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标签： Bahamas

巴哈马

  • PM: Dupuch-Carron ‘did the honourable thing’ by stepping aside

    PM: Dupuch-Carron ‘did the honourable thing’ by stepping aside

    In a significant political development, Tribune president Robert Dupuch-Carron has voluntarily withdrawn his application for the Progressive Liberal Party’s nomination in the MICAL constituency, citing potential conflicts of interest related to his business ventures. The decision received commendation from Prime Minister Philip Davis, who characterized the move as “honorable” during remarks at the 2026 Bahamas Business Outlook conference at Baha Mar.

    Dupuch-Carron formally communicated his withdrawal in a letter to PLP chairman Fred Mitchell, explaining that his leadership role at The Bahamas Aviation, Climate & Severe Weather Network (BACSWN) – a company he founded – created unavoidable ethical considerations. This concern stems particularly from BACSWN’s substantial $400 million Heads of Agreement with the Bahamian government signed last year, which could present perceived or actual conflicts during legislative and governmental processes.

    Prime Minister Davis revealed that Dupuch-Carron had been the front-running candidate for the nomination before this decision. Despite stepping aside from electoral politics, Dupuch-Carron reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the PLP’s eventual candidate and continuing his service to the southern Bahamas communities through his professional work with BACSWN.

    The MICAL constituency (Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins and Long Cay) became available following sitting MP Basil McIntosh’s announcement last year that he would not seek re-election. With Dupuch-Carron’s withdrawal, party insiders now identify Ronnell Armbrister as the likely front-runner for the PLP nomination in this strategically important constituency.

  • Pinder: “Don’t hold your breath” on return to frontline politics

    Pinder: “Don’t hold your breath” on return to frontline politics

    Ryan Pinder, the former Attorney General of The Bahamas, has officially concluded his four-year tenure and announced his departure from frontline politics. Speaking at the opening ceremony for Legal Year 2026, Pinder clarified to journalists that his departure represents a natural expiration of his term rather than a resignation from office.

    Reflecting on his unexpected appointment in September 2021, Pinder revealed that Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis’s invitation to serve as the nation’s top legal officer came as a complete surprise. He described accepting the position as an unparalleled professional opportunity that he felt compelled to accept despite the challenges it would entail.

    Pinder characterized his service as Attorney General as both the most rewarding professional experience of his career and an immensely demanding undertaking. He acknowledged that the legal system had faced extraordinary pressures during his tenure, including emerging crime patterns, heightened regulatory complexities, and growing public expectations for judicial efficiency.

    ‘The past legal year has presented significant challenges,’ Pinder noted. ‘Our legal institutions have been tested by unprecedented demands, with progress often occurring gradually rather than through immediate transformation.’

    The former Attorney General emphasized that ensuring accessible justice remains a fundamental priority, noting that procedural delays and systemic inefficiencies have tangible impacts on citizens’ lives. His office implemented an ambitious legislative agenda, introducing over 100 pieces of primary and subsidiary legislation with support from the Law Reform and Revision Commission.

    Significant government initiatives highlighted included comprehensive land reform measures, the finalization of updated firearms legislation, and revisions to the Penal Code. Pinder particularly emphasized the importance of the Conditional Release of Offenders Parole Bill, advocating for rehabilitative approaches to criminal justice that facilitate successful reintegration of incarcerated individuals into society.

    ‘We firmly believe that providing rehabilitation frameworks and supporting the transition of formerly incarcerated persons back into community life represents both morally sound policy and practical benefit to the nation,’ Pinder stated. ‘This approach offers deserving individuals a structured opportunity for redemption while promoting broader social stability.’

  • Education Director: School’s PLP song taken out of context

    Education Director: School’s PLP song taken out of context

    Garvin Tynes Primary School’s Majority Rule commemoration has ignited political tensions after footage emerged showing students performing a partisan song during the ceremony. The video, which circulated widely on Tuesday, captured young pupils chanting “PLP all the way” and lyrics suggesting political intimidation against opponents.

    The recording prompted immediate criticism from Free National Movement supporters, with FNM chairman Dr. Duane Sands demanding clarity about the presentation’s context and questioning whether education authorities had sanctioned content that involved children in overt political messaging.

    Education Director Dominique McCartney-Russell addressed the controversy while maintaining neutrality regarding the appropriateness of the performance. Having not attended the event personally, she emphasized that the clip circulating online failed to represent the full scope of the assembly, which encompassed multiple historical aspects of Majority Rule.

