03182026 NEWS

“We got you covered under our radars”

WALKER: END DELAY

ON JET SKI REFORMS

US Ambassador ‘distressed’ following sexual assault on another American tourist

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune News Editor

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

US Ambassador Herschel Walker urged local agencies yesterday to move “without further delay” to implement planned safety reforms for the jet ski industry, voicing concern over another alleged jet ski-related sexual assault.

“As I talk of our partner, I am truly distressed to hear of yet another sexual assault linked to the jet ski industry

in The Bahamas,” he said in a statement to The Tribune. “Our prayers are with the victim. Without regular, consistent enforcement, patrols on the beaches, and increased professionalisation of the industry, the situation will not change. We look to all stakeholder agencies to implement without further delay the multi-agency Jet Ski Task Force’s comprehensive plan for safety reform.”

ASSAULT - SEE PAGE THREE

Bahamian smuggler arrested in Florida

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

Theron Don Mills was taken into custody last week after leading US authorities on a chase before officers disabled his vessel off Florida’s coast. Authorities said Mills was

ARREST - SEE PAGE THREE

A BAHAMIAN man with a history of human smuggling has been arrested in the United States after he was allegedly caught trying to smuggle more than a dozen people into Florida months after his release for similar offences.

By TRIBUNE STAFF

A GRAND Bahama businessman who accused police officers of framing him after being caught with a loaded, unlicensed gun inside a nightclub

stemming

The

three years ago has avoided jail time after a magistrate instead ordered him to pay $12,000 in fines, despite objections from prosecutors who asked for a prison sentence. Non-custodial sentences for having an unlicensed

firearm are extremely rare, with accused people routinely sentenced to prison for many months.

Lloyd Rolle Jr, 28, was found guilty at the end of a full trial on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition

claims that he had been framed by police officers.

Following evidence presented by the prosecution at the trial, the court found that the weapon

COURT - SEE PAGE SEVEN

Family mourns father shot in his sleep

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

RELATIVES of a 37-year-old father gunned down early Tuesday morning said they are struggling to understand his killing, describing him as a peaceful man who “did not cause trouble” and had no known enemies.

Archie “AJ” Thompson was shot shortly after 3am on Abraham Street off Kemp Road, according to police.

Police said the victim contacted authorities himself and reported that he had been shot. Officers responded and found him suffering from gunshot injuries to the body. Investigators said the man had been asleep in house when he heard gunshots and later realised he had been shot. He was unable to provide officers with information about the assailant or assailants.

MURDER - SEE PAGE TWO

ARCHIE ‘AJ’ THOMPSON

Victim called police himself after waking up to find he’d been shot

Emergency medical personnel transported him to hospital, where he later died.

No motive has been disclosed.

Family members said the killing has left them searching for answers, noting that he had been with them just hours before his death.

“It is still a mystery to me how it happened and why it happened,” said his brother Devon Thompson, 48. “AJ was a good person. I still don’t like the fact that happened, how it happened, when it happened. I would like to know who did it and if I was there’d I’d have tried to avoid it happening.”

Devon said his brother was a hardworking man and the father of an 11-year-old daughter.

“I have to make sure for her too now I have to look out for her,” he said, adding that he has just started a new job in landscaping and was staying out of problems. “It’s just a crime that no one saw anything and it hurts my heart. That’s my last little brother. We have the same mummy.” Levante Thompson, 24, the victim’s cousin, said Thompson, also known as “Pello”, lived a quiet and routine life.

“We chilled down the road everyday on the porch, all of us come after work when we get off, everyone come home and we chill until night and time to go to bed,” he said.

“Anything that was done in the dark comes to light, so just know that there will be justice.”

He said he did not know Thompson to have any enemies.

“It’s crazy, because how it went, it had to been something with a vengeance or personal vendetta,” he said. “I only can say someone jealous, so I don’t even know.”

Another cousin, Peaches Thompson, 26, said Thompson had recently been trying to improve his life, especially as a father.

“He was telling me he wanted to be a better father,” she said. “He wanted to do better for his daughter.”

She said they spent time together daily.

“If you see me, you’d see him,” she said. “I don’t like to go walking by myself, so I’d call him say ‘Pel, let’s go ride’, he don’t wanna go but he’d say let’s go cuz, I wanna buy a beer. Anywhere I tell him let’s go, we going. If I wanna go out in the night, I won’t go without a man because I feel like they’re my protection. He’d say ‘I ain’t feeling it tonight’ and I’d say ’Please, man, please’. When I come back, he waiting on me to get ready.”

Peaches said the family is close-knit and the loss has been devastating. Thompson was expected to celebrate his 38th birthday in October.

“Pel was so loving and so kind, and I ain’t like how they take him,” she said. “I’m still shock to be honest.” MURDER from page one

BTC NAMES ARIEL RAHMING 2025 EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

BTC has named Ariel Rahming, Digital Care Lead on its B2B team, as its 2025 Employee of the Year.

In a press release, the telecommunications company said Rahming received the honour during its Star Awards ceremony held March 12 at the Margaritaville Beach Resort.

BTC said the award represents the highest recognition in its Top Performer programme, a year-long initiative designed to reward measurable results and promote accountability and excellence across the organisation.

According to the company, employees were recognised throughout the year on a quarterly basis for delivering meaningful business results while demonstrating BTC’s core values of collaboration, customer focus and integrity. Those quarterly honourees advanced to the final stage of the Employee of the Year selection process.

BTC said 27 employees were nominated for the award.

The company said the final selection followed a multi-stage evaluation that included reviews by an internal committee, an external independent reviewer and interviews

with senior leadership and board representation.

Ms Rahming expressed gratitude for the recognition and the opportunities he has received during his time with the company.

“I am incredibly honored to receive this award,” she said. “BTC has provided me with opportunities to grow, lead, and contribute in meaningful ways throughout my journey with the company.

Congratulations to all of the nominees and top performers. This recognition is truly a reflection of the incredible team I work with every day—their support, collaboration, and commitment to excellence inspire me to always give my best. I’m proud to be part of an organisation that genuinely values its people, encourages us to develop our skills, and creates an environment where we can make a real impact. I’m grateful for the trust and encouragement I’ve received along the way, and I look forward to continuing to grow and contribute to BTC’s success.”

BTC said Ms Rahming received a $5,000 grand prize as the Employee of the Year, while runners-up were awarded $1,000 and $500 respectively.

BTC CEO Sameer Bhatti said the award reflects the company’s

commitment to recognising performance and investing in employees.

“Our Employee of the Year represents the very best of BTC — not just in results, but in character, consistency, and leadership. This recognition is grounded in measurable impact and integrity. Investing in our people is not optional — it is essential. When our employees feel valued, supported, and empowered, they deliver extraordinary results for our customers and our communities.”

Director of People Patrice Thompson said employee recognition plays an important role in strengthening workplace culture and engagement.

“Recognition is one of the most meaningful investments one can make in the workplace as it strengthens culture, drives engagement, and reinforces the behaviors that move BTC forward,” she said. “This process was structured, transparent, and performance-based because excellence deserves credibility.”

BTC also said the ceremony recognised 42 employees as fourth-quarter top performers, adding to the list of staff members honoured throughout the year for achievements across the organisation.

Attacks by unlicensed operators prove system ‘isn’t working’ as it should

ASSAULT from page one

His comments came after police said three sexual assaults were reported within hours of each other on Monday, including one involving a jet ski operator.

In that incident, shortly after 1.30pm, a female visitor from the United States reported paying for an island excursion with friends before accepting a ride from a male jet ski operator. Police said the operator took her to a nearby sandbank, where she was sexually assaulted.

Officers from the Tourism Patrol Unit arrested a 29-year-old male suspect, who is assisting with the investigation.

