04132026 NEWS

WE WORK FOR YOU,

NOT THE FEW: FNM

FNM pledges zero VAT on essentials and 90-day FOIA rollout in manifesto

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Free National Movement has released a 54-page manifesto promising to eliminate VAT on everyday essentials, medical costs and educational supplies, introduce a national lottery, build at least 5,000 homes, begin rolling out the Freedom of Information Act within its first 90 days in office, and hire 100 doctors and 200 nurses. The document, titled We Work For You, is the

party’s first written pitch as it seeks to recover from its 2021 defeat and block the Progressive Liberal Party from securing a rare second straight term in office. The election will be held on May 12. The release during an event yesterday also comes days after the governing PLP staged its own “Blueprint for Progress” launch at the University of The Bahamas, outlining its election promises in speeches and presentations.

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

Dr Minnis outlined what he described as a systematic effort by party leadership to sideline him following the FNM’s election loss.

“As I said, I've always

AS he formally launched his campaign to retain the Killarney seat on Saturday, former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said he was barred from speaking at Free National Movement events, instructed not to answer questions from the press, and told by party leaders that “I had my time.”

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Report Dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

SENIOR Stipendiary and Circuit Magistrate Aniska Isaacs has written a complaint alleging misconduct by attorney Devard Francis, whom she claims encouraged and assisted his client in leaving the courtroom while proceedings were underway last week. In a letter dated April 9, 2026, addressed to the Ethics Committee of the Bahamas Bar Association, Magistrate Isaacs outlined concerns arising from an incident on April 8 during an ongoing trial involving

BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE government has failed to extract itself from a furious legal battle sparked by accusations that its failure to make due rental payments on the Eight Mile Rock administrative complex has caused one of its first-ever public-private partnership

(PPP) deals to default on a $25m bond. The bust-up has emerged due to Leno Corporate Services launching Supreme Court legal action against both PPP Investments & Construction Company, and the Ministry of Finance following the former’s failure to meet repayment obligations.

FNM promises national lottery and 5,000 homes

Among the FNM’s promises is a pledge to cut VAT to zero on “all everyday essentials and all medical costs and educational supplies”, reduce down-payment requirements for first-time homebuyers, and construct at least 5,000 housing units through public-private partnerships. It also promises a $200 monthly child support payment for the first two years of a child’s life and a minimum $100 weekly stipend for young people enrolled in training courses.

The party also uses the document to elevate transparency and anti-corruption much more sharply than the PLP did, setting a timetable for the long-delayed Freedom of Information Act that is likely to draw attention in a country where the law was passed years ago but never fully brought to life.

The manifesto says an FNM government would “Fully implement the 2017 Freedom of Information Act, beginning rollout within the first 90 days and to be completed within the first year”.

That timetable lands against a long history of delay. In 2022, the government said training had begun for information managers in ten pilot agencies but gave no firm rollout dates for the wider public sector. In 2025, Mr Davis said full FOIA implementation was not a priority for his administration, which he said was focused on other issues such as the cost of living and crime.

The FNM pairs that

FOIA pledge with a wider package of accountability measures, including a Public Anti-Corruption Bill, a Public Officials’ Code of Conduct Bill, stronger whistleblower protections, a more powerful Public Accounts Committee, an Auditor General’s Office supervised by Parliament rather than the executive, independent board members for stateowned enterprises, and full implementation of the Ombudsman Act.

On healthcare, the manifesto goes beyond the party’s already publicised promises to redevelop Princess Margaret Hospital and upgrade Rand Memorial Hospital. It says an FNM government would hire 100 new doctors and 200 new nurses, expand NHI, address the mental health crisis, improve urgent and emergency care, and strengthen dental care. It also adds broader language about fixing shortages across the system and accelerating construction and upgrades.

The manifesto says the party would launch Operation SHIELD and impose “zero tolerance” on illegal immigration, while insisting that no one who enters The Bahamas illegally would ever become a citizen. The manifesto says Operation SHIELD would mean: “Secure land, Heighten surveillance, Investigate abuse, End unfairness, Limit approvals, and Disclose data.”

On crime, the FNM says it would restore trust in the Royal Bahamas Police Force through independent oversight, recruit additional

frontline officers, attack the root causes of crime, and pursue a ten-point anticrime plan. The document also fleshes out a tougher justice agenda, including clearing court backlogs, expanding virtual hearings, digitising case management, building a modern forensic lab, strengthening specialised courts, revisiting firearms legislation and taking a harder line on bail.

The FNM says it would put the National Development Plan on a statutory footing, replace the National Investment Fund Act with a sovereign wealth fund, establish annual economic growth targets, adopt a fiscal rule aimed at balanced budgets under normal circumstances, and publish a plan to reduce debt to 50 percent of GDP over the medium to long term.

The party also promises to replace the current business licence tax on gross turnover with a net-earnings-based system, create industry-specific free trade zones, simplify VAT and business licence compliance, modernise payment timelines, introduce a Taxpayer Charter, provide at least $10 million annually in grants to small and micro businesses, and establish a dedicated Commercial Court.

It also proposes a national lottery, a Department of Innovation, a Department of Research and Development, and a wider shift toward Bahamian ownership in major sectors. That includes broader equity participation in foreign-backed tourism developments, more Bahamian ownership

in cruise destinations and private islands, and greater Bahamian participation in banking and financial services.

Tourism and downtown redevelopment feature heavily too.

The party says it would pursue a ten-year tourism diversification strategy, target a 35 percent increase in stopover visitors, seek UNESCO heritage designation for historic communities, create a Downtown Authority, reinvigorate Bay Street through a “Bay Street Promenade Way”, launch “Orange Districts” for the creative industries, and implement a “24/7

Nightlife Project” in downtown Nassau. Grand Bahama would get a separate tourism push through what the party calls the BOOM Initiative. The manifesto also includes a banking reform section that promises consumer-protection legislation, scrutiny of bank fees, low- or no-fee accounts for smaller customers, one-business-day timelines for opening personal accounts, and faster access to modern app-based payment systems for Bahamian entrepreneurs. On energy, it promises senior citizen electricity discounts, fuel hedging, expanded solar use, renewable energy

reaching 30 percent of electricity needs by 2030, and pre-paid electricity meters for consumers who want them.

In education, the document repeats the party’s earlier promise of universal pre-primary education but adds new financial support and broader structural reforms. It links the proposed $200 monthly child support benefit to the first two years of life and frames early childhood policy as part of a larger effort to strengthen education from the start. It also promises more support for teachers and a weekly stipend for people in training programmes.

Pintard urges listeners to ‘fire’ the Davis administration at rally in GB

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Free National Movement opened its first national rally in Grand Bahama on Saturday, with leader Michael Pintard urging voters to “fire” the Davis administration over what he called broken promises and stalled progress on the island.

Speaking at party headquarters, Mr Pintard zeroed in on the government’s recent statement on a proposed beach club tied to the long-delayed Grand Lucayan redevelopment, dismissing it as political optics ahead of the election.

