02252026 NEWS

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Volume: 123 No. 65, Wednesday, February 25, 2026

CROSS-DRESSING

‘LAWYER’ JAILED

Man posing as female attorney gets three years for $20k fraud

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A 30-year-old man who posed as a female attorney and defrauded clients of nearly $20,000 was sentenced to three years in prison yesterday after pleading guilty to more than 50 offences in the Grand Bahama Magistrate’s Court. Police arrested Kimeo McIntosh on February 18, following an operation in

which he attempted to flee while dressed in female attire, including spandex tights, a bra, eyelashes and makeup, with eyebrows drawn on his face. A search of his vehicle uncovered a black travel bag containing male clothing, along with female heels, finger and toenail polish and other items used to maintain the disguise. Two cell phones later linked to

Bishop brands ‘sweethearting’ an evil as study sparks alarm

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A SENIOR Anglican bishop has branded sweethearting “an evil” and warned that The Bahamas is sliding from its Christian foundation, reacting to a new University of the Bahamas study that quantified the practice.

FRAUD - SEE PAGE THREE EVIL - SEE PAGE THREE

Diocesan Bishop Dr Anthony Farrington said the findings were “very alarming” and urged churches to respond with urgency. The study, “A Description of Sweethearting in The Bahamas,” analysed

Bishop Dr Anthony Farrington.

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

SUPER VALUE staff mobilised “almost immediately” after owner Rupert Roberts urgently needed blood, the company’s president Debra Symonette said yesterday, as word spread of a health crisis involving one of the country’s most prominent businessmen. Flyers circulated across social media over the weekend appealing for blood donations. The Tribune understands Mr Roberts has since been airlifted to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he is in

ROBERTS - SEE PAGE FOUR

Dames denies involvement after partner caught in $4m cocaine bust

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER National Security Minister and FNM candidate Marvin Dames yesterday denied any involvement in a US drug trafficking case after his business partner was arrested off Florida with roughly 200 kilograms of

cocaine worth an estimated $4 million aboard a boat they jointly own. Mr Dames moved swiftly to distance himself from Malcolm Goodman, who was arrested on February 11. He confirmed a business relationship with Goodman but insisted he and his wife had no knowledge of,

DRUGS - SEE PAGE FIVE

‘They killed the whole family’

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

“When they kill Jonathan, they killed the whole family,” Gelita Gooding said yesterday, describing the devastation after her 36-year-old nephew, Jonathan “Goddy” Gooding, was gunned down last Thursday morning in the parking lot of the Shirley Street Shopping Plaza, just moments after leaving the gym he had faithfully attended for nearly four years.

Police reported that Gooding had exited a business establishment shortly after 9am and was walking toward his vehicle when a Japanese car pulled up. A man exited, produced a firearm, and opened fire before fleeing the scene. His body remained on the pavement

opposite the gym — a stark, tragic sight for anyone who knew him.

For Ms Gooding, the anguish goes far beyond the circumstances of his death. Less than half a day before, Jonathan had been at her home laughing, collecting food, and speaking about life and fitness, with no hint of danger.

“Jonathan was one of my babies. He's my nephew. He's the son of my sister,” she said, recalling how she helped raise him while his mother, Loretta Gooding, was abroad for work. At the time of the shooting, his mother was at a doctor’s appointment overseas, unaware of the tragedy that had unfolded.

Ms Gooding described her nephew as respectful, family-oriented, and protective of those he loved.

“They don’t know how they took a decent young man out of this world. Whatever they feel he has done, they wrong.”

“He was focused on his health. He wanted to live better,” she said, explaining

that he avoided alcohol, smoking, and drugs, and dedicated himself to the gym not out of vanity but to maintain discipline over his body and mind. “That was his thing,” she added. Jonathan had made deliberate choices about his personal life, telling his aunt: “I want my children with one woman, and that woman has to be my wife.”

Originally from Bimini, he travelled widely and spent several years in Cuba, where he became fluent in Spanish. He eventually achieved his goal of becoming a licensed boat captain, operating trips to Rose Island, an accomplishment that brought him immense pride.

“To handle him like that, they don’t know what they did,” Ms Gooding said, her voice heavy with emotion. “They don’t know how they took a decent young man out of this world. Whatever they feel he has done, they wrong. They are no God. How you can delete someone because you feel they should be deleted out? Then you gon shoot him from behind, your coward self. You shoot him from behind so many times you shoot him.”

The family’s grief was compounded by the circulation of graphic images and videos online shortly after his death. Ms Gooding said she struggled to understand the lack of empathy.

“I think that's the most heartless thing in the world,” she said. “How could you do something like that? I blame the authorities. How could you allow these people to be there, snapping and recording and stuff like that? What kind of heartless person want to stop and do things like that?”

Jonathan’s sister, Verline Smith, recalled the moment she learned of her brother’s death, saying: “I still stunned, like I don’t know what to do. My mommy, she crying, my auntie hollering, my cousins hollering, my

brothers them hollering. I only could be there for my mom and be strong for the family.”

She described her brother as quiet, focused, and committed to keeping a small circle while avoiding trouble. He shared a close bond with her children, particularly her son, the only boy among them. She said the online footage was particularly painful.

“Why,” she said, “people posting these things? Like, why people do this to parents, children? Like, come on. The family don’t even know nothing, but y’all posting these things. It’s so sad.”

Ms Smith also admitted

to feeling fear after recently burying the father of her children and now losing her brother.

“Knowing the tragedy that happened to him, it’s like any car come close to me, I’m scared,” she said. “Any dark tinted car come close, like I am afraid. I don’t know what to do.” Kadayah Bain, who considered Jonathan a brother through their adopted mother, echoed the family’s grief, describing him as hardworking, cheerful, and not a problematic person. She initially learned of the shooting online but only realised it was Jonathan when her mother called in panic.

Man in female disguise defrauded victims seeking legal help

to the fraudulent activity were also found.

Prosecutors said McIntosh carried out a “calculated scheme” in which he impersonated a female attorney using the name ‘Laniqua Rolle,’ targeting people seeking legal assistance for incarcerated relatives.

Between October 1 2025, and January 31 2026, in Grand Bahama, multiple victims paid thousands of dollars for bail and legal services that were never provided. The court heard that the documents presented to them were forged and that no such attorney existed. Police said the victims, Shadderly Brown and Ida Brown, Mr Ewing, and Margaret Dames, collectively lost $19,927.56.

McIntosh pleaded guilty on Tuesday before Magistrate Charlton Smith to 13 counts each of forgery, possession of forged documents and uttering forged documents; four counts each of fraud by false pretence and money laundering; three counts of impersonating legal counsel; and one count of procuring a forged document.

During the arraignment, as the charges were read, McIntosh appeared

overwhelmed and asked to sit, explaining that he felt dizzy due to diabetes. His mother and other relatives sat quietly at the back of the courtroom.

For the forgery, fraud and money laundering offences, Magistrate Smith imposed three-year prison sentences on each count. He also imposed six-month sentences on each of the impersonation counts. All sentences are to run concurrently.

“This warrants the imposition of the substantial custodial sentence,” Mr Smith said. The offences in question are serious. The accused engaged in a calculated scheme, whereby he impersonated a legal practitioner and fabricated judicial documents, and deceived multiple victims, persons seeking legitimate legal assistance for relatives.”

“It was deliberate, organised, and involved the misuse of purported judicial authority, thereby striking directly the public confidence in the administration of justice.”

The prosecutor said McIntosh had prior convictions for similar offences, including stealing by reason of employment, and argued

that the crimes were deliberate and involved an abuse of public trust. The Crown recommended a three-year custodial sentence, noting that while McIntosh pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, the

seriousness of the offences and the number of victims warranted a substantial penalty.

In mitigation, McIntosh apologised to the victims, asked for leniency and said he wished to

compensate those harmed. He acknowledged that he has antecedents and told the court that people make mistakes. He said he is the eldest son and breadwinner in his family and had been trying to help his mother. He also expressed fear for his safety in prison, saying he had been attacked in a cell by an inmate who was one of the victims and had been threatened.

Benjamin McKinney, a lawyer seated in the gallery, stood to assist and asked that the matter be stood down briefly.

“He pleaded guilty at first opportunity, which should be taken into consideration as he saved the court

precious time,” he added.

“I’ve had a quick talk with his mother, and he would like to pay back the victims who were hurt by his actions,” the lawyer said, recommending a one-year sentence.

In sentencing, Magistrate Smith said he considered McIntosh’s remorse, his willingness to repay the victims, and his early plea. However, he said prior convictions and the exploitation of vulnerable people seeking legal help were aggravating factors and stressed the need to protect the public.

McIntosh is expected to appear in court again today in relation to child cruelty charges.

Anglican leader warns of drift from Christian values after infidelity data revealed

“It is very alarming. Our society has drifted tremendously from our forefathers foundation. Each one of us or most of us, may say that we may know someone who is partaking in this type of activity, it is wrong”

- Bishop Dr Anthony Farrington

online responses from 6,714 adults and found that some married people maintain outside sexual relationships to meet unmet emotional or intimacy needs while their marriages remain intact. One in five respondents reported having more than one sexual partner in the previous six months. Of those, 77 percent said at least one partner was a sexual sweetheart. The study also found that 54 percent of married women described a sweetheart as superior sexually, compared with 39.5 percent of married men.

