10312025 NEWS

MAJOR GROUPS TO SIT OUT JUNKANOO

Saxons, One Family, Roots and World Famous Valley Boys will not join parades

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE country’s largest and most iconic Junkanoo groups — the Saxons, the World Famous Valley Boys, Roots, and One Family — have decided not to participate in this year’s upcoming holiday parades, a move that threatens to derail the nation’s biggest cultural celebration and deal a heavy blow to vendors and parade organisers.

The Tribune understands that leaders of the major

groups met on Wednesday and unanimously voted to withdraw from the upcom ing festivities. Several B groups are also said to be following suit. A press release from the Junkanoo Corporation of New Prov idence (JCNP) is expected today confirming the decision. Food vendors are report edly expressing alarm over the fallout, fearing the absence of the groups could devastate turnout and sales.

JUNKANOO - SEE PAGE SEVEN

FOUND SLEEPING IN CAR WITH SONS NOW HAS HOUSING

By

A SINGLE mother who made national headlines after being forced to

RELIEF AS HURRICANE MELISSA PASSES

By

KEILE

CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

HOUSING - SEE PAGE FIVE

in her car with her two autistic sons is now staying in temporary housing provided by the Department of Social Services. Ameca Ford McKenzie, 47, said she and her sons were recently placed in an assisted living facility for several months while she works to get back on her feet.

SOUTHERN islands were hit by flooding, roof damage and prolonged power and water outages as Hurricane Melissa swept through them as a Category 2 storm yesterday, but officials said the impact was not devastating, with no loss of life and recovery already underway.

On Long Island, police rescued a family of four trapped in floodwaters and took them to the hurricane shelter in Clarence Town. Superintendent Kendrick Brown, the island’s officer in charge, said another woman was rescued earlier that day and also taken to safety.

“Other than that, we had limited to no calls for rescue. Persons battened

down and they stayed in their residences,” Superintendent Brown said.

Administrator Jandilee Archer said she conducted a full assessment alongside government teams from the Ministries of Health, Social Services and the Environment. While some homes were flooded and roofs damaged,

HURRICANE - SEE PAGES TWO & THREE

BAHAMASAIR: NO ONE WAS ABANDONED

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMASAIR has pushed back against claims that it abandoned Bahamian travellers stranded in Jamaica during Hurricane Melissa, insisting the passengers — who later got financial assistance from the Bahamian government

to book extra hotel days — were told to board a relief flight before the storm but chose not to.

The airline said the safety and security of passengers and crew remain its highest priorities, stressing that it follows strict emergency response protocols in every crisis.

Its statement came after a Bahamian woman accused

the carrier of cancelling flights with little notice and failing to evacuate citizens. She was among about 50 Bahamians from Abaco, Grand Bahama, and New Providence who had travelled to Jamaica for the wedding of former Foreign Affairs Minister Darren

BAHAMASAIR - SEE PAGE THREE

‘PEOPLE ARE CHECKING ON NEIGHBOURS AND HELPING TO CLEAR YARDS AND ROADS’

she said there were no fatalities.

“The storm was really bad from about eight to ten o’clock that evening,” Ms Archer said. “We had some homes flooded and several roofs damaged, but everyone took precautions and came through safely.”

At press time, Long Island remained without electricity or water. Crews from Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) and the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) were on the ground restoring lines, while residents in the north battled the worst of the flooding.

“The northern settlements really took the brunt

of the flooding,” Ms Archer said. “We had reports of standing water in some homes and road erosion in low-lying areas.”

The island’s Deadman’s Cay Airport was inundated, leaving Stella Maris as the only operational airstrip. Despite the damage, Ms Archer said residents have already begun clearing debris and checking on neighbours.

“People are checking on their neighbours, helping clean yards and clear the roads,” she said. “Once power and water are restored, we’ll be well on our way back to normal.”

Assessments are being compiled for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which is expected to dispatch

relief supplies to affected communities in the coming days.

On Exuma, Chief Councillor Glenn Davis said the island fared better, reporting moderate rainfall and temporary power outages but no major damage.

“Members from different government agencies came together. We put together a pretty good team, working very well together, we were ready for the storm, and we’re glad it didn’t come and cause more harm,” he said.

Electricity and communications were briefly interrupted but restored within hours. Cleanup efforts began early Thursday as local government teams cleared debris and assessed minor flooding.

Former Crooked Island Chief Councillor David Ferguson said that his island also escaped major destruction, reporting only light roof damage and isolated flooding.

“We had some superficial damage — a few roofs lost shingles here and there — but nothing that could be called major,” Mr Ferguson said. “For the most part, we fared pretty well.”

Power was shut off before the storm and had not been restored by yesterday, forcing residents to rely on expensive private generators, with fuel costing about eight dollars a gallon. Water service from the Water and Sewerage Corporation remained down in most areas. Communication networks were intermittently

restored, allowing residents to contact family members.

In Mayaguana, Abraham’s Bay resident Utica Laurel Lightbourne said gusts reached 70 to 80 miles per hour, tearing shingles from roofs and pushing heavy surf across the mailboat dock.

“It was really strong; you couldn’t stand up outside in it,” Ms Lightbourne said.

“The ocean breached the wall and connected with the pond on the other side of the road,” she said. “That’s a normal problem when the weather gets bad, but it’s something the government needs to look at so we don’t go through this every storm.”

Power, water and phone services remained offline

as utility crews evacuated before the storm. Residents relied on Starlink satellite internet to contact relatives.

“Phone service is down, but I’ve been using Starlink,” Ms Lightbourne said.

“Most of the people who stayed behind come here to use it to call their families or check on loved ones.”

Bahamas Power and Light said restoration efforts began within hours of the all-clear, with teams deployed across the Central and Southeast Bahamas to assess damage and re-energise critical areas. Power has already been restored to sections of Exuma, Cat Island and San Salvador, with work continuing in Long Island, Acklins and Crooked Island, where personnel had been evacuated before the storm.

BAHAMASAIR: PASSENGERS TOLD OF RELIEF FLIGHT

‘Stop overlooking residents in Abaco’

By JADE RUSSELL Tribune Staff Reporter jrussell@tribunemedia.net

REBUILDING challenges and frustration over lingering infrastructure problems continue to shape political debate in North Abaco, where newly ratified Free National Movement candidate Terrece Bootle-Laing has entered the race promising stronger advocacy for residents who say they feel overlooked.

Ms Bootle, a long-time Abaco resident, said she is drawing attention to issues she believes have gone unaddressed since Hurricane Dorian devastated the island in 2019. She cited deteriorating roads, the stalled restoration of Treasure Cay International Airport and Cooperstown Clinic, and unmaintained verges among persistent problems.

