Carib Scope

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  • Fire service ‘still 25 to 30 short’ despite new recruits

    Fire service ‘still 25 to 30 short’ despite new recruits

    The Barbados Fire Service continues to grapple with a persistent staffing gap, remaining 25 to 30 trained officers short of its fully authorized operational strength even after 20 new full-time recruits graduated from training last week, according to Deputy Chief Fire Officer Henderson Patrick.

    Speaking to journalists on Health and Open Day, a core event of the island’s annual Fire Service Week held at the Barbados Fire Service Headquarters at the Cadogan, Mayers, Marshall Emergency Services Complex in the Pine, Patrick emphasized that understaffing has been a long-running challenge for the organization. For years, the service has depended on temporary auxiliary staff to fill gaps in frontline response, a stopgap measure that has been necessary until more full-time recruits could be trained and deployed.

    Last week’s 42nd passing out parade marked a key milestone for the service, as all 20 graduates entered the force as fully accredited full-time fire officers, rather than temporary auxiliary staff. While this new cohort has grown the service’s total ranks, Patrick confirmed it has not been enough to close the pre-existing staffing deficit. “They have added to the complement, but they have not given us as yet the establishment that we have for the service,” he explained, noting that the service is still actively recruiting to fill the remaining 25 to 30 vacant positions.

    In an open call to eligible Barbadians, Patrick encouraged people who meet the service’s entry requirements and have a passion for public service to consider a career with the fire department. “We are looking for committed individuals and individuals who are ready to serve the public to become a part of this wonderful organisation,” he said.

    The Health and Open Day event that hosted Patrick’s announcement was designed to serve dual purposes: expanding public access to no-cost health screenings and assessments, and educating community members on how to make proactive, informed choices about their personal wellness. “We are hoping that members of the public will come and have their free checks, assessments, and get to become more intimate with information that is pertinent to their personal health,” Patrick said, adding that the public health-focused event was particularly well-timed amid the ongoing high prevalence of non-communicable diseases across the Caribbean.

    Health and Open Day is just one of the activities scheduled for this year’s Fire Service Week. The calendar also includes the first ever Wayne Vaughan Memorial Fun Day, set to take place this Saturday at the Lears cricket ground in St Michael. The new event honors the life and service of late Divisional Officer Wayne Vaughan, who passed away on June 14.

  • Goud blijft onder druk door olieprijs en hogere Amerikaanse rente

    Goud blijft onder druk door olieprijs en hogere Amerikaanse rente

    Global commodity markets are facing major cross-currents this week, with gold hovering near its lowest level in more than seven weeks after a sharp sell-off on Monday. The slump and subsequent stagnation come as investors weigh conflicting pressures: growing geopolitical tension around Middle Eastern energy supplies that stoke inflation fears, and a simultaneous shift in expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer.

    On Monday, spot gold hit an intraday low of $4,110.55 per troy ounce, its weakest point since August 5. It closed the trading session at $4,136.81, while U.S. gold futures finished 3.5% lower at $4,168.40. Markets saw limited stabilization on Tuesday, with spot gold trading around $4,124.57 per ounce in early dealings and U.S. gold futures dipping an additional 0.3%. Through the rest of the trading day, gold held steady near $4,130, remaining close to the previous session’s multi-week low.

    A primary driver of recent market volatility has been shifting conditions in global oil markets, spurred by escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. Uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, has sparked widespread concerns over potential supply disruptions from the Middle East. Oil prices jumped 3% on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to de-escalate the conflict, amplifying fears that energy supplies could face prolonged disruption.

    Market sentiment shifted in a more mixed direction on Tuesday. Brent crude fell 54 cents to settle around $104.74 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 77 cents to $91.83 per barrel, according to Reuters data. The news outlet also reported that Middle Eastern oil exports rose to 12.8 million barrels per day in September, the highest volume recorded since February. Resumed operations at key infrastructure including Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port and the East-West Pipeline have partially eased supply concerns, though the overall outlook remains tightly tied to both military and diplomatic developments. Mediators continue to work toward an agreement between Washington and Tehran to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but no breakthrough has been achieved to date.

    For gold markets, the reaction in global bond markets has been the most impactful factor. Unlike interest-bearing assets such as government bonds, gold generates no yield or dividend returns for holders. When U.S. Treasuries offer increasingly attractive returns, the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold rises sharply, dragging down its appeal.

