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NO ROOM FOR M

Former-PM and Gibson denied nominations

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard has told former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis that he will not be renominated in the Killarney constituency, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

The Tribune also understands that the FNM will not renominate Adrian Gibson in Long Island, though it was unclear up to press time whether Mr Gibson had been directly informed.

The determination that three sitting MPs will not be renominated signals

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter and DENISE MAYCOCK

CENTRAL Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis’s unexpected resignation from the Free National Movement — after anticipating he would not be renominated — has set the stage for a political showdown in a constituency long considered a safe FNM seat.

The move caught many by surprise, especially given Mr Lewis’s recent public appearances alongside FNM Leader Michael Pintard, which had suggested continued alignment with the party’s leadership.

Visitor reportedly raped by jet ski operator at Junkanoo Beach

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

TWO days after the United States strengthened its advisory involving jet ski use in The Bahamas because of sexual assaults, a female Carnival Cruise Line passenger reported being raped by a jet ski operator off Junkanoo Beach.

Police have not publicly reported the incident, which The

Tribune understands was said to have occurred on Tuesday. Crimes involving US citizens must be reported to the US Embassy.

On Sunday, the US Department of State updated its travel advisory, warning that boating in The Bahamas is poorly regulated, resulting in injuries and deaths. It also cited reports of sexual assaults by jet ski operators. As a result, US

PRESIDENT

ing an

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

POLYMERS International’s top executive yesterday asserted “it’s not going to come to that” when asked if the new US 10 percent tariff on Bahamian exports, plus the Chinese ship fee, could end its presence in Freeport.

Greg Ebelhar, the Freeport-based manufacturer’s chief operating ofﬁcer, told Tribune Business that while it was still assessing the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariff announcement it has “bigger ﬁsh to fry” with the US over the proposed $1m fee per port call is is threatening to impose on Chinese-made vessels.

Tropical Shipping, which has previously warned the Chinese-made ship fee threatens its very survival by potentially adding $585m in annual port-related charges, is the carrier that transports Polymers International’s expanded polystyrene (EPS) product to the US, its largest export market.

EX-HUS B AND T O B E R EPAID $21,600 AF T E R T ES T SHOWS CHILD WAS NO T HIS

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN has been ordered to compensate her ex-husband $21,600 after the Supreme Court ruled in his favour when it was revealed that the couple’s youngest child was not biologically his.

Justice Juanita Denise Lewis-Johnson issued the ruling after a 47-year-old man — whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of minors — ﬁled a civil suit against his ex-wife.

The man, referred to as the petitioner, said hat he married the woman, the respondent, on June 17, 2001. He claimed that after their marriage, the respondent managed his ﬁnances and opened a

FORMER PRIME MINISTER DR HUBERT MINNIS

Donald Trump departs after sign-

executive order at an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House yesterday in Washington.

Photo: Evan Vucci/AP

CENTRAL Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis. Photos: Dante Carrer/ Tribune Staff

Ad-Fi and BTC ofﬁcially launch ad-sponsored Wi-Fi on buses

Photos: Keile Campbell/Tribune Staff Reporter

Elderly man embraces govt rescue as sister ﬁghts to save family property

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

AS government ofﬁ-

cials moved to demolish a shabby house at the intersection of Peter Street and Blue Hill Road yesterday, emotional pleas from a family member to preserve the building clashed with the wishes of its long-time occupant, who welcomed the intervention.

Kennedy Jean Rolle, 65, who had lived on the property since 1959, acknowledged his lack of necessities.

“I don’t have no housing, no electricity, nothing like that,” he said. “But in the meanwhile, I tried, I tried to be concerned about myself and my community. I have no record. I don’t commit no crime, but I try to communicate with people and make sure that they’re safe.”

Despite his willingness to knock down the structure, his sister, Florence Rolle, was on-site yesterday, pleading that the structure not be destroyed.

“The property does not belong to my brother alone,” she said.

She said all the siblings collectively owned the property and that the section where her brother was living was not originally designated for him. She recounted that after a ﬁre destroyed the house in 2007, she was forced to relocate, while her brother

remained behind. Over the years, she said his struggles with alcoholism prevented him from properly caring for himself, leading to the dire conditions he was found living in today at age 65. While she expressed no objection to him being relocated by the government, she emphasised that her only concern was preserving the existing structure, as she hoped to eventually renovate it when ﬁnancially able, especially following the recent passing of her husband in January.

She also pointed to a nearby empty lot on the same family property, which she said could serve as a more appropriate location for her brother to rebuild. She argued that the current building was not the only one in the neighbourhood in poor condition and stressed that the land was family-owned.

Housing Minister Keith Bell, however, said the government was compelled to act due to public health and safety concerns.

“Imagine a society’s maturity and development is determined by how it takes care of its elderly,” he told reporters. “No one in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas ought people be living in such squalor conditions.”

He described the conditions inside the home as uninhabitable, pointing out that the structure had no roof integrity, no running water, bathroom, or

electricity. He said that during a previous visit, he found the elderly resident sleeping on a ﬁlthy mattress, and the stench inside was overwhelming. With no windows and extensive decay throughout the structure, he stressed that the building was beyond repair and needed to be demolished.

The government has relocated the couple to a newly renovated rental unit on Finlayson Street with electricity, running water, bathroom facilities, furniture, and food. Mr Bell said they would not be charged rent and could stay there indeﬁnitely.

He said the government planned to relocate the couple immediately into the new facility and move forward with demolishing the existing structure. He said the goal was to replace it with a building that meets proper standards for human habitation.

The move is part of the broader Clear, Hold, Build programme aimed at revitalising inner-city communities and dismantling gang infrastructure.

He said the government’s actions reflect its commitment to inclusion and ensuring that no one — man, woman, or child — is left behind, not only in tackling crime but also in addressing broader social challenges. In response to objections and personal criticisms from family members, he maintained that the decision to demolish the structure was made in the public’s best interest. He argued that the conditions were too hazardous to ignore, especially given the recent spate of fires, and said the government was confident that relocating the residents and removing the building was the right course of action for their safety and for the community. Responding directly to criticisms of his handling of the situation, including suggestions he had personal bias, Mr Bell said: “First of all, it does not matter how their family member wishes to characterise him. For us, all of us, are equal in the sight of God, and let he

stone or forever hold your peace. We are here to bring peace and love and harmony to that couple, to ensure that at the end of the day, no one is left behind.” When he entered the newly provided government residence, Mr Rolle was overjoyed and went straight to the bathroom.

KENNEDY Jean Rolle holds up the keys to the government rental he was provided after living in a derelict house on his family property. The govt ordered deomolition of the structure despite the pleas of Mr Rolle’s sister Florence Rolle.

Photos: Nikia Charlton

NO ROOM FOR MINNIS

from page one

that the FNM’s election machinery is shifting into high gear, with candidate vetting and strategic positioning actively underway. The next general election is not due until September 2026.

Insiders say Central Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis’ expectation that he would not be renominated led him to leave the FNM and join the Coalition of Independents yesterday.

They say Mr Lewis was dropped mainly because he lacked the support of his constituency association.

The decision on Mr Gibson, they say, stems from unease in Long Island over his continued legal issues.

While Dr Minnis main-

tained the backing of his constituency association, his refusal to rally around the FNM’s leadership inﬂuenced the decision not to renominate him.

St Barnabas MP Shanendon Cartwright, East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson and St Anne’s MP Adrian White are expected to be renominated.

Last year, Dr Minnis, who stepped down as party leader after the FNM’s crushing 2021 general election loss, challenged Mr Pintard for leadership at the party’s convention. He was soundly defeated, receiving 163 votes to Mr Pintard’s 486. The race highlighted deep divisions within the party, with several former Cabinet ministers endorsing Mr Pintard while Dr Minnis secured limited support from former colleagues.

Not only did the contest cement Mr Pintard’s mandate to reshape the FNM before the next general election, but for unity between the two men never materialised.

Dr Minnis and Mr Gibson declined to comment yesterday.

IRAM LEW IS EX I TS FN M A ND JOINS W I TH COA LI T ION

from page one

Yet in the House of Assembly, Mr Lewis announced he was joining the Coalition of Independents — prompting some constituents to respond with a resounding “good riddance”.

from the collaborative spirit that once deﬁned its internal operations.

The FNM also noted that its executive committee had questioned “certain actions” by Mr Lewis. The Tribune understands he angered party leadership after appearing at protests organised by Coalition of Independents leader Lincoln Bain and Richard Johnson, a former FNM vice-chairman who publicly clashed with party leadership and later sued them in court.

“We had good FNMs who said they would not vote PLP, but they were thinking of voting for COI because they did not want to vote for

Marjorie Darville, a long-time Central Grand Bahama association member, said the FNM had been warned that renominating Mr Lewis would risk losing the seat. His comments echoed a party statement that read: “The constituency association recently wrote the party requesting that Mr Lewis not be renominated as the party’s standard bearer in the next election for reasons stated by them.”

Iram,” said Mr Darville. “So since he moved to the COI, well those people will be coming back.”

FNM members in Central Grand Bahama said around 16 association members met with the party’s chairman and secretary general to make clear they wanted Mr Lewis replaced as a candidate.

Talmage Pinder, an Advisory Council Member in Grand Bahama, did not mince words about Mr Lewis’s performance.

“He was a lousy MP,” he claimed. “He was not in touch with the branch. He did his own thing and then we hear about it after he do it.”

In just two election cycles, Mr Lewis experienced a steep drop in voter support. He won 3,654 votes in 2017 — easily defeating his PLP rival — but that ﬁgure plummeted to 2,091 in 2021, a loss of more than 1,500 votes.

Mr Pinder suggested many FNMs stayed home rather than vote for him — though the 2021 general election also saw a broader wave against the FNM nationally.