“They issued a statement saying they welcomed a new partnership announcement, they didn’t announce that it’s been signed, sealed, and delivered,” he said.

“They didn’t say that the money was in the bank. They said they welcomed an agreement. You see, you can’t claim progress when you haven’t left the starting line.”

He argued the timing of the announcement was designed to suggest movement after years of inaction, contrasting it with what he described as unmet commitments to sell the Grand Lucayan and build a new airport.

“Philip Davis and the PLP made you two solemn promises,” he said. “One of those promises was that

they were going to sell the Grand Lucayan. The second promise was that they would build you a worldclass airport. Four and a half years later, what is the reality?”

Mr Pintard said former hotel workers remain unpaid and pointed to the condition of the property, saying it is now closed with no running water.

He also targeted the structure of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, arguing that reform is needed to improve accountability and prevent conflicts between regulatory and commercial roles.

Turning to national issues, Mr Pintard accused the government of “walking off the job” ahead of the end of its term, arguing that key legislative matters could still be addressed before the election, including immigration and national security.

“I find it interesting that here is a government given a five-year contract, decides to walk off the job in five months left on the contract,” he said.

He cited what he described as recent allegations involving fraudulent voter cards, calling on the government to explain the matter.

“And so I want to say it plainly, no one who comes into the Bahamas illegally will ever have a pathway to citizenship in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas,”

Mr Pintard said, outlining the FNM’s proposed

Operation SHIELD, which he said would tighten border controls, expand enforcement, and increase transparency.

Deputy Leader Shanendon Cartwright also attacked the government’s national security record, pointing to rising armed robberies and accusing officials of withholding full crime data.

“The prime minister of our nation tours a constituency and declares that his

crime strategy is working,” he said. “On the very same day, his own Commissioner of Police confirmed that armed robberies are on the rise.”

Mr Cartwright further alleged that police, Customs and Immigration officers are underpaid and under-resourced, claiming some officers have struggled to access medical care due to unpaid insurance.

“The safety of this country is not a talking point,”

he said. You cannot grow an economy in a country where people are afraid to open their front doors.”

Other candidates highlighted concerns about healthcare, education and youth unemployment.

Dr Charlene Reid said improvements at Rand Memorial Hospital remain incomplete, including the morgue, while Frazette Gibson pointed to deteriorating school conditions and strained teachers.

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‘We can choose progress, or we can go backwards,’ Davis says at rally

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

THE Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) held its first major rally since the announcement of the general election on Saturday night, drawing a lively and energetic crowd to RM Bailey Park under the theme “Rally for Progress”.

Supporters, dressed in party colours, filled the grounds waving flags as music, motorcades and chants built momentum ahead of the main addresses. While the park was not filled to capacity, the atmosphere featured sustained cheering and chants echoing across the venue.

The rally featured a slate of speakers, including Fred Mitchell, Keno Wong, Leslia Brice, Lisa Rahming, Zane Lightbourne, Sebas Bastian, Jobeth Coleby-Davis and Glenys Hanna-Martin. Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper and Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis delivered the headline speeches,

closing out the night.

Mr Cooper, addressing what he described as a “sea of blue”, opened with high energy, declaring the rally the start of the party’s next chapter ahead of the May 12 general election.

“Look at this crowd! Look at this sea of blue! Looks like a Blue Wave to me,” he said, as supporters responded with cheers.

Framing the election as a choice about “progress”, Mr Cooper pointed to tax reductions and cost-of-living measures implemented by the administration, including the removal of VAT on certain food items and essential goods.

He acknowledged ongoing economic pressures but insisted the government was actively addressing them.

Mr Cooper also used his address to contrast the PLP with the opposition, while urging young voters, men and women, to support the party’s vision, particularly in areas such as job creation, entrepreneurship and ownership opportunities.

Mr Davis took the stage to loud applause, with

supporters chanting party slogans and waving flags. He framed the election as a critical decision point for the country, warning against what he described as a cycle of changing administrations every five years.

“In 31 days, we have a choice,” he said. “In 31 days, we can choose progress, or we can go backwards.”

Central to his address was the announcement and promotion of the “Blueprint Tracker”, a public tool designed to show the government’s progress on its 2021 commitments. He urged attendees to check the tracker to see what the party has achieved.

Throughout the various speeches, the crowd remained highly engaged, frequently interrupting with applause, chants, particularly during repeated calls to “choose progress”.

The rally continued late into the night, ending around 11pm with fireworks and confetti as supporters celebrated, marking what the party described as the official start of its re-election campaign push.

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PLP official addresses finance reform as party outlines election deadlines

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party Communications Director Latrae Rahming said campaign finance reform should be part of The Bahamas’ national development agenda, but stopped short of committing the party to specific action.

“I think that futuristically and even now, there's going to be a need, especially in our national development plan, to see how we have a structured approach to campaign finance reform,”

Mr Rahming said during the PLP’s first weekly press conference yesterday, adding The Bahamas should examine models from similar jurisdictions to determine what best fits the country.

“I think it's important to note that the issue of campaign finance reform is definitely something that ought to be considered in the national development plan, definitely something that The Bahamas should be able to benchmark which system or policy works for our jurisdiction.”

He also pointed to existing financial safeguards, while calling for broader political consensus on reform.

“I do think that there ought to be a conversation that all major parties should have on campaign financial reform,” he said. The issue has been debated for years without legislation.

In September 2024, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said campaign finance reform, though promised in the PLP’s Blueprint for Change, was not a priority.

“I don’t know where this issue of campaign finance came up,” Mr Davis said at the time. “But for me, I will not disclose the donors to our campaign unless the donors will be willing to allow me to.”

He said his administration was considering the issue but focused on more immediate concerns, arguing such legislation would not directly address the struggles of Bahamians.

Both major parties have pledged reform in the past but have not enacted legislation, despite calls from groups including the Organisation for Responsible Governance and the Organisation of American States.

During yesterday’s briefing, PLP legal team member Keenan Johnson outlined key election deadlines ahead of the May 12 vote.

Nomination Day is set for April 16.

“It’s important to note that while candidates have been ratified for the various political parties, they are not officially nominated for this election until they have completed that nomination process,” Mr Johnson said. Applications for overseas voting must be submitted by April 17 through the MyGateway platform. Advance polling is scheduled for April 30, with applications for special voters due by April 25.

“You can vote with your passport. You can vote with your driver’s licence,” Mr Johnson said.

The PLP said it will host weekly press briefings each Sunday until the election.

Golden Gates MP Pia Glover-Rolle said the party is entering a critical phase of the campaign, noting that “every day counts” with 30 days remaining.

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Voters, not party, told Minnis his time was up

FORMER Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis is wrong.

As he launched his bid on Saturday to win Killarney as an independent candidate, and marked his formal break from the FNM, Dr Minnis related a conversation with his now former party leaders.

Dr Minnis said those leaders told Dr Minnis that “I had my time.”

