In a key diplomatic milestone for bilateral ties between the two South American and Caribbean nations, Georgette Garcia-Elias, the newly appointed Surinamese ambassador to Venezuela, has formally presented her copy of credentials to Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, marking a critical step forward in strengthening diplomatic and economic partnership between the two countries.
Garcia-Elias, who was officially sworn in to the post of Suriname’s ambassador to Caracas back in March 2026, completed this formal procedure that clears the way for her to fully carry out her diplomatic duties across the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. During the closed-door meeting following the credential presentation, the new ambassador emphasized Suriname’s firm commitment to deepening the long-standing bilateral relationship between the two neighbors.
She specifically highlighted the shared strategic vision that both nations hold: to preserve the Caribbean region as a zone defined by lasting peace and cross-border collaborative development. Beyond overarching diplomatic goals, Garcia-Elias also put forward a concrete proposal to establish a joint bilateral commission focused on advancing cooperation across a range of high-priority strategic sectors. These sectors include agriculture, fisheries, commercial air connectivity, higher education, public health care, and energy.
According to the ambassador, each of these areas presents tangible, actionable opportunities to expand mutual collaboration and drive inclusive socio-economic development for both nations. Responding to Garcia-Elias’s remarks, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yván Gil Pinto extended his formal congratulations to the Surinamese diplomat on her recent appointment. He reaffirmed Venezuela’s full readiness to create all necessary enabling conditions for Garcia-Elias to carry out her diplomatic work effectively and efficiently, while also underlining Venezuela’s commitment to advancing deeper cooperation across diplomatic, economic, and cultural domains.
分类： politics
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Georgette Garcia-Elias begint diplomatieke missie in Venezuela
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Suriname en Dominicaanse Republiek versterken banden
In a significant step to deepen cross-national ties, Suriname and the Dominican Republic have locked in concrete agreements to expand collaboration across a range of key strategic sectors, following high-level bilateral diplomatic talks held in the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo. The discussions were led by Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation Melvin Bouva, who met with his Dominican counterpart Roberto Álvarez on Wednesday. Bouva was joined on the working visit by Raymond Landveld, Suriname’s Minister of Transport, Communication and Tourism.
The two sides centered talks on strengthening long-standing diplomatic relations and unlocking new mutual economic and social benefits through targeted cooperation across priority sectors. These areas span tourism, education, trade, direct investment, agriculture, transport connectivity, climate action and sustainable energy development.
During the negotiations, Bouva highlighted the emerging opportunities created by Suriname’s growing oil and gas sector, noting that the expanding industry opens new pathways for joint economic collaboration and cross-border infrastructure development that can benefit both nations. The ministers also pointed out the natural complementarity of the two countries’ tourism industries, a sector that has rebounded strongly globally post-pandemic and offers immediate gains for shared growth.
Beyond bilateral initiatives, the two leaders emphasized the critical importance of aligned cooperation within regional and international multilateral frameworks, particularly as the world grapples with interconnected global challenges including economic volatility, climate change, and uneven development. Talks also covered a range of shared priority issues: sustainable development, national food security, job creation, and global poverty reduction, all of which were addressed in depth during the formal sessions.
The diplomatic meeting concluded with the signing of a binding Joint Communiqué, which formally codifies all key agreements and shared intentions for advancing future cooperation between the two Caribbean nations. Beyond the official governmental talks, Bouva held a series of working meetings with representatives from the Dominican private sector, regulatory authorities across tourism, trade, energy and transport, and leaders from ProDominicana, the country’s national investment promotion agency. The agency will partner with the Suriname Investment and Trade Agency to drive forward next steps, with a shared goal of stimulating increased two-way investment and expanding business-to-business connections between enterprises from both countries.
The visit also laid critical groundwork for an upcoming official visit to the Dominican Republic by Jennifer Simons, President of the National Assembly of Suriname. Bouva concluded his visit and departed for Suriname on Thursday 16 April, traveling on the inaugural flight of Sky High Dominicana, a new air service that will launch a weekly direct flight route connecting Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to Paramaribo, Suriname. The new air link is expected to boost tourism, business travel and people-to-people connections between the two nations immediately.
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National Youth Ambassador Christal Percival delivers compelling national statement at Youth Forum at the United Nations
On April 16, 2026, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Christal Percival, National Youth Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda, delivered a powerful national address during the plenary session of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum, drawing widespread attention from attending delegates.
