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A vicious dog attack that left a three-year-old girl with severe head injuries has sparked urgent public calls for accountability in the Bahamas, as the country’s top agriculture official pressed the animal’s owner to turn themselves in to law enforcement immediately. Three-year-old Skyla Lightbourne was mauled by a mixed Belgian Malinois-German Shepherd on Ida Street last Wednesday, an attack that required emergency surgery and left the young child permanently traumatized, according to her family. In a press briefing on Monday, Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister Jomo Campbell told reporters that investigators have already confirmed the owner’s identity, and criminal charges are expected to be filed once the suspect is taken into custody.

Campbell emphasized that the owner’s continued delay in surrendering only worsens the harm already done to the victim and the broader local community, which has been shaken by the violent incident. “The circumstances speak for themselves,” Campbell said, adding that the country’s Animal Control Unit responded to the scene immediately after the attack, even staying with Skyla at the hospital while she prepared for surgery. After the procedure, officers returned to check on the family, bringing toys for the injured toddler to help lift her spirits. Skyla was officially discharged from the hospital on Friday, though the psychological impact of the attack continues to affect her and her family.

The victim’s mother, 36-year-old Bentika Lightbourne, has alleged that the dog displayed aggressive behavior long before this mauling. She told local outlet The Tribune that she fought the large animal off her daughter with her bare hands while holding Skyla during the attack, and that the same dog bit her cousin roughly two weeks prior to the September incident. Lightbourne added that she reported the earlier biting incident to police and requested charges at that time, warning that the dog posed a clear danger to the public.

When asked about widespread local claims that the owner is a serving member of the Bahamian armed forces, Campbell declined to confirm the speculation, but expressed full confidence in the investigative work of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. “I have the utmost trust in the Royal Bahamas Police Force,” he said, adding that officials expect the suspect to be taken into custody “in the very near future.” Campbell also noted that the dog appeared to have received professional training, a factor that directly contributed to the unusual severity of the attack on the toddler. Animal Control has already taken full custody of the animal following the incident.

Notably, the attack occurred during the Bahamian government’s annual September dog amnesty, part of its Mission Pawssible initiative. The program offers free dog registration for owners and encourages mandatory licensing, microchipping, routine vaccinations, and proper leash and enclosure requirements for pets across the country. Campbell moved quickly to clarify that the amnesty period does not suspend enforcement of existing animal control laws, pushing back against public confusion that owners would face no penalties for violations during the amnesty window.

“We don’t want the public to think that the amnesty period means that enforcement is not taking place,” he said. As evidence of ongoing enforcement, the minister shared that Animal Control issued roughly $2,000 in citations just on Friday, and that 15 owners had already come in to register their dogs by the time he left his office yesterday morning. Current fixed penalties for animal control violations range from $50 to $1,000, including a $250 fine for unlicensed or unrestrained roaming dogs, and a $500 penalty for keeping a dangerous dog off its leash or out of proper control in a public area.

After a months-long bitter legal battle over control of the Bahamas Nurses Union (BNU), Supreme Court Justice Camille Darville-Gomez has delivered a verbal ruling that allows union president Muriel Lightbourn to remain in office until the organization’s next scheduled election. While the judge ruled that Lightbourn’s 2023 suspension of two BNU board members — including secretary general Shavonne Brennen — violated the union’s constitution, the decision clears the way for Lightbourn to retain her leadership post through the upcoming election cycle, leaving the deeply fractured organization in a state of suspended transition as stakeholders await the full written judgment expected in the coming weeks.

The internal conflict that spiraled into court erupted last year, when Lightbourn moved to suspend Brennen and a second executive board member over allegations that they had violated the BNU’s founding constitution. In response, a bloc of opposing executives moved to oust Lightbourn entirely, voting to strip her of her union membership, changing the locks on the BNU headquarters building, and filing a legal challenge to reverse her decision and remove her from power. Opposing leaders also leveled broader accusations of mismanagement, claiming the BNU leadership lacked basic financial transparency and accountability, charges that have lingered throughout the legal proceedings.

In her ruling, Justice Darville-Gomez backed the claimants’ argument that the suspension process used against Brennen and the second board member was unlawful. She also ruled, however, that BNU treasurer did not violate key provisions of the country’s Industrial Relations Act, rejecting a core component of the challengers’ claims against the existing leadership. Following the announcement of the verbal ruling, Brennen expressed sharp disappointment with the outcome, claiming in a statement obtained by local outlet The Tribune that the judge had deemed her an uncredible witness, and warning that the decision signals a worrying decline for the national labor movement that founding leaders like Sir Fawkes built.

Brennen further alleged that Lightbourn has launched a targeted campaign to damage her reputation among rank-and-file union members, writing that “Mrs Lightbourn is presently slandering my character to membership in her meeting.” Lightbourn forcefully rejected these claims during an interview with The Tribune, dismissing the allegation as “far from the truth” and pushing back against Brennen’s conduct, arguing that the secretary general had done “a very disservice to the members of this union.” The BNU president added that she does not personalize the conflict, and Brennen has declined to comment further on the dispute, noting that the bloc of opposing executives will issue a formal response once they receive the full written judgment from the Supreme Court.

