04082026 NEWS

MOM NOT TOLD SON’S

LEG ‘AMPUTATED’ AT

PHA to pay damages after failing to fight neglect allegations

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A TEENAGE national rugby player allegedly had part of his leg amputated at Princess Margaret Hospital without his mother being consulted – and the Public Hospitals Authority will have to pay damages after leaving it too long to challenge allegations of negligence.

The Supreme Court has left standing a default judgment against the

PHA, finding the authority failed for years to properly respond to claims that negligent treatment led to devastating complications for Miguel Russell. The ruling clears the way for a damages hearing that will determine compensation for injuries that medical records describe as severe, including infections, tissue damage and the eventual removal of part of his leg.

Assistant Registrar

NEGLECT - SEE PAGE THREE

Bus drivers warn of action over fuel costs

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

BUS drivers are warning that “the next few days will be crucial” as they weigh their next move amid rising fuel costs and mounting financial strain.

American woman raises concerns over circumstances of mom’s disappearance at

“The next few days will be crucial as to the pathway we shall take as a union,” the organisation said in a statement. “We don’t want to inconvenience the public,

RELIEF - SEE PAGE THREE

The Bahamas Unified Bus Union said yesterday that operators are struggling to keep up with higher fuel prices and maintenance costs, and signalled that action may follow if relief is not provided.

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE daughter of a missing American woman, believed to have fallen overboard during a boat trip with her husband, has raised concerns about the circumstances of her mother’s

disappearance, saying “prior issues” of domestic violence may be relevant to the investigation.

In a statement, Karli Aylesworth said she has bee n “privy to very little information” about what happened to her mother, Lynette Hooker, 55.

“There have been prior issues brought to my attention, which may

GOVT FACES ELECTION WITH MOST ACCOUNTABILITY PROMISES UNMET

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Progressive Liberal Party is seeking a second term without implementing almost any of its pre-election transparency and accountability promises.

The party’s Blueprint for Change promised the full implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, an Integrity

Commission Act, an Ombudsman Bill, a Public Disclosure Act, an Anti-Corruption Act, campaign finance reform, a Code of Conduct, a Whistleblower Act, electoral reform and procurement reform.

Of these, only electoral reform and procurement reform have been implemented, though concerns about the procurement

PROMISES - SEE PAGE FOUR

be important for any thorough investigation,” she said. “If this truly was an accident, I can understand and live with it. However, there needs to be an intensive review of the facts and circumstances of this tragic incident before that can be determined.”

MISSING - SEE PAGE TWO

‘It doesn’t make sense’: Daughter questions missing woman’s case

In an interview with ZNS Northern Edition, she said the situation appeared suspicious and alleged that her mother had been a victim of domestic violence in the past.

“I would like to know the truth on what happened, because I don’t believe she just fell out,” she said.

Police said Hooker and her husband, Brian Hooker, left Hope Town around 7.30pm on Saturday in an eight-foot dinghy heading towards Elbow Cay. During the trip, Hooker allegedly fell overboard while holding the boat’s keys, causing the engine to shut off. Authorities said strong currents carried her away and Mr Hooker lost sight of her.

He then paddled the vessel to shore, arriving at the Marsh Harbour Boat Yard around 4am on Sunday, where he alerted someone who contacted police.

Ms Aylesworth questioned key details of the account.

“I don’t know why she was swimming away from the boat,” she said. “It just doesn’t make sense to me.

I believe something might have happened to her before she was in the water. So I would just like to know exactly what happened to get some closure on this.”

Good Morning America reported yesterday that Mr Hooker called his stepdaughter about the incident, and Ms Aylesworth said she was in shock.

The couple documented their sailing adventures on social media platforms, including Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. Their TikTok account shows posts from The Bahamas dating back to February 11, with the most recent video showing them sailing to Great Guana Cay to fill their tanks.

Ms Aylesworth told CNN the couple have been married for about 25 years and sailing together for more than a decade.

Troy Pritchard, chief of the Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue, said yesterday that information surrounding the incident

remains limited, but search efforts have been ongoing since the report was made.

“As of this morning, we’ve been unsuccessful,” Mr Pritchard said. “Coast Guard covered the whole area on Sunday and came up empty. They didn’t see anything at all. That’s about all I have right now — we’re still looking.”

He said eight to ten people in three boats were involved in the search, along with aerial support from the US Coast Guard. The Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue also deployed its 32-foot aluminium rescue vessel.

Mr Pritchard said the woman’s husband is said to be emotionally distressed following the incident.

“One of my guys who spoke to him said he’s beating himself up pretty bad emotionally,” Mr Pritchard said. “He’s saying, ‘What if I could have done this or what if he could’ve done that?’ He has family coming

into town to help continue the search supposedly to help continue the search.” Mr Pritchard said weather conditions may have played a role, with winds estimated at about 18 knots out of the east.

“They left the Abaco in what would have been on a westward track, going with the wind and where their boat was, they would have had to veer to the south of it, which probably could have got a little choppy in that channel,” he said. When asked whether Hooker could have reached shore, he said conditions may have been manageable for an average swimmer, but several unknowns remain.

“It probably wasn’t much current — more than windsea and a little chop,” he said. “For an average person, it would probably have been doable. But I don’t know her physical condition or if alcohol played a factor. We really don’t know.”

PHA to pay damages after teen’s leg partly removed without consent

Akeira D Martin ruled that the PHA did not show a real prospect of successfully defending the claim and failed to provide a credible explanation for its prolonged inaction.

The decision effectively settles liability unless overturned on appeal.

Mr Russell was a minor when he was injured during a rugby match while representing The Bahamas. He was treated at PMH for a dislocated knee, but later developed serious complications after being placed on dialysis.

His condition worsened significantly.

According to the claim outlined in the ruling, he alleged a portion of his leg was removed at PMH without consultation with his mother. As his condition deteriorated, his family sought treatment in Cuba, where doctors documented extensive infections, necrosis and severe wounds.

The litigation has been marked by years of delay.

Court records show the writ of summons was filed in December 2017 and amended in February 2018. The PHA entered an appearance in April 2018 but took no substantive steps to defend the claim for years.

Mr Russell’s statement of claim was not filed until

September 2024 and was served days later. The PHA acknowledged service the following month but still did not file a defence. By January 2025, Mr Russell moved for default judgment. The court granted it on March 19 2025, after a hearing at which the PHA attended but did not object or formally seek an extension of time.

Only after judgment was entered did the authority attempt to revive its defence.

In its application to set aside the judgment, the PHA argued that it had a viable defence and blamed its delay on logistical challenges in obtaining medical records, particularly from Cuba.

It also maintained that Mr Russell’s condition resulted from the severity of his initial injury rather than negligence and said he received appropriate care.

Mr Russell opposed the application, arguing that the PHA had access to his records and had simply failed to act despite numerous opportunities. He said the authority had no real defence and relied on delay.

The court agreed. Applying the Civil Procedure Rules, the assistant registrar considered whether the PHA had acted promptly, provided a good explanation for its default

and demonstrated a real prospect of successfully defending the claim. It failed to satisfy those requirements.

The ruling notes that the PHA did not act with urgency in obtaining medical records and, in some cases, only sought key documents years after entering the proceedings. Some records, the court found, were already available. The explanation for delay was not accepted.

The court also found that the PHA’s proposed

defence did not properly address the core allegations in the claim.

Those allegations include that Mr Russell developed bedsores while under care, that part of his leg was removed without proper consultation, and that he was not given adequate medical advice.

The draft defence amounted largely to general denials and did not provide a substantive response to those claims, the court found.

By contrast, the court

noted that Mr Russell’s account was supported by medical evidence from Cuba, which documented severe infections, tissue damage and complications consistent with his claims.

The assistant registrar made clear that the court was not determining negligence at this stage, but found that the PHA had not shown a defence strong enough to justify reopening the case.

The court also refused to extend time for the PHA to file a defence, dismissing

the application in its entirety. Costs were awarded to Mr Russell.

The case will now proceed to a directions hearing for the assessment of damages, where the court will determine the compensation owed for the injuries and their impact. That phase is expected to involve expert medical evidence and detailed examination of the treatment Mr Russell received and the progression of his condition.

Union seeks relief as fuel costs squeeze operators

RELIEF from page one

our most loyal customers; however if the prices continue to escalate operations and hardship shall become a matter of making decisions.”

The union said crude oil price increases have driven a 20 percent rise in local fuel costs, while the price of bus parts has also increased, making daily operations harder to sustain.

It called on the government to approve a fare increase or provide relief, and urged passengers to pay the correct fare.

