04092026 NEWS

THURSDAY

PRIME MINISTER DAVIS HAS ‘BLUEPRINT FOR PROGRESS’

PLP unveils new policy proposals ahead of May 12 general election

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Progressive Liberal Party unveiled a sweeping set of new policy proposals last night ahead of the general election, including a migrant health insurance scheme, tighter immigration enforcement, expanded worker protections, and a push to position The Bahamas as a regional leader in artificial intelligence.

The commitments were outlined during the party’s “Blueprint for Progress” launch event, where candidates and senior officials delivered brief

presentations across major policy areas. Among the most eye-catching proposals is a plan to require migrants to carry health insurance or enrol in a new migrant health insurance scheme, with officials signalling that the public healthcare system will no longer bear that burden alone.

The party also pledged a major expansion of immigration enforcement tools, including a National Biometric Immigration System, biometric e-gates to flag prior deportees and identity fraud, and daily overstay

Husband of missing American woman arrested

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Staff Reporter

THE husband of a missing American woman has been taken into police custody in Abaco as

investigations into her disappearance intensify.

Police said a 59-year-old American man — believed to be the woman’s husband — was taken into custody shortly after 7pm on Wednesday in Marsh Harbour and is being

questioned in connection with the case.

The arrest is linked to the disappearance of Lynette Hooker, who was reported missing from an eight-foot dinghy while en route to Elbow Cay on April 4.

Before his detention, Brian Hooker, her husband, said he was “heartbroken” as the search continued.

“I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in The Bahamas,” he said on Facebook yesterday. “Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus.”

Police said the couple left Hope Town around 7.30pm that Saturday in a small dinghy heading toward Elbow Cay.

During the trip, Lynette 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.

CBS News posted a video on Tuesday showing Mr Hooker walking away when asked for his side of the matter.

His statement came after his stepdaughter, Karli Aylesworth, described the situation as suspicious and alleged the couple had issues with domestic violence.

Ms Aylesworth also started a GoFundMe to help fund the search for her mother or lay her to

rest. Up to press time, more than $450 had been raised toward a stated goal of $18,000. American media reported that search efforts had shifted to a recovery operation, but The Tribune

was unable to confirm that information up to press time.

Aylesworth told CNN the couple had been married for about 25 years and had sailed together for more than a decade.

Quarter of government contracts awarded without bidding

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

NEARLY one in four government contracts awarded between December 2023 and December 2025 was handed out without competitive bidding, with those no-bid deals accounting for a large share of public spending.

A review of official procurement records found 927 contracts were awarded without bids out of 3,881

categorised contracts during the period. The records are far from complete. Stateowned enterprises are absent from them and have never complied with the Act’s requirement to publish procurement awards. No-bid contracts were worth about $233.6m, a significant portion of the roughly $599.1m total value of all contracts in the dataset.

The Public Procurement Act, 2023 says competitive bidding should be the

standard method for awarding government contracts.

The law allows contracts to be awarded without bidding only in limited circumstances, including low-value purchases under $100,000, emergencies, failed bidding processes, or where only one supplier is available. It also requires agencies to justify why competition was bypassed.

The data shows no-bid spending remains concentrated in a small number of large contracts.

The largest was a $180.2m contract awarded in October 2024 for the Eleuthera Road Improvement Project by the Ministry of Finance. Beyond that, the remaining contracts drop sharply in size, including a $7.25m award for South Andros road works, a $2.82m contract for Bimini road repairs, a $2.2m contract for repairs to the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre National Stadium, and a $2.04m contract for electrical and lighting repairs at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium.

The Ministry of Finance dominated no-bid spending, accounting for the bulk of the $233.6m total. The Department of Public Works followed at a much smaller share. While most no-bid contracts were relatively small, the bulk of the money was not.

Of the 928 contracts awarded without bidding, 848 were worth $100,000 or less, together totalling about $17m. By contrast, just 80 contracts above that threshold accounted for the

vast majority of the remaining value. The law explicitly allows no-bid awards for contracts under $100,000. Larger contracts must meet stricter conditions, such as urgency, lack of competition, or technical constraints limiting suppliers. The records do not explain which justification was used in each case. The Act requires procurement decisions to be documented and contract awards to be published so the public can scrutinise how contracts are awarded.

Parliament dissolves as voters endure hours in long lines on final day of registration

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PARLIAMENT was dissolved yesterday as scores of Bahamians waited for hours in long lines on the final day of voter registration ahead of the May 12 general election.

Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles read the proclamation from Governor General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt outside Parliament. The next session is set for May 20.

At the Parliamentary Registration Department, people packed into the foyer as rain fell outside. Many described a slow and frustrating process.

Moses McKenzie, who has lived in Canada for a decade and has been back in The Bahamas for about two months, said rising costs are weighing on his decision as he prepares to vote.

“I feel like inflation in The Bahamas is crazy, like I look at the gas stations yesterday, $6.50 for fuel,” he said. “So inflation is just killing us over here.”

Chrastina Rox said she waited about two-anda-half hours to register, describing the process as organised but slow.

She said she had started registering about two months ago but had to

medically wise, why our Family Islands only have clinics available,” he said.

“There is no possible way they still only have clinics.”

At the Town Centre Mall registration site, wait times stretched long, with more people expressing frustration.

Marco Ricardo Bell said he had been waiting nearly three hours and was told he could be there until 10pm.

He said he would leave if the process did not improve and that he would likely not vote again.

Nadia Bevans, a mother of five, said it was her fifth attempt to register. She said she received inconsistent information about registration times and had been turned away on previous days, even though she

return after a technical issue caused her information to be lost. She said she was still considering who to vote for in Southern Shores, adding that the PLP’s candidate, Obie Roberts, had said things she supports, such as focusing on mental health issues and advocating for women.

First-time voter Mario Knowles said he registered under pressure from his parents and after visits from political party workers.

He pointed to conditions in the Family Islands as a key concern.

“In my 24 years being on this earth, it doesn’t make any sense to me, especially

arrived before the cut-off. She arrived shortly after 8am and left close to noon, noting the process was less chaotic than before.

She said support for entrepreneurs is a key issue for her vote.

“During the pandemic, I lost my business, I lost my home and everything like that,” she said. “So it was like I was just starting back over again. I'm a beautician. “It’s like I can't find nobody to even to help me, to even fund my business, to bring it back up, or anything like that. It's like everybody just want go work for the government, but it ain't no help when it comes for

persons who want to work for themselves.”

She said she plans to vote for the Coalition of Independents.

Veronica Ferguson, a mother of three, said caring for her special needs child made it difficult to find time to register, but she was determined to complete the process. She said she plans to support her MP, Glenys Hanna-Martin in Englerston. At the Cable Beach Post Office, long lines formed as well.

R Smith, an entrepreneur and Fort Charlotte voter, said she is concerned about the challenges facing small and medium-sized businesses and wants to see action to ease the cost of doing business.

“I’m very grossly disappointed in the FNM, it’s almost as if we don’t have an opposition,” she said. “Therefore, you almost leave the Bahamian people with only one choice.”

She said she supports Progressive Liberal Party’s candidate Sebas Bastian.

Meanwhile, PLP chairman Fred Mitchell said he expects a peaceful election and was advised that the writ of election will be issued today.

‘Blueprint for Progress’: PLP unveils new policy proposals ahead of the May 12 general election

fines from the first day. Employers who hire undocumented workers would face escalating penalties, rising from $5,000 for a first offence to $15,000 and up to 12 months’ imprisonment for repeated breaches, along with the possibility of being barred from obtaining work permits.

The platform also proposes the creation of an Immigration Fraud Intelligence Unit and a Bahamian e-Verify system, alongside stricter penalties for public officers involved in document fraud and a stronger re-entry ban regime for those who breach immigration laws.

On the labour front, the PLP promised new legislation to overhaul workplace protections.

The proposed Employment Bill would cap

probation periods at six months in the private sector and 12 months in the public service, guarantee a paid one-hour break on shifts of eight hours or more, and mandate at least eight hours of rest between shifts.

Workers would also gain three mental wellness days annually without the need for a doctor’s note, while maternity leave would increase from 12 to 14 weeks. The party has previously said mental wellness days would be unpaid. Last night, the party pledged two weeks of paid paternity leave and a legal right to adoption leave.

Employers would be required to provide breastfeeding breaks and suitable private spaces in workplaces with 20 or more employees.

The party also set out an aggressive push into artificial intelligence and digital

governance, signalling a bid to place The Bahamas at the forefront of regional technology policy.

Plans include introducing an eGovernment Act requiring all public agencies to be integrated into the MyGateway platform within three years, expanding digital services, and launching a Bahamas AI Academy through the University of The Bahamas and BTVI.

Artificial intelligence would also be introduced into the national school curriculum, with adaptive AI learning tools deployed across government schools within the same timeframe.

The PLP said it would also establish an AI Governance Act, with specific restrictions including no use of facial recognition without parliamentary approval, no predictive policing of

people, and no social scoring systems.

In housing, the party proposed a Social Housing Acquisition Programme to purchase and rehabilitate distressed or abandoned properties, alongside expanding affordable rental options through private-sector partnerships.

It also pledged to strengthen tenant protections through enforceable minimum standards, a national rental property registry, and the creation of a Residential Tenancy Authority with inspection and enforcement powers.

Families facing sudden displacement would be supported through a Temporary Social Housing initiative offering shortterm accommodation and coordinated assistance.

On the economic front, the PLP said it would introduce modern competition law to combat price-fixing and abuse of market dominance, alongside a rapid-response system to investigate price gouging.

The party also pledged to create a Foreign Direct Investment Compliance Unit to audit concession agreements and ensure investors meet their obligations, and to require state-owned enterprises to submit binding business plans aimed at reducing

reliance on government subsidies.