    The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark policy rate by 25 basis points at its September 15–16 meeting, bringing the target range for the federal funds rate to 3.75% to 4%. The recent run-up in oil prices has refocused attention on the risk that higher energy costs will make inflation more persistent. That dynamic limits the central bank’s room to cut interest rates, explaining why investors are now pricing in a longer period of restrictive monetary policy. Market pricing also reflects growing expectations for another rate hike before the end of 2025, though the exact timing and size of any additional increase will depend on upcoming inflation, labor market, and growth data.

    The sell-off extended across the entire precious metals complex on Monday. Silver fell between 4.5% and 4.7% to close around $61.39 per ounce, while platinum dropped 2.8% to $1,727.88. Palladium recorded a 3.6% decline to settle at $1,220.65. Most precious metals remained under selling pressure on Tuesday, with silver trading around $60.6, platinum near $1,700, and palladium around $1,209 per ounce in early updates.

    At first glance, the recent price action may appear counterintuitive: gold is traditionally viewed as a safe-haven hedge against inflation and geopolitical uncertainty, so rising geopolitical risk and higher inflation pressures would typically support higher gold prices. But the current market environment shows multiple competing forces acting on commodity valuations simultaneously. When higher oil prices push inflation up, central banks are more likely to keep interest rates elevated, which lifts Treasury yields and makes non-yielding gold less attractive by comparison. Additionally, a stronger U.S. dollar makes gold more expensive for buyers purchasing the commodity in other currencies, creating additional downward pressure.

    For the moment, the combination of a stronger dollar, rising Treasury yields, and shifting interest rate expectations is outweighing gold’s traditional role as an inflation and crisis hedge. This does not mean gold has lost its safe-haven status entirely; it simply demonstrates that short-term gold prices are driven by a complex mix of overlapping factors, including geopolitical risk, oil prices, inflation expectations, interest rate policy, and dollar valuation.

    Looking ahead, investor attention is now turning to upcoming U.S. economic data and further signals around the Federal Reserve’s interest rate path, while the situation around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz remains a key source of uncertainty for both energy and financial markets. If oil supplies continue to normalize and inflation pressure eases, that could take pressure off U.S. interest rates and remove a key headwind for gold. Conversely, a further escalation of the Middle Eastern conflict or new energy supply disruptions could push oil prices and inflation fears higher again, keeping upward pressure on interest rates. For now, gold remains caught between two opposing forces: geopolitical uncertainty that typically supports safe-haven assets, and higher interest rates and dollar strength that act as significant drags on prices.

  • AT&LU Calls for ABS Workers to Be Paid Long-Outstanding Overtime

    AT&LU Calls for ABS Workers to Be Paid Long-Outstanding Overtime

    At the 87th Annual Delegates’ Conference of the Antigua and Barbuda Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU), union president Bernard de Nully has brought long-simmering public-sector labor grievances back into the spotlight, placing urgent focus on the years-long dispute over unpaid overtime for workers at the ABS facility.

    De Nully emphasized that despite a clear legal ruling already ordering the disbursement of owed overtime payments to the ABS workforce, the case has dragged on for years without any tangible resolution for the affected employees. He noted that these workers have continued to fulfill their professional duties in good faith throughout the prolonged delay, but mounting frustration has become overwhelming for many of them. “Payments to ABS workers should be paid forthwith. Right is right and wrong is wrong,” de Nully stated firmly during his address to conference delegates.

    The ABS overtime dispute is far from an isolated case, according to the union leader. He detailed that a host of unresolved labor complaints have plagued public-sector workers across the twin-island nation, with some outstanding issues remaining unaddressed for anywhere between 10 and 20 years. Past worker protests at three major public institutions — the Central Board of Health, the Solid Waste Management department, and the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre — serve as stark examples of the unrest stemming from these unaddressed grievances, he added.

    De Nully used the conference, held this year under the unifying theme of “developing stronger workers for a stronger future,” to urge the union’s membership to maintain solidarity in their push for resolution. He warned that internal divisions among workers would erode the hard-won gains that have been secured through decades of collective bargaining, undermining the labor movement’s ability to advocate for fair treatment.

    Representing more than 10,000 workers across Antigua and Barbuda, the AT&LU remains one of the most prominent organized labor voices in the country, and its annual conference serves as a key platform to surface and push for action on systemic workplace issues affecting public and private sector employees alike.