“The Bahamas Unified Bus Drivers Union called on the government for an increase in bus fare or some sort of relief,” the union said. “They also asked the public who utilise the buses to please pay the correct bus fare when entering.”

The warning comes less than two years after the government approved a 25-cent increase in adult fares in May 2024 — the first adjustment in 16 years — bringing the price to $1.50. Fares for seniors and schoolchildren

‘God

remain unchanged.

Lanardo Ferguson, a bus driver of ten years, said rising diesel prices have made it increasingly difficult to manage daily costs.

He said he pays about $100 a day to rent his bus and previously spent around $110 daily on fuel for his Carmichael route.

“It’s very difficult, very difficult, for me to do that,” he said. “I have to be working all day, then you still have issues, whereas your bus break down.”

Mr Ferguson said supporting his two children while covering rising expenses has become a constant strain.

Union general secretary

Corvell Colebrooke said operators are facing higher costs for imported parts and other expenses but cannot adjust fares without government approval.

He said other industries have been able to raise prices in response to global inflation, while bus drivers must wait for relief.

Another driver, Fredrick King, who operates the western route from Lynden Pindling International

is good’ as missing GB fishermen found safe

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

TWO Grand Bahama men reported missing at sea after failing to return from a fishing trip have been found alive, bringing an end to a police search-and-rescue operation.

The Tribune understands the men are Avardo Major and Bernard Davis.

Police said the men were reported missing by Mr Major’s wife early yesterday after they did not return overnight as expected.

According to her report, the pair left a dock near the West End Community Clinic early Monday morning in a 20-foot blue-and-white vessel named “Double Trouble”. They were not seen or heard from until they were located following the search

effort by the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Marine Support Services Branch.

Miranda Major, wife of Avardo Major, said the ordeal took an emotional toll on her family.

She said it was difficult to call her daughter to tell her that her father was missing.

“Terrible night for me, I didn’t sleep,” she said. She said she felt relief when she learned he had been found.

“God is good,” she said, adding her first words when she saw him were “love you baby.”

Mr Major said the men ran into trouble shortly after heading out to sea and believe they had a fuel problem.

“I ain sleep yet,” he told The Tribune yesterday evening.

seeks second term despite unfulfilled transparency promises

system have persisted.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said in January 2024 that fully funding FOIA and other anti-corruption measures was not a priority.

Efforts to introduce whistleblower protections have begun, with the Protected Disclosures Bill passing Parliament. The bill

ful or unethical conduct. It is unclear whether the law has been brought into force. An Independent Commission of Investigations bill passed Parliament, but has not been brought into force. Campaign finance reform has not been implemented. In September 2024, the prime minister said such legislation was not a priority and

PM defends Savings Bank as post office renamed for former postmaster Saunders

without their consent.

The administration has implemented procurement reform, but transparency concerns have persisted. Critics have complained that contract awards were not consistently disclosed in the detail required by law, raising questions about whether the public can fully see how government contracts are awarded.

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

THE Shirley Street Post Office was officially reopened and renamed the John V Saunders Post Office yesterday, as Prime Minister Philip Davis defended the role of the Post Office Savings Bank and rejected calls for its elimination.

The facility was renamed in honour of John V Saunders, a former postmaster general who served for 40 years and was credited with expanding postal infrastructure across the country.

Mr Davis said Mr Saunders’ work “helped shape the institution we celebrate today”.

“His influence extended across the region and his legacy runs through every community this office has ever reached as we name this building in his honour,” he said.

Mr Saunders oversaw the establishment of post offices in Cable Beach, Elizabeth Estates, South Beach, Carmichael Road and at the airport, and contributed to expanding services across the Family Islands.

At the ceremony, Mr Davis also pushed back against criticism of the Post Office Savings Bank, arguing it remains essential for

many Bahamians.

“There are some who are so disconnected and privileged that they don’t recognise people still use the post office,” he said.

“They probably pay for the expensive courier services and live on an island with regular access to commercial banks, so they can’t relate to the struggle.”

He said the service continues to support pensioners, working families, fishermen, farmers and small business owners, noting that more than 35,000 accounts remain active.

The prime minister said the government has raised the deposit cap from $6,000 to $10,000 and maintained a five percent interest rate, compared to less than one percent offered by commercial banks. He also criticised commercial banks for reducing their presence on Family Islands.

“The same commercial banks have left our islands hanging with no options for banking,” he said.

Mr Davis warned that eliminating the savings bank would destabilise communities, lead to job losses, and leave thousands without access to financial services.

“The only thing that getting rid of the Post Office Savings Bank would

accomplish is the destabilisation of our Family Island communities, the unemployment of 98 workers serving our Family Islands, and the stranding of thousands of unbanked Bahamians with nowhere to go,” he said. He added that “closure is never an option” and said the government remains committed to expanding and modernising the post office.

However, Opposition Leader Michael Pintard has criticised the system, citing findings from the Auditor General that described the Post Office Savings Bank as “woefully deficient”.

Mr Pintard said auditors identified “substantial operational failures”, including incomplete financial statements, over-withdrawals and reconciliation issues that prevent the institution from determining what it owes or is owed.

He also cited the acting Auditor General’s warning that “you cannot have a manual post office savings bank in this day and age”.

Mr Pintard said an FNM government would replace the system by expanding commercial banking access across the Family Islands, introducing fintech services and credit unions, and repurposing post offices into logistics and distribution hubs.

AN immigration activist has warned that sweeping changes proposed by the Coalition of Independents risk undermining constitutional protections and lack clear plans for implementation.

Louby Georges urged scrutiny of the COI’s 100-day immigration plan, which centres on tightening border controls, expanding enforcement,

Activist warns COI immigration plan threatens constitutional rights

and overhauling citizenship policy, including eliminating naturalisation.

The proposal outlines amending the Bahamas Nationality Act within the administration’s first week to remove naturalisation, followed by a referendum within its first year. However, citizenship is governed by the Constitution, meaning such changes would likely require constitutional amendment before legislative action.

The plan also proposes merging immigration and national security under one ministry, introducing a 30-day amnesty with biometric screening and status verification, and launching a digital portal for employers and landlords to verify immigration status.

Additional measures include suspending new work permits for Haitian nationals, reviewing existing permits, strengthening maritime border enforcement, closing selected shanty towns, creating regulated housing, and requiring health insurance coverage for immigrants.

While the COI said the plan is intended to restore control of the country’s

Photo: Nikia Charlton

Bain questions election integrity over police access to ballot vault

By KEILE CAMPEBLL Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

COALITION of Independents leader Lincoln Bain yesterday cast doubt on the integrity of the coming general election, alleging without evidence that police control over access to a vault containing election materials left the process vulnerable to interference.

Speaking outside the Parliamentary Registration Department, Mr Bain said he had delivered a cease and desist letter to acting Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson demanding that officers from the Security Intelligence Branch of the Royal Bahamas Police Force be removed from any custodial role over the vault and its contents.

Mr Bain said he wanted written confirmation by Thursday, April 9, that control of the vault and its keys had been placed solely in the hands of the Parliamentary Registration Department. Failing that, he said, the party would “have to take action”.

He also said he intended to write Prime Minister Philip Davis, National Security Minister Wayne Munroe, Commissioner of Police Shanta Knowles, the British High Commission, the US Embassy and the Organisation of American States.

Mr Bain said he was “disturbed” after learning that neither the parliamentary commissioner nor his staff had direct access to the vault and had to call SIB officers to open it.

“We were informed of this by police officers in SIB, we were informed of this by staff at the PRD who were all concerned about this fact,” Mr Bain said.

He argued that the arrangement breached the Parliamentary Elections Act, which he said gives custody and control of election materials to the parliamentary commissioner and authorised staff, not police.

“That particular process is illegal, according to law, because the police and the government is supposed to have no authority or access or interference with our elections,” he said.

Mr Bain also pointed to what he described as an incident during a by-election when SIB officers were present at the Parliamentary Registration Department as advanced poll boxes were brought in.

“That was very concerning for us. We had no idea why they were there,” he said.

He said he was later told the officers were there because they had the key to the vault where the boxes

were stored along with other election materials. From that, he suggested police access to the vault created an opportunity for ballots to be switched.

“What can happen is that ballots can be taken out and replaced,” Mr Bain said. “If there are 1000 ballots in a box, someone could remove 500 and replace them, and you would not know the difference.”

