01282026 NEWS

“We

CORRUPTION CLAIM

‘OFFENSIVE’: KNOWLES

• “One bad apple does not spoil the entire bunch,” says Police Commissioner

• 2025 figures reveal steep decline in murders, armed robberies and other major offences

• Fire damage across the Bahamas surged to an estimated $58.2m

• 169 complaints against police lodged by civilians but only four convictions or resignations

Hartnell

By

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

MISGIVINGS were last night voiced about the Government’s planned purchase of Grand Bahama Power Company after it was confirmed that the Prime Minister was referring to an “acquisition” as opposed to just taking regulatory “control” over the energy monopoly.

By DENISE

MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister

Philip “Brave” Davis on Tuesday defended his administration’s record on Grand Bahama, pushing back against criticism that several headline projects

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

INTEREST is growing over who will be the Progressive Liberal Party’s candidate for the Killarney seat in what is expected to be a hotly contested race, with former Senator Robyn Lynes emerging as a potential contender. The Tribune can confirm

announced early in his term — including the Grand Lucayan Resort, a new international airport and a new hospital — remain undelivered more than four years later.

Addressing the longstalled Grand Lucayan

VJ Edgecombe’s Mom

Bendra Rolle beams with pride at her son’s 2026 NBA ALL-STAR Rising Star selection. The rookie guard for the Philadelphia 76ers has been selected to compete in the 2026 Castrol Rising Stars Game set for Friday, February 13, at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Ms Rolle said: “God continues to show that he can do all things. My family and I

remain so happy and grateful for VJ’s early success. More than my son’s talented play on the court, as a mother, I take a deeper sense of pride in the person he has grown to become. VJ is consistently humble and hungry to succeed. Like so many family members, friends, and fans, I’m truly excited about his recent NBA All-Star Rising Star selection. SEE SPORTS for story

Knowles: Crime has considerably

Murders plummet 31% as major crime hits record lows

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

POLICE Commis -

sioner Shanta Knowles said crime fell sharply across The Bahamas in 2025, with murders, armed robberies and other major offences recording some of the steepest declines seen in years. Presenting the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s annual crime briefing, Ms Knowles attributed the reductions

to intelligence-led policing, increased visibility, targeted operations and stronger community partnerships.

“For all the rhetoric over the years dissecting the level of crime in The Bahamas, I can unequivocally state that under my watch as Commissioner of Police and the policies, strategies and plans executed under my tenure, crime has considerably decreased for the year 2025,” she said.

Preliminary figures

from the police show major crimes fell by 15 percent, from 2,825 cases in 2024 to 2,409 last year. Declines were recorded across all regions, led by New Providence at 16 percent, followed by the Family Islands at 13 percent and Grand Bahama and the Northern Bahamas at eight percent.

Crimes against the person dropped by 27 percent, from 696 to 509 cases. Quality-of-life offences, which police said most directly affect

community stability and fear of crime, also fell nationwide, marking the largest simultaneous national decline in recent years.

Homicides declined by 31 percent, from 120 in 2024 to 83 in 2025. New Providence accounted for 76 killings, the Family Islands four and Grand Bahama three. Victims aged 18 to 45 made up 83 percent of homicide victims, with retaliation, gang activity and personal conflict accounting for 43 percent of known motives. Firearms were used in 64 cases, and males represented 93 percent of victims. Ms Knowles said this was the largest percentage drop in homicides since national crime tracking began in 1963 and the lowest number recorded in a comparable policing environment since 2008. Armed robberies fell by 39 percent, from 265 to 162 cases. More than half were concentrated in the Southeastern, Southwestern and South Central divisions. Firearms remained the primary weapon, 60 vehicles were stolen and 38 percent were recovered. Males accounted for 67 percent of victims. Non-armed robberies declined by 22 percent, from 59 to 46 cases, while housebreakings fell by nearly half, from 331 to 170 incidents.

Shopbreakings also declined, dropping 13 percent to 273 cases.

Vehicle theft rose slightly, increasing two percent to 398 cases. Nissan vehicles, particularly Cube and Note models, accounted for three-quarters of thefts, with 59 percent of stolen vehicles recovered. Stealing from vehicles increased seven percent to 200 incidents. Police seized 366 firearms and more than 11,200 rounds of ammunition, resulting in 828 arrests and 292 charges.

ShotSpotter technology recorded 970 gunshot incidents. Joint operations with Customs and Immigration yielded an additional 37 firearms and more than 5,400 rounds of ammunition. Mrs Knowles said the 2026 Policing Plan would build on the gains, focusing on intelligence-led policing, disrupting firearms and drug trafficking, reducing property crime and strengthening youth and community engagement.

“The progress achieved in 2025 proves that strategic, intelligence-led policing works,” Ms Knowles said. “Together, as one Force and one people, we will build a safer and stronger Bahamas.”

decreased for the year 2025

Only four police convictions despite 169 civilian complaints

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

ALTHOUGH 169 complaints were lodged by civilians against police officers last year, only four cases ended with an officer being convicted or resigning, while several others were referred for formal disciplinary or prosecutorial action, according to figures released yesterday by the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Statistics compiled by the force’s Research and Policy Branch show that most civilian complaints did not result in criminal convictions, but a number progressed beyond preliminary review, including referrals to the Director of Public Prosecutions and police tribunals.

Of the 169 civilian complaints recorded in 2025, 42 remained listed as under investigation or sub judice at year’s end. Another 102 cases were closed with no

further action, while 13 were ruled unfounded, unsupported by sufficient evidence, or withdrawn.

Seven civilian matters were forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for tribunal proceedings, and one resulted in advice for civil action. Four cases concluded with an officer being convicted or resigning. No civilian matters were listed as pending trial.

Overall complaints against police officers increased modestly during the year. Total complaints rose from 315 in 2024 to 326 in 2025, a three percent increase. Civilian complaints climbed from 159 to 169, while internal police complaints edged up from 146 to 148. Corruption-related complaints declined slightly, falling from ten in 2024 to nine in 2025. The figures were released amid continuing debate over police accountability and the delayed

implementation of the Independent Commission of Investigations, legislation passed by the Davis administration in February last year to strengthen oversight of law enforcement and other public officials.

While the government enacted the legislation, it has not announced when the commission will become operational. Opposition figures and civil society groups have warned that prolonged delays risk undermining public confidence in law enforcement. The bill followed a US federal indictment alleging corruption involving Bahamian law enforcement and was promoted as a mechanism to place investigations of serious misconduct under an independent authority.

Last year, Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe said the government would not rush the commission’s implementation, warning that hasty rollouts in the past had exposed the public

treasury to costly lawsuits. He was responding to criticism from St Anne’s MP Adrian White, who accused the administration of delaying the commission nearly a year

after the legislation was passed. Figures on internal police matters indicate more frequent disciplinary action. Twenty-six officers were reprimanded or compensated following internal complaints, while 27 cases were recommended for tribunal hearings. Another 52 internal matters remained under investigation. Thirteen officers were discharged, interdicted, or acquitted, and

24 complaints were withdrawn by complainants. In police corruption matters, seven cases remained under investigation, and two were referred to a tribunal. None resulted in discharges, withdrawals, or findings of insufficient evidence during the reporting period. At the Disciplinary Tribunal, 97 new cases were filed last year. Forty-one were completed, while 56 remained pending.

Knowles hits back at US lawyer’s ‘offensive’ corruption claims

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

COMMISSIONER of

Police Shanta Knowles yesterday rebuked claims by an American attorney that corruption runs through Bahamian institutions, calling the remarks offensive and a far cry from the reality of police work in The Bahamas. Ms Knowles was responding at a police press conference to comments made last week during the sentencing of former RBDF chief petty officer Darrin Roker in a US federal court. Defence lawyer Martin Roth had painted a picture of a country

Rape statistics

riddled with corruption, a characterisation the police commissioner said unfairly smeared officers who serve with integrity.

“I am offended by his remarks,” said Ms Knowles.

“To believe that because he has represented one person who is accused of crimes against his country that he would want to

Rape Victim Age Demographic

cast such aspersions on my officers in our country; if you look at the work we’ve done over the past year, you will see that that statement certainly is not true. We have decent police officers and other law enforcement agencies have decent officers who give their best to their community. One bad apple does not spoil the entire bunch.” However, Roker did not act alone, neither is he simply accused of crimes. He pleaded guilty to his role in a sprawling corruption case that also involves several police officers and a high-ranking Bahamian politician. As investigations continue, he is the first of 13 defendants to be sentenced. Among those charged is Elvis Nathaniel Curtis, 51, a former Royal Bahamas Police Force chief superintendent who once headed the police station

at Lynden Pindling International Airport. The case has embarrassed Bahamian authorities and renewed scrutiny of the country’s long-running struggle with drug trafficking.

Roker, 56, was jailed for four years by US District Judge Gregory Woods after pleading guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States. Prosecutors said the scheme involved about 1,000 kilograms of cocaine.

