04272026 NEWS

SIX ARRESTED FOR HAVING FAKE IDS

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

TWO men accused of using fake Bahamian passports and other forged documents have appeared in court as authorities continue to confront scrutiny over document fraud.

Barber Evens Mickey Cadet, 36, faces charges including possession and uttering of false documents and fraud by false pretences.

Jamaican Brian Omar Brooks, 46, was arraigned on nine counts, including possession and uttering of forged and false documents, as well as fraud by false pretences.

Four other men, another Jamaican and three Haitian

nationals, were arrested at Bahamian ports of entry after authorities intercepted what they say were fraudulent travel and identification documents.

At Lynden Pindling International Airport on Friday, a 26-year-old Jamaican man was taken into custody after allegedly presenting a fake United Kingdom passport, which had been reported stolen, to immigration officers.

In a separate incident on Saturday, three Haitian men were arrested at South Bimini International Airport after officials flagged suspicious National Insurance cards during routine checks of passengers arriving from New Providence. SEE PAGE THREE

Alleged gang leader killed in Cable Beach ambush

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

AN alleged gang leader wanted for murder was shot and killed in a targeted attack in a busy Cable Beach area late Thursday, triggering a heavy police response in one of New Providence’s main tourist corridors. Mario Deveaux, 55, also known as “Mario Fox,” was found unresponsive with multiple gunshot injuries near a Ford Taurus at a gated residence off Coral Road, just off West Bay Street, shortly after 10pm, according to police. The

Over 200 children sought help for sexual abuse last year

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

MORE than 200 children sought help from the Bahamas Crisis Centre in 2025 after experiencing sexual abuse, underscoring what its director said is a continuing failure to adequately protect victims or prevent abuse in The Bahamas.

Sandra Dean-Patterson said the children, aged between three and 17, included boys and girls who had been sexually violated, exploited or assaulted, often by people known to them.

She spoke at a Child Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence Awareness exhibit

hosted by the Bahamas Crisis Centre at the Mall at Marathon on Friday, which aimed to highlight the scale of abuse and commemorate victims of gender-based violence.

Dr Dean-Patterson said while domestic violence-related deaths have declined

PM CALLS PINTARD’S REQUEST FOR OBSERVERS INAPPROPRIATE

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has rebuked Opposition Leader Michael Pintard for appealing directly to the United States for election observers, calling the move “quite inappropriate” and outside the country’s established process. Mr Davis said over the weekend that international observation of Bahamian

elections is routine and governed by law, with the Parliamentary Commissioner responsible for initiating invitations.

“It’s quite inappropriate for him to have done that. There’s a process in place designed by the laws as to how we got international observers. International observers to our electoral process is nothing new,” Mr Davis said.

“Over the several elections

Upgrades to current Doppler weather radars and start of infrastructure work for new F.A.A. flight tracking radars

Radar data is one of the critical components that is fed into BACSWN’s NextGEN Aviation Weather Centre for use by BANSA, the FAA, NCAR and NOAA. This allows for the safe, efficient and expeditious passage of flights using our strategically located sovereign archipelago. BACSWN is constantly improving its systems to ensure that the data is of the highest quality.  Abaco is the latest site to be upgraded to ensure consistent high quality service. The site has been completely secured with new fencing, the generator and all electrical systems were replaced with new equipment. New salt air weather resistant air-conditioning has been installed, to ensure consistent service. Additionally, for ease of access, remote monitoring has also been installed.

Two foreign nationals face passport charge

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

A HAITIAN national accused of using a false Bahamian passport and voter’s card was granted $9,000 bail on Friday, one of two men charged last week as authorities con tinue to confront scrutiny over document fraud.

Evans Mickey Cadet, 36, a barber who lives off Joe Farrington Road, faces charges including possession and uttering of false documents and fraud by false pretences.

Prosecutors alleged that on July 9, 2024, in New Providence, Mr Cadet possessed a false Bahamian passport bearing his name, knowing it to be fraudulent. He is further accused of uttering that passport to the Parliamentary Registration Department on July 22, 2024.

He is also alleged to have possessed a false Bahamian voter’s card and to have obtained both the voter’s card and passport by false pretences.

Cadet was granted bail with conditions including signing in at Elizabeth Police Station and wearing an electronic monitoring device. The matter was adjourned to June 23, 2026. A police ‘wanted’ posted – warning Cadet was considered armed and dangerous and should be approached – was issued by the Royal Bahams Police Force on April 16.

In a separate case, Brian Omar Brooks, 46, a Jamaican of Sri Lanka Crest, was arraigned on nine counts, including possession and uttering of forged and false documents, as well as fraud by false pretences.

Prosecutors alleged that on March 6, 2024, Mr Brooks possessed a forged Bahamas Department of Immigration certificate of registration in his name, knowing it to be false, and uttered it with intent to defraud.

He is also accused of possessing a false Bahamian passport on May 11, 2024, and obtaining that passport from the Bahamas Passport Office on November 11,

2024, by false pretences. Additional counts allege he uttered the passport to immigration authorities on multiple dates between August and November 2024. He was granted $8,000 cash bail with conditions including weekly sign-in at Carmichael Police Station and electronic monitoring. His matter was adjourned to July 1, 2026. The cases come as officials point to increased detection of fraudulent documents.

Chief Passport Officer Nicholas Symonette said in March that 98 suspected passport fraud cases had been referred to police.

said a list tabled in the House of Assembly by Free National Movement leader Michael Pintard reflected an earlier subset of those referrals and that strengthened review processes were identifying irregularities.

Prime Minister Philip Davis has defended the system’s integrity, saying improved procedures have enhanced detection.

Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has said Bahamian passports are

Four men arrested at ports over fraudulent ID documents

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

FOUR men, including three Haitian nationals, were arrested at Bahamian ports of entry after authorities intercepted what they say were fraudulent travel and identification documents.

At Lynden Pindling International Airport on Friday, a 26-year-old man was taken into custody after allegedly presenting a fake United Kingdom passport to immigration

officers. Police said the man arrived from Jamaica shortly after 7pm and handed over the document while seeking entry. Checks determined the passport was fraudulent and had been reported stolen in the United Kingdom. Further inquiries indicated he is on bail in Jamaica in connection with a murder charge. In a separate incident on Saturday, three Haitian men were arrested at South Bimini International Airport after

officials flagged suspicious National Insurance cards during routine checks of passengers arriving from New Providence.

Police, working with the Bahamas Immigration Department and a representative from the National Insurance Board, examined the documents and confirmed they were fraudulent.

The men, aged 29, 30 and 36, were taken into custody on suspicion of possessing forged documents.

