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‘MARCH ELECTION’

IF PLP WINS: EX-PM

...but by-election loss would cause ‘stench,’ says Hubert Ingraham

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham has predicted that the Progressive Liberal Party will call an early general election if it wins today’s Golden Isles by-election, using Friday’s Free National Movement rally to raise the stakes around a vote both major parties are treating as a key political test.

“They might do better next time and they got plenty time,” he said. “If

they win the election on Monday coming, they’re gonna hold an early election. By March, you'll be in the polls. If they don’t win, they’re gonna stench.”

The by-election, triggered by the death of Vaughn Miller, pits front runners, the PLP’s Darron Pickstock, against the FNM’s Brian Brown. Brian Rolle is standing for the Coalition of Independents (COI), and local resident Karen Butler is the sole independent candidate.

- SEE PAGE FOUR

US DRIVER ‘FORGOT’ ROAD RULES IN HEAD-ON CRASH THAT KILLED TWO

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A PRE-DAWN school run in North Abaco ended in devastating loss on Friday when a head-on collision killed Monique Williams, a veteran pre-school teacher,

and her 13-year-old nephew, Terrance Williams, shattering a tight-knit family and sending shockwaves through Treasure Cay. Ms Williams, 53, was driving Terrance and another teenager to school along SC Bootle Highway when her vehicle collided head-on

with a Ford Excursion. The American couple in the SUV were reportedly en route to a bone-fishing trip to Green Turtle Cay.

Silbert Mills, Abaco journalist and pastor, reported that the visitors had missed their turn, doubled back, but “forgot” to stay on the

Father of one struck by two cars in fatal Robinson Road Hit-and-Run

By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net

A MAN who spent his life navigating instability and working two jobs to stay ahead was killed in a hit-and-run on Saturday, adding another blow to a family already hit by repeated tragedy this year.

Twenty-nine-year-old Devon Butler, a father of

one, had celebrated his birthday only weeks earlier. He was walking east on Robinson Road sometime around 2am when he was struck by a dark-coloured Acura – and then run over by a second vehicle. Police said the first driver stopped, but the second did not.

“It sounds to me like he get killed,” his sister Latoya

- SEE PAGE THREE

High School, where Terrance was an eighth-grade student, dismissed students early. The third passenger, Calsey

- SEE PAGE THREE

TWO TEXAN MEN ACCUSED OF TAKEOVER PLOT OF HAITIAN ISLAND

AN alleged plot to overthrow a small Haitian island and enslave all the women and children as ‘sex slaves’ has left two young Texan men facing a possible life sentence. See PAGE 13

Teacher and nephew killed in Abaco crash ‘were inseparable’

Rolle, remains in hospital, relatives said.

The tragedy hit a family already bound tightly together.

Emmise Bootle, Ms Williams’ niece and Terrance’s cousin, said the loss was heartbreaking. Ms Williams, Terrance, his father, and another aunt all lived in the same home. Terrance was his parents’ only child.

Mrs Bootle, also a teacher at Cooper’s Town Primary, said she usually rode with her aunt and cousin every morning, talking about food, work, and the poor state of the roads.

The only reason she was not in the vehicle on Friday was because she had teacher evaluations that morning.

“Our conversations would always start off with whatever we ate for that morning,” she said.

“Just going to school, whenever teachers get together, we talk whether it was about our students, and every once in a while, she would be like, check in the back on the boys.”

She said her aunt often cracked jokes during the drive, including lighthearted comments about dodging potholes.

“Y’all see them trying to come at us on the roads,” she recalled her saying.

Ms Williams, who had no children, treated Terrance like a son.

Mrs Bootle said the two were inseparable — “even in death, I don’t think they could’ve lived without each other.”

She said Terrance adored his parents but shared a special bond with their aunt.

“My uncle would often say that she would row him out for Terrance so when he come for Terrance, Terrance would run behind her,” she said.

Terrance, she added, was quiet, creative, and

“It breaks my heart but God knows all things, even as I stood on that scene, I had so many questions but whatever God does is well done.”

- Timesha Russell-Brice

thoughtful, recently asking questions about God and cooking recipes. “He was growing into himself, asking questions about life just wanting to add to life,” she said. Ms Williams had taught nearly 30 years and was looking forward to retirement.

“We encouraged each other in the class. I was like, ‘aunty, I don’t want you to leave me. I want you to stay so we could be in this together,” she said. She said Terrance’s

father has moments of deep sadness but has been strengthened by community prayers.

“He would say how his son would come and kiss him, ‘Daddy, I love you’”, she said. “He just kept letting him know he love him and kissing up on his dad and then he would run from him and they would chase each other. His last moments, he fulfilled that task of just pouring in,” he said.

Mr Williams, reflecting on the memories, is

keeping his son’s lessons about forgiveness as a keepsake. On Saturday, the grieving father found a handwritten passage in Terrance’s Religious Studies book. The boy described an incident where someone hit him with a ball. He was angry at first, but then forgave the person, realising they were acting out of hurt. The two later became best friends.

“He’s a sweet child and his father, he’s proud able to see that he was a good child,” Mrs Bootle said. The Ministry of Education issued a statement offering condolences, calling Terrance a young man of extraordinary promise and Ms Williams a dedicated educator who served with passion and commitment.

SC Bootle High School posted a video of Terrance playing the drums, writing: “May you continue to beat those drums in heaven, Terrance.” Parents were equally shaken.

Timesha Russell-Brice, a former student of Ms Williams and cousin of Terrance, said she will always remember how often the teacher told her she was proud of her. She said Ms Williams also taught her son and had recently invited her to speak to the class about community helpers.

“It breaks my heart but God knows all things, even as I stood on that scene, I had so many questions but whatever God does is well done,” she said.

‘He was trying his best’: Family plagued by tragedy mourns man killed in hit-and-run

Smith said in an emotional interview, adding that relatives seeking answers plan to meet police today.

She said her brother had pushed through hardship to build a stable life, working two jobs — at Cash N Go and Cacique — to care for his six-year-old son. He wanted to become a lawyer.

“It wasn’t easy for him but he was trying his best to balance to make sure his lil boy good and stuff like that,” she said. Butler was reportedly heading home from work when he was killed. A friend and roommate grew worried when he never returned. A Superwash employee later told the family he had stopped there minutes earlier to make a phone call for a

ride before walking off.

His sister did not learn about the accident until hours later. She said she ignored an early-morning call around 4am, thinking it was a random number, until repeated calls — including one from their sister — delivered the news.

“I said ‘man, y’all lying, y’all better stop talking fool, not my brother, Devon because I couldn’t

believe it,” she said. “They say ‘yeah, he get knocked down’ so I say, so ‘anybody gone or whatever and they say my little sister but by the time she got to the scene, he was gone already.”

The family has been plunged into crisis after a succession of blows. Their mother was injured in a hit-and-run in February, leaving her with a debilitating leg injury. Months later, their father died from illness. Ms Smith said they were still struggling to cope with the September loss of the man who raised them.

“We had a very rough upbringing,” she said, “but my daddy who died on dialysis, he take care of us from since we were small and we were babies.

We was even in the homes together, the emergency children’s hostel and my daddy came and took us out the home and we went straight to Bimini.”

Ms Smith believes the loss echoed a spiritual warning. Days earlier, she and her brother texted about their mother’s condition after her February hit-and-run, which left her wheelchair-bound.

“We was talking,” she said, “and I say, ‘y’all go check in on mummy. my spirit just dropping on her and let’s go and don’t wait for something to happen.”

Although their mother did not raise them, she said Butler still tried to maintain a relationship with her.

“Even though she wasn’t there for him, that was kinda hurting him but he

was still trying and he was positive about it, doing the best he could do,” she said. She said the siblings spoke every day. His final message to her was an invitation to church on Sunday. She had promised to go and was waiting for his reply on Friday, noticing only one tick — unaware it would be his last text to her.

“I never met a soul like my brother before. He was a sweet, loving brother. He always cared and kissed me up, telling me how much he loved me,” she said, calling him the life of the party.

“He loved all of his sisters. That was my second child.”

She said this Christmas will be especially painful, as the family always spent the holiday together and celebrated their mother’s birthday.

