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标签： Bahamas

巴哈马

  • Union threatens court action over Grand Lucayan severance

    Union threatens court action over Grand Lucayan severance

    A months-long dispute over unpaid severance for former employees of the closed Grand Lucayan Resort in the Bahamas has escalated, with the country’s top trade union leader announcing imminent legal action if the government fails to meet its obligations within seven days.

    Obie Ferguson, president of the Bahamas Trade Union Congress, told reporters on Thursday that the union has waited long enough for the Davis administration to resolve the outstanding payments owed to hundreds of former resort staff. After multiple broken deadlines and unfulfilled promises, the organization has prepared to file a court petition seeking a formal order for the full sum of owed severance, plus 6.5% annual interest accumulated from the original due date.

    “We’re giving the government roughly one more week to show movement on this issue,” Ferguson stated. “If we still see no action by then, we have no choice but to proceed to court.”

    The number of employees still waiting for their legally mandated severance remains unconfirmed by the government, but Ferguson described the figure as “substantial”. The dispute dates back months, following the resort’s permanent closure ahead of a major redevelopment deal. According to Ferguson, the union was assured repeatedly that the issue would be resolved quickly. Hope rose earlier this year when government officials sent a formal letter in February signaling their intent to settle the outstanding claims. A subsequent meeting with Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis resulted in an instruction for the union to submit a formal assessment of all owed redundancy payments. The union complied with the request, and workers were formally promised full payment by February 27. Months later, that promise has yet to be fulfilled, and the union has not even received a proposed payment timeline from the administration despite repeated requests.

    The ongoing delay has pushed two long-time former employees to the brink of financial ruin. Jerry Davis, a former senior security coordinator at the resort who supports a three-year-old daughter and 84-year-old mother, told local media that securing new stable employment in Grand Bahama has been near-impossible. He is now at risk of defaulting on his home mortgage, and a recent refinancing inquiry revealed he still has three decades of payments remaining. “I don’t know if I’ll live long enough to finish paying this off, and I don’t want to leave my daughter stuck with this debt,” Davis said. Like many other former staff, Davis rejected a preliminary severance offer from the government, arguing the proposed sum was far lower than the amount he is legally owed.

    Patsy Hepburn, a 26-year veteran of the resort’s customer service department and a stage four uterine cancer survivor, faces even direr circumstances. She carries thousands of dollars in outstanding medical debt from her ongoing cancer treatment, and her electricity and water utilities have already been disconnected over nonpayment. Royal Bank of Canada has also filed a lawsuit against her over an unpaid personal loan. “Surviving here in Freeport has become nearly impossible,” Hepburn said.

    Ferguson drew sharp criticism of the government’s misplaced priorities, pointing to the millions of dollars in public spending allocated for infrastructure upgrades ahead of King Charles III’s upcoming visit to the country. “This is not an unreasonable demand,” he said. “We’re just asking for what these workers earned. If the government can’t pay all the money at once, they can pay part of it. That’s all we ask. How is that too much to ask?”

    The Grand Lucayan Resort site was sold as part of a major redevelopment deal signed in May 2025 between the Bahamian government and Florida-based developer Concord Wilshire Capital. The $827 million Heads of Agreement valued the hotel sale at $100 million, with cruise line MSC acquiring a portion of the property for future development. Prime Minister Davis himself has previously publicly questioned why former resort employees and contractors remain unpaid months after the sale closed.

    As of press time Thursday, repeated attempts by reporters to reach relevant government officials for comment on the dispute went unanswered.

  • New FOI chief: Regulations key to ending long delay

    New FOI chief: Regulations key to ending long delay

    Fourteen years after Bahamas’ parliament passed landmark Freedom of Information legislation, the transparency framework remains blocked from full operation, the newly sworn-in Information Commissioner Donna Newton confirmed in an address this week. The core roadblock, Newton emphasized, is the absence of finalized supporting regulations that are required for the system to launch — leaving a cohort of pre-trained information managers unable to step into their long-prepared roles, with no clear timeline for implementation.

    Newton, who took the oath of office yesterday, outlined that securing the finalized regulations will be her immediate top priority, as she could not offer a definitive timeline for when the public will gain access to the full rights enshrined in the 14-year-old law. Years ago, former Information Commissioner Keith Thompson oversaw the training of dozens of information managers assigned to government agencies, but the group has yet to begin their official duties processing public information requests. Earlier this month, the government finally posted draft regulations to its official website, opening a window for public feedback — a major procedural step after more than a decade of delays.