Percival’s intervention opened by spotlighting Antigua and Barbuda’s leading role among the world’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS), while making a clear case for the urgent action needed to accelerate progress on global sustainable development priorities. Her speech centered specifically on Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, bringing into sharp focus the daily struggles that low-lying island nations face as they grapple with accelerating sea-level rise, more frequent and intense extreme weather events, and deep-seated economic vulnerability that leaves communities exposed to climate shocks.
The youth ambassador outlined a series of concrete domestic initiatives that reflect Antigua and Barbuda’s unwavering commitment to building inclusive, climate-resilient development. One flagship program she highlighted is the government’s ongoing effort to break down systemic barriers for young entrepreneurs working in the agricultural sector, by expanding access to affordable land, accessible financing, and targeted tax incentives. These policy changes, she explained, are simultaneously boosting national food security and giving young people the tools to drive growth in more resilient local economies.
Percival also emphasized that Antigua and Barbuda’s national action plan aligns closely with the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), pointing to ongoing work to expand public health access, raise national literacy rates, and mitigate key risk factors for non-communicable diseases, including high obesity rates linked to poor dietary patterns.
Two key policy areas dominated much of her address: energy transition and climate-resilient affordable housing. She detailed the country’s ongoing efforts to scale up renewable energy generation across the islands, reinforce infrastructure and protective measures for the most climate-vulnerable communities, and roll out a national “housing revolution” designed to deliver safe, climate-resilient homes to all residents.
In addition to climate and development action, Percival underlined Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to deepening inclusive governance. She noted that the country is actively expanding opportunities for public participation in policy-making, strengthening national civic education programs, and building more accessible, community-centered platforms for open dialogue between citizens and policymakers.
Throughout her compelling address, Percival stressed that small island developing states cannot deliver sustainable progress on their own. “It requires steadfast global alliances and sustained investment,” she told the forum, issuing a clear call to the international community to step up and support small island nations as they work to build safer, more resilient cities and communities for current and future generations.
Percival’s address focused on SDG 11 followed earlier interventions from two other Antigua and Barbuda National Youth Ambassadors, Amelia Williams and Kristine Louisa, who also echoed the urgent need for targeted policy action to advance the outcomes and objectives of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The Antigua and Barbuda delegation to the forum consists of seven members, led by Dr. Jrucilla Samuel, Director of Youth Affairs. Alongside Percival, the delegation includes three other National Youth Ambassadors: Amelia Williams, Kristine Louisa, and Shacia Albertine. The team is also completed by two members of the National Youth Volunteer Corps, Sara Bacchus and Esquire Henry.
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Who’s Filing and Who’s Not?
Less than two months after the annual legal deadline for Belize’s public officials to submit financial disclosure declarations, transparency and accountability in government has returned to the center of public debate, driven by a social media announcement from one of the country’s sitting cabinet ministers.
On Wednesday, Infrastructure Minister Julius Espat — who also serves as the elected representative for Cayo South Constituency — made a public post confirming that he had submitted his 14th annual declaration to the nation’s Integrity Commission. In the announcement, Espat emphasized that open accountability and transparent governance are non-negotiable core values for anyone holding public office, noting that he remains committed to upholding these standards through consistent compliance with disclosure requirements.
“Today I had the honor of submitting my 14th Integrity Commission Report as the representative for the Cayo South Constituency. Transparency and accountability remain at the core of public service, and I am committed to upholding these principles. Grateful for the opportunity to serve,” Espat wrote in his public post.
Espat’s voluntary confirmation of his compliance has sparked renewed public attention to a longstanding requirement for all elected public officials in Belize, and prompted questions about how many other elected representatives have met their legal obligations ahead of the deadline. Under Belizean existing anti-corruption and good governance legislation, all elected members of the national legislature, appointed senators, and municipal councilors at the town and city level are legally mandated to submit annual declarations of personal assets and private financial interests to the Integrity Commission by March 1 of every calendar year. These disclosures are explicitly designed to prevent conflicts of interest, increase government transparency, and reinforce broader good governance practices across all levels of elected office.
