01202026 NEWS

WOMAN & HEALTH

LUCAYAN STAFF SENT

HOME WITHOUT PAY

Concerns raised over access to NIB benefits for resort employees

By DENISE MAYCOCK

UNCERTAINTY deepened for Grand Lucayan Resort workers yesterday after employees were sent home from the government-owned property without pay as concerns also surfaced over access to National Insurance benefits.

The Tribune learned that employees were instructed to leave the resort because it remains without running

water. Only security personnel are currently on site with fewer than 50 workers believed to remain employed. The Engineering Department was reportedly shut down last Friday. The latest development adds to ongoing uncertainty for staff, who have faced repeated work disruptions since the government assumed control of the resort.

Workers who spoke

By JADE RUSSELL

A ROYAL Bahamas

Defence Force officer is in custody following an armed robbery and shooting in the Carmichael Road area that saw an out-of-service government vehicle used as the getaway car. RBDF Commodore Floyd Moxey confirmed the officer’s arrest in connection with the incident in which a female robbery victim was shot in the leg. It occurred shortly after 1pm on Friday, January 16. Surveillance footage of the robbery and shooting later circulated widely on social media.

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FREETOWN MP and Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe will face off with his challenger Ormanique Bowe today

when they meet with the Progressive Liberal Party’s Candidates Committee as it finalises its remaining slate of candidates ahead of this year’s election. Others scheduled for interviews include St Anne’s aspirant Keno Wong and former PLP Senator Robyn Lynes. The move comes as the party ramps up preparations for the upcoming election and plans to ratify additional candidates later

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

AN immigration officer has been dismissed with immediate effect from the Department of Immigration after voice notes circulated online suggesting the solicitation of a bribe.

In a letter dated January 16, Stephen Laroda, Director of Immigration, states that the employment of Trainee Immigration Officer Alex K Riley with the department had been terminated.

An immigration representative told The Tribune  that the dismissal followed an investigation, but it was not immediately

Governor General rings the Bell of World Peace and Love

GOVERNOR General Cynthia Pratt rings the Bell of World Peace and Love, marking a symbolic moment of commitment during a ceremony at Government House yesterday as part of the 2026 World Leader

Summit of Love and Peace. The contributions of prominent Bahamians whose work promotes peace, unity and service were recognised. President of the Federation of World Peace and Love, Hong Tao Tze,

delivered brief remarks during the summit, highlighting the importance of global and community leadership in fostering harmony.

Among those acknowledged during the ceremony were

whose efforts were cited as advancing the values of love and peace within Bahamian society. The event brought together

local and international representatives in a ceremony focused on recognising leadership dedicated to peace, compassion and collective responsibility.

Munroe: Officer in bribery video expected to face accountability

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister

Wayne Munroe said yesterday he would be surprised if the police officer seen in a viral video allegedly soliciting a bribe from a tourist is still on active duty, suggesting the officer may have been reassigned while investigations continue.

Mr Munroe said the officer shown in the footage would have been a recent recruit to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, adding that the behaviour depicted does not align with the values of the force.

“I understand that they have investigated the matter, and they are going to be holding persons accountable, depending on the outcome of their investigations,” Mr Munroe said.

He said he could not confirm whether the officer remains deployed, but noted that officers under investigation are typically reassigned to the “mill house” — a building near the entrance of Police Headquarters — while matters are being reviewed.

The Tribune contacted Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles to confirm whether the officer had been

reassigned, but was unsuccessful in its attempts.

“At the conclusion of their investigations, they will have to determine whether to levy criminal charges in the civilian courts or to proceed down the disciplinary route of the police force,” Mr Munroe said.

The more than three-minute video, which surfaced on TikTok last week, sparked widespread outrage, with many Bahamians condemning what they described as brazen misconduct caught on camera.

Although the exact date of the incident remains unclear, the footage shows several officers conducting a roadblock near St Matthew’s Anglican Church off Shirley Street, stopping multiple vehicles.

The video, posted by a

the scooter near the cruise port.

In the footage, an officer identified by badge number 4438 is heard suggesting that instead of issuing a traffic ticket, the matter could be “worked out,” while cautioning the tourist to move out of view of other officers.

The exchange has been widely interpreted online as an attempt to solicit a bribe.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force has not publicly identified the officer or announced any disciplinary action, but investigations into the matter are ongoing.

Public invited to nominate citizens for upcoming 2026 National Honours

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

NOMINATION submissions for National Honours 2026 will open on February 1, with the public invited to submit recommendations no later than March 31, according to the Advisory Committee for National Honours.

Nomination forms are now available online via the Bahamas Government website at www. bahamas.gov.bs, as well as from the Cabinet Office, Trade Winds Building, downtown Nassau, and the Office of the Administrator in all Family Island districts. Completed forms must be submitted to the National Honours Secretariat, located at the Cabinet Office. Seven societies of

honour are open for nomination. These are: The Order of National Hero; The Order of the Nation; The Order of the Bahamas; The Order of Excellence; The Order of Distinction; The Order of Merit; and The Order of Lignum Vitae. Persons or organisations submitting nominations may indicate the area of service for which a nominee is being recommended. The Order of Lignum Vitae is reserved for young persons under the age of 25, while the Order of Excellence is reserved for foreign dignitaries or friends of The Bahamas who are not Bahamian citizens but who have made a positive impact on the nation.

All other societies of honour are open to qualified Bahamians. Persons recommended

for awards must be Bahamian citizens who have made a significant contribution to the building and uplifting of the nation, though some societies of honour — including the Order of National Hero, the Order of the Nation, and the Order of the Bahamas — are limited in scope to specific categories of persons.

The committee encouraged nominations to be drawn from a wide cross-section of society to ensure deserving individuals are not overlooked.

The committee announced during a press conference that nominations are being invited in accordance with Section 5 of the National Honours Act, 2016, which governs the process for the conferment of national awards.

Under the National Honours Act, regulations

also provide for the award of medals, including Distinguished Service Medals for citizens of The Bahamas in recognition of exceptional service in the public service or civil society; Badges of Honour for persons in civil society who perform exceptional service to the country; and medals for acts of bravery undertaken in The Bahamas by any person.

The committee advised that nominees should not be informed of a nomination on their behalf, as the final decision on the conferment of awards rests solely with the Advisory Committee.

Nomination forms should be completed in full and, where possible, accompanied by a passport-size photograph of the nominee to assist the committee’s review process.

VEHICLE WITH GOVT PLATES USED IN ARMED ROBBERY OF WOMAN

from page one

The footage shows a woman exiting a black vehicle outside a business parking lot as a jeep with a red licence plate drives by slowly. The woman re-enters her vehicle, then parks and exits again. A man from the jeep approaches her and struggles in an apparent attempt to steal her bag. During the struggle, the assailant shoots the woman in the leg before fleeing with her bag.

Commodore Moxey said the officer had been on sick leave for two months at the time of the incident. He said the RBDF maintains a thorough vetting process to ensure recruits are qualified to serve, but acknowledged that, on occasion, individuals may fall through the cracks.

“Our marines are properly trained and properly disciplined,” Commodore Moxey said. “I continue to admonish them to stay on the straight and narrow and continue to make this organisation proud.”

Assistant Commissioner of Police Anton Rahming said police were alerted to the armed robbery in the Carmichael Road area and received

information that a female victim had been shot in the leg. She was taken to hospital for treatment.

ACP Rahming said that during investigations, police received information leading them to the Cowpen Road area, where two men were taken into custody as suspects in the armed robbery — including the RBDF officer and another man. The officer is in his 20s.

The jeep used in the robbery carried a government vehicle licence plate. ACP Rahming said the plate is not in active circulation and appears to be an old plate, adding that it is possible it was stolen.

ACP Rahming also addressed a series of robberies reported over the weekend in New Providence targeting motorists and businesses.

“Those matters appear to be connected,” he said. “They seem to be concentrated in one general vicinity — the Eastern District.”

“We are looking at those matters, and certainly we should be able to bring those matters to a close very quickly,” he added. At this time, no suspects are in custody in connection with the other robberies.

TRAINEE DISMISSED AS VIRAL NOTES SPARK BRIBERY PROBE

clear whether the probe was conducted internally or involved the police. The viral voice notes feature an unidentified male voice. Authorities have not confirmed whether the voice belongs to an immigration officer. In the recordings, the voice appears to demand money and makes references to immigration enforcement activity involving Haitian nationals.

“Now you going down to 150. Alex, by tomorrow let that whole 500 be there,” the voice says. “I saved your life. Don’t make it hard for Haitians around there.”

The voice also suggests

Members of the public may review the provisions of the National Honours Act, 2016 online at laws.bahamas.gov.bs, or obtain copies from the Department of Government Publications, located downtown Nassau.

Public announcements of approved awards will be made by the Governor-General on July 10, in accordance with the Act, with the conferment ceremony scheduled for the second Monday in October.

Speaking at the announcement, Fred Mitchell, who chairs the Advisory Committee for National Honours, urged

that increased immigration activity could be directed toward the area if demands were not met, while claiming to be protecting certain individuals.

“This why I can’t help everybody,” the voice says.

“You don’t want the rest of them to know it’s you causing immigration to keep coming down there.”

The recording comes amid increased scrutiny of alleged misconduct within law enforcement agencies.

Last week, the Royal Bahamas Police Force launched an investigation into a separate viral video that appears to show a police officer attempting to solicit a bribe from a tourist during a roadside traffic stop to avoid issuing a ticket. EXTORT from page one

members of the public to actively participate in the nomination process, noting that deserving individuals are often overlooked unless their contributions are formally brought to the committee’s attention.

“These awards are becoming more current and popular, but you still have people stopping you and saying, ‘Why didn’t you honour so and so? Why didn’t you honour this person?’" Mr Mitchell said. "It is a nominating process, and so if you know people who deserve to be nominated for these awards, then please do so, because then it comes to the committee’s attention.”

Mitchell: I have ‘no dog in the hunt’ in PLP candidate selections

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell yesterday rejected suggestions that he is backing any prospective candidates, saying he has “no dog in the hunt” as the party continues interviews ahead of the next general election.

Speaking with reporters, Mr Mitchell said internal competition is a natural feature of politics, noting that “politics is about competition for power,” which he said inevitably brings heightened emotions.

“People say things that they should or shouldn’t say, but that’s just part of the game,” he said, adding that the party remains united. “When the people are chosen, the best person to represent the party’s banner in that constituency will advance forward.”

Mr Mitchell said he was “somewhat amused” that his name has been repeatedly drawn into public speculation surrounding the party’s internal decision-making and potential constituency match-ups.

“Somehow my name is being

plunged in the middle of it, that I support this one or I support that one, so I want to make it clear: the chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party has no dog in the hunt in any of these races,” he said. He added that he rarely comments even during meetings of the PLP Candidates Committee, explaining that his role as chairman is not to influence selections but to support whoever ultimately emerges.

“My view is that whoever advances, the chairman of the party has to defend that person,” Mr Mitchell said, stressing that the process should be fair and conducted respectfully.

“People should be respectful, and whoever says that I said this or said that, they’re telling you something which is a total untruth,” he added. “I’ve encouraged everyone to compete fairly. I listen to everybody, and I have a role of providing advice to the leaders of the party, and that I do in camera. I don’t share that advice in public.”

Mr Mitchell said he wanted his position to be clearly understood “around the country, to friend and foe alike.” this week.

NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER WILL FACE OFF WITH COMMUNITY ADVOCATE

of Assembly and his work on the new Freetown Community Centre.

Yesterday, Mr Munroe expressed confidence in his renomination chances, saying his work speaks for itself. His comments come as some Freetown residents have expressed frustration with his representation, accusing him of neglecting their concerns.

