02242026 NEWS

WOMAN & HEALTH

TWO MEN KILLED IN

ELEUTHERA SHOOTING

Suspect on bail and a roofer gunned down at Harbour Island bar

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A WAITER out on bail for murder and a roofing worker three weeks into a two-month job were shot dead outside a Harbour Island bar shortly after midnight yesterday.

Khristen “Tum Tum” Francis and Michael Lancelot Reckley, both in their 30s, were standing outside Sammy’s Bar when a man dressed in black approached and opened fire.

Francis, a local waiter who was on bail for murder, was pronounced dead at the island’s clinic. Reckley, a father of a young girl and an autistic boy, died at the scene. Witnesses told his family that his last words were to tell his wife he loved her. Residents said the men had been inside the bar moments earlier. Francis told friends he was stepping outside to smoke. Reckley stood beside him. Seconds later, witnesses heard about

MURDERS - SEE PAGE FIVE

COURT DENIES DAUGHTER CONTROL OF PARENTS’ AFFAIRS

A SUPREME Court judge has dismissed a daughter’s seven-year bid to take legal control of her elderly parents’ affairs, ruling that the Mental Health Act cannot be used as a vehicle to settle a bitter family dispute over property and control.

In a detailed judgment

delivered in the Family Division, Justice CV Hope Strachan found that the application by Libbye Darville to be appointed permanent guardian of her parents, Minard Ulric Johnson and Eloise Butler Johnson, failed to meet

GUARDIAN - SEE PAGE THREE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE government yesterday teamed with the Grand Lucayan’s purchaser to vigorously assert the deal remains “on track” through plans to develop “two major cruise line resorts” and unveil a demolition and construction start date “within the next two weeks”.

Concord Wilshire, the Miami-headquartered developer, moved swiftly to “categorically refute” speculation in other media that its $120m acquisition of Grand Bahama’s ‘anchor property’ had collapsed and been “dead for four months” by finally providing some kind of timeline for when actual on-site construction and demolition will start.

SEE BUSINESS FOR FULL STORY

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport

Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A 32-YEAR-OLD Grand Bahama man was arraigned Monday over a bomb threat that led to an emergency shutdown of the Grand Bahama Power Company’s generation plant and prompted the GBPC to turn off power island wide. Ezra Green of Nelson Road, an employee of GBPC, pleaded not guilty to causing public terror before Magistrate Uel Johnson in the Freeport’s Magistrate’s Court. He was granted $5,000 bail with one or two sureties. The matter was adjourned to May 21.

Police said they received a report shortly after 7am on February 19 of a possible bomb threat at the power plant on West Sunrise Highway and Peel Street. Operations were shut down and the facility evacuated. The outage lasted several hours as police, firefighters and a bomb assessment team searched the premises. No explosive device was found.

US donates $900k in crimefighting equipment to RBPF

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THE United States has donated nearly $900,000 in crime-fighting equipment to strengthen the operational capacity of the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), in what officials described as a significant boost to maritime security and drug enforcement efforts.

The equipment funded through the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, includes six boat lifts for the RBPF Marine Support Services Unit, an incinerator for the Drug Enforcement Unit, and two handheld scanners already credited with intercepting a major cocaine shipment.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, US Ambassador Herschel Walker said the donation marks “another milestone in the strong law enforcement partnership between the United States and The Bahamas”.

“The Bahamas and the United States share more than just geography and friendship. We share common security challenges,” Mr Walker said. “Drug trafficking organisations exploit our proximity and our waters. They threaten the safety of communities, fuel violence and undermine the rule of law that our society depends on.”

He said defeating sophisticated and well-funded criminal networks requires “equally sophisticated tools, strong partnership and unwavering commitment”.

The six boat lifts are now operating in Grand Bahama, Bimini, Abaco, New Providence and Inagua. They will allow previously donated 27-foot and 41-foot interceptor safe boats to be removed from the water for storage, repairs and maintenance.

“Proper maintenance extends the operational life of these vessels and ensures that they are ready when they are needed most,” Mr Walker said.

The incinerator, installed at the Drug Enforcement Unit in New Providence, will be used to destroy seized narcotics, including cocaine and marijuana.

Officials said it will reduce the backlog of drugs currently stored at police facilities and free up space and resources.

Mr Walker also highlighted the impact of the two handheld scanners, which were deployed in New Providence and Grand Bahama.

On October 5, 2025, US Drug Enforcement Administration agents in Freeport, the RBPF Drug Enforcement Unit and Bahamas Customs conducted a joint operation to search a shipping container. Using the recently donated handheld scanner, officers discovered 188 vacuum-sealed packages concealed inside 19 air-conditioning split units.

The packages had a gross weight of approximately 233 kilograms of suspected cocaine, with an estimated street value of $4.5m.

“This equipment represents more than just hardware. It represents the commitment of the

American people to stand with The Bahamas in the fight against transnational crime,” Mr Walker said.

National Security Minister Wayne Munroe described the relationship between The Bahamas and the United States as “an enduring bond” rooted in shared security interests.

“When transnational criminal organisations target The Bahamas as a transit zone for illicit drugs and goods, they are not only poisoning Bahamian communities, they are aiming at the American mainland,” Mr Munroe said.

He said the $900,000 in assets should be viewed not as assistance, but as “an investment portfolio”, with dividends paid in mutual security.

Explaining the strategic placement of the boat lifts in Grand Bahama, Bimini, Abaco, Inagua and New Providence, Mr Munroe said the locations reflect coverage of the country’s northern approaches, central corridor and southern gateway.

“A boat without maintenance is a liability, and a vessel without lift capability is a vessel that deteriorates,” he said. “These lifts ensure that our interceptor fleet remains in the waters pursuing traffickers, rather than out of the waters awaiting repair.”

He described the incinerator, valued at just over $200,000, as “a final answer” to traffickers, noting that seized narcotics will now be destroyed rather than stored for extended periods.

“Your product will not reach our streets, nor our

neighbours to the north.

Instead, it will become ash,”

Mr Munroe said.

The handheld scanners, valued at approximately $130,000, allow officers to inspect cargo quickly and accurately without disrupting commerce, he added.

Mr Munroe said the assets strengthen The Bahamas’ sovereign right to control its borders and protect its citizens, while reinforcing regional security.

“When we interdict drugs in our waters, we protect

Bahamian families from the violence and addiction that follows the drug trade. When we destroy contraband, we demonstrate that in The Bahamas, the rule of law prevails,” he said.

He added that the partnership allows the United States to expand its security perimeter without extending its sovereignty, while enabling The Bahamas to access critical resources.

Officials said the new equipment, combined with training and ongoing cooperation, will further

enhance efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and protect communities in both countries.

Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles said the new assets significantly enhance the force’s operational strength and strategic capacity. She said the boat lifts improve maritime deployment readiness across the archipelago, allowing officers to respond quickly and efficiently while safeguarding territorial waters.

Judge dismisses daughter’s 7-year bid for parents’ estate

the strict statutory requirements under the Mental Health Act.

The case, first filed in March 2019, centred on whether the elderly couple — now aged 89 and 87 — were incapable of managing their affairs by reason of mental disorder and whether their daughter should assume control of their real estate holdings and finances to the exclusion of her siblings.

Justice Strachan described the matter as one that should have been treated with urgency but instead dragged on for seven years, largely because the required medical evidence was not produced in a timely manner.

At its core, the judge said, the court’s role under the Mental Health Act is narrow and precise: it is not to referee family conflicts but to determine, based on medical evidence, whether a person lacks the legal capacity to manage his or her affairs.

When the application was filed, Mr Johnson was 83 and Mrs Johnson 81. The daughter alleged her father had declined cognitively following a 2017 hospitalisation for pneumonia and was behaving out of character. She claimed he stopped attending family functions and church, failed to attend to home repairs, and spoke about past events as though they had just occurred.

She further alleged that he had signed letters accusing her of fraudulently

claiming ownership of rental apartments she had managed for more than 20 years.

Her mother, she said, had suffered memory loss since the 1990s and now had severe dementia.

The daughter argued she was best positioned to manage her parents’ estate, having long handled rent collection and household affairs. She claimed her siblings were unfit, accusing one brother of criminal conduct and substance abuse and asserting that he and a sister had taken control of the family home and barred her from access.

But Mr Johnson mounted a forceful defence.

In an affidavit filed in 2019, he flatly rejected any suggestion that he was incapacitated.

“I am of sound mind and fully capable of making decisions for my wife and myself,” he said. He described his daughter’s actions as deceitful and accused her of attempting to seize control of assets he had built over decades.