Dr Farrington said he had long known sweethearting was happening, but seeing it formally studied and documented was troubling.

“It is very alarming. Our society has drifted tremendously from our forefathers foundation. Each one of us or most of us, may say that we may know someone who is partaking in this type of activity, it is wrong,” he said.

“I condemn it. As a religious leader, I believe in the institution of family. A family is with

To

one husband and one wife, with their children. So when you step outside of that religious boundary, then you stepping outside of the laws of God.”

He said he was disturbed by public reaction to the study, including comments suggesting sweethearting is normal.

“It shows me that although we say that we are a Christian nation, we have a lot of work to do,” he said. “There is a difference between being a Christian and a believer. I always teach it in our church. You know, a lot of us believe that there is a God, but many of us are not walking in the footsteps of what Christianity is.”

Dr Farrington said churches already promote marriage through seminars and family events but must now refocus on strengthening families in light of the findings. He said he hoped the church community could establish a programme to confront sweethearting directly. He acknowledged that no marriage or family is perfect but stressed the need for deliberate effort to keep marriages strong. He encouraged couples to pay attention

to warning signs, have open conversations when issues arise and seek counselling if they cannot resolve problems on their own.

Meanwhile, Bahamas Christian Council

Call for blood donations as grocery mogul enters ICU at Mayo Clinic

ROBERTS from page one

the intensive care unit.

Ms Symonette declined to disclose his medical condition but described staff as “very optimistic” and said he is “very much loved by his staff”, a loyalty she suggested explained the swift response.

“We’re just praying for him and hoping that everything will turn out for the best,” she said.

Inside the country’s largest all-Bahamian food store chain, she said, employees have rallied. A team is in place and staff are “all pulling together as usual” while being kept updated.

Mr Roberts founded Super Value and built it into the country’s largest all-Bahamian food store chain. He has also been a central figure in banking and commercial development for decades.

He was appointed chairman of Commonwealth Bank Limited after Bahamianisation and served from 1984 to 1992, overseeing rapid expansion after stagnation in the final years of foreign ownership, according to the bank. During his tenure, the bank relocated its head office to 610 East Bay Street, opened branches in Oakes Field and Marsh Harbour, grew total assets by more than 700 percent to over $125 million, and increased net income from $1.3 million in 1984 to $4 million in 1992.

Major: PLP headquarters hijacked my contracts to ‘sabotage’ me

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

SOUTHERN Shores MP Leroy Major has accused his own party of hijacking constituency contracts to “sabotage” him.

His comments came after the man the Progressive Liberal Party chose to replace him in the constituency, Obie Roberts, posted a video showing landscaping work at Marshall Road Park, where overgrown bush along a walkway had been cleared. In the video, Mr Roberts said residents had raised concerns about safety risks in the area.

“I just took it upon myself in the relationship with the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services to help clear down this area to make it safer for the residents of Marshall Road and Misty Gardens and just in terms of making the environment safe for all Bahamians, particularly the constituents of Southern Shores,” Mr Roberts said.

Mr Major responded with his own video, alleging that the pathway had previously been on contract but was removed and reassigned.

“This path was always on contract,” he said. “For some reason it came up off contract because someone at the PLP headquarters control all of my contracts, take it and give it to who they want to give it to just to sabotage me.”

Members of Parliament do not personally hold or control government contracts. Constituency works are processed and issued through the relevant government departments.

Speaking to The Tribune, Mr Major alleged that a list of works he submitted to the Public Parks and Beaches Department in June 2025 was forwarded to PLP headquarters and controlled there.

“They took my contract — a sitting member of parliament — and gave it to somebody to control from the PLP headquarters,” he said.

He said he did not know who was responsible. He said he reported the matter to Public Parks and Beaches chairman and senior policy adviser to the Prime Minister Jerome Fitzgerald and other party officials but received no response.

“The park grew out, and someone was supposed to be getting paid to do that park,” Mr Major said. “So he come around there cutting a video about the park not being maintained — well the park wasn’t maintained because he took the contract.”

Mr Major insisted that road works now under way in Minnis Heights and Sunset Park were part of a second phase of projects he initiated.

He described the situation as “unbearable” and said he felt disrespected

by a party he still calls “my PLP”.

“The level of disrespect is unbearable, and that is the problem that I have with my PLP who I’ve supported from a child,” he said. “I am a deep-rooted PLP, and the level of disrespect is unbearable. But that’s okay. It’s gonna come soon.”

Asked whether he had considered switching parties, Mr Major replied: “Watch the road”.

“Y'all obviously see the writing on the wall. Since Joe Johnson was walking in Southern Shores while I was the sitting member of parliament,” he added. In 2024, Mr Major was replaced as chairman of the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation. Yesterday, he said the prime minister never explained to him why.

“You never told me why I was moved, never sat down with me and explained anything whether I did some kind of infraction or not, never ever,” he said. “You got to do what you have to do, that’s fine. That’s beyond me right now. I’m moving forward with my life, still working in my constituency and doing what I have to do until House is dissolved.” In June 2025, Mr Major publicly called for “fair play to the backbenchers whose voices are not heard around the table,” raising concerns that some MPs struggled to secure government support for constituency needs.

Dames denies ‘any knowledge’ after business partner busted for smuggling cocaine into US

involvement in, or benefit from any alleged unlawful activity.

The business relationship between Mr Dames and Goodman was unclear up to press time. According to a sworn affidavit filed by US Department of Homeland Security taskforce officer Jose Alverez, the US Coast Guard stopped Goodman aboard the 45-foot vessel M/V Reel Xperience about four miles offshore near Fort Lauderdale.

Goodman told officers he was arriving from New

Providence and had been underway for about seven hours when the vessel was intercepted.

Authorities conducted an inbound customs border search because the vessel had travelled from a foreign location. Officers reported seeing multiple brick-shaped objects in plain view. A free-air sniff by US Customs and Border Protection produced a positive alert for controlled substances. Investigators said they found brick-shaped packages in the common area and a stateroom, wrapped in cellophane and containing a white powder-like

substance. A presumptive field test yielded a positive result for cocaine.

Law enforcement officials said they seized approximately 200 kilograms of cocaine, along with about 248 bottles of cough syrup discovered inside a plastic storage bin.

Goodman spontaneously told officers: “I am going to eat it.” US authorities said Goodman later admitted he was solely involved in the smuggling of narcotics. After being advised of his rights, he declined to speak without an attorney present. He appeared in a US

court on February 12 and was charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and importation of a controlled substance.

On February 19, he was ordered detained pending trial after relinquishing his right to a temporary bond bail hearing for the time being.

Captain Experiences, an online platform that helps people find, choose, and book guided outdoor adventure trips, described Captain Malcolm as an experienced boat captain with more than a decade in the maritime industry. The website said he holds

a Bahamian A Class Captain’s Licence and is also a certified open-water and advanced scuba diver.

In a statement yesterday, Mr Dames confirmed that he and his wife entered into a business arrangement with Goodman in 2024.

He said neither he nor his wife had any knowledge of, involvement in, or benefit from any alleged unlawful activity connected to the case, and that they did not authorise, participate in, or sanction any criminal conduct.

Mr Dames, a former Deputy Commissioner of Police who later served

as Minister of National Security under the Minnis administration, said he has dedicated his life to protecting the country and would not speculate on allegations now before law enforcement authorities. He said he and his wife would fully cooperate with any lawful inquiry in The Bahamas or the United States.

The FNM’s Mount Moriah branch signalled it would stand by him.

“We’re not going to ask him to resign,” said Bennett Minnis, a long-serving MCM of the FNM. “I’m quite happy with my candidate.”

The Tribune Limited

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LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

Contributing Editor 1972-1991

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

Publisher/Editor 1972-

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Contracts are not political playthings

POLITICAL in-fighting has erupted in the Southern Shores constituency –but what it reveals requires some deeper explanations.

Leroy Major is the sitting Member of Parliament for Southern Shores –for now. He has not been selected by his party, the PLP, to run again in the constituency.

The replacement candidate had his own fights in the nomination process. Obie Roberts, the party’s deputy chairman, won the nomination, after being selected ahead of ZNS general manager Clint Watson in a race which led to a number of calls for Mr Watson to step aside from his role amid concerns over editorial independence.

Mr Watson lost, Mr Roberts won – and now Mr Roberts appears to be finding himself in a clash with the incumbent in the seat instead.

As with so many candidates trying to make themselves suddenly visible, Mr Roberts had posted a video to social media showing what good work he was doing in the area.

He showed landscaping work at Marshall Road Park, where overgrown bush had been cleared from a walkway after he said residents had raised concerns about safety risks. He said he “just took it upon myself in the relationship with the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services to help clear down this area”.