    Attorney General Wayne Munroe has previously outlined the next steps: once the public consultation period concludes, the draft will undergo review, and legislative drafters will incorporate any approved adjustments before finalization. Newton acknowledged that she cannot predict how long this final stage of the regulatory process will take, noting she has only just assumed the role and is still evaluating the full resource needs of her office.

    Longstanding underfunding has emerged as a persistent structural barrier to launching the system. The Freedom of Information Office currently receives an annual budget allocation of just $140,000, a figure far lower than the $1 million annual operating estimate cited by previous leadership. In 2024, Thompson, whose tenure ended following years of incremental progress, stated that the current funding level would allow the office to accomplish “absolutely nothing.” At the time, critical digital infrastructure to support information request processing and public access had still not been secured, and independent governance advocacy group the Organisation for Responsible Governance warned the budget was too small to cover required technology, agency staff training, and public outreach campaigns.

    Finance Minister Michael Halkitis defended the $140,000 allocation during parliamentary remarks in June, arguing the sum covers all core operational expenses for the office and does not include separate salary allocations for staff.

    The slow, phased rollout plan developed during Thompson’s tenure targeted a limited launch with 10 selected government agencies, and training for assigned information managers from across ministries and agencies got underway in 2023. Officials initially projected that initial rollout and testing would launch by November 2023, but the timeline collapsed after the office failed to secure funding for required technology from the Attorney General’s office, Thompson confirmed earlier this year.

    Alongside finalizing regulations, Newton named public education as a second core priority for her tenure. She emphasized the critical need for the Information Commissioner’s Office to maintain full independence from the government, a requirement she said is foundational to building public trust in the transparency system. The office will not only oversee the processing of information requests but also hear appeals from residents when public authorities deny access to requested records.

    “It’s very important that the information commissioner acts independently of the government,” Newton said. “That would be the only way that the information is trusted. The public trusts, puts its confidence in the commissioner and the unit if it is seen to be independent of the government.”

    The Freedom of Information Act grants Bahamian residents the legal right to access records held by all public authorities, with narrow exemptions for sensitive information including national security data and protected personal information. As she settles into the new role, Newton confirmed her focus will remain on clearing the remaining regulatory hurdles and preparing the public for the system’s eventual launch.

  • COI leader arrested after protesters tear down fence

    COI leader arrested after protesters tear down fence

    A tense confrontation between protest leaders and law enforcement unfolded on Paradise Island’s Cabbage Beach Thursday, after Coalition of Independents leader Lincoln Bain was arrested while carrying out a public promise to tear down a barrier that had already been ordered removed by the national government.

    The chain-link fence, erected by developers behind the luxury Four Seasons Ocean Club Residences project, has been the center of a weeks-long public dispute that escalated dramatically over the weekend, when a 60-year-old American tourist was swept out into rough Atlantic seas while trying to navigate around the structure to continue walking along the shore. The tourist was successfully rescued by on-site lifeguards, local lawmakers and bystanders, but the incident amplified growing public anger over restricted access to the popular public beach.

    Bain was joined by dozens of protesters, local vendors and other politicians Wednesday, when demonstrators began pulling fence posts from the sand and dismantling sections of the barrier along the shoreline, even as incoming waves washed around their feet. Within minutes of the protest starting, uniformed police officers alongside tactical units equipped with body armor and standard-issue weapons moved in, surrounding Bain and restraining him in handcuffs. Footage and witness accounts from the scene show Bain raising his cuffed hands above his head as he was escorted off the beach by officers.

    In an interview with The Nassau Tribune following the incident, Bain confirmed that he was released from police custody without being issued any charges, and returned to Cabbage Beach within hours to continue the demonstration demanding full removal of the barrier. The arrest surprised many observers, as Environment Minister Zane Lightbourne publicly reaffirmed the government’s position Thursday morning, stating that developers had already received formal instructions to remove the entire fence. Lightbourne added that if the development team failed to complete the removal in a timely manner, the Ministry of Works would step in to carry out the work — though he declined to provide a specific timeline for when that action would take place. Representatives for Four Seasons did not respond to multiple requests for comment from news outlets on the day of the protest.

    The fence dispute is rooted in deeper concerns among local vendors and community members, who fear that ongoing construction tied to the Four Seasons Ocean Club Residences will block permanent public access to Cabbage Beach, one of the few remaining public shoreline spaces accessible to all Bahamian residents. Local vendors say the restricted access already implemented by the fence has cut into their customer base, threatening their long-term livelihoods.

