woman in December 2023. He emphasised that the US advisory is being taken seriously, with the task force working to implement positive changes.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force, Port Authority, Ministry of Tourism, hotel representatives, and other stakeholders have been meeting to enhance safety in the Jet Ski sector. The task force is focusing on ensuring operators are insured, improving compliance and training, strengthening the vetting process, and enforcing fair operating conditions.
“The overwhelming majority of the persons in this sector are compliant, and we’re working diligently to weed out those that are not compliant in the industry,” Mr Sands said. The US Embassy said it looks forward to an update this week from the task force on its efforts to improve jet ski safety. It also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting these initiatives in coordination with local authorities.
The updated advisory categorised The Bahamas at Level 2, urging travellers to exercise increased caution. It noted that most crimes occur in Nassau and Freeport on New Providence and Grand Bahama. Visitors were advised to remain vigilant in Nassau’s “Over the Hill” area, south of Shirley Street, where gang-related violence has resulted in deaths.
The advisory also warned travellers to avoid swimming alone, be cautious of
jet skis and other watercraft operating near the shore, and stay alert for sharks, as attacks have caused serious injuries and fatalities. Additionally, the advisory reminded visitors that firearms and ammunition are illegal in The Bahamas, even in small quantities mistakenly carried in luggage. Police strictly enforce these laws, including at airports, and violations can result in arrest, jail time, and fines.
FORMER Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) president Robert Sands.
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Tough talk requires equal action
“Heads will roll” – so the prime minister says over the pace of reconstruction, or lack thereof, in Abaco.
The question might well be, why haven’t those heads rolled already?
Philip Davis apparently blasted officials and contractors in a private meeting on Friday, criticising delays and mismanagement in the island’s recovery.
The Tribune understands he said that what has happened in Abaco is “unacceptable”. He said: “The delays, the confusion, the excuses. Too many people have been paid to do a job and haven’t delivered. Too many agencies have treated Abaco like an afterthought.”
He continued: “If you’re standing in the way of progress, you will be moved. If you’ve been collecting a salary but haven’t delivered results, you will be replaced. If you’re sitting on files, causing delays, you will answer for it. Heads will roll. The people of Abaco deserve no less.”
Strong words – but entirely appropriate given the state of Abaco in many ways.
We hope that he is true to his word. After all, just this week we reported on the latest over the long-delayed hurricane shelter in Central Pines.
Apparently, that will now be ready by the end of May. This would be the same shelter we were told would be ready by the end of last year – despite the doubts of residents. This would be the same shelter that broke ground in December 2020. The same shelter where roof trusses collapsed during construction. Also this week, we reported on the concerns of residents over piles of debris left from demolished shanty towns – with people fearing it is fuelling fires that endanger nearby
communities.
It raises a simple question, after the demolition is done, what comes next?
Is it all just left to rot and become an eyesore?
The fire chief for Central Abaco this week said: “Once the fire gets in there, we can’t go in there because there’s so much debris and some of these vehicles probably been there 30 or 40 years.”
The same attitude about heads rolling over a lack of progress could be taken on issues such as the lack of fire trucks in communities.
How about the other issues long outstanding in government? We hear, for example, reports that the long-delayed domestic violence shelter might be close to finally opening – but why haven’t heads rolled before now for the delays in that?
The government has been in charge since 2021 – it has had ample time to push a host of projects, so the delays that Mr Davis is trying to iron out fall noticeably on his watch.
That he is seeking to put his foot down is welcome. He is quite right that peope should not be being paid for doing nothing, or for not doing enough.
But the management of those projects have often fallen under his government’s ministries – will he be holding ministers to account for those delays? Will he remove figures at the top from their roles?
Mr Davis has talked about having the Minister of Works, Clay Sweeting, consider banning officials and contractors from future government projects if they have been “playing games with your future”.
Tough talk. And necessary talk. But the proof will be in the action. Now the government has to deliver. Before the people have their say.
Reject that corruption is our lot
EDITOR, The Tribune.
I WRITE with profound disappointment over the Government’s recent awarding of an $183m no-bid contract for roadworks on Grand Bahama, a decision that flouts transparency, due process, and the urgent needs of our people. This scandal is not an isolated incident but a symptom of systemic rot—a culture of cronyism, wasted resources, and misplaced priorities that has stifled our nation’s potential for decades.
The Bahamas, blessed with natural beauty and a strategic location, should be a beacon of progress among black-led nations. Instead, we languish in the shadow of mediocrity. While other countries have harnessed good governance to uplift their people, we remain trapped in cycles of graft and grandiosity. It is a bitter irony that the only “successful” black-led nation many can name is Wakanda—a fictional one. This should shame us into action.
Consider what $183m could achieve for the
economy of Grand Bahama if prioritised for the public good using any of these options:
Bahama International Airport, transforming it into a regional hub. homes, spurring ownership and generational wealth. When times are sold it becomes a perpetual investment fund.
modern schools, equipping youth for a competitive world.
to revive derelict housing, addressing homelessness .