In a separate incident around 1.00pm, another US national told police she was at a poolside bar at a Paradise Island hotel

when she met a male US national who offered to buy her a drink. She later found herself inside the man’s hotel room with no memory of agreeing to go there.

She told officers she felt “frightened and confused,” recalling only that the man kissed her and that she suspects she may have been sexually assaulted. An 18-yearold US male was arrested in connection with that matter.

Hours earlier, shortly after 1.00am, a local woman reported that she was asleep at a residence on Blenheim Road, Stapleton Gardens, when she was awakened by someone touching her. She identified the person as a male relative who allegedly held her down and sexually assaulted her. Police said investigations into all three

incidents are ongoing.

The latest case involving a jet ski operator comes despite a series of regulatory changes and enforcement efforts aimed at improving safety in the water sports sector.

During an interview with Eyewitness News yesterday, acting Port Controller Senior Commander Berne Wright said the suspect was not a licensed jet ski operator but someone who worked with a licensed operator in another capacity.

US officials have previously dismissed explanations that perpetrators were unlicensed.

“In a way it’s worse that he’s not licensed because it means there can be people out there doing bad things,” former US Chargé d’Affaires Lisa Johnson said in 2016 following a similar incident involving an unlicensed jet

ski operator. “It means the enforcement and licensing system isn’t working necessarily as it should.”

Last year, Warren Johnson, director of visitor safety and security at the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, said authorities were “turning the corner” in cracking down on rogue jet ski operators following legislative reforms.

He said the changes had resulted in 15 arrests, more than $92,000 in fines, and the seizure of dozens of jet skis and other vessels for breaches of maritime laws.

Mr Johnson also disclosed that enforcement efforts were constrained by limited resources, with the Jet Ski Task Force possessing only six of the 12 vessels it required to effectively police problem beaches in New Providence.

He said the task force

Bahamian caught smuggling 14 migrants to Florida just months after serving time for similar offence ARREST from page one

spotted operating a 25-foot twin outboard vessel with 14 others on board. The group included Haitian, Ecuadorian and Dominican nationals. According to a sworn affidavit by US

Department of Homeland

Security special agent Joshua Rodriguez, the vessel was first detected on radar about 21 miles east of Miami-Dade

had identified concerns about rogue operators at Cabbage Beach, Junkanoo Beach, Goodman’s Bay, Saunders Beach and Montague Beach.

Officials also outlined plans to further restructure the industry, including the creation of a centralised jet ski facility at Goodman’s Bay, where operators would be managed through a controlled system and customers would pay through a vendor booth.

Earlier this month, Acting Port Controller Senior Commander Berne Wright said additional reforms had tightened oversight of the sector. He said operators are now required to obtain a Class D licence issued by the Port Department and undergo more extensive background checks, including deeper vetting with the assistance of

police.

Wright said operators must remain at least 200 feet from shore except at designated access points, stay within assigned areas, and are prohibited from entering hotels with guests.

Authorities have also introduced a code of conduct requiring operators to wear visible identification and company-issued uniforms, while barring harassment of tourists, disorderly behaviour and the carrying of weapons.

The Jet Ski Task Force, a multi-agency initiative, was established to coordinate enforcement, conduct joint operations and engage operators through training and monitoring. Government and jet ski task force officials did not respond to The Tribune’s requests for comment yesterday.

County on March 11.

Law enforcement responded and observed the vessel travelling west toward Florida without navigational lights and appearing heavily laden with passengers.

Officers tried to stop the vessel, but Mills allegedly ignored commands and continued toward Miami.

After exhausting other measures, officers fired warning shots. When Mills failed to stop, they discharged disabling rounds at the vessel’s engines, bringing it to a halt.

Authorities then boarded the vessel, where Mills was allegedly seen throwing a cellphone overboard.

Fifteen people were detained. Immigration checks revealed that none of the people were legally authorised to enter the US.

Mills was allegedly found with about $4,900 in US currency and $1,000 in Bahamian currency. Authorities said records show Mills was previously arrested and convicted in 2021 for a human smuggling operation. He was sentenced to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

He also acknowledged his prior conviction and said he spent four years and four months incarcerated. He also told authorities that he didn’t have permission to enter the US. He was subsequently charged with illegal re-entry and encouraging and inducing aliens to enter the United States.

Three others— Oswaldo Sisa Heredia, Palo Alvarez Rodriguez and Joel Perez Matos— were also charged in connection with the operation, each facing a count of illegal re-entry. They had previously been deported following convictions for offences including illegal entry and drug-related charges. Mills is scheduled to return to court later this month for his pretrial detention/bond hearing and his official arraignment, where he will formally enter a plea.

He has invoked his right to remain silent, refusing to speak about anything related to his case without his lawyer’s presence.

He was ordered removed on December 29 and deported to The Bahamas on January 8, 2026, after completing his sentence. During an interview with agents, Mills reportedly admitted to operating the vessel, seeing officers and attempting to flee.

FNM candidate questions

of developer and govt as another Grand Lucayan deadline missed

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A PROMISED start to construction at the Grand Lucayan has failed to materialise, raising fresh questions about the status of the long-delayed redevelopment despite assurances just weeks ago that the deal was still on track.

Developer Concord Wilshire had said it would announce the formal commencement of development and construction within two weeks of a February 23 statement dismissing reports that the deal had collapsed. That deadline has passed without any update, and no visible work has begun at the property.

Omar Isaacs, FNM candidate for West Grand Bahama and a former investment officer at the Bahamas Investment Authority, said yesterday that the continued delay raises “serious” concerns about the project and the credibility of both the investor and the government.

“It's an unfortunate turn of events, and we cannot help unfortunately to hold the credibility of the investor as well as the government in question now,” he said.

“As a former investment officer at the Bahamas Investment Authority, one must ask what kind of due diligence went into this whole process where we would have a start and stop such as this, and every timeline and date that was set in terms of a handover, nothing ever materialised.”

He said the prolonged uncertainty continues to affect former employees of the resort.

“Unfortunately, there are 200 persons whose lives are hanging in the balance because of the inability of this particular project to get off the ground,” he said.

“There's a lot of people that are hurting.”

Mr Isaacs said reopening the Grand Lucayan is critical to Grand Bahama’s economic recovery and broader investment climate.

“We need to see this particular operation up and running because it would signal to others that they can invest here,” he said.

He also pointed to what he described as warning signs following Concord Wilshire’s earlier announcement.

“When you see a press release goes out and it goes over the wire, and it isn't picked up by any other publications other than the publication within the

Mr Isaacs questioned whether adequate due diligence was carried out before the agreement was announced, pointing to repeated missed timelines.

jurisdiction that it's being touted in, that's a red flag for me,” he said.

“When I saw that Concord Wilshire was not posting their press releases concerning the Grand Lucayan in any other jurisdictions, I was taken aback by that, and I knew that it would have been a red flag for others who noticed it as well.”

Mr Isaacs urged the government to clarify the status of the deal.

“I just ask for the deputy prime minister and the prime minister to be open and honest with the Grand Bahamian public,” he said. “If you don't have a deal, just say so.”

“To have Grand Bahamians, especially the 200 families, in limbo like this over a four year period, it is not respectful, it is not something that I believe the leaders of our country should do.”

Efforts to contact Richard Bosworth, chief executive officer of Lucayan Resort at Concord Wilshire Group in Florida, were unsuccessful, as calls to the number listed on the company’s website went unanswered up to press time.

Keishla Adderley, deputy press secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, was also contacted for an update but did not respond up to press time.

PAHO report flags high maternal mortality rates

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

MATERNAL and infant mortality in The Bahamas have fluctuated at concerning levels in recent years, with the latest available data pointing to persistent weaknesses in the country’s health system despite reform efforts, a new regional health strategy warns.

A report by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) said the maternal mortality ratio climbed to a high of 248.8 deaths per 100,000 live births before easing to 212.1 in 2022, while infant mortality rose to 29 deaths per 1,000 live births before declining to 22.7.