The words may be accurate, but it is not the FNM party leaders who told Dr Minnis he had had his time, the Bahamian people told him that first.

Dr Minnis was voted out in a landslide defeat. His party then firmly chose Michael Pintard to lead the party.

It is easy to look at Dr Minnis’ defeat as part of the seesaw nature of Bahamian politics that sees first one party then another get a turn in office, with neither ever getting a second swing.

However, there is something different about Dr Minnis’ tenure that is worth bearing in mind. Dr Minnis was the prime minister who had to deal with the COVID19 pandemic. Now, just about any leader would have had challenges dealing with that – and that is the point. Many of them did. Around the world, numerous leaders lost office after being in the hot seat during the pandemic.

There was Donald Trump, Boris Johnson in the UK, Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, Scott Morrison in Australia, and more.

It was not just about the pandemic handling itself, but the economic impact too. People were frustrated, and angry, and used their votes accordingly.

As we go into another election cycle, there is plenty of frustration and anger around the world again. The world is dealing with the ramifications of war – and the oil blockage in the Strait of Hormuz. Prices are rising, there is increased global uncertainty, and The Bahamas today is not immune from global factors, just as The Bahamas of Dr Minnis’ time as prime minister was not immune.

Yesterday, a prominent ally of President Trump, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, was voted out. In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been under pressure. Whoever leads the next administration is going to have to convince voters that they are the safest hand for The Bahamas at a time of global uncertainty.

Last time around, despite having to deal with disasters not of his own making in the form of the pandemic and Hurricane Dorian, Dr Minnis was voted out. The current administration has also referenced those disasters as hindrances to their ambitions. Such justification will make no difference to voters now as it made no difference to voters then.

Last week, the PLP unveiled its Blueprint for Progress. It included elements such as tighter immigration enforcement –a promise being made by every party this election and leaning into the anti-immigration rhetoric seen in other countries. It also included workplace legislation, although the party has had to admit that its mental

wellness days it has promised will be unpaid. There is an increase in maternity leave promised, as well as paid paternity leave. There are measures to combat price gouging, plans to cut food import spending by a quarter, and consultation for a new city in Andros.

Among the things that seem to have strayed is campaign finance legislation, which has gone from being in the manifesto last time around to now PLP communications lead Latrae Rahming saying it must be something “that ought to be considered” and be part of “a conversation that all major parties should have”. If it was not a priority when it was on the manifesto, it will likely be even less of a priority if it is just a talking point seeking bi-partisan support.

Last night, the FNM released its campaign manifesto. Mr Pintard promised to cut VAT on “everyday essentials and all medical costs and educational supplies”. He promised to implement the Freedom of Information Act in full – so did the PLP last time but did not. He promised a “tenpoint plan” on crime. He promised 100 new doctors and 200 new nurses – which will of course have to be funded. There is an emphasis on the economy – the word “prosperous” used as a heading to drive the talking point home.

There will be individual points in each manifesto that will speak to particular issues that are important to different people.

In 1992, Bill Clinton advisor James Carville famously said: “It’s the economy, stupid.”

That was his guidance to campaign workers over one of three messages for them to focus on with voters. In fact, he hung a sign in the Clinton campaign headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas that read:

1. Change vs. More of the same 2. The economy, stupid

3. Don’t forget health care

The core of the economy message is about how people feel about their prospects and their stability after the next election.

In unstable times, each party is going to have to convince voters that theirs is the steadiest hand at the wheel. The party promises that are made are going to have to address that – if each party is going to have a chance to win.

Individual issues sway individual voters, absolutely – but the broader movements come with a belief that this will be the party that will ensure your pockets are not going to be emptier, and that the dreams you want to chase might have a chance of becoming reality.

Over the coming weeks, you can be sure that each issue is going to be analysed. The Tribune’s team will be asking each party how it plans to pay for the promises it has made – and what areas might not get as much money to balance the books.

But the world too might just have its say. If prices go up, if prices go down, if fuel becomes harder to get at the pump, then well, it’s the economy, stupid or not.

Denalee Penn-Mackey has a clear path to victory

EDITOR, The Tribune. WITH Progressive Liberal Party MP Leroy Major announcing to the press that he will contest the election in Southern Shores, Free National Movement candidate Denalee PennMackey now has an easier path to victory in that district. Major will split the PLP vote between himself and PLP candidate Mr Obie Roberts. Judging by the comments of Major, his representation was allegedly undermined by PLP operatives in Southern Shores. This move by him seems motivated by revenge. Major, although a minor

force within the PLP few Bahamians outside of New Providence would immediately recognise, does have a marginal base of support that the PLP can ill afford to lose in what some expect to be a tight race. The Major announcement tips the scales in the favor of PennMackey, who already was considered to be the frontrunner anyway. In addition to the Major factor will be disgruntled PLPs who were backing ZNS General Manager Clint Watson. I remember a heated exchange between the Roberts and Watson factions

Put women at centre of the next economy

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I AM writing this letter as a Bahamian woman who has witnessed and experienced the obstacles created by inadequate policies, frameworks, and plans that fail to address the realities of the 21st century. I see the impact these issues have had on my own opportunities as a woman, and I am deeply concerned about the deteriorating conditions for my daughters and women throughout this country.

The world has not been intentionally structured to support women’s leadership, and The Bahamas has done far too little to change this reality. Bahamian Women have long carried families, communities, ministries, schools, businesses, and entire sectors of our national life. Yet, the systems that distribute capital, technology, infrastructure, and economic leverage still do not adequately support us at scale. Bahamian Women are expected to produce, adapt, and endure, but too often without the tools we need to lead fully in a modern economy.

Access to both technology and artificial intelligence (AI) must not be a secondary issue, reserved for a select group of Bahamians; it must be addressed as a national development priority.

AI has the potential to become one of the great equalisers of our time. It can help Bahamian women conduct research more efficiently, analyse markets, automate routine tasks, strengthen decision-making, build businesses, improve productivity, and reduce dependence on traditional gatekeepers. However, AI alone is not enough. If The Bahamas is serious about advancing Bahamian women, enhancing national competitiveness, and ensuring future-ready growth, then our country needs more than speeches about innovation. We need concrete plans, frameworks, and execution.

The next government must come into office with a technology agenda ready to be implemented from day one, not just a collection of vague aspirations. During this election cycle, every political party should be required to demonstrate in its manifesto and blueprint not only its intent but also its capability. These documents must

not only express a desire to modernise but also provide proof that they are going to be operationally prepared to take immediate action. Bahamians must demand to know: What can they execute on day one in terms of law, policy, administration, infrastructure, and access?