    Freetown Member of Parliament Lincoln Deal, whose electoral district includes Cabbage Beach, was present at the protest and echoed Bain’s demands for immediate action. Deal argued that the same sense of urgency that the government and developers brought to erecting the fence should be applied to removing it. “Bahamians are losing their beaches, and it’s very important that we take this fight seriously because the access to public beaches is becoming very rare,” Deal told reporters on the scene. “Cabbage Beach is one of the only beaches that we have left for Bahamians to enjoy and participate in. And so, for me, it’s a fight not just for myself; it’s for our country.”

  • New NIB board to focus on fund sustainability

    New NIB board to focus on fund sustainability

    The Bahamas’ newly appointed National Insurance Board (NIB) has formally convened its first official gathering at the organisation’s headquarters located at the Clifford Darling Complex on Blue Hill Road, marking the launch of a new term of oversight for the country’s national social security system. Chaired by newly installed leader Michelle Pindling-Sunds, with Shakera Johnson stepping into the role of deputy chairman, the inaugural meeting brought together all nine appointed board members: Lisa Turnquest, Tim Ingraham, Theressa Thompson, Amancha Williams, Rozalia Bowe, Dwayne Woods, Avrom Thompson and Suzette Moss. Also in attendance were NIB Director Dr Tami Francis and the organisation’s full senior executive team, who joined to align on the incoming leadership’s agenda. Addressing the assembled board, Minister of Labour, Public Service and National Insurance Pia Glover-Rolle laid out the Bahamian government’s formal strategic priorities to guide the new board’s work over its tenure. At the top of the agenda is securing the long-term financial sustainability of the National Insurance Fund, a critical pillar of the country’s social safety net that supports retirees, people living with disabilities, and other eligible beneficiaries. Beyond fiscal stability, the government has outlined a set of ambitious goals to modernise and expand NIB’s operations. Key priorities include diversifying the fund’s investment holdings to reduce risk and boost long-term returns, strategically growing NIB’s existing real estate portfolio, and upgrading the organisation’s outdated core technology systems to improve service delivery. The administration is also pushing for progress across a range of operational and governance priorities: upgrading workforce development programmes to build a stronger, more skilled internal team, strengthening organisational structures across the NIB, boosting employee productivity and enforcing clearer accountability standards, improving industrial relations frameworks, advancing targeted policy and legislative updates to reflect modern needs, and increasing collection rates for national insurance contributions to shore up the fund’s revenue base. Over the coming years, this newly constituted board will hold full responsibility for overseeing NIB’s day-to-day operations and setting its long-term strategic direction, delivering on the government’s mandate to strengthen the national insurance system for current and future generations of Bahamians.

  • PM: Powerful nations can’t disregard rules

    PM: Powerful nations can’t disregard rules

    Speaking at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Bahamas Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis delivered a stark and urgent warning to the global community: the post-WWII international order is sliding toward a hierarchical system where powerful nations can flout rules that small states remain bound by. Davis’s forceful defense of small nation sovereignty comes amid an ongoing, highly public diplomatic dispute between his administration and the United States over unauthorised undercover operations by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Bahamian soil, though he did not directly reference the conflict in his UN address.

    The root of the bilateral tension emerged from a three-year US investigation into accused Bahamian drug trafficker Jonathan “Player” Gardiner and his network. US court filings have revealed that DEA operatives, posing as cartel members, conducted undercover activity across The Bahamas, including a 2024 meeting with an unnamed Bahamian politician inside the country’s Parliament to discuss facilitating a cocaine shipment. Last week, Bahamas Ambassador to the US Wendall Jones confirmed that a Bahamian delegation had formally raised complaints with US officials over what the government views as “rogue” DEA operations conducted without explicit local permission, clarifying that the objection relates to investigative conduct, not the prosecution of the suspects.

    The dispute quickly escalated: US Ambassador Herschel Walker dismissed the allegations of illegal activity as “fake news”, questioning why Bahamian officials would object to the arrest of a known trafficker. In response, Bahamian Attorney General Wayne Munroe pushed back, noting that US authorities would never accept comparable unauthorised operations by Bahamian law enforcement on American territory.

    In his UN address, Davis framed this local dispute as part of a broader, global erosion of the UN’s founding principle of sovereign equality. “International order, where rules apply only to the weak, is not order. It is a hierarchy,” he told the assembled global leaders. He argued that small nations bear no responsibility for the dismantling of the rules-based global system, but will be the first to suffer catastrophic consequences if it collapses.