FNM insiders consider Central Grand Bahama the party’s safest seat on the island, noting that former MP Neko Grant held it for multiple terms — a legacy now fueling intense interest and competition for the nomination.

For his part, Mr Lewis said his decision stemmed from a lack of support, a breakdown in trust, and concerns over the direction of the party as elections draw near.

He said he had witnessed troubling changes within the FNM, particularly a shift

“From this day forward, I no longer remain where I’m tolerated, but where I believe I am appreciated,” he said. His announcement sparked mixed reactions in the House of Assembly.

Some PLP MPs were seen quietly laughing, while others in the chamber audibly reacted with: “What?”

FNM MPs remained more restrained. St Anne’s MP Adrian White kept his head down, writing in a notebook, while deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright repeatedly glanced in Mr Lewis’s direction. Kwasi Thompson was spotted with his hand on his face, smiling at intervals.

Party leader Michael Pintard was not in the chamber then but arrived later.

PLP chairman Fred Mitchell said he wasn’t surprised by Mr Lewis’s departure, citing long-standing reports of unrest within the FNM. He added that Mr Lewis’s political future could include more shifts in party allegiance.

Mr Lewis’s departure from the FNM is notable not only for its timing but because it breaks a trend — no governing party member has severed ties with their caucus during this term. That starkly contrasts the previous two governing administrations, which saw high-proﬁle defections.

The consequences of crossing the ﬂoor vary in Bahamian politics. Bamboo Town MP Tennyson Wells left the FNM and retained his seat as an independent in 2002 — only to lose his next bid to Branville McCartney, who later left the FNM himself to form the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) and was defeated in 2012. Mr Lewis insisted his decision wasn’t about political survival but about “building a better Bahamas”. He said he hoped that even those who disagreed with his defection would eventually support him once they understood his broader vision.

Outside the House of Assembly, scores of enthusiastic Coalition of Independents supporters gathered to celebrate what they described as a historic political move.

FORMER PRIME MINISTER DR HUBERT MINNIS

CENTRAL Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis seen outside the House of Assembly yesterday with Coalition of Independents’ leader Lincoln Bain and supporters yesterday.

Photos: Dante Carrer

Coalition bolstered by Lewis’ addition to party

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

THE Coalition of Independents (COI) secured a seat in the House of Assembly for the ﬁrst time yesterday, gaining mainstream representation after Central Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis resigned from the Free National Movement (FNM) and joined the party. The defection is a breakthrough for the marginal COI, a group that has styled itself as an uncompromising alternative to the country’s two main parties but has drawn criticism for promoting views some see as xenophobic and farright. Until now, none of its candidates had come close to winning a seat — or even securing enough votes to reclaim their election deposit.

The COI, led by Lincoln Bain, made its electoral debut in 2021, contesting 32 seats and securing more than six percent of the national vote.

In the 2023 West Grand Bahama and Bimini byelection, Mr Bain placed third with 307 votes — just over eight percent — again falling below the required threshold to retain his deposit.

Mr Lewis had ﬂirted with the party before. In June 2023, he raised eyebrows within the FNM when he stood alongside Mr Bain during a COI protest calling for the resignation of Immigration Minister Keith Bell. At the time, senior FNM ﬁgures privately criticised his appearance at the event,

given the party’s efforts to distance itself from the COI’s inﬂammatory style. Mr Lewis, however, dismissed concerns and said: “It’s not about colours. It is about The Bahamas.”

He added: “What I heard my brother say this morning was not a xenophobic speech. It was a speech of empowerment for The Bahamas.”

COI leader Lincoln Bain yesterday described Mr Lewis’ formal defection as “history being made,” praising the former minister for “starting the revolution that this country needs”.

He noted the party now holds a seat on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), describing this as a major step in their push for government accountability.

He warned FNM leader Michael Pintard against removing Mr Lewis from the PAC, claiming that doing so would “show his hand” and reveal a desire to keep secrets from the public.

“He is now one of the leadership of the COI,” Mr Bain said, referring to Mr Lewis’ status as the party’s sole MP and therefore its parliamentary caucus leader. He said Mr Lewis would now have access to the COI’s “wide network of persons in every government ministry”.

The COI has built a following among Bahamians frustrated with the political establishment, but its rise has been fuelled by controversy.

The party’s hardline stance on immigration, combined with Mr Bain’s confrontational tactics, has

drawn widespread criticism. In 2022, he ﬁlmed himself ﬁring gunshots into the air on Crown land while warning alleged squatters to leave, prompting a police investigation and the seizure of his weapon.

Human rights advocates criticised him in 2023 following a viral video in which he ambushed a Haitian woman at a residence on Paradise Island, accusing her of squatting. Local advocacy group Human Rights Bahamas condemned the incident as “dehumanising,” saying he was stoking fear and resentment for political gain. Activist Louby Georges called his actions “nothing less than xenophobia”, while then Immigration Minister Keith Bell dismissed his broader claims of a shanty town on Paradise Island as “rubbish,” noting the individuals involved were born in The Bahamas and had applied for status.

He has also faced legal trouble. In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that he had breached a trust agreement involving $40,000 and ordered him to repay $64,000. His appeal was dismissed in 2022, although a 90-day prison sentence linked to non-payment was overturned.

Despite these controversies, the COI continues to position itself as a voice for the disenfranchised. When asked if more political ﬁgures would follow Mr Lewis, Mr Bain said: “Yes, we are talking to other members of parliament, and we want Michael Pintard to when he sits in the House today, to look to his

left and look to his right and wonder who’s next.” Defections and partyswitching have long shaped Bahamian politics, with MPs from both major parties breaking ranks over ideological rifts, leadership disputes, or personal ambition. Branville McCartney left the FNM in 2011 to form the Democratic National Alliance. Andre Rollins and Renward Wells both defected from the PLP to the FNM during the last Christie administration, while Greg Moss formed his own party after resigning from the PLP. Under the Minnis administration, a wave of resignations included Vaughn Miller, who joined

the PLP; Reece Chipman, who served the rest of his term as an independent; and Halson Moultrie, who resigned while serving as House Speaker. Frederick McAlpine, though never formally resigning, became one of the FNM’s most vocal internal critics and was ultimately denied renomination.

CENTRAL Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis speaks to the media after he quit the Free National Movement in an unexpected announcement in yesterday’s House of Assembly. Mr Lewis also announced he joined with the Coalition of Independents (COI). COI leader Lincoln Bain is seen standing next to Mr Lewis.

Photos: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

The Tribune Limited

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI

“Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master”

LEON E. H. DUPUCH

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon.) LL.D., D.Litt .

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

Contributing Editor 1972-1991

RT HON EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B.

Publisher/Editor 1972-

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PICTURE OF THE DAY

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A day of political and economic drama

IT was a day of high drama in Parliament yesterday – and even greater drama going on behind closed doors in the FNM.

Dr Hubert Minnis was not so long ago the leader of the FNM and the country’s Prime Minister. Now, he will not even have a nomination for the next election. He is not alone. Sources have told The Tribune that Adrian Gibson will also not receive a renomination in Long Island. And Iram Lewis has jumped ship, announcing in Parliament yesterday that he was leaving the FNM and joining the Coalition of Independents. The suggestion is that he was also not going to be renominated.

Back at the election, you may remember the leaﬂets from the Coalition that promised such things as free education, free healthcare, free water, free electricity, free internet and a cheque for $100,000 every year to every Bahamian with a passport. Mr Lewis has hopped aboard a ship of fools with every likelihood that his political career will sink fast. Still, he becomes the party’s ﬁrst MP, to create a small piece of history.

For the FNM, his departure perhaps makes it simple to point at his willingness to switch horses rather than show loyalty to the party as a demonstration of why he was not going to be renominated in the ﬁrst place.

The political divorce meanwhile between Dr Minnis and party leader Michael Pintard has long seemed inevitable.

Despite losing an election and being handsomely defeated in the party leadership race, Dr Minnis has shown little sign of allowing peace to break out between him and Mr Pintard.

Earlier this year, Dr Minnis was continuing to say that he would run in the next election despite not completing mandatory training for candidates run by the party.

If the party was setting out hoops for him to jump through, he was resolutely declining to do so.

Unity was not on show.

The question is, what comes next?

Will Dr Minnis now take a step back and encourage the party from the sidelines? Or will he perhaps run as an independent? That could be costly for the FNM if the election race is tight. It should not be forgotten that Dr Minnis has been counted out before.

When he was ousted as leader of the Opposition by the Rebel Seven of Loretta Butler-Turner, Neko Grant, Hubert Chipman, Richard Lighbourn, Theo Neilly, Edison Key and Dr Andre Rollins, his prospects looked bleak. Instead, Dr Minnis, who was still leader of the FNM, won the election.

Having survived that revolt, he was unable to withstand the rejection of the Bahamian people after a tenure in ofﬁce marked by the double hammer blows of COVID-19 and Hurricane Dorian. He was voted out in a landslide.

Rejected at the public polling booths and rejected at the party leadership races. And now denied a nomination to try to win again. It seems this is the end of the electoral road for the 70-year-old politician. But anyone who has watched his career ought to expect there might be another twist in the tale yet.

Amid all this political drama, meanwhile, a much bigger drama was perhaps playing out – as US President Donald Trump launched tariffs against countries around the world, The Bahamas included. We now have 10 percent tariffs being charged on exports from here to the US.

A number of economic experts are warning this could drive countries into recession, while Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell sent out a voice note suggesting that COVID would be “a joke” in comparison to the disruption from the wave of tariffs being announced. A global trade war is very possible.

Against that backdrop, our local drama may just pale into insigniﬁcance.

Lewis’ exit not a loss for FNM

EDITOR, The Tribune.

