05262026 NEWS AND SPORT

WOMAN & HEALTH

CRASH PILOT: I AM NO DEA INFORMANT

By DAVID LEIGH Tribune Editor-in-Chief.

daleigh@tribunemedia.net

THE pilot at the controls of the Election Day plane which crash-landed at sea carrying drug smuggling kingpin Jonathan Gardiner has categorically denied being an undercover informant for the United States Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA).

Ian Nixon, who has been the subject of widespread speculation and conspiracy theories because of the extraordinary set of circumstances surrounding the May 12 incident, told The Tribune: “I was never working for the DEA, never in my life – not currently, not ever.”

The 43-year-old father-ofthree also dismissed ‘crazy’ accusations that he purposely crash-landed at sea to allow American authorities to arrest Gardiner, alleged to be a key player in an undercover DEA operation running on Bahamian soil for at least the last three years and involving a high-ranking politician known only as ‘Politician-1.’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@ tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas’ former ambassador to Bahrain has been banned from holding any meaningful post in this nation’s financial services industry for 20 years after confessing that he “misappropriated significant client funds”. The Securities Commission, unveiling its May 21, 2026, “prohibition order” against Taran Mackey, determined that he is not “fit and proper” to serve in any financial services post requiring the regulator’s prior approval after he agreed late last year to repay monies taken from clients of his now-former employer, IPG Family Office.

MOTHER OF MURDERED MAN CALLS FOR JUSTICE

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

THE grieving mother of a 21-year-old man shot dead while on his way to buy a cellphone said she needs answers about why the gunman targeted her “innocent” son, saying the attacker could have grabbed any of his

instead of taking his life.

Johnson, mother of Dario Butler, broke down in tears as she reflected on her son’s life in an interview with The Tribune over the weekend. Butler was killed Friday night near a soccer field across from Columbus

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

TWO foreign nationals being monitored at the Princess Margaret Hospital after recent travel from the Democratic Republic of Congo are in good health and have not shown any symptoms consistent with Ebola Virus, according to

PM Davis: ‘I see young Bahamians who will shape the next 50 years of our nation’s history’

PRIMARY school students, along with their loved ones and friends, were all smiles as the young group of Bahamians were recognised during a special ceremony held at the Bahamas Faith Ministries International Diplomatic Centre over the weekend.

Among the honourees was sixth grader Dhechaz Gibson, who was named the 2026 Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year. He earned the title from a field of more

than 100 outstanding students and received cash prizes and other rewards.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, in his keynote remarks, commended the group, saying: “As I look around this room tonight, I see such great promise. I see future doctors, artists, engineers, public servants, and yes, the next prime minister. I see young Bahamians who will shape the next fifty years of our nation’s history.”

66-year-old mother’s partially decomposed body discovered in bushes off Coral Road

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@ tribunemedia.net

A FAMILY’s search for their missing 66-year-old mother ended in anguish on Sunday after her partially decomposed body was discovered in bushes off Coral Road, dashing any hope her relatives had of finding her alive.

Police, accompanied by close relatives of 66-yearold Barbara Lewis, made the grim discovery shortly before 4pm after deploying drones to search a bushy area along a track road behind Pioneer’s Loop Subdivision.

Ms Lewis, a resident of Spinney Road, had been reported missing on Wednesday, three days after she was last seen.

On the day of her disappearance, she had been walking home after being discharged from Rand Memorial Hospital for barracuda poisoning.

Her daughter, Kenya Adderley, who had flown to Freeport from Florida on Friday, was with police when the body was found.

She and other family members led the search effort, directing officers to the area on Sunday after receiving a tip from a motorist concerning her last whereabouts.

“I got a tip on Friday that my mom was crossing over from Nansen over to the track road. They stopped to let her pass with food in her hand,” she said.

Ms Adderley went to CID and shared the information before providing a piece of clothing to assist the K9 unit in their search.

Police were then taken to the area, where a drone was deployed. Ms Lewis’ body was discovered approximately 300 feet into the bushes.

“When the drone went up, we saw a buzzard flying and they followed it, and in less than two minutes, I saw my mother’s body from the drone,” she said.

Though devastated by the discovery, Ms Adderley said the family was grateful to finally have closure.

She also thanked police and local volunteers who joined the search. “It feels better. I mean, I was prepared for the worst but hoping for the best. But at least I know we found her,” she told reporters at the scene, supported by her siblings and an aunt.

Family members had spent days searching the same area where Ms Lewis was eventually discovered but was unable to access the area by foot. “We’ve been searching from Friday,” Ms Adderley said. “We were all through the track roads back here and didn’t find her. It just so happened that it was Sunday — a week ago Sunday she went missing — that we found her.”

The discovery followed a chain of events that began when Ms Lewis was taken to hospital. Her daughter said she had been taken there by her boyfriend, who was later arrested after reportedly becoming upset over how long doctors were taking to attend to her.

Barbara’s sister, Pamela Lewis, said the family never gave up searching.

GRIEVING MOTHER OF MURDERED 21-YEAR-OLD MAN CALLS FOR JUSTICE

Primary school while heading to purchase a cellphone advertised online. He tried to escape by jumping over a wall after being shot but eventually collapsed on school grounds. The suspect fled in a blue Suzuki swift with an unknown licence plate heading north along Collins Avenue.

“I don’t mind if y’all did rob him and take the money and let my child go. Why my innocent son?,” Ms Johnson said. “Y’all take my son away from me.”

Describing the toll her son’s death has taken on her, the mother of six said she now eats little and suffers from sleepless nights.

Family members have been monitoring her stress levels and urging her to take her blood pressure medication, but she said she is struggling to cope with the heartbreak of her son’s death.

Just hours before his killing, she said Butler called to say he wanted to borrow his brother’s car to meet someone near Columbus Primary to purchase an iPhone. When his brother arrived home, he lent him the car so he could retrieve the phone.

The family expected Butler to return home with the device in hand, never imagining the transaction would turn fatal.

Ms Johnson recalled one her children calling her after hearing there was a shooting near Columbus Primary School. Concerned because Butler had not returned home, they urged her to go to the scene to make sure he was okay. When she arrived, Ms Johnson described her son and the car he was driving to police. Moments later, her worst fears were confirmed: Butler had been fatally shot.

Officers said they found him unresponsive, suffering from a gunshot wound to the left side of his upper torso. They were alerted to the shooting by an anonymous caller. Police were told he was ambushed by an unknown man while on his way to meet the iPhone’s seller.

Ms Johnson said it’s not unusual for her son to purchase items online, but that sellers would usually meet him at the family’s home.

She believes Butler may have known the seller,

which could explain why he agreed to meet elsewhere. Meanwhile, his sister thinks he was scared for his life on the night of the shooting.

The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, but the family say they want justice.

They described Butler, a security officer, as hardworking, loving, introverted, and non-problematic.

He spent most of his time either at home or at work and rarely went out.

His mother said they shared a bond like none other.

One of their final conversations before the shooting was about a planned Labour Day beach gathering with the family.

During the conversation, she and Butler laughed about what he planned to bring to the function.

Ms Johnson said she later realised she had unknowingly been “planning for my child’s funeral.”

Butler’s death has dealt another blow to the family.

His grandmother died on June 10 last year, on her birthday, and now her son was murdered just days before her birthday.

“This is very hurtful,” Ms Johnson cried.

Butler’s death marked the country’s 26th murder of the year, according to The Tribune’s records. Police said investigations are continuing.

Unaware that her boyfriend had been taken into police custody, Ms Lewis reportedly waited for him before deciding to walk home when he did not return.

CCTV footage later captured Ms Lewis heading in

the direction of home. “She was just trying to get home. The cameras showed her starting and stopping. You could tell she was still weak and dehydrated because she had vomiting and diarrhea. Along with the fact that she had seizures, that could have triggered one,” her grieving daughter said.

Ms Adderley told The Tribune she was deeply concerned that the hospital discharged her mother without first contacting family members, given her history of seizures. “All of this, unfortunately, is what

caused the death of my mom,” she claimed.

Police said they do not suspect foul play, but added that investigations are continuing.

Officers told reporters on scene that an autopsy will be performed to determine the official cause of death.

Meanwhile, for Ms Adderley and her family, the painful task now turns to preparing to lay their loved one to rest.

“We still have to officially identify her,” she said. “Then I guess we start preparing for the funeral.”

Boy, 8, seriously injured in Bimini shooting incident

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Security

Minister Myles Laroda yesterday issued a strong appeal to licensed firearm owners to properly secure their weapons around children after an eight-year-old boy was seriously injured in a shooting incident in North Bimini on Saturday night.

The child was reportedly inside a business establishment on King’s Highway when he was shot by his 12-year-old brother.

Police were alerted to the incident shortly after 9pm by healthcare workers at the Bimini Community Clinic.

Medical staff told officers the child was brought in with apparent gunshot wounds above the left eyebrow and to the left rear of the head.

National Security Minister Myles Laroda issues strong appeal to licensed firearm owners to properly secure their weapons

The physician described the boy’s injuries as serious. He was later airlifted to Fort Lauderdale, while his 12-year-old brother was turned over to authorities by his uncle and arrested in connection with the shooting. At last report, the boy was said to be in stable condition.

When asked for more details about the shooting yesterday, Mr Laroda only said that police investigations were still ongoing. He added that investigators have still not determined whether charges will be filed.

“We encourage adults, those who are in possession of licensed firearms,

to make sure that all safety measures are taken into consideration, especially if they have young children around,” he added.

“With regards to that being if it was an unlicensed firearm, we discourage the public for being in possession of those. It's illegal for you to carry a firearm that's not a license, and we definitely discourage the use or the carrying of unlicensed firearms.”

In a statement released over the weekend, Randy Rolle, the island’s MP, said he was deeply saddened by the incident and that his thoughts and prayers are with the child and his family.

He urged the public to respect the family’s privacy as they focus on healing and recovery. Meanwhile, a team of officers from Grand Bahama has been dispatched to assist with the investigation.

old man found dead in North Eleuthera

Police classifying as suspected drowning

A 62-year-old man was found dead in North Eleuthera on Sunday in what police are classifying as a suspected drowning.

Police said they were alerted by a concerned resident to a man floating in waters near a business establishment in the Lower Bogue area shortly before 10am. Upon arrival, officers met an unresponsive man face down in the water, dressed in blue jeans and a button-up shirt. The victim was pulled ashore and examined by a local doctor, who pronounced him dead. Police said an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. 62-year-

TWO FOREIGN NATIONALS BEING MONITORED AT PMH HAVE NOT SHOWN ANY SYMPTOMS CONSISTENT WITH EBOLA VIRUS

not handle bodily fluids or other materials of concern.

Airways flight from Heathrow Airport. The pair were among 218 passengers and crew members aboard the aircraft.

The health scare prompted an emergency press conference on Friday and put health officials on high alert after the men confirmed spending about three weeks in Congo before travelling to Ethiopia and then onward to The Bahamas.