During the Manhattan hearing, Mr Roth told the court: “The entire system in The Bahamas — the police, defence officials, government personnel — is corrupted.”

In Court, Mr Roth also argued that Roker had joined the conspiracy late, attended only two meetings and exercised what he described as uncharacteristic bad judgement.

US prosecutors took a different view, telling the court that drug traffickers depend on corrupt officials to move narcotics across borders and that Roker’s conduct was part of a wider pattern. Roker admitted accepting a $20,000 bribe in October 2024 in exchange for providing information that helped traffickers avoid detection.

The defence pointed to Roker’s terminal prostate cancer as a mitigating factor. Addressing the court, Roker said his illness had stripped away his normal life and pleaded for mercy.

Prosecutors described the offence as extremely serious and said they believed Roker had been involved in drug trafficking for many years before the conduct for which he was convicted. In sentencing, Judge Woods said Roker had abused a position of trust, noting that the crime would normally have attracted a much longer prison term. He treated Roker’s terminal illness as a powerful mitigating factor. In addition to the prison sentence, Roker was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and to forfeit the $20,000 he received.

Fire damage costs soar 470 percent to

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FIRE damage across the Bahamas surged to an estimated $58.2m in 2025, more than four times the losses recorded the year before, as firefighters responded to sharply higher call volumes during a year marked by intense public concern over the country’s limited fire-fighting capacity.

Yesterday’s police statistics show total estimated fire-related damages jumped from $10.2m in 2024 to $58.24m last year, a 470 percent increase.

Insured losses rose even more steeply, climbing from $4.99m to $50.34m, an increase of 909 percent.

The escalation in damage coincided with a significant rise in incidents. Fire services responded to 1,673 fire-related calls in 2025, up from 1,166 the previous year — a 43 percent increase.

Several categories recorded sharp growth.

Bush fires surged by 139 percent, while building fires rose 40 percent, and vehicle fires increased 37 percent. Rubbish fires climbed 44 percent, and electrical fires rose 22 percent. False alarms also edged upward.

The data suggest that the year’s losses were driven not just by more fires, but by more costly ones. Arson matters increased to 106 from 79, a 34 percent rise,

while investigated fires also increased, pointing to a greater number of serious or suspicious incidents. Fire injuries climbed from 22 to 32, up 45 percent, and fire-related deaths doubled from one to two.

Firefighters also handled a sharp increase in extrication calls, which rose from 11 to 21, an increase of 91 percent.

In total, 355 fire-related cases were recorded last year, compared to 306 in 2024.

The surge in damage came during a year in which the state of the national fire fleet drew sustained public attention, with repeated concerns raised about the insufficient number of functioning fire trucks.

Traffic fines surge 224 percent amid rising road accidents

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter

FIXED penalty notices for traffic violators surged by 224 percent last year, as police significantly stepped up enforcement on the nation’s roads even while crashes continued to climb.

Police statistics issued during yesterday’s annual crime briefing showed that the Royal Bahamas Police Force issued 67,261 fixed penalty notices in 2025, up sharply from 20,737 the year before.

The enforcement surge came against a backdrop of worsening road safety indicators. Police

recorded 12,521 road accidents last year, a 12 percent increase from the 11,157 recorded in 2024. Of those crashes, 59 were fatal, resulting in 65 deaths. The previous year also saw 59 fatal accidents, but with 66 deaths.

Men accounted for 78 percent of traffic fatalities in 2025, compared to 22 percent for women. Drivers made up the largest share of victims, accounting for 33 percent of those killed, with most fatalities occurring among people aged 26 to 35.

The majority of fatal crashes occurred on New Providence, followed by Grand Bahama and the

Family Islands.

Police said accident reports increased across all categories, including damage-only collisions, hit-and-run incidents, minor injuries and serious injuries.

Ms Knowles said the figures remain troubling, particularly given ongoing road safety initiatives.

“I would like to caution motorists to slow down, to adhere to the traffic laws, to avoid texting and using cell phones while driving, because it is a distraction,” she said. “Use your seat belts and encourage those in your vehicle to do the same, because the life you save may be your very own.”

$58.2m

RAPE TRIAL HINGES ON ‘CONFLICTING NARRATIVES’ AS CLOSING ARGUMENTS END

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 24-YEAR-OLD man raped a 19-year-old woman on Boxing Day 2024 after refusing to take no for an answer, prosecutors told a Supreme Court jury yesterday, as the defence portrayed the complainant as a vindictive former partner.

Denaveo Sweeting, 24, was in court as closing submissions were delivered in his rape trial before Justice Renae McKay.

Sweeting is accused of raping the teenage complainant at her residence in New Providence on December 26, 2024. Defence attorney David Cash said his client is innocent and maintained that Sweeting never forced himself on the complainant.

Mr Cash said his client exercised his right not to testify and that the case rested on two conflicting narratives. He argued that the prosecution failed to produce evidence supporting the allegation. He said Sweeting

admitted to being in relationships with two women at the same time before the alleged rape, one of whom was the complainant. Mr Cash described the complainant as a vindictive and dangerous woman with an unhealthy relationship with the truth.

He told the court that the complainant knew about Sweeting’s girlfriend and had slashed his car tyres after seeing a WhatsApp status showing the two together. He also alleged that she confronted Sweeting at his workplace in the

tourism sector.

Mr Cash said the complainant claimed she and the defendant had a ‘meet up and grind’ relationship. He argued there were inconsistencies between her police report and her testimony, noting that she did not mention being chased by the defendant in her testimony, despite including that claim in her initial report.

The defence also said the complainant raised the issue of rape in a WhatsApp conversation in October 2024, months before the alleged incident.

Mr Cash questioned why the complainant took four days to report the alleged rape and why the first person she told was the defendant’s girlfriend rather than her own father, who is a police officer. He also noted that while the complainant claimed Sweeting ejaculated on her back and that she showered afterwards, police did not collect the towel as evidence. He said no medical evidence was produced to support claims that she was cut during the assault.

Mr Cash submitted that Sweeting went to the complainant’s home at her invitation and that she intended to have sex with him.

Prosecutor Erica Ingraham, however, said the defendant went to the complainant’s home unannounced on the afternoon of the incident. Once inside, she alleged that he removed the towel from her body and choked her against a wall. He then allegedly inserted his finger into her vagina, bent her over a couch, and raped her.

Ms Ingraham said the defendant did not want to

hear the word no. She said the complainant was hesitant to report the matter because she was unsure whether she would be believed, adding that victim-blaming is prevalent in The Bahamas. She also noted that the complainant was a teenager at the time of the alleged offence.

While seven witnesses testified, Ms Ingraham acknowledged that the case ultimately turned on what the complainant and the defendant said occurred. She told the court that the complainant met Sweeting in November 2023 and believed they were in a committed relationship. The complainant met his family and received what was described as motherly advice from his mother.

In January 2024, the complainant saw a WhatsApp status showing Sweeting with another woman. She admitted to acting “dumb” afterwards, but said she paid for the damage she caused.

By June, the prosecution said, the complainant realised Sweeting was in another relationship and let him go. Ms Ingraham said the complainant no longer wanted him. She said both the complainant and Sweeting’s girlfriend later confronted him at his workplace, at the girlfriend’s suggestion, and that the complainant learned at that point the girlfriend was pregnant.

Ms Ingraham questioned why Sweeting kept disappearing messages activated on WhatsApp after the allegations arose and submitted that he intentionally attempted to delete chat history. She said the complainant took screenshots of their exchanges and read

messages in which Sweeting said he still wanted the complainant.

The prosecution argued that the accused could not handle rejection.

Ms Ingraham said the complainant had just come out of the shower and was wrapped in a towel when she answered the door and told Sweeting he had to leave before the alleged rape occurred. The complainant testified that her mouth was muffled by a cushion during the incident and that she later questioned Sweeting about his actions.

The complainant told the court that if she wanted to have sex with the defendant, she would have called him.

The prosecution challenged Sweeting’s claim that the complainant initiated sexual contact, questioning why a man allegedly fingering someone would suddenly remember he had a girlfriend and then leave.

Ms Ingraham said the complainant had moved on and was in another relationship before the alleged rape and remains with that partner.

She acknowledged that the report was made outside the 72-hour window for collecting biological evidence. She also noted that on June 24, 2024, the complainant said she was done with the defendant. After pointing out that the complainant became emotional while recounting the alleged rape during a police confrontation, Ms Ingraham urged the jury to consider all the evidence.

In addition to Ms Ingraham, Vashti Bridgewater appeared for the prosecution.

Davis: Loudest criticisms coming from those responsible for creating problem

DAVIS from page one

redevelopment, Mr Davis said work continues on what he repeatedly described as a complex and carefully sequenced transaction.

“We are making steady progress. It is a complex transaction requiring careful sequencing. It requires proper approvals, coordination, and structured execution. That is exactly how we are approaching it,” he said.

Acknowledging growing public frustration, Mr Davis said he understood the anxiety over the pace of progress but rejected claims of failure.