Davis slams opposition’s election observer request as ‘political mischief’

Government House,” Mrs Furnish said.

last 10, 15 elections, we’ve always had observers, and it’s originated by the Parliamentary Commissioner, which he had already done. So his exercise was completely redundant, unnecessary. But rather, that’s political mischief that he’s attempting to make. What he expect to gain from it? I don’t know.”

Mr Pintard revealed last week that he wrote to US Ambassador Herschel Walker on April 8 seeking support in “facilitating credible and independent international observation” for the upcoming general election. He said the Free National Movement also contacted the United Nations, the Organisation of American States, the Commonwealth Secretariat and CARICOM with similar requests.

“more secure than they have ever been” and urged anyone with evidence of fraud to report it to police. The latest cases come a week after a woman, Vany Brutus, 44, admitted that, for the purpose of being registered as a voter, she gave a false statement under oath to a revising officer, claiming she lived on an unnamed road in the Southern Shores constituency on March 30. When asked to explain her actions, she said she was moving to Killarney. The woman was fined and barred from obtaining a voter’s card for three years after admitting she gave a false statement to the Parliamentary Registration Department.

The party released correspondence from US Chargé d’Affaires Kimberly Furnish confirming that a request had been made through diplomatic channels.

“The US Embassy has requested to observe the 2026 general elections in The Bahamas through formal diplomatic channels, and we understand invitation letters to all resident Heads of Mission will be issued from

The government, meanwhile, confirmed that The Bahamas and the Organisation of American States have signed an agreement establishing the privileges and immunities for election observers, marking the fourth time the OAS will observe a general election in the country. Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has not directly said whether the government would accept US observers, instead saying the matter rests with the proper legal authorities, not Mr Pintard. He also pointed to a gazette notice stating that the Governor General, after consulting the Parliamentary Commissioner, may invite outside election observers.

In a separate interview, British High Commissioner Smita Rossetti said her country supports international observation efforts where invited, describing such missions as aimed at promoting transparency and accountability.

“We participate in international observation missions all around the world in support of principles of transparency, accountability, and we would be delighted to participate in that impartial, neutral manner here in The Bahamas too,” she said.

Crisis Centre demands action on child abuse

since 2000, when 45 percent of deaths were linked to such violence, abuse remains widespread and preventable.

She said perpetrators make deliberate choices and called for stronger public education, collective action and increased media support to reduce incidents.

“There’s so much more we can do,” she said.

“I do hope this election, we did invite candidates who participate in the election, to come and get this information so you can be aware of what the

country is confronting and the damage that is being done to our children, to our citizens as a result of this violence, and there’s so much we can do.

She also pointed to gaps in the justice system, particularly in investigating and prosecuting sexual offences, saying the focus should be on identifying perpetrators and building cases rather than simply increasing penalties.

“Increase punishment for perpetrators is what we call an easy fix,” she said.

“You have to catch the perpetrator, number one, and we’re not doing as

good a job with that as we should. A simple thing like DNA analysis, when you have a rape case, you take a rape kit, but you have to analyse it. We don’t have the capacity to do that.

“We are still in 2026 sending rape kits, and obviously, we don’t send that many to Florida for analysis, because we can’t do it. Who would think that? Here we are in 2026 we’ve been talking about this since the 80s, and we still don’t have it, so, there’s so much more we can do as a country and as a nation.”

Families of All Murder Victims founder Khandi

Gibson also stressed the need for education and early intervention, particularly among children. “I feel like every child in our school should have been here, because

knowledge is very powerful, and it’s very important for a person to know the friendly touches, the unfriendly touches, if someone was treating them or abusing them, it’s very

Lend A Hand sees sharp rise in vulnerable children seeking help

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune

Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

AT-RISK children are bringing other vulnerable children to seek help, as demand for support services surges, Lend A Hand Bahamas says.

Shelagh Farrington, the organisation’s co-founder, said the group has seen a “great increase” in children in need, with many referred through word of mouth and brought in by other children already in its programmes.

“Our kids recruit for us,” she said on Friday. “We don't advertise or market the services we have. Our kids bring the kids to us, and they'll come, especially during times when the kids are out of school.”

She said some adolescents have brought others to the programme out of fear for their safety.

“Like for last year, we had some of our adolescents bring adolescence and say, ‘I know you might be full, but you know my friend so and so, or my cousin so and so, please allow them to enter the programme because I'm not so sure, by the end of next week, or in two weeks time, they're still going to be alive.”

Ms Farrington described the conditions facing some families, including mothers sleeping in cars while trying to care for young children.

“We have to be very flexible. We have mothers that come in sometimes just to put their heads down and sleep because they're in a car at night and they're parked outside one of the wash houses, and they're watching over their children, and they got a young baby, but they're awake,” she said.

“So in the daytime, trying to work, or they got to try and catch a little bit of sleep. But where do you take Where do you take the children if they're under five. The need is growing all around,” she said.

She also pointed to the broader impact on families, including rising stress, anger and mental health challenges linked to housing instability, citing the case of a 14-year-old athlete who lived in a car with his mother and siblings for more than a year.

Ms Farrington said the issue demands attention ahead of the upcoming general election.

“There's some huge challenges we're not really talking about in this country because once you start talking about them you have to address them,” she said.

“You have to know what is the plan. So my question is, we got an upcoming election. What is the plan for the little people that live in these communities, whether it's the grandmothers, the mothers, the aunties, the fathers, because they have

nowhere to live.”

She spoke on the sidelines of the organisation’s soft pre-launch event for its Culinary Centre on Hay Street, a project aimed at expanding opportunities for vulnerable families.

The facility, developed over three and a half years in a donated building, has received about $100,000 in funding from corporate and private donors and is expected to open in June for a summer camp programme.

The centre will house the organisation’s first operational kitchen to support its culinary arts programme, complementing existing services at its Lewis Street site, which include STEM, electrical and literacy programmes.

The project has also received support from US-based education company Edmentum, which contributed $30,000 and sent about 60 employees to assist with construction and setup.

Edmentum CEO Jamie Candee said the initiative reflects a commitment to giving back.

“Like many companies in the United States, we fly around the world. We go to these beautiful properties, like sandals and all the other properties that you have here on the island. We have margaritas. We enjoy the beautiful food here,” she said.

“But most US

companies don't do what this team did today. They enjoy your land, your food, your drinks, and then they leave and they go back to the United States, not Edmentum. What this team, these high performers, who could have chosen to spend all of the days on the beach, they chose to come here and give back to this community.”

The Sandals Foundation has also supported the organisation’s work, including a $95,000 investment in a hydroponics programme and a further $50,000 toward community development.

US Ambassador Herschel Walker highlighted the importance of collaboration in addressing social challenges.

“The reason I say that is because I stand before you and tell you that it takes a village,” he said.