Residents, she said, often complain that their concerns

only gain attention after public outcry. She added that some residents believe their voices are not adequately represented in Parliament. The North Abaco seat is currently held by Progressive Liberal Party MP Kirk Cornish, who has said he intends to seek renomination. His time in office has been marked by controversy—he was acquitted of rape and assault charges in 2024 and faced criticism a year earlier after publicly calling himself the “Prime Minister of Abaco”, for which he later apologised.

Ms Bootle said that during her campaign outreach, residents have highlighted issues ranging from shanty town growth and poor street lighting to sea wall erosion in the cays. She said she hopes to focus on infrastructure repair and youth empowerment if elected.

CLOSING ARGUMENTS MADE IN ROBBERY TRIAL

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

PROSECUTORS main-

tain that a man charged in connection with a 2021 armed robbery at Burger King on Prince Charles Drive was the getaway driver, while the defence claims he became an unwitting participant after giving someone a ride. Both sides made their closing arguments in

the armed robbery and receiving trial of Maitland Thompson before Justice Joyann Ferguson Pratt.

Prosecutors allege that Thompson and others robbed the fast-food restaurant on July 15 2021.

Defence attorney Sonia Timothy Knowles argued that there was insufficient evidence to convict her client, calling the investigation “shoddy”. She noted that the trial had been

ongoing for four to five weeks.

Mrs Knowles pointed out that although the incident occurred at the Prince Charles Shopping Centre, no CCTV footage from inside or outside the restaurant was submitted as evidence, nor were any fingerprints provided.

She said her client took the stand to present his defence and maintained that he had nothing to do with the robbery. She

Ms. Kay Merilyn Marilyn Turnquest Riley, 73

of Plantol Street and formerly of Deadman’s Cay Long Island; who died on October 1st, 2025, will be held on Saturday November 1st, 2025 at 2:00 pm at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Wulff Road. Officiating will be Father Roderick Bain; Interment will follow in Southern Cemetery, Cowpen and Spikenard Road.

Left to cherish her precious memories, Children: Sonia (Trevor) Welch, Sharmaine (Nathaniel) Adams, Dennis Turnquest, Princess and Samuel Riley (deceased); Adopted Children: Timile Phillipe, Rodney Johnson, Devonia Roberts, Yvonne Thompson; Grandchildren: Cardranique, Katrina Munroe, Catrell, Eloise Riley, Alicia, Elkinion Johnson, Asaha Neely, Shavel Welch, Hope Rolle. Adopted Grandchildren: Ashley, Shania, Shemar Adams, Elkino Adams, Paulette Huyler and family; Sisters: Nora (Delbert) Cartwright, Birdie (John) Rodriquez, Verna Turnquest, Brenda Hunt. Sister-in-law: Myrtle Turnquest; Nieces and Nephews: Olrick (Juliemae) Kermit II (Gidget) Teashla, Delaneo (Royanne) Portia, Delta (Kendra) John Jr. (Nicky) Renee (Chigozie) Wellington Jr., Delphine, Denise Humprey Sherman, Katie, Philip, Cindy (Keith) Matthew (Felice) Aleathea (Deverick Sr.) Dewitt (Monique) Hunt. Numerous grand and great grand nieces and nephews relatives and friends: Paulette Smith and Family, Eltoy Sherman and family, Thelma Wright and family, Carolyn McKenzie and Family, Christine Adams and family, Samuel Saunders and family, Savita Johnson and family, Evol Ferguson and Family, Deborah Simmons and family, Panzy Turnquest, Glendina Smith and family, Carla Ferguson and family, Francine Prosper and family, Caroline Clark and family, David Williams and family, Anna Philipe and Family, Sinclair Higgs and Family, Dornesha Hamilton and family, The Munroe Family, Delmar Neely and Family, Amodiah Ferguson and family, Colin Polycarpe and family, Ruby& Francina and family, Edna Rolle and family, Mrs. Claire and family, Anthony Lightfoot and family, Raina Rolle and Family, Warrington Dormil and family, Amoree Cartwright and Family, Deandra, Keithra& Antoine and Family Francita Martina and Family, Carrie and Wayne Knowles, William Neely and Family, Lenoard Gibson and family, Guerda and family, Ella Lewis and family, Victoria Rolle and family, the descendants of Benedict and Edith Turnquest, the Descendants of the Edgecombe family. Special thanks to the Nurses and Doctors at P.M.H and female Medical II, Mr Jomo Campbell M.P. for the Centerville Constituency, The Plantol Street Community, Deadman’s Cay Community, Centerville Seventh Day Adventist Church, Balm in Gilead Clinic, Dr. Patricia Ford, Budget Meats Store.

Viewing will be held in the Legacy Suite of Vaughn O, Jones Memorial Center, Mt. Royal Ave. and Talbot Street on Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and on Saturday at the Church from 1:00 pm until service time

added that Thompson did not answer police questions during his record of interview because he wanted an attorney present.

Mrs Knowles said Thompson only gave a ride to the actual robber, Demarco “Polo” Miller, who admitted to the offence in court. She argued that her client was charged merely for giving someone a ride and that he did not know about the gun or the money until police stopped him.

She told the court that Miller testified the plan had initially been to rob KFC on Prince Charles Drive with a friend from jail, but the target changed at the last minute.

Mrs Knowles questioned why, if her client were the getaway driver, he would have gone down a corner with speed bumps.

She said there was no familiarity between Thompson and the two other suspects in the car, as both sat in the back seat while the front passenger seat was empty. She added that the firearm was found in the left rear door.

Mrs Knowles said Miller was serving time for eight armed robberies. In addition to Miller’s admission

PSYCHIATRIC

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter

A MAN accused of breaking into Flamingos Bar on East Bay Street last week was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation for erratic behaviour in court yesterday.

MAN

that the gun and crime were his, she said Miller told the court he was unsure why Thompson was charged. She added that Miller testified he planned to split the stolen cash “50/50 off instinct” with his jail friend and that he did not tell Thompson about the money because he did not want to share it.

Mrs Knowles also noted that Miller had not planned how he would get from Burger King to his mother’s home on Marshall Road until he spotted Thompson on the road, calling it a coincidence that they crossed paths that night.

She said a firearm officer testified that no weapon was licensed to Thompson.

Mrs Knowles urged the jury to return a not guilty verdict, arguing that there was no evidence her client was an active planner or participant in the robbery.

Prosecutor Gary Rolle said Thompson and his accomplices robbed Burger King of $656. He said two suspects were inside the restaurant and that manager Zora Rose testified she saw them point a gun at the cash register. Ms Rose told the court she instructed a customer at the drive-thru

window to call the police before seeing the suspects flee.

Mr Rolle said Ms Rose testified that when the till was returned by police, it had a crack in it, and the stolen money was recovered.

He argued that the charges of armed robbery, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and possession of ammunition were proven, as both the register and gun were found in the defendant’s car.