In follow-up comments to reporters this week, Henry Charles Usher, Belize’s Minister of Public Service and Disaster Risk Management and the Area Representative for Fort George, confirmed that he has completed all required submissions and met the March 1 deadline without requesting an extension. “I’m up to date and I was on time. The Integrity Commission filings are due on March first of each year, so I was on time. I didn’t have to ask for an extension,” Usher stated.
When pressed to address longstanding public concerns that the Integrity Commission lacks sufficient enforcement authority to compel non-compliant officials to submit their declarations and penalize those who miss the deadline, Usher said that the current legislative framework already includes the tools necessary to hold public officials accountable for meeting this requirement. “I think that the law, the legislation is there to hold public officers to account. Remember this is part of good governance for elected officials to make sure that they produce these filings every year. It has to be done on time,” he added.
A full interview with Usher is set to air on News 5 Live this evening, where further questions about compliance rates and the Integrity Commission’s oversight role are expected to be discussed.
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Dominica has seized thousands of ammunition and over 160 firearms since 2023, says Blackmoore
At a three-day intergovernmental security roundtable held in early April 2026, Dominica’s Minister for National Security Rayburn Blackmoore has unveiled significant progress in the island nation’s fight against illicit arms trafficking, revealing that local law enforcement has seized more than 160 illegal firearms and nearly 4,000 rounds of ammunition since 2023.
Speaking to attendees on April 8–10 at the event hosted by Dominica’s Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs, in partnership with the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), Blackmoore detailed the results of sustained enforcement operations: between 2023 and the time of the announcement, officers recovered 3,929 rounds of ammunition, 161 unregistered firearms, and took 121 individuals into custody on related charges.
The national security minister extended public recognition to the frontline personnel leading these counter-arms efforts, singling out the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force and the island’s Customs and Excise Division for their commitment, bravery, and consistent operational excellence. He highlighted that representatives from these agencies were in attendance at the roundtable to coordinate next steps for regional and local security cooperation.
Blackmoore emphasized that eliminating the threat of illegal weapons, which he described as a fundamental danger to Dominica’s social stability, cannot be achieved through isolated action. “If we are to realize success in dealing and combating that threat to our civilization, it’s going to require a collective endeavor going forward,” he told the gathering.
The current enforcement push is part of a broader coordinated regional effort to implement the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, a targeted strategy designed to curb illegal gun trafficking across the Caribbean basin, reduce community violence, and strengthen public safety infrastructure for all member states.
Beyond reviewing progress on anti-trafficking operations, attendees at the inter-institutional roundtable also discussed plans for the construction of a new regulated explosive storage facility in Dominica, a key infrastructure upgrade to improve public safety and weapons management on the island.
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Inheemse organisatie waarschuwt voor rechtsongelijkheid
On April 16, Het Inheems Kollectief Suriname (IKSur), Suriname’s leading indigenous advocacy organization, issued a blistering rebuke of the starkly divergent sentencing demands put forward by the country’s Public Prosecution Service (OM) in the high-profile Pikin Saron violence case, arguing that the lopsided punishments confirm long-held allegations of unequal treatment under Suriname’s rule of law.
The case traces back to violent unrest that broke out in the Pikin Saron indigenous community on May 2, 2023. During the unrest, two indigenous residents — Martinus Wolfjager and Ivanildo Dijksteel — were killed by responding police officers. Forensic pathology examinations later confirmed that the two men posed no immediate threat to officers and were not attempting to flee when they were shot; both were already on the ground when they were struck by gunfire at close range, confirming the use of excessive, unwarranted force.
Seven police officers are currently on trial for their roles in the deadly incident. On February 3, 2026, the OM submitted a sentencing demand calling for a 12-month suspended prison sentence with a three-year probation period for all seven officers, allowing them to remain free throughout and after the trial. In a stark contrast, just weeks earlier on March 24, 2026, the OM reaffirmed its demand for a 15-year unconditional prison sentence for multiple indigenous defendants in the same case during an appeal hearing, maintaining the original harsh sentencing request from the first trial even after a lower sentence was initially handed down.
IKSur has condemned this disparate treatment as “impossible to reconcile with the core principle of equal justice under law”, describing the lopsided sentencing demands as both “shocking” and “unacceptable”. Beyond the sentencing gap, the organization also raised a series of serious concerns about the investigation and broader trial process. Immediately after the 2023 violence, community leaders called for an independent international forensic pathology investigation to avoid bias, but this request was denied despite accessible international expertise, leaving the probe entirely in the hands of domestic authorities. The trial itself has also shown clear procedural inequalities, IKSur claims: indigenous suspects were arrested swiftly and held in pre-trial detention for extended periods, while the implicated police officers have remained free on bail throughout the entire investigation, which has proceeded at a far slower pace.