Grand Lucayan and boost tourism sustainably. Instead, these funds vanish into opaque contracts that enrich a connected few. How can we demand respect on the global stage when our leaders prioritise self-enrichment over nation-building? When will we stop settling for “good enough” and strive for greatness?
The Bahamas’ failure is not inevitable. We have
Treat our teachers as they deserve
EDITOR, The Tribune. IT is a well known fact that teaching is one of the most important professions in the world, yet somehow, it remains one of the least valued when it comes to pay. The Minister of Education and the President of the Bahamas Union of Teachers have both acknowledged the dire need for more educators, particularly those specialising in key subject areas. But here’s the thing until we start paying teachers what they deserve, we’ll be having this same conversation year after year. Millennials and Gen Zs are watching their older counterparts grind day in and day out, only to be left with salaries that don’t reflect their level of education, experience, and commitment. We’re talking about professionals with bachelor’s, master’s, and even doctorate degrees, yet some are earning less than what an entry-level employee at a bank or a utility company makes. That’s not just unfair, it’s insulting. Why spend four to eight years earning a bachelor’s, master’s, or even a doctoral degree only to make just enough to scrape by? If knowledge is power, why are the very people responsible for educating our future leaders struggling to keep their lights on?
the talent, resources, and vision to become a model of equitable development. To achieve this, we need: government contracts and prosecutions for breaches of public trust.
mandating open bidding and penalties for officials who skirt them.
committees to monitor spending and hold leaders accountable.
And finally a national reset—leaders who prioritise legacy over lucre, and voters who demand nothing less. Let us reject the myth that corruption is our destiny. Wakanda’s power lay not in vibranium but in visionary leadership and collective purpose. We have no superheroes—only ourselves. The road to a “Better Bahamas” begins with courage to confront rot and rebuild systems that serve “all” Bahamians.
RABBI COMMON ZENSE Grand Bahama, April 1, 2025.
We hear time and time
again that teaching is a “calling”. But let’s be honest, passion alone doesn’t pay the rent, and gratitude doesn’t keep groceries in the fridge. Teachers spend hours in the classroom molding young minds, then go home to spend even more hours grading papers, preparing lessons, and responding to parents. Some even dig into their own pockets to buy supplies for students who come to school without the basics. Yet, instead of investing in these dedicated professionals, we see millions being spent on pricey contracts to bring 500 retired workers back into the public sector. Can someone explain why we can afford that but can’t afford to give our teachers a livable wage? If we truly want to attract and retain highquality educators, we need to start treating teaching as the profession that it is not a charity. Here’s what can be done:
1. Competitive salaries – Teachers with degrees should not be making the same as entry-level office workers in other fields. Pay them based on their qualifications, expertise, and years of service.
2. Incentives for specialised educators – If we need more teachers in areas like STEM, Special Education, and Literacy, offer financial incentives to encourage people to specialise in these fields.
3. Better benefits and career growth – Give teachers real opportunities for advancement, research funding, and continuing education programs that help them grow without forcing them into administrative roles just to earn more.
4. Performance-based bonuses – If we can give government contracts to companies that underdeliver, surely we can find the budget to reward teachers who consistently go above and beyond.
The bottom line? If we want great teachers in our classrooms, we need to make teaching a financially attractive career. Because at the end of the day, passion alone won’t pay a mortgage, and gratitude doesn’t cover BPL bills.
It’s time to stop treating our teachers like volunteers and start paying them like professionals. We expect them to shape the future of our nation let’s at least make sure they can afford to have a future of their own.
HEATHER W MCDONALD April 1, 2025.
EDITOR, The Tribune. REPORTING on our
finances. Regrettably party yellow and red are basically have shown they differ little irrespective of law and regulations. Institutions even Central Bank in its monthly reports statements and liabilities are not in real time... why? Treasury sees it need not disclose-report revenues and expenditures, really basic simple good housekeeping, but why do they refuse? State-owned enterprises...
the lament only one or two are current but most are a high cost to the Treasury and we don’t report. What is precisely the accurate national debt? Everything even those invoices snuck in filing cabinets and conveniently not included adds up as we see at the change of Government usually to hundreds of millions. The yellow fellas had them as did the red but....
Reporting is a simple act where government respects the people... when they dodge, omit, under report
that is against the constitu… that is wrong in any language...but... If only, as these issues are all easily solved likewise there is a litany of suggestions which will improve and value-add to revenue without any cost to the people...but... We can but seems neither Yellow nor Red will do it or carry out in some cases what is required under law. M THOMPSON Nassau, March 28, 2025.