Mr Rolle questioned Thompson’s claim of innocence, saying he reversed his car after being spotted by police.

He told jurors to disregard what he described as the lies of the defence.

Mr Rolle said Thompson was a co-conspirator and acted as the getaway driver. He also pointed to discrepancies in the stories of Miller and Thompson, noting that Thompson claimed to have known Miller for a few years, while Miller said he knew the accused because he dated a female relative in high school. Mr Rolle said both men were far older than high school age. The matter will conclude later next month.

EVALUATION ORDERED

Prosecutors allege that Yves Francois, 43, broke into Flamingos and stole $989 worth of bar and restaurant inventory on October 24.

Francois was charged with shopbreaking, stealing, and receiving before Senior Magistrate Kendra Kelly. He did not enter a plea to the charges because he was reportedly speaking incoherently and muttering under his breath. Francois will receive a psychological evaluation while on remand at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. He returns to court on December 11.

Sergeant Vernon Pyfrom was the prosecutor.

ACCUSED OF GUN ASSAULT

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was granted bail after being accused of assaulting a couple with a gun in the Mall at Marathon parking lot earlier this month.

Prosecutors allege that

Dallas Turnquest, 19, assaulted Alberto Sears and Kaitlyn Breynen with a gun during a confrontation near Island Luck on October 15. Turnquest calmly pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a deadly weapon before Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr.

His bail was set at $7,000 with one or two sureties. Under his bail conditions, he must sign in at the Wulff Road Police Station every Wednesday by 6pm. Turnquest returns to court for trial on February 9, 2026. Sergeant 3004 Forbes was the prosecutor.

TEEN ADMITS GUN POSSESSION

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter

A TEENAGE boy was remanded to prison yesterday after admitting to possessing a loaded firearm last weekend. The 17-year-old, whose name is being withheld because he is a minor, was found with a black and green XDM Springfield .40 pistol and 16 rounds of ammunition on October 26 in New Providence. He pleaded guilty to possession of an unlicenced firearm and possession of ammunition before Magistrate Lennox Coleby. However, sentencing was deferred until a family member could be present in court. The teen will return for sentencing on November 6 and will remain at the adolescent unit of the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until then. Corporal 3738 Johnson was the prosecutor.

MOM: ‘BOYS ARE DOING WELL AND RECUPERATING’

The mother of two said the move has brought relief and stability after a traumatic few weeks.

Her sons, ages 14 and eight, are recovering emotionally from the ordeal.

“The boys are doing well. They are recuperating. You know they are getting over all that trauma that they went through” she said. “I am still trying to get my head together.”

Ms McKenzie said she continues to receive small donations and words of encouragement from people touched by her story. She said she is still actively seeking further assistance as she works toward regaining independence and securing permanent housing for her family.

“I’m hopeful that by the end of our stay, we’ll have permanent housing,” she said.

Her situation gained attention last week after

The Tribune reported that she and her sons had spent two nights sleeping in her car at Saunders Beach after being evicted from their apartment.

The mother of two, who lost her husband to colon cancer earlier this year, said financial hardship made it difficult to keep up with rent payments.

Her case sparked discussion about housing insecurity and the challenges faced by single parents of children with special needs.

DONATION MADE TO HELP MARY INGRAHAM CENTRE

REPRESENTATIVES

TO mark Older Persons Month, RF Bank & Trust (RF) made a donation to the Mary Ingraham Care Centre (MICC).

The contribution will be used to secure new mattresses, dressers, and other essential furniture items, significantly improving the quality of life of the elderly women who call the centre home.

“We really appreciate this kind gesture from RF Bank & Trust,” said Patrika Hanna, supervisor at MICC. “It really touches our hearts to receive this help; our eldest resident is just about to celebrate her ninetieth birthday and so it could not have come at a better time.”

“Older Persons Month is a time to celebrate those generational leaders who have impacted individual lives, as well as Bahamian life more broadly,” said Ethan Knowles, regional communications supervisor at RF. “For us, it’s an honour to support the Mary Ingraham Care Centre in its mission to provide a safe, nurturing environment for elderly women.”

Knowles also noted that the donation serves as a gesture of gratitude from RF Bank & Trust to the social workers and care providers who look after our elders.

“We truly admire the compassion, and the degree of care, that professionals like

GRAND BAHAMA GAMES TO RETURN

By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Grand Bahama Games will kick off on Monday, November 3, marking its return after more than a decade.

Organisers announced that the event and competition will start with volleyball at the Eight Mile Rock Gymnasium.

Grand Bahama Sports Council President Darold Weir urged athletes and residents to come out in full support.

“We are moving forward as planned,” Mr Weir said. “We’re encouraging all athletes, teams, and supporters to come out and be a part of the Games. This is a celebration of island unity, talent, and sportsmanship.”

Athletes from the island’s five constituencies — East Grand Bahama, West Grand Bahama, Central

Grand Bahama, Pineridge, and Marco City — will compete in volleyball, softball, basketball, soccer, and baseball.

This year’s Games will also pay tribute to Churchill Tener-Knowles, a national sporting enthusiast and activist who helped establish the Grand Bahama Games when it first began in 1992 and served as its longtime chairman. He will be honored for his decades of contribution to sports development and his pivotal role in uniting communities through athletics.

Mr Tener-Knowles is also the founder and chairman of the Grand Bahama Regatta Committee and has been inducted into several Halls of Fame, including the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame, the Bahamas National Sports Hall of Fame, the Bahamas Softball Federation Hall

of Fame, and the Grand Bahama Sports Hall of Fame.

Earlier this month, organisers noted that the return of the Games after more than a decade is expected to reignite community pride, boost local tourism, and provide economic benefits for Grand Bahama.

The event will also serve as a prelude to the Bahamas Games, scheduled to be held in New Providence in 2026.

Mr Weir said the Sports Council has been working closely with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and other partners to ensure that facilities are ready and that logistics are in place.

“We want everyone to come out and support our local athletes,” he added.

“This is our time to show that Grand Bahama’s sporting spirit is alive and strong.”

Ms Hanna and Ms Rolle provide,” Mr Knowles said. “It is our hope that this gift might lighten, if only in a small way, the load of bearing such a tremendous responsibility.”

The Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, Myles LaRoda thanked RF, saying: “When corporate Bahamas works hand-in-hand with government, the results are always positive because the community benefits. We see a clear demonstration of this today.”

The Mary Ingraham Care Centre has been co-managed by the Ministry and the Inter-American Division of Seventh-day

Adventists since 1999, providing 24-hour residential care services to elderly women. It is named in honour of Mary Naomi Ingraham, a noted Bahamian businesswoman, social activist, and founding president the Bahamas Women’s Suffrage Movement, who was instrumental in securing women’s right to vote in 1961.

The centre welcomes further expressions of support from the public, including non-monetary donations of time to support crucial programming, such as reading sessions, hair-plaiting, nail painting, and other group recreational activities.

