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woman & health

Bowleg: No private parades allowed

Minister says JCNP will be audited over ‘troubling discoveries’

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

YOUTH, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg has announced a full audit of the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JCNP) and ruled out approving any private parades the group plans to hold, as the row over who should manage the national Boxing Day and New Year’s Day parades intensifies. Mr Bowleg, without providing evidence, said the government’s audit follows troubling discoveries about the JCNP’s financial management and claims of losses following its removal as parade organiser. “Once the audit is completed, I think the public will be very

s ta L ks w I th unIon L eaders over strIke threats

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff

Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip

“Brave” Davis yesterday pulled out of today’s scheduled meeting with union leaders, saying he will not engage further while threats of a national strike hang over the talks.

The Bahamas Union of Teachers and Bahamas Public Service Unions had expected to resume talks with the Prime Minister at 1pm today to finalise details of the government’s salary review exercise. But late yesterday, Mr Davis said he would no longer meet, citing BUT President Belinda Wilson’s public Pm

Widespread flooding in Nassau after weekend of heavy rain

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

ROADS turned into rivers across New Providence over the weekend as heavy rain triggered

widespread flooding that disrupted daily life and left several communities under water.

Housing Minister Keith Bell said he expects more residents will now need government assistance to

rebuild, only weeks after officials pledged to help those affected by Tropical Storm Imelda. “We have flooding in every area of New

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

RELIGIOUS protesters and LGBTQI+ advocates faced off in a tense standoff on Saturday that laid bare the country’s deep divisions over faith, sexuality, and human rights. On one side of University Drive, a small group of church leaders and congregants waved banners and declared that “The Bahamas belongs to God.” On the other, LGBTQI+ advocates and allies

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter

TWO police officers accused of killing 20-yearold Deangelo Evans in Mason’s Addition in 2018 have lost their bid to avoid trial, clearing the way for their manslaughter case to proceed in the Supreme Court. Inspector Akeem Wilson and Detective Corporal Donald Wright appeared before Justice Dale Fitzpatrick, who dismissed their appeal and ruled that the charge against them would

Roads submerged in weekend of heavy rain

FLOODING from page one

Providence after that tremendous amount of rainfall we had,” Mr Bell said, adding that he received reports of severe flooding in Bel Air Estates, Carmichael Road, Tonique WilliamsDarling Highway, and West Bay Street.

Videos shared on social media showed vehicles struggling and water surging through neighbourhoods as drains overflowed and major roads became impassable.

The Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs said drainage pumps and pump trucks will be deployed as soon as weather conditions permit.

Officials are still assessing the full extent of the damage, but Mr Bell said the weekend’s deluge has added to the number of Bahamians who will likely need government help repairing homes and replacing damaged belongings.

Vehicles struggle with flooding on main roads and across New Providence over the weekend due to heavy rains just two weeks after the passage of Tropical Storm Imelda.

British Airways jet struck by lightning

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

A BRITISH Airways jet travelling from London to Nassau was struck by lightning as it approached New Providence on Friday, forcing an emergency landing at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA).

According to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA), Flight BAW253, a Boeing 777 from London Heathrow, was hit around 2.30pm, causing mechanical issues mid-air. The pilots landed the aircraft safely in Nassau, and no injuries were reported.

British Airways cancelled its outgoing London flight that night due to the mechanical issues and rescheduled passengers to depart at 11.15pm on Saturday. A flight bound for Grand Cayman was also delayed until Saturday afternoon while maintenance was carried out.

A British Airways check-in worker at LPIA confirmed that the late Friday flight was cancelled because of mechanical problems resulting from

the lightning strike. The incident occurred amid severe weather in western New Providence, where heavy rain and thunderstorms disrupted travel throughout Friday and Saturday.

Passengers on other flights also described rough descents into Nassau. Quincy Rolle, who arrived on a Delta flight from Atlanta, said the turbulence was far worse than usual.

“More than normal turbulence,” Mr Rolle, President of Bahamian company Tribune Digital Labs, said. “Like shaking a box of rocks really, and we were the rocks.”

He said the pilot repeatedly warned passengers about “convective weather” during the descent. “The plane was shaking up, down, left, right. it was something. I was asleep and that woke me up.”

Mr Rolle described the landing as the roughest part of the trip. “He was coming with so much speed, even when he hit the runway. I thought the tyre had gone flat because all you heard was ‘whop whop whop’. But it wasn’t. It smoothed out eventually.”

He said no one was hurt and nothing came loose in the cabin, though he wished there had been a stronger weather warning before departure.

The AAIA said its investigation into the lightning strike and subsequent mechanical issues is ongoing.

Only minor air traffic delays over SpaceX Starship launch

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE country’s airspace was virtually unaffected by a SpaceX rocket launch from Starbase in Texas yesterday, according to aviation officials.

An air traffic control officer told The Tribune the launch posed no threat to operations at Lynden Pindling International Airport or most other parts of the country.

“The upmost point

affected by debris is 113 miles off Nassau. From the surface of the sea, it will affect up to about 6,000ft,” the officer said.

An airport spokesperson confirmed that one flight— British Airways 252, which arrived in New Providence from the Cayman Islands—was expected to be affected by the launch window, but no major disruptions were anticipated. SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, as part of a routine mission that

temporarily restricted a small area of the Atlantic airspace.

The launch came months after a previous Starship test flight ended in a midair explosion that scattered debris across the Gulf of Mexico, prompting temporary flight and maritime restrictions in nearby regions. That incident drew international attention and raised questions about the potential hazards of falling debris from large-scale rocket launches.

spaceX’s mega rocket Starship makes a test flight from Starbase, Texas, yesterday.

