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标签： Bahamas

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  • Arson displaces forty residents

    Arson displaces forty residents

    On a Monday afternoon, a residential fire traced back to a domestic altercation completely destroyed a seven-unit two-story apartment building on Infant View Road in Nassau, leaving approximately 40 residents homeless and a 39-year-old woman in police custody facing suspicion of starting the blaze.

    Emergency response teams received the distress call shortly before 3 p.m., with three fire units deployed immediately to the scene. When firefighters arrived, aggressive flames had already engulfed much of the stone structure. Crews worked rapidly to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to adjacent properties, eventually extinguishing the blaze before additional structures were threatened. The upper floor of the building was completely gutted by flames, while lower-level units suffered extensive damage from heat, smoke and water used to douse the fire. Remarkably, no physical injuries were reported among residents or first responders.

    Preliminary investigations by local law enforcement have outlined a clear timeline of events leading up to the disaster. Prior to the fire breaking out, witnesses recorded a heated argument between a male and female believed to be in a romantic relationship. Multiple witnesses stated they observed the female suspect carrying a plastic bottle filled with an unidentified brown liquid shortly before the blaze. Flames were first spotted originating from the suspect’s second-floor apartment in the southeastern corner of the building, and the suspect was later seen fleeing the area west along Infant View Road before being taken into police custody. Of the seven units in the complex, three were occupied by the suspect’s extended family members.

    For many of the displaced residents, the disaster came at a devastatingly pivotal moment. Among those who lost nearly all their possessions is 32-year-old Robin Pierre, a mother of three who had lived in the building for 15 years. Just weeks before she was set to begin a new career as a nurse intern at Nassau’s Princess Margaret Hospital after graduating from the University of The Bahamas nursing program, the fire claimed everything her family owned.

    “We lost cash, all our clothing, critical personal identification documents, every essential household item – our stove, refrigerator, living room furniture, mattresses, everything,” Pierre explained in an interview with The Tribune. “We couldn’t get in to save even a single thing.”

    Despite the overwhelming loss, Pierre emphasized that she counts her family’s safety as the most important outcome. “My first thought was making sure all three of my kids got out unharmed. Once I confirmed everyone was safe, I was just relieved. No one got hurt, that’s what matters,” she said. “The things we lost are just material. They can be replaced. It will take time, but we can rebuild what we lost. Nothing is more important than all of us being okay.”

    Still, the timing of the fire has created significant setbacks for Pierre and her family, who rely on her as their primary breadwinner. Her parents, both senior citizens, live with the family, and her mother lives with a chronic medical condition that requires ongoing care. “All of my nursing scrubs, all of the professional supplies I need for my new job burned. My start date is right around the corner, and I have nothing. This set us back 10 steps, especially for me,” Pierre said. “I’m the one who provides for everyone, so now I have to figure out how we go from nothing to being stable again in just a couple of weeks.”

    Pierre noted that she has worked to stay resilient for her family, framing her role as the steady foundation everyone depends on. “I have to stay strong for all of them. If the person everyone looks to falls apart, what happens to the rest of us?” she said.

    Currently, Pierre and her family are staying in a cramped one-bedroom home with relatives, while they wait for formal assistance from the country’s Department of Social Services. Local community members have already stepped forward to donate groceries, clothing and basic necessities, and Pierre has launched a public appeal for additional support to help her family get back on their feet. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up with a modest target of $5,500, a goal Pierre says she set to avoid placing an undue burden on others.

    “I picked that number because I was being realistic. I just need help covering the first and last month’s rent and security deposit for a new place, and enough to get basic home essentials – a bed, a bedroom set, even secondhand items are fine,” she explained.

    The owner of the apartment building, which has been owned by his family since the 1980s, declined to provide further comment on the fire or the future of the property.

  • Country about 300 teachers short but too many parents ‘disengaged’

    Country about 300 teachers short but too many parents ‘disengaged’

    Nassau, Bahamas – Amid growing public discourse over systemic flaws in the country’s education sector, Bahamas Education Minister Chester Cooper has pushed back against the decades-old perception that Bahamian students collectively earn a “D average”, labeling the pervasive stereotype both factually unfounded and deeply damaging to the nation’s youth. During his address to the ongoing budget debate, Cooper also pulled back the curtain on a critical unaddressed challenge: the country currently faces a shortage of roughly 300 teachers across multiple academic and vocational disciplines.

    Cooper emphasized that there is no statistically valid method to calculate a uniform national grade average for all Bahamian students, even as he acknowledged the widespread label has become a common shorthand for public frustration with longstanding shortcomings in the education system. Rather than focusing exclusively on student test performance, Cooper outlined that the Davis administration’s core mission extends far beyond boosting exam pass rates. The government’s goal, he explained, is to cultivate engaged citizens who possess strong literacy skills, critical thinking capabilities, and effective communication tools to build successful careers and contribute to national development.