“Edmentum is doing a village. You're bringing people together that can solve the problems we need solved.”

OPM to handle probe into PS wearing political gear

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

QUESTIONS over whether a senior public officer breached political neutrality rules have been pushed to the Office of the Prime Minister, with Labour and Public Service Minister Pia Glover-Rolle saying her ministry does not handle matters involving permanent secretaries.

“I think the matter was with a permanent secretary, and permanent secretaries report directly to the Prime Minister,” she said yesterday at the Progressive Liberal Party weekly campaign update press conference.

“The Office of the Prime Minister will, in that regard, handle any communications regarding that matter. But yes, my ministry has put out on several occasions, general orders that speak to the participation outwardly, front line public servants in political life or on the political front

line. So the matter of that level of public servant is actually handled through the office of the Prime Minister, and I would direct any questions in that regard there.”

Mr Seymour, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was photographed wearing Progressive Liberal Party paraphernalia on Nomination Day at a political event on Cat Island linked to Prime Minister Philip Davis’s nomination, raising questions about whether he breached General Orders requiring public officers to maintain political impartiality and avoid overt participation in frontline political activity.

Scrutiny has intensified because Mr Seymour signed a 2024 letter warning a Foreign Affairs officer against engaging in political activities.

Communications Director Latre Rahming, who was present at the press conference, did not provide further comment. Secretary to the

Cabinet Nicole Campbell declined to address the matter directly, saying: “The Public Service has rules. It has regulations, and those procedures and rules are normally carried out. But in this instance, I don’t have any comments.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has declined to comment when asked about the issue.

Former Public Service Minister Brensil Rolle took a critical stance, describing Mr Seymour’s actions as a clear breach of General Orders and warning that failure to act could undermine public confidence in the neutrality and integrity of the public service.

Mr Seymour, a retiree who was brought back into the public service, earns a total annual package of $221,316, including a base salary of $104,750, a pension of $49,766, a $43,200 rent allowance, a $20,000 responsibility allowance and a $3,600 distribution allowance.

The Tribune Limited

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

Contributing Editor 1972-1991

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

Publisher/Editor 1972-

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Demand action on child abuse

YESTERDAY afternoon, the phone beeped – it was an alert about a missing young girl, a 16-year-old. Along with the alert, the police also sent out a notice with a photograph and description of the missing girl.

The alerts have become part of our landscape now – every now and then the phone rings out with an alert, or the inside of a store or a bank suddenly becomes this slightly surreal landscape where everyone’s phones ring one after another in a sudden, sad symphony.

It is important to remember how those alerts came into being.

Marco Archer was just 11 years old when he went missing. The little boy disappeared from Brougham Street on September 23, 2011.

The search went on for Marco for days – and his body was eventually found in swampy bushes, a floral sheet wrapped around his remains and his clothing found in a garbage bin.

He had been abused and murdered.

In the wake of his death, one constant theme kept coming back – that if there had been some other way to alert people to Marco being missing, there might have been a chance to find him alive. And if not Marco, then the next child that needs our help, our eyes on the street, our realisation that we may have seen the missing person and that we can help.

Eventually, the Marco Alert was created – and horrifyingly, it is not just an occasional alert now and then, but an all too common refrain in our lives given the frequency with which children go missing in our society. Figures released by the Bahamas Crisis Centre show that more than 200 children sought help last year after experiencing sexual abuse.

That is one child – let us emphasise these are children – more frequently than ever two days.

These are boys and girls, as young as three years old, who have been subjected to sexual violation, exploitation or assault – and the truth of the situation is that these attacks are not being carried out by and large by strangers, but by people that the children know.

Sandra Dean-Patterson, the director of the centre, has been fighting to help people for many, many years – and knows what she is talking about.

What can be done about this situation? “There’s so much more we can do,” she says. She pointed out gaps in the justice system, especially in investigating and prosecuting sexual offences.

She talked of how increasing penalties was “an easy fix” but first of all you have to catch the perpetrator. She said: “A simple thing like DNA analysis, when you have a

A political Don Quixote?

EDITOR, The Tribune. THE political era of the Rt Hon Doctor Hubert Alexander Minnis is rapidly coming to an ignoble close. This is a pity of national proportions in that Minnis, God bless his soul, is the first former Prime Minister of The Bahamas and an elected MP, until the dissolution of Parliament, to be denied a re-nomination. For whatever reasons, there seems to be a palatable ‘hatred’ towards Minnis by Messrs Pintard & Sands.

rape case, you take a rape kit, but you have to analyse it. We don’t have the capacity to do that.”

Meanwhile, the scale of the danger in which children find themselves more broadly in our society is such that children are bringing other children for help.

Lend A Hand Bahamas co-founder

Shelagh Farrington said there has been “a great increase” in children in need. She told of families where mothers are sleeping in cars trying to care for young children parked outside a wash house, trying to manage any way they can.

There are rising stresses on families, problems with anger and mental health challenges linked to the challenge of not being sure of a roof over your head. She pointed to one 14-year-old athlete who lived in a car with his mother and siblings for more than a year. How can children be expected to grow up to have the best opportunities when they are caught in such situations?

Too many of our nation’s children are on the margins of society. Too many of our children do not know what it means to be safe and secure.

Collectively, we need to have that conversation about how we can prevent our children from becoming victims, and how we can protect them before they fall by the wayside through poverty, stress and the dead ends that come with no sign of hope.

What better time to have that conversation than right now – as the people who want to lead our nation are knocking on our doors and canvassing for support?

Be straight. Be direct. Say look, see these children, what are you going to do about it?

Do not accept answers that are lacking in specifics. This requires support, finance, legislation perhaps. It requires definite targets, an increase in shelters, money directly in pockets to get people off the streets and out of harm’s way.

Insecurity makes people make decisions they might not otherwise. If you have nowhere to go, perhaps you stay with that abusive boyfriend because at least it gives a roof over the children’s heads. That leads to violence, abuse, and more times than it should ever happen, murder.

We should not be blind to what is going on in those parts of our society. And if we are not blind, and we see what is happening, then surely as a Christian nation, we must do something.

The latest alert that went out yesterday ended happily – with a note issued by police last night that the missing 16-yearold has been found.

For that, we are thankful. There are too many other stories that do not end happily – and for those, we must strive to do better, and to give shelter to those in need.

Substance and accountability

EDITOR, The Tribune.

