标签： Bahamas

After years of setbacks, Abaco’s highly anticipated multipurpose hurricane shelter has officially opened its doors, marking a significant step forward in the region’s disaster preparedness efforts. The facility, located in Central Pines, Marsh Harbour, was formally handed over to the public during a ceremony held yesterday. Designed to withstand Category Five hurricanes, the shelter spans over 12,000 square feet and can accommodate up to 600 people. Strategically situated on one of the highest points in Marsh Harbour, it minimizes flood risks and features essential amenities such as wheelchair ramps, bathrooms, and a medical room. Minister of State for Disaster Risk Preparedness Leon Lundy emphasized that the shelter was built in response to the vulnerabilities exposed by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, which left many families stranded on rooftops. He described the facility as both a tribute to those lost during the disaster and a beacon of resilience for the community. The project, initially estimated at $1.8 million, faced numerous delays and cost overruns, with the final price tag reaching $4.5 million. Funding was partially provided by international partners, including a $1 million donation from the Indian government. The shelter is the first of several planned facilities aimed at addressing shelter shortages in Abaco. During the ceremony, officials highlighted its dual purpose: serving as a safe haven during storms and a community hub for training, meetings, and youth programs in normal times. The government also approved a $17 million transfer to the Disaster Emergency Fund, signaling a renewed commitment to improving national disaster response. Attendees, including representatives from India, the United Nations, and China, praised The Bahamas for its dedication to climate resilience and disaster preparedness.

The family of Miguel Campoy, a Spanish-American sailor who vanished at sea six weeks ago, has expressed growing frustration over the lack of progress in the investigation. Campoy, 56, disappeared on September 6 while sailing his 44-foot blue-hulled vessel, Hella, from South Abaco to New Providence. His last known communication with relatives was around 6 p.m., when he reported calm conditions and anticipated a longer-than-expected journey.

Both the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) and the United States Coast Guard conducted search operations for approximately a week before suspending their efforts. The family subsequently initiated a private search, deploying airplanes over the area for an additional fifteen days. Despite these efforts, no significant findings have been made, aside from the recovery of Campoy’s dinghy, which was found adrift with personal belongings, including his passport, credit cards, and water supplies.

Miriam Campoy, Miguel’s sister, speculated that her brother may have intentionally left the sailboat due to an emergency, such as water ingress or a collision. However, the exact circumstances remain unclear. The dinghy is currently in the custody of the Western Division police, who have yet to provide any updates or conclusions to the family.

Ms. Campoy revealed that she has repeatedly contacted authorities, including an RBDF officer identified as Mr. Livingston, but has received no substantive information. She also noted that Spanish police have attempted to liaise with Bahamian authorities but have similarly been met with silence.

The family, desperate for closure, has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to Campoy’s safe return and $2,000 for verified tips. They have distributed missing-person posters across The Bahamas and internationally, urging anyone with information to contact the RBDF, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, or email findmiguelcampoy@gmail.com.

Miguel Campoy, a dual citizen of Spain and the United States, was a seasoned sailor and qualified yacht captain who had lived aboard his vessel for seven years. His family described him as methodical and well-prepared, making his disappearance under calm weather conditions all the more perplexing.

The Campoy family has called for greater transparency from Bahamian authorities, emphasizing their desire to uncover the truth and, if necessary, recover his body. ‘We just need to know what happened,’ Ms. Campoy said, reflecting the family’s anguish and determination for answers.