He also cited irregularities he said occurred during the 2021 general election in Pinewood. However, a Tribune report at the time said the issue involved confusion over ballot procedures at the advanced poll, where cast ballots were initially not placed in sealed envelopes. Representatives of the Progressive Liberal Party, the Coalition of Independents and the Democratic National Alliance intervened, and the issue was corrected before the ballot boxes were secured. Officials reported no confirmed tampering.

Mr Bain said he was not satisfied with Mr Thompson’s explanation. According to him, Mr Thompson said there was another door leading to the vault for which he held a key, but Mr Bain argued the vault itself remained under police control.

“On election morning, they take the advanced poll ballots and mix them with another poll,” Mr Bain said. “We do not get to check them, and that is where it can be covered up.” He also alleged that newly issued passports were being used to facilitate immediate voter registration.

Mr Bain called for international scrutiny of the electoral process and said foreign governments should be prepared not to recognise

borders and improve compliance, it does not fully outline how the measures would be funded or implemented within the proposed timeline.

Mr Georges said The Bahamas faces “real immigration challenges” but argued the plan appears driven more by “fear-driven narratives and political positioning” than by practical policymaking.

He said immigration cannot be addressed through “sweeping, reactionary measures” without considering long-term consequences.

“The suggestion to eliminate naturalisation, in particular, is deeply concerning,” Mr Georges said. “Throughout the history of The Bahamas, many individuals who were once migrants, or descendants of migrants, have gone on to become proud Bahamians and have contributed significantly to the development of this country across every sector.”

He said removing a lawful pathway to citizenship is “not only short-sighted” and warned against policies that are “draconian in nature”.

the election if serious irregularities emerged.

National Security Minister Wayne Munroe dismissed the claims as political theatre by a party expecting defeat.

“Anybody talking about an election being stolen probably feel they are going to lose and they are setting a pretext, but Mr Ingraham has made it quite clear, you cannot steal an election,” Mr Munroe said, referring to former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, who addressed election fraud concerns during last year's Golden Isles by-election.

"You can’t thief an election in The Bahamas," Mr

Ingraham said. "We got too many guardrails. We got too many rules and what not, too many experienced people for that to happen.

Just be sure of that."

Mr Munroe said the vault issue was beside the point because ballots are counted in the presence of party agents.

“By the time the ballots reach there, they have already been counted in front of everybody’s agents, including the COI,” Mr Munroe said. “Unless the COI is disorganised and does not have sufficient polling agents, they will be there to witness it themselves, so that is why Mr

“Once you begin to restrict rights, pathways, and processes at that level, the consequences do not remain confined to one community, they extend across the entire immigration framework,” he said. While he acknowledged that enforcement and accountability need improvement, Mr Georges said reforms must be grounded in the Constitution and supported by clear plans.

“Good governance requires balance, not extremes,” he said. “We must address immigration in a way that protects our borders while also preserving the rule of law, our constitutional framework, and the values that have shaped The Bahamas into what it is today.”

Organisation for Responsible Governance executive director Matt Aubry declined to comment on the proposal but urged voters to assess whether campaign promises are realistic and deliverable. He said campaign pledges often fail to account for budget constraints and the time required to implement reforms.

Ingraham said get that nonsense out your mind.” Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell also rejected the concerns, saying Bahamian elections are routinely observed and political parties themselves help safeguard transparency by monitoring the process.

“I do not think that calling in international observers changes whether the elections are free and fair,” Mr Mitchell said.

“It is a bit rich it seems to me, and maybe smacks of desperation for people to be implying that there is something nefarious about the way these elections are conducted."

The Tribune Limited

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Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

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Where is ‘low hanging fruit’?

A VERY critical voice in Opposition spoke about the failure of the government to deliver on some of its promises.

On the issue of campaign finance legislation, for example, that opponent declared that it showed the government’s election victory was built on “empty promises and political expediency”, while other issues of good governance that were left unresolved saw the government blasted for failing to deliver on “long hanging fruits”.

The speaker went on to say: “You don’t need nothing complicated or great hurdles to cross but again, as is typical, they had a campaign about things they thought people wanted to hear to get elected, they didn’t truly want to implement transformative policies.”

The year of the comments was 2020, January to be precise. The speaker was Opposition leader Philip Davis.

Mr Davis said not bringing campaign finance legislation before the next election, the one that saw him become Prime Minister, would be irresponsible of the government.

Fast forward to today, as we anticipate the dissolution of Parliament today and the real launch of the election race to decide the next government, and we still have no campaign legislation, despite Mr Davis’ words in opposition.

The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) did not mince words in its election manifesto as it sought to oust then Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

It promised campaign finance legislation, an Ombudsman Bill, and full implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, all of which have not been fully implemented.

Once elected, Mr Davis doubled down on his promises of transparency and accountability, talking in his first speech of committing “to lifting the veil of secrecy on that which has gone before us, so that all of the arrangements under which we have to live are transparent, and those who authored them are accountable”.

However, there has been no sign of the freedom of information implementation that would provide some of that transparency, while in 2024 he feigned ignorance, saying: “I don’t know where this issue of campaign finance came up. But for me, I will not disclose the donors to our campaign unless the donors will be willing to allow me to.”

After being reminded that it was his own party’s manifesto that had the promise on campaign finance, he claimed his party was considering it, but it was not a priority.

Successive parties have promised campaign finance legislation and failed to deliver – but it would seem clear that it is barely on the radar of this current administration.

As for the Ombudsman, that office has yet to be established, while the funding for freedom of information was just $140,000 in the current Budget, a woefully inadequate amount for the task.

Promises made in Opposition, but not delivered in administration.

There have been some positive steps, on whistleblower legislation, for example, and election reforms introducing biometric voter cards, plus changes to procurement laws. Credit where it is due, although there remain concerns over the procurement portal and limited data.

One question we will soon have the answer to is whether those items promised but not delivered will reappear on the new manifesto.

What that will not answer is even if they do, what guarantee is there that the government will deal with such “low hanging fruits” next time around?

Freedom of information in particular is a matter whose time is long overdue.

The can has been kicked down the road time and time again. At this stage, anyone running for office ought to be clear about it – implement it or scrap it if you don’t believe in it. Do not just let it drag on for yet another administration without having the courage to do one or the other.

There are other areas where the government has failed to deliver – such as on issues of equality for women, as highlighted by Equality Bahamas in yesterday’s Tribune.

These were all firm promises last time around, and yet nothing.

Returning politicians hoping to get your vote after failing to deliver what they promised last time around remind us of a line attributed to Groucho Marx’s: “These are my principles, and if you don’t like them… well, I have others.”

A manifesto is a showcase for those principles. Read them closely – and be sure to ask the candidate what they will do if they fail to live up to them.

Working and middle classes united in the struggle

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE Middle Class has suffered from the misguide policies of their national governments. Governments that allow the private sector to basically milk them of their savings throwing them into crisis mode every time they need to pay their bills. Grocery, vehicle and home maintenance, insurance, home heating, energy demands, education for their kids, hopeful retirement savings. These are a few things the average working class and middle class must deal with. Insurance premiums have skyrocketed as to every essential item and service imaginable. Why? Our governments allow the so-called free markets to set prices much like the stock exchange, changing at corporate whims hourly. The working and middle class are basically one, united in a struggle to make ends meet financially. To send your child to college or university is much like establishing a new mortgage so they can go, borrowing money or depleting your future retirement savings. To be a member of the middle class was once a preferred status, but not anymore. Working and middle classes co-joined in a struggle they cannot win. As long as the government allows the private sector to set prices, fluctuating them much like a rising tide, this class will remain tied to a modern-day feudal system were borrowing to survive is much like selling your soul to the corporate store. Do we live to make others wealthy and preserve a financial system that preys upon us all?

STEVEN

KASZAB Bradford, Ontario March 27, 2026.

From gatekeeping to grievance: The evolution of bahamian control

By ROCHELLE R DEAN

A SURVEY of our modern national discourse reveals a recurring and troubling theme: the weaponisation of “victimhood”. While frequently invoked in Bahamian politics, it is rarely defined by its historical weight. To understand the current climate, we must draw a clear distinction. Gatekeeping is the systemic process of exclusion, while victimisation is the pain felt by those excluded.

What we often experience as a personal attack is, in reality, the function of a system we have been conditioned to accept. Perhaps the most uncomfortable truth is that we have created a society so attuned to the mechanics of control that we no longer recognise it as intrusion. We accept it as the environment. To understand 2026, we must examine the tension between the collective optimism of 1973 and the gatekeeper culture that followed.

The Institutionalised Gate

The shift from liberation to patronage laid the foundation for a culture where loyalty became currency. Opposition was not treated as a democratic necessity, but as a threat to the state. This was not accidental. It was structural.

