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  • Man killed in St Andrew police operation

    Man killed in St Andrew police operation

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — A police operation in the Highlight View community resulted in a fatal shooting early Tuesday morning, claiming the life of a man identified as a known criminal affiliate. The deceased, 33-year-old Doshane Mitchell, also known as “Puku” from Greenwich Town, was killed during an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement officers.

    According to official reports, the incident unfolded when a police team, while conducting a premises clearance operation, received intelligence about an armed individual at a nearby location. Upon arriving at the scene, officers encountered Mitchell exiting a building. The law enforcement personnel identified themselves, at which point Mitchell allegedly directed a firearm toward them and discharged multiple rounds.

    The police team implemented evasive maneuvers and returned fire. Mitchell retreated into the dwelling where he subsequently collapsed while still clutching the weapon. Medical personnel transported him to the University Hospital of the West Indies, where he was pronounced dead by attending physicians.

    Authorities recovered a modified Glock 19 9mm pistol equipped with an illegal switch attachment from the scene. The weapon contained a magazine loaded with three 9mm cartridges. Police intelligence indicates Mitchell was utilizing the location as a displacement hideout following increased law enforcement pressure in his home territory.

    Background investigations revealed Mitchell’s extensive criminal history, including previous arrests and charges for armed robbery and murder filed by Kingston Eastern police. Law enforcement records indicate his affiliations with multiple criminal organizations including the Fifth Street Gang in Greenwich Town, the 110 Gang operating in McIntyre Villa, and the Mad and Mean Gang based in Highlight View.

    During the same operation, police apprehended five additional men believed to be associated with the Mad and Mean Gang. The operation forms part of ongoing efforts to combat gang violence and organized crime in the Kingston metropolitan area.

  • The quiet victims – kids left behind by murder

    The quiet victims – kids left behind by murder

    NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS – A silent crisis is unfolding in households across The Bahamas as children grapple with the traumatic loss of parents to gun violence, leaving relatives to navigate dual roles as caregivers and grieving family members.

    Tara Richardson embodies this struggle as she raises her 12-year-old grandson following the tragic shooting death of her son, Keion Butler, in 2019. The 23-year-old father was fatally shot while visiting friends in Coconut Grove when assailants opened fire on a group gathered in a yard. Now, Richardson dedicates herself to maintaining stability for her grandson—the couple’s only child—through education and sports, while concealing her own anguish. “When I look at him, I look at my son,” she revealed. “I don’t want to let him see me cry.”

    The emotional toll manifests subtly in the boy’s behavior, particularly during school events where parental absence becomes painfully evident. Despite these challenges, Richardson remains committed to ensuring her grandson develops into a “good man” despite his traumatic childhood. When questioned about forgiveness for her son’s killers, she stated unequivocally that she cannot envision ever granting it.

    In another household, 11-year-old Ri’Anna Melidor channels her grief into altruistic ambition. Since losing her father to gun violence on January 14, 2022, the Ridgeland Primary School head girl has conceived plans to establish a support club for children who have experienced similar tragedies. Her grandmother, Stephanie Johnson, acknowledges the child’s occasional depressive episodes but emphasizes how family members consistently reinforce memories of her father’s love, with the mother providing steadfast support.

    Khandi Gibson, president of Families of All Murder Victims, highlights how society frequently overlooks the psychological impact on children affected by homicide. Having lost brothers to violence herself, Gibson witnessed firsthand how their deaths devastated the next generation, prompting her to establish the support organization. “We can’t expect them to just digest that,” she asserted. “They didn’t ask to come here. This is not their fault.”
    Gibson advocates for greater public compassion toward those silently enduring profound personal loss, emphasizing that many community members carry invisible emotional scars from the nation’s escalating violence.

  • Driver injured in collision at Lyndhurst Road, Beechwood Avenue intersection

    Driver injured in collision at Lyndhurst Road, Beechwood Avenue intersection

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Emergency services responded to a significant traffic incident Tuesday morning when a Toyota Regius Ace van and a commercial truck collided at the junction of Lyndhurst Road and Beechwood Avenue in St Andrew.

    The collision occurred approximately at 8:45 AM local time as both vehicles approached the intersection from perpendicular directions. Preliminary investigations indicate the Toyota van was traveling eastbound along Lyndhurst Road toward Maxfield Avenue while the truck proceeded along Beechwood Avenue in the direction of Half-Way Tree Road.