We shall skip past for now the use of prison labour by a political candidate seeking election, and we shall skip too past the fact that a PLP hopeful is clearing up safety risks in a constituency that voted PLP in a PLP government and still wound up with problems needing tackled under a PLP MP. It is very hard to mentally connect suggestions of neglect by a representative of the same government you wish to join. No, rather than that, let us consider what Mr Major said in response.

Mr Major alleged that there was a contract to clear the pathway but it had been removed. He said: “For some reason it came up off contract, because someone at the PLP headquarters control all of my contracts, take it and give it to who they want to give it to just to sabotage me.”

Notice the word “my” there. “My contracts.”

He reiterated the point when talking to The Tribune. He said: “They took my contract – a sitting member of parliament – and gave it to somebody to control from the PLP headquarters.” He went further: “He came around there cutting a video about the park not being maintained – well the park wasn’t maintained because he took the contract.”

There should be no hint of contracts belonging to either individual. Mr Major

should not be in a position where he refers to contracts as “my contracts” nor should there be a hint that a political rival – even in-party – could have “took the contract”.

This should be a matter that should be explained. Not just for Mr Major, but for the constituents, and for the rule of law. Contracts should not be used as pawns to make one candidate look good in comparison to another, as Mr Major seems to be implying. They should be awarded to deliver the best value for money for the people, no more, no less.

Mr Major said he reported the issue to the chairman of the Bahamas Public Parks and Beaches Authority, presently McKell Bonaby, and to Jerome Fitzgerald, a senior officer to the prime minister, but received no response. Perhaps he might be so minded to publish those communications, in order to elicit a response.

For Mr Major, he says that despite him being a “deep-rooted PLP”, the “level of disrespect is unbearable”. He has previously hinted in January this year at the possibility of an independent run in the election. Yesterday, he merely said: “Watch the road.” If there is substance to Mr Major’s allegations, there ought to be an investigation. The contract process should not be a matter of political favours – an allegation that has been made too many times over the years. What there should not be is silence. Explanations, please.

Well wishes for Rupert Roberts

Rupert Roberts has given a great deal to our nation. He has been in business, feeding Bahamians through his Super Value stores, and long being a charitable donor to support people across society. Throughout the COVID pandemic, his stores kept serving Bahamians, when times were rough on both an economic and a healthcare basis.

It is fitting then that in his hour of need, donors have come forward to help him. Mr Roberts needed blood, and a call went out for helpers – and his own workers were among the first to answer the call.

Super Value workers responded swiftly to offer donations, a sign of how much he is loved by his staff.

Mr Roberts has now been airlifted to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, we understand, where we wish him the very best of care.

He may no longer need donations of blood here in The Bahamas, but we should all be sure to give a small prayer to wish him well, and for a swift recovery. Our best wishes to you, Mr Roberts. You are a good friend to all at The Tribune, and a good friend to The Bahamas.

East Bay Hotel appeal

EDITOR, The Tribune. EAST Bay Project sent back to Town Planning after appeal. Amazing that there is no penalty for applicants

fooling Town Planning and the Appeals board just refers them back to have another go. How many approved projects have been

Continue progress with PLP

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE most critical and pivotal general elections since 1967 will take place at a time and choosing of the Rt Hon Philip Edward, KC, MP (PLP-Cat Island). The exact date may be uncertain to the general public but whenever they are called, The Bahamas will never be the same thereafter. The nation is poised to either continue making incremental progress or we are able to decide to give that same crew that decimated the pre 2021 economy and left, in my view, a vast majority of unwashed Bahamians high and dry.

The roll of Thunder is now echoing in the atmosphere. These elections will be the PLPs to lose. As a self-proclaimed Prophet, I predict that the Davis administration will be returning comfortably to a second term. The choice is crystal clear.....forward with a tried; tested and game changing administration or switch to a possible administration which canibalise its own and discard the rest whom they are unprepared to actually chew on. or to accommodate , seemingly, for pure political hatred.

There is too much at stake. A brand new hospital, the first one since Independence; new schools and clinics all over the place; upgrades to NIB and the National Health Care System is being rolled out; the revitalisation of what some say , bogusly, is FNM country, which has been consistently ‘represented in the majority by the clueless FNM; massive infrastructure work throughout the nation and, of course, a booming economy, especially here in New Providence and the major Family Islands.

On many not, realistically blame Dr Minnis for the global isolation of our wonder nation during the height of the pandemic. It took the enlightened Brave administration to stabilise the inherited depressed national economy, where people were literally sleeping in

their vehicles, rent free, throughout the country under the FNM’s watch. In fact, tens of thousands of Bahamians had been reduced to picking peas or beans out of the proverbial shaving cream under that crew, which included Messrs Pintard and Sands, et al

Those in that house of actors and clowns now say that they want to work for the people of this wonderful nation, again? The first time did not work out too well… Why should you rehire them? The weather , globally, even here at home, has been a sever challenge in recent time. We have all heard the roll of thunder and witnessed unusual atmospheric conditions and phenomenon , especially in the night sky. May I suggest to right thinking Bahamians that no is definitely Not the time to take chances with our collective future.

The PLP and its current leadership are not perfect, by any means. It is better, however, to keep what one may have than to jump out of the pot and into a fire of unknown intensity or proportions. You are all able to see how dastardly they treated the esteemed Rt Hon Doctor Hubert Alexander Minnis (FNM-Killarney....like Dirt. If they did that to the man who caused All of them to be elevated and made ‘relevant’ what more or less do you think that they would do to the unwashed masses?

Steady as she goes is not a bad thing and I invite All Bahamians to remember the inordinate lock downs; the threats made by the then Attorney General, that if Bahamians ‘did not behave’ he and the administration, which included Messrs Pintard & Sands, would look you all up!! They increased VAT, in the midst of the pandemic and countless Bahamians were relegated to lie on gurneys

Why is resort

in the wards and porches of the PMH and The Rand. Unknown numbers of Bahamians and other nationalities actually died and were buried in what may have been unmarked resting places.

The roll of thunder is a serious thing and Bahamians must choose between two very different ideologies. The other day, no less a person than former FNM Deputy Prime Minister, who also ‘served’ as the most incompetent Minister of Immigration in the entire history of this absolutely wonderful nation, opined, with a dead straight face, that the convicted and sentenced gruesome Killer of a young Bahamian school aged child, should Not be deported back to his home country, after he would have completed his term in jail!!??

That little precious female child is Gone, forever, yet that callous individual, in my view, with absolute no apparent compassion or empathy for the mother and survivors of that brutally raped and murdered child could fix his cute lips (I am not like that) to suggest ‘understanding’? The FNM, in my view, under All of their administrations messed up immigration and failed to rationalize the same. Remember the flawed and massively rejected Referendum on Immigration issues, championed by then Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Hubert Alexander Ingraham? Symonette was right there creased right up, along with my favorite FNM, Dr Minnis?

The PLP is needed to be returned to a second consecutive term under the enlightened leadership of the Rt Hon Philip Edward Davis, pure and simple. The roll of thunder and actual continued progress or more of the doom and gloom of the fractured FNM? To God then, in all things, be the glory for there are Greater things that He will wrought.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, February 22, 2026.

deal

so hard to close?

approved on fraudulent plans & proposals.

MONKEEDOO Nassau, February 23, 2026.

EDITOR, The Tribune. SEVERAL days before Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis addressed business owners at the Grand Bahama Business Outlook event at the Pelican Bay Hotel, he was present on Cable Beach for the groundbreaking ceremony for Baha Mar’s newest $700 million resort that will be built on the site where Melia Nassau Beach once stood. The daily that carried this news stated that construction work will begin that same day. It will be a five-star resort with 77 luxury rooms and 345 guest rooms in facilities spanning 12 acres on the upscale Cable Beach strip. This project will produce 400 construction jobs and 500 permanent jobs when it opens in 2029. Baha Mar President Graeme Davis and the principals of the mega resort can be counted on to pull this deal through for Nassauvians. Confidence in the ability of the ownership is based on the fact that Baha Mar itself was built at a cost of between $3 billion and $4 billion. This latest project will add to Nassau’s already impressive touristic investments. Exactly one year prior to the groundbreaking for the $700 million Baha Mar project, Bahamian businessman Adrian Fox

and the Progressive Liberal Party government signed a heads of agreement for the $300 million Voir Beach project, which is forecasted to employ 1,000 persons during the construction phase and between 700 -- 1000 permanent staff members once completed. Like the newest Baha Mar project, Voir Beach will be located on Cable Beach. There’s absolutely no reason to doubt that both investments will come to fruition, which will help to catapult Nassau as one of the premier destinations in the Western Hemisphere, not just in the Caribbean. Now let’s look at the Grand Lucayan Resort. Davis those signed a head of agreement with the US based Concord Wilshire in May 2025. Since then, nothing has happened, other than staff members being sent home without pay in recent weeks. There really have been no official updates regarding the current situation involving staff members. At the GB Business Outlook conclave, Davis made the startling comment that the deal with Concord Wilshire could have been compromised due to mold infestation. Of the Sheraton, Lighthouse Point and Breaker’s Cay, I had heard some years ago from an

engineer that Breaker’s Cay had mold and will need to be demolished. I don’t know how credible this claim is, but Davis’ words seem to confirm this. The resort had suffered damage during Hurricane Matthew in 2016. And then got hit again in 2019 by Hurricane Dorian. The government said that the sale price is $120 million. If money has already changed hands, I have seen nothing in the two major dailies that either confirms or denies this.