In agriculture, the platform sets out a plan to cut food import spending by 25 percent by 2030, supported by a suite of technology-driven initiatives, including a digital platform for farmers, an Agriculture Innovation Centre, and solar-powered container farming systems across several islands. The party also proposed a National Agricultural Drone Programme and expanded support for young farmers through scholarships, land access, and mentorship.

For the Family Islands, the PLP pledged to develop a dedicated economic plan for each island, backed by targeted investment incentives and expanded

support for tourism and local enterprise. The plan includes public consultation on a new city in Andros and the creation of innovation hubs and business centres on major islands.

In healthcare, the party said it would extend health insurance coverage to all public servants, including contract workers, expand telemedicine access across major clinics within two years, and introduce legislation to address elder abandonment.

It also pledged a 10-year strategy targeting chronic diseases, a four-year national mental health and suicide prevention plan, and the launch of a 24-hour suicide prevention hotline alongside community mental health centres.

Leroy Major will contest Southern Shores as an independent

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@ tribunemedia.net

PLP MP Leroy Major has broken with the party and will contest Southern Shores as an independent, accusing the party of sidelining and disrespecting him.

Mr Major told The Tribune residents pressed him to run despite uncertainty over his standing within the Progressive Liberal Party.

“A lot of them asked me, ‘Listen, we want you to run independent,’” Mr Major said. “And I believe that I still have more to offer to my people.”

He framed his decision as a stand against party control over his political future.

“You could stop me from running for the party, but you cannot stop me from running for the people,” Mr Major said. “I believe that the people in Southern Shores deserve representation.”

The move follows months of internal tension over his renomination, culminating

in PLP deputy chairman Obie Roberts being selected as the party’s candidate for the constituency. Mr Major said he expected direct engagement from party leadership, but none came.

“For me, the PLP could do what they want, but if I am the sitting member of parliament, you have a conversation with me,” he said.

“You sit down and you talk with me.”

“Because of the level of disrespect, I said I am just going to sit back and watch them.”

He said the breakdown pushed him toward an independent bid, which he believes will free him from party constraints.

“I believe that I could voice more my opinion, because now I will be the voice of the people,” Mr Major said. “I am not the voice of the party.”

Despite his break, he underscored his long ties to the PLP, describing himself as “an indoctrinated PLP” and saying he declined approaches from other political groups.

The fallout comes after a protracted nomination battle in Southern Shores.

Earlier this year, interest in the seat intensified as ZNS general manager Clint Watson and Mr Roberts pursued the PLP nomination.

Mr Major had also aired broader frustrations, criticising what he said was unequal distribution of resources within the party and calling for “fair play” for backbenchers.

Tensions escalated further when he alleged that contracts he submitted for constituency work were redirected through PLP headquarters, raising questions about political interference.

Now campaigning as an independent, Mr Major claimed voters have responded positively and expressed confidence he will retain the seat.

“I believe that I will be returning back as the sitting Member of Parliament,” he said, despite the uphill battle many observers will expect him to face.

PM urges Bahamians to judge

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip Davis urged Bahamians to judge his administration on its record and said the Progressive Liberal Party is seeking a second term to expand on work already underway, as he closed the party’s “Blueprint for Progress” launch.

Speaking last night, Mr Davis said the platform outlines the party’s plans for governance if returned to office.

He encouraged voters to examine the proposals themselves rather than rely on outside commentary.

He said the party’s approach builds on its performance over the past term and is designed to continue national development.

“I am proud to run on our track record,” he said.

“It is not perfect, but we have lifted the country out of the multiple crises we met, and put us on a path of growth and positive national development.”

He pointed to the introduction of a “Blueprint Tracker”, an online tool intended to allow the public to measure what the government promised and what it has delivered.

Mr Davis said the new platform commits the party to building on those existing plans while expanding its ambitions for the country.

He also challenged political opponents to present clear proposals of their own and to demonstrate their ability to deliver.

“When they come asking for your vote, ask them, ‘what is your plan’?”

1,056

1,906

Davis framed the election as a choice about the country’s direction, urging voters to weigh experience and continuity against alternatives.

He said voters should consider which leadership team is best equipped to manage the country and advance its interests.

Mr Davis also criticised what he described as political attacks and distractions, saying the focus should remain on plans for the country’s future.

He said the government intends to remain focused on governance rather than engaging in political back-and-forth during the campaign.

Also, Mr Davis urged Bahamians to consider the stakes of the election as they prepare to vote on May 12.

The Tribune Limited

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

Contributing Editor 1972-1991

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

Publisher/Editor 1972-

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

TELEPHONES

News & General Information

(242) 502-2350

Advertising Manager (242) 502-2394

Circulation Department (242) 502-2386

Nassau fax (242) 328-2398

Freeport, Grand Bahama (242)-352-6608

Freeport fax (242) 352-9348

WEBSITE, TWITTER & FACEBOOK

Creative economy potential: The

future was there. The government was not.

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE “242 Influencers & Creative Conference” could have been more accurately labeled as “A Missed Trillion-Dollar Opportunity and a Political Performance Masquerading as Economic Vision.”

LETTERS

to express this level of urgency?

In his prorogation statement, he mentioned he had not yet advised dissolution but was “very close to ringing that bell.” This timing cannot be overlooked.

www.tribune242.com @tribune242

Voters must demand accountability as Progressive Liberal Party launches new manifesto

Game on. The House has been dissolved, the Members of Parliament are just candidates or retired, and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) last night launched its new manifesto.

Last time around, it was a Blueprint for Change, this time the branding is Blueprint for Progress. Progress is the word on the posters, the word on the lips of speakers last night and the word by which the PLP will be measured by voters.

Has the party shown enough measurable progress in its term to earn a return to office? Or has it fallen short?

Last night was a triumphal moment as the party celebrated itself.

Prime Minister Philip Davis started by recognising a moment of history – the first time the dissolution of Parliament has been conducted by two women –Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles and Governor General Dame Cynthia Pratt, each carrying out their constitutional duties. All of which brought to a close a Parliament with a woman Speaker too. Will that benchmark be a forerunner to a future Parliament with a greater number of women MPs? That remains to be seen.

Mr Davis set out the pattern for the party’s campaign and its reliance on its record by saying: “Tonight we build on what we have achieved together over the past five years.”

One by one, members of his team took to the stage to present their reasons why the party should get another chance. It was high on energy, high on glitz, but what comes next?

Mr Davis largely made an economic argument. He talked about affordability. He talked about projects coming to a halt as administrations change every five years. On that, he is right, but no administration has the divine right to a second term. It must be earned. You do not give someone the job a second time if they haven’t done enough the first time. Continuity of excellence is to be desired, continuity of mediocrity is not, whichever the party.

In yesterday’s Tribune, we reported on a number of areas where the government had failed to deliver on promises. For those who did not read this article yesterday, the government is launching

a Blueprint Tracker. Our reporters will be sure to check that against our own records, and ask for further explanation of those areas that fell short.

Mr Davis welcomed that, saying: “You should be prepared to be measured. You should be prepared to be accountable.”

More than that, over the coming days and weeks leading to the election, the Blueprint for Progress will be examined, as will the FNM manifesto. We have already discussed in this column the constitutional and fiscal weaknesses of the COI’s pledges, but all sides will be examined.

There were eyecatching elements in the PLP launch – a new health insurance requirement for migrants, a maternity leave increase, new employment protections and more. You can read more in today’s Tribune

As parties launch their campaigns, we agree with Mr Davis. You should be prepared to be held accountable, for both successes and failures.

Here is one open secret, however. Promises are easy. Governing is hard.

The first speaker after Mr Davis was Glenys Hanna Martin, the Education Secretary. Last time, the PLP talked of a revolution in education. We are not there yet. Education of course takes years for results to show through, as students go through changes in their courses leading up to exam results, but there has not been a revolution in those results yet.

Elsewhere, accountability as a word to use is interesting when transparency and governance legislation has not been fully implemented yet, and what accountability is there for the massive no-bid contracts handed out?

All these are questions the PLP will have to answer on the campaign trail. But do ensure too that you as voters are just as rigorous with asking all candidates to justify why they should get your vote.

Don’t fall for the bribes our election landscape is said to be plagued with. Vote for the party or the independent that will deliver the best tomorrow. That is the progress the country needs, whatever colour shirt it wears.

The Tribune will be asking those questions. We hope that so will you.

Why is the COI pocket watching Rick Fox?

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I LISTENED to portions of Coalition of Independents Leader Lincoln Bain’s rant on Free National Movement candidate Rick Fox and was embarrassed. How did politics in The Bahamas sink into the gutter, where we are now questioning what’s in the political opponents’ pocket or bank account? To the COI, whatever is on Fox’s bank account is none of its business. They are trying to spin the narrative that Fox is eyeing Garden Hills as a come-up, owing to financial struggles he is alleged to be going through. The disdain among COI supporters for Fox is disturbing, to the extent that they refer to him as the “Canadian”. This is a mild form of xenophobia. And it seems to be the only thing the COI has got going for it. Fox has remained above the fray, however. He has not engaged in gutter politics. He has not brought up any accusations against his Garden Hills rivals. He has stayed on point by addressing the issues rather defaming his rivals. This is a breath of fresh air in Bahamian politics where we are entertained by foul-mouthed political operatives on social media who cannot explain what their party’s policies are. All they can do is slander and gossip. Famed American writer Mark Twain once said that we must never argue with a fool. He will bring you down to his level and then beat you with experience. Fox has not taken the COI bait. The Free National Movement is the Opposition. The FNM has only six MPs. The Progressive Liberal Party has 32. But you wouldn’t know this judging by the COI’s preoccupation with the FNM and its

Leader Michael Pintard and now Rick Fox.

