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Volume: 123 No. 72, Friday, March 6, 2026

HAYWARD: I’M NOT

A PAPER BAHAMIAN

GBPA co-chairman defends his Bahamian identity as Davis says he did not question it

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Digital Editor aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

THE dispute between the government and the Grand Bahama Port Authority has taken a more personal turn, with GBPA Co-Chairman Rupert Hayward defending his family’s Bahamian identity in an open letter to Prime Minister Philip Davis. In a pointed written response, Mr Davis said

he has not questioned Mr Hayward’s nationality and accused the Port of seeking to place a private company above the elected government.

Mr Hayward said he was motivated to issue the letter over the characterisation of his family in the wake of a partial arbitration award in the long-running dispute over administrative fees tied to the Hawksbill Creek

GBPA - SEE PAGE FIVE

‘He was a blessing’: Mom grieves over five-year-old drowned son

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

NEARLY two months after her five-year-old son drowned in Abaco, Laurel Dean said grief still ambushes her without warning. Some days are manageable. Others are not. Maximus Rolle, who was autistic, was reported missing shortly after 1pm on January 12. He was later found in seawater along the back road in Murphy Town. Officers, assisted by a concerned citizen, pulled him

TRUMP TEASES CUBA ‘DEAL’ AS IRAN TAKES PRIORITY

Associated Press

PRESIDENT Donald Trump suggested on Thursday that a deal with Cuba may be imminent, though his efforts are on Iran in the meantime. Speaking in the White House East Room during an event celebrating the

Major League Soccer champion Inter Miami team, he told co-owner Jorge Mas, whose family is from Cuba: “You’re gonna go back" and added, “That’s going to be a great day, right?” Without providing details, Trump said, “We’re going to

GRIEF - SEE PAGE THREE CUBA - SEE PAGE FOUR

‘This life is not ours’:

Grieving mom leans on faith to one day reunite with her son

and far have overwhelmed her.

The last time she saw her son was just before she left for work that morning.

The mother of three said she told her 16-year-old daughter to keep an eye on Maximus because he would often try to run behind her when she left the house. She slipped out quietly. Around 11am, as she usually did, she called home. During the call, her daughter showed Maximus lying in bed.

“Then I say, ‘hi baby, you okay?’. He looked at me and I looked at him and I said, “okay,” and that was the last time,” she said.

Hours later, she received the news no parent expects.

Ms Dean said she never imagined losing her only son so young. She called him her “Baby Hulk” because of his strength.

Family members described Maximus as mischievous and bubbly. He often communicated more through actions than words. He loved building blocks. He had a cheeky sense of humour and would laugh when told not to do something, his mother said. Yet he was also tender and quick to show affection.

“The five years with him was fully a blessing,” she said. “It teach me patience because patience is something I don’t really have and with him, it kind of calmed me down a bit.”

His absence still feels unreal.

Ms Dean said his belongings and toys remain where he left them. The morning after his death, she laid out his clothes on the bed as if preparing him for school.

She and the children’s father sometimes catch themselves reaching for him.

“Sometimes I even end up to go calling his dad to say ‘I call to talk to him’ because either he with me or his daddy say the same thing, saying couple times he catch himself to ask to speak to him,” she said.

Ms Dean said she speaks with her two daughters every day and urges them not to blame themselves. They continue to attend

“The five years with him was fully a blessing,” she said. “It teach me patience because patience is something I don’t really have and with him, it kind of calmed me down a bit.”

school and take part in their usual activities.

“I try to encourage them that it’s going to be okay and God allows things to happen for a reason,” she said. “Nothing before its time. It just was his time. I try to speak positive to them.”

She said she knows some people may judge her but does not feel she owes anyone an explanation.

“Anybody who knows me know the type of parent I am towards my children,” she said. “I try to

make the best. I try give them the best. I try and let them live better than I was because growing up, it was hard on my end so I try to make it easier for them.”

All three of her children were well travelled, she said, but Maximus had travelled the most. The family had planned a summer

cruise to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Those plans are now on hold.

The loss has reshaped her faith.

“It made me want to go to heaven to see him,” she said.

She offered a message to other parents enduring similar pain.

“This life is not ours.,” she said.

Over 600 Albany employees to share in $2m golf course lot sale

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Staff Reporter

“This is borrowed time that we are on.”

She said she is trying to live in a way that would allow her to see her son again.

“That’s what I’m doing. I’m going to try to do my best. I can’t promise you it’s going to be easy, because no road is easy,” she said.

Bahamas nears deal on Cuban medics

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

NEGOTIATIONS between

The Bahamas and the United States over Cuban healthcare workers are in their final phase, Health Minister Dr Michael Darville said, as the government moves to secure more medical staff for the public system.

Dr Darville spoke to reporters during a visit to Abaco, where he was asked about talks involving Cuban medical personnel working in The Bahamas.

“The final stages of these contractual agreements will come to an end very shortly,” Dr Darville said.

He said the discussions involve officials from both governments and that the timeline is not entirely within his control.

“You must understand that

we are in negotiations with the United States government, and I am not in complete control of the timeframe for the negotiations, but everything is in place,” Dr Darville said. According to the minister, contracts have already been drafted and are awaiting final agreement.

Once the negotiations conclude, the government will shift to direct contractual arrangements with Cuban healthcare workers already in the country.

“It will be our responsibility to take care of them, as indicated by the United States government,” he said.

The talks come amid scrutiny from Washington over Cuba’s overseas medical missions, which the United States has criticised as labour exploitation.

Dr Darville said the United States has also pointed The

Bahamas to a recruitment agency that could help source Cuban and other foreign healthcare workers.

“A very interesting thing came out of this whole ordeal. The United States government has directed us to a recruitment agency, I believe they are based in Montreal, where we can reach out to Cuban and other foreign workers to help us to build our workforce,” Dr Darville said. He said the ministry has begun communicating with the agency and is receiving responses as it seeks to recruit additional medical specialists.

“We are beginning to get some positive response. Hopefully we will be able to recruit from them and recruit some specialists and sub specialists, which is badly needed at Princess Margaret Hospital,” he said.

PRESIDENT SAYS RUBIO READY TO ACT ON CUBA ONCE IRAN CONFLICT IS ‘FINISHED’

celebrate that separately. I just want to wait a couple of weeks. I want him to wait a couple of weeks. But we’ll be together again soon, I suspect, celebrating what’s going on in Cuba.”

He added of the island’s government, “They want to make a deal so badly. You have no idea.”

Then, referring to Marco Rubio, the president said the secretary of state wants to work on Cuba but is cautious to do so during the conflict with Iran.

“You’re next one’s going to be — we want to do that special – Cuba,” Trump said. “He’s waiting. But he says, “Let’s get this one finished first.’ We could do them all at the same time. But bad things happen. If you watch countries over the years, you do them all too fast, bad things happen.”

