01302026 NEWS

Volume: 123 No. 47, Friday, January 30, 2026

NURSES SICK OUT FOR OVERTIME PAY

Unpaid overtime and shortages force patients home as unions demand independent PHA probe

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A MASS sick out by nurses coupled with ongoing shortages at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) severely affected healthcare services yesterday, leaving some patients waiting for hours and forcing others to return home.

The industrial action, involving nurses at the hospital, comes amid frustration over delayed overtime payments after the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) exhausted its budget. Government officials have confirmed that Cabinet has approved the outstanding December payments. However, the release

PM rejects Chamber warnings over GBPC

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Davis administration has pushed back hard against warnings from the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce over plans to acquire the Grand Bahama Power Company, arguing that energy reform is a public-interest necessity and not a narrow business exercise driven solely by cost recovery. In a statement yesterday, the Office of the Prime Minister said the Chamber’s intervention risked mischaracterising both the purpose and urgency of reform, warning that leaving its claims unanswered could distort public understanding of what is at stake

date remains unclear, with staff warning they will not work extra hours until the issue is resolved. Yesterday, the PHA said disbursements are being processed and discussions will continue in good faith to address outstanding matters. The authority added that,

NURSES - SEE PAGE FIVE WARNING - SEE PAGE FIVE

ACQUISITION OF GRAND BAHAMA POWER COMPANY ‘UNLIKELY’ TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN 60 TO 90DAY TIMEFRAME ANNOUNCED BY PRIME MINISTER - see BUSINESS

WEEKEND COLD BLAST TO BRING

NEAR RECORD LOWS

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

A BLAST of unusually cold, windy weather is set to sweep across The Bahamas this weekend, bringing near-record low temperatures, gale-force winds and dangerous marine conditions from Saturday afternoon through early Monday.

Man killed weeks after starting new business

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

JUST weeks into the new year, Jamaal Ferguson was laying plans to start a new business, expand his work and build a more stable life – ambitions that were violently cut short when he was found stabbed to death inside his Daffodil Avenue home on Wednesday.

Police said the 38-year-old

veteran volleyball star was found with stab wounds to his upper body after a co-worker requested a wellness check when he could not be reached. Officers later confirmed he was found dead at the residence. His death was mourned by the Bahamas Volleyball Federation, where he is remembered for playing a key role on the

Tribune First Alert Weather reports that a powerful low-pressure system developing off the southeastern United States coast will intensify tomorrow, dragging a strong cold front across the country and sharply changing conditions on land and at sea.

Chief Meteorologist Orson Nixon said the

Junior Junkanoo photos and results in Monday’s Tribune

COLD from page one

system is expected to begin affecting the islands around midday tomorrow and linger into Monday morning.

“It’s a strong low-pressure system that is developing off the southeast US coast on Saturday, and this will intensify and pull a strong cold front across the Bahamas,” Mr Nixon said.

Wind gusts could reach 50 knots, creating hazardous, potentially life-threatening conditions for mariners.

Tribune First Alert Weather warned that Atlantic waters could see waves as high as 20 feet, with seas on the Bahama Banks building to around 14 feet.

Boaters are being urged to take safe harbour from Saturday morning, while residents are advised to avoid swimming as rough surf and dangerous rip currents develop along coastlines.

On land, strong winds could send unsecured objects airborne, while coastal communities — particularly along western and northern shorelines — may experience flooding, erosion and heavy sea spray during periods of high tide, according to Tribune First Alert Weather.

Behind the front, temperatures are expected to drop sharply, with wind chill values falling to near-record lows across northern and north-western islands.

“By Sunday into midway you can expect wind chill temperatures to fall into like the mid-30s in parts of the North Bahamas and mid-40s in the Northwest Bahamas,” Mr Nixon said.

He explained that the northern Bahamas include Grand Bahama, Abaco and Bimini, while the north-western Bahamas include New Providence and nearby islands.

The system is expected to impact islands including Grand Bahama, Abaco, Andros and New Providence from Saturday afternoon through early Monday.

Mr Nixon said forecast temperatures are approaching historic lows. “For Grand Bahama on

record, the low temperature we got was about 42. For New Providence it’s about 45 or 46,” he said. “So it’s gonna get there too, or if conditions are right, just below, so we right there in that vicinity.”

Tribune First Alert Weather cautioned that the combination of strong winds and cold air will make conditions feel significantly colder than actual temperatures, posing increased risk to elderly residents, children and pets.

“Residents, they should protect their elderly, their pets and any vulnerable person, and they should continue to monitor official forecast bureau chief for when this is going to start,” Mr Nixon said.

Global Red Cross chief says Caribbean is ‘under-invested’

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

THE president of the world’s largest humanitarian network arrived in the country this week warning that the Caribbean has been under-resourced for too long and signalling a deeper Red Cross footprint in the region.

Kate Forbes, president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), arrived yesterday as part of a regional tour focused on disaster preparedness, climate resilience, and strengthening cooperation with national governments and local responders. Her visit comes days after Parliament passed legislation clearing the way for the IFRC to establish a permanent, headquarters-based presence in The Bahamas, a move officials say will speed disaster response and cut bureaucratic delays that have hindered relief efforts in past emergencies.

Speaking at a press conference hosted by Bahamas Red Cross president Edison Sumner, Ms Forbes said one of the central discussions during her visit would focus on how the organisation can better help people “prepare for and survive the disasters of hurricanes and climate change”.

She acknowledged that the Caribbean has not received the level of attention it requires, as climate-related disasters spark concern.

“We have realised that we have, quite frankly,

under-invested in this region, and we need to do more,” she said.

Ms Forbes said a priority of her presidency is strengthening support for the most vulnerable national societies, particularly small island states like The Bahamas, which face repeated exposure to hurricanes and rising seas.

“What I’m most excited about, truly, is to meet with the government and have those discussions — how we can continue as an accelerator to the government, strengthen that role, and strengthen how we help the people of the island,” she said.

Mr Sumner said Ms Forbes’ visit creates an opportunity for high-level engagement on disaster preparedness and humanitarian coordination, describing it as a chance for “meaningful dialogue with the highest levels of authority in our country”.

He also emphasised the central role of volunteers in the Red Cross movement, which spans 191 national societies and millions of volunteers worldwide, while cautioning that deployment requires strict training and vetting.

“You won’t be able to come to us and say, ‘I want to volunteer,’ and we stick you in the field,” he said.

“You’ve got to be trained, certified by international standards of the IFRC, and vetted.”

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister Leon Lundy, who holds responsibility for disaster management, said the visit underscores the depth of

the Red Cross’ partnership with The Bahamas and a shared focus on preparedness and resilience.

He also revealed that work is underway to establish a permanent Bahamas Red Cross presence in South Andros, aimed at improving response times and strengthening community readiness.

“This is more than a building. It represents trained volunteers on the ground, faster response in emergencies, stronger community preparedness,” he

said. “Preparedness must be local. Response must be immediate, and presence must be permanent — whether in Nassau, Abaco, or South Andros.”

Mr Sumner said last week’s passage of legislation enabling the IFRC to base itself physically in The Bahamas marks a turning point for disaster response coordination.

He added that the organisation is now moving into the execution phase of its legal status agreement with the government.

Mr Sumner stressed that the privileges and immunities provided under the new framework are designed to remove logistical barriers during emergencies, not to place Red Cross personnel above the law.

“This idea of privileges and immunities really means that we have the ability to move people and product in the case of a disaster response,” he said. “It doesn’t mean that you are inviolable.”

“You commit a crime — you are still held

responsible,” he added.

He said the changes were shaped by lessons from past disasters, when delays in moving relief teams and supplies slowed early response efforts.

Ms Forbes is expected to continue meetings with government officials, Red Cross leadership, volunteers, and community partners over the coming days, and will attend the Bahamas Red Cross Society’s 52nd annual fundraising ball this weekend.

Demetrius Smith: ‘I am just happy to be alive’

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

POPULAR entertainer

Demetrius Smith is facing a fight for his life after months of hospitalisation and multiple surgeries left him in kidney failure, prompting an outpouring of public support as he prepares for a transplant he hopes to undergo by June.

That support culminated yesterday with a major fundraising event, “Love on Demetrius Day”, held at Great Commission on Wulff Road, following days of social media appeals highlighting his mounting medical expenses.

Mr Smith, 40, told supporters he is battling kidney failure caused by complications linked to high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol. Since June 2025, he has undergone six surgeries and spent more than two months in the hospital.