AS our nation approaches another pivotal general election; the air is once again filled with familiar political slogans—polished phrases crafted to inspire hope, stir emotion, and secure votes. Yet for many ordinary Bahamians, these words are beginning to ring hollow. What do slogans truly mean to the struggling mother who cannot afford groceries for her children? To the father, juggling multiple jobs and still unable to keep up with rising bills? To the young graduate who remains unemployed, disillusioned, and questioning their future in the very country they call home? We hear, “Choose Progress.” But progress for whom? What measurable, tangible progress can the average Bahamian point to in their daily lives? Who is truly benefiting? These are not questions of cynicism, but of lived reality. We are told, “We work for you, not the few.” Yet how

long will such declarations suffice without clear, transparent plans and consistent delivery? What distinguishes the current major parties when many of the same candidates reappear election after election, offering recycled promises while conditions for the average citizen remain largely unchanged?

The truth is, the Bahamian people are no longer content with rhetoric. We are not blind, nor are we easily persuaded by catchy phrases. The masses are awakening to the reality that governance requires more than words— it demands vision, integrity, accountability, and action. There is a growing sentiment across this nation that many Bahamians feel like second-class citizens in their own land—competing for jobs, opportunities, and economic stability, often at a disadvantage. This perception must be addressed with urgency and sincerity. While some may look to alternative political movements for change, it must be

acknowledged that a third party has yet to be tested at the national level. However, that does not negate the possibility of change. May 12th presents an opportunity—one that must not be taken lightly by any party seeking the trust of the people. Let this serve as a clear message to all political organisations: the electorate is evolving. While there will always be loyal supporters, the broader population is no longer swayed by empty rhetoric. Bahamians are voting with intention, with discernment, and with a renewed commitment to principles— chief among them sovereignty, fairness, and a genuine fight for the future of this country. We will not vote as in times past. This moment demands more, and we expect more. The time for slogans has passed. The time for substance is now.

AN UNDECIDED

VOTER Nassau, April 15, 2026.

Dr Minnis , while Prime Minister, tried to do the best with the political hand he was dealt. It was not a pretty sight. It was patently obvious that he was in over his head and was a totally ‘unprepared’ and unlikely Prime Minister. In fact, Minnis Only became PM by default after the then Ingraham led FNM was wiped out in 2012 by and equally unprepared and unlikely the Hon Perry Gladstone Christie, may God continue to bless him also.

There is a Spiritual Law, which is unchangeable, called Karma or what goes around comes around. So, it was when Ingraham, openly, hurled several political and maybe even personal insults towards the late great and deeply lamented Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling. But then, again, it must be remembered that Sir Lynden, despite being ‘a gentleman’ , made a reference to the late Sir Carlton E Francis about ‘coat

suit’! Well, Sir Lynden lived long enough to also become ‘a coat suit man’!!

Minnis declared, with almost no visible emotion, close to a decade ago that ‘The Ingraham Era is over!’ Minnis was then picked up and dusted off by the rump FNM, by default, in my opinion, and elevated to the post of Leader. In his first and only cabinet, Minnis made the politically flawed decision to include Messrs. Pintard & Sands...two political snakes in the grass, in my view.

Dr Minnis had caused Pintard to step down as National Chairman. Minnis also fired Sands, who read about it in the media, with stealth protocol. What did Minnis expect when those two personalities gained the upper hand in the leadership debacle of the FNM? They crowed in unison that ; ‘The Minnis era is over’ !! He has now morphed into the fabled Don Quixote of La Mancha!! Now, as an ‘abandoned’ former Prime Minister; Leader of the then governing party and an extremely wealthy individual, Minnis finds himself, standing alone in the political jungle. He’s nominated for Killarney. Not one single Minnis adherent ; such as Messrs Renward Wells; Desmond Bannister;

Dionisio D’Aguilar; Carl Bethell et al, nominated with him. Any sensible person could tell Minnis, even at this late stage, that ‘The Minnis era is over’! This is so sad for a man who, despite the odds, had clawed his way to the top of the political Totem pole. Now, Don Quixote is tilting a wind mills while seeing, in his mind, giants?

In Japanese culture, when there was a defeat in battle or even political betrayal, participants would often fall on their swords, so to speak. Of course, I do not for a second recommend or suggest that political defeat or casting aside warrants suicide. Dr Minnis, alas, will go down in flames in the Killarney contest. He will receive few FNM votes, if any. The COI candidate will ‘take’ votes away from Minnis. The independent candidate will also hamper Minnis. The PLP is a cohesive party and only a handful of their voters may not vote or simply spoil their ballots (which is not the way to go). Senator Lynes will emerge victorious as i suspect that the PLP will do across the nation. Yes, there will be at least Seven casualties but with 28-30 seats the PLP would have a two thirds majority to promulgate constitutional changes and reforms. To God then, in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr Nassau, April 22, 2026.

A tribute to Vernon ‘Boy’ Wilkinson

EDITOR, The Tribune. VERNON Gregory Wilkinson, affectionately called “Boy,” died last week at 85. The obituaries will say “former leading hotelier.” At the Britannia Hotel on Paradise Island, we knew him as the man who proved a Bahamian could run the best room in the house.

Boy was born December 12, 1940, in Nassau, the eldest of nine children to the late Caison and Mildred Wilkinson. He started school at Berry Island All-Aged School in Bullocks Harbor and finished at Woodcock Primary and Western Junior/Senior in Nassau in the 1950s. He was in the Boys’ Brigade under the late Simpson Penn, delivered papers in the South Street community by bicycle before class, and worshipped with his family at St Agnes.

He worked days as a mechanic at City Lumber Yard on Bay Street under the late Sir George Roberts. Evenings as a bartender at Lyford Cay Club — that’s where his Food and Beverage gift first showed. Lyford Cay taught him how to serve the world’s most demanding guests. He brought that standard to Paradise Island.

When I managed Le Cabaret Theatre inside the Britannia Beach Hotel — replacing Vernal Sands, another trailblazer in tourism who had resigned to open his own restaurant — Boy ran Cafe Martinique outside the front entrance. Two flagships, one property.

Down the hall from me were Villa d’Este, Bahamian Club, and Mama Loo. But Martinique was different. Garden terrace, jackets only, live piano music, tuxedo waiters, candlelight, heads of state, French cuisine. It was featured in the James Bond film Thunder Ball. For years, only French and Italians ran it.

Boy’s predecessor was George, a Frenchman. When George left, the hotel did something it hadn’t done before. They gave the keys to a Bahamian who’d worked up from bar waiter. They gave them to Boy. That wasn’t a quota. That was Boy. He’d mopped the floor he’d later manage. He mentored every young man who worked for him because he remembered what it was like to be one himself. He hosted Sir Sidney Poitier and countless others, but treated the busboy with the same respect. Though we ran different restaurants, our ties were strong. We traded staff on rough nights. Held each other to the same line: guests first, staff second, ego never. When Boy moved on, I replaced him at Martinique. You don’t replace Boy Wilkinson. You just pray you don’t let him down. He was more than a friend. He was a brother.