    Impact forces resulted in substantial damage to both vehicles, particularly the Toyota van which required towing services to clear the scene. Emergency medical personnel transported the van operator to a nearby medical facility for treatment of undisclosed injuries. Medical authorities have not yet released information regarding the driver’s condition or the severity of sustained injuries.

    Traffic enforcement units have initiated a standard investigation to determine contributing factors to the collision. The incident caused temporary disruption to morning traffic flow through the busy intersection, with normal traffic patterns resuming approximately two hours following the accident. No additional injuries have been reported among other motorists or pedestrians in the vicinity.

  • FOAM president says celebrate your birthday by donating blood

    FOAM president says celebrate your birthday by donating blood

    The Bahamas is confronting a severe blood supply crisis that has prompted urgent public health appeals and innovative community mobilization efforts. Khandi Gibson, president of Families of All Murder Victims (FOAM), has initiated a distinctive campaign challenging citizens to commemorate their birthdays by donating blood rather than seeking material gifts. This initiative emerges against a backdrop of daily circulation of flyers pleading for blood donations for patients across age groups.

    Gibson advocates for transforming birthday celebrations into opportunities for lifesaving contributions, suggesting visits to Princess Margaret Hospital, Doctors Hospital, or the Blood Bank with family and friends. ‘Instead of looking for money or worldly gain, celebrate your birthday by allowing somebody else to celebrate theirs,’ she emphasized, revealing her personal commitment to annual blood donation.

    The urgency of this initiative was highlighted through Gibson’s recollection of a tragic case where despite public appeals, a woman’s mother succumbed to her condition due to insufficient blood availability. This experience underscores the critical nature of sustained donation efforts.

    Health authorities across the archipelago have amplified concerns regarding dangerously low blood reserves. Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama and Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau report struggling to maintain adequate supplies amidst rising demand. In March 2025, Grand Bahama Health Services issued emergency appeals as transfusion requirements increasingly outpaced available donations.

    Adelecia Campbell, administrative manager at Grand Bahama Health Services, confirmed that the hospital’s blood bank has been overwhelmed by request volumes, forcing staff to utilize social media for urgent public appeals during critical patient situations. Claudia Glinton, laboratory manager, revealed that collected blood units are typically utilized within one week—significantly before their 35-day expiration period—due to constant demand from multiple medical departments.

    Patients requiring regular transfusions include those battling kidney disease, cancer, anemia, and women experiencing childbirth complications. Health officials continue stressing that consistent donor participation is essential for maintaining supplies for both emergency situations and routine medical treatments, urging all eligible donors to contribute regularly to this vital community resource.

  • Weekend fire guts family-owned hotel

    Weekend fire guts family-owned hotel

    A devastating fire has completely destroyed the historic All My Children Hotel in Bimini, dealing a crushing blow to the Rolle family during ongoing negotiations to sell the property. The Sunday afternoon inferno gutted all 38 hotel rooms and two suites located on the top floor of the four-story building, while lower levels containing a banquet hall and restaurant escaped damage.

    Co-owner Glennash Rolle, who was in the United States during the incident, described receiving frantic calls about the blaze. “My heart dropped,” she recounted to The Tribune, emphasizing the profound emotional impact of watching her family’s legacy disappear in flames.

    The hotel represented more than just property—it stood as a testament to her late father Glen Rolle’s pioneering spirit. As one of the first Black men to own property in downtown Bimini and the area’s first Black hotel owner, his achievement broke racial barriers in its time. The building, constructed in phases between the 1980s and 1990s, held the distinction of being the second-oldest structure on the island.

    Adding to the tragedy, the fire occurred while the family was fulfilling their father’s final wish by negotiating the property’s sale through a realtor. The uninsured building, though not operational, remained structurally sound before the fire. Preliminary reports suggest electrical work by BPL crews was underway in the area when the blaze started, though official causes remain under investigation.

    The disaster prompted an extraordinary community response, with residents—some still in pajamas—joining firefighters to combat the flames. Ms. Rolle expressed profound gratitude for this outpouring of support and acknowledged Senator Randy Rolle and the Police Commissioner for ensuring firefighting equipment reached the scene.

    Despite millions in damages and the emotional devastation, the family finds solace in preventing further escalation that could have threatened nearby homes, including those of Ms. Rolle and her siblings. Looking forward, she affirmed: “I just trust that God is in control and there’s going to be a path through this.”