IRAM Lewis’s decision to walk away from the Free National Movement and align himself with the Coalition of Independents is being discussed in some quarters as a blow to the FNM. It is anything but. The party has lost nothing. What Mr Lewis has done is abandon a legacy party for a movement that thrives on outrage, misinformation, and radicalism with no clear path to responsible governance. While he is well within his rights to associate with whomever he chooses—this is, after all, a democracy—his choice carries consequences not just for himself, but for the country. The Coalition of Independents is not a party rooted in sound political philosophy or proven leadership. It is an assembly of individuals who lack the experience, understanding, and temperament required to guide a modern, complex nation like The

Bahamas. This is not a matter of political preference—it is a matter of national interest. What Mr Lewis has done is lend credibility to a movement that threatens the very values we hold dear: civility in public life, the rule of law, economic stability, and democratic order. He has given fuel to a ﬁre that, if allowed to grow, will burn down the standards of decency and seriousness we ought to expect from those who seek high ofﬁce. This move will be remembered as one of the greatest political missteps of his career—a short-sighted decision that prioritises noise over nation, and ego over principle. It sends a message that personal ambition now outweighs collective responsibility. That is dangerous. The FNM has survived worse. It will rebuild, refocus, and rise again. What is far more worrying is

the broader implication of legitimising a fringe movement that seeks power without accountability and inﬂuence without credibility.

If Mr Lewis wanted to retire from public life, that would have been an honorable choice. Instead, he has chosen to hand his voice, name, and reputation to a cause that will be the greatest demise of democratic maturity in our country— if it is ever allowed to succeed.

We must call this what it is: a reckless betrayal of the standards of leadership. And we must reject any effort to normalise what should be clearly seen for what it is—a dangerous shift toward the politics of resentment, division, and unpreparedness.

The Bahamas deserves better. We are in serious times, and serious times require serious people.

JANICE KEMP

Nassau, April 2, 2025

Pintard’s FNM facing major crisis

EDITOR, The Tribune.

CENTRAL Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis blindsided his constituents - and perhaps Free National Movement Leader Michael Pintard - by switching his political allegiance to the ﬂedgling Coalition of Independents and its increasingly popular leader Lincoln Bain. It was just several days ago that an internet political tabloid alleged that former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, Desmond Bannister, Renward Wells, Adrian Gibson and Lewis were handed notices by the Pintard camp that they will not be receiving FNM nominations this upcoming election cycle. Now, what is the common denominator between Lewis, Gibson, Wells and Bannister? They’re all sympathetic to Minnis. They all support the former FNM leader.

Lewis served as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Works; Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Management And Reconstruction and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture in the Minnis government. When Lewis received his ﬁrst nomination to contest an election, it was in 2017 while Minnis led the FNM. Lewis would succeed former Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant, who was a member of the Rebel Seven, a group of disgruntled FNM MPs led by Loretta ButlerTurner that wrested control of the FNM from Minnis in the House of Assembly. I believe Lewis does not view Minnis the same way Pintard and his base does. I am willing to bet that the COI MP views himself as being greatly indebted to the Killarney MP, who placed him in a traditionally safe seat for the FNM. For Lewis, to attack Minnis on behalf of the Pintard camp would have been the height of ingratitude. His loyalty to Minnis was amply demonstrated when he, in March of 2023, voiced his disapproval of the move by the FNM leadership in preventing Minnis from addressing constituency association meetings.

Lewis used strong words in describing the attempts at silencing Minnis as “undemocratic” and “antiFNM”. I don’t believe Lewis was happy with the way Minnis has been treated by the FNM. His perceived loyalty to Minnis is the main reason he has

been on the outside looking in since Pintard assumed control of the FNM. He has probably heard the same rumors as the tabloid about him being denied a nomination. He has undoubtedly seen rank-and-ﬁle FNMs question his effectiveness as an MP in the hours following his announcement in the House of Assembly. My question to these FNMs is this: did you come to the conclusion that Lewis was ineffective in Central Grand Bahama before or after him joining the COI? Had Lewis come out in public and stated his disapproval of Minnis and his unﬂinching support for the FNM leader, would his critics still hold to the same view of him being ineffective?

Any negative criticism about Lewis at this juncture is obviously motivated by partisan politics. I will not pile it on the MP who has just made the most difﬁcult decision in his political career. Whatever FNM critics say about Lewis can be said about every MP on Grand Bahama, owing to the abysmal state of that island’s economy. The aforementioned tabloid further gossiped that Pintard, sensing that his hold on Marco City was tenuous at best, had set his eyes on the Central Grand Bahama seat. Hence, the rumoured move to jettison Lewis. At this point this is all pure speculation. In fact, I don’t believe this particular rumor at all. I believe Pintard is very safe in Marco City. An election loss in Marco City would be a catastrophe for the FNM leader - and the FNM as well. Still, I believe Pintard should make a public statement regarding his future plans for Marco City in order to allay the fears of his constituents and to dispel persistent rumors of him abandoning that seat for greener pastures. He has worked hard in his area. Any move by Marco City voters to replace Pintard would be a deﬁnite downgrade. These rumors give the perception that the FNM is in complete disarray.

Regarding Minnis, the rumored attempts to unceremoniously remove Minnis has the potential to backﬁre spectacularly. Pintard has to

weigh his options very carefully, as this situation can escalate into a bloody mess. With Lewis, however, the people of Central Grand Bahama deserve answers. In light of all the above, I believe Lewis’ move to the COI may have been preemptive. He saved himself from the embarrassing ordeal of being denied a nomination. He has the distinction of being the very first (and perhaps only) COI Parliamentarian. This move brings to mind former Democratic National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney abandoning the FNM to start up his own political party in 2010 or thereabouts; and the late Dr Bernard Nottage, who left the PLP in 1997 to set up the Coalition for Democratic Reform. Both men were sitting MPs at the time they left the FNM and PLP respectively. And both lost their seats. Neither the CDR nor the DNA won those seats that the two held. I feel Lewis is on the very same trajectory. Central Grand Bahama is an FNM stronghold. The most disappointing issue stemming from Lewis’ abandonment of the FNM is the apparent lack of communication between him and Pintard. This was the very same issue that dogged Minnis as Prime Minister. It is difficult for the writer to understand why Lewis wasn’t given the assurance that his nomination for Central Grand Bahama was a guarantee. All of this could have been avoided. The only true victors in this political drama are members of the COI. Lewis’ amalgamation to the COI legitimises Bain in the eyes of thousands of swing voters who are weary of the Progressive Liberal Party and the FNM. For the next year and a half, the COI will have a representative in the House of Assembly for a seat that rightly belongs to the FNM. Lewis has given Bain a massive platform to advertise his policies to a listening nation. Voters will be anxious to hear what Lewis has to say in the months ahead. Central Grand Bahama/ Lucaya has voted FNM from the creation of that seat. For the FNM, Pintard is now tasked with finding a suitable replacement for Lewis. I wish Lewis all the best moving forward.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama April 2, 2025.

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COALITION of Independents leader Lincoln Bain places a cap with his party’s logo on Central Grand Bahama MP Iram Lewis’ head after he announced his departure from the Free National Movement in the House of Assembly yesterday and joined the alternative political party.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

Ex-husband to be repaid $21,600 after test shows child was not his

joint account to share their resources equally.

The petitioner said the couple had three children during the marriage. However, after conducting a paternity test in December 2022 on the youngest child, he discovered the child was not biologically his.

After informing the respondent through an afﬁdavit, she requested another test, which was completed on April 28, 2023, at Kelso Medical Laboratory. It conﬁrmed once again that the petitioner was not the child’s father.

The petitioner claimed the respondent admitted to having conversations with another man during their marriage, and he alleged that she committed adultery and willfully misled him about the child’s paternity for 12 years — a deception he said beneﬁted her ﬁnancially.

He asked the court to order the respondent to reimburse him $300 per month for those 12 years, asserting that his income supported the child’s upbringing.

He also submitted that

he took out a mortgage for their matrimonial home in 2005, which was recently appraised at $538,470. He claimed he primarily ﬁnanced the home’s purchase and its subsequent renovations.

The petitioner further alleged that the respondent misused their joint account to fund a “lavish” lifestyle, including regular restaurant outings, beauty supplies, tuition payments for her sister in the US, monetary gifts to her brother, and unauthorised appliance purchases for a co-worker.

He claimed the respondent said she paid $10,000 for a phase of the home’s construction, but no work was ever done, forcing him to cover that portion of the renovation himself. He asserted that the respondent contributed only $12,000 in total to the property.

The petitioner also said his ex-wife encouraged him to continue working two jobs to support her lifestyle, even as he suffered from an injury to his right arm and shoulder. He eventually left his second job in 2023.

According to the Public Hospitals Authority, his

continued work prevented proper healing.

He noted that the respondent works three jobs — as a taxi driver, insurance agent, and straw vendor — and has no physical or mental health issues that would prevent her from seeking child support from the child’s biological father. The petitioner currently works as a butcher.

The respondent, however, claimed the home was appraised at $428,670 and said she paid the mortgage and conveyance fees. She said she and the petitioner had agreed that he would cover the mortgage and groceries, while she handled the children’s medical bills, utilities, school and babysitter fees, and family savings.

She said she had just $1,212 and $12.29 in two separate bank accounts and listed weekly expenses of $4,435.33, compared to the petitioner’s $1,823.50.

In response to the $10,000 construction dispute, the respondent claimed she had withdrawn $22,225 in 2018 to pay a rooﬁng contractor — who never completed the work — allegedly at the petitioner’s instruction. She

said he made no effort to recover the funds and only contributed $20,000 toward the home addition.

She also claimed to have taken out a $20,000 loan in 2019 to complete renovations and spent $25,000 on labour alone from her personal funds. She is currently in default on that loan and repays $500 monthly.