I’m fortunate to have known Boy and been his friend for more than 50 years. During my stay at Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami, he visited me every month for almost a year. Flights, hotel,

his own time — never missed. Never let me face it alone. That was Boy. The same man who held the line for his staff at Martinique held the line for me in that hospital room.

After Martinique, he took that standard to Radisson Cable Beach and to Luciano of Chicago on East Bay Street as maître d’, working for his friend, the late George Myers, before retiring. The Ministry of Tourism honored him with the Cacique Award for Stellar Professionalism in Hospitality.

Ezekiel 22:30 says, “I looked for someone who would build up the wall and stand before me… But I found no one.” At Cafe Martinique, there was a wall left unfinished — a place where a Bahamian belonged but had never been allowed. Boy built it up. In Miami, he stood up for me when I couldn’t stand for myself. Then held the line so the rest of us could come through. Father of ten, grandfather, great-grandfather. A tennis player, baseball and basketball fanatic who watched games with his mother, Mildred, who loved sports.

Paradise Island built its name on service. Boy Wilkinson put a Bahamian face on it at the highest level. And when I needed it most, he put a brother’s face beside my hospital bed.

Thank God for Boy. Rest easy, Wilkie. The room is still yours.

ANTHONY PRATT Nassau, April 19, 2026.

Mario Deveaux killed in targeted Cable Beach shooting

entrance gate was reportedly open and not working at the time.

It is believed three gunmen discharged more than 40 rounds. His car and body were riddled with bullets. Thousands of dollars in cash in his pockets was untouched.

Emergency Medical Services personnel examined him at the scene and confirmed he showed no signs of life.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Anton Rahming said the victim had arrived at the location - where it is believed he lived - alone when he was ambushed.

“Once he came to that area, unknown persons exited what we believe to be an SUV vehicle and fired upon him, subsequently wounding him fatally,” he said. “That vehicle left the area heading in an easterly direction.”

Preliminary information indicates a dark-coloured SUV was seen speeding away from the area shortly after the shooting, and investigators believe its occupants may be involved.

The killing unfolded near several businesses along the Cable Beach strip, including Sandals Royal Bahamian and Curly’s Restaurant and Bar, forcing closures and disrupting traffic as dozens of heavily armed officers locked down the scene and crime scene investigators processed a white home inside a gated community.

Mr Deveaux had been identified as an alleged gang leader

and was previously listed among eight men on a police wanted poster for murder in 2017. Investigators are examining whether that was connected to the killing, though police have not confirmed a motive.

He had also been linked to the fattal shooting of another alleged gang leader, Duran Neely - known as “Monster”last August.

Then Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade stressed that many of the country’s recent killings stem from feuds over drugs and relationships.

Saying “prolific serial offenders” cannot remain “free in our communities to continue to create fear” and possibly commit more serious crimes, he urged family members, friends and associates of serial criminals to “turn them into police before you become targets”.

The killing prompted renewed concern from Families of All Murder Victims (FOAM) president Khandi Gibson, who warned about the cycle of violence and its toll on families.

“I’ve been doing FOAM for

1,196

1,906

many years, and I’ve seen the hunter become the hunted,” she said. She added that while violence often comes full circle, the deepest impact is felt by those left behind, particularly children and relatives who continue to grapple with grief long after the funeral.

Ms Gibson also urged caution in the handling of information during active murder investigations, warning that premature identification of suspects can fuel retaliation and endanger innocent people.

Boyfriend arrested after woman escapes with kids after assault

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter

A 32-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested after a woman alleged she was held against her will, threatened with death, and sexually assaulted in an incident that prompted her to flee the home with her underage children on Friday.

Police launched an investigation into the reported

sexual assault, which occurred in the vicinity of Symonnette and Dunmore Street. Around 12am, police received a call from the female victim, who alleged that her boyfriend had assaulted her, reporting that force was used, resulting in injuries, and said she managed to escape the residence with her children before seeking police assistance.

Officers from the Mobile

Division responded and located the complainant. She said while in her bedroom collecting clothing, she was held against her will by her boyfriend, who threatened to kill her before sexually assaulting her. She further reported that he later allowed her to leave the premises.

Officers from Operation Black Scorpion later arrested a 32-year-old man in connection with the matter.

Man granted $3,500 bail over Paradise Island taxi stand threats

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

A MAN accused of threatening to kill another man at a Paradise Island taxi stand was granted $3,500 bail after pleading not guilty in Magistrate’s Court.

Lavardo Recardo Martin, 45, of Golden

Isles, denied charges of threats of death, assault and damage stemming from an alleged incident on April 22, 2026, at the Coral Towers taxi stand. Prosecutors alleged Mr Martin threatened Apollo Bowe with intent to place him in fear of death and unlawfully assaulted him during the same incident.

He is also accused of intentionally damaging a $55 shirt belonging to Mr Bowe.

Bail was set at $3,500 with one or two sureties. As a condition, Mr Martin must sign in at Carmichael Police Station on the first Monday of every month. The case was adjourned to June 18.

Suspect claims self-defence after fatal stabbing of friend

By Earyel Bowleg Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

A 30-YEAR-OLD man was fatally stabbed after an altercation with a close friend in a Carmichael Road community after midnight on Saturday, with the suspect later turning himself in and claiming self-defence, sources said. The incident occurred off Penfold Court in the Ferguson Subdivision, where police said the victim had been at a social gathering when he became involved in a dispute with

another man believed to be from the area.

A person familiar with both men said the pair were close friends and that alcohol may have played a role in the confrontation. The source said the accused claimed he acted in self-defence, alleging he was being attacked and responded to protect his own life.

Police said the victim was later seen running north along the street with a stab wound to the neck before collapsing. Officers responded shortly after midnight and found him

lying outside a residence with neck injuries. Emergency Medical Services pronounced him dead at the scene.

The suspect initially fled in an unknown direction, police said, before later turning himself in.

The individual, who said he watched the victim grow up and is related to the suspect, said the incident has deeply affected those who knew both men.

He said he learned of the killing through a contact at the Coroner’s Office who sent a message about a murder.

Off-duty officer shoots suspect during attempted armed robbery

AN off-duty police officer shot and wounded a suspected robber during an exchange of gunfire outside a Carmichael Road West business on Friday night, one of two separate shooting incidents police investigated.

Police said shortly after 8pm the officer was seated in his vehicle outside a business establishment when he was approached by a masked male dressed in dark clothing.

The suspect allegedly brandished a firearm and attempted to rob him. The officer retrieved his service

weapon and fired multiple shots, and the suspect reportedly returned fire.