Ingraham says he told Brown to ‘wait for the big dance’

By-elections have historically favoured the governing party. Political observers will watch the vote closely to assess what it may say about the public’s mood heading into the upcoming general election, which must be held before next October. Turn-out is likely to be crucial, explaining why campaigning over recent weeks has been so intense. The result will likely be known by early evening.

Mr Ingraham revealed on Friday that he initially advised Mr Brown not to run. His comment came after weeks of uncertainty about whether the opposition would even contest the race.

“When the election came along, you know, I spoke to him,” Mr Ingraham told supporters. “I told him to let it pass, to wait for the big dance. But no, he said he couldn’t wait. He said he loves you and he is in love with you. He wasn’t gonna take the chance and let you get nobody else’s hands. So I said, go for it, go for it. He went for it.”

His caution mirrored what The Tribune reported in 2023: that Michael Pintard told FNM council members in 2023 that Mr Ingraham advised against contesting the West End and Bimini by-election

because such races historically favour the PLP. The FNM ran Bishop Ricardo Grant anyway, and he lost to Kingsley Smith.

Mr Ingraham framed today’s contest as both a referendum on the Davis administration and a chance for the FNM to regain ground in a constituency he feels has been “overlooked”.

“If you choose to vote for the PLP again this election, it means you like bad treatment,” he said. “Some people like bad treatment. I don’t believe you like bad treatment.”

Despite urging Mr Brown to sit out, Mr Ingraham praised him as a grounded candidate with long-standing ties to the community, comparing him to former Adelaide MP Frank Watson, whom he described as a benchmark for strong representation.

He noted that nearly 2,000 people voted for Mr Brown in 2021 and said he had expected Golden Isles to be one of six New Providence seats the FNM would win, despite believing the party would lose the overall election. He said he was surprised Mr Brown did not prevail.

Mr Ingraham recalled first meeting Mr Brown in 1992, calling him a “good and decent man” who never left the constituency and shares the same “neglect” residents describe.

“I told him to let it pass, to wait for the big dance. But no, he said he couldn’t wait. He said he loves you and he is in love with you. He wasn’t gonna take the chance and let you get nobody else’s hands. So I said, go for it, go for it. He went for it.”

“He’s demonstrated all these years that he knew how to earn a decent living and become successful,” he said. “He isn’t looking for a job. He won’t be asking the FNM who comes to power for a job. If they want to use him in a job, that’s fine, but he’ll be happy just to be your MP.”

“There are so few people nowadays who come forward to run for office who are not looking for a job or looking for something, but I assure you, Brian Brown ain’t looking for nothing.”

Ingraham breaks with FNM over Returning Officer row

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham broke with his party on Friday and said Returning Officer Neil Campbell should remain in place for today’s Golden Isles by-election. His comment came a day before Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson confirmed he is keeping Mr Campbell on and is confident the vote will be conducted with “transparency and without bias”.

Mr Thompson’s position came in response to Free National Movement chairman Dr Duane Sands, who wrote two letters outlining what the party called multiple conflicts that make Mr Campbell “wholly unsuitable” to oversee the by-election.

Mr Campbell told reporters on Tuesday he regarded Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis as his “adopted father”, a remark the FNM said strengthened its concern about his political proximity to the governing party.

Mr Thompson, however, said he attended the press conference where Mr Campbell “voluntarily” revealed his connections to the prime minister, FNM Leader Michael Pintard (his cousin), and candidate Brian Brown.

“He did not have to do this, but did so in the interest of transparency,” he said. “Having looked at all of the facts in this matter, including the fact that The

BY-ELECTIONS can help shape political momentum and be an indicator as to what lies ahead for the next general election. Here’s what happened in the last four by-elections:

WEST GRAND

BAHAMA & BIMINI

BY-ELECTION (November 2023 – after the death of Obie Wilchcombe)

FNM candidate: Bishop

Ricardo Grant

PLP candidate: Kingsley

Smith

WINNER: Kingsley

Smith

Why it mattered: It was the country’s first by-election in more than a decade, triggered by the rare death of a sitting Cabinet minister. The PLP’s ability to hold the seat despite losing a senior, wellliked MP, demonstrated that its support in Bimini

Bahamas is a small country where it is difficult, if not impossible to find people of any standing who are not connected with, or in some way familiar with each other, and given the fact that I have had the opportunity to observe Mr Campbell, a highly respected public officer, and his professional ethics for a considerable period of time, I do believe that Mr Campbell will execute his public duties as Returning Officer (as he has done before) without fear or favour.”

“I agree that the world is watching and we must not be seen to penalise persons

and West End remained intact and resilient.

NORTH ABACO

BY-ELECTION (October 2012 – Hubert Ingraham’s retirement seat)

FNM candidate: Greg

Gomez

PLP candidate: Renardo

Curry

WINNER: Renardo

Curry

Why it mattered:

The PLP’s win ended the FNM’s nearly 35-year grip on the seat held by former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, solidifying the country’s anti-FNM sentiment not long after the 2012 general election.

ELIZABETH

BY-ELECTION (February 2010 – after the resignation of MP Malcolm Adderley)

FNM candidate: Dr Duane Sands

just because of who they are or know. In the circumstances, I have decided that we will have elections conducted with transparency and without bias.”

Meanwhile, Mr Ingraham, speaking to The Tribune on Friday night, said Mr Campbell’s mistakes during the advance poll showed inexperience but not wrongdoing.

“I think he’s inexperienced,” he said. “I don't think he's ever conducted a poll before.”

“I think when he said that he wasn't going to put the envelope in the box, that caused the FNMs to become very suspicious

PLP candidate: Ryan Pinder

WINNER: Ryan Pinder

Why it mattered:

The PLP clinched the seat by an exceptionally narrow margin, underscoring the FNM’s loss of momentum since winning the 2007 general election.

SOUTH ANDROS

BY-ELECTION (1997 –after the retirement of Sir Lynden Pindling)

FNM candidate: Ronald Bosfield

PLP candidate: Neville Adderley

WINNER: Ronald Bosfield

Why it mattered:

The FNM captured a seat long associated with Sir Lynden Pindling, ending the PLP’s historic dominance in the constituency and an era in Bahamian politics.

because the rules are that they were supposed to go in the box and then when he said he was gonna put them in a vehicle by itself, that further exacerbated the situation. But no, I don't think he was trying to do anything untoward, and there’s nothing he could do untoward.”

Pressed on whether Mr Campbell should stay, he said: “Yes, he’s learned his lesson. He’s learned what to do and what not to do, how the ballots ought to be handled at the end of it and sealed in the box. We expect that to happen on Monday. No problems.”

Mr Campbell has said

he served in five general elections, seven local government elections, ten labour elections, and several Bahamas Union of Teachers elections, and has international training in election observation.

Mr Ingraham addressed FNM supporters at the party’s final rally before today’s vote and dismissed concerns about Mr Campbell’s relationship with the prime minister.

“I want to tell FNMs, don’t be focused on who the returning officer is,” he said. “The returning officer has good reason why he calls Brave daddy. That’s his business. He has good reason. People who call me Papa have good reasons for that too.”

“On election day, you focus on getting your voters out. Don't concern yourself on whether they gone thief an election from

you. You can’t thief an election in The Bahamas. We got too many guardrails. We got too many rules and what not, too many experienced people for that to happen. Just be sure of that. You get your voters out, get those ballots in the box, get them counted.”

He said the country has repeatedly overseen fair elections under every governing party.

“The Bahamas was able to conduct an election to elect the PLP when the UBP was at its peak, and then they conducted an election when the PLP was at its peak and the FNM won, and then the PLP won, then the FNM won and the PLP won,” he said.

“So whoever wins on Election Day will win. Don't concern yourself because an inexperienced returning officer messed up on the pre-polling day.”

The Tribune Limited

NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI

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

LEON E. H. DUPUCH,

Publisher/Editor 1903-1914

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

Publisher/Editor 1919-1972

Contributing Editor 1972-1991

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

Publisher/Editor 1972-

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How will todays voting impact timing of next general election?

ALL eyes are on Golden Isles as voters prepare to go to the polls today and with a general election not far away, there will be plenty to read into the outcome of the by-election.