    “We have capable young people, many of whom an outdated system has not yet unlocked,” Cooper told lawmakers during his budget contribution. “So, we intend to stop grading only the students, and start grading the system that is meant to serve them, and we will be measured on whether we fix it.”

    The sweeping reform agenda Cooper laid out is backed by a $383.6 million recurrent budget allocation to the Ministry of Education, a commitment the government says reflects its priority of addressing deep-rooted weaknesses in the sector. Cooper did not shy away from acknowledging systemic failures: he admitted that too many Bahamian students are not reading at grade level, struggle to master core mathematics concepts, and graduate secondary school without the technical and soft skills that local employers demand. He also pointed to low parental engagement as a persistent barrier to improvement, noting that many caregivers remain disconnected from their children’s educational progress.

    Even amid these challenges, Cooper struck a confident tone about the country’s ability to deliver meaningful change. “The Bahamas is capable,” he said. “We are not without talent, ideas or resources. What we must bring now is even more focus, more discipline, more urgency, more accountability, more engagement and more partnership. And a willingness to measure success not by speeches, not by photo ops, but by outcomes.”

    A top policy priority for the ministry in the coming year will be building robust systems to track post-graduation outcomes and measure workforce readiness among leaving students. While the ministry will continue its core mandate of issuing academic credentials and preparing young people for the workforce, Cooper stressed that the country must do more to equip graduates to contribute meaningfully to national economic and social life.

    One of the most significant long-term reforms under consideration is the introduction of three distinct secondary school diploma pathways, set to launch in the 2027 academic year. The new framework aligns with international best practices, designed to raise the national secondary graduation rate to 85 percent by 2030 while offering students flexible routes to success that uphold rigorous academic standards. Under the plan, students will be able to select a diploma track that matches their individual strengths, interests and career goals: an academic diploma with an honours distinction for high-achieving students, a vocational diploma focused on career and technical skills, and a specialized diploma for students receiving special education support.

    Turning to immediate operational challenges, Cooper reaffirmed the government’s commitment to resolving the national teacher shortage ahead of the upcoming school year. He added that the ministry’s top near-term priority is ensuring all schools are fully prepared for reopening, with all necessary campus repairs completed and long-running infrastructure issues resolved. To end the recurring cycle of last-minute emergency repairs every summer, Cooper said the ministry will build out its own in-house maintenance capacity, eliminating the wait for budget allocations that delays critical work ahead of the fall term.

    “Schools should not have to wait until June and then July for budget drawdowns to fix what breaks for September; stronger internal maintenance capacity and process is how we end that cycle,” he explained.

    In a major announcement for technical education in the country, Cooper revealed plans to construct a new, purpose-built campus for the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI). The institution has long outgrown its existing facilities, and Cooper noted that it urgently requires a modern, fit-for-purpose campus to meet growing student demand. The government has already identified a 30-acre plot of land adjacent to Government High School as the proposed site for the project, and has secured $10 million in financing to advance initial planning and design work.

    “Our long-term vision is to create a world-class technical education campus that will serve thousands of students annually and become the centerpiece of technical and vocational education in The Bahamas,” Cooper said. “The full development of this campus is expected to represent an investment of approximately $250 million over several phases.”

  • Officials’ underestimated Power Outage Severity

    Officials’ underestimated Power Outage Severity

    Bahamas Energy Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis publicly admitted on Wednesday that government regulators significantly underestimated the scope and severity of widespread power outages that have disrupted residential and commercial operations across the country through the early summer months.

    Speaking directly to reporters outside the Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) Big Pond substation, Coleby-Davis traced the ongoing disruptions to unforeseen delays to critical transmission and distribution network upgrades. The multi-million dollar modernization project was initially scheduled for full completion by the end of May, but progress was halted for eight weeks following the fatal shooting of Cody Castillo, an employee of construction contractor Pike. This extended pushback forced BPL and the Bahamas Grid Company to continue infrastructure overhauls during the region’s annual extreme heat season, putting unexpected strain on already compromised sections of the national grid while key circuits are taken offline for retrofitting.

    “We didn’t expect it to be as bad as it has turned out to be for residents,” Coleby-Davis told reporters. “The record-breaking high temperatures we are seeing right now in June usually do not hit the Bahamas until August or September, a window when all this work would have already been wrapped up. Sometimes, unforeseen events completely upend even the most carefully laid plans.”

    Coleby-Davis explained that one of the biggest challenges of the delayed timeline has been rolling, unpredictable outages across different regions of the country. With work spilling into the hot summer season, many communities that normally rely on two parallel power circuits are currently operating on just one to allow crews to complete upgrades. This reduced capacity, paired with earlier-than-usual extreme heat, has created far more disruption than officials initially projected.