The suspect was shot in the legs, right arm and back and was taken to hospital in guarded condition. The officer was not injured, but his black Nissan Murano sustained gunfire damage, including a shattered driver’s side window.

Police said a firearm, ammunition and other items of evidential value were recovered from the scene. Investigations are ongoing.

In a separate incident, a 16-year-old boy was shot

on Saturday

Police said shortly before 11am the teen was standing in a yard when a masked male dressed in dark clothing exited a black Nissan Cube and approached him with a firearm.

The suspect allegedly asked about a specific individual. When the victim said he did not know the person, the gunman fired multiple shots, hitting him in the right thigh before fleeing in the vehicle.

Court discharges man who kept lost wallet containing $2,000

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

ONE man was discharged and another placed on probation after separate stealing-related matters were heard before a magistrate in New Providence on Friday.

Tyrone Wallace Glass, 31, of Skyline Drive, was charged with stealing by finding in connection with an incident on March 7, 2026.

Prosecutors alleged he took possession of a black wallet containing a driver’s licence, a National Insurance Board card and $2,000, believed to have been lost, and failed to return it within 48 hours or as soon as practicable. The magistrate exercised discretion to discharge Mr Glass.

In a separate case, Sonny Brown, 38, of Jean Street, Monastery Park, pleaded guilty to attempted stealing.

The court heard that on April 22, 2026, at Mackey Street, he attempted to steal two bags of Tide Pods valued at $18.29 each, the property of Super Value, with a total value of $36.60. He received a conditional discharge and was placed on six months’ probation, with one month at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services in default. Both matters were concluded.

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

LAWFUL PermanentResident(LPR)statusisalegalclassificationgranted toindividuals authorizedtoliveandworkpermanently inthe UnitedStates.

Under8C.F.R.§211.1,anLPR returning to theUnited States after a temporaryabsence of less than one year must generally presenta valid,unexpired FormI-551 (PermanentResident Card).

However,when anLPRremains outsidethe UnitedStates fora continuousperiodexceeding 365days withouta validreentrypermit,alegalpresumptionof abandonmentof residency is triggered. This presumption servesas aprimary regulatory hurdleduring inspection at a Port of Entry (POE) byUS Customsand Border Protection (CBP).

The maintenance of LPR status ispredicated uponthe individual'sobjective intenttoremain aresident ofthe United States. Intentis notmeasured solely by subjectivedesire, but by objective manifestations of tiestothecountry,includingtax filings, property ownership, familyproximity, andemployment. In scenarios involving global crises, geopolitical conflicts, or significant medical emergencies,an LPRmayfind themselves involuntarilydetained outsideUS bordersfor durations exceedingthe standardone-yearthreshold.Insuch instances, the technical classification ofthe absence--whether "temporary" or"permanent"-becomes the pivot point for legal admissibility.

The Form I-407 procedural trap – you can just say no

FormI-407,RecordofAbandonmentof LawfulPermanent Resident Status,is theofficial instrumentused bytheDepartmentof HomelandSecurity (DHS) to documentan individual's voluntaryrelinquishment of theirpermanent resident status. A critical proceduralrisk existsat Portsof Entry where CBPofficers may encounterLPRs returningafter anextended absence.Officers are trained toidentify potential abandonmentand maypresent FormI-407 tothe travelerfor immediate execution.

ExecutingForm I-407isa permanent and largely irrevocableaction.Onceanindividual signs thisdocument, theyformally acknowledge that they have abandoned their status, therebywaivingtheir righttoa hearing before an immigration judge.

It’simperative tonotethat CBPofficers donot possessthe legal authorityto unilaterally terminate LPRstatus. Onlyan immigration judge,within the Departmentof Justice’s Execu-

Avoiding abandonment of your

Green Card

tive Office forImmigration Review(EOIR),canformallystrip anindividualoftheirpermanent residencyafter afullevidentiary hearing.Individuals who intendtoretaintheirstatusmust decline to sign Form I-407.

The appropriate procedural response topressure frominspectingofficers isthestatement:"Idonotwishtoabandon my status;I requesta hearing before an immigration judge."

Judicialrights andthenotice to appear (NTA)

TheImmigrationandNationality Act (INA) provides specific protectionsfor LPRs.If an inspectingofficer believesan LPR has abandoned their residence, but theindividual refusestosignFormI-407,theofficer must either admit the individualasa returningresidentor initiate removal proceedings. This initiation isexecuted via a Notice toAppear (NTA),which schedulesa hearingbeforean immigration judge.

During these proceedings, the burden of proof rests upon the government.To terminate status, the government must provide clear and convincing evidence that the individual's absence was not temporary and that theylacked the intentto return.This judicialprocessallowstheLPR topresentevidence ofthe "crisisclause": extenuating circumstances, such as medical incapacitation or government-imposed travel restrictions,thatrenderedtheirreturn impossible.

Technical remedies: the I193 Waiver In certain instances,an LPR

A lack of water and power forces Cubans to change routines

people's attention upward. Severeshortages ofwater, power and money combined

with a U.Senergy blockade havedeepenedpovertyandincreased hungeracross theisland as severeblackouts persist. Even thosewho are more affluent arenow eliminating long-established and often beloved routines as they adapt to increasingly dire realities.

"The Cuban woman likes to look beautiful todo her hair, do her nails, do her feet and wearperfume," Zamora said."I don'tlook how I would like to look."

Changes in beauty routines MelinaColás knowsthe feeling. Theyoung manicuristwho works in Havanarecently got long braids to celebrate her birthdaybut quicklyrealized it's a difficult style to maintain given chronicwater shortages.

arriving ata Portof Entry without avalid reentrypermit or anunexpired I-551may utilizeFormI-193,Applicationfor Waiver of Passportand/or Visa.

Under 8 C.F.R. § 211.1(b)(3), a DistrictDirector orCBPofficer may exercise discretion to waive the documentary requirements fora returningLPR if "good cause" is shown.

The I-193 waiver functions as a remedialtool for individualswho haveremainedabroad due tocircumstances beyond their control. This application requires the paymentof a prescribed feeand arobust presentation of thefacts surrounding thedelay. Successfuladjudica-

Sheusedto wearherhair long and straightenedbut has decidedtocut itandwearit natural, eventhough she thinks it would not suit what she calledher shortstature and round face.

"Before,you coulddo whatever you wanted," she said of hairstyleswhen water wasreadily available."Not now."