It comes amid growing health concerns over an Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa that has killed hundreds of people.

Health officials said that while the pair travelled to Congo, the areas they visited are not currently experiencing an Ebola outbreak or reporting active cases.

As of Sunday, the men had been relocated to the PMH’s Modular Unit, a specialised facility for isolation and monitoring, in line with global protocols.

“At this time, they do not present with any symptoms consistent with the Ebola Virus Disease,” the ministry said, while stressing that the risk to the public remains low and that no cases of Ebola have been confirmed in The Bahamas.

Health officials said the two passengers — said to be pilots conducting cargo flights — were not in contact with Ebola patients, did not attend funerals, and did

While they were initially found to have a fever, no additional symptoms were detected. The remaining passengers and crew were also screened and later released.

The case comes amid global concern over an Ebola outbreak caused by a rare virus in Congo and fears over its potential spread. Some countries have already introduced travel restrictions in response to the health threat. According to international reports, the United States has temporarily restricted the entry of lawful permanent residents who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the previous 21 days because of Ebola concerns. During Friday’s press conference, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said any decision on possible travel restrictions for passengers from affected countries entering The Bahamas would have to be discussed by the government. Ebola is a rare and often fatal illness caused by a group of viruses known as Orthoebolaviruses. Symptoms include fever, severe headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and weakness, progressing in severe cases to vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain.

‘Security failures’ at Old Fort Bay allegedly allowed man to enter expat resident’s home

By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@ tribunemedia.net

SECURITY failures at the upscale gated community Old Fort Bay allowed a man to enter the property of an expat resident early Friday morning, resulting in violent threats, extensive property damage and a police investigation, the resident at the centre of the incident has alleged.

The resident, who requested anonymity over safety concerns, claimed a man was allowed through the service gate around 5:33am before allegedly driving through a gate, damaging property and forcing entry into the home.

The Tribune contacted police, who confirmed the incident remains under active investigation and said it involves allegations of death threats, trespassing and major property damage estimated at roughly $40,000.

The resident said security officers contacted his girlfriend before the break-in, asking whether they were expecting a person by a certain name.

Security reportedly admitted the man had been mistakenly allowed through the service entrance without authorisation.

“They made an error at the service gate, which is only supposed to open up at 7:30 and they let the guy through without calling us,

without doing permission,” the resident alleged.

The resident claimed the man drove through a gate, vandalised the yard and broke a front glass entrance before attempting to enter the home.

“I was armed at the house, and I came two seconds away from shooting him,” the resident said.

A police source confirmed the suspect is currently being held at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre and had been admitted there previously.

At news time, the suspect has yet to be formally interviewed by police because he is allegedly not considered mentally fit at this time.

Based on sources, the suspect is separated from his wife, who worked as a contractor for the expat resident’s company.

Residents suspect that he arrived at the property believing his wife to be at the residence, demanding her to be brought outside.

“He was screaming at the top of his lungs, ‘Get my wife outside. I’m going to kill everybody,’” the resident alleged.

After later reviewing surveillance footage, the resident said responding officers engaged with the suspect, but questioned whether security personnel were adequately trained to handle volatile situations.

“They should never have let him through the gates, and none of this would have happened,” he said. “My

biggest issue in this matter was through my cameras, I could see security parked outside, and it’s such a false sense of security.”

In a recent statement sent to residents, the Old Fort Bay Property Owners Association (OFBPOA) acknowledged that “an individual gained unauthorized entry into the community and caused damage to property” around 5.30am on May 21.

The association said the Royal Bahamas Police Force “responded promptly to the scene, apprehended the individual, and took them into custody,” adding that the matter remained under active investigation in collaboration with police.

The Tribune understands two large dogs were also brought onto the property by the suspect during the incident. The estranged wife later came to collect them off the property.

The resident further alleged he believed longstanding disputes with the association contributed to what he described as an inadequate response following the incident.

His suspicion stems from having previously been involved in legal disputes with the POA over construction-related matters.

The resident also claimed he previously raised concerns about delayed security responses following another incident at the property roughly a year earlier.

43-year-old woman travelling to Haiti arrested at airport for allegedly failing to declare nearly $74,000 in cash

A 43-year-old woman travelling to Haiti was arrested at the airport over the weekend for allegedly failing to declare nearly $74,000 in cash, police said. Police said they were contacted by airport security after screeners discovered $73,774 in US currency in the woman’s luggage. The cash was reportedly concealed in a yellow Robin Hood flour bag placed inside her suitcase. Responding officers were shown a dark-coloured suitcase bearing the passenger’s name, which was reportedly destined for

Cap-Haïtien, Haiti. The bag’s owner was identified and taken to the baggage room, where she confirmed ownership. A search confirmed what screeners had reported, and the female passenger was arrested as investigations continue.

When contacted by this newspaper, members of the Old Fort Bay Property Owners Association declined to comment.

Meanwhile, the resident claimed the incident exposed broader concerns about security procedures within the community, particularly given the fees residents pay for gated protection.

“One of the main reasons I think people choose to live in a gated community, especially as expats, is for the security that’s encumbered with that, and it’s an extreme false sense of security,” he alleged.

The resident said he intends to file legal action against the association next week, focusing specifically on the alleged security breach that allowed the man onto the property.

“This is the only time where it wasn’t just a possibility. It did result in violence,” he said.

The expat resident questioned whether officers were adequately trained to manage an erratic and potentially violent individual, arguing that portions of the interaction appeared unnecessarily risky and lacked proper de-escalation procedures.

The resident said footage appeared to show officers standing within extremely close range of the suspect while attempting to communicate with him, despite his increasingly agitated behaviour. He also questioned

why one responding officer briefly left the scene before later returning without additional backup.

The resident further claimed he intended to raise concerns with agencies responsible for regulating private security operations, arguing that residents paying premium security fees expected trained personnel capable of responding appropriately during high-risk situations.

He alleged that while the community maintained an annual security budget of roughly $1m, comparatively little appeared to be allocated toward training and upgrading security personnel.

He further questioned whether the POA’s own internal security standards and committee procedures were being consistently followed, pointing to information published on the community’s website outlining the role of a security committee tasked with reviewing incidents and maintaining safety protocols within the development.

“They have a security committee, and it outlines the purpose of the security committee and the organisation of the committee,” he said. “The committee is supposed to meet on an annual basis, and the committee is also to update when there’s any type of break-ins or anything like that.” He continued: “This is now three incidents that

happened here where I’ve had horrible security response time or interaction, and I’ve given feedback on each time, and nothing has been changed.”

The Tribune understands incidents involving intruders at Old Fort Bay are uncommon and, when they do occur, more often involve people allegedly sneaking into the community rather than being granted direct access through security checkpoints.

The resident said the incident left both him and his girlfriend deeply shaken, claiming the aftermath had extended well beyond the physical damage caused to the property.

“My girlfriend can’t sleep, she’d have to go see a forensic psychiatrist this weekend. They had to give her Ativan so she could try and calm down. She’s not eating, she’s in a complete mess,” he said, adding that the experience fundamentally changed how safe they felt living inside the gated community. “I went and bought two bulletproof vests this weekend online,” he said. “Is that normal? I live in Old Fort, I live in a security community, I gotta go buy bulletproof vests?” He added: “If this guy gets out in two months, six months, one year, whenever he gets out, and you have zero assurance that Old Fort security knows what they’re doing, you’re gonna fall back in the exact same situation eventually.”

17

of Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas; who died on Sunday, 17th May, 2026 at his home in Gleniston Gardens, New Providence, will be held at Ebenezer Methodist Church, East Shirley Street, New Providence on Saturday, 30th May, 2026 at 2:00pm. Officiating will be Rev. Henry A. Knowles assisted by Rev. Elvardo Turnquest.

He is survived by his loving parents, Anthony and Jenyne Roberts; twin brother, Grayson Roberts; grandmother, Ivy Carey; godparents, Neil & Katherine Cadman; many many relatives and family friends, especially Jennifer Banton.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

The Cancer Society of The Bahamas CIBC First Caribbean, Shirley St. Branch Account # 52200112 Branch Transit 09706 in Memory of Aaron Anthony Roberts.

Arrangements by Kemp’s Funeral Home Limited

The Tribune Limited

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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 for transparency

Where information is lacking, speculation has a tendency to rush in to fill the gap.

The plane that crashed during the election campaign has certainly prompted plenty of the latter, but little of the former.

What we know is that Jonathan “Player” Gardiner was on board the plane, was detained in the US and has been charged with being part of a conspiracy to smuggle cocaine.

He is accused of being a major supplier of drugs for a Georgia-based drugs ring, bringing cocaine through The Bahamas. A hearing that was scheduled on Thursday never happened. That in itself has prompted its own round of speculation.

Gardiner was carrying $30,000 when he was arrested, strapped to his body in a bag and inside an envelope with a Bahamian politician’s name on it.

That name connects the dots with another investigation – the previously announced one that has already seen former Royal Bahamas Defence Force chief petty officer Darrin Roker jailed for four years at the start of this year for being part of a smuggling conspiracy that also saw reference to a high-ranking Bahamian politician. Politician 1 is said to be the same person as that high-ranking individual.

That previous smuggling ring investigation involved accusations of smuggling dating back to 2021, with the help of corrupt officials in The Bahamas.

We also know that investigators have filed papers in the new case against Gardiner that allege that cocaine smuggling plots were carried out inside Parliament itself, with Politician 1 right there in the mix.

That is, largely, what we know. It is outweighed significantly by what we do not know – and that is where speculation has rushed in to fill the void.

For example, there was widespread speculation online that the pilot of the crashed plane, Ian Nixon, was an undercover informant who deliberately crash landed at sea to allow US investigators to arrest Gardiner. In today’s Tribune, Nixon denies both of those claims. Nixon’s lawyer, Bjorn Ferguson, says the latter claim particularly is “totally absurd” as it would have put the lives of all on board at risk and “no pilot in their right mind” would do such a thing. There was no basis for either claim to begin with – except for the desire for people to fill in the gaps for themselves.

There has also been speculation about the flight itself – who chartered it, who paid for it, who arranged for Gardiner to be on board.

One of the passengers on the crash said in a televised interview in the US that “Kingsley” arranged for them to be on board. When The Tribune asked Kingsley Smith MP, who came to Parliament in December 2023, what he knew about the flight, he fuelled speculation rather than providing information. He answered: “No comment right now, buddy.”

He added that “we will get to that at some point” but has not chosen to do so in the week since simply being asked what information he had about who chartered the flight. Smith has had ample opportunity to comment further, but instead issued a statement saying stories about him were “an obvious attempt to force me to argue a negative”.

Online speculation has since flourished – but some of that is easily dealt with. What reason after all would there be not to quickly provide the details of who owned the plane, who chartered it and what is known about how Gardiner came to be on board?

The lack of answers does not only fuel speculation – but suspicion too.