Have a cool, fun, interesting, amazing photo? Have it featured here in The Tribune’s picture of the day! Email your high quality image to pictureoftheday@tribunemedia.net
A GROUP of frigate birds, also known as man-o-war birds, fly effortlessly over the ocean in search of fish.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies victimising former contract worker
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied politically victimising a former contract worker, saying a salary dispute she described at an FNM rally last week was administrative in nature and unrelated to politics.
At the Free National Movement’s Southern Zone meeting, Celina Rolle, a Youth Torchbearer, alleged she was treated unfairly after returning from study leave to find herself saddled with a $20,000 debt.
“My story is one of injustice,” she said. “After securing study leave, I returned home only to find out that I was slapped with
a $20,000 debt. I was told that I had to repay $20,000 of my salary. Barely 22 years old and being that I had $20,000 on my head –– powerful. I worked for months on end without receiving pay. Meanwhile, political appointees received pay simply because of who they knew.”
She claimed her concerns were ignored by officials, leaving her without income and unable to pay bills. She said she ultimately left her government job despite being offered a contract renewal.
In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the matter involved an overpayment during her study leave — which was supposed to be leave without pay — and
that efforts to recover the sum were routine.
“The public service record shows that the former officer proceeded on what was supposed to have been study leave without pay, except by inadvertence, she was paid her full salary during the period of study leave. This was a sum to which she knew she was not entitled. The sum had to be recovered as a result,” the ministry said. It added that Ms Rolle resigned after disagreeing with repayment terms, and the sum remains outstanding.
In a Facebook post, Ms Rolle later reflected on her experience, writing: “I realised that telling my story is way bigger than myself. Someone needs to hear it.”
EXT ENDED VACATION L E AV E OF SECRE TARY SPURS QUE STIONS OF GAMIN G BOARD L E ADERSHIP
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter
kcampbell@tribunemedia.net
IAN Tynes, secretary of the Gaming Board, has been placed on extended vacation leave as questions swirl about the board’s leadership.
According to internal correspondence seen by The Tribune, staff were notified this week that Mr Tynes is on vacation and that deputy secretary Gregory Smith will serve
in his stead. Sources say Mr Tynes was directed to take 41 weeks of accrued leave. Despite this development, there has been no formal communication — verbal or written — from the board’s executive chairman regarding any permanent change to Mr Tynes’ role. Still, multiple sources indicate that a press announcement is expected to name a new secretary, even though Mr Tynes remains the substantive
holder of the post.
The Tribune reached out to Gaming Board executive chairman Dr Daniel Johnson for comment on the leadership transition. Dr Johnson declined to address the matter directly, stating that only a press release on leadership changes at the board is forthcoming.
It remains unclear whether Mr Tynes’ removal is temporary or signals a broader shake-up within the regulatory agency.
Mitchell meets with new Commonwealth Secretary General Shirley Botchwey
MINISTER of Foreign Affairs Frederick Mitchell became the first Commonwealth Foreign Minister to visit new Commonwealth Secretary General Shirley Botchwey at her office in London. Minister Mitchell brought greetings from Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis. He also pledged the full support of The Bahamas during Secretary General Botchwey’s term.
Judge denies man’s bail over ‘highly irregular’ affidavit to withdraw charges
defence came to possess the document, raising concerns about possible witness interference.
Treyvar Taylor, 23, was seeking bail after two earlier denials. His latest appeal was heard by Justices Bernard Turner, Gregory Smith, and Maureen Crane-Scott, who ultimately upheld the Supreme Court’s decision to keep him in custody.
Taylor is accused of robbing a man on November 7, 2023, of his wallet containing $200 and a silver Nissan Note. The complainant had also left a Samsung cellphone inside the car, which police later tracked via GPS to Taylor’s residence on Winder Street. There, officers allegedly recovered the stolen car, the complainant’s wallet with ID, and a key hidden in Taylor’s underwear that operated the vehicle. A stash of counterfeit US currency
was also reportedly found at the home. At the time of the alleged robbery, Taylor was already on bail and being electronically monitored for a separate case involving murder and attempted murder. Prosecutors say that on April 25, 2023, Taylor opened fire on a white Nissan Cube on Bahamas Boulevard. The driver escaped, but the passenger, Pedreito Mejias Jr, was later found dead inside the vehicle. Mejias had also been on bail for murder and was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of his death.
Taylor’s prior bail applications were denied in February and August 2024. In this latest appeal, his attorneys argued that the judge in the lower court erred in treating him as a threat to the public and prematurely assessed the strength of the evidence. They also claimed the ruling undermined Taylor’s right
to be presumed innocent, especially since his trial for murder and attempted murder is not scheduled until February 2027. Nonetheless, the Court of Appeal sided with the lower court, citing strong circumstantial evidence — including the GPS tracking, recovery of the stolen car at Taylor’s home, and his monitoring data — as justification for continuing his detention.
They ruled that no bail conditions could adequately protect public safety or prevent interference with witnesses, particularly given the unexplained nature of the affidavit.