Colás alsohas tweaked things at thesalon where she works. She has learned patience, aware clients show up late because publictransportation is scarce. And shenow relieson a mix ofwater and vinegarin a spray bottleto offsetwater shortages – a concoctionshe saidalso helpssoftenclients' cuticles and stavesoff a growingnumber offungus casesbecause timebetween manicure appointmentsis growing longer for many. "Somecases arecritical," Colás said. She alsolamented howthe

tionofa FormI-193waiverallowsforlegaladmissionandthe preservationof LPRstatus withoutthe necessityofa formal judicial hearing. Thisprocessshouldnotbeattemptedat CBPpre-clearance in the Bahamas.

Financial andregulatory implications of abandonment

The terminationof LPR status carriessignificant implications beyond immigration law,specificallyregardingtaxation and Social Security. For individuals classifiedas "longterm residents"--thosewho haveheldLPRstatusforatleast eight of the15 taxable years precedingthe dateof statustermination--the "Exit Tax" provisionsunder InternalRevenue Code Section 877A may apply. Relinquishing status, whether voluntarilythrough Form I-407 or involuntarily through judicial order, triggers the requirementto fileIRS

Form 8854 (Initial and Annual Expatriation Statement). Failuretocomplywiththesetax obligations can resultin substantial penalties and may complicate future interactions with the US government. Furthermore,the chaoticorforced abandonmentof statuscannegatively impact an individual's eligibility to collect Social Security benefits earned during their period of US employment. Strategic surrender of status is often preferableto aforced abandonment ata border,as it allows for the proactive management oftax liabilitiesand benefit preservation.

Future-proofing and compliance strategy

Maintaininga cleanimmigration record is essential for anyindividualwhomayrequire futureUSvisas.Asummarydetermination ofabandonment at a Portof Entry or ahistory of removalproceedings canresult in the denial of subsequent B1/B-2visitor visaapplications. Consularofficers oftenviewa forcedabandonmentasalackof respectforUSimmigrationprotocols, leadingto afinding of "immigrant intent"under INA Section 214(b) whenthe individual later applies for non-immigrant status.

To mitigatethese risks,LPRs facing extendedabsences shoulddocumentallreasonsfor their stayabroad. Thisincludes medical records,government decrees,and evidenceofmaintained US ties.

For thosewho realizethat their lifehas permanently shiftedoutside theUnited States,a plannedandprofessionally managed abandonment of statusis therecommended course of action to ensure compliance withboth theDepartmentofState andtheInternal Revenue Service.

Conclusion: professional oversight in regulatory crises

The complexitiesof USimmigration lawnecessitate preciseadherence toprocedural standards, particularlyduring periodsofglobalinstability.For individuals orcorporations managing high-stakescrossborderrisks,informedguidance is the primary defense against the permanent lossof legal statusand theassociatedfinancial repercussions.

For consultation regarding LPR status preservation or strategic abandonment,message our office on WhatsApp at 954-828-2429, callus at 954-828-2429,or emailusat info@drusselllove.com

A nurse walks past trash and an abandoned classic American car on a street in Havana, Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

island's economiccrisis and shrinking budgets haveled to a dropin customers,a trend that hairstylistBetty Ramírez Aldana, 50, also has noticed. "Itreallycameasashockto me,becauseI've lostalotof clients,"hesaidonarecentafternoonat amakeshifthair salon withbubblegum pink walls."Normally bynowI'd have five, six,eight clients. Lookatthe hour.Andnoone has showed up."

The hair salon where he works recentlyspent three weekswithout water,since electricity powers many pump stationson theisland andsevere outagesare commonplace. Heno longercan providecertain hairstraightening treatments, so he offers clients options including flattering cuts.

"Alotofthemhaveoptedto embracetheir naturalcurly hair," he said.

Another wave of public outcry tests Putin's rule in wartime Russia

By DASHA LITVINOVA Associated Press

SOME Russian influencers recently released public appealsto President Vladimir Putin,criticizing hisgovernmentand policies,anda number of his loyalists even threatened a revolt the latest wave of public outcry over thecountry's strained wartime economy and mounting internet restrictions

Whilenone ofthisdissent indicates an imminent threat to Putin s rule,analysts sayit presents a new and growing challenge for the Kremlin.

“Greaterand greatereffort needs to bespent on maintaining thestatus quo,” Mark Galeotti, anexpert onRussian politics who headsthe Mayak Intelligence consultancy, wrote in an analysis.

Here s a lookat the public

outcry in Russiaand what is driving it:

Influencers appeal to Putin, while his approvals drop A19-minute videobypopular Russianblogger Victoria Bonyahas received31million views on Instagram since it was published 10 days ago.

Inthe video,Bonya, whohas 13.6 million followers on the platform,complained toPutin that he wasprobably misinformed aboutsome things localauthorities' poorhandling ofrecent floodsin thesouthern province of Dagestan, the culling of livestock in Siberia that promptedprotests from farmers, crippling internetrestrictions and strainson small businesses

Bonya,apopularRussianTV host who now lives abroad, emphasized thatshe supports Putin,but shesaidordinary

Russians and his own officials are tooscared totell himthe truth. There s a lotyou don t know,” shesaid. “People are screamingat thetop oftheir lungsnow. They ve been robbed of everything they have, andthey continueto berobbed. Businesses are dying.”

Reactions to the video snowballed. OtherRussian influencers airedsimilar sentiments in theirvideos, someof which were later deleted.

In a rareacknowledgment of the publiccriticism, Putin spokesmanDmitry Peskovsaid Kremlinofficials sawthevideo and that “alot ofworkisbeing done ontheissuesBonyamentioned. “None of it is being ignored, Peskov said.

Communist Partyleader GennadyZyuganov, alongtime Putin supporter, lambasted the government Tuesdayin a speech toparliament, saying that hisparty had raisedthe issues before. Hethreatened a repeat ofthe 1917Bolshevik Revolution if measuresare not takento dealwith theproblems.

Forecasts of a revolt also havebeen regularlyfloatedin pro-KremlinTelegramchannels and by loyal military bloggers. Inthe meantime,Russian state-controlled pollster VTsIOM has reporteda consistent decline of Putin s approval ratingsinrecent weeks.Someobservers believepolls inRussia may not reflectthe real picture, given widespreadcrackdown on dissent. Butdata released by VTsIOM Fridayshowed Putin's approval at65.6%, thelowest

level thepollster hasreported sincebeforethewarinUkraine, down fromthe 77.8%in late December 2025.

Russia's top independent pollster,theLevadaCenter,also reporteda slightdeclinein Putin's approvals,from 85%in October 2025to 80%in March.

Internet restrictions trigger a wave of discontent Russiansacross thevast countryhavefacedregularcellphoneinternet shutdowns since lastspring.Theauthoritieshave justified them asa way to thwart Ukrainian drone attacks, but criticshave arguedthat the outages are anotherstep in a yearslongeffort tobring theinternet under tight government control.