Frankly, every single Member of Parliament ought to be furious with Politician 1, whoever that is, and ought to be demanding answers themselves. If the evidence is as it suggests, they are sitting side by side with someone actively trying to undermine our nation for the benefit of their own pocket. This is not a small deal. This is not someone failing to pay a traffic ticket. This is someone actively involved in a multi-million dollar drug smuggling ring shifting drugs weighing as much as a ton at a time.

There has been a statement from government suggesting that an investigation will take place here too – but little sign so far. It is worrying that the previous allegations were not enough to prompt an investigation in the first place.

There should, of course, be no room for drug smugglers, for corrupt officials, for those willing to betray our nation for their own financial gain.

So let us shine the spotlight – let us share some of that information, and prevent the sometimes wild speculation.

One thing is for certain – the US authorities know a lot more about this case, including the identity of Politician 1, and will no doubt be taking note of how The Bahamas is responding.

How Trump’s spending spree and rebranding efforts threaten our national institutions

EDITOR, The Tribune. Donald Trump is on a spending spree. Naming various venues across the nation with his brand. Iconic institutions would rather close than accept his attempts at rebranding historic institutions in Washington, D.C. This naming blitz is causing chaos within the administrations of said institutions, bringing about division and political contention to otherwise stout, grounded institutions.

The future of humanity

EDITOR, The Tribune. TEACHING high school math and science to students aged 12 to19 puts me in a unique position to shape the future. Inspiring the next generation to think critically about humanity’s trajectory is deeply intrinsic to my teaching philosophy.

That intrinsic analytical propensity induces me to wonder about the future of humanity. In May 2026, the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has emerged as the defining global event captivation the public.

This geopolitical crisis is actively reshaping language and culture; for instance, a Brazilian labor leader recently declared that their union would “fight like an Iranian,” signaling how wartime rhetoric is permeating global social movements` Smartphones and social media have completely transformed human connection.

For most people today, the internet is our main source of information, shopping, and entertainment.

But this digital age is pushing us away from face-to-face interaction and deeper into the virtual world. Here in the Caribbean, the “scrubbing” dance perfectly captures this shift.

Being in my early fifties, the idea of grinding intimately with a stranger feels absurd, but it’s second nature to the younger generation. Furthermore, the proliferation of artificial intelligence threatens to

letters@tribunemedia.net

erode cognitive development. Even individuals who rely entirely on digital tools now depend on AI to draft mundane tasks like lesson plans, a process that is vital for professional growth. By outsourcing this thinking, we risk cultivating a society that lacks intellectual vigor and critical reasoning skills. Ultimately, if we allow algorithms to compose our resumes, cover letters, and everyday communications, we sacrifice our own capacity for independent thought and intellectual agility.

Aggressive U.S. hegemony in the Caribbean—driven by punitive tariffs, the strategic subversion of Venezuela, and the economic strangulation of Cuba—systematically dismantles the sovereignty of regional nations. Under Washington’s coercion, Caribbean governments are forced to compromise their national interests, as seen when external pressure compels them to expel vital Cuban medical brigades. This relentless economic and political intimidation directly degrades the regional quality of life, erodes collective security, and fractures regional unity. The consequences of this fragmentation are already playing out on the diplomatic stage. The unprecedented, bitter confrontation over renewing the Caribbean

Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General post is a direct symptom of this foreign interference. What should be a routine bureaucratic renewal has instead exposed a fractured Caribbean Community. Incapable of maintaining a unified front, regional governments are increasingly turning inward, leaving the Caribbean exposed to further exploitation. Experts warn that this relentless economic and political intimidation will directly degrade the regional quality of life. By choking off traditional trade partnerships and forcing compliance with foreign dictates, the current geopolitical landscape leaves Caribbean nations economically vulnerable and politically compromised. Instead of fostering a resilient trading bloc, the external pressure is rapidly eroding collective security and fracturing regional unity. In summary, the future is inherently defined by both risk and opportunity. Our success will be dictated by how we navigate these challenges and whether we prioritise genuine human relationships. Ultimately, material wealth serves only as a means to an end; it is human connection that provides life with profound purpose.

BRIAN ELLIS PLUMMER

Nassau, May 20, 2026.

The unique language of Bahamian roads

EDITOR, The Tribune. Anyone who has spent more than five minutes on a Bahamian road will know that the car horn is not merely a warning device here — it is practically a second language.

In many countries, a car horn is used sparingly and often aggressively: a sharp blast to warn of danger or express frustration. In The Bahamas, however, hooting has evolved into something far more nuanced, cultural and oddly communal. A single beep can mean “hello”, “good morning”, “move over”, “thank you”, “I see you”, “slow down”, “watch the police ahead”, or even “you look good today”.

To outsiders, our streets can sound chaotic. To Bahamians, though, the symphony of horns is woven into the rhythm of everyday life. It is communication by instinct. Friends passing each other on East

Street or Carmichael Road exchange cheerful hoots instead of text messages.

Relatives announce their arrival outside homes with two quick taps rather than walking to the door. Schoolchildren wave at passing cars whose drivers answer with a chirp of recognition.

Of course, there is also the darker side of the culture. Some drivers lean on their horns with alarming enthusiasm the instant a traffic light turns green, as if every intersection were the starting grid at Monaco. Others use the horn less as a safety tool and more as an instrument of rage, contributing to already elevated tensions on overcrowded roads.

Still, despite the occasional excess, the Bahamian hooting culture says something important about us as a people. We remain deeply social, expressive and connected. In an increasingly

digital world where many interactions happen silently through screens, Bahamians still acknowledge one another loudly and publicly. There is almost something charming about that.

The horn in The Bahamas is not simply about traffic. It reflects our personality — impatient at times, certainly, but also warm, familiar and unmistakably alive. Tourists may initially find it bewildering, but after a while many come to recognise the hidden language behind the beeps.

Perhaps we could all benefit from using our horns a little less aggressively and a little more courteously. But I suspect the day Bahamian roads fall completely silent is the day we lose a small but colourful piece of who we are.

Yours faithfully, ‘Happy Hooter’ Cable Beach

The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center (Trump - Kennedy Center)

The US State Department (Donald Trump Institute of Peace) Trump Class Battleships (still on the drawing board). American Currency with the Trump Brand attached. The establishment of Trump Gold Cards would allow wealthy immigrants to jump the queue and enter America to begin their fast-track application to citizenship.

During the time of the Caesars in Rome, statues, buildings and other structures named after the leader were paid for by the Leader or his supporters.  Trump, as a businessman, never failed to see an opportunity when branding was concerned. Bottled water, golf courses, vodka and his own university, too. The need to create a legacy has no boundaries.  Renaming Federal Departments, Agencies, and buildings is all the rage with Republican Politicians and Magna

Opportunists alike. Julian Zelier (a Princeton Professor)  asked why this energy is being spent upon such obviously selfish matters? Her answer was “It is easier to have a building or ship renamed than to pass enduring legislation”. The administration is simply following orders, trying to pacify and please their leader. Energy and funds are being wasted to legitimise the current President’s demands and wishes.  Am I calling Donald Trump lazy? Legislatively YES. Personally,

the President is a balloon of energy ready to pop.

Legislatively, President Trump sidesteps Congress, the Senate, and the House, using his authority granted by Presidential Decrees. That is not legislative, but is authoritarian in nature. Congress has the sole power to declare war, to spend, and so on. Congress has been ignored by the current President and used only as a self-promotional platform. Decrees are to be used only in emergencies, and since President Trump assumed power, everything is an emergency.  Here’s a thought, Mr President. Why don’t you get the World Meteorological Organisation to name a Future Hurricane on your behalf? HURRICANE TRUMP. After all, Sir, You Do Suck and Blow at the Same Time!  When you text or talk in front of a group of people, what often comes out of your mouth is as destructive as a hurricane.

Steven Kaszab Bradford, Ontario skaszab@yahoo.ca

Haitian woman charged with fraudulently

obtaining several national documents

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A HAITIAN woman was charged on Friday with fraudulently obtaining several Bahamian national documents, the latest in a series of such cases in recent months.

Police arrested Jane Doe, also known as “Marie Yolette St Cyr,” 43, on May 12, election day, after she was allegedly found in possession of two forged work permits, a fraudulent passport, a fake NIB card and a counterfeit naturalisation certificate bearing her name.

Prosecutors allege that she fraudulently obtained a work permit under the name St Cyr and later uttered the same false document at the National Insurance Board to obtain an NIB card under the same name on May 13, 2019. She is further accused of obtaining another work permit under the name St Cyr on March 3, 2021. The defendant is also alleged to have fraudulently obtained a naturalisation certificate under the same name on March 21, 2024. Police say she presented the same false naturalisation certificate to the

Passport Office and fraudulently obtained a Bahamian passport on April 15, 2024.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to five counts of fraud by false pretences, two counts of uttering a false document, and five counts of possession of false documents before Senior Magistrate Raquel Whyms.

Inspector Timothy Bain, the prosecutor, objected to bail, citing the accused’s immigration status in the country.

The defendant was remanded to Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS) until her trial on June 25.

Police corporal accused of stealing thousands of dollars from man during search granted bail

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 26-year-old police corporal accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a man during a search earlier this month was granted bail on Friday.

Trainee customs officer sentenced to four years in prison

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A TRAINEE customs officer was sentenced to four years behind bars after police allegedly found two guns and 38 rounds of ammunition at his Kennedy Subdivision home last week.

Renaji Rolle, 28, was arrested around 2am

on May 20 after police searched his Gilbert Street residence. During their checks, police reportedly found a black and brown AK-47 rifle and a black Austria Glock 22 .40 pistol fitted with an auto sear in the ceiling. Officers also recovered a black 9mm magazine from beneath a bedroom

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PUBLIC NOTICE

The public is hereby notified that Ms Lynette Williams is NO LONGER employed with C&C Scooter Rentals Bahamas Ltd and its sister company The Bahama Mama Factory Bahamas Ltd in any capacity effective April 24th, 2026. Please be advised that Ms Lynette Williams is NOT authorized to conduct any business, collect payments, place purchase orders or enter into any agreements on behalf of C&C Scooter Rentals Bahamas Ltd or The Bahama Mama Factory Bahamas Ltd. The companies will NOT be held responsible for any transactions or commitments made by this individual after the aforementioned date.

All business inquiries and payments should be directed to Mrs. Tanya Bethel at 376-8177 or vacationscooter.rentals@gmail.com Management

C&C Scooter Rentals Bahamas Ltd

The Bahama Mama Factory Bahamas Ltd

Prosecutors allege that Theophilus Cayard stole $2,400 from Emmanuel Saintelis while Saintelis was briefly detained at Lynden Pindling International Airport on May 9. Cayard pleaded not guilty to the stealing charge during his arraignment before Deputy Chief Magistrate Shaka Serville. He was granted $2,500 bail with one or two sureties and his trial was set for October 27. Cayard has been suspended from duty pending the outcome of the case. Inspector Cordero Farrington prosecuted the matter.