    Despite the ongoing inconvenience, the minister emphasized that the project is now 95 percent complete, with only a few additional weeks of work required before the upgrades are finalized. She warned the public to prepare for continued intermittent disruptions over that period, but framed the short-term pain as a necessary investment in long-term grid reliability.

    “These temporary outages are part of building a far more resilient power system that can better withstand future disruptions from extreme weather and other incidents,” she said.

    Coleby-Davis’s comments came just hours after the Ministry of Energy released an official statement acknowledging widespread public frustration with the ongoing outages, particularly during the early summer heat. The ministry clarified in the statement that the national power grid actually has sufficient generation capacity to meet current peak demand, but the reconfiguration of the grid for upgrade work has stretched distribution networks beyond their normal limits.

    “It’s much like plugging too many appliances into a single circuit in your home,” the statement explained. “The electricity is there to meet demand, but the pathway delivering it to end users is pushed beyond its normal operating capacity.”

    Coleby-Davis echoed this explanation, noting that most unplanned outages stem from system overloads on reduced distribution capacity, not a shortage of power generation. “When we plan outages, we share notice with the public well in advance,” she said. “But when we have an overload, it’s like a tripped circuit breaker in your home: we have to reduce the load manually to bring service back online, and we are working every day to minimize these unplanned events.”

    Officials also provided an update on work at the Fire Trail Road substation, where crews have finished installing a new transformer and are on track to complete cable installation and commissioning within four days. Once the new transformer is energized, the substation will operate with two units, boosting overall capacity, improving load distribution, and strengthening reliability for customers in the surrounding area.

    BPL Executive Chairman Christina Alston called the newly upgraded Big Pond substation a “historic” and “world-class” facility, part of a $130 million comprehensive grid modernization package. “This is a monumental infrastructure project that will serve this island for decades to come,” Alston said. “All of the most critical transmission lines serving New Providence will route through this substation. If there is an unexpected event — a lightning strike, a tropical weather system, any kind of grid anomaly — the substation’s automated switches will redirect power flow automatically to keep service online. That is exactly what grid reliability looks like, and this project will go a long way toward cutting down on long-term outages across the island.”

  • Atlantis spectacular promises glitz and glamour for entire family

    Atlantis spectacular promises glitz and glamour for entire family

    A groundbreaking new live entertainment experience that fuses cirque acrobatics, Broadway theatricality and cinematic digital magic is set to debut this holiday season at the iconic Atlantis Theatre, bringing one-of-a-kind family-friendly fun to Bahamas vacationers. As the flagship attraction for Atlantis Paradise Island’s 2026/27 holiday programming lineup, this limited-engagement run will offer guests a uniquely immersive seasonal experience that blends death-defying stunts, heartfelt storytelling and cutting-edge technical design.

    Conceived by Tony-accoladed Broadway director and producer Neil Goldberg, the production marks his first major new project following the sale of his widely successful Cirque Dreams brand to industry giant Cirque du Soleil. Drawing on the existing popularity of the POMP, SNOW and CIRQUEumstance franchise—which already spans best-selling storybooks, animated television specials, merchandise and smaller live events—the new stage show brings the beloved franchise’s story to life on a grand scale.

    The narrative follows three inseparable friends—Pomp, Snow, and Cirqueumstance—on a charming, magical journey as they hone their skills in music, illusion and circus performance at an off-the-grid arts university, before setting out to share their gifts and warm holiday messages with audiences across the world. To bring this story to life, the production has assembled a global cast of top-tier cirque performers, distinctive multidisciplinary artists, and theatrical talent, who perform in elaborate, audience-awing costumes that add to the show’s visual spectacle.

    What sets the production apart from traditional stage shows is its innovative integration of live performance and digital technology: a custom large-format LED stage environment blends pre-produced PSC animation with on-stage action, erasing the line between the physical and digital worlds to create an interactive, high-adrenaline adventure for all ages. Acts range from gravity-defying cirque stunts and large-scale illusions to lyrical musical storytelling, creating a dynamic experience that caters to both children and adult audience members.

    In remarks announcing the residency, Goldberg emphasized that the project aligns with his core creative mission: to deliver accessible, high-quality entertainment content that brings families together across the globe. Partnering with Atlantis Paradise Island, a destination globally recognized for its premium family-focused vacation experiences, offered the perfect platform to scale this new production for a wide audience.