“I understand the anxiety people feel,” he said. “I understand the frustration when the pace feels longer than anyone wants. I also understand the temptation for some to turn every stage of work into drama, to create noise, and to claim failure before the work reaches its next phase.”

He reserved his sharpest criticism for those he said were responsible for the problems now

surrounding the project.

“The criticisms coming loudest from those who created the problem, they should hang their heads in shame and gratitude,” he said.

“We are only concerned with the development of Grand Bahama. Not the incompetent political scammers who brought us this mess. We will ignore the noise. We will keep doing what serious governments do. Protect workers, protect the public interest, move the project forward step by step in a way that is credible and sustainable.”

Mr Davis also rejected suggestions that Grand Bahama has been sidelined, despite the continued closure of major projects announced at the start of his administration.

“There

are people rooting for the failure of Grand Bahama. Some see political gain in doubt. Some want to keep the island trapped in

old arguments and old disappointments. That mindset has no place in the future of Grand Bahama.”

“There are people rooting for the failure of Grand Bahama. Some see political gain in doubt. Some want to keep the island trapped in old arguments and old disappointments. That mindset has no place in the future of Grand Bahama. Success is the only option because the people of Grand Bahama deserve nothing less,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the absence of ribbon-cuttings should not be confused with a lack of progress.

“Things do not happen overnight. And I do understand the frustrations and sometimes the impatience of the electorate who become impatient at times over the delivery of something,” he said.

Davis unveils $550m in Grand Bahama projects and landmark power deal

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter

A NEW $450 million cruise port, more than $100 million in airport redevelopment works, and a landmark energy agreement giving the government greater control of Grand Bahama’s power supply were several major announcements Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis made in Grand Bahama yesterday.

He described the developments as critical pillars in the ongoing relaunch and diversification of Grand Bahama’s economy.

Mr Davis and 19 members of his Cabinet were in Grand Bahama for a Cabinet meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister in the Harold DeGregory Government Complex.

After the meeting, Mr Davis announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the government and Emera Incorporated, relating to the Grand Bahama Power Company.

“When completed, this would mark the first time the government of The Bahamas has control over the power company since the Hawksbill Creek Agreement was signed,” he said, adding that the move would allow for universal electricity rates

across the country, ending a long-standing disparity between Grand Bahama and the rest of the country.

“This is not about control for its own sake,” the Prime Minister said. “It is about fairness, affordability, and aligning energy policy with the needs of the people and the modern economy we are building.”

He added that lower energy costs are a key component of reducing the cost of living, improving business competitiveness, and strengthening the foundation for investment and job creation.

The MOU, he said, reflects careful engagement and a willingness to confront challenges previous administrations avoided.

Referring to the airport redevelopment, Mr Davis announced that Phase One of the Grand Bahama International Airport redevelopment has officially moved from planning to ground work activity.

He revealed that construction firm Polycon has been mobilised, with Bahamas Hot Mix already engaged in site preparation works.

Phase One of the airport project carries a capital investment of more than $100 million and will deliver a modern terminal capable of accommodating up to 500,000 passengers annually, with expansion

capacity to one million.

The redevelopment includes a new international terminal with US pre-clearance, a terminal footprint of approximately 100,000 square feet, new taxiways, expanded apron space, upgraded roadways, and parking facilities.

The Prime Minister noted that extensive environmental and flood mitigation work is being incorporated into the design, given the airport’s history of flooding. Environmental impact assessments, geotechnical studies, and flood mitigation surveys are currently being finalized to ensure longterm resilience.

The airport redevelopment comes amid strong tourism growth, said Mr Davis who reported that air arrivals to Grand Bahama increased by more than 30 percent in 2025 compared to 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

He reported that sea arrivals grew by more than 90 percent yearover-year and more than doubled compared to 2019, making Grand Bahama the fastest-growing tourism destination in the country.

Another major announcement involved MSC Cruises’ planned development of a new cruise ship pier complex at Billy Cay in Freeport Harbour.

SIGNING - SEE PAGE 12

with Ms Lynes on Monday night. Branch members say she would be a good candidate and no one else has expressed interest in the seat.

Ms Lynes, interviewed by the PLP’s Candidates Committee last week, has said that she is open to any seat the party is willing to offer, declining to specify a particular constituency.

Party insiders have noted that there are limited options but said they have been actively looking for a suitable seat for her.

Meanwhile, PLP Killarney supporters say they are ready to work with whichever candidate is chosen.

“We as a branch, whomever the party sends, we work with. No fussing. No fighting,” said one party faithful.

ZNS General Manager Clint Watson is also being mentioned amid uncertainty over who the party will ultimately nominate for Southern Shores where he has been seeking the nomination.

Senator Ronald Duncombe, who ran unsuccessfully for Killarney in the last election, declined to definitively say whether he plans to run in the area again, telling The Tribune that he will go wherever the prime minister sends him.

“No one has been interviewed for Killarney at this time,” he said.

Mr Duncombe said he, his team, and the branch have continued working in Killarney.

He expressed confidence that the PLP could win the seat even if he’s not chosen, pointing to a possible split in who FNMs support given former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis’ intention to run as an independent.

“I’ve lived here for almost 20 years so we know what we’re looking for,” Mr Duncombe said.

“If you look at the numbers at the last election, we were very close, and that’s why we stayed the course and I’m confident, whether it’s me as the candidate or someone else, and you

put it on record, the Progressive Liberal Party will be the party that wins Killarney.”

Nonetheless, some members of the PLP’s Killarney branch claim that Mr Duncombe has isolated himself from the body and is operating with his own faction.

They said he does good work with the school, pays his branch dues, and attends functions, often making donations.

“But some feel he isn’t doing enough for the branch itself,” one member added.

Other members said there has been growing curiosity among party supporters as to whether he would even run.

Many assumed Mr Duncombe would not seek the seat, claiming he has not formally informed the branch of his interest.

The Free National Movement has ratified Senator Michela Barnett-Ellis for the seat.

The Tribune understands that the PLP plans to ratify its remaining candidates on Sunday.

He argued that his government inherited major projects with no viable plans in place.

“But one has to understand what we inherited when we came to office,” he said. “There’s no plan in place for the opening and/or redevelopment of Grand Lucaya. There’s no plan in place for any of those issues or any of those projects that you say have not been opened yet. But look at where we are today.”

Mr Davis said the country’s economic condition when his administration took office made immediate delivery impossible.

“We inherited a country that was under collapse. Don’t ask me. As a journalist, you go and Google the IMF report that I call them the medical doctor … to see whether or not we are healthy or not,” he said.

“They would tell you that we are very unhealthy, that the country’s economy was in the intensive care unit on life support, and they’ll tell you what they were advising me to do.”

While conceding that several projects remain unfinished, Mr Davis insisted tangible progress is visible.

“Turning keys, openings, even though those things have not happened, other things have happened,” he said.

“The economy has recovered, but recovery was never the end game for me. It was to grow the economy, and the Grand Bahama economy is growing.”

He pointed to ongoing construction activity, including the hospital and the Grand Bahama Shipyard, and questioned whether critics would prefer those projects be halted. When asked about former Grand Lucayan employees who were laid off without pay, Mr Davis said: “They are being paid.” When the Davis administration took office in September 2021, it pledged to redevelop the Grand Lucayan, construct a new international airport terminal and deliver a modern hospital for Grand Bahama. The government cancelled a prior sale agreement for the resort in December 2021, pursued a deal with Electra America in 2022 that later collapsed, and in May 2025 announced a heads of agreement with Concord Wilshire for an $800m redevelopment.

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Big promises, but the evidence appears to be missing?

THERE is much to write about in today’s Tribune – with the government making announcements about Grand Bahama on the same day as the Commissioner of Police spoke on issues surrounding crime in the country.

We will return to the commissioner another day – although we will note it was remarkable that she dismissed the comments of the lawyer in the case of Darrin Roker, the former chief petty officer in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force who was jailed in the US after admitting his role in a cocaine smuggling ring. The lawyer had said The Bahamas was infected with corruption. Commissioner Shanta Knowles claimed Roker was “one bad apple”.

How do you have one bad apple in a conspiracy? By its nature, a conspiracy would be full of bad apples. And how do you know it is only one bad apple when the investigation is taking place in the US – with no apparent investigation taking place here? How do you know the corruption has gone no further without investigating?

As we say, we shall return to that topic another day. Today, however, we shall focus on Grand Bahama.

The government had touted its visit to Grand Bahama as one that would bring a response on a range of issues facing our sadly struggling second city.

Chief among those was the situation at the Grand Lucayan Resort, where staff have been sent home without receiving pay after previously struggling to get the money they were due before Christmas. There are questions about the NIB contributions of those staff members, and what is to become of them as progress on the resort’s sale and redevelopment remains stalled.

Prime Minister Philip Davis offered no definite answers yesterday, instead talking about “steady progress” rather than deadlines for the next steps, and “a complex transaction requiring careful sequencing” rather than the fanfare that accompanied the May 2025 announcement of the heads of agreement signing for the sale and redevelopment of the resort to Concord Wilshire.