Man accused of assaulting another man with a knife granted bail

mattress, along with four 9mm rounds, 20 7.62 rounds, and 14 .40 rounds of ammunition.

Rolle owned up to the firearm offences before Acting Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans and was sentenced to four years behind bars. His co-accused and fellow customs officer, 22-year-old Trinity Huyler, pleaded not guilty to her charges. She was granted $8,000 bail with one or two sureties and ordered to sign in at the East Street South Police Station every Monday by 6pm. She returns to court on May 26.

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

Alphonso Lewis represented the accused, while Inspector K Wilkinson prosecuted the case.

A MAN accused of assaulting another man with a knife at his South Beach Drive residence was granted bail on Friday. Prosecutors allege Jannal Moxey, 37, assaulted Javargo Munroe with a knife during a verbal altercation on May 20.

JOB TITLE: Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

DIVISION: Finance

JOB OVERVIEW:

Moxey pleaded not guilty to assault with a dangerous instrument before Magistrate Abigail Farrington. He was granted $5,000 bail with one or two sureties and must also sign in at the East Street South Police Station on the last Friday of every month.

Moxey’s trial is set to begin on August 13.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Kendrick Bauld prosecuted the case.

Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has primary responsibility for the planning, implementation, managing and running of all the finance activities of the company, including business planning, budgeting, forecasting and negotiations. The Group CFO is responsible for obtaining and maintaining investor relations and partnership compliance. Additionally, the Group CFO is to support the Group CEO and the board in setting the strategy for the group and to ensure the group provides the level of returns for investors and complies with and manages all banking relationships.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

As part of an executive management team, the Group CFO will interact with various members of a company, both senior and junior. This includes:

• Providing leadership, direction and management of the finance and accounting teams of Aliv and Rev.

• Providing strategic recommendations to the Group CEO and members of the executive management team.

• Managing the processes for financial forecasting and budgets, and overseeing the preparation of all financial reporting.

• Advising on long-term business strategy and financial planning.

• Establishing and developing relations with key business leaders, the board, the investor community, and other regulatory and industry stakeholders.

• Reviewing all formal finance, HR, and IT related procedures.

• Managing the financial actions of the company, tracking cash flow and financial planning as well as analyzing the company’s financial strengths and weaknesses and proposing corrective actions.

• Building financial models, analyzing, and preparing financial statements, and reconciling income and expenses.

• Coordinate and facilitate the internal audit function in accordance with the expectations of the board of directors and the audit committee.

• Support the Group CEO and the executive team to prepare, review and execute a 5-year strategic and business plan focused on growth and providing returns to investors.

• Lead the preparation of board financial reports as well as public filings to the investor community as well as banking reporting as necessary.

• Support a data centric culture in the organization to ensure that all leaders are making strategic decisions to support the overall goals and objectives of the group.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent experience) in finance, economics, or accounting.

• 10 years’ experience in the finance industry and proven leadership and management experience is essential.

• Professional certification (ex: Certified Public Accountant)

• Data-oriented approach to problem solving.

• Expert understanding of budgeting process.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the executive presence to work with senior management, investors, and external stakeholders.

• Ability to engage with staff at all levels of the organization and exercise sound judgement.

• Understanding of advanced accounting, and regulatory issues.

Reporting: This position reports directly to the Group CEO.

Note to applicants: Ensure to include the position title in the subject box of the email.

Forward resumes to: HR@cablebahamas.com.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Ivoine Ingraham • Facing Reality

Does domestic violence get the serious attention it needs?

A SOCIETY does not collapse all at once. It erodes quietly. It happens in the silence after the screams. It happens when bruises become gossip instead of evidence. It happens when the woman with the swollen eye is met with whispers rather than support. It happens when a victim gathers the courage to walk into a police station carrying the weight of fear, humiliation and pain, only to walk out carrying disappointment.

“Apathy” has become one of the most dangerous afflictions in The Bahamas.

It has crept into our homes, our communities, our institutions and, tragically, our consciences. We have become experts at compartmentalising suffering. We hear about abuse, violence and brutality and immediately distance ourselves from it and tell ourselves, “Thank God it isn’t my child.” “Thank God it isn’t my sister.” “Thank God it isn’t my home.”

Then we retreat into our sanctuaries while someone else’s daughter is left trying to survive hers.

The troubling reality is that many people do see the signs. They hear the arguments through the walls. They see the bruises hidden beneath makeup. They notice the sudden withdrawal, the broken spirit, the forced smile. They witness the missing tooth, the detached eye, the battered face. Yet silence prevails. No call is made. No intervention comes. No alarm is raised. Because somewhere along the way, we convinced ourselves that someone else would handle it.

But who handles it when the system itself is accused of failing? That’s the chilling question confronting many women in this country.

How many women have walked into a police station seeking protection only to discover that justice moves differently depending on who the accused is? How many have found themselves staring across desks at officers who know the perpetrator personally? How many have watched reports disappear into bureaucratic shadows while their abusers continue their lives uninterrupted?

These are not abstract fears. These are stories repeated in hushed conversations throughout communities.

Stories of women who lost hope. Stories of women who felt abandoned. Stories of women who concluded that the system was never built to protect them. To be clear, this is not an indictment of the entire Royal Bahamas Police Force. There are countless officers who serve honourably, who put themselves in danger daily, who genuinely believe in justice and protection. The leadership of the force has repeatedly demonstrated that misconduct is not tolerated. But leadership alone cannot erase the troubling perception at the station level.

Public concern is not merely about whether rogue behaviour exists. Every institution has bad actors. The concern is whether rogue behaviour is consistently identified, addressed, and punished. Because perception matters.

Because that’s where victims first encounter the system. That first report. That first interview. That first plea for help. And if that encounter fails, the damage is immeasurable.

If the public believes that an officer accused of violence against a woman can escape consequences because of friendships, influence or internal loyalties, trust begins to rot. Trust is the oxygen of policing. Without it, victims stop reporting. Witnesses stop speaking. Communities stop cooperating. And predators thrive. There are stories, too many stories, of women alleging that relationships between investigating officers and

accused individuals created barriers to justice. Whether every allegation is proven or not is almost secondary to the broader issue: people believe it can happen.

That belief alone is dangerous, because faith in institutions cannot survive suspicion forever.

The woman who enters a station after being beaten should never wonder whether the investigating officer plays dominoes with her alleged abuser.

She should never question whether friendships will outweigh evidence. She should never feel that she is the one under investigation. She should never leave believing she made a mistake by speaking up. Yet for some women, that appears to be their experience. Imagine the courage required to report abuse.

instead of people, society fails. When bystanders witness bruises and remain silent, society fails. Too often, we reserve outrage for when tragedy reaches our doorstep. Then suddenly the system becomes important. Suddenly, accountability matters and we demand action. But someone else demanded action months earlier and was ignored, begging for intervention and crying for help. Someone else carried the bruises. And we looked away. There is also a mental health dimension that receives far too little attention.

Victims do not simply “move on.” Trauma, fear and distrust linger.

To relive trauma. To expose intimate wounds. To admit vulnerability. Now imagine doing all of that only to feel dismissed. It breaks something inside people. And once broken, it’s difficult to restore.

The tragedy is compounded when the alleged perpetrator wears a uniform. Because the badge represents authority. Protection. Service. Trust.

The public grants law enforcement immense power because it expects discipline and accountability. An officer should know better. The standard cannot be lower because the badge is worn. It must be higher because of it. The oath is to serve and protect. Not intimidate. Not brutalise. Not maim. Not to exploit power.

The image of a woman battered and bruised by someone sworn to uphold the law is not merely an assault on her body, it’s an assault on public confidence. And confidence, once shattered, is difficult to rebuild.

The question then becomes: what happens after allegations surface? Is there a swift investigation? Is there independence? Is there transparency? Are victims protected? Are officers removed from duty pending inquiry? Are findings communicated? Or does the public hear silence? Because silence breeds assumptions. Assumptions breed distrust. Distrust breeds hopelessness. And hopelessness kills reporting. There must be visible accountability. Not symbolic accountability, accountability that the public can see. Not quite transfers. Not administrative reshuffling. Because examples matter. When consequences are visible, deterrence strengthens. When consequences are absent, impunity grows. No officer accused and proven guilty of causing bodily harm to a woman should expect special treatment. No badge should shield violence. No friendship should bury evidence. No rank should outweigh justice. The punishment must reflect not only the act but the betrayal of public trust. Because the public expectation is higher. It should be. Yet the burden cannot rest solely on the police. The wider society must confront its own failures. We cannot continue pretending domestic violence and abuse are private matters. They are public crises. When neighbours hear screaming and do nothing, society fails. When relatives tell victims to “work it out,” society fails. When communities protect reputations

Women who survive violence often carry invisible wounds long after physical injuries heal, Anxiety. Depression, isolation, hypervigilance, and Loss of self-worth.

The system often focuses on reports and procedures while forgetting the human being at the centre.

Who is caring for her?

Who follows up? Who ensures counselling? Who restores dignity?

Justice is not merely charging an offender, it’s rebuilding the victim. And too many women feel abandoned after the headlines fade.

The stories persist because hope persists. Women continue to report despite their disappointment because they still believe that justice exists somewhere. That hope must not be betrayed. The public needs reassurance, not through press releases, but through action.

The public needs to know that misconduct is investigated impartially. That relationships do not interfere. That no officer is above scrutiny. That victims matter. That bruises matter. That women matter.

The force itself should want this. Because every unresolved allegation damages honest officers, too. Every perception of cover-up stains the badge worn by those serving faithfully. Accountability protects institutions. It does not weaken them.

Transparency strengthens trust. It does not destroy it. The silence surrounding these issues has gone on too long. Too many women carry stories they never tell publicly. Too many have concluded there is no point in reporting, too many have lost faith. And that should alarm every Bahamian.

And please, don't believe for one second that many men would eagerly present themselves at a station to report abuse. They would be laughed out of the station because of the high level of ignorance and immaturity.

Because when citizens stop believing in justice, society enters dangerous territory. The challenge before us is larger than policy. It’s moral. Do we continue to accept apathy, to retreat into private comfort while others suffer publicly, and do we continue pretending abuse belongs only to the victim? Or do we decide that enough is enough?

Because “inhumanity to man” cannot continue unchecked. Not in homes, not in communities, not in institutions, not behind badges. Someone must be made an example of where wrongdoing exists. Not for vengeance, but for accountability, for deterrence, for trust; for every woman who walked into a station and left broken, for every victim who still waits, and for every daughter who deserves protection. The Bahamas cannot afford to be silent any longer. The bruises are speaking. The victims are speaking, and the stories are speaking. The question is whether we are finally prepared to listen.

Position Summary:

The Vice President, Engineering & Planning is a senior executive responsible for leading BGC’s overall engineering, system planning, and grid development strategy for the New Providence electrical network and broader system expansion initiatives. Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, the VP provides strategic leadership in system planning, protection and control oversight, capital development, and grid modernization.