“Today, this initiative is bigger than myself,” he said. “I am so overwhelmed of the support I have been receiving from the time I was in the hospital to now.”

“I'm so happy that God has touched the hearts of persons to assist me at this time; no man is an island. We all need somebody and

I'm just happy to be here. I just happy to be alive.”

Mr Smith said delayed medical treatment and misconceptions about managing high blood pressure contributed to his condition.

“Eating high-seasoned foods, eating a lot of seafood, cholesterol was elevated, cholesterol then turned into high blood pressure, and I thought I was too young to take high blood pressure pills,” he said. I thought once you just exercise and eat little better, you might not have to take it, but I was misinformed.”

“Once the blood pressure is higher than it is normally supposed to, it affects the kidneys. And I think I waited too long to take the pills, and it affected the kidney. And so now I'm in kidney failure.”

Despite the severity of his

“LOVE ON DEMETRIUS DAY”, major fundraising event, was held at Great Commission on Wulff Road following days of social media appeals highlighting the entertainer’s mounting medical expenses.

illness, Mr Smith said the experience has reshaped his outlook.

“I’m just happy to be alive, to feel the breeze

on my face, to look at the people, to see colours. I'm just happy to be. It's nothing else, nothing else matters,” he said.

“I believe that this is just a God move for me, to pause, to reflect, to look at life from a different perspective, and just to be grateful

for the small things now, the things that money can't buy, the things that millionaires can't afford, and that's what I'm happy about right now.”

Tragic end for volleyball star and budding entrepreneur

men’s national team at the Caribbean Volleyball Championships here in August.

The 38-year-old outstanding libero player, one who serves as a defensive player wearing a contrasting jersey as he focuses on passing and digging in the back court, was found with stab wounds to his upper body at his residence on Daffodil Avenue on Wednesday.

The killing has left family, friends and former co-workers reeling, not only because of the violence, but because many say Mr Ferguson had been in a period of renewed focus and optimism.

Long-time friend Xavier Taylor said Ferguson had recently secured his own home, bought his dream Jeep and was preparing to enter the Airbnb business.

He described their relationship as brotherly and said Ferguson had a way of lifting the mood wherever he went.

Concern grew after Ferguson stopped responding to calls, prompting a friend to go to his home.

“They found him dead,” Mr Taylor said.

Mr Taylor said the news left him frozen, recalling that the two had recently spoken about getting their lives in order and pushing forward.

“The only thing I could do was just walk back and forward and cry because I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

“Because we just had a conversation about life and getting ourselves together.”

Friends said Mr Ferguson was entrepreneurial, with past involvement in fashion, food catering and other ventures, and had been actively exploring opportunities in short-term rentals.

Alexus D’Marco, president of Rebirth of Pride Bahamas, said Ferguson was known for his warmth and generosity, and served as an example to others pursuing entrepreneurship. She urged the public to look out for one another and to respect life. The killing also revives memories of a violent case involving Ferguson nearly three years ago. In July 2022, Calvin Alain was remanded

to prison on charges including attempted murder, armed robbery, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and intentionally and unlawfully causing damage to a motor vehicle.

Prosecutors alleged that on April 12, 2022, Alain attempted to cause the death of Mr Ferguson by unlawful harm and was in possession of a pistol at the time.

Police have not indicated whether that earlier case is connected to Wednesday’s killing, and investigations are continuing.

See SPORTS for more

Munroe dismisses US lawyer’s ‘corrupt’ label

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe

brushed aside corruption claims levelled at The Bahamas by a US defence lawyer, citing the country’s public disclosure laws even though those mechanisms remain largely unpublished, unenforced and repeatedly criticised by governance watchdogs and US officials.

Mr Munroe’s response followed remarks made during the US federal sentencing of former Royal Bahamas Defence Force chief petty officer Darrin Roker, whose

Martin Roth, portrayed The Bahamas as a country riddled with corruption. The comments sparked sharp rebuttals from senior officials, including Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles, who said the claims unfairly smeared officers who serve with integrity.

Nonetheless, observers have repeatedly pointed to chronic underfunding of the Freedom of Information Unit and the Office of the Ombudsman, along with gaps in enforcement of the Public Procurement Act, as evidence of faltering commitment to good governance.

Meanwhile, the Independent Commission of Investigations Act has yet

to be brought into force.

Mr Munroe rejected suggestions that anti-corruption efforts in The Bahamas are underfunded or ineffective, arguing that existing disclosure laws already allow the public to hold officials accountable.

“I don't understand what they mean by low funding of anti-corruption policies,” Mr Munroe said. “I have to, by the end of February, disclose my details of my finances, that's very public. When the election is called, I will have to disclose again in a fuller form and persons, no doubt, will look at my disclosure in 2017, 2021, and 2026 and make their comparisons. If that doesn't

permit you to hold some-

body to account, I don't know what other information will permit you to hold them to account.”

He said officials subject to disclosure obligations have been reminded of their responsibilities, and suggested that much of the information critics seek under the Freedom of Information Act is already publicly available.

“In fact, my permanent secretary alerted all persons of which we have oversight who have a disclosure obligation,” he said. “A lot of this information that people say they want under the Freedom of Information Act is available in open source material.”

However, accountability advocates have long argued that repeated delays in anti-corruption reform and failures to enforce disclosure deadlines amount to avoiding meaningful oversight. The Public Disclosure Act requires senior public officials to file declarations, but documents have yet to

be gazetted, and the Public Disclosure Committee has declined to publicly name parliamentarians who miss deadlines.

Concerns about the system have also been raised by the United States government. In its Investment Climate Statement on The Bahamas, the US State Department has warned that election campaign financing remains vulnerable to abuse, exposing the country’s governance to “corruption and foreign influence”.

The department has said the Public Disclosure Act does not effectively expose politicians’ finances because declarations are not published in summary form or independently verified.

The Office of the Prime Minister and Commissioner Knowles have rebuffed Mr Roth’s characterisation of the country.

“I think the commissioner, the prime minister, everyone puts it correctly,” Mr Munroe said yesterday. “One bad apple does not

taint an entire organisation. I like to say that the test is what happens when you find that bad apple. Do you cover it up or do you address it? The record of the police force, the record of this country, will show that members of the armed forces, of the security forces, are taken before the courts when they ere.”

He said Bahamians should take offence at suggestions that corruption is universal across the country.

“Remember now, the fella say all of you are corrupt, not just the police,” he said. “So anyone who wants to stand with them must put their hand up and say, I admit I'm corrupt, because he didn't cast aspersion just over an organisation, over a country.”

“Any Bahamian who wishes to support somebody who's accusing you of being corrupt because of something one man does, then you clearly must be corrupt if you're accepting that description.”

Zero prosecutions two years after passage of Anti-Gang Act

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

NEARLY two years after Parliament passed sweeping anti-gang legislation promising long prison terms for gang leaders, not a single prosecution has been brought — a failure National Security Minister Wayne Munroe says cannot be fixed without shielding witnesses from exposure and retaliation.

Speaking after Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles confirmed this week that the Anti-Gang Act has yet to be used in court, Mr Munroe said the absence of witness anonymity provisions has stalled enforcement of the law.

Mr Munroe said officials have sought amendments to the Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Act to extend protections to anti-gang cases, warning that the current framework leaves both civilians and undercover officers dangerously exposed once charges are laid.

He said witnesses in gang cases are

often former gang members attempting to leave criminal life, but once police file complaints and disclose witness lists, their identities become public.

“If they are civilians, they may well become targets,” he said. “If they are law enforcement officials under cover, their usefulness will then cease once it is known.”

Mr Munroe said existing anonymity provisions allow statements in murder cases to be redacted to protect witness identities, but no similar safeguards exist for anti-gang prosecutions.

He noted as far back as September 2025 that the government signalled its intention to amend the law to extend witness anonymity to gang cases, adding that police formally requested the change. The matter, he said, is being pursued with the Office of the Attorney General and the Law Reform Commission, and he expects it to be considered in the upcoming legislative session.

Asked whether the amendment would be passed within the current political

term, Mr Munroe said he could not give a firm commitment but confirmed he has renewed the request with the Office of the Attorney General.