Taylor remains on remand at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services as he awaits trial. Miranda Adderley represented the defendant. Darnell Dorsette appeared on behalf of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
TEEN ACCUSED OF ASSAULT AND ROBBERY OF MAN
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 17-YEAR-OLD boy was remanded to the Simpson Penn Centre for Boys yesterday after he was accused of assaulting and robbing a man on Commonwealth Boulevard last week.
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to having a loaded firearm and marijuana at his Rosewood Street home last week. Senior Magistrate Raquel Whyms arraigned Robin Delancy, 26, along with Robbie Delancy, 18, Rashad Hanna, 31, Robynique Delancy, 19, and Dorcas Deleveaux, 21, on charges of possession
Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr arraigned the defendant, whose name is being withheld because he is a minor, on charges of assault and robbery. The teen is accused of assaulting Trevor Armbrister and stealing his Samsung A21 cellphone on March 24. The phone is valued at $185. The defendant pleaded not guilty.
Sergeant 3004 Forbes, the prosecutor, objected to bail on the grounds that the teen has previous charges. The court denied bail. The defendant is scheduled to return to court for trial on July 31.
T WO Y E ARS JAIL FOR HAVING GUN AND MARIJUANA
of an unlicensed firearm, possession of ammunition, and possession of dangerous drugs.
Police reportedly recovered a black Springfield .45 pistol, nine rounds of ammunition, and a quantity of marijuana during a search of the home on March 27. Robin Delancy pleaded guilty to all charges and claimed sole responsibility. The charges against the other defendants were subsequently withdrawn. He was sentenced to
two years at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services for the firearm and ammunition offences, and six months for the drug charge. The sentences are to run concurrently. The court informed him of his right to appeal. Before being taken into custody, Delancy was allowed a brief moment with family members in court. Sergeant 2257 Wilkinson served as the prosecutor.
The heart and art of poetry
APRIL is National Poetry Month—a good time to become immersed in the world of poetry, whether in reading, writing, or both, or even being intentional in seeing the poetry in everyday life. This does not mean that life (or poetry) is always beautiful, kind, or inspiring. Poetry is also in the ugly, the cruel, and the devastating. We use words to express ourselves, and we read and listen to the words of others to hear our own voices and what we have not been able to say for ourselves. Poetry is a way of translating and understanding the world, and it goes a step further when it can be heard and/ or read by others who can interpret it for themselves. Poetry is often seen as an indulgence and/or as something reserved for certain kinds of intellectuals and artists. It can be considered inaccessible for various reasons, not the least of which being the limited way we are taught to read and analyse poetry when it is first introduced to us. It is as though there are mathematical formulae that must be followed to produce a poem the “right” way and there is a particular part of the brain we have to tap into and train to be “poetic.” We are taught that it requires genius and, even further, that is a luxury and an exclusive practice and experience. This does not have to be true.
Poetry can help us to see ourselves, to understand ourselves, and to become better oriented to and aware of the world around us and the way it shapes us. In recent years, “Instagram poetry” has become particularly popular. These poems are short, easily fitting into a one-square post on a beautiful background, often taking the form of one sentences broken into separate lines. While this kind of poetry has been criticised, the writers accused of oversimplifying poetry (and even copying one or two poet who helped to popularise it), it has given many people access to poetry. It has made the writing more accessible, easier to read and understand, and generative as it helps people to believe that they are able to write too.
As this part of the world shifts from winter to spring and we settle into the time change, it feels like a new beginning. April is a great time to explore the art form, the writing form, that is poetry. Poinciana Paper Press is coordinating events and activities for National Poetry Writing Month, including daily prompts for people to use to jumpstart their writing each day. They can be contacted by direct message on Instagram and Sonia Farmer, the founder, is happy to add people to the WhatsApp group to receive prompts and encouragement.
By Alicia Wallace
Excerpt from “A Litany for Survival” by Audre Lorde Audre Lorde ends “A Litany for Survival” with two stanzas about the fear we feel in the ordinary and its inverse as well as the importance of rising above that fear, knowing that life will not last forever. It is a call to recognise fear, to accept the interminability of them, and to resist being restricted by them.
And when the sun rises we are afraid
it might not remain when the sun sets we are afraid it might not rise in the morning when our stomachs are full we are afraid of indigestion when our stomachs are empty we are afraid we may never eat again when we are loved we are afraid love will vanish when we are alone we are afraid love will never return and when we speak we are
Recommendations
1. Participate in National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo) Poinciana Paper Press—a centre for writing, book arts, and publishing in The Bahamas—is coordinating events throughout April to encourage participation in National Poetry Month, a time to write one poem each day for 30 days. Participants can join a WhatsApp group to receive daily prompts that can be used to generate a new poem every day. The group is well-managed and only used for delivery of the prompts, responses to the prompts, and information related to poetry and writing events in The Bahamas. On April 1, Poinciana Paper Press offered “twist” as the prompt. What would you write in response to the prompt? Whether about a dance, a yoga pose, a sweet treat, a pain, or surprise turn of events, all interpretations were welcome. Send a message to Poinciana Paper Press to join the group, and look out for the events over the coming weeks.
