标签： Bahamas

The Bahamas Department of Correctional Services is grappling with an unprecedented emotional challenge as its officers are now tasked with guarding the man accused of murdering their colleague, Ashantino Johnson. Commissioner of Corrections Doan Cleare acknowledged the difficulty of the situation during a heartfelt healing session for Johnson’s co-workers. The session, filled with tears and hymns, underscored the deep bond among the officers, particularly Johnson’s 2024 squadmates, who are described as one of the most cohesive groups in the department’s history. Johnson, a 23-year-old officer from Lower Bogue, Eleuthera, was fatally stabbed in a violent altercation at Blu Ice Restaurant & Bar on November 5, just months after graduating from the department’s training program. Two other officers were injured in the incident but are recovering well. Commissioner Cleare emphasized the department’s mandate to rehabilitate even the most challenging individuals, urging officers to exercise restraint and professionalism despite the emotional toll. The government has also directed the department to enhance training for new recruits to better prepare them for the dangers of the job. Johnson’s family and colleagues remember him as a dedicated and joyful individual who was proud to serve his country.

The Bahamian government has initiated infrastructure work at the Gladstone Road site, designated for relocating New Providence’s problematic roadside garages. Zane Lightbourne, the newly appointed Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, announced the development, emphasizing the urgency of resolving this decades-long issue. ‘Infrastructure work must be completed before the property can be utilized,’ he stated, noting collaboration with the Ministers of Works and Urban Renewal and Housing. The initiative aims to address public grievances over garages operating in residential areas and along major roads, where mechanics have conducted repairs, bodywork, and car stripping on sidewalks and verges. Several fires at these sites have further fueled calls for government intervention. Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis has acknowledged the complexity of the issue, warning that without a designated space, the problem could persist elsewhere. An inter-ministerial committee, formed by the Prime Minister, has been consulting with garage owners to design a relocation plan. Funding for the project was included in the current national budget. The late Minister Vaughn Miller, who championed the initiative before his passing in September, had secured agreements from major garages on Joe Farrington Road, Soldier Road, and Augusta Street to relocate to Gladstone Road. Mr. Lightbourne, who succeeded Mr. Miller, expressed determination to resolve the issue and paid tribute to his predecessor’s mentorship and dedication. He also outlined broader priorities, including improving waste collection, expanding recycling, beautifying New Providence, and promoting environmental education.

A former Nassau Cruise Port director has lauded the government’s initiative to reclaim nearly 800 inactive taxi and livery plates but emphasized the need for more stringent measures to address the oversaturated market. Ed Fields, who previously served as the port’s director of business development and as managing director of the Downtown Nassau Partnership, urged officials to permanently deactivate these plates and impose a moratorium on new issuances. He also called for the publication of a list of current plate holders, expressing concerns that some plates are held by individuals who should not possess them. Fields criticized the distribution of public service franchises, describing them as ‘coveted gems’ awarded without proper analysis or industry engagement. His remarks followed the Ministry of Transport and Energy’s announcement to recall 783 inactive plates, which Transport Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis said has distorted revenue at the Road Traffic Department. Fields acknowledged the recall as a positive step but warned that reactivating the plates would worsen market imbalances. He advocated for transparency in plate ownership, a moratorium on new plates until supply and demand are balanced, and an end to the practice of leasing plates, which he likened to ‘sharecropping or indentured servitude.’ Bahamas Taxicab Union President Tyrone Butler echoed these concerns, criticizing the government’s past issuance of new plates without first addressing inactive ones, which he said has led to market oversaturation and forced operators to lease their plates. While supporting the recall of plates belonging to retired or deceased holders, Butler suggested allowing necessary updates to active plates.

A groundbreaking new book, *The House of Assembly: The Journey of Bahamian Democracy*, authored by Jeremy Sweeting, the Free National Movement Central and South Abaco candidate, has been released. This first volume of a two-part series delves into the origins and development of the Bahamian House of Assembly from 1729 to 1900. It meticulously examines the establishment of the legislature under Governor Woodes Rogers and pivotal moments that shaped the nation’s political landscape. Sweeting emphasizes that while historians like the late Dr. Gail Saunders and Patrice Williams have documented The Bahamas’ broader history, his work uniquely focuses on the creation and evolution of the House of Assembly. The book lists the first members of Parliament from 1729 to 1890, highlighting influential political families such as the Pinders, Wyllys/Andersons, Adderleys, and Sawyers. It also explores significant political conflicts, including the tensions between the original settlers of 1648 and Loyalist refugees from America, the abolition of slavery, and the disendowment of the Anglican Church. Sweeting is currently researching the second volume, which will cover the period from 1901 to the present day, tracing the expansion of voting rights and the dismantling of racial, gender, and class barriers in Bahamian politics. The book features forewords by former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and former Attorney General Sean McWeeney, with Ingraham praising it as an “excellent addition” to the narrative of The Bahamas’ transformation from a colonial outpost to a thriving democracy. *The House of Assembly: The Journey of Bahamian Democracy* is now available at Logos Bookstore.