    According to McCartney-Russell, the complete program featured educational presentations on significant historical milestones including the Burma Road Riot, women’s suffrage achievements, the formation of the governing party, the General Strike, and Black Tuesday. Student participation included sharing factual historical information and musical performances intended to illustrate Bahamian political development.

    The Education Director characterized the incident as an innocent program misinterpreted through selective sharing, affirming that department officials would engage with school leadership to ensure future events maintain educational integrity while protecting students from unintended political exposure. She emphasized the importance of preserving children’s welfare while acknowledging the historical significance of Majority Rule in the Bahamas’ development.

  • $250m Six Senses resort yet to break ground

    $250m Six Senses resort yet to break ground

    The ambitious Six Senses luxury resort development in Grand Bahama has encountered significant delays, missing its projected 2026 opening timeline and casting doubt on the project’s future viability. Despite detailed master plans unveiled in September 2024 by development consortium Weller Development Partners and Pegasus Capital Advisors, construction on the $250 million project has yet to commence on the designated 50-acre Barbary Beach site.

    The resort, initially promoted as a transformative investment for Grand Bahama’s tourism sector, was designed to feature 70 luxury villas, 28 branded residences, and premium amenities including a world-class spa, multiple dining establishments, a beach club, and event spaces. Marketed as an eco-conscious development, the project emphasized sustainability and resilience with designs engineered to withstand Category 5 hurricanes while integrating seamlessly with the natural landscape.

    Local stakeholders have expressed growing concern over the development’s stagnation. Peter Turnquest, former president of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, described the situation as particularly disappointing given the project’s potential to revitalize the island’s luxury tourism infrastructure and generate substantial employment opportunities. ‘What was hailed as a breakthrough investment for Lucaya and Grand Bahama in general has gone cold without any explanations,’ Turnquest noted.

    The development team had previously indicated that construction would begin immediately following environmental approvals, with CEO Marc Weller expressing confidence in summer 2024 about rapid progress once permits were secured. However, despite completing the Environmental Impact Assessment process and public consultations in January 2024, no visible progress has been made.

    The absence of communication from both developers and government officials has fueled speculation about potential obstacles, including whether infrastructure limitations such as airport facilities might be contributing to the delay. Turnquest suggested that while airport upgrades might be necessary, they shouldn’t fundamentally impede investment in the region.

    With the original timeline now obsolete, stakeholders await updated information regarding the project’s revised schedule and the underlying causes for the unexpected delay, as the promised economic benefits remain unrealized.

  • Andros fish fry razed as no firetruck came

    Andros fish fry razed as no firetruck came

    A devastating pre-dawn blaze completely destroyed the Nicholls Town Fish Fry on Andros Island yesterday, revealing systemic failures in emergency response capabilities throughout The Bahamas. Local residents resorted to desperate bucket brigades using seawater as they confronted the rapidly spreading fire without functional firefighting equipment.

    The conflagration erupted around 6am, transforming the tranquil morning into scenes of chaos as community members shouted warnings and scrambled to contain the advancing flames. Powerful winds propelled the fire from one wooden stall to another, overwhelming the improvised efforts of locals. By the time the fire exhausted its fuel, the entire commercial area lay in ruins—leaving business owners staring in disbelief at the smoldering remains of their livelihoods.

    This incident represents the second catastrophic loss for numerous vendors who previously suffered damage during Hurricane Matthew in 2016. The complete absence of insurance coverage compounds their financial devastation. Nadia Sweeting of Sweeting’s Wabbie Palace revealed she had invested over $100,000 in a nearly completed three-level stall that was weeks from opening. ‘I haven’t sold one bottle of water yet,’ she lamented, having planned to leave her yacht club job to operate the family business full-time.

    The tragedy has ignited renewed scrutiny of fire service preparedness nationwide. Recent fires across New Providence, Grand Bahama, and Exuma have consistently highlighted operational deficiencies in fire response capabilities. In each instance, communities have been forced to improvise with inadequate resources when critical fire engines were non-operational.

    North Andros MP Leonardo Lightbourne acknowledged the area’s fire engine was inoperable but could not specify the defective component. When questioned about whether functional equipment might have contained the blaze, he dismissed the speculation as ‘neither here nor there’ while emphasizing the need for proper emergency infrastructure.

    The human toll extends beyond financial ruin. Seventy-six-year-old Birgie Jones, operating at the Fish Fry for four decades, saw her personally rebuilt stall destroyed despite neighbors’ attempts to save it. Marlyin Grant reported her husband sustained injuries from repeated trips into the sea with buckets, while expressing fears about immediate family hunger without business income.