2. Join Feminist Book Club . The book selection for April is Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan. A reviewer said, “This novel is a damning indictment of the morally bankrupt Catholic Church’s cruel judgementalism of girls and women who got pregnant outside wedlock, their babies taken, their enslavement, and exploitation in the laundries[…] A hard hitting, poignant, and beautifully written book on the darkness in Ireland’s history.” The book is short, so there is still time to order or download it and read it before the meeting at Poinciana Paper Press, 12 Parkgate Road, on Wednesday, April 16, at 6pm to discuss Small Things Like These. To get ahead for May, purchase or borrow How To Fall in Love in a Time of Unnameable Disaster by Muriel Long. To join Feminist Book Club, fill out the form at tiny.cc/ fbc2025
afraid our words will not be heard nor welcomed but when we are silent we are still afraid So it is better to speak remembering we were never meant to survive.
“won’t you celebrate with me” by Lucille Clifton
Lucille Clifton celebrates herself and her becoming in “won’t you celebrate with me,” and invites her reader to see the magic
of having no example, yet moving forward to do what one is called to do and be who one is meant to be. She recognised that there are many factors, people, places, things, and ideas included, that could keep us from ourselves. Despite what happens around us and comes at us, we have the ability to stay on our own paths. The challenges we face may change us, but they need not succeed in shutting us down.
won’t you celebrate with me what i have shaped into a kind of life? i had no model. born in babylon both nonwhite and woman what did i see to be except myself?
i made it up here on this bridge between starshine and clay, my one hand holding tight my other hand; come celebrate with me that everyday something has tried to kill me and has failed.
If I Must Die” by Refaat Alareer
Refaat Alareer was a Palestinian writer, university
professor, and translator from Gaza. Five weeks before he was killed, he shared his poem, “If I Must Die.” It is a personal reckoning with impending death, by murder, and how to make meaning of not only a life, but death and the way it comes. It is a desire not only to be remembered, but to be a symbol of hope that the atrocities faced today will end and the future so often dreamed of and spoke aloud will come to be.
If I must die, you must live to tell my story to sell my things to buy a piece of cloth and some strings, (make it white with a long tail) so that a child, somewhere in Gaza while looking heaven in the eye awaiting his dad who left in a blaze— and bid no one farewell not even to his flesh not even to himself— sees the kite, my kite you made, flying up above and thinks for a moment an angel is there bringing back love
If I must die let it bring hope let it be a tale
REFAAT ALAREER
LUCILLE CLIFTON
AI and satellites help aid workers at Myanmar earthquake damage
By MATT O’BRIEN
AP Technology Writer
JUST after sunrise on Saturday, a satellite set its long-range camera on the city of Mandalay in Myanmar, not far from the epicenter of Friday’s 7.7 magnitude earthquake that devastated the Southeast Asian country’s secondlargest city.
The mission was to capture images that, combined with artificial intelligence technology, could help relief organizations quickly assess how many buildings had collapsed or were heavily damaged and where helpers most needed to go.
At first, the high-tech computer vision approach wasn’t working.
“The biggest challenge in this particular case was the clouds,” said Microsoft’s chief data scientist, Juan Lavista Ferres. “There’s no way to see through clouds with this technology.”
The clouds eventually moved and it took a few more hours for another satellite from San Francisco-based Planet Labs to capture the aerial pictures and send them to Microsoft’s philanthropic AI for Good Lab. By then it was already about 11 p.m. Friday at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington. A group of Microsoft workers was ready and waiting for the data.
The AI for Good lab has done this kind of AI-assisted damage assessment before, tracking Libya’s catastrophic flooding in 2023 or this year’s wildfires in Los Angeles. But rather than rely on a standard AI computer vision model that could run any visual data, they had to build a customized version specific to Mandalay. “The Earth is too different, the natural disasters are too different and the imagery we get from satellites is just too different to work in every situation,” Lavista Ferres said. For
instance, he said, while fires spread in fairly predictable ways, “an earthquake touches the whole city” and it can be harder to know in the immediate aftermath where help is needed.
Once the AI analysis was complete, it showed 515 buildings in Mandalay with 80% to 100% damage and another 1,524 with between 20% and 80% damage. That showed the widespread gravity of the disaster, but, just as important, it helps pinpoint specific locations of damage.
“This is critical
information for teams on the ground,” Lavista Ferres said.
Microsoft cautioned that it “should serve as a preliminary guide and will require on-the-ground verification for a complete understanding.” But in the meantime, the tech company has shared the analysis with aid groups such as the Red Cross.