The court found that while the petitioner did contribute signiﬁcantly, the respondent also used her own ﬁnances to help maintain the home. As such, the court ruled that the petitioner is entitled to 60 percent interest in the home, while the respondent holds 40 percent. The petitioner has 120 days to buy out the respondent’s share; if he fails to do so, she will have 120 days to buy out his. If neither party succeeds, the property will be sold, and the proceeds divided accordingly.

Regarding the paternity fraud, the court found the respondent to be “untruthful” and described the extent of her deception as

“unsettling”. The judge said the respondent only told the truth under the threat of perjury, at which point she withdrew her application for custody and maintenance of the child.

The court found the respondent “deceived, defrauded, and misled” the petitioner about the child, noting lab results showed a 0 percent chance of paternity. It held that the respondent had an obligation to determine the child’s paternity, given that she engaged in unprotected sex with both her husband and another man during the same period.

The justice said the petitioner should have been given the opportunity to decide whether to accept the child as his own but was instead deceived for 12 years. The court found it unfair that the petitioner, who had loved and raised the child, must now live with the emotional burden of the truth and would be reminded of it whenever asked about the child’s well-being.

While acknowledging the petitioner did experience joy in raising the child, the court awarded him half the compensation he requested — a total of $21,600.

The respondent was also ordered to pay for the child’s therapy, as the court determined the minor was experiencing a loss of identity and would be emotionally devastated by the petitioner’s absence, having known him as a father ﬁgure.

The petitioner was discharged from all parental responsibility for the child.

The Registrar General was instructed to amend the child’s birth certiﬁcate to remove the petitioner as the legal father.

The court ruled that the two older children are sui juris. Additionally, the respondent was ordered to pay one-third of the petitioner’s legal costs, to be taxed if not agreed upon. Raynard Henﬁeld represented the petitioner. Regina Bonaby represented the respondent.

Visitor reportedly raped by jet ski operator at Junkanoo Beach

from page one

government employees are prohibited from renting jet skis or personal watercraft from independent operators on New Providence and Paradise Island.

Yesterday, Transport Minister JoBeth ColebyDavis said the Port Department has been reviewing how jet ski

operations are managed, particularly in tourist areas, in response to the updated advisory. She said ofﬁcials recently met to discuss concerns and recommendations for the industry, and the Port Department is preparing a report for her to present to Cabinet. She said she expects to provide more information

once that process is complete.

She acknowledged that while regulations exist, challenges persist — especially with people operating jet skis outside of approved launch sites. She said the police have been helping to monitor these unauthorised areas as part of broader efforts to improve safety.

from page one

MR. MELVIN SEYMOUR, permanent secretary, presented a copy of his book, ‘The Shepherding Generation’ to Governor General Dame Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt during a courtesy call at Government House, Mt Fitzwilliam on March 19, 2025.

Photo: Letisha Henderson/BIS

What will be the effect of Lewis’ departure?

THE curious and unfortunate decision yesterday by Central Grand Bahama Member of Parliament

Iram Lewis to resign from the Free National Movement and join the oddly and ironically named Coalition of Independents (COI) has precedent.

Sitting MPs and other party members have left their political homes or were suspended or expelled over the decades for myriad reasons. Why did Mr Lewis leave the party after so many years?

It is no secret that he had become increasingly unpopular in his constituency. He had also lost considerable support in his branch. He should realise that it is not an easy road as a political independent or as a member of a smaller party. Is Mr Lewis more loyal to his own ambition than he was to his party, as we have witnessed with many others?

Alternatively, Hubert Ingraham and Perry Christie ran successfully as independents for the House after their departure cum dismissal from the Progressive Liberal Party.

They did so in the aftermath of the explosive allegations against the party and Sir Lynden Pindling and others concerning corruption related to the transshipment of illicit drugs through The Bahamas. Both men were cheered on by their constituents and many in the country who applauded their actions, Both Ingraham and Christie went on to become prime minister. Ingraham subsequently joined and led the FNM, ending Sir Lynden’s political career.

Christie rejoined and led the PLP after Sir Lynden stepped down as leader. However, most independents are not politically successful after bolting their parties. One of the more recent examples was Loretta Butler-Turner’s decision to run as an independent against the FNM and PLP in the last election.

Mr Lewis is also likely to fail in his bid to return to the House as a member of the COI. But can he be a spoiler for the FNM? His former party colleague, Rev Frederick McAlpine, the then MP for Pineridge, remained disgruntled throughout his tenure in the Hubert Minnis administration.

A man of enormous ego, he was reportedly piqued and crushed that he was never made a cabinet minister. Dr Minnis was warned by many not to run Rev McAlpine and a host of other MPs, many of whom proved continuously problematic.

In the last election, Rev McAlpine ran as an independent for Pineridge, securing a signiﬁcant number of votes.

Minister for Grand Bahama and current MP for Pineridge Ginger Moxey won 1,423 votes for 40.05 percent of the vote as a PLP. Rev. McAlpine won 1,175 votes for 33.07 percent of the vote as an independent.

The FNM candidate, Welbourne Bottle, garnered 886 votes for 24.94 percent. The opposition vote was higher than the victory for Ms Moxey. The charismatic Rev McAlpine, a popular speaker at political rallies, bested the FNM candidate. What will happen in this seat at the next election?

Iram Lewis lacks the popularity, charisma, and speaking abilities of Rev McAlpine. Still, could he prove a spoiler for the FNM in the next election?

The FNM has traditionally enjoyed strong support in Grand Bahama. However, could some of its possible wins be at risk from independent and COI candidates?

The refusal to re-nominate sitting MPS is always fraught. When Dr Hubert Minnis declined to re-nominate a number of FNM MPs to contest the 2017 general election, it caused considerable consternation and division.

Still, because the country was desperate to throw Perry Christie and the PLP out, the FNM was able to secure a sizeable victory and majority. Is the current electorate desperate to throw out Philip and the PLP?

The 2021 election, which

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11th April,

was called early and during another deadly wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, without strong health protocols at the polls, resulted in a number of close races.

While it is likely that the PLP would have won the election, the FNM may have secured more seats if the election was called later and was not in the middle of a wave. It proved a very bad decision.

Many FNMs stayed home and the PLP only won, according to The Nassau Guardian, 34 percent of registered voters. Despite the number of seats gained, it was not a resounding popular victory. The overall turnout was lower than previous elections.

There are sometimes good and necessary reasons to deny a re-nomination to a sitting MP, such as an MP having been declared bankrupt, or being in the middle of a criminal trial, or lacking the support of the branch, or some other reason.

Still, denying a nomination to an incumbent comes with consequences that a leader and a party must carefully consider. There must be a clear process for how a nomination is denied. A leader must think out the public rationale for denying a nomination and explain the decision to the party and the country in a timely manner.

Politicians tend to have outsized egos, reveling in their status as public ﬁgures. They bask in the starlight of public adulation. Even the most incapable believe they should reign in cabinet. Most backbenchers in smaller countries remain ever envious of those in

cabinet. Envy powers resentment.

Party divisions in The Bahamas are rarely about policy matters. They are today more often about personal ambition, egotism, and the desire for power, patronage and status.

Prime ministers from Sir Lynden to Hubert Ingraham to Perry Christie, Dr Hubert Minnis and Philip Davis have contended with the egotism of those hungry for cabinet status. Resultingly, successive prime ministers have caused the appointment of the proverbial gussimae cabinets.

After the recent general election in Belize, in which his People’s United Party won a landslide victory, Prime Minister John Briceno appointed every one of his party’s MPs, a total of 26, as ministers or ministers of state. His party has no backbenchers, which is bad for parliamentary democracy.

There is always the potential that an MP denied re-nomination may join another major party or run as an independent, as Mr Lewis has now decided. What will be the impact of his decision on how the FNM is viewed publicly?

When the charismatic Branville McCartney left the FNM to launch his vanity party, in part because he was not elevated as a substantive minister, Hubert Ingraham did not appear to fully understand the threat he posed to the FNM in the upcoming election. McCartney’s Democratic National Alliance proved a spoiler in some seats.

Similarly, the 2021 general election demonstrated that there are a good

number of voters, including an increasing number of young people, who remain disaffected with the major parties. The COI took advantage of this disaffection and garnered many votes. How well will the grouping do at the next election? Are the number of disaffected voters growing? Many young people do not have traditional ties to the major parties as do older voters.

Some believe that the COI is mostly a threat to an incumbent government. Others believes that the PLPs base will be more solid with the party than the FNMs base will be with the FNM. These are all suppositions. Neither party can ignore the threat to their votes posed by the Coalition.

We will see how the departure of Iram Lewis and subsequent events play out for him and the FNM. It is possible that if he were not afforded another nomination, Mr Lewis could have had a future public role. It is more likely now that his public political career is coming to an end, especially given that he was never a major political talent.

How will the FNM demonstrate unity going forward? How will the PLP seek to take advantage of any disunity in the Opposition? How will those who are refused re-nominations in the PLP act in the future? The seeming growing dislike of both major parties, of which the COI is a beneﬁciary, should not be taken lightly by either party. Moreover, what will voters think of it all in the lead up to the next election, whenever it is called?

CENTRAL GRAND BAHAMA MP IRAM LEWIS

Trump contemplating a third term - but can he?

THERE’S a curious subtext to the whole Donald Trump presidential saga that has wormed its way into the American national consciousness and cannot, apparently, be expelled.

He seems to be still actively contemplating standing for election for a third presidential term in 2028.

“Of course, we know that cannot happen,” an expert remarked the other day after the most recent presidential hint was reported in the national press. Really?

Trump said on a Sunday morning NBC news show that he was “not joking” about the possibility of seeking a third presidential term. He explained that there were supposedly “methods” to get around the explicit bar to more than two presidential terms that has been enshrined in the US constitution for over 70 years.