    Opposition candidate Carlton Bowleg criticized the government’s failure to address known equipment shortages despite allocated constituency funds. He revealed North Andros previously maintained two fire engines, with one rendered inoperable following an accident.

    All affected vendors expressed determination to rebuild despite the catastrophe, while unanimously stressing that without operational fire protection, the community remains perilously vulnerable to repeated disasters.

  • Senior PLPs urge PM ‘wait until our time is right’ and avoid early election

    Senior PLPs urge PM ‘wait until our time is right’ and avoid early election

    Amid escalating speculation about potential election timing, senior Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) supporters are publicly advising Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis to resist calling an early vote. The internal debate emerges as the government tables a new Boundaries Commission report and both major parties proceed with candidate ratification processes.

    At Monday’s Majority Rule ceremony at PLP headquarters, party stalwarts expressed cautious views about election timing. Laverne Henfield, a PLP councillor from Centreville, advocated for allowing the term to reach its natural conclusion: “I think he should wait until our time is right. September will make us five years. We still have some more work to do.”

    The sentiment was echoed by Shantel Brown, a longtime supporter, who warned that political momentum can be deceptive: “Go straight through. Looks could be deceiving.” This caution reflects lingering memories of the previous administration’s failed early election call, which resulted in decisive rejection by voters.

    A Marathon constituency councillor identified as Ms. Smith suggested that while waiting until September might not be necessary, any election before May would be premature: “Why an early election? We need to let it run. We need to continue to complete things that have started.”

    Sirnardo Hart, the PLP’s protocol chairman, emphasized that an early election could deprive voters of fully understanding government achievements: “Don’t call it early. Wait until September because that’s his time and so people could know what’s really going on.”

    Not all party voices expressed concern. Sherry Bowe from Freetown stated readiness for whenever elections are called, while Bimini branch chairperson Kitty Saunders expressed full confidence in the Prime Minister’s decision-making: “The prime minister has information we don’t, so whatever his decision, I believe it’s the best decision.”

    The opposition Free National Movement has consistently predicted an early election, with leader Michael Pintard recently anticipating a first-quarter 2026 vote and urging supporters to complete voter registration promptly.

  • Seymour: Four child deaths ‘too many, too soon’

    Seymour: Four child deaths ‘too many, too soon’

    A series of tragic child fatalities across the Bahamas has triggered urgent calls for enhanced national safety protocols and collective societal responsibility. Senator Maxine Seymour, serving as Shadow Minister for Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, has issued a solemn appeal for national introspection following four separate child deaths occurring within the first two weeks of January.

    The most recent incident involved a five-year-old boy who drowned in Murphy Town, Abaco, on Monday. According to police reports, the child was reported missing shortly after 1 PM and was subsequently discovered unresponsive in seawater along a back road. Despite rescue efforts by a concerned citizen and rapid transportation via Emergency Medical Services, the boy was pronounced dead before 3 PM.

    This tragedy marks the fourth juvenile death recorded since the beginning of the year. On January 1, a seven-year-old Pinewood Gardens girl died after allegedly ingesting a food product at a residence. Just two days later, a three-year-old Nassau Village girl passed away after falling ill at home, while that same day, a ten-year-old boy collapsed while playing in a Blackwood, Eleuthera park and could not be resuscitated.

    Senator Seymour, emphasizing her perspective as both a mother and grandmother, stated these deaths ‘sit heavily’ with her, noting that no family should begin a new year with such profound grief. She clarified that her comments were not aimed at assigning blame but rather at emphasizing shared community obligation toward child protection.

    The opposition legislator highlighted the critical need for strengthened public awareness campaigns, improved community support systems, and consistent implementation of safety practices. She specifically advocated for expanded access to first-aid and CPR training throughout communities, asserting that children deserve a nation where their safety isn’t left to chance.

    Senator Seymour further called for transparent and expedited investigations into each death, including the prompt release of autopsy findings. She emphasized that information serves as a powerful tool for prevention, helping families achieve closure while enabling society to identify and address systemic failures.

    Concluding her remarks, the senator extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, expressing hope that they might feel the supportive embrace of a nation mourning alongside them.

  • Bank chief slams Davis over ‘uninformed’ food vat removal

    Bank chief slams Davis over ‘uninformed’ food vat removal

    A leading Bahamian banking executive has launched a scathing critique of the government’s recent decision to eliminate Value-Added Tax (VAT) on unprepared grocery items, characterizing the policy shift as a politically motivated maneuver that jeopardizes fiscal stability. Gowon Bowe, Chairman of the Clearing Banks Association and CEO of Fidelity Bank, denounced the move as “an uninformed and understudied exercise” that prioritizes popular appeal over economic responsibility.