FNM sources speaking to The Tribune over recent days have been optimistic –although former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham seemed more pragmatic when he spoke at a rally on Friday, daring to speak of a possible PLP win instead and saying if the incumbent party wins then you can expect the general election sooner rather than later.

Historically, most by-elections have resulted in a win for the incumbent party. In four of the past six by-elections, the ruling party has won.

That was the case when Kingsley Smith won the West Grand Bahama and Bimini by-election two years ago after the death of long-serving MP Obie Wilchcombe.

The last by-election prior to that was when Mr Ingraham resigned his North Abaco seat after the FNM’s election defeat. The PLP, now in power, was the victor then.

The PLP was also the victor in the 2010 Elizabeth by-election – but that was a case of winning in opposition, with Ryan Pinder defeating Dr Duane Sands.

Before that, you have to go all the way back to 1997 when Ronald Bosfield won for the FNM after former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling resigned his seat in South Andros – and then three years earlier, the FNM won in Montagu when William Allen was elected unopposed after the resignation of Sir Orville Turnquest.

In 1990, the FNM won from opposition in Marco City after the death of Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield.

However, seldom has a by-election been so close to a general election – and it will certainly serve as a bellwether for what is to come.

Often, one of the points discussed in a by-election campaign is what difference electing an opposition MP will make early in a government’s term. Voting for a member of the incumbent party is often seen, whether true or not, as a way of making sure there is a voice in the government to speak up for contracts and improvements in a constituency.

This close to an election, however, the winning candidate will hardly have any time to make an impact before we are all off to the polls again, this time nationwide. There is less time then for that victorious MP to progress the needs of the constituency – or if an opposition candidate is chosen, for those contracts to dry up.

In repeated conversations over recent days, one factor has cropped up time and again – that one of the biggest things to watch for is the size of the turnout.

The advance poll certainly had a strong turnout, but that is often the case. How big the turnout for the full by-election is will be a strong indicator of the level of enthusiasm for the incumbent government.

If the FNM repeats the size of the vote it got here at the last election, some voices were confident that would be enough for victory this time, if there is indeed a reduction in the overall vote, ensuring the FNM bloc grows as a percentage.

Vaughn Miller won the 2021 vote with 50 percent of the votes overall. He had 2,471 votes out of 4,895 total. The turnout at the time was 66 percent of registered voters. It is worth noting that Mr Miller won the seat both as a PLP and previously as an FNM before his switch of party.

Brian Brown, the FNM candidate this time around, was also the candidate then – and garnered 1,844 votes. That was 37.67 percent of the vote in 2021.

Will that be enough this time around? We shall soon see. It is, however, a small number of votes overall that could have a big impact on The Bahamas.

Mr Brown will also perhaps have been helped by his opponent, Darron Pickstock, putting his foot in his mouth on occasions on the election trail.

Mr Ingraham is likely right – if the PLP wins, it will signal a go-ahead for the overall election; if the FNM wins, the PLP will likely shelve those early election plans and go to full term. If they risk it, there will be plenty of people in salaried roles who might fear losing those jobs with a change of government who would be most displeased at the party taking a chance with their incomes.

Find strength within to live a principled life

EDITOR, The Tribune.

WE live in a time where meaningless things take up too much of our time and effort, challenging us to centre ourselves upon our essential principles of which our lives are based. The past, present and future challenge us each day as we try to live our lives in a fuller, meaningful way. That could mean our family life, employment/career, what has happened in the past and what we fear will happen in the future. Great stress can be upon you, digging itself deep into your sub-conscious mind, affecting your physical and mental health too.

The teachings of Freud and many other mental health professionals have centred a number of points of order that you can concentrate upon in order to live your life freely, determinedly and effectively.

Live in the present always - Be Grateful - Never stop learning - Take Responsibility for your lack of or actual actions - Be Optimistic - Always expect and accept that change will happen - Practice self-control and self-care - Find

your passions and be kind while doing so - Be a Risk Taker and accept sound opportunities - Be kind and forgiving of yourself and others - Humility within relationships works - Be resiliently reliable - Be open minded while following your heart - Never Give Up - Always Choose Happiness no matter the circumstances. (Psychology Today)* If you persist in your life struggles, trying to achieve a happy medium within a world that challenges your very sanity you can achieve what the Buddha called “the Soul of Life”. Self realisation comes with your pursuit to live your life fully while always reflecting upon the principals mentioned. A principled life is the greatest gift that humanity can bestow upon someone. It is a realisation that humanities greatest strength comes from within. The greatest of our historic and present-day leaders find the wise ambition, fortitude and courage to accomplish for others comes from within. Call it your Conscience, Soul or simply your Very Being, but something within you can

PICTURE OF THE DAY

When the US catches a cold, Bahamas catches pneumonia

EDITOR, The Tribune.

A POPULAR and cynical piece of economic wisdom circulates during hard times: A recession is when your neighbour loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours. And a recovery is when your MP loses his.

This analogy is more than just a joke. It is a vital lens through which to view the alarming economic forecasts emanating from the United States. As the primary engine of our tourism and financial services sectors, the health of the US economy is inextricably linked to our own.

The old adage remains as true as ever: “When the US catches a cold, The Bahamas catches pneumonia.” The signs of an American “cold” are growing, and we must prepare for the potential illness here at home.

The first stage, the “recession” our neighbors feel, is already taking shape in the US as inflation bites, consumer confidence wavers, and job growth slows. For us, this won’t remain an abstract news headline. It will manifest as a dip in advance bookings from Florida, a cancelled corporate conference from New York, or a decline in stateside investors for our second-home market. This is when we will see the first tremors - our “neighbors” in the tourism

move mountains if you are willing to try. Whatever you face during the day or even during the middle of the night, gnawing issues, problems and challenges that won’t leave you come, what may can be figured out with determination if you find your strength within. It can be a source of wisdom, courage, understanding and compassion. When you look within for answers as to why you think and do what you do, what you find may discourage or frighten you. Take courage and if need be, searched out a person of wisdom such as mental health provider or family member. Choose those principals that interest you and make the effort to implement them in your daily lives. Great Spiritual and Religious leaders have done so in their time, so should you.

Sources: The Psychopathology of Everyday Life, The Happiness Hypothesis, Psychology Today.

STEVEN KASZAB Bradford, Ontario November 22, 2025

and related sectors will feel the initial pinch.

But if a significant US downturn deepens, we will quickly enter the “depression” phase. This is when we feel it. A sharp pullback in American discretionary travel would directly threaten the jobs of hotel staff, taxi drivers, restaurant workers, and tour operators. The ripple effects would then spread throughout our entire economy, impacting everyone from the wholesaler to the retail clerk.

Our government’s ability to respond, funded by VAT and import duties derived from a healthy economy, would be severely constrained, risking a wider, more painful societal depression.

This brings us to the final, stark part of the analogy: the “recovery” that comes only with political accountability. We cannot control the US. Federal Reserve or American consumer sentiment. What we can control is our own preparedness and the accountability we demand from our leaders.

A government that fails to diversify our economy, streamline bureaucracy for business, and fortify our

social safety nets ahead of this storm is a government failing in its primary duty.

When the crisis hits, promises will ring hollow. The public’s definition of “recovery” may indeed become the political reckoning at the ballot box, as the analogy darkly jokes.

The point is not to be alarmist, but to be cleareyed. We have lived this cycle before. The 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic were brutal reminders of our vulnerability. We must learn from them.

Now is the time for a national conversation - led by the government, the private sector, and civil society - on a concrete economic contingency plan. We must ask what measures can be taken to stimulate local spending, support small businesses, and attract investment from non-traditional markets. We must reduce our debilitating dependency on imports and food insecurity.

The economic clouds are gathering to the north. Let us not be caught without an umbrella, left only with the bitter solace of a political protest when the storm finally drenches us all.

Eyes Wide Open.

B AZZAN JOHNSON Freeport, Grand Bahama November 23, 2025.