Though both indicators have shown some improvement, the latest available data suggest they remain elevated and volatile for a country at The Bahamas’ level of economic development, pointing to uneven outcomes in areas closely tied to the health system's performance.

The findings are contained in PAHO’s Country Cooperation Strategy for The Bahamas for 2026 to 2031, the first such framework outlining priority areas for collaboration with the government.

The report relies on the most recent available health data, much of which runs up to 2022, and links the country’s challenges not only to lifestyle-related illnesses but also to structural issues within the system, including access gaps, resource constraints, and the complexities of delivering care

across an archipelago. It comes as noncommunicable diseases continue to dominate the country’s health profile, accounting for nearly 60 percent of all deaths. Conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and hypertension remain the leading drivers of mortality.

The report paints a picture of a population facing significant health risks.

More than three-quarters of adults are overweight or obese, while hypertension affects over a third of the population. Physical inactivity and poor diets are also widespread, contributing to the growing burden of chronic disease.

At the same time, the country’s demographic profile is shifting, with an ageing population expected to place additional strain on health services in the coming years.

Beyond disease patterns, the report highlights persistent barriers to care. Access to services remains uneven, with residents in the Family Islands face logistical challenges in obtaining timely treatment.

Clinics in New Providence serve far larger populations than those on less populous islands, reflecting disparities in resource distribution.

Patients also face long wait times for specialist care, limited availability of certain services in the public system, and cost barriers when forced to seek private treatment.

The health system is described as complex, with overlapping responsibilities between public and private providers and multiple

funding sources that contribute to inefficiencies.

Against this backdrop, PAHO’s strategy outlines a series of priorities to strengthen the system, including improving access to quality care, expanding the health workforce, enhancing surveillance and data systems, and increasing resilience to public health emergencies and climate-related threats.

The plan also points to continued expansion of the National Health Insurance programme, greater integration of public and private healthcare delivery, and increased use of digital health technologies, including telemedicine.

The report also notes that The Bahamas, despite having one of the highest per capita incomes in the region, continues to face persistent inequities in access to care and health outcomes.

It argues that addressing these issues will require sustained coordination across government, the private sector, and international partners, along with a greater focus on prevention, primary care, and system efficiency.

PAHO said the strategy was developed through consultations with national stakeholders and is intended to guide technical cooperation over the next six years. While it does not prescribe specific policy decisions, it provides a framework for tackling what it describes as the country’s most pressing health challenges and for improving outcomes across the population.

Family Island hoteliers ‘wait and see’ on fuel hike impact

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

WITH local airlines

warning of higher airfares due to rising global fuel prices driven by the Middle East conflict, some family-island hotel operators say they are taking a “wait and see” approach on how tourism numbers will be affected.

Molly McIntosh, general manager at the Bluff House Beach Resort and Marina in Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, told  The Tribune yesterday that bookings are strong for now, but she worries there could be a slowdown just ahead of the summer season.

“In my opinion, it’s going to definitely impact tourism,” she said. “It hasn’t yet. No, I mean, my marine is full, my rooms are full, but it’s going to probably be take a little longer here, as it does sometimes.”

She warned that rising costs for food and operations will likely force hotels to raise prices, adding: “It’s going to definitely be a tough one to follow, especially when we’re looking at the possibility of such a good season.”

Arlene Rolle, manager of Augusta Bay, a small boutique hotel in Exuma, said officials are closely

monitoring the situation but remain hopeful.

She added that the hotel is regularly frequented by locals visiting the island for festivals and other activities.

“We’re fully booked right now so I cannot give an honest answer on impact,” she said.

“We’re not feeling it at the moment because our local clientele is coming through with the bookings.”

Most Exuma residents rely on small charter flights, as Western Air is the only commercial airline offering service to the island.

The airline’s chief has warned customers to brace for higher airfares after the carrier was told its fuel costs could surge by more than 40 percent due to the Middle East conflict’s impact on global oil prices.

When asked if she expected the higher fares to affect bookings, she said they hoped not but admitted, “no one never knows.”

“We are only 17 rooms so the impact may be very small to us. So our numbers are still the same anticipated to be the same throughout the end of the year but one never knows.”

Cindy Romer, assistant manager at Hideaways Resort in Georgetown, Exuma, said residents have already been complaining

about the high airfares.

“I think it will impact locals especially coming into Exuma because bahamasair, the tickets are already pricey so it probably will hurt the locals,” she said.

She added that the resort expects to see some impact, though it is unclear to what extent. Nonetheless, she said she doubts it will affect their rates.

“As it stands right now, we hadn’t seen a decline or decrease run our bookings. Our guests are still coming in and so we’re hopeful that it remains,” she added.

Mrs McIntosh, meanwhile, said upcoming trips to the Palm Beach Boat Show will help gauge potential impacts on tourism, as much of their business comes from the Palm Beach area.

“We want to make sure that they vacation in The Bahamas particularly with us so we’ve got to make sure our product is top of the line, our service and that they’re getting the best value we can provide for them without us losing money,” she said.

Local economists have also warned that Middle East war could also threaten the nation’s tourism performance if it becomes a protracted conflict with no end in sight.

“If there is a prolonged impact, you can rest assured there will be an impact on tourism spending where you have these uncertainties and people

perceive their jobs in the long-run may be threatened,” said Rupert Pinder, assistant professor of economics at the University of The Bahamas (UB)

“People will be more cautious on spending, particularly discretionary spending, and tourism is largely discretionary spending.”

PM warns of rising costs amid global oil price surge

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

SURGING global oil prices driven by conflict in the Middle East are expected to place pressure on electricity, transportation and food costs in The Bahamas, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said yesterday, as he sought to reassure the public that existing reforms will help cushion the impact.

Addressing the issue, Mr Davis, who did not take questions from the press, said the conflict has disrupted a key global energy transit route, sending oil prices from around $70 earlier this year to well over $100 a barrel.

“This increase, and the uncertainties about what will come next, are putting pressure on oil prices, shipping, and supply chains,” he said in a speech at the Office of the Prime Minister.

He said the effects of higher fuel prices will filter through to electricity, freight and transport costs, and eventually grocery prices.

“For a small island country like ours, that matters,” he added. “When fuel prices rise in a global market, that has an impact on electricity costs, freight costs, transport

costs, and, in time, prices at the grocery store.”

Mr Davis said the government has been monitoring developments, engaging energy partners and planning for different scenarios.

He said policy changes introduced earlier in his administration have strengthened the country’s position, particularly energy reforms aimed at improving efficiency and managing risk.

“That work is still ongoing, but it means we are able to say that your electricity bills, which are lower already from the changes, will not be impacted by the current crisis,” he said.

The prime minister said he was due to meet with the Retailers Association to discuss the upcoming removal of Value Added Tax on food, set to take effect on April 1, and how to ensure the measure delivers relief.

“That meeting is focused on one thing: how we work together ahead of the April 1 VAT reduction on food to bring costs down for Bahamian families.”

He said the government will continue working with retailers to ensure savings reach consumers.

“My government will stay close to this issue,” he said. “We will work with retailers,

we will listen carefully, and we will keep pushing for results that people can feel in their everyday lives.”

Mr Davis also addressed regional security concerns linked to the conflict, warning that instability can lead to illegal migration, maritime smuggling and other unlawful activity.

“The Royal Bahamas Defence Force remains on alert,” he said, adding that RBDF assets are monitoring the country’s maritime domain from the Great Bahama Bank to Cay Sal Bank and Anguilla Cay, in coordination with the United States Coast Guard and other partners.

In recent operations, RBDF personnel intercepted 57 migrants in the Little Inagua area over two days, with all people transported safely to Great Inagua as investigations continue.

“That operation is a reminder that border security is daily work. It requires investment, coordination, readiness, and strong partnerships,” Mr Davis said.