“I am extremely disappointed in her efforts to deceitfully try to take control of everything that I have worked so hard to

Police step up western patrols following Island Brothers robbery

egies in the western area, with an increase in police presence. CSP McGregor noted that the area has developed significantly over the years, with several businesses opening — many of them operating late into the night. He said the western

district is not typically considered a high-crime area. In the coming weeks, residents can expect additional walkabouts, patrols and road checks. Officials also encouraged residents to register their security cameras with the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF). The initiative is powered by FUSUS, a platform launched in 2023 that integrates tools such as CCTV systems, ShotSpotter technology, body-worn cameras, drones and electronic monitoring into a central command centre.

accomplish,” he said.

He denied ever mandating her to run the family’s affairs and alleged that she had misused funds while collecting rent. He said he regained control of the apartments in 2018 with the help of his wife and other children, partly through proceedings in the Magistrates’ Court.

“I do not trust the Applicant and would never entrust her with guardianship of myself or my wife, should the need arise,” he said. “I do not want her back in my home under any circumstances.”

The judge examined

four medical reports prepared between 2019 and 2023 by different physicians. The reports addressed the mental state of both elderly respondents, particularly Mrs Johnson’s dementia.

Justice Strachan emphasised that the Mental Health Act requires strict compliance with procedural safeguards, including proper medical certification and service of documents. The respondents had challenged the application on the basis that they were not properly served and that the application did not comply with the

statutory framework, including amendments introduced under the 2022 Act.

The court agreed that serious procedural deficiencies existed.

The judge noted that guardianship under the Act is not granted simply because a family member believes another is declining or making questionable decisions. The legal threshold requires proof that the person is incapable of managing his or her affairs by reason of mental disorder, supported by compliant medical evidence.

The ruling makes clear that even where dementia is present, that alone does not automatically justify transferring control of property or finances to a child. The evidence must satisfy the statutory criteria.

Justice Strachan found that the application, as framed and pursued, did not meet those requirements.

The court also addressed the long delay in prosecuting the matter.

While acknowledging the pandemic and challenges in securing medical reports, the judge noted that the proceedings had not been managed with the urgency such sensitive applications demand. Ultimately, the application for guardianship was dismissed.

The judge made no finding that the elderly couple were incapable of managing their affairs within the meaning of the Act. Nor did the court appoint any guardian.

Bahamians in Mexico urged to shelter in place amid cartel violence aftermath

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs is urging Bahamians in parts of Mexico to “immediately shelter in place” after violence erupted following the reported death of a powerful drug cartel leader.

The ministry warned that security operations are unfolding amid ongoing criminal activity and that travel has been disrupted in several regions.

“Due to security operations occurring in the midst of ongoing criminal activity, Bahamian nationals in a number of areas in Mexico are urged to immediately shelter in place. While no airports have been closed, roadblocks have impacted airline operations and most domestic and international flights are cancelled in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta,” the ministry said. International media

reported that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known as CJNG, unleashed a wave of violence after its leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes — widely known as “El Mencho” — reportedly died while in custody following a military raid. Reports said he succumbed to his injuries while being transported by the military.

The upheaval triggered torched buses, burning businesses and road blockades set up by cartel gunmen. Reuters reported that Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch said 30 cartel members and one bystander were killed in the attacks and that at least 70 people were arrested across seven states.

The ministry advised Bahamians in affected areas to seek guidance from local authorities, minimise unnecessary movement and monitor updates from CAPUFE, the federal agency responsible for roads and bridges. Nationals were also

urged to remain in contact with family and friends regarding their whereabouts and wellbeing. Yesterday, Bahamian officials could not say whether there were nationals in Mexico.

The United States State Department has issued similar warnings, urging Americans to shelter in place in Jalisco State — including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala and Guadalajara — as well as in parts of Michoacán, Guerrero State and Nuevo León State. Tijuana, a major tourist destination, was also listed in the advisory.

American media have reported that US tourists have been stranded amid cancelled flights. Some cruise lines have rerouted vessels to avoid affected ports and ensure passenger safety.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will continue to monitor developments and urged Bahamians travelling abroad to remain vigilant and informed.

Developer promises timeline for Grand Lucayan in two weeks

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

CONCORD Wilshire Group says it will announce within two weeks the formal start of development at the longstalled Grand Lucayan Resort, including demolition and preparatory construction works tied to two major cruise line destination resorts.

The company said the coming announcement will outline the construction timeline and key project milestones, signalling what it described as the beginning of the execution phase of a $120m acquisition and redevelopment plan.

The statement, issued Monday, rejected reports that the deal had collapsed.

“Concord Wilshire

Group categorically refutes an earlier reports by Eyewitness News suggesting that the proposed $120 million acquisition and redevelopment of the Grand Lucayan Resort has “collapsed” or has been ‘dead for about four months.’ These assertions are false and without factual basis.”

Richard Bosworth, chief executive of Lucayan Resort at Concord Wilshire Group, sought to dispel doubts about the project’s status.

“We want to be very clear: the redevelopment of the Grand Lucayan Reosrt is moving forward. Reports suggesting otherwise are inaccurate and misleading.

Concord Wilshire remains fully committed to this project and to our partnership with the Government of the Bahamas.

Further Concord Wilshire appreciates the Office of the Prime Minister clarification earlier…in disputing the inaccurate and false statements of the Office of the Prime Minister.”

The company said it continues to work with the Government of The Bahamas and described discussions as active and aligned with the goal of revitalising the resort.

Bosworth said the team has continued planning, design coordination, capital structuring and development scheduling and is now moving into the execution phase. A comprehensive update is expected shortly.

The redevelopment of the Grand Lucayan has long been framed as central to Grand Bahama’s economic revival, with promises of job creation,

No formal report yet on viral sea clash, says Munroe

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter

NATIONAL Security

Minister Wayne Munroe

said authorities have not received any formal report related to a viral video that appears to show a violent confrontation at sea between Bahamians and foreign nationals suspected of poaching.

The video, which has been circulating on social media, appears to show two vessels at sea. In the footage, several Bahamian men are seen alongside a vessel occupied by foreign nationals.

shown restraining the men, holding them in a tight grip and physically assaulting them. At least one person appears to be struck repeat edly while being held. The confrontation takes place on open water, with both boats positioned close together. It is unclear from the footage what led to the altercation or whether either vessel initiated contact.

without a full account of the events, he would not speculate.

“I don't see the full picture of it. If they are being attacked, and they have a right to defend themselves, but without seeing a full picture of what is happening, I don't pass judgment,” he said.

“You see two boats together. Did one ram the other? I don't know. I'm not going to assume that the Bahamian will go out and break the law. I will assume that our people are law abiding, until I see something that positively shows me otherwise.”

distances quickly.

“Just as a policeman can't be everywhere on the land, the defense force can't be everywhere over 180,000 square miles,” he said, urging members of the public to report incidents promptly.

“In some instances, it's even our international partners, like the Coast Guard, the US Coast Guard, can respond to these matters, but we do encourage persons to report this to the Defense Force.”

In a separate statement, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force said it is aware of the video, but has not received any official report concerning poachingmas and cannot confirm the date or time the video was recorded. Surveillance and reconnaissance conducted in the area on Sunday, 22

ues to maintain a proactive operational posture. One vessel is currently deployed in the vicinity of the banks, with another en route to reinforce that presence and

As the closed grouper season draws to an end,

respond to

incidents of

or

and

National Security Minister says police accused of planting drugs should sue media

accused of planting drugs during a midnight raid in

Mr Munroe said hesioner of Police to ensure that young officers havetion so they can pursue

defamation claims if necessary.

“The officer on his body camera picking it up, looking at it, putting it down to take a photo of it and I'm advised that the audio showed at that same time, one of the gentlemen saying, that's mine, but what is unfortunate is that in this era where you don't have the things vouched, that people tend to try to jump to conclusions,” he told media yesterday.

of The Grove West, passed away

: Inez; and a host of other

However, neither the police nor the Ministry of National Security has released any body-camera footage or other evidence to publicly rebut the claim that narcotics were planted. Authorities have also not provided a detailed public account of what the recordings show. No officer has been identified.

Funeral services will be held at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, Farrington Road, on Friday,

The controversy stems from a Drug Enforcement Unit operation earlier this month at a Carmichael home, where officers arrested a mother, her two sons and one son’s girlfriend. A relative alleged that drugs were planted in the yard during the search.

Video clips provided to The Tribune show officers moving through the yard

at night with flashlights. In one clip, an officer appears to drop a bag on the ground. The footage does not show what happened immediately before that moment, and the full unedited recording has not been made public.

Mr Munroe said he would not rush to judge either civilians or the officer involved, describing the allegations as discouraging and harmful to a young officer’s reputation.

“It is discouraging, and it was discouraging for the young officer who goes out in dangerous

circumstances, for that to happen, I’m made to understand that he was deeply affected by it,” he said.