The Tribune Limited

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Let us be thankful after storm

HURRICANE Melissa has largely spared The Bahamas. For that, we must be thankful.

Our neighbours in the region cannot say the same.

Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti were all hard hit.

In Jamaica, at least 19 people diedwith that total expected to rise.

In one community, survivors pleaded with authorities to remove the body of one victim - found tangled in a tree.

Last night, it was reported that nearly three-quarters of the island was without power.

Here in The Tribune , we heard reports of people finally getting through to loved ones to confirm they were unhurt.

Unhurt they may have been, but there were reports of entire communities being cut off - and concerns about how long it would be before routes could be opened up, complete with the ability to bring in supplies of food and water.

In Cuba, no deaths were reported, but there was widespread damage.

Internationally, there has been a response - from ourselves includedto reach out and assist those who have been affected.

Perhaps surprisingly, one of those offers for Cuba has come from the US - which has long held a complicated relationship with the nation, as evidenced by our own recent experience over hiring Cuban health workers and teachers.

The US State Department said it was “ready to assist the Cuban people”though quite what the specifics of that might be were left unclear.

Meanwhile, in Haiti, at least 30 people were reported to have died during the passage of Hurricane Melissa, with another 20 missing. About 15,000 people were still in shelters at the time of writing.

The death count is expected to rise. Perhaps more tragically, the death count in Petit-Goave included ten children.

One man said the storm killed his entire family there, including four children aged from just a month old to eight years. By those standards, we have emerged unscathed.

But we should remember it could

have been so different - in fact, it has in our own very recent past. The scars of Hurricane Dorian for our nation were not just measured in lives lost, but in the psychological pain for those who survived.

For some, that is reliving the horrors of the event itself. A reader called The Tribune in recent months to talk about how a family member could never rest if they heard the sound of a roll of thunder, or the hammer of heavy rain. It brought back the memories of Dorian, and of the fight to survive in Abaco that her family went through.

For others, it can be guilt - that they survived while others that they knew did not.

For yet more survivors, it is the simple financial cost - the hardship that comes with rebuilding, a task made harder by the further hardship that came with the COVID-19 pandemic and the blow to the global economy that inflicted.

So as we turn to our neighbours in the aftermath of this storm, we can do so in the knowledge that we have been here before, and we can offer our hard lessons learned to give solace, and to help rebuild. In the US, the diaspora of several nations is already pitching in to help those back home.

From Miami to New York, warehouses are already filling up with emergency supplies to send to the communities hit the hardest.

Haiti will suffer an extra challengegetting that support to those who need it at a time when the ports of the nation are heavily controlled by the gangs that have caused so much disruption to the nation in recent years.

While there are fears that Port-au-Prince may be out of bounds for access, there is hope that resources will be able to get in through CapHaitien or Les Cayes.

Our own government has also pledged to offer assistance to Jamaica, as the nation rebuilds.

So as we count our blessings for the seemingly minimal impact here in The Bahamas from Hurricane Melissa, it is our duty to turn to help those less fortunate.

After all, it has been us before. And with climate changing, we always run the risk it will be so again.

US drug war

EDITOR, The Tribune.

AMERICAN technology has been applied to a continuing drug war in the Caribbean and Latin American Region. Many small boats are being blown out of the water by American drones and sea ships and this will undoubtedly continue in the future.

Now there is absolutely no proof these small ships are carrying drugs. In fact these small carriers could be carrying migrants hoping to travel from one island to another ultimately reaching America. The secretive nature of these transports allow American Forces to simply bomb them without any other explanation other then they are Cartel Carriers.

Do you believe American assertions that these small ships are part of Cartels Transportation network or perhaps that America has applied a new form of Violent Diplomacy to the Caribbean Region?

Why are massive numbers of troops and equipment flowing into the Caribbean and at what cost

to the American taxpayer and those who live in the region?

According to Democratic Party sources, The Trump Administration has taken the gloves off on how it will deal with the Caribbean, spending in excess of over a billion dollars in operational costs. Why? We are told America is trying to halt all illicit operations of Cartels human/drug/ shipments and reestablishing America in the Caribbean as its primary influencer. Ten’s of thousands of troops have been both publicly and secretively transferred into the region. Why? We all know the War Against Drugs declared by Ronald Reagan long ago has been lost so long as America’s appetite for Illicit Drugs continues to increase annually. There is a alternative perspective here. Is a New American Empire being reinstituted in The America’s and its initial baby steps have begun in a easily accessed Caribbean Region?

America has weaponized tariffs as the new weapon of choice capable of damaging a nations economy

Setting the record straight

EDITOR, The Tribune.

A FEW days ago, while listening to an audio circulation from the Steve McKinney Radio Talk Show, during which a passionate Bahamian lady expressed her deep frustration with the poor governance of the Davis Administration and the lack of adherence to our Constitution. Her anger and disappointment were heartfelt, and I share her concern for the state of our nation.

Many Bahamians feel the same way: that something has gone wrong in how our country is being governed, and that too often, our leaders seem to act without accountability, and contrary to the Rule of Law. But as citizens of this beloved Commonwealth, we must not only feel, we must understand. The Scripture says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

(Hosea 4:6) It is therefore not only my duty, but my honor, to bring clarity to what the Constitution of The Bahamas actually says regarding the authority of government and the Head of State.

The Foundation: The Preamble of Our Constitution

The Preamble of the Constitution of The Bahamas begins with these solemn words:

quickly and effectively.

Imagine what a huge tariff would do to a small island nation with limited exports to America. Financial and Social chaos right? Well America has sent a flotilla into the Caribbean acting like a big bully indiscriminately attacking targets of opportunity. America is flexing its military and intelligence muscles on small defenseless nations who cannot say “no” to a military machine like America’s.

Note that those Caribbean Nations that have been trading with China are becoming targets of American threats. Columbia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador and others face tariffs and threats from a former ally and friend.

Others globally will suffer in the process of “Making America Great Again”! The Trump Administration is not waiting for an opportunity to build this empire, they are creating it.

STEVEN KASZAB Bradford, Ontario October 24, 2025.

WHEREAS Four hundred and eighty years ago, the rediscovery of this family of islands, rocks and cays heralded the rebirth of the New World; AND WHEREAS the People of this Family of Islands recognize that the preservation of their Freedom will be guaranteed by a national commitment to Self-discipline, Industry, Loyalty, Unity and an abiding respect for Christian values and the Rule of Law…”

From the very beginning, our Constitution recognises that the people of The Bahamas are the foundation of its authority. We are the heirs of freedom and the keepers of this nation’s destiny under God.

The Head of State and Continuity of Authority

Now to the concern raised by the caller: She believed that since Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was the Head of State at the time of our Independence in 1973, and that she has since passed, the Government of The Bahamas has no authority to function until the Constitution

is amended to include His Majesty King Charles III. Let me kindly and respectfully clarify this.