Fox played 13 seasons in the NBA for the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. At 56, he is eligible for the NBA’s full monthly pension of $10,000, which kicks in at age 50 for NBA retirees. NBA retirees can gain access to their pension plan at 45, but it would not be the full amount. At $10,000 per month, Fox’s pension is $120,000 per year. He’s earning $34,000 more than the $86,000 Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis makes for his position -- a position Bain wants. Nay, craves. I stated in this space in a previous write-up that Fox earned over $34 million during his stint in the NBA. Several sites estimate that his net worth is pegged at $20 million. But obviously the COI is not convinced that Fox is financially stable. They have no scandal on Fox so their next best move is to call into question his financial state, creating doubt in the minds of cynical Bahamians who think that everyone who is trying to get a seat in the House of Assembly wants access to the Public Treasury. Fox must continue ignoring the COI rabble and focus his attention on Garden Hills and its people who he desires to represent in Parliament in the coming months. I don’t foresee the COI surviving much longer after the next general election cycle, when over 90 percent of its candidates fail to retain their election deposits. Rather than focusing on their respective races, they are too busy pocket watching Fox.

KEVIN EVANS Freeport, Grand Bahama March 31, 2026.

Prime Minister Philip Davis seems to have only just realised the strategic importance of the Creative Economy, the Orange Economy, and the Creator Economy, even though these concepts have been established for years.

On March 11, 2026, during his debate on the CAPAS Bill and the Junkanoo Authority Bill, he described the creative and orange economy as a significant opportunity worth “between two to four trillion dollars annually.” Then, at the March 29 conference, he referred to the event as “a beginning.”

This is precisely the problem: after four and a half years in office, the country is still being offered just a beginning.

“The Creative Economy” is a broad umbrella term. UNCTAD defines it as knowledge-based economic activity rooted in creativity and intellectual capital, encompassing sectors such as advertising, architecture, arts, design, music, film, publishing, software, broadcasting, and games.

“The Orange Economy” is the terminology used in Latin America and the Caribbean to describe the same field of cultural and creative industries, including architecture, audiovisual arts, fashion, design, crafts, music, software, and digital services.

The Inter-American Development Bank notes that in this region, the term orange economy is commonly used interchangeably with the creative economy.

“The Creator Economy” is narrower and more digitally focused; it refers to the modern model where individual creators and small creator-led businesses monetise content, audiences, communities, and digital products online. While these concepts are not identical, they share a common foundation: ideas, expression, intellectual property, technology, culture, and monetisable creativity.

The obvious question arises: “When did the Prime Minister first recognise that these opportunities were real?” If he understood them in 2021, why did he wait until after Parliament was prorogued on March 27, 2026, and the country was preparing for dissolution

This is not a country being led early into a new economic frontier; it’s a government that is arriving late to a future that was already underway.

The world did not wait for The Bahamas. YouTube has publicly stated that it paid over $70 billion to creators, artists, and media companies between 2021 and 2023. This is not theory or hype; it represents real income already flowing through a functioning creator economy, while Bahamian talent has largely been left to operate in an underdeveloped environment with weak policy support, inadequate rights infrastructure, inefficient export systems, and no serious national commercialization framework.

That is why this issue is larger than a single conference. The Prime Minister is speaking as if a few keynote addresses, platform presentations, networking sessions, and promises to allocate government advertising budgets toward influencers constitute a strategy. They do not.

Even in his conference remarks, he stated that the work ahead is to build “relationships, access, and systems” that enable Bahamian creators to earn from their talent.

This admission implies that the necessary systems still do not exist. If these systems remain absent after four and a half years, the government cannot credibly claim responsibility for building a Creative Economy, an Orange Economy, or a Creator Economy. This distinction is significant.

A serious “Creative Economy Policy” would have established a national framework across education, copyright, incentives, financing, exports, data, and industry development.

A serious “Orange Economy Policy” would have treated culture and creative industries as a structured development vehicle for Latin America and the Caribbean, rather than mere artistic expression or national pride.

A robust “Creator Economy Policy” would have directly addressed the

platform era: monetisation pathways, creator registries, payment systems, training for digital products and content strategies, diaspora distribution, creator financing, licensing, and brand partnerships. Instead, Bahamian creatives have largely received inspiration without the necessary infrastructure.

So, where was the strategy while this market was growing? Where was the national creator framework? Where was the registry tied to finance and market access? Where was the copyright modernisation agenda with a commercial objective? Where was the export logic? Where were the institutional bridges linking schools, tourism, media, festivals, platforms, and payment systems into a coherent growth model? These are not unreasonable questions. They are the minimum inquiries any serious country must address if it wants creativity to function as an industry rather than merely an aspiration. That is why the “242 Influencers & Creative Conference” should be seen for what it mostly was: not a genuine national development pathway. Attendees may have found inspiration and engaged in useful conversations, but inspiration alone does not create an ecosystem. Networking does not serve as a financing structure, and a panel discussion is not an export strategy. A casual mixand-mingle event cannot replace a rights-management system. Moreover, a government that only recognises the urgency of the Creator Economy right before an election should not expect praise for a vision it failed to implement while there was still time.

Every year of delay in a rapidly growing global market results in lost income, missed opportunities for businesses, hindered exports, unacquired skills, and lost ownership. Bahamian creatives deserve more than just a conference following a period of stagnation. They deserve proactive leadership while opportunities are still ripe, not empty rhetoric as the moment to act approaches.

NOĒSIS — CRITICAL THINKER Freeport, Grand Bahama April 1, 2026.

Still PLP - All the way

EDITOR, The Tribune.

FOR those with short memories, the last time we followed the dictates of the deeply biased local media and elected the Free National Movement to office, the consequences proved even worse than those of us who knew better could have imagined.

Predictably, the party that has opposed every positive step in our country’s development since the early 1970’s left us in an unenviable state.

Taxes on the poor were increased, minimum wage saw no rise and private interests prospered at the expense of Bahamians in areas ranging from healthcare (where the emphasis switched from free, universal access to “user fees”) to criminal justice (where residents of Lyford Cay got exemptions from COVID

rules to bury their pets, while residents of Bain Town got arrested for visiting outdoor water pumps). In all of the positive senses, we are where we are as a country because of progressive policies pursued primarily by PLP administrations. These policies created our middle class and our social safety net and made us easily the most successful majority-black independent country in history. On the other hand, most of our major blunders and self-inflicted harm (like rolling back Bahamianisation and selling off public assets) have flowed from the instincts and policies of the party that still pushes the primitive capitalist/ colonialist ideology that flourished here up to 1967.

Once again, under a responsible PLP government, we are seeing

advances in almost every area that matters to the mass of Bahamians (though obviously not to the editorialised media).

Energy and public infrastructure are being dramatically improved and geographically spread throughout the islands; new investments are being made in skills development for young people (like BPATH and the Opportunity Hub) and significant investment is again being made in affordable housing (an area almost totally neglected by every FNM administration to date). It would be the height of stupidity for us to turn back at this point. But dumber things have happened.

ANDREW ALLEN Nassau, April 1, 2026.

PLP report card on healthcare promises a mixed bag

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE Davis administration’s healthcare push ran up against a stubborn reality this term: worsening hospital conditions, delayed projects, and limited transparency around flagship programmes.

As the Progressive Liberal Party seeks re-election on its Blueprint for Change, key elements of its healthcare agenda remain incomplete or difficult to measure, even though select reforms and spending continue.

The plan promised sweeping improvements — from introducing catastrophic healthcare to building new hospitals and improving conditions at Princess Margaret Hospital.

The government can point to progress, including new and renovated clinics across the Family Islands, public health campaigns, and the passage of the National Health Insurance Act, 2025. However, it remains unclear to what extent those measures are easing pressure on an overburdened system.

The Blueprint for Change pledged to introduce catastrophic healthcare across The Bahamas, but there is little publicly available data on how the programme is functioning.

The Davis administration launched an internal audit of the Catastrophic Healthcare Fund last June, yet information on how many people have benefited and under what conditions remains unavailable.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said yesterday that the programme has helped

hundreds of Bahamians with serious conditions, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and orthopaedic issues, but he could not provide a specific figure.

He also noted that the fund is self-limiting, meaning access ends once its allocation is exhausted. Funding for the programme has increased from $10m to $12m in the current budget cycle.

Major infrastructure promises also remain in progress.

The government committed to building new hospitals in New Providence and Grand Bahama, upgrading facilities in Abaco and Exuma, and developing a new hospital in Eleuthera.

Dr Darville said two mini-hospitals are expected to be upgraded to urgent care facilities using Inter-American Development Bank loan funding, but those upgrades have not been completed during this term.

The Palmetto Point Advanced Medical Facility in Eleuthera is now projected to be completed by the end of 2026, while plans to expand healthcare infrastructure in Exuma remain in development.

Other elements of the plan have moved forward, including the construction of additional clinics, new nursing programmes and health promotion campaigns through BIS, ZNS and other partners.

But on the ground, healthcare workers say the system remains under strain.

Bahamas Nurses Union president Muriel Lightbourn said some nurses in the Department of Public Health are still waiting for

overtime and mileage payments dating back more than three years. Efforts to resolve those issues have been referred to the Ministry of Health without action, she said.

The next general election is set for May 12, which

coincides with International Nurses Day.

“The nurses are going to the polls understanding that they've (government) not done what they're supposed to do for those nurses,” Ms Lightbourn said.

The union has been seeking a new industrial agreement since July 2025 to address pay and retention concerns. The last agreement was signed in 2022. Ms Lightbourn said she is still waiting on a counterproposal from the Department of Public Health and the Ministry of Health.

The situation has intensified as many nurses also await confirmations, appointments and promotions, while conditions at Princess Margaret Hospital have deteriorated to what staff describe as among the worst in its history.

Concerns extend beyond nursing.

Consultant Physicians Staff Association president Dr Charelle Lockhart said her 136 members are still without government-provided health insurance despite signing an industrial agreement with the Public Hospitals Authority last June.