Bahamas creatives are being left behind

EDITOR, The Tribune. THE Bahamas is blessed with an abundance of talent. Our cultural output, such as our music, art, comedy, and storytelling, is authentic, vibrant, and globally competitive. Yet, our most dynamic generation of creatives faces a profound and unnecessary economic hurdle. They cannot directly monetise their work on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. This exclusion is not merely inconvenient; it is an existential threat to the future of our “orange economy.” We must dispense with the notion that the digital space is merely for leisure. For millions globally, social media monetisation is a new, verifiable wealth generator, transforming individual creativity into economic empowerment and independence. For a Bahamian entrepreneur, a viral video can translate into thousands of dollars in foreign currency, strengthening the financial position

of both the individual and the nation. However, platform geo-restrictions have created a policy lacuna that keeps Bahamian creativity stagnant and potential earnings captive.

The time for passive observation is over. This is not a complex legislative issue requiring years of debate; it requires aggressive engagement. We must urge the government to recognise that facilitating social media monetisation is an economic de rigueur. We cannot allow antiquated banking or regulatory frameworks to stand in the way of global progress.

To solve this [and this is just a mere suggestion], our legislators must go beyond passive deregulation and take the first step by engaging the global tech giants. I propose the establishment of a National Digital Creator and IP Export Agency. This agency, a joint public and private sector initiative, would have a singular mandate, to negotiate directly

with major entities like Meta and ByteDance. The Agency would serve as a trusted, compliant intermediary, offering these platforms a single point of contact for tax compliance, financial processing, and legal jurisdiction, thereby eliminating their perceived barrier to including The Bahamas in their direct monetisation programmes. This is a practical, [out of the box, perhaps] solution that transforms an economic blockade into a regulated, open channel for wealth creation. We are a nation built on innovation and enterprise. Our creative potential is overflowing, waiting only for the policy gates to swing open. Let us equip our citizens with the tools to compete globally, and turn Bahamian content into Bahamian capital.

MIGUEL D TAYLOR, JP, Esq Freeport, Grand Bahama November 23, 2025.

Jobless numbers fall: Rate down to 9.3% as nearly 4,000 find work

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

THE country’s unemployment rate dropped to 9.3 percent in the second quarter of 2025, according to preliminary labour force survey results released by the Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI).

Unemployment fell by 1.5 percentage points from the first quarter’s 10.8 percent, driven by rising job numbers from April to June. Total employment climbed to 218,620, up by 3,895 quarter-to-quarter, while the number of unemployed persons declined to 22,470, a fall of 3,455.

Joblessness decreased for both men and women.

Unemployment among men fell from 12,630 to 10,690. Female unemployment dropped from 13,295 to 11,780.

“The unemployment rate for males and females each declined by 1.6 and 1.3 percentage points, respectively. Among youths, the unemployment rate stood at 20.3 percent, a decrease of 0.6 percentage points compared to the first quarter of 2025,” the BNSI said.

Private employees and apprentices accounted for 62 percent of employed persons (135,565), government and government corporation workers 20 percent (43,565), and the self-employed without employees 12 percent (25,370). The labour force grew modestly to 241,090, up by 440. The Labour Force Participation Rate rose to 76.7 percent, an increase of 0.6 percentage points from the first quarter. Male participation rose to 80.7 percent and female participation to 72.4 percent, increases of 0.3 and 0.4 percentage points.

‘Long

The quarter recorded 107,470 women employed versus 11,780 unemployed, and 111,150 men employed versus 10,690 unemployed. Youth unemployment stood at 20.3 percent, down 0.6 percentage points from the previous quarter.

People aged 25 to 34 remained the largest cohort in the labour force, with 55,545 employed, representing 23 percent of all workers. In the same age group, 4,900 people were unemployed, accounting for 22 percent of total unemployment. Workers aged 45 to 54 formed the second-largest group, with 54,020 employed, or 22 percent of all workers.

Several occupational and industrial groups posted significant gains.

“The largest increase by an occupational group was recorded in the elementary occupations, where 6,980 persons were employed, a 25 percent increase over the previous quarter, driven primarily by male employment. Additionally, there were 3,240 more employed persons (9.2 percent) in the craft and related workers plant and machine operators and assemblers category compared to the previous period, with males outnumbering females by 31 percent. Employment among skilled agriculture and fishery workers also increased by seven percent compared to the first quarter of 2025, BNSI reported. Construction led all industrial groups, with 2,985 people employed, a 17 percent increase from the previous quarter. Wholesale and retail employment rose seven percent. Community, Social and Personal Services — which includes the Civil Service, Police Service, and Domestic Service — grew by 2,690 workers, up three percent. Hotels and Restaurants employment increased by three percent.

Service Workers and Shop Market Sales Workers remained the country’s largest occupational group, employing 57,615 people, or 36 percent of all workers.

Professional, Science, and

Engineering Professionals followed with 44,750 workers (20 percent). Craft and Related Workers, Plant and Machine Operators and Assemblers ranked third with 38,365 workers (18 percent).

Community, social, and personal services formed the largest industrial group, with 81,670 people (37 percent). Restaurants and hotels followed with 42,235 workers (19 percent). Wholesale and retail employed 29,905 people (14 percent).

Discouraged workers dropped sharply to 2,270, a 64 percent decline from the previous quarter. These are people willing to work but no longer seeking jobs because they believe opportunities are unavailable. However, the survey table showed a total of 2,275 discouraged workers: 1,190 were tired of looking or said no jobs were available in their area, 530 cited no jobs matching skills or lack of experience, and 555 said employers considered them too young or too old. The survey found that 27 percent of the labour force — 64,420 people — reported no examinations as their highest qualification. The second-largest group, 62,190 people, or 26 percent, completed the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education.

journey to healing’ for boy who spent eighth birthday in ICU after dog mauling

By Tribune Reporter

THIS is the scarred face of the eight-year-old boy ferociously attacked by a pit bull at the rear of his father’s restaurant earlier this month.

Third grader Dylan Durham remains in a serious condition, unable to use his right hand weeks after the incident. The photograph, showing multiple bites, was shared through a GoFundMe page launched over the weekend to raise $5,000 for the youngster’s medical expenses.

Dylan, who was admitted to hospital on November 8, has since undergone two surgeries and remains in the Children’s Ward at the Princes Margaret Hospital, having spent his eighth birthday in the intensive care unit.

"His injuries are serious, and he has not been given a release date yet,” wrote Tony Morris, the page’s organiser. “His journey to healing will be long, emotional, and expensive — with more surgeries, specialised care, and rehabilitation expected.”

Mr Morris described Dylan as brave and resilient, but said the situation has taken its toll on his family.

“Dylan remains upbeat and positive but is unable to use his right hand,” the organiser wrote.

“His parents have had to miss work to stay by his side, adding financial stress to an already painful experience. Your generosity will help cover Dylan’s growing hospital bills, treatment costs, and support his parents during this difficult time.”

The GoFundMe page was shared by Dylan’s school, Jordan Prince Williams Baptist, which also appealed for support. As of press time yesterday, more than $2,000 had been raised.

Police said three dogs were loose on the property, on Rosetta Street, two of which became aggressive and attacked the child.

He was found drifting in and out of consciousness shortly afterwards and was taken to hospital by Emergency Medical Services, where he underwent surgery. Authorities said his condition was serious but not life-threatening.

Animal Control officers have since removed one dog from the property, while two others were euthanised on November 11.

Three Abaco suspects charged over looting of stranded container barge

THREE Abaco men were granted bail on Friday after denying any involvement in the looting of a container barge that ran aground off the island earlier this month.

Darren Lightbourne, Ferail McIntosh and Mossell Smith appeared before Assistant Chief Magistrate Ancella Evans after police alleged they played a role in the mass looting.

Lightbourne and McIntosh are accused of stealing goods from the grounded barge, while Smith is accused of receiving stolen items.

The barge, The Brooklyn Bridge, quickly became the centre of attention this month after its tow line snapped in severe weather, grounding it on a reef near Nunjack Cay, North Abaco. Videos of residents in small craft forcing open containers and hauling away food, appliances, electronics, medical supplies and other items quickly spread across social media.

Trailer Bridge, the US-based operator, later said an estimated 90 percent of containers were compromised following

the barge’s grounding on a reef near Nunjack Cay.

The incident triggered a major police investigation and even led to the formation of a special taskforce, with Lightbourne, McIntosh and Smith the first to be charged.

The men, however, have denied the allegations.

All three were granted bail — $30,000 each for Lightbourne and McIntosh, and $7,000 for Smith. They were also ordered to sign in at their nearest police station once a week. They will return to court on January 21.