    Davis drew a line from historical colonial exploitation to modern power imbalances, noting “For 500 years, the Caribbean was somebody’s backyard. We did not win our freedom to once again become somebody’s backyard.” He pushed back against the implicit message he says small states receive from major powers: that their sovereignty is only permitted, not inherent. “A sovereignty that must ask permission is not sovereignty. It is a lease. Our ancestors did not break their chains so that their children could become tenants,” he said.

    Unlike large powerful nations that can absorb the impact of weakened international frameworks, Davis emphasized that small states like The Bahamas, with a population of just 400,000, rely entirely on multilateralism to stand as equals to nations hundreds of times their size. “When The Bahamas defends multilateralism, we are not defending a bureaucracy. We are defending the only successful arrangement in which a nation of four hundred thousand people can stand at this podium as the sovereign equal of a nation of a billion people,” he said. His proposed solution is not abandoning international rules, but ensuring those rules bind large and small nations equally: “Defending international rules is not a favour to the small; it is an insurance for the strong,” he argued.

    Beyond his core argument on sovereignty, Davis laid out a series of key priorities for The Bahamas and the broader Caribbean region. Turning to Haiti, he recalled the nation’s historic legacy as the first country to win independence through a slave revolt, noting that that act of self-liberation led to centuries of punishment, including a 1825 forced compensation payment to former French colonizers that Haiti took more than 150 years to pay off. Davis called on the UN Security Council to renew the mandate for the multinational gang suppression force deployed to Haiti, and ensure the mission receives sufficient resources while upholding Haitian sovereignty.

    Davis also reiterated longstanding regional calls for reparatory justice for the transatlantic slave trade, referencing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ten-Point Plan for Reparatory Justice. He urged nations that enriched themselves from slavery to engage in good faith on demands for truth, apology, restorative action and development investment. On Cuba, he repeated The Bahamas’ call for an immediate end to the decades-long US trade embargo, the removal of Cuba from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, and the lifting of the fuel blockade, calling for the entire Latin America and Caribbean region to be recognized as a zone of peace.

    Climate change, an existential threat to low-lying island nations like The Bahamas, also featured heavily in Davis’s address. He warned that The Bahamas cannot confront rising sea levels alone, noting that while the UN’s loss and damage fund for climate-vulnerable nations exists, a fundamental shift in power dynamics is required to make the fund operational and effective. Davis also announced The Bahamas’ formal endorsement of the Declaration on Sea-Level Rise, which enshrines that the country’s statehood, territorial boundaries, and UN membership will never be invalidated by rising ocean waters.

    Looking to emerging global challenges, Davis raised alarms about the unequal power dynamics shaping the digital and AI era, warning against a future where small states are reduced to merely supplying raw personal data for systems designed and controlled by wealthy global powers. “The old empires took our lands, plundered them and renamed them. The new ones seek to take our data, and hand us back a picture of ourselves, one we did not paint,” he said. He argued that communities whose data is extracted deserve a voice in how that data is stored, used, and governed, and called for AI systems that respect national laws, understand local languages, and reflect the experiences of people outside wealthy North American and European nations. Davis backed greater small state representation in setting global digital rules, and publicly endorsed Stephen Bereaux’s nomination for Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union.

    In a major announcement, Davis confirmed that The Bahamas intends to run for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2032-2033 term, emphasizing that the country seeks to challenge the status quo rather than stay on the sidelines. He called out structural inequities in the UN system, noting that five permanent Security Council members still hold veto power over global peace and security, a framework established decades before most current UN member states gained independence, and one that was never put to a vote of the broader membership. “An institution that cannot reform itself cannot hope to reform the world,” he said.

    Davis closed his address by framing the entire debate as a question of legitimate power. “Power without legitimacy is not order. It is control. And a peace kept only by the powerful is not peace. It is permission,” he said.

  • Sister says worker raised safety concerns before death

    Sister says worker raised safety concerns before death

    When the ground gave way beneath a Lyford Cay construction site last Wednesday, 38-year-old carpenter Deanko Miller lost his life alongside one other colleague, leaving behind a grieving family that is now calling for a thorough investigation into workplace safety failures at the project. Miller had worked for SMG Construction for close to six years, and in the wake of the tragedy, his sister Deante Miller says he had raised red flags about unsafe working conditions long before the collapse.

    Deante Miller, a veteran former combat medic with ties to law enforcement, has chosen to withhold specific details of her brother’s safety concerns while an official investigation is ongoing, but she stressed that all relevant information will be turned over to investigating authorities. For her, this incident is far more than a private family tragedy—it is a critical wake-up call for construction safety standards across The Bahamas.