The Anti-Gang Act was passed in April 2024, amid surging murders and public concern over gang retaliation. The law allows for sentences of up to 25 years for gang members, life imprisonment where gang activity results in death, and fines of up to $100,000. It also grants police wide powers, including the ability to arrest individuals without a warrant if there is reasonable cause to believe they are involved in gang activity, and sets out how membership may be proven through clothing, tattoos, symbols, confessions, or criminal conduct.

When the legislation was introduced, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis described it as the toughest anti-gang law ever enacted and said charges under the Act were expected to be brought “very shortly”.

Nearly two years on, no such charges have materialised.

PSA CLAIMS COPS’ FAMILIES LEFT WITHOUT INSURANCE AS MUNROE DENIES ISSUE EXISTS

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE Police Staff Association has pushed back against National Security Minister Wayne Munroe’s claim that there is no evidence officers or their families are being denied insurance services, saying the real problem is the failure to add approved dependants to coverage following a 2023 policy change.

PSA chairman Ricardo

Walkes said the issue is not outright denial of care, but that dependents who were previously entitled to coverage have not been added to the group policy despite having their names submitted and approved.

Mr Walkes said he has met twice this year with the insurer and has repeatedly sought updates on whether the outstanding payments have been settled so that dependants can be formally added. “In my meeting with

Insurance Colina, they're saying that the persons may go to the hospital, and they may get service to be paid out of pocket, but they won't be able to claim, because once the government pays this money and brings it up to date, service will not be retroactive,” he said.

“So you cannot go there and claim and get any refund or anything back from Colina for anything before the money is paid.”

Mr Munroe, speaking at an Office of the Prime

Minister press briefing yesterday, said a policy change for new entrants means only officers themselves are covered, not their dependants. He said the original rationale for broader coverage was the heightened risk associated with security force work.

“For persons who had coverage for their dependents before, if your dependent who was covered, is denied service, the same applies to them. We receive no identification of any eligible dependent

who has not received service,” Mr Munroe said. He said any cases of refused service should be reported to the ministry, adding that there is a formal process to contest denials, including where treatment is sought abroad without prior approval.

“If you're refused service, there's a process by which you apply, so for instance, if you flew off to the US and you tried to get service and you were denied, the policy may say they don't cover that, and you should have gotten pre approved before you left,” he said.

The minister said a meeting was held with Colina and the financial secretary, attended by senior officials, and insisted that the ministry

has received no reports from the police, correctional officers, or the Royal Bahamas Defence Force indicating that members have been denied service.

“I hasten to add that we have received no indication of any police officer who has been denied service. I happen to have to use the policy that relates to me, and I have had no difficulty using it,” he said.

Mr Munroe also said the ministry takes its obligations to service members seriously and maintains an open-door policy, but claimed the Police Staff Association has refused to meet with the ministry.

Mr Walkes rejected that assertion, saying he did not refuse to meet and noting that discussions held in 2023 were cordial.

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Deadline February 1, 2026.

Sick-out disrupts PMH services

by just one.

to expedite payments, overtime compensation is being issued through a direct payment system, as it falls outside the regular payroll cycle.

The disruption hit several hospital operations, including the A&E department, the dialysis and ICU units.

Longtime dialysis patient Marvin Johnson was among those directly affected by this week’s sick out, noting that some nurses were not showing up to work earlier in the week.

He said the situation worsened yesterday when most nurses failed to report for the 5am shift, forcing patients to wait until the staffing issues were resolved.

“A lot of the patients left, which is very dangerous, because they felt there was no sense in staying,” he said.

Mr Johnson added that nurses from Africa have been filling in during recent days, but delays persist.

He said he usually begins dialysis shortly after 8am and leaves by noon, but now finishes much later because treatment starts late.

He attributed the delays to chronic staffing shortages in the dialysis unit, saying nurses are often forced to work without aides.

“So whatever they kick out at us, we could make noise as much as we want, but we can’t leave, we gotta stay, so it’s really bad.”

“I got to stay in order to live.”

Bahamas Nurses Union (BNU) President Muriel Lightbourn could not say how many nurses were involved in the action, only that the numbers were enough to disrupt services.

She denied instructing staff to call in sick, but said she understood their frustration.

“Could you imagine you go in there and your benefits are not there and you depend on these things? I’d be sick myself,” she said. She said the union met with the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA), noting that officials “seemed to have a plan,” but she declined to provide details until consulting with nurses.

Her comments came as some nurses even took to social media to defend the industrial action amid public criticism.

One nurse, who holds a master’s degree, said she earned just $1,300 after deductions and posted her pay slip as proof, describing the amount as “embarrassing.”

She said that after paying her bills, she was left with $476 for the rest of the month.

“they don’t take pride in paying us” and called for more to be done. The nurse later clarified on social media that her annual salary is $31,000, placing her monthly pay at just over $2,500.

PHA acknowledged an increase in staff callouts yesterday, saying it was actively managing schedules and reallocating resources to minimise disruptions across its facilities.

Meanwhile, other unions warned that long-standing staffing shortages have left the hospital system vulnerable.

Krista Burrows, president of the Bahamas Allied Healthcare Workers Union, which represents laboratory, pharmacy, ECG, X-ray, engineering and morgue staff, said her union did not engage in a sick-out, but that members have chosen not to work overtime.

She said severe staffing shortages mean several departments are operating with skeletal teams and are not functioning at full capacity.

“There’s major shortage throughout the entire hospital system, so every area is short staffed and working overtime to maintain the functionality of the hospital,” she said.

questioning how funds budgeted for overtime were exhausted within months.

He said aides are responsible for cleaning and setting up the machines and preparing patients for treatment, tasks that should be shared by two people but are now being handled

“One hour into payday, I was broke,” she wrote, noting that every month is a struggle.

She said she takes pride in the care she provides to patients, but added that

She said the laboratory is among the hardest-hit areas, having lost nearly 20 staff members over the past two years due to retirements and resignations, with no replacements hired. This has been compounded by the recent death of the lab manager.

“It’s really a rough time,”

Power

reform ‘a necessity,’ not a commercial reward, OPM says

WARNING from page one

for Grand Bahama and the wider country.

The statement said electricity must be treated as essential national infrastructure, not merely a commercial service, describing it as a public safety issue, a cost-of-living issue and a determinant of economic competitiveness. It said government policy cannot accept a framework in which reliability and affordability are deferred until demand grows.

“Reliable and affordable power is a precondition for investment and population growth, not a reward for achieving them,” the statement said, adding that serious investors and families alike make long-term decisions based on present conditions, not future promises.

The government rejected the Chamber’s reliance on economies of scale to argue that national comparisons are invalid, saying scale limitations across an archipelago are precisely why a coordinated national approach is required. It

Two

charged

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter

A WOMAN accused of stealing nearly $20,000 in a phishing scheme was granted bail yesterday.

Prosecutors allege that Frankesha Smith, 24, stole $9,005.50 from the CIBC account of Ahmad Bastian on January 20. Smith and Terrance Burrows, 28, are further accused of stealing $10,000 from the CIBC

warned that fragmented planning and isolated pricing would entrench inequality and weaken national competitiveness.

The statement also dismissed claims that national rate structures are artificial, saying they reflect a deliberate governance choice to prevent deepening disparities between islands. It said equity in access to essential services is not an accounting trick but a core responsibility of government. Responding to suggestions that acquisition would simply shift losses to taxpayers without improving service, the statement said modern energy reform is driven by engineering and system design, not ownership labels. It pointed to storm-hardened infrastructure, redundancy, automation and disciplined capital planning as the real determinants of reliability. Citing recent experience in New Providence, the government said the $130 million Foundational Grid Upgrade Project delivered independently verified reductions of 45 percent in outage frequency and 35

percent in outage duration by the end of 2025, with reliability on normal operating days improving by nearly 50 percent. It said wider reform through public-private partnerships and power purchase agreements has unlocked commitments to invest $1 billion across the archipelago.

The statement said the challenges acknowledged by the Chamber — hurricane exposure, reliance on costly rental generation and the need for major upgrades — argue for decisive action rather than delay.

“The issues acknowledged by the Chamber are not an argument for delay,” it said. “They are an argument for decisive, technically grounded action with clear accountability and a defined pathway to modernisation.”

While stressing it remains open to engagement, the government said the national discussion cannot drift toward accepting high electricity costs as inevitable, deferring reform until demand increases, or treating equity across islands as optional.

in $20,000 phishing scheme

account of Stephanie Marc on January 23. Smith pleaded not guilty to two counts of stealing and money laundering, while Burrows pleaded not guilty to one count of stealing and one count of money laundering before Senior Magistrate Kendra Kelly.