Trump didn’t clarify his meaning, but the comments followed his from last week, when he raised that the prospect of a “friendly takeover” of Cuba might be possible without elaborating.

The comments came as swaths of Cuba remained without power following a huge blackout on Wednesday that impacted the western part of the island.

Davis: ‘Freeport is not the estate of any family’

Agreement.

While the tribunal rejected the government’s $357m claim for administrative costs between 2018 and 2022, Mr Davis told the House of Assembly the ruling marked a turning point in the relationship between the government and the Port Authority.

He argued that the old governance structure in Freeport concentrated too much power in private hands.

“I cannot live with an arrangement in which two families decide the fate of tens of thousands of Bahamians in Freeport,” he told Parliament on Wednesday, adding that “Freeport is not the private estate of any family.”

In his letter, Mr Hayward said his daughter “burst into tears” when she understood how their family had been characterised.

“She simply could not understand how someone who is meant to represent all Bahamians — not only those of a particular political persuasion — could say such things about a Bahamian family that has devoted so much of its life to this country and to the people of Grand Bahama,” he said.

He said his father was born in The Bahamas before independence and became a citizen when the country gained independence in 1973.

He wrote: “There are many documents circulating in this moment. Legal documents, agreements, and interpretations of history. But for me, there are only two that truly matter right now.”

“The first is my father’s birth certificate. His first breath was taken as a Bahamian. The second is my own birth certificate, issued at Princess Margaret Hospital, where my twin brother and I were born into this country we proudly call home.”

“I am not a ‘paper Bahamian.’ I am not a recently reached Bahamian. I am a multigenerational Bahamian,” he said.

He continued: “My siblings are Bahamian. My children are Bahamian. My family’s life, history, and future are woven deeply into the fabric of this country.”

Mr Hayward acknowledged that disagreements between the government and the Port Authority

“I am not a ‘paper Bahamian.’ I am not a recently reached Bahamian. I am a multigenerational Bahamian.”

- Rupert Hayward

were natural in a democracy but said both sides ultimately share the same goal.

“You and I may not always agree on the precise path forward for the economic development of our country or of Grand Bahama,” he wrote.

“But I believe strongly that we both ultimately want the same thing: what is best for the Bahamian people.”

He said cooperation between the government and the GBPA was essential for the future of Grand Bahama.

“The Grand Bahama Port Authority is not going anywhere, and the government of The Bahamas is not going anywhere,” he wrote.

“The reality is that we must work together for the betterment of the people of Freeport and Grand Bahama.”

He also cautioned against political rhetoric as another election approaches.

“And while there may be a temptation, particularly in moments when elections approach, to lean into populist rhetoric, we must remember that the Office of Prime Minister represents all Bahamians — not only those of a particular

political persuasion,” he wrote.

“I remain, first and foremost, a proud Bahamian, committed to the future of Grand Bahama and to the people who call it home.”

In his response, Mr Davis said it was regrettable that questions around Mr Hayward’s nationality had arisen.

“I have not questioned your nationality,” he wrote. “You are Bahamian. Your father was Bahamian. Your children are Bahamian. That is not the issue reflected in ‘the many documents circulating in this moment.’”

He said the dispute was not personal and that he had preferred collaboration.

“For more than two years, I pursued the path of negotiation until the GBPA made a series of decisions which left the Government with no serious choice other than to seek a legal determination.”

He said the issue was the position taken by the Port Authority, in which Mr Hayward’s family is a major shareholder, about its standing in Freeport and its relationship to the Government and people of The Bahamas.

Through public

statements and in the arbitration, he said, the Port advanced a view of itself that no responsible government can accept. He said it claimed a degree of control in Freeport that would place a private company above the elected Government. He said it resisted the position that substantial sums are owed to the public purse and argued that concessions under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement allow it to limit the reach of Bahamian law in areas such as licensing, immigration, customs, utilities, foreign land purchases and environmental regulation.

“The people of Grand Bahama cannot be asked to live in a city where a private authority claims a higher footing than their own Government.”

- Philip ‘Brave’ Davis

Port entered the tribunal seeking sweeping powers and a very large award but emerged with a much narrower outcome and a clear recognition that Freeport remains subject to Bahamian law and to the authority of Parliament.

“Freeport is a Baharnian city. It sits within a Bahamian island. Its residents are Bahamian citizens.”

“In short, it demanded control and it demanded compensation of 1 billion dollars.”

“My government could not accept that. The people of Grand Bahama cannot be asked to live in a city where a private authority claims a higher footing than their own Government.”

He said the arbitration confirmed that the Port Authority carries an ongoing duty to make payments to the Government up to 2054. He said it confirmed that the Government retains authority in Freeport in the core areas where the Port sought to erect a special shield. He said the

He said that for decades, Freeport has operated under a model in which two families, through the Port, have exercised extraordinary influence over the city’s fate. Whatever the logic at the beginning, he said, that model is no longer delivering for many who live there.

“My responsibility is to every family in Grand Bahama and to every taxpayer across the Commonwealth. When private claims collide with the interests of those citizens, I am required to choose the public interest. That is what I have done and will

continue to do.”

He said that under his administration, the Port Authority will remain in Freeport under a new status quo and under clear rules, starting from a simple order of authority in which sovereignty rests with the Bahamian people and the Government they elect. Sir Jack Hayward was a UK-based industrialist and philanthropist who held a controlling interest in the Port Authority for decades and was widely credited with playing a central role in Freeport’s expansion during the latter half of the 20th century. Following Sir Jack’s death in 2015, ownership and control of the Port Authority passed to his heirs. Today, the company is jointly owned by the Hayward and St George families, whose members serve as co-chairmen.

Rupert Hayward is the son of Sir Jack Hayward and currently serves as co-chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority with Sarah St George, daughter of the late Edward St. George, whose visionary policies is credited with establishing a solid foundation for Freeport’s economic growth and development during his years as Chairman of the GBPA.

Barnett-Ellis: Killarney residents call for return of police station

RESIDENTS in the Kil-

larney constituency are calling for the return of a police station in the area, according to Free National Movement candidate Senator Michaela Barnett-Ellis, who says security concerns have emerged as one of the most common issues raised during her campaign.

Mrs Barnett-Ellis, who recently opened her campaign office in Killarney, told reporters that constituents have been vocal about the need for a stronger police presence on the western end of New Providence.

She spoke on the sidelines of the Energy Reform Stakeholder Forum at SLS Baha Mar yesterday.

“With the recent robbery down by Island Brothers, there have been a lot of concerns about security and whether we need another police station in Killarney,” she said.

“Island Brothers is actually where the other police station used to be, way back in the day, and people are

saying one of the major concerns right now is that we want another police station in the Killarney constituency on the west.”

She said the new campaign office is intended to give residents easier access to raise issues affecting their neighbourhoods.

“I think they will get, first of all, primarily access to me, so they can come and raise their concerns,” she said.