He said the government has invested in strengthening the Defence Force’s capacity and is maintaining close communication with regional and international partners.

“I have also directed the

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fred Mitchell, to remain engaged with his regional colleagues,” he said.

“All options are on the table to protect the livelihoods of Bahamians.”

“These are serious times.”

“But this is also a time for calm heads, steady hands, and a responsible united team in government.”

The Tribune Limited

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Rules without enforcement are meaningless

T HE news of another alleged sex assault by a jet ski operator is a sad sign that our country has yet to deal with a long-standing problem – as well as an indicator of how commonplace sexual violence remains in The Bahamas.

Police say that three sexual assaults were reported within hours of one another on Monday – all separate incidents. We would say unconnected but of course there is one connection – that so many predators exist in our midst and feel they can attack without fear of retribution.

Of the three incidents on Monday, one involved a jet ski operator who allegedly took a US woman to a sandbank and sexually assaulted her. The next involved a US woman at a poolside bar at a Paradise Island hotel who met a US man who offered to buy her a drink – she later awoke inside the man’s hotel room with no memory of going there and suspected she had been sexually assaulted. In the third incident, a Bahamian woman in Stapleton Gardens woke up to find someone touching her. Reportedly, a male relative held her down and sexually assaulted her. Of those cases, one involved a US attacker, two involved local attackers.

The issue of sex attacks by jet ski operators is one that has led to a number of alerts from the US Embassy over the years. This latest incident is no different – with US Ambassador Herschel Walker rightly calling for action “without further delay” to reform the jet ski industry.

Some action has been taken – earlier this month, The Tribune reported that jet ski operators are now barred from riding with guests under new maritime regulations.

The rules also set limits for jet ski operators – who must remain at least 200 feet from shore except at designated access points, in order to protect swimmers.

Operators also have to wear visible identification cards, company-issued uniform shirts, and register with the Port Department.

New regulations, however, are only of value if they are enforced.

Regarding this latest incident, the acting Port Controller, Senior Commander Berne Wright, said the suspect is not a licensed jet ski operator, but someone who worked with a licensed operator in another capacity.

Ambassador Walker pinpointed the problem. He said: “Without regular, consistent enforcement, patrols on the beaches, and increased professionalisation of the industry, the situation will not change. We look to all stakeholder agencies to implement without further delay the multi-agency Jet Ski Task Force’s comprehensive plan for safety reform.”

Mr Walker is absolutely right. There is absolutely no point in introducing a raft of rules and regulations if the patrols are not going out there to enforce them.

It needs to be a matter of routine that any jet ski operator is required to show their ID, show their licence. It should just be a regular part of their day-to-day operation, because law enforcement is out there checking so often that there is no possibility of an unlicensed operator infiltrating the industry – who could be in a position to break the rules on riding with a guest and to take advantage of them while doing so.

Housing crisis a govt policy failure

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE housing crisis in The Bahamas is no longer just a market issue; it has become a policy failure.

For years, Bahamians have heard the same rhetoric from the government: housing initiatives, subdivisions, lots, construction, new opportunities, and promises of relief. Yet for the average citizen, the central problem remains unchanged. Homes are still too expensive, financing is still difficult to access, wages do not match housing costs, and homeownership remains out of reach for far too many working Bahamians.

For a licensed operator, the risk should be that they face losing their whole business, licence and all, if they break those rules. That prevents them from even having the possibility of being alone with a guest, let alone to be so secluded that they can launch a sex attack. It is not new that this has been a problem.

In September last year, after the death of a US man after a boat collided with the jet ski he had rented, then US Chargé d’Affaires Kimberley Furnish reflected the wider problem when she called for “not one more needless death, not one more death, not one more assault of a US citizen woman”. Tribune columnist Diane Phillips at the time called on the industry to be up in arms on the issue themselves, saying “you should be calling for an enforcement unit dedicated to water safety, resources to check every jet ski for safety vests and a commitment by the operator to obey the law or understand his licence will be revoked”.

The professionals in the industry should be at the forefront of these demands – making sure that they keep the cowboys and the criminals out.

A full decade ago, back in 2016, another Chargé d’Affaires, Lisa Johnson, warned about the involvement of people who were unlicensed after another incident. She said: “In a way it’s worse that he’s not licensed, because it means there can be people out there doing bad things. It means the enforcement and licensing system isn’t working necessarily as it should.”

The warnings have been out there long enough, the rule changes have taken place – and yet still we have another allegation. It’s not fixed –we’re still letting the predators have an opportunity to attack.

The claims of the sex attack will be evaluated by the law – but the suggestion that an unlicensed individual took a guest for a ride in breach of the new rules ought to be a matter for tearing up the actual licence holder in itself. It should never have been allowed to happen – and the industry itself has to take charge of that.

Meanwhile, officials need to beef up the patrols, carry out the checks, and do so consistently. Weed out the worst so the industry only has the best – and so that guests can feel sure they will be safe.

The wider issue remains. The prevalence of sexual assault in society, and the sense that somehow attackers can act with impunity, is a bigger problem that we need to solve on a cultural level.

No one is entitled to take what they want sexually from any other person. Anyone who does not respect consent should be the subject of public scorn. No laughing as someone grabs at another person without their permission. No brushing off allegations of sex attacks because the attacker is your friend, your cousin, or even a person in a position of power. Culturally, we need to take this seriously – and that goes far beyond the beaches and the problems of the jet ski industry. For now, we have accepted that there is a problem in that industry –now we need to enforce the changes to stop it.

This is not ‘Progress’; it is failure disguised as policy.

The Government Is Failing on Housing Because It Is Failing on Homeownership.

The government continues to approach housing as if simply announcing more units will solve the problem. However, the crisis has never been solely about construction. It has always been about whether ordinary Bahamians can actually afford to buy the homes being discussed. A country cannot resolve a housing crisis while leaving the majority of its people locked out of mortgage qualifications, down-payment requirements, and the income thresholds demanded by lenders.

That is precisely where we stand.

The Bahamas does not just have a housing shortage; it has a broken ownership system. The government has failed to confront this issue honestly.

Too many Bahamians are working, paying rent, and contributing to others’ mortgage

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I SAW the Minister on TV discussing the case of the dog being shot by the corrections officer. I was sickened to see how he sat there smiling, making it seem like the shooting of the dog was no big deal. He also said the case was closed and the officer in question would not be punished in any way.

This is why, in my opinion, our society is in the state it is in. We are led by men wearing coat suits who have no substance. Their focus is to say what suits their party and not what is right. They care about protecting their own not having integrity. Not one Minister came out and said that the dog did not have to be shot. It was not necessary. That situation could have been handled differently.

The Bible says woe to those who call evil good and good evil. We are led by people who try to twist and turn obvious things even when they are caught on video. It is no wonder then, why animal abuse is not taken seriously by the government. It is no wonder that they will not write

payments through tenancy, yet they still cannot qualify to buy a home of their own. Too many families are struggling to survive in an economy where land prices, building materials, labor, insurance, and financing costs keep rising, while incomes remain stagnant.

Many citizens are being asked to be patient while the dream of homeownership slips further away.

This is what policy failure looks like: not simply the absence of houses but the lack of a credible path to ownership.

The government cannot continue to claim success by pointing to announcements, press releases, and ceremonial groundbreakings. The true measure of housing policy is not how many units are proposed; it is how many Bahamians can realistically purchase one. And by that measure, the system is failing. If the government were serious, it would stop treating housing as a public relations exercise and recognise it as an economic access issue. It would focus on title reform urgently because land without a clear, financeable title does not create ownership. The government would work with lenders to modernise underwriting so that rent history, verified cash flow, and actual payment behavior are taken into account, particularly for self-employed and informal-sector workers. It should create real down-payment support, shared-equity tools, lease-purchase protections, and credit

enhancements for firsttime buyers. Instead, much of the housing conversation remains focused on optics.