Yesterday, Mr Munroe highlighted his accomplishments both nationally and at the constituency level, citing his role in the House

“So anytime I’m given a task, a job, I do my best to perform in it, because that is how you will be judged, ultimately,” he said, “Having been led by the Prime Minister Phillip Edward Davis KC professionally, I know how demanding he is. He gave me duties in writing, and I’ve used all of my skill and ability to carry them out.” Ms Bowe, a longtime community advocate, has long expressed her intention to pursue the nomination. She lost to Mr Munroe in the last

election cycle.

Yesterday, Mr Munroe said he does not take her challenge personally, noting that they are both members of the Progressive Liberal Party. “I work with whoever I have to work with,” he added. “That’s just the nature of the business. It is not something that you should get personal over. The constitution of this great party of ours, the Progressive Liberal Party, gave her the right after she had completed the aspirant course to seek a nomination, and that is what she is doing.”

Munroe: No ‘rush’ to launch investigations commission

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER of National Security Wayne Munroe says the government will not rush the implementation of the Independent Commission of Investigations Act, warning that haste has historically cost the public treasury millions in lawsuits.

Mr Munroe was responding to criticism from St Anne’s MP Adrian White, who accused the government of “selective urgency” and of deliberately delaying the operationalisation of the commission, nearly a year after the legislation was passed.

“I made quite a lot of money suing the Bahamas government,” Mr Munroe said yesterday, cautioning that rushed legislation and poor implementation often lead to legal challenges and financial loss for taxpayers.

Mr White, in a statement issued on Sunday, argued that delaying the commission amounts to avoiding oversight, saying accountability delayed is accountability denied. He called on the government to clearly state when the commission would be established, funded and begin its work.

Mr Munroe said he did not fully understand what Mr White meant by “selective urgency”, but said if the criticism was that the

government was being deliberate, he agreed.

“There is a temptation to rush things,” he said. “And when you rush things, in my experience, you generally pour money out of the Treasury when people sue you because you haven’t done things properly.”

He said Mr White “should know better”, noting that the two had previously worked together.

“Mr White worked with me. I trained him, and I trained him that the way government often fails is when it rushes to do something for some sort of urgency or PR circumstances,” Mr Munroe said.

“This is not a PR government. We’re into doing things properly.”

Mr Munroe said the government has already taken steps to ensure the commission will be effective, independent and able to withstand scrutiny. He noted that Parliament has passed the legislation and that focus has shifted to careful implementation.

“We passed a bill. I went to a meeting in Argentina where we sought assistance from the IDB, because we’re not reinventing the wheel and want to learn from what other jurisdictions have done,” he said.

He said the government is deliberately moving forward to ensure the final product is sound.

“It’s a matter that we

are deliberately moving forward so that the product that’s produced will be a good product that can stand scrutiny,” he said.

Mr Munroe said he would not support hastily implementing a system that could later collapse under legal challenge, again pointing to his experience litigating against the state.

He also suggested the opposition’s criticism was politically motivated.

“I think we’re into that season where they have to find something to complain about,” he said, adding that more constructive engagement would involve specific proposals rather than general accusations. The Independent Commission of Investigations Act, passed in early 2025, forms part of the government’s effort to strengthen oversight and accountability within law enforcement and other public bodies. The commission is intended to operate as an independent body empowered to investigate serious complaints, including allegations of misconduct involving members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. Government officials have previously said the commission must be properly resourced, staffed and structured to ensure its independence and effectiveness before it becomes operational.

Union chief seeks clarity after hotel workers sent home

DISMISSED from page one

with The Tribune under condition of anonymity expressed concern about whether the government’s financial support to the resort will continue beyond next month and whether employees will be paid going forward.

President of the Trade Union Congress, Obie Ferguson, confirmed that he had received reports that workers were sent home, but said he was still seeking clarity on the circumstances.

“I’ve gotten some feedback on that and I’m making my inquiries now as to why that occurred,” Mr Ferguson said. “I’m trying to find out what actually happened.”

Asked whether the issue was linked to the absence of water at the resort, Mr Ferguson said he had also heard that explanation but had not yet confirmed it with management.

“I was also told that, and I’m trying to reach the management of the resort to find out whether that is the correct position,” he said.

He said while some workers contacted him to say they were told to go home, this did not align with his understanding of the arrangement with the resort.

“I have not been properly instructed on why they would have been sent home,” he said. “If there’s no job there, some arrangement has to be made — but sending workers home without pay is another issue.”

Some workers have also claimed that when attempting to access National Insurance benefits, they were told that

contributions had not been paid since June of last year.

Mr Ferguson said he was unaware of that issue and could not comment.

“That is news to me,” he said.

Last year May, the government signed an agreement to sell the Grand Lucayan Resort and the adjacent Reef Golf Course to US-based developer Concord Wilshire Capital for a reported $120m. The deal includes plans for an $827m

redevelopment of the 56-acre beachfront property into a mixed-use resort and cruise destination.

However, the transition has been slow, and during the Christmas period last year many Grand Lucayan employees were sent home and went weeks without pay as salary payments were repeatedly delayed amid the handover process. Workers relied in part on a government bonus to cover earnings during that period.

PINTARD FNM’S CANDIDATE FOR BIMINI AND BERRY ISLANDS ALREADY SELECTED

FREE National Movement (FNM) leader

Michael Pintard said the party has already decided a candidate for the newly created Bimini and Berry Islands seat and expects to inform the public sometime next week.

“I believe that has been largely concluded in terms of internal discussions but we are not going to preempt the process,” he said while appearing as guest on the Guardian Radio's Morning Blend yesterday.

Party insiders say Carlton Bowleg, who has already been ratified for North Andros and the Berry Islands, is the frontrunner for the seat.

Yesterday, Mr Bowleg underscored his ties to the area but told The Tribune he will be guided by God in deciding his next step.

“No matter where I’m at, whatever I’m called to do, I will answer the call,” Mr Bowleg said.

“I will do whatever it is I have to do for my people and that’s where its Bimini or North Andros,” he said.

“I’m on board to make it work either which way. I just love doing what I do.”

Mr Pintard also revealed that party officials are expected to confirm the Pineridge candidate, adding that he is excited about the talent within the FNM.

Turning to Grand Bahama, Mr Pintard said an FNM-led administration would prioritise the sale of the Grand Lucayan and the revitalisation of the island’s tourism sector. Mr Pintard accused the government of repeatedly shifting deadlines for Grand Bahama projects, saying funding amounts, sources and timelines for major projects have constantly changed without results.

“We're not getting answers save and accept to say that we are hearing

that no $120 million had been transferred and that that statement was false,” he said.

Mr Pintard said Grand Bahama should be positioned as one of the most affordable destinations, arguing that revitalisation must include a facelift for Freeport and wider island improvements.

He said high electricity costs continue to weigh heavily on businesses and residents, describing them as a major obstacle to economic growth.

Mr Pintard added that successive governments should have prioritised bringing stakeholders together to chart a clear way forward.

“It is good that Bahamians are expressing an interest into purchasing shares or becoming major stakeholders in those groups, and I think that's an important move forward,” he added.

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-

Published daily Monday to Friday Shirley & Deveaux Streets, Nassau, Bahamas N3207

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Grand Lucayan staff need clarity

BACK before Christmas, the government trumpeted the fact that Grand Lucayan workers had received their pay – overdue – days before the holiday. “The government is happy that we were able to resolve this heading into the Christmas holidays,” said director of communications in the Office of the Prime Minister Latrae Rahming. Less than a month later, employees were sent home without pay, while there were also worries about whether they could access National Insurance benefits. The word “resolve” might have been going too far in that pre-Christmas statement.

Yesterday, The Tribune learned staff were told to leave the resort – because it does not have running water. All that is left on site is the security personnel.

Some workers said their National Insurance contributions have not been paid since June last year.

That would be just one month – a single month – after an agreement was signed to sell the Grand Lucayan resort and an adjacent golf course to a US-based developer, Concord Wilshire Capital.

Unsurprisingly, the Opposition has been demanding answers – even before this latest development. FNM leader Michael Pintard accused the government last month of silence and a lack of transparency over the resort’s finances.

Mr Rahming, when announcing the overdue pay before Christmas, said the government “remains confident about the future of the Grand Lucayan project”.

The staff who have been sent home, wondering what is going on with their pay cheques, do not share that confidence.

Previously, former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said the government needed to tell the country if it had received the $120m from the sale and called the payment a “big fat lie”.

Early last month, Concord Wilshere was still expecting to receive permits and approvals to start construction during the first quarter of this year.

The plan – if it comes to pass – would see four million guests arriving in Grand Bahama annually by 2028.

The project would include seven major resort components - a 35-acre cruise destination, a 25,000-squarefoot indoor-outdoor casino, a 350-room branded hotel and convention centre, a 120-unit timeshare, the conversion of the Reef Golf course to a 160-acre Greg Norman signature golf course, and a 16-slip mega-yacht marina.

However, The Tribune has been told there was reluctance by the government to grant all the tax breaks and other incentives the developer was seeking.

The trouble is that the government has other deals already in place – namely with Atlantis and Baha Mar.

There is a deal in those agreements that says they have ‘most favoured nation’ status. What does that mean? If the government offers an incentive to Concord Wilshire, they have to offer it to Atlantis and Baha Mar too.

The Grand Lucayan has, of course, charted rocky waters before. A previous deal with Electra America Hospitality Group was unveiled with much fanfare by the Davis administration, but never came to fruition. No one wants another deal to falter. Grand Bahama needs success, and the Grand Lucayan can be a major part of that if it can be revived. That word “if” is very important, however.

Grand Bahama needs answers, the Opposition needs answers, you and I need answers. But most importantly the staff already working there need answers.

They need to know when their next pay cheque is coming and how they are going to pay their rent, their mortgage or for the food on their table.

They also absolutely deserve to know very clearly what is going on with their National Insurance payments. There is no way whatsoever those should have been allowed to lapse.

If we are indeed going to see Concord Wilshire get to work on the redevelopment, then some transparency from the government on the current state of affairs would give some hope that this deal is not as dead as its predecessor. For the sake of the staff, those answers had better come sooner rather than later.

An oversight - but why?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

EARLIER this morning whilst on my way to the office in the town area, I stopped off for my usual morning tea and the attendant, being aware that I sometimes write articles addressed to the editor of the Tribune confined to current affairs, told me that she has one for me and undertake to pen it. Not very long thereafter she handed it to me and here is the essay: This may not seem like much, what I am about to say, but it is very dear to my heart. I operate a small convenience store in the downtown area, and I am tired of people coming into my store daily and asking me to use my restroom facilities, but you know, I am not going to do it, so I tell them no, because I am not entertaining that.

The government recently held the junkanoo parade and the portable restrooms were locked, no wonder the foul odors were quite offensive, especially on my business-street and in the confined places in the area. All of this could have been avoided had there been bathroom facilities which are badly needed in the tourist shopping district. Even banks don’t allow their patrons to use its facilities. There should be a rest stop with facilities for bus drivers, taxi drivers and passengers alike strategically located along the routes that they travel, because passengers, some may have issues with not being able to retain urine for a reasonable time span, or other health conditions requiring immediate attention. It is sad that our visitors do not

We deserve more than just crumbs

EDITOR, The Tribune. THEY want us to celebrate crumbs.

The Davis administration has asked Bahamians to applaud what has been framed as meaningful relief, the elimination of VAT on uncooked food. When stripped of the press releases and political polish, that decision translates into an average saving of just $11 per month or $127 per year per household. That is not relief. That is a talking point.

We are told the government will forgo $15 million in revenue as a result of this VAT cut and that this sacrifice proves its commitment to easing the cost of living. Yet, that same $15 million is now being promoted as evidence of generosity, while the public is told very little about the far larger sums already taken from Bahamians through the VAT increase and expansion in the first place.

At the same time, reports indicate that $58 million has been spent on government travel. Somehow, $15 million in foregone revenue is presented as transformative, while $58 million in travel expenses barely raises an eyebrow. Bahamians are left to wonder what the real priorities are.