At the time of the signing, Mr Davis trumpeted that “finally, you, the people of Grand Bahama will have the development partner you deserve”.

No Concord Wilshire executive stood beside Mr Davis yesterday to provide an update. No packed ballroom greeted his words this time. Instead, Mr Davis talked of understanding the “anxiety people feel”. Yes, anxiety will naturally follow when you do not know when your pay will arrive, if your job is secure or if your contributions have all been made by the employer.

Mr Davis also painted the criticism that has been aired as undermining the island, saying “there are people rooting for the failure of Grand Bahama”. It is not rooting for failure to ask for evidence of progress.

He then went on to say that “things do not happen overnight” and that there was “no plan in place for the opening and/or redevelopment of Grand Lucaya” when his party came to office. His party is now near the end of its current tenure in office, ready to go to the

When loyalty pays more than work

EDITOR, The Tribune. EVERYTHING tastes better when someone else is paying the bill. While this line might elicit laughter at the dinner table, it also highlights a troubling mindset in a society where politics has subtly conditioned many individuals to equate sponsorship with success.

LETTERS

polls to ask for

another term. It is a bit late now to be blaming those who went before.

When asked about the employees who had no pay, Mr Davis said “they are being paid” but without specifics. Lots of questions remain, but where are the investors who were hailed as the saviours?

Meanwhile, another announcement proclaimed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Emera Incorporated over a purchase of Grand Bahama Power Company.

The details remain unclear – again – though the Office of the Prime Minister said it “sets out the framework” for the government to purchase GB Power from the Canadian company. When we asked for more details, we were told that “once done you’ll have your answers”. We are not sure why a government purchase would not be more open.

Mr Davis touted this as “it will result in universal electricity rates across The Bahamas” and it “directly supports our broader energy reform agenda aimed at bringing down the cost of electricity”.

One Grand Bahama source told The Tribune it was “not good news”, adding: “They can’t run their own place and now they’re going to come to ours.”

The closing of the deal, we are told, will take about two to three months, so around April sometime, with the next election date already mooted to be coming sooner rather than later. Some were already comparing the announcement to that made in the latter days of the Christie administration when then Prime Minister Christie pledged free electricity in what was widely seen as a pre-election promise that would never be fulfilled, and which Mr Christie never got the chance to prove after he was voted out.

Mr Davis also announced a new cruise ship pier complex for MSC Cruises at Billy Cay in Freeport Harbour, which sounds promising, and for which we look forward to hearing more details.

Finally, Mr Davis also announced the start of ground work for the redevelopment of Grand Bahama International Airport. However, this is two years after Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper announced in February 2024 that work would being “within 30 days”. Mr Cooper had previously indicated the airport would have completed by 2025. That year has come and gone.

The frustration in Grand Bahama is for all the talk of progress, where is the evidence of it taking place?

The airport will not be complete by the time of the next election, the realisation of lower electric bills will not take place before the next election, the redevelopment of Grand Lucaya will not happen by the time residents place their votes. The MSC Cruises news is hopeful, but in the face of dashed hopes previously, no one is counting any chickens before they hatch.

One thing is for sure, clearer answers than have been provided are needed, especially – but not limited to – the status of the Grand Lucayan resort. There is ample opportunity for the government to clarify those matters – but they did not do so yesterday.

In The Bahamas, the question of “who you’re with” has become more important than “what you build.” The public sphere is increasingly filled with passionate political supporters who defend their party much like football fans cheer for their team. They do not engage in discussions about policies; instead, they focus on loyalty. They do not ask for results; they seek recognition. They do not assess progress; they measure their closeness to power.

Like any free meal, it can feel satisfying in the moment.

If your rent is covered, your job is secured, your contract is renewed, your cousin is placed in a good position, your friend receives a scholarship, or your license is approved more quickly, it stands to reason that the food tastes better. The exchange isn’t just about money; it’s also about security, belonging, and survival. However, over time, the price is paid in a different form: self-respect, competence, and national progress.

The most dangerous aspect of dependency is that it does not arrive as a crisis; instead, it presents itself as a convenience. It resembles “help,” sounds like “care,” and eventually transforms into tradition. Over time, it becomes an expectation. A culture emerges where many citizens view the state more as a benefactor than a service provider, more like a parent than an institution.

This culture generates fervent supporters because dependency requires defense. When your livelihood is tied to a political outcome, politics shifts from civic participation to personal warfare. Criticism is labeled as “hate,” accountability is seen as “betrayal,” corruption is dismissed with “they all do it,” and any attempt at reform is perceived as an attack on someone’s livelihood.

Here is an uncomfortable truth: we cannot build a modern, productive Bahamas with a population that has been trained to wait for permission, placement, or payouts.

Complacency breeds dependency. When the system rewards loyalty more than excellence, people adapt to this environment, leading to a decline in risk-taking. Entrepreneurship becomes secondary, productivity becomes optional, and innovation becomes rare. A job is viewed as a “break” rather than a responsibility. Public service turns into a benefits program instead of a performance contract, and politics becomes theater rather than governance.

This is how a country drifts, not because its people lack the skills necessary for national development, but because the incentives are misaligned. A progress-oriented mindset cannot develop in an environment where aligning with power is seen as the best strategy instead of building capacity. True independence requires a population that views itself as a driving force, not simply as passengers. It demands citizens who can sustain themselves

before debating who gets to carve the turkey. It necessitates a national ethic that values work as a means of wealth creation rather than just wage collection. It requires a business culture that prioritises competence, speed, reliability, and integrity over personal connections. If we are serious about national progress, we must take incentive reform seriously. This means depoliticising opportunities through transparent hiring practices, contracts, permits, and grants. It involves implementing performance management in public service to ensure accountability rather than offering permanent comfort. Education must focus on skills, trades, and entrepreneurship, not just on obtaining credentials. We need financing systems that support people in production, tools for small businesses, apprenticeships, export readiness, and modern digital work, rather than only providing relief.

The next era for The Bahamas will not be built by those who cheer the loudest at rallies but by individuals who can ship, fix, code, weld, design, manage, farm, audit, lead, and execute consistently, regardless of which party is in power.

Everything tastes better when someone else is paying the bill. However, no nation can achieve greatness through handouts and favoritism. If we desire a Bahamas marked by productivity and progress, we must embrace a fundamental principle: pay your own bills, create your own opportunities, and stop equating political favors with true national development.

C ALLEN JOHNSON Freeport, Grand Bahama January 27, 2026.

Why I no longer celebrate MLK day

EDITOR, The Tribune.

BAHAMIANS stand in solidarity with African Americans. I believe it was back in 2002 when then Prime Minister Perry Christie was given the Trumpet Award in Atlanta, Georgia. At the ceremony, Christie told the African American audience that before their ancestors had landed on that North American continent, they had passed through the islands. Atlanta is significant, in that is where the great Ebenezer Baptist Church is located. This historic church was pastored by the late Dr Martin Luther King Jr. This past January 19 all 50 US states celebrated the Martin Luther King Jr holiday. His legacy in fighting for the Civil Rights Act (1964) and Voting Rights Act (1968) is well documented. In this regard, King is to be commended in helping to end state sanctioned racial discrimination. Having said that, I believe that the evangelical Christian Church in The Bahamas must avoid emulating its US counterpart by glossing over King’s glaring moral and doctrinal flaws. My red flags went up after reading King’s autobiography. While King pastored two churches and studied at Crozier Theological Seminary, he

denied several cardinal Christian doctrines, such as the divinity of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, the bodily resurrection, substitutionary atonement, the Bible being God’s divinely inspired Word and a literal hell. His social gospel theology was not in harmony with the Apostles and Chalcedonian Creeds. The salvation of humanity was not his concern. And based on the historical data, there is no reason to believe that he ever converted to orthodox Christianity at the tail end of his life tragically cut short by an assassin’s bullet. King opted instead to promote the social gospel of liberal theologian Walter Rauschenbusch. King was also a cultural Marxist, despite his denials. His close affiliation with communist Stanley Levison contradicted his disavowal of his Marxist leanings. Living during the height of the Cold War, any acknowledgement of his Marxist ties would’ve immediately derailed his career. What’s more, the Federal Bureau of Investigation will, I believe, release damaging classified files on King in 2027. These files allegedly contain information relating to King’s ferocious womanising while on the civil rights campaign trail. One of his mistresses

was a woman named Dorothy Cotton. I wish these allegations of philandering were patently false. I wish they were proven lies conjured up by the FBI and J Edgar Hoover to discredit the civil rights movement. Unfortunately, one of King’s closest and most loyal allies, Rev Ralph Albernathy, confirmed that MLK slept with multiple women. Albernathy recalled being at a house on the road when King went into a room with a woman who was not his wife. In another disturbing incident, Albernathy mentioned witnessing King and two women in a physical altercation. Albernathy said that King was with one of his many mistresses on the night before his assassination on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. Again, there is no historical evidence to suggest that he had ever reformed. He was philandering right to the bitter end. This is indeed sad. It is troubling stories like these that have given me reason to pause in lauding King as a great moral champion. I no longer celebrate MLK because his alleged infidelity and cultural Marxism are examples none of us should emulate.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama January 22, 2026.