The pair were granted bail of $5,000 each on the joint charge, while Smith was granted bail of $4,000 on her second charge.

Meanwhile, Ms Burrows warned that morgue staff usually work weekends and holidays as overtime, and without that coverage, “should something happen, it could be catastrophic.”

As part of their bail conditions, Smith must report to the East Street South Police Station every Thursday by 6pm, while Burrows must report to the Carmichael Road Police Station every Thursday by 6pm.

The accused are expected to return to court for trial on April 21. They are represented by Levan Johnson. Corporal 3991 Danielle Moultrie is the prosecutor.

A video shared with The Tribune shows a room with patients where a medical monitor is heard beeping for over 10 minutes with no staff to be seen. she said. “I know for a fact with laboratory things is just slowed. If it was slow before, it’s a little slower, okay? It’s going to get done, but at a slower, much slower pace.”

She said the situation highlights the need for a full investigation into the PHA’s management,

Bahamas Public Service Union (BPSU) President Kimsley Ferguson, who represents clerical staff, groundsmen and janitorial workers, has also written to Prime Minister Philip Davis and other senior officials calling for an independent probe into the management and administration of overtime funds at the PHA. In the letter, Mr Ferguson described the

issue as “one of national importance” and said comments by Health Minister Dr Michael Darville that he was unaware of the situation had raised further alarm.

“Immediate, transparent, and decisive action is required to establish the facts, address outstanding obligations, restore confidence among healthcare professionals, and prevent any further disruption to the delivery of essential health services to the Bahamian public,” he wrote NURSES from page one

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“Nothing to see here”

No corruption here, honest. Or at least that is what officials and leaders in our country would seem to think.

When Darrin Roker, the former Royal Bahamas Defence Force chief petty officer, pleaded guilty and was jailed for his role in a massive cocaine smuggling conspiracy, his lawyer claimed The Bahamas was riddled with corruption. As we noted earlier this week, Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles sought to depict Roker as one bad apple and said she was offended by Roker’s lawyer’s comments. She dismissed the claims of widespread corruption, despite Roker’s self-confessed guilt in a case that also sees other public officials accused and which allegedly involves a high-ranking politician, who has not as yet been named.

Prosecutors in Roker’s case said they believed he had been involved in drug trafficking for many years before he was caught and convicted.

Among those still accused is Elvis Nathaniel Curtis, a former Royal Bahamas Police Force chief superintendent who once headed the police station at Lynden Pindling International Airport. Yesterday, Commissioner Knowles was joined in shrugging off the corruption claims by National Security Minister Wayne Munroe.

He too decided that the “one bad apple” line was the way to go despite the case being a conspiracy.

He also went on to say: “Remember now, the fella say all of you are corrupt, not just the police. So anyone who wants to stand with them must put their hand up and say, I admit I’m corrupt, because he didn’t cast aspersion just over an organisation, over a country.”

That is about as nonsensical an argument as you will find over why we should not take allegations of corruption in our nation seriously. It appears to be an attempt to deflect allegations with a basis in fact by waving the flag of patriotism. Drug smugglers are not patriots, and we should not pretend they belong anywhere other than a prison cell. Again, it should be noted, the case in which Roker has admitted his guilt is one that has been brought in the United States.

There is no case here because there appears to be no actual investigation here. Quite how we have not reacted to allegations of a massive cocaine conspiracy involving criminals, officers and a politician by launching a full-scale probe of our own is incredible.

Remember, Commissioner Knowles is in her position following the resignation of former Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander in the wake of these allegations in the US coming to light in the first place.

He resigned days after giving a national address in which he pledged to improve the quality of police officers and boost accountability. He got to carry out

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neither goal. At the time, Prime Minister Philip Davis said his departure was not linked to the allegations – but equally he did say that the police force needs reform and said that “trust between the police and the people is essential to preventing crime”.

Yesterday, Mr Munroe also said there were ample measures to prevent corruption, saying “I don’t understand what they mean by low funding of anti-corruption policies”.

He pointed to public disclosure requirements, despite the fact that the Public Disclosures Committee still has not revealed who did or did not disclose as the law requires last year, and has not gazetted disclosures in an age.

The low funding he refers to includes the Freedom of Information Act, which still has not been fully implemented. There is the Office of the Ombudsman, which also is not functioning as it should. Then there are the gaps in the Public Procurement Act and the fact that the Independent Commission of Investigations act not having been brought into force. Toss the lack of any charges under anti-gang legistlation onto the pile of underused or ignored legislation if you like. If you are looking for understanding, Mr Munroe, start with that list.

The US government has also warned about corruption in The Bahamas, particularly when it comes to election campaign financing, for which we still have no legislation despite talk about its necessity over the years. What is there to stop a drug baron from providing campaign finance for the upcoming election? Nothing has changed to stop it.

Simply put, the situation is this: A former officer has admitted his role in a conspiracy, which we are not investigating, in which there are already wider allegations against more Bahamians both in and out of uniform, and we are pretending there is no corruption to worry about even though we have not tried to find out for ourselves. Add to that mix the raft of legislation intended to provide accountability that is simply being left to idle.

We are not trying to find the corruption, it would seem, and we are not using the tools we created to be able to find it in the first place.

Nothing to see here. Move along. Do not question. Do not pay attention to what the courts over in the United States say. Is that really what we are saying as a country?

Here is a place to start. The public disclosures from last year can be announced today. Tomorrow. After the weekend. Announce them. Tell us who disclosed on time. Tell us who did not hit the legal deadline. Let us start there. If Mr Munroe is pointing to disclosures as a way of ensuring there is no corruption, then let us treat it that way. Release the information. Now. Prove we are taking these laws seriously.

Did Concord Wilshire reneg on deal?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I WAS hoping that Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis would’ve announced that the Concord Wilshire Group had set a definite date on when demolition and construction would commence on the Grand Lucayan Resort property. But my greatest fears were realised after reading Davis’ vague reasoning for the protracted delays. I was led to believe that this was a done deal. Grand Bahamians have seen this movie before. We are so used to being disappointed. I feel as if Grand Bahama is the bastard of the central government in Nassau. While the Grand Lucayan Resort remains a hard nut to crack, I read in the dailies that the Yintegra Group is investing $300 million in its Rosewood Exuma Resort development on East Sampson Cay and that Sandals Resorts is planning on pumping $100 million into transforming Emerald Bay into Beaches Resort in Exuma.

Meanwhile in Nassau, the Davis administration in September 2024 signed a head of agreement with Baha Mar officials for a $350 million 20 storey resort that will sit on the site of the old Melia Resort; with another signing in February 2025 with businessman Adrian Fox for a $300 million resort on Cable Beach. Unlike in Freeport, I have no reason to doubt that both investments will come to fruition. Freeport’s inability to woo touristic investors such as Sol Kerzner, Gordon “Butch” Stewart and Sarkaz Izmirlian is both frustrating and puzzling, considering Grand Bahama’s proximity to Florida. But Freeport can never catch a break.

I am inclined to believe that either Concord Wilshire has given the Progressive Liberal Party government an ultimatum with respect to the sorry state of the airport, hence the news of a $100 million investment in the Grand Bahama International Airport and the mobilization of Polycom; or the US based

investment entity has quietly reneged on the $827 million Heads of Agreement signed in May 2025. The news of Concord Wilshire developing a 32-acre cruise destination; a 25,000 square foot casino; a 120unit timeshare, a 160-acre Greg Norman Golf Course, a 16 slip mega yacht marina and a hotel (only 350 rooms). had raised the collective hopes of thousands of Grand Bahamians. That hope was raised even higher with the televised grand celebration in Port Lucaya coupled with the demolition of a portion of the resort building. The latter demonstration led many to believe, myself included, that this was a legit announcement that would actually come to fruition after years of disappointments. The announcement that Concord Wilshire’s $827 million investment would create 1,300 construction jobs and 1,750 permanent jobs -- had it materialised -- would’ve singlehandedly neutralised Freeport’s decades -old recession. Yes, the $600 million Carnival Celebration Key investment has helped. I am equally positive that the $450 million investment by MSC on Billy Cay will help. But these types of touristic investments are unlike anchor projects such as Baha Mar and Atlantis that draw hundreds of thousands of stopover visitors annually. The idea behind Celebration Key is to keep its guests on its property to enjoy the amenities and restaurants. Carnival did not pump $600 million into that investment with the aim of Port Lucaya Marketplace vendors and restaurants sharing in the economic benefits. With an anchor resort on the scale of Atlantis in Port Lucaya, however, the economic spin-offs would be wide-ranging and tangible.