“Even before we opened, persons have been coming in to confirm they’re on the register, confirm they’re in Killarney and not St James, and raising issues that they have in the neighbourhood — whether it is lighting, flooding, signs on the ground, security.”

Mrs Barnett-Ellis also pointed to infrastructure concerns, including longstanding problems with street lighting in some communities.

“In Killarney we have streets that have had street lights out for over ten years, and since becoming a

candidate we’ve been trying to navigate that to remedy it,” she said.

“One of the challenges is figuring out exactly who is responsible. We spoke to BPL, BPL told us to speak to Bahamas Grid, and I actually had to personally go there to drop off a letter saying I need help because residents have concerns and we need to fix it.”

The constituency is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched races ahead of the next general election, with four candidates now contesting the seat: Mrs Barnett-Ellis for the FNM, Dr Veronica McGuy for the Coalition of Independents, former prime minister Dr Hubert Minnis running as an independent, and Robin Lynes for the Progressive Liberal Party.

Mrs Barnett-Ellis said the expanded field may encourage stronger engagement between candidates and voters.

“One of the wonderful things about a four-way race

is that people have choices, and competition always pushes people to be better and to raise their A-game,” she said.

“As a resident of Killarney

for almost 40 years, nobody has ever knocked on my door in all the years that I’ve lived in Killarney.

“So residents are excited to see the political parties

on the ground and excited to talk to us. They want to meet the candidates, because that’s not something that traditionally happened in Killarney.”

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-

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Leaders row as Freeport waits for help

THE row between the government and the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) has taken a far more personal turn, it seems.

A very public exchange of letters took place yesterday between Rupert Hayward, of the GBPA, and Prime Minister Philip Davis.

Let us start with Mr Hayward’s letter. Mr Hayward currently serves as co-chairman of the GBPA. His father, Sir Jack Hayward, had a controlling interest in the GBPA for decades, with control passing to his heirs after his death, including Rupert Hayward. Together, the Hayward and St George families serve as co-chairs of the authority.

Mr Hayward wrote an eloquent letter, setting out to begin with his own personal history – as a man born in The Bahamas, with Bahamian children and Bahamian heritage.

He talked of the pain caused to his family that the country’s leadership could say negative things about a Bahamian family.

Crucially, he pointed out the thing that is most important in this row – that both sides ultimately want what is best for the Bahamian people.

He alluded to the rhetoric being a temptation during the run-up to elections – but called for working together to improve Grand Bahama and Freeport.

He is right. Reviving Grand Bahama’s fortunes is not a job for one pair of hands.

In response, Mr Davis’ letter was more combative. He lambasted the authority for having “advanced a view of itself that no responsible government can accept” and said the issue was “the position taken by the” authority.

Mr Davis paints a picture of the GBPA trying to put itself above everything and having control over “the licensing of businesses, immigration and customs, and utilities” and saying that the authority claimed damages of a billion dollars.

He said: “In short, it demanded control and it demanded compensation of one billion dollars. My government could not accept that.”

Mr Davis said that the “arbitration has now exposed the reality”.

Unfortunately for Mr Davis, the arbitration was not brought to tackle the list of issues he names. It was a more straightforward reason for bringing the arbitration. The case was presented because the government demanded $357m and the GBPA refused. That was the basis of bringing in the arbitrators, and the arbitrators ruled that the government’s case in that matter was dismissed.

The other aspects he mentions were certainly explored in the arbitration, which helps to clarify the situation going forward in its interpretations of the existing legislation and agreements. However, the case primarily was about the demand for money.

Mr Davis says that the government is pressing for the collection of sums owed. That may be so – but that sum still has to be agreed. That means coming back to negotiations, possibly with these arbitrators if both sides agree, or possibly it may end up before the courts, in a public setting rather than private arbitration.

Mr Davis concluded: “Freeport’s destiny must be guided first by the needs, hopes and aspirations of its citizens and by the wider Bahamian family to which

Teach girls AI business

EDITOR, The Tribune.

WE often tell girls that the future is in “STEM,” as if enrolling in a few more science classes and joining coding clubs will solve the problem. However, the real issue in the era of artificial intelligence is not access; it is agency. Without agency, access merely produces consumers, while a small minority become owners.

I am a woman and a mother of two young daughters, possibly more if God allows. I am concerned about the technology-related ecosystems being developed in the Bahamas for my children and their peers. In this letter, I will focus on Artificial Intelligence, which I see as a crucial indicator of future challenges.

multiplies output, and rewards initiative.

However, if we introduce girls to AI primarily as a shortcut for homework, we will end up training a generation to consume answers rather than engineer outcomes. They will become prompt-users instead of problem-solvers, learning to ask AI for content without understanding how to verify, refine, test, and deploy.

The goal of STEAM in 2026 is not just to learn subjects; it is about learning to produce. So, what does it mean to transition girls from being users to owners?

trackers, customer service chat assistants, and inventory reminders. In the health sector, they could develop plain-language patient education tools and appointment-navigation assistants. These are not just “cute projects.” They are prototypes for potential enterprises.

This is where the ecosystem must evolve.

Families should normalise building. Celebrate experimentation, not just good grades. Encourage girls to create: design, code, write, and prototype, rather than only consume.

it belongs. That conviction underpins the course my government has set.”

It is true that the citizens of Freeport should be in the forefront of the decisions for the future of the nation – although some of them may raise a question at why the “wider Bahamian family” needs to be included in having a say in matters that affect Freeport.

Then there is the question of what will happen in Freeport if a hefty bill does have to be paid to the government each year. It is entirely reasonable for the government to make an assessment as to whether there should be a contribution – but that money will not come from thin air.

If the GBPA has to pay a sizeable amount each year to government, it will have to come from somewhere. Will that be extra fees? If so, then that comes from Grand Bahama pockets, to be handed to central government. Will that same amount come back again to fund projects in Grand Bahama? Or will it get spent elsewhere in the archipelago?

Where does this leave matters in Freeport? Well, the arbitration has not produced a magical economic recovery. It has not opened the doors of the Grand Lucayan. The only employment it has brought is for the high-powered lawyers involved. The case has not moved the island an inch on its own.

Whatever good intentions there may be on any side, Grand Bahama is still in need. It needs investment, it needs jobs, it needs a pathway to opportunity.

Does that come from a prolonged fight between both parties? Or is there a way to work together for the best outcome for all?

It does not feel that a resolution is coming any time soon – and by the prime minister’s own words, the courts are beckoning.

More remains to be done for women’s equality

This Sunday is International Women’s Day. In today’s Tribune, you can read our 20-page supplement celebrating the stories of women in our nation and the issues that still need to be faced.

One particular advertisement in that supplement celebrates the women of The Tribune.

Women have long been leaders at The Tribune, from publisher Eileen Carron all the way through to every department. Our female reporters strive every day to hold people of power to account, and to bring support and justice for those who need it.

