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T R I B U N E 2 4 2 . C O M
Biggest And Best!
Volume: 123 No. 148, Friday, June 26, 2026
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER: PRICE–$1
‘SUBSTANTIAL DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY’ US judge says, “weight of evidence against the defendant is very strong” A US judge has denied convicted drug smuggler Jonathan Gardiner bail after branding him a “substantial danger to the community" and finding that the "weight of the evidence against the defendant is very strong." Gardiner, a court heard yesterday, had “extensive political connections in The Bahamas,” including with Politician-1, and an “extensive’” criminal history. Prosecutors said he also had a “strong connection with Bahamian officials.” Branding him a “flight
risk” with “ample reason to flee the US,” District Judge Gregory Woods said there were “no conditions” under which Gardiner could be expected to return to court for future appearances given the seriousness of the allegations against him. Gardiner, 58, who walked into the federal court in Manhattan with his legs shackled and his arms handcuffed behind him, faces a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison if found guilty of trafficking drugs GARDINER - SEE PAGE FIVE
JONATHAN Gardiner denied bail in a US court yesterday during his trial on cocaine importation conspiracy and firearms-related charges.
91-YEAR-OLD ALLEGEDLY SEXUALLY Gibson and co-accused’s constitutional ASSAULTED BY A FAMILY MEMBER motion to halt ongoing trial rejected A 91-YEAR-OLD woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by a family member early Wednesday morning, according to police. Police said shortly after 10am, the victim reported to police that she had been sexually assaulted by a family member at approximately 5am that same day.
Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department subsequently assisted the victim in obtaining medical attention. Investigators from the Sexual Offences Unit have begun investigations into the matter and are working to locate and arrest the suspect.
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net THE Court of Appeal has rejected a bid by Adrian Gibson and four co-accused to derail their ongoing criminal trial, ruling that their constitutional motion was an improper attempt to challenge the trial before it
has ended. The court dismissed the appeal by Gibson, Joan Knowles, Jerome Missick, Peaches Farquharson and Elwood Donaldson, who had challenged the trial judge’s refusal to declare a mistrial, discharge the jury and recuse herself. The appellants claimed their constitutional right
to a fair trial had been breached because of alleged irregularities in the jury’s empanelment, alleged non-disclosure of the approved jury list, alleged bias involving a juror and a prosecutor’s office, and alleged apparent bias by the trial judge. GIBSON - SEE PAGE THREE
ADRIAN GIBSON
NHI Authority warns doctors to expect continued payment delays By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
Dr Denotrah Archer-Cartwright, a representative of National Health Insurance Providers Association (NHIPA). Photo: Shawn Hanna
THE National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme has subtly warned doctors and other medical providers they will continue to suffer delayed payments during the upcoming fiscal year as three-quarters of
the $24.5m budget increase relates to taking on the National Drug Plan. The NHI Authority, in a June 24, 2026, memorandum to all physician, laboratory and other service providers, revealed that just $6.5m of the scheme’s 2026-2027 funding increase will be used to cover existing obligations and responsibilities
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plus “prioritise arrears from previous fiscal periods”. The memo, which has been obtained by Tribune Business, used guarded, coded language to warn that Bahamian doctors and other medical professionals will likely still endure delayed compensation with SEE BUSINESS FOR STORY