I am not questioning Concord Wilshire’s commitment

to its word in the sense that its principals duped Grand Bahamians. I sincerely believe that the state of the airport gave the group legitimate cause for concern. Why invest nearly $1 billion in a resort on an island with a rundown, dilapidated airport? It would be grossly unfair towards these investors to expect them to take such a huge financial risk. I agree with The Nassau Guardian editorial that stated that it might be too late for the PLP on Grand Bahama, as announced investments will not bear any meaningful fruit in the coming months with a looming election. At this juncture, I can realistically see the PLP winning only one of the seven combined seats in Grand Bahama and Abaco. I know, the Minnis administration also failed to revitalise the Grand Lucayan Resort. But the Minnis administration was voted out of office, winning only seven seats. And unlike the Davis administration, Minnis had to contend with Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19.

Saying that the Free National Movement had five MPs on Grand Bahama cannot be used as a campaign strategy this election season. I am one of those who was rooting for Davis to fix Freeport’s ailing economy. As Davis said in his press statement in reference to FNM supporters, I would assume, I am not rooting for the failure of Grand Bahama. FNM executives, like their PLP counterparts, are well-off financially. I am tired of seeing Grand Bahamians struggle to make ends meet. And I am tired of seeing a rundown International Bazaar and Port Lucaya looking like an abandoned ghost town. I just wish the government would be forthcoming in telling us if the Concord Wilshire deal has fallen through or not. Please let us know.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama January 28, 2026.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

KINDLY allow me space in your valuable column to articulate an opinion on why I believe the Progressive Liberal Party does not need Killarney to win the next general elections. Presently, Killarney is represented by former Prime Minister Dr Hubert A Minnis, whom I believe has been and continues to be an excellent member of parliament. Having lived in Killarney all of Dr Minnis’s term, I believe I am qualified to say that. And he

continues to be. In the next general election, he will be running as an independent candidate. Both the FNM and the COI have named candidates but not the PLP. As I see it Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis is on course for ‘two straight.’ He has captained the ship with ’a steady and sober hand.’ He has led and continues to lead the PLP from the front. I believe he will be victorious in the next general elections. The economy continues to be in ‘pretty good shape.’ The

election

voter appears ‘reasonably happy and contented. I do not believe it will be a tsunami for the governing party but not a neck and neck battle. Killarney won’t make a difference. The PLP won’t need it. My advice to the Prime Minister’ continues to stay on your present course! Stay positive! Stay focus! Stick to your plans and go full speed ahead!

PAT STRACHAN Nassau, January 28, 2026.

EDITOR, The Tribune. CAN the Media give you “the truth and only the truth”? I don’t think so. Each of us may hear or see the same thing, but when asked to interpret what we have seen, there may be many different descriptions of the same thing. The operative word here is “interpret”. We examine through our own eyes and hear a subject, a sound or thing and apply within that process many other things. Be it our family or community socialisation, our faith beliefs, political or moral code. One person may say an object is white but which white? There are more than 33 versions of white out there. So too with the concept of “truth.”

A journalist or reporter has within their grasp the ability to see, investigate, thoughtfully analyse and then personally edit what they believe they have seen, heard or witnessed. The process can be demanding and difficult. These professionals have within themselves decades of institutional training, schooling, family and religious beliefs that happen to either assist them in their process or block their vision of a reality. They may look through the eyes of a liberal, conservative, religious or nationalist believer. Things like patriotism, prejudice and judgement, prone attitudes influence us all.

Let’s take the subject of President Trump’s immigration/migrant policies. The Trump Administration says non-documented migrants are law breakers who should leave America and apply for asylum or residency like millions of other people. So, if you’re a conservative in a community which has high unemployment and feel these migrants are taking their jobs and forcing the daily wage downward you will support the Presidents efforts. You probably will support ICE initiatives. A liberal, religious or progressive-minded individual will see things differently. President Trump is seen as an authoritarian attacking the very fabric of American Freedom. Moral and ethical codes persuade us how to think, act and respond to our daily adventures. Immoral and unethical persons side step any thought process to get the job done. Many ICE agents are being accused of this today. Do your duty no matter the implications. It is easier to understand any scientific problem then the thought process of a human mind. There is simply too much going on. Human beings have both interior and exterior influences that manipulate, persuade and intermingle within any thought process. So, seeing something that is obviously a charitable, kind and resourceful thing(right

thing to do) can be seen and interpreted as politically, religiously or socially extreme (wrong thing). Media will always be a human endeavor that challenges us as listeners, readers and social media warriors who will try to understand and interpret events presented to us. The media faces challenges that can force them to comply to corporate policies, trying their best to present human stories that build up and inform their readership. Bad news sells. Good news is pleasantly ignored at times. The challenge presents itself, What to report?

A learned fellow once wrote “the dumbing down of North America is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content. 10-30 second sound bites, The lowest common denominator programming, presentations of pseudoscience and superstition with a continual celebration of a population’s ignorance. Misinformation presented and translated by media types universally”(Carl Sagan) It’s our job to inform ourselves, investigating and translating what is presented to us each morning and evening. The news a just a stepping stone within our life’s journey.

STEVEN KASZAB Bradford, Ontario January 28, 2026.

Bahamian surveyors association slam ‘illegal’ foreign competition

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

FOREIGN surveyors are entering The Bahamas to carry out surveying work without proper clearance and, in some cases, competing directly with Bahamian professionals while employed within government, the Bahamas Association of Land Surveyors has alleged.

BALS president Rodrick Woods said at a press conference on Wednesday that foreign surveyors are routinely flying into the country for short-term assignments — particularly on the Family

Islands — completing work and departing without engaging local professionals.

“Quite often this is work that can be done by local surveyors if they are contacted and simply given the opportunity,” he added.

Mr Woods said the association supports calls by labour unions for stricter enforcement of immigration and labour laws, alleging that some surveyors are being flown into the country on private aircraft to complete projects without consultation with BALS or Bahamian practitioners.

He also raised concerns about alleged conflicts of

interest within the Department of Lands and Surveys, claiming that foreign surveyors hired to work in the department are operating private surveying companies and competing with local surveyors in private practice.

“We have received a large number of complaints that the foreign surveyors that are hired to work at the Lands and Surveys Department are running private companies out of that department,” Mr Woods said. “They are competing with land surveyors in private practice and doing work outside of the department.”

Mr Woods said the

association plans to raise the issue with the Director of Lands and Surveys and the Office of the Prime Minister, seeking clarity on the contractual arrangements and legal authority under which foreign surveyors are operating.

The BALS president also flagged governance concerns within the profession, saying the association has received no response from the Office of the Prime Minister regarding nominations for appointments to the Board of Land Surveyors, as required under the Land Surveyors Act.

“Two persons are supposed to be nominated from the

association to sit on the board,” he said. “We haven’t gotten any favourable response on that issue.”

Despite those concerns, Mr Woods said the country faces a shortage of licensed and registered surveyors and stressed that BALS is working to encourage more young Bahamians to enter the field.

“We want to encourage people from junior school and high school to be interested,” he said, noting that the profession requires strong foundations in mathematics, physics, geography and English, as well as the ability to work both indoors and outdoors.

Bell: Government to acquire Garden Villas for housing

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter

THE Davis administration expects to acquire the long-neglected Garden Villas property in Grand Bahama shortly, clearing the way for new housing construction in an inner-city area where families are living without water, electricity or basic infrastructure.

Housing and Urban Renewal Minister Keith Bell said following a recent Cabinet meeting in Grand Bahama that preliminary drawings for the redevelopment have already been completed and negotiations are

continuing with the Grand Bahama Development Company and the Grand Bahama Port Authority to secure the land.

Garden Villas, known locally as The Ghetto, sits in the heart of Freeport’s inner city and is marked by crumbling structures, abandoned buildings and a growing number of occupants living in unsafe conditions.

“The properties are not owned by the government, and so the major step was to acquire those properties. We are continuing with the process and we anticipate that we should be able to complete that process very shortly,” Mr Bell said.

Once acquisition is final, he said the government plans to build a mix of single-family and multi-family homes.