Arnold’s Department Store demolished as Cooper looks to remedy ‘dead after five-O-clock’ downtown

THE Davis administration demolished the old Arnold's Department Store off Elizabeth Avenue on Friday as part of its ongoing campaign to revitalise the downtown area.

Tourism Minister Chester Cooper described the building as decades old and said officials decided to clear the entire block following the massive fire that tore through Victoria Court back in May.

“We wanted to see this area cleared as a part of our overall revitalisation of Main Street,” he told reporters at the site. “As you know, we've demolished now more than a dozen buildings. We're making steady progress, and we are planning for the

future, we hope that something magnificent can go on this site.”

He said the demolition is part of a broader plan to revitalise Bay Street by creating business opportunities, enhancing the tourist experience, and improving the area’s overall appearance.

“Bay Street should be a place of great pride. This is the main street downtown in our country and therefore we can and we'll do better,” he said.

“I have said before the DK on Bay Street goes back in 40 years. We're not going to fix it overnight, but I think we're making steady progress.”

Mr Cooper said building owners have been

cooperating with his ministry in the revitalisation effort.

He added that the government is seeking business proposals for several Bay Street locations and hopes Bahamians will take advantage of the opportunities.

“Bay Street goes dead at five o'clock. That's a tragedy,” Mr Cooper said. “We hope, long term, we can get some residents here. We can get some mixed use structures here. We can maybe have a hotel but there are thoughts as to what we can do in terms of the creation of rooftop spaces. We hope that every time we do one of these demolition it sparks interest and appetite from the Bahamian people.”

Teen accused of attempted murder and armed robbery remanded

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A 17-YEAR-OLD boy was remanded to prison on Friday after he was accused of trying to kill a man in Nassau Village in September and stealing $21,000 during an armed robbery at a Mount Pleasant Avenue business last month.

Police alleged the teenage defendant, whose name is being withheld because he is a minor, was on a motorcycle with an accomplice when he shot at 19-year-old Glendin

Brown near a church on Red Sea Road around 1am on September 28.

Mr Brown escaped and was treated in hospital for gunshot wounds to his upper body.

The juvenile, along with Brandon “Bardon” Major, 23, is also accused of holding up businessman Francis Ansah on October 24 and stealing a deposit bag with $21,000 while masked and armed with a handgun. The suspects reportedly fled east on Kemp Road in a dark-coloured vehicle.

The teen was charged with attempted murder and armed robbery before

Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr. Major was arraigned earlier this month for the shared robbery charge.

The accused, who appeared with his guardian, was not required to enter a plea. The matter will proceed to the Supreme Court via a voluntary bill of indictment on February 12, 2026. He was remanded to the adolescent unit of the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Alex Morley represented the accused, while Sergeant 3004 Forbes was the prosecutor.

Prison officer accused of stealing over $1,000 from man’s bank account

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A WOMAN prison officer was accused on Friday of stealing more than $1,000 from a man’s Commonwealth Bank account in 2020. Prosecutors allege Stevana Bullard, 32, along with accomplices stole $1,130 from the bank account of Henry Gay on June 4, 2020. Bullard pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing before Senior Magistrate

Shaka Serville. The defendant’s police bail was extended until she returns to court on December 8, when a bank representative will be present. Inspector Cordero Farrington was the prosecutor.

Man awaiting murder trial sent to jail after admitting bail breach

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A MAN awaiting trial for the 2021 murder of Deandre Thompson was remanded to prison on Friday after he admitted breaching his Supreme Court bail.

Cleso Rolle, 32, failed to sign in at his local police station for 66 days between June 18 and November 17.

The defendant allegedly shot and killed Thompson while he was in a white bus on the intersection of Sapodilla and Willow Tree Streets on January 3, 2021.

Rolle pleaded guilty to violation of bail conditions before Senior Magistrate Shaka Serville. Rolle was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services until his sentencing on January 7, 2026. Inspector Cordero Farrington was the prosecutor.

Police chief Confirms Three Officers Facing Probe as Another Suspect escapes custody

A MAN escaped custody from the Nassau Street Police Station on Saturday — the second such incident in recent months.

Michael Thompson fled after being arrested on multiple warrants. He was last seen wearing a black shirt and short black trousers and is described as having dreadlocks.

This marks the second escape in the past month.

Police said D’Angelo Culmer escaped around 3.30pm on October 2 from the South Street complex while wearing a blue T-shirt and light blue jeans.

Police Commissioner Shanta

Knowles recently confirmed that three officers are under investigation in connection with the incident. Meanwhile, Culmer remains at large. Anyone with information on the suspects’ whereabouts is asked to contact police at 911, 919, the Criminal Investigation Department at 502-9991, or Crime Stoppers at 328TIPS (8477).

THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

Hunger and war: the oldest crimes the world still permits

HE GOVERNMENTS

Tof theworld s powerful nations havelearned to live with disregard for human suffering.That isthebleak truthbehinda newUNreport whose numbersshould shame everyleader ordiplomatic representative whospeaks of global responsibility.

According tothe World Food Programme,ending hunger by 2030would cost justUS$93 billiona year less thanone percent oftheUS$21.9trillionthatnations havepoured intotheir militaries overthe past

decade.

Yet, insteadof falling, hunger is escalating. By 2026, 318 million people will face crisis-level hungeror worse.Thatis doublethenumberfromseven years ago.

Inwealthy nations,hunger is practically invisible. It is confined to small pockets easily managed. Citizens enjoy abundantsupermarkets, stablefood prices,andthe luxury ofnever imagining what a motherfeels when she cannot feed her child. But elsewherein theworld

By SIR RONALD SANDERS

the poorestare payingdearly for wars, promotedeither by local rivalry forpower or external ambition for control. Nowhere is this clearer than Gaza.Despite thediplomatic fanfare surrounding a “ceasefire, childrencontinue to

starve.Atleast13peoplewere killed in drone attacks last Wednesday. Two years of Israeli bombardment, blockade, and forced displacement have exhausted families.UNICEF reportschildren sleepingin flooded tents without warm clothing ordry bedding,immune systems shattered by years ofmalnutrition and trauma. High-energybiscuits usually the last resort in humanitarian crises now pass for sustenance.

Israeli forces still restrict access toover halfthe enclave, and even with new border openingsthe flowof foodandmedicineispainfully inadequate. Winterrains turned makeshiftshelters into shallow lakes. Parents, already broken by grief, now watch theirchildren tremble through the cold.

These images have disappeared fromthe coverageof televisionstationsinmostrich nations.

But if sufferingin Gaza is hardly mentioned in the mass media ofrich nations,Sudan andthe DemocraticRepublic ofCongo arealmostcompletely ignored.

InSudan, thesituationis grim. Twenty-one million people,nearlyhalfthepopulation,do nothave enoughto eat.Themessage isclear:war starves.

Ineastern DemocraticRepublicofCongo,morethan25 millionpeople arenow hungry. Violence has destroyed farms, displaced millions, and turnedrich agriculturallands intowastelands. For thesefamilies, hungeris now permanent.

Inthe Caribbean,hungeris mercifully rare except in Haiti,wherearmedgangsnow dominatemuchofthecountry. Violence has turned roads into killing grounds; markets remain shut;farmers abandon their fields.

The result is predictable: rising hunger in a land already scarred byearthquakes, political instability,and economic

collapse. Here, too,conflict is the chief architect of misery. The attempts toaddress the problem have been met with divisionin theUNSecurity Council.

In the Organization of AmericanStates anambitious road maplaid out bythe Secretary-General, AlbertRamin, is yet to garnerthe support it needs.Meanwhile,theHaitian people suffer – the victims of gangs,and politicalgamesmanship with Haiti and by external players. Thankfully, beyondHaiti,

Conflict is now the primary driver of the world’s worst hunger crises, yet the Security Council still treats hunger as a humanitarian footnote

Latin America andthe Caribbean tell a more hopeful story.

Hunger declined for a second consecutiveyear in2023, falling to about 41 million people,roughly6.2percentof the region s populationand nearlythree millionfewer than the year before.