This national framework cannot merely address AI in a theoretical sense. It must include concrete plans for the use of AI, fintech, blockchain, prop tech, travel tech, govtech, tokenisation, edtech, medtech, health tech, etc, as these are not fringe ideas or fashionable labels. They are practical tools for modernising the essential sectors that will immediately drive growth of the Bahamian economy: beginning with governance, education, health, tourism, hospitality, travel, financial services, banking, and construction. If tourism and hospitality are to remain central, where is the travel tech framework to help Bahamian operators, workers, and entrepreneurs compete more effectively? If financial services and banking are to remain vital, where is the fintech framework to improve inclusion, payments, compliance, credit visibility, and small business access to capital? If housing, real estate, and construction are critical, where is the prop tech framework to enhance planning, transactions, project visibility, financing, building efficiency, and land use modernization? And if The Bahamas is serious about ownership, investment access, and new models of capital formation, where is the tokenisation framework (DARE) to responsibly unlock broader participation in local investment offerings, real estate, infrastructure, and productive assets? My questions are not theoretical. They directly impact whether our country is preparing our people to participate in the Next Economy or merely to watch others build it. Furthermore, whatever framework is adopted must reach every island, regardless of population size. Every island must be included. A woman running a business in Long Island, Cat Island,

Andros, Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island, San Salvador, Eleuthera, Exuma, Bimini, or Ragged Island must not be excluded from our digital future because she lives outside New Providence or Grand Bahama. A student on a smaller island should not have less access to AI tools, digital training, fintech systems, or entrepreneurial opportunities simply because her constituency is smaller or less politically convenient.

Digital inequality in an archipelagic country quickly leads to economic inequality.

That is why any national manifesto or blueprint must include affordable high-speed internet, islandwide digital infrastructure, practical AI literacy, technology training, innovation support, digital business enablement, and sector-specific frameworks tied to the real economy. They must be able to connect women’s leadership to actual leverage. They must link technology to tourism, banking, construction, real estate, and enterprise growth. They must present clear pathways to ensure that their political promises can be translated into implementation.

Women in this country do not need another ceremonial conversation about empowerment. We need systems that expand our power. We need tools, access, infrastructure, and actual pathways to ownership and growth. Our 2026 Election should not be determined by slogans. It must be determined by readiness. Which party has the seriousness, architecture, and day-one capability to build a technology-enabled Bahamas for every island, every sector, and every capable woman ready to lead?

What specific steps will political parties take to develop and implement the proposed technology frameworks? How will the government ensure that digital infrastructure effectively reaches every island? What accountability measures will be established to track progress on these initiatives? We must establish these as the standard, and everything beyond it can be viewed as a measure of performance.

E M SOPHIA-CHOKHMAH Freeport, Grand Bahama April 6, 2026.

Call to conscience ahead of 2026 election

EDITOR, The Tribune. THE future of this nation, depends on how we vote this election.

As May 12 approaches, Bahamians find themselves once again in a familiar season—one marked by loud promises, sharper words, and the all-too-common distractions of mudslinging, political theatrics, and last-minute gestures meant to win favor rather than build a future. It is a pattern that has been seen before. It is a cycle the nation knows all too well.

But this time, it must be different.

at a vetting event weeks before the PLP hierarchy decided to formally endorse Roberts. Since then, Watson has seemingly fallen off planet Earth. All the chatter about a fractured FNM had caused many political observers to overlook the schism within the PLP in Southern Shores. This fracture bodes well for the FNM candidate. I expect Penn-Mackey to succeed Major as the next Southern Shores MP.

KEVIN EVANS

Freeport, Grand Bahama

April 9, 2026

This election is not just another date on the calendar. It is a defining moment—a turning point that will shape the direction of the nation for years to come. It is a moment that calls not for routine decisions, but for reflection, courage, and clarity.

The questions before the people are simple, yet profound: Is the current administration deserving of another five years? Are Bahamians prepared to repeat the same cycle and expect different results? Should the nation place its hopes in a new and untested alternative?

There may be no easy answers—but there must be honest ones.

Every candidate seeking the people’s vote must be examined carefully. Their words must be weighed against their actions, and their promises measured against their performance. Are their actions consistent with what they profess? Are they pursuing leadership to serve the people, or to serve themselves?

The nation cannot afford to vote out of habit. It cannot afford to vote based solely on party colors, loyalty, or tradition. The stakes are far too high. The Bahamas has endured much. Many feel the strain— the sense that progress has stalled; that accountability is too often absent, and that corruption and complacency have been allowed to take root. In honest reflection, the nation must ask: Is this the Bahamas it wishes to continue building? Is this the inheritance it intends to leave for future generations? If the answer is no, then the responsibility lies with the people. The cycle must be broken—by refusing to excuse wrongdoing, by no longer rewarding inaction, and by rejecting anything less than what the country deserves. This demands more than emotion; it requires

discernment, responsibility, and a commitment to the greater good. Each voter must search within.

Is this truly the best the nation can offer?

Are these candidates a true reflection of who Bahamians is and who they aspire to be?

This is not about personalities. It is about principles—integrity, credibility, accountability, and a genuine commitment to the people of The Bahamas. Each vote cast will help shape the future. It will determine the kind of leadership the nation accepts, the direction it takes, and the legacy it leaves behind.

The call is clear: choose wisely, choose consciously, and choose courage over comfort. Let this be the election where the people rise above the noise, reject the games, and demand better— not only from their leaders, but from themselves.

The future of The Bahamas does not rest in the hands of a few. It rests in the hands of all.

With respect, urgency, and hope.

A FELLOW CITIZEN Nassau, April 8, 2026.

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

The backdoor Green Card . . .

The Definitionof the"BackdoorGreenCard"

The "Backdoor Green Card" is a colloquialism describinga fraudulentor unauthorisedpathway through which foreignnationals attempt to securepermanent residency inthe UnitedStates. This pathwayoften involves"paying one's dues"through unauthorised employmentor providingfree labour to an employer under the informal promise of future visa sponsorship. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act(INA), nosuch legal mechanismexists. Thebelief that unauthorised labour serves as a prerequisite for legal statusis a fallacy thatexposes individualsto severe legal consequences, including permanentinadmissibility tothe United States. Strategic and lawful immigration requires adherenceto established protocols. Engagingin labour without validauthorisation constitutes a violationof non-immigrant statusand createsa barto theadjustment of statusunder INA § 245(c). The Digital Breadcrumb Trail: FinancialRecords and USCIS Adjudication

In thecontemporary digital economy, themisconception that "offthe books"employmentremains invisible to federal authorities isincreasingly hazardous. United States Citizenshipand Immigration Services(USCIS) and the Departmentof State(DOS) have expandedtheir investigative scope to include digital financial

footprints.

Visa holders,particularly students on F-1 visas or individuals on B-1/B-2 visitor visas, often engage in "side hustles" or gig economy work. Thesetransactions arefrequently facilitatedvia remittance and peer-to-peer (P2P) payment applications,including Venmo,Zelle, andCashApp.Eachtransactioncreates apermanent digitalrecord. During the adjudication of future petitions for H-1B status, L-1 transfers, or I-485adjustment of status, USCISmay requestbankstatements or financial records. Discrepancies inincome, unexplained recurringdeposits, or memos withinpayment appsindicating paymentfor servicesrendered serve as evidence of unauthorizedemployment. Oncearecord of unauthorized labouris established,theapplicant facestherisk of visa denial and potential removal proceedings.