    Atlantis’ addition of POMP, SNOW and CIRQUEumstance to its holiday lineup reinforces the resort’s long-standing commitment to bringing world-class exclusive entertainment experiences to guests visiting The Bahamas. Audrey Oswell, a leadership representative for Atlantis Paradise Island, noted that innovative entertainment has always been a core pillar of the Atlantis guest experience, and the resort continues to evolve its offerings to deliver one-of-a-kind memorable moments that cannot be found at any other travel destination. “From immersive once-in-a-lifetime marine encounters to award-winning global dining and exclusive world-class live productions, Atlantis is defined by unique experiences that can’t be replicated anywhere else,” Oswell explained. “POMP, SNOW and CIRQUEumstance continues that legacy, merging the awe of cirque performance, the glitz of Broadway spectacle, and the warm magic of the holiday season into a truly unforgettable experience for guests of all ages.”

    Tickets for the production are currently available in two tiers to fit a range of budgets: premium seating is priced at $100 per person, while general admission starts at $35 for children and $70 for adults, not including value-added tax. The show will run for a limited nine-week engagement from November 29 through January 8, timed to align with the peak holiday travel and vacation season at the Bahamas resort.

  • Moxey touts GB rebound but skips resort details

    Moxey touts GB rebound but skips resort details

    During Monday’s sitting of the Bahamas House of Assembly, Ginger Moxey, the Cabinet minister responsible for Grand Bahama, delivered an optimistic assessment of the island’s post-recession and post-hurricane economic rebound to lawmakers, though she declined to offer new clarity on the two largest and most hotly debated infrastructure projects pending on the island: the stalled Grand Lucayan resort development and the planned redevelopment of Grand Bahama International Airport.

    Moxey framed Grand Bahama’s current trajectory as a three-part story of full recovery, widespread reconstruction, and systemic transformation, pointing to a cumulative pipeline of active and completed investments totaling more than $3.5 billion that she says are reshaping the island’s economic foundation.

    Despite the upbeat overview, Moxey’s budget address left unaddressed the core questions that opposition lawmakers have repeatedly pressed the ruling Davis administration to answer regarding the two high-stakes unfinished projects. Kwasi Thompson, the Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama, specifically pressed Moxey to disclose the current status of the Grand Lucayan development and share a timeline for settling outstanding wage payments owed to former workers connected to the project.

    In her response, Moxey reaffirmed that the Grand Lucayan property remains a central pillar of the government’s broader tourism redevelopment strategy, critical to expanding Freeport’s available hotel room inventory and supporting the local economy. She offered no concrete details, however, on immediate next steps for the site.

    On the topic of Grand Bahama International Airport, Moxey similarly acknowledged that the facility is a linchpin for the island’s tourism, transportation network, and ability to attract outside investment. She confirmed that redevelopment planning remains on schedule, but did not share a formal completion timeline or any specific details about the scope of upcoming work. This lack of transparency comes less than a week after Frazette Gibson, MP for Central Grand Bahama, publicly accused the administration of keeping the Bahamian public in the dark about the future of the Grand Lucayan.

    Speaking during her own budget address the previous week, Gibson argued: “The country still does not know what the government intends to do on the Grand Lucayan. The matter is still shrouded in confusion and secrecy.” Gibson also joined opposition calls for clarity on when outstanding wages and benefits will be disbursed to former employees of Lucayan Renewal Holdings, the state-owned entity previously tasked with overseeing the Grand Lucayan project. Additionally, she pushed for updates on the government’s search for a private development partner to lead the airport’s redevelopment and asked when U.S. border preclearance services, a critical draw for international travelers, will be restored at the facility.

    Moxey used her address to shine a spotlight on the multiple major development projects that are already advancing across the island. These include the $600 million Celebration Key cruise destination, which has officially opened to visitors and is now moving into its second phase of construction. She also noted that the $450 million MSC Cruise Port development is progressing on schedule, and the $348 million Royal Caribbean resort project at Xanadu Beach continues to move forward.

    Beyond tourism, Moxey highlighted ongoing progress across key public and private sector projects: the new Freeport Health Campus is under active construction, and the expanded Doctors Hospital facility is nearing completion. A new dry dock has been delivered to the Grand Bahama Shipyard, with additional units on the way to expand the island’s growing maritime industry. Construction is ongoing for the Innovate 242 business incubator, and energy firm Liwathon has completed its acquisition of the South Riding Point terminal and is pouring new reinvestment into the property.

    Visible revitalization efforts are also underway in downtown Freeport, Moxey said, while Island Impressions, a new cultural attraction based at the Grand Bahama Arts and Crafts Centre, is on track for its official launch. Construction on the Fishing Hole Cultural Village is set to begin in the near future, preliminary prep work has started for the rehabilitation and reopening of West Sunrise Highway, and the acquisition of the International Bazaar and Royal Oasis property is in the final stages of completion. The Afro-Caribbean Marketplace and Logistics Centre remains in the pre-construction planning phase.