Food insecurity dropped below the globalaverage for the first time in a decade, thanks to economic recoveries, social protection programmes, and targeted efforts to improve food access. Butthis isnotyet causefor celebration. The region is now thesecond-most exposedin the worldto extremeweather, afterAsia.Droughts,powerful hurricanes, unpredictable rainfall,and shiftingseasons arealready increasinghunger by1.5percentagepointsinthe most climate-affected countries. Jamaica, after Melissa, can attest that climate change is real and is relentless.

Theworld tendstoimagine hunger as localised suffering. It is not.

Hunger is a contagion carriedthrough globalmarkets, supply chains, trade flows, and political shocks. No country is immune. The war inUkraine proved

this with brutal clarity: grain exports stalled, prices spiked, and foodriots brokeout across the globe.When global food pricesrise, socialunrest follows a documented pattern across continents.

TheFood andAgricultural Organization warns that when familiescannot eat, “social contracts weaken. The international systemhas never been more interconnected, nor more fragile.

UNagencies, suchasthe WorldFood Programmeand the UN Human Rights Office, are the first responders in these humantragedies. They workin mud,under fire,amid collapsingstates. Theydoso with chronicunderfunding, exposedby lackofadequate protectionandoftenunnoticed by the world they serve. They arethebestexpressionofmultilateralism.

But their heroismcastsan even harsherlight onthe UN Security Council’s failures. Conflictis nowtheprimary driverof theworld’s worst hunger crises, yet the Security Council still treats hunger as a humanitarian footnote not a geopolitical threat.

Whatismissing isnotexpertiseorcapacity itispolitical will and the allocation of resources. Ending hunger by 2030 wouldcost lessthan one per cent ofwhat has been spent onmilitaries overthe last decade.The ideathat the international communitycan find US$21.9 trillion for weapons but cannot mobilise US$93 billion a year to preventstarvation exposesthe gap betweenits statedvalues and its actual priorities.

The world must stop treatinghunger asahumanitariancalamitythatwillalways exist and recognise it as a preventableconsequenceofpolitical decisions.

As UNDeputy SecretaryGeneral Amina Mohammed toldthe SecurityCouncil, there can be neither peace where people are starving, nor securitywhere hungerdrives conflict.”

That is a warning that should not be ignored.

The author is the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the OAS, and Dean of the OAS Ambassadors accredited to the OAS. www.sirronaldsanders.com)

Chinese 'cryptoqueen' jailed in UK

LONDON (AP) A Chinese woman who wasfound with5billionpounds ($6.6billion) in Bitcoin after defraudingmore than 128,000 peoplein China in aPonzi scheme was sentenced by a U.K. court on Tuesday to over 11 years in prison.

Police saidthe investigationinto Zhimin Qian, 47, led toofficers recovering devices holding 61,000Bitcoin in thelargest cryptocurrency seizure in the U.K.

Qian,dubbed "cryptoqueen"byBritish media, was arrested inApril 2024 after spending years evading the authorities and livingan "extravagant"lifestyle inEurope, staying in luxury hotels across the continent

andbuying finejewelryand watches,prosecutors said. Police said sheranapyramid schemethat lured morethan 128,000 people toinvest in her businessbetween 2014and 2017,including many who invested their life savings andpensions. Authoritiessaidshe storedthe illegally obtained funds in Bitcoin assets. When she attracted the attention of Chinese authorities, Qian fled to the U.K. under a fake identity. Oncein London, policesaid she renteda"lavish" houseforover17,000 pounds ($23,000) per month,and tried but failed to buy multimillion pound properties in a bid to convert the Bitcoin.

Was COP30 just more talk, no real action?

By Malcolm Strachan

FORall thetalk ofclimate changeas aglobal threat,the UNClimate Conferencethat wrapped up overthe weekend in Brazil showedlittle sign thattheworld isreadytorespond.

Climate change hasbeen a calling card issue for this government – Prime Minister

Philip Davis drew international headlines early in his tenureat anearlier versionof this conference held in Glasgow in 2021. He spoke thenof how we cannot outrun your carbon emissions; wecannot outrunthehurricanes which are becoming morepowerful;andwecannot outrunthe risingsea levelsas ourlands disappearbeneath the seas.

This time around, he gave a pre-recorded address on existential threats posed by rising seas. Whilethe wordswere fine, there is a genuine question about whetheranyone is listening.

We continue to be one of themost outspokenvoiceson climate changein thedeveloping world,” saidMr Davis, “and I certainly intend to keep it that way.

“For TheBahamas,” he continued, sea-level rise is not an abstract concern – it is our dailyreality. Ourislands, ourpeopleandourlivelihoods stand onthe frontlinesof this crisis.

Ifthatis thecase,you would thinkour frontlines would seemore preparation. But for all thewords, there is littletosee hereathomein termsofhow weintendto deal with rising sea levels.

Whereare theplans forsea walls or floodplain zoning to prevent construction?

PMDavis alsotalkedof how ourshorelines recede year after year, which would beastrong lineifitwas backedup byphotographsof that change. Strangely, there are none to be shown.

Mr Davis’ administration seemsfocused onfundingto pay forthe damagecaused by climate change--a formof reparations from the countries withthe biggestemissions-while opening the door to climate financingthrough such things as carbon credits.

All welland good,but the big guns are not at the party.

The end of the COP30 meetinginBrazil camewitha compromise.It pledgedmore money to help countries adapt to climate change,but no agreement could be found that wouldproperlytackle,oreven mention, fossil fuels.

Fuelssuchas oil,coaland gas are a fundamental part of what is heating our planet. With globalwarming comes the ice melt at the poles that pushes up sea levels around the globe.

Thatwarming alsohas other effects,such asthe bleachingwe seeof ourcoral reefs that lead to their destruc-

tion, and the destruction of the marine lifethat callssuch underwater environments home. There wasa distinctlack of energy at this conference, or at leasta lackof determination that anythingmeaningful was going tohappen. Ahead of the conference, every countrywas givensome homework to do:they each hadto writeup theirindividual climate plansand then compare to see whether it was enough ornot. Somecountries, such as India, did not even do that homework, which delayed its climate pledge. AlthoughIndia hasa growing solar energy sector-125 gigawattsin September, up from 5.7 gigawatts 10 years before the country still relies heavily on coal.India wasnotalone. More than 70countries failed tofile thoseplans. Ofthose that did, they generally were not enough to do the job. Collectively, the plans received would still seeglobal temperatures rise by 2.5 degrees C, far abovethe 1.5degreeC target.

The agreementreached in Brazil haspromised more money, tripling the amount promisedto helpvulnerable countries,but delayingthe deadlinefor thatby fivemore years, until2035. That amount of moneyfalls short too. The$120bn pledgedis a long wayshy ofthe $360bn that is said to be needed.

Theelephantin theroom –or more pointedly out of the room – wasthe UnitedStates. Underthe administrationof PresidentDonald Trump,climatescience hasbeenrubbished and there has been a lack of commitment to help. China has alsonot steppedup tofillthe gapassomehad hoped,though, frankly,it sa big gap to fill.

The frustrationwas evident fromsome delegates. “I will be brutally honest: The COP and the UN systems are not working foryou. Theyhave neverreally workedforyou. And today, they are failing you at a historic scale, said a negotiator for Panama, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez. And others voiced similar frustrations. “Our coralreefs, the lifeblood of our islands food systems, culture and economies are ata tipping point indieback. Forestecosystems areata tippingpoint.The windowto protectlivesand economiesisclosing weare dangerously close to a 1.5C global warming overshoot, drivenbytheactionsofbigger countries. Unless we choose the path ofcourse correction righthereandnow,leadersare dooming ourworld todisaster,” warnedthe environmentminister ofPalau, Steven Victor.

Ifyoulisten tothewords, we are talking about doom and disaster,land beingswallowed up, nations being hit by ever-greaterstorms, anda challengefor nationstosur-

vive or continue to exist.

Ifyoulook attheactions,it is all too little,too late, not enough. Andyet everyone seemed to avoid the big subjects and put a smiling face on an agreement that falls short in everymajor way,just so peoplecan saythat atleast there was progress.

It s like showingup at a blazinghouse fireand throwinga singlebucketof water on it, then saying Well, atleast wehelped.” It isjust not enough.

Indefence ofthedelegates from the manysmaller nations,theones whofeelthe biggest effectsfrom climate change,they havealimited amount they cando when the big players are either not showing up or controlling the narrative whenit comesto issues such as fossil fuels.