Our nation has produced strong women who have campaigned for equality, and campaigned for issues that have bettered our country.

You know the names. Some have schools named after them. Some were the first to hold positions of leadership. Some built their legacy from nothing, through hard work and determination.

What is the next great challenge? What is the next great task we must complete to repay the women who have built our nation? How do we acknowledge their work on International Women’s Day, then build upon it to elevate us all?

The work is never done. As we applaud those who have done the work, the challenge is to take up the gauntlet and do more.

First, we need to expand STEM to STEAM, as Art has become an integral part of the AI ecosystem.

A new divide is forming in real time: the gap between people who consume AI and those who can command it.

AI is not just another technological trend. It is a general-purpose capability that will be embedded in every sector, including tourism, banking, construction, education, health, public services, and small businesses. When a tool becomes that foundational, the winners are not just the users but those who can direct it toward meaningful outcomes: building solutions, designing systems, creating products, and owning intellectual property. In short, the future will reward builders.

If we want young girls and women to thrive, our national goal cannot simply be to “teach them to use AI.” It must be to “position them to own the value created with AI.”

This begins with telling the truth about the changing job market. Employers are no longer just hiring for degrees; they are hiring for the ability to produce. AI accelerates the pace of work and lowers the cost of experimentation. A small team, sometimes even a single person, can accomplish tasks that once required an entire department: drafting business plans, building prototypes, creating marketing assets, automating workflows, and testing products in real-world settings. AI compresses time,

It means upgrading STEAM into four key literacies:

STEAM Literacy: The ability to reason, measure, test, and design, using science and math not merely as “schoolwork,” but as tools for understanding and improving real systems.

AI Literacy: This entails competence, not hype or fear, about how to prompt AI, evaluate outputs, check facts, recognize limitations, and protect privacy. Entrepreneurial Literacy: The skills to identify real problems, interview users, build minimum viable products, price them, and distribute them effectively.

Ownership Literacy:

Understanding how to create assets, brands, products, workflows, data tools, and intellectual property that can generate revenue and scale.

This is how to future-proof young women. Instead of pretending they can predict the economy, we should ensure they can build value in any economic climate.

The best way to teach these concepts is not through theoretical coursework but by tackling real problems and executing real pilots.

In a tourism economy, girls could develop AI-powered visitor guides for small hotels and local experiences, multilingual, accurate, and designed for practical use. In climate-vulnerable communities, they could create storm readiness tools, resource maps, or alert systems. In small businesses, they could design invoice automation, procurement

Schools need to become creation labs, not just exam factories. Every student should produce something: a prototype, a demonstration, a service, or a product, not once in a lifetime but every term.

The private sector and government should fund the bridge between learning and earning through micro-grants for pilots, paid internships tied to deliverables, mentorship programs, and partnerships where real businesses present genuine problems to students, agreeing to test what they create.

Moreover, safety must be a priority: digital privacy, consent, and AI ethics cannot be afterthoughts. We can empower girls while also protecting them if we choose to create that environment.

Here is a practical ambition that any serious country can adopt: every girl should graduate with at least one completed project, something that has been tested by real users, and the support to transform that project into a paid pilot if it proves successful.

Not every girl will become a founder, and that’s not the main objective. The goal is that a girl who can build, test, and launch solutions will never feel powerless in a changing economy. She may choose employment, but she will not be trapped by it. She will negotiate differently, earn differently, and lead differently.

The AI era will amplify whoever can truly harness its potential.

A Firm Believer in Concepts becoming Creations.

EDEN MERRY JOHNSON Freeport, Grand Bahama March 1, 2026.

Uncertainty reigns on world stage

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE entire planets’ economic and financial sectors stand idly by as the destructive force of tariffs continues to wreak Havoc upon our global systems. An uncontrollable leadership is running amuck while proclaiming or changing policies while streaming on social media. The Supreme Court decision to rule the Administrations Tariff Policies belong in the trash bin has had little effect upon the President and His Minions. Does Executive Fiat trump the Supreme

Court? Can the President create Emergency Economic Powers from a whim and public whimper? A global 10% tariff is now 15% according to America’s Prez. International payments for the tariffs imposed over 10 months ago are in a log jam, with no real management plans to get these payments solidified and paid. Multiple domestic and International lawsuits against the Federal Government exist, yet the administration claims tariffs are here to stay as both economic and political weapons.

The supreme Courts decision is seen as the right way to force an end to these tariffs and to shorten the leash of The Presidential Powers Act. There are limits to the Presidents power. We all know this, but does the President? If the Administration and Federal Government are a team, it’s the most imbalanced and chaotic one in America.

STEVEN KASZAB Bradford, Ontario February 27, 2026.

Call election by March 15

EDITOR, The Tribune.

KINDLY allow me space in your valuable column to articulate an opinion on why I believe Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis should call the general election asap.

You may recall some months ago I penned a letter to the Editor discussing the erratic behavior of President Donald Trump, the invasion of Venezuela, the potential rise of fuel prices and the repercussions of the Venezuelan invasion. Well, now Mr Trump has invaded Iran, along with Israel. And Iran

has retaliated in kind. Already oil-field access is being closed. Iran is not Venezuela. They have the ability to fight back and they will. I believe it has only just begun. President Trump predicts it will be over in four weeks. No way, buddy. I believe this war that has just started, will go on for years. Remember the invasion of Iraq. And the longer it lasts, the worst it is for the governing party. We all remember the long lines at the gas stations and the frustration among drivers, along with the increased cost per gallon of

fuel. Obviously when fuel prices increase, persons put vacations on hold. The airspace is closed and people are afraid to travel. Iran controls thirty-percent of the fuel out-put. It is closing access for oil tankers. In the long term, this is bad, bad news for the governing party. Madam Editor, if we’re one of the PM’s advisors I would tell him, ‘Chief you gotta ring the bell by March 15th.’ PAT STRACHAN Nassau, March 2, 2026.

Officer: Suspect confessed to killing two teens boys

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A SENIOR police officer testified yesterday that a man on trial for the 2017 killing of two teenage boys in Yellow Elder Gardens admitted to the shootings during a recorded interview.

Assistant Superintendent of Police 2675 Arnold Strachan gave evidence in the Supreme Court trial of Deon Scavella, 30, before Justice Jeannine Weech-Gomez.

Prosecutors allege Scavella shot and killed Devonte Lindsey, 15, and Keishon Williams, 13, on March 19, 2017. Their bodies were later found on a dirt road off Graham Drive in Yellow Elder.

ASP Strachan said that during a police interview on May 6, 2017, the defendant said the two boys approached him while he was sitting at his home in Yellow Elder. According to the officer, the accused said he agreed to go with them

to remove a car battery and tyres from a vehicle in an area near the baseball stadium known as the gulf.

