标签： Bahamas

GRAND BAHAMA – The island community is reeling from its first homicide of 2026 after 37-year-old Deangelo ‘Ducky’ Burrows was fatally shot multiple times on a Saturday night. The incident occurred near the intersection of Adventurer’s Way and East Atlantic Drive around 10 PM, with Burrows succumbing to his injuries at a local medical facility shortly thereafter.

According to hospital officials who briefed the family, Burrows sustained seven gunshot wounds—five to his lower extremities, one to his torso, and another to his hand. The pattern of injuries led his sister, Desiree Wilson, to a heartbreaking conclusion: “Based on the description of his wounds, it appeared he was begging for his life.”

Local authorities have yet to determine a motive or identify suspects, publicly urging anyone with relevant information to assist in the ongoing investigation.

Wilson learned of her brother’s death Sunday morning through community members. Overwhelmed by grief, she delegated the grim task of identifying the body to two other siblings. While acknowledging her brother’s imperfections, Wilson emphasized that nothing justified the violent nature of his death. “My brother wasn’t a saint, but he didn’t deserve to die like this,” she stated.

Burrows, a father of two sons—one nearing high school graduation—was remembered as a hardworking jack-of-all-trades who took on fishing, carpentry, and car washing to provide for his family. Known for his humor and vibrant presence in the ‘Back of the Town’ neighborhood, he was described as someone who “always cracked jokes, even during disagreements.”

The family is now grappling with both emotional and practical hardships, including planning a birthday memorial for Burrows, whose March celebration will now remain unseen. Wilson expressed fragile hope in the judicial process, noting that although police lack concrete leads, they promised a thorough investigation. “I will leave it in the cops’ hands,” she said.

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.”

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.

An Arctic cold front originating from a deep Atlantic low-pressure system has plunged The Bahamas into a humanitarian emergency, with wind chills reaching near-record lows in the mid-30s (°F) across the islands. The severe conditions have brutally exposed the plight of the nation’s most vulnerable populations, leaving homeless individuals and low-income families in a desperate struggle for warmth.

Bishop Walter Hanchell of Great Commission Ministries led a critical relief operation over the weekend, coordinating volunteers to deliver emergency supplies across New Providence. The teams distributed blankets, warm clothing, and hot meals to people found sleeping on streets, huddled under building awnings, or residing in poorly sealed homes where cold air infiltrated through broken windows and door gaps.

Bishop Hanchell reported encountering approximately 150 people in dire need. He described finding individuals with only thin sheets for protection, and in some cases, absolutely nothing to combat the bitter cold. The crisis highlighted a significant gap in social services; while temporary shelters exist, there are no dedicated facilities for those actively living on the streets. The organization’s male shelter, Hope House, is already operating at full capacity.

The Bishop attributed homelessness primarily to two factors: severe financial hardship and untreated mental health challenges. He issued a stark critique on social media, accusing many civic and religious leaders of indifference towards the homeless population, while simultaneously praising the compassion of supportive pastors, businesspersons, and government officials.

In response to the systemic failure, Bishop Hanchell announced plans to establish a new safe house. This facility aims to provide comprehensive support, including shelter, sustenance, and access to both medical and psychological assistance for those living on the streets.

Meteorologically, the event was characterized by the Bahamas Department of Meteorology as a period of strong gusty winds, scattered showers, and dangerously rough seas. Gale-force winds were projected to subside first in the Northwest and Central Bahamas as temperatures began a gradual rebound.

Recovery operations persisted through Thursday night and into Friday morning following a devastating hillside collapse at a construction site adjacent to the Tonique Williams-Darling Highway. The incident resulted in the death of a 51-year-old construction worker who became trapped beneath massive boulders and debris while operating excavating machinery.

According to eyewitness accounts from the scene, the catastrophic event occurred approximately at 3pm on Thursday when a significant portion of the hillside suddenly gave way. Independent contractor Mark Turnquest, who was working at the site, revealed that the victim had been working alone at the time of the collapse, with both the operator and his heavy equipment becoming completely buried under the landslide.

Police authorities confirmed they were alerted to the industrial accident shortly after 6pm Thursday. Upon arrival, officers consulted with two construction workers who reported the excavator and its operator missing following the slope failure. Initial rescue attempts proved unsuccessful in locating or reaching the trapped operator due to the substantial amount of debris and safety concerns.

The recovery effort mobilized multiple agencies including Police Fire Services and corporate volunteers equipped with heavy machinery. During debris-removal operations, responders managed to locate the victim’s torso, but deteriorating light conditions and ongoing safety risks forced the suspension of operations late Thursday evening.

The victim’s brother joined recovery teams who returned to the site Friday morning to continue the painstaking process of removing rubble and recovering the remaining remains. Official investigations into the precise circumstances surrounding the fatal incident remain ongoing as authorities work to determine the factors that contributed to the hillside collapse.