Beyond procedural issues, IKSur emphasizes that the entire case fails to address the root causes of the 2023 unrest, focusing narrowly on the violence itself without acknowledging the decades of unaddressed grievances driving indigenous activism in Suriname. For years, indigenous communities have pursued peaceful advocacy to secure legal recognition of their traditional land rights and protection of their ancestral territories. These repeated calls have been consistently ignored by national authorities, the organization says, allowing unregulated logging, gold mining, and agricultural concession operations to continue expanding into traditional indigenous lands — often without the free, prior, and informed consent of local communities. These activities have left severe environmental damage in their wake and created major public health risks for indigenous populations.
“What happened in Pikin Saron was an eruption after years of ignored warnings,” stated IKSur chair Captain Lloyd Read. The organization warned that ongoing systemic disregard for indigenous communities’ legitimate demands, paired with clear dual standards in the justice system, is fueling rising social tensions across Suriname and poses an existential threat to the credibility of the country’s rule of law.
“Without justice, there is no trust. Without trust, there can be no rule of law,” IKSur said in its statement. The organization has issued a public call for greater awareness and urgent collective action from Suriname’s civil society, independent judiciary, and the broader international community to address the inequalities exposed by the Pikin Saron case and advance long-overdue justice for indigenous peoples.
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COMMENTARY: CARICOM and the New Normal in International Politics
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) finds itself navigating one of the most challenging periods in its institutional history, as long-simmering regional tensions amplified by shifting global geopolitics push the 15-nation bloc to its breaking point. When St. Kitts and Nevis assumed the rotating six-month chairmanship of CARICOM’s supreme governing body, the Conference of Heads of Government, this past January, it inherited a bloc fractured by deepening divides over core foreign policy principles at a time of unprecedented global upheaval.
Under the terms of CARICOM’s founding constituent treaty, the Conference of Heads of Government holds ultimate decision-making authority over the bloc’s agenda, with the rotating chair tasked with advancing collective regional priorities for their term in office. For Prime Minister Terrance Drew, who leads St. Kitts and Nevis and serves as the current chair, the weight of regional fragmentation has shaped every dimension of his leadership from day one. The bloc is currently split along sharp lines over divergent responses to the so-called “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine, a high-stakes U.S. foreign policy framework that has created a months-long diplomatic impasse within CARICOM.
This schism comes as the entire global international order undergoes a seismic transformation — a shift not seen on this scale since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, which erased the bipolar global system and paved the way for the decades-long unipolar era that is now drawing to a close. For small developing states that make up CARICOM, this global realignment has created acute pressure to align with competing great power blocs, straining the collective diplomatic coherence the bloc has spent decades building.
The majority of CARICOM member states have approached the Trump Corollary with deep suspicion and caution, anchoring their positions in the bloc’s long-standing foundational principles: commitment to multilateral dialogue, respect for sovereign international cooperation, and independence in foreign policy decision-making for small states. But a smaller faction of members has broken ranks to offer unapologetic, full-throated support for the U.S. framework.
The most high-profile split came in response to the recent escalation of tensions between the U.S.-Israeli alliance and Iran, which only recently settled into a fragile, uncertain ceasefire after weeks of spiraling direct conflict. Trinidad and Tobago drew widespread controversy across the region when it openly aligned with Washington’s position on the conflict, while neighboring Barbados took an early, contrasting stance, publicly calling for all parties to exercise restraint as Middle East tensions reached a boiling point. For Drew and his chairmanship, bridging this deepening foreign policy divide and restoring CARICOM’s collective diplomatic voice will be the defining test of his term, as the bloc grapples with whether it can maintain unity amid a rapidly changing global order.
This report was originally published by the Jamaica Gleaner on April 16, 2026.
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Teachers secure 16.5 percent pay raise in new contract
After months of negotiations and following the expiration of the previous collective bargaining agreement in 2025, the Bahamian government has finalized a groundbreaking five-year industrial pact with the Bahamas Educators, Counsellors and Allied Workers Union (BECAWU), delivering targeted financial gains and expanded protections for the union’s 850 members working across the country’s education system. While the total projected cost of the agreement, which will remain in effect through 2030, has not yet been released to the public — with government officials noting the Ministry of Finance must complete a full audit before the final figure can be confirmed — both union and government leaders have framed the deal as a balanced win for educators and national fiscal health.