The "Golden Carrot" Metaphor: Predatory RecruitmentandMisrepresentation Predatory employers and labour brokers oftenemploy the"Golden

Carrot" tactic, the promise of future Green Card sponsorship, to induce foreignnationals toacceptsubstandard working conditions, belowmarket wages,or unpaid"internships."This promiseis frequentlya misrepresentation usedto exploit the individual'sdesire forpermanent legal status. In legal terms, an employer’s intent tosponsor anemployee must be evidenced by a formal filing of a PERMLabor Certificationor anI140 Immigrant Petitionfor Alien Worker. Without these formal filings, the promiseof sponsorship carries no legal weight. Individuals whoprovidefree labourinexchangefora verbalorinformal promiseof aGreenCard arenot participating in a legal "probationary period"; they are being subjected to labour exploitation.

Labour Exploitation and the Legal Realityof LabourTrafficking Thetransition from"workingfor free"tolabourtraffickingisdefined by theelements of force,fraud, or coercion. When an employer lever-

and the invisible chain of labour exploitation

agesa foreignnational'simmigrationstatustocompellabour,suchas threateningto reporttheindividual to Immigration andCustoms Enforcement (ICE) or withholding documents, the situation constitutes a violation of federal law. Labourtrafficking doesnotalwaysinvolve physicalrestraint. The use of"fraud" (false promises of a visa) or "coercion" (psychological pressure regarding deportation) is sufficient to meet the legal threshold for trafficking. Victims of such exploitation may be eligible for specific legal remedies that may allow victimsto remainin the United States andprovide a pathwayto aGreen Card,provided they assist lawenforcement in the investigation of the trafficking.

The "Invisible Chain": Psychological Coercion and Status Dependency

The "Invisible Chain" refers to thepsychological andlegal leverage an employer maintains over anundocumented orprecariously documented worker. The fear of losing a perceived "chance" at a Green Card acts asa restraint that prevents workers from reporting wagetheft,safety violations,orharassment.

This dependency is often manufacturedby theemployer tomaintain a compliant,low-cost workforce. It is imperative to understand that an employer does not have the unilateralauthority tograntlegal

status;onlythefederalgovernment, through the Departmentof Homeland Security(DHS), holdsthis power. Reliance on an employer’s informal promises creates a cycle ofvulnerability thatoften endsin the expiration of the individual s lawfulstaywithoutanyprogresstoward residency.

Conclusion: LawfulPathways andProfessionalConsultation Thereisno"backdoor"toUSimmigration. The perception that unauthorisedlabour canbeleveraged into legal status is a dangerous fallacy thatoften resultsin exploitation andpermanent exclusion fromthe UnitedStates. Lawfulimmigrationrequires astrategic,document-drivenapproach thatadheres to the regulations outlined in the INA.

Ifyouhave beensubjectedto labour exploitation or have questions regarding thelegitimacy of a sponsorship offer,it iscritical to seek professional legal counsel immediately.Do notallow adigital trailofunauthorisedemploymentto jeopardise your future. Fora formalevaluation ofyour immigration options or to discuss potential remedies for exploitation, contact our officeto schedule a consultation for ananalysis of your specific case. Let'sfigure out how tomove forwardtogether. Emailus at info@drusselllove.com, message us on WhatsApp at 954-828

Exclusive Miami hotel vanishes in seconds

MIAMI (AP) A hotel atone ofMiami's most exclusive locations was demolished Sundayto makeway for something bigger.

Demolition experts completed the controlled implosionof the former Mandarin Oriental, Miamion Brickell Key, a humanmade islandat the mouth ofthe Miami River, acrossfrom downtown. It marked the largestimplosion forMiami inmorethan a decade, officials said.

The 23-story building, which opened 25 years ago, collapsed in less than20 secondsfollowingblasts thatoccurred around 8:30 a.m. People watchingthe implosion safely from afar cheeredand recorded phone videos as the building'sframework collapsedfollowing aseries of rapid charges. Dust soon filled the air as building material crashed down. Some watchers wore face masks asthey leftthe area.

Residents within800 feet (244 meters) of the buildingwere askedto stay inside their apartments duringthe blast withwindows anddoors closed.

According to Swire Properties, thedemolition willmake wayfor the groundbreaking of The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, a two-tower ultraluxury hotel andresidential development scheduled for completion in 2030. The operationfollows nearly two years of plan-

ning and coordination with specialized contractors and the city, developers said. Implosion was selected as the safest and mostefficient methodto maintainthe project timelinewhile minimizing disruption and ensuringthe safety of the Brickell Key community.

The implosionhappened acouple ofminutes after what looked andsounded likeblueand pink-tinted fireworks were set offnear the top of the building.

The Commonwealth Games 2026: Nassau to Glasgow

By Smita Rossetti British High Commissioner to The Bahamas

The Bahamas roadto the Commonwealth Games 2026, takingplace this summer in Glasgow, Scotland,beganlastFridayonthe streets and waterways of NewProvidence, asthe King’s BatonRelay, organisedby TheBahamasCommonwealth Games Association,made itswayfrom BonefishNational Parkto Rawson Square.On this beautiful spring morning, The Bahamas Baton was passedfrom onehand toanotherby runners,rowersand cyclists working together, a full cross-section of Bahamiansporting lifeinmotion. This year’sBaton Relayis

andbejewelled inJunkanoo style. Aspartof therelay,Itook ontherole ofcoxswainfor theNassau RowingClub,in the rowing legacross Lake Cunningham.Thisistherole atthefrontoftheboatthatinvolves keepingthe boaton courseandmakingsureeight rowersstayedin timeaswe carriedthe Batonacrossthe water. Ourboat included youngrowersgoingontocollege rowing, but also recreational male and female rowersof allages andabilities.Otherstakingpartinthe relay included the Bahamas Rugby FootballUnion,BahamasTriathlonAssociation, St Augustine’s College, King’s CollegeSchool, Windsor School,Just Run Bahamas,the BahamasJudo

I wish The Bahamas’ team all the best as they head to Scotland, where they will meet fellow teams from all over the Commonwealth, including Team Great Britain.

differentfrom previouseditions. Rather thana single batontravellingfromcountry to country, eachof the 74 Commonwealth nations and territories thatwill participateintheGameshasitsown locallydesigned baton,before they willbe brought togetheragain attheOpening Ceremony in Glasgow on July23.Insteadofonebaton, thefocusisonsharedparticipation,with eachcountry contributingitsownperspective,includingTheBahamas’ Baton, resplendentin the coloursof TheNationalFlag

Federation, andstaff ofthe BritishHighCommission. The Commonwealth Games takeplace everyfour years, and this summer will bring togetheraround 3,000 athletesfrom acrossthe Commonwealth, whichhas a populationofover2.5billion people, 60% ofwhom are under 30 years old. This edition hasbeen designedto be more compactand sustainable, using existing venues acrossGlasgowandfocusing ona streamlinedprogramme oftencore sports,fromathletics and swimming to cy-

cling, netball and boxing. Para sport will be fully integrated throughout,reflecting a continuedcommitment to inclusionat everylevelof competition.