Planet Labs says its satellites — it has 15 of them orbiting the Earth — have now photographed roughly a dozen locations in Myanmar and Thailand since Friday’s quake.
A stroke survivor speaks again with the help of an experimental brain-computer implant
By LAURA UNGAR AP Science Writer
S C I EN TI S T S have developed a device that can translate thoughts about speech into spoken words in real time.
A lthough it’s still experimental, they hope the brain-computer interface could someday help give voice to those unable to speak.
A new study described testing the device on a 47-year-old woman with quadriplegia who couldn’t speak for 18 years after a stroke. Doctors implanted it in her brain during surgery as part of a clinical trial. It “converts her intent to speak into fluent sentences,” said Gopala A numanchipalli, a coauthor of the study published Monday in the journal N ature N euroscience.
Other brain-computer interfaces, or B C Is, for speech typically have a slight delay between thoughts of sentences and computerized verbalization. S uch delays can disrupt the natural flow of
conversation, potentially leading to miscommunication and frustration, researchers said.
This is “a pretty big advance in our field,” said Jonathan Brumberg of the S peech and A pplied N euroscience Lab at the U niversity of Kansas, who was not part of the study.
A team in C alifornia recorded the woman’s brain activity using electrodes while she spoke sentences silently in her
brain. The scientists used a synthesizer they built using her voice before her injury to create a speech sound that she would have spoken. They trained an A I model that translates neural activity into units of sound. It works similarly to existing systems used to transcribe meetings or phone calls in real time, said A numanchipalli, of the U niversity of C alifornia, Berkeley.
The implant itself sits on the speech center of the brain so that it’s listening in, and those signals are translated to pieces of speech that make up sentences. It’s a “streaming approach,”
A numanchipalli said, with each 80-millisecond chunk of speech – about half a syllable – sent into a recorder.
“It’s not waiting for a sentence to finish,”
A numanchipalli said. “It’s processing it on the fly.”
Decoding speech that quickly has the potential to keep up with the fast pace of natural speech, said Brumberg. The use of voice samples, he added, “would be a significant advance in the naturalness of speech.”
Though the work was partially funded by the N ational Institutes of Health, A numanchipalli said it wasn’t affected by recent N IH research cuts. More research is needed before the technology is ready for wide use, but with “sustained investments,” it could be available to patients within a decade, he said.
France’s
PARIS
Associated Press
FRANCE’S antitrust watchdog fined A pple 150 million euros ($162 million) on Monday over a privacy feature protecting users from apps snooping on them because its introduction resulted in abuse of competition law.
The French C ompetition A uthority said the aim of A pple’s A pp Tracking Transparency ( ATT) requiring iPhone and iPad apps to ask users for permission before tracking them was not in itself open to criticism. But it ruled that the “way in which it was implemented was neither necessary nor proportionate to A pple’s stated objective of protecting personal data.”
A pple rolled out ATT starting in A pril 2021 as part of an update to the operating system powering the iPhone and iPad. The feature forces apps to obtain permission before collecting data to target users with personalized ads. While the feature was designed to tighten up privacy, it faced criticism from Big Tech rivals that it would make it harder for smaller apps to survive without charging consumers.
The fine, punishing A pple for abuse of its dominant position in mobile app distribution, covers the period from A pril 2021 to July 2023. But the amount is a pittance for the iPhone maker, which earned $124 billion in revenue in the final three months of last year.
The watchdog said the feature’s rollout resulted in users being barraged by pop-ups from third-party apps requesting their consent. It bemoaned how the proliferation of these consent windows made it “excessively complex” for app users to navigate the iO S environment.
It also questioned the system’s neutrality, saying it penalized the smallest publishers, which depend to a large extent on the collection of third-party data to finance their activity.
A pple said in a statement that ATT gives users more privacy control “through a required, clear, and easy-to-understand prompt about one thing: tracking.”
“That prompt is consistent for all developers, including A pple, and we have received strong support for this feature from consumers, privacy advocates, and data protection authorities around the world,” the company said. “While we are disappointed with today’s decision, the French C ompetition A uthority (F CA ) has not required any specific changes to ATT.”
THE APPLE logo is illuminated at a store in Munich, Germany, November 13, 2023.
Photo: Matthias Schrader/AP
IN this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, rescuers carry out search and rescue on the damaged buildings in the aftermath of an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, Monday.
Photo: Jiang Chao/Xinhua/AP
IN this photo provided by researchers at UCSF and UC Berkeley, a UCSF clinical research coordinator connects a neural data port into the head of Ann, a participant in a study on speech neuroprostheses, in El Cerrito, California, on Monday. Photo: Noah Berger/UCSF, UC Berkeley/AP
Earthquake survivors still being found in Myanmar but hopes begin to fade as deaths exceed 2,700
BANGKOK Associated Press
RESCUE work-
ers saved a 63-year-old woman from the rubble of a building in Myanmar’s capital on Tuesday, but hope was fading of finding many more survivors of the violent earthquake that killed more than 2,700 people, compounding a humanitarian crisis caused by a civil war.