The experiences of Hubert Ingraham and Perry Christie illustrate this. In October 1984, both men were dismissed from Cabinet for refusing silence during a period of national scrutiny. They later ran as Independents in the 1987 General Election and won. Their success proved the gate could be challenged, but only at significant personal cost.

Leonard Archer’s experience offers another example. As an educator and union leader, he demonstrated that in a gatekeeper culture, expertise is secondary to allegiance. These figures were not seen as victims by the establishment. They were simply out of alignment.

A Digital-Age Upgrade

Today, the mechanics of gatekeeping have evolved.

The treatment of figures like Lincoln Bain reflects a modern version of the same system.

Frequent arrests, legal entanglements and restricted access to public space send a clear message. The gate remains closed to those who do not conform. In 2026, exclusion is no longer just institutional. It is reputational. Labelling dissenters as unstable or extreme discourages association. The gate is now psychological as well as political.

The Economic Gate

The most entrenched form of gatekeeping is economic. In a small island state, the government is the largest employer and a key source of contracts. This creates a culture where access is shaped by relationships.

We speak about ease of doing business, but for many it is about knowing the right person. Whether securing a licence or a contract, opportunity is often tied to political favour. This creates a cycle of dependency. Speaking out carries risk. Economic gatekeeping does not just affect individuals. It constrains the growth of the middle class.

The Silent Exodus

This system has consequences. Many of our most capable graduates leave and do not return. This is not a failure of patriotism. It is a rejection of a system that rewards connection over competence. When qualified young Bahamians return home and find their progress blocked by less qualified but better connected individuals, that is gatekeeping. When innovation is dismissed because it does not fit the hierarchy, that is victimisation. The result is a nation that exports talent and imports solutions.

Invisible Victims

Beyond public figures, the most consistent victims are within the public service. Auditors, managers and technical officers

who raise concerns often find themselves sidelined. In recent years, there has been a rise in what can be described as administrative shunning. Transfers, reviews and quiet disciplinary processes are used to exhaust individuals who act in good faith. This form of victimisation is rarely visible, but deeply effective.

The Average Bahamian

The greatest success of gatekeeping is its normalisation. Many Bahamians no longer question the system. Progress is seen as a favour granted, not a right earned. Small business owners hesitate to speak out. Young professionals avoid expressing views to remain employable. The fear of consequence has been internalised. The gatekeeper no longer needs to stand at the door. We regulate ourselves.

The Irony of Grievance

In 2026, there is a striking irony. The same machinery that dominates national life often claims victimhood when challenged. This inversion deflects accountability.

We must resist reducing this to party lines. If we only criticise gatekeeping when it suits us politically, we are not seeking reform. We are choosing sides within the same system.

The Cost of Silence

The experiences of Bahamians point to a system of control, not widespread victimhood. From past figures to modern whistleblowers, the cost of dissent remains high.

But what is the cost of silence?

If loyalty continues to outweigh competence, the system will persist. The names will change, but the structure will remain. Gatekeeping survives only when the average Bahamian remains marginalised and quiet.

It is time to recognise that accountability is not an attack and dissent is not a crime. Until we confront the architecture of allegiance, we will remain a people who are politically free, but still waiting for permission to be heard.

Open letter to Freeport licensee Association

EDITOR, The Tribune. AIR travel in The Bahamas UNDER the heading, “Freeport Licensees want answers on GBPC”, local media recently printed a story referencing a statement released by FLA in which they released a list of questions for the government regarding its bid to take over the GBPC. In my opinion these questions would have been very relevant if the FLA was a party to, or involved in the negotiations, they are not, and any inference that they could be influential in any way is negated by the historical facts that even the former Prime Minister Lynden Pindling had to resort to joining placard carrying protesters, to no avail, when former licensees felt abused. That is how ironclad the provisions under the framework of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement have made the GBPC. Fortified by this, they have consistently displayed their complete autocracy. Therefore in essence the FLA are only beneficiaries not influencers.

I apologise now if some of my following comments are regarded as offensive or racial profiling, but that’s certainly

not my intention which is to emphasise my opinions. I do not know the identity, nationality, race, political persuasion or even the names of the president or the members of the FLA as none of these were revealed in the story I read. My opinion and my questions on the matter is, that they are inferring that unless the government satisfy them in advance that they would provide much more favorable terms, conditions and rates, they are hesitant to endorse the bid. Not equal terms, conditions and rates, but superior. Even though it’s an obvious fact that if the government is successful in their bid it would immediately place them in a position to be able to have some control of your own situation, because it would enable them to question, negotiate or make amendments, as the Licensor would now be the government of the Bahamas, any government of the Bahamas. Recent political history has shown how often governments change and

they would have a say at the polls if they feel that they are being abused. Yet by inference they are advocating that they would prefer to remain under the rules and regulations of an independent, foreign controlled entity, operating with impunity within the Bahamas. Impunity from them, impunity from residents of Freeport, impunity from residents of Grand Bahamas, impunity from all citizens of the Bahamas and government. This declaration leaves me to opine that even though we have overcome slavery, obtained emancipation, gained independence they would prefer that we continue to be burdened by the age old concepts of, bend to the master, foreign is better, white is right and no good could come from Bahamians for Bahamians. That we should never achieve the absolute right to declare, announce and display the context of the iconic Latin statement “Nullius Addictus Jurare In Verba Magistri”, translated as “Being Bound To Swear To The Dogmas Of No Master” Just saying. ARNOLD F BAIN Nassau, March 28, 2026.

Man on the run for five years remanded over gunpoint rape

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN who was on the run for more than five years was remanded to prison yesterday over the alleged rape of a young woman in her home in 2020. Prosecutors allege that Tomal Bowe, 30, broke into the home of

a 23-year-old woman on Marshall Road West and raped her at gunpoint at about 3am on January 14, 2020. During the same incident, Bowe allegedly robbed the woman of two pairs of tennis shoes and a Nike hat, and also stole her father’s 2014 Ford F150 truck and a gold Michael Kors watch. Bowe is also accused of

conspiring with others to commit an armed robbery and was allegedly found with $1,500 belonging to Aliv that was reasonably suspected to be stolen on January 3, 2020. He is further accused of conspiring with others to commit armed robbery on November 17, 2019, in connection with the armed robbery of a Rubis service station on Prince

Two men remanded over $30k BTC copper wire theft

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

Charles Drive. Bowe allegedly escaped custody from the Carmichael Road Police Station on March 1, 2020. Last December, he was arrested by US authorities in St Johns County, Florida, after allegedly fleeing a routine traffic stop. Reports in Florida said he has been charged with felony fleeing and

3am and 4am on March 31, the pair, acting together with others, damaged a fence, causing $650 in damage, and unlawfully entered BTC’s premises.

eluding, grand theft auto, resisting without violence, possession of marijuana under 20 grams, and additional out-of-county warrants. While Bowe pleaded not guilty to escape before acting Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans, he was not required to enter a plea to charges of rape, burglary, two counts of armed robbery, and two

with copper wiring found inside a vehicle and was restrained until police arrived.

counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Those matters will proceed to the Supreme Court by way of a voluntary bill of indictment. He was informed of his right to apply for bail in the higher court. Bowe was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until June 25. His escape trial is set for July 26.

TWO men accused of stealing nearly $30,000 worth of copper cable wire from the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) were charged yesterday in Grand Bahama’s Magistrate Court, and a third was charged with accessory.

Michael Allen, 42, and Elsworth Williams Jr, 38, appeared before Magistrate Charlton Smith on charges of stealing, causing damage, and trespassing. Delano Demeritte, 32, was charged with accessory.

Haitian man jailed over fake Bahamian voter card

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A HAITIAN man was sentenced to one year in prison yesterday after he admitted to having a fraudulent voter’s ID and NIB card.

John Doe aka “Tyron Vernet”, 48, uttered a fraudulent Bahamian voter’s card in his name to Andrew Gittens on August 14, 2025. That day, the defendant was also found with a fraudulent

The court heard that one of the defendants was caught in the act and apprehended at the BTC’s compound on Settler’s Way in the early morning hours of March 31, while the other was later arrested the same day at the derelict Arawak Hotel, which is suspected to be a burning site for stripped copper.

Allen and Williams are accused of stealing 2,250 feet of seal pit copper cable wire, valued at $29,385, the property of BTC. It is alleged that between

Meanwhile, Demeritte is accused of helping Williams avoid due process of the law, knowing that he was a party to the offence of stealing. Benjamin McKinney represented the men, who pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecutor Corporal 3700 Kenton Smith strongly objected to bail, noting the “seriousness of the offence” and the “strength of the evidence,” and telling the court that both Allen and Williams have prior records of a similar nature.