“My expectations are limited when it comes to things that cost money with the government,” she said. “I think my expectation is communication, and I think that's where they have fallen down on being respectful enough to keep the lines of communication open without us having to beg for it.”

Trump in the middle:

war in the mideast and mid-term elections

THE WAR in Iran looks likeitmayquietdownnowfor a coupleof weeksafter the currentleadership inTehran accepted an offer from US president DonaldTrump to cease the expanded, comprehensivemilitary attackshe was threatening in recent days.

"Awhole civilizationmight dietonight, nevertobe brought back again. I don't wantthat tohappen, butit probablywill," Trumpwrote online early on Tuesday, ahead of an8pm deadline that hesetforIran tostrikeadeal with the US.

Theworldwide responseto thisstatement wasquickand condemnatory.

Today, as we all know, there hasalso beenthis threat against the entirepeople of Iran.And thisis trulyunacceptable,” the AmericanPope Leo toldreporters. There are certainly issuesof international law here,but even more, it is a moral question concerning the goodof the people asa whole,in itsentirety.

Ceasefires in the Middle East are often pretty fragile, though,so it’s probably wise to moderate any expectations thatthiswar willcometoa quickconclusion.That’sespecially true becauseIsrael and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will likely continue their aggressivecampaign againstHezbollah onIsrael’s northern frontier. And another long-time Iranianproxy, the Houthis in Yemen,may ignite hostilitieswith attacksonRed Sea shipping.

Trump’sbombasticoutburst over theweekend thatif Iran did not agreeto reopen the StraitofHormuz heandthe USmilitary wouldunleash against Iran afurious attack on itscivilian infrastructure mightactuallyhavehaditsdesired effect.Most commentators agree that the number one goalfor thecurrentleadership in Tehran isto remain in power.That wouldmeanno regimechange forIran.But this might beacceptable to Trump and theUS if accommodationcould bereachedon other issues. It doesn t seemlikely that the Iranian people, after 47 years ofrepressive theocratic rule by a ruthless cabal of agingdespots, willspontaneously rise up and overthrow their oppressors simply becausean effectiveAmer-

ican/Israeli airborneassault has decimatedthe highest ranks oftheir government. Many pundits are speculating, though, thata weakenedIranian regime may be susceptible to continuederosion of its grip on power. Meantime, though, Trump s increasingly unfilteredand sometimes hatefulpublic rhetorichas stimulatedsome of hispolitical criticsto resume talking about invocation of the25th amendment tothe

US constitution,which provides for removal of a president by allowing the vice presidentandamajorityofthe cabinet to declare the President unfitto dischargehis duties.Theproblemwiththisapproach is thatneither JD Vancenor Trump’s ultra-loyal cabinetwould likelypursue this course under any foreseeable circumstances.

Andevenif theydid,the 25th amendment alsostipulates that two-thirds of the

Our company has been around gaming for over 30 years and pride ourselves on quality service and customer relationships. We are moving forward in the market and such are looking for qualified, dedicated, people friendly customer services representatives.

Jarol Investments Limited is seeking to fill the following position: Accounts Clerk (Freeport)

Key Responsibilities:

· Maintain accurate accounting records by organizing and filing financial documents.

· Count cash and reconcile daily totals with reports.

· Enter financial data into the general ledger system.

· Prepare and verify daily bank deposits.

· Support inventory tracking and control efforts.

· Compile and review financial and theoretical reports as needed.

· Prepare the daily cash collection report.

· Ensure confidentiality of financial information and company data.

· Participate in relevant training or professional development opportunities.

· Contribute to departmental goals and organizational mission through timely and accurate work.

· Perform additional duties as assigned by the CFO.

Education & Experience Requirements:

· Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field. Equivalent relevant work experience will be considered in lieu of formal education.

· Proficiency in QuickBooks and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) is essential.

· Must be a dependable and collaborative team player.

Interested persons should email their resume to careers@chancesgames.com.

Subject: Accounts Clerk – Your Name or visit our Head Office on #13 Ruthaven Plaza, Logwood Road (across from The $2 Dollar Store) between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

members of bothhouses of Congresswould needtosupport Trump’sremoval from office. That’salso prettyhard to imagine at this point.

Amid widespreadforecasts of a shift ofpower to the Democrats inthe November elections forthe USHouse of Representatives, though, there are also murmurings of a third billof impeachmentagainst Trump. The prospectsof successfor suchan action,however, dim whenyou consider that the sametwo-thirds majority rulefor Senateapproval also applies in impeachment proceedings.

Theprospects forDemocraticrecapture oftheHouse seemquitebright,butit svery hard to do the math and believe that the Dems can also retake theSenate. Giventhe seatsthatare inplayforthe November election, even a

simpleblue majorityinthe nextSenate seemsalmostfarfetched,despite thecurrent unpopularity of the Trump administration.

So,the twomostobvious meansof removingTrump fromofficeareatbestimprobable. There is some speculation that Trump’shealth may beweakening, amidrumours ofan unannouncedTrump visittotheBethesdaMaryland military hospitalin theDC suburbs.

That’s probably wishful thinking by hismany critics too. Donald Trumpis probably not goinganywhere anytime soon. Where does that leave the US?

On theinternational stage, US relations with its NATO alliesappear tohavereached an all-time low. Trump’s petulant demand thatWestern European alliesassist inmilitary efforts to clear the strategic StraitofHormuz, afterheinitiated awar withIran without involvingthem, hasevoked someofthestrongestcriticism yetof hisactions andoverall approach.

Despiteallthat,it’snothard toimagine thatsoberEuropeanleaders areallbiding their time,with admittedlyincreasing impatience, until US voters ultimately weaken and eventuallydismiss Trumpand his jingoistic MAGA supporters from power. Local electionresults allacrossthe US showsignificantly growinglevels ofpolitical support for Democratic candidates, even when the Trumpbacked candidate ultimately prevails.

Just the most recent examplecomes fromthefar northwest congressionaldistrictin Georgia,wherevoters havechosen Trump’s endorsed candidateto replace hisone-time staunchally, Marjorie TaylorGreene. But theGOP marginofvictory was dramatically smaller than in recent elections there. Georgia,withaSenateelection loomingin November,is just one of several swing stateswherelocalizedcontests mayforecast generalelection outcomes.Another isVirginia, where Democrats recaptured all state-wide offices andcontrol ofboth housesof the legislaturelast year.Now, in lessthan twoweeks, Old Dominionvoters willlikely approve a temporary measure to permit congressional redistricting that couldmean a net Democratic gain of five House seats in this November s election.

The danger signsare there for Republicans.Trump, characteristically,shows nosign that he isn t well aware of the politicalperil onhishorizon. He and Republicans continue their efforts toinfluence the upcomingelection bycongressional redistrictingin states like Texasand Florida byproposing newrestrictions onmail-inballotingthatmight hinderDemocratic votersin somestates, andlitigatingto revoke or weaken some Voting Act provisions that seek to facilitate efforts by black and other minority voters to cast their ballots.

And if Trump’s warinIran isatleast partlymotivatedby an obsessive desireto distract American voters fromthe potentialdamage tohisreputation and credibility from releasing the Epstein files, he appearsto besucceedingto someextent.Thereiscertainly lessattentionfocusedonthose controversialrecordssincethe war began six weeks ago.

Oneaspect ofthe Iranwar thathas receivedlittleattentionso faristhe politicalperil toTrumpifAmericanmilitary personnel were to be captured by Iran. We got a glimpse of that over the past week when an American crew member went missing from an aircraft shot down bythe Iranians. Many inWashington held theirbreath duringthefrantic and ultimately successful effort torecover thiscrew member.

Those withlonger memories recalled thatone of the eventsthatmostweakenedUS presidentJimmy Carter’s reelectionbidin 1980washis rather flaccid attempt to rescue the 53US embassy hostagesbeing heldinTehran after theIslamic revolution overthrew theUS-supported monarchy there in February 1979.

Instarkcontrasttotheoverwhelming effectiveness of the US military in Venezuela and alsoinIran inrecentmonths, Carter s Departmentof Defenseandthe CIAbadlybungled the April 1980 US hostage rescuemission and abandoned the effort in rather humiliating fashion. The US has rarelylooked sofeckless and weak onthe international stage. Carter’s political prospects took a severe hit with this rescue mission failure, and itgreatly contributedto RonaldReagan’s presidential election victory that same year.

Had Iran s Revolutionary Guardmanaged tocapturethe UScrewman, thepublicpressure on Trumpto secure his releasewould haveseriously ramped updemands foran end tohostilities ora rescue bywhatever meansnecessary. Trump’sposition wouldhave become infinitelymore pressured.And whoknowshow he might have reacted.

If theUS militaryincreases its involvement after the current ceasefireor inviolation of it,the riskof losingAmerican hostages,of course,continues and may even intensify. And sowill theuncertainty about any potential American rescue attemptsand otherresponses.

Thismightbe oneofthe

scenarios

is full of them.

Social, family, and childcare policies

WHEN attorneyHeather Hunt, the Free National Movement (FNM) candidate forElizabeth, recentlydiscussed herparty s Working ParentChild SupportInitiative inthis journal,in astory titled “FNM will give single moms $200 monthly, she failed to articulatecritical details of the policy.

She leftthe wrongimpression inthe public s mind. There was an inevitable and understandable blowback and concern.As themajorparties release their policy proposals in their platformsor manifestos, they must be careful in theirpresentations. Theywill rightly be held responsible for missteps and lack of clarity.

The FNM spolicy initiativegenerated somedebate,a gooddealof whichwasnot based onthe fullerproposal by theparty. Theparty has soughtto correctwhatwas initially inthe publicdomain. The actual FNMinitiative is toprovide$200permonthto eligible parents whoare employedor activelyseeking employment, forthe firsttwo years of their child’s life.