The fire department in Naypyitaw said the woman was successfully pulled from the rubble 91 hours after being buried when the building collapsed in the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit midday Friday. Experts say the likelihood of finding survivors drops dramatically after 72 hours.
Death toll numbers forecast to increase
The head of Myanmar’s military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, told a forum for relief donations in Naypyitaw that 2,719 people have now been found dead, with 4,521 others
injured and 441 missing, Myanmar’s state MRTV television reported.
He said Friday’s earthquake was the second most powerful in the country’s recorded history after a magnitude 8 quake east of Mandalay in May 1912.
The casualty figures are widely expected to rise.
The earthquake hit a wide swath of the country, leaving many areas without power, telephone or cell connections and damaging roads and bridges, making the full extent of the devastation hard to assess.
Most of the reports so far have come from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, which was near the epicenter of the earthquake, and Naypyitaw, the capital.
“The needs are massive, and they are rising by the hour,” said Julia Rees, UNICEF’s deputy representative for Myanmar.
Myanmar’s fire department said 403 people have been rescued in Mandalay and 259 bodies have been found so far. In one
incident, 50 Buddhist monks who were taking a religious exam in a monastery were killed when the building collapsed, and 150 more are thought to be buried in the rubble.
Structural damage is extensive
The World Health Organization said more than 10,000 buildings overall are known to have collapsed or been severely damaged by the quake.
The earthquake also rocked neighbouring Thailand, causing a high-rise building under construction to collapse and burying many workers.
Two bodies were pulled from the rubble Monday and another was recovered Tuesday, but dozens were still missing. Overall, there were 21 people killed and 34 injured in Bangkok, primarily at the construction site.
In Myanmar, search and rescue efforts across the affected area paused briefly at midday Tuesday as people stood for a minute in silent tribute to the dead.
Relief efforts moving at a sluggish pace Foreign aid workers have been arriving slowly to help in the rescue efforts, but progress lagged due to a lack of heavy machinery in many places.
In one site in Naypyitaw on Tuesday, workers formed a human chain, passing chunks of brick and concrete out hand-byhand from the ruins of a collapsed building.
The state Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported Tuesday that a team of Chinese rescuers saved four people the day before from the ruins of an apartment complex. They included a 5-year-old and a pregnant woman who had been trapped for more than 60 hours.
It also reported that two teenagers were able to crawl out of the rubble of the same building using their cellphone flashlights to help guide them. Rescue workers were then able to use details from what they told them to locate their grandmother
and sibling. International rescue teams from several countries are on the scene, including from Russia, China, India, the United Arab Emirates and several Southeast Asian countries.
A small US Agency for International Development disaster assessment team arrived Tuesday to determine how best to respond given limited US resources due to the slashing of the foreign aid budget and dismantling of the agency as an independent operation.
A US official said the three-person team had waited for visas before making the trip from neighbouring Thailand following a weekend decision to provide $2 million in emergency assistance to Myanmar. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the team’s arrival has not yet been publicly announced.
Aid pledges pouring in as officials warn of disease risk
Meantime, multiple countries have pledged millions in assistance to help Myanmar and humanitarian aid organizations with the monumental task ahead.
Even before the earthquake, more than 3 million people had been displaced from their homes by Myanmar’s brutal civil war, and nearly 20 million were in need, according to the UN
Many were already lacking in basic medical care and standard vaccinations, and the destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure by the earthquake and the movement of people into overcrowded shelters raises the risk of disease outbreaks, warned the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
“Vulnerability to respiratory infections, skin diseases, vector-borne illnesses such as dengue fever, and vaccine-preventable diseases like measles is escalating,” OCHA said in its latest report. The onset of monsoon season also a worry Shelter is also a major problem, especially with the monsoon season looming.
Since the earthquake, many people have been sleeping outside, either because homes were destroyed or out of fear of aftershocks. Civil war complicates disaster relief Myanmar’s military seized power in 2021 from the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking what has turned into significant armed resistance and a brutal civil war.
Government forces
have lost control of much of Myanmar, and many places were dangerous or impossible for aid groups to reach even before the quake.
Military attacks and those from some antimilitary groups have not stopped in the aftermath of the earthquake, though the shadow opposition National Unity Government has called a unilateral ceasefire for its forces.
The NUG, established by elected lawmakers who were ousted in 2021, called for the international community to ensure humanitarian aid is delivered directly to the earthquake victims, urging “vigilance against any attempts by the military junta to divert or obstruct humanitarian assistance,” saying that could have “devastating consequences.”
The ceasefire plan for the armed wing of the NUG, called the People’s Defense Force, would have little effect on the battlefield, but could draw more international condemnation of continuing operations by the military, including air attacks reported by independent media.