For now, Grand Bahamians are being kept in the dark. When it comes to Nassau, Paradise Island, Exuma, Bimini and Abaco, the central government seems to have very little issue in bringing these massive heads of agreement to completion. When it comes to Grand Bahama, we can’t get this one hotel sold. There are always some setback or excuse. And this has been dragging on for years. Grand Bahamians have already seen what happened to the Royal Oasis Resort and Casino, which adds to our pessimism. Grand Bahamians have lost confidence that this deal will get done.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama February 17, 2026.

Former PSA head Sonny Miller sentenced to six years for $1.4m drug smuggling

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A FORMER senior police officer who once led the Police Staff Association was sentenced to six years in prison yesterday for smuggling $1.4m worth of cocaine and $34,000 worth of marijuana into Acklins in 2022.

Sonny Miller, 47, a former Assistant Superintendent of Police and the highest-ranking officer on the island at the time, was found guilty of eight drug-related charges before Deputy Chief Magistrate Shaka Serville.

On June 7, 2022, officers from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, working with the United States Coast Guard, seized 181lbs of cocaine and 31lbs of marijuana. Sergeant Leslie Wilson testified that he saw Miller removing packages

from a plane that had arrived from Venezuela and landed in Acklins.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Roberto Goodman and Sergeant Wilson later identified the drugs at the police warehouse. Fifteen packages contained marijuana and 72 contained cocaine, based on testing. Both officers identified their signatures on the packages before they were admitted into evidence.

Miller was charged alongside two Colombian nationals, Christhian Gaviria Aragon, 33, and Christhian Garcia Aristizabal. The Colombians pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in 2023 and were sentenced to 60 months in prison, reduced by 14 months in exchange for their testimony against Miller.

In 2024, Aragon alleged that Miller threatened him

with a gun after a US Coast Guard helicopter appeared during the operation. He testified that after landing in Acklins with a plane containing 400kg of cocaine and 15kg of marijuana, he handed over drugs to Miller and another officer who arrived in a marked police jeep. When the helicopter approached, Miller allegedly threw the drugs on the ground, cursed at him and waved a gun.

In imposing sentence, Magistrate Serville said Miller’s 29 years on the force were worthy of commendation but ruled that his position as the officer in charge of Acklins at the time was an aggravating factor. The court also acknowledged that Miller had no prior criminal record.

Family members wept and shouted outside the courthouse as Miller was

escorted to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. Prosecutor Shaneka Carey recommended a five-year sentence, noting that the maximum penalty was seven years. She said the arrests were made only after other officers arrived at the scene and urged the court to send a strong message of deterrence. She described it as aggravating that the drugs were brought in from Venezuela and said Miller used his position as a cover to commit the offence, including the use of a marked police vehicle. Despite his community involvement and lack of prior convictions, she said the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating ones.

Prosecutor Terry Archer said Miller should be treated like any other

Bahamian. While acknowledging concerns about prison conditions, he said Princess Margaret Hospital was equipped to handle chronic illnesses.

Defence attorney Bjorn Ferguson urged a two-year sentence, citing Miller’s diabetes and hypertension. He said his client had received insulin only twice while on remand, though four doses were recommended. He told the court that Miller appeared smaller since being remanded in January and had experienced ailments in custody.

Mr Ferguson called the prison “horrible” and said it was not fit for human habitation or rehabilitation. He cited recent comments by National Security Minister Wayne Munroe about overcrowding and said there was no running water at the facility. He argued that Miller had contributed to

youth programmes, including Junior Achievers and community basketball with the Cybots, and had helped raise $100,000 in scholarships.

Mr Ferguson said Miller had no disciplinary record during his 29 years on the force and had received medals and commendations. He acknowledged that being the officer in charge was an aggravating factor but argued the mitigating factors outweighed it.

Magistrate Serville said there was no rubric to operate from on the defence’s submission that time at the prison was harsher than elsewhere. He said arguments about the state of the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services could seek redress in a class action lawsuit.

Miller has seven days to appeal.

COURT UPHOLDS INJUNCTION AGAINST BAHAMASAIR UNION OVER MASS SICK-OUT

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THE Court of Appeal has upheld an injunction barring the Airport Airline and Allied Workers Union from taking industrial action against Bahamasair, ruling that a December 18 2024 mass sick-out justified the court’s intervention.

About 80 of 120 scheduled employees called in sick that day during an unresolved trade dispute. On an average day, roughly ten workers report sick. According to evidence before the court,

nearly all flight attendants and flight dispatchers rostered were absent. Most domestic and international flights were grounded. Only a handful operated. Passengers were stranded at Lynden Pindling International Airport and other terminals. Long lines formed as cancellations mounted. Many travellers complained they received little or no notice. Bahamasair treated the absences as coordinated industrial action and secured an ex parte interim injunction the same day, restraining the union, its officers and members from

participating in strike activity or any form of industrial action.

The order prohibits employees from refusing to report to work when scheduled, leaving during assigned hours, or encouraging others not to attend. It also requires union members employed by Bahamasair to report to duty and not to take sick leave without a valid medical certificate. The union appealed on three grounds. It argued the court lacked jurisdiction to bind individual members without naming them. It said there was insufficient evidence of a

strike. It also contended the trial judge failed to give adequate reasons for continuing the injunction.

A unanimous appellate panel rejected each argument.

On jurisdiction, the court held that section 83 of the Industrial Relations Act empowers the court to grant injunctions against a trade union and makes such orders enforceable against its officers and members. Individual members, it ruled, did not need to be named separately to be bound.

On the evidence, the court said the statutory test requires only

Man accused of underaged sex and child pornography

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused of having sexual intercourse with an underaged girl and recording child pornography of her in Abaco last month was granted bail yesterday.

Prosecutors allege Jeremiah Dean, 19, had sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl and produced a pornographic video of her in Hard Bargain, Moore’s Island, Abaco, on January 8. After electing to have his matter tried in the Magistrate’s Court, he pleaded

not guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse and production of child pornography before Magistrate Abigail Farrington.

He was granted $9,000 bail with one or two sureties.

He must sign in at the Marsh Harbour Police Station every Monday,

Wednesday and Friday by 6pm. He was warned not to interfere with any witnesses or risk having his bail revoked.

Dean returns for trial on May 5 in Abaco.

Assistant Superintendent of Police K Bould was the prosecutor.

61-YEAR-OLD CHARGED WITH INDECENT ASSAULT OF 12-YEAR-OLD

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused of indecently assaulting a 12-year-old girl in New Providence twice in the past three months was granted bail yesterday.

Prosecutors allege Franklin Deveaux, 61, inappropriately touched the underaged girl sometime between October 1, 2025 and October 31, 2025. He allegedly indecently assaulted the same child again on February 5.

Deveaux pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault before Magistrate Abigail Farrington.

He was granted $9,000 bail with one or two sureties.

He 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. Deveaux returns for trial on May 4. Assistant Superintendent of Police K Bould was the prosecutor.

NINE MONTH JAIL SENTENCE FOR POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused of endangering a life with a firearm last December was sentenced to nine months in prison on a separate drug charge yesterday.

Prosecutors allege Maitland “Game” Thompson, 43, endangered the life of Ian Farrington with a handgun on December 15, 2025, in New Providence. Thompson was found with a large quantity of marijuana on February 18. Although he pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of dangerous

drugs with intent to supply, he was not required to enter a plea to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life before Magistrate Lennox Coleby. He was informed that the firearm charge would proceed to the Supreme Court by way of a voluntary bill of indictment.

Thompson was sentenced to nine months in prison on the drug conviction. He returns to court for service of his VBI on May 29. Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie was the prosecutor.

“reasonable grounds for apprehending a contravention” of the Act, assessed on a balance of probabilities. It relied on affidavit evidence from Inell Collie confirming that 80 of 120 scheduled employees called in sick on December 18 2024, compared with the usual average of about ten per day, and that the absences occurred during an unresolved trade dispute. That evidence was sufficient, the court found, to establish reasonable grounds to believe industrial action had taken place or was being furthered. The appellate court also

rejected the claim that the trial judge failed to give reasons, finding that the judge had clearly stated there was jurisdiction and reasonable grounds to apprehend that the union had instigated or acted in furtherance of a strike. The appeal was dismissed. The injunction remains in force.

In a notable twist, the Court of Appeal ordered Bahamasair to pay the union’s costs of the appeal, certified for two counsel, noting the serious and far-reaching consequences of the case and the fact that both sides retained King’s Counsel.

PALESTINIANS gatherforiftar, thefast-breakingmeal,duringthe Muslim holymonth of Ramadanamid the rubbleof destroyed buildings in Gaza City, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.