  • Puerto Plata Cable Car renovation to begin October 3 with US$20 million investment

    Puerto Plata Cable Car renovation to begin October 3 with US$20 million investment

    One of the Dominican Republic’s most beloved high-profile tourist destinations is set to undergo a major transformation, as the long-awaited full-scale renovation of the Puerto Plata Cable Car is scheduled to kick off this Saturday, October 3. Backed by a $20 million investment, this comprehensive modernization initiative is designed to address longstanding capacity constraints, cut travel times, and bring the iconic attraction’s operational and safety infrastructure up to 21st-century standards.

    The project was officially unveiled jointly by José Ignacio Paliza, Minister of the Presidency, and David Collado, the nation’s Minister of Tourism. Funding for the rehabilitation effort will be split between the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) and the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), marking a coordinated public sector investment to boost the country’s tourism sector.

    The upgrade delivers sweeping changes across every core part of the cable car system. Most notably, the cable car cabins will undergo a full modernization that will more than double their passenger capacity, jumping from 18 passengers per cabin to 50. Project planners anticipate this expanded capacity will cut down on lengthy visitor wait times during peak travel periods and let the popular attraction accommodate far more tourists annually, supporting broader tourism growth in the Puerto Plata region.
    Travel speed will also see a significant improvement. With the installation of an all-new high-performance electromechanical system capable of operating at 10 meters per second, the one-way trip to the summit of the mountain will shrink from the current eight minutes to just five minutes, creating a more efficient and convenient experience for guests.
    The renovation work will be rolled out in three distinct phases to minimize disruption and ensure quality control: the first phase will cover pre-construction engineering studies and detailed design work, the second will focus on on-site renovation construction, and the third and final phase will involve the assembly and testing of the new cable car system. To support the upgraded infrastructure, the project also includes the build-out of a dedicated new electrical supply line that will ensure reliable power for the expanded system.
    The full-scale modernization comes after the Puerto Plata Cable Car has been closed to the public since June 2024, when it was shut down for failing to meet required mandatory safety certification standards for public operations. Following the closure, Dominican authorities moved quickly to develop a plan to rehabilitate and upgrade the attraction, rather than simply repairing the existing system. The competitive bidding process for the construction contract was finalized earlier this year, clearing the final regulatory and administrative hurdle for work to get underway as scheduled.
    When completed, the modernization project is expected to revive one of Puerto Plata’s flagship tourist draws, delivering a safer, more efficient, and higher-capacity experience that meets the needs of growing visitor numbers to the region, while supporting local tourism-dependent businesses and communities.

  • OECD study outlines measures to strengthen public integrity in Dominican Republic

    OECD study outlines measures to strengthen public integrity in Dominican Republic

    In an official ceremony hosted in Santo Domingo that was presided over by Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has officially launched a landmark public integrity assessment report, produced in collaborative partnership with the Dominican Republic’s General Directorate of Ethics and Governmental Integrity (DIGEIG). The core mission of this comprehensive study is to systematically map existing progress, identify unaddressed risks, and highlight critical gaps in the country’s current public governance frameworks.

    Elsa Pilichowski, OECD Director of Public Governance, used the public event to extend formal recognition to the Dominican Republic for the measurable headway it has made in building robust institutional foundations centered on public sector integrity. She emphasized that the country’s ongoing commitment to strengthening governance aligns with global best practices established by the international community.

    The assessment puts forward a targeted set of actionable recommendations designed to reinforce five key pillars of public integrity: more robust protection for whistleblowers who report misconduct, enhanced systems for identifying and mitigating integrity risks across public bodies, stronger investigation and disciplinary sanction mechanisms for violations, greater proactive transparency around government activities, and expanded avenues for direct citizen participation and independent oversight of public administration.

    President Abinader reaffirmed the Dominican government’s commitment to implementing reform during his address at the launch. He noted that the OECD’s independent assessment provides a valuable opportunity for domestic public institutions to benchmark their current operational practices against widely accepted international standards, and laid out a clear plan to convert the study’s recommendations into tangible, actionable policy changes across government.

    José Ignacio Paliza, Dominican Minister of the Presidency, echoed this commitment, stressing that principles of integrity must be embedded into every level of public administration, from frontline local government services to senior national leadership. He formally pledged full administrative and political support for the full rollout of all recommended reforms outlined in the study.

