标签： Bahamas

The Bahamian government has taken a definitive stance that widespread looting of a grounded barge cannot diminish the vessel owners’ financial responsibility for environmental damages to coral reefs. Attorney General Ryan Pinder emphasized the complete separation between criminal acts by private individuals and regulatory enforcement during a recent Office of the Prime Minister press briefing.

This legal position emerges from the controversial Brooklyn Bridge barge incident in Abaco, where substantial reef destruction occurred alongside massive public looting. The event has sparked intense criticism from environmental advocates and local representatives who argue that current penalty structures fail to provide adequate deterrence against coastal environmental violations.

North Andros MP John Pinder condemned the practice of vessels taking dangerous shortcuts near shorelines for profit maximization, while numerous critics have labeled the proposed $20,000 fine as insufficient compared to the ecological damage sustained. Many are advocating for penalties reaching millions of dollars to properly reflect environmental costs.

The Attorney General clarified the government’s dual-track approach: “One is a private action by private individuals who acted contrary to law, and the second is an enforcement and regulatory matter by the government. They’re entirely unrelated matters under the law.”

Significantly, recent legislative amendments have empowered the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) to issue immediate spot fines for environmental violations—authority previously absent from their enforcement toolkit. This allows for instant penalties followed by potential additional prosecution once comprehensive environmental damage assessments are completed.

The government will proceed with minimum $20,000 fines under the Environmental Planning Protection Amendment Act 2024, with further legal action anticipated after full evaluation of reef destruction monetization.

During a pre-Christmas humanitarian engagement, British High Commissioner Smita Rossetti formally advocated for The Bahamas to endorse the Global Charter on Children’s Care Reform. The diplomatic appeal occurred during a joint visit with Ann-Marie Davis, spouse of the Prime Minister, to the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel in Nassau on Wednesday.

The officials participated in after-school activities and presented art supplies and stationery donated by UK-based retailer TG Jones. Both emphasized the shared commitment between their nations toward safeguarding vulnerable children. The Hostel, a non-profit facility, provides immediate protection, shelter, and comprehensive care—including accommodation, food, clothing, and medical services—for up to 35 children aged 0–12 at any given time.

Mrs. Davis highlighted the critical needs of the institution, noting that many infants reside there during their most formative years. She stressed that support must extend beyond basic provisions to include constant nurturing, developmental guidance, and an environment fostering emotional stability and growth.

High Commissioner Rossetti expressed profound gratitude for the caregivers’ dedicated work and outlined the Charter’s objectives. Launched earlier this year by UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy during his tenure as foreign secretary, the international framework calls on signatories to invest in family strengthening, enhance protections for vulnerable children, support caregivers, and promote safe, family-based alternative care solutions. Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua and Barbuda are already signatories.

Rossetti acknowledged the special environment created by the Hostel’s leadership and staff, which includes trained teachers and nurses, but also pointed to ongoing needs that would benefit from private donations. She noted that the facility is among several in Nassau, including Ranfurly Homes for Children, working to ensure no child faces crisis alone.

Stephanie Ann Braynen, permanently blinded in a devastating 2020 acid attack, has expressed complex emotions following the Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold her attacker’s seven-year prison sentence. While relieved that Pandora McKenzie’s appeal for sentence reduction was denied just one year into her imprisonment, Braynen maintains the punishment constitutes ‘a slap on the wrist’ for what she describes as ‘premeditated attempted murder.’

The November 2020 assault left Braynen with irreversible blindness and significant facial disfigurement. Despite undergoing specialized treatment at Miami’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, medical professionals could not restore her vision. The victim now depends on her pension and requires substantial support from her children for daily living, though she has developed adaptive skills to navigate her home environment.

Braynen has raised serious concerns about the judicial handling of her case from its inception. She contends the initial charge of ‘grievous harm’ significantly underestimated the attack’s severity and suggests possible improper influence due to McKenzie’s son serving as a police officer. ‘The magistrate acknowledged this was attempted murder,’ Braynen recalled, ‘but indicated the seven-year term represented the maximum penalty allowable under the charged offense.’

The legal proceedings extended across four years, culminating in McKenzie’s conviction on September 16, 2024. The recent appeal, filed on September 8, resulted in the appellate court affirming both the conviction and original sentence. Braynen expressed disappointment that the appellate judges didn’t enhance the punishment, noting: ‘When you appeal, you disrespect what you were supposed to get. They should have added more time.’