This role ensures the safety, reliability, and future ready development of BGC’s electrical infrastructure by integrating long-term planning, engineering design, operational reliability, and capital investment strategy. The VP serves as the primary technical advisor to executive leadership on system capacity, infrastructure expansion, and network resilience.

Essential Functions:

Strategic Financial Leadership

Lead the development and execution of long term system planning strategies for generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure.

• Oversee load forecasting, capacity planning, and system expansion studies to ensure alignment with current and future demand growth.

• Direct preparation of integrated system expansion plans, including feeder, substation, and transmission development requirements. Identify system constraints, infrastructure gaps, and investment priorities to support reliable grid performance.

Power System Analysis & Grid Reliability

• Oversee advanced system studies including load flow, short circuit, voltage stability, contingency (N-1/N-2), and reliability assessments. Ensure engineering analysis supports safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the electrical network under normal and contingency conditions.

• Evaluate system performance under growth scenarios, DER integration, outages, and planned maintenance conditions.

Provide technical direction on system resilience, reliability improvement, and risk mitigation strategies.

Capital Planning & Infrastructure Development

• Lead engineering input into capital planning, budgeting, and long-term infrastructure investment programs.

Evaluate, prioritize, and justify capital projects including substations, feeder upgrades, transmission enhancements, and system automation initiatives.

• Oversee preparation of technical justification reports, engineering studies, and investment business cases.

Ensure alignment between engineering requirements and financial planning with the Finance function.

Protection, Control & System Engineering Oversight

Provide executive oversight of Protection & Control engineering standards, philosophies, and system reliability strategies.

• Ensure protection coordination, relay settings governance, and system security compliance across the grid.

• Support root-cause analysis of system disturbances, outages, and protection mis-operations.

Oversee integration of SCADA, automation systems, and grid control technologies in coordination with IT and Communications teams.

Grid Modernization & Technology Integration

• Lead grid modernization initiatives including automation, digital substations, advanced metering infrastructure, and smart grid technologies.

• Support integration of distributed energy resources (DER), renewable energy, and energy storage systems.

• Collaborate with Cybersecurity, IT, and Operations teams to ensure secure and resilient digital grid infrastructure.

Regulatory, Stakeholder & Executive Interface

• Serve as the primary technical advisor to executive leadership on engineering, system planning, and capital investment matters.

• Support regulatory filings, technical submissions, and compliance requirements with government and regulatory agencies. Represent BGC in technical discussions with consultants, government bodies, major customers, and industry stakeholders.

Leadership & Organizational Development

Provide leadership, direction, and oversight to engineering teams, including System Planning, Protection & Control, and related technical functions.

• Mentor senior engineers and develop technical leadership capability within the organization.

• Drive a culture of accountability, safety, innovation, and engineering excellence.

• Ensure succession planning and capability development within the Engineering Division.

Operations Support & System Response

Provide engineering leadership during system disturbances, outages, storm response, and restoration activities.

• Support real time operational decision-making in coordination with Control Room and Field Operations.

• Participate in emergency response planning and system recovery initiatives as required.

Other Requirements

• Must be available for emergency response, storm restoration, and critical system events.

• Ability to travel to substations, field sites, and operational facilities across The Bahamas.

Must Have valid Driver’s License

• Ability to work extended or irregular hours during outages or major capital projects.

• Must maintain confidentiality of sensitive system and infrastructure information.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, or a related discipline.

Professional Engineer designation or equivalent professional certification strongly preferred.

• Minimum of 15+ years of progressive experience in power system engineering, system planning, or utility operations, including senior leadership experience.

• Proven expertise in load forecasting, system planning studies, capacity analysis, and grid reliability assessments.

Demonstrated experience developing capital improvement plans, infrastructure investment strategies, and technical planning reports within a utility environment.

What’s In It for You:

Competitive compensation and performance based incentives

• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits

• Retirement savings plan with company matching

• Generous paid time off and leave benefits

• Life and accident insurance coverage

Opportunities for professional growth and career development

• Executive leadership role shaping the future of BGC’s power system, infrastructure, and grid modernization strategy.

• Direct influence on long term capital investment decisions and national energy reliability planning.

Opportunity to lead high impact engineering functions including system planning, protection strategy, and network development.

Applicants please reply to careers@bahamasgrid.net Deadline: May 22nd, 2026

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

“Of course I would never endanger a passenger’s life under any circumstances,” he said.

Mr Nixon, who gained his pilots’ licence aged 18 and has 15,000 flying hours under his belt, added: “I would not do any of that with the DEA. I was saying to myself, what would I gain from doing it? Like, money? I ain’t got none of that. So what, to get someone locked up? Like, I don’t even know the man. I wouldn’t wish that on my enemy.”

His lawyer Bjorn Ferguson added: “That’s emphatically denied. Absolutely no relationship or communication with any federal authorities.” An affidavit by a DEA Special Agent revealed at least three confidential sources had worked with the agency on The Bahamas operation.

Mr Ferguson said he had advised his client to speak in depth to The Tribune to dispel many of the ‘wild conspiracy theories’ circulating online and on social media. Among them are that Mr Nixon was working with the DEA - America’s primary federal agency tasked with combating drug trafficking and narcotics smuggling - and even that he intentionally ditched the plane at sea to allow US authorities to arrest Gardiner.

A high-ranking politician, ‘Politician-1,’ who has not been named, is implicated and is said to have met an undercover DEA source and a drugs mule pilot, to discuss a cocaine shipment allegedly worth $30m, inside the Bahamas Parliament Building. The DEA is said to have used at least three undercover cooperating sources (CSs).

Mr Ferguson described reports that Mr King was a CS who purposely ditched the plane as ‘totally absurd,’ adding: “Ditching a plane on purpose would have been intentionally putting his own life, and the lives of his ten passengers, at serious risk of injury or even death. No pilot in their right mind who do that.”

That was backed up by Major Elizabeth Piowaty, an Air Force Reserve aircraft commander and pilot with the 920th Rescue Wing, who assisted with the rescue mission, who said the day after the rescue: “I have not known anyone to survive ditching in the ocean. And from what I’ve seen,

for all those people to survive is pretty miraculous.”

Mr Ferguson said everyone on board owes their lives to his client’s cool handling of events, but he is instead having to deal with conspiracy allegations which are ‘so far wide of the mark it’s unbelievable.’

Theories about the May 12 incident have run wild because of the extraordinary sequence of events which led to the crash; because the plane was up to 80 nautical miles off course when it made its emergency landing; and because convicted international drug smuggler Jonathan ‘Player’ Gardiner was on board.

Also fuelling interest is the revelation that Mr Nixon was himself jailed in the US for cocaine importation, with intent to supply, nearly 20 years ago. Mr Ferguson says the conviction is long in Mr Nixon’s past.

“He may have done stupidness in his previous life, but, you know, he’s paid his debt to society, and he

where many people know many people, but the first time he ever met him was on the morning of the flight.”

Adds Mr Nixon: “You got to go back 20 years to find something on me. That should tell you something. If you got to go 20 years to find something on me, I mean, I’ve been clean ever since. I’ve been doing a lot of stuff. I got my business going, and I got my family.”

Mr Ferguson said he also wanted to dispel another theory – that his client was flying illegally without a pilots’ licence.

He admitted his client’s private pilots’ licence was revoked by the US after he was deported and also revoked in The Bahamas for a number of years. But Mr Nixon had successfully challenged that through the courts, it was reinstated, and he was once again flying legally in The Bahamas.

Mr Ferguson said his client was still traumatised by the crash.

Recounting the day in detail for the first time, Mr Nixon said it begun with meeting the man who appeared to be in charge of organising the day’s events – Gardiner – at Jet Nassau sometime after 8am. It was the first time the two men had met.

The chartered plane, a Beechcraft 300 King Air turboprop, was new to Mr

like ‘the cloud kick you out,’ but that day it felt very different - it made everyone in the plane jump, scream a little. After that, all the avionics went crazy. The screen of the flight management system (FMS) went blank.”

As back-up, Mr Nixon was using an iPad with the popular aviation app, ForeFlight, which many pilots use for such things as flight planning, weather briefings, navigation charts and airport diagrams. As a second back-up, he was using Garmin Pilot, Garmin’s equivalent to ForeFlight, on his Samsung phone. It would be hard to accuse Mr Nixon of being ill-prepared.

“But I lost the GPS signal on both of those at the same time,” he explains. “It was like – crazy. I’d never seen anything like that before in an airplane. No one had a signal on their phones. We lost all the signal. A few of us tried to call 911. We tried to call Nassau Tower from the phone. But the radios went out. I tried to call Miami. Tried to call Freeport. We couldn’t get no response on the radio. I wasn’t even hearing static. Maybe, I’d say, after five minutes or so, I started to descend, come through the clouds, and then the engines started to surge.

“First it was the left engine – it started to get overspeeds and the torque on the engine RPM was

moved on with his life,” he said. “He is a hard-working and happily married father of three who runs also runs his own business. He is not involved with Gardiner in any shape or form. He knows who he is, as do I, but this is a small country,

Nixon, and a slightly older aircraft than he usually flies. But it was very similar to others he had flown in the past, with the same instruments, but with avionics - the equipment pilots rely on to fly safely, communicate, and navigate - a little older than he was used to.

It was a packed flight, nine passengers, including Gardiner, filling the seats in the back of the plane, and one lady sitting up front alongside Mr Nixon in the co-pilot’s seat. The first leg, to Marsh Harbour, was uneventful. It left at 9.15am. The 22- or 23-minute journey was uneventful and once the plane landed, Gardiner and all but two or three passengers, deplaned. Whether Gardiner met with anyone in the terminal at Marsh Harbour is not known, but he was seen walking around and rounding up the new passengers for the second leg of the onward journey to Freeport. The flight left about 15 minutes after arriving.

Again, it was a fully packed flight, nine in the back, one lady in the co-pilot’s seat, and a number in the back decked out in their blue and gold PLP colours - returning to their Grand Bahama constituency to vote. The 96-mile flight, one Mr Nixon had flown many times previously, was scheduled to take between 15-20 minutes.

Mr Nixon takes up the story.

“I’d say about between five and ten minutes out of Marsh Harbour, we are coming out of the clouds at 8,000 feet, when something… it like something hit the airplane, and then everything started to go crazy.

“It didn’t feel like normal turbulence. I always call it,

open the emergency exits. I was scared, yes, I couldn’t believe I was having to put the airplane in the water, but I tried to make it as much like a regular landing as I could. I was just concentrating on making sure that I put the airplane down correctly, safely, because I know if I could do that, then I could probably save everybody.”

The plane hit the water with a loud thud and ploughed through the waves before coming to a stop. No one was screaming, said Mr Nixon. One of the passengers was injured when he opened the main door and it flew back, off its hinges and smashed into his shoulder. Several others suffered injuries and there were reports of one suffering a heart attack. It is not known exactly how long the airplane was in the air, although it has been suggested the ordeal lasted over an hour.