A second armed opposition group, a coalition of three powerful ethnic minority guerrilla armies called the Three Brotherhood Alliance, announced Tuesday that it would also implement a monthlong unilateral ceasefire.
However, Min Aung Hlaing seemed to reject implementing a ceasefire, saying in his speech on Tuesday that the military will continue to take necessary defensive measures against some ethnic armed groups that were currently not carrying out combat operations, but were conducting military training, which he said amounted to hostile action.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether the military has been impeding humanitarian aid. In the past, it initially refused to allow in foreign rescue teams or many emergency supplies after Cyclone Nargis in 2008, which resulted in well more than 100,000 deaths. Even once it did allow foreign assistance, it was with severe restrictions.
In this case, however, Min Aung Hlaing pointedly said on the day of the earthquake that the country would accept outside help.
Tom Andrews, a monitor on rights in Myanmar commissioned by the UNbacked Human Rights Council, said on X that to facilitate aid, military attacks must stop.
“The focus in Myanmar must be on saving lives, not taking them,” he said.
MYANMAR’s rescuers work through rubble of a collapsed building following Friday’s earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar yesterday.
Photo: AP
Tabernacle Baptist Academy continues to dominate the Island Sports Championships
By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
TABERNACLE Baptist Academy celebrated its 12th consecutive victory in the Island Sports Championships during an award presentation ceremony held at the school on Thursday.
The Bantam Girls Team, led by Abigail Maycock, was recognised as the most impressive team representing Tabernacle this year, securing a win in the Junior Division. This marked their first victory in five years in that category. Meanwhile, the school’s senior athletes have dominated the event for over a decade, maintaining their championship streak.
Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture Mario Bowleg was expected to attend the ceremony, but flight delays
from New Providence prevented his arrival.
“Our numbers are small, and we went against big schools, and these are the students that brought this trophy back,” said Mrs Bain, the school’s principal.
The Fidelity Bank Track & Field Championship is funded by Fidelity Bank, with additional sponsorship from Pizza Hut and KFC Fallon Symonette, representing Pizza Hut and KFC, commended the athletes for their hard work and dedication.
“My encouragement to you all, even if you are not an athlete, is to work hard, be consistent, and in everything keep God first,” she said.
Carmel ParkerDean, manager of Fidelity Bank in Grand Bahama and the northern Bahamas, reaffirmed the
bank’s commitment to supporting Island Sports.
“You continue to lead in track and field,” she said. “Your senior athletes have brought back the championship for the 12th year in a row. Your juniors have brought the championship trophy home for the first time in five years.”
She noted that Island Sports had long been a major event in Grand Bahama but was halted for several years due to Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022, Tabernacle’s coach, Ozzie Simmons, reached out to Mrs ParkerDean to revive the competition, and Fidelity Bank has been the official sponsor since then.
“Because of your stellar performance over the last years, we are honoured to celebrate with you,” she said.
TABERNACLE Baptist Academy’s junior team (above) clinched their first victory in five years. Fourth from right is Abigail Maycock - recognized as most outstanding junior athlete. The senior athletes (left) dominated the event, securing their 12th consecutive victory.
Photos: Vandyke Hepburn
CR Walker students join BREEF’s SEA programme for marine conservation
S EVENTEEN students from CR Walker Senior High School recently participated in the Bahamas Reef E nvironment E ducational Foundation’s (BR EE F) new Students for E nvironmental Action (S E A) programme.
T he initiative kicked off with a snorkeling event on World Water Day, offering students first hand exposure to T he Bahamas’ marine ecosystems.
T he S E A programme, targeting 10th to 12th graders, focuses on ocean conservation, climate change, and developing leadership skills. Students also completed CPR and first aid certification, ensuring they are prepared for marine conservation work.
Jayden Adderley, a standout participant, was selected for the Bahamas E nvironmental Steward Scholarship (B E SS) for
the 2025/2026 year, where she will spend a semester at the Cape E leuthera Island School and intern with BR EE F. She joins a network of young conservationists benefiting from the B E SS programme.
T he semester-long S E A programme includes biweekly sessions, field trips, and student-led outreach projects, covering topics such as marine biology, conservation, and environmental advocacy.
PLEDGING rootedness in spiritual growth and keeping themselves pure until marriage, 137 young girls enrolled in Princess Court Mentoring Ministries took part in a ceremony on Sunday, March 30, 2025 at Central Zion Baptist Church in Eight Mile Rock affirming their bold step. Mrs Ann Marie, wife of the Prime Minister was the keynote speaker and commended the young girls for taking the bold step forward in the sacred pledge. “Princesses, today you stand before God. You are affirming yourselves and you are here giving a commitment to live a life rooted in spiritual growth, in Godly values, integrity and purity. That is so admirable,” she said. Mrs Davis said that it is a moment which they will cherish and carry with them as they continue on their life’s journey.
Photos: Vandyke Hepburn