“Thepurposeis toeasethe burden of childcarecosts so that parents canremain in the workforce and children receive quality early care. An incomethreshold willapply. This supportis designedfor working andmiddle-income Bahamian families, not highincome earnerswho donot need it.

Like similarprograms internationally, the Working Parent ChildSupport Initiative istargeted, work-linked, family inclusive,and timelimited.Successful socialintervention programsare best whenthey targetcertain groups inneed ofassistance, suchas at-riskyouth--especially males--poorercitizens, and other specific cohorts.

Debate onsocial andother policieshere, andin otherjurisdictions, isoften fraught with prejudices,limited information, politicalspin, anda misunderstanding ofwhat constitutes “fairness.” This is especially so of benefit programs.

Often,recipients aredemonizedand scapegoatedaslazy andpromiscuous, arefrain typically offeredby middleand upper-incomevoters. The idea that a woman is going to purposefully have a child to receive $200a monthis laughable and unserious.

Still, somewill holdto this view.

It’sunfortunate thattheini-

tial discussion on the Working Parent ChildSupport Initiative was sidetrackedbyincorrectand insufficientinformation. Still, the country has an opportunity fora discussion onthe kindsof socialpolicies that are family- and childfriendly, equitable,and that boost economic productivity. Itwouldbe goodifthe media, which hasbeen given moredetails ontheFNM’s proposal, woulddo morereportingand moreinformed editorials andcommentary on the topic.

“Direct cash support for families withyoung children isawidely adoptedpolicyin developing countries,proven to alleviate povertyand improvechild well-being, one Bahamianpolicyexpertnotes. (Morethan 60countrieshave such transferprograms for families.)

“These initiativesare backedby extensiveresearch and positive results. Many nations–including middle-income countries similarto The Bahamas–have implemented cash-transfer programs that provide monthly stipends to parents or caregivers of young children.

World Bankreporting con-

firmsthis. There s significant empirical evidence of their effectiveness in easing cost-of-living pressures and reducing poverty. These programs improve nutrition, health, andeducational outcomeswhen targetedduring early childhood. In aneffort tobroaden the debate onits proposal,the FNMoffered furtherguidance,and aresponse tosome of the criticisms.

Criticshave dismissedthe planto provide$200per month to qualifying parents of youngchildren as ‘populist pandering and not fully thought through.’ But such critiques miss themark. Far frombeing areckless handout,this initiativeis groundedin agrowingbody of international evidence that shows direct cash transfers to service providersto support familiesare amongthemost effective tools for reducing poverty,improving childoutcomes, and supporting labour force participation.

“The FNM’s proposal is not a blank cheque. It’s a targeted, time-boundinvestment inthe earliest and most critical years of a child’slife... The programme includesincome eli-

lighted immediatereaction in an editorial.

“Public response to [the initiative] was overwhelmingly negative.” However, the limitedresponse fromsome quartersdoes notrevealwhat amajority ofBahamiansmay feel about theparty’s fuller proposal, including the views of those who may benefit from the program,as well as employers whoseworkers may bemore productiveif theyare affordedgreaterassistance with childcare.

Moreover, judgingthe valueof apolicy ideaon whether a proposal generates an initial negativeresponse in somequarters--or aconsistentlynegative response--isa poorand sillymethodology. After all, most Bahamians were opposedto thereferendumsensuring fullequality for certain women in passing on citizenship to their children.

Filius nullius is a Latin termmeaning son of nobody” or “no one’s son,” used incommonlaw todefinean “illegitimate” child. Historically, thislegal doctrine meant achild bornoutside of marriagehad nolegalrights, no inheritancerights, andwas considered to have no father.

“Over time, statutory reforms [globally] abolished this doctrine, granting ‘illegitimate (or non-marital)children similar rights to marital children.

Mr. Ingrahamchanged the law so that all children legally have two parents. This change materiallyimproved thelives of many thousandsof Bahamian children. Undoubtedly, there werecertain wellheeled andbourgeoise Bahamians unhappy with this change.

gibility thresholdsto ensure supportreaches thosewho need it most. It’s not about encouraging dependency. It s about enablingdignity, stability, and opportunity.

“Critics argue that existing systems should be strengthened instead of introducing new programs.We agreethat existing services must be improved. Butthat is notan either/or proposition,” the FNM said.

“TheWorking ParentChild Support Initiative complementsbroader effortstoexpanduniversalpre-school,vocational trainingstipends, and healthcare access. It spart of a holistic visionfor familycentred economicdevelopment.”

The Nassau Guardian high-

Most Bahamians opposed seat belt laws, the single-use plastic ban, and likely the outlawing ofmarital rape.Most Bahamianssupport thedeath penalty, which has been editorially andphilosophically opposed by The Guardian The Bahamaswould bea less-progressivecountryifpolitical leadershad notpushed beyond narrow-minded majoritarian thinking,which is often debunked by evidence andhistory. Majoritiesare often poorlyinformed andignorant on variouspolicy matters.

Newspapers shouldinform and educate, notsuccumb in itsarguments to argumentum ad populum,orthe bandwagonfallacy”:thefaultyreasoningthat aclaimis trueor goodsimply becausemanyor most people believeit. Popularitydoesnot equatetovalidity

When Hubert Ingraham and theFNMcame toofficein 1992, theylaunched aprogressive revolutionin women’srights, povertyreduction, greater income equality, and social, child, and family policy.

In 2026,the Working Parent ChildSupport Initiative, which Opposition Leader Michael Pintard sought policy adviceon, seeksto buildon theFNM’sextensiverecordof progressive socialpolicies over several decades.

The simplistic and intellectually unseriousframing of the FNM s proposalas populist pandering, suggesting an entrenched cynicalmindset, does a disserviceto what couldbeamoreseriouspublic debate.

Election time canbe a silly season. This includes silliness onthe partonsome inthe media, who are often more enthralled with thecombat of politics thanthe detailsof policy. The FNMshould pressits case on this initiative.

Further, the PLPshould be invitedto presentitssocial policies as the campaign continues.

Despite the noiseand nonsense thatoften passesfor public discourse, there is roomfor informed,reasonable, and intelligent debate on ideas to foster a fairer and less unequal society.

Got an awkward or embarrassing Gmail address? Google is now letting users change it

By KELVIN CHAN AP Business Writer

Good news for people who regret the Gmail address they came upwith when they registeredforanaccount: Googleisnowletting users change it.

Google started quietly rolling out the change late lastyear inIndia andsaid thisweek ina blogpost thatit s nowavailablefor all Google Account users in the United States. There were no details onwhen it would beavailable to users in other countries.

Google's CEO suggested the update will be welcomedbypeoplewhowanttokeeptheiraccountsbuthaveoutgrowntheawkward,embarrassingor nonsensicalGmailhandles theycreated after the service launched 22 years ago “2004 was a good year,but your Gmail address doesn t needto bestuckin it, Sundar Pichai wrotein apost onX, addingthat the policy change means users could say goodbye to v0t3f0rp3dr02004@gmail.com or mrbrightside416@gmail.com (or whatever you were into at the time).”

The company also updated a help page to reflectthenewpolicy. Here'saquickrunthrough: It's a simple process

The procedure is fairly easy to follow. First, goto yourGoogleAccountpage. Fromthe Googlehomepageinyourcomputerbrowseror theGoogle mobileapp,clickthe accounticon in thetop right corner,and then clickor tap Manage yourGoogle Account,then Personal info, then Email. You shouldbe ableto clickChange Google Accountemail. Ifyoudon'tsee it,youmight not havethe optionyet. Googlesays it's “gradually rolling out to all users." Nowyou'llhavetoenteryournewaddressso

make sure you have an idea for what you want. Then click to confirm thatyou want to make thechange. Googlesaysaddresses can'tbe identicaltoanyexistingaddressoronethatwas “used bysomeone inthe pastand then deleted.”

Second thoughts

Butwhat ifyoumissyour oldGmailaddress?Don'tworry,you'llstillbeabletoaccess it because Google iseffectively creating a second Gmail address. Theold addresswill remainas analternate and messagessent to eitherthe old ornew addresses will appear in your Gmail inbox. To find out which address anemail was sent to, check the “to” field.

Youcan switchback totheold addressby changing the settings in your Google account.

If youdon't likethe newGmail address you'vecreated,unfortunatelyyou'reoutofluck -atleastforthenextyear.Googlewon'tletyou createanotherGmail addressforyouraccount until12monthshavepassed.Andyoucanonly do so three times in total.

Potential issues to keep in mind Gmail addresses are also usedto sign in to other Googleservices likeYouTube, Google Docs as well as third-party websites and apps. But thecompany warnsthat somenon-Google appsandservicesmightnotrecognizeyouwith the new Gmail address, so it provided some troubleshooting tips on a help page.

Googlealso saysChromebook usersmight encounterproblems, thoughmany issueswill go away aftera few hours. Itadvises users to checkatroubleshootingpagebutwarnedthatif the problemspersist, you may needto change backto yourpreviousGoogle Accountemail,” althoughthenewaddress canstillbeusedto send and receive messages.

Paediatrician accuses Spectrum Learning and Development Center of abusing autistic son

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

A PAEDIATRICIAN

has accused a school that serves children with special needs of abusing her autistic eight-year-old son, alleging he was left bruised, scarred and terrified of returning to a campus that specialises in educating children on the autism spectrum.

In letters dated March 24, 2026, Dr Junilor Swan-Miller wrote to the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council of The Bahamas and Education Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin, using her son’s case to press for wider reform in how children with disabilities are treated in Bahamian schools.

Dr Swan-Miller said the matter came to light on March 18 after she picked up her son from Spectrum Learning and Development Center at 2.59pm and noticed a bruise on his left leg while they were sitting in the car. She said she sent a video of the injury to the head of the school and, two hours later, was told that a teacher had admitted striking him with a ruler. What seemed at first to be one injury became more alarming, she said, after a physical examination found additional scars on his arms, legs and buttocks. Dr SwanMiller said her son later claimed that two teachers had struck him on his head, back, buttocks, arms and legs. She also questioned whether a ruler could have caused the injuries she observed.