“I've encouraged the commissioner to direct the young officers to lawyers so that they may sue the newspapers who published it, the news media who carried it, because that defamed their character. I don't know if they have done it, but if you defame an officer's character like that, he should receive compensation, just as anyone else would if you defame them,” Mr Munroe said.

Man ‘caught in gunfire’ alongside man on bail

“It’s a blow. We are not taking it well,” she said

seven shots. Patrons rushed outside and found both men lying on the ground.

“The whole island was out at the clinic, praying,” one bystander said.

Reckley’s sister, Shaquell, said her brother’s boss came to the family’s home while they were asleep to deliver the news. She said her brother had left Nassau about three weeks ago for what was expected to be a two-month roofing job.

She believes he was not the intended target and was caught in the gunfire.

“He was a good father, a good husband, a beautiful brother, a good son to my daddy. Our mom passed in 2015. He was the one who stayed in the house with daddy all these years.” Francis had been charged in connection with the shooting death of Drew Storr in Eleuthera on November 28, 2021. Relatives described him as humble, cheerful and hospitable. He was someone who would do anything to help someone in distress, his aunt said.

“He was just that type of person. His nieces and nephews and everybody they love him so much, so much. We had lost a gem, regardless of what anyone says he is a person. He was a person of heart.”

The double murder has shaken the tight-knit island, which has seen a series of violent incidents since last year. Residents have said illegal firearms and idle youth are fuelling the unrest and have called for stronger action. Island administrator Gwendolyn Patram acknowledged the community’s concern and said

police, including officers from the mainland, are on Harbour Island and questioning several

individuals. “You know, unfortunately, it is this happened when it happened during a time when nobody was suspecting, but they’ll get it under control like they did before,” she said.

Cannabis industry launch stalled by missing digital platform

By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

MORE than two years after Parliament passed the Cannabis Act, key provisions — including ticketing for small amounts of marijuana — remain inactive as the government waits on a digital regulatory system that does not yet exist.

Officials now say the industry’s launch hinges on a central online platform expected within 180 days.

Chairman of the Cannabis Authority Dr Lynwood Brown confirmed yesterday that an agreement has been signed with a platform provider to build the system that will process licence applications, track imported products and monitor operators.

“Without the platform, there is no industry,” Dr Brown said.

He described the system as the core administrative tool for enforcing cannabis policy and overseeing compliance. Applications for cultivation, distribution and other licences will be submitted digitally once the portal goes live. The Authority will then review and decide on them.

The platform itself will not grant licences but will act as what Dr Brown called a gatekeeping mechanism, tracking reporting requirements and integrating the electronic prescription system required under the law.

Vacancy for Jeweler

Retail Jewelry Company is seeking to retain a Jeweler. This role is a full-time, long-term contract.

Requirements are as followed:

• Minimum of seven (7) years’ experience as a Jeweler in wholesale or Retail Jewelry Industry.

• Demonstrated proficiency and skill in the areas of sizing, chain repair, prong repairs and all types of stone settings and polishing or other finishing techniques.

• CAD design a plus;

• Must be able to carve wax and know all stages of casting;

• Must possess a gemology diploma ( G.G, F.G.A, A.G.S)

• Ability to examine diamonds and detect imperfections;

• Keep abreast of the latest gemological information within the industry;

• Must possess scientific knowledge on a diamond grading;

• Ability to examine diamonds to detect imperfections. Please send your resume to Bahamasjob8@gmail.com

While infrastructure is being developed, another major element of the reform — allowing police to issue tickets instead of making arrests for small quantities — has not yet been activated.

National Security Minister Wayne Munroe said certain sections of the law cannot safely come into effect without regulatory systems in place.

“You have to put the infrastructure into place before you bring some parts of it,” Mr Munroe said. “For instance, if you need tracking systems — how do you know where the marijuana is going to if you permit people to produce it and you don’t have the technology and control systems in place?”

He acknowledged that reducing penalties could result in a slight increase in use.

Retail Jewelry Company is seeking to retain a Diamond Expert. This role is a full-time, long-term contract. Requirements are as followed:

• Five (5) years experience in selling and buying gemstones in international markets;

• Degree/Diploma/Certification in jewelry products;

• Expertise in precious/ semi-precious stones/ metal and gemstones;

• Ability to examine diamonds to detect imperfections;

• Ability to appraise diamonds for customers;

• Grades stones for quality of cut, perfection and for color;

• Keep abreast of the latest gemological information within the industry;

• Must possess scientific knowledge on a diamond grading;

• Must understand all aspects of Merchandising including budget planning and sales forecasting.

• Must be able to relate value customer stones for trading in or making exchange pieces.

• Estimate wholesale and retail value of gems, following pricing guides, market fluctuations and various economic changes that affect distribution of precious stones.

Please send your resume to Bahamasjob8@gmail.com

“If you accept that some people do not use marijuana because of potential consequences, and you remove some of those consequences, there might be a slight increase,” he said.

The legislation says police “may” issue tickets, preserving officer discretion once the provision is enacted. Meanwhile, potential investors say the delays are creating uncertainty.

Glenwood Ferguson, a cannabis advocate involved in regional and international markets, said some interested parties have already spent thousands of dollars preparing for entry into the sector, including soil testing and consultancy

work. However, clarity on licence categories and fees remains limited.

“Everyone has a choice,” he said, rejecting the idea that legal access would automatically mean widespread use.

The cannabis reform package, introduced in May 2024, sought to legalise cannabis for medical and religious purposes, decriminalise small possession amounts and establish a regulated industry under the Cannabis Authority. While the Authority was formally established on September 2, 2024, several operational provisions remain dormant pending supporting infrastructure.

Retail Jewelry Company is seeking to retain an Gemologist. This role is a full-time, long-term contract.

Requirements are as follows:

• Minimum 3-year experience in Diamonds & Jewelry products.

• Degree/ Diploma/Certification in jewelry products.

• Expertise In precious /semi-precious stones / metal & gemstones.

• Ability to examine diamonds to detect defects.

• Ability to appraise diamonds for customers.

• Grades stones for quality of cut, perfection and for color.

• Five (5) years’ experience m selling and buying gemstones international markets,

• Keep abreast of the latest gemological information within the indust1Y

• Must possess scientific knowledge on diamond grading

• Must understand all aspects of Merchandising including budget planning and sales forecasting

• Must be able to relate and close sales with highend clients.

• Estimate wholesale and retail value of gems, following pricing guides, market fluctuations, and various economic changes that affect distribution of precious stones.

Email can be sent to: Bahamasjobs8@gmail.com

The Tribune Limited

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

Contributing Editor 1972-1991

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

Publisher/Editor 1972-

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

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High hopes and stalled growth

THE long, slow wait for the government to actually produce an outcome after passing the Cannabis Act continues to drag on – with yet another deadline announced for which we would suggest you do not hold your breath.

After all, last September, the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Michael Darville, was talking about how the government was “close to bringing the act into force”. Dr Darville, who has recently been embattled for other healthcare issues, such as failures to make timely payments to nurses working overtime and NHI providers, was talking about how “if all goes well certainly before the end of the year” for implementation.

The year ended. No act was in force. Raise your hand if that came as a surprise.

Let us go back in time a little further.

The Cannabis Act was passed in 2024. Whatever you think of that legislation, and there remains plenty of reason to be wary, officials had talked of licence applications being open by the middle of last year. Again, that did not happen. And still is not happening.

Yesterday, the chairman of the Cannabis Authority, Dr Lynwood Brown, pinned part of the issue on the absence of an online platform to deal with the industry.

That online system would process licence applications, track imported products and monitor operators.

So forthright was Dr Brown about the importance of this hub that he said: “Without the platform, there is no industry.”

No industry. Full stop. That strikes us as quite remarkable.

Compare, for example, the alcohol industry. For more years than any of us have been around, the alcohol business has been quite able to operate, even before the term online existed.

The pharmacy industry also has been able to navigate a world of licences and monitoring without the need for such a platform.

You can say the same about the marina business, for which online gateways have been a hurdle in recent times as much as a benefit.

To say an industry cannot proceed without the online system to go with it seems to be mixing up cart and horse.

A digital portal is absolutely a benefit to ensure the smoothest operation of such an industry, make no mistake about it. But there ought to be ways of running the licence and monitoring systems without it. Not least of all because the launch of such a system is not expected in a hurry. Officials said yesterday it was to be within 180 days – that is six months, and there is not a good track record of meeting deadline targets so far.

All this comes as police continue to arrest people for possession rather than issuing tickets. People continue to build up criminal records while they wait on someone to figure out the contract and the design for a portal, despite the legislation being long passed.

Meanwhile, businesses who want to play a part in the industry sit and wait for the green light.