Financial recourse remains unavailable as McKenzie lacks tangible assets for civil litigation. Adding to the tragedy, Braynen revealed that the man whose alleged affair motivated the attack has since divorced and remarried, regularly checking on her wellbeing and highlighting the senselessness of the violence.

Despite her profound losses, Braynen demonstrates remarkable resilience, explicitly stating she refuses to harbor bitterness and has extended forgiveness to her attacker. ‘I feel sad for her. I don’t hate her. I forgive her. But I won’t forget,’ she stated. While dissatisfied with the sentencing outcome, she acknowledges closure in the judicial process: ‘I’m glad they see fit she must stay and finish her time. It is what it is. I will live it. And I thank God I lived through it.’

A comprehensive civil engineering assessment has determined that the proposed multi-million-dollar specialty hospital in Nassau’s Perpall Tract area will not exacerbate flooding conditions in adjacent neighborhoods, according to Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Michael Darville. The findings, presented during parliamentary discussions concerning a $201 million borrowing resolution for the facility’s construction, indicate the hospital’s advanced drainage design may actually enhance flood protection for surrounding communities.

The engineering evaluation, conducted by Caribbean Civil Engineering Group Limited, emerged from resident concerns voiced during a contentious Department of Physical Planning hearing in October. These apprehensions, formally documented in the town planning certificate, prompted regulatory authorities to mandate a detailed drainage strategy before granting project approval.

Minister Darville revealed the completed drainage plan for the 50-acre site has been formally submitted to the Ministry of Works. The analysis included examination of well field infrastructure impacted by Tropical Storm Imelda’s heavy rainfall, identifying maintenance deficiencies including malfunctioning floodgates and obstructed drainage canals. The report proposes comprehensive mitigation measures featuring expanded drainage ponds and infrastructure improvements.

Despite resident arguments that Tropical Storm Imelda’s flooding demonstrated the area’s unsuitability for development, officials clarified the hospital structures will be situated on elevated terrain seven to fourteen feet above sea level, outside the well fields themselves.

Project updates include a revised construction budget of $268 million, reflecting $22 million in savings achieved through switching to reinforced concrete building materials. Financing arrangements include a $300 million concessional loan from China EXIM Bank. Construction is projected to span 30-36 months, with detailed documentation regarding labor composition ratios and technical specifications promised to be presented to parliament in the coming weeks.

The tranquil community of Gambier Village was plunged into mourning Wednesday morning following the discovery of a fatally stabbed resident on Fernander Road. Police responded to the scene shortly after 7am where they encountered the lifeless body of 30-year-old Kevin Poitier, who sustained multiple upper body lacerations. Emergency Medical Services personnel confirmed the victim showed no vital signs upon their arrival.

As news of the tragedy spread throughout the close-knit neighborhood, distraught family members, neighbors, and community supporters converged on the narrow roadway, many visibly emotional as they grappled with the shocking violence that claimed the life of a man universally described as kind-hearted and industrious.

A relative of the victim, who requested anonymity, expressed profound grief while highlighting the incongruity of such violence in their community. ‘He was a talented artist and cook – what could possibly lead to this?’ the emotional bystander questioned. ‘Gambier has always maintained its tranquillity and serenity, but this incident suggests we’re becoming like everywhere else. The devastating loss is particularly painful for my wife, who recently helped me through the loss of my own brother.’

Killarney Member of Parliament Dr. Hubert Minnis visited the scene to offer condolences and urged communal solidarity. ‘We are all one family, and we have utmost confidence in our police force’s investigation,’ Dr. Minnis stated. ‘I’ve spoken briefly with the grieving mother and plan to return after parliamentary sessions to provide further support to the family during this unimaginably difficult time.’

Community members remembered Poitier as a perpetually positive presence whose caring nature belied any personal struggles he might have concealed. One mourner reflected: ‘Kevin was exceptionally respectful and helpful with an oversized heart. He consistently presented as bubbly and resilient – the last person who deserved such brutal violence. His loss leaves a tremendous void as someone’s son, brother, and uncle.’

Law enforcement officials confirmed an individual is currently assisting with their investigation but declined to elaborate on potential motives or circumstances surrounding the stabbing. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine what led to this violent breach of Gambier Village’s longstanding peace.

