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The Tribune L AT E S T
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T R I B U N E 2 4 2 . C O M
Biggest And Best!
Volume: 123 No. 145, Tuesday, June 23, 2026
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1
MITCHELL PLANS $34M FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPEND
$20m on new Foreign Affairs HQ and $14m London office renovation By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has unveiled ambitious plans to spend a combined $34m on a new Nassau headquarters building and renovating the High Commission’s building in London with further investment to include two new “protocol houses”. The ministry’s expansion goals are unveiled in its 2026-2027 annual plan, released alongside the Government’s Budget, in which it also discloses the proposed opening of a new
consulate general office in Nova Scotia, Canada, plus an increase in passport office locations from 20 to 24 within the next 12 months through additional sites in communities such as Mangrove Cay and Mayaguana. No specific timeline was provided for the new Ministry of Foreign Affairs building or UK renovations, although the annual plan signalled these are “medium to long-term” projects that will not start construction in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Nevertheless, the report SEE BUSINESS FOR STORY
ABACO MAN KILLED IN AMBUSH NEAR CONTROVERSIAL BAR Teen faces long recovery after severe e-bike crash
LESA Turner holds the hand of her 14-year-old son Choy ‘CJ’ Turner, who has been hospitalised for four months after a bicycle accident left him with traumatic brain injuries.
GUNMEN ambushed and killed a 32-year-old Abaco man near a Dundas Town nightclub early yesterday, reigniting residents’ demands for the business to be shut down after months of complaints about noise, safety and its location in the middle of a residential community. Smithy Belfort was shot
in the lower abdomen after entering his Honda near Bootle’s Drive and preparing to reverse, police said. He reportedly crashed into bushes near Forest Drive, where officers later found him. A second man, 20, was also injured. Police said he
By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net A 14-YEAR-OLD CW Saunders student remains hospitalised four months after suffering traumatic brain injuries in a collision involving his new electric bicycle and a Jeep, as
doctors begin discussing rehabilitation options and his family prepares for the possibility of long-term home care. Choy “CJ” Turner Jr has been at Princess Margaret Hospital since the February 22 accident, which happened shortly after he received the electric bicycle as a reward for
making the honour roll. His mother, Lesa Turner, said doctors had previously believed his condition may have stabilised, but recent changes have renewed the family’s hope and prompted discussions about rehabilitation.
MURDER - SEE PAGE FIVE
ACCIDENT - SEE PAGE TWO
Davis mocks Pintard OUR SINCERE APOLOGIES TO for snubbing deputy MR DON SMITH AND FAMILY By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis mocked Opposition Leader Michael Pintard in the House of Assembly for appointing former NBA player Rick Fox to the Senate instead of FNM deputy leader
Shanendon Cartwright, calling the move the “mark of a confident leader” as government MPs laughed. Mr Davis made the remark as the House wrapped up debate on the 2025/2026 budget last week, seizing on Mr Pintard’s decision to name Mr Fox, FOX - SEE PAGE FOUR
THE TRIBUNE is a historic paper of record and we take enormous pride in delivering the truth to our loyal readers. The idea that we would derive pleasure from telling you that we got something wrong is almost fanciful but that is exactly how we feel today. Yesterday, on our front page we carried a horrific story about a resident of Kemp Road, Mr Don Smith,
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
being mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs. Don was indeed attacked but, mercifully, he was not killed. He is now recovering back at home after what must have been a truly terrifying experience. We extend our sincere apologies to Don and his family and wish him a speedy and complete recovery.
See STORY PAGE FIVE