Deanna Richardson, a 47-year-old transgender woman, was forcibly deported from the United States to the Bahamas, a country she had not seen since she was two years old. Handcuffed and shackled, she was escorted onto a plane, where an officer reportedly told her, ‘In Trump’s world, there are only two genders. Put him back with the other men.’ Hours later, she found herself in the Bahamas, her life abruptly upended.

Ms. Richardson, who had built a stable life in San Diego as a custodial manager, was ambushed near her apartment by U.S. immigration agents. She was shuttled through detention facilities in Texas and Florida before being flown to New Providence alongside 44 other deportees. ‘They just jumped out of the bushes and grabbed me,’ she recounted. ‘I didn’t see a lawyer or a judge. I kept asking to speak to my deportation officer—no one would tell me anything.’

Her deportation highlights the human toll of U.S. immigration enforcement, which has increasingly targeted long-time residents, often returning them to countries ill-equipped to provide support. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data, arrests and detentions of Bahamian nationals have risen steadily, peaking in fiscal year 2024 with 128 arrests, 163 detentions, and 92 removals.

Upon arrival in the Bahamas, Ms. Richardson was processed by Immigration and INTERPOL before being placed in temporary accommodation at a government-assisted shelter. However, she has struggled to obtain identification documents necessary for employment, banking, or housing. ‘They keep sending me back and forth between offices,’ she said. ‘It’s just a merry-go-round. The government agencies here, nobody talks to each other, so nobody knows what any of the other agencies are doing.’

Ms. Richardson described her return as a ‘culture shock’ and expressed concerns for her safety in public spaces. ‘I told ICE about the risks for people like me here, and they didn’t care,’ she said. ‘I almost got attacked because someone thought I was something I wasn’t. I don’t feel safe; I just want to get my ID, get a job, and live.’

Despite the challenges, Ms. Richardson remains resilient. ‘My mental health is horrible right now, but I’m a survivor,’ she added. ‘I’ve survived everything life has thrown at me—but this, this I was never prepared for.’

Water sports and tour operators in New Providence are raising serious allegations against the Port Department, accusing it of harassment, intimidation, and selective enforcement. Business owners claim that officials have targeted outspoken individuals while ignoring unlicensed competitors. Acting Port Controller Berne Wright is at the center of these accusations, with operators alleging that enforcement efforts are being used as a tool of punishment rather than regulation.

A remarkable collection of Bahamian history, featuring rare antiques from the Baker Estate, will be auctioned on December 5 and 6 in Nassau. The event marks the first public sale of private antiques from a single Bahamian home, offering a glimpse into the life and legacy of Anthony Baker, a pioneering merchant who shaped Bahamian commerce in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The auction will include over a century-old coins, first-edition Bahamian stamps, antique tools, vintage furniture, fine chinaware, collectible books, vinyl records, and rare artifacts salvaged from the historic Windsor Hotel. Born Thannous Michael Saadi in Mount Lebanon in 1873, Baker immigrated to The Bahamas in the 1890s and founded A. Baker & Sons, a retail empire that revolutionized local trade. The auction, organized by the Bahamas Liquidation and Auction Centre, also serves as a heritage exhibition, celebrating Baker’s contributions to Bahamian society. Highlights include 1920s telephones, mid-century radios, handmade mahogany furniture, and scrapbooks from the 1930s. A private viewing and early-bidding session will be held on December 5, followed by a public auction on December 6. The event will be cashless, with card payments and next-day delivery for larger items. A digital catalogue will be accessible via QR code.

Long Island Member of Parliament Adrian Gibson has publicly criticized the Disaster Risk Management Authority (DRMA) for its failure to deliver essential hurricane relief supplies to the island, describing the situation as “disgraceful,” “deeply disappointing,” and “unacceptable.” In a recent Facebook post, Gibson revealed that he personally donated tarps to Island Administrator Jandile Archer, with Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) officers present, to assist residents whose homes were severely damaged by Hurricane Melissa. Despite repeated assurances from the DRMA, no relief supplies have been sent to Long Island, leaving residents struggling with shortages of tarps, construction materials, and other critical resources. Gibson emphasized that the people of Long Island deserve timely and adequate support during this recovery period. DRMA Executive Chairman Alex Storr responded by stating that officials are collaborating with the island administrator to assess needs and plan to dispatch supplies soon. He noted that RBDF officers are already on the ground conducting assessments and repairs but could not provide a specific timeline for the arrival of relief items. Hurricane Melissa, which struck The Bahamas in late October, was one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the region, causing widespread devastation across several islands, including Long Island, San Salvador, and Cat Island. The storm left many residents without electricity for days and severely damaged homes and infrastructure. Local officials have warned that the prolonged lack of assistance could exacerbate the already dire living conditions for affected families.