Hanna Martin eyes tougher penalties for campus assaults

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

EDUCATION offi-

cials are working with the Attorney General’s Office to create “peculiar offences” for assaults on school campuses, Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin said yesterday, as the brutal iron-bar attack on a Grand Bahama principal renews calls for tougher consequences. Speaking to reporters in Grand Bahama, Mrs Hanna-Martin said the aim is to treat campus assaults as

aggravated offences, carrying stiffer penalties than similar attacks elsewhere.

“We want to make sure a signal is sent that if you think you can come onto a campus and do foolishness, you will find out there will be a repercussion of a very serious nature, and so we're working with the Attorney General's office to seek an aggravated offense where the assault happens on the school campus,” she said. “You have assault, but when it's on the school campus, it has an aggravated impact in terms of sentencing and the severity

of the offense.” Her comments came in the wake of a 30-month prison sentence handed down to Kenneth Farrington, who attacked McLean’s Town School principal Simone Butler-Cornish with an iron bar in her classroom last June.

Mrs Butler-Cornish was retrieving a student’s report card for Farrington when he launched the assault. She later ran outside and pretended to be dead, trying to make him stop.

Both Mrs Butler-Cornish

and her colleagues said the sentence should have been harsher, pointing to the severity of the attack and Farrington’s prior convictions for similar offences. Mrs Hanna-Martin did not comment on the specific sentence, but said such attacks must carry serious repercussions.

Asked whether Mrs Butler-Cornish would be reassigned, Mrs Hanna-Martin said the decision would rest with the principal. She said the government wants school campuses to be safe, unassailable spaces.

FOUR CHARGED IN ANATOL RODGERS ATTACK GRANTED $5,000 BAIL

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

FOUR men accused of assaulting an Anatol Rodgers High School student with a tyre wrench and seriously injuring the

school’s principal were granted bail yesterday. Prosecutors allege that PeeJay Hall, 20, Doyle Bastian, 40, and two 16-year-old juvenile defendants assaulted a 17-year-old male student at the school around

3.40pm on January 23. They are further accused of seriously injuring principal Ricardo Patterson when he attempted to break up the incident. Prosecutors said Mr Patterson suffered a fractured left ring

finger. All four defendants pleaded not guilty to assault with a dangerous instrument and grievous harm before Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr.

Bail was set at $5,000 for each defendant, with

one or two sureties. The juvenile defendants were also ordered to observe a daily curfew from 5pm to 7am. All defendants were warned not to contact the complainants and to remain at least 150

feet away from the high school. Any breach of the conditions could result in their bail being revoked. The accused are due to return to court for trial on April 22. Sergeant 3004 Forbes prosecuted.

Prosecution seeks 25 years for shotgun robbery Inmate denies smuggling four pounds of marijuana

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

THE prosecution submitted yesterday that a man convicted of a 2017 armed robbery at a web shop on Carmichael Road should face up to 25 years in prison, while the defence argued that any sentence should not exceed 10 years.

John Demeritte, 41, was present in court as sentencing submissions were made before Justice Franklyn Williams.

Last July, Demeritte was unanimously convicted on

two counts of armed robbery. Prosecutors said Demeritte, while armed with a shotgun, robbed the Bet Vegas Web Shop of $2,000 on May 28, 2017.

During the same incident, Demeritte also robbed Onette Dean of $215 in cash, her handbag and her passport.

Prosecutor T’Shura Ambrose urged the court to impose a sentence in the range of 18 to 25 years.

Defence attorney Damian White, however, recommended a sentence of eight to 10 years. He told the court that Demeritte is a husband

and father and asked that justice be tempered with mercy. In addressing the matter, Justice Williams said the crime was deliberate. He noted that Demeritte had scoped out the location, neutralised the security guard and, after pulling the weapon from under his clothing, fired in the vicinity of a woman, leaving her traumatised.

Demeritte is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on February 17. In addition to Ms Ambrose, Betty Wilson also appeared for the prosecution.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

AN inmate at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services denied possessing contraband in prison last year, including more than four pounds of marijuana. Prosecutors allege that Terry Williams, also known as “Peter Petit”, 32, and accomplices were found with 4lbs 6¼oz of marijuana inside the prison on July 18, 2025. Williams was also allegedly found that day

with several prohibited items, including a black tape-wrapped package containing 25 assorted cricket lighters, a black Aliv Wi-Fi box, a white charging block, two plastic wraps containing four packs of tobacco leaves, three clear plastic bags holding 15 packages of Rizla rolling papers, and one pack of Dorco razors containing eight razor blades. Williams was charged in 2023 with two counts of armed robbery. He is accused of robbing the East Street South

Supermarket on October 21, 2022, along with others while armed with black machine guns. Prosecutors allege the group robbed cashiers of $1,426 in cash. He pleaded not guilty to possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply and possession of prohibited articles inside a correctional facility before Senior Magistrate Raquel Whyms. He will remain on remand at BDCS until his trial on March 10. Sergeant 2257 Wilkinson prosecuted.

Barbados PM speaks truth on podcast

LAST week,Prime Ministerof Barbadoswas aguest on What Now? With Trevor Noah, discussing climate, immigration, and smallisland nations.

The conversationopened with adiscussion ofRihanna, as beingso emblematicof Barbadosand thecountry s realised and potential success that she’s often referred to as the prime ministerofBarbados.” They movedeasily into aBajan Creolelesson,as Noah tried toearn an invitation to Rihanna’s next birthday party.

In herspeaking engagements, Mottley is clear, direct, and unapologeticin making her points.Her confidenceis evident andobviously undergirded by a wealthof knowledge. Inconversations about Caribbean countries, particularly relatedto “development, it s necessaryto providethe historicalcontext which must explicitly include slavery andcolonialism. Thesesystems haveshaped our economiesand societies, and the related ideologies continue to reverberate through time and space.

Barbados was “shaped by the Britishconquests andthey starteda parliamentin1639. It s the thirdoldest in the Commonwealth,” Mottley told Noah. “They passed a law which reallyis somethingthat we are not proud of at all, and itbecame thestructurefor modern racismand institutional racismas weknow, and it was the bedrock for slavery,” she said. “It was the 1661 slave code passed by the Barbados parliament. It was followed in Jamaica,it was followed in South Carolina, it wasfollowed inGeorgia,it was followed inAntigua. Almost all the countries in the Americas used that 1661 slave code,which deniedthehumanity of black people as the basis for their thinking.

“The Britishtreated Barbados asthe jewelin the crown. It wasthe producer of sugar.It was,for them,the earner of great wealth. And it was also theplace by which they understood how to control and denigrateblack people as slaves.”

This is not only a reference to history, but a connection betweenhistory andthe reality weall facetoday. The relationship betweencountries inthe region--through lawandthe atrocitiesitallowed--is onewe know,yet ignore whenit’s considered inconvenient. Whenwe wanttodifferentiate ourselves, put up barriers, and forceseparation, shared historygets inthe way. People often focus on competition between countries rather than the opportunity to struggle together forthe benefit of all.

Immigration is the topic that scertain todrivedivision. I fear that the conversation about immigration and migrationisrooted inracismrather than rooted in the needs of a country,” Mottley said.She suggested that peopleseem to be afraid of becoming minorities.Immigration,however,is necessary foreconomic growth. The first thing I did when

we won government in 2018 was to create a National Population Commission because, havingserved asMinisterof Education, many yearsago, I realised just from the numbers going into schools that we had a problem, she said.

She notedthat therewere approximately 4300 students entering school eachyear, and itdecreased toapproximately 2500 in 2018. Today, there are about2200 studentsentering school. She drewcomparisons between populations of Caribbean countries with countries inother regionsofsimilar size. Revisedin February 2024, the Barbados Population Policy states, “The total populationhas grownbyjust 16.5%in thelast 60years. Since 1960, birth and fertility rates haveconsistently fallen, and fertilityrates haveremained below replacement since 1980. Offsetting this declinehas beenonly amodest rise inimmigration levels alongside a decline in outward migration ofBarbadians. This combination of factors has resultedan agingpopulation structure .. . Thereare approximately 10,000 fewer persons residingin Barbadosin 2021 than there was in 2010.”

The Barbados Population Policy was developed to promotesustainableandinclusive development and good quality oflifefor Barbadiansandresidents without compromising environmental sustainability and the ability of future generations to meet their needs. To meet this objective, the Policy set three goalsand eight subgoalsthat includeincreasing the populationof workingage people, enhancingsupport for family wellbeing and reproductive decision-making, and strengtheningthe careeconomy. There must be strategic action toaddress theissue of declining population, she said, which affectsthe economyas well as the family, particularly as peopleage andneed more care.