If providing savings to the Bahamian people was truly the goal, then transparency demands that the government tell us exactly how much revenue was raised by the VAT increase. Let the people see the full picture. Let us decide for ourselves whether this $15 million “give back” represents genuine relief or whether it is merely a fraction returned after tens of millions were collected.

Without that honesty, this initiative feels less like policy and more like

performance. More fluff than substance. More rhetoric than relief.

Before VAT was increased, many of the items now being touted as newly VAT free were already protected. Bread, rice, and other essential foods once carried no VAT. Bahamians paid more for years, and now we are asked to be grateful for getting back a small piece of what was taken.

After years of higher VAT, soaring food prices, rising fuel costs, higher electricity bills, and wages that have not kept pace with inflation, the end result of all this government effort is $127 a year. Not $127 a month. Not $127 a week.

One hundred and twenty seven dollars for the entire year. And we are told this will help Bahamian families build wealth.

An $11 monthly saving cannot buy a pack of diapers. It does not cover baby cereal. It barely pays for milk, bread, or sanitary napkins. It disappears the moment one steps into a grocery store where prices remain alarmingly high.

For a single mother, that $11 forces cruel choices. Diapers or milk. Sanitary products or toilet paper. Eggs or fruit. Gas or jitney fare. This is not relief. This is survival math.

More than 31,000 Bahamian households earn $20,000 a year or less, barely $400 per week, in a country where a University of The Bahamas study shows a family of four needs over $10,000 per month to live a decent life. That is the affordability crisis Bahamians face daily.

The government itself admits affordability is at crisis level, yet asks citizens to applaud a policy that barely scratches the surface. Officials speak of relief at checkout, but the checkout line tells a different story, one filled with frustration, disbelief, and quiet desperation.

A grandmother leaving a grocery store recently said, “Why wait for April 1st.” Not because she’s hoping for a miracle, but because prices are unbearable.

This administration raised VAT, expanded it to items that once shielded Bahamians, and now repackages a sliver of that tax burden as generosity. Bahamians are being asked to say thank you for paying slightly less of what we never should have been paying in the first place. That is not leadership. That is not compassion. That is not economic courage. Bahamians are not ungrateful. We are tired. Tired of spin. Tired of struggling harder while being told we are better off. Tired of policies that sound good in speeches but fail at the grocery shelf. We deserve more than $11 a month and carefully crafted headlines. We deserve honesty, transparency, and policies that meaningfully reduce the cost of living. Tell us how much was raised by the VAT increase. Put the numbers on the table. Let the Bahamian people decide whether this so called savings plan reflects genuine concern or whether it is simply an election season ploy wrapped in rhetoric.

The Bahamian people deserve real relief, not recycled promises and pocket change economics

A FED UP BAHAMIAN Nassau, January 19, 2026.

Campbell making a difference

EDITOR, The Tribune.

have anywhere to relieve themselves now that Burger King Frederick Street has closed, ceased operations. I cannot say enough about the contemptuous behavior of some business, because one case in point, a particular bank was sending their customers over to use my restroom facilities, but I turned them away and do you know certain employees of the bank had had the nerve to approach me, telling me that they the bank had sent people to my shop to use the restroom and proceeded to ask me why I refused them, but they were your customers, I answered back?

Wake up Bahamas and do the right thing.

FRANK GILBERT Nassau, January 16, 2026.

AS 2026 unfolds, Minister of Agriculture Jomo Campbell has already hit the ground running and has taken up where he left off in 2025. Last year, the minister promised the Bahamian fishermen that the government would remain vigilant in its efforts to combat unauthorized fishing in Bahamian waters. The recent shutdown of an illegal sport fishing operation is just one example of the point he’s making: The government means business.

Over the past four years, Jomo, a man for the people, has demonstrated a strong commitment to Centreville through consistent engagement and initiatives that have positively impacted the community.

Under Campbell’s relentless dedication, Centreville has seen improvements in infrastructure, with upgraded roads, enhanced drainage systems, and expanded community facilities. His commitment to local agriculture has also led to initiatives that support farmers and promote sustainable practices, boosting the local economy.

To my knowledge, for

the first time in the history of agriculture, a BAIC outlet is in the heart of the inner city. That’s right, at the junction of Wulff Road and Market Street, there is a building where you can buy at an affordable price fresh fruits and vegetables directly from the farmers in the family islands. Jomo’s commitment to caring for the people in Centreville is a highlight. Almost every week, something is going on at different locales: He hosts celebrations in the parks, he has opened a soup kitchen where hot meals are available daily, gives out grocery packages, serves special lunches on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, hands out back-to-school packages and treats to kids during the summer, and hosts Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas dinners, plus presents for the children on Christmas eve in the parks.

At this very moment, he is in Gibbs Corner overseeing the completion of a modern, state-of-theart community center.

Jomo Campbell is not the everyday politician - he’s a leader who rolls up his sleeves and gets involved, listening to the people and delivering results. Given his track record, he appears primed to retain his seat, with many in Centreville recognising his contributions to the community’s growth and stability.

God bless Minister Jomo Campbell

God bless the Bahama s ANTHONY PRATT Nassau, January 18, 2026.

This new Center will be a hub for education, youth development, and community gatherings, further enriching the lives of Centreville residents. These gestures have made a real difference to many families in Centreville. Areas that used to be troublesome are no longer a significant problem. Once plagued by crime, the neighborhoods have seen tremendous change: gunfire is almost nonexistent, and the atmosphere is more peaceful. Residents attribute this shift to Jomo’s efforts. His accessibility is another plus - often found in parks or under the almond tree, talking to and counseling young people - he’s become a trusted figure, especially among the nation’s younger generation.

Police launch major new push to disrupt firearms trafficking

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Royal Bahamas Police Force has launched a Firearm Trafficking and Criminal Justice training programme aimed at strengthening officers’ ability to disrupt the flow of illicit firearms into The Bahamas.

Speaking at the opening ceremony yesterday, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe thanked the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, CARICOM IMPACS, and the Government of Germany for their collaboration and support in addressing

the threat posed by illegal firearms.

Mr Munroe said the trafficking of illicit weapons is a daily reality that threatens community safety, fuels gang violence, empowers criminal enterprises, and undermines the rule of law.

The four-day training programme, delivered by experts from UNODC and CARICOM IMPACS, is designed to enhance the capacity of law enforcement, judicial, and border control agencies. Participants will receive advanced instruction in firearms identification and detection, intelligence analysis, investigative techniques, and international cooperation.

During a press conference at Police Headquarters yesterday, officials also received a donation of surveillance drones from UNODC.

“These drones will work in collaboration with other crime-fighting techniques and enhance our ability to monitor our vast borders,” Mr Munroe said. “This donation is a testament to innovation and practical partnership — a dual approach of investing in human expertise through training and technological tools.”

Roberto Codesal, crime prevention and criminal justice officer at UNODC, said the organisation remains committed to working

with The Bahamas and other Caribbean nations to address gun violence and firearm trafficking through sustained collaboration.

In August 2025, more than 1,400 firearms were destroyed as part of the government’s efforts to prevent seized weapons from re-entering circulation. A total of

MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO HAVING LOADED FIREARM

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN admitted to having a loaded firearm and marijuana in his vehicle after police stopped and searched him in the Coral Harbour area last week.

Doug Gardiner, 36, was reportedly found with a black Austrian Glock 9mm pistol, 25 rounds of ammunition, a black firearm magazine, and 1⅜ ounces of marijuana when his white Nissan Clipper was stopped by police around 2am on January 15.

Gardiner pleaded guilty before Deputy Chief Magistrate Shaka Serville to charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of ammunition with intent to supply, possession of a component part of a firearm, and possession of

dangerous drugs. His co-accused, Carlinda Daniels, 38, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Daniels was granted bail in the sum of $7,500 with one or two sureties. As part of her bail conditions, she is required to sign in at the East Street South Police Station every Monday and Thursday by 7pm.

Magistrate Serville initially allowed Gardiner to be released on his own recognisance pending sentencing. However, following an objection from prosecutor Inspector Cordero Farrington, Gardiner was remanded to prison.

Both Gardiner and Daniels are scheduled to return to court on January 22 for sentencing and trial date fixture.

Dr K Melvin Munroe and Nicholas Mitchell represented the accused.

REMANDED FOR ARMED ROBBERY OF COUPLE AT BEACH OUT WEST

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused of robbing a couple at gunpoint on a beach in western New Providence and stealing their vehicle last week was remanded to prison yesterday.

Prosecutors allege that Mauricio Webster, 23, along with accomplices and while armed with a handgun, robbed Jeffery Murphy of his white 2012 Honda Stepwagon and $150 in cash around 9pm on January 12. During the same incident, Webster is also accused of robbing Christeen Hutchinson of a brown handbag containing $400, a red Android cellphone and a Jamaican passport. The court heard that Webster allegedly threatened Mr Murphy with a black Austrian Glock 9mm pistol during the robbery. The suspects reportedly fled the scene south along New Providence Highway.

Later that same day,

Webster was allegedly found in possession of the stolen vehicle and assorted keys belonging to Mr Murphy.

Webster is also accused of attempting to rob Delrese Williams at gunpoint of her black 2008 Toyota Passo on January 14. Webster was not required to enter a plea when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Roberto Reckley on charges of armed robbery (two counts), receiving, attempted armed robbery and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The defendant was informed that the matter will proceed to the Supreme Court by way of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI). He was also advised of his right to apply for bail through the higher court. Webster was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his VBI is served on May 28. Inspector Deon Barr prosecuted the matter.

1,428 firearms — including seized weapons and obsolete government stockpiles — were encased in concrete at the Internal Security Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. That exercise, conducted in partnership with the Mines Advisory Group, CARICOM IMPACS, and the US Embassy, represented approximately 20 percent of the estimated 7,000 firearms held by police. Mr Munroe said at the time the destruction exercise demonstrated the government’s commitment to both the safe disposal of illicit weapons and improved stockpile management.

Pressure ongoing to free pilot still held in Venezuela

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

REPEAT OFFENDER FINED FOR PARADISE ISLAND EXPOSURE

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN who admitted exposing himself to a woman on Paradise Island earlier this month was fined $150 yesterday.

Rodnel Polydor, 39, pulled out his genitals and walked toward a woman on Shoppers Mall Drive near the Bridge Authority around 1.45am on January 10. The woman, who was offended by his behaviour, reported that while holding his genitals he asked her whether she had ever seen bubblegum.

Polydor was later found

vagrant on Bien Retiro Road on January 16.

He pleaded guilty before Senior Magistrate Anishka Isaacs to charges of indecent exposure and vagrancy.

The court heard that Polydor has a prior conviction for indecent exposure from last year, after exposing himself to another woman at the Straw Market.

For the latest offence, Polydor was fined $150 for indecent exposure or risk one month in prison. He was also placed on one month’s probation for the vagrancy charge, or risk a further one month prison term.

DEFENDANT ADMITS TO HAVING UNLICENCED GUN - DENIES THREATS

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN who admitted to possessing an unlicensed shotgun but denied threatening his sister with it at their Turtle Drive residence last week was granted bail on Friday.

Prosecutors allege that Timothy Dill, 37, threatened Allison Dill with a black unlicensed Mossberg shotgun on January 14. Dill pleaded not guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to put another in fear when he appeared before

Magistrate Lennox Coleby, but pleaded guilty to possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Bail was set at $5,000 with one or two sureties. As part of his bail conditions, Dill is required to sign in at the Elizabeth Estates Police Station every Monday and Friday by 6pm. He was also warned not to have any contact with the complainant, or risk having his bail revoked.

Dill’s trial is scheduled to begin on February 17.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie prosecuted the matter.

18-YEAR-OLD GIRL KILLED IN CAR CRASH ON PRINCE CHARLES DRIVE

AN 18-year-old woman became the country’s eighth traffic fatality of the year after she was killed in a car collision early yesterday morning.