Mr Bell stressed that residents currently living in Garden Villas will not be disadvantaged by the redevelopment. He said the government is examining alternative locations to house occupants during the transition and is working to ensure any relocation provides proper housing supported by infrastructure and basic services.

However, he acknowledged that the number of people occupying abandoned structures in the area is increasing.

“I was just there on Sunday and I went through there earlier this morning (Tuesday), and I see that there's an increase in the number of persons who are occupying those abandoned structures.”

“And so, I spoke with the Minister (Moxey) just a short while ago to see if we could begin moving those persons out.”

Mr Bell did not say how many people would need to be relocated.

The update comes against the backdrop of slow progress on other Grand Bahama housing initiatives. In May 2023, the government announced it was acquiring 18 private lots in the

Heritage Subdivision for new housing, but Mr Bell said that project remains in its early stages. “I'm very optimistic that we're able to do some things very shortly,” he said.

Addressing criticism over delayed home repairs, particularly in West Grand Bahama, Mr Bell said the government has spent more than $15 million on repairs nationwide and rejected claims that certain areas have been ignored. While he did not provide figures for Grand Bahama specifically, he said Cabinet has approved an increase in the amount allocated per home to expand future

repair work.

“Yes, we know that there are more homes to repair but we anticipate to address as much as we possibly can,” he said.

Mr Bell also confirmed that the government’s rent-to-own programme is expected to be introduced in Grand Bahama, with Garden Villas identified as a key rollout area.

The redevelopment of Garden Villas has been a stated priority of the Davis administration for nearly two years. Despite announcements in July 2024 of plans to build 50 homes on the island, construction has yet to begin at either Garden Villas or Heritage.

Cooper: Tourism smashes records with ‘unprecedented’ 12.5 million visitors

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

TOURISM in The Bahamas recorded another record-breaking year in 2025, with significant increases in visitor arrivals, according to Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper.

Mr Cooper, the Minister of Tourism and Investments, presented the latest figures in the House of Assembly yesterday, welcoming what he described as an “unprecedented” 12.5 million visitors, the highest ever recorded.

Visitor arrivals grew by 11.4 per cent year over year, surpassing the 2024 record and exceeding pre-pandemic levels by more than 72 per cent, he said. Sea arrivals exceeded 10.6 million visitors, representing a 14 per cent increase year-over-year and nearly doubling 2019 levels.

Mr Cooper attributed the performance to years

of relationship-building, improved port operations, and new infrastructure.

“While some might seek to downplay the impact of these arrivals, Madam Speaker, they represent jobs and salaries, shifts being filled, inventory purchased, tours booked, taxis running (and) restaurants, busy marinas active,” he said.

While visitor and sea arrivals increased, foreign air arrivals fell slightly to 1.7 million, about 1.6 per cent below 2024 levels, though Mr Cooper noted positive late-year momentum despite global aviation disruptions and weather challenges.

Stopover visitor numbers in 2025 remained above 2019 levels at 1.8 million.

“This success is evident in Grand Bahama’s rebound. For the first time in more than 22 years, Grand Bahama’s arrival has eclipsed 1 million arrivals, reaching 1.1 million at the end

of December 2025,” Mr Cooper said.

Air arrivals to Grand Bahama were up 20 per cent in 2025 compared to 2024 and more than 30 per cent above pre-pandemic levels.

Sea arrivals also surged with the opening of Celebration Cay, increasing by more than 90 per cent year over year and more than 100 per cent above 2019 levels.

Abaco, he added, also recorded its highest total visitor arrivals on record, with just under 520,000 visitors in 2025. The growth was driven by record air and sea arrivals, with air arrivals increasing by 5.2 per cent, making Abaco the second-fastest-growing destination by air arrivals.

Nonetheless, Free National Movement (FNM) leader Michael Pintard questioned whether the government’s reported tourism gains are translating into tangible benefits for ordinary Bahamians.

He argued that many people are not feeling the impact despite claims of record arrivals and economic growth.

“He talked about Grand Bahama experiencing the largest economic growth as a result of this explosion in tourism, the fastest growing destination,” Mr Pintard said. “That does not say

much about the rest of the country and this level of suffering because they don't feel it. We do not feel it. I live there. He just visits.”

Mr Cooper said it was unfortunate that some “who call themselves patriots” quietly root for the failure of the country’s tourism product.

In an apparent reference to the FNM, he said they believe national hardship would improve their political fortunes.

“This record performance in tourism is not a small fee,” he added. “It reflects sustained global demand, a strong brand and a tourism strategy that's delivering economic impact across the country.”

IN THIS series--along with a few actualdrug plane carcasses around the capital Nassau andEastern New Providence--we explorethe anecdotal, story-tellingaspect ofhow theintensivedrug trade throughout the Bahamas effectedthose, likeme,who wereveryfar fromthepointy end of the stick.

Here areexamples ofthe drug trade touching our lives:

On the school bus, a student said hisrelatives weremorticians and they complained that burying drug plane pilots had become a real issue for which theywere nowcharging more. Apparently, the flies and insects from marijuanawould infectthe dead fliers in air pockets so that when RBDFor police retrieved them they were in a rancid, putrid state.

Thenvalidation ofthis camefrom anunexpected place: apresentation onunderwater films of The Bahamas at the Dundas Theatre in the early 1980s that my family attended. The presenter, Stan Waterman, had the first diveboat operation in the Bahamasaboard his custombuilt Zingaro wherehe made one of diving’s earliest films, Water World, in 1954.

Waterman lived tobe 100 years old (he died in 2023), and whathe toldthe audience

that night shocked me. He said that he and other bignamediversandfilmmakers(I thinkhe referredtoJacques Cousteau) were finished filming in TheBahamas because they were always findingdrug planes,werealways being interruptedby drug smugglers, andwere always having toreport bodies, planes, and boats. The distractions just became too dangerous,time consuming,and expensive, Waterman said. I remember hearing this at age10 withdismay anddiscouragement. I overheardhow foreign consuls hadto go toother islands to collect the belongings of pilots who had gone missing in the drugtrade. Their familieshad askedfor personal effectsduring the statutory seven years before death couldbe legallydeclared.

The drug trade and life in these islands

Dozens ofcaptured derelict drug planes werelined up at Nassau sWindsor Field.You could see them as you landed or took off. Theywere auctioned off andended up either asartificialreefs,inmovies,at Mayaguana’s remote runways (repurposedpossiblyintodrug use) or justscrapped. Today a couple of old aircraft wrecks still sit along Runway 10. Cigarette boatsthat were found drifting, abandoned,

were impounded and auctioned. A friend of our family s bought severaland createda successful business.Our familybought oneofthese boatsatauctioninFortLauderdale from US authorities and still have it.

WhenIwas 13wefounda plane that had crashed just hours before.And ourmother and sister watched another beingforcedinto thewatera few hundred yards from a cocktail party atLyford Cay Club they were attending.

As a teen in the late 1980s I went to every boat slip and marina inNew Providence looking for a cheap small sailboat. One day near the VIP Chinese Restaurant,I sawa verysad-looking maninhis 40s ina dirtyyellow T-shirt, sandals,and unkempthair looking very hungover. Two policemenin uniformwere standing overhim askinghim questions. The storywas that he was alocal fisherman who had found a packet of cocaine. As soonas he got toport he rentedthe penthousefloor ofa ParadiseIsland hotel,invited all his friendsplus some new ones, and partieduntil the cocaineandmoney ranout.Then thecopspaid himavisitand when I saw him he was getting ready to live in more modest digs at Her Majesty s pleasure.

Thedrug trade--madepossible by daredevil pilots, massive expenditureson aircraft, security, fuel,bribes, and distribution networksacross borders, culturesand languages--hada tectoniceffect oneveryday society.In western Nassau, inplaces west ofDelaporte andinour areaof Cable Beach, newhomes with fabulous viewssprung upon the lakes andocean. Many werethinbut presentedabold front.Families leftmore modest middle-classbungalows for ostentatious palaces andbegan drivinglargeimported foreign cars. It effected professionals as well as folks

int-shirts, whobeganbuying cars and jewelson Bay Street with cash.

In Acklins and Spring Point and Hard Bargain, Moore s Island andat OveryonderCay in Exumaand Stanieland beyond, one could hear small aircraft frantically going about theirbusiness. Sometimesyou even heard a DEA helicopter. The effects of “easy money” anddrugaddiction arenotfor thiscolumn. Butatage 12I wassentoff toaboarding school,inpart, toavoidthe corrosive effectsof thedrug

black or to camouflage them, as rum-running ships were.