As any business owner will tell you, one of the worst things to have to deal with is uncertainty. Having no clear idea of when the business can move forward can kill an entire project, and sitting waiting for years keeps new entrepreneurs from making a breakthrough while older money sits and waits for the go signal.

Whatever the industry, this is the kind of thing that people talk about when they discuss the lack of ease of doing business in The Bahamas.

Being tangled up in red tape and waiting for the government to proceed with things it said would be ready long ago stifles opportunity.

The fact that so few seemed to believe that everything would be ready by the end of last year is emblematic of frustration with bureaucracy.

With all that said, there are other aspects to the changes that ought to be being pressed on with during these delays.

At The Tribune, we have seen for ourselves the impact that cannabis can have, where it has affected careers of young people adversely, and their mental health.

While there are delays with platforms, the government could well be pressing on with strengthening the safety net to help those who fall.

Cannabis is being touted through legalisation of medical and religious cannabis use, but the reality is likely that legaisation will mean increased use – and we ought to be prepared for the effects of that.

The likelihood of this current pause is that either the legislation will come into effect in a rush before the next general election or, more likely, it will be up to the next administration now to implement it. That in itself might cause further disruption – or even a complete rethink.

Two years after passing a law ought to be more than enough time to implement it. However, the cannabis legislation can join a list of plenty of other bills that have gathered dust after leaving Parliament. A reminder, if it were needed, that the Freedom of Information Act first came along in 2012, 14 years ago, before being revised and passed in 2017. The wait for that goes on, and on. We should not be surprised that others follow in its dusty footsteps.

Heather Hunt can run with confidence

EDITOR, The Tribune.

ELIZABETH MP and Cabinet Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis might be considered a senior member of the Davis Progressive Liberal Party administration, but I don’t believe she is unbeatable in her district. Judging by the election numbers in 2021, Coleby-Davis can legitimately be dubbed a minority MP who was a beneficiary of an historically unpopular Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis who was serving as the Competent Authority. Minnis’ unpopularity dragged down many within his parliamentary caucus to defeat. Coleby-Davis’ camp might rest on its laurels by pointing to history, in that Elizabeth has traditionally been considered a safe seat for the Progressive Liberal Party. Her camp might also argue

that the economy has experienced a robust rebound in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that saw the economy come to a grinding halt. Still, the high cost of living has all but offset whatever economic boom optimistic Bahamians will point to. It feels like we are being charged Canadian prices without Canadian wages. For the Free National Movement Elizabeth candidate Heather Hunt, it would not be presumptuous or naive of her to go into that area bristling with confidence, owing to Coleby-Davis’ performance at the polls. Coleby-Davis gained 1,893 or just 49 percent of the support of the 3,870 who participated in 2021. This would mean that 1,977 Elizabeth residents who took part in the voting process elected not to support her. Making matters more interesting is

National strategy needed for AI

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I AM focusing on the Prime Minister’s recent remarks at the RF Economic Outlook under the theme: AI Tsunami. While this metaphor captures the urgency of the situation, it is also profoundly unsettling. I assert that Bahamian Leadership can’t be matched when it comes to talking on subjects; it is when thought is expected that they fail.

To begin, the AI Tsunami is not a single invention; it’s a compounding shockwave. AI Models are getting cheaper, faster, and more capable, and the impact is arriving simultaneously across labor, competition, and capital.

This tsunami cannot be overcome by speeches; it must be survived through preparation. This preparation includes plans, timelines, budgets, drills, and measurable readiness. Instead, what we heard from Prime Minister Davis was a polished warning paired with scattered initiatives, broad reassurances, and a notable lack of execution details. In a five-year window defined by AI adoption and displacement, this gap is no longer just a political weakness; it is a national risk.

PM Davis stated that we must get ready to “ride the wave.” That’s fine, but where is the surfboard? Where is the lifeboat plan for those who will be knocked off their feet first?

“We must get ready,” seriously means the Bahamas is still in the ‘planning to act stage.’ Since the release of ChatGPT in late 2022, no serious observer can claim that the acceleration of AI was unforeseeable. That moment alerted every government on earth: workplace tasks would change, education would evolve, public services would be transformed, and economic competitiveness would be impacted. Yet, here we are, years later, still discussing the impending arrival of the tsunami, still relying on announcements instead of establishing a national readiness framework.

Prime Minister Davis’s speech spoke to what we must and can do, and what others are doing, but provided little information on what we have or will be doing.

Yes, the Prime Minister mentioned initiatives like DigiLearn and Upskill Bahamas, as well as the Data Protection Bill, curriculum reform, MyGateway, and some early AI use cases. These are all positive directions, but inputs are not the same as outcomes, and enrollment is not equivalent to transformation.

If thousands are enrolled, how many have completed their training? How many earned recognised certificates? How

LETTERS

many secured better jobs or used their training to start viable businesses? What is the wage increase? What is the productivity gain? What reduction in bureaucracy can be observed? What cost savings have been achieved in government operations? What service-level improvements can citizens experience without needing a press release to explain them?

An AI Tsunami will not concern itself with enrollment numbers; it will be focused on readiness.

The PM’s speech also acknowledged a truth many leaders avoid: AI enables one person to accomplish what once required ten, twenty, or even fifty.

For the Bahamas, this represents not only an opportunity but also a risk of displacement. However, no transition strategy has ever been publicly provided for workers whose roles will be minimised or automated, such as in clerical processing, basic bookkeeping, callcenter support, routine administration, certain compliance functions, and even parts of government service delivery.

So, what is this administration’s plan for those Bahamians? Where is the sector-by-sector exposure map? Where are the pathways for retraining and employment with actual commitments from employers? Where are the incentives for businesses to retrain their workforce instead of replacing them? How is the public service workforce being redesigned to avoid becoming an engine of displacement?

The greatest omission, however, is the Digital Divide.

The Prime Minister rightly noted that the benefits must not flow disproportionately to those who already have access, education, and capital. But stating “we must” is not a policy; intent is not a mechanism. The Digital Divide in The Bahamas cannot be bridged simply by offering free courses. Many individuals still lack devices, stable connectivity, quiet learning environments, and the foundational literacy and numeracy needed to benefit from training. If Prime Minister Davis is serious about inclusion, his government must present a targeted, funded plan: support for devices and connectivity for low-income households; island-based learning hubs with extended hours; mentorship networks; microgrants tied to completion and business milestones; and procurement opportunities that allow Bahamian CMSMEs to sell solutions locally

instead of merely being observers to imported systems.

If we are to engage in honest discussions, AI readiness is not solely about training. It is also about the essential infrastructure that makes training effective: reliable electricity, affordable data, strong cybersecurity, modern procurement practices, and clear rules for AI usage from and in government. While more robust “Data Privacy, Protection, and Sovereignty Laws” are necessary, even this won’t be sufficient. Without fully staffed and operational institutions and without AI procurement standards, accountability protocols, and audit requirements, we risk establishing a digitally-enabled society governed by outdated practices.

Here is what those of us in this space are demanding from the current leadership:

Let’s begin with what we should have done and what we need to do, starting today!

Present and publish a National AI Readiness Plan with deadlines, responsible agencies, and a dedicated budget, within months, not years.

Create a quarterly public scorecard measuring outcomes such as completions, certifications, job placements, wage gains, business formation, CMSME adoption, digital service performance, cybersecurity maturity, and measurable cost or time reductions in government.

Provide a targeted inclusion package that addresses real access gaps, devices, connectivity, learning hubs, mentorship, and capital pathways

If the administration cannot provide these credibly and measurably, it has no right to ask the nation to trust slogans about “riding the wave.”

The next five years will be significantly influenced by AI, whether we embrace it or not. This means that any incoming administration must be prepared from day one, not with inspiring metaphors, but with a clear execution plan. The cost of inaction will not be measured in speeches; rather, it will be seen in lost jobs, diminished competitiveness, increased inequality, and a growing divide between those who can harness technology and those who are left behind.

We do not need more discussions about an “AI Tsunami.” What we need is a national strategy designed for the people who are most affected by these changes.

Suffering from Promise Fatigue.