The shutdowns cameon top of sweeping,ever-growing internet censorship that over the yearssaw thousandsofwebsites and platformsin Russia blocked orthrottled, including the twomost popular messaging apps WhatsApp and Telegram.

Authorities arepromoting a new state-backedmessaging app, Max, seen by many as a surveillance tool,while also blocking VPNsto stop widespread censorshipcircumvention.

Public frustrationover the measures elicited acts of resistance,including petitionstothe presidential administration, a class-actionlawsuit againstthe government, a few street picketsandmultipleattemptsto organize biggerprotests that were quashed by authorities

TheKremlin appearsunfazed.Atagovernmentmeeting Thursday, Putin again justified the shutdownsas necessaryto prevent terror attacks and urged authorities to better inform thepublic aboutrestrictions.

His remarksindicate thatthe security services “aredoing everything correctly, and it will continue for as longas they see fit, Tatiana Stanovayaof the Carnegie RussiaEurasia Center wrote in a Telegram post.

Strained economy fuels frustration

Thecritical videoshave emerged ata timeof growing

Scott

strainon thecountry s wartime economy.

Economic growthstopped after the initial boost from massive militaryspending woreoff. High interestrates imposed by the central bankto control inflationandincreasedtaxeshavealso weighedonbusinesses.

Economic Minister Maxim Reshetnikovsaidrecentlythatthe economy's reserves “have been largely depleted, and Putin said at atelevised government meeting earlier this month that economicgrowthhasdeclinedfor two months ina row. Russia's grossdomesticproductshrankby 1.8%between Januaryand February,hesaid.

Denis Volkov,director ofthe LevadaCenter, saideconomic problemsarethe maindriverof the growing dissatisfaction and decliningapproval forPutinand thegovernment.

“It beginsto showin the opinion polls, whenthe mood starts toget worse,just because life becomesharder, Volkov said.

No end in sight for the war in Ukraine

Sam Greene, professor of Russian politics at King's College London, also points to dwindling hopes thatRussia s warin Ukraine,now inits fifthyear, couldsoonend.

Thosehopes coalescedafter U.S.President DonaldTrump took office in January 2025 and spearheadedanefforttonegotiate

a peacedeal thathas since stalled.

The Kremlin was really putting some weight behind that idea as well. And I think that becamepricedintopublicopinion,” Greene said. And yetthat s not happening.”

The resultingdisappointment and frustration means that Putin paysabitofaprice.

No imminentdemise for Putin either Galeotti said inhis analysis that “none of this can be taken to heraldthe imminentendof Putin srule. There is “nomeaningful organized opposition, and Putin s “control ofthe securityapparatus isunchallenged, Galeottisaid.In a war, “even his critics do not wanttodestabilizethecountry. Volkovechoed thatthinking and saidthe discontentgrows onlyslowly.Putin’sapprovalsare declining from avery high point.”

For now, weshouldn t downplay or exaggerate this, because we re only at the very beginning oftheroad,”hesaid.

Inthe meantime,frustration will continue to deepen, with people feelingempowered by popularpublic figuresvoicing criticism,said AbbasGallyamov, aformer Putinspeechwriter turnedpoliticalanalyst.

“The feeling ofpower in politics,” hesaid, “is largelytied to how widespread theposition that youshareanddefendis.”

Georgia wildfires continue to threaten residents after razing more than 120 homes

NAHUNTA Associated Press

TWO wildfires in southeastern Georgia continued to threaten homes and lives on Saturday as officials warned that strong winds could spread the flames.

Brantley County Manager Joey Cason called it a “dynamic situation” in a video posted to social media and begged residents to “please evacuate”

if ordered to do so.

“This fire is going to move rapidly once these winds get here later today,” he said.

The Highway 82 Fire has been burning since Monday and has destroyed at least 87 homes. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said Friday that is the most for a single wildfire in the state’s history.

The blaze was started by a foil balloon hitting

live power lines. That created an electrical arc that ignited combustible material on the ground.

An infrared flight that detects heat was conducted overnight Friday, helping officials to better map the fire. A joint statement issued by multiple government agencies said the fire’s perimeter was more than 14.8 square miles (38 square kilometers) and it was only about 10% contained.

Meanwhile a second fire about 70 miles (110 kilometers) to the southwest in Clinch and Echols counties, near the Florida state line, has burned more than 46.9 square miles (121 square kilometers) and destroyed at least 35 homes. Started

by sparks from a welding operation, that wildfire was also about 10% contained. Firefighters have been battling more than 150 other wildfires in Georgia and Florida that have sent smoky haze into places far from the flames, triggering air quality warnings for some cities.

An unusually large number of wildfires are burning this spring across the Southeast. Scientists say the threat of fire has been amplified by a combination of extreme drought, gusty winds, climate change and dead trees still littering some forests after being toppled by Hurricane Helene in 2024.

In northern Florida, Nassau County

Office volunteer

James “Kevin”

died Thursday evening after he suffered an unspecified medical emergency while suppressing a brush fire. No fire deaths or injuries have been reported in Georgia.

Junior Achievement group serves breakfast to Grand Bahama police

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

MEMBERS of the GB Shipyard N.A.V.Y.

Achievers, a Junior Achievement company, demonstrated appreciation for law enforcement through a special outreach initiative, “Serving Breakfast to Those Who Serve Us,” at the Royal Bahamas Police Force Canteen in the Back of Town on March 21.

The youth group assisted in serving 100 meals from 8am to 10am to officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force while also extending support to members of the surrounding community.

Officers attended in person and others collected meals to take back to their respective stations, allowing the initiative to reach personnel from various locations on the island.

Achievers from GB Shipyard N.A.V.Y. also interacted with both officers and residents while serving meals. The meal was prepared by the Police Staff Canteen worker who is the only culinary arts chef within the Royal Bahamas Police Force, whose efforts contributed significantly to

the success of the event. Additionally, qualified nurses were on hand to provide free health checkups and basic health screenings for officers, promoting health and wellness among those who serve the public.

Organizers described the initiative as an opportunity for young leaders to express gratitude to law enforcement while strengthening ties between youth, police and the wider community.

President Andreaz Burrows expressed appreciation to all who supported the effort and emphasized gratitude to police officers for their daily service in keeping communities safe.

“The event was a great success, she said. The initiative also strengthened the connection between young leaders, law enforcement, and the wider community.”

Junior Achievement is the leading youth development organization in The Bahamas dedicated to fostering youth innovation, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, college preparedness and work readiness.

Over the past 40 years, the successful programmes have been operated in various islands across The Bahamas; including Abaco,

Andros, Eleuthera, Berry Islands, Cat Island, Grand Bahama, New Providence and Mayaguana. It has proven to help students understand the importance of financial literacy and how it plays a role in every community.