ASP Strachan told the court that the accused said he shot Vonte while he was removing the battery and that Williams was working on the tyres at the time. The officer said the defendant told him he chased Williams as he tried to flee and shot him as well. The accused then went home.

The officer said the defendant admitted using a 9mm Luger pistol.

ASP Strachan said the accused refused to read over or sign the record of interview.

On May 7, 2017, after leaving the Grove Police Station, the accused showed officers his residence and the scene of the shooting while being driven in a police car, the officer said. A video of that exercise was played in court.

When a recording of the interview was shown, the accused was heard declining to have a lawyer present.

He was also heard saying he knew Vonte from time in jail and that he had allegedly been stabbed by him.

In the video, the defendant denied having a gun on May 5, 2017, the day of his arrest. An officer had previously testified that he saw the accused drop a gun from his waist on Lightbourne Avenue as he approached. Despite that denial, the defendant was heard in the interview admitting to committing the murders and saying he did so because he had beef with one of the deceased from prison. He also said no one else was present when the shootings took place.

ASP Strachan told the court the accused did not appear to be in pain or discomfort in either video. He said no officers oppressed the accused, told him what to say, or put a bag over his head, and that the interview was voluntary.

Marianne Cadet represents the accused. Shaneka Carey and Davina Pinder are the prosecutors.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 24-YEAR-OLD man who admitted attacking another man with a Guinness bottle on Kemp Road was sentenced to three months in prison yesterday. Emitt Smith seriously injured Nicholas Pratt after striking him with a beer bottle on Abraham Street on January 2. Smith pleaded guilty before Magistrate Lennox Coleby to causing grievous harm and assault with a dangerous instrument.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 44-YEAR-OLD man accused of having $28,600 worth of marijuana in his vehicle during a police chase last month was granted bail yesterday.

Prosecutors allege William Brown was driving a black Nissan Cube without headlights at 9pm on

Prosecutors also allege that on March 3 he attempted to deceive Police Constable 4237

February 5. After he allegedly failed to stop when requested, a brief pursuit ended on All Saints Way, where he fled on foot.

Police recovered 14.3 pounds of hydroponic marijuana valued at $28,600 from the abandoned vehicle.

Symonette on St James Road, acted disorderly, used obscene language and resisted arrest. Smith pleaded not guilty to those charges. He will return to court for trial on the remaining matters on March 24. Inspector Lincoln McKenzie was the prosecutor.

MAN ACCUSED OF HAVING $28K OF HEMP IN VEHICLE DITCHED DURING POLICE CHASE MAN GRANTED BAIL OVER 14 ROUNDS OF AMMO

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter

Brown pleaded not guilty before Magistrate Abigail Farrington to possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply. He was granted $5,000 bail with one or two sureties. As part of his bail conditions, he must sign in at the Wulff Road Police Station every Friday by 7pm. He returns to court for trial on June 11. Levan Johnson represents the accused. Inspector K Wilkinson is the prosecutor.

A 31-YEAR-OLD man accused of having 14 rounds of ammunition was granted bail yesterday. Prosecutors allege Aljuan Bullard was found with 14.9mm rounds on March 2, 2023, in New Providence. Bullard pleaded not guilty before Magistrate

Lennox Coleby to possession of ammunition. He was granted bail and will return to court for trial on June 8. Inspector Deon Barr was the prosecutor.

The mystery of George Snow, a US television crew,

on Cayo Lobos and stranded Haitians

ON November20, 1980,a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter owned and flownby Florida real estate developerand father of four,George Snow, waslost alongwithcritical newsfootageaboardbetween Congo Town,Andros, and Miami. Thepassengers included NBCcameraman Randy Fairbairn,TV crew member DanCefalo, and ABC newsmanJoe Dellasera. Although the actual causeofthe chopper s loss is stillnotknown46yearslater, this civilianaccident isincluded in this series because it’slikelythatthehelicopter’s fate duringthat weekwas influenced by the drug trade.

Circumstances aroundthe release of partsof the chopperat GrandBahamaa fewweeksafterthecrashand other informationcast a questionable shadow on an already terrible tragedy.

It’sdifficulttoimagineone horrificevent wedgedbetween morehorrific events, butthatappearstobethecase here.TheColdWarragedbetween US and USSR with Cuba asa proxy.Cuban airmen had recentlysunk the HMBS Flamingoand killed Bahamian sailorsusing MiG jets.Due tofishingdisputes, Cubans inthe USwere plantinglimpet minesonthe hulls ofBahamian fishing andmailboats intheMiami River and sinking them. The US was arming the Bahamas.

TheSoviet Unionwas arming Cuba.

Andto makematters worse,Castro hadrecently released100,000 fromhis jails andsent theminto the US in what was known as “The Mariel BoatLift,” an eventthat becamethebasis for the movie Scarface.

It was an anxious time. Haiti s defacto dictator Baby DocDuvalier’s secret police--the TonTonMacout-were terrorising and starving their people. Thefirst boatloads of escapeesfled Hispaniola forthe US.Many made itonly as far asthe Bahamas, with moreland per person than Haiti. For Haitians,itwasalandofmilk and honey.

Some, though,were simplydumped onuninhabited Cayo Lobos – “Wolves Rock”– an abandoned Bahamianlighthouse almostin sight ofCuba. OneHaitian smuggler’s sloop even abandoned 116passengers onthe small cay for months, includingmanywomeninneed of medical help. According tosome accounts, thesmugglers decidedthe passengerswere toodifficultandthedangerof interception byeither theUS or Cubanmilitary wastoo high. Monthspassed, andthe Bahamianresponse wasto pretend it wasn’t happening. But then--sensing a big story thatwould finallyrevealthe evilsof Duvalier s regime, and fearing that any Haitians sentbackwouldlikelybetortured and killed--the US mainstream newschannel NBC decided tosend a team of journalists to Cay Lobos. George Snow,a helicopter pilot, stepped in to solve the logisticsproblem, ashehad with MarielBoat Liftcoverage. He staged at remote Congo Townairport inAndros, had theTV stars show upatdawn, hadhishelicopter waiting for their fuel, transferred jet fuel,took the

stars and crew to Lobos, and thenbrought thembackto Andros. There the stars and thefootagewouldtakeaLear jet back in time to appear on theevening news.Midlevel team members would take a chopper toMiami, andless urgentfolks wouldflycommercial, thenonward, with their stories. In Andros, thenews team and chopper crews encountered trouble: Haitians at-

persmade itback toCongo Townfor refuelling.Theair wasthick withelectricity a stormwas rollingin and apprehension.”