When The Bahamas became an independent nation on July 10, 1973, our Constitution was written to recognize the British Monarch, and the then head of that Monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as the Head of State. The wording and legal structure are such that the Crown (meaning the institution of the monarchy) continues automatically from one monarch to the next. This is clearly indicated in the ‘Oath of Office’ for the swearing in of members to the House of Assembly, the Senate and every official position assented by the Crown, by the affirmation of the words, ‘Her heirs, and successors according to Law.’

Therefore, when Queen Elizabeth II passed away, the authority of the Crown transferred seamlessly and immediately to the ‘HeirApparent’ His Majesty King Charles III. No amendment to the Bahamian Constitution was necessary because the office, powers, and functions of the Monarch are continuous under the constitutional framework we adopted at Independence, namely The Bahamas Independence Order, 1973.

Our Governor-General, as the King’s representative, continues to carry out the functions of the Head of State, such as assenting to laws, appointing ministers, and overseeing the constitutional duties of governance. The Authority to Call Elections and By-Elections Under Article 65 of the Constitution, the Prime Minister may advise the Governor-General to issue writs for general elections or by-elections when necessary. This authority remains fully within the power of the Government of The Bahamas and does not depend on amending the Constitution following the change of a monarch. The government functions under the authority of the Bahamian Constitution, not under the personal rule of any individual monarch.

So while the Davis Administration may rightfully call a by-election in

keeping with constitutional procedure, the greater question remains: Is it governing with integrity, transparency, according to the Rule of Law, and accountability to the Bahamian people? That, my fellow citizens, is where our focus must remain.

An Informed People Build a Strong Nation

It is not enough to simply be angry, as many of us are, we must be informed. It is not enough to criticise, we must educate. Ignorance keeps people enslaved, but understanding sets them free. The Bahamas Constitution Party believes and has taught for the past 27 years, that true empowerment begins when every Bahamian citizen understands their rights, their Constitution, and the sacred responsibilities of citizenship.

When we know the truth, we cannot be easily deceived. When we know our Constitution, we can hold every government, including a BCP-led government, accountable to it. That is the essence of good governance, rooted in law and guided by moral principle.

A Call to Enlightened Leadership Under a Bahamas Constitution Party Government, we will establish a culture of constitutional literacy in schools, communities, and churches. We will ensure that every citizen understands the structure of government, the limits of political power, and the role of the people in preserving democracy.

Because when the people know better, the nation does better.

So to the lady who called that radio show, and to all Bahamians who share her frustration: your concern is valid. But let us replace confusion with clarity, anger with understanding, and despair with action.

Our Constitution still stands.

Our hope still lives. And together, with knowledge and courage, we can rebuild our nation on truth and justice.

“Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”

— Proverbs 14:34

WITHDRAWAL FROM PARADES FOLLOW RISE IN TENSIONS

JUNKANOO FROM PAGE ONE

The withdrawal comes after months of escalating tension between Junkanoo leaders and the Davis administration over a proposed Junkanoo Bill and especially the government’s decision to hand control of this year’s parades to a newly formed Parade Management Committee.

Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg recently announced that no private or competing events will be permitted under the new system, a declaration that further deepened the rift.

Groups affiliated with the JCNP have long warned that the new rules risk fracturing the Junkanoo community. The corporation, which has managed the parades for years, has hinted it may host its own events in protest.

However, sources said the JCNP’s efforts are being stifled. The group reportedly sought permission to practise at the Sports Centre on November 23 but was denied.

“Just know the music coming,” one source told The Tribune last night when asked about what comes next. “Without key major players, who will you have?” Another source said returning government seed funding would not be an issue. In September, Mr Bowleg’s ministry hosted a presentation of seed funding for Junkanoo groups and announced an increase in seed funding in all major categories, including $40k for Category A groups, up from $30k.

Prime Minister Philip Davis, who met with JCNP officials earlier this month, has sought to distance himself from the row, saying: “Don’t bring me into it.”

Hurricanes never a distant threat Opportunities come with new challenges

AS HURRICANE

Melissa moved across the Caribbean and The Bahamas, we were all reminded once again of both our vulnerability and our strength. I was scheduled to attend a regional conference in Jamaica this week, but as Hurricane Melissa approached, I decided to cancel my trip. Eventually, the conference was cancelled too.

Witnessing the destruction, loss, and human suffering in Melissa’s wake was a sobering reminder of what truly matters during and in the aftermath of such adversity: community, compassion, collective responsibility, and action.

Hurricanes have never been distant threats. They are recurring realities that test our preparedness, our systems, and our unity

I have said it so many times before, “eleuthera is booming”. New developments are rising, tourism is thriving, and opportunities are growing across the island. But beneath that surface growth lies a deeper challenge, one that threatens the very foundation of our communities and local economy. Just last week, I spoke with two business owners. One in the north and the other in the south of eleuthera. Both had built successful, respected businesses in their communities, one in hospitality and the other in construction. Both were deeply passionate about their work and committed to the communities they call home, and both had recently made the difficult decision to close their doors. Not because

By Keyron Smith

as a people. Each hurricane season, I reflect on the importance of the nonprofit sector to The Bahamas’ national response and recovery activities, not just in the face of natural disasters, but in any crisis. Across our islands, non-profit organisations are often the first to mobilise and the last to stand down. NPOs feed families, organise volunteers, deliver critical supplies, and help

communities rebuild long after the headlines fade.

A great example of local nonprofits stepping into action was the National Feeding Programme, which operated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I believe that this was one of the largest and most ambitious social support initiatives in Bahamian history.

Non-profits across the country leveraged their

networks, volunteers, and partnerships to ensure that food reached vulnerable individuals and many families in need. As noted in the recent Auditor General’s report, the programme was delivered at an overall administrative cost of only eight percent, a testament to the efficiency of

non-profits and their ability to stretch resources and meet needs. That level of efficiency is rarely seen in programs of such national scale and underscores the power of partnership when we work together.

Importantly, some nonprofits, such as the One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF), went even further by also contributing funds and resources to strengthen and extend the program’s reach. When supply lines were stretched or resources delayed, local nonprofits stepped in without hesitation, driven by care and determination to meet the needs of the communities we serve.

However, it is also true that, in the aftermath, NGOs found themselves caught in the crosswinds of politics and public misunderstanding; becoming what some might call “collateral damage”.

What should have been celebrated as a national model of partnership became a lesson in how easily unity can fracture if politics overshadows purpose. That experience was disheartening, but it revealed an important lesson to all of us across the country. It reminded us that when good work becomes politicised, it undermines trust, slows progress, and weakens the partnerships that make resilience possible when navigating disasters.