Noah askedMottley ifshe is encouraging people to have children. Herresponse was that, whilethat wouldbe advantageous, there is a need for more peoplenow. Thereare skill gaps thatcannot wait 18 yearsor moreto befilled. This, of course, means there is need for peopleto enter the country and work.

In The Bahamas, the hatred of black immigrants particularly those fromtheCaribbean only seems to be growing in intensity and visibility. There are assumptions madeabout peoplewhomove toThe Bahamasto workand their impact on the economy. People consistentlycomplain thatmigrant workersare “takingallof thejobs” and makinguse ofnationalresources. We have a need for reliable, accessibledata on migrant labourin particular,

and on the Bahamian economy and the labour and skills gaps. There is alack of understanding of ourneeds, our capacity, and the benefits of migrant labour. Inaddition, we need national education on human rights andthe entitlements of all people, regardless of their place of origin, migration status, employment status, or geographic location. Even further, it would be beneficial to understand and embrace our relationship to and strengthen our relationship with otherCaribbean countries. Just asour histories and bloodlines areshared, our struggle for liberation is one.

“Most people don’t want to leave their own countries, Mottley continued. “They leavebecause there’s a reason . . .They re either running from something or running toward something.

She spoke to the need for a global agreement on what must be provided to people, including pre-primaryto secondary educationand basic healthcare, regardlessof their nationality.These arefundamental human rights. Everyone is already entitled to them. Hersuggestion, however,points tothelines peopleoften drawbetween nationals andimmigrants a symptomof ignoranceregardingboth theinterdependent nature of rights and our own reliance onmigrant labour for oureconomic survival.

I often wonder if this is not a natural byproduct of people experiencing astandard of living that declinesover time and thenthey startto point somewhere . . . , Noah said, referringto thewaypeople look for a person or a group to blame for misfortune.

This is familiar tous in The Bahamas, of course. From crime to unemployment, migrant peopleare aneasy target.

Whatif wewere allwilling to acknowledgemigrant labour as a solution?

What if wecollected, analysed, and shared data on the impactof migrantlabouron the country and its people?

What ifwe madedecisions based on evidence?

What if we leveraged our regional relationshipsto demand what is owed to us?

Fromreparations forthe Trans-Atlantic Tradein Enslaved Persons to climatefinancing, much is dueto us. We haveto standtogetherand make our demands.

Recommendations

1. 20th Anatol Rodgers Memorial Lectureat University of TheBahamas. “Story Too Long for One Night : Indigenous Survivance, Slavery’s Afterlives,and BahamianDecolonialThoughtwithDr.MalindaS.SmithofUniversityof Calgary is scheduled for

Thursday, January29 at7pm in the Harry C. Moore Library Auditorium at University of The Bahamas. “Drawing on Indigenous, Caribbean, and African decolonial thought, this paper advances a re-theorisation of The Bahamas that centres Indigenoussurvivance, slavery s afterlives,archipelagic sociality, and relationalepistemologies ascritical sitesof freedom.Engaging the work of Ian Strachan, Patricia Glinton-Meicholas, Nicolette Bethel, and Marion Bethel, alongsidea widerBahamian intellectual tradition, within adialogic Indigenous, Caribbean,and Africandecolonial field, the article demonstrateshoworalnarration,performance,and feministpo-

etics articulate archipelagic epistemologies ofrelationality, mobility, and refusal of closure, contributingto broader epistemologies of the Global South. The eventis free and open to the public.

2. Pot Luck:Cartoonsfrom The Guardian and The Tribune ofthe 70sand 80s, featuring works by renowned artist andarchitect Eddie Minnis, opensat theNational ArtGallery ofTheBahamas on Friday, January30 at 6:30pm.The exhibitionincludes a “vital body of editorial cartoons that captured the pulse of Bahamian life at a timewhen publicdiscourse lookedverydifferent,yetfeels strikingly familiar today.”

3. Feminist Standards for

Governance: SocialServices. Equality Bahamas has designed a collaborative process to developa people’s agenda for 2026to 2031and welcomes members ofthe public to participate in a series of workshops.With ninethematic areas including education, health, environment, and youth, FeministStandards for Governance workshops provide aspace forpeople to name issues, identify root causes, anddevelop solutions together.Join thenextsession atPoinciana PaperPress,12 ParkgateRoad, onSaturday, January31 at11am. Seethe details for upcoming workshopsand registerat tiny.cc/feministstandards

Some finding refuge on 'analogue islands' amid deepening digital seas

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer

AStechnology distracts,polarisesand automates, peopleare stillfinding refuge on analogue islands in the digital sea.

Theholdoutsspan thegenerationgaps, uniting elderly andmiddle-aged enclaves born inthe pre-internet times withthe digital natives raised in the era of online ubiquity.

They aresetting down theirdevices to paint, colour,knit andplay boardgames. Others carveout timeto mailbirthday cards andsalutations written intheir own hand. Some drive cars with manual transmissions whilesurrounded byautomobiles increasinglyable todrive themselves. And a widening audience is turningtovinyl albums,resuscitatingan analogue formatthat was onits deathbed 20 years ago.

Theanalogue havensprovide anostalgic escapefrom tumultuoustimes for generations born from 1946 through 1980,says MartinBispels,57, aformer QVCexecutivewho recentlystartedRetroactv,a companythatsells rockmusic merchandise datingto the1960s and 1970s.

"Thepastgives comfort.Thepastis knowable," Bispels says."And you can define it because you can remember it the way you want."

Butanalogue escapesalso beckonto

the members of the millennials and Generation Z,those bornfrom 1981through 2012 younger peopleimmersed in a digital culture that has put instant informationand entertainmentat theirfingertips.

Despitethat convenienceandinstant gratification, even younger people growingupon technology'scuttingedge areyearning formore tactile,deliberate andpersonal activitiesthat don'tevaporateinthedigitalephemera,saysPamela Paul,author of"100Things We'veLost To The Internet."

"Youngergenerations haveanalmost longing wistfulnessbecause solittle of their life feels tangible," Paul says. "They are starting to recognisehow the internet has changed their lives, and they are trying to revivethese in-person, low-tech environments thatolder generationstook for granted."

Hereare someglimpsesinto howthe old ways are new again.

Keeping those cards coming People have been exchanging cards for centuries.It'saritual indangerofbeing obliteratedby thetsunamiof textingand social media posts. Besides being quicker and more convenient, digital communicationhasbecome moreeconomicalasthe costofa first-classU.S.postagestamp hassoared from33 to78cents duringthe past 25 years.

But tradition is hanging on thanks to people likeMegan Evans,who started the Facebookgroup called"Random Acts of Cardness" a decade ago when she was just 21 in hopes of fostering and maintaining more human connections in an increasingly impersonal world.

"Anybody can send a text message that says'HappyBirthday!' Butsendinga card isa much more intentionalway of tellingsomebodythat youcare,"says Evans, who lives inWickliff, Ohio. "It's something that thesender has touched with their own hand,and that you are going to hold in your own hand."

Morethan15,000 peoplearenowpart of Evans' Facebook group, including Billy-Jo Dieter, who sends at least 100 cards per month commemorating birthdays,holidays andother milestones."A dying art," she calls it.

"Mygoal hasbeen totryto makeat least one person smileeach day," says Dieter,48,who livesinEllsworth, Maine."When yousit downand youput thepen tothepaper, itbecomes somethingthat'seven morejustforthat person."

The singularity of a stick shift

Before technology futuristRay Kurzweil came up with a concept that he dubbedthe"Singularity" todescribehis vision of computersmelding with humanity, the roads were crammed with stick-shiftcars workingin concertwith people. But automobiles with manual transmission appear to be ona road to oblivionastechnology transformscarsinto computers onwheels. Fewer than1% of thenew vehiclessoldinthe U.S.have manual transmission, downfrom 35% in 1980, accordingto an analysisby the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But there remainstick-shift diehards like Prabhand DivjeevSohi, brothers who drivecars withmanual transmissions to theirclasses atSan JoseState University along Silicon Valley roads clogged with Teslas. They became enamoured with stick shifts while virtually driving cars in video games as kids and riding in manual transmission vehicles

operated by their father and grandfather.

Sowhen theywereold enoughto drive, Prabh, 22, andDivjeev, 19, were determined tolearn askill fewpeople theirage evenbotherto attempt:masteringthe nuancesof aclutch thatcontrols a manualtransmission, aprocess that resulted in their1994 Jeep Wrangler coming toa completestop whilefrustrated drivers got stuck behind them.

"He stalled like five times his first time on the road," Prabh recalls.

Eventhough theexperiencestill causesDivjeevtoshudder, hefeelsitled him to a better place.

"You are more in the moment when youaredrivinga carwithastick.Basicallyyou arejust theretodrive andyou aren't doing anything else," Divjeev says. "You understandthe car,and ifyou don't handle itcorrectly, that car isn'tgoing to move."