    The family’s core demand is clear: investigators must determine whether proper safety protocols were followed at the site, and whether the ground was sufficiently assessed for stability before work began. Deante Miller has called for outside expertise from bodies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to help lead the probe, arguing that preventable on-the-job deaths cannot be allowed to continue. “You go to work and lose your life—that doesn’t make sense,” she said.

    The tragedy has carried a particularly heavy weight for the Miller family. Deanko Miller left behind two young children, ages five and seven. The morning after the collapse, Deante Miller—who was celebrating her birthday—traveled with other family members to identify Deanko’s body at the morgue. She described losing her brother as traumatic and unimaginable, and recounted the confusion and delay the family experienced in learning the full details of his death.

    Initially, the mother of Deanko’s children, who was listed as his emergency contact, was only informed of his death with no context about the collapse. The family was first directed to report to a local police station, and it took hours before they confirmed Deanko was the worker killed. “I knew that something was wrong when I called the police station and they said that they didn’t have anybody in custody,” Deante Miller recalled. “I thought maybe it might have been just an altercation on the job, maybe a fight, something unusual. It was only later that we confirmed he had passed.”

    Publicly released video of rescue efforts to pull the trapped workers from the collapsed soil has added to the family’s pain. Deante Miller said the family first saw the graphic footage on the evening news, and it was devastating to watch. Compounding their grief are new questions about the speed and effectiveness of the emergency response, after the family heard unconfirmed reports that Deanko may have still been alive and breathing in the immediate aftermath of the collapse.

    Drawing on her experience as a combat medic, Deante Miller questioned why first responders did not arrive faster to the scene. To date, the family says they have received no outreach or support from SMG Construction, the company behind the project. When reached for comment by media, SMG Construction declined to issue any statement on the tragedy.

    For the Miller family, the immediate priority is getting clear answers about what led to Deanko’s death. “We really just need to know what happened around the circumstances,” Deante Miller said. “If SMG is going to reach out to his immediate family members, I think that would be very helpful for the case, and just taking it one step at a time.”

    Deante also shared details of her final conversation with her brother the night before the accident. The pair spoke about their grandmother and her well-known sense of humor, before Deanko signed off with a jarring comment that has lingered with her since: “I’ll see you tomorrow evening, well, if I live.” It was the first time he had ever said anything like that to her, she said.

    Deanko’s father, Wayde Miller, remembered his oldest son as a kind, family-focused man who doted on his two young children. “Me and him was pretty close,” Wayde said. “He’s my oldest son, my oldest child. I’m saddened the way his life was taken.” Wayde was out on his boat when the accident happened, and could not be reached immediately because of phone service issues. The last time he saw his son was at a family funeral for Deanko’s nephew several weeks before, where they spent hours together and took photos. “That’s a big chip off the block gone,” Wayde said. “So we just got to stay strong and keep him in our hearts and memory.”

    Deanko’s aunt, Linda Wallace, said she last spoke to her nephew two days before the collapse. He had called to check on her after she lost her son two months prior, and they spoke together about how much he missed his late cousin.

  • Senior police officer pleads ‘not guilty’ in pike killing

    Senior police officer pleads ‘not guilty’ in pike killing

    A high-profile case with international ramifications unfolded in the Bahamas Supreme Court on Friday, as a senior police officer pleaded not guilty to the murder of an American utility worker — a shooting that prompted U.S. diplomatic intervention and forced a national review of off-duty officer firearm rules.

    Fifty-four-year-old Superintendent Berneil Pinder entered his plea in connection with the March 21 killing of 31-year-old Cody Castillo, a Pike Corporation employee who was shot through the side window of his work truck outside Da Plantation Bar & Grill on West Bay Street, New Providence.

    Within days of the incident, the case captured global attention. The U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas quickly issued a public call for prompt justice, and U.S. Ambassador Herschel Walker formally offered FBI investigative support to the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Bahamian Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis responded by ordering a full, transparent investigation and launching a review of existing policies governing off-duty officers carrying personal firearms.

    Initial police accounts of the shooting claimed that a physical altercation that started inside the bar spilled out into the parking lot, after which a man got into his vehicle and deliberately drove toward Pinder in a threatening manner. Pinder, who was off-duty at the time of the killing just before 6 p.m., reportedly fired his weapon out of fear for his personal safety. However, local newspaper The Tribune later uncovered key details contradicting that narrative, confirming Castillo was never involved in the initial bar fight. He had only driven to the venue to pick up his younger brother, cousin, and another co-worker, all of whom were also employed by Pike.