Palestine

THOUGH it’s not currently making news headlines, thegenocide against the Palestinian peoplecontinues.

More than 75,000 Palestinian people havebeen murdered, andtens ofthousandsof Palestinian peopleare missing. A ceasefirewas announcedbythe US,buthas, predictably,not improvedthe reality on theground in Palestine. Israelcontinues to ration food,fuel, andmedical supplies, leading tothe health crises and deaths.

TheOrganizationofIslamic Cooperation (OIC), the Arab League, and 19countries including Egypt, Brazil, Norway,Spain, andPortugal havecondemned theactions ofIsraelto furtherannexthe West Bank. They noted that it’s a “flagrant violationof international law and calledon Israelto ceaseits actionsto alter the Palestinian territory. The statementsaid therecent actions “are partofa clear trajectorythat aimsto change thereality onthe ground and toadvance unacceptable de facto annexation.” It noted that “such actions are adeliberate anddirectattack on the viability of the Palestinian stateand theimplementation ofthe two-state solution.” The signatories clearly statedits oppositionto any form of annexation.

In view of the alarming escalation in the West Bank, we alsocallon Israeltoputan end tosettler violenceagainst Palestinians, including by

holdingthose responsibleaccountable,” the statement said.

GlobalSumudFlotilla

Anorganised movementto end the siege on Palestine, this groupis organisingitsSpring 2026 sailing to break the siege and deliver supplies to Palestine. It’s set to be the largestmission,thistime,with 100 boats and 3,000 participants committedto nonviolence. The crews will include doctors, nurses, teachers,and people ofvarious professions and skillsto establishsustained civilianpresence and support the Palestinian people.Thedelegationwillinclude people from 47 countries includingBangladesh, Canada, Chile, Germany, Jordan, Libya,Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Poland, Thailand, and the US.

Theblockadeis atoolof genocide, being usedto starve Palestinians, andto denyaccess to lifesaving supplies like medicines,fuels, andshelters, Canada BoatGaza said initsappealforsupportforthe mission. “Inthe faceof this genocide, wemust escalate our efforts tobreak the siege. Flotillas are a legacy for solidarity, they are a symbol of collective struggleand collective liberation. Despitethe illegal attacks on our efforts, we continue to come back.

still needs our help

FlotillaGoals

Thefive interlinkedtargets of theGlobal SumudFlotilla, as statedby theorganisers, are:

1. Breaking the siege: challenging Israel's illegal naval blockade of Gaza.

2. Deliveringlife-saving aid: transportingurgentlyneeded food,medicine, and essential supplies.

3. Supporting reconstruction: accompanying Palestinians through early rebuilding effortsof homes, schools, hospitals,and civil institutions.

4. Confrontingcomplicity: mobilising global civil society to challengethe governments and institutionsthat enableIsrael's illegal blockade, occupation, and mass atrocities.

5.Catalysingglobalpeoplepoweredaction: turningthe flotillaintoa catalystforcoordinated land andsea actions that amplifyPalestinian voices and mobilise people worldwide where institutions have failed.

“This moment in history re-

Robotaxis are coming to London. The city's famed black cab drivers are sceptical

By KELVIN CHAN AP Business Writer

LONDON (AP) The Ford MustangMach-E cruises down a Londonroad choked withtraffic, usingitsonboard AI systemto avoidjaywalkers and cyclists, and navigate roadworkasitdrivestoitsdestination.

The autonomousvehicle from Britishstartup Wayve Technologiesis ona testrun ahead of the U.K. government's robotaxitrials setto launch inthe spring.Tech companies includingU.S. company Waymo and China's Baidu alsoplan to takepart in the pilot program, making London thelatest arenain the global robotaxi competition. While self-drivingcabs aren t new,London s ancient

road layout and busy streetscapes couldpose specialchallenges for the technology.

There's also scepticism from London s famed black cab drivers,who mustpassa gruelling trainingcourse known as The Knowledge, which requiresmemorising hundreds of routesand takes yearsto complete.They've previously opposedtechnology that's disruptedtheir industry, and protested the arrival of Uber.

Self-driving taxis are “a solution lookingfor a problem,” said StevenMcNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, which represents black cabbies.

He doubtsthat robotaxis would have anyadvantage on London’sroad network,which

is laid outin a convoluted spiderweb thatdates backto Romantimes unlike the gridlayout inAmericancities like SanFrancisco and Phoenix where Waymo operates.

TheBritish capitalisnotorious for beingone of the world’smost congestedcities and itsstreets arealready clogged with other modes of transport, includingprivate cars,buses,motorscooters,bicycles andelectric rental bikes.

McNamara andmany others havenoted thatrobotaxis face another challenge from pedestrians crossing the streets.Whilejaywalkingisillegal in theUnited States and manyother countries,it s not an offense in Britain.

“It’svirtually impossibleto drive anywhere (in London) without somebodywalking in frontofyou,”McNamarasaid. InLondon, withapopulation of nearly 10 million, he wondered “howthese carsare going to dealwith those volumes of people?

The robotaxi companies say there'sroomfor thenewtechnology.

“I thinkLondoners are going tolove autonomous driving. It sgoing tobe another choice alongsidethe Tube, cycling, walking, said WayveCEOAlexKendallina recent interview at the company's workshop.

Wayve isteaming upwith Uber for the taxi trials, which are partof Britain smove to adopt nationalregulations for self-drivingvehicles. Thena-

quires collectiveparticipation, the organiserssaid. “Guided bythe Palestinians' steadfast struggle for liberation, our coalition of everyday people and movementsis mobilising communities worldwideto act.Together, werise againstapartheid, racism,imperialism, colonialism, ecocide,andall systemsofoppression.

In September 2025, the Global Sumud Flotilla ledIsrael to direct its military to pursueits vessels.Thisallows Palestinian peopleto access theirownwater tofishforthe firsttime inyears.This isone example of the small wins that arepossible andthatoccur, evenas thelarge,primary goals mayseem impossibleto achieve.

Tosupportthemission,visit chuffed.org and search for Global SumudFlotilla -The Second Mission” to make a donation.Thegoaliscurrently €1 million and thecampaign has raised €214,000.

To directlysupport

tionisseekingtopositionitself asaworldleaderinthetechnology.

Chinese techcompany

Baidu isalso teamingup with Uber,aswellasitsride-hailing rivalLyft,tooperateitsApollo Goautonomous vehicleservice in the London pilot.

Waymo, owned by Google parent Alphabet, will also take part andplans tolaunch a Londonpassenger serviceby the third quarter of 2026, companyrepresentatives toldreporters last month.

Waymo officials sought to ease concerns that the company would suddenly flood London streets with robotaxis, noting that it has operated 1,000 total vehicles in San Francisco since going into full service in 2024.

“We’re not hereto replace anyone, Waymo spokesman EthanTeicher said. We re here toadd anotheroption for peoplewhowillchoosetotake black cabs orother modes of transportation when it suits themand choosetotake Waymo, whenit makes sense.”

Waymo s self-driving Jaguar I-Pacesedans have been spotteddoing testruns aroundLondon. Wayve s Ford Mustang Mach-Evehicles havealsobeendoingroadtests withhumanbackupdriverssittingbehindthewheel,readyto intervene if needed.

Onarecent demoridefor The AssociatedPress, Wayve’sFordsteeredautomaticallythrough athree-mile (five kilometre)loop inNorth Londonwithout anyproblems.

Cruising down a straight and open stretchof road,the car maintained a steady pace of19miles(30kilometres)per hour, atick underthe speed limit.

A trafficlight changedas the car approached,forcing it

Palestinian people,donate eSIMs to help them to stay connected to oneanother and to theworld: connecting-humanity.org/donate

Recommendations

1. TheRunner Stumbles

The box office at The Dundas isnow openfor the2026 Ringplayseason. The Runner Stumbles opened last week and thelast opportunitiesto see it are February 26 to 28. Tickets are$37.50 at tickettailor.com/events/shakespeareinparadise, or they can be purchased at$35 atThe Dundas box office on Mackey Street..

2. All WeWantis Everything:HowtoDismantle Male Supremacy,by Soraya Chemaly. JoinFeminist Book Club, hosted byEquality Bahamas and Poinciana Paper Press, in reading All We Want is Everything thismonth. The publishersaid,“AllWeWantis Everything offers both unflinching analysis and genuine hope, informedby theBold andrevolutionary potentialof feminist imagination.From privaterelationships toglobal politics, Chemaly shows how naming and refusing male supremacyis essentialtoresisting the forcetearing democracy apart. This fresh, timely, clear-eyed, andnecessary manifestoisa calltorefuse supremacist identities,rela-

tionships, and valuesin order to build morejust, healthy, and sustainable worlds for everyone. The discussion will take place at Poinciana Paper Presson Wednesday, March 18at 6pm.To jointhe club andreceive emailupdates, go to tiny.cc/fbc2026 3. TheEarth Breathes Every Season.This exhibition atPoinciana PaperPressfeatureswork byTracyAssing, CandidaCash, LisaCodella, SoniaFarmer, ErinGreene, Monique Johnson,Carol Sorhaindo, andNatalie Willis Whylly. Itopened onSaturday, February 14and the work will remain on display for the next two weeks, open tothe publicThursdays throughSaturdays from11am to 3pm.