Beyond the leadership and procedural disputes, Lightbourn has also had to address serious public rumors surrounding financial misconduct and a suspicious 2024 robbery. Recent unsubstantiated claims from opposing executives have alleged that Lightbourn stole nearly $50,000 in union funds, and that the January robbery of her vehicle in Chippingham — where a thief stole her handbag, purse, and laptop from her car — was staged to cover up the alleged theft. Lightbourn has categorically denied these accusations, noting that she never had possession of the missing funds in question, and openly questioned whether the robbery itself was a set-up orchestrated by her political opponents within the union to force her out.

The president told reporters that after being flooded with calls from concerned union members about the rumors, she called a special meeting to address the claims directly, but false narratives continue to spread across social media platforms. Police investigations into the robbery remain open, and while authorities recovered Lightbourn’s stolen laptop and bag, her purse containing cash and official government identification has never been returned.

All sides now turn their attention to the long-delayed BNU general election, which was scheduled to take place this year under the union’s constitution, which sets three-year terms for elected leadership. The union last held leadership votes in January 2023, so a new poll is already overdue. Lightbourn told reporters that rank-and-file nurses voted to schedule the next election for January 2025, and the vote to set that date was submitted to Brennen, who chairs the union’s independent election committee. Lightbourn alleged that Brennen has failed to file the required election notice with the national registrar as mandated by law, saying “If our secretary general would have done what she was mandated to do, we would have already had an election.”

Lightbourn confirmed that she will seek re-election when the vote is finally held, and emphasized that she remains the legitimate sitting president under the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act during the current “holdover” period. She said that “I’m hoping the sooner, the better” when asked when the election might finally take place. Despite the months of infighting that have slowed the union’s work, Lightbourn said she remains committed to representing the interests of BNU members, noting “They elected me to serve them. I will do it. We cannot be defeated. I want us to work together, so we can get things done in fairness.”

A beloved member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force has lost his life following a devastating road collision over the weekend, leaving the nation’s law enforcement community and political leadership in mourning.

Thirty-seven-year-old Corporal Steven Duncombe, assigned to the force’s Traffic Division, died in the early hours of Monday from critical injuries he sustained when his police motorcycle struck a passenger vehicle on Prince Charles Drive. The crash occurred as Duncombe carried out his duties escorting a funeral procession, according to initial police accounts.

Emergency responders received the first alert about the incident shortly before 2 p.m. on Saturday. When officers arrived at the scene, they found Duncombe with severe trauma and his police motorcycle heavily damaged in the impact. Investigative preliminary reports outline that Duncombe was traveling west along Prince Charles Drive when the driver of a Suzuki sedan turned right onto Garden Road, triggering the head-on collision between the two vehicles.

Both people inside the Suzuki, a male driver and a female passenger, survived the crash, though the vehicle sustained visible damage. The female passenger reported experiencing head injuries following the impact, and received medical attention alongside Duncombe.

Emergency Medical Services teams stabilized Duncombe at the crash site before transporting him urgently to a local hospital for urgent care. As the officer remained in critical condition over the weekend, a widespread public call for blood donations was shared rapidly across social media platforms, with hundreds of community members stepping forward to attempt to save his life. Despite all aggressive medical interventions and the outpouring of community support, Duncombe succumbed to his injuries shortly after 3 a.m. on Monday.

In the days following his death, senior government and political figures across the country have shared heartfelt tributes honoring the fallen officer, remembering his commitment to public service and warm character. Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis shared that he had spoken with Duncombe just two days before the crash, in what would be their final interaction.

“On Friday past, I saw Steven for what would be the final time,” Prime Minister Davis said. “As we went our separate ways, I thanked him for his service and saluted him. I could never have imagined that it would be the last time I would see him.”

The prime minister described Duncombe as a “good and decent man” who carried out all his responsibilities with “dignity, kindness and a quiet commitment to service”. “Life gives us no warning when a simple goodbye will become a lasting memory,” he added. “I am grateful that our final exchange was one of respect and appreciation.”

North Andros Member of Parliament Leonardo Lightbourne also shared that Duncombe’s death hit close to home for his family, noting that his younger brother had a long, close friendship with the officer, describing Duncombe as “a brother from another mother”.

“We will miss his laughter, his friendship, and the joy he brought into our lives,” Mr Lightbourne said. He added that Duncombe served with unwavering dedication in the Traffic Division, and often went above and beyond the requirements of his role to support his community. “His passing reminds us how fragile life is,” Mr Lightbourne said.

Leslia Miller-Brice, the country’s Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, also paid respects to Duncombe, calling him a “stellar gentleman” and “a first-class officer”. “His dedication, professionalism and kindness will be remembered by the many people whose lives he touched,” Ms Miller-Brice said. “His service and the way he carried himself speak to the man he was and the legacy he leaves behind.”