At the sametime, though, there is little merit in talking uphowboldyouarebysaying words that no one listens to.

The nextof theseconferencesis inTurkey nextyear. Unless something fundamentally changes, it is hard to have confidence that it will amount to anything other than more of the same. Minor progress, a few agreements, while the world continues to burn.

Ifwereally meanitwhen wesay thatclimate changeis an existential threatto our nation, wecannot besatisfied withthat.It isnotenoughto raise our voice,we need to scream andshout anddemand to beheard, notsimply show upat aconference, givea speech, and move on. This needs tobe thenumber one item on every agenda in every meetingaroundthe world – if we truly mean it. Otherwise, it is just sound bites.Nice tolisten to,but meaningless without being backed up.

Former Olympic snowboarder charged with orchestrating murder of witness

By ALANNA DURKIN

RICHER Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP)

Aformer Olympicsnowboarder for Canada who is wanted by authorities for running a multi-national drug trafficking network is facing additional charges in connection with the killing of afederal witness,Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Wednesday. Ten otherdefendants have been arrested oncharges in the federalindictment unsealed inCalifornia thataccusesRyan Weddingofor-

chestrating theJanuary killing ofthe witnessin Colombia to help Wedding avoid extradition to the U.S. Authorities are now offering up to $15 million for informationleadingtothearrest of Wedding, who'son the FBI's10 MostWanted list. He's believed to be living in Mexicounder the protectionof theSinaloa cartel,whom authoritiessay he's working withclosely to funnel massivequantities of drugs into Canadaand the U.S. "Whether you area streetleveldrugdealer ...oranin-

ternationaldrug kingpin,we are comingfor you,"Bondi told reporters. "Wewill find you and you will be accountable and held to justice for your crimes."

Wedding whose aliases include"El Jefe,""Public Enemy," and "James Conrad King" was charged in 2024 with runningadrug ringthatmovessome60tons of cocainea yearusing longhaul semi trucksto bring the drugs betweenColombia, Mexico, SouthernCalifornia and Canada.

Authorities sayWedding andhis co-conspiratorsused a Canadian website called "theDirty News"to posta photographof thewitnessso hecould beidentifiedand killed.The witnesswasthen followed to a restaurant in Medellín in January and shot in the head.

"Wedding placed the bounty onthe victim'shead, andthe erroneousbeliefthat the victim'sdeath would result in the dismissal of criminal chargesagainst him and hisinternational drug trafficking ring,and would further ensure that he was notextradited totheUnited States.He waswrong."said Bill Essayli,the topfederal prosecutor for the Central District of California.

BTVI president praises Atlantis' customised leadership training

AT A TIMEwhen the world is faster paced, hyperconnected and constantly changing, Bahamas TechnicalandVocationalInstitute (BTVI)President, Dr.Linda A.Davis, laudedAtlantis Paradise Island Resort for its Bold investment in its people throughthe customised training of potential leaders.

Dr.Davis wasthekeynote speaker at the Atlantis Rising LeadersManager Certification Programme graduationfor cohorttwo. The areas of focus, included but were not limited to team work,conflictresolution,operational efficiencyand crisis management.

Donotshort-changeyour employer whether in time on the job or quality of work. productivity is not about quantity. It’s aboutquality. Yes, do complete your task in atimely manner,however, completing atask halfheartedly and ina substandard manneris unacceptable also, leadership is not about working alone. No one isanisland.Donotoperatein silos. It s stifling. Leadership is about working together,” she stated.

Dr.Davis tooktheopportunity toapplaud Atlantis’ Learning andOrganizational Development team as she considers the training to speak volumes ofthe resort’s investment inits humancapital. Additionally, she stated that in order to not be left behind, there must be a willingness to keep learning.

Keep upskilling.We, at BTVI,understand thisalltoo well. As a national, institu-

A. Davis

tion – that isnowinternationally accredited by the Council on OccupationalEducation headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, BTVIis doingits part to fill the skills gap

that gulf between available skilled jobs and qualified workers to fillthem.We playaveryimportant role inthe nation s economyas weprepare graduates to beglobally competitive and economicaly independent in an ever-demanding, ever-changing world,” said Dr. Davis. Sheadded thatBTVI’s international accreditation is evidenceof itscommitment to reach higher for the students, staff and faculty.

“It is indicativeof ourdesire to continually assess our standards...ourquality. AndI wanteachof youtounder-

stand that what you have done through this programme aligns with that same philosophy – that growth-oriented mindset” she stated.

Itis thesame realityin hospitality. Guestexpectationswill continuetoshift. Technology will continue to advance. New skills will be required. Theleaders who excelwillbe theoneswho never stop learning you represent Atlantis’ future. Youwillbe theonestoelevate the guest experience, strengthenthe culture,innovatethe operationsand influence thenext generation of leaders.

The class wasfurther encouraged tobecome lifelonglearners, whichisa part of BTVI’s belief system.

“We championthe ideaology thatlearning isnot confined to thepaper in one’s hand. it’s acycleof self improvement.Today s graduation ceremony proves thathigher education is not solely defined by a college education. Even those of us who have degreesmust seetraining asa keyelement ofourworkforce development system, said Dr. Davis.

“Gain AnEdge” isa collaboration of Lyford Cay Foundations, the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Instituteand theUniversity of TheBahamas aimedat promoting anational dialogueonissuessurrounding education. To share your thoughts, email gainanedge@tribunemedia.net.

Y You and your money ou and your money

Building an emergency fund can feel daunting, but these tips can help

By ADRIANA MORGA Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) Maybe your car broke down, your computer was stolen, or you had a surprise visitto urgent care.Emergencies are inevitable, but you canprepare to deal with them by building an emergency fund.

"There are so many things that happen in our livesthatwedon'texpect andmostofthemrequire financial means toovercome," said Miklos Ringbauer, a certified public accountant.

The industry standard is to save three to six months of expenses in an emergency fund. However, thiscan feel daunting ifyou live paycheck topaycheck orif youhave debt.But if you're in either of these situations, it's even more crucialto build afinancial safetynet that can help you in times of crisis.

"Emergency fundsallow you toprevent furtherdebt," saidJaimeEckels, certifiedfinancialplanner andwealthmanagement leaderfor Plante Moran Financial Advisors.

Suppose you're payingmultiple credit cards and other loans. In that case, Rachel Lawrence, headof adviceandplanning forMonarch Money,a financialplanning andbudgeting app, recommends that you make the minimum payments while you build your emergency fund.Onceyou'vehitanamountthatfeelsright foryourlifestyle,youcangobackandcontinue tackling your debt more aggressively.

Whether youwant to startan emergency fundorcreatebetterhabitswhileyousave,here are some expert recommendations:

Start with small milestones

Theidea ofsaving forthreeto sixmonths' worth of expenses can be daunting, so it's best to start with a smaller milestone. Lawrence recommends starting with agoal ofsaving $1,000, then moving on tosave one, three, and six months of expenses.

The way you approach this goal can vary depending on your incomeand your budget. But startingwithsmall, attainablegoalscanhelp youbuild anemergencyfund withoutfeeling financially strained.

"Starting small is okay. Even if it's $20 right outofyourpaycheck, thosesmallthingscan add up," Eckels said.

She recommends building your emergency fund in a separateaccount from your regular savings account, ideally a high-yield savings account,whichoffersahigherinterestratethan a traditional savings account.

Decide on the appropriate amount for your life

Knowinghow muchtosavefor youremergencyfund dependsonyour lifesituation. Lawrence suggestsyou gauge yourown financial responsibilities to estimate how much your ideal emergency fund should be.

For single professionals with no significant financialresponsibilities,suchasamortgageor acar,theamountmightbe$2,000to$3,000.At thesametime,peoplewithchildrenandseveral petsmightaimto saveforsixmonths'expenses. "There's no one-shoe-fits-all solution. Everybodyisdifferent, especiallyifyouhave variable expenses on a monthly basis," Ringbauer said.

Lawrencerecommends thatself-employed

people maintain two emergencyfunds: one to buffer low-income months and another for true emergencies. Tobuild yourbuffer account, Lawrencerecommends settingasidesome money during high-earning months.