The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratiﬁed in 1951, says that “no person shall be elected to the ofﬁce of the President more than twice”.

After Trump’s remark, the national press picked up on the idea right away. American media companies have certainly learned by now that when Trump thinks and then speaks the unthinkable, he must be taken seriously.

And his remarks on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ represented the ﬁrst time that Trump had indicated in such a serious setting that he was actually considering the idea of a third term in the White House.

Sunday’s interview was not the ﬁrst time the president had made reference to the idea, however. Back in February at a Republican party conference in Florida, Trump spoke on the subject.

“I’ve raised a lot of money for the next race (in 2028) that I assume I can’t use for myself, but I’m not 100 percent sure because I don’t know,” Trump told his fawning audience. “I think I’m not allowed to run again. I’m not sure. Am I allowed to run again?” Shortly thereafter, he was

STATESIDE

quoted on the subject again. “They say I can’t run again; that’s the expression,” Trump said. “Then somebody said, ‘I don’t think you can.’ Oh…” This is one of the most fascinating aspects of Trump. He regularly breaks one of the few cardinal rules of American political

life: He opens his mouth and expounds on whatever happens to be in his mind at the moment, regardless of political consequences or even common decency. And, as we have become accustomed to recognising, he nearly always gets away with it. In this particular case,

are required just to propose an amendment to the US constitution. While the GOP won majorities in both legislative houses last November, their margins are well short of the 67 Senate votes and 290 House votes that would be required even for this preliminary step.

Even though the Democrats are currently in the midst of a process of grudgingly soul-searching for reasons for their “inexplicable” November defeat and are publicly groping around for a strategy to derail Trump’s ambitious plans for the country, they are still managing to stand united in Congress almost all of the time in opposition to most of his initiatives.

The necessary Congressional two-thirds votes aren’t going to happen.

Another possibility is for two-thirds of the states to call for a constitutional convention. With the Democrats still in control of both houses in 18 of the 50 American state legislatures and three other states featuring split party control of their legislatures (42 percent altogether), a constitutional convention is not on the cards anytime soon either.

That same mathematical calculus also practically nulliﬁes any chance of the states ratifying the kind of constitutional amendment that would allow a third Trump term. Even if a change to the 22nd Amendment were somehow to be introduced, three-fourths of all state legislatures — or of those state-level constitutional conventions — must approve it.

It would take an unimaginable turn of events within the Democratic Party for the door to open even a crack on a third Trump term.

could Trump actually somehow evade the very speciﬁc language in the 22nd Amendment? It doesn’t seem so. Since the topic is still front of mind for so many observers, here’s why. The process is intentionally complex and cumbersome. Two-thirds majorities in both the House and Senate

The idea stubbornly persists nevertheless. In December, Steve Bannon, the rumpled Trump conﬁdant and one-time campaign manager, speculated publicly about a three-term presidency.

Bannon reportedly claimed that a loophole in the Constitution could allow

Trump to run again in 2028, citing his discussions with a Republican lawyer.

“Since it doesn’t actually say consecutive terms in ofﬁce,” Bannon said, “I don’t know, maybe we do it again in ‘28? Are you guys down for that? Trump ‘28?” Cheers from the fawning crowd.

And an especially devoted Trump supporter in Congress has recently introduced a resolution expressing House of Representatives support for a third Trump term “in the national interest, in order to root out the remnants of the corrupt Biden presidency”. Amazingly, yet another seemingly crazy idea is being circulated by Trump supporters as a potential loophole. According to this line of thinking, Vice President JD Vance could win both the Republican nomination for president in 2028 and the general election –with Trump running as his vice-president!

Then, as soon as this upside-down ticket prevailed, Vance could humbly resign from ofﬁce so that Trump could move back into the White House for another four years. This couldn’t work either. According to the New York Times, legal scholars say that scheme would be untracked by the 12th Amendment to the US Constitution, which states that “no person constitutionally ineligible to the ofﬁce of president shall be eligible to that of vicepresident of the United States”. It seems like the notion of a third Trump term is dead on arrival. That’s it, right? He cannot possibly return for four more years. Correct? Let’s recall one of his public statements on the subject: “They say I can’t run again; that’s the expression. Then somebody said, ‘I don’t think you can.’ Oh.” It doesn’t really seem that this idea is really out of the question, somehow. Not with this president’s track record of consistently defying the odds and norms and all sorts of political conventions and traditions.

New tariffs will have big impact on auto industry

THE vigorous debate within American punditry and political life about Trump’s signature tariff initiative continues unabated, because the president continues to impose, rescind, reimpose and reduce these import taxes according to an unpredictable – even unfathomable – pattern which apparently only he understands.

A new series of tariffs on imported automobiles and automobile parts was to go into effect this morning. While the imposition of these taxes would have immediate effect, economists are estimating that due to existing inventory in the US market, the overall impact would be somewhat delayed.

These tariffs, if they stay in place, are certain to affect the new and used car market here in The Bahamas.

News outlets are reporting expert estimates that Trump’s new auto tariffs would raise vehicle prices by an average of approximately 13.5 percent. For an average new 2024 automobile, that would mean an extra $6,400 above the previous sticker price.

Almost half of all vehicles sold in the United States are imported, as well as nearly 60 percent of the parts used in vehicles assembled in the United States, so it is reasonable to assume that new and used car prices here in The Bahamas, as well as replacement auto parts prices, would rise commensurately.

Trump’s new tariffs apply both to ﬁnished cars and trucks that are shipped into the United States, and to imported parts that are assembled into cars at American auto plants. Ford Motor Company’s

CEO told reporters, in response to questions about Trump’s North American tariffs generally, that “long term, a 25 percent tariff across the Mexico and Canada borders would blow a hole in the US industry that we’ve never seen.”

Trump’s key rationale for the tariffs is to create equivalency with other countries who impose tariffs on US goods imported into their own economies. Economists estimate that the impact of three years of ten percent Trump tariffs would shrink the US Gross Domestic Product by roughly three-quarters of one percent. That’s around $20 billion in 2023 terms. Overall average tariffs imposed by some major US trading partners range from 4% (UK, Canada, Japan) to 17% (India). China’s average tariff rate is 8 percent.

PRESIDENT Donald Trump departs after signing an executive order at an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House yesterday in Washington.

Photo: Evan Vucci/AP

with Charlie Harper

Dr David Allen warns of growing mental health crisis in country

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

DR David Allen says a rise in suicidal ideation among attendees of his Family People Helping People Project reﬂects the broader surge in suicides and suicide attempts seen across The Bahamas this year, warning that the trends observed within the group are part of a growing mental health crisis in the country.

Among the distressing stories from the Family Group: a man who drank bleach after years of loneliness and alcohol abuse; a woman who attempted suicide after enduring abuse in two marriages and at her job; a pregnant woman on the brink of self-harm, saved by her aunt’s intuition; and a young man with a gun, brought back from the edge by a shared story and a symbolic gesture from a Family Group facilitator.

Already in 2025, there have been ten attempted suicides and six completed suicides — a grim count that places the nation on track

to surpass last year’s ﬁgures. In comparison, 2024 saw eight suicides and 50 suicide attempts in total.

Dr Allen, one of the country’s most prominent psychologists, co-authored the most comprehensive suicide study in The Bahamas with the late Keva Bethel in 2014. That research, along with a follow-up in 2015, revealed a surprisingly high number of people with suicidal thoughts across major family islands.

“Given the trends we are seeing in 2025, that study may have been predictive of the current situation,” he noted in a letter to The Tribune.

While direct causes of suicide remain difﬁcult to pinpoint, Dr Allen warns against the “epidemiological fallacy,” the mistaken belief that correlation implies causation. Still, he highlighted key contributing factors, including ﬁnancial strain, severe depression, and substance abuse.

“Many contributing factors have been identified,” he wrote. “One major factor is financial difficulty,

particularly among men who feel their jobs cannot provide the lifestyle they desire.

“Another key factor is severe depression. Depression is a hidden epidemic in The Bahamas.”

He criticised the limitations of traditional assessments like the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Beck Depression Test, noting they often fail to fully capture emotional suffering.

“By combining standardized tests with personal interviews, we can better understand the level of risk someone is facing,” he said.

The interplay between depression and substance use — especially alcohol — often muddies diagnoses.

“As a result, the depression is usually hidden and missed, and eventually ﬂowers out into a suicide itself. This is why this is a very complex issue,” he explained.

Through the Family Group programme, attendees’ stories are explored in depth, enabling deeper insight and peer-supported recognition of symptoms.

The cases highlight the

MAN CHARGED WITH ATTE MPTED HOUSEBREAKING

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted bail yesterday after being accused of attempting to break into a home in Hope Town last month.

Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans

urgent need for accessible support systems. Dr Allen said that separated parents, particularly fathers, often spiral when they lose contact with their children.

Women suffering abuse and children with no “protective factors” also remain highly vulnerable. He also referenced the lingering trauma of Hurricane Dorian, saying: “many individuals may currently be experiencing

the peak of their post-traumatic stress.”

His message is clear:

“We do not have all the answers, but what is clear is that suicide is a growing crisis in our country.”

He urges Bahamians to take action.

“If you are concerned about a family member, do not wait for them to ask for help, intervene,” he said.

“Encourage them to join a Family Group.”

Family Group meetings are held throughout the week in New Providence at locations including Kemp Road Ministries, East Street Gospel Chapel, Grace Community Church, Fox Hill Community Centre, St. Barnabas Church, and New Providence Community Centre.

“If you have any concerns,” Dr. Allen said, “please do not hesitate to contact me at 557-3172.”