    Castillo was struck in the chest by the bullet fired through the truck’s window. First responders found him lying face-down outside the vehicle in a pool of blood, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators obtained key evidence from multiple sources, including dash camera footage from Castillo’s work truck and closed-circuit camera footage from nearby businesses, which National Security Minister Wayne Munroe confirmed early in the probe. In a break from standard protocol for police-involved fatalities, which are typically sent directly to the Coroner’s Court, Munroe confirmed investigators treated Castillo’s death as a criminal homicide investigation from the start. Pinder was formally charged with murder just four days after the shooting.

    Castillo was a native of Huntsville, Texas, who had been working in the Bahamas on a major project to upgrade New Providence’s electricity grid. At the time of his death, his wife was four months pregnant with the couple’s first child.

    The fatal shooting also had tangible economic and project impacts, disrupting the $130 million grid upgrade initiative. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, roughly 40 Pike Corporation employees left New Providence out of safety concerns. Anthony Ferguson, chairman of the Bahamas Grid Company, later confirmed the shooting left many remaining workers deeply fearful, and contributed to a roughly two-month delay to the overall project timeline.

    During Friday’s court hearing before Justice Guillimina Archer-Minns, Pinder appeared calm as he entered his not guilty plea. Cassie Bethel is serving as Pinder’s defense counsel, while Eucal Bonaby and Betty Wilson are leading the prosecution. Pinder is scheduled to return to court on October 7 for a formal trial date setting hearing.

  • ‘Take down the fence before somebody dies’

    ‘Take down the fence before somebody dies’

    A dramatic high-stakes rescue at Cabbage Beach in the Bahamas has reignited long-simmering tensions over public beach access and unapproved development, prompting swift government action to remove an illegally placed shoreline fence. The incident unfolded yesterday as a 60-year-old American tourist, staying at the nearby Riu resort, was swept into rough Atlantic waters while navigating around the barrier – a structure protesters had warned already forced beachgoers into the surf to pass.

    Lincoln Deal, Member of Parliament for Freetown and one of the rescuers who pulled the woman from the waves, described the close call that could have ended in tragedy. “We could’ve lost a life,” Deal said, recalling how powerful currents dragged the woman farther from shore even as lifeguards, protesters, and other bystanders fought to reach her. After the woman was brought back to land, bystanders administered CPR to restore her breathing before an ambulance arrived to transport her for further care. The near-fatal incident comes after weeks of growing unrest over the ongoing construction of the Four Seasons Ocean Club Residences, which has already displaced long-time local vendors and restricted traditional public access to the popular beach.

    Footage captured by onlookers shows the woman struggling against churning waves as rescuers worked frantically to pull her to safety. One furious eyewitness called for immediate action, shouting, “Take down the fence before somebody dies. Take down the fence before somebody loses their life.”

    Deal emphasized that the fence’s positioning is inherently dangerous, noting that it sits so close to the waterline that walking around it forces pedestrians directly into the surf. “When you’re walking around that fence, you’re basically walking in the water, and so it’s very easy to lose your balance, to fall, to be pulled in, to even be pushed and pressed against the fence,” he explained. Deal added that while the presence of multiple bystanders and lifeguards on scene prevented a fatality this time, there is no guarantee someone will be nearby to intervene in future incidents.

    This is not the first controversial fence to spark public outcry at Cabbage Beach. In late August, local vendors discovered a similar barrier being erected near the shore, raising fears that high tides would eliminate the space they have used for decades to operate stalls, rent beach equipment, and run water sports businesses. That first fence was removed on August 30 after government intervention, when officials confirmed the developer had moved forward with construction without required public consultations and inspections.

    In the weeks that followed, the government justified new temporary fencing as a necessary safety measure to address severe beach erosion at the site. But Deal and local advocacy group Dis We Beach have pushed back against this explanation, noting that erosion impacts the entire regional coastline, and the development’s own environmental impact assessment acknowledges project-related erosion in the area. The group is also demanding written guarantees that the 27 remaining local vendors, who currently face temporary displacement, will be allowed to return to their traditional spots once construction of the $550 million development is complete.

    Last night, the Bahamian government delivered a clear response to the outcry following yesterday’s rescue. Environment Minister Zane Lightbourne announced that the developer will be ordered to remove the fence – and if they refuse, the government will take action to remove it itself. “The Government of The Bahamas has an uncompromising position on Bahamians’ access to their beaches,” Lightbourne stated. “The position applies to every developer operating in our country.” He confirmed that the latest fence was installed without the required advance notice and mandatory public comment period.