The country needs more than houses; it needs mortgage-ready citizens, titled land, lower transaction barriers, better financing structures, faster approvals, and policies that reflect the actual income realities of Bahamian households. The government needs to acknowledge that mere supply will not resolve a crisis rooted in affordability, access to credit, and weak ownership pathways.

Most importantly, it needs leadership that understands a basic truth: housing policy that does not lead to homeownership is incomplete. The Bahamian people do not need more announcements; they need a system that works. Until the government addresses the gap between home prices and what citizens can realistically afford, every promise regarding housing will ring hollow. Furthermore, until it builds policies focused on ownership rather than just headlines, the housing crisis will persist, regardless of how often officials claim they are addressing it.

The real scandal is not that Bahamians aspire to own homes; the real scandal is that Public Policy still makes that aspiration more difficult than it should be. FinTech, PropTech, and TravelTech Specialist.

EDEN MERRY JOHNSON Freeport, Grand Bahama March 12, 2026

morals

laws that offer jail time for animal abuse and neglect.

What was done to that dog is not ok. Bahamians must remember when a police officer shot a dog on an enclosed patio on kemp road. How would the Minister justify that? Something must be done. These law enforcement officers are walking around shooting people’s animals without a thought. Grown men who are supposed to have matured minds and common sense. If this is what is being done in public, imagine what is being done in secret. Why are they so relaxed killing living creatures? I pray that this government is voted out. I pray that Bahamians can see that this government reeks with compromise and that they have no standards. They do not care about right and wrong. They care about making speeches to try and deceive the public. Our nation is in trouble. There is compromise in many areas and our nation is suffering because of it. There is compromise in immigration so Haitians are walking around with

passports but cannot speak English because they just got here. There is compromise in health care because doctors are allowed to injure and neglect patients while in many cases the PHA plays dumb and will not hold them accountable. There is compromise in education because students can attack and curse out teachers or administrators and nothing serious is done to them. And there is compromise in regard to protecting animals because a grown man in a uniform shot a dog that could have been chased away and his superiors see nothing wrong with it. There are many other examples. The amount of moral decay in this country is horrible and needs to be addressed. If we do not have leaders who set examples for our young people or uphold principles of decency, they need to go. May they be removed from leadership quickly in this election.

A BAHAMIAN WITH MORALS Nassau, March 13, 2026.

Extremely rare non-custodial sentence handed down in loaded firearm case

COURT from page one

had been recovered from Rolle’s waist while he was inside the nightclub.

Despite the seriousness of the offence — involving a firearm in a crowded public place — Rolle’s attorney, Murio Ducille, argued for a non-custodial sentence during Tuesday’s sentencing.

During his submissions, Mr Ducille urged the court to impose a non-custodial sentence, submitting that the circumstances did not warrant imprisonment, pointing to Rolle’s clean record and good character. He also highlighted other cases where financial penalties were handed down in firearm matters, including a high-profile case involving an American businessman

who reportedly paid a substantial fine - reportedly in the region of one millioninstead of serving jail time.

However, prosecutors submitted that Rolle’s matter concluded only after full trial, and not at the earliest opportunity. It was further argued that the defendant never accepted responsibility, but instead made false claims that he had been framed.

Mechanic denies stealing $4K in parts from customer’s car

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MECHANIC has denied stealing $4,000 worth of car parts from a vehicle that had been in his possession for more than a year.

Prosecutors alleged yesterday that Ronald McKenzie, 60, stole parts valued at $4,000 and damaged a 2006 Nissan Cube belonging to Deanna Butler

between September 27, 2024 and December 4, 2025.

The complainant had left her car with McKenzie for repairs but later allegedly found it with missing and broken parts after police were called.

After electing to proceed before a magistrate, McKenzie pleaded not guilty to stealing by reason of service and causing damage before Acting Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans.

Inspector Deon Barr, the prosecutor, raised no objection to bail.

McKenzie was granted $5,000 bail with one or two sureties. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant and to report to the Carmichael Road Police Station every Thursday by 9pm.

His trial begins on June 15.

Alphonso Lewis represented the accused.

PROBATION FOR NSA WORKER FOR STOLEN ITEMS

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A NATIONAL Sports Authority employee was placed on probation for six months yesterday after admitting to receiving more than $1,000 worth of property from the agency last week.

Brian Nabbie, 29, was found with $1,366.50 in construction materials and cable belonging to the

Sports Authority on March 15. He was accused of trespassing on the authority’s property at Mychal Thompson Boulevard and University Drive and stealing the items on that date. Nabbie pleaded guilty to receiving but denied charges of stealing and trespassing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Shaka Serville.

Following his guilty plea to the receiving charge, the

remaining charges were withdrawn.

Nabbie was ordered to fully reimburse the complainant for the value of the property and to be of good behaviour for six months.

Failure to comply with either condition will result in his conviction and a sixmonth prison term.

He returns to court on June 1 for proof of payment.

Inspector Cordero Farrington prosecuted the case.

BABYSITTER FINED $3K FOR LEAVING BOY UNATTENDED

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A JAMAICAN woman was fined yesterday for leaving a six-year-old boy she was babysitting unattended in Garden Hills last weekend.

The boy reportedly wandered to a nearby bus station before the matter was brought to police attention and he was returned home.

Notwithstanding his character, the prosecution stressed that the defendant ought to have known the grave and potentially fatal risks associated with carrying a loaded firearm into a crowded public establishment.

They urged the court to send a strong message, recommending a four-year prison sentence to reflect the dangers of carrying a loaded weapon into a crowded nightclub.

Magistrate Smith outlined the challenges inherent in balancing statutory provisions with the individual circumstances of offenders.

He questioned whether jail was necessary for a firsttime offender.

Mr Smith acknowledged Rolle’s otherwise clean record and “redeemable qualities”, ultimately deciding that a custodial sentence was not mandatory in the circumstances.

The magistrate indicated that in some cases the Director of Public Prosecutions have allowed non-custodial outcomes in similar matters.

Mr Smith warned Rolle that he had narrowly avoided prison.

Addressing him directly, the magistrate told him to “walk circumspect”, making

clear that he must tread carefully going forward.

Rolle was fined $10,000 for possession of an unlicensed firearm and $2,000 for possession of ammunition, both to be paid by March 20. He was also ordered to pay $1,000 to the Court Service Counsel. Failure to pay will result in a one-year prison sentence on each count, to run concurrently at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

In addition, Rolle was placed on two years’ probation. Any breach, and he faces a custodial sentence of up to four years.

Pathologist testifies teen shot at close range in double murder

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A PATHOLOGIST testified yesterday that one of two teenage boys killed in Yellow Elder Gardens in 2017 was shot at close range to the head, as the double murder trial continued in the Supreme Court.

Dr Caryn Sands gave evidence in the 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.

Dr Sands said Lindsey died from gunshot wounds to the head and torso. She said he had seven gunshot entry wounds and one graze.

wound entered Lindsey’s torso from the right side, penetrated his rib, lung and heart, and exited the left side of his chest. She added that a wound to the abdomen penetrated the small intestine, causing spillage, and also struck the right groin.

Dr Sands said Lindsey also suffered gunshot wounds to his left arm, right forearm and right hand, resulting in a fractured humerus and skin lacerations.

Asked whether Lindsey was running at the time he was shot, Dr Sands said it was possible that both the deceased and the assailant were moving.

She said Lindsey’s body was identified by his mother at the morgue on March 20, 2017.

Dr Sands said Williams died from gunshot wounds to the head, torso and left arm.

had four gunshot entry wounds but no evidence of close-range discharge.

She confirmed to defence attorney Marianne Cadet that no bullets or fragments were recovered from either body.