NOĒSIS — CRITICAL THINKER Freeport, Grand Bahama February 17, 2026.

that Elizabeth had 5,709 registered voters, 3,816 or over 66 percent of whom did not support Coleby-Davis. Dr Duane Sands only gained 1,516 votes. But as was noted above, he was a part of the Minnis parliamentary caucus that suffered collateral damage due to being associated with the Competent Authority. My point in saying all this is, Elizabeth will be a tossup. The incumbent cannot take victory for granted. After all, two-thirds of registered voters did not elect her. For Hunt, pulling off the upset victory is not outside the realm of possibility. She can win Elizabeth and should be confident that a win is very much within reach.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama February 23, 2026.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I SAW on the news that an egg farm of some kind is being developed. This concerns me because the healthiest and best eggs are eggs laid by free range chickens. This means the chickens are free to roam the property and eat healthy, organic food. This program does not have free range chickens. They will be kept in a big building all jammed up together. How can they use the bathroom and walk around and relax? When animals are in stressful conditions, their body produces more stress hormones and consumers are eating the eggs of these chickens. I do not want to be forced to purchase these eggs. I want to buy the eggs that I always buy. The government can bring in less

eggs to accommodate the eggs being produced here. However, I prefer to buy imported organic eggs. I have a brand that I prefer and everyone should have the option of buying the eggs they prefer. This is still a democratic country.

CONCERNED BAHAMIAN

Nassau, February 18, 2026.

Court rejects disbarred lawyer’s Privy Council appeal attempt

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal has rejected a disbarred lawyer’s attempt to take his case to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, ruling that it does not have the power to grant him permission to appeal.

Attorney Raymond Rolle was struck off the roll in February 2023 after the Bahamas Bar Council’s Disciplinary Tribunal found him guilty of improper conduct under the Legal Profession Act. The matter arose from two complaints that were referred to the Tribunal by the Bar Council’s Ethics Committee.

Mr Rolle appealed, arguing that the Disciplinary Tribunal judge made mistakes in both the law and the facts when finding him guilty, that striking him off was too harsh, and that she failed to properly assess and explain the evidence in her decision. After his appeals were dismissed, Mr Rolle

Bus driver accused of shooting colleague granted $15,000 bail

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A BUS driver accused of opening fire on a colleague during the morning rush on Yamacraw Hill Road was granted $15,000 bail yesterday as he awaits trial on attempted murder and firearms charges.

Kadero Munroe, 34, appeared virtually from the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services before Justice Neil Braithwaite.

Prosecutors allege that after a verbal altercation,

Munroe shot at fellow driver Steven Collie around 8.30am on February 11, 2025, in the area of Budget Meat. Both men were operating buses at the time.

Mr Collie was shot in the arm but managed to drive away. No passengers were injured.

As part of his bail conditions, Munroe will be fitted with an electronic monitoring device and must sign in at his local police station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday by 6pm. He was warned not to interfere with

witnesses and to stay at least 200 feet away from the complainant. Any breach will result in the revocation of bail.

At a previous hearing, defence attorney Bry Bastian argued that his client was merely the bus driver and that someone else fired the shots. He also submitted that there was no evidence Munroe would fail to appear for trial, which is set for November 25.

Kara Butler Wight appeared for the prosecution. Murrio Ducille KC also represented the accused.

MAN ACCUSED OF ASSAULT WITH GUN GETS $6K BAIL

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted bail yesterday after being accused of assaulting another man with a handgun last year.

continued his efforts to practise law again and, in July 2025, filed a Notice of Motion seeking leave to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

Mr Rolle sought leave based on Section 23 of the Court of Appeal Act, arguing that the court had the power to grant permission. In considering the

request, the Court of Appeal reviewed the laws that govern appeals to the Privy Council and found they did not apply to this case. The judges said those provisions only allow further appeals in certain civil matters coming from the Supreme Court, not disciplinary cases involving attorneys.

They also pointed to the Legal Profession Act, which clearly states that once the Court of Appeal has ruled in such matters, no further appeal is allowed. The court said it cannot override that law or create a right of appeal where Parliament has said none exists, and dismissed the application.

Prosecutors seek 10-12 years for man convicted of rifle possession

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

PROSECUTORS urged the Supreme Court yesterday to impose a sentence of ten to 12 years on a man convicted of possessing a loaded rifle on St Lucia Crescent in 2022.

Antonio Cartwright, 34, appeared before Justice Franklyn Williams for sentencing on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition.

Last month, a jury acquitted Cartwright of the attempted murder of two police officers arising from the same incident.

Prosecutor Janet Munnings argued that aggravating factors included the type of weapon — a rifle more powerful than a pistol — the erasure of its serial number, the presence of 21 rounds of ammunition and the prevalence of firearm-related crimes. She said those factors outweighed the mitigating circumstance that Cartwright had no prior convictions and asked the court to impose a sentence that would deter others.

Inspector Henrington Curry, a firearms expert, testified that serial numbers are erased to prevent weapons from being traced. He confirmed that the rifle in this case had its number removed.

Cartwright declined to question the officer. He returns to court for sentencing on Wednesday.

Prosecutors had alleged that on May 5, 2022, Cartwright shot at Sergeant 3614

Danielle Wilson and Police Constable 4318 Whitley Brown while they were on patrol. During the trial, the court heard that he fled and threw a loaded AR-15 into nearby bushes before being arrested at his home at 44 St Lucia Crescent. Officers said he was sweating profusely at the time.

Ms Munnings and Jacklyn Burrows appeared for the Crown. Stanley Rolle represented the accused.

Dean pleaded not guilty to assault with a deadly weapon before Senior Magistrate Raquel Whyms. He was granted $6,000 bail with one or two

Prosecutors allege that Franklyn Dean, 32, assaulted Jameson Greene with a handgun on November 28, 2025, in New Providence.

sureties and must sign in at the Grove Police Station every Friday by 6pm. He was warned not to interfere with any witnesses or risk having his bail revoked.

Dean returns for trial on May 4. Sergeant 2257 Wilkinson prosecuted the matter.

AMERICAN TOURIST FINED $1K FOR HAVING AMMO

By PAVEL BAILEY

Staff Reporter

AN American woman was fined $1,000 after admitting she had ammunition in New Providence last week.

Michelle Hollenback, 58, of Maplewood, Florida, was found with four rounds of .22 ammunition on February 21. She pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition before Magistrate Lennox Coleby.

Hollenback was fined $1,000 or faces nine months in prison if she fails to pay. Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie prosecuted the matter. Levan Johnson represented the accused.

MAN ARRESTED SUSPECTED OF SEX ASSAULT OF A MINOR

A 42-YEAR-OLD man was arrested on Sunday for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor. Police said residents reported seeing the man engage in sexual activity

with a young girl inside a vehicle at a vacant property near Andros Avenue before 9pm. Officers responded, confirmed the report, and arrested the suspect.

The girl was taken to the Central Investigation Department with her mother for further examination. Investigations are ongoing.

TWO MEN INJURED IN SEPARATE DOG ATTACKS IN GB

TWO Grand Bahama men were injured over the weekend in separate dog attacks. The first incident occurred after 9am Sunday on Seahorse Road. Police said the

victim was jogging when a pit bull allegedly bit his leg. He was treated and advised to seek medical attention. The second incident happened later the same day on Hearne Lande.

The victim told police he was bitten on the back of his left leg by a blackbrown dog. He was also advised to seek medical attention. Investigations into both attacks are ongoing.

If Rubio attends CARICOM summit: let it mark a reset, not a reckoning

IF US Secretaryof State Marco Rubioaccepts theinvitation to attendthe CARICOMHeads ofGovernment meeting in St Kitts and Nevis from 25 to 27 February, hispresence shouldbe treated as consequential. It wouldofferanopportunityto recalibrate the relationship between theUnited States and the15 MemberStates of CARICOM that has never been broken but that now requires deliberate renewal.

The US and the Caribbean Community arenot strangers testing first principles. Geography bindsus. Tradesustains us. Securityconcerns connectus. Migrationlinks ourfamilies.Fordecades,cooperation betweenWashington and Caribbeancapitals has been steady, pragmatic, andgrounded inmutual interest.

Secretary Rubio has spoken forcefully about sovereignty, economicresilience,border control,andthe dangersof surrenderingnational agency to external forces. Caribbean leaders understand thatlanguage instinctively.

Our region s modern history isrooted inclaiming our legal entitlementto sovereignty,building viableeconomies out of colonial inheritances,anddefendingdemocratic institutions in societies smallinsize,butfirminconviction.

There areno communist political movements steering CARICOM governments. Thereare noideologicalcrusades underway inthe Caribbean. Our politics are practical. Across administrations andacross partylines,Caribbean governmentshave pursued market-driven economies tempered by social responsibility.We relyon private enterprise, welcome investment, andmaintain deep commercialties with the United States,which remains ourlargest trading partner.

With the exception of GuyanaandTrinidadandTobago, whose energy exports alter thearithmetic, the United States enjoys consistenttrade surplusesin goods and substantial commercial advantages overall with most CARICOM member states.

American goods fill Caribbean ports. American companies operateprofitably in our economies. American

visitors enjoy ourtourism industries.Cooperation indrug interdictionandincombating organisedcrime hasbeen structured and ongoing under the CaribbeanBasin Security Initiative. These arenot the markersof strainedrelations. They are the foundations of a long partnership. Yet strain has emerged, and it must be acknowledged honestlyif recalibrationisto occur.