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Dames says he is innocent after former employee’s drug arrest
For the first time since news broke of his former employee’s major drug trafficking arrest in the United States, former Bahamas National Security Minister and Free National Movement (FNM) candidate Marvin Dames has publicly addressed the controversy, forcefully denying any connection to the smuggling scheme and pushing back against what he calls politically motivated smear efforts.
The case at the center of the controversy dates to February 11, when Malcolm Goodman, a boat captain employed by Dames and his wife, was taken into custody by U.S. law enforcement. Authorities reported finding approximately $4 million worth of cocaine aboard a vessel registered to Dames and his spouse that Goodman was operating near the coast of Florida. While Goodman has entered a not guilty plea to the drug trafficking charges to date, his legal counsel has indicated he is expected to change his plea in the coming weeks. U.S. investigators also confirmed that Goodman has admitted he acted alone in smuggling the narcotics, clearing Dames of direct involvement in the confession.
Despite the former employee’s statement clearing him, Dames has faced growing insinuation of wrongdoing from political opponents, prompting his first public remarks on the case Tuesday, shortly after filing his nomination papers for upcoming elections. Dames told reporters that he and his wife hired Goodman as an employee, not a business partner, after extending a helping hand to give the young man a chance to lift himself out of difficult circumstances. He compared the situation to lending a personal vehicle to an employee, only for that person to be caught transporting contraband without the owner’s knowledge.
“Why should I be punished for another person’s bad choices?” Dames questioned reporters. “My wife and I gave this young man an opportunity to build a better life. He chose to take the wrong path. Does that mean we are guilty by association?”
Dames confirmed he has not been contacted by any law enforcement agency for questioning in connection to the case, and has maintained his innocence consistently since the arrest became public. He noted he is currently working with authorities to recover the seized boat, which he and his wife still owe a substantial loan on. Despite the intensity of the public controversy, Dames said the scandal has not damaged his existing business relationships.
The former national security minister, who previously served as Deputy Commissioner of Police under earlier administrations, blasted what he described as paid political surrogates from the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), the current governing party, for spreading false narratives about his involvement to sway voter opinion ahead of the upcoming election. Dames challenged his accusers to present any concrete evidence of wrongdoing, noting he is prepared to produce full documentation to prove his innocence.
“I have never been the subject of any criminal investigation in my entire career,” Dames emphasized. “I have spent my career taking bad guys off the streets, not working with them. I can travel freely anywhere in the world, a privilege that some sitting politicians in this country cannot claim today.”
Dames also called out local media for focusing on his tangential connection to the case, rather than highlighting what he argues are more pressing public safety issues: known drug traffickers and convicted criminals who currently hold active police-issued concealed carry permits in the country and walk free in public. He said these are the stories that journalists should be prioritizing, instead of amplifying unfounded political smears.
Despite acknowledging that the entire ordeal has been a difficult learning experience for him and his wife, Dames said the controversy will not stop him and his spouse from continuing to help young Bahamians access opportunities to improve their lives. He added he remained silent on the issue for weeks because he refused to engage with what he calls “garbage” misinformation spread for political gain.
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Motorcades and music mark a festive Nomination Day
Nomination Day for the Bahamas’ upcoming May 12 general election concluded smoothly on Wednesday, with approximately 130 candidates formally qualifying to contest 39 parliamentary seats across the nation, marked by festive political spectacle and only minor administrative hurdles.
Parliamentary Commissioner Harrison Thompson, the top election official overseeing the process, reported that the day’s proceedings unfolded largely in line with pre-planned expectations, with only limited disruptions and eligibility disputes across a small number of constituencies. No nomination applications were ultimately rejected, Thompson confirmed, after election officials reviewed eligibility concerns that arose in three constituencies: Fort Charlotte, Pinewood, and Garden Hills.
“From all indications, my team carried out their responsibilities as planned, and it appears everything went off without major issues,” Thompson told reporters. “All candidates who met the formal requirements were able to secure their nomination. Every aspiring candidate submitted the necessary documentation, which was approved by returning officers in their respective constituencies.”