As someone who leads within this sector, I hope what transpired never happens again. Our national pride and duty can transcend party politics, especially in unprecedented times and moments of national crisis.

I share this perspective not to assign blame, but to encourage reflection and improvement. Politics, when focused on the right priorities, can be a powerful force for good. When we focus on solutions that unite rather than divide, we create the conditions for lasting community wealth and resilience.

One practical way politics and policy can achieve this is through national incentives that encourage individual and corporate giving, which can potentially be implemented through tax credits, matching-fund programs, or public recognition initiatives that reward generosity and corporate social responsibility. By using policy to support philanthropy, we can strengthen nonprofits and channel more resources directly into community development, disaster preparedness, and social innovation.

That is why the recent meeting of the Non-Governmental Consultation Council (NGCC) established under the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) authority is such an encouraging and timely step. It reflects a renewed commitment to collaboration between government and civil society, providing a formal platform for dialogue, coordination, and shared vision.

Reflecting on Hurricane Dorian, OEF successfully supported 600 evacuees on Eleuthera through international and local partnerships. Other international and local nonprofits and agencies made significant contributions to the relief and recovery efforts in Abaco and Grand Bahama. To remain prepared, we must continue to invest in systems, partnerships, the sector, and agencies that focus on fostering community resilience and can facilitate recovery when called upon. Everyone has a role to play, and when we each understand our role and do our part, we build efficient strategies and communities that can withstand even the most extreme obstacles and challenges.

To strengthen the nonprofit sector is to strengthen The Bahamas. Our organisations are not just emergency responders; we are also long-term nation builders and community partners. We advance education, health, food security, environmental stewardship, heritage preservation, and economic empowerment by bridging the gap between national vision and community reality. We know that true resilience and sustainability begin at the community level. These attributes are not built in the eye of storms, but rather in the calm long before it arrives, through unity, foresight, and shared responsibility. When politics enables generosity and nonprofits are supported and empowered to lead and serve, we can align our efforts and build fortified communities that endure and thrive long after the storms have passed.

• Keyron Smith is the president and chief

Meet the Mayor

HOW A SMALL TOWN COMES TOGETHER IN TIMES OF NEED WITH ONE WOMAN’S WARM WAYS AND STRONG SHOULDERS HELPING TO PAVE THE PATH TO TRUE COMMUNITY

MEET Angela C Caraway, Mayor of Ansonville, NC, Population 503.

“But we may be getting one new resident,” says Caraway, as pumped as the mayor of a major urban metropolis would be if Ford announced it were launching a new plant to build Mustangs.

Mayor Caraway’s eyes open wide and her voice takes on a decidedly excited tone: “And just the other day, one resident was clearing land meaning they are planning to build so things are happening in Ansonville!”

Statistically, Ansonville has gained nearly 20 percent growth in the last five years since its population registered 440 in the 2020 Census.

In this little, out of the way, off-the-beaten-path hamlet where proud heritage meets modern reality, things happen in their own sweet time, and that is just fine with the mayor, the town’s clerk, and the other four five members of the council who manage its daily operations.

Unlike its busy neighbour an hour away to the northwest, Charlotte, North Carolina that pulsates with night life and a booming tech, sports and culinary scene attracting young professionals, Ansonville mostly appeals to those who have called the area home since their ancestors were slaves on nearby cotton plantations more than 200 years ago. Generations later, most of the folks who call it home were born in Ansonville or right nearby and they can’t really think of another place they’d rather be. Many of the residents are retirees. A few are farmers,

others are poultry workers. The majority of the population, about 80 percent is black. The council is a perfect replica – three women, all black, two men, including one Caucasian. A population mirror – 80-20 in race, a fact that is not lost on the mayor.

“We may not look like each other, but we all pretty much grew up together, so we know each other like people do who have lived together all their lives,” says the mayor, who admits there was a bit of a personal integration into the council when she became the first black woman mayor was the first new person to join in more than a dozen years. But, as she said, everyone knows everyone and familiarity is as common as the economic struggles and personal success stories the whole town suffers or celebrates together.

“Everybody knows everybody and everybody knows everybody’s business,” says Mayor Caraway. Angela, Apparently, she is unconcerned or unaware that in some places that would be considered a detriment. “When there is a need, it becomes everybody’s need, the community comes together.”

Like the time a man was injured and could no longer climb the steps to his front porch which was, even before he was hurt, in a state of disrepair under the kindest of descriptions.

“We The community all just got came together and found the resources and built him a ramp,” said Mayor Angela.

Or that awful time when a woman lost her husband and daughter in a horrible car accident.

“We came together,

everybody, and held a vigil and a service and made sure she knew she would never be alone,” recalled the mayor.

Most days, the drama is smaller, like finding a way to keep the water on for someone who has fallen behind in his bill.

“I can’t write everyone’s water bill off,” she says, “but when someone’s been out of work and facing a hard time, we try to figure out a way to help. Sometimes I call around and raise a few dollars or put in a few dollars.” She is not above begging for relief on someone’s behalf.

In addition to her role as mayor, Angela owns and runs two full-time businesses. One is It’s an event planning company. And for more than a decade, she has been the energy behind

a non-profit with a dual focus on young people and seniors, assisting with food security and promoting digital literacy and healthy living.

Just in case you were wondering how I met Angela, it was in a shop on Parliament Street in Nassau where diva Sheena Carroll, the former radio personality known as Lady C, opened Dash Design, a boutique with a sophisticated line of clothing, shoes and accessories.

Angela and I were both shoe shopping. The sun had been shining when she disembarked Utopia of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s cruise ship with a Bahamas-only itinerary, but by the time we had both selected shoes after lots of debate and conversation as the rain came down in torrents. I offered her a ride back to Nassau Cruise Port. We dashed for the car, two women who met casually and vowed to stay in

touch. And we have. And I am the richer for it.

There is, I thought, a lot to be said for small town living, even among those who have to work hard to pay a water bill. We all long for a sense of community. Thanks, Angela, for taking that cruise and being in Nassau, reminding us that it is not the things we hold that make us rich, but the friendships and connections we make that enrich our lives.

Haiti, Jamaica and Cuba pick up the pieces after Melissa’s destruction

By ARIEL FERNÁNDEZ, ANDREA RODRÍGUEZ and JOHN MYERS JR Associated Press

THE rumble of large machinery, whine of chain saws and chopping of machetes echoed through communities across the northern Caribbean on Thursday as they dug out from the destruction of Hurricane Melissa and surveyed the damage left behind.

In Jamaica, government workers and residents began clearing roads in a push to reach dozens of isolated communities in the island’s southeast that sustained a direct hit from one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record.

Stunned residents wandered about, some staring at their roofless homes and waterlogged belongings strewn around them.

“I don’t have a house now,” said Sylvester Guthrie, a resident of Lacovia in the southern parish of St. Elizabeth, as he held onto his bicycle, the only possession of value left after the storm.