Police said they were alerted to the crash on Prince Charles Drive shortly after 1am. Responding officers found a Suzuki Swift had collided with a wooden pole. Three people were in the

vehicle: the woman passenger and two men. The woman was unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her relatives were too inconsolable to speak with The Tribune yesterday.

The other two occupants were injured and taken to hospital, where their condition remains unknown. Investigations are ongoing.

DIPLOMATIC efforts are ongoing to secure the release of Bahamian national Omar Munroe, who remains detained in Venezuela, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell.

Speaking with reporters yesterday, Mr Mitchell said the government has not had direct contact with Mr Munroe but remains in communication with his family as efforts continue. According to Mr Mitchell, the Bahamas’ ambassador to Venezuela, Melanie Hilton, has been tasked with pursuing Mr Munroe’s release through diplomatic channels.

“She has to use whatever diplomatic means there is to apply pressure for the Venezuelan government to release that individual,” Mr Mitchell said.

“We’re hoping that the

persons who are in effective control of the country will do so,” he added. “We are working as assiduously as we can on this matter.”

According to previous reports, Mr Munroe, a Bahamian pilot, has been in Venezuelan custody since 2021. He was reported missing in July 2021 after departing The Bahamas aboard a private aircraft. Venezuelan authorities later located the aircraft crashed in Venezuela and informed Bahamian officials that Mr Munroe and a Colombian national were in custody after seeking medical treatment for injuries sustained in the crash. Both men were reportedly questioned by Venezuelan authorities in connection with an alleged drug trafficking investigation.

However, according to reports, Bahamian police officials were unable to confirm whether drugs were found on the aircraft.

Regulatory bodies are not consistent: When the law bends for some and breaks for others

LAWS are not poetry. They are not suggestions. They are not guidelines to be interpreted based on who is asking, who is connected, or who can afford a silksuited defence team.

Laws are designed to create a clear, firm, unmistakable line between what is acceptable and what is not. Once that line becomes negotiable, once it shifts depending on status, address, or associations, the law ceases to be law.

It becomes theatre.

And in too many instances across this country, that’s precisely what our regulatory and enforcement systems have become: an uneven performance where the powerless are punished with cruelty. At the same time, the powerful are handled with velvet gloves.

The disparity is not subtle.

It’s glaring. It’s corrosive.

And it’s destroying public confidence in the very institutions meant to uphold order, fairness, and justice.

Consider how society treats the petty thief versus the polished criminal. A young man steals a phone, a bottle of liquor, or food to survive. He is hunted down like an animal and dragged through the system. Shamed publicly and locked up in degrading conditions. His name circulates, his face is plastered all over, his future effectively erased before it begins.

Meanwhile, a man in a plush office—well spoken, well dressed, well connected—skilfully outsmarts his clients, siphons millions through paper trails and legal gymnastics, and hires a hotshot law firm when the walls begin to close in. He’s not paraded. He’s not humiliated. He’s not treated as a threat to society. In too many cases, he walks free or negotiates a slap on the wrist that amounts to a rounding

Ivoine Ingr aham

facing

Re alit y

A system that enforces selectively is worse than a system that enforces poorly. At least incompetence can be fixed. Bias, once embedded, becomes culture. And culture is far more complex to dismantle.

error on his balance sheet. The message could not be clearer: crime is not the issue. Poverty is.

This is not justice. This is class enforcement masquerading as law. It becomes even more disturbing when we examine violent crime and how selective outrage is applied. There have been

ordinary “over-the-hill” neighbourhoods, wayward sons caught with unlicensed firearms are treated as if they are irredeemable monsters. Thrown into the harshest conditions. Denied mercy and held up as examples.

Yet in other cases—cases involving multiple firearms and ammunition—there is a wink and a nod. Quiet handling. Soft language. Explanations that strain credibility. Outcomes that never seem to reach the same level of punishment.

This is not a coincidence. It’s a pattern. And patterns teach people how systems truly work.

incidents—well-known, widely discussed—where individuals accused of heinous acts were treated with shocking leniency. Bail granted based on logic that defied explanation. Sentences handed down that left the nation stunned. Decisions that made citizens question whether the law was blind or simply looking the other way. At the same time, in

GUATEMALA DECLARES STATE OF SIEGE AFTER GANG VIOLENCE KILLS 7 POLICE OFFICERS

GUATEMALA CITY

GUATEMALA President

Bernardo Arévalo declared a 30-day state of siege Sunday after suspected gang members in Guatemala’s capital killed seven police officers in apparent retaliation for authorities in the country’s southwest retaking control of one of three maximum security prisons where inmates

had rioted and taken hostages the day before. The attacks on police in and around Guatemala City came after hundreds of anti-riot police stormed Renovación prison in Escuintla, about 47 miles (76 kilometers) southwest of the capital, to free nine guards who had been taken hostage there. Jailed gang leaders often order members outside the prison walls to carry out

retaliatory attacks.

“They rioted in the prisons and took hostages with the intention of making the state accept their demands, which for decades were granted,”

Arévalo said on national television Sunday. The attacks that followed the retaking of those prisons Sunday, were “an attempt to terrorize security forces and the population so that the government relents in its head-on fight

What is most troubling is the brazenness of it all. There’s no shame anymore—no attempt to hide the double standard. Laws are diluted openly to appease some, while others are crushed under their full weight. The inconsistency is so routine that it has become normalised, and normalisation is how injustice becomes permanent.

The same dysfunction plagues our regulatory environment.

Take zoning and building regulations, for example. The 25-foot setback rule from the road is supposedly clear. It exists for safety, aesthetics, and order. Yet in practice, it applies to some and not to others. One small business owner is denied permission outright, while another constructs a shop or apartment complex just feet from the sidewalk without a single objection from the regulatory body.

No warning. No stop order. No enforcement.

Why?

Who decided that this rule was optional for one applicant but mandatory for another?

Then there are the temporary roadside shacks— erected overnight, used for a few weeks, abandoned

against the gangs.”

The president said all of the hostage guards were freed Sunday. The gangs’ audacious attempt to challenge authorities was a sign that his administration’s security efforts were working, Arévalo said.

Arévalo’s state of siege still requires congressional approval, but can take effect before that vote occurs. The constitution allows such a declaration in cases of serious violence, insurrection or action by organized crime groups that exceeds the ability of civilian authorities to respond.

without consequence. They rot in place, becoming eyesores, magnets for vermin, and symbols of neglect. They litter specific neighbourhoods. No follow-up. No enforcement. No accountability.

Yet in other areas, such a structure would not survive a single day.

The same selective blindness applies to derelict vehicles. In some communities, rusted hulks sit abandoned for years, leaking fluids, breeding mosquitoes, and dragging down property values. In other neighbourhoods, that situation would be unthinkable. Enforcement would be swift. Notices issued. Removal enforced.

The law has a postcode.

There is no consistent pattern, no clear standard, no predictable outcome. And when rules are applied randomly, they stop being rules. They become invitations for argument, manipulation, and circumvention.

This inconsistency creates confusion among citizens and businesses alike. People no longer ask, “What does the law say?” They ask, “Who is applying?” or “Who do you know?” or “How much trouble will they really give me?” That mindset is deadly to civic order. It teaches that compliance is optional, that obedience is for the naïve, and that success depends less on integrity and more on access. It breeds cynicism, resentment, and quiet rebellion.

Worst of all, it destroys respect for authority.

Regulatory bodies exist to provide clarity, fairness, and predictability. When they fail to stick to their own decisions—when approvals are reversed, violations overlooked, and rules relaxed because of who is asking— the public is left baffled and angry.

What prevents authorities from standing firm? Why does enforcement soften

The declaration can limit some constitutional rights like the freedoms of movement, gathering and protest.

The president said it was necessary to ensure the safety of Guatemalans and allow the government to use all its resources to combat the gangs. Shots rang out as riot squads swept into the facility that houses gang leaders. About 15 minutes later, an Associated Press journalist saw the freed guards being escorted from the prison. They appeared to be unharmed. No injuries or deaths were immediately reported.

Later on Sunday, authorities retook control of the other two prisons in the capital, freeing six guards at one and 28 at the other, according to National Civil Police.

On Saturday, the Interior Ministry had said 46 guards were being held hostage. It was not immediately clear what explained the discrepancy with the 43 freed on Sunday.

Inmates took control of the three prisons the day before in a coordinated uprising to protest prison administrators’ decision to strip privileges from some incarcerated gang leaders.

As security forces tried to assert control, apparent retaliatory attacks took place outside the prison walls.

Armed gangs killed seven national police officers in assaults across Guatemala City, Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda said. The

when the applicant is influential? Why are regulations rigid for the small man and elastic for the big one?

These are not academic questions. They go to the heart of whether this society believes in equal treatment under the law or merely pays lip service to it.

A system that enforces selectively is worse than a system that enforces poorly. At least incompetence can be fixed. Bias, once embedded, becomes culture. And culture is far more complex to dismantle.

When people see inconsistency everywhere— courts, police, regulators, inspectors—they begin to believe that “anything goes.” That belief spreads quietly, but relentlessly. It seeps into everyday decisions. Why follow the rules if others don’t? Why comply if compliance only disadvantages you? Why respect a system that does not respect you, which is how lawlessness is born.

Not from rebellion, but from disillusionment.

The tragedy is that laws themselves are not the problem. Most regulations exist for good reason. The problem is the human willingness to bend them for convenience, relationships, or pressure. Until regulatory bodies reclaim consistency—tangible, visible, uncompromising consistency—the erosion will continue. Trust will keep bleeding out. Respect will keep evaporating. And the line the law was meant to draw will fade until no one remembers where it once stood.

A society cannot survive on selective justice. It cannot function on optional enforcement. And it cannot prosper when its people believe that fairness is reserved only for the connected.

The law must mean the same thing to everyone. Or it will soon mean nothing at all.

clashes wounded another 10 officers, he added, and killed one gang member. He said police so far have arrested seven gang members, confiscated two rifles and seized two vehicles, praising the police response as “the result of not negotiating with criminals.”

“The state will not kneel before these criminals,” he said, portraying the attacks on police officers and coordinated prison riots as a response to the government’s intensifying crackdown on organized crime. The Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha gangs are powerful in Guatemala, as they are in neighboring Honduras and had been in El Salvador until President Nayib Bukele declared a state of emergency in March 2022 after gangsters killed dozens.

El Salvador’s state of emergency, which suspends some constitutional rights like access to an attorney, remains in place and more than 90,000 people have been arrested under it.

Other Central American leaders have been under pressure to adopt similarly harsh tactics to deal with gang crime. Last week, Bukele visited Costa Rica to observe a groundbreaking ceremony for a new prison styled on one he built in El Salvador. With tensions high, the Ministry of Education said it would suspend classes across the Central American country for Monday the 19th “to prioritize the safety” of students and teachers.

CR Walker earns BREEF’s Green Flag

By AVA TURNQUEST

CR Walker Senior High School has become the first government school on New Providence to receive the internationally recognised Eco-Schools Green Flag Award.

Officials from the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) said the award marks a milestone in environmental education for public schools in The Bahamas during a special assembly last week.

BREEF conducted assessments that confirmed the school had met all requirements under the

Eco-Schools framework.

According to BREEF, the Green Flag is an international symbol of excellence in environmental education and reflects student-led action, environmental leadership, and community engagement aligned with global sustainability goals.

Students at CR Walker now join Eco-Schools participants in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Uriel Knowles, president of the school’s Eco-Club, said the recognition reflected sustained effort by students to improve the campus environment and promote environmental responsibility.

“Our school worked to

create a cleaner, more environmentally responsible campus,” he said, adding that the achievement reflects the club’s commitment to its Eco-Code and to leading by example within the wider community.