The prosecution outlined how Allen was apprehended at the BTC site

According to Prosecutor Smith, Williams was later found at the abandoned Arawak Hotel, a suspected site of copper burning, where additional wiring was recovered. He further told the court that a scenes-of-crime officer documented the discovery, and a BTC official visited the site and confirmed that it matched the stolen copper wiring.

Mr Smith objected to bail. “We are asking the court not to grant bail due to the exorbitant amount of copper wiring, which is worth some $29,000,” he stressed.

Corporal Smith also called for strict conditions if

the court is minded to grant bail, including electronic monitoring devices, a strict curfew, and regular reporting to the police station. Benjamin McKinney stressed the men’s presumption of innocence and willingness to comply with strict bail conditions, adding that Williams was an expectant father. Mr McKinney noted that Williams is expecting a child within days and wished to be present for the birth.

Magistrate Smith denied bail, noting the large quantity of copper involved and the circumstances of the arrests.

Both Allen and Williams were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until June 1.

NIB card in his name. At his latest court appearance, the defendant reversed his earlier position and pleaded guilty to two counts of possession and uttering of forged documents before Senior Magistrate Anishka Isaacs. The accused was sentenced to one year in prison. Upon completion of his sentence, the defendant will be handed over to immigration for deportation.

Inspector Timothy Bain prosecuted the case.

Lawyer argues no case in Eleuthera gun trial

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A LAWYER argued that the prosecution failed to prove its case that his clients allegedly had a gun in their vehicle in Eleuthera.

Garon Brown and Natasha Miller, owners of the Big G’s Restaurant & Bar in Green Castle Eleuthera, were present as their attorney Bjorn Ferguson made no case submissions before Deputy Chief Magistrate Shaka Serville . The pair faced a charge of possession of an unlicensed

firearm and possession of ammunition stemming from an incident that allegedly occurred on September 3, 2024.

Mr Ferguson argued that the police failed to connect his clients to the vehicle the gun was allegedly recovered from.

Inspector Cordero Farrington, the prosecutor, countered that there was sufficient evidence against the accused to prove their alleged guilt.

The defendants return for the court’s decision on the no case submission on May 21.

GB man remanded for stabbing inside local bar

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Staff Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A 28-YEAR-OLD Freeport man accused of stabbing a young man inside the packed Fairplay Lounge at Port Lucaya Marketplace appeared in court on Tuesday, charged with attempted murder.

Gosnell Williams was arraigned in Court Two before Deputy Chief Magistrate Charlton Smith. It is alleged that on March 20, at Freeport, he attempted to cause the death of Travis Moss by means of unlawful harm.

Parko Deal represented Williams, who was not required to enter a plea to the charge. According to reports, police were called to the Fairplay Lounge, where a young man had been stabbed following an altercation inside. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he was detained for medical treatment.

The matter was adjourned to July 6 for a Voluntary Bill of Indictment. Williams was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. He was told his attorney may apply to the Supreme Court for bail.

Thief blames burning hands in attempted stealing case

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A REPEAT offender claimed that he had a burning urge to steal when he was sentenced to two months in prison for attempted stealing yesterday. Clarenton Johnson Jr, 57, attempted to steal a pumice stone, four packs of AAA batteries, four packs of AA batteries and a safety vest from Quality Home Center on April 2. The total value of goods recovered in this incident was $89.68. Johnson pleaded guilty to attempted stealing before Senior Magistrate Anishka Isaacs. Johnson told the court that he had uncontrollable burning sensation in his hands that compelled him to steal.

Inspector Timothy Bain, the prosecutor, said the defendant had an extensive criminal history, with a prior stealing conviction from last year. Johnson was sentenced to two months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

The right (not) to vote . . .

DEMOCRACY is contingent upon theparticipation of thepeopleand isunderthreat any time that our participation iscurtailed, whetherbyarchitector individualdecision. Unfortunately, democracy and democratic participationare often reducedto asingle event the casting ofa ballot every five years, in the case of The Bahamas.This isboth reductiveand dangerousas rhetoric andpractice. Democracy is not only a form of governance or a structure under which we live, but a systemwe build with our collective action (and inaction).

for the announcement atthe whim of oneperson), orany otherreason.

Some people do not vote because they did not get registered in time, and there have been manystories of the terrible management of the voter registration processthrough whichmany cannot afford to sit and wait.

Overthe pastfewweeks, amidthe signalingof thegeneral election beingcalled, I have read commentary by people attempting to encourage others to register to vote,andto actuallyshowup to vote. Giventhe current climate, itlikely wouldhave been more effective to separatethese actions,firstfocusing on the importance of registering to voteand separating it fromthe decision to cast a ballot. Many people, including, but notlimited to, young people, are not at all inclined to vote.

Some are relieved, even excited,toopt outoftheexercise. Thisis largelydue tothe lack of options and the overwhelming dissatisfactionwith those thathave presented themselves.

It’s,indeed, difficulttofind a reason to vote when the candidatesare tiedto partiesthat fail todistinguish themselves from one another, and when thevotefor thecandidateina constituency is directly--even if unintentionally--adeterminant of the incoming prime minister.The focusthen, needed to beon encouraging people to register to vote, emphasizing that registration doesnotforce anyonetovote. It opens the option.

Perhaps evenmore beneficialtomany, itprovidesa form ofgovernment-issued identification a requirement for many transactions.

Vote to be heard?

The predictable and silly refrain of far too many people is that “your voteis your(only) voice.” They insistthatnot voting is equivalent to silence. Theysay thatnot votingis givingup therightto havea say at anytime during the five-year term.

The fact is, that they are wrong.

Some people donot vote becausetheyare outofthe country, whether attending university, seeking healthcare, ona vacation(plannedbefore the election date was announced since we have to wait

Somepeopledo notvotebecause theydo nothavepassports andthe processis morecomplicated inthese cases. Some people do not vote because they are unwellon theday ofthe election. Some people do notvote becausethey have disabilities and do not have the appropriate accommodations both available and accessible to them.To saythat the casting ofa balloton one day ina five-yearperiod isthe wayto earnthe righttospeak inthis,or any, country is reckless andfoolish.In fact,thereare many people who participate morefully indemocracyevery single daythan thosewho attempt to bully others into voting.

Democracy is more than elections While Iencourage peopleto register tovote, tovote,andto spoiltheirballots ifthey find allof theoptions unacceptable,I donotandwill noteversuggest thatthey arenot entitledto participate in democracy, whetherby using the media to express their opinions, engaging with membersof parliament,organizing and/orparticipating inprotests, orany othermeanstheychoose.Arightisonlya right when wechoose to use itor not. I have the right to choose and practice a religion,andI havetherightto optout.I havethe righttomarry,and Ihavethe right to optout. I have theright to have (a) child(ren), and I have the right to opt out.Ihavetherighttovote,andIhavethe right to opt out. No choiceI make regarding theuse of

flectthecollectivewill ofthepeoplewhileprotecting their individual rights.”

myrights candeprive meof anyother right.

Iordertomatureinademocracyandas apeopleworkingto buildonethatworks for us, it’s critical that we come to a clear understanding of democracy. It is not just about voting.

Georgetown Universitydefines democracyas a “framework ofgovernancebuiltontheprinciplethatpowerresides with the people.”

“In a democracy,” it states, “citizens exercise authority either directly or indirectly throughelected representatives, ensuring thatgovernment decisionsre-

Key points tonote here are thatdemocracy is specificaboutthelocation ofpower which is in the people as a collective and that the vote itself is not central,butthe participationthroughrepresentatives meanttowork forusandin ourbestinterests so that our collective will is the driver of decision-making processes and their outcomes. Democracy givesus individualrights andcollective power.

What does democracy require of us?

Democracy WithoutBorders statesit thisway: “practical elementsof a flourishingdemocracy are generallyagreed tobea strongcivilsociety, anactiveandunrestrictedpress, astrongandfairlegal system,checks andbalancesonpower and freeand fair elections.”