After being shown the death certificates she signed, Dr Sands confirmed the addresses of the deceased as Knowles Drive and Plantol Street.

Earlier in the trial, a police officer testified that Scavella admitted to the shootings during an interview on May 6, 2017. Assistant Superintendent of Police Arnold Strachan told the court the accused said the two boys approached him while he was at his home in Yellow Elder and asked him to help remove a car battery and tyres from a vehicle near the baseball stadium, an area known as the Gulf.

Douglas was fined $3,000 or faces six months in prison.

Upon payment of the fine or completion of the sentence, she is to be handed over to the Department of Immigration.

Sergeant 3004 Forbes prosecuted the case.

Sophia Douglas, 35, pleaded guilty to cruelty to children before Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr. Alphonso Lewis, the defence attorney, apologised for his client’s actions and asked the court to temper justice with mercy.

She told the court a gunshot wound to Lindsey’s forehead showed evidence of close-range discharge. Using a morgue photograph, she explained that gunshot stippling indicated the barrel of the weapon was about two to three feet from the deceased.

Dr Sands said the bullet fractured Lindsey’s skull, entered the brain causing bleeding, and exited through the back of his head.

She said another gunshot

She told the court that a gunshot wound to Williams’ head fractured his skull and caused brain bleeding. Another wound entered from his back and penetrated his spleen, aorta, rib, small intestine, liver and kidney, resulting in spillage of intestinal contents.

She said a gunshot wound to Williams’ left arm also contributed to blood loss.

Dr Sands said Williams

The officer said the accused told him he shot Lindsey while he was removing the battery and that Williams was working on the tyres. He said the accused chased Williams as he tried to flee and shot him before returning home. ASP Strachan said the accused admitted using a 9mm Luger pistol but refused to read or sign the record of interview.

Shaneka Carey and Davina Pinder are the prosecutors.

Alicia Wallace

UN Commission breaks 70-year consensus streak

IN MARCH of every year, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is held in New York City, bringing Member States together to make commitments toward gender equality and the rights of women. During the two week session, scores of high-level events, side events, and parallel events are held at the United Nations Headquarters and off site in Manhattan with Member States, nongovernment organizations, and other United Nations entities in attendance.

Participants discuss the progress in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action (1995) along with other agreements, gaps in implementation and full realization of women’s rights, and commitments to accelerate progress for the rights of women and girls.

This year, the priority theme is “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers.” Most sessions focused on legal systems, court procedures, and the experiences of women reporting gender-based violence.

The priority theme sets the tone for the entire session, beginning with the drafting of the Agreed Conclusions which takes place long before March.

Traditionally, the Agreed Conclusions are adopted by all United Nations Member States; however, this for the first time in 70 years, consensus was not reached as the U.S. voted against the Agreed Conclusions after its request for deferral and its eight proposed amendments were denied.

While some States suggested that the Commission delay the vote, allowing for

more time to reach consensus, the CSW Chair, Maritza Chan Valverde (Costa Rica) said, "We are convinced that the text represents the most balanced outcome achievable at this stage.” She asserted that we cannot afford to allow any regression on women’s rights and gender equality, noting the “hard-won progress” resulting from the labor of many people who came before us.

The U.S. voted no, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Mali, Mauritania, and Saudi Arabia abstained, and the 37 other States in CSW voted in favor of the Agreed Conclusions. Though many are relieved that the U.S. was not allowed to derail the process and significantly weaken the Agreed Conclusions, there are concerns about the move away from consensus and what may lay ahead in multilateral spaces.

At its press conference held on Tuesday, March 10, the Women’s Rights Caucus (WRC) expressed its support for:

• Inclusion of reparations as a landmark acknowledgment of structural and historical injustice and of States’ obligations toward those most harmed

• Recognition that policies and programs must respond to the needs of survivors of gender-based violence, centering survivor agency and lived experience within justice responses (Note that The Government of The Bahamas is in possession of The Bahamas Women’s Health and Wellbeing Survey report which includes a coordinated care model toward centering survivors in the mechanisms and services linked to legal justice)

• References to flexible, multi-year core funding

for civil society organizations and protection against reprisals, which are vital to sustaining the ecosystem of organizations advancing gender justice on the ground

• Recognition of the impacts of climate change and of traditional and community-based justice systems, affirming diverse legal and cultural pathways through which communities pursue accountability and redress

• Explicit call for states

to consider acceding to or ratifying the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and to limit or withdraw reservations (Note that The Bahamas ratified CEDAW in 1995 and reserved on Articles 2(a) and 9(2) and the CEDAW Committee, in its Concluding Observations in 2018) called for these reservations to be lifted

• A landmark commitment to comprehensive legislative review to identify and

amend discriminatory provisions, including a direct reference to family law and discrimination in family relations, representing an important step toward dismantling legal systems that entrench inequality (Note that The Bahamas engaged UN Women to conduct a review of all legislation and, despite a discriminatory law review forum being held in 2022, the report has yet to be published.)

The WRC noted that areas in need of further attention include:

• Naming of LGBTIQ+ communities (finding references to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination insufficient)

• Agreed formulations on bodily autonomy

• Proliferation of caveats compared to earlier drafts, recognizing that these are dangerous as they create openings for States to narrow obligations, restrict protections, and evade accountability

• Attempts to introduce regressive amendments targeting sexual and reproductive health and rights, fundamental freedoms, intersectionality, and reparations

The CSW70 Agreed Conclusions zero draft is available at unwomen.org.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1

The Bahamas National Youth Choir spring concert. Purchase tickets for Da Good Ole Days in the Winston V. Saunders Theater at The Dundas Center for the Performing Arts on Mackey Street. The Bahamas National Youth Choir will be back at home, for the first time since 2021,

on Thursday, March 26 at 8pm, Friday, March 27 at 8pm, and Saturday, March 28 at 1pm and 8pm. Call 825-1977 or email bnycsecretary@gmail.com to secure your tickets.

2

All We Want is Everything: How We Dismantle Male Supremacy by Soraya Chemaly. Join Equality Bahamas and Poinciana Paper Press for Feminist Book Club this evening at 12 Parkgate Road. The discussion begins at 6pm. One reviewer said, “Superbly written and referenced, clear and impactful without being unnecessarily inflammatory, Chemaly reflects on how male supremacy operates in our society, along with its implications and outcomes. Discussing things like intersectionality, othering, emotional labour, and gender roles, Chemaly uses a mixture of statistics and stories to convey her point. Despite the grim picture and the framework of control and oppression, the overall message is infused with a powerful, contagious hope and vision for a more egalitarian interdependent future that I am eager to build.” Register to join Feminist Book Club: tiny. cc/fbc2026. Register to vote. To register to vote, an applicant must prove Bahamian citizenship and that they are 18 years or older. A Bahamian passport is the preferred document, though an applicant may present a Bahamian birth certificate along with government-issued ID and the applicants’ mother’s Bahamian passport, birth certificate, or voter’s card. Those who registered to vote in the last election and hold a purple voter’s card do not need to register again. Those who moved since the last election need to register

Adding multimedia Yolanthe Cabau honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award for her global fight against child sexual exploitation

During the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Week, actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Yolanthe Cabau, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York City Bar Association in recognition of her work combating the sexual exploitation of children.

Held in New York, the awards evening emphasised the importance of safety within the justice system, recognising that protecting vulnerable children also requires safeguarding the frontline teams working to create change. As the founder of the anti-child sex trafficking NGO Free a Girl, the

Lifetime Achievement Award recognises Cabau’s eighteen years of dedication to rescuing children from sexual exploitation worldwide and supporting their path to justice, recovery, and empowerment. Free a Girl is a women-led organisation working to combat child sexual exploitation through undercover rescue

missions that also support the identification and arrest of perpetrators.