“Wehadshotsomecontroversial scenes that the Bahamian governmentwasn’t goingto like, said ajournalistnamed KathyWillens,

some unknown reason, fled whenapproached bySnow s sons looking for their father. Coast Guardspokesman Carol Feldman said the copter had survival equipment aboard, including an eight-manlife raftandflotationdevices, andthatthe search wasconcentrated

tacking Bahamian personnel. At 3:45pm they witnessed a brutal counterattack,which theyrecorded atgreat riskto themselves.A Boca magazine article by Gaspar Gonzalez formthe Dec/Jan 2011/12issue andpostedon theofficial websiteofthe SnowFoundation detailsthe incident. Snowwasbehindthecontrols ofhis helicopter, waiting forthem toreturn. Gunshots rang out. The news crewsonthegroundranback to theirrespective choppers, which then climbed and hovered just above the lighthouse. Bahamians continued beatingtheHaitians.Soldiers then started waving their riflesinthe directionofthe choppers.Snowandtheother pilotsgotthehelloutofthere - fast. They’dseen enough. Theywere alsotransporting thelead storyfor thatnight’s newscast. TheHaitians, they knew, wouldeventually be rounded up, putonboard the Lady Moore and returned to Haiti,where Duvalierwould dealwiththem. Allthechop-

who made a point of pocketing thefilm she dshot in her clothesand loadinga blankroll, justincase someone tried toopen her camera and expose it. Everyonewasanxioustogetout of the Bahamas. Ike Seamanstook theremarkablefootage shotbyhis crew and hopped the Lear [in Congo Town] back to Miami to make thetight broadcast deadline.Joe Dalisero,a news video technician in needofalifthome,tookSeamans place aboard the Ranger. Willensreturned to South Florida on a commercial flight out of Nassau.

“See you inMiami!” she shoutedto Snow.But amassive electrical storm and a number ofother factors doomedtheescapeplan.Neither the helicopternor any of thepeople init wereever seen again.

Strangely, a numbered pieceof ahelicopter--afew feet long and tall appeared inGrand Bahamaweeks later.It wasfound bya German tourist,who, for

November29, therewasa break:thepiece foundwas3 feetlongand 2feetwide,the tan-coloured hunkof metal includedthe numbers ‘069.’

Themissinghelicopter sregistration numberwas N10696. It wasa piece of Snow s Bell Jet Ranger.

And whatof theHaitians on Cayo Lobos? They were rounded upaboard the former mailboat Lady Moore (since sunk off Andros) and returned toHaiti, whereno doubtfew survivedlong.It was likelythat theirdeaths wereused toshowtheir countrymen what happens if you tryto leaveHaiti. They and theships thatmoved them have become footnotes toadark chapterinregional history.

Thathistory isstill clearin the mindof thirty-four-year Royal BahamasDefence Force (RBDF) veteran Commodore Tellis Bethel.

“Haitians primarily sought refuge inMiami aboardunseaworthy woodensloops,” he said. Theoperators of thesevessels engagedinthe lucrative businessof human smugglingforafee.Unfortunately, operatorssometimes left their passengers stranded on cays, and,in some cases, deceivedthem intothinking they hadarrived attheir destination if they suspected law enforcement was in the area.

around AndrosIsland, Grand BahamaBank, andthe Florida Straits.

Somewitnesses inAndros toldauthorities theyhad found three living persons. Thenthey changedtheir story to two living persons. Then to three dead persons anda chopperaround WilliamsIsland,whereitwas felt the helicopter was shot downor wentdown dueto weather ormechanical failing. There was no debris. Unreliable drug smugglers claimedto havesunk thehelicopter, butno explanation or theory was ever proven.

The flights themselves were a wildgambit to feed the publicwith arichly-texturedstoryabouttheplightof Haitiand Haitians.ThedisappearanceofSnow,hishelicopter, and theothers on board meant thatthey became the story.A mystery that’s still unsolved.

The Foundationsite provides further details. “The search sputtered to a close around Thanksgiving. On

“Unfortunately forSnow,

it'suncertain whathappened. Most likely engine failure or fuel shortage. His chopper had tofly some200 miles from Florida before refuellingin Congo Town,then resuminghis tripto tinyCay Lobos,over 100miles onthe northern edge of the Old Bahama Channel,some 20 miles offCuba's north-central coast. Some reports state thathisaircraft didnotmeet Instrument Flight Rules [IFR]standards, andwas therefore unable to be monitored byUS flightauthorities.

“Considering patroloperations by USand UK forces, Bethelcontinued,“Iquestion what assistanceCuba was able to provide?Perhaps relations withCuba mayhave beentootense fortheUSto seek technicalassistance from them. Wasit possible thattheCubanradarshadobserved Snow's helicopter, as theincident occurrednear their airspace?Overall, it was a riskyoperation for Snow, combined with daring and a desire to help.” The mystery remains unsolvedto thisday.Perhaps Snow andhis passengers should beconsidered victims of a drug erafilled with deceit, tragedy,and violentinternational conflict. Even for people and global organisations tryingto shedlight and transparency on those things.

Chinese Snow Festival

A personal letter to mom in honour of International Spotlight on Women

So much has changed, so much has not since you left us

DEAR MOM,

The world has changed so much since you passed. You wouldhardly recognisethe productswe use,fromthe way wemake phonecalls from our camera (or take picturesfrom ourphone)to thecarsweplugintoanelectrical outlet. Some of the new things wehave are really handy. Remember that Hoover youwereso proudof?We now have avacuum cleaner thatlookslikearoundspaceshipandcrawlsaroundonits own under thesofa to scour all the dirtyou were perfectlycontent toleavethere beforethespaceshipvacuum cleaner wasinvented. The new phones and vac uumsand ovensthat convect andmachinesthat frywith air – a discovery which trulydefies comprehension -that s the small stuff. The bigstuff is what wouldreally blow you away. Sorry, that was probably disrespectful given your current state.

I guess, in a way, the conceptof disrespectisone ofthebig thingsthatwould makeyour eyespopand your jawdrop. Itseems like there isless respectto go around ingeneral, butit reallyshowsupincertaincategories andcircumstances. Remember howwhen we wentto thefood storethere would be polite young boys who would offerto pack your bagsand carryyour groceries out?Nowadays, therearebothgirlsandboys, thoughmostly boys,and they push and shove each other,sometimes injest, sometimes just topush the smallerguyasidetogetthe next packingjob themselves. Theycut infront of youif youhappen tobe walking by. Sometimes theyswear asthey cutin front of youin case a singledisplayofdisrespect is notsufficient todemonstrate their anger at the world.

onearoundtosoftentheblow, noone sweetand gentleand kind like you, to kiss them on theforeheadand makeitall betteror strongenoughlike you could havebeen to walk away fromwhat causedthe pain. That disrespect thing,

inCatIsland,andaroundthe BerryIslands, aresostunning that theyare breathtaking.Theyshouldneverbe destroyed by the dredging of livingcoralreefsandendless acres of sea grasses, where conchand crawfishliveand crawlin patternsonlythe conchand crawfishunderstand. Bahamians who grew up around parents and grandparentswhofishedand farmed get it.