Emergency relief flights began landing at Jamaica’s main international airport, which reopened late Wednesday, as crews distributed water, medicine and other basic supplies. Helicopters dropped food as they thrummed above communities where the storm flattened homes, wiped out roads and destroyed bridges, cutting them off from assistance.

“The entire Jamaica is really broken because of what has happened,”

Education Minister Dana Morris Dixon said. Police said at least 14 people have died in Jamaica, and they expected the death toll to keep rising.

In one isolated community, residents pleaded with officials to remove the body of one victim tangled in a tree. More than 13,000 people remained crowded into shelters, with 72% of the island without power and only 35% of mobile phone sites in operation, officials said. People clutched cash as they formed long lines at the few gas stations and supermarkets open in affected areas.

the patron saint of Cuba who is deeply venerated by Catholics and practitioners of Santería, an Afro-Cuban religion.

“We went through this very badly. So much wind, so much wind. Zinc roofs were torn off. Some houses completely collapsed. It was a disaster,” said Odalys Ojeda, a 61-year-old retiree, as she looked up at the sky from her living room where the roof and other parts of the house were torn away.

Even the basilica wasn’t spared.

“Here at the sanctuary, the carpentry, stained glass and even the masonry suffered extensive damage,” Father Rogelio Dean Puerta said.

A televised Civil Defence meeting chaired by President Miguel Díaz-Canel did not provide an official estimate of the damage.

country’s southern region.

Some 15,000 people also remained in shelters.

“It is a sad moment for the country,” said Laurent Saint-Cyr, president of Haiti’s transitional presidential council.

He said officials expect the death toll to rise and noted that the government was mobilising resources to search for people and provide emergency relief.

Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency said Hurricane Melissa killed at least 20 people, including ten children, in Petit-Goâve, where more than 160 homes were damaged and 80 others destroyed.

Steven Guadard said Melissa killed his entire family in Petit-Goâve, including four children ranging in age from onemonth to eight-years-old.

“We understand the frustration, we understand your anxiety, but we ask for your patience,” said Daryl Vaz, Jamaica’s telecommunications and energy minister. Water trucks have been mobilied to serve many of Jamaica’s rural communities that are not connected to the government’s utility system, Water Minister Matthew Samuda said.

In Cuba, heavy equipment began to clear blocked roads and highways and the military helped rescue people trapped in isolated communities and at risk from landslides.

No deaths were reported after the Civil Defence evacuated more than 735,000 people across eastern Cuba ahead of the storm. Residents were slowly starting to return home Thursday.

The town of El Cobre in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba was one of the hardest hit. Home to some 7,000 people, it is also the site of the Basilica of Our Lady of Charity,

However, officials from the affected provinces — Santiago, Granma, Holguín, Guantánamo, and Las Tunas — reported losses of roofs, power lines and fiber optic telecommunications cables, as well as roads cut off, isolating communities, and heavy losses in banana, cassava and coffee plantations.

Many communities were still without electricity, internet and telephone service because of downed transformers and power lines.

In an unusual statement Thursday, the US State Department said the United States was “ready to assist the Cuban people”. A press release said the US “is prepared to provide immediate humanitarian assistance directly and through local partners who can deliver it more effectively to those in need”.

The statement did not specify how the cooperation would be coordinated or whether contact had been made with the Cuban government, with which it maintains a bitter conflict that includes six decades of economic and financial sanctions.

Melissa also unleashed catastrophic flooding in Haiti, where at least 30 people were reported killed and 20 others were missing, mostly in the

Michelet Dégange, who has lived in Petit-Goâve for three years, said Melissa left him homeless.

“There is no place to rest the body; we are hungry,” he said. “The authorities don’t think about us. I haven’t closed my eyes since the bad weather began.”

When Melissa came ashore in Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane with top winds of 185 mph on Tuesday, it tied strength records for Atlantic hurricanes making landfall, both in wind speed and barometric pressure.

Melissa was a Category 2 storm with top sustained winds near 105mph Thursday afternoon and was moving northeast at 31mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. The hurricane was centered about 325 miles west-southwest of Bermuda.

Melissa brushed past the southeast Bahamas on Wednesday, forcing officials to evacuate 1,400 people ahead of the storm.

Melissa was forecast to pass near or to the west of Bermuda late Thursday and may strengthen further before weakening Friday.

Bermuda’s international airport was to close Thursday evening and reopen Friday at noon, while all schools on the wealthy British territory were ordered closed.

PRINCE ANDREW STRIPPED OF TITLES AND EVICTED

By BRIAN MELLEY and JILL LAWLESS Associated Press

KING Charles III on Thursday stripped his disgraced brother Prince Andrew of his remaining titles and evicted him from his royal residence after weeks of pressure to act over his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Buckingham Palace said.

After the king’s rare move, which follows years of shameful scandals, he will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and not as a prince, and he will have to vacate his Royal Lodge mansion near Windsor Castle.

Demand had been growing on the palace to oust the prince from Royal Lodge after he surrendered his use of the title Duke of York earlier this month over new revelations about his friendship with Epstein and renewed sexual abuse allegations by one of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, whose posthumous memoir hit bookstores last week.

But the king went even further to punish him for serious lapses of judgment by removing the title of prince that he has held since birth as a child of a monarch, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the palace said. “Their Majesties wish to make clear that

their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”

It is almost unprecedented for a British prince or princess to be stripped of that title. It last happened in 1919, when Prince Ernest Augustus, who was a UK royal and also a prince of Hanover, had his British title removed for siding with Germany during World War I.

Giuffre’s brother declared victory for his sister, who died by suicide in April at the age of 41.

“Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family, brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage,” her brother Skye Roberts said in a statement to the BBC.

Andrew faced a new round of public outrage after emails emerged earlier this month showing he had remained in contact with Epstein longer than he previously admitted.

That news was followed by publication of “Nobody’s Girl,” by Giuffre, who alleged she had sex with Andrew when she was 17. The book detailed three alleged sexual encounters with Andrew, who she said acted as if he believed “having sex with me was his birthright.” Andrew, 65, has long denied Giuffre’s claims, but stepped down from royal duties after a disastrous November 2019

BBC interview in which he attempted to rebut her allegations.

Andrew paid millions in an out-of-court settlement in 2022 after Giuffre filed a civil suit against him in New York. While he didn’t admit wrongdoing, he acknowledged Giuffre’s suffering as a victim of sex trafficking. Although Charles was involved in discussions with Andrew before he announced he would relinquish his dukedom two weeks ago, the king had largely managed to steer clear of the scandal until this week.

After attending an event at Lichfield Cathedral on Monday, the king was heckled by a man who shouted questions about how long he had known about his brother and Epstein and then asked: “Have you asked the police to cover up for Andrew?”