Cabau remains actively involved in the organisation’s work and regularly participates in undercover rescue operations with their investigation teams and partners around the globe. Her work in Nepal was documented in her Netflix reality series YOLANTHE, which follows her life and mission. The first season aired in the summer of 2025, and a second season is currently in production.

Yolanthe Cabau, Founder of Free a Girl, commented:

“I do not stand alone in receiving this recognition from the New York City Bar Association. I accept it on behalf of every brave survivor and member of our team. Ending this injustice requires a united effort at both the local and global level to raise awareness, deliver justice and protect children, and we remain committed to driving that change.”

Child sexual exploitation is a grave violation of human rights. Recent estimates suggest that hundreds of millions of children worldwide are affected by

online sexual exploitation and abuse, with less than 1% of cases resulting in conviction.

Yolanthe Cabau, further added:

“Our undercover operations prove exactly why our work is so urgently needed. Free a Girl fights one of the most horrific crimes in the world. Together, with our team, our field partners, law enforcement, donors and ambassadors, we are driving accountability and survivor-centred action to end this global emergency, helping survivors access justice, aftercare and survivor empowerment. This is just the beginning of our work.”

Founded in 2008, Free a Girl has a clear mission to rescue children from sexual exploitation and provide them with a safe place to recover. Free a Girl conducts undercover missions through its own teams and partners, supporting police investigations actively working to arrest perpetrators responsible for child sexual exploitation, including those involved in child sexual exploitation tourism. To date, the organisation has rescued more than 9,000 children globally. Once rescued, Free a Girl supports the children in their rehabilitation, healing and empowerment process. In 2017, it launched its School for Justice, providing survivors with the opportunity to rebuild their lives and contribute to a safer future for others. Graduates have gone on to become lawyers, journalists, social workers, and activists, using their experiences to drive systemic change.

Nvidia CEO heralds ‘inference inflection’ as next phase of AI boom, backed by predicted $1 trillion in orders

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang on Monday elaborated on his vision for keeping his company at the forefront of the artificial intelligence boom that he predicted will produce a $1 trillion backlog in orders within the next year.

Sporting his signature black leather jacket, Huang spent more than two hours sauntering across a stage in a packed arena in San Jose, California, explaining how Nvidia’s processors became indispensable AI components and highlighting the products that he believes will keep the company in the catbird seat.

Huang, 63, also touched upon many of the themes that he has been trumpeting since he emerged as one of Silicon Valley’s most influential voices during the past few years, including his thesis that the AI buildup remains in its infancy.

“We reinvented computing, just like the PC (personal computer) revolution and the internet revolution,” Huang proclaimed. “We are now at the beginning of a new platform change.”

To hammer home his points, Huang predicted that Nvidia will be grappling with a $1 trillion backlog in orders for its chips by the end of the year, doubling his estimate from a year ago.

Nvidia has leveraged its dominant position in the AI chip market so far to increase its annual revenue from $27 billion in 2022 to $216 billion last year — a growth rate that has translated into a $4.5 trillion market value for the Santa Clara, California, company.

But Nvidia’s once-torrid stock has cooled since the company briefly became the first to surpass a $5 trillion market value last October amid worries that the AI buzz is overblown.

“This is just a whiteknuckle period for the technology industry,” said Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives.

Even after Nvidia released a quarterly report in late February that far exceeded analyst forecasts and management provided a rosy outlook, the company’s stock price is still down by 6% from where it stood before those numbers came out. After Huang’s disclosure about an anticipated doubling in backlogged chip orders, Nvidia’s shares edged up by nearly 2% to close Monday at $183.22.

While analysts expect Nvidia’s revenue to surpass $330 billion for the upcoming year, the company is facing its first serious challenges in the AI chip market as other technology powerhouses such as Google and Facebook’s corporate parent Meta Platforms try to develop their own processors.

Nvidia’s potential growth is being held back by security

NASA clears its Artemis moon rocket for an April launch with four astronauts following repairs

By MARCIA DUNN

AP Aerospace Writer

NASA cleared its moon rocket on Thursday for an April launch with four astronauts after completing the latest round of repairs.

The 322-foot (98-meter) rocket will roll out of the hangar and back to the pad next week at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, leading to a launch attempt as early as April 1. It will mark humanity’s first trip to the moon in more than 50 years.

The Artemis II crew should have blasted off on a lunar flyaround earlier this year, but fuel leaks and other problems with the Space Launch System rocket interfered.

Although NASA managed to plug the hydrogen fuel leaks at the pad in February, a helium-flow issue forced the space agency to return the rocket to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs, bumping the mission to April.

The space agency has only six days at the beginning of April to launch before standing down until April 30 into early May.

“It’s a test flight and it is not without risk, but our team and our hardware are ready,” NASA’s Lori Glaze

told reporters at the end of the two-day flight readiness review. Glaze and other NASA officials declined to provide the risk probabilities for the upcoming mission.

History has shown that a new rocket has essentially a 50% chance of success, said John Honeycutt, chair of the mission management team.

There’s so much gap since the only other SLS flight — more than three years ago without anyone on board — that it’s difficult to understand any risk assessment numbers, Honeycutt said.

“It’s not the first flight,” Glaze said. “But we’re also not in a regular cadence. So we definitely have significantly more risk than a flight system that’s flying all the time.”

Late last month NASA’s new administrator, Jared Isaacman, announced a major overhaul of the Artemis program to speed things up and, by doing so, reduce risk.

Dissatisfied with the slow pace and lengthy gaps between lunar missions, he added an extra practice flight in orbit around Earth for next year. That is now the new Artemis

and trade barriers imposed by the U.S. that have impeded the company’s ability to sell its advanced chips in China.

Huang envisions Nvidia maintaining its instrumental role in AI by continuing to feed the feverish demand for chips that power chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini and expanding its reach into the emerging market for inference processors.

Once an AI tool is trained, inference chips enable the technology to take what it has learned and produce responses — whether it be writing a document or creating an image — more efficiently than the processors that were used while the large language models were being built.

“The inference inflection has arrived,” Huang said. To help navigate its transition into the inference field, Nvidia struck a multi-billion dollar licensing deal with market specialist Groq that included the hiring of that startup’s top engineers.

“Nvidia isn’t going to cede any market share to Google or Meta,” said Ives, who believes Nvidia’s market value will eclipse $6 trillion during the next year or so.

III, with the moon landing by two astronauts shifted to Artemis IV. Isaacman is targeting one and maybe even two lunar landings in 2028.

NASA’s Office of Inspector General warned in an audit this week that the space agency needs to come up with a rescue plan for its lunar crews. Landing near the moon’s south pole will be riskier than it was for the Apollo astronauts closer to the equator given the rough polar terrain, according to the report.

The report cited the lunar landers as the top contributor for potential loss of crew during the first few Artemis moon landings. It listed the space agency’s loss-of-crew threshold at 1-in-40 for lunar operations and 1-in-30 for Artemis missions overall.

Contracted by NASA to provide the moon landers for astronauts, Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin have accelerated work in order to meet the new 2028 target date. The inspector general’s office said many technical challenges remain including refuelling their landers in orbit around Earth before flying to the moon.

NASA sent 24 astronauts to the moon during Apollo, 12 of whom landed on it. All but one of the moonshots — Apollo 13 — achieved their prime objectives. The program ended with Apollo 17 in 1972.

Google overhauls its Maps app, adding in more AI features to help people get around

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer

GOOGLE Maps will depend more heavily on artificial intelligence to help people figure out where they want to go and the best way to get there as part of a major redesign unveiled on Thursday. The overhaul driven by Google’s Gemini technology will introduce two AI features into a digital mapping service used by more than 2 billion people worldwide.

One tool called Ask Maps will expand upon conversational abilities that Google brought to the service last November, giving suggestions to users looking for things such as nearby places to charge their devices, cafes with short lines or a detailed itinerary for a road trip involving several stops and excursions.