MURDER ACCUSED FINED FOR BREACHING BAIL

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

Assistant Superintendent of Police S Coakley served as the prosecutor.

arraigned 37-year-old Keno Knowles on charges of attempted housebreaking and trespassing. Prosecutors allege that Knowles attempted to break into the home of Thomas King and trespassed on his property on March 20. Knowles pleaded not guilty to both charges. His bail was set at $5,000 with one or two sureties. As part of his bail conditions, Knowles must sign in at the Hope Town Police Station every Saturday by 6pm. His trial is set to begin on April 7.

MAN ACCUSED OF STEALING DR M A TRAILER IN A BACO

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted bail yesterday after being accused of stealing a trailer home from the Disaster Risk Management Authority (DRMA) in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, earlier this year.

Senior Magistrate Kara Turnquest Deveaux arraigned 56-year-old Simeon Strachan on a theft charge.

Strachan, along with accomplices, is accused of stealing an Avenger trailer home, which belonged to the DRMA, between January 29 and 31. The stolen vehicle is valued at $9,034.50.

Strachan pleaded not guilty to the charge. His bail was set at $7,000 with one or two sureties. As part of his bail conditions, Strachan must sign in at the Marsh Harbour Police Station every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday by 7pm. His trial is set to begin on June 30.

A MAN awaiting trial for attempted murder was ﬁned yesterday after admitting to breaching his bail conditions for more than 100 days.

Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville arraigned 28-yearold Horatio Saunders on a charge of violating bail conditions. While on bail for a pending charge of attempted murder, Saunders failed to sign in at his local police station as required, for 152 days between August 29, 2024, and March 28, 2025, in New Providence. Saunders pleaded guilty to the charge. His attorney, Ian Jupp, said Saunders was remorseful and requested

NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS

that his client be spared a custodial sentence. Saunders was ﬁned $4,500, with the option of serving a six-month prison term if he fails to pay. He must pay $500 before his release, with the remaining balance to be paid by the end of June. Inspector Cordero Farrington served as the prosecutor.

The Annual General Meeting of Finance Corporation of Bahamas Limited (RBC FINCO) will be held on Thursday April 10th, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. in the Compass Rose Ballroom, Margaritaville Beach Resort, 2 Bay Street, Nassau, N. P., The Bahamas.

Parking vouchers will be provided to the ﬁrst 65 Shareholders.

PSYCHOLOGIST DR DAVID ALLEN

Dr David Allen warns of growing mental health crisis in country

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

Already in 2025, there have been ten attempted suicides and six completed suicides — a grim count that places the nation on track

to surpass last year’s ﬁgures. In comparison, 2024 saw eight suicides and 50 suicide attempts in total.

Dr Allen, one of the country’s most prominent psychologists, co-authored the most comprehensive suicide study in The Bahamas with Keva Bethel in 2014. That research, along with a follow-up in 2015, revealed a surprisingly high number of people with suicidal thoughts across major family islands.

“Given the trends we are seeing in 2025, that study may have been predictive of the current situation,” he noted in a letter to The Tribune.

“Many contributing factors have been identified,” he wrote. “One major factor is financial difficulty,

MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted bail yesterday after being accused of attempting to break into a home in Hope Town last month.

Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans arraigned 37-year-old Keno Knowles on charges of attempted housebreaking and trespassing. Prosecutors allege that Knowles attempted to break into the home of Thomas King and trespassed on his property on March 20. Knowles pleaded not guilty to both charges. His

particularly among men who feel their jobs cannot provide the lifestyle they desire.

“Another key factor is severe depression. Depression is a hidden epidemic in The Bahamas.”

He criticised the limitations of traditional assessments like the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Beck Depression Test, noting they often fail to fully capture emotional suffering.

“By combining standardized tests with personal interviews, we can better understand the level of risk someone is facing,” he said.

The interplay between depression and substance use — especially alcohol — often muddies diagnoses.

“As a result, the depression is usually hidden and missed, and eventually ﬂowers out into a suicide itself. This is why this is a very complex issue,” he explained.

Through the Family Group programme, attendees’ stories are explored in depth, enabling deeper insight and peer-supported recognition of symptoms.

The cases highlight the

HOUSEBREAKING

bail was set at $5,000 with one or two sureties. As part of his bail conditions, Knowles must sign in at the Hope Town Police Station every Saturday by 6pm. His trial is set to begin on April 7.

Assistant Superintendent of Police S Coakley served as the prosecutor.

MAN ACCUSED OF STEALING DRMA TRAILER IN ABACO

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted bail yesterday after being accused of stealing a trailer home from the Disaster Risk Management Authority (DRMA) in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, earlier this year.

Senior Magistrate Kara Turnquest Deveaux arraigned 56-year-old Simeon Strachan on a theft charge.

Strachan, along with accomplices, is accused of stealing an Avenger trailer home, which belonged to the DRMA, between January 29 and 31. The stolen vehicle is valued at $9,034.50.

urgent need for accessible support systems. Dr Allen said that separated parents, particularly fathers, often spiral when they lose contact with their children.

Women suffering abuse and children with no “protective factors” also remain highly vulnerable.

He also referenced the lingering trauma of Hurricane Dorian, saying: “many individuals may currently be experiencing

the peak of their post-traumatic stress.”

His message is clear:

“We do not have all the answers, but what is clear is that suicide is a growing crisis in our country.”

He urges Bahamians to take action.

“If you are concerned about a family member, do not wait for them to ask for help, intervene,” he said.

“Encourage them to join a Family Group.”

“If you have any concerns,” Dr. Allen said, “please do not hesitate to contact me at 557-3172.”

MURDER ACCUSED FINED FOR BREACHING BAIL

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN awaiting trial for attempted murder was ﬁned yesterday after admitting to breaching his bail conditions for more than 100 days.

Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville arraigned 28-yearold Horatio Saunders on a charge of violating bail

conditions. While on bail for a pending charge of attempted murder, Saunders failed to sign in at his local police station as required, for 152 days between August 29, 2024, and March 28, 2025, in New Providence. Saunders pleaded guilty to the charge. His attorney, Ian Jupp, said Saunders was remorseful and requested

NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS

Parking vouchers will be provided to the ﬁrst 65 Shareholders.

PSYCHOLOGIST DR DAVID ALLEN

One thing we must not forget is that Hurricane Dorian had a devastating impact on the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama, leading to a phenomenon we refer to as ‘Hurricane Post-Traumatic Disorder.’

This is characterised by severe anxiety triggered by reminders of the trauma. Research suggests that the psychological effects of such disasters can take three to four years to fully manifest, meaning many individuals may currently be experiencing the peak of their post-traumatic stress. This distress can lead to suicidal ideation, suicide

attempts, and even suicide completion.

We do not have all the answers, but what is clear is that suicide is a growing crisis in our country. Below are four recent cases from our Family Group that highlight the severity of the issue:

1. A gentleman from a family island struggled with extreme loneliness. He became tired of drinking alcohol as a coping mechanism and attempted to drink bleach to end his life. He is now in Nassau, attending our Family Group, and doing much better.

2. A woman came to the Family Group feeling weak and overwhelmed. She had endured two abusive marriages and was currently working under an abusive boss. A few weeks ago, she reached a breaking point and attempted to end her life. Fortunately, her daughter recognized the signs, intervened, and connected her with us. She is now participating in our group and making progress, though she acknowledges that life remains challenging.

3. A few Sundays ago, I received a call at church about a vulnerable young woman. Last Monday, I

‘We do not have all the answers, but what is clear is that suicide is a growing crisis in our country.’

visited the Kemp Road Ministries Family Group, where her aunt met me in the parking lot, distressed about a premonition she had. She had dreamt that her pregnant niece was about to harm herself with a knife. When she visited her niece’s home, she found the knife exactly as she had envisioned. She confronted her niece, who admitted she was planning to take her life. The aunt brought her to our Family Group, and we have been supporting her. While she is beginning to stabilise, she remains at signiﬁcant risk, and we will continue to follow up with her.

4. At a recent Family Programme meeting at East Street Gospel Chapel, a young man struggling with severe depression confessed that he had nearly taken his own life with a gun. Desperate for help, he reached out to me early in the morning, leading to a meeting where he was invited to the

program that afternoon. There, he connected with one of our facilitators, Dr. Williams, who shared her own story of despair as a pregnant teenager. Her words deeply resonated with him, as his mother had also given birth at age 14 years. Feeling an unexpected bond, he asked if he could call her “mother”.

Dr Williams provided comfort, reminding him of God’s love and the support around him. She continued to check on him daily, and through her care, he regained his will to live.

As a symbol of love and prayer, she gifted him a special blue scarf that she knitted, reinforcing that he was not alone. Now, he has found purpose in helping others facing similar struggles, working to bring more people in crisis to The Family Program. If you are concerned about a family member, do not wait for them to ask for help, intervene. Encourage

begin.

Family Group Meeting Locations:

Ministries (6pm)

Street Gospel Chapel (4pm)

Community Church (6.30pm)

munity Centre (1pm) & St Barnabas Church (5pm)dence Community Centre, Blake Road (12.30pm) When bringing someone to a Family Group, accompany them or have a trusted relative join them. The support of a community is invaluable. Over the years, many individuals have found new hope and purpose through these groups. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at 557-3172.

The world reacts with caution over US ‘reciprocal’ tariffs

MEXICO CITY Associated Press

THE sweeping new tar-

iffs announced Wednesday by US President Donald Trump were met initially with measured reactions from key trading partners, highlighting the lack of appetite for a full-ﬂedged trade war.

The fact that the tariffs fell most heavily on parts of the world sleeping through the night appeared to at least temporarily delay some of the potential outrage.

Trump presented the import taxes, which he calls “reciprocal tariffs” and range from 10% to 49%, in the simplest terms: the US would do to its trading partners what he said they had been doing to the US for decades.

“Taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years,” he said. “But it is not going to happen anymore.”

The president promised that “Jobs and factories will come roaring back into our country.” He framed it not just as an economic issue,

but a question of national security that threatens “our very way of life.”