Adds Mr Nixon: “As soon as we came to a stop, the first thing I thought was thank God we didn’t die.” As water gushed though the plane and into the cockpit, passengers scrambled to safety, jumping into the waves and, with the help of others, scrambling up on to the aircraft’s wings.

“We were able to stand on the wings for a few minutes, and I went back in one more time, to make sure everyone was safely out of the plane,” said Mr Nixon Then they jumped into the inflated life rafts and watched in amazement as, within minutes, the aircraft sunk below the surface and disappeared. The crash survivors then drifted in life rafts for five hours in three to five-foot waves before being rescued and flown to Melbourne airport in Florida.

With the investigation into the crash ongoing, it is not yet known whether traffic controllers in Freeport or Miami ever received Mr Nixon’s Mayday distress messages.

going like almost two times as fast as it should go. Then it cut off. So, I was thinking about all of the things I had to do to reduce this, to keep the airplane in the air, so I didn’t want to descend.

“Then maybe, I’d say ten minutes later, the right engine went out. I tried to reset everything... tried to reset things multiple times. I got the left engine restarted once it shut off. Once I got the left engine reset, the FMS came back up briefly, and it showed me 40 miles west of Freeport. So, I turned towards Freeport...I turned back to the east to go 40 miles, and I was able to get in contact with Freeport, to tell them the fuel gauge was fluctuating. They acknowledged my Mayday message, giving my location, but it went off again after less thanfive minutes. Regarding the fuel, I thought I might have 30 minutes left, it could be 45 minutes, but I left with what should have been enough for about two hours. But it wasn’t showing that on the fuel gage. And like a minute after that, this right engine shut off. I knew I had no choice but to put it in the water.

“I started to look for land because of the surging of the engines, and I’ve got the passengers freaking out in the back. So, I’m just trying to get the airplane flying at this time. Once I lost both engines, I didn’t circle, I just picked a spot ahead of me. I circled once or twice around because I spotted a boat. I looked for boats hoping they would see us, and I brought the airplane down, controlling it as much as I could as we glided in.

“I got everyone ready, told them to put on the life vests, and shouted out about the emergency exits, how to

Last week, survivor Olympia Outten wept as she recalled how she feared all 11 people aboard would die after the plane nose-dived into the ocean.The Grand Bahama resident, who is unable to swim and is terrified of sharks, described her terror at having to jump from the stricken aircraft into a ‘black sea,’ before being helped to scramble on to one of the wings of the downed plane.

“We thought we was going to die,” Ms Outten, 43, said.

A number of passengers were injured as the plane landed 80 miles off the Florida coast. They and the pilot then drifted in life rafts in open water for five hours before being rescued by the crew a US military helicopter which was in the area on a training exercise.

A helicopter from the US Air Force 920th Rescue Wing was on a training mission when it was redirected to assist in the search and rescue effort after an emergency locator transmitter signal alerted the US Coast Guard about a potential distress situation. The rescuers worked against the clock to bring all the passengers to safety before the helicopters needed to refuel.

Mr Nixon said he was as shocked as anyone to later discover one of his passengers, Gardiner, known as ‘Player,’ had been arrested on narcotics charges after he was forced to ditch into the ocean.

Asked whether he would fly again, Mr Nixon said he was unsure.

“I’m not even thinking about that right now,” he said. “I’m not sure if I’m going back.”

The day Gardiner’s life - along with the plane on

which he was

a passenger - came crashing down

By DAVID LEIGH Tribune Editor-in-Chief daleigh@tribunemedia.net

WHEN Jonathan ‘Player’ Gardiner left Nassau on the now infamous election day charter flight early on the morning of May 12 – to do whatever it was he was tasked with doing that day - the last place on earth the big-time drug kingpin would have wanted to end up was in the United States of America.

For two very good reasons. Just over a decade earlier, in 2014, he was deported from the US and ordered never to return. He was eight years into an 18-year prison sentence for being a member of a major drug trafficking ring smuggling cocaine from South America, through The Bahamas and into the US.

Secondly, on the day of the crash, he was alleged to be carrying $30,000 in cash, ‘packed in a manner consistent with narcotics proceeds,’ according to a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agent. Exactly why he was carrying the money is not known, but it’s a safe bet to say that US authorities will have asked.

That morning, Gardiner arrived bright and early at Jet Nassau, a private jet terminal at Lynden Pindling International Airport. Jet Nassau is what’s known as a Fixed-based operator (FBO), a company specialising in operating private and charter jets for those wanting to avoid the hassle of commercial terminals; somewhere from which people can easily fly to neighbouring islands, or abroad, on private or chartered aircraft.

Around 8.15am, Gardiner met for the first time with pilot Ian Nixon, who a little over 24 hours earlier had received a phone call from a fellow pilot asking if he was available for an island-hopping job the following day. Mr Nixon, a freelance pilot who also runs his own family business selling solar panels, was not told for exactly who he would be working. But, having been told there were multiple flights involved, and thus a nice little payday, he happily took the job. What he did understand was that he would be carrying PLP supporters to vote in the election, as is common for both parties at election time.

including Mr Nixon and Gardiner, were shown to a large, open room. There were tables and airport-style chairs to sit on.

“Quite a few people had bags they brought from the plane – I didn’t have mine; it went down with the airplane,” said Mr Nixon. He is not aware of any of the survivors being searched. The Red Cross provided food and refreshments.

Mr Nixon said there was never a sense that they were being held against their will or that anyone was going to be

At Jet Nassau, it became obvious to Mr Nixon that Gardiner who seemed ‘friendly enough,’ was in charge of the day’s operations. He was the one with the flight plans, which he handed over. Nassau to Marsh Harbour, Abaco, on to Freeport, Grand Bahama, then back to Nassau. Later in the day he would return to Freeport to pick up Gardiner, and again return him to Nassau. It is still not known who chartered the plane, although what seems certain is that it was chartered to ferry PLP supporters to vote in Abaco and Grand Bahama. “It was a flight to move passengers to vote,” said Mr Nixon.

Quite why Gardiner was on the flight, directing operations, is not known. It’s also not known who asked him to be there. After being deported from the US, the now 58-year-old appears to have quickly done well for himself. Just three years later, in 2017, he was listed as ‘President and a director’ of Nassau-based construction company, Top Notch Builders Ltd, which that year secured a $34m public-private partnership (PPP) deal with the Government. It was signed the day before the general election. Other documents seen by Tribune Business show that Top Notch Builders received a ten-acre Crown Land grant involving property on the northern side of Adelaide Road on February 15, 2022, which would have been almost six months after the September 2021 general election was held.

According to a May 15 indictment from the Southern District of New York, Gardiner also allegedly returned to a business with which he was well acquainted –drug smuggling. For at least the last three years, he was the subject of a DEA undercover cocaine smuggling operation, with drugs from Columbia transiting through The Bahamas and on to Drug Trafficking Organisation (DTO) in Georgia, via Miami.The indictment

from US prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, claims that in recent years, Gardiner used his businesses to launder money from the proceeds of his crimes.

Returning to election day, the first flight to Marsh Harbour was uneventful. Gardiner deplaned with the majority of passengers at Marsh Harbour, and appeared to be the person rounding up a new set of passengers for the onward journey to Freeport.

As has been well-documented, that flight ran into huge problems, with both engines and its navigation equipment failing and with pilot Nixon being forced to make a crash landing at sea. After nearly five hours floating adrift in life rafts, Mr Nixon, Gardiner and his fellow nine passengers, were rescued by the crew of a US military helicopter and flown to Melbourne Orlando International Airport at Melbourne, Florida. Everyone was first checked out at a local hospital. Then all the passengers – except Gardiner and Mr Nixon – were fingerprinted and officially checked into the US by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Says Mr Nixon: “Yea, they fingerprint everyone else beside me and Gardiner. I find that really strange. I was thinking they probably knew who he was from his ID. I had my ID with me, my driver’s license, so they could see who I was.” But nothing untoward happened.

“The only thing they asked me was if I was carrying any cash, which I wasn’t.”

It seems probable that Gardiner would have been asked the same question but whether or not he declared anything is not known. US prosecutors later revealed he was carrying $30,000 inside an envelope containing the name of a Bahamian politician, the mysterious ‘Politician-1.’ After that, those not detained in the medical centre for treatment,

“There were CBP officers walking about but the room wasn’t locked,” he said.

After a restless night, with little sleep, the party was told they would be flown back to Nassau around lunch-time.

“It was about ten minutes before the flight was due to leave that they came and got me and Gardiner and put us in a cell,” adds Mr Nixon, who says no explanation was given.

“All I said to Gardiner was ‘are they lying to us or something?’” recalls Mr Nixon. He wondered whether his detention was because he had been deported for a drugs conviction twenty years earlier – though his return to the US on this occasion was obviously totally unplanned. About ten minutes later, Mr Nixon was freed and allowed to join the passengers on the flight returning to Nassau, leaving just Gardiner in the cell.

Mr Nixon said he had no knowledge of his passenger’s previous arrest, charges or deportation. It is not known why Gardiner was not arrested on arrival at Melbourne airport, only the following day, but it would seem new information about his alleged ongoing criminal activities must have come to light overnight. It was only when Mr Nixon returned to Nassau that he discovered, along with everyone else, that Gardiner had been arrested and indicted on drug smuggling conspiracy charges. It was revealed he was carrying three phones and a cross-body bag with approximately $30,000 in Bahamian currency, the US DEA said. The cash was packed ‘in a manner consistent with narcotics proceeds,’ DEA Special Agent Michael Coleman said in charging documents. The money had a handwritten label of a person's name – which was redacted in court documents and referred to as ‘Politician-1.’

Gardiner, a known international narcotics trafficker based in the Bahamas, according to the DEA, appeared in court in Orlando, Florida, on Friday May 15. He was charged with cocaine

importation conspiracy, court documents, filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), revealed. He is alleged to be a major supplier of drugs for a Georgia-based Drug Trafficking Organisation (DTO), supplying narcotics from South America, passing through The Bahamas, and into the US. According to DEA wire taps, he allegedly sent nine kilograms of cocaine through Miami in February 2023 to Georgia. Although he was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, May 21, that hearing never happened. The day before, a SDNY press officer told The Tribune: “There are no scheduled events at this time.”

Adding to the intrigue, no one has so far admitted to chartering the plane, which was largely carrying PLP supporters to vote in their own constituencies on different islands on election day, as is common practice for both parties. Why there is so much secrecy over who chartered the plane is unclear.

Other than one passenger, Olympia Outten, who gave a dramatic account of the rescue at a press conference the day after the crash, no one else has spoken. A number of her fellow passengers who posted accounts on Facebook declined to speak when contacted by The Tribune. Some said their lawyers had advised against it. A number of the passengers were put up in an all-inclusive beach resort after being flown back to Nassau. It is not known exactly why or at whose expense.