Rather than pressure people to cast a ballot for the sakeof alimited understandingof democracy,why not assess the effectivenessof nongovernmental organizations, media organizations, law enforcement, and the judicial system? Howare they regarded by the candidates? How have they been (dis)engaged by the currentand pastadministrations? Howcan individual citizens act tostrengthen and better resources these entities and systems? Howcan they be better leveragedfortheadvancementofthecountryandthe enrichmentof thepeople?Whathave youleftundone over thepast five years? Whatcould you have

done differently since 2021, or evensince 2017,to havea high level of civic participation andinfluence ongovernance? Focus on your own participation indemocracy, areas forpersonal andnational growth, andactions youcan take orinitiate now and con tinue throughout the next term. It s amuch betteruse of timeand energy, and willcertainly have a greater impact on democracy, governance, andthe Bahamian peoplethan unleashing bullying tactics on people who are likelyto prefer deeper engagement.

racy, while presentingthe optiontospoil theirballots.This way, they canbe counted and their discontent canbe registered, if only by the people in the roomat the timeof the count. Do not, underany circumstances,reduce democracyto asingle activitythat only occurs once every five years.

Recommendations

What should we do?

Topeople votingforthe first time: Considerall the options. Learn aboutthe candidates and theparties (where relevant) thatthey represent. Identify for yourkey issues. Where do thecandidates stand on them? Whatdo their track records tellyou abouttheir positions or what are most likely tobetheirpositions?Whenyou have theopportunity, engage with them directly.Ask specific questionsabout theissues that areimportant toyou. Take note of their responses. Notice the partsthe emphasize,the parts theyignore, andthe connectionbetween theirresponses andtheir stated values.

Topeople disappointedby theoptions: Makethe effortto show upanyway. Learnabout thecandidates andtheparties (where relevant) that they represent. Do any of them come into alignmentwith your values? Are anyof them speaking to theissues that are important to you? If you see no reason to vote forany of them, let yourdiscontent beknown. Instead ofstaying awayfrom the polls andbeing misunderstood in the statistics--considered apathetic--let itbe known that you rejectthe options. Spoil yourballot andbe counted.

To people pressuring others tovote:Focus onyourown ballot. Learn about the candidates andthe parties(where relevant) thatthey represent. Be clear on their positions with regardtoissues thatareimportanttoyou. Whenyouencounter someonewho doesnot intendto vote,encouragethem to show upanyway. Acknowledgethat thereare manyother ways toparticipate indemoc-

1.Register to vote. To register to vote, anapplicant must prove Bahamian citizenship and that theyare 18yearsor older.A Bahamian passportis thepreferreddocument, thoughan applicantmay presentaBahamianbirth certificatealong with government-issued ID and theapplicants mother s Bahamianpassport, birthcertificate, orvoter s card.Those whoregisteredto voteinthe last election and hold a purple voter’scard donot needto register again. Those who movedsince thelastelection need to register to vote in their newconstituency. Visitelections.gov.bs to view the available informationonline, email prdelections@bahamas.gov.bs,or call(242) 397-2000.

2.Support the 40for 40 initiativeto donatebooks tothe WillieMae PrattCentrefor Girls.Make adonation of$20 in cash at Rabble! Bookshop in PoincianaPaper Press,12 Parkgate Road, Thursday through Saturdaybetween 11am and3pm, orvisit tiny.cc/april40for40 for other options.

3.Nature Matters:Vital Poems from theGlobal Majority. This anthology of nature poetry,edited byMona Arshiand KarenMcCarthy Woolf, isthe FeministBook Club pick forthis month. Join Equality Bahamasand Poinciana Paper Pressin reading this book and discussing it on Wednesday, April 22at 6pm. The collection callsus to reconsider nature poetry from global-majority perspectives” and its themes include the climatecrisis andtheAnthropocene,urban nature,solitude and alienation,protest and radical empathy, and Indigenous wisdom and alternative histories. Bernadine Evaristo calledit “an exquisitely profound and groundbreaking testament to our natural world by many ofthe most powerful poetic voices ofour times.” Olive Senior and Kei Miller are amongthe Caribbean poets whose workappears in Nature Matters. Jointhe discussionon April22 atPoinciana Paper Press, 12 Parkgate Road. ForFeminist Book Club updates,register at tiny.cc/fbc2026.

Can a single therapy session make a difference? Yes, with the right mindset

By ALBERT STUMM Associated Press

Just beforethe holidaysin 2025, Julie Hartfelt stuck. A naggingproblem shehad struggled with for years left her ruminating allday and questioning nearly everything shehad eversaid, doneor could do. Shewas consideringtraditional therapy butdecided insteadto trysingle-session counselling. Rather than committing to weekly therapy sessions, shewould getonly 60 minutes totackle the problem. It worked.

“It helped me get unstuck, is howI woulddescribe it,in a very positive, meaningful and effective way, said Hart, of Springfield, Virginia. Hart joinedwhat experts sayis anincreasingnumber of people who, at least for now, have decidedto forgo theweeks, monthsoreven years that traditional therapy impliesinfavour ofamore targeted approach. The therapyis whatit sounds like: one session, typically anhour, wherea counsellor helps the client identify concretesteps towardrelieving a specific problem. Theintention isnot tocompletelysolve aproblem,but rather to helpclients walk awaywitha toolboxofstrategies on how to approach it. Those strategiesmade all kinds ofsense,” Hart said. But youcan t identifythem when you’re in it.” Where single-session therapy comes from It s not new.Sigmund Freud notably offered it. Butit hasbecomeincreasingly common as a way to fill gaps in access to mental health care, and theneed is greater than ever,said Jessica Schleider, a Northwestern University psychology professor andthe foundingdirectorof the Labfor ScalableMental Health.

The cost of traditional therapy hasrisen toseveral hundred dollars a month, and even those who can afford it or have insuranceencounter long waiting lists.

“Even if we doubled miraculously the number of trained mental health professionals overnight, we still wouldn’t comeanywhere closeto meeting theneed formental health support, Schleider said.

That doesn t factorinother barriers, such aspeople who can t take time off work to attend weekly sessions. Besides, data showthat the most common number of ses-

sions peopleare likelyto receive is just one because many peoplestart anddon't come back, Schleider said. It sa reallyelegantsolution to getpeople support they needat themoment that need arises,” she said. How it differs from traditional therapy Sharon Thomas, a psychologist and director of signalsession therapyat theRoss Center in Washington, D.C., saidboth counsellorand client enterthe sessionwith expectations: “That theclient will beable tohave meaningful change in their life, and that we ll seeanim-

provement in both their selfefficacy and a decline in their symptoms in just one visit.

Rather than do a full assessmentof theclient s past and currentcircumstances, the counsellortargets aspecific problem. Bythe end of the session, theclient walks away with a written plan of steps toward alleviating it.

“Noteveryone wantsto discuss childhood trauma, Thomas said. “It’s very much focused onwhat theclient wants to focus on in that moment. Who it’s for Mostpeople canbenefit from single-session therapy, whether theyare struggling witha difficultcircumstance like a work problem or something more persistent, such as anxiety, said ArnoldSlive, a psychology professorat Our Lady ofthe LakeUniversity in Texas, whohelped pioneer walk-in single-session therapy clinics inCanada in the 1990s. Slive said counsellors still havean obligationtoscreen for risk ofself-harm, and manypeople withchronic mental healthissues could stillbenefit fromtraditional therapy or medication.

“It’s not meantto replace allthose otherthingsthat mental healthprofessionals

do, butit canhelp people feel better,” Slive said. Another expectationis thatevery clientalready walks in with strengths that will help them address their issue. Single sessions also often attract a different type of client, suchas someone who might be sceptical about whethertraditional therapy is right for them. It s like puttinga toe in the water,” Slive said. Experts pointto research that it works Schleider said research on single-session intervention has “blossomedin the pastfive or10 yearsto where this hasbecome a more well-established form of mental health support.” Her labconducted a meta-analysis of415 clinicaltrials andfound thatin most cases, single-session approaches reducedmental health difficulties across various problems, including depressionand anxiety,for bothyouthand adults, she said. ForHart, shehascontinued tofeel bettermonths later, andshe saidshe felt more confident because she knewshe couldcome back.

“I left feeling so optimistic, Hart said.

In 50-years, Apple redefined tech, culture, and comebacks

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer

CUPERTINO,Calif.(AP)

A scrawny hippie and a nerdy engineer who became prankplaying friendsvowed to change the worldwhen they foundeda SiliconValleystartuponAprilFools'Day50years ago andthen no joke pulled it off

The improbable odyssey began April1, 1976,when a then-shaggy SteveJobs andhis gadget-tinkering friend Steve Wozniak signed a two-page partnership document that created Apple Computer Co. Jobs, a21-year-old college dropout, andWozniak, a25year-old Hewlett-Packardemployee, eachreceived a45% stake inApple, withthe remaining10%going totheir41year-old adviser, Ron Wayne.