    At the University of The Bahamas North campus, Moxey confirmed that Phase One of the expansion project is fully complete, and Phase Two is on track to be fully operational for the fall 2026 academic semester. In a final exchange during the debate, Gibson questioned Moxey about a reported $60,000 government allocation for a youth club initiative. Moxey had previously told lawmakers that Agritech cadets are halfway through their year-long training program, and the Young Innovators Club will launch an engagement tour of schools and youth organizations across the island this coming September. In response to Gibson’s question, Moxey said she had no knowledge of the specific $60,000 allocation Gibson referenced.

  • Bastian pledges new national ID card to reduce red tape

    Bastian pledges new national ID card to reduce red tape

    In his maiden budget address to the House of Assembly, Bahamas’ newly installed Minister of Innovation and National Development Sebas Bastian has outlined an ambitious cross-cutting plan to modernize the country’s public administration, anchored by the introduction of a unified national identity card. The proposal comes as Bahamian citizens currently navigate a fragmented system of multiple identity documents—including passports, voter registration cards, National Insurance (NIB) cards, and driver’s licenses—required to complete transactions across public and private sectors. Each service maintains its own identity verification requirements, creating layers of bureaucratic friction for citizens interacting with government agencies.
    Bastian argued that the current fragmented identification framework creates unnecessary red tape that strains the relationship between the state and the public. A single, trusted, secure national credential, he says, would eliminate redundant checks, cut down on time citizens spend waiting in government lines, and deliver stronger protections against identity fraud. The proposed card would act as a universal verification tool, allowing citizens to access government services, sign official documents, and collect entitled benefits seamlessly across all government touchpoints. “One trusted, secure credential that lets a Bahamian access services, sign documents, and receive what they are owed — simply, and safely. Less time in line. Stronger protection against fraud. A government that recognises you wherever you go,” Bastian told the assembly.
    The minister did not clarify key details of the proposal, including whether the card would be mandatory for all citizens or if it would replace any of the existing identity documents currently in use. What he did emphasize is that the national ID card will sit at the core of a broader push to break down long-standing technology silos that have left disconnected government ministry systems unable to share data securely. Bastian distinguished between superficial digitization—installing new technology in individual departments—and true systemic transformation, noting that disconnected platforms cannot deliver a streamlined experience for citizens even if they are individually upgraded.
    “Interoperability is central to our modernisation strategy,” he said. “Government systems must be designed to communicate securely, share information where appropriate, and support a seamless experience for citizens, businesses, and investors.” Moving forward, all new government systems will be required to adhere to shared interoperability standards, with the national ID framework as the foundation of this connected government model. Bastian also added that the project will prioritize robust privacy and security safeguards, with the Bahamian government retaining full control of the identity system. Where domestic development is not feasible, Bastian pledged that local workers will be trained to operate and maintain the system, ensuring long-term technical capacity remains in Bahamian hands.
    The national ID plan is just one component of a far-reaching reform agenda Bastian announced for his ministry, which also includes major regulatory and educational initiatives centered on artificial intelligence, expanded satellite connectivity, and a revitalized national development strategy. Noting that no emerging technology holds greater potential to reshape key sectors including education, business, and healthcare, Bastian said The Bahamas will not cede its place in the global AI revolution—but will not adopt the technology without robust regulatory safeguards to protect citizens.
    To advance this balanced approach, Bastian announced the creation of a new National Artificial Intelligence Committee, drawing representatives from the public and private sectors as well as the legal community. The committee will be tasked with drafting The Bahamas’ first national AI legislation, rooted in the country’s core values and principles. The proposed regulatory framework will establish a permanent AI Authority tasked with overseeing the responsible development and deployment of AI, setting clear regulatory guardrails, and strengthening ongoing oversight of the sector. Bastian revealed that preliminary work is already underway, with government officials holding discussions with several of the world’s leading AI technology companies to inform the process.
    To ensure all Bahamians can benefit from the AI transition, the minister also proposed a national AI literacy initiative that will deliver both in-person and online training courses in artificial intelligence and software development, accessible to citizens across every island regardless of socioeconomic background. Emphasizing that future readiness starts in education, Bastian pledged full support for the Ministry of Education as it integrates AI training into national classroom curricula.
    Beyond digital ID and AI, Bastian’s agenda includes exploring new opportunities in satellite connectivity and the broader global space industry, building the resilient digital infrastructure required to support a competitive modern Bahamian economy. The minister also committed to revitalizing the country’s National Development Plan, previously treated as a static strategic document that was left largely unimplemented. Going forward, Bastian said, the plan will be treated as a “living instrument” updated regularly to reflect changing national priorities, with progress tracking embedded across all government departments.
    Starting this August, the plan’s secretariat will conduct a nationwide assessment of planning capacity across all ministries and government departments, establishing a centralized system to track implementation progress. Bastern noted that the plan will be updated to include fast-growing emerging sectors that did not exist when the country’s Vision 2040 was originally drafted, including AI, digital services, fintech, and space technology—areas he identified as core to The Bahamas’ future competitive advantage. All updates to the plan will be developed through broad consultation with stakeholders, business leaders, and community members across every island. Finally, Bastian pledged to modernize the Bahamas National Statistical Institute to improve the quality and timeliness of national data collection and analysis, enabling policymakers to make faster, more informed decisions that serve the public good.