One present sourceof tensionis US migration policy regardingrefugees anddeportees. Every CARICOM country has consistently accepted the returnof its own nationals deportedfrom the UnitedStates. Wehavecooperatedin verifyingnationality, issuingtravel documents,and facilitatinglawful repatriation. Thatcooperation is not in dispute. The uneasearises when smallstates areasked toaccept – and bear the cost of maintaining- personswho are not their nationals. For largecountries,absorbingadditional populations may be an administrative challenge. For smallisland andcoastal states withlimited fiscal space, smallland mass,and tightlyinterwovensocialsystems, the impact is magnified. Integrationinvolves housing,healthservices,education, employment, community stability, and aboveall security vetting in environmentsthat donot possess the investigative reach of larger nations. The issue, therefore,is not unwillingness to cooperate. It’s proportionality. It’s capacity. And it s risk.

SecretaryRubio hasargued that the United States must strengthen its own resilience by securing supply chains, reinforcingborders, and deepeningcooperation with reliablepartners. The Caribbean isnot adistant theatre in that strategy. It’s America s immediateneighbourhood.

A stable,economically viable, andsecurity-aligned CARICOM reducesirregular migration pressures, strengthens maritimedomain awarenessin aregion through whichillicit trafficking flows. Further,it offers trustednodes forsupplychain diversification close to US shores. Therefore, investment in Caribbean resilience isnot charity.It s strategic depth.In aworldwhere

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

major powers contestfor influence, proximity and partnership still matter.

Ifprogressistobemadeon migration cooperation,it must be builton clarity and reciprocity clear legal frameworks, strictvetting standards, limited and manageable numbers,and arrangements that don t leave small stateswith open-ended

respect boundaries. But Caribbean statesare also guided by a longstanding commitment tosovereignty aprincipleofinternational lawthatsmallstatesregardas essential to their security

In any event, durable outcomesin theAmericasare achieved not through destabilisation, but through predictable, lawfulprocesses

The issue is not unwillingness to cooperate. It’s proportionality. It’s capacity. And it’s risk.

financial or social obligations. Sustainablecooperation cannotrest onimbalance.

Climate policy presents anotherarea wherecareful conversation is required. Caribbeancountries donot contribute significantlyto global emissions. Yet we endure intensifyinghurricanes, coastal erosion, and climaterelated disruption at levels that threatenour economic survival.

Forus, resilienceisnot ideology. Energydiversification isnot dogma.It s existentialnecessity. Anyrecalibration between Washington and CARICOM must recognise thatfor CARICOM states,climateadaptationand economic growthare inseparable objectives.

On mattersconcerning Venezuela and Cuba,Caribbeangovernments sharea common interestin stability inthe hemisphere.Disorder andeconomiccollapsedonot

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thatreduce instabilityrather than amplify it.

If Secretary Rubio meets CARICOM in St. Kitts, the most constructiveconversation will not revolve around pressure.It willrevolve around alignment.

TheUnitedStatesseekssecureborders, resilientsupply chains,andstableneighbours andit has themin CARICOM.

Forits part,CARICOM seeks economic growth, climateresilience, andsecurity against organised crime. Clearly, theUS andCARICOMobjectives arenot contradictory. Theyare complementary.

Expanded cooperationon maritimesecurity andintelligence-sharing would strengthen bothAmerican and Caribbean safety. Structured labour mobility pathways couldmeet workforce needsin theUnitedStates, while supporting developmentin Caribbeaneconomies. Resilient regional supply chainscould integrate Caribbean production rather than bypass it. Transparent, mutually agreed migration frameworks could remove uncertainty and build trust. Meaningfulsupport forclimateadaptation andenergy resilience would reinforce stability in America s imme-

diate neighbourhood.

Noneofthisrequireseither sidetoabandonitsprinciples. Itrequiresbothsidestoapply them with balance.

TheCaribbean doesnot seekconfrontation withthe United States. Nor does it seek dependency. What it seeks and has always sought is partnership rooted inmutual respectand mutual benefit.

If Secretary Rubio attends the CARICOM Summit, our leadersshould bepragmatic, forward-looking, andprepared forempathetic and candid engagement. Themoment callsfor statesmanship. The United States and the Caribbean havecooperated forgenerations intrade,in security, indisaster response, and in shared democratic values. That record is solid. ThemeetinginSt.Kittsoffers the chance to strengthen theircooperation foranew era. Both sides should seize the opportunity.

(The author isthe Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the OAS, and Chancellor of the University of Guyana. Responses andprevious commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com)

Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia reaches its maximum height after more than a century

By SUMAN NAISHADHAM

BARCELONA, Spain(AP)

Barcelona'stoweringSagradaFamilia basilica reachedits maximumheight onFriday,though themagnum opusof CatalanarchitectAntoni Gaudíremains years away from completion.

A crane placed the upper arm ofacrossatoptheTowerofJesus Christ,the church'ssoaring central piece,which nowstands 172.5 meters (566 feet) above the city. With Friday'saddition, the SagradaFamilia inchedcloserto being done. The unfinished monument becamethe world’s tallest churchlast year after another partof itscentral towerwas lifted into place.

PEOPLE watch as a crane lifts the upper arm of the cross onto theTower ofJesusChristatthe SagradaFamiliain Barcelona, Spain,Friday, Feb. 20, 2026,reaching the basilica's maximum height of 172.5 meters (566 feet).

Thefirst stoneof theSagrada Familiawasplaced in1882,but Gaudíneverexpectedittobecompleted in his lifetime. Only one of itsmultipletowerswasfinishedwhenhedied at the age of 73 in 1926, after beinghit by a tram.

In recent decades, work has sped up as the basilica became amajor international tourist attraction, withpeople enthralledbyGaudí s radicalaestheticthatcombinesCatholicsymbolism and organic forms.

Inside, theTower of Jesus Christis still beingworkedon.Thosewhowishtoactually seethecrosswill havetowaituntilthe tower'sinauguration thissummer, whenthe scaffolding surroundingit willbe removed, according to the church.

Topping thecentral tower,which soars above thetransept, hasbeen apriority ahead of celebrations this Junethat will mark the centenary of Gaudí s death.

AsGaudí hadplanned,thecross hasfour arms so its shape can be recognised from any direction, said Sagrada Familia's rector, the Rev.JosepTurull.IfBarcelona scitygovern-

ment will allow it, theoriginal plan also includes a light beam shiningfrom eachof the cross sarms,symbolisingthechurch sroleas a spiritual lighthouse, he added. Millions oftourists visittheSagradaFamiliaeveryyear, andentrancefeeslargely fund the ongoing construction. This year, the Sagrada Familia will hold several eventsto celebrate theCatalan Modernist's legacy, which includes other stunning buildings inBarcelona andelsewhere in Spain. The Sagrada Familia became the world's tallestchurchlast October,whenitrose abovethespireofGermany’sUlmerMünster a Gothic Lutheran churchbuilt over more than 500 years, startingin 1377. That church tops out at 161.53 meters (530 feet).

AtSagrada Familia,aprayerverse isincluded atthe baseof thecross installed Friday afternoon, said church rector Turull. It reads: “Youalone aretheHolyOne,you alone are theLord, you alone arethe Most High.”

Are you living

Ivoine Ingraham

facing Reality

LIFE moves quickly. Alarms ring, messages arrive, meetingspile up,deadlines approach, and responsibilities multiply. Somewhere betweentraffic, tasks,and conversations, webecome busy.But beingbusy isnot the same as being purposeful.

The real question is not whether you areactive. The question is whetheryou are living within yourpurpose or simply moving through your days?

Living isexisting. Purpose is intentional impact.

Many people assume the purpose mustbe something grand.Itmust beatitle,a calling, aplatform orpublic influence.But purposeisnot confined to visibility. It exists inevery roleyou occupy.If you areemployed, youare there for areason. You were nothiredtofillspace.Youare presenttocontributetoamission, tosolve problems,to strengthensystems, toserve clients,and toprotectstandards.Whether entry-levelor executive, your presence carries weight.

The difference lies in perspective.

Doyou seeyourjob asa paycheck,or asaplatform forcontribution? Whenyou understandyour purposeat work, performance shifts. Youmovefromclockinginto adding value. You move from surviving the day to strengthening the mission. Valuebecomesvisible notbecauseit s announced, but because it’s demonstrated through con-

sistency and excellence. Purpose extends beyond theworkplace. Infaith spaces,it’softenassumedthat onlythose onstage carry ‘assignment.’ Yetpurpose isn’t limited tothe microphone.A person seated quietlycan still influencetheatmosphere.Encouragement, consistency,integrity, and lived example strengthen thecommunity more thanperformance ever could.Attending ispassive. Contributing is purposeful. Purpose begins most visibly at home. Ahome is not simplyaplace ofrest.It’sa training ground.Parenting isn’t limitedto provision.It includes guidance,exposure, discipline,andexample.Children absorb what they observe.