The company got off to such ashakystart whiletryingto build a personal computer in the Los Altos, California, home ofJobs'parents thatWaynerelinquished hisstake for$2,300. It provedto be a$370 billion mistake, based onhow much his holdings wouldhave grown now thatApple boastsa $3.7 trillion market value.

But Apple nearly toppled before buildingits currentempire.

Aftercastingaside Jobsina bitter 1985 breakup, the tech firm engineered asurprise deal thatbroughtback itsexiledcofounder in 1997. After reluctantly agreeing tobe a temporary adviser, Jobstook over as CEO and mastermindedan innovation factory that churned out the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad ina decade-longburst of feverish creativity.

Here's a look at Apple's odyssey so far:

The astounding ascent

Although it was founded in 1976, Apple didn'tenjoy its first smash success until June

1977, withthe releaseof the Apple IIcomputer pricedat $1,298(about $7,000now,adjusted for inflation). With itssales booming, Apple wentpublic inlate 1980 at $22 per share, which translates into10 centsper share after adjusting forstock splits. That means $2,200spent to purchase100 sharesat theIPO pricewouldbeworthmorethan $5.5 million today.

Apple's next bigthing came atApple's annualshareholders meeting on Jan. 24, 1984, when Jobsread theopening linesof the Bob Dylansong, “The TimesThey AreA-Changin' and unveiledthe firstMacintosh amachine thatintroduced thecomputer mouseand agraphical interfacetothe public.

That comingout partycame twodaysafter Appleteasedthe Macintosh computer witha 60second commercialdirected by Ridley Scott that evoked George Orwell's 1984 novel during that year's Super Bowl. The ad createdsuch a huge buzz that it's widely credited for turningSuper Bowlcommercialsintoan artformand part of the cultural zeitgeist. Despite its breakthrough features,the Macintosh(named afteran engineer'sfavourite kind of apple)cost $2,500 (equal tonearly $7,900today) oneof the reasonsthat it didn't sell aswell as anticipated. The let-down resultedin layoffs and other cost-cutting by Apple CEOJohn Sculley,a former PepsiCo executive whom Jobshad personally helped recruit to the company in1983. Ayearafter theMacintosh's release, the once-close relationship betweenSculley and Jobs haddisintegrated into a power struggle. Apple's board sidedwith Sculley,prompting Jobsto resigninSeptember 1985 with a feeling of betrayal that cut so deepthat he sold all

but one share of his Apple stock.

The jobless descent AfterJobs left,Appleproduced popular versionsof the Mac with Sculley at the helm. ButApple's sleeklydesigned computerscouldn't slowthe sales momentum of more lower-priced PCs that ran on Microsoft software,whose brazen tactics of replicating the Mac's graphicalinterface triggered a seven-year legal battle that endedwith a1994 U.S. Supreme Courtdecision that shotdown Apple'scopyright claims.

Before thatsetback, Apple fired Sculleyin mid-1993and replaced him with Michael Spindler, wholasted untilearly 1996,when hetoo wasousted amidthe company'smounting losses.

In desperation,Apple pluckedits nextCEO fromits own board,Gil Amelio,who had engineered aturnaround at computer chipmaker National Semiconductor. Almost allof Amelio's movesdidn'tpayoffexceptone asurprising $428million deal foran operatingsystem madeby NeXT,acomputer start-upthatJobslaunchedafter he left Apple.

The remarkableresurrection Jobs wantedto onlyspend a few months advising Amelio during1997, insistinghe wantedtofocus onhisfamily when he wasn't busy as CEO of Pixar,the computeranimation studio he boughtfrom “Star Wars director George Lucas for $5 million in 1986. But thoseplans changedin July 1997,when Applefired Amelio, setting thestage for Jobsto orchestrateastunning turnaround.

By August 1997,Jobs had madepeace withhislong-time rival, Microsoftfounder Bill

Gates,and hadworked outa deal that included a $150 millioncash infusionfromthe Windowsmaker. Themoney paved the way for Jobs to introducea newline-up ofcandycoloured, translucent computers dubbed the iMac. The 'i”prefacingtheMacheraldeda new five-point creed consisting of internet, individual, instruct, inform, and inspire.”

Jobs introduced the first iPod inOctober 2001,amusic storage device that initially couldhold upto 1,000songs. Applewouldsell450millionof the devicesin differentdesigns whileall butkilling theCD format and settingthe stage for the age of music streaming.

In whatwould becomehis crowning achievement, Jobs walkedonto astage inSan Franciscoon Jan.9, 2007,and informed acrowd thathe was aboutto showthemthree breakthroughs: aniPod with touch-screen controls, a revolutionary cell phoneand an internet communicator. Then camehis bombshellrevelation: “Theseare notthreeseparate devices. This isone device! Andwe arecalling itthe iPhone.”

Morethan 3billioniPhones havebeen soldsince then,and the device still accounts for more than halfof Apple's annual revenueof $416billion, nearly15years afterJobsdied of cancer. Apple'songoing dependence on theiPhone stems in part from the company's inability to create another mesmerizingproduct underthe leadership of Jobs' hand-picked successor, Tim Cook Evenso, Appleis worth10 timesmorethanits$350billion marketvalue atthe timeJobs died proofthat Cookhas been a worthycaregiver of a legacy leftbehind bya visionary who embraced an advertising campaigncelebrating the ones who see things differently.”

Trump administrationappeals rulingthat blocked action against Anthropicover AI dispute

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The Trump administration isappealing ajudge's orderblocking the federal government fromtakingpunitivemeasures against artificial intelligence companyAnthropic after a dispute with the Pentagon over military use of AI. Department of Justice attorneys filed a notice in San FranciscofederalcourtonThursdayoftheirintentiontoappeallast week'sruling byU.S. DistrictJudgeRita Lin.The NinthCircuit Court ofAppeals, which will review Lin'sorder, set an April30deadlinefortheJusticeDepartmenttofiledocuments outlining theirreasons whythe decisionshould beoverturned.

Lin last weeksaid she was blocking thePentagon from labelingAnthropic asupply chainrisk.She alsosaid shewas blockingenforcement ofPresidentDonald Trump’s social mediadirectiveorderingallfederalagenciestostopusingAnthropic and its chatbot Claude.

Brazilian banks toverify satellite deforestation data for rural credit

By GABRIELA SÁ PESSOA Associated Press

SAO PAULO(AP) Brazil's bankswill berequired to verifyofficial satellitedeforestationdata beforeapproving ruralcredit beginningonWednesdayin the South American country Under thenew rule,financial institutionsmust check whetheraproperty appearsinagovernment registryofareas withpotential illegaldeforestation afterJuly31, 2019.The database, maintained by the Ministry of Environment and ClimateChange,is basedonsatellitedata fromBrazil s National Institute for Space Research, or INPE.

Ifapropertyisflagged,farmersmaychallengethedesignation by demonstrating that thedeforestation was legal. They cansubmitauthorizationdocuments, restorationplansforaltered or degraded areas, or a technical remotesensing report. Whenthe resolutionwas approvedinDecember, theFinance Ministry saidthat the new requirementswere intended to align rural credit withconservation and sustainability policies.

Samsung is discontinuing its texting app, tells impacted users to switch to Google Messages NEWYORK (AP)

Samsung issaying goodbye its namesake texting app.

Accordingto an end ofserviceannouncement publishedon thetech giant'sU.S.supportwebsite, SamsungMessages willbe discontinuedin

July. Impacted owners ofSamsung smartphones and other gadgets are being asked to switchto Google Messages in the meantime, “tomaintain a consistent messagingexperience on Android.

AllSamsungGalaxyphonesrunonGoogle'sAndroidoperating system. To switch to Google Messages, Samsung's websitegivesusersinstructionstodownloadtheappfromthePlay Store, if not already on their phone, and set it as the default. Samsungsaysswitchingto GoogleMessageswillgive usersaccesstoupdateslikethelatestartificialintelligencefeatures fromGoogle's Gemini whichincludes anexperimental feature called “Remix” to generate images during conversations and AI-powered replysuggestions and the ability to sharehigher quality photos betweenAndroid and Apple iOS devices through RCS-enabled messages.

Passengersstrandedin movingtrafficafterrobotaxi outage in China's Wuhan

BEIJING (AP) Some robotaxi passengerswere left stranded inthe middleof fast-movingtraffic ina majorChinese cityafter theirdriverless vehiclesstopped running,according to police and media reports on Wednesday.