Rediscovering vinyl's virtues

Vinyl'sobsolescence seemedinevitable inthe 1980s whencompact discs emerged. Thatintroduction triggeredan evisceration of analogue recordings that hitbottom in2006when 900,000vinyl albumswere sold,accordingto theRecording Industry Association of America. That wasa deathrattle fora formatthat peakedin1977, when344 million vinyl albums were sold.

Butthe slumpunexpectedlyreversed, and vinylalbums are nowa growth niche.In eachofthepast twoyears, about 43million vinyl albumshave been sold,despite thewidespreadpopularity of musicstreaming services thatmake it possibletoplayvirtuallyanysongbyany artist at any time.

Baby boomers expandingupon their decades-old album collectionsaren't the only catalyst. Younger generations are embracingthelusher soundofvinyl, too. "Ireally lovelisteningtoan albumon vinylfromstartto finish.ItfeelslikeI amsitting withtheartist," says24-yearold Carson Bispels. "Vinyl just adds this permanencethat makesthe musicfeel more genuine. It's just you and the music, the way it should be."

French lawmakers approve bill banning social media for children under 15

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press

PARIS (AP) French lawmakersapprovedabillbanning social mediafor children under 15,paving the way forthemeasuretoenterinto forceatthestartofthenext schoolyear inSeptember,as theideaofsetting aminimumage foruse oftheplatforms gains momentum across Europe.

The bill,which alsobans theuse ofmobile phonesin highschools, wasadoptedby a130-21vote lateMonday. French President Emmanuel Macron has requested that the legislation be fast-tracked and it will now be discussed by the Senate in the coming weeks.

“Our children’s brainsare not for sale neither to American platforms nor to Chinesenetworks. Because their dreams must not be dictated by algorithms, Macron said after the vote.

Trump administration invests in another US rare earth miner to loosen China's grip on supply

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer

The U.S.is takinga minoritystake inanOklahoma rare earth miner, the latest governmentinvestment in thesector as itseeks to minimize its relianceon imports ofa materialusedprevalently in smartphones, robotics,electric vehiclesand many otherhigh tech products. China processesmore than90% ofthe world’s critical minerals and has used its dominance in the market to gain leverage in the trade war with Washington.

USA Rare Earthsaid Monday that theU.S. Commerce Department is investing $1.6 billion in the company to advance workon amine inTexas andto builda magnet manufacturing facility in Oklahoma.

Shares ofUSA Rare Earthjumped more than13% before U.S. markets opened.

73 South Koreans repatriated to face investigations over online scams

By

HYUNG-JIN

KIM Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)

Dozens of South Koreans allegedly involved in online scams in Cambodia were returned to South Koreaon Friday to face investigations in what was the largest group repatriation of Korean criminal suspects from abroad.

The73South Koreansuspectsallegedlyscammed fellowKoreans outof48.6 billionwon($33 million),according to a South Korean government statement. Uponarrival inSouthKorea'sIncheon airportaboarda chartered plane, the suspects 65 men and eight women were sent to police stations. The suspects, in handcuffs and wearing masks, were escorted bypoliceofficers andboardingbuses.Theywere among about 260 South Koreans detained in a crackdown in Cambodia in recent months.

Under Armour looking into data breach affecting customers' email addresses

Associated Press

BALTIMORE (AP) Clothing retailer Under Armour isinvestigating arecent databreachthat purloinedcustomers' email addresses andother personalinformation, butsofarthereareno signsthehackersstoleanypasswords or financial information.

Thebreachis believedtohavehappened latelastyear, and affected 72 million email addresses, according to information cited by the cybersecurity website Have I Been Pwned. Someof therecords takenalso includedpersonal information that included names, genders, birthdates and ZIP codes.

In anUnder Armour statement acknowledgingits investigationintotheclaimsofadatabreach,theBaltimorebased companysaid: We haveno evidenceto suggest this issue has affected UA.com or systems used to process payments or store customerpasswords. Any implication that sensitive personalinformation of tens ofmillions of customers has been compromised is unfounded.

DHS tells Congress two federal officers fired shots during encounter that killed Alex Pretti

WASHINGTON Associated

Press

TWO federal officers fired shots during the encounter that killed ICU nurse Alex Pretti over the weekend in Minneapolis, a Customs and Border Protection official told Congress in a notice sent Tuesday, while Ecuador’s minister of foreign affairs filed an objection saying immigration agents tried to enter the country’s consulate in the city without permission.

Officers tried to take Pretti into custody and he resisted, leading to a struggle, according to a notification to Congress obtained by The Associated Press. During the struggle, a Border Patrol agent yelled, “He’s got a gun!” multiple times, the official said.

A Border Patrol officer and a CBP officer each fired Glock pistols, the notice said.

Investigators from CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility conducted the analysis based on a review of body-worn camera footage and agency

documentation, the notice said. The law requires the agency to inform relevant congressional committees about deaths in CBP custody within 72 hours.

Separately, a man was arrested after he sprayed an unknown liquid at US Rep. Ilhan Omar while she was speaking at a town hall meeting in Minneapolis. The Democrat had just called for the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign when she was sprayed.

Trump says ‘we’re going to de-escalate a little bit’

The developments came a day after President Donald Trump ordered border czar Tom Homan to take over his administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota in the wake of Pretti’s death, which was the second fatal shooting this month of a person at the hands of immigration law enforcement.

By sending Homan to Minnesota, “we’re going to de-escalate a little bit,” Trump said during an interview on Fox News’ “Will

Cain Show.” That’s significant since White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, when questioned repeatedly Monday about Homan’s being dispatched to Minnesota, refused to say that doing so was an effort to calm the situation.

The president added of Homan, “Tom, as tough as he is, gets along” with governors and mayors, even in Democratic areas.

As he left the White House on Tuesday, the president was asked whether Pretti’s killing was justified. He responded by saying that a “big investigation” was underway. In the hours after Pretti’s death, some administration officials sought to blame the shooting on the 37-year-old intensive care nurse.

Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff who had initially called Pretti “an assassin,” issued a statement suggesting CBP officers in Minneapolis “may not have been following” protocol. He said the Homeland Security Department’s initial statements about what transpired on Saturday was “based on reports from CBP on the ground.”

Ecuador files a protest with the US Embassy

A video of the Ecuadorian consulate entry attempt posted on social media shows a staffer running to the door to turn the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents away, telling them, “This is the Ecuadorian consulate. You’re not allowed to enter.” One ICE officer can be heard responding by threatening to “grab” the staffer if he touched the agent before agreeing to leave.

International law generally prohibits law enforcement authorities from entering foreign consulates or embassies without permission, though sometimes permission may be assumed granted for life-threatening emergencies, like fires.

“Consulate officials immediately prevented the ICE officer from entering the consular building, thus ensuring the protection of the Ecuadorians who were present at the time and activating the emergency protocols issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility,” the ministry wrote on X.

A “note of protest” was filed with the US Embassy in Ecuador so that similar attempts aren’t made at other consulates, the ministry said. The State Department, Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Trump says of sending Bovino to Minneapolis: ‘Maybe it wasn’t good here’

Immigration enforcement activity witnessed by journalists in Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs on Tuesday appeared comparable with recent weeks. As before, most didn’t result in major confrontations with agents. Activists say they continue to monitor enforcement operations through social media and chats on messaging apps.

The White House had tried to blame Democratic leaders for the protests of immigration raids. But after Pretti’s killing and videos suggesting he was not an active threat, the administration tapped Homan to take charge of the Minnesota operation from Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino.

Trump said Bovino, the go-to architect for the president’s large-scale city-by-city immigration crackdowns, was “very good” but added “he’s a pretty out-there kind of a guy” and “maybe it wasn’t good here.”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, along with the city’s police chief, met with Homan on Tuesday and agreed to keep talking. Homan posted on social media that the discussions “were a productive starting point.”

Courts weigh in on detained immigrants

In Texas, a federal judge issued a temporary order prohibiting the removal of a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy and his father who were detained last week in Minnesota in an incident that further inflamed divisions on immigration. US Judge Fred Biery ruled Monday that any removal or transfer of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, is on hold while a

court case proceeds. Also in Texas, federal immigration authorities released an Ecuadorian man whose detention led the chief federal judge in Minnesota to order the head of ICE to appear in his courtroom, the man’s attorney said.

Attorney Graham Ojala-Barbour said the man was released in Texas. The lawyer said in an email to The Associated Press that he was notified in an email from the US attorneys office in Minneapolis that his client had been freed.

In an order dated Monday, Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz expressed frustration with the Trump administration’s handling of immigration cases. He took the extraordinary step of ordering Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, to personally appear in his courtroom Friday.

Schiltz had said in his order that he would cancel Lyons’ appearance if the man was released from custody.

“This Court has been extremely patient with respondents, even though respondents decided to send thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision for dealing with the hundreds of habeas petitions and other lawsuits that were sure to result,” he wrote.

Schiltz’s order followed a federal court hearing Monday on a request by the state and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul for a judge to halt the immigration enforcement surge. The judge in that case said she would prioritize the ruling but did not give a timeline for a decision.