Principal Triver Culmer said the designation reinforces the importance of environmental stewardship as part of students’ education.

“Our children must learn the importance of taking care of the environment of which they are a part,” she said, noting that the school’s focus now is on maintaining its eco-friendly practices.

As part of the programme, the school’s Eco-Club established and

Zion Carey wins MLK Jr Oratorical Contest

By Fay Simmons Tribune Education Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

ON Majority Rule Day, a moment of national pride and reflection in The Bahamas, one student’s voice stood out.

Zion Carey, a Grade 12 student of St. Augustine’s College, captured first place at the 4th Annual Alpha Phi Alpha Martin Luther King Jr Oratorical Contest, emerging victorious over seven other finalists.

Ms Carey’s win is historic.

She is the third student from St Augustine’s College to claim the title and the first female winner of the competition, marking a milestone for both the school and young women

participating in academic contests.

The Martin Luther King Jr Oratorical Contest is sponsored annually by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and is held around the Martin Luther King Jr holiday in the United States, which coincides with Majority Rule Day in The Bahamas.

The contest encourages students to critically engage with the values championed by Dr King, including leadership, equality, justice, and service. Dr King was himself a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, making the competition a tribute to his legacy. This year’s event attracted 21 contestants from schools across New Providence and the Family Islands. Following a preliminary round,

eight finalists advanced to the final stage, delivering speeches before judges and an audience.

Students from Nassau Christian Academy and Aquinas rounded out the top three, contributing to a strong and competitive showcase.

Ms Carey’s achievement reflects both her personal dedication and academic excellence, while underscoring the importance of platforms that empower young people to think critically, speak confidently, and lead with purpose.

As the nation marked Majority Rule Day, her victory served as a reminder that the next generation is prepared to carry forward the principles of justice, equality, and unity.

maintained a greenhouse and developed green spaces on campus for student use.

Eco-Schools Bahamas national operator Nicola Fernander described the achievement as a

precedent for other public schools, while Ms McCartney-Russell said the designation aligns with the Ministry of Education’s goal of promoting environmental stewardship across

Students across GB march to mark 59th anniversary of Majority Rule

By Fay Simmons Tribune Education Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

STUDENTS across Grand Bahama took centre stage during a commemorative march marking the 59th anniversary of Majority Rule. Schools, community groups and bands marched from the Pro-Cathedral of Christ the King to the

Pineyard Rush Junkanoo site on Explorer’s Way, creating a vibrant display of music, culture and youthful pride. Dressed in school colours and uniforms, students waved flags and played instruments in celebration of national identity and respect for Bahamian history. Educators played a central role throughout the event, guiding students

and using the march as a living classroom. Teachers emphasised the importance of understanding Majority Rule not only as a historical milestone, but as an ongoing responsibility to promote fairness, opportunity and unity within society.

The celebration concluded with cultural performances and moments of reflection highlighting the legacy of the Majority Rule movement.

Munroe makes dopnation to Uriah McPhee Primary School for Junior Junkanoo

STUDENTS of Uriah McPhee Primary School prepare for their return to the Junior

school’s cultural programme. The contribution, made by Wayne Munroe, Member of Parliament

Parade on January 29. School officials said the support will help fund costumes,

decade.

Michelin-star talent to headline inaugural ‘Taste of Exuma’ festival

FOR over a decade, Michelin-starred Chef

Alyn Williams has used the quiet shores of Exuma as a private refuge from the high-pressure world of international fine dining. This year, the man who trained under industry giants like Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing is stepping out of the shadows to headline the island’s firstever premier culinary event: Taste of Exuma.

Organizers officially unveiled plans this week for the inaugural festival, which is set to run from May 14–17, 2026. Hosted by Grand Isle Resort & Residences, the four-day celebration will transform the exclusive 23 North beach club into a hub for “ocean-to-farm-to-table” dining, high-end mixology, and local craftsmanship.

A Fusion of Global and Local Talent

The festival is the brainchild of Canadian investor Peter Nicholson and the team at GIV Bahamas, who sought to elevate Exuma’s profile within the global “foodie” tourism market.

“For many leisure travelers, food is an incredibly important part of the overall experience,” said

Nicholson, whose previous community ventures include the Run for Pompey and Tour de Turquoise. “We thought—why not take our culinary game to the next level and create a tradition the whole island can be proud of?”

Chef Alyn Williams will be joined by two powerhouse Bahamian culinary figures:

Chef Nigelle Thompson: Head Chef at Grand Isle and an Exuma native.

Chef Antonio Williams: Executive Sous Chef at the British Colonial Hotel in Nassau and leader of the acclaimed Mahogany Club. The trio has been tasked with creating innovative, Bahamian-inspired menus that rely heavily on fresh ingredients sourced directly from local farmers and fishermen.

Rum, Markets, and Mixology

Beyond the nightly flagship dinners, the festival will feature a deep dive into Bahamian spirits. John Watling’s Distillery, the historic Nassau-based producer, has signed on as the official spirits partner. Attendees can expect curated rum tastings and interactive mixology classes led by expert

Star chef Alyn Williams will headline the

chef at Grand Isle and native of Exuma, along with Chef Antonio Wiilliams, Executive Sous Chef at the British Colonial

blenders.

The event will also serve as a platform for the broader Exuma community through the Exuma Marketplace. This dedicated space will allow local vendors, artisans, and craftspeople to showcase their work to international guests and residents alike.

Economic and Tourism

Impact

Grand Isle General Manager Shona Perry noted that while the festival targets the resort’s guests and the visiting yachting community, it is designed to benefit the entire island.

“Our goal is to raise the culinary profile for the destination as we look forward to getting the island’s best and brightest involved,” Perry said. “We want this to be a boon to the local economy while providing an authentic experience.”

For Chef Alyn, the transition from private vacationer to festival headliner is a way to give back to the place he calls his second home. “There is already so much talent on the island,” he said. “Combining all The Bahamas has to offer, we can really build something special that will be a staple on the tourism calendar for years to come.”

shapes the How travel

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

TRAVEL is often marketed as escape. Abreak from routine. Areward. Butfrom a mental healthperspective, travelcan besomethingelse entirely.It canregulatethe nervous system, disrupt emotional patterns and create clarity that daily life does not allow. That reality became especially clear to Bahamian therapist ChristinaJohnson duringher recenttrip toAnt-

lation. There areno crowds, no schedules and no noise competing for attention. She saidthere wasno sensory overload andno constant stimulation, and “it felt like being wrapped in permission to just exist.

From a mental health standpoint, thatmatters. Johnson believes much of what peopleexperience asinternal mental noise is shaped by their surroundings.

arctica, aplace definednotby activity but by stillness.

Johnsonis anindividual, couple and family therapist, mental health consultant, speaker andcertified life coach.She recentlycompleted arare personalmilestone byvisiting everycontinent on Earth.Still, she is carefulnot toframeAntarctica as aprofessional exercise or therapeutic retreat.

I don t wearmytherapist hat anywhere besides on the job, she said. I was there as Christina on a well deserved vacation.

Yeteven withoutintention, themental impactoftravel was unmistakable.Antarctica offered what many people unknowingly cravebut rarely access.

“I knew I would feel grounded, regulated and deeplyat ease,” she adds. I ve always loved silence and stillnessand Antarctica is astunning example of stillness. Unlike mostdestinations, Antarctica offerslittle stimu-

“Itwas agreatdemonstrationofhowmuchofourmental noise is shaped by our environment,notjustourinnerworld,” she said.

Her experience stands in contrastto anothermajor journeyshe completedlast year,trekking toEverestBase Camp, Nepal. That trip demanded endurance,mental stamina and perseverance.

“TheEverest BaseCamp trek andAntarctica mettwo very differentpsychological needs for me,” she said.

Thetrek requiredconstant effort and selftrust. Antarctica required nothing at all.

There wasno proving,no pushing andno striving.It was about presencerather thanperformance.”

Those two formsof travel servedifferent mentalfunctions. Achievementbased travel strengthens confidence and resilience. Stillness based travel supports regulation and introspection.

“Trips like thisremove external markers ofsuccess and force you to sit with yourself.”

Clinically, Johnson explainsthatthenervoussystem is deeplyattached topredictability. Familiar routines create a senseof safety and conserve emotional energy. Whenthose routinesdisappear, the nervoussystem initially becomes alert.

“Ifthe environmentfeels safe, the parasympathetic nervoussystem engagesand allowsfor rest,reflectionand emotional processing, ahe said.

I m not a big napper, but being away from my twelve hour work days, PhD studies and therhythm ofmy everyday life, I napped every day. That level of rest was unfamiliar but deeply needed. At home, people are surrounded by cuestied to roles, responsibilities andhabits. Traveldisruptsthosecuesand creates psychologicaldistance from stressors.

Whenyou arenolonger reactingto familiartriggers, your braincan reorganiseinformation differently.”

That is whyinsightoften emerges whenpeople step away from their routine. Even small changes in environment can shift perspective.

Notalltravelaffectsmental health the same way. Johnson

New

Year's resolutions tips: be realistic

THE NEW Year is here, andhealth expertsweighin on some of the most common New Year sresolutions and how to set yourself up for successasyoupursueeachof them.

“Many of the behaviours linked toresolutions involve activities orhabits that you’ve had for years,” says psychologist Susan Albers, PsyDat ClevelandClinic, OH. “Giveyourself some time to adaptand make changes.

Eat healthier Thisis ahuge, broadcategory, and tryingto overhaul yourentiredietallatonceisa surefire way to overwhelm yourself. Instead,narrow your focus and work on masteringa healthyhabitlike eating breakfastevery morning, giving upsoda, including a vegetable in every meal, curbing your sweet toothonceandforall,turning to healthier snacks and scaling back on processed foods. Onceyou veaccomplished one goal, you canmove on to the next and feel confident in yourabilityto acethatone, too. If youneed help,seeing a dietitian isone ofthebest waysto makethis theyear youcleanupyourdiet.Asexperts in food andnutrition, theycan helpyou naildown nutrition basics andfigure out what works best for you.

Dietitians canhelp you siftthrough themisinformation, give you some fresh ideas andhelp provideaccountability,” says registered

dietitian TeganBissell, RD, LDN, CDCES. Work out more There’sareasonwhygyms are sopacked atthe startof the newyear. Establishingan exercise routine isone of the mostpopularNewYear sresolutionsthere is.Butif you’ve never been one for physical activity, or if you ve fallenoutofthehabit, it canfeel nearlyimpossible to begin. Don tgotoohardtoosoon. “If you’re startingfromzero, you need to set the bar low enough to be realistic, says certified professional trainer Alena Beskur, CPT. This will look different for everyone, dependingon individual ability and activity level. Maybetaking a workout class will help you ease intothings. Maybeyou want to starta runningregimen.Or maybeit means starting withcore strength exercisesand then adding in other types of weight-training or resistanceexercises tobuild muscle. Youcan eventry hiring a personal trainer for a fewsessions, justtofigure out how to begin. Whatever youdecide, start smallandrampupyoureffort slowly. One ofthe best ways to motivateyourself to stick to your newexercise plan is toset smallergoals inpursuit of a larger one.

Yougetthe senseofaccomplishment that reaffirms your efforts, says exercise specialistBen Kuharik, and this cansnowball into

MIND

achieving evengreater goals.”

Drink less

Whether you’re starting the yearwith a DryJanuary, resolving to scale back on happy hours with friends or tryingto stopdrinking altogether, thiscommon New Year’s resolution can feel incredibly daunting.

First, it’s importantto understand your relationship with alcohol, says addiction psychiatrist David Streem, MDofClevelandClinic,OH. If you reliving with alcohol usedisorder, alsoknownas alcoholism, drinking isn’t just ahabit; it sa medical condition.

“It may not be safe for someone with alcohol use disorder to stop drinking without professionalsupport, Dr. Streem says. A medicalrehabilitationfacility canbestsupport youonyour path to recovery.