“In the latest exhibition at PoincianaPaper Press,seven artists contend with the tethers and portals foundin the landscape aroundthem, creating connections between eras, islands, and each other Whether floatingbetween worlds,excavating awound, orsittingwiththestillnessofa breaking headline,each artist stands in the gap of what is unsaidto midwifeitsexhale. Experimental poems, prints, andbooks channeltheseencounters, collapsingwisdom andwonder intopowerful play and embodied insight.”

tobrake firmlyandlightly jolting thepassengers forward theonly momentthat the driving was less than smooth.

Kendall said Wayve takes a different approachfrom traditional self-driving technology. It doesn’trely on “high definition mapsand hand-coded safety systems rules written by programmers anticipating every scenario. Instead,itusesanAItrained on millionsof hoursof data gatheredbyits carstolearn andunderstand howtheworld works. Thisisthe keythingfor self-driving, becauseevery timeyou driveon theroad, you regoing toexperience something different,” Kendall said. “You can’t relyon aselfdriving carbeing toldhow to behave in every scenario it encounters.”

He said Wayveis positioning itself asa technology company providing hardware and software that can be added to any vehicleto make it

autonomous. It signed a deal with Nissan in December to buildself-drivingcarsthatwill goon saleinJapan andNorth America by 2027. Kendallwouldn trevealany morespecific detailsaboutthe robotaxiservice itwilloperate in collaboration with Uber, such as pricing. Waymo, whichhas itsown app to hailrides, will have competitive prices and fares will be in line with the market, officials said lastmonth, while addingthat itisoften ableto demand morepremium pricing. Expertssaythere’sarolefor robotaxis inBritain, butit might be a niche one. They’rebest poisedtofill gaps in Britain’s public transport network, suchas serving villages that havelost bus services connecting themto bigger towns andcities because of budget cuts, said Kevin Vincent,director ofthe Centre forConnected and Autonomous Automotive Research at Coventry University.

Waymo's robotaxis being dispatched in major markets

Expansion cities include Dallas, Houston San Antonio in Texas and Orlando, Florida

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer

WAYMO willbegin dispatchingits robotaxisinfour morecities inTexasand Florida,expanding theterritorycovered byits fleetof self-drivingcars to10major U.S. metropolitan markets. Themove intoDallas, Houston,San Antonioand

Orlando, Florida,announced Tuesday, widens Waymo's earlylead inautonomous driving while rival services from Teslaand the Amazonowned Zooxare stilltesting theirvehiclesin onlyafew U.S. cities.

In contrast, Waymo's robotaxis alreadyprovide more than 400,000weekly tripsin the six metropolitan areas where theyhave beentransporting passengers: Phoenix, theSan FranciscoBayArea, Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, and Austin, Texas. Waymooperates itsridehailing service through its own appin allthe U.S.cities

except Atlanta and Austin, where its robotaxis can only be summoned through Uber's ride-hailing service.

Theexpansion intofour more markets marksa significant steptoward Waymo's goal to surpass1 million weekly paidtrips bythe end of2026. Withoutidentifying where its robotaxiswill be available next,Waymo istargetingalist ofeightother citiesthat includeLasVegas, Washington,Detroit andBostonwhile signallingitsfirst overseas availability is likely to be London. To help pay for more robotaxis, Waymorecently raised

$16 billionas part ofthe financial infusion thatputs the valueofthecompanyat$126 billion. Thevaluation fuelled speculation that Waymo may eventually be spunoff from its corporate parent Alphabet, where it began as a secret project within Google in 2009. Although Waymois openingup infourmore cities, itsrobotaxis initially will only bemade available toalimitednumberofpeople with itsride-hailing appin Dallas, Houston, San Antonioand Orlandobeforethe servicewillbeavailabletoall comers in those markets.

India joins US-led secure tech initiative

By RAJESH ROY Associated Press

NEWDELHI(AP)

India joined a U.S.-led initiative tostrengthen technology cooperation amongstrategic alliesin a moveFriday thatunderscores thenations' warmingties aftera briefstrain overNew Delhi’s unabated purchase of discounted Russian oil

The decision aligns India closely with Washington’s effortsto build securesupply chains for semiconductors, advancedmanufacturing and critical technologies ata time geopolitical competition with Chinais intensifying.It alsosignalsa resetin relationsfollowing friction over energy trade and tariffs.

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, first left, and other officials after signing an agreement inNew Delhi, India, Friday,Feb. 20, 2026.

Nations that have joined the PaxSilica frameworkinclude Japan, SouthKorea, theU.K. and Israel.

"Pax Silica will be a group of nations that believe technology should empower free people andfree markets. India’s entry intoPax Silica isn t just symbolic. Its strategic,its essential,” U.S. Am-

bassadorSergio Gorsaid ina speech precedingthe agreement signing. PaxSilica isaimedat strengthening cooperation amongpartner countrieson semiconductor design, fabrication, research and supply chain resilience. The initiative seeks to reducedependence on China-dominated manu-

Photo: Associated Press

facturing hubs while promoting trusted production networks across democracies and strategic allies.

Thedevelopmentattheartificialintelligence summit in New Delhi comesweeks after Indiaand theU.S. reachedan interim trade framework to reduce tariffs andgrant greater access toeach other s mar-

kets,easing tensionsthat hadthreatenedtoslowbilateral momentum.

President Donald Trump announcedearlier this monththat theU.S. would lower reciprocal import tariffson India from25% to18%and also removethe additional25% levyimposed earlierfor buyingRussian crude after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to stop it.

Indiahad rampedup Russian oil imports after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, drawing criticism fromwestern partners even as New Delhidefended thepurchases as necessaryto manage inflationand protect its consumers.

India’s entry into Pax Silica, combinedwith trade concessions, marks a strategicconvergence thatextends beyond commerce into long-termtechnology andsecurity cooperation,reinforcing India srole asakeyU.S. partner in the Indo-Pacific.

“Fromthetrade dealtoPax Silica todefence cooperation, thepotential forour twonations to work together is truly limitless, Gor said.

OpenAI safety representatives summoned to Canada after school shooting

By ROB GILLIES Associated Press

TORONTO (AP)

Representatives of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI have been summoned toOttawa after thecompany said lastweek thatitconsidered but didn'talert Canadian police about the activities of a person whomonthslatercommittedoneoftheworstschoolshootings in the country’s history.

Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon said Monday that heexpects the company’s topsafety representatives to explain its protocols and how it decides to forwardcases tolaw enforcementwhen hemeets withthem on Tuesday.

British Columbia Premier David Eby said it “looks like” OpenAI hadthe opportunity toprevent therecent mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia that killed eight people.

Reddit hit with $20 million UK data privacy fine over child safety failings

By Associated Press

LONDON (AP) Britain's dataprivacy watchdog slappedonlineforumRedditon Tuesdaywithafineworth nearly $20million for failures involvingchildren's personal information. The InformationCommissioner's Office saidit issued the penaltyworth 14.5 millionpounds ($19.5million) because the failures resulted inthe platform using children’s data “unlawfully."

Children under 13 hadtheir personal information collected and used in ways they could not understand, consent to orcontrol. Thatleft thempotentially exposedto content they shouldnot have seen," saidInformation Commissioner John Edwards. “This is unacceptable andhas resulted in today s fine.

TheU.K. privacyregulator hasbeen escalatingscrutiny of online platforms over child safety. Earlier this month it hit MediaLab, owner of image-sharing site Imgur, with a 247,590 pound fine over similar failures and it has also been investigating TikTok since last year.

Spiro secures $50 million from Afreximbank, others for Africa battery-swapping network

By ALLAN OLINGO Associated Press

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) Financing for electric vehicle transport is rampingup in Africa as confidencerises in the potential for battery swapping, fast charging and other technologies. Spiro, Africa’s largest electric mobilityoperator, has secured $50million in debtfinancing fromAfrican Export-Import Bank, orAfreximbank, U.S.-based climate fintechplatformNithioandthe AfricaGoGreenFundto expand its battery-swapping network.

The announcement came days after Arc Ride, another emobilityfirm, receiveda $5million equitycommitment from theInternational FinanceCorp., orIFC, signaling growinginstitutionalconfidenceinAfrica’scleantransport sector. Gogo Electric, a Ugandan e-bike startup also raised $1 millionlast weekfrom ElectriFi,the EuropeanUnionfundedelectrification financingfunded bythe EDFImanagement firm.

Hegseth and Anthropic CEO set to meet as debate intensifies over military's use of AI By DAVID KLEPPER, MATT O'BRIEN and KONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) Defense Secretary Pete Hegsethplans tomeetTuesday withtheCEO ofAnthropic, withthe artificialintelligence companythe onlyone ofits peerstonotsupplyitstechnologytoanewU.S.militaryinternal network Anthropic,maker ofthe chatbotClaude, declinedto comment on the meeting but CEO Dario Amodei has made clearhisethicalconcernsaboutuncheckedgovernmentuse of AI, includingthe dangers of fullyautonomous armed drones andof AI-assistedmass surveillancethat could track dissent.