    Dis We Beach says the core questions about the development’s approval remain unanswered. The group is calling on the government to release the official surveyed fence line, clarify its position relative to the mean high-water mark, and identify who owns the land where the fence was placed. It has also pointed to existing planning law that requires maintaining public beach access as a condition of development approval, and is asking the government to confirm whether such a condition was imposed for the Four Seasons project, and what that condition requires. Beyond that, the group is demanding proof that the government properly assessed the development’s social and economic impact on local vendors, taxi operators, tour providers, and the broader tourism economy that depends on open access to Cabbage Beach.

  • Family, classmates mourns teen killed by lightning

    Family, classmates mourns teen killed by lightning

    A close-knit community came together this weekend to lay to rest 16-year-old Anton Bowe, a student at RM Bailey High School whose sudden, unexpected death from a lightning strike earlier this month sent shockwaves across the nation. The teen was caught in a severe thunderstorm when he was struck by lightning; emergency first responders rushed him to a local hospital, but medical teams were unable to save him from his critical injuries.

    Word of the tragic incident spread almost instantly across social media platforms, triggering panic among thousands of parents who hurried to the school campus to retrieve their children. In response, education authorities ordered an early closure of the school and arranged immediate access to professional grief counseling for traumatized students and staff members.

    At Anton’s funeral, held at Bible Truth Ministries, loved ones, former teachers, and classmates gathered to celebrate the life of the young man who left an indelible mark on everyone he met. Speakers remembered Anton as a teen with an infectious, larger-than-life energy that filled any room he entered, paired with a quiet, deeply rooted compassion that showed through in how he cared for the family members who raised him.

    Kevin Edgecombe, vice principal of CH Reeves School, shared an emotional reflection on Anton’s early years before he enrolled at RM Bailey. After Anton lost his mother as a young boy, he became a familiar, beloved presence on the CH Reeves campus, where his paternal aunt Margarita Bowe and maternal aunt Cyanne Rahming both worked as teachers. The two women took Anton in and raised him as their own, and Edgecombe said their constant love and sacrifice shaped the kind, outgoing young man he grew to be.

    “To know Anton was to love him,” Edgecombe told the gathered mourners. “He had a personality that could fill an entire room, before he even spoke a word.”

    Anton was a passionate lover of music and traditional Junkanoo celebrations, and Edgecombe fondly recalled his unforgettably bright smile, contagious laughter, and the magnetic energy that made him impossible to miss. Beyond his vibrant public persona, those close to him said Anton’s true character shone in the way he cared for people facing hardship — and most of all, in his unwavering devotion to his aunt Margarita.

    “He became her hands and feet,” Edgecombe said. “Serving her needs not out of obligation, but a deep and genuine love.”

    Described as a natural peacemaker who loved bringing people together through dance, Anton was also deeply respectful to his elders and always willing to step in to help anyone in need. That instinct to care for others made him a steady, father-like presence among his 11R classmates, according to classmate Maya Reckley, who told the congregation his death has left an irreplaceable void in their tight-knit group.

    “Anton may be gone from our sight but he will never be gone from our hearts,” Reckley said. “His kindness, his joy, his dancing, his way of making us feel like family that stays with us.”

    She urged her fellow classmates to honor Anton’s legacy not just by grieving his loss, but by carrying his character forward: treating everyone around them with greater compassion, and checking in on friends and loved ones even when they appear to be doing well. “Ton’s thank you for the life you’ve lived and the love you left behind,” she said. “We will miss you forever and we will always love you.”

    Keith Bell, the Member of Parliament for Carmichael and an RM Bailey alumnus, told the crowd the loss struck a particularly personal chord for him. He offered official condolences on behalf of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Chester Cooper, and himself, noting he also attended the service as a father and a man of faith.

    “No parent or grandparent would ever want to go through something like this,” Bell said, adding that he felt a deep responsibility to stand with the Bowe family and the school community that had supported him throughout his own life.

    Bible Truth Ministries pastor Ellison Greenslade, who knew Anton as an active member of the congregation, recalled often seeing the teen pushing his aunt in her wheelchair and assisting her as she moved around the church property. Greenslade drew a connection between Anton’s sudden passing and another recent tragedy that shook the community: the September 12 death of Corporal Steven Duncombe, a police officer who was killed when a vehicle struck his motorcycle while he was escorting a funeral procession on Prince Charles Drive.

    Greenslade, who had attended the same funeral Duncombe was escorting before the crash, said both sudden deaths serve as a harsh reminder that life can end in an instant. “It is shocking,” Greenslade said of Anton’s death. “More than that at his young age, it is painful.” He closed by praying for comfort and safety for the entire RM Bailey school community, asking that an “overcoming spirit” prevail on the campus in the days ahead.