Butevenifyou’reanoccasional or social drinker, examining your relationship to alcoholshould stillbeyour firststep.Onceyoufigureout why you drink, when you re most likely todrink and how drinking makesyou feel,you canformulate a planthatwill help youscale backor giveit upentirely. Thismayinclude understandingandlearningto avoid yourtriggers, finding enjoyable, alcohol-free ways to spendyour time,seeking supportfrom friendsand family, embracing non-alcoholicdrink options,and choosingaquit date – and sticking to it.

explains that vast open spaces likeAntarctica oftensoften thenervous system,while heavily stimulating environments keep it on alert.

“Vastspaces createwhatis known as thesmall self effect youfeel tiny,but ina grounding way.

In contrast, sherecalls that thetrektoEverestBaseCamp wasoverwhelming forher nervous system.

The sensory overload made my nervous system feel unsafe and Ifelt anxious and dysregulated, she said.

Shestresses thattravelcan sometimes surfaceunresolvedemotional issuesby removing familiar coping structures.

“Ourroutines, socialsupports andcomforts disappear onceweget onthatplane. That canbe freeingand itcan also be destabilising.”

Johnson encourages travellersto payattentionto warning signs suchas irritability, numbness,headaches, digestive issuesand muscle tension.

Sheisalso clearthattravel is not a substitute for therapy.

Travel aligned with mental wellness tends to expand emotional capacity.Avoidant travelmay feelgood inthe moment butoften leaves people depleted.

Completing amajor life goal adds another psychological layer. Johnsonexplained that the brain is wired for pursuit. “When thechase ends, people canfeel joyfollowed by emptiness.The mindhas

tointegrate theexperience into identity. For Johnson, visiting every continent broughtfulfilment and reflection.

“Ability is not who I am,” she said. Meaning doesnot come from how far I go, it comesfromhowdeeplyIlive because of it.”

Blairwood Academy outreach for parents and teachers spotlights early recognition of dyslexia

A NEWawareness campaign isshining a spotlight ondyslexia a learningdifference that canaffect up toone infive Bahamians andoffering parentssimple,practical waysto identify early signsso children can receive support as soon as possible.

BlairwoodAcademyhasbeenlivinguptoits long-standing missionto “leaveno childbehind sinceit wasfounded in1989. Inrecent months,theacademyhasexpandeditsoutreach to raiseawareness about dyslexia andthe importance of early recognition and intervention.

Parents andeducators canrecognisesignsof possible dyslexia such astrying to avoid readingor beingsloworhesitant whiledoing so,missing words,difficultycopying fromthe board, or trouble following directions, learning rhymes,tellingtimeorlearningphonenumbers and addresses. Poor handwriting can also be a possible sign – ascan troubleusing scissorsor tying shoes.

Dyslexia primarily affects reading and writingskills, thoughit canalso influencehow individuals process, retain, and recall informationtheyseeandhear.Globalestimatessuggest thatasmany as20percentof peoplemaybe affected.

As part of itsawareness efforts, Blairwood Academy has been engaging educators and parents alike. This has included hosting a forum with teachers aimed at improving recognitionofdyslexia andhelpingschoolsunderstand how early intervention can make a meaningful difference. We have been carrying out an outreach programme for dyslexia,” said Blairwood Academyvice-principal ShemecaMoss. “At Gerald CashPrimary School,we hosteda forumwiththeirteachers.Wearetryingtoraise awarenessand helppeopleunderstand thedifference between dyslexia and other developmental issues.”

Mossemphasised thatrecognisingdyslexia can begin at home and encouraged parents to play an active role.

Interms ofliteracy,readingto yourchild early isa greathelp, shesaid. Focusing on sight words is also important. Family game nights can be very telling you begin to understand what is reallyhappening with your children.Games likePictionarycan helpparents spot potential challenges early.

She added that reading clubs can alsobe beneficial,noting BlairwoodAcademy hasa book club for its students.

While BlairwoodAcademy iswidely recognised forits worksupporting childrenwith autism, dyslexia is a separate condition. However, estimatessuggest upto halfof individuals with autism may also experience dyslexia.

Earlyinterventioniscrucial, Mosssaid. It giveschildrenthebest possiblechanceofreceiving the support they need.

The dyslexia awareness campaign will lead intoLiteracyWeek, whichrunsfromFebruary 2–6.The academyisalsopreparing foritsannualCooks forKids eventinApril, whichinvites restaurants and businesses to participate inraising awarenessoftheabilities andtalents of children at the school.

“The Cooksfor Kidsevent willshowcase our kids and really put them front and centre to demonstrate their skills,” said academy director KimKooskalis. Childrenwith autism cando somuch.Our goalisalways tohelp them reach their full potential.

Blairwood Academy continues to seek funding to support itsgrowing programmes. The school’slargest fundraiserto datewas its Behind the Mask event held in April last year. Over theyears, theschool hasassisted childrenwithbothdyslexiaandautism–withsome ofthosehelpedwithdyslexiahavinggoneonto become teachers at the school.

“We maintaina one-to-seventeacher-to-student ratio, and we truly celebrate our children s successes,” Kooskalissaid. “Some of our teacherswere oncestudentshere,and werecently hostedour first autism ball,where studentsservedon theorganisingcommittee. There isalways more wehope todo we need additionalspace,more classrooms,abus,and an occupational therapyroom. We have partnered withthe ErnieEls Foundationto enhance our programming andadded a behavioural and therapy component. It is all about the kids. Raisingawareness bringsgreater visibilityand,ultimately,a greaterchanceofearly intervention, which is the key.”

More details about theCooks for Kids event willbe announcedcloser toApril. Tolearn more aboutBlairwood Academy andits programmes, visit blairwoodacademy.com or follow Blairwood Academy on social media.

Twenty years strong!

Stride for Life steps into new era

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net

FOR two decades, Stride for Life has beena visiblereminder ofhow deeply cancertouches Bahamian families and howpowerfully community support can respond. As the CancerSociety ofTheBahamas prepares for the 20th annual Stride for Life Fun Run and Walk on Saturday,February28,beginning6am at Goodman s Bay,organisersare reflecting on a milestone shaped by resilience,growth, andcollective purpose.

ShaquilleJones, thesociety’s Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator,said reachingthe20year mark representsfar more than longevity. Reaching our 20th StrideforLife milestoneisincrediblymeaningfulfor theCancerSociety ofThe Bahamas,as itrepresents two decadesofawareness, hope, andcommunity supportfor those affected by cancer,” he said. What began years ago as a small

fundraising walk has steadily transformedintoone oftheorganisation’s flagship events, welcoming families, corporateteams, survivors, and supporters fromacross the country. Accordingto Mr Jones, the evolution of Stride for Life hasmirrored thechanging needsofthecommunityitself. The event isbecoming moreinclusive, moreimpactful anddeeplyrooted in our mission of education, support and advocacy for those affected by cancer, he said.

This year’s eventintroduces a notable changewith anew route and venue at Goodman s Bay, a move designedto enhanceboth accessibility andatmosphere. The beachfront location offers open space, improved safety, and a layout better suited for growing crowds. MrJones explainedthat the shiftalso aligns witha broader moment of reflection for the organisation itself.

As the Cancer Society of The Bahamas celebrates50 yearsof ex-

istence; a milestone that marks five decades of compas sion, care, and un wavering service, we believe this new venue will enhance the overall experience by encouraging greater participation, providing a familyfriendly environment, and creating a celebratory space that reflectsthe hope and unity at the heart of Stride for Life, said Mr Jones.

Inclusivity remainsa defining feature of the event, with multiple routes designed towelcome runners, walkers, children, and those whopushorroll.Theemphasis,Mr Jones noted, is intentional. “Inclusivity has alwaysbeen central to Stride forLife becausecancer affectspeople ofall ages,abilities, and backgrounds,” he said.

Beyondthe physicalroutes,organisers hopeparticipants leave withadeeper understandingofthe cause they are supporting. Stride for Life,Mr Jonessaid, isas much about awareness and encouragement as it is about fundraising.

“Ourmessage isone ofLife, Hope,Love, Caring,andUnity beyonda cancerdiagnosis.Stride forLife remindsusthat noone faces canceralone. Wewant participants to leave knowing that awareness saves lives, earlydetection matters, and support makes a real difference for patients and survivors, he said.

For first-timeparticipants, the invitationis simpleandwelcoming.No athleticbackgroundis required,onlya willingness to show up and be part of something meaningful.

We would say: justregister. You don’t need to bea runneror have a personal connection to cancer toparticipate, as this event is a fun, familyfriendly, and offersanenjoyable wayto

make alasting impacton thecommunity, said Mr Jones. What consistently defines the morning, however,is notthe route or thenumbers, butthe energy people bring with them. Without a doubt,it sthespiritoftogetherness.

Participants bringsmiles, team pride, competitiveness,and an overwhelming sense of support for one another.

Seeing survivors walking along-

side families, friends,and supporters; creates an atmosphere that isboth powerfulandunforgettable, reminding us whyStride for Life continues tothrive after20 years,” said Mr Jones.

AsStridefor Lifestepsintoits 20th year, that shared spirit remains its heartbeat: agathering of movement, memory, and hope that continues towalk, run,and rollforward together.

Seafood, dairy, eggs can help with thyroid issues

ASJANUARY isThyroid Awareness Month, Dr Ossama Lashin,PhD, anEndocrinology expertat Cleveland Clinic,OH, issharingclear, easy-to-understand informationto helpthe publicbetter understand thyroidhealth, common thyroid problems, and when toseek medical care. The thyroid is a small glandlocated inthe neck,but it plays a major role in keeping the body healthy, said Dr Lashin. “It produces hormones that help the body use energy,regulate temperature,and supportthenormal function of theheart, brain, muscles, and many other systems. Thyroid problemsare commonandcanaffectpeople indifferent ways.Anunderactive thyroid, known as hypothyroidism, occurs when thegland doesnotproduce enoughhormone. Themost

common cause is Hashimoto s disease, anautoimmune condition. People withhypothyroidism may experience symptoms such as tiredness, weightgain,constipation, dry skin, feeling cold, low mood, and heavier or irregular menstrual periods. In contrast,an overactive thyroid, orhyperthyroidism, happens whentoo muchhormone isproduced. Common causes include Graves disease, toxic thyroid nodules, and thyroiditis.Symptoms mayincludea fastorirregular heartbeat,weight lossdespite anormal appetite,anxiety, shaky hands, feeling overheated, excessivesweating,

frequent bowel movements, and difficulty sleeping.

Dr Lashin also highlighted thatthyroid nodules,which are small lumps in the thyroid, are very common. With modern ultrasoundtechnology, up to 60to 68 percent of adultsmay haveone ormore nodules, and most of these are not cancer. Another condition,

thyroiditis,refers toinflammation of thethyroid and can occurafter pregnancy,known as postpartumthyroiditis. In somecases,peopleexperience abriefperiod ofhighthyroid hormonelevels followedby low levelsbefore eventually recovering. Certain groupsare more likelytodevelopthyroidprob-

lems, including women, older adults, people with afamily history ofthyroid diseaseor other autoimmuneconditions, and those withiodine imbalance in their diet.Risk is also higher inpeople whohave received radiation to the head or neck, especially during childhood, those taking certain medicationssuch asamiodarone,lithium, orsome cancer treatments, and women in the firstyear after giving birth. While autoimmune thyroid diseases cannot be fully prevented, Dr Lashin notes that people can lower their risk and detectproblems early. Using iodized saltat home, eatingiodine-rich foodssuch asseafood, dairyproducts, and eggs, avoiding unnecessary iodine supplementsunless prescribed,and limiting unnecessary radiation exposure are allhelpful measures. Anyonewith symptoms orknown riskfactorsshould

discuss them with a healthcare professional.