  • FNM to ratify eight candidates as election race heats up

    FNM to ratify eight candidates as election race heats up

    The Free National Movement (FNM) is poised to officially endorse a minimum of eight parliamentary candidates during its upcoming ratification assembly, signaling intensified electoral preparations ahead of Bahamas’ general elections. Insider sources reveal the party will strategically position prominent figures in newly established constituencies, with notable shifts involving current St Barnabas representative Shanendon Cartwright transitioning to the St James electoral district and Carlton Bowleg moving from North Andros to contest the Bimini and Berry Islands seat.

    The ratification list demonstrates the party’s balanced approach between experienced legislators and fresh political voices. Newcomers including Jamal Moss (St Barnabas), Janice Oliver (North Andros), and Jay Philippe (Bain and Grants Town) are among those expected to receive official endorsement. Additional constituencies slated for candidate confirmations encompass Pineridge, Centreville, and Long Island, though party officials remain discreet regarding the latter’s nomination, merely acknowledging Dr. Andre Rollins as the probable frontrunner.

    Political observers note that the final number of ratifications remains fluid, with intense deliberations continuing throughout Monday evening. This development occurs alongside the Progressive Liberal Party’s (PLP) completion of its own candidate roster on Sunday, setting the stage for heightened political competition.

    The FNM’s latest endorsements supplement its existing slate of 28 previously ratified candidates, including party chairman Dr. Duane Sands (Bamboo Town), Kwasi Thompson (East Grand Bahama), Michael Foulkes (Golden Gates), Marvin Dames (Mount Moriah), Elsworth Johnson (Yamacraw), Rickey Mackey (North Eleuthera), Senator Darren Henfield (South Beach), and Adrian White (St Anne’s). These strategic movements reflect both parties’ concerted efforts to optimize electoral advantages through careful candidate placement and constituency-specific considerations.

  • Silvera seen smiling as prosecutors mull manslaughter plea

    Silvera seen smiling as prosecutors mull manslaughter plea

    In a stunning legal development at Kingston’s Supreme Court, former People’s National Party legislator Jolyan Silvera entered a surprise guilty plea for manslaughter and firearm-related felonies in connection with the November 2023 death of his wife, Melissa Silvera. The former parliament member, who had initially faced murder charges, reversed his previous claims of innocence during Tuesday’s closed-door proceedings.

    Eyewitnesses observed Silvera displaying apparent satisfaction as he was escorted from the courtroom by Jamaica Constabulary Force officers, his hands restrained behind his back. This cheerful demeanor contrasted sharply with his emotional display at his wife’s funeral months earlier, where he had wept openly.

    The case took a dramatic turn from its initial investigation, when Melissa Silvera’s death was originally attributed to natural causes during sleep. Her January 2024 funeral at St. Andrew Parish Church proceeded under this assumption, though investigators had already upgraded the case to murder weeks prior after autopsy results revealed bullet fragments within her body.

    Forensic evidence proved decisive in the investigation. According to law enforcement sources, ballistic analysis utilizing Jamaica’s Firearm Licensing Authority database conclusively matched the lethal bullet to Silvera’s registered firearm. This finding contradicted earlier ballistic tests that had shown no evidence of the weapon being discharged.

    Prosecutors are now evaluating whether to accept the manslaughter plea arrangement, with Justice Vinette Graham-Allen expected to deliver her final judgment on Thursday. The courtroom proceedings remained inaccessible to media representatives due to the private nature of the hearing.

  • E-Dee returns to rapping with ‘Pretty Girl’

    E-Dee returns to rapping with ‘Pretty Girl’

    Los Angeles-based Jamaican artist E-Dee is making a strategic return to his hip-hop origins with the December release of his new single ‘Pretty Girl,’ marking a significant shift from his recent focus on dancehall-reggae recordings. Despite previous collaborations with prominent American rappers Cam’ron and Jim Jones, E-Dee’s hip-hop credentials have often been overshadowed by his Caribbean-inspired work.

    The up-tempo track, produced by Jahsee, emerges from Clarendon Records—E-Dee’s own Los Angeles-based production company. The artist explained this deliberate artistic pivot comes after an extensive series of dancehall releases, signaling his desire for creative evolution.

    ‘My signature approach has consistently involved blending dancehall and hip-hop elements, tracing back to my debut album Ja 2 La 2 The World,’ E-Dee revealed in an exclusive interview with Observer Online. ‘Currently, I’m incorporating Afrobeats influences into this fusion to revitalize the sound and ensure continuous artistic development.’