Dr Swan-Miller said she told the school head the matter amounted to abuse and took her son to the police station.

The allegation has since become a police matter, although The Tribune was unable to obtain comment from authorities up to press time last night. According to the school’s website, Spectrum offers programmes for children

HG CHRISTIE LTD. LEADS 2026 BRX

HG Christie Ltd., The Bahamas’ largest and oldest real estate firm, is reinforcing its leadership in the national property sector as lead sponsor of the 2026 Bahamas Real Estate Exchange (BRX), a dynamic industry platform designed to connect buyers, sellers, developers, and key stakeholders shaping the future of real estate in The Bahamas.

Set to take place on April 18 at the historic British Colonial Hotel, BRX will bring together a broad cross-section of the real estate network for a full day of panel discussions, investment showcases, and high-level networking. The event is positioned as a central meeting point where capital, opportunity, and expertise converge, offering attendees direct access to the people and insights driving the industry forward.

Daren Seymour, an HG Christie realtor and broker is the Founder and Chairman of BRX, and will deliver the opening remarks, setting the tone for a conference focused on access, education, and action within the real estate market. “Bahamas Real Estate Exchange is about creating networks that enhance net worth, giving

aged three to five and special needs students up to age ten, with small class sizes, individualised education plans and specialised support services tailored to each child’s development. Dr Swan-Miller said the alleged abuse casts earlier behaviour in a harsher light. According to her account, her son had become increasingly reluctant to attend school and had shown distressing behaviour, including removing his clothing after she dressed him.

The following morning, when she took him back to school for a scheduled meeting with the head of the institution, she said he

people the clarity, connections, and confidence to move from uncertainty to ownership and participate in real estate opportunities both locally and internationally,” Seymour said.

President and Managing Broker of HGC, John Christie, will deliver a Bahamas market overview alongside his team, providing insight into current trends and opportunities. BRX will address the Registered Land Act, which is causing a significant paradigm shift in the way property conveyance. According to Christie, “It’s one thing that’s been talked about for the past 30 years, but it’s really never gotten where it is and we’re still only just beginning. We’re at about two per cent or three per cent out of 100, but the idea is fantastic, because it’ll be a huge paradigm shift in real estate.” In addition to this BRX 2026 will focus on development projects across New Providence and the Family Islands. Attendees will also benefit from expert-led discussions on banking, legal, and regulatory matters, as well as access to a Business and Investment Pavilion featuring participating firms ready to guide decision-making in real time. Presentations and panels will address critical topics such as rising construction costs, pathways to homeownership, and land adjudication and registry reform, reflecting the industry’s ongoing evolution. Seymour emphasised that these conversations are essential to strengthening the sector and improving accessibility.

refused to get out of the car, trembled and clung to her.

The doctor said the experience left her outraged and heartbroken, but also raised troubling questions about how the alleged abuse could have happened in a small school setting without intervention.

She said she could not understand how no one stepped in, whether the incidents happened in front of other students, why she was not notified and how the situation was allowed to escalate.

“I cannot help but think of children who may not have visible scars or the ability to express their experiences; their voices

deserve to be heard too,” she said.

Dr Swan-Miller said she came forward despite concerns about privacy, the strain on her family and the risk that her son could face social repercussions.

She said Spectrum has a no-spanking policy, making the allegations more disturbing.

“If my decision to speak out means that my son faces social repercussions as a victim but ultimately helps protect another child, then it will have been worth it,” she said.

Dr Swan-Miller made clear that her concerns reach beyond her son’s case. In her letters, she said

corporal punishment may be permitted under existing Bahamian law in some circumstances, but argued that it is especially inappropriate for children with special needs. She said children with autism often communicate through behaviour and should be met with understanding, structured support and evidence-based interventions, not physical punishment. She warned that punitive approaches can cause physical harm, emotional distress and regression in development. Her recommendations included banning corporal punishment for students with disabilities, requiring

ongoing teacher training in positive behaviour support, de-escalation techniques and autism awareness and creating clearer protocols for reporting and addressing harm to students.

She also called for classroom monitoring systems, closer collaboration with parents and specialists and learning environments that put safety, dignity and developmental needs first.

Going further, she argued that the country must do more than respond to a single case. She said schools serving neurodivergent children should be led by trained special educators, therapists and staff, with ongoing training in Applied Behaviour Analysis and similar interventions.

She also said institutions should not operate merely as business ventures designed to benefit from the growing number of children on the autism spectrum.

Dr Swan-Miller said the country risks raising a generation of adults dependent on government and taxpayers if proper intervention is not provided early in both the public and private sectors.

She also revealed that this was not the first time her son had allegedly faced physical punishment at school. She said that at another school, an educator used corporal punishment instead of behavioural strategies, and she later removed him from that environment.

The doctor said she had previously been part of a group advocating for the rights of children on the autism spectrum, fighting for therapy, education and effective interventions, but had become less active over time.

“The Ministry of Education's mantra, "Every Child Counts," must include my neurodivergent son, my other children, and every child in this country. We have an undeniable duty to ensure their needs are met and to advocate for their rights,” she said. When contacted, Spectrum proprietor Joanna Neely declined to comment, citing the ongoing police matter.

“I think the lady said that she was reporting it to the police. She has made her report, so I am not at liberty to make any comment at this time,” Ms Neely said. Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin referred The Tribune to the education director, who could not be reached up to press time.

Court of appeal clears path for Brian Adderley faction in fight over World Famous Valley Boys’ name

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

BRIAN Adderley’s

World Famous Valley Boys faction has scored a legal victory after the Court of Appeal overturned a Supreme Court ruling that had blocked its challenge to a rival group’s claim to the name.

The ruling means Mr Adderley’s side — formally registered as “The World Famous Valley Boys Junkanoo Group” — can now move ahead with its case against the Registrar General’s decisions.

In September 2023, the Registrar approved the registration of Trevor Davis’ Way Forward group as “The Valley Boys Junkanoo Group”. Months later, in August 2024, the Registrar ordered Mr Adderley’s group to remove “Valley Boys” from its name or face removal from the register.

Mr Adderley’s side challenged both moves, arguing they should be reviewed by the courts. But in March 2025, the Supreme Court refused to grant permission for that challenge to proceed, effectively shutting the case down at an early stage. That barrier has now been removed.

The Registrar General, the Attorney General and Mr Davis’ group all conceded the appeal, meaning they no longer defended the earlier ruling. The Court of Appeal then set it aside. The dispute centres on control of one of Junkanoo’s most recognisable names.

Before the case was conceded, the Court of Appeal had already indicated that the issues were serious. In an earlier ruling, it said the questions raised were not academic and should be examined in the public interest.

Judges also pointed to material suggesting the registration process may not have been properly handled, including evidence that the Registrar General may not have conducted the necessary due diligence before granting the certificate. They said it was “beyond belief” that unauthorised persons could have obtained registration under the name of a well-known Junkanoo group without further inquiry.

The latest ruling does not resolve who ultimately controls the Valley Boys name. But it clears the way for that fight to be heard in full, with Mr Adderley’s side now able to press its challenge against the Registrar’s decisions in court.

Court records describe the Valley Boys as a group that has existed since at least 1958 and has long been recognised by the government, the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence and the public.

Mr Adderley has served as chairman since 2001 and

Man on murder charges puts three lives at risk with gun

Prison

remand for man who tried to procure sex from 13-yearold girl

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused of attempting to procure sex

from a 13-year-old girl in Eleuthera last month was remanded to prison yesterday.

Prosecutors allege Alonzo Pinder, 27, attempted to procure the

girl for sex in Harbour Island between December 2025 and March 2026.

The defendant reportedly communicated with the girl over social media.

Pinder was not required to enter a plea to a charge of procuration before Magistrate Abigail Farrington. He was informed that the matter would proceed to the Supreme Court through a voluntary bill of indictment.

Pinder was also informed of his right to apply for bail in the higher court. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until service of his VBI on July 15.

took on leadership responsibilities after the death of longtime leader Winston “Gus” Cooper in 2014.

The conflict escalated after Mr Davis’ faction secured official registration under the Valley Boys name in 2023, triggering competing claims over the group’s identity, leadership and legacy.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN awaiting trial for murder was remanded to prison yesterday after being accused of endangering three people with a firearm in Eleuthera over the Easter holiday weekend.

Prosecutors allege Emile Hepburn, 38, and Lavell Charitie, 34, endangered the lives of Reno Taylor, Lorinda Taylor and Rielle

The matter has also drawn political attention as Mr Davis is the brother of Prime Minister Philip Davis, a connection that has fuelled public scrutiny of how the dispute has been handled.

Taylor with a handgun at the Commonage in Gregory Town on April 3. The defendants pleaded not guilty to three counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life before Magistrate Lennox Coleby.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Lincoln McKenzie, the prosecutor, objected to Hepburn’s bail, citing a risk to public safety as he was already on bail for murder.

Hepburn is accused of fatally shooting Leroy

The Court of Appeal said the full terms of its order will be settled and signed by the parties before being confirmed.

“This is an important step closer to bringing this matter to a fair and final resolution,” the World Famous Valley Boys said in a statement on Facebook.

Bethel in a vehicle in Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera, on April 10, 2023. He was denied bail and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Charitie was granted bail at $7,000 with one or two sureties. As a condition of bail, he must sign in at his local police station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday by 6pm.

The accused are to return for trial on August 13.

18-year-old accused of armed

robbery ‘invents’  medical emergency to attend fete

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN awaiting trial for armed robbery was fined yesterday after lying about a medical emergency to attend the Collide cooler fete over the holiday weekend.

Alexander Huyler, 18, breached his curfew in his armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery case at 1.08am on April 6.