The meetingbetween Hegseth and Amodeiwas confirmedbya defenseofficialwhowas notauthorizedto comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Police finding suspects based on online searches as courts weigh privacy concerns

By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa.(AP)

Criminal investigators hopingto developsuspectsin difficult cases have been asking Googleto revealwho searched for specific information online,seeking reverse keyword warrantsthat critics warn threaten the privacy of innocent people. Unlike traditionalsearch warrants that targeta known suspector location,keyword warrants work backward by identifying internet addresses where searches were made in acertainwindow oftimefor particularterms, suchasa street address wherea crime occurredoraphraselike pipe bomb.” Police have used the method toinvestigate aseries of bombings in Texas, the assassination of a Brazilian politician and afatal arson in Colorado.

It’snot awildguess byinvestigatorsto concludethat people areusing Google searchesin allmannerof crimes, as the company's search engine hasbecome the maingateway totheinternet and users' daily lives increas-

Privacy advocates see it as giving police unfettered access to thethoughts,feelings, concerns and secrets of countless people,” according toan amicus brief filedin the Pennsylvaniaappeal bythe American CivilLiberties Union, the Internet Archive andseveral libraryorganisations.

In responseto writtenquestions aboutthe warrants, Google provided an emailed statement: “Our processesfor handling lawenforcement requests are designed to protect users’ privacy while meeting our legal obligations.We review all legal demands for legal validity,and wepush back against thosethat are overbroad orimproper, including objecting tosomeentirely.”

A break in the case Pennsylvania StatePolice were stymied in their investigation into the violentrape of a woman in 2016 on a remote cul-de-sac outside Milton, a small community in the centre of the state.With no clear leads,police obtainedawarrant directing Google to disclose accounts that searched

ingly leave onlinetraces. The potentialvalue toinvestigatorsofthe dataGooglecollects is obviousin cases with nosuspect, suchas thesearch for Nancy Guthrie skidnapper. The legal tension between theneed tosolvecrimes quickly and the U.S. Constitution's Fourth Amendment protections against overlybroad searches was at the heart of a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Courtdecision thatupheldthe use ofa reversekeyword warrant in a rape investigation.

for the victim s nameoraddress over the week when she was attacked. More than a year later, Googlereported twosearches forthe woman s address were madeafew hoursbeforethe assaultfroma specificIPaddress, a numericdesignation that listswhere aphone or computer liveson theinternet. Thatled themto thehome ofastate prisonguardnamed John Edward Kurtz. Police thenconducted surveillance and collected a ci-

garette butt he discarded that matched DNA recovered from the victim, accordingto court records. Heconfessed tothe rape andattacks involving four other womenover a fiveyear period, and was convicted in 2020. Now 51, he's been sentenced to 59 to 280 years.

Kurtz'sattorneysarguedpolice lacked probable causeto obtaintheinformationandimpinged on his privacy rights.

ThestateSupremeCourtrejectedthose claimslatelast yearbut spliton thereasons why. Three justices said Kurtz should not haveexpected his Google searches tobe private, while three more said police had probable cause to look for anyone who searched the victim's address beforethe attack. But a dissentingjustice saidprobable causerequires more thanjust a “bald hunch” andguessingthataperpetrator would have used Google.

Kurtz lawyerDouglas Taglierimade thesamepoint in a court filing, but conceded, It was a good guess.

Julia Skinner,a prosecutor inthe case,saidreverse keywordsearches aremuch moreeffective whenthereare specific and even unusual terms that can narrow results, such asa distinctivename or an address.They arealso particularly effective when crimes appearto havebeen

What is ALS, the disease that killed actor Eric Dane?

By LAURA UNGAR AP Medical Writer

Eric Dane, knownfor his roles on Grey s Anatomy and “Euphoria,” died this week from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at age 53.

Thefatal nervoussystem disease, also known as Lou Gehrig sdisease, killedDane less thana yearafter heannounced his diagnosis.

Accordingto theCenters forDisease ControlandPrevention, ALS is rare. In 2022, there were nearly 33,000 estimated cases, say researchers, who project that cases will rise to more than 36,000 by 2030. The diseaseis slightly morecommon inmen thanin womenand tendsto strikein midlife, between theages of 40 and 60. Here s what to know. What is ALS?

Itaffects nervecells inthe brain and spinal cord, causing loss ofmuscle controland getting worse over time.

ALScauses nervecellsin theupper andlower partsof the bodyto stopworking and die. Nerves nolonger trigger specific muscles,eventually leadingto paralysis.People with ALS may develop problems with mobility, speaking, swallowing and breathing.

The exactcause ofthe disease is unknown, and Mayo Clinic experts saida small number of cases are inherited. It’s called Lou Gehrig’s disease after the Hall of Fame New YorkYankees player. Gehrig wasdiagnosed with ALSin 1939on his36th birthday, died in1941 and was the face of ALS for dec-

ERIC Daneand RebeccaGayheartarriveat the59thPrimetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium, Sept. 16, 2007, in Los Angeles.

ades.

Whatare somesignsof ALS?

Experts say the first symptomsareoftensubtle.Thedisease maybegin withmuscle twitching and weaknessin an arm or leg.

Overtime, musclesstop acting and reacting correctly, said expertsat Universityof California SanFrancisco Health. Peoplemay lose strengthand coordinationin their arms andlegs; feet and anklesmay becomeweak; and muscles inthe arms, shoulders and tongue may crampor twitch.Swallowing and speaking may become difficult andfatigue mayset in.

Theability tothink,see, hear, smell, tasteand touch are usuallynot affected, UCSF experts said. Eventually, musclesused forbreathing maybecome paralysed. Patientsmay be

AP Photo: Kevork Djansezian

unable to swallowand inhale foodor saliva.Mostpeople with ALSdie ofrespiratory failure. Howis ALSdiagnosed and treated?

The disease isdifficult to diagnosebecause there’s no test or procedure to confirm it.Generally,doctorswillperform aphysical exam,lab tests and imagingof the brain and spinal cord.

A doctor may interpret certain things as signsof ALS, including anunusual flexing of thetoes, diminishedfine motor coordination,painful muscle cramps, twitching and spasticity, a type of stiffness causing jerky movements. There s no known cure for ALS,butthedrugriluzolehas beenapproved fortreatment. According to the Mayo Clinic,it mayextendsurvival intheearly stagesofthedisease or extend the time until a breathing tube is needed.

planned out beforehand, she said.

I don t thinkthey re used super frequently, because what youneed totarget hasto be so specific, she said. There were 57searches returnedin theKurtz case,but many of them were first responders trying to locate the home in the immediate aftermathof thecrime,Skinner said.

Acting in good faith

Inthe similarcase inColorado, police sought the IP addresses of anyone who searched over a15-day period forthe addressof ahome where a deadlyarson occurred. Authorities got IPaddresses for 61searches made by eightaccounts, ultimately helpingidentify threeteenage suspects.

The ColoradoSupreme Courtruledin 2023thatalthough the keyword warrant was constitutionally defective for not specifyingan “individualised probable cause,” theevidencecouldbeusedbecause police had acted in good faith about whatwas known about the law at the time.

“If dystopianproblems emerge, as somefear, the courts stand ready to hear argument regardinghow we shouldrein inlawenforcement’s use of rapidly advancing technology, the majority

Colorado justices ruled. Courts havelong permitted investigators to seek things like bank records or phone logs. However, civil liberties groups say extending those powersto onlinekeywords turns every searchuser into a suspect.

It’sunclear howmany keyword warrants are issued every year Google does not break down thetotal number ofwarrantsitreceivesbytype, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Pennsylvania Associationof CriminalDefense Lawyersin a January 2024 brief.

The two groups said police workingon thebombingsin Austin, Texas, sought anyone who searchedfor termssuch as “low explosives” and “pipe bomb. And in Brazil, investigatorstrying tosolvethe 2018 assassinationin Riode Janeiroof thepoliticianMarielle Franco asked for those who searched forFranco s name and the street where she lived.A Brazilianhighcourt is expectedto decidesoon on the legality of those search disclosures.

Reverse keyword warrants are distinct from “geofence” warrants, where criminal investigators seekinformation about who was in a given area at a particular time. The U.S. SupremeCourt saidlast month it will rule on that

method's constitutionality.

An indexof deeplypersonal matters

For many people, their Google search history contains some oftheir most personal thoughts, from health issuesand politicalbeliefsto financial decisionsand spending patterns. Google is introducing more artificial intelligence into itssearchengine, seemingly a way to learn even more about users. What couldbe moreembarrassing, asked University of Pennsylvania law professor and civil rights lawyer David Rudovsky,if everyGoogle search was now out there, gone viral?

Google warnsusers personal information can be shared outside the company when it hasa good-faith beliefthat disclosureof theinformation is reasonably necessary” torespond toapplicable laws,regulations, legal processes or an enforceable government request.