While official final vote tallies were still being consolidated from remote Family Islands polling districts, early projections put the total number of nominees at roughly 130 across all 41 constituencies. Thompson noted that the final count deviated from preliminary projections in two key ways: the number of independent candidates was lower than anticipated, and one expected minor party ultimately failed to put forward any nominees.
To secure a spot on the ballot, all candidates were required to submit formal nomination papers, complete mandatory declarations of personal assets and liabilities, and provide additional supporting documentation tailored to their individual eligibility circumstances. Thompson confirmed that several constituencies will see as many as five candidates on the ballot, though a full breakdown of party affiliations per constituency has not yet been released.
With the nomination process finalized, the Parliamentary Registration Department has shifted its operational focus to preparing for the advance poll, while all candidates’ public asset and liability disclosures are scheduled to be published within two business days. A total of just over 206,000 registered voters are eligible to cast ballots in the election.
Across New Providence and the Family Islands, the formal administrative process was paired with boisterous political celebration, as candidates arrived at nomination centers accompanied by large supporter entourages, blaring vehicle horns, and traditional Junkanoo musical groups that set a festive tone across the country.
Prime Minister Philip Davis, leader of the incumbent Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), was among the high-profile candidates formally nominated on Wednesday, confirming his eighth consecutive run for office representing the constituency of Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador. Davis said he felt “exhilarated” to enter the race, and praised the PLP’s full slate of candidates as a unified bloc that balances experienced incumbents with new young political talent.
“It is a great honour to renew my commitment to serving the people of Cat Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador,” Davis said after completing his nomination. “Growing up on Cat Island shaped who I am, and it remains a privilege to work every day for real change in these communities.”
On Grand Bahama Island, Michael Pintard, leader of the opposition Free National Movement (FNM), secured his nomination for the Marco City constituency, arriving at the Belinda Wilson Convention Centre at the head of a large procession led by a decorated campaign truck and hundreds of cheering supporters.
“I am humbled by the support we are getting from people of Marco City and from the people of Grand Bahama,” Pintard said. “Today, we are happy to get over the formalities of being nominated, and now it’s back to work on the campaign trail. We are optimistic, and we know by the grace of God, on the evening of May 12, we will be the next government.”
Pintard, who has held the Marco City seat since 2017 and won re-election in 2021, added that the FNM remains fully unified and prepared for what he described as an intensive, hard-fought campaign schedule leading up to election day.
The Killarney constituency drew some of the day’s biggest media and voter attention, thanks to a crowded ballot that includes former FNM Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis running as an independent candidate. Minnis confirmed his nomination on Wednesday, which also marked his birthday. His decision to run as an independent automatically disqualified him from the FNM, though he was not expelled from the party. “This same photo you’re taking today will be in the history books,” Minnis said. “Never before in the history of The Bahamas has a prime minister who led his party to the greatest victory in recorded history run as an independent after leaving that party.” Minnis said his independent campaign will center on amplifying the voices of ordinary voters, rather than advancing the priorities of any established political party.
Minnis will face off against FNM nominee Michela Barnett-Ellis, who arrived at the Gambier Primary School nomination center with dozens of red-clad supporters, including her father, former Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett. “The constituency is ready for a new chapter,” Barnett-Ellis said. PLP candidate Robyn Lynes is also in the race for Killarney, earning a public endorsement from former Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling, who appeared alongside Lynes at her nomination. “I support the woman,” Dame Marguerite said. “I think she is just so worthy, and I’ll do whatever I can to help see that she wins this seat.”
For some first-time candidates, the nomination process was a deeply personal milestone. PLP Marco City candidate Eddie Whan, who said he had previously turned down requests to run for the seat nine times, called the moment “a feeling I can’t explain.”
Assistant Parliamentary Commissioner Denise Pinder confirmed that 16 candidates were nominated across Grand Bahama, with three contenders in most constituencies and four candidates contesting the Pineridge seat. Pinder said the process on the island went entirely smoothly, with all candidates submitting the required documentation without issue.
The only public dispute of the day came from Lincoln Bain, leader of the Coalition of Independents, who raised questions about the eligibility of Fort Charlotte independent candidate Sebas Bastian, alleging Bastian held undisclosed government contracts that would bar him from running. Bastian rejected Bain’s allegations outright.