If they see integrity, they learn integrity.

If they seeservice, they learn service.

If theysee responsibility modelled consistently, they internalise it.

Parentsare notonlyraising children,they areshapingfuture adults, shaping the Bahamas theywant toseeand live in.

Even ordinary activities carryan assignment.Considerdriving. Mostpeople view itas transportationfrom one point toanother. Yet everydriver contributesto either public safetyor public risk. Patience, vigilance, and respectfortrafficlawsprotect lives. Impatience, distraction, and disregard increase danger.Purpose isn t sus-

on purpose, . . . or just living?

pended duringmundane moments. It s revealed in them. One of the most transformative realisations isthat purpose isn’t singular. It’s situational. Every environment asksaquestion: Whyareyou

Does

Leadership isn t claimed; it’s practised.

Influence isn’t demanded; it’s earned.

Excellence communicates. Integrity communicates.Consistency communicates. When your presence reliably

your presence

respectfulgreeting, aheld door, a calm response rather than a reaction,an offer of help. These aren’t insignificantgestures, they re expressions of intention. Community flourishes whenindividual purpose aligns with collective wellbeing.

your

improve the spaces you enter? Do

words build or diminish? Do your actions align with your stated values? These are accountability checkpoints.

here?In ameeting, areyou present toobserve orto clarify? Ina conflict, areyou escalating or resolving? In a social setting, areyou contributingto connectionor draining it?In aclassroom, are youabsorbing informationor challengingyourself to grow? Purpose activates differently dependingon where you stand.

Everyonedesires tofeel valued, yet valueisn’t declaredfirst; it’s demonstrated.

strengthens environments, recognition becomes secondary. Imagine acommunity where every individual asked, “What is my purpose in this moment?” Drivers would operate with patience. Employees would improve systems,rather thancomplain about them.Parents would model whatthey expect.Faith communities would reflect authenticity. Neighbourswould lookoutforoneanother.Courtesy would notfeel rare, it would feel normal. Small actionscompound. A

Weoften say, “Life iswhat you make ofit.” That phrase carries responsibility. Are you makingan impactorexcuses? Are youmaking progress,or just makingmovement? Are youcontributing orconsuming? Withoutpurpose, days blur intoroutine. With purpose, momentscarry meaning.

Purpose begins with awareness. You cannotfulfil what youhave notidentified.Many drift because theyhave not paused toask whythey are presentandwhattheirroledemands. Ifyou lead,your purposeincludes clarity.Ifyou support it, itincludes reliability. If you mentor, accountability is included. If you are simply present in a moment, yourpurpose includescontribution.

Livingon purposerequires discipline. Itmeans rejecting autopilot.It meansevaluating habitsand measuringimpact. Does your presence improve thespaces youenter? Doyour words buildor diminish?Do youractions alignwithyour statedvalues?Thesearen tabstract reflections. They’re accountability checkpoints. Some people spend years

searching for one grand, lifelong purpose. Purpose is layered. You carry professional purpose, relational purpose, spiritualpurpose and civic purpose.Each environment activates a different assignment. The key is not discovering asingle label.It s constantly asking, “What’s my purpose here?” If more ofus asked that question daily, organisations would operatemore efficiently.Homes wouldfeel more stable. Faith communities would feelmoreauthentic.Roads wouldfeel safer. Conversations would feel morerespectful. Purpose clarifies behaviour and anchors action.

Timewill movewhether you are deliberate or not. The questionis notwhetheryou’ll live. The question is whether you’ll live intentionally Because whenindividuals liveon purpose,families strengthen, institutionsstabilise andcommunities advance. Atthismoment,inthisrole, in this environment why are you here? Are you passing through, orare youcontributing?Areyouexisting,orare you building? Purpose isn treserved for the extraordinary. It s expressed in the ordinary. And the future ofour communities and ournation isshaped by whether its peoplechoose to live onpurpose, onemoment at a time.

At least 73 people died in the attempt to capture a Mexican cartel leader and its violent aftermath

GUADALAJARA Associated Press

AT LEAST 73 people died in Mexico’s attempt to capture the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the

violent aftermath of his death, authorities said Monday as much of the country feared another wave of violence. The body count taken by security officials included security forces, suspected cartel members and others.

Officials did not offer details, and the circumstances of most of the deaths were unclear.

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, called “El Mencho,” was the boss of one of the fastest-growing criminal networks in Mexico,

known for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the United States and staging brazen attacks against Mexican government officials. The organization responded to his death with widespread violence, including blocking roads and setting fire to vehicles.

Oseguera Cervantes died after a shootout in his home state of Jalisco as the Mexican military tried to capture him. Mexican Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla said Monday that authorities had followed one of Oseguera Cervantes’ romantic partners to his hideout in Tapalpa.

The cartel leader and two bodyguards fled into a wooded area where they were seriously wounded in a firefight. They were taken into custody and died on the way to Mexico City, Trevilla said.

In a different location in Jalisco, soldiers also killed another high-ranking cartel member who Trevilla said was coordinating violence and offering more than $1,000 for every soldier killed.

The dead included 25 members of the Mexican National Guard who were killed in six separate attacks, Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said.

Harfuch said some 30 criminal suspects were killed in Jalisco, and four others were killed in the neighbouring state of Michoacan. Also killed were a prison guard and an agent from the state prosecutor’s office.

As the threat of violence loomed, several Mexican states cancelled school Monday, while local and foreign governments warned their citizens to stay inside.

President Claudia Sheinbaum urged calm, and authorities said all of the more than 250 cartel roadblocks across 20 states had been cleared by Monday.

The White House confirmed that the US provided intelligence support to the operation to capture the cartel leader and applauded Mexico’s army for taking down a man who was one of the most wanted criminals in both countries.

Mexico hoped the death of the world’s biggest fentanyl traffickers would ease Trump administration pressure to do more against the cartels, but many people were on edge as they waited to see the powerful cartel’s reaction.

Many fear more violence

The US Embassy said via X that its personnel in eight cities and in Michoacan would shelter in place and work remotely Monday. It warned US citizens in many parts of Mexico to do the same.

Cars began circulating in Guadalajara before sunrise Monday with the start of the workweek, a notable change from Sunday, when Jalisco’s

state capital and Mexico’s second-largest city was almost completely shut down as fearful residents stayed home.

More than 1,000 people were stuck overnight in Guadalajara’s zoo, where they slept in buses. On Monday morning, mothers wrapped in blankets carried their toddlers out of the buses for a muchneeded bathroom break as police trucks guarded the area.

Luis Soto Rendón, the zoo’s director, said many had been trapped there since Sunday morning, when violence broke out in Jalisco and the surrounding states. Families concluded they could not return home in nearby states like Zacatecas and Michoacan.

“We decided to let people stay inside the zoo for their safety,” Soto said. “There are small children and senior citizens.”

José Luis Ramírez, a 54-year-old therapist, was in a long line of people waiting outside a pharmacy, one of the few businesses that were open Monday in Guadalajara. Families were buying food, medicine, water, diapers and baby formula, from pharmacists through a chained door. It was Ramírez’s first time leaving the house since violence erupted over the weekend, but he struck a hopeful tone, saying that despite the bloodshed, civilians needed to move forward.

“We have to not think scared, but be cool-headed, like they say, and take things as they come,” he said. Traffic was light in the city, and outwardly it appeared that those who could afford to stay home were doing so, while those who had to work were carefully making their way across the city.

Irma Hernández, a 43-yearold hotel security guard in Guadalajara, arrived at work early Monday. She normally takes public transportation to work, but buses were not running, and she had no way to cross the city. Her bosses organized a private car to pick her up. Her family, she said, was staying at home, too scared to leave.

“I am worried because I don’t know how to get home

if something happens,” she said.

Blow against cartel welcomed by the US

US President Donald Trump has demanded Mexico do more to fight the smuggling of fentanyl, threatening to impose more tariffs or take unilateral military action if the country does not show results.

There were early signs that Mexico’s efforts were well received by the United States.

US Ambassador Ron Johnson recognized the success of the Mexican armed forces and their sacrifice in a statement late Sunday. Under the leadership of Trump and Sheinbaum, he said, “bilateral cooperation has reached unprecedented levels.”

But the operation may also pave the way for more violence as rival criminal groups take advantage of the blow dealt to El Mencho’s organization, said David Mora, Mexico analyst for the International Crisis Group.