  • Stefan Davis remembered as artist, father and friend

    Stefan Davis remembered as artist, father and friend

    On a somber Saturday, hundreds of mourners gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of beloved Bahamian artist and entrepreneur Stefan Davis, better known to the community by his professional moniker “Stefan Legend.” Davis died in a tragic car crash in South Florida on September 2, just three days shy of what would have been his birthday, while traveling on what was planned as a celebratory birthday getaway with friends.

    The funeral service was a deliberate reflection of the life Davis built: one deeply rooted in Bahamian culture and unapologetically creative. Junkanoo decorations framed the ceremony, chronological portraits of Davis across every stage of his life lined the walls surrounding his casket, and a striking life-size sculpted bust of the artist anchored the front of the service. Many attendees paid quiet tribute by wearing small red pixelated hearts pinned to their chests, a nod to Davis’ iconic artistic style.

    As the founder of the popular creative brand Airbrush Junkies and a father of two, Davis left a mark on the art world that stretched far beyond The Bahamas’ borders. Friends and colleagues remembered his relentless work ethic, recalling he would often pour hours into creative projects, working well into the early morning – 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. was not an unusual end to his workday. But for his oldest daughter, Teja Davis, the public acclaim and artistic legacy that made him a local icon paled in comparison to the role he cherished most: being a devoted father and her closest confidant.

    “My dad was my best friend, and if you take a look at me, he was quite literally my twin,” Teja told the gathered crowd. She shared that while Davis carried a deep passion for people, art, Junkanoo, and Bahamian culture, family always sat at the top of his priorities. The last time she saw her father alive was at their local church, moments before he departed for his Florida trip.

    Teja painted a portrait of a warm, playful parenthood defined by constant connection: daily phone calls, gentle teasing when he arrived late to church with his usual Starbucks order, and lighthearted check-ins when he missed his self-imposed curfew. When Teja chose to build a career in juvenile justice, Davis fully supported her ambition, even as he openly worried about the risks of her night shifts in correctional facilities and rescue operations.

    “My dad approached parenthood differently. He did it with humility, love, gentleness, transparency, and a whole lot of jokes,” she said. Davis gave his daughter the space to grow into a bold, ambitious, and resilient person, while instilling a core faith that remained central to her life.

    Despite Teja’s calm demeanor throughout the service, she made clear that her composure did not reflect the depth of her loss. “This is an unimaginable loss, as I absolutely adored my daddy,” she said. “I’m mourning not only his passing, but all the future moments we will never share: him walking me down the aisle, watching me raise my children, seeing me hit career milestones, and celebrating many more birthdays together. To many he was an icon, an artistic genius, a creative mastermind – and although it’s all true, to me he was just my daddy, and I was just his baby girl.”

    Friend Khari Albury shared intimate insights into Davis’ final days, recalling how the artist personally organized the group birthday trip that would be his last. Albury, who also celebrated a birthday that September, had initially turned down the invitation, struggling with the emotional weight of the milestone birthday. But Davis refused to take no for an answer, sending constant reminders, photos, and encouraging videos until Albury changed his mind and booked a ticket. Davis was the first person waiting to greet him when he arrived, and Albury said he knew immediately he had made the right choice.

    On the eve of Albury’s September 2 birthday, Davis reminded his friend that not everyone gets the chance to reach his current age – a line that has taken on haunting new meaning in the wake of Davis’ sudden death. Albury also recalled a near-miss car collision on their drive back to Miami on his birthday, when another vehicle swerved directly into the side of the car where he and Davis were sitting. “Steph looked at us and said, ‘I got you. You all covered,’” Albury remembered. What felt like a quick, casual reassurance between friends that day has stuck with him in the months since.

    “I’m still waiting for this reality not to be reality, but I find myself going back to those words over and over,” Albury said. He echoed others in describing Davis as larger than life, with endless energy that allowed him to work on his feet for a full day, finish a project in the early hours of the morning, and still head out to connect with friends afterward.

    Childhood friend Leslia Miller Brice shared memories of growing up with Davis on Taylor Street, where the tight-knit neighborhood was built on close community bonds, strong family values, and mutual respect. She remembered Davis as a quiet but unshakable protector, whose love and loyalty showed far more in his actions than in grand speeches. “His love was quiet. His loyalty was unshakable, and those who knew him felt it in ways words will never fully capture,” Miller Brice said.