All kinds off modifications weremade: addfuelbladders and cargospaces inthe nose, remove seats, andadd more powerfulengines. Allthis combined with lackof lights on the plane,lack of radar tracking, and flight paths as close to the sea or land as possible to avoid detection.

Therewere languageand culture barriersflying from SouthAmerica totheCaribbean tothe Bahamasand USA, from 11,000 feet in the

The clients weren t all moustachioed Medellintypes either.They weremultinational investors and mob bosses inVegas, Chicago,Indiana, and Providence, Rhode Island, andgood ol’ boys in thewoodsof thedeepSouth. Theywere Americanconsumers. Thousandsof drug runners died to help them get theirfix andbethelife ofthe party.

What couldpossibly go wrong? Airplane wrecks, and coffins andcockpits filled withthe bodiesofmainly

trade in The Bahamas. Takefora momentaconventionalcar,ship,boatoraircraft asset history. The drugtrade completely turned the traditional model upside down, and shook the contents out like a purse. Usually, a personor a company buys an asset – car, truck, plane,boat, ship – and registers itwith a local,state, or national government with a verified ownerand address, billof sale,etc.The statethen collectstaxes ontheasset, periodically inspectsthe item and the personsoperating it, and requiresinsurance andliability coverage.When the asset is destroyed, sold, scrapped, even in a different national jurisdiction, there is a paper trail (sohistorians like me can figure out what happened toit andwhether this assetis actually that plane rusting over there!)

Nowtake thedrugtrade. Someonewhomayormaynot have full ownership of an airplane has atleast possession and leverages that into a cash sale with no paperwork. Hundreds of thousandsof dollars. Sometimes they scratch out or remove thenameplate with official number (BuNo for buildernumber), andchange thetail number,whichindicates what registry or country. Interestingly, littleeffort seemsto havebeenconsistently madeto paintthem

mountains to sealevel. Lack ofradio equipmentandlack ofrescue equipmentforthe pilotsshould theyhaveto ditchintheoceanallmadethe life ofa pilotvery dangerous indeed, not to mention fatigue and sometimesimpairment from drugs or alcohol.

The licenses ofthe pilots and the planes were likely not scrutinised,and pilotswith skillsononeplanemighthave to fly a planewith which they wereentirely unfamiliarwith noone tospeakto forhelp. Pilot and navigator s skill sets ranged fromexpert military and commercial aircraft to rank amateurs whowere selftaught, willing to take huge risks, andin itfor theadventure and money.

young andmiddle-aged men, and jail cells filled with everyonefrom fishermenand accountantsto thoseprofiting from the distributionor living the go-golife onthe consuming end.

Itbecame almostimpossible tofully understand theactual backstorybehind each illegalaircraft that crashed inThe Bahamas,and evenmore difficulttofigure out which, provided you were able to ascertain the where and when.

In the airplanedrug trade, boththe deadand theliving keepsecrets. Manyhundreds ofthosesecrets arelyingon the seafloorof ourarchipelago.

Routine versus spontaneity – how to strike a balance when life gets in the way of living

THERE was atime when I thought I was up for anything. I drove myolder daughter to school on a motorcycle. Well, actually, it wasmore like a moped, but then most mothers weredropping kidsoff instation wagons or sedans before the days of the universal SUV family ride.

Asachild,Irodethesecond highest,fastest, mostdangerous roller coaster in the US justabouteverySaturdayfora year, from morning till near dark when I hadto leave the amusement park. It helped that my fatherowned the park for that year, andwas my ride there and back. I was nine years old, andthe world was one highpoint afteranother (exceptforpianolessonsthatI dreadedandlima beansthatI hated. I still can’t figure out

accomplishingthetasksonthe must-do list whileliving the want-to-do list?

Mind you, theseare not bucketlist activitiesI amreferring to,like skydivingto celebrate yourmilestone birthdayor climbingMt. Everest to mark Nelson Mandela Day? (Yes, there is someoneinTheBahamaswho has done itfour times, raising money for African girls.)

WhatIamreferringtoisthe

Routine hasits benefits,of course. Withoutit, wewould belost.Imagineifwewokeup every morning andhad no idea what came next. We wouldbelike ashiptossed aboutin astormy sea,wandering around,trying tofind our ownselves. So,we establish a routine that works for us. We getup, goto thebathroom, brush our teeth, put on the coffee or tea. If we have

howlima beanscan beconsidered inthe samecategory-edible food--as likeable stuff like a juicy cheeseburger or pistachio ice cream.)

Butup foranythingis hardertocome byasyouget older. The spontaneity and joy of the moment fades into the routine of getting past it.

Thrill of the hour

The thrillof thehour becomes what youachieve in that 60-minute time frame.

Sohowdo youbalancethe two – routine versus spontaneity? Livinglife tothe fullestwhile gettingthemost done? How do youachieve both,

small stuff that makes one day more specialand different from the other, breaking the routine withits spontaneity: suddenlypulling offand parking at Montagu, just to sit on a park bench, look out at the bay and feel the sun on your face.Or stoppingfor a quietcupof coffeeinsteadof powering past the temptation to head straight to the store for laundry detergent. I confess,I’m baffledby how toachieve spontaneityin alifedominatedbywhatisexpected --how tofind the joie de vivre, the willingness to let go ofwhat has tobe done--to grab holdof what youwant to do at a given moment.

children inthe house,we wake themup to getready for school, packlunch boxes Another day,another routine weekday on thecalendar. Not necessarily a badlife, but oh

so predictable. Where,you ask,is theexcitement that alittle spontaneity brings?

Story of the soap I remember the first time I realisedhowmuch Iwasa victim of routine. It followed a conversation about the subject when someone in the room said, Ifyou don t think you manage yourlife by routine, I bet you all shower the same way every day, starting inthe samespot on your body.

Considering myself above such routine nonsense, I, of course, stupidlysaid, “Not me.”

Thenextmorning,Igotinto the showerand noticedthat I started on theleft wrist and ran the soap up that arm, acrossthechestandneckarea, down the right arm and back again.

ThefollowingdayIstepped into the shower, convinced it would be differentfrom the day before. Butno. Even thoughI triedtovary it,that soaphad amindof itsown, starting on theleft arm, swiping itsway rightup, acrossthe chest. .. well,you get the point.

The days after--despite my attemptstoprove Iwasnota victim ofroutine byalternating leaving the Abaco Neem soap bar onthe windowsill and switchingto theliquid soapI oftenuse--I triedagain tovary it.You canprobably guessthe result:startingwith theright armdidn’t work, changedto upperleg, leftside . . . nope.

That right hand had its routineand wantedto starton the left.

Social rhythms It’s a small story to illustrate a point.

HereIwastryingtoimpress myselfthat Iwasnot avictim of routine,when, inreality, routine was so ingrained it beganwith themorning shower, though I will say that the time varied anywhere from 6:30to 7:30am.So, giventhat thiswasmy lotin life, Ifigured I mightas well find out thepositives, and I was pleasantlysurprised. I hope you will be, too.

Thanks to AI, I now know that routine allows for structureandpredictability,minimisesanxiety, improvesproductivityand reducesstress. And thanks to the Mayo Clinic’s Dr. CraigM. Sawchuk for making it even more palatable. Routine, he says, improves mood andthe sense of well-being.

People who have regular meals, sleeptimes and social interactions aremore likelyto feel satisfiedwith theirlives and score higheron tests of mental well-being, he says.

“People withirregular patterns are likely toreport more depression, anxietyand problemswith sleep.Whenyou re notona rhythm,itcan destabilise your life. Any major life disruptionhas the potentialto derailsocial rhythms.

“Think about what happens when somepeople retire. They might stop using their alarmclocks. Theyalsomay not needto getdressed right away. Thelist goeson. Because they’re nolongerdoing mostoftheactivitiesthatonce organised their day, they may feellistless andunmotivated. Once-routine dailyactions suchas showeringorworking out require more motivation and planning. Maybethat routinemethod of showeringthat once troubledme astoo ordinaryis reallyokay.NowIjusthaveto figureout howtoovercome the guilt if I stop, sit on a park bench, and feel thesun on my face.

A littlespontaneity never interfered with agood routine day.

Being a night owl might not be so great for your heart (but don't despair)

By LAURAN NEERGAARD

AP Medical Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) Being anight owl can be bad for your heart.