"You set that amount aside in your buffer account until you have two or three months of the amountthat youwant, shesaid. "Becausethat wayany monthwhereyouhave lessmoney, yougopullfromthe bufferandit'snobig deal."

Automate your savings

Eckels recommends setting up automatic savings as a low-effort way to build your emergency fund.

Scheduling yoursavings tobe withdrawn from yourbank accountas soonas your paycheck arrives is an effective way to build a savings habit without havingto transfer the money manually.

"Ialwaystellpeopleif itwasneverinyour bank account,you never had it,right?" Eckels added.

Shealso recommendsthat herclients opena separateaccount,onethatisn'tatthesamebank as their checking account, so they aren't temptedto transferthemoneyin anon-emergency.

Make it visual

As you're making progress towards your emergency fund goal, making it visual can help you stay motivated, according to Lawrence.

Sherecommendsgetting creativewithhow youtrack yourprogress, ideallywith amethod that brings you joy.

"Youwant yourbrain toget rewardedas oftenaspossiblewhenyou'reseeingabunchof progress," she said.

Someoptions tomakeyour progressvisual include drawing a thermometer-like tracker and keepingit updated as youadvance toward your goal, documenting your progress on a habit-building tracker on yourphone, or using a budgeting app with a tracking tool.

Save windfalls If your budgetis really tight andyou don't have much wiggleroom to set asidemoney for an emergency fund, Lawrence recommends saving windfalls.

"Unexpected chunks ofmoney that maybe youweren'texpecting,like taxrefundsorgetting a third paycheck when you normally get paid twice a month, or a bonus, those are your best ways to make progress when you're tight otherwise," said Lawrence. In general,Lawrence recommendsthat peoplekeep 10%oftheirwindfall forthemselvesandtherest fortheiremergencyfund. With that breakdown, you can both save and feel rewarded by the unexpected income.

If you use it, don't feel guilty

Chances arethat an emergencywill happen, and whenit does,you don'tneed tofeel guilty for using your emergency fund, Lawrence said. Instead, it'sbest tothink abouthow you've achievedyourgoal ofbuildingafinancial safety net for yourself.

"You wouldn'tfeel bad aboutusing your down paymentto buy a house,you wouldn't feelbadaboutsavingforretirement,actuallyto retire," Lawrence said.

QC Class of ’75 raises over $12,000 to restore iconic school pond on golden jubilee

T HE Queen's College Class of 1975 joyfully marked their 50th anniversary reunion at Baha Mar, gathering over 100 classmates for a weekend filled with celebration, nostalgia and camaraderie.

The 70's themed festivities were lively, featuring tons of hugs and kisses, photo sessions, a scrumptious buffet and open bar, dancing and even Junkanoo. There was a palpable sense of happiness as friends and former classmates rekindled memories of the good ol’ days, sharing laughter and stories that highlighted their enduring bonds.

“It was everything that we hoped it would turn out to be," said Ed Fields, chief organiser, along with committee members Shawn Turnquest, Gina Sealy and Janet Johnson.

To commemorate their milestone, classmates received a special memento and keepsake in their goodie bags - a thoughtfully curated "Then & Now" edition of the QC Magpie Magazine, produced by classmate Gina Rodgers-Sealy, providing a nostalgic look at their journey from youth to lifelong alumni.

A central focus of the reunion was a fundraiser aimed at restoring the Queen's College Lilly Pond - an iconic symbol of resilience and renewal. Classmate and Former High School Principal Shawn Turnquest expressed deep concern for the pond's condition, lamenting, "It broke my heart to see the pond of my youth reduced to

rubble and I am delighted that through Janet's efforts, the Queen's College Foundation is collaborating with the Class of '75 to bring it back to life."

Thanks to the generosity of classmates, pledges have already reached $12,150. and nearing the $15,000 goal. Contributions continue to come in, with the project uniting the alumni in their commitment to preserving their alma mater's legacy.

On Sunday morning, the classmates gathered at Global Village on the QC campus for a heartfelt church service of thanksgiving, reflecting on blessings and community bonds.

As the gold standard for alumni engagement, the QC Class of '75 has set an inspiring example for others, exemplifying how fellowship and philanthropy can positively impact the school. In collaboration with the Queen's College Foundation, the QC Alumni Association is now rallying graduates from as far back as 1960 for an all-out effort to give back, ensuring that future generations will enjoy a stronger more vibrant Queen's College.

Further, the QC Class of 1975 boasts a remarkable legacy of leadership and service, having produced two Cabinet MinistersGlenys Hanna-Martin and the late Obie Wilchcombe - as well as distinguished educators, corporate heads and diplomats. Among their notable alumni are former QC Head of High School Shawn Turnquest and Head of Primary

School Sylvia Beneby and Ed Fields and Janet Johnson in Tourism. Additionally, HE Paul Andy Gomez a former Ambassador to the People's Republic of China currently holds the esteemed position of High Commissioner to the Court of St James. Their collective accomplishments continue to uphold the proud tradition of excellence associated with Queen's College.

Bahamas Young Chef National Culinary Competition DAY THREE

Two Texas men planned to capture a small Haitian island and enslave women and children as sex slaves

By TRIBUNE STAFF REPORTER

TWO twisted young Texans allegedly planned to invade a small Haitian island with an army of homeless people in a sick plot to kill all the local men so they could enslave the women and kids as “their sex slaves,” according to US federal prosecutors.

Gavin Rivers Weisenburg, 21, and Tanner Christopher Thomas, 20, were indicted for conspiracy to murder, maim or kidnap in a foreign country “for the purpose of carrying out their rape fantasies,” US federal prosecutors announced. One attorney described the charges as "the craziest thing I have ever heard."

The two were also charged with production of child pornography over allegations they persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct.

The accused paedophiles “planned to purchase a sailboat, firearms, and ammunition, then recruit members of the [Washington, DC] homeless population to serve as a mercenary force as they invade Gonave Island and stage a coup d’etat,” the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas said of the island of about 100,000 people.

The men face up to 30 years in prison if convicted on the child pornography charge and up to life in prison if convicted on the conspiracy charge.

Attorneys for both men said they would enter not guilty pleas.

The accused paedophiles “planned to purchase a sailboat, firearms, and ammunition, then recruit members of the [Washington, DC] homeless population to serve as a mercenary force as they invade Gonave Island and stage a coup d’etat,” the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas said of the island of about 100,000 people.

“They never tried to do any of this,” said John Helms, who is Thomas’ attorney. An indictment filed in a Texas federal court accuses the men of planning to recruit the homeless to join their coup in Haiti, buy a sailboat and seize power on Gonave Island, which has about 87,000 residents. It covers roughly 290 square miles (751 square kilometres) square miles and is the largest island surrounding Hispaniola. Helms said that while he has not yet seen the government’s evidence, he thinks prosecutors “are going to have a real hard time” trying to prove that

Weisenburg and Thomas actually intended to carry out such a plot.

David Finn, Weisenburg’s attorney, said he encourages everyone to “tap the breaks” and reserve judgment. He said people have been telling him it is “the craziest thing” they have heard, and his response has been: “Yeah, it is.”

According to the indictment, the two men worked on the plot from August 2024 through July and that preparations included researching weapons and ammunition and plans to buy military-type rifles. Prosecutors also allege that both men tried to learn the Haitian Creole language.

The pair “undertook numerous overt acts in furtherance of their invasion plan, including making operational and logistical plans” - and even learning Haitian Creole, the feds said.

Weisenburg allegedly enrolled in a fire academy around Dallas to receive training that would be useful in the attack but failed out of the school. He then allegedly travelled to Thailand and planned to learn to sail, only to never end up enrolling in lessons because of the cost.

Thomas enlisted in the US Air Force in January, according to the indictment, and told Weisenburg in a social media message that he had joined the military to further their planned attack. While in the Air Force, Thomas changed his assignment to Andrews Air Base in Maryland to help in the recruiting of homeless people in Washington, DC, the indictment said.

The US Air Force Office of Special Investigations was among the investigating agencies, according to the US Attorney’s Office. The Air Force did not

immediately respond to an inquiry about Thomas’ service on Friday. This case is being investigated by the FBI, US Air Force Office of Special

Investigations, and Celina Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Ryan Locker. A grand jury indictment