    This new OECD assessment is not a standalone initiative: it forms a core foundational component of the Dominican Republic’s recently launched National Public Integrity Strategy (ENIP) 2026–2036. The 10-year strategy is designed to translate the study’s findings into a structured, long-term national roadmap, complete with clear strategic objectives, concrete implementation measures, defined institutional responsibilities, and measurable accountability indicators to track progress over the coming decade.

  • Dominican shipping association calls for long-term national maritime strategy

    Dominican shipping association calls for long-term national maritime strategy

    In a pivotal gathering held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Convention Center, industry leaders, government policymakers, and cross-sector stakeholders have united to address the future of the Dominican Republic’s maritime and trade ecosystem, with a clear call for a unified, long-term national maritime vision to underpin projected economic and foreign trade expansion. The first ever Maritime Vision 2026 forum, convened by the Dominican Republic Shipping Association (ANRD), brought together representatives from maritime transport, port operations, logistics, manufacturing, and public administration to lay out a roadmap aligned with the Dominican government’s ambitious growth target: doubling the size of the national economy by 2036. ANRD chairman Jaak Rannik opened the forum by outlining the Dominican Republic’s existing competitive strengths that position it as a growing regional trade hub. These advantages, he noted, range from the country’s strategically advantageous geographic location, already upgraded modern port and transport infrastructure, and well-established international connectivity, to consistent inflows of private sector investment and a rapidly expanding national logistics platform. Over the past decade, Rannik explained, the country has built a vibrant, dynamic port and logistics network that has supported steady trade and economic growth. However, he emphasized that incremental, sector-by-sector adjustments are no longer sufficient to keep pace with the coming wave of expansion. To meet the rising demand that will accompany a doubling of the national economy, the country must shift from fragmented, ad-hoc responses to a centralized, coordinated national strategy that proactively addresses future needs across critical areas: infrastructure development, digital and physical connectivity, logistics efficiency, skilled human capital development, and long-term environmental sustainability. Forum participants dedicated sessions to analyzing how the 2036 economic doubling target will reshape key sectors tied to maritime activity, including cross-border imports and exports, domestic manufacturing, free-trade zone operations, the country’s core tourism industry, energy supply chains, and integrated logistics networks. ANRD’s proposal frames a formal National Maritime Strategy as a unifying framework to align public sector policy and private sector investment, breaking down silos that currently slow coordinated development. The association argues that this unified approach will not only strengthen the country’s overall trade competitiveness but also drive targeted improvements in infrastructure expansion, workforce development, and climate-resilient environmental sustainability for the maritime sector. Stakeholders in attendance broadly supported the initiative, noting that proactive long-term planning is critical to ensuring the Dominican Republic can capitalize on its natural advantages and capture emerging opportunities in global trade in the coming decades.

  • CAMIPE calls for clearer regulations to unlock Dominican Republic’s critical minerals potential

    CAMIPE calls for clearer regulations to unlock Dominican Republic’s critical minerals potential

    Against a backdrop of surging global demand for critical minerals — materials essential to clean energy technologies, advanced electronics, and modern infrastructure — the Dominican Republic’s Mining and Petroleum Chamber (CAMIPE) is pushing for targeted regulatory reform to unlock the country’s mining potential and secure a foothold in fast-growing regional supply chains. The call for change was delivered during a high-stakes critical minerals panel hosted at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) headquarters in Washington, D.C., a key event held as part of the country’s Dominican Week initiative in the United States, which aims to strengthen trade and investment ties between the two nations.

    Martín Valerio Jiminián, CAMIPE’s executive director, told attendees that while the Dominican Republic already has a foundational legal framework in place to support mining development, the current system of regulatory procedures lacks the coordination, efficiency, and transparency required to attract large-scale, long-term investment. Complex, fragmented approval processes and unclear rules have created unnecessary barriers that discourage the major capital commitments the sector needs to grow, he explained.

    To address these gaps, Valerio Jiminián outlined a series of concrete proposals designed to streamline administrative workflows without compromising environmental or community protections. Among his top recommendations are the creation of a unified Single Mining Window to centralize application and approval processes, a full transition to digital documentation and tracking systems to cut down on processing delays, enhanced coordination between overlapping government institutions, standardized protocols for tracking permit applications, clearly defined mandatory deadlines for regulatory reviews, and transparent, consistent rules that apply across every stage of the mining lifecycle, from initial exploration to final site closure.