  • Embarrassment to force and country

    Embarrassment to force and country

    A high-profile incident of alleged extortion targeting an American tourist is set to lead to formal charges against two Royal Bahamas Police Force officers on Friday, marking the second major corruption-related case involving law enforcement and visitors to the Caribbean nation in less than a year.

    The case emerged after the visiting tourist filed a formal complaint alleging misconduct by officers at the Nassau Cruise Port, one of the country’s most high-traffic entry points for international visitors. Law enforcement leadership confirmed that a 23-year-old female officer and a 27-year-old male officer were taken into custody following the June 14 complaint, and both are scheduled to make their first appearance at the Magistrate’s Court starting at 10 a.m.

    Royal Bahamas Police Force Commissioner Shanta Knowles called the alleged behavior deeply embarrassing for both the national police service and The Bahamas as a whole, emphasizing that the incident strikes at the core of the country’s reputation as a safe tourist destination. “Again, this is something that is causing embarrassment to our organisation and eventually to the country,” Knowles stated in an interview with The Tribune. “It is acts like this that we even warn our officers about. There is no need for any officer to believe or to act in such a manner where you are in contravention of police policy and also the law.”

    Following the tourist’s report, the force’s Complaints and Corruption Branch launched a full investigation into the allegations. In an official statement, the RBPF reaffirmed its long-standing “zero tolerance” policy for criminal and unethical behavior among personnel, noting that any action that erodes public trust or damages the country’s standing will be addressed decisively, in full alignment with national law.

    The department also noted that the probe into the latest extortion allegations was conducted “thoroughly, fairly, and impartially,” and restated its institutional commitment to upholding core standards of professionalism, integrity, accountability and ethical policing for all serving officers.

    This case comes just months after another high-profile corruption scandal involving police interaction with a tourist. In that earlier incident, a viral TikTok video recorded by a Miami-based visitor circulated widely online, appearing to show an officer attempting to solicit a bribe during a routine traffic stop.

    In that case, Knowles said the department was alerted to the incident by social media, which triggered an immediate internal investigation. Two officers were ultimately pulled from frontline public safety duties and referred to a formal police tribunal for disciplinary review.

    The 2024 video showed officers conducting a roadblock near St Matthew’s Anglican Church off Shirley Street, after the tourist was stopped while operating a rented scooter. In the recorded footage, the officer identified by badge number 4438 appeared to suggest the traffic violation could be “worked out” rather than result in a formal ticket — comments that were broadly interpreted by social media users and investigators as a clear solicitation of a bribe. The officer was also heard advising the tourist to move out of the line of sight of other on-duty officers during the exchange.

  • Bahamian student suspected in Florida stabbing found dead

    Bahamian student suspected in Florida stabbing found dead

    A 21-year-old Bahamian student studying in Florida has been named by law enforcement as the primary suspect in a double stabbing incident close to the University of South Florida, before his body was discovered at a nearby apartment complex hours after the attack.

    According to official statements from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect, Hansel Pearson, who hails from Grand Bahama, is accused of stabbing his roommate and a second individual in a pre-dawn assault at the Halo 46 Apartments in Tampa last Wednesday. The violent incident unfolded on June 10.

    Local law enforcement deputies were dispatched to the apartment complex located on North 46th Street at approximately 4:30 a.m., responding to an emergency 911 call placed by one of the victims, who reported that both he and another person had sustained stab wounds. Both injured victims were quickly transported to a local medical facility for treatment, and as of the initial investigation, their conditions were marked as stable.

    Investigative teams have confirmed that Pearson and one of the victims are roommates and both enrolled as students at the University of South Florida. The second victim, however, has no known connection to the higher education institution.

    Roughly half a day after the stabbing attack, Pearson’s body was found at the Union on Fletcher Apartments, a residential location just one mile away from the scene of the stabbing. The discovery prompted law enforcement to open a separate death investigation into the circumstances of Pearson’s passing. To date, authorities have not released any details regarding how Pearson died, nor have they made public any confirmed motive that may have sparked the stabbing attack.

    News of Pearson’s death has been met with grief from his family. A relative shared a public mourning post on Facebook, identifying Pearson as her grandson and writing that his passing has left her with deep and overwhelming emotional pain. She shared that she believes Pearson has been reunited in heaven with his father, who passed away before him, noting that this loss has left her feeling as if she has lost two sons instead of one.