‘Nobody wants a trade war’ Shortly after Trump’s announcement, the British government said the United States remains the UK’s

“closest ally.”

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the UK hoped to strike a trade deal to “mitigate the impact” of the 10% tariffs on British goods announced by Trump.

“Nobody wants a trade

war and our intention remains to secure a deal,” said Reynolds. “But nothing is off the table and the government will do everything necessary to defend the UK’s national interest.”

British ofﬁcials have said they will not immediately

retaliate, an approach backed by the Confederation of British Industry, a major business group.

Italy’s conservative Premier Giorgia Meloni described the new 20% tariffs against the European Union as “wrong,” saying they beneﬁt neither side.

“We will do everything we can to work towards an agreement with the United States, with the aim of avoiding a trade war that would inevitably weaken the West in favour of other global players,” Meloni said in a Facebook post. “In any case, as always, we will act in the interest of Italy and its economy, also by discussing with other European partners,” she added.

‘No basis in logic’

Some countries took issue with the White House’s calculations.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the US tariffs imposed on his country were totally unwarranted, but Australia will not retaliate.

“President Trump referred to reciprocal tariffs. A reciprocal tariff would be zero, not 10%,” said Albanese. The US and Australia have a free trade agreement and the US has a $2-to-$1 trade surplus with Australia. “The administration’s tariffs have no basis in logic and they go against the basis of our two nations’ partnership. This is not the act of a friend.”

Trump said the United States bought $3 billion of Australian beef last year, but Australia would not accept US beef imports. Albanese said the ban on raw US beef was for biosecurity reasons. New Zealand also took issue with Trump’s tariff logic.

Trade minister Todd McClay rejected the ﬁgure on the administration’s chart about the tariffs New Zealand imposes and said he had asked his country’s ofﬁcials to clarify it.

“We don’t have a 20% tariff rate,” he said, adding that New Zealand was “a very low tariff regime” and the correct ﬁgure was below the 10% baseline rate applied by the US to all countries.

“We won’t be looking to retaliate. That would put up prices on New Zealand consumers and it would be inﬂationary,” he said.

Spared for the moment from the latest round of tariffs were Mexico and Canada, so far as goods that already qualiﬁed under their free trade agreement with the United States. Yet, the previously announced 25% tariffs on auto imports were scheduled to take effect at midnight.

Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday she would wait to take action on Thursday when it was clear how Trump’s

announcement would affect Mexico.

“It’s not a question of if you impose tariffs on me, I’m going to impose tariffs on you,” she said in a news brieﬁng Wednesday morning. “Our interest is in strengthening the Mexican economy.”

Canada had imposed retaliatory tariffs in response to the 25% tariffs that Trump tied to the trafﬁcking of fentanyl. The European Union, in response to the steel and aluminum tariffs, imposed taxes on 26 billion euros’ worth ($28 billion) of US goods, including bourbon, prompting Trump to threaten a 200% tariff on European alcohol.

Little to gain

As Trump read down the list of countries that would be targeted Wednesday, he repeatedly said he didn’t blame them for the tariffs and non-tariff barriers they imposed to protect their own nations’ businesses.

“But we’re doing the same thing right now,” he said.

“In the face of unrelenting economic warfare, the United States can no longer continue with a policy of unilateral economic surrender,” Trump said.

Speaking from a business forum in India, Chilean President Gabriel Boric warned that such measures, in addition to causing uncertainty, challenge the “mutually agreed rules” and the “principles that govern international trade.”

Ultimately, Trump announced Chile would face the baseline reciprocal tariff of 10%. The US is Chile’s second most important trading partner after China.

Analysts say there’s little to be gained from an all-out trade war, neither in the United States or in other countries.

“Once again, Trump has put Europe at a crossroads,” said Matteo Villa, senior analyst at Italy’s Institute for International Political Studies.

“If Trump really imposes high tariffs, Europe will have to respond, but the paradox is that the EU would be better off doing nothing,” he added.

Villa also noted that retaliation would certainly be a further “blow” to the United States, but it would hurt Europe even more, as the EU bloc depends more on exports to the US than vice versa.

“On the other hand, Trump seems to understand only the language of force, and this indicates the need for a strong and immediate response,” Villa said. “Probably the hope, in Brussels, is that the response will be strong enough to induce Trump to negotiate and, soon, to backtrack.”

PRESIDENT Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House yesterday in Washington, as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick listens.

Photo: Mark Schiefelbein/AP

Answering your questions about President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs

WASHINGTON Associated Press

AFTER weeks of anticipation and speculation, President Donald Trump followed through on his reciprocal tariff threats by declaring on Wednesday a 10% baseline tax on imports from all countries and higher tariff rates on dozens of nations that run trade surpluses with the United States.

In announcing the reciprocal tariffs, Trump was fulﬁlling a key campaign promise by raising US taxes on foreign goods to narrow the gap with the tariffs the White House says other countries unfairly impose on US products.

“Reciprocal means ‘they do it to us and we do it to them,’” the president said from the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday.

Trump’s higher rates would hit foreign entities that sell more goods to the United States than they buy. But economists don’t share Trump’s enthusiasm for tariffs since they’re a tax on importers that usually get passed on to consumers. It’s possible, however, that the reciprocal tariffs could bring other countries to the table and get them to lower their own import taxes.

The Associated Press asked for your questions about reciprocal tariffs. Here are a few of them, along with our answers: Do US-collected tariffs go into the General Revenue Fund? Can Trump withdraw money from that fund without oversight?

Tariffs are taxes on imports, collected when foreign goods cross the US border by the Customs and Border Protection agency. The money — about $80 billion last year — goes to the US Treasury to help pay the federal government’s expenses. Congress has authority to say how the money will be spent.

Trump — largely supported by Republican lawmakers who control the US Senate and House of Representatives — wants to use increased tariff revenue to ﬁnance tax cuts that analysts say would

disproportionately benefit the wealthy. Specifically, they want to extend tax cuts passed in Trump’s first term and largely set to expire at the end of 2025.

The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington, has found that extending Trump’s tax cuts would reduce federal revenue by $4.5 trillion from 2025 to 2034.

Trump wants higher tariffs to help offset the lower tax collections. Another think tank, the Tax Policy Center, has said that extending the 2017 tax cuts would deliver continued tax relief to Americans at all income levels, “but higherincome households would receive a larger beneﬁt.’’

How soon will prices rise as a result of the tariff policy?

It depends on how businesses both in the United States and overseas respond, but consumers could see overall prices rising within a month or two of tariffs being imposed. For some products, such as produce from Mexico, prices could rise much more quickly after the tariffs take effect.

Some US retailers and

other importers may eat part of the cost of the tariff, and overseas exporters may reduce their prices to offset the extra duties. But for many businesses, the tariffs Trump announced Wednesday — such as 20% on imports from Europe — will be too large to swallow on their own.

Companies may also use the tariffs as an excuse to raise prices. When Trump slapped duties on washing machines in 2018, studies later showed that retailers raised prices on both washers and dryers, even though there were no new duties on dryers.

A key question in the coming months is whether something similar will happen again. Economists worry that consumers, having just lived through the biggest inﬂationary spike in four decades, are more accustomed to rising prices than they were before the pandemic.

Yet there are also signs that Americans, put off by the rise in the cost of living, are less willing to accept price increases and will simply cut back on their purchases. That could discourage businesses from raising prices by much.

What is the limit of the executive branch’s power to implement tariffs? Does Congress not play any role?

The US Constitution grants the power to set tariffs to Congress. But over the years, Congress has delegated those powers to the president through several different laws. Those laws specify the circumstances under which the White House can impose tariffs, which are typically limited to cases where imports threaten national security or are severely harming a specific industry.

In the past, presidents generally imposed tariffs only after carrying out

public hearings to determine if certain imports met those criteria. Trump followed those steps when imposing tariffs in his first term. In his second term, however, Trump has sought to use emergency powers set out in a 1977 law to impose tariffs in a more ad hoc fashion. Trump has said, for example, that fentanyl flowing in from Canada and Mexico constitute a national emergency and has used that pretext to impose 25% duties on goods from both countries.

Congress can seek to cancel an emergency that a president declares, and Sen. Tim Kaine, a

Democrat from Virginia, has proposed to do just that regarding Canada. That legislation could pass the Senate but would likely die in the House. Other bills in Congress that would also limit the president’s authority to set tariffs face tough odds for passage as well. What tariffs are other countries charging on US goods?

US tariffs are generally lower than those charged by other countries. The average US tariff, weighted to reﬂect goods that are actually traded, is just 2.2% for the United States, versus the European Union’s 2.7%, China’s 3% and India’s 12%, according to the World Trade Organization. Other countries also tend to do more than the United States to protect their farmers with high tariffs. The US tradeweighted tariff on farm goods, for example, is 4%, compared to the EU’s 8.4%, Japan’s 12.6%, China’s 13.1% and India’s 65%. (The WTO numbers don’t count Trump’s recent ﬂurry of import taxes or tariffs between countries that have entered into their own free trade agreements, such as the US-MexicoCanada Agreement that allows many goods to cross North American borders duty free.)

Previous US administrations agreed to the tariffs that Trump now calls unjust. They were the result of a long negotiation between 1986 to 1994 — the so-called Uruguay Round — that ended in a trade pact signed by 123 countries and has formed the basis of the global trading system for nearly four decades.

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The Marketing Administrative Assistant responsibilities include assisting in organizing campaigns and developing marketing strategies. This work will be a critical factor for the smooth operation of the Marketing department and the attainment of its goals, as well as for the long-term growth of the company. The ideal candidate will have strong writing skills, strategic thinking capabilities, and the ability to interact with senior executives and key stakeholders.