Inthe Kurtzcase, Pennsylvania JusticeDavid Wecht drewa distinction between Kurtzdeciding to search forthe victim s name on Googleand a2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that limitedtheuse ofbroadcollections ofcell phone location data.

“Auser whowants tokeep suchmaterial privatehasoptions,” Wecht wrote. “That user does not have to click on Google.

Ravioli with red beets a colourful dish of Olympic host Cortina

By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO,

Italy (AP) Every corner of Italy has its own culinary traditions, fromcarbonara inRome to tortelliniin Bologna. Winter Olympics co-host Cortina d’Ampezzo'ssignature dishis the colourful,stuffed pasta knownascasunziei.

The ravioli-type dish, also knownas casunzieiall’Ampezzana, consists of homemade half-moon shapedpasta filled withboiledbeets,toppedwitha sauce of melted butter, Parmesan cheese and poppy seeds.

It’s asimple dishthat harks back tothe Alpineregion's poorer past long before Cortina transformed into a winter playgroundfortheinternational jet set.Even in thecoldest days of winter, localfamilies had the ingredientsin theircupboards. Casunziei (pronouncedcahSOON-zi-eh)can alsohave otherfillingsreplacingbeets.

“It’s a typical local dish. My favourite casunzieiare theones cooked bymy grandmother thespinach ones, Stefania Constantini, a defending Olympiccurling championin mixed doubles anda Cortina native,told TheAssociated Press.

Casunziei islinked to Cortina'sLadin culture that stretches backa millennium. Andtheycanstillbesampledat manyCortinaestablishments bothinhigh-endrestaurantsand morelocal,rusticspots.

Gianluca Belli, a chef at the Michelin-starred Ristorante Tivoli, showedthe APhow to make casunziei while Luca Noale, managerof restaurant The Roof, translated and explainedthesteps.

Ingredients (for 2 people, or about 22 pieces): 1. 1cups (200 grams) of flour 2. 2 eggs 3. about ¾ pound (400 grams) of beets 4. Salt and pepper

Cooking steps

1. Start by making the pasta one day before serving. Dump flour ontoworking surface andform awell in themiddle with your fingers. Crack eggs into the centre of the well. Use a fork toslowly incorporatethe egginto theflour. Whenit iscompletelymixedin,startto kneadthemixturewithyourhands until it becomes smooth. Store in the refrigerator overnight.

2. The next day, peel andboil the beets until tender (about two hours) thenplace in a food processorand puree. Transfer to a bowl and add salt and pepper to taste.

3.Divide thepasta mixtureintofour piecesand flattenwith arolling pin.Thenrunthrough apastamakeron thethinnest setting until it becomes almost transparent.

4.Usingawaterglassfortheoutline,cutcirclesofpastaand use apastry bag ora tablespoon to addthe beet pureeinto the centre ofeach circle. Fold thepasta over the fillingto form half-moon shapes and press the edges together with a fork.

5. Bring a pot of salted water to boil and add the filled pasta to thepot. When the pastarises to the water ssurface (after about one minute), remove and drain.

6. Melt the butter in a pan until it browns.

7.GrateParmesanontoplate,addthecasunzieiontopofthe cheese and top with the browned butter. Add poppy seeds and serve immediately.

World famous Italian butcher and chef takes his culinary artistry to Carna at Baha Mar

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

WORLD renowned Ital

ian butcher and chef Dario Cecchini brought his sig nature culinary artistry to Baha Mar yesterday for an exclusive dining experience at Carna.

From 7pm to 10pm, Mr Cecchini welcomed guests to Carna’s outdoor terrace

at SLS Baha Mar for a curated tasting dinner pre sented in collaboration with Westholme. Tickets for the event were priced at $300 per person. The evening featured a specially crafted menu developed alongside Carna’s culinary team, highlighting Westholme’s nature led Austral ian Wagyu. The dinner showcased Cecchini’s

philosophy that butchery is not merely preparation, but performance — an art form rooted in tradition, respect and ritual. Guests experienced a mul ti course tasting designed to celebrate premium cuts while exploring the craftsmanship behind each selection.

“The Bahamas is a place that understands hospitality, celebration,

and the joy of gath ering around a table, a spirit shared with Carna, which makes it the perfect setting for this collaboration,” said Dario Cecchini.

“Carna has established itself as a true culinary destination within Baha Mar, and bringing West holme’s exceptional Wagyu here allows us to share not just an

extraordinary product, but the art and ritual behind it. For me, butch ery is about respect for the animal and trans forming each cut into something with meaning. What makes this dinner unique is the energy of the Bahamian audience and the beauty of this setting; it becomes more than a meal, it becomes an experience we create together.” Carna,

to pre mium Australian Wagyu raised with a focus on sustain ability and natural farming practices.

Student poet challenges ‘loss of Bahamian identity’ in new collection

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

A 21 YEAR OLD Baha mian student is challenging the nation to reflect on who it is and who it is becom ing through his upcoming poetry collection, which he says confronts the loss of Bahamian identity.

“I believe Bahamian iden tity is

being lost, not just cul turally, but personally, we're losing ourselves. If it's not politics, or if it's not anything else that just entertainment purpose, we're losing ourselves,”

John Poitier Jr, said, adding the country is losing the very elements that make it authentic.

Mr Poitier, a native of Grand Bahama, is currently studying pre med at Virginia State University. He is preparing to release his fourth book in April titled The Gospel of an Un Bahamian God. His passion for writing began at a young age, influ enced by his aunt, who was a librarian, and his sister, who helped him learn to read.

Speaking to The Tribune, Mr Poitier said that growing up in the Christian church inspired him to create a book that speaks to the country’s resilience and the importance of maintain ing faith while overcoming hardship. He said he wants readers to understand the importance of viewing God and life through a lens not of prejudice, but of love.

The book explores a range of themes connected to The Bahamas’ journey towards shaping its own identity. It addresses faith, black crab syndrome, grief and colonialism, all of which have influenced the nation. Some poems also examine the trauma of racism passed down from previous generations into the present day.

He cited his poem ‘Someday, They Would Have Already Loved Us.’ “Someday, they would have already loved us.

Already adored us, while refusing to adorn us. Always would have opened doors, they locked With iron shackles, golden plaques, hide the place. Where we once bled. Oh, how we bled. Someday, the thorns they gave us, Would have always been blood red Poinseittas,” a segment of the poem read.

Mr Poitier said he was inspired by the challenges the black race has endured, including slavery. He noted that many people say the inhumane treatment of black people should never have happened, but ques tioned why it occurred if that is truly the case.

During the writing process, he said he also revisited his own grief. He reflected on the loss of his grandmother and the dif ficulty of not questioning God’s will, even in moments of deep pain.

“I feel like it's something that will truly resonate with people, because we always say God is good all the time, and indeed he is,” John said. “However, we don't talk about athe moments where we still have to express our faith while also feeling those human emotions.”

Mr Poitier said he hopes the book will serve as a beacon of hope. He espe cially hopes Bahamian

MORE than 100 people took part in the Bahamas Red Cross Society (BRCS) Grand Bahama Centre’s “Hearts in Motion” Fun Run Walk, held on Saturday, Feb ruary 21.

Beginning at the Centre on Jobson Avenue, runners and walkers followed the established route along Pio neer’s Way, The Mall Drive, and the airport roundabout, before returning to the starting point. Registered participants received com memorative shirts, and the event offered an opportunity for residents to show visible

support for the humanitarian work conducted daily by the Red Cross on the island.

The Fun Run Walk also reflected the Centre’s strengthened direction under its new leadership team, which is focused on deepen ing community engagement, broadening outreach, and modernising service delivery.

Leadership expressed grat itude for the strong turnout and reaffirmed a commit ment to building meaningful partnerships that enhance the organization’s impact.

“We are extremely encouraged by the response

to this year’s event,” said Kimberley Outten, Adminis trator, BRCS Grand Bahama Centre. “This Fun Run Walk symbolises our renewed momentum. We are build ing on a proud legacy while moving forward with clearer strategy, stronger collabora tion, and a fresh approach to service.”

For decades, the BRCS Grand Bahama Centre has played a vital role in emer gency response, community aid, and disaster relief. Today’s leadership is focused on strengthening that foun dation through increased

volunteer engagement, enhanced operational readi ness, and wider collaboration with civic groups, local agen cies, and corporate partners.

“Grand Bahama has always supported the Red Cross, and our team is committed to honoring that trust,” Outten added.

“We are strengthening our programs, improving our readiness, and working to ensure our Centre remains a reliable resource for every community on the island.”

The BRCS Grand Bahama Centre extends sincere appreciation to all participants, volunteers, and partners whose con tributions made the event possible. Their support helps sustain essential community services, including food assis tance, emergency response, first-aid training, youth programming, and aid for vulnerable households.

“Our focus now is on continuity,” Outten noted. “This event marks just the beginning of several initia tives we are preparing. We look forward to engaging the public further in the months ahead.”

About the Bahamas Red Cross Society: The Bahamas Red Cross Society is

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