    A core point of emphasis from Valerio Jiminián was that administrative efficiency does not require rolling back environmental safeguards. He pushed back against the common narrative that streamlined regulation equals weaker environmental oversight, arguing that rigorous environmental impact assessments and proactive ecological protection can and must coexist with efficient, predictable administrative processes. Responsible development, he noted, depends on both clear rules for investors and strong protections for natural ecosystems.

    When it comes to the country’s critical minerals strategy, Valerio Jiminián argued that Dominican policymakers must look beyond simply mapping and identifying untapped mineral deposits. For the country to capture long-term value from its natural resources, he said, national strategy must prioritize building up local technical expertise, strengthening domestic regulatory and research institutions, investing in modern mining technology, and expanding domestic capacity to attract and manage large investment projects. This approach must also center tangible benefits for local communities that host mining operations, while upholding strict environmental protection standards.

    Ultimately, Valerio Jiminián said, the long-term strategic goal should be to convert the Dominican Republic’s untapped mineral resources into sustained national economic and industrial capacity. With smart regulatory reform and targeted investment in domestic capabilities, the country can position itself as a reliable, responsible supplier within regional critical minerals supply chains, driving economic growth while meeting rising global demand for these strategically essential materials.

  • EUROCINE 2026 to bring contemporary European cinema to Dominican audiences

    EUROCINE 2026 to bring contemporary European cinema to Dominican audiences

    A new chapter of cross-cultural cinematic exchange is set to launch in the Dominican Republic, with organizers officially unveiling plans for EUROCINE 2026, a curated festival celebrating the breadth of contemporary European film. The event, a collaborative effort between the European Union Delegation to the Dominican Republic, EU member states, Caribbean Cinemas, the Dominican Film Institute (DGCINE), and local production group Ebribari Audiovisual, aims to broaden Dominican film lovers’ access to underrepresented international cinematic voices.

    The 10-day festival will kick off on the evening of October 26 with the opening night selection *Gloria!*, a 2024 co-production between Italy and Switzerland. Marking the feature directorial debut of Italian creative Margherita Vicario, the period drama is set against the backdrop of an 18th-century Venetian girls’ boarding school, centering a talented young composer who dares to push back against the rigid gender and artistic conventions of her era.

    Closing the festival will be *Pepe*, a multi-national 2024 co-production between the Dominican Republic, Germany, France, and Namibia. The film is led by Dominican director Nelson Carlos de los Santos Arias, who earned global critical acclaim and the prestigious Silver Bear for Best Director at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival for his work on the project.

    Overall, the 2026 festival lineup brings together 14 feature films from 11 European nations, including Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Romania, Ireland, Hungary, Greece, Finland, and the Netherlands. Curators have prioritized highlighting diverse storytelling perspectives, supporting international co-productions, and sharing work from independent filmmakers whose projects rarely receive commercial screenings in Dominican theater chains.

    Representatives from the European Union and partner local cultural organizations emphasized that the festival fills a key gap in the Dominican cultural landscape, creating sustained space for cross-cultural dialogue between European and Caribbean creative communities while giving local audiences greater opportunity to engage with global cinematic work outside of mainstream Hollywood releases.

    Film enthusiasts interested in attending can access the full festival schedule, venue information, and ticketing details through the official social media channels of the EU Delegation in the Dominican Republic, which can be found under the handle @unioneuropeard.

  • Family seeks answers after 14-year-old boy shot at park

    Family seeks answers after 14-year-old boy shot at park

    A chilling act of gun violence has left a 14-year-old Bahamas middle schooler fighting for his life after a midday shooting at Englerston Park, with his family pushing for clarity into the circumstances that led to the attack. Deontae Wright, an eighth-grader at Anatol Rodgers High School, was struck multiple times by a gunman who, per initial police accounts, approached the teen and a female companion on a moped to ask for marijuana before opening fire when Wright said he had none. As of Tuesday, no arrests had been made in connection with the attack.

    Details shared by Wright’s aunt, 33-year-old Christina Johnson, reveal the full scope of the teen’s devastating injuries: bullets pierced both of his lungs, left two gaping wounds in his lower abdomen, and caused a grazing injury to his pelvis. To give Wright’s body the best chance to rest and begin healing after hours of emergency surgery, medical providers placed the teen in a medically induced coma. The entire surgical and stabilization process stretched on for roughly seven hours, with family members waiting anxiously throughout the procedure for updates and for an intensive care unit bed to become available.