    When contacted by local Bahamian news outlet The Tribune this week, an aunt of Pearson based in Grand Bahama said the family has no interest in speaking to the media about the incident. The Tribune also reached out to Tyeson McKenzie, Bahamas Consul General based in Miami, who confirmed that Bahamian consular officials are still in the process of reviewing the case and gathering details about the incident.

  • Justice but too late for Brave Claudia

    Justice but too late for Brave Claudia

    After more than 11 years of legal battles waged by the Bahamian government against a victim of state-custodial sexual violence, the UK-based Privy Council, the Caribbean nation’s highest court of appeal, has issued a landmark ruling holding the Bahamian government legally responsible for the 2014 rape and unlawful detention of Claudia Edwards Bethel, a 35-year-old Jamaican-Bahamian mother who died before seeing her fight for justice concluded.

    Bethel’s story began in the early hours of December 13, 2014, when Bahamian law enforcement carried out a raid on the Twilight Bar in New Providence, detaining a group of women suspected of immigration violations. Bethel, a bartender at the establishment who had been married to a Bahamian citizen since 2010, immediately presented immigration officials with a valid spousal permit issued by the department itself, proving her legal right to reside in the country. Despite this clear documentation of her lawful status, officers arrested her, stating only that the detention was for “immigration purposes,” and never filed any criminal charges against her.

    She was held in custody over the entire weekend, first at Central Police Station and then at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre, under the pretense that her permit required verification—an impossibility, as all government immigration offices were closed for the weekend. On December 15, senior immigration officer Norman Bastian obtained custody of Bethel by lying to his superiors, falsely claiming a female immigration officer would accompany them during her transfer. Instead, Bastian drove Bethel around New Providence before taking her to his private residence, where he raped her, held her captive overnight, and assaulted her again the next morning. During her captivity, Bastian intimidated Bethel by implying he carried a licensed firearm and that his nephew, a notorious figure known as “Death,” would harm her, according to trial records.

    Within hours of being released and returned home on December 16, Bethel reported the assaults to police and turned over physical evidence of the crimes. She also chose to waive her right to anonymity to push for full accountability. At trial, the judge accepted Bethel’s consistent testimony that she repeatedly begged to return to her three young children, only to be refused, and found Bastian had “misused and abused his authority” as a senior immigration officer. Bastian was convicted of sexual assault, and his liability for false imprisonment, assault, and battery was never successfully disputed in subsequent appeals.

    The legal battle over state responsibility, however, dragged on for more than a decade. Initially, the Supreme Court ruled that Bethel’s arrest and detention had been lawful at first, only becoming unlawful later, and limited the state’s liability to only the sexual assaults. The Bahamian Court of Appeal later overturned that ruling, finding unanimously that the state was vicariously liable for all of Bastian’s actions, and that Bethel’s detention had been unlawful from the moment of her arrest. The court rejected the government’s request to appeal the ruling to the Privy Council, but authorities pursued the appeal anyway at public expense.

    Tragically, Bethel never lived to see the final verdict. In May 2021, one day after giving birth to her fourth child, Emmanuel, she died from complications of COVID-19 at Princess Margaret Hospital. On Thursday, the Privy Council issued its final ruling, dismissing the government’s appeal in full and upholding the Court of Appeal’s finding that the state is fully responsible for all harms against Bethel.

    In its ruling, the Privy Council noted that Bastian had acted under the color of his official authority when he obtained custody of Bethel, and that his actions were closely connected to his role as an immigration officer. “Bastian’s actions after he obtained custody of Bethel from the Detention Centre were sufficiently connected to his employment as an immigration officer as to make the Immigration authorities vicariously liable for his actions,” wrote Sir Michael Barnett, quoting the Court of Appeal’s original finding the Privy Council upheld. “Bethel had been at the detention centre under the control of the Department of Immigration. She was ‘released’ from the detention centre, not to her freedom, but to the custody of Bastian.”

    Speaking after the ruling, Bethel’s mother Valerie Thompson expressed long-awaited relief for her late daughter. “I thank the Lord, I am so joyful,” Thompson told The Tribune. “I’m very, very happy and Claudia would be very, very happy. She will be smiling down from heaven at finally getting justice.”

    Human Rights Bahamas president Stephanie StFleur described the ruling as both a long-overdue triumph for Bethel and her family and a damning condemnation of systemic failures by Bahamian authorities. “A woman who proved her lawful status was arrested without cause, locked up for a weekend, and delivered by the State into the hands of her rapist,” StFleur said. “The Government then spent eleven years and untold public funds fighting her instead of compensating her. Justice has finally been done – but Claudia did not live to see it. That is a stain on our country that no damages award can remove.”