The magistrate admonished Huyler for lying and breaching his bail so brazenly.

He was fined $500 or one month in prison.

Huyler pleaded guilty to violating his bail conditions before Senior Magistrate Raquel Whyms. Sergeant 2257 Wilkinson, the prosecutor, said the defendant called for permission to go out, claiming he needed medical attention. However, monitoring data later showed he was near the cooler fete that night.

Sexual assault accused remanded to prison

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Coral Harbour last week was remanded to prison yesterday.

Prosecutors allege that Joseph Allen, 52, assaulted a 37-year-old woman with the intent to rape her at a residence in Coral Lakes on April 2. The woman managed to escape. Allen was not required to enter a plea to the charge before Magistrate Abigail Farrington. He was told the case would proceed to the

Supreme Court by way of a voluntary bill of indictment. Allen was also informed of his right to apply for bail in the higher court. He was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until July 15, when the voluntary bill of indictment is expected to be served.

What does the Iran ceasefire deal mean?

It depends on which side you talk to

By WILL WEISSERT Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) —

A tenuous ceasefire deal in the Iran war allowing negotiations for a longer-term peace between the United States and Iran appears to be in jeopardy after Tehran accused the Trump administration of major violations.

Such a swift collapse may not entirely come as a surprise, however, because neither side had seemed able to agree on even the basic contours of the key issues being discussed.

Would Iran using its military to regulate the flow of ships on the Strait of Hormuz mean it still effectively controls the waterway? What about Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium?

Might the two-week ceasefire extend to Israel's attacks on Lebanon? Could Iran possibly press for a huge financial windfall, a lifting of international sanctions and even a drawdown of U.S. forces in the Middle East just to keep things on track?

From the beginning the answers depended on whom you talk to.

Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump posted Tuesday night on his social media site that the ceasefire was subject to Iran agreeing to the “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz,” the waterway leading out of the Persian Gulf through which one-fifth of the world’s oil is transported during peacetime.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday during a media briefing at the Pentagon that the strait was open and that the U.S. military was “hanging around” the region to make sure. Hours later, however, Iran announced that the strait was closing again in response to Israel's strikes in Lebanon.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said later at a briefing with reporters that Iran had to reopen the waterway “immediately, quickly and safely.”

Even if that happens, Iran says shipping traffic can resume only under the management of its military. That means Tehran can still make the case it is controlling the strait, and therefore retaining crucial global political and economic leverage, and could also charge ships stiff levies to use it, quickly generating billions in new revenue.

Leavitt said Trump is opposed to charging tolls for ship to pass through the strait.

Uranium enrichment Iran says its peace plan includes Washington’s “acceptance of enrichment” of uranium for Tehran’s nuclear program. But that would undermine a key Trump objective since the start of the war that Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.

Trump offered a different assessment, posting on Wednesday that a peace agreement would entail the U.S. working with Iran to “dig up” enriched uranium.

The Trump administration says that material was buried as a result of joint U.S-Israeli strikes in June. But what the Republican president said was different from what Hegseth said. The Pentagon chief said Tehran will either "give it to us voluntarily” or the U.S. might do “something like” its strikes last summer, when the U.S. and Israel bombed Iran’s nuclear sites.

Leavitt said ending all Iranian uranium enrichment remains a “red line” for Trump and that Tehran had given indications it would be willing to turn over such materials.

Lebanon Iran also says that ceasing hostilities in Lebanon, where Israel has dramatically stepped up attacks in recent weeks, will be part of larger peace negotiations. That was consistent with what Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country is a key moderator in the peace process, said in announcing the ceasefire between Iran and the United States on X — that it would extend to Lebanon.

But Trump indicated that Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire. Leavitt said the same.

That aligns with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, which said in a statement that the two-week suspension of strikes in Iran does not include the war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Other key points of possible peace plans

When Iran first offered a 10-point peace plan to halt the war on Monday, Trump called it “not good enough.”

But then, about 90 minutes before his Tuesday night deadline to begin wide-scale U.S. attacks on Iran's bridges and power grid, the president announced a two-week ceasefire and described Iran's proposal as a

“workable basis on which to negotiate.”

“Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran,” Trump wrote, explaining why he was backing off his threats for massive attacks on nonmilitary targets.

Iran appeared to reject that on Wednesday, saying negotiations with the U.S. were “unreasonable."

What the two sides might have been discussing was not clear.

Leavitt said only that the Iranians “originally put for ward a 10-point plan that was fundamentally unse rious, unacceptable and completely discarded” and that it was “literally thrown in the garbage” by Trump.

But, she said, Iran later “acknowledged reality” and “put forward a more reasonable and entirely dif ferent” plan that Trump and U.S. negotiators can align with their own 15-point proposal.

Leavitt did not provide details about what Iran offered to change, and American officials are not saying much about their plan for fear that doing so could jeopardize talks with Iran.

Complicating matters is the fact that Iran has released a series of 10-point plans to guide negotiations, with many of the versions differing slightly, often seemingly depending on whether they were written in English or Farsi.

guarantee a lasting peace and no new attacks, a continuation of Iran's control over the strait, acceptance that Iran can enrich uranium and removal of all U.S. economic and other sanctions from Iran. That would include, it says, restrictions on international entities doing business in that country, as well as U.N. Security Council resolutions against the government in Tehran. The council also says the U.S. has agreed in princi-

oversight of Iran's nuclear program, to compensate Iran for war damages, a ceasefire extending to Lebanon and a withdrawal of all U.S. combat forces from the region. That last one would be nothing short of extraordinary, given that the U.S. has maintained a network of military bases through the Persian Gulf for decades — since the conclusion of the 1991 Gulf War with Iraq. The lifting of all sanctions

prospect for the U.S. to agree to. Details are scarce about the US peace proposal Trump rejected many of those points as “a FRAUD.” Leavitt dismissed it as an “Iranian wish list." In an online post, he said there is “only one group of meaningful ‘POINTS’ that are acceptable to the United States, and we will be discussing them behind closed doors during these

DIRECTOR OF PROJECTS, PLANT AND SERVICES

The Director of Projects, Plant and Services is responsible for the planning, execution, and lifecycle management of all major engineering infrastructure projects and critical plant operations across the Albany Bahamas property. This senior leadership role oversees the installation, operation, maintenance, long-term reliability of major utility infrastructure including high-voltage electrical systems, large-scale mechanical plant, and core utility services that support entire development.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Major Engineering Project Management

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council says “the United States has, in principle, committed to" a series of key points — many of which seem to be nonstarters, considering long-standing U.S. positions. It says the U.S. is ready to

• Lead the planning, budgeting, design coordination, and execution of major engineering infrastructure projects across Albany.

• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, and within approved

• Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)

• Lifting stations

• Sewer pumping systems

Environmental discharge compliance systems

3. Financial Management and Budget Control

• Prepare and manage budgets related to plant operations, maintenance programs, and major infrastructure projects.

• Monitor operational costs and identify opportunities for efficiency improvements.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electric al Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related field.

• Minimum 10–15 years engineering experience with significant exposure to major plant infrastructure and utilities.

• Minimum 5 years in a senior engineering leadership or project management role.

• Extensive knowledge of:

o Reverse Osmosis Water Production Systems

o Wastewater treatment plants

o Diesel generator systems

o High-voltage electrical infrastructure

o Pumping systems and water distribution networks

• Proven experience managing large-scale engineering projects and infrastructure installations.

• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.

• Ability to manage multidisciplinary engineering teams and complex projects.

Manage project risk assessments, commissioning procedures, testing,

Eulogy for the CIA Factbook: The free standard for world facts is gone

By LAURIE KELLMAN Associated Press

IF YOU attended school any time after the Nixon administration,then youlikely beheldatsome pointthe CIA World Factbook,a map and referencemanual ofPlanet Earthand itsinhabitantsupon whichnearly everyonecould agree.

Maybeyouread partsofit from a floppy diskor a CDROM for that social studies project due tomorrow. Or scanned its listof countries forLatvia,because thatisthe country you are representing next week in Model U.N. Even better, you wandered the earth in yourimagination as you held thephysical Factbook inyour ownhands, unfoldingits mapsandunderstanding, perhapsfor thefirst time,that thethumbs-upgesture your friends flash each otheris consideredanobsceneinsult inparts ofthe Middle East,Europe andArgentina.

Who knew? The Factbook and itsreaders did,for more than six decades Its authors some of the world's best intelligence-gatherers,who contributedthousands oftheir ownphotos kept the curateddatabase updatedand onlineforpublic use atno charge.The reasons stated were geopolitical and philosophical.But sincewe aretalking aboutfacts, italso is truethat theFactbook went publicin 1975withlofty statements of purpose at a time when Congress was revealing abusesby U.S. intelligenceagencies, includingthe CIA. We share thesefacts with the people of all nations in the belief that knowledge of the truth underpinsthe functioningof freesocieties, the CIAitself explainedinits pages.

Thespy agencyisnot sharing them anymore.

On Feb.4, theTrump administration abruptly shuttered thiswidely acceptedaccountof humanityandits flags, nations,customs, militaries andborders. TheCIA framed the move as one of progress foran agencywhose core mission has changed.

Agreatwave ofgriefrose from Factbook fans. Many saidthey mournedan America thatvalued knowledgeforits ownsake.Some sawdarker forcesatwork under a president whose administration has promoted in times of war andpeace “alternative facts.”

Stay curious, the CIA advised inits “fondfarewell" to the Factbook.

And, it mighthave added: Good luck figuringout what's true fromthe wild and frequentlyinaccurate world of the internet and artificial intelligence.