    Even as they hold vigil at the hospital, Wright’s family has cast doubt on the official narrative of the shooting, saying they believe key details of the lead-up to the attack have not yet come to light. Johnson noted that this pattern of incomplete initial accounts is common in violent incidents, and the family suspects some unreported confrontation preceded the gunfire. The only witness to the attack is the teenage girl Wright was with at the park, and the family has not yet been able to get a full account of what transpired from her. Johnson added that Wright had kept his relationship with the girl private, so family members have little context for their connection or any possible prior conflict with the shooter.

    While the family has no confirmed motive for the shooting, Johnson said she suspects jealousy over the teen’s relationship with the girl may have played a role. She described Wright as a well-loved teen who took pride in providing for his own needs, saying “I believe it had something to do with jealousy and the little girl and him having what he needs.”

    Johnson also acknowledged that Wright should have been in school when the shooting occurred around 11 a.m., and confirmed the teen was likely at the park with his girlfriend. She pushed back against any implication that Wright was a troubled kid, emphasizing: “Kids would be kids. He’s not a bad child. I love him because he’s a good boy.” The entire family has been left reeling from the fact that a 14-year-old child became the target of such brutal violence. “He looks like a man, he has a build as a man, but he is a little boy,” Johnson said, adding that the unexpected violence has been a devastating shock to the close-knit family that has never experienced such a tragedy.

    Johnson also addressed a widely circulated social media video that purportedly shows Wright crying out for help immediately after the shooting. She said she initially felt angry that bystanders chose to record the injured teen instead of stepping in to help, but she has since extended grace, acknowledging that onlookers likely feared for their own safety if they intervened. Wright’s mother has been left severely traumatized by the attack, and the family is leaning on one another for support as they wait for updates on the teen’s recovery.

    Local education officials have also stepped forward to offer support in the wake of the shooting. Education Minister Chester Cooper released a statement saying the Ministry of Education is focused on Wright’s full recovery and stands ready to provide all necessary support to the school community impacted by the violence. Though the shooting did not occur on Anatol Rodgers High School’s campus, Cooper noted that acts of youth violence send ripples through entire school communities, affecting peers, staff, and family members. To support those processing the trauma, the ministry will provide free counseling, guidance, and emotional support to students, Wright’s friends, the family, and the entire school population.

    Cooper also addressed the question of why Wright was absent from school during the shooting, noting that the ministry uses a system of attendance officers, daily attendance reports, and digital tracking tools to identify extended student absences and follow up with students and their caregivers. He said the current system performs “reasonably well” at catching unexcused absences, but its overall effectiveness depends on collaboration from community members. “The reality is that if you see a student during school hours, not at school, in the community milling about, for example, I think there can be some intervention by the community themselves,” Cooper said.

  • US: Drug trafficking and corruption underscore challenges in The Bahamas

    US: Drug trafficking and corruption underscore challenges in The Bahamas

    In its 2026 annual investment climate statement, the Trump administration’s State Department has issued a stark assessment of The Bahamas, warning that a string of high-profile corruption, fraud, and drug trafficking cases involving former politicians, elite society figures, and senior security forces personnel underscore deep-seated governance and rule of law failures that are harming the country’s investment appeal.

    The report, which expands its dedicated section on corruption this year, references a series of active court proceedings on both sides of the US-Bahamas border, alongside recent convictions and guilty pleas, to illustrate the persistent threat of public sector graft. While the document does not name the individuals involved directly, the details align closely with public cases tracked by The Tribune.

    One confirmed case cited involves Sonny Miller, a former assistant police superintendent, ex-leader of the Police Staff Association, and the highest-ranking law enforcement officer on Acklins. Miller was sentenced to six years in prison in February 2026 for smuggling operations involving $1.4 million worth of cocaine and $34,000 worth of marijuana. Another high-profile matter referenced is that of Elliott Lockhart KC, a former Supreme Court justice and Exuma member of parliament, who faces US arrest and asset forfeiture proceedings over allegations he misappropriated $3.6 million in client funds. Lockhart denies all charges.