    ‘Pretty Girl’ follows the emotionally charged single ‘We A Rebuild,’ which was inspired by the remarkable resilience demonstrated by Jamaicans following Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact on October 28. Both releases are products of Clarendon Records, the label E-Dee established just over a year ago as he transitioned into greater production autonomy. To date, the label has generated an impressive catalog including over twenty singles, one EP, and a compilation album.

    Originally from Toll Gate in Clarendon, Jamaica, E-Dee has maintained his Los Angeles residence for numerous years. Beyond his musical achievements encompassing multiple albums, EPs, and numerous singles, he has concurrently built an acting career in independent films. His filmography includes notable appearances in biographical projects such as ‘Out The Gate,’ ‘Temperature Rising,’ and ‘Mother In Law.’

  • FNM demands answers after BGC ‘denied access’ during blackout

    FNM demands answers after BGC ‘denied access’ during blackout

    A significant political confrontation has erupted in the Bahamas following allegations that the Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) was barred from accessing critical infrastructure during a major power crisis. Free National Movement Senator Michela Barnett-Ellis, serving as Shadow Minister for Energy, has formally demanded explanations from the Davis administration regarding these claims.

    The controversy stems from a since-deleted Facebook post by BGC, published during Sunday’s island-wide blackout, which stated that their team had been denied entry to the New Providence Control Center since January 27th. According to the company, this restriction violated their contractual right to jointly manage the facility alongside Bahamas Power and Light (BPL).

    Senator Barnett-Ellis characterized these allegations as raising ‘serious and troubling questions about the management of our national electricity system.’ She emphasized that if verified, this decision would have left BPL personnel exclusively overseeing the control center during a critical emergency period, potentially hampering efforts to assess, mitigate, or shorten the widespread outage that affected thousands of residents.

    The opposition senator presented a series of pointed inquiries to the government, including: who authorized the denial of access, whether the Minister of Energy and Prime Minister were informed of this decision, and what safeguards exist to ensure contractual partners can perform their designated roles during emergencies.

    In response, BPL issued an official statement denying any strain in their partnership with BGC, affirming their commitment to ‘a seamless working relationship.’ The power company disclosed that both organizations held a productive meeting to address the social media post and ‘chart the way forward in unity.’ BPL also emphasized maintaining strict security protocols governing access to secured spaces, applicable to all employees, partners, and visitors.

    The extensive power outage began late Saturday, with a complete island-wide blackout occurring around 1 AM Sunday. BPL attributed the crisis to high winds causing multiple areas to trip offline, with several other islands also experiencing weather-related disruptions. Notably, BGC’s responsibilities are limited to New Providence’s network under a public-private partnership established between the government and US-based Pike Corporation.

    This incident has brought renewed attention to the 25-year agreement between BPL and BGC, whose specific details remain undisclosed despite repeated requests from opposition parties and media outlets. Questions persist regarding staffing arrangements, equipment control, and operational responsibilities between the two entities.

  • Bermuda records increase in volume of retail sales index last August

    Bermuda records increase in volume of retail sales index last August

    HAMILTON, Bermuda — Bermuda’s retail sector demonstrated notable economic resilience with a 2.6 percent increase in the volume of retail sales index for August 2025 compared to the same period the previous year, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Economy and Labour. The report also indicated a moderate rise in consumer expenses, with shoppers paying 1.9 percent more for the standard basket of goods and services than they did twelve months prior.

    In monetary terms, retail sales surged to an estimated $117.3 million, reflecting robust consumer activity across multiple sectors. The performance was unevenly distributed, however, with four out of seven sectors achieving year-over-year growth. Leading the expansion, motor vehicle stores recorded a substantial 20.2 percent volume increase. The ‘all other store types’ category—encompassing household items, furniture, appliances, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and tourist-related goods—also posted impressive gains of 15.3 percent. More modest growth was observed in food stores (up 1.1 percent) and apparel stores (up 0.6 percent).

    Conversely, several sectors experienced significant declines. Building material stores suffered the most severe contraction with a 21.5 percent drop in sales volume. Liquor stores saw a decrease of 7.9 percent, while service stations recorded a 1.6 percent reduction in volume.

    On the inflation front, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed a slight improvement as the annual inflation rate edged downward by 0.1 percentage points from July 2025 levels, suggesting a minor easing of price pressures in the Bermudian economy.