REGIONAL EVENTS SUPERVISOR

The Regional Events Supervisor will be responsible for planning, promoting, and executing events that enhance the brand experience and support the company’s marketing objectives across The Bahamas, Cayman, and Barbados. This role requires strategic oversight of regional event logistics, vendor coordination, and on-site execution to ensure high-quality engagement and successful outcomes. The ideal candidate will be highly organized, detailoriented, and capable of managing multiple events simultaneously while working closely with internal teams and external partners.

REGIONAL CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS SUPERVISOR

The Regional Corporate Communications Supervisor will oversee internal and external communications across The Bahamas, Cayman, and Barbados. This role is responsible for supporting communication efforts related to events, partnerships, and campaigns while managing relationships with local public offcials, professional associations, community leaders, and media. The ideal candidate will have strong writing skills, strategic thinking capabilities, and the ability to interact with senior executives and key stakeholders.

For the full job descriptions and to apply, visit: www.rfgroup.com/careers Deadline to Apply is Friday, 11th April, 2025

PRESIDENT Donald Trump holds a signed executive order during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House yesterday in Washington.

Photo: Evan Vucci/AP

Recognition for 2024 winners at the 2025 E Clement Bethel National Arts Festival

THE MINISTRY of Youth, Sports and Culture began adjudications for the 2025 E Clement Bethel National Arts Festival in Grand Bahama on Tuesday, March 25 2025. The Festival, which was underway at the City of Life Entertainment Centre, highlights the talent of students and community members from throughout The Bahamas in the fields of drama, dance, music and the visual arts. An awards ceremony was held on March 31, 2025 for the 2024 winners who received plaques in recognition of their achievements. Joining teachers and parents in celebrating those recognised were Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey; Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Grand Bahama Kingsley Smith; deputy director of Sports in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Norris Bain; assistant director of Culture Portia Sands and other representatives from Cultural Affairs Division.

Photos: Andrew Miller/BIS

Netanyahu: Israel will establish new security corridor across Gaza to pressure Hamas

GAZA STRIP Associated Press

PRIME Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel is establishing a new security corridor across the Gaza Strip to pressure Hamas, suggesting it would cut off the southern city of Rafah, which Israel has ordered evacuated, from the rest of the Palestinian territory.

The announcement came after Netanyahu’s defence minister said Israel would seize large areas of Gaza and add them to its socalled security zones. A wave of Israeli strikes, meanwhile, killed more than 40 Palestinians, nearly half of them women and children, according to Palestinian health ofﬁcials.

Israel has vowed to escalate the nearly 18-month war with Hamas until the militant group returns dozens of remaining hostages, disarms and leaves the territory. Israel ended a ceaseﬁre in March and has imposed a monthlong halt on all imports of food, fuel and humanitarian aid.

Netanyahu described the new axis as the Morag corridor, using the name of a Jewish settlement that once stood between Rafah and Khan Younis, suggesting it would run between the two southern cities. He said it would be “a second Philadelphi corridor “ referring to the Gaza side of the border with Egypt further south, which has been under Israeli control since last May.

Israel has reasserted control over the Netzarim corridor, also named for a former settlement, that cuts off the northern third of Gaza, including Gaza City, from the rest of the narrow coastal strip. Both of the existing corridors run from the Israeli border to the Mediterranean Sea.

“We are cutting up the strip, and we are increasing the pressure step by step, so that they will give us our hostages,” Netanyahu said.

The Western-backed Palestinian Authority, led by rivals of Hamas, expressed its “complete rejection” of the planned corridor. Its statement also called for Hamas to give up power in Gaza, where the militant group has faced rare protests recently.

In northern Gaza, an Israeli airstrike hit a UN building in the built-up Jabaliya refugee camp, killing 15 people, including nine children and two women, according to the Indonesian Hospital. The Israeli military said it struck Hamas militants in a command and control center.

The building, previously a clinic, had been converted into a shelter for displaced people, with more than 700 residing there, according to Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, the main aid provider in Gaza. No UN staff were wounded in the strike.

She said UN staff warned people about the dangers of remaining there after Wednesday’s strike but that many chose to stay, “simply because they have

absolutely nowhere else to go.”

UN says most of Gaza is a ‘no-go’ zone

More than 60% of Gaza is now considered a “nogo” zone because of Israeli evacuation orders, according to Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the UN humanitarian aid ofﬁce.

Hundreds of thousands people are living in squalid tent camps along the coast or in the ruins of their destroyed homes.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz earlier said Israel would seize “large areas” and add them to its security zones, apparently referring to an existing buffer zone along Gaza’s entire perimeter. He called on Gaza residents to “expel Hamas and return all the hostages,” saying “this is the only way to end the war.”

On Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel plans to maintain overall security control of Gaza after the war and implement President Donald Trump’s proposal to resettle much of its population elsewhere through what the Israeli leader referred to as “voluntary emigration.”

Palestinians have rejected the plan, viewing it as expulsion from their homeland after Israel’s offensive left much of it uninhabitable, and human rights experts say implementing the plan would likely violate international law.

Hamas has said it will only release the remaining 59 hostages — 24 of whom are believed to be alive — in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceaseﬁre and an Israeli pullout. The group has rejected demands that it lay down its arms or leave the territory.

Concern over hostages

The decision to resume the war has fuelled protests in Israel, where many fear it has put the hostages at grave risk and are calling for another ceaseﬁre and exchange with Hamas.

The Hostage Families Forum, which represents most captives’ families, said they were “horriﬁed to wake up this morning to the Defense Minister’s announcement about expanding military operations in Gaza.”

The group called on the Trump administration, which took credit for brokering the ceaseﬁre but has supported Israel’s decision to end it, to do everything possible to free the remaining captives.

“Our highest priority must be an immediate deal to bring ALL hostages back home — the living for rehabilitation and those killed for proper burial — and end this war,” the group said.

Strikes kill dozens

In addition to the 15 killed in northern Gaza, Israeli airstrikes overnight into Wednesday killed another 28 people across the territory, according to local hospitals. The Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis said the dead included ﬁve women, one of them pregnant, and two children.

Israel says it targets

only militants and makes every effort to spare civilians, blaming Hamas for their deaths because the militants operate in densely populated areas.

Two projectiles were ﬁred out of Gaza late Wednesday and intercepted, the Israeli military said. It later issued evacuation orders for several communities in northern Gaza, “with a focus on shelters,” indicating it would soon carry out retaliatory strikes.

The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking

251 hostages, most of whom have since been released in ceaseﬁre agreements and other deals. Israel rescued eight living hostages and has recovered dozens of bodies. Israel’s offensive has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t say whether those killed are civilians or combatants. Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The war has left vast areas of Gaza in ruins and at its height displaced around 90% of the population.

PALESTINIANS react next to the bodies of their relatives, killed in an Israeli army strike, before their burial at a hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip yesterday.

Photo: Abdel Kareem Hana/AP

GOVERNOR General Dame Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt received Will Straw, CEO of The King’s Trust International, and officers, in a courtesy call at Government House on March 25, 2025.

Photo: Letisha Henderson/BIS

ﬁles criminal complaint over ‘defamatory’ claims about $200m ultra-luxury resort in Exuma

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper said he has filed a criminal complaint with police over what he describes as “defamatory” and “deceitful”

claims circulating online about a proposed $200m ultra-luxury resort in the Exuma Cays. The origins of the video are unclear, but it targets a proposed development on Big Sampson Cay by the Yntegra Group. This project has faced pushback from a nearby development and a coalition of prominent private island owners and local businesses operating under the name Save Exuma Alliance.

Bob Coughlin, SEA member and developer of the nearby Turtlegrass Resort and Island Club.

Yesterday, Mr Cooper, the MP for Exuma, acknowledged the opposition surrounding the project, including from

However, he said the people of Exuma welcome both developments and are of the view that they can coexist.

The video makes unsubstantiated claims, alleging that the government granted nearly 140 acres of Crown land at $500 per acre.

He said some people believe they can “bully” the government and dictate what is approved, but stressed this will not happen no matter what tactics they use.

It says the plan includes dredging Sampson Cay’s harbour, building water bungalows, and other developments.

It also claims that more than 100 work permits have been issued to allow foreign workers to dominate while Bahamians are sidelined, suggesting Mr Cooper is facilitating backroom deals.

Mr Cooper firmly denied the reports in the House of Assembly yesterday, describing the content as riddled with “outright lies and intentional distortion.”

He categorically denied that Chinese work permits have been issued and that Singaporean construction companies are involved.

He also refuted claims that there are approvals for water bungalows, labelling the assertions that Crown Land is being secretly given away as not only false but also dangerous misinformation.

“Let me also say this, I

know who the people are behind these attacks and I say to them, you are not patriots, you are not whistleblowers, you are paid agents hiding behind lies and digital anonymity on the wrong side of the law, and the internet will not protect you,” he said.

While Mr Cooper did not name the person responsible, he described him as a convicted criminal and “known troll for hire” whose name has been associated with falsehood and defamation.

He said he has directed his lawyers to pursue civil action to hold the culprits accountable and confirmed that he has filed a criminal complaint with the police. He said he will, under legal guidance, ask tax authorities at the Office of the Auditor General to investigate any local entities, particularly those suspected of receiving foreign funding under the guise of charitable work.

“I will not stand down. I will not be intimidated. I will not be silent,” he said. “Let this serve as a warning, therefore, to all who believe they can operate in shadows, manipulating facts and spreading lies to tear down what others are building and the great work of this administration.”

DEPUTY Prime Minister speaking in the House of Assembly yesterday.

Photo: Dante Carrer/Tribune Staff

HIGH Commissioner-Designate of the Federation of Malaysia to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Muhammad Radzi bin Jamaludin greeted Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fred Mitchell at the ministry’s offices on March 25, 2025.

Photos: Patrick Hanna/BIS