Routinethyroid testingis notrecommended forpeople who feel well andhave a low riskof thyroiddisease. However, testing maybe appropriate for individuals with symptoms orincreased risk. Routinescreening forthyroid canceris alsonotrecommended in people without symptoms.

Dr Lashin advises seeking medical attention ifa lump is feltin theneck orif thereare persistentproblemswithswallowing or changesin the voice.

Forpeople inLatin America and the Caribbean, iodine intakecan varyby country. DrLashin recommends checking whether household salt is labeled as iodized. Pregnant and breastfeedingwomen shouldspeak with their doctorto ensure their prenatal vitamins contain adequate iodine.

Even after 30 years of working, learning never stops for Cheryl

FOR Cheryl McPhee, learninghas alwaysbeena partof life.A retiredhotelier with more than 30 years of experience in thehospitality industry,shespentdecadesmastering customer service, teamwork, and hands-onproblemsolving skillsshe now proudly addsto throughthe Empowerment Hour Programme atthe Carmichael Community Centre. Mrs McPhee’s careerbegan on ParadiseIsland andconcluded atCrystal Palace, where she built a reputation through yearsof dedicated, people-centeredwork. Nowa wife, mother, and grandmother,she recentlyreturned tothe classroom not outof necessity,butoutofadesireto grow. I found the Empowerment Hourexciting,productive,and highly educational,” she said. The courseswere practical, engaging,and veryhands-on,

which made learning enjoyable and meaningful.”

ThroughtheMinistryofSocial Services,Information and Broadcasting s Empowerment Hour Programme,Mrs McPhee participatedin garment making andsewing club activities, as wellas backyard farming two skill-based components designedto promote self-sufficiency,creativity, and confidence.

One of herproudest moments came whenshe completeda handmadedress duringthe sewingcourseand gifted itto afriend for Christmas.

It felt goodto create somethingwithmyownhands and then share it with someone else,” she said.

Thebackyard farmingprogramme also lefta lasting impression. Athome, Mrs McPhee and herfamily now growfruits andvegetablesfor personal use,including beets, cabbage, lettuce,tomatoes,

papaws, and pigeon peas reinforcing food awareness, sustainability, andhealthy living.

“We are growingfor home consumption, and that alone makes adifference,” she shared.

Led by the Ministry’s Com-

Food companies targeting users with 'GLP-1 Friendly' labels

By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer

MEALS and snacks with GLP-1 Friendly labels on the packaging are becoming more commoninU.S. supermarketsasagrowing numberofAmericans try obesity drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound to lose weight.

But thelabels aren t regulated bythe U.S. Food and Drug Administration, unlike the popular medicationsthemselves. Dieticianssay people takingGLP-1 drugsneed toread ingredient lists and talk to experts about what nutrients they need – and don t need.

“Adrugdoesnoteducate youonhowtoeat properly,” said SuzyBadaracco, a registered dietitian andpresident ofthe foodtrends forecasting firm Culinary Tides. “You’re not magically goingto be educated without a doctor’s help to eat healthy.”

Nutritional needs

The nutritionalneeds of GLP-1users aren't that differentfrom thoseof thegeneral population,saidShannonChristen,adietitiananddiabeteseducator withUCHealth Universityof Colorado Hospital.

The differenceis thatGLP-1 userseat less because the drugssuppresstheir appetites, so the foods theydo eat need tobe packed with nutrients, Christen said. Theycan expect to eat around50% less than theyate before they started taking the medications, she said.

“Everybite needstobe nutritious,” Christen said.

Proteinhelps GLP-1users maintainmuscle mass asthey loseweight. Christensaid she generally recommendsthat patientseat 20-30 grams ofprotein per meal,or 1.2grams per

kilogram of body weight daily.

Samantha Snashall, aregistered dietitian at Ohio State University s Wexner Medical Center, saidGLP-1 users should alsotry to meettheU.S. DepartmentofAgriculture s recommended dailyamount offibre, whichis around 14 grams forevery 1,000 calories consumed. Fiber is importantfor everyone, but it's particularly helpful for GLP-1 patients because constipationis afrequent sideeffect ofthe medications, she said.

Badaracco said it s easy for GLP-1 users to getdehydratedsincethe drugsmayblockthe body's thirst signals. Freshfruits and vegetables provide hydration, she said, and patients should also drink water throughout the day. GLP-1users shouldavoidmeals andsnacks thataredeepfried,highinsugarorsaturatedfat and spicy or acidic,since those foods can worsen sideeffects and workagainst weightloss efforts, Snashall said.

Food makers see a market Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy mimic the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1, which the body produces in thesmall intestine to control bloodsugarlevels, digestionandappetite. Around 12% of U.S. adults were taking GLP-1 medicationsas ofNovembertolose weightor treat a chronic conditionlike diabetes, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Big food companiesexpect the demand for GLP-1 drugs only to growas the injected medication becomes available inpill form, which happened with Wegovy lastweek. Meals marketed forGLP-1 usersalso areattracting nonusers,including peoplewho havecome offthe drugs but want to maintain weight loss.

munityAffairs Division,Empowerment Hour isa community-based initiativethat serves children, teens, and adults throughtargeted programming.

In addition to adult daytime empowerment courses,the programmeincludes the I Have the Power’ Youth Empowerment Programme for adolescents and teens, and an after-school enrichmentprogramme offeringhomework assistance, arts and crafts, and structured activitiesfor younger children.

For Mrs McPhee,the experiencehas beentransformative notbecause she lacked direction,but because the programme met her where she was and added value to her life.

“Yes,this coursewillhave a positive impact on my life, shesaid. “Iam trulylooking forward to the next programme.”

Her storyreflects theheart

of EmpowermentHour a reminder thatempowerment has no agelimit, and that

learning,

remain possible at every stage of life.

Nestle targetedGLP-1 userswhen it launchedits VitalPursuit frozenmeal brandin thefall of2024.Thecompany didn'tusea GLP-1 Friendly labelat firstbutaddedone tothepackagingaftercustomersreportedthata labelwould helpthemidentify productsthat mettheirdietary needs,accordingtoJennifer Barnes, vicepresident of brandmarketing for Nestle's frozen meals.

Sales have been briskand the company is addingnew mealsto thelineup, Barnessaid. She saidthe products have broadappeal; 77% of VitalPursuit salesare comingfrom households where no one is using GLP-1 drugs. Conagra Brandsadded a “GLP-1 Friendly” labelto26of itsHealthyChoicefrozenmeals in early 2025. The SmoothieKing chain has a “GLP-1SupportMenu,”whileseveralmealkit brands cater to patients, like Factor s GLP-1 Balance.”

Both Conagra and Nestle got approval from theU.S.Department ofAgriculture s Food Safety andInspection Serviceto use “GLP-1 Friendly labels. The USDA said it granted approval because the labelsare accompanied by statements aboutprotein andfibre contentand aren't misleading. Butthe USDA reiterated that there is no regulatory standard for the term GLP-1 Friendly.

Other companies aretargeting GLP-1 users but not mentioning the drugson their labels or menus. InNovember, Frenchyogurt maker LactalisbegansellingRatioProFiberyogurtin the U.S.The companysaid theyogurt, which contains20 gramsofproteinand 10gramsof fibre perserving, was formulatedwith GLP-1 usersinmind. RestaurantchainsChipotleand Shake Shackalso mentionedGLP-1 userslast month whenthey debutednew protein-heavy menu items.

Watch for added ingredients

Packaged foods may benefit GLP-1 users wholive aloneordon’t wanttodoa lotof cooking,Snashall said.But consumersshould

Stars pack Ralph Lauren's Milan Fashion Week show

By COLLEEN BARRY AP Fashion Writer

MILAN (AP) Colman

Domingo, LiamHemsworth andNoah Schnappwere among the celebrities who packed the Ralph Lauren front row duringMilan Fashion Week on Friday for the launch ofa Milan-centricseasonthat includesdressing TeamUSA for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. Domingo wasfresh offthe Golden Globesred carpet, Hemsworth tooka breakfrom the ski slopes, and Schnapp just wrappedthe “Stranger Things” finale. Ralph Lauren's runway collection for next winterwas Americana, featuringlayered outerwear, Texan suitingand handknit ski sweaters. Hundreds of screaming fans waitedoutside thebrand's Milan palazzo forK-pop star

Mark Lee,rushing hisvehicle as he stepped outto give fans a big heart sign. The Canadian-born singer said thatKpop’s massive appeal continues to catch him off guard. “It surprises me even to this day.I wasborn inNorth America,andeventhenK-pop wasn’t thisbig,’’ Lee said from the frontrow before the show. Iam honouredtobe able tobe apart ofthis phenomenon. Ifeel likeit’s kind of my responsibilityto share thegoodinfluencesthatIhave in K-pop, for the world.’’ During the show, singer Nick Jonasand actor Tom Hiddleston flanked David Lauren, thefashion house s brand andinnovation leader who willbe back inMilan as Team USAis fittedfor the openingandclosingceremony looks for theFeb. 6-22 Games.

AfterthereleaseofStranger

Things’ final season, Schnapp said heis readingscripts and looking perhapsbeyond the sci-fi world. “I’m pretty proud ofwhatwe havedone.Iam happytoclose itout.Ithink it’s time. Iam excited about what sto come,’’ the 21-yearold actor saidbefore the show.

I love Italy,I love the Italianpeople,and Ilovethis brand,’’ said Schnapp, wearing a smart doublebreasted Navyjacket with golden buttons. The University of Pennsylvania senior said he would be back in Italy ina coupleofweeks towatch some Olympicice hockey games with his Canadian-born parents. They made sure I was educated in the hockey culture,’’ Schnapp said. Domingoturned headsat

the GoldenGlobes witha lapel fullof Boucheron diamonds. ForRalph Lauren, he wore Boucheron stud earrings to accompany his three-piece suit witha matchingovercoat flungjauntily overhis shoulders.

Domingo, a darling of the fashion world who won anEmmy for “Euphoria,” saidthe collectionfelt very modern.

“We werewatching sort of Texas tuxedos and cowboy hats,cowboy boots, we’re lookingat Navajo prints,at beautiful jewellery. Things that look vintage andthings thatare looking forward.We’re looking atmountaineer boots which I thought was very bold to put in the conversation assort ofeffortlessly luxurious,'' the

be wary of added ingredients like sugar or sodium. Labels can be verymisleading, making a person thinkit s healthier than itis, Snashall said.

Vital Pursuit’s CauliflowerCrustThree Meat Pizza has 400 calories and 32% of the recommended daily value of protein,for example, but it also contains 40% of the recommendedsodiumandsaturatedfat.Christensaid sheadvises GLP-1users tochoose foodswith less than 10 grams offat per serving because fat can worsen symptomslike nausea and acid reflux.TheThreeMeat Pizzahas18gramsof fat.

Smoothie King’s 20-ounceGladiatorGLP-1 Vanilla smoothiehas morecalories, sodium andcholesterol thananoriginal glaseddonut from Krispy Kreme.

Christen said that if foods are going to be labelled GLP-1 Friendly, shehopes theyare truly nutrient dense andcome in reasonable portions.

“Doneresponsibly,I thinkthelabelscould actuallyhelppeople makesmartchoiceswhile they re ontherapies, butdone poorly,it could trivialise the medical treatment and drift into diet culture marketing,” Christen said.

Meeting nutritional needs

Badaracco said she advises clients not to put GLP-1 Friendly on theirpackaging. Thelabelsaren't backedbystandardsand mayconfuse somecustomers bymaking themthink that eating frozen andready-made meals that mention the medications will give them the benefits of the drugs.

Badaracco said labelsshould instead focus on how products will benefit consumers.

“Youwant totalktothe consumerabout what itis thatthey re lookingfor. They re looking for protein, they re looking for fibre, a goodsource ofhydration,great flavour,it keeps your energy up,” Badaracco said.