The king did not respond and it wasn’t clear if he even heard the man, who was shouted down by others and eventually pulled from sight. But video of the incident made the evening news and was the source of embarrassing headlines the next morning. It’s the most dramatic royal departure since 1936, when King Edward VIII abdicated the throne so he could marry twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson. The couple were given the titles Duke and Duchess of Windsor and lived the rest of their lives in exile outside Britain.

ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA

Island Jewels, the official interest group of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated in The Bahamas, is on a mission to improve the lives of residents of East New Providence one resident at a time.

Since its formation, Island Jewels has launched numerous initiatives, including a Youth Leadership Institute, provision of groceries to families in need, and hosting panel discussions on child protection and endangerment.

This translates to more than:

• 275 weekend food packs for primary school students

• 600 community members impacted through service projects and • 1000 community service hours by members

According to pPresident Dr Janet Dorsett, “the establishment of this interest group enables us to respond proactively to challenges in communities in the eastern parts of New Providence, where the population is more than 65 thousand”.

Island Jewels has announced its inaugural Awards Gala, themed “Jewels of the East: Timeless Treasures.” The elegant black-tie affair will take place on Saturday, November 1, at the Warwick, Paradise Island, Bahamas.

The event will honour seven individuals whose contributions have significantly advanced nation building.

What distinguishes this celebration is its focus on individuals who either represent communities in East New Providence or have made substantial contributions to the area’s growth and development.

The 2025 Jewels of the East honourees are:

Health: Dr Sandra Dean-Patterson

Education: Shawn Turnquest

Sports: Shonel Ferguson

Business: Don Davis

Culture: Arlene Nash-Ferguson

Faith and Service: Rev Sabrina Pinder

Humanitarian: Kenris Carey

For tickets or sponsorship inquiries, contact islandjewels.aka@gmail.com.

BAHAMAS STATE ASSOCIATION OF ELKS

The Bahamas State Association of Elks under the leadership of Bro Julien Sands, state president, and Daughter Alison Sawyer, auxiliary state president, will be having a gala ball on Friday, Noember 7, at 7pm.

The Burial Fund Department will hold the ball under the theme “Bridges of Strength: Where Faith, Duty, and Fellowship Meet!”

The event will be at Epiphany Anglican Church Hall, Prince Charles Drive, with guests Bishop Delton Fernander, Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings, Dgt Cecelia Cooper, Bro Pierre J Paul.

Tickets available through local lodges, temples and

honorees.

CANCER SOCIETY OF THE BAHAMAS

Families gathered at SuperClub Breezes’ ballroom on Saturday for the Cancer Society of The Bahamas’ Bingo Family Fun Night, ready to indulge in games and laughter.

A charity event during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Bingo Family Fun Night raises funds for the Cancer Caring Centre, where Family Islanders can recuperate in accommodations at no cost as they undergo cancer treatment in Nassau.

Over the course of the night, attendees screamed in excitement as they won fantastic prizes, including gift certificates, accessories, household appliances, luggage, and more! All of the prizes were donated by local businesses, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to assisting those fighting cancer.

The Cancer Society thanked the Kiwanis Club of Nassau AM and their Key Clubs for once again assisting with this event, which brought much joy to all those in attendance.

CIVIL SOCIETY BAHAMAS

THE University of The Bahamas hosted Geospatial Week 2025 from October 16-18, with forums on Land Reform Awareness, Youth Forum, and Geospatial Symposium.

The Youth Forum emerged as a highlight, with students from Akhepran International Academy and other institutions presenting geospatial solutions to Bahamian challenges.

“These young minds have demonstrated that Bahamian innovation can solve Bahamian problems,” said Thomas Ferguson, secretary of Bahamas Association of Lands Surveyors and president of The Bahamas Institute of STEM Innovation. “Their geospatial applications represent exactly the kind of homegrown technology leadership our nation needs.”

Civil Society Bahamas announced a preliminary Strategic Action Plan, as a results-oriented, but also living, responsive document.

“This is not the final word, but the first draft of our collective future,” stated CSB president Dr Anthony Hamilton.

He added: “The input from legal professionals, academics, surveying experts, youth, and community members across New Providence and the Family Islands has been invaluable, and we invite all Bahamians to continue contributing during our Bahama Islands ‘townhall’ meetings.”

GENNIE DEAN CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

Duquesa Dean, president of the Gennie Dean Caring and Sharing Cancer Support Group, addressed members of the Key Club at St John’s College as part

of the organisation’s outreach to educate young people about cancer awareness and prevention. She spoke with warmth and honesty, urging students to make healthier choiceseat balanced meals, drink more water, and stay active

- as everyday ways to strengthen their bodies and reduce their risk. Her message was met with deep connection, as nearly every student and teacher raised a hand when asked if they knew someone who had been affected by cancer. Equally important,

Dean cautioned against habits that can increase cancer risk, such as smoking and vaping, and reminded students not to hide when they don’t feel well but to speak openly with parents or guardians so problems can be addressed early. At the close of the session, the Key Club presented Dean with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of her continued advocacy and the group’s commitment to building a healthier, more informed community. Based on East Avenue, Nassau, the Gennie Dean Caring and Sharing Cancer Support Group continues to empower Bahamians through education, emotional support, and outreach - reminding the public that no one faces cancer alone. To volunteer, donate or inquire about Gennie Dean’s programs call 242-802-6012 or visit gdcancersupportgroup.com.

PHI MU CHAPTER OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA

The Phi Mu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated celebrated its 6th Charter Day on Sunday, October 26, marking six years of academic excellence, leadership, and service at the University of The Bahamas.

The chapter was officially chartered on October 26, 2019, by seven Brothers of the Iota Epsilon Lambda Chapter, establishing Alpha Phi Alpha’s presence on the campus of the University of The Bahamas.

ROTARY CLUB OF SOUTH OCEAN

The spirit of fellowship, fun, and service came alive on Friday, October 24, as the Rotary Club of South Ocean (RCSO) hosted its annual Purple Thumb Games at The Balmoral Club. The vibrant evening combined laughter and lively competition with a powerful cause — the global effort to End Polio Now.

Rotarians, guests, and community supporters gathered in a festive atmosphere filled with cheers, friendly rivalry, and purple-themed pride. The event kicked off with a spirited Happy Hour at 5.30pm, followed by a series of lighthearted “thumb wars” and interactive games that kept everyone engaged and entertained.

The highlight of the evening was the club’s rallying chant:

“1 - 2 - 3 - 4 — Polio is no more!

5 - 6 - 7 - 8 — Polio, eradicate!”

Funds raised from the event will go directly toward the Rotary International End Polio Now campaign, supporting ongoing immunisation efforts and awareness initiatives across the globe. As the night came to a close, participants left not only with smiles and memories but also with the shared satisfaction of knowing they played a role in changing lives — one thumb at a time.