Apreliminary investigationindicatesmorethan 100robotaxis came to a halt because of a system malfunction, police in thecity ofWuhan saidin astatement, withoutelaborating. No injuries were reported.

One passengertold Chinesemedia thattheir robotaxi stoppedafterturningacorner.Aninstructiononascreenread: “Driving system malfunction.Staff are expected toarrive in 5 minutes.” Afterno one showedup, the passengerpushed an SOS buttonand was toldthat staff wereon their way.The car door could be opened, so the passenger got out on their own.

Trump warns a ‘whole civilization will die’ if a deal with Iran isn’t reached

TEHRAN Associated Press

US President Donald Trump threatened Tuesday that a “whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran fails to meet his latest deadline to strike a deal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while the Islamic Republic urged young people to form human chains around power plants and other potential targets.

Trump’s expansive threat did not seem to account for potential harm to civilians, prompting Democrats in Congress, some United Nations officials and scholars in military law to say such strikes would violate international law.

Tehran’s representative at the UN, Amir-Saeid Iravani, said the threats “constitute incitement to war crimes and potentially genocide” and that Iran would “take immediate and proportionate reciprocal measures” if Trump launches devastating strikes.

As Trump’s deadline neared, an official said indirect talks continued between the United States and Iran.

Pakistan’s prime minister urged Trump to extend his deadline by two weeks to allow diplomacy to advance. In a post on X, Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has been leading negotiations, also asked Iran to open up for two weeks the strait through which a fifth of the world’s oil transits in peacetime.

The White House said Trump had been informed of the proposal and would respond.

Even before the deadline, airstrikes hit two bridges and a train station, and the US hit military infrastructure on Kharg Island, a key hub for Iranian oil production.

Trump has extended deadlines before

PROJECT

Since the war began, Trump has repeatedly imposed deadlines linked to threats, only to extend them. But the president insisted this one is final and will expire at 8 p.m. in Washington unless there is a major diplomatic breakthrough. Tehran has rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal, saying it wants a permanent end to the war.

Iran’s president said 14 million people, including himself, have volunteered to fight. That’s despite Trump saying that US forces could wipe out all bridges in Iran in a matter of hours and reduce all power plants to smoking rubble in roughly the same time frame.

It was not clear if airstrikes against Iran on Tuesday were linked to Trump’s threats to widen the civilian target list. At

least two of the targets were connected to Iran’s rail network, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli warplanes struck bridges and railways in Iran.

Tehran fired on Israel and Saudi Arabia, prompting the temporary closure of a major bridge. While Iran cannot match the sophistication of US and Israeli weaponry or their dominance in the air, its chokehold on the strait since the war began in late February is roiling the world economy and raising the pressure on Trump both at home and abroad to find a way out of the standoff.

Trump keeps an off-ramp open

“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” if

JOB VACANCY

ENGINEER

Ocean Cay – MSC Marine Reserve – The Bahamas

Full-Time | Site-Based | Rotation or Permanent Assignment (as applicable)

Job Purpose: The Project Engineer will support the Technical Manager in managing and coordinating engineering and architectural design, quality control, and construction activities to ensure the successful delivery of complex infrastructure, civil, and/or building works in The Bahamas (MSC Cruises Ocean Cay). Responsibilities include reviewing and approving engineering and architectural drawings and construction documents along with coordinating all aspects of the projects such as: project management and administration, design and construction management, project performance, developing and controlling financial metrics and project schedules; and developing, planning, and enforcing quality assurance of project deliverables.

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• Provide technical support during installation, testing, and commissioning phases. Project management and administration during the design and construction cycle, including technical, required manpower, schedule and financial project metrics;

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interested appicants can forward their resumes to hr@mscoceancay.com

a deal isn’t reached, Trump said in an online post Tuesday morning. But he also seemed to keep open the possibility of an offramp, saying that “maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen.”

Earlier, Iranian official Alireza Rahimi issued a video message calling on “all young people, athletes, artists, students and university students and their professors” to form human chains around power plants.

Iranians have formed human chains in the past around nuclear sites at times of heightened tensions with the West. State media posted videos online that showed hundreds of flag-waving people massed at two bridges and at a power plant hundreds of kilometres (miles) from Tehran, though it was not clear how widespread the practice was.

“They’re not allowed to do that,” Trump said in a phone call with NBC News.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X that 14 million Iranians had answered campaigns urging people to volunteer to fight — and said he

would join them — while a Revolutionary Guard general urged parents to send their children to man checkpoints.

The Guard warned that Iran would “deprive the US and its allies of the region’s oil and gas for years” and expand its attacks across the Gulf region if Trump carries out his threat.

In Tehran, the mood was bleak. A young teacher said that many opponents of Iran’s Islamic system had hoped Trump’s attacks would quickly topple it. As the war drags on, she fears US and Israeli strikes will spread chaos.

“If we don’t have the internet, and if we don’t have electricity, water, and gas, we’re really going back to the Stone Age, as Trump said,” she told The Associated Press, speaking on the condition of anonymity for her safety.

Growing criticism of threats

In Rome, Pope Leo XIV said Tuesday that the threats were “truly unacceptable” and that such attacks would violate international law.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said that attacks targeting

civilian and energy infrastructure could constitute a war crime. Such cases are notoriously difficult to prosecute. Trump has said he’s “not at all” concerned about committing war crimes.

Volker Türk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said he deplored the rhetoric being used over the last two weeks “by all parties.” Airstrikes hit Iran, which fires on Saudi Arabia and Israel Intense airstrikes pounded Tehran, including in residential neighbourhoods. In the past, such strikes have targeted Iranian government and security officials.

The Israeli military said it attacked an Iranian petrochemical site in Shiraz, the second day in a row it hit such a facility. The military later said it also struck bridges in Tehran, Karaj, Tabriz, Kashan and Qom that were being used by Iranian forces to transport weapons and military equipment.

A US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations, described the strikes on Kharg Island as hitting targets previously struck and not directed at oil infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted seven ballistic missiles and four drones launched by Iran. Saudi Arabia also temporarily closed the King Fahd Causeway, the only road connection between Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, and the Arabian Peninsula. Iran also fired on Israel.

More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began, but the government has not updated the toll for days.

In Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Iranbacked Hezbollah militants, more than 1,500 people have been killed, and more than 1 million people have been displaced. Eleven Israeli soldiers have died there.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 US service members have been killed.

RF Bank and Trust shows support for kidney and mental health care programmes

RF BANK & Trust has donated funds to support mental health and kidney care initiatives.

The bank said the contributions form part of its regional community impact campaign and are aimed at improving health outcomes in The Bahamas.

In one statement, RF said it donated to the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre to support therapeutic art programming. The programme, run by the facility’s occupational therapy department since 2012, is used to aid emotional expression, skill development and recovery among psychiatric, geriatric, child and adolescent patients.

Lolita Colebrooke, senior assistant hospital administrator at Sandilands, said: “RF’s partnership is greatly appreciated. The art therapy programme is a key component of occupational therapy at SRC, offering rehabilitative benefits by supporting emotional expression, skill building, and recovery for our psychiatric, geriatric, child, and adolescent patients.”

She also pointed to the centre’s upcoming art auction, scheduled for April 16 at Serenity Gardens, describing it as part of efforts to strengthen community engagement and reduce stigma around mental health.

In the same statement, RF regional communications supervisor Ethan Knowles said: “RF is proud to stand with the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre in support of community health. As we continue to back life-enhancing initiatives throughout The Bahamas, we remain deeply grateful to the staff at SRC, and medical practitioners more broadly, for the work they do in building a healthy Bahamas.”

In a separate release, the bank said it donated to the Kidney Centre during Kidney Awareness Month to expand access to patient support services in Freeport.

The donation forms part of a three-year partnership between RF and the centre, which operates the country’s largest dialysis unit and serves more than 140 patients. The release noted that kidney disease remains a leading cause of death in The Bahamas and that access to care can be limited by geographic and economic barriers.

Jamila Carroll-Thompson, operations coordinator at the Kidney Centre’s Freeport facility, said: “Reliable donations from partners like RF help us address the personal needs of patients, many of whom face social as well as

health challenges. I cannot express how grateful we are for the donation!”

Mr Knowles said the initiative reflects the bank’s focus on healthcare as part of its outreach efforts.

“Health is a core pillar of our community impact campaign, and it’s been a pleasure partnering with the Kidney Centre for a third year in a row. Community comes first at RF, so we’re proud to be easing the burden for those affected by kidney disease.”

The Kidney Centre has operated in The Bahamas for more than 40 years, with facilities in New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco, and specialises in haemodialysis treatment.