“This might be a moment in which those other groups see that the cartel is weakened and want to seize the opportunity for them to expand control and to gain control over Cartel Jalisco in those states,” he said.

Ever since Sheinbaum took office, “the army has been way more confrontational, combative against criminal groups in Mexico,” Mora said. “This is signalling to the US that if we keep cooperating, sharing intelligence, Mexico can do it. We don’t need US troops on Mexican soil.”

The US State Department had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of El Mencho. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which began operating around 2009, is one of the most powerful criminal organizations in Mexico.

In February 2025, the Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization. It has been one of the most aggressive cartels in its attacks on the military — including on helicopters — and is a pioneer in launching explosives from drones and installing mines.

A packed bus plunges off a Nepal highway, killing 19 and injuring 25

KATHMANDU Associated Press

A PACKED bus on its way to Nepal’s capital drove off a mountain highway in Nepal early Monday, killing 19 people including a British national and leaving another 25 wounded.

There were dozens of people on board the bus, which was heading from the resort city of Pokhara to Kathmandu when it drove off the Prithvi highway after midnight, police said. The bus rolled down a mountain slope and landed on the banks of Trishuli river near Benighat, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) west of the capital, Kathmandu.

Among those who died was a 24-year-old British national, according to a statement from the Dhading district police office. Only nine bodies have been identified. The injured included a Chinese national, who is being treated at the National Trauma Centre in Kathmandu, and a 27-year-old woman from New Zealand who received minor injuries and was being treated at a

local hospital. China’s official Xinhua News Agency, citing the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, reported earlier that one other Chinese national was missing.

Rescuers reached the accident site soon after the accident, and the injured were pulled out of the wreckage and driven to hospitals for treatment, according to government administrator Mohan Prasad Neupane.

Police are investigating the cause of the accident. Bus accidents in Nepal are common, mostly due to poorly maintained roads and vehicles. Much of the Himalayan country is covered by mountains and connected only by narrow roads. The bus landed on

of

STUDENTS interact with Atlantis team members from various departments, includingHospitality, Engineering,and Ecology, during hands-on demonstrations in the school’s gymnasium.

ATLANTIS representativesengage AnatolRodgersHighSchool studentsduring theParadisePop-Upcareer awarenessevent held in celebration of Career Technical Education Month.

REPRESENTATIVES from Atlantis Paradise Island pose with school officials and students following the successful Paradise PopUp initiative at Anatol Rodgers High School.

Bahamas leads region with autism certificate graduation

FOR many children on the autism spectrum, the difference betweenfrustration and flourishing often restsin one simple truth whether the adults around them truly understand them.

That understanding deepenedinTheBahamasthis week as thefirst cohortof graduates completedthe Autism CertificatePro-

gette Cooper,a trainedspecial education teacher, the programme features a carefully structured curriculumdesigned to equip participants with real-worldstrategies.

Modules included Introductionto Autism,Behaviour Management, Instructional Strategies, Socialand Communication Skills, Collaborating withFamilies, Recre-

gramme atUWI Global Campus Bahamas the first programme ofits kindin the countryand acrossthewider Caribbean region.

The pioneering certificate provides practical, hands-on training forteachers, administrators, trainers, paraprofessionalsand parentswhowork daily with individuals on the spectrum.Its missionisclear: to replaceuncertainty with knowledge, hesitationwith skill, andmisunderstanding with compassion.

Ledby CountryHeadBrid-

ational Managementand Home Care.

Cooper expressed pride that theinaugural cohortincluded participants notonly from New Providence,but also fromAbaco; Freeport,Grand Bahama; andJamaica reflecting the programme s wider regional vision.

“Our goal was to create a programme withfar-reaching impact,” shesaid, notingthat empowering educators and caregivers ultimatelytransforms the livesof those with autism by fostering knowledge, practical competence and empathy.

Acting Director of UWI GlobalCampus NicolePhillip describedthe initiativeasa milestone for the region.

"TheBahamashastakenthe lead,” Phillipsaid, addingthat UWIisplanningtoexpandthe programme toUWI campuses acrossthe Caribbean.She called it a golden opportunity” to advance inclusivity anddismantleoutdatedstereotypes surrounding autism.

Atlantis brings pop-Up career experience to Anatol Rodgers

NASSAU,TheBahamas–AnatolRodgersHighSchool celebrated CareerTechnical Education (CTE)Month with adynamic Paradise Pop-Up career awareness eventinpartnershipwithAtlantis Paradise Island on Tuesday,February10,2026.

Heldin theschool’s gymnasium, theevent connected students with professionals from Atlantis’ Human Resources, Foodand Beverage Services,CasinoOperations, Engineering, andEcology andNatureConservationdepartments. Through interactive displays, demonstrations, and career discussions, students gained firsthandinsight into real-world hospitality and tourism opportunities.

Keishla Cash,Subject Co-

ordinator for Hospitality and Tourism Studies, expressed appreciationfor theongoing partnership.

“We are extremely grateful to AtlantisParadise Islandfor theircontinued support of ourprogram. Our students benefittremendously from direct engagement with industry professionals.Experienceslikethis help themunderstand workforceexpectations andinspire them to pursue excellence in hospitality and tourism.

TheParadisePop-Upreinforced the importance of education–industrycollaboration andhighlighted the vital role ofCareer Technical Education in preparing young Bahamiansfor national workforceopportunities.

Call for students to participate in international robotics competition

BAHAMIANstudents arebeinginvited todesignrobotics solutionstoreal-world globalchallenges throughaninternational competition that could take them all the way to Geneva, Switzerland. Through FEM STEM Bahamas, students across the country are being encouraged to enter theInternational Telecommunication UnionRoboticsfor GoodYouthCompetition, an initiative alignedwith the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The competition is open to two age groups:aJuniorTeamcategoryforstudents ages 10–14 (born2016–2012)and aSenior Team category forstudents ages 15–18 (born 2011–2008).

Students will competenationally on March 21, 2026. Winningteams will advance to the GrandFinale in Geneva on July 7–8, 2026. Participants will gainhands-on experiencein robotics,programming andsustainable technology, whilesharpening critical thinking, teamwork and problem-solving skills.

The nationalcall followsa recentroboticsand agricultureworkshopthat broughttogether studentrepresentatives from A F Adderley Senior High School, C VBethelSeniorHighSchool,WindsorPreparatory Academy, King s College School and ISBET TyrhondaKnowles-Glinton, founderof FEM STEMBahamas andThe Bahamas’ first nationalorganizer forthe competition, encouraged studentsand schoolsto seize the opportunity. This competitionis aboutpreparation, exposure andpossibility,” shesaid. “I strongly encourage school administrators, teachers and students to register and be part ofa once-in-a-lifetimeopportunity torepresent our country on the global stage. Schoolshave untilFebruary27 toregister. Applicationscan besubmitted by calling 1-242-467-5712,emailing info@femstembahamas.org, orvisiting www.femstembahamas.org. Spaces arelimited inboth Juniorand Senior categories.

US Ambassador visits Andros, underscoring security ties

US Ambassador Herschel Walker travelled to Andros last week, placing early diplomatic focus on an island long embedded in US–Bahamian security cooperation.

Home to the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC), a US Navy installation central to decades of defense collaboration between Nassau and Washington, Andros occupies critical terrain in regional maritime strategy and joint surveillance operations across Caribbean waters.

Walker’s visit - his first known trip to the island since assuming office in December - was hosted by Leon Lundy, Member of Parliament for Central Mangrove Cay and South Andros and Minister of State with responsibility for Disaster Risk Management.

The delegation toured Central Andros High School and visited a local clinic. At a separate luncheon, Walker delivered remarks emphasizing continued US–Bahamian cooperation.

In South Andros, the visit included meetings with residents and a stop at a voter registration drive. Ambassador Walker and Minister Lundy also took time to see a local basketball team off, as they travelled for competition.

Beyond optics, the alignment is structural. Lundy’s national responsibility for disaster risk management intersects directly with US–Bahamian coordination in hurricane preparedness, emergency response logistics, maritime domain awareness, and defence continuity planning. In an archipelago where storms, sea routes, and security infrastructure overlap, disaster management operates within the same framework as national defense.

Lying just 50 miles off the US coastline, The Bahamas forms part of America’s immediate security environment. The United States remains The Bahamas’ largest trading partner and tourism source market.

Security cooperation spans counter-narcotics enforcement, border monitoring, defense operations, and coordinated disaster responsepriorities that converge most visibly in Andros.

For Washington, stability across the archipelago carries direct domestic implications. For Nassau, sustained US engagement underpins economic resilience and national security strategy. Walker’s visit places that interdependence in clear view, reinforcing a bilateral relationship shaped by geography, infrastructure, and shared strategic interests.