The Bahamas faces another tragic traffic fatality as 34-year-old Shaquell Roberts, a vibrant mother of two, lost her life in a devastating vehicular collision on Western Road this Monday afternoon. According to police reports, the incident occurred when Roberts’ black Honda Accord collided with an oncoming Honda Stepwagon during her commute home from work.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly after 2pm to find Roberts’ vehicle overturned with the victim partially ejected and drifting in and out of consciousness. Despite urgent medical intervention, she succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. The occupants of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries in the collision.

Roberts, remembered by family as exceptionally ambitious and energetic, balanced her employment at Bahamas Power and Light with multiple entrepreneurial ventures including a cleaning service, nail salon, and clothing enterprise. Her stepsister, Felicia Russell, recounted their final conversation centered on spiritual growth and childhood memories. “We just talked about how only what we do for Christ will last,” Russell shared emotionally.

The tragedy resonates deeply within the family, particularly affecting Roberts’ two daughters. Her eldest, anticipating graduation next year, now faces this profound loss while the younger child continually asks for her mother. Roberts, who experienced parental loss herself in childhood, frequently expressed her dreams of witnessing her daughters’ transition into adulthood.

This incident marks the 62nd traffic-related death recorded this year in The Tribune’s statistics, highlighting ongoing road safety concerns in the region. The family now commits to honoring Roberts’ memory by ensuring her children receive every opportunity she envisioned for them.

A Haitian refugee who sought sanctuary in The Bahamas three years ago has encountered renewed devastation after a weekend fire completely destroyed her Windsor Park apartment and all her possessions. Louise Joseph, known to her TikTok followers as Mary Fox, received the catastrophic news while at work on Saturday afternoon when she was urgently summoned home to find her residence engulfed in thick black smoke. While other tenants in the building managed to salvage their belongings, Joseph’s unit suffered total destruction, leaving her with nothing but the clothes she was wearing. Her employer and close friend Erlande Cineas described the traumatic scene, noting Joseph collapsed in disbelief upon witnessing the complete loss of her home, clothing, and critical personal documents. The tragedy carries profound emotional weight for Joseph, who had carefully built the apartment into a sanctuary after fleeing Haiti’s civil unrest and safety concerns. The space contained cherished reminders of her four children, aged six to fifteen, whom she supports from abroad. Joseph revealed through an interpreter that the disaster has resurrected the deep despair she initially experienced upon arriving in Nassau, when she struggled with unemployment and depression. Although she possesses legal residency documents, Joseph now faces homelessness and uncertainty about her future. Temporary shelter has been arranged with friends, but the path to recovery remains unclear. Cineas emphasized that while some community assistance has emerged, the situation requires substantial support beyond clothing donations, including permanent housing solutions. She highlighted the particular irony that Joseph, whose TikTok videos regularly inspire others battling depression, now finds herself in desperate need of emotional and material support. The public has been encouraged to contact 433-9044 to provide assistance.

Grand Bahama’s healthcare infrastructure faces renewed scrutiny as authorities confirm the replacement of a malfunctioning refrigerated trailer used for body storage at Rand Memorial Hospital. This temporary solution highlights a deeper crisis: the prolonged delay in constructing a permanent morgue facility, originally promised for completion within seven months after a $1.6 million contract was signed in June 2022.

Public Hospitals Authority Managing Director Dr. Aubenette Rolle verified the defective trailer was swapped on Monday, calling it ‘fully functional’ while deflecting questions about allocated funds for the permanent morgue. The replacement comes after the previous temporary unit collapsed, reigniting concerns about the island’s inadequate deathcare infrastructure that has persisted since Hurricane Dorian’s devastation.

The stalled morgue project, awarded to Pinnacle Investment Company Limited, was designed to modernize facilities, expand capacity, and repair storm damage. Yet after more than two years, no substantial progress is visible. Opposition parliamentarian Kwasi Thompson (East Grand Bahama) condemned the situation as emblematic of governmental neglect and eroded accountability, stating the failure ‘undermines public confidence in handling larger issues.’

Adding to criticism, Omar Isaacs—Free National Movement candidate for West Grand Bahama and Bimini—lambasted the absence of a proper morgue as ‘unacceptable’ for what is considered the nation’s ‘second city.’ He accused the administration of consistent mismanagement and misplaced budgetary priorities, arguing that basic amenities remain overlooked despite repeated funding allocations.

Officials have historically emphasized the critical importance of reliable morgue services for respectful body storage, efficient autopsy procedures, and overall hospital operations. The continued reliance on temporary trailers since 2019’s hurricane reveals systemic infrastructure vulnerabilities and unfulfilled governmental commitments to Grand Bahamians.