    StFleur called the ruling a damning indictment of Bahamian authorities, noting they failed Bethel at every step: the unlawful arrest despite proof of legal status, the unlawful detention over the weekend, the transfer of her to Bastian’s custody, and the 11-year legal battle to avoid accountability. The delay in justice, she added, highlights the barriers that keep many survivors of sexual violence from coming forward.

    “Cases like Claudia Bethel’s remind us why many victims of rape and sexual violence never come forward. The fear, the trauma, the stigma, and the years of waiting for justice can be overwhelming,” StFleur said. “Our mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, and grandmothers deserve better when it comes to how rape cases are handled in The Bahamas. They deserve to be heard, protected, respected, and believed.”

    Fred Smith, an attorney for Bethel’s estate who led the legal team against the government, praised Bethel’s extraordinary courage and resilience. A graduate with a bachelor’s degree in cosmetology, Bethel was set to receive a master’s degree before her death, and never wavered in her pursuit of accountability, Smith said.

    “To see how strong she was and how she persevered in pursuing her rights. She stands as a shining example. She didn’t hide in the shadows. She was brutally honest and was courageous,” Smith said.

    Human Rights Bahamas has outlined four key demands for the Bahamian government following the ruling: issue a full public apology to Bethel’s family and pay all ordered damages without further delay; commission an independent review of immigration arrest and detention practices, including the conduct of raids targeting migrant women and conditions at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre; introduce binding legal safeguards for women and vulnerable people in state custody, including enforceable requirements for mandatory female officer escorts for female detainees; and disclose the full public cost of the 11-year litigation against a survivor of state harm.

    In a memorial tribute published after the ruling, StFleur honored Bethel’s legacy and called for broader systemic change to protect survivors. “No woman should ever have to choose between her safety and her freedom. No survivor should be silenced, ignored, or forgotten,” StFleur wrote. “May Claudia’s legacy remind us of the importance of accountability, human rights, and the protection of all people, regardless of their status, nationality, or circumstance. May Claudia Edwards rest in eternal peace, and may her memory continue to inspire a push for meaningful change across The Bahamas.”

    All that remains now is a final court ruling on the amount of damages the government will be required to pay to Bethel’s estate and family.

  • Boy in shooting accident is School’s Top Achiever

    Boy in shooting accident is School’s Top Achiever

    Nearly three weeks after a tragic accidental shooting that left an 8-year-old boy hospitalized in Miami, his 12-year-old older brother — the child accused of pulling the trigger — has capped a tumultuous period for his family by graduating as the top academic achiever from his Bimini-based Gateway Christian Academy. In an emotional graduation address, the 12-year-old publicly thanked the broader community for its outpouring of prayers and support during what he called an incredibly difficult season for himself and his parents. He received resounding cheers from the gathered crowd as he stepped onto the stage to accept his prestigious honor.

    Lloyd Edgecombe, the boys’ grandfather, shared new updates on the family’s journey in comments to reporters on Sunday, confirming that 8-year-old Duran Saunders has been moved out of intensive care at Miami’s Jack Nicklaus Hospital. The young patient is already able to move independently and is preparing to begin speech therapy as part of his ongoing recovery, marking a promising milestone after the life-altering injury.

    The May 23 shooting has upended the entire family, leaving the younger child receiving specialized medical care thousands of miles from home, ordering the 12-year-old to complete court-mandated psychological treatment, and leading to serious criminal charges against the boys’ father, Dexter Durell Saunders. The father faces two counts: child cruelty and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger a child’s life.

    Following the graduation ceremony, the 12-year-old returned immediately to Grand Bahama, where he is required to complete six weeks of court-ordered psychological therapy. After the treatment concludes, local authorities will determine next steps for the legal case against the child. Edgecombe emphasized that the entire family remains proud of the 12-year-old’s academic achievement, even amid the ongoing crisis that has tested their resolve.

    “We feel real good about that, you know, especially during the turbulent time for the family,” Edgecombe said. “They’re not bad boys, and the accident was an unfortunate thing.”

    For Duran, the path to recovery remains long, but his recent progress has brought relief to his loved ones, who had prepared for a far worse outcome. “Ranny is a little fighter, you know, that’s my boy. He’s out of the woods, but he has a lot of therapy to do. He’s moving, getting up, and all the other things, so that’s good,” Edgecombe said, adding that “it could have gone another way. I mean, it was a disaster what would have happened, but it could have gone another way.”

    Edgecombe also shared that the family has been sustained by widespread community support from Bimini and across the globe, with donations pouring in to cover Duran’s mounting medical costs and the family’s living expenses during the extended recovery period. A GoFundMe campaign organized by two visiting American tourists, Raul and Yarelys Rodriguez of North Miami, Florida, who were on Bimini when the shooting occurred and have longstanding ties to the island, has already raised $61,926 — roughly 62% of its $100,000 goal. The family has expressed deep gratitude for every donation and message of support they have received throughout the ordeal.