The Court of Appeal has issued a scathing critique of the Registrar General’s handling of the Valley Boys Junkanoo registration dispute, labeling the situation as “beyond belief.” The court expressed astonishment that an unauthorized group could appropriate the name and legacy of one of the nation’s most revered cultural institutions without proper oversight. The appellate panel has granted leave for Brian Adderley, leader of the World Famous Valley Boys, to challenge a Supreme Court decision that dismissed their bid for judicial review. The justices emphasized that the lower court failed to grasp the gravity of the issues and the public significance of clarifying the Non-Profit Organisations Act, 2019 (NPO Act). The panel noted that the appeal has “excellent prospects of success” and that the interpretation of the NPO Act warrants judicial review in the interest of justice. The court’s ruling highlighted troubling irregularities, including the fact that the constitution of the newly registered group was filed weeks after its registration and that its first board meeting occurred six weeks later. These lapses, the judges argued, indicate a failure by the Registrar General to perform due diligence as mandated by the NPO Act. The immediate implications of the ruling remain uncertain but could have far-reaching consequences, particularly for the allocation of seed money for holiday parades. The dispute stems from a deep internal rift within the Valley Boys, a group founded in 1958 and led by Adderley since 2014. A faction led by Trevor Davis and Michael Foster accused Adderley’s team of mismanagement and non-compliance with the NPO Act, leading to the registration of a new entity under the same name in September 2023. Adderley’s group subsequently registered a separate non-profit to preserve their identity, but the Registrar General directed them to change their name, prompting the legal challenge. The Court of Appeal criticized the Supreme Court’s decision, stating that it overlooked irregularities and failed to address the public interest in clarifying the NPO Act. The judges stressed that the original Valley Boys, recognized by government agencies and the public, should not have their identity usurped by an unauthorized group. The ruling reopens the leadership dispute and allows Adderley’s team to pursue a full appeal, with the court underscoring the case’s exceptional cultural importance and its potential impact on all Junkanoo groups and non-profits under the law.

More than six years after Hurricane Dorian ravaged The Bahamas, the remains of several victims are still being stored in trailers in Grand Bahama, according to Opposition Leader Michael Pintard. Pintard has accused the current Davis administration of hypocrisy and neglect, highlighting the stark contrast between their past criticisms and their current inaction. The issue was brought to light during the official opening of the new Sir Albert Miller Community Centre and Emergency Shelter in Grand Bahama, a facility designed to provide refuge during future disasters. Pintard described the situation as ‘unconscionable,’ pointing out that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), which had previously condemned the Minnis administration for delays in burying victims, now faces the same unresolved problem. ‘There is a gap between what they say and what they do,’ Pintard stated. ‘There’s one rule for them and another rule for others.’ He also defended the Minnis administration’s record, asserting that it made more progress in housing repairs and family assistance in its two years post-Dorian than the current government has achieved in four. Hurricane Dorian, a catastrophic Category 5 storm, struck The Bahamas on September 1, 2019, with winds exceeding 180 miles per hour. The storm devastated Abaco and Grand Bahama, killing at least 74 people and leaving many missing. Entire communities were flattened, thousands were displaced, and critical infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and government offices, was destroyed. The recovery of hundreds of bodies and the subsequent struggle to identify remains became a source of national grief and political controversy. While in opposition, the PLP had criticized the Minnis administration’s handling of victims’ remains, pledging to ensure proper burials and compassionate treatment for grieving families.

The search for Lauren Saunders, a seven-months-pregnant mother of two, ended in tragedy on October 22, 2025, when her body was reportedly discovered with gunshot wounds near Munnings Drive, off Gladstone Road. Saunders had vanished after leaving work early on Sunday to meet someone and never returned home. Her abandoned jeep was later found off Coral Harbour Road with a flat tire, her purse, and shoes inside. Family members, fearing the worst, believe she had gone to meet the man thought to be the father of her unborn child, who is believed to be married. Saunders’ sister, Charmaine Edgecombe, described her as a ‘sweetheart’ who was in high spirits before her disappearance. The family grew alarmed when Saunders failed to attend a function at Atlantis and could not be reached by phone. After checking every hospital ward, they filed a police report. Another sister retraced Saunders’ usual route to work and discovered the abandoned jeep. Police expanded their search along tracks off Gladstone Road, combing thick bushes near Coral Harbour Road. Relatives expressed frustration over the slow response and lack of updates from authorities. Saunders’ seven and nine-year-old children are heartbroken, and their grandfather is struggling to cope. Edgecombe admitted she is also finding it difficult to focus and move on. The disappearance comes four years after the death of Saunders’ mother, and she had not yet held a baby shower or chosen a name for her unborn son. Police have not confirmed reports that the father of Saunders’ unborn child has been questioned.