The Bahamas government has officially requested that US authorities provide information regarding the ongoing investigation, which links ‘Politician-1’ and local law enforcement officers to a multimillion-dollar international drug trafficking and smuggling ring based in Georgia. Details were revealed by a DEA special agent in an 11-page affidavit after Gardiner was arrested in Florida. Gardiner’s arrest appears to connect him to the Georgia-based drug syndicate named in the November 2024 indictment of former Royal Bahamas Police Force chief superintendent Elvis Nathaniel Curtis and others on federal narcotics and firearms charges.

That indictment alleged the group trafficked drugs through The Bahamas and into the United States with help from corrupt Bahamian government officials, including politicians and senior members of the police and defence forces.

Last week, PLP MP for West Grand Bahama, Kingsley Smith, issued a statement about his alleged role in arranging the election day flight calling it “salacious, defamatory and ill-conceived.”

But he did not actually address whether or not he played any role in arranging the flight, saying only: “We will get to that at some point.”

Mr Smith’s name surfaced after Ms Outten claimed he helped arrange travel for her family on the flight after a ticketing mix-up. She claimed a flight agent mistakenly booked

her and her family on the wrong flight, prompting her to contact Mr Smith. “He told me, ‘Miss Outten don’t worry, we sending in a charter, a charter coming in from Nassau, you and your children can jump on that charter because he sending them there for us,’” she said. “That’s how we got to go on that plane. Me and my sons weren’t supposed to be on that plane. We were supposed to be on Flamingo Air.”

Mr Smith said he was aware of news stories about him and called them “an obvious attempt to argue a negative.”

A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister last week made clear the DEA has kept the government and local law enforcement completely in the dark regarding the three-year narcotics investigation, much of it with undercover ‘co-operating sources’ working on Bahamian soil.

Yesterday (Monday), Foreign Affairs Minister and PLP chairman Fred Mitchell said in his daily voice note that there had been a lot of ‘uninformed and unfounded speculation and chat’ about the plane crash, led by FNM chairman Dr Duane Sands, especially about the $30,000 cash alleged to have been found on the plane.

“The speculations are fanciful and again are an example of people putting two and two together and making it five,” he said. He said he and FNM leader Michael Pintard were like ‘donkeys braying at the moon,’ and ‘engaging like potcake dogs after you have left the yard barking from the sidelines.’

He said: “All campaign long, they were hoping that the US Ambassador and the US Government, supported by the local and international and US press, would intervene to cause some fatal blow to the PLP’s election chances. That failed during the campaign, but on election day there was a misadventure of a plane crash and cash found, allegedly, with a politician’s name on it, unnamed.” He predicted that the story would become ‘a big fat nothing burger’ when the truth eventually came out.

However, Shanendon Cartwright, Deputy Leader of the FNM, said some of the allegations made against Gardiner ‘strike at the core of public trust in our democracy.’ He added: “For the good of our country and the Bahamian people Prime Minister you must act now!

“As Prime Minister he has an obligation and duty to determine within his power and lawful means who possibly in his cabinet , who in his caucus is Politician-1. The credibility of this government, our parliamentary institution, and the rule of law itself is on the line. The government should request assistance from the Royal Bahamas Police Force Anti-Corruption Unit and invite oversight from an independent. Parliament cannot be a venue for criminal negotiations.”

BGF hosts its final trials ahead of the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships fast approaching, the Bahamas Golf Federation hosted its final trials over the weekend at the Royal Blue Golf Club to complete Team Bahamas.

The Bahamas will host this year's CAGC Championships from August 2-7 at the Royal Blue Golf Club. Last year, the Bahamas finished fifth at the Barbados Golf Club in Bridgetown, Barbados.

The men's division for the Hoerman Cup team saw Alexander Rowland, Devaughn Robinson, Nolan Johnson, Sebastian Calzad and Richard Gibson Jr clinch the final five spots.

They will be joined by BGF president Lynford Miller, who earned the top spot by winning the BGF's National Amateur Championships.

On the ladies' side, Maddison Carroll and Anissa Robinson secured the final two spots for the

George Teale Cup to join the national champion Chemari Pratt.

During the two-day trials over the weekend at the Royal Blue Golf Club, Rowland shot rounds of 72 and 70 for his total of 142 for the top spot.  Robinson was second with 72-71-143, Johnson third with 73-70-148, Calzada fourth with 75-76151 and Gibson Jr was fifth with 73-77-153. Rowland, who spent the past two years competing for Little Rock Arkansas, will be entering the transfer portal in a few weeks to determine where he will play his junior year in college.  The Albany Golf Academy graduate feels the tournaments this summer will really benefit him whenever he ends up in school.

"The course played tough. Both days were windy. But I think I went out there and played as best as I could under the circumstances," Rowland said. "The course was in great condition. Hopefully it will

get better by the time the tournament rolls around in August."

As a member of Team Bahamas for the past two years at the CAGC, Rowland said he struggled a bit, but he's hoping to play in a few tournaments over the next two months to help sharpen his game.

After making a decision between work, family and playing as a pro, Robinson said he decided to "swallow" his pride and give up his pro status to go back to competing as an amateur.

Still residing in Houston, Texas with his wife and children and working as an architect by profession, Robinson said he came home and performed as best as he could to secure this spot on Team Bahamas.

"I am proud of the way I performed. I didn't have that kind of pressure as I did playing as a pro," Robinson said.

"It was a good platform to build on for the next few tournaments leading up to the CAGC."

Having played on the Professional Golf Association's Korn Kerry Tour in January a few times, Robinson said he knows what it's like to perform in front of the home crowd and the CAGC will be no different.

"I'm looking forward to it. I know we will have a good solid group of guys and girls, so I don't see any reason why we can't put up a solid fight to win it," Robinson said.

Johnson, in earning the third spot at the trials, said it was a performance he too was pleased to walk away with.

"I was able to take it one shot at a time and take advantage of the opportunities that came my way," he said.

"I started off the tournament a little rocky. I had a big number on my second hole, but somehow I was able to put it together and bring in a respectable round."

Having played on at least 6-7 national teams at the CAGC, Johnson said this would probably be the second time he will do

it at home, so he wants to make this a special one.

"I'm actually glad and humble to do so," he insisted.

"I feel my game is in a much better position than it was a few years ago when we last hosted it," he said.

"So I'm looking to bring in a good performance here while I'm playing here. We want to let everybody know that we will be out here trying our best to bring the trophy home."

Gibson Jr has been on quite a number of national teams and although he didn't perform at his best, he felt he did what he had to do to get on another team.

"I definitely needed that exercise," said Gibson Jr about having to walk the course on both days, "As I get older, I think I've changed a lot in terms of how I view the game right now.

"Instead of getting mad over bad shots, I just let it go and play the next one and then I think about it when it's over and done with.

“But I know I could have played better than I did,” he said.

Gibson Jr said it would have been good to travel for the CAGC, but there's no better place than to play at home.

So once the tournament gets underway, they are going to give it their best shot.

Carroll won the ladies' competition with 75-78 and Robinson was the runner-up with 77-78-155.

"I feel like these two rounds showed me that I have more work to do and more course management to work on," she said. "I feel like I still performed okay, but I still need more work on the other parts to my game."

With the tournament being tagged at home, Carroll said it should work out in her favour. "I really know how the greens break and how the fairways run, so it's always a good opportunity to play home."

Carroll said it would be no better feeling than to come out and win it all at home.

‘Wemby’ scores 33 to help Spurs rebound and trounce Thunder to even West finals

By RAUL DOMINGUEZ Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three blocks and the San Antonio Spurs held Oklahoma City to its second-lowest postseason total, beating the Thunder 103-82 in Game 4 on Sunday night to tie the Western Conference finals.

De'Aaron Fox had 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for San Antonio, which has not lost three consecutive games all season. Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell added 13 points each.

“You definitely don’t want to go down 3-1 going into their house,” Vassell said. “We knew we had to respond and that’s how you respond. You get stops. You don’t try and focus on the offensive end, you get stops, you get out of transition. You guard your yard and that’s what we did.”

Game 5 is tonight in Oklahoma City, followed by Game 6 on Thursday in San Antonio.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 19 points on 6-for-15 shooting for the Thunder.

Wembanyama took Oklahoma City's 123-108 victory Friday in Game 3 personally. The 7-foot-4 star from France said he needed to be better to make his teammates better. He was monumentally better Sunday night — and so was San Antonio.

“We all have high standards and I know I have a lot of responsibilities, but I’m here for it,” Wembanyama said. “Yeah, it was better today. It wasn’t perfect. But, you know, all of us,

I’m talking about the whole organization, so we’re going to have to do things that we didn’t sign up for.”

The Spurs limited the Thunder to 33% shooting from the field, including 6 for 33 on 3-pointers (18%).

“I think we made a great defensive adjustment,” Vassell said. “I don’t want to say what it was. We were just able to rotate the shooters and not give them so many wide-open 3s. I feel like they had so

many wide-open 3s over the past couple games and you've got to respect them, especially if they’re making them. So, we were trying to cut them out with that and just stay playing fast.”

After being outscored 76-23 in bench points in

Game 3, San Antonio's reserves scored 30 points while limiting Oklahoma City to 34.

The Spurs had another hot start in Game 4 after opening the previous game on a 15-0 run. Unlike Friday’s lopsided loss, the Spurs never relinquished that lead. “They just punched us in our face early,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s two games in a row they’ve come out the aggressor. The last game we

were able to course correct. Tonight, we just didn’t do so.”

After blocking Jared McCain’s layup under the rim, Vassell tossed an alleyoop pass to Wembanyama for a dunk as part of 16-0 run that gave the Spurs a 23-8 lead with 4:19 remaining. “I feel like with who we are, we need to start games like this,” Wembanyama said, “but it really doesn’t mean anything for the way it holds. I mean, it helps for

sure, but it’s a whole 'nother type of effort to be consistent rather than just hitting first.”

San Antonio had an assist on all 10 field goals in the first quarter. San Antonio held Oklahoma City to 38 points in the first half, tied for its second-lowest half in the past four regular and postseasons. The Thunder are 2-9 when they score less than 40 points in any half over the last five seasons.

Devynne lowers her national record in 100 hurdles

ATHLETES, from Page 14

(22.38) both had season’s bests for third and fourth and Jenna Prandini rounded out the top five in 22.46. Miller-Uibo, 32, is making her comeback after having her second child. She is concentrating on the 200m this year where she holds the national record at 21.74. Her 400m mark is pegged at 48.36.

Gary Wilson Invitational  It was a double dose of victory in the men’s sprints for Grand Bahamian Zion Campbell at the Gary Wilson Invitational on their home field at the University of Minnesota

Track and Field Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Campbell, in his senior year at Minnesota, ran a lifetime best of 10.00 to clinch the title in the men’s 100m, placing him third on the all-time Bahamian list behind co-national record holders Derrick Atkins and Terrence Jones, both at 9.92. Samson Colebrooke is now fourth at 10.01. Wanyae Belle of the British Virgin Islands was the runner-up in 10.07. Campbell, the Pan American Under-20 champion, came back and picked up another victory in the 200m in 20.49.  Jayden Green from Barbados was second in the half-lap race in 20.65.