The Factbook's origin story Decades beforeGoogle became an everyday verb, there was the Factbook. Its origin story is rooted in theJapanese surpriseattack onPearl Harborin 1941,a U.S. intelligencefailure that inspired amore coordinated approach to gathering and organizing information on America's enemies.The Joint Army NavyIntelligence Studies wasborn, the country's first interdepartmentalbasic intelligenceprogram. But by1946, national security expertsagreed that the conduct of peace involvesall countries,all human activities not just theenemyand hiswarproduction, inthe wordsofone, George S. Pettee. Thejob ofgatheringbasic intelligence on other countries was assigned tothe newly minted CIA in 1947, according to theagency's website.

The Cold Warexposed the ongoingneed foraone-stop sourceofbasicintelligence andanopportunityforwhatin 1971became theunclassified Factbook. It was released to the public four years later. Inaddition tobecoming useful to students,it held geopolitical influence. The Factbook showed off American intelligencecapabilities tothe formerSovietUnion and other enemies.Being included in it could confer legitimacy upon a nation or an opposition party. Andit was ironicthat anagencyfounded on the need to know and keep secrets was sharing so much

data called basic intelligence”— with the public.

The Factbook also likely served as a boost to the CIA's public imageand putdistance between it andother intelligenceagencies tarnishedby congressional investigations.

In 1975,U.S. Sen.Frank Church, D-Idaho,convened a panelthatheld morethan100 publichearings, manytelevised,of themostsignificant oversight ofintelligence agencies since World War II.

In 1976,the ChurchCommittee reportedwidespread abusebythe CIA,IRS,the National Security Agency and FBI, including the revelation ofthe CIA's Family Jewels. That was an internal account of illegalCIA activities,such as spyingon Americanactivistsand anassassination plot against Cuba's Fidel Castro.

Also in1975, whatwould becomethe CIAWorldFactbook went public, ascending as a reliable research tool often recommendedin class projects. Therewas never confirmation thatthe bad press inspired the wide release of theFactbook, but doingso aroundthesame timefit theCIA's needto rehab its brand.

In 1981, theCIA renamed the publicationThe World Factbook,andin1997,itleapt online.TheCIAhasdescribed itas representing “a tremendousculmination ofefforts from some ofour country's brightest analytic minds."

The jolt of its Trump-era demise News of the Factbook's end shocked more thanjust U.S. students and researchers. It waspickedupbynewsoutlets abroad. Thestory shotacross socialmedia, withReddit users pointing each other to

Our company has been around gaming for over 30 years and pride ourselves on quality service and customer relationships. We are moving forward in the market and such are looking for qualified, dedicated, people friendly customer services representatives.

Jarol Investments Limited is seeking to fill the following position: Island Manager (Exuma)

Duties include, but not limited to:

· Overseeing adherence to company policies and procedures by employees.

· Auditing cashiers work to ensure efficiency.

Maintain a safe and secure working environment for customers and staff

· Maintaining confidentiality of sensitive data.

· Evaluating, assessing and managing the performance of each employee. Ensuring that the opening and closing of shops in a timely manner. Ensure safe keeping of company funds.

Overseeing the selection and recruitment of new employees

Education & Experience Requirements:

· Bachelor’s degree Business Administration, or a related field. Equivalent relevant work experience will be considered in lieu of formal education.

· Proficiency and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) is essential.

Interested persons should email their resume to careers@chancesgames. com. Subject: Island Manager (Exuma) – Your Name or visit our Head Office on #13 Ruthaven Plaza, Logwood Road (across from The $2 Dollar Store) between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

After harsh winter, Ukrainians find joy in releasing bats

By DEREK GATOPOULOS and VASILISA STEPANENKO Associated Press

KYIV,Ukraine (AP) As nightfalls overa nature park onthe edgeof Kyiv children crowdaround volunteerswho carefullyopen cloth bags and release bats into the twilight. Aseach onetakesflight, snappingthrough theair, morethan 1,000spectators cheerand applaud families, off-dutysoldiers, and bat enthusiasts,a few dressed in Goth outfits.

archived Factbooks and racing to setup and identify othersources ofunbiasedinformation that might suffice.

Isabel Altamirano, chemistrylibrarian assistantprofessoratAuburnUniversityin Alabama,saidtheinformation is still out there,but “it'll be harder to find. University libraries,for example,offer similar resourcesto students, who get access through their tuition.

“It was soeasy, because it was all in one place,” she said in an interview, noting that on Feb.4,when shesawthe news, she rushedto delete the Factbook froma listof resources for herstudents in a business communications class.

Fundamentally, oneanalyst said,aFactbookassembledby a government agency with secret agendas and shadowy methods might never have been unbiasedin thefirst place.

The compilersaren't, nor canthey beexpected tobe, neutral, saidBinoy Kampmark, a professorof global, urbanand socialstudiesat Royal MelbourneInstitute of Technology inAustralia. Mourning its loss, he wrote in an email, wouldbe misplaced.”

The Factbook,he added, might be better saved as a historical document.Its lastpublicationon Feb.4 isalready outdated, according to an archived version: Under Iran, the country's head of government is still listed as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei was reported killed March 1 in U.S. and Israelistrikes. Andtheworld changed once again, this time without theFactbook tonote it.

themgo. Somewereallowed to wear gloves and handle the bats themselves.

“Life goes ondespite the war,” said Oleksii Beliaiev, a 54-year-old Kyiv resident who attendedwith his family. “The war is the main thing right now, but therehas tobesomething else as well.

Beliaievruns asmall printing business and spends timevolunteering for army projects.

The war has displaced animals aswell aspeople. Buildings destroyedby shelling damagebats shelters, and explosions terrify thetiny mammals,experts say.

Inwinter, batshibernate, and if they are disturbed, theycan die.They reproduce slowly one or two offspring per year sopopulationsrecoververy slowly, said Alona Shulenko, who headed Saturday s release.

“As naturalhibernation sites disappear, bats move into cities, into cracks in buildings andbalconies.

Hundreds of bats, many rescued from war-torn areas in theeast ofthe country, were released late Saturday at one of multiple events aroundUkraine plannedto coincide withthe arrivalof spring. This isimportant forus as anorganization because these are on a red list of endangered animals.Preserving them isvery important,” saidAnastasiia Vovk, a volunteer atthe Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center, whichorganized therelease. All 28 batspecies in Ukraine arelisted asprotectedanimals duetodeclining populations.

Formany attendees,the event offered welcome reliefandan excusefora family outingafter a harsh winter marked by sub-zero temperatures, nightlyRussian droneand missileattacks and crippling power cuts. Late Saturday,children, many wearingbat-themed T-shirts and hats, watched asvolunteers fedtheanimals mealwormswith tweezers before letting

Butrepairs ordestruction of these placescan kill entire colonies, she said.

All Ukrainian bat species are insect-eating and legallyprotected, while the countrylies on an important east European migratory route.

The charitysays ithas rescuedmore than30,000 intotal, including4,000 bats last winter.

“We areall livingin wartime,andeveryonehas theirown struggles,” Shulenko said. But weare doing what we know best. If westopwhat weare doing,thousands ofbats will die.

Jarol Investments, Ltd. T/A Chances Games

Our company has been around gaming for over 30 years and pride ourselves on quality service and customer relationships. We are moving forward in the market and such are looking for qualified, dedicated, people friendly customer services representatives.

Jarol Investments Limited is seeking to fill the following position: Island Manager (Abaco)

Duties include, but not limited to:

· Overseeing adherence to company policies and procedures by employees.

· Auditing cashiers work to ensure efficiency.

· Maintain a safe and secure working environment for customers and staff

· Maintaining confidentiality of sensitive data.

· Evaluating, assessing and managing the performance of each employee.

· Ensuring that the opening and closing of shops in a timely manner.

· Ensure safe keeping of company funds.

· Overseeing the selection and recruitment of new employees

Education & Experience Requirements:

· Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, or a related field. Equivalent relevant work experience will be considered in lieu of formal education.

· Proficiency and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) is essential.

Interested persons should email their resume to careers@chancesgames. com. Subject: Island Manager (Abaco) – Your Name or visit our Head Office on #13 Ruthaven Plaza, Logwood Road (across from The $2 Dollar Store) between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

DISNEY DELIVERS BIG FOR ELEUTHERA KIDS WITH REVAMPED TARPUM BAY SPORTS SPACE

A SPORTS space in Tarpum Bay that Disney Cruise Line said it upgraded last month was part of a broader push to expand youth recreation across Eleuthera, according to a company press release.

Disney said it partnered with international nonprofit love.fútbol and Good Sports to resurface baseball fields, improve lighting and install new fencing at the Tarpum Bay Sports Space during an event held March 24. The initiative forms part of its “Play Project”, which the company said is aimed

at supporting the physical, social and emotional development of young people in The Bahamas.

The release said the programme, now in its second year, has expanded in Eleuthera to include new playgrounds and bleachers at Emily G Petty and Emma E Cooper schools, alongside the upgraded Tarpum Bay facility. Disney described the completion of the three sites as a “major milestone” in the latest phase of the project.

“Eleuthera is where The Play Project began, and

seeing the positive impact it has already made in the community has been incredibly meaningful,” said Joey Gaskins, regional public affairs director for Disney Cruise Line.

He said the initiative is being extended to other islands, with work under way in New Providence and Abaco to provide additional spaces for children to play and interact.

The company said the project is being carried out with local officials and community partners, including the Buddy

Hield Foundation and ESPN’s Take Back Sports programme. Works and Family Island Affairs Minister Clay Sweeting, who is also the MP for Central and South Eleuthera, said in the release that the expansion reflects growing corporate involvement in the island’s development.

“Programmes and corporate engagement like this are an important part of the incredible economic development Eleuthera is now experiencing,” he said, urging other developers to

pursue similar partnerships with communities. Disney said more than 230 volunteers participated in the programme’s 2025 launch, helping to build or refurbish six playgrounds across Eleuthera. The company said those facilities account for more than 32,000 hours of play each year for local children. It said the Play Project will continue to expand, with a goal of increasing access to recreational spaces for students across The Bahamas by August 2026.