    The report also calls out Michael Johnson, former head of the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s criminal investigation department, who faces bribery charges tied to an armored car robbery, and Lanisha Rolle, a former Bahamian Cabinet minister, who is fighting $750,000 fraud charges in domestic courts. Two additional security force figures are named: Chief Superintendent Elvis Nathaniel Curtis, former head of The Bahamas’ airport police, and Darrin Roker, a chief petty officer with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, both of whom are involved in New York-based drug trafficking proceedings. Roker has already accepted a plea deal and received a four-year prison sentence.

    The final case highlighted is that of Adrian Gibson, former executive chairman of the Water & Sewerage Corporation and former Long Island MP, who faces 41 remaining charges including false declaration, conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, and money laundering after prosecutors dropped 18 earlier counts. Gibson, like all other defendants except Miller and Roker, denies all allegations and is contesting the charges in ongoing proceedings.

    Beyond individual criminal cases, the report flags a growing passport fraud crisis in The Bahamas. As of early 2026, investigations have uncovered nearly 100 suspected cases involving falsified documents, sham marriages, and fraudulent citizenship applications, with dozens of arrests already made. Internal reviews have also raised red flags over potential insider complicity within government offices, prompting Bahamian authorities to implement new policy reforms to strengthen verification rules and close vulnerabilities in the passport issuance process.

    The timing of the report’s release has already added new strain to already tense US-Bahamas relations. In recent weeks, the Bahamian government has formally filed a complaint with US authorities over allegations that Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents have been operating illegally on Bahamian soil. Those accusations stem from court filings in a US federal drug investigation linked to Jonathan Eric “Player” Gardiner, who was taken into US custody after being rescued from a plane crash on the 2025 Bahamian general election day and faces multiple drug charges. The DEA probe is also tied to the indictments of Curtis, Roker, and other co-defendants, making the State Department’s critical report particularly contentious.

    A core criticism leveled by the US is that while The Bahamas has passed multiple anti-corruption laws on paper, the government has failed to follow through with the necessary regulatory frameworks, funding, and enforcement to make them effective. The most prominent example cited is the Public Disclosure Act, which requires all members of parliament, senators, and senior public officials to file annual public declarations of their net worth, assets, income, and liabilities. The report notes that the last time these disclosures were legally published was 2011, and that publication only covered declarations submitted up to 2008 – leaving a 15-year gap in required transparency that remains unresolved today. The report calls this gap one of the most critical weaknesses in The Bahamas’ accountability framework, though it acknowledges that modernization efforts for the filing and publication system are underway.

    Similar unimplemented reforms are called out across other anti-corruption measures. The body tasked with overseeing the Independent Commission of Investigations Act, which is designed to probe misconduct by public officials and security forces, is not expected to become operational for several more years. While the Bahamian government has passed new Ombudsman legislation, it had not been activated as of early 2026 due to a lack of funding. Legislation to create an Integrity Commission and implement campaign finance reform remains pending in parliament, and campaign financing overall remains largely unregulated, with no meaningful safeguards against quid pro quo donations or foreign influence.

    Local non-governmental organizations that investigate corruption also lack specific legal protections, the report says, further weakening civilian oversight. US businesses operating in The Bahamas have repeatedly identified corruption as a major barrier to foreign direct investment, the report adds, with widespread reports of graft in government procurement and the FDI approval process, though no specific examples are provided.

    The report also notes that the Bahamian Freedom of Information Act has been only partially implemented and remains under-resourced, with just $140,000 allocated to the agency in the 2025-2026 national budget. It references comments made by Prime Minister Philip Davis KC in June 2025, when he called full implementation of the act “not a priority” amid more pressing cost of living challenges. However, the report omits the Bahamian government’s recent steps to advance the law: just this week, retired justice Donna Newton was named information commissioner, and the government has released long-awaited implementing regulations for public comment after a nine-year delay.

    In its concluding assessment, the report acknowledges that Bahamian law does include criminal penalties for corruption – including fines up to $10,000, four years’ imprisonment, or both for bribing a public official – but notes that enforcement remains inconsistent, especially when it comes to senior public figures. “There continues to be a pressing need for stronger enforcement mechanisms to prevent conflicts of interest, especially in the awarding of government contracts, which are often alleged to favour political supporters,” the report says. Recent early 2026 reporting has reinforced these concerns, it adds, finding that a substantial share of government contracts awarded between 2023 and 2025 – totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in public spending – were awarded through no-bid, non-competitive processes. Critics argue that overreliance on these exemptions creates significant risks of favouritism, reduced market competition, and weakened public accountability, the report notes.