That may sound surprising but a large study found people who are more active late at night when most of the population is winding down or already asleep have poorer overall heart health than the average person.

It is not like, that, night owls are doomed, said research fellow Sina Kianersi of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, who led the study. “The challenge is themismatch betweenyour internalclock and typical daily schedules ” that makes it harderto follow hearthealthy behaviours.

Andthat sfixable,addedKianersi,whodescribeshimself as “sort of a night owl” whofeels a boost in “my analytical thinking after about 7 or 8 at night.

HeartdiseaseistheleadingcauseofdeathintheU.S.The AmericanHeartAssociationhasa listofeightkeyfactors thateveryoneshouldheed forbetterhearthealth: being more physically active; avoiding tobacco; getting enough sleep and a healthydiet; andcontrolling bloodpressure,

cholesterol, blood sugar and weight.

Wheredoes beinganightowl comein?Thathas todo with the body's circadian rhythm, our master biological clock.It followsa roughly24-hourschedule thatregulates notjustwhenwebecome sleepyandwhenwe re more awake but also keeps organ systems in sync, influencing things like heartrate, blood pressure, stresshormones and metabolism.

Everybody’s circadianrhythm is alittle different.Prior researchhadsuggestednightowlsmighthavemorehealthproblems, as well as risk factors like higher rates of smoking and less physical activity, than people with more typical bedtimes, Kianersi said.

To learnmore, Kianersi steam trackedmore than300,000 middle-age and older adults in the UK Biobank, a huge health database that includes informationabout people s sleep-wake preferences. About 8% ofthose people classified themselves as night owls,more active physically and mentallyin the late afternoon orevening andup pastmost people s bedtime. Abouta quarterwere early-birds,most productivein thedaylight hours andlikewiseearly tobed.Therest wereaverage, somewhere in the middle.

Over14 years,thenightowls hada16%higher riskofa firstheartattackorstrokecomparedtotheaveragepopulation, the researchers found.

The nightowls, especially women,also hadoverall worse cardiovascular health based on meeting the heart association’s eight key factors, the researchersreported Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Unhealthy behaviours smoking,insufficient sleep and poor diet appear to be the main reasons.

Man denies sexually assaulting mentally ill stepdaughter

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused of sexually assaulting his mentally ill stepdaughter in 2022 told a Supreme Court jury that the allegations against him were “lies”.

Yuel Major, 58, gave evidence in his defence before Justice Joyann Ferguson. He

Major denied assaulting the complainant with a knife and denied having sex with her on any occasion.

He said that before the allegations were made, they interacted as a normal family, going out to dinner and attending Christmas carnival events. He told the court that the complainant

is charged with two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a person suffering from a mental disorder and one count of assault with a deadly weapon. Prosecutors allege that Major had sex with the complainant, who is said to suffer from a mental disorder, and assaulted her with a knife sometime in May 2022. He is further accused of having sex with her again on June 5, 2022.

would help him with his phone and that, at the time of the alleged incidents, he lived in the house with the complainant, his wife, another stepdaughter and the complainant’s daughter.

Major said Shawn Buchanan, the complainant’s boyfriend, who previously testified, was frequently at the house.

He claimed the prosecution tried to portray the complainant as a crazy person, saying evidence from a psychiatrist suggested she was crazy. He said the complainant was able to feed and clothe her daughter.

Major said he learned from the complainant’s mother that she was “slow” and claimed her school books supported that view. He told the jury that the complainant worked as a packing girl at Meat Mart on Baillou Hill Road and was active in the church.

He also said he believed she worked at the fish fry, though he never saw her there and said he learned of that job from her.

The complainant has alleged that when others were not at home, Major would ask to see her private parts or to have sex with her in exchange for money, and that she refused. She also claimed he took advantage of her because she was “slow”.

Major denied those claims, insisting he was never home alone with the complainant. He also denied entering her room, removing his clothes and having sex with her in May 2022, saying he never engaged in oral sex or any sexual activity with her.

The complainant has alleged that after the May incident, Major watched television as if nothing had happened.

Major also denied raping

the complainant in a bathroom at about 3.30pm on June 5, 2022, claiming he was in bed all day after completing a six-day work shift. He said he was in “dead battery mode” and that his wife and Mr Buchanan were present at the house that day. He told the jury that he denied the allegations when confronted by police and said he was shocked when he was arrested. Major said he asked police to take DNA and blood samples to prove his innocence.

He said that before his arrest on June 5, 2022, his family had no financial difficulties, explaining that he worked 17-hour shifts and helped provide for the complainant’s daughter. He added that Mr Buchanan also contributed to the child’s needs.

Jairam Mangra represents the accused. Rashied Edgecombe is the prosecutor.

ELEUTHERA MAN REMANDED ON BAIL BREACH

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN awaiting trial on a housebreaking charge in Eleuthera was remanded to prison after allegedly breaching his bail conditions this month. Prosecutors allege that Terrance Whylly, 31, violated the terms of his bail on multiple occasions between January 1 and 27 in Rock Sound, Eleuthera.

Whylly is awaiting trial for allegedly breaking into the residence of Fredricka Watson in Green Castle, Eleuthera, between 11pm on August 25, 2023 and 2.30am on August 26, 2023. He pleaded not guilty to violating bail conditions before Magistrate Lennox Coleby. Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie objected to bail.

Whylly was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services and is expected to return to court on February 20.

MURDER ACCUSED HELD ON CAR THEFT CHARGE

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN who was previously accused of murder was remanded to prison yesterday after being charged with stealing and damaging a car last week. Prosecutors allege that Javaughn Charlton, 27, stole a brown 2011 Nissan Cube belonging to Destinee Floyd from Pastel Gardens on January 22. The vehicle was later recovered damaged on Fire Trail Road the same day.

Charlton was previously accused of murdering Michael Beckford, who was fatally shot while getting a haircut at a barbershop on Baillou Hill Road on April 3, 2022. That charge was withdrawn last November after Charlton waited more

than three years for trial. He pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing, receiving, and damage before Magistrate Lennox Coleby.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie objected to bail in the interest of public safety. Charlton was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services and is expected to return to court on February 16.

UB students raise alarm over mould in dormitories

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

STUDENTS living in dormitories at the University of The Bahamas’ Oakes Field campus are raising alarm over alleged mould exposure, with student leaders warning that some residents have experienced health issues and are being forced to remain in conditions they say are unsafe.

The claims were brought into the open on Thursday by the university’s Student Government Association, which said mould is present throughout the residential facility, including in student rooms, bathrooms, cupboards and air-conditioning vents, where it can circulate through the air.

SGA president Edwin Waldron said “quite a few” of the 52 students living in the dormitories have been affected, prompting some to seek medical attention out of concern for their health.

“They don’t know the long-term effects that this is going to have on them,” Mr Waldron said.

“The students here pay their fee to be here, and they’re Family Island students, so they don’t have anywhere else to go.” He said mould has spread extensively throughout the building.

“It’s in the bathrooms, it’s in the cupboards, it’s circulating everywhere, as you know, mould spreads through the air,” he said.

“That’s something that they are inhaling every single day.”

Mr Waldron said mould has also been discovered in the SGA’s own offices.

Concerns about mould on the campus are not new. In November 2025, The Tribune reported that students and faculty raised similar complaints about mould in multiple

New Providence campus buildings, forcing some classes online for weeks and prompting warnings about poor indoor air quality linked to maintenance problems.

Mr Waldron, who has asthma, said he suffered serious health complications that required overseas medical treatment, which he believes may be linked to mould exposure.

“I never knew that my health could have deteriorated so fast,” he said.

“We had to come up with 1000s of dollars.”

He said the SGA has repeatedly raised the issue with university administrators but claimed the problem remains unresolved.

“We came back this semester, the students are still being subjected to mould exposure,” Mr Waldron said. “Enough is enough.”

SGA vice president Destiny Neely, a Family Island student from Grand Bahama, said the situation is particularly troubling for students who have no alternative housing.

“As a Family Island student, it’s bad enough that there’s not enough space to even come to the dorms, but for those who are given the opportunity to stay there, they’re dealing with mould issues,” she said.

The University of The Bahamas, in a statement issued after the concerns were made public, said it has been addressing maintenance matters at the residence and that a comprehensive inspection was carried out during the 2025 fall semester, with most remediation work completed. The university said one issue remains outstanding and is being addressed, but did not provide a timeline for resolution.