Some foreignersrespect the land and waters, while othershave norespectfor thematallandwanttointroduce aculture thatis morelike wherethey came from (which makes you wonder why they didn t just stay right there to begin with.)

Not all ofthe packing boysare likethat,of course, and you can find bullyinganywhere, butin several storesit’s particularlybad. Youhaveto choose yourcheckout line carefully,aiming forone with ateenage boyon the endwho doesn’t look like fury and frustration are eating away athis insides at such a young age. Being the kind personyou were,you wouldhaveaskedmequietly (as we movedaside to let rude boys pass) what I thoughthappened tothem that made them so angry. And I wouldhave to answer honestly thatthey probably grewupinanangryenvironment. Maybe theywitnessed or were the victim of violence.

Maybe therewas amoment when theycould not take the abuse of their mother or sister any longer.

Maybe itwas allunderstandable, but there was no

Mom, iseverywhere. People shop at largestores we call “big box stores” in clothes you would nothave gone to the mailbox at the end of the drive in. Theywear pajama bottoms onplanes. Canyou imagine?Remember howwe dressed up to fly?

In TheBahamas, whereI havelivedfor morethan40 years and am proudto be a

citizen andto vote,we reserve respect forthe weirdest things--like politicians--even ifwe don’tagree withtheir policies. We bow and scrape, showingmorerespecttothem than to our own principles. PleaseunderstandthatIam using the universal “we” becauseI amveryproud tosay that I havealways stood up for what I believed in, which, by theway, includesrespect for theenvironment. Ithas causedmeto losesomebusiness, I’msure, butthis environment deservesmore than respect. It deservesawe and ourgratitude everysingle day. The waters, especially thosein thecentralExumas,

SometimesI thinkthis country that hasbeen my home for so long is divided intwo,not thetwoyou would firstthink ofas rich and poor, but into those who respectandthosewhodon’t. Wehave alltheaccoutrementsof acountrythat shows respect,politeness and propriety,yet displays behavioursuitable fora cowboymovie withmotorcycle rider stars. Earlier today,I sawthe mostbrilliantwheelie imaginable –that’s one of those stunts when the rider pulls up the frontwheelofthebike,rides ontherear andgoesstraight down themiddle oftwo lanes of traffic defying thereality thata motorcycle has two wheels because it s supposed to touch the ground it slides over. In theversion I saw today, the rider’s front wheel was so high in the air that he wasall but tilting backwards. Like part of him was in reverse.

Police did notstop him.

But oncewhen Iwas wheelinga cerebralpalsy victim intothe Houseof Assembly I got stopped becauseIwas notallowedto wear open-toed shoes, even thoughthey weredressy heels. So, Iran with the wheelchair-bound young man, bought apair of shoes, andmade itbackin timefor the Persons with Disabilities presentation. Iguess there are different wheel-related rules, but youcan t help but chuckle thata roadside wheelie goes unchecked while anude-toe pushinga wheelchairis taboooutof respect for themembers of Parliament.

We respect theliving at church,oneofthefewplaces where most folksstill dress up. You shouldsee some of the hats!The fascinatorsare thestrangest. Someofthem look likean animallost its feathersorfeet, orboth,and they foundtheir wayto the top of ahead attached to somethingthat isattachedto the hair by alarge pin or two. And then there are the colourful Bahamian weddings. Rememberthose whitewedding gownsand pastelcolours forthewedding party? Subtleshades so the focus is not diverted fromthestar oftheevent. Brides arestill wearing white,eveniftheyhaveborn three childrenprior tomarriage. But thecolours in the weddingparty arewild: chartreuse, purple, lime green, fluorescentorange. It s asight tobehold, not meantto disrespectthe

of attention, but to drawattention tothecrowd adoringand adorningthe newlyweds. Respect comes in manyforms, butit never destroys whatnature ordered.

If youreally wantto see respectin actiontodayyou shouldattendaBahamianfuneral. Poor families scrape togetherevery pennythey could not findfor a child educationtoburyanelderly family member in style, all deckedout inthe bestsuit andtieand preserved body that money canbuy. I am notbeing rude aboutthis, andI understand the feeling ofwanting to sendsomeone youlove offin style.But ifthey hadtheirsay,they’d probably say spend the money on the living.” Forthose who go allout evenif itlands themin asinkhole ofdebt, itisthefinalshowofrespect. They can burythe dead with joyous music and without guilt,and withheadsheld high.

ina

breaks

Astore thatdoesn’t have walls is the largest store in the world. We have personal assistants like Alexaand Siri wehavenever met,theseas are rising, the storms come fasterand harderwithless warning than before and with so much

Somuch morehashappenedpersonally andinthe wider world. Thereare new nationsappearing onthe globewhose namesyou would struggleto pronounce andwhose locationsyou would have trouble to find.

We still relyheavily on oil, whichis ashame when we have abundant sun and wind and renewables.

So much has changed and yet so much reminds us of a recordthatgotstuck,playing thesamesong overandover. Therich getricher, thepoor

more force thanthe horrible hurricane Betsy we went through while thinking it was the end of the world. We will runoutofpotablewaterifthe populationkeeps growingat itscurrentrate.Therearestill a fewwho believethe world isflat andclimatechange refers to anincrease in temperature.

Whileso muchhas changedsofast,onethinghas sadly lagged, ohMother of mine. Thatis thestate of womenin society.Thereare places where women are still

forcedto wearfacecoverings, concealing their skin and beauty along with their ambition. There are other places,like TheBahamas, wheremore femalesfinish school andcollege thantheir malecounterparts, yetmore males hold leadership roles andhigher payingjobs.Few women, despite the talent andskills,areinvitedtoserve as directorson boardsthat pay.CorporateBahamas is shamelesslymale dominated. Women, young and old, make upthe majority ofvolunteers, keeping organisations afloat that serveasthesocial services safety netfor a country where there is too much hungerand too little adequate public health care. Women are the glue thatholds most families together.Their strengthand resilienceare amazing,abeautifulthingand a tragedyfor itallows their roleinlifetoperpetuate. So,formydearsweetmom who haslaid inher gravefor far toolong and leftthis life waytooearly,Iremember,respect and honourall you stoodforon thisspecialday andwishthereweremorelike you to uphold honesty, truth andinnocence. I will alwayslong for your approvaland rememberyour hug. It warmedmy world. May other girlsbe so lucky. You left toosoon, but you gave so much in the short time you had. No one could ask for more.

ACCOUNTS SUPERVISOR WANTED

Company in the shipping business is looking to fill the position of Accounts

Supervisor. The role involves:

• Assist in preparing monthly, and annual financial reports, including balance sheets, profit & loss statements

• Review and approve journal entries, ensuring they are accurately recorded in the financial system

• Supervise and manage daily accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, and general ledger.

• Assist with account reconciliations

Applicants should have the following attributes:

• 5+ years of experience in a supervisory or team lead role within an accounting department

• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, financial regulations, and best practices.