Schiltz wrote that he recognizes ordering the head of a federal agency to appear personally is extraordinary.

“But the extent of ICE’s violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary, and lesser measures have been tried and failed,” he said.

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Nassau Cruise Port donates $2,000 to CH Reeves for Junior Junkanoo

AS CH Reeves Junior High School prepares to compete in the 2026 Junior Junkanoo Parade with hopes of securing a historic third consecutive win, Nassau Cruise Port (NCP) has donated $2,000 to support the students’ participation under its More Than a Welcome community commitment. The donation reflects the cruise port’s broader positioning as a cultural and community-centred hub — one that welcomes the world while uplifting the people and traditions that make The Bahamas unique.

The donation will assist CH Reeves Junior High School students with

costume creation, materials, and preparations as they bring the spirit, creativity, and storytelling of Junkanoo to life — one of the Bahamas’ most celebrated cultural traditions.

This year’s parade will take place on Thursday, January 29th on Bay Street in Downtown Nassau.

“At its core, More Than a Welcome is about showing up for our community in meaningful ways,” said Maya Nottage, Regional Marketing Director.

“Junkanoo is not just a parade — it is living culture, passed from one generation to the next. Supporting CH Reeves Junior High School is about investing in our

young people, honouring our heritage, and ensuring that the rhythm, artistry, and pride of Junkanoo continue to thrive.”

Nottage added that the port’s approach to community engagement goes beyond transactional support, focusing instead on long-term relationships that strengthen cultural identity, support environmental sustainability, contribute to the welfare of our community, and create opportunities for youth expression.

Dr Sterling McPhee, Principal of CH Reeves, expressed his team’s appreciation for the donation.

“We are deeply grateful to Nassau Cruise Port for

10th annual Carleton Williams Scholarship now open for applicants - closing May 3

CARIBBEAN Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Coca-Cola and Dasani products, is proud to announce the 10th annual Caribbean Bottling Company Carleton Williams Scholarship is now open. The award, which closes on Sunday, May 3, is available to all sixth-grade students attending Garvin Tynes Primary School with a 3.0 GPA or above. The scholarship rotates annually between primary students at Garvin Tynes Primary in New Providence and all sixth graders attending public schools in Grand Bahama. The winning scholar is awarded a scholarship to a local private school for the full six years of high school, subject to a minimum GPA requirement.

Upon completing their application portfolio, each submission will be reviewed by a panel, followed by an interview with the finalists.

The award which launched in 2016 was created to honour Carleton

Williams CBE on his retirement as Chairman of the Board for Caribbean Bottling Company. Ten years later, this scholarship has impacted the lives of 12 students and their families.

The 2026 recipient will join CBC’s vibrant scholarship community, consisting of: Emari Knowles, 2025; Selena Cartwright, 2024; Timothy Kemp, 2023; Leonardo Sands, 2022; Maliyah Edgecombe, 2021; Angela Sands, 2020; Gabriel Hall, 2019; Kennedi Knowles and Anajah Culmer, 2018; Kailena Pinder, 2017 and 2016 inaugural scholarship winners, D’Ron & T’Ron Strapp on their academic journey.

Debi Williams, daughter of Carleton Williams, shared how this award honours her father’s legacy.

“My father lived by the gifting principle, to whom much is given; much is expected. He gave generously, was extremely community minded. He appreciated the value of a good education and would

their timely support of our Junior Junkanoo program. This investment in our students and our culture helps us continue the important work of building the future through education and

instilling pride in who we are as Bahamians.”

As part of its More Than a Welcome philosophy, Nassau Cruise Port continues to collaborate with local schools, artists, cultural

assist many who would otherwise have been unable to access it,” she said.

"The Caribbean Bottling Company Carleton Williams Scholarship continues his legacy beautifully, because seeds are best sown in fertile, curious minds and this scholarship will be life-changing for so many,” Williams concluded.

Emari Knowles, the 2025 recipient of the scholarship offered words of encouragement for hopeful applicants: “Be confident. There will always be someone who has better grades or is more active than you but continues to strive. There is nothing you can’t achieve without hard work and perseverance. And above all else put God first because he can do all things,” he said. For all those interested in applying or know someone who would benefit from this award, visit www.cbcbahamas/scholarship.com for complete details and to access the application.

and environmental organizations, and community leaders to ensure that guests experience an authentic sense of place, and that the community benefits from its presence.

Davis: MSC port and airport projects lead GB ‘relaunch’

SIGNING from page five

The project represents an estimated $450 million investment, with $400 million allocated to the Billy Cay port and related infrastructure and $50 million earmarked for a beach club and refurbishment of the existing retail village.

Mr Davis said the development will include new cruise berths, a welcome plaza, retail and food and beverage outlets, entertainment areas, transportation staging, and other supporting amenities. Designed as a multi-user facility, the port is expected to increase visitor flow, expand opportunities for local businesses, and strengthen Grand Bahama’s competitiveness in the cruise sector.

At the same time, he said that MSC together with another partner is currently

as

in negotiations regarding the potential acquisition of Hutchinson Ports operations in multiple countries, including the Freeport Container Port.

“These developments underscore a clear reality,” he said. “Global operators are positioning Grand Bahama as a long-term logistics platform integrated into international shipping networks.”

The Prime Minister said that since September 2021, Grand Bahama has seen more than $3.5 billion in investments and commitments across tourism, maritime, health, logistics, energy, education, entertainment, and community development. This includes large-scale developments, Bahamian-led expansions, housing repairs, community beautification initiatives, employment programs, and grants for entrepreneurs.

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

POLICE recorded 16 suicides in 2025, a stark 60 percent increase over the 10 recorded the year before, as attempts and calls for help also climbed sharply.

There were 62 attempted suicides last year, up 29 percent from the 48 recorded in 2024, according to police statistics. Men accounted for most of the deaths in 2025, with 12 suicides compared to six the year before. The highest numbers were recorded among men aged 31 to 45 and those 61 and older, with four in each group. In 2024, those same age groups recorded two and none, respectively. The 18–30 and 46–60 male age groups also saw increases in 2025 compared to the previous year. Four women died by suicide in 2025, the same number as in 2024. Last year’s female deaths were confined to the 18–30 and 31–45 age groups, with two in each. In 2024, three women aged 18–30 and one aged 31–45 died by suicide. Geographically, nine suicides were recorded in New Providence, four in Grand Bahama, and three in the Family

Islands. Attempted suicides were also concentrated in New Providence, with 39 cases, compared to 22 in Grand Bahama and one in the Family Islands. The spike comes amid growing concern from support agencies, which report rising distress, particularly among young people. The Bahamas Psychological Association said demand for mental health support increased in 2025, reflected in heavier use of its helplines. While the association does not maintain a centralised national counselling database, it said helpline activity surged most noticeably in March and September, with each month recording more than 15 calls and messages, compared to a typical average of about five.

According to the association, callers most often seek counselling support, though helplines also receive calls related to family conflict, anxiety and emotional distress.

In March, the Bahamas Crisis Centre also reported a rise in calls from young boys expressing suicidal thoughts, many describing feelings of isolation and failure.

The centre said its hotline received more calls in 2024 than in 2023, with a noticeable increase in calls linked to suicidal ideation.

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

COMMISSIONER of Police Shanta Knowles said three police officers have been hauled before a police tribunal over the escape of accused murderer D’Angelo Culmer from the Magistrates’ Court Complex, as disciplinary proceedings continue more than a year after he vanished from custody.

Ms Knowles said one officer has already been interdicted, with another expected to face interdiction within days once the tribunal process advances.

Despite the internal action, Culmer remains on the run. Ms Knowles renewed an appeal to the public, stressing that police still need information that could lead to his recapture.

Culmer escaped from the Magistrates’ Court Complex on South Street around 3.30pm on October 2, 2025. Police later confirmed that three officers were under investigation in connection with the breach.

In a report published last November, Ms Knowles warned that anyone harbouring Culmer could face criminal charges. She declined at the time to detail how the escape occurred, citing the ongoing investigation, but said security protocols had been tightened to prevent a repeat.

Police described Culmer as light brown in complexion and last seen wearing a blue T-shirt and light blue jeans. He has a tattoo of lips on his neck and the name “Tiffany”

tattooed on his right chest. Shortly after the escape, Chief Superintendent Anton Rahming, head of the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Criminal Investigations Department, said police had no information on Culmer’s whereabouts and could not confirm whether any tips had been received or whether he was still on New Providence. Culmer, 34, was remanded to prison on February 16, 2024, after Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville charged him with murder and two counts of attempted murder. He is accused of killing 39-yearold Rudiska Bethel in a drive-by shooting on Ragged Island Street on January 31, 2024.

Police allege Culmer and accomplices opened fire as Ms Bethel stood outside a bar around 7pm. Carla Bain, 40, and Lorenzo Sands, 36, were also shot and treated in the hospital for wounds to