    Bowe challenged the policy’s fundamental design, highlighting its failure to target relief toward lower-income households. He noted that high-income earners would receive identical tax benefits as those most severely impacted by rising living costs, describing the approach as a crude “hacksaw” solution rather than a precision “scalpel.” The banking executive questioned the policy’s consistency with the Davis administration’s previous criticisms of VAT exemptions under the prior government, which international financial institutions had found to reduce revenue collection efficiency while increasing administrative burdens.

    The financial expert raised concerns about inevitable revenue shortfalls, warning that the government would eventually need to recover lost funds through alternative tax measures. He characterized taxation as a “zero-sum game” where exemptions in one sector necessitate increases elsewhere. Bowe particularly criticized the timing alongside the reintroduction of the RISE program, which effectively increases Social Security contributions through tax collection rebalancing.

    Regarding practical impact, Bowe calculated that a $100 grocery bill would only yield a $10 saving from VAT removal—a marginal benefit that fails to offset escalating costs in fuel, utilities, and other essential services. He argued that true economic relief requires targeted measures rather than broad-based tax cuts that provide negligible assistance to those experiencing severe financial strain.

    The banking chairman concluded that the decision exemplified a pattern of policy-making through “popular vote rather than studied analysis,” undermining The Bahamas’ post-COVID economic recovery and long-term growth prospects. He urged policymakers to focus on consolidating economic gains rather than distributing them prematurely through fiscally irresponsible measures.

  • Migrant apprehensions drop sharply in 2025 as RBDF records 78 percent decline

    Migrant apprehensions drop sharply in 2025 as RBDF records 78 percent decline

    NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) has reported a dramatic 78% decrease in migrant apprehensions for 2025, intercepting 440 individuals compared to 2,019 the previous year. This sharp decline reflects a significant shift in migration patterns across the critical Bahamas-Florida maritime corridor.

    According to official data, interdictions fell sharply across all major routes. US Coast Guard cutters and RBDF vessels apprehended 84 Cuban nationals near the Cay Sal Banks attempting to reach Florida. An additional 64 Haitian nationals were intercepted on direct routes from Haiti to The Bahamas.

    The most substantial segment involved 292 migrants of mixed nationalities who allegedly exploited tourist visas to enter The Bahamas before attempting clandestine passage to the United States from Northern islands including Bimini and Grand Bahama. These individuals were intercepted by US Coast Guard assets and subsequently repatriated to Grand Bahama.

    This downward trend continues from 2024, which itself saw a 37% reduction from 2023 figures. Defence Force officials attribute the sustained decline primarily to US immigration policies, specifically the Temporary Protected Status and two-year Residency Sponsorship Programs for nationals from Cuba, Haiti, and Venezuela.

    The reduced migration coincides with a major US Coast Guard operation announced earlier this year, surging maritime assets including cutters, aircraft, and specialized forces to reinforce border security across strategic zones including the Florida Straits, US territories, and the Bahamas-Florida corridor. This enhanced presence, coordinated with Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense partners, aims to deter illegal migration, narcotics trafficking, and other transnational threats.

  • Police probe officer over alleged bribe solicitation

    Police probe officer over alleged bribe solicitation

    The Royal Bahamas Police Force has initiated a formal investigation following the emergence of a viral TikTok video that allegedly depicts a police officer attempting to solicit a bribe from a tourist during a traffic stop. The three-minute footage, which surfaced on Sunday and rapidly gained widespread attention, shows officers conducting a roadside checkpoint near St Matthew’s Anglican Church on Shirley Street.

    In the controversial clip, an officer identified by badge number 4438 is seen interacting with a tourist from Miami who was riding a rented scooter. The officer claims the vehicle was damaged and suggests providing a ‘break’ from receiving a formal ticket. The footage captures the officer proposing an alternative arrangement, explicitly stating, ‘It can’t be obvious. Too much people around,’ while directing the tourist to move out of view of other personnel.

    The video’s poster, who recorded the entire encounter, captioned the footage with a warning to other tourists about potential misconduct. The individual later confirmed on TikTok that no money was ultimately exchanged, writing: ‘Officer didn’t get one penny outta me. I’ll play stupid and run circles around you.’

    Public reaction has been overwhelmingly critical, with many Bahamians expressing outrage at what they perceive as brazen corruption within the police force. In an official response, the Royal Bahamas Police Force stated that any alleged conduct captured in the video does not reflect their standards of professionalism. The investigation remains ongoing, with no confirmation yet regarding potential suspensions of involved officers.