This year s Games have two centralthemes, bothof particular relevanceto The Bahamas: stayingactive and reducing plasticwaste. The Bahamas’ swimmers, track andfield athletes,andrunners have achieved brilliant successon theworldstage, includingmostrecentlyatthe CARIFTAGames. Atthe sametime, thereis alsoa well-recognised national challenge around public health, with high rates of obesityanddiabetes,increasingly amongstyoung people. The message fromthe relay was straightforward:physicalactivity,moving,andexercisingneeds tofeaturein everyday life forall of us.

The UK s NationalHealth Service (NHS)recommends atleast150 minutesofmoderate intensityactivity a week.That couldtakethe form ofeven 30minutes of brisk walking, five days a week.

The second theme, reducing plastic waste, is equally significant,particularly forisland nationssuch as The Bahamas. The health ofTheBahamas’soceansun-

derpinstourism,fisheriesand everydaylife. Acrossthe Commonwealth,and herein TheBahamas,ledbyTheBahamas National Trust, there willbewidereffortstotackle plasticpollution andprotect oceans andwaterways. Participatingcountries areorganising clean-ups, awareness campaignsand practical initiatives aimed at reducing wasteand changingbehaviour.

As July approaches, atten-

tion will rightlyturn to Glasgow and tothe athletes who will represent The Bahamas.I wishTheBahamas’ teamallthebestastheyhead toScotland, wheretheywill meetfellow teamsfromall over the Commonwealth, including Team Great Britain. The Bahamashas astrong trackrecordofsuccessatThe Commonwealth Games,as wellas TheCommonwealth YouthGames (takingplace nextyear inMalta), withex-

pectationshighforemulating previoussuccesses ontheinternationalstage. Yet, as the King s Baton Relay demonstrated,the value ofthe Commonwealth Games extendsbeyond medals andcompetition. Thesemoments serveasa timely reminderthat thetrue strengthofTheBahamas,and the Commonwealth more broadly,liesinitscommunity spirit, active participation andsharedpurpose.

Sailing toward a green future: Ambassador outlines China–Bahamas co-operation opportunities

By Yan Jiarong Chinese Ambassador to

The Bahamas

MANY Bahamians have shared with methe advantagesof driving electric vehicles (EVs), especially in light of rising fuel prices caused by conflicts in theMiddle East. The conclusion is clear:EV adoption is vitalfor TheBahamasas itreduce emissions, strengthens energy securityand mitigatesthe impactof global fuel volatility.

Iwasdelighted toattendthe launch ceremony for Hongqi new energyvehicles enteringtheBahamian market.Other Chinese brandssuch asBYDhave alsoentered themarket, offeringdiverse choices for Bahamian consumers.

The Tribune reportedrecently a significant global shifttowards Chinese electric vehicles(EVs), driven by competitive pricingand advanced technology.The Tribune rightly pointed out that “electric cars will bevital inthe fightagainst climate change.” China isthe world’s largest producerand consumerof new energy vehicles. In 2025, outputreached 16.6millionunits, ranking first globallyfor the 11th consecutive year. By theend of that year, nearly 60% of new cars sold in China werenew energyvehicles, saving about85 milliontons of crudeoilannually andreducingdependence on imports.

While the conflictsin the Middle Easthave drivenoil pricessharply higher,observers notethatChina’s fastest developmentof theworld s largest renewable energy system has significantly boostedits energyresilience. Today,renewable energy accounts for around60% of China s installed power generation capacity, meaningoneineverythreekilowatthours consumedcomes fromgreen power.

During thefirst four yearsof the 14th Five-Year Plan, China reduced energy consumptionper unitof GDPby11.6%. Itscleanenergy products from photovoltaic equipmentto windpowerfacilities and EVs havebeen exported to more than 200 countries and regions. China alsoleads global energy investment,accounting for over 30% of the world total, with

more than 70%directed toward clean energy. China’scontributions extendbeyond energy. It is the world s largest contributorto afforestation,having added more than 1.1billion mu of forest since 2012.In 2025 alone, China restored orimproved degraded grasslandequivalent tosix times the total area of The Bahamas. Asthe sayinggoes, “The person who plants a tree plants a hope.

Theyear2026 marksthebeginning of China s 15th Five-Year Plan. PresidentXiJinpinghasemphasized that lucid watersand lushmoun-

tains areinvaluable assets.” Guided by thisvision, Chinawill accelerate the green transition of economic and social development,including enhancing pollutioncontrol, ecosystem restoration, and the transitionto anewenergy system.By 2035, China s economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissionsare projected to declineby 7–10% from peak levels, laying the foundation for a climate-resilient society.

Thisprogress underscoreswhyI have oftenemphasized that China–Bahamas green cooperation

holds enormous potential.

As the Bahamian proverb reminds us, “Sun hot, butit give light.” The Bahamas is blessedwith abundant solar andwind resources.Harnessing these could lower electricity bills and reduce reliance on imported fuel. Imagine hotel shuttles and tour busespowered by locally generated solar energy a living emblemof zero-carbontourism. China has already helped deliver the internationalzero-carbon islandcooperation project in Grenada, where photovoltaic and energy storage sys-

NASA already has next Artemis flight in its sights following astronauts' triumphant moon flyby

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer

HOUSTON (AP) Never-beforeglimpsed viewsof the moon’sfar side. Check.Totalsolar eclipsegracingthe lunarscene.Check. Newdistancerecord for humanity. Check.

With NASA’s lunarcomeback a galactic-sized smash thanks to Artemis II, the worldis wondering:What’s next? And how do you top that?

“Topeople allaroundthe worldwho look up and dream about what is possible, thelongwait isover,” NASA Administrator JaredIsaacman said ashe introduced ArtemisII commanderReid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch andCanada’s JeremyHansen at Saturday sjubilant homecomingcelebration Nowthatthe firstlunartravellersin more than a half-century are safely back in Houston with their families, NASA has Artemis III in its sights.

Thenext mission sright aroundthe corner,” entryflight directorRick Henfling observed following the crew s Pacific splashdown on Friday.

In amission recently addedto the docket for next year,Artemis III’s yet-tobe -named astronauts will practice docking theirOrion capsulewith alunar landeror twoin orbitaround Earth.Elon Musk sSpaceXand JeffBezos Blue Origin are racing to have their company’s lander ready first.

Musk’s Starship and Bezos’ Blue Moonare vyingfor theall-important

ArtemisIVmoon landingin2028.Two astronautswill aimforthesouth polarregion,the preferredlocationfor Isaacman senvisioned$20 billionto$30 billion moonbase. Vastamounts ofice are almostcertainly hiddenin permanently shadowed craters there ice that could provide water and rocket fuel. The dockingmechanism forArtemis III s close-to-hometrial runis alreadyat Florida’s KennedySpace Center.The latest model Starship is close to launching on atest flight fromSouth Texas,and a scaled-downversionof BlueMoonwill attempt a lunar landing later this year. NASA promisesto announcethe

ArtemisIIIcrew “soon.” Like 1969’s Apollo 9, Artemis IIIaims to reduce risk for the moon landings that follow.