Also at the meet, 2022 Commonwealth Games champion LaQuan Nairn soared to victory in the men’s long jump with his leap of 25-051/2 (7.76m) on his third attempt. Nairn, 29, also had a mark of 24-07 (7.49m) on his first, but fouled his second, fourth and fifth.

His nearest rival was Hakeem Ford of Minnesota with 25-001/2 (7.63m).

USATF

Continental At the United States of America Track and Field Continental Championships at the Tucson Elite Classic, women’s national record holder Rhema Otabor picked up a third place finish in the javelin.

Public Notice

Otabor, coming off her victory with 202-0 (61.57m) in Shanghai the week before, cleared her best toss of 192-feet, 10-inches on her fifth attempt for third place in a field of 11 competitors.

The 23-year-old Bahamian national record holder at 210-4 (64.13m) had a series of throws that included 191-10 (58.48m) on her first try, 183-06 (56.94m) on her second, a foul on her third, 192-02 (58.59m) on her fourth and a foul on her sixth and final toss.

The American duo of Madison Wiltrout and Sarah Blake posted a 1-2 finish. Wiltrout had the winning heave of 209-07 (63.88m) on her fourth try and Blake

Public Procurement Opportunities – Posting

In accordance with the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2023, the Ministry of Finance will publish, on May 28th, 2026, procurement opportunities awarded via the Bonfire eProcurement portal, during the period March 1st – 31st, 2026. The information will initially be posted to the following websites:

www.bahamas.gov.bs

mofvendors.gov.bs

did 195-10 (59.69m) on her first toss.

Pure Athletics

Sprint Elite Meet At the 2026 Pure Athletics Sprint Elite Meet at the National Training Center, Adam Musgrove came in 11th in the men’s 100m in 10.34, while Ian Kerr trailed in 13th in 10.39.

Lawrence Johnson, competing unattached, won the event in 10.05.

The duo advanced to the finals during the preliminary rounds where Kerr ran the 17th fastest time of 10.48 and Musgrove was 21st overall in 10.58. They came back in the 200m where Musgrove placed 10th in 20.77 and

Kerr was 12th in 20.80. Jose Figueroa, unattached, won the race in 20.02. Internationales Pfingstsportfest

Rehlingen At the 2026 Internationales Pfingstsportfest Rehlingen in Rehlingen, Germany, Anthaya Charlton placed third in the women’s 100m in 11.33 after she clocked a season’s best of 11.29 in the preliminaries. Charlton also competed in the long jump where she was ninth overall with her best leap of (6.27m) on her second attempt. She also cleared 19-8 (5.99m) and 20-51/4 (6.23m) on her third and fifth tries, while scratching her first, fourth and sixth tries.

UB STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT ENCOURAGES YOUNG WOMEN TO APPLY

A UNIVERSITY of The Bahamas student is encouraging young women to apply for a scholarship programme that recognises determination and academic growth, saying the award helped ease the financial pressures of starting college.

Alysse Holbert, last year’s recipient of the Nassau Bahamas Alumnae Chapter’s Most Improved Student Scholarship Award, said the support allowed her to focus more on her studies during her freshman year at UB, where she is pursuing a degree in marine science.

“Coming from a single-parent home, my mother carries the brunt of the financial responsibilities alone, and receiving this scholarship gave me the ability to purchase school supplies and clothing items I needed,” Ms Holbert said. She urged eligible students to apply for this year’s awards and not underestimate the value of their personal journeys.

“Don’t be afraid to put yourself and your story out there,” she said. “Starting can be the hardest part, and many people simply need that initial push to get the ball rolling.”

The Nassau Bahamas Alumnae Chapter (NBAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is currently accepting applications for its annual Bessie Mae Bowe-Rolle Most Improved Private School Student Scholarship Award and the Dr Dame Doris Johnson Most Improved Public School Student Scholarship Award.

The scholarships, established in the early 1990s, recognise female high school students who have shown academic improvement, resilience and perseverance. Each recipient will receive $1,000 toward their education.

NBAC president Krystal Culmer said the awards celebrate students who continue striving despite challenges.

“These scholarships were established to honour young women who demonstrate determination, resilience, and a commitment to improving themselves academically and personally,” Ms Culmer said. Applications close on May 31, 2026, and more information is available through dstnbac.com.

My child can’t read, but we’re talking about

By Allandra Russell

A CHILD sits in a classroom reading two grade levels behind. Another struggles to formulate complete sentences. A third processes information differently, quietly left behind by a system not designed for how they learn, while a fourth has simply disengaged altogether from an educational experience that no longer feels meaningful. Meanwhile, teachers are expected to bridge every gap, differentiate for every learner, adapt to constant reforms, and now navigate a rapidly accelerating conversation surrounding artificial intelligence in education. We simply cannot discuss the future of education while ignoring the children being left behind by the present.

In many educational spaces, there is a dangerous assumption that technology alone will close learning gaps. First came the Promethean board frenzy. Then came the push for tablets and one-to-one devices. Now, the conversation has shifted toward AI. But how do we justify racing toward the bleeding edge of technology when the foundational, human-level needs of our students and educators aren't being met? How do we talk about algorithms and artificial intelligence when our classrooms

are overcrowded, basic instructional resources are missing, and comprehensive teacher training remains unaddressed?

Then there are the parents. Amidst grand announcements of technological advancement, parent frustration is quietly reaching a boiling point. Parents are less concerned with the hype surrounding innovation and more concerned with whether their child is actually receiving the support needed to succeed.

To be clear, I understand the power and potential of these tools because I see it firsthand in my own practice. I use technology, I advocate for innovation, and I have witnessed how meaningful integration can increase engagement, improve accessibility, and create opportunities for students who often struggle within traditional learning environments. However, my support for innovation comes with an important caveat: we must be incredibly careful in how we implement it. Without proper frameworks, intentional observation, and rigorous data collection, we risk doing more harm than good.

We risk overwhelming teachers with yet another initiative layered onto already demanding workloads. We risk introducing tools into systems where

curriculum, assessment models, and instructional practices have not yet evolved to support them meaningfully. We risk placing the carriage before the horse; and this is often how expensive educational tools end up gathering dust long after the excitement and headlines disappear. Technology should never lead education; it should support it. Teachers, relationships, and sound instructional strategies remain the true foundations of learning. Technology is most powerful when it strengthens those pillars, not when it attempts to replace them.

The reality is that AI entered educational spaces faster than educators could fully understand it. In our urgency to innovate, we must resist the temptation to implement solutions simply to fill a void. Educational innovation cannot simply be imported. It must be researched, contextualized, and adapted to fit the cultural realities, learning needs, and social dynamics of the students sitting in our classrooms.

Perhaps the questions we must begin asking are deeper than whether AI belongs in schools:

* Where has implementation produced measurable growth, and where has it failed?

AI

* Which students benefit most, and which continue to be marginalized?

* Crucially, how much intentional, national research have we truly conducted regarding how Bahamian students learn, retain information, and develop literacy?

Research must drive instruction.

If students are still struggling to read fluently, we must have the courage to ask why. A nation can never rise beyond the education of its people. The future of education cannot be trend-driven. It must be researched, intentional, and above all, reflect the realities of the children sitting in our classrooms every single day.

Allandra Russell is an educator with nearly two decades of experience in The Bahamas. She holds degrees in both General and Special Education and is the owner of Turning Pages Literacy Center as well as the founder of The Teachers’ Hub. Deeply passionate about literacy, student success, and teacher empowerment, she believes that with the right tools and support, every child can thrive, and every teacher can lead with confidence.

Devynne Charlton lowers her national record in 100 hurdles

By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FOR the second consecutive weekend, Devynne Charlton lowered her Bahamian national women’s 100m hurdles record, while Shaunae Miller-Uibo improved on her season’s best performance in the 200m. The duo both competed at the Xiamen Diamond League meet in China over the weekend, while Grand Bahamian Zion Campbell and LaQuan Nairn highlighted the performances of several Bahamians in action in the United States of America and Anthaya Charlton made her season debut in Germany.

XIAMEN DL

After lowering her national record to 12.38 the week before with her second place behind American Masai Russell (meet record and world-leading time of 12.25) at the Shanghai Diamond League, Charlton finished third in 12.37 for another national record.

• Anthaya Charlton makes her season debut in Germany

• Shaunae Miller-Uibo improves on her season’s best in 200

• Zion Campbell has double dose of victory in the sprints

• LaQuan Nairn soars to victory in the long jump

• Rhema Otabor picks up third-place finish in javelin

Russell ran 12.14 for the victory as she claimed an area record, Diamond League record, meet record and world-leading time, holding off world record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria in 12.28.

Abusan's world record stands at 12.12 that she did at the World Championships at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on July 24, 2022.

Bahamian Rolando

“Lonnie” Greene is the head coach of Charlton, the 28-year-old world indoor 60m hurdles twotime champion and world

record holder, and Russell, the 25-year-old Olympic champion, in Lexington, Kentucky. Greene, the head coach at the University of Kentucky, has predicted that either Charlton or Russell will eventually erase Amusan's record from the book. Charlton's national record stands at 12.38. Miller-Uibo placed second in her first season's best of 22.26 behind Jamaican Shericka Jackson (22.07) in Shanghai as well, pushing her season's best to 22.04 for another second place in Xiamen.  Jackson stayed ahead of another solid field of competitors with her victory in a meet record and season's best of 21.87. Americans Anavia Battle (22.04) and Sha'Carri Richardson

SEE ATHLETES, Page 14

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS AGAIN: The Fidelity/Central Gas

Mile Rock Gymnasium in Grand Bahama.

Fidelity/Central Gas Panthers dominate Battle of the Islands

Volleyball Tournament in GB

THE Fidelity/Central Gas Panthers Volleyball Team returned from Grand Bahama where they continued their dominance of the Battle of the Islands Volleyball Tournament.The Panthers, coached by Jason Saunders, captured their third consecutive title by knocking off Abaco 2-1 in a highly contested championship game played on Sunday at the Eight Mile Rock Gymnasium.  Jannelle Curtiss was the tournament's most valuable player and Sari Albury was best attacker. The other members of the team were Khalea Johnson, Shantia McPhee, Eunice Johnson, Je’Nae Greene, Leandrea Johnson, Latavia Braynen, Brianca Butterfield, Jashai Burrows and Vanricka Rose. The tournament was hosted by the Grand Bahama Volleyball Association, headed by president Whitney Armbrister. Outside of the Bahamas Games, this is the top volleyball tournament in the country. Non-Bahamians are also invited to play. This year, three players from the US played for the Abaco "A" team which was beaten by the Panthers for the championship. The Panthers are also the six-time champions of the New Providence Volleyball Association.