Gemini’s recommendations will draw upon a database spanning more than 300 million places and reviews from more than 500 million contributors that have been accumulated since Google Maps’ debut more than 20 years ago. Google executives declined to answer a question about whether the company eventually plans to sell ads to boost businesses’ chances of being displayed in Ask Maps’ recommendations. Ask Maps initially will be available on Google Maps’ mobile app for iPhones and Android software in the U.S. and India, before expanding to personal computers and other countries.

In what Google executives are billing as the biggest change to the maps’ driving directions, Gemini has also created a new tool dubbed Immersive Navigation that will present a three-dimensional perspective designed to give users a better grasp of where they are at any moment in time. The 3D renderings created by Gemini will include landmarks such as notable buildings, medians in the roads and other aspects of the terrain that drivers are seeing around them as they drive to help them get their bearings more quickly.

Google believes its AI guardrails are now strong enough to prevent the Gemini technology underlying Immersive Navigation from fabricating bogus places to go, a malfunction known within the industry as a “hallucination.”

Immersive Navigation is also supposed to help Google Maps more clearly explain the pros and cons of different driving routes to the same recommendation, as well as point to the best places to park once a user arrives at a designated destination. The new AI-powered navigation will only be available in the U.S. initially, on Google Maps’ mobile app for the iPhone and Android, as well as cars equipped with options to activate CarPlay and Android Auto.

The increased reliance on AI in Google Maps follows the company’s introduction of more Gemini technology to make two of its other most popular products — Gmail and the Chrome web browser — more proactive and helpful to their billions of users. The expansion underscores Google’s confidence in the Gemini 3 model that the Mountain View, California, company released late last year as part of an intensifying battle for AI supremacy with up-and-coming rivals such as OpenAI and Anthropic.

Barabbas brings Junkanoo and Bahamian culture to Georgia for 22nd year

FOR 22 years Quentin Barabbas Woodside of Barabbas & The Tribe, has taken The Bahamas’ heritage and culture of Junkanoo to Tybee Island in Savannah Georgia for their Saint Patrick’s Day Holiday parade. Barabbas was given the key to the city as an Honorary Sheriff of Tybee Island in 2011, where they proclaimed the holiday Barabbas & The Junkanoo Tribe Day. This year Quentin carried over ten students from various schools with the help of parents and sponsors to participate in the parade.

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net

AS THE sun dipped and the evening settled in last weekend, the traffic heading "over the bridge" told its own story.

Cars lined the route across paradise, carrying patrons eager to eat, mingle and make a night of it at the fourth annual Nassau Paradise Island Wine and Food Festival, staged along the waterfront at Paradise Harbour, where bold flavours, live music and a lively social scene set the tone from the start.

One of the most anticipated stops, Taste of Paradise, delivered exactly what its name promised. Guests, like myself, moved from booth to booth with intention, mapping out their culinary journey before giving in to pure indulgence. On one end, the Cabbage Beach Bistro served tender boneless chicken steeped in aromatic spices and yoghurt, finished in a rich tomato and onion gravy.

Nearby, Do-doon's Kitchen offered something a little unex pected, featuring its island diri bombs and Haitian beignets; a slight departure from its usual menu, yet one that clearly resonated, as a long line of curious patrons gathered, eager to see what the buzz was about.

Just around the bend, OIA at Goldwynn drew steady lines as well, with its snapper ceviche, braised lamb and creamy hummus offerings.

It felt less like a tasting and more like an open-air feast: a carefully curated spread where every turn revealed something new, something worth going back for seconds. By night’s end, full plates turned into satisfied smiles as patrons lingered, soaking in the atmosphere.

Food

Inspiration THE STORIES THAT MAKE US

Where the vibes matched the menu

The energy carried seamlessly into the evening’s entertainment. When Kirkland Bodie, affectionately known as KB, took the stage, the crowd stayed put. His performance became the perfect closing note for a night already brimming with flavour and familiarity. According to festival organisers, the buzz around Taste of Paradise has not faded, with many still talking about the experience as a highlight of the weekend. The People’s Choice Award went to OIA at Goldwynn, a nod to a booth that clearly resonated with the crowd.

Momentum did not dip the following night. Jerk Jam, one of the festival’s signature events, leaned fully into its name with smoky, spice-filled aromas drifting through the air. The soundtrack of the evening came courtesy of Sugar Ray, whose set pulled the crowd straight into a wave of 90s nostalgia. At the centre of it all were chefs JJ Johnson and Antonia Lofaso, who kept the pace lively while showcasing bold, satisfying bites. By the end of the night, Da Food People secured the People’s Choice title, capping off an evening that felt equal parts party and culinary showcase.

The final day slowed the tempo without losing its charm. The R&B Brunch offered a different kind of immersion, one that traded high-energy movement for a more intimate, shared experience. Soft red lighting washed over the room as guests settled in, only to find themselves on their feet moments later. When Mya performed, the space shifted: what began as brunch became a full sing-along moment, with the crowd drawn closer to the stage and to each other.

At the heart of the brunch was Chef JJ Johnson, whose connection to the festival extends beyond a single event. Reflecting on the weekend, he told The Tribune, “You know, it's so good to always be back. I'm here because I have a restaurant, so I'm always checking in. But NPIWFF is a special festival. It really brings, I think, the people of the island and the tourists together, which is necessary. So it brings me a lot of joy.”

This year, that connection felt even more personal. “My takeaway this time was like, I've always tried to inject myself into the community, the Bahamian community, but I didn't realise how many people, like, really support me in the Bahamas. I hear people tell me, but I've met so many locals this time, which really brought a tear to my eye to be like, Oh, I have support in the Bahamas or Nassau in general. It means that I'm doing something right. And that's what I've learned this time,” said Chef JJ.

His food told its own story throughout the weekend. At Jerk Jam, one standout detail sparked our conversation, the unexpected sweetness woven into his rice dish. I told the chef I was pleasantly surprised

learn of the plantains mixed into the mini rice-bowl when I tried it for myself.

Explaining the preparation, he said, “So what we did was, we fried the plantain. First we diced the plantain, then we put it in the wok and fried it with some garlic and ginger, and then added the rice with the JJ special sauce.”

For brunch, the con cept shifted again, this time blending influences from New York and the Caribbean into a menu built for variety and interaction. “Today's RnB brunch is a sing along event. So, when your favourite song comes on, you better start singing. We have a food station where it's like chicken and waf fles. If you don't want chicken, you can do fried snapper. You could do shrimp, and the waffles have rice in them. I have a roti station with curries. I have a build your own ceviche station. We have a roasted meat section. There's hors d'oeuvres going around; devilled eggs, smoked fish. So it's an event that really represents the culture,” said Chef JJ. In a message to readers, Chef JJ added: “I hope to see you next year at

Jerk Jam and

at the R&B brunch, because this is not going to be the last time. And please come by Field Trip at the Atlantis when you can.” The festival continues to grow in scope and intention.

Each spring, NPIWFF transforms Atlantis into a hub where food, music and culture intersect with ease.

This year’s edition expanded that vision, introducing new experiences while strengthening returning favourites. Director of Special Events and Entertainment, Avonleh Carter, described the 2026 staging as the most ambitious yet, pointing to a programme that prioritised immersion. Events such as Paella on the Beach with José Andrés and Catch and Cook with Tom Colicchio were designed to feel interactive, not routine.

She noted that the pairing of cuisine and entertainment remains central to the festival’s appeal, creating a shared energy that resonates across audiences. In her view, the impact extends well beyond the weekend itself, contributing to tourism while reinforcing The Bahamas as a destination rich in culture, flavour and experience. By the time the final notes faded on Sunday, the one thing that was clear was the fact that the weekend invited people to eat well, move freely and stay a little longer than planned. And judging by the full plates, full dance floors and lingering conversations, many did exactly that.