Apollo9 astronautRustySchweickart lovedflying thelunarmodule inlowEarth orbit — “atest pilot’s dream.” But there snoquestion, henoted,that the real astronauts” at leastinthepublic’s mind werethe oneswho walkedon the moon. Wiseman and his crew put their passion and feelingson fulldisplay asthey flew aroundthe moonandback, chokingup overlostlovedones aswellasthoseleft behind on Earth.

During the theirnearly 10-day journey, they tearfullyrequested thata fresh, brightlunarcrater benamed after Wiseman s late wife, Carroll, who died of cancer in2020. They alsoopenly shared theirlove foroneanother andPlanet Earth,an exquisiteyetdelicate oasisin the black void that they said needs better care.

ArtemisIIincluded thefirstwoman, thefirstpersonofcolourandthefirstnonU.S. citizen to fly to the moon.

“Wonderful communicators, almost poets, Isaacman saidfrom the recovery ship while awaiting their return.

Apollo’s manly, all-business moon crewsofthe 1960sand1970scertainly did not do group hugs.

For those oldenough to remember Apollo, Artemis Apollo s twin sister in Greek mythology couldn’t come fast enough.

Author AndyChaikin said hefelt like RipVanWinkle awakeningfromanearly

temsinstalled forlocalhouseholds generate 10-15kilowatt-hours of electricity per day,fully meeting the dailyhousehold energyneeds,offering hope to small island developing states in addressing the climate change.

Prime Minister Davis has rightly noted that China’sclimate efforts are “of great importanceto the future of humanity. Cooperation betweenourtwo countriesalreadyextends beyond energy into agriculture,disaster prevention,andother fields.

Overthepasttwoandahalfyears, Chinese agricultural experts have workedwith Bahamiancounterparts tointroduce climate-adaptedcrops and water-savingirrigation technologies.These programs,supportedbyChina’snearlyUSD1million in investment,have trained more than 300 Bahamian people and provided greenhouses,rotary tillers, and otherequipment tostrengthen Bahamian agriculture.

After HurricaneDorian in2019, China provided overUSD 600,000 in cash andmaterial assistance. In 2022, Chinaestablished the China–Caribbean Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Fund, through which TheBahamas hasreceived USD224,000 insupport. TenBahamianofficials havealsoparticipatedin Chinesetraining courseson disaster risk management.

Lookingahead,China isreadyto alignits15th Five-YearPlanwith The Bahamas’ development agendas. Guided byChina s third Policy Documenton LatinAmerica andtheCaribbean, wewilldeepen cooperation inagriculture, public health, education, culture, disaster prevention etc. We will also jointly tap thepotential ininfrastructure, greentransition, andtheblue economy. Together, we will enhance The Bahamas’ capacityfor sustainable development. We are confidentthat China–Bahamasexchanges willcontinueto improve thewell-being ofour peoples and write a new chapter of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit advancing the lofty goal of building a community with a shared future for humanity.

54-yearnap. His1994biography A Manon theMoon led tothe HBOminiseries From the Earthto the Moon.”

“It’s amazinghow far we ve come and how different this experience isfrom back then, Chaikinsaid from Johnson Space Center late last week.

Thehardest part,according to NASAAssociate Administrator AmitKshatriya, isbecoming soclose tothe crews and theirfamilies andthen blasting them to the moon. He anxiously monitored Friday’s re-entry alongside the astronauts spouses and children.

“Youknow what’s at stake, Kshatriya confided af-

terward. “It’s goingto take risktoexplore, butyouhave tomakesureyoufindtheright line between being paralyzed by it and being able to manage it.” Calling it mission complete” onlyafter beingreunited with his two daughters, Wiseman issued arallying cry to the rows of blue-flightsuited astronauts at Saturday s celebration.

It is time to go and be ready,” hesaid, pointingat them, “because it takes courage.It takesdetermination, and youall are freaking goingandwe aregoingtobe standing there supporting you every single step of the way in every possible way possible.

Man cleared in holiday murder

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused of involvement in a Christmas Eve 2023 shooting walked free from court on Friday after being acquitted of murder and attempted murder.

Nelson Major, 32, was found not guilty by an 8–1 jury verdict before Justice Loren Klein. After further deliberations, the jury returned similar 8–1 not guilty verdicts on the alternative counts of manslaughter and causing grievous bodily

harm. Justice Klein told Major he was free to go.

A female relative wept and embraced him outside the court after the verdict.

The prosecution argued Major played a key role as the driver of a motorcycle used in the shooting of Torvaz Dames and Cardicyn Collie in the Balfour Avenue area on December 24, 2023.

The defence maintained Major never fired a weapon. According to the case, Major and another man allegedly pursued the victims, who were shot by assailants on a motorcycle. Dames

reportedly returned fire.

The victims’ vehicle later stopped at Robinson and Claridge Roads, where officers saw Collie place Dames into the back of a white vehicle. Collie later stopped in Montell Heights, where Dames, 23, a father of two, died of his injuries. A witness said they saw Dames shoot at the accused. Major told police he followed the victims because they had shot at “his boy” at the tracks.

Keevon Maynard represented Major. Janessa Murray and Gary Rolle III prosecuted.

Teen accused of shooting man

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 17-YEAR-OLD boy was accused of a near-fatal shooting in Harbour Island recently as a man left his girlfriend’s home. Prosecutors allege the juvenile, whose name is withheld because he is a minor, shot Byron Bullard in the back with a handgun as he exited a residence on Nesbitt Street around 9.30pm on April 4. The suspect, dressed in black, reportedly fled north. Bullard was airlifted to New Providence for medical treatment.

That same night, Dextron Percentie, 25, allegedly

aided and abetted the shooting. Gerard “Patty” Miller, 21, was accused of helping the suspect evade police later that night.

Earlier this month, Miller and Ceon “uptop” Duncombe, 23, allegedly conspired to murder Bullard.

The juvenile was charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Percentie was charged with abetment to commit attempted murder.

Miller was charged with accessory after the fact to attempted murder and jointly charged with Duncombe with conspiracy to commit murder. The accused were not

required to enter pleas before Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr. The juvenile was arraigned in the presence of his guardian.

They were told the matter would proceed to the Supreme Court by voluntary bill of indictment and were advised of their right to apply for bail in the higher court.

The adults were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services, while the juvenile was remanded to its adolescent unit until service of their VBIs on July 31.

Sergeant 3004 Forbes prosecuted. Raquel Huyler, Bryan Bastian and Ian Cargill represented the accused.

$4,000 bail for cheque fraud

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused of using a forged cheque to steal more than $3,000 was granted bail on Friday.