• Proficiency in QuickBooks and MS Office

• Must be well organized and pay attention to detail

• Good communications and team building skills

• Must be professional and well presented

The position offers an attractive package of compensation and benefits.

Please respond via email with copies of academic certificates and two references to: portagency429@gmail.com

Why adults pursuing career growth or personal interests are the 'new majority' student

By CHEYANNE MUMPHREY Associated Press

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.(AP)

Interested in startinga business, learning about artificial intelligence or exploringa new hobby? There's a class for that.

Millions of U.S. adults enroll in creditand non-creditcollege coursestoearnprofessionalcertificates, learn new skills or to pursue academic degrees. Some olderstudents areseekingcareer advancement, higher pay and job security, while others wantto exploretheirpersonal interests or try new things

“They might havekids, they might be working full-time, theymight beoldernon-traditionalstudents," saidEricDeschamps, the directorof continuing education atNorthern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona.Butreturningtoschool "opens doors to education for studentsthat mightnothave those doors opento them otherwise.

Older students,many of whom bring yearsof work and life experience to their studies, often are juggling courses with full-time jobs, caregiving and other family responsibilities. It is a challenging balancing act butcan alsosharpenpriorities and provide asense of fulfillment.

Here'swhat expertshaveto say about returningto school, what to consider beforehand and how to balance coursework with work andpersonal commitments.

Why morepeople wantto continue learning UCLAExtension,thecontinuing education divisionof the University of California, Los Angeles,offers morethan90 certificate andspecialisation programs, from interior design, early childhood education and accounting to photography, paralegal studiesand musicproduction. Individualcourses coverawiderangeoftopics,including retirementplanning, writingnovels, thebusinessof athletesand artists,and theancient Japanese art of ikebana, or flower arranging.

About 33,500students nearly half of them older than 35 wereenrolled during the last academicyear. UCLAreported afull-time enrollmentof about 32,600 degree-seeking undergraduate students during the same period.

“I prefercalling our(adult) learners not only continuous, butthe newmajoritystudent.

coming students again may wantto assesstheir timeand budgets,andweighthepotential benefits and consequences, includingthefinancialimpact,the potential for burnout and rewards of education that may take a while materialise, academic advisors say. Deschamps suggestsasking where you want to bein 5 or 10 years and howthe training and knowledge received through an additional class or certificate can help get you there. For example, if you want to start a microbrewery, learning to brew your ownbeer orlaunching a businesswill help.If apromotionorcareerchangeisthegoal, trainingfora newjob,refreshing skills or understanding a different industry may help show you are qualified.

Schools likeUCLA and Northern Arizona University are working tomake continuing education courses accessible by keeping the cost low in comparison to degree-track classes and offering financial assistance. A variety of learning environments usually are offered inpersonandonlineclasses,accelerated and self-paced instruction to help adults integrate schoolworkwiththeirhomeand work lives.

Katie Swavely,assistant director for academic advising andstudent successatUCLA, started at community college before transferringto UCLAto study anthropology. Shesaid it took her10 yearsafter graduating to go back for her master's degreein counselingwitha focus on academic advising. Swavely completed that degree in2020andcreditsaccesstothe program through employersponsored tuition assistance from her job at the time.

“I feltlike in so manyways I didn’t really know who I was or what Iwanted todo otherthan justpay thebills andsurvive,” said Swavely, who is married and has two children. “It was hard. And I thought about quittingmanytimes. Wehadto budget to theextreme and find additional ways to make it work.”

She added: “There arequestions of how are we going to make it work and do we have the money. As a parent, sacrifices arethere allthe time.You make those judgment calls everyday. Butmaking surethat you’re investing in yourself. There salways gonnabereasons why it’s not today, not this month,notthisyear,butit’salso OK tojust jumpin andgo forit

Theseare learnerswho tendto already be employed, often supportingafamily,lookingforupskillingor sometimesacareer change, Traci Fordham, UCLA's interim associate dean for academic programs and learning innovation, said. Higher educationexperts say someadultstakeclassesforprofessional development as economic concerns,technological advances and other workforce changescreateasenseofjobinsecurity.

“A great exampleof that is artificial intelligence.These new technologies are coming outpretty quicklyand forfolks that gota degree,even just5 or 10 yearsago, theirknowledge mightbea littlebitoutdated, Deschamps said.

What to ask yourself before returning to school Adults interestedin be-

networkand takeadvantageof the counselingand advisingoptionsthatwereavailabletoheras a student.

She encourages adults who are furtheringtheir educationsto spend time “finding your community.” Havingpeople around whohelpedbuild upherconfidence at home and during classes got herthrough graduate school, Swavely said.She also suggestssetting boundariesand giving yourselfgrace whenyou need help.

The biggest pieceof advice isfor peopleto realiseyou’re never too old to learn," she said.

and see how it works out.”

As anavid booklover, Swavelynowwants totakea book editing courseand hopes tocontinue hereducationand enroll in thatthrough the university soon.

Overcoming barriers to returning at any age

Someexperts sayone ofthe main barriers to returning to schoolis psychological.There might be concernsthat their writing skills are rusty and that they don'tknow enoughmath ortechnology,bringingupfeelings of uncertainty or failure.

“I think this is tied to access. Manyofour learners,notallof them, haven’t imaginedthemselvesinany kindofhighereducation, post-secondaryeducation environment,” Fordham said.

Swavely said it was importantforher tobuildasupport

A healthier lifestyle can start with eating food grown in The Bahamas

“EAT what we grow” is the path to healthier living in The Bahamas, says the head of the Agricultural Development Organization (ADO), as a farmers’ market that has attracted hundreds of visitors returns to Paradise Island this weekend.

ADO executive chairman Philip Smith said that what we eat is the key to leading a healthier lifestyle – and especially making the most of food that is grown locally without additives.

“From a health perspective, eating what’s grown locally can make a real difference. You know where the food comes from, it’s from farm to table without preservatives or other additives. It can make a real difference in living a healthier lifestyle,” said Mr Smith.

The market will be held on Saturday, with a dozen

vendors offering a range of fresh, healthy produce. It is sponsored by ADO in partnership with Atlantis. It will feature locally grown produce as well as locally made juices, spices, cakes, bread and other crafts.

Mr Smith called the market a great opportunity not just for farmers – but those who are visiting, whether tourists, residents or staff working at Atlantis.

“We know in this country we have health problems such as obesity, diabetes, heart issues and so on. Keeping yourself healthy can start with healthy food on your plate. That can be the start of real change. It’s a win for everyone – helping the health of our people, and supporting our farmers. If we buy from home, we don’t have to import that food from elsewhere, the money stays here,” said Mr Smith.

The event is being held near the straw market on Paradise Island on Saturday, from 8am-3pm.

For more information about ADO, visit adobahamas.org.