Dating burnout and the quiet return to matchmaking

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

WHEN manysingles say they are fine, what they often mean is tired. Tired of learning someone’s favourite colour. Tired of explaining theirlifestoryonrepeat.Tired of datingapps thatpromise connectionbut deliverconfusion. In small, close-knit communities, thatexhaustion can feeleven heavier.Social circles overlap. Privacy is limited.Dating historiesare rarely private. Andwhile engagement announcements and weddingphotos filltimelines, many singles quietly recalibrate their expectations, telling themselvesthey arecontent, even whensomething deeper remains unmet.

That emotional fatigue is whatmany nowrefer toas datingburnout. Andaccording to professional Bahamian matchmaker Lance Gibbs, it is oneof the most consistentemotions heencounters among clients and onehe understandspersonally.

“Frustration,” he said.

“That really sums it up.” Gibbs path into matchmaking wasshaped by more than professional curiosity.For overa decade, heimmersed himself inthe studyof human behaviour, sociology, and social psychology, reading extensively on attraction, boundaries, and what sustainshealthy romanticrelationships. Hisfirst venture in the relationship space grew into oneof the largest of itskind inthe Caribbean. But thework tookon new meaning after personal loss.

Afterthe deathofhis first wife,Gibbs found himselfdating againknowledgeable, self-aware, and emotionallyopen yetstill worn down by the process. Even though Iknew how to attract the right woman and build ahealthy relationship, thefatigue ofgoing onso many dates just to eventually find my person was exhausting,” he said.

What kept himgoing, he explained, wasremembering how fulfilled life felt when he was marriedand howdeeply hewanted toexperiencethat again.

“I knew how satisfied and happy my life was when I was

BAHAMIAN

married. And I was determined to find thatkind of love again.”

“Iwasabletofindmysoulmate twice, Gibbs said.

That experienceof grief, fatigue, hope, and renewal, became the foundation for his approach tomatchmaking. Not simplyintroducing people, buthelping them avoidyears ofemotionaltrial and unnecessary heartbreak in the process.

Today, Gibbs founder of Legacy Matchmakers, workswith peopleacross professions and age groups, fromtheir late twenties intotheir sixties. Doctors, lawyers, business owners, financeprofessionals.Attractive,accomplished individuals whose lives appear full from the outside, yetrelationships remain the onearea that feels persistentlyunresolved.

Dating burnout, however, doesnot always announce itself clearly.

“People areguarded,” Gibbs said. They don t wantto soundlikethey need a relationship, so they speak in circles.”

Henotices itin thesubtle signals. Clientswho insist they arefine eitherway, yet quietly plan their lives around work, children, or nieces and nephews. Others who say there are no goodpeople left,” or who dread the idea of starting overwith first-date small talk.

When someone says they don t really need anyone, I askthemif theycouldtruly survivealoneinaroomfor30 days withno contact.That question usually changes the

conversation.”

Theexhaustion, hebelieves, is notsimply about dating apps ormodern culture, but aboutdating without understanding how relationships actually work.

“We are dating without a mapand everyonewantsthe right person, but very few peopleare focusedonbecoming the right partner. He describes three patterns driving burnout:poor signallingof intentionsand values, emotional overinvestment in potential ratherthan reality, anda lackof accountability when relationships fail.

He saidpeople recognise when somethinggoes wrong but don’t stopto study why. They just repeat the cycle. The repetitionis oftenwhat leadspeople toreconsider how theydate altogether.Not outof desperation,butefficiency, he said.

Matchmaking, heexplained, offersstructure ina landscapethat oftenfeels chaotic.Clientsarevetted.Intentions are aligned. Lifestyle, values, and readiness matter as much as chemistry. In smaller communities especially,it’salowrisk,high reward way to meet people

you would never encounter in your normal circle. There are incredible people whoare essentiallyhiddengems.Highly functional, deeply committed to theirwork, and notout socialising in obvious ways.”

For those experiencing burnout, Gibbs is careful not to sell hope as a quick fix. People think the solution is finding the right match. But anewfacedoesn tfixoldpatterns,” he said. Instead, heencourages a pause. Preparationover pursuit. Understanding what readiness trulylooks likebefore inviting someone new into one’s life.

“When you stop looking and start preparing,you reclaim your power,” he said. Herecalls oneclientwho cameto himexhausted,frustrated, andready togive up entirely. Six months later, after focusing on readiness ratherthan searching,that same client called with different news.

They had just gotten engaged,” Gibbs said. “That’s why I do this work.”

For singles navigating dating burnout,his adviceis simple, butnot easy: Don t lower yourstandards. Butdo consider changing your strategy.”

Ethiopian Orthodox Christians celebrate Timket, the baptism of Jesus

New Palmdale store about more than just books

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net

FOR Brittany Thompson, opening the doors to Bloom & Bindings was never just aboutputtingbooksonshelves.Itwasabout creatingaspace thatfeelsintentional, warm,and rootedintogetherness. Sinceofficiallyopening atWong’sPlaza inPalmdale last December, thebookstore has quickly positioneditself asa gentlepause from everyday rush, inviting readers, creatives, and families to slow down and gather. Thenameitselfsets thetoneforwhat Brittany envisionedfrom thevery beginning. Rather than leaning solely into the literal mechanicsof books, she wasdrawn to the deeper meaning behind connection and sharedexperience.Assheexplains: People often ask me if bindings means that we bind booksand whileI lovethatidea (andmay consideritatsomepoint),it sactuallyabout binding community.Bloom represents growth, creativity,and becoming,while Bindings speaks toconnection, the way booksbringpeopletogetherandhowshared spaces create lasting relationships.

Bloom & Bindings, Brittany said, was always meant to be morethan a bookstore. It is a place whereideas grow, conversations happen,and peoplefeel connectedto something meaningful. That senseof purpose foundan almost serendipitous match inPalmdale. What began as a conversation quickly turned into anopportunity thatfelt tooaligned toignore. Brittany recalls how sharing her plans with her sisterled her directly tothe now homeof Bloom&Bindings. I sharedmy vision andbusiness planwith mysister Blayre; what I wanted Bloom and Bindings to include, from the café and kids corner to a conference room andenough space for bookshelves.She mentionedthatthere might be an available unit in the same plaza whereherbusinessislocated,sowewentto take a look. When wewalked in, it literally had space for everything I had envisioned,” said Brittany. Whatfollowedonly reinforcedthatthe timing was right. A unit that initially seemedunavailable suddenlyopened up,a momentBrittany describesasunmistakable. At first,I was told theunit was alreadytaken,but withinaboutfifteen minutes,I wasinformedthat theperson who had initially claimed the space had backed out and itwas now available. That moment felt like a sign and everything after that alignedso effortlessly.Being ableto build Bloom & Bindings in a space that fits the visionand beneighbours withmy mum andsister,not justathomebut atworktoo, made thetiming feel absolutelyright, she said. Inside the store,the atmosphere reflects thatintention.Itis designednotjustfor

browsing, but for breathing.Brittany hopes each visit leaves a lastingimpression that goes beyond thepurchase.“Ihopepeopleleavefeelinginspired, calm,and connected.Whethertheycome infora book,acoffee,ora conversation,IwantBloom& Bindingstofeel likeapausefromthe rushanda place whereideas aresparked andpeople feelen-

couraged toslow down, reflect,and dreama little more boldly,” she said. That philosophy extends beyond the shelves and intothe experiencesshecurates.On January18, Bloom& Bindingshosted its Blooming All2026 visionboard eventcentred oncreativity andintention. ForBrittany, it isa natural evolutionof both the brand and her personal interests. CreatingBlooming All2026feltlike anatural extension of Bloom & Bindingsand of me personally.One ofmysidepassions hasalwaysbeen eventplanning,sobeing abletocombinethatwith mylove ofbooks andcommunityhas beenincredibly fulfilling. The event was designed to give people spaceto dreamopenly, planintentionally, and createalongside others.Bloom &Bindings

isn’t just aboutreading, it’s about growth,creativity, and connectionand eventslike this allow me to bring all of those passions together in one meaningful space,” said Brittany.

As a young Bahamian woman buildingsomething from theground up,Brittany is candid about the emotional weightthat comeswithsteppinginto purpose.Sherecalls the night beforeopening with strikingclarity,amomentthat reshaped how she understands readiness. The day beforeour grandopening,I felt this deep,hollow ache in my stomach.The kindof nerves thatcome when something bigis aboutto happen. Iremember sharing that moment with my family realising it wasn’tfear, but growth showing up as discomfort. That experience reminded me thatif you wait until youfeel completely ready, you maynever begin,” she said.

Equally important, she credits the people aroundher for helping turnvision into reality. Along with that, I ve learned how importantit is to surroundyourself withsupportive, like-mindedpeople.

Carver Garden Club plants the seeds for agriculture programme

By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

THEladiesof theCarverGardenClub recently presentedthe studentsand staff ofDorisJohnsonSeniorHighschoolwith a varietyof fruittrees toadd tothe school’s developingagriculture programme.

This latest donation is just one of many ways the clubhassoughtto helpadvance horticulture in the Bahamas since its founding in 1946. In the1960s, the clubspearheaded the planting of Poincianatrees along the streetwhichis nowcalledPoinciana Drive. And over theyears, the club has tendedto avarietyofpublic spacesand provided decorfor churchesand other events.

This latest initiative was the brainchild of currentpresident Isla Deane,who explainedthat theclub wantedto giveback totheschoolaftertheywereabletohosta prior flower show there.

They assisted us with our show and allowedustouse theirfacilitiesforour gardenclub lastyearandwe wantedto donate somethingas athank you, she said.“MrLightbourneindicatedthattheir agricultureprogrammeneededexpanding -that theyneededdifferent localfruit trees because they are trying to expand and improve their argiculture products. In fact, lastyear thestudents wereable to sell someof theirproduce atthe flower show. So we hope that these trees can become a part of that. Schoolprincipal KentLightbourneexpressedhisthanksandnotedthatthetrees would bea tremendousadditiontothe school’slandscaping andtheagriculture programme.

It is not a verybig one, we do have about20 students,” he explainednoting that studentshave theoption tochose

from practical coursesas such carpentry, auto mechanics, cosmotology and welding in addition to agriculture.

“It is a smallprogramme so I really wanted to expandit so that wecould get more students interested and the best way todo thatis forthemto beable seethe fruittrees aboutand seethe benefitsfirst hand.”

Mr Lightbourne toldthe Tribune that when he arrived at the school it was a barren landof potential. Hehad been transferredfrom HONashwhich hasa very strong agriculture and animal husbandry programme andknew that creating a similar environment was the legacyhewanted toleavebehind wheneverhistime comestoleaveDoris Johnson.

Already the school is dotted with various treeswhich havehad benches addedunder themto createpleasant shady spacesfor studentsto congregate duringschool breaksandthey havea variety offruit treeswhich arebearing fruit for students and staff alike to enjoy.

Every dayat lunch time,when the children pass this jujutree, (he said pointing to a large juju tree, loaded with fruit)theystopand theyarepickingand eating, so when theycan see these things practically, they aremore interested in taking part in it.”

He explained that the plan is to find the perfect spots for each plant to grow into a full tree and have the students take part in the care of them.

Theyalso servepractical purposesas well.

Hesaidthatas theschoolisagovernmentfacility,thestudentsdoexperiencea shortage of food and many rely on the assistance of social serivces.

“Many of these students simply may not have access tofresh fruits and vegetables and we havecases wherethey may

My husband hasbeen a constantsourceofencouragement and reassurance,grounding me whenthings feltoverwhelming. My sister, Brielle,has been an incredible helpin keeping things organisedand managingthesocials,amongother things as we work side by side in the storeand I m also grateful forclose friendswho consistentlyoffer adviceand helpful guidance when needed. Having the right peoplearound youmakesall the difference.No onebuilds something meaningful alone. actuallyhavenever actuallyseenparticularfruit forexample,theguava thatwe have