Prosecutors allege Tristan Bethel, 38, uttered a forged Fidelity Bank cheque drawn on the account of Frank Moxey and made payable to himself on October 2, 2023. He and others allegedly stole $3,286 from Moxey’s account on October 4, 2023. Bethel pleaded not guilty to possession of a forged document, uttering a forged document and fraud by false pretences before Senior Magistrate Kendra Kelly Burrows. He was granted $4,000 bail with one or two sureties and must sign in at Central Police Station every Thursday by 6pm. He returns for trial on June 30. Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom prosecuted.

Woman fined for hitting officer

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN was fined after using her vehicle to assault a police officer and damaging his Segway.

Leosha Rahming, 44, struck PC 4637 Cartwright with a vehicle and damaged a

Royal Bahamas Police Force Segway SE-3 on April 4. The damage was valued at $1,100. Rahming pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous instrument and causing damage before Magistrate Abigail Farrington. She was fined $1,000 or six months in prison. She was also ordered to pay $250

compensation to the officer or serve one month.

In addition, she must pay a $500 fine for the damage and reimburse the police force for the Segway or face a further six months in prison. Ian Cargill represented Rahming. Assistant Superintendent of Police K Bould prosecuted.

Trump threatens Strait of Hormuz blockade after US-Iran ceasefire talks end with no deal

ISLAMABAD Associated Press

PRESIDENT Donald

Trump on Sunday said the US Navy would “immediately” begin a blockade of ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, after US-Iran ceasefire talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement.

Trump wants to weaken Iran’s key leverage in the war after demanding that it reopen the strait to all global traffic on the waterway that was responsible for 20% of global oil shipping before fighting began.

A US blockade could further rattle global energy markets. “It’s going to be all or none, and that’s the way it is,” Trump told Fox News.

Trump said on social media that he told the Navy to “seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.” He said other nations would be involved but did not name them.

Freedom of peaceful navigation is a basic principle of international maritime trade.

Iran says ‘if you fight, we will fight’

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard later said the strait remained under Iran’s “full control” and was open for non-military vessels, but military ones would get a “forceful response,” two semi-official Iranian news agencies reported.

During the 21-hour talks, the US military said two destroyers had transited the strait ahead of mine-clearing work, a first since the war began. Iran denied it.

Trump’s plan to use the Navy to block the strait is unrealistic and he will have to concede on some issues with Iran, said Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer in security studies at Kings College London. “There isn’t any tool in the toolbox in terms of the military lever that he could use to get his way,” Krieg said.

Trump said Tehran’s nuclear ambitions were at the core of the talks’ failure. In comments to Fox News, he again threatened to strike civilian infrastructure.

Parliament speaker

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who led Iran’s side, addressed Trump in a new statement on his return to Iran: “If you fight, we will fight.”

No word on what happens after ceasefire expires

The face-to-face talks that ended early Sunday were the highest-level negotiations between the longtime rivals since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Neither indicated what will happen after the ceasefire expires on April 22.

“We need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon,” said Vice President JD Vance, leading the US side.

Iranian negotiators could not agree to all US “red lines,” said a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to describe positions on the record. These included Iran never obtaining a nuclear weapon, ending uranium enrichment, dismantling

major enrichment facilities and allowing retrieval of its highly enriched uranium, along with opening the Strait of Hormuz and ending funding for Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthi rebels.

Iranian officials said talks fell apart over two or three key issues, blaming what they called US overreach. Qalibaf, who noted progress in negotiations, said it was time for the United States “to decide whether it can gain our trust or not.”

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said his country will try to facilitate a new dialogue in the coming days. Iran said it was open to continuing dialogue, state-run IRNA news agency reported.

The European Union urged further diplomatic efforts. The foreign minister of Oman, located on the Strait of Hormuz’s southern coast, called for parties to “make painful concessions.”

The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin “emphasized his readiness” to help bring

about a diplomatic settlement in a call with Iran’s president. Iran’s nuclear program is a key sticking point Iran’s nuclear program was at the centre of tensions long before the US and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28. The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 2,055 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states, and damaged infrastructure in half a dozen countries.

Tehran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons but insists on its right to a civilian nuclear program. The landmark 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump later pulled the US out of, took well over a year of negotiations. Experts say Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, though not weapons-grade, is only a short technical step away.

An Iranian diplomatic official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of closed-door talks, denied that negotiations

had failed over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Inside Iran, there was new exhaustion and anger after months of unrest that began with nationwide protests against economic issues and then political ones, followed by weeks of sheltering from US and Israeli bombardment.

“We have never sought war. But if they try to win what they failed to win on the battlefield through talks, that’s absolutely unacceptable,” Mohammad Bagher Karami said in Tehran.

Elsewhere in the region, airstrikes calmed over the past day except in Lebanon.

More questions as Israel presses ahead in Lebanon

Iran’s 10-point proposal for the talks called for a halt to Israeli strikes on the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel has said the ceasefire did not apply there, but Iran and Pakistan said it did.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

visited parts of southern Lebanon under Israeli control on Sunday, for the first time since the current fighting. Attacks on southern Lebanon have intensified alongside the ground invasion renewed after Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel in the war’s opening days.

Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are expected to begin Tuesday in Washington after Israel’s surprise announcement authorizing talks despite their lack of official relations. Israel wants Lebanon to assume responsibility for disarming Hezbollah, but the militant group has survived efforts to curb its strength for decades.

The day the Iran ceasefire deal was announced, Israel pounded Beirut with airstrikes, killing more than 300 people, according to the Health Ministry.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported six people were killed Sunday in Maaroub village near the coastal city of Tyre.

THE Public Hospitals

Authority Academy gradu-

ated its Class of 2026 at The Warwick on Paradise Island today, adding new clinical nurses and medical billing staff to the national healthcare system.

When you or your family require medical attention, you rely on trained professionals to navigate the system and provide treatment. The newest group entering the field includes graduates from the Trained Clinical Nurses Cohort II and the introductory Medical Billing and Coding programs. Debbie Simeon led the class as valedictorian. She earned the Distinction award for the clinical

nurse program and the Special Award for Academic Excellence.

Prime Minister Philip Davis gave the keynote address. He told the audience the government is investing in healthcare workers to match its spending on physical buildings. He pointed to the start of construction for the new 200-bed hospital as an example of these physical improvements, but he said the professionals providing the care remain the most important part of the medical system.

“Today is about the human spirit,” Davis said. “Our healthcare heroes deserve a workplace as excellent as the care they give. This graduation is a promise kept to the

Bahamian people to provide quality care delivered by highly trained professionals.”

PHA Managing Director Dr. Aubynette P. Rolle instructed the graduates to operate with integrity and compassion in their new roles.

“You are part of something extraordinary,” Rolle said. “You did not simply gain technical skills; you built credibility through hard work and resilience. Go forth as leaders and continue to represent the gold standard of the PHA Academy.”

Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Michael Darville and PHA Chairman Andrew Edwards attended the ceremony alongside faculty and the graduates’ families.