Photo: eric Gay/AP

Human Rights March and church protest gets tense

gathered for Pride Bahamas’ second annual Human Rights March, part of the organisation’s sixth anniversary celebrations under the theme

“Be Bold, Be You, Live With Pride.”

The two demonstrations — one praying and preaching, the other calling for equality and visibility — unfolded within metres of each other outside the University of The Bahamas.

The religious protesters, led by Prophetess Patrice Smith and Pastor Carol Moss, arrived early and marched along the road, denouncing what they described as an assault on Christian values. They only attracted about 15 people, but Ms Smith said numbers were irrelevant.

“Let me just reiterate, we are not into the numbers,” she said. “The Word of God says wherever two or three are gathered and the Word of God said that Jesus sent them out two by two. The number two is a biblical number, meaning witness, so to witness anything for God, you only need two persons, and so we are here.”

Ms Smith said their goal was to “decree and declare” God’s authority over the country, insisting that LGBTQI+ people in The Bahamas already enjoy human rights. She

said their movement was not about equality but about advancing civil unions and social acceptance, a cause she described as “demonic” and contrary to God’s law. “We’re here as the church, as the body of Christ, representing God,” she said. “We’re here to decree and declare that the Bahamas belongs to God.”

Pastor Moss said the protest was part of a spiritual battle to defend the country’s “gates” against foreign influences. She pointed to visits by international figures, including US Vice President Kamala Harris, as evidence of outside pressure on local culture.

“We refuse to allow a curse to come to this Bahamas,” she said. “We refuse to allow that to happen here as the gatekeepers of this country and so the church will stand.”

Across the road, Pride Bahamas’ Human Rights March was promoted as a broader call for equality beyond LGBTQI+ issues, highlighting discrimination against women, migrants, and the poor. The event was held in collaboration with the British High Commission. Committee member McTair Farrington said the march was not a Pride parade but a demonstration of solidarity for marginalised groups. He said the church protesters

had a right to their beliefs but questioned their focus.

“They’re bringing light to our situation,” he said.

“I do feel that this effort or this energy could have been used when the deacon came out who said that he was under the influence, and that’s why he touched children. They could have done maybe a campaign or a march to say, ‘protect the kids in our churches,’ rather than adding light to something that they said they don’t

want to see the light of day.”

Although the turnout for the human rights march was modest, organisers said visibility itself was an act of courage in a country where coming out can carry heavy consequences.

“There are some people that cannot march due to certain circumstances,” Mr Farrington said. “They can’t come out because they can’t be visible, because they can either be kicked out or condemned.

And this is one of the reasons why we have Pride, to educate people on the situations that happen in the community itself.”

At the gathering point, a heated but mostly civil debate broke out between some church members and LGBTQI+ advocates. Both sides shared personal testimonies and scripture, occasionally finding common ground in love for family, even as they disagreed on theology. Ms Smith told the crowd

she has a lesbian daughter and has dealt with her own same-sex attraction before, she said, finding “deliverance through Jesus Christ.”

“Can I tell you that I have a daughter who is a lesbian? Can I tell you that I love her with all of my heart?” she said.

“Every Sunday we have family dinner. There has never been a Sunday that I’ve asked her female friend to leave my home. I love her. I hug her. I kiss her. I invite her to church. She’s the lover of my daughter, but because I have God’s love in me, I refuse.”

On the opposite side, Pride Bahamas co-organiser Alexis DeMarco described the realities facing LGBTQI+ youth rejected by their families, including homelessness, unemployment, and social isolation. She recalled a moment during Hurricane Dorian when two women were denied entry to a shelter because of their appearance.

“When parents cannot accept their children being LGBTI, they throw them to the streets,” she said. “We are marching for those children and those young adults that are being thrown out by their parents when they find out that they’re LGBTI. We pick them up, we have to feed them, clothe them, sometimes put them through social services.”

Wilson tells union ‘be ready for action’

from page one

call for workers across the country to take industrial action if their demands are not met.

Mr Davis said he would instead address “the Bahamian people and the workers of this nation, the men and women whose effort, care, and service form the backbone of our country.”

He said the government’s national salary review is aimed at making compensation fairer across the public service and promised that every public servant “will be paid before Christmas.” He said the report will be made public and that the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury are on track to deliver payments within that timeframe.

His withdrawal followed union meetings earlier in the day on National Heroes Day. Mrs Wilson and BPSU President Kimsley Ferguson had met with him to discuss the review, which currently covers middle managers and above.

In a voicenote to members, Ms Wilson said the same formula used to calculate pay for middle managers would also determine raises for all public servants, including teachers. She said the unions are demanding that retroactive

US

payments be applied from September 2024 and paid out by the October 2025 payday.

She warned members to be ready for action if the talks do not yield results.

“We will assemble at City Market parking lot on Market Street on Wednesday morning, October the 15th, 2025, at 9am,” she said. “Also, we’ll be asking all public servants in Grand Bahama to assemble in front of the Office of the Prime Minister in Freeport, and all Family Island members to remain at home from Abaco to Inagua.” The unions’ threat comes just days after more than a hundred public servants marched through downtown Nassau chanting “we want our money right now” over delayed or omitted salary increases. Protesters pressed against police barricades outside Parliament before Mr Davis emerged to assure them that payments would come before Christmas.

The dispute stems from anger over pay disparities between senior administrators, such as permanent secretaries, and lower-level staff including janitors and clerks. Workers have also complained of unresolved promotions, transfers, reclassifications, unpaid overtime, and hazard pay.

Officials have said that employees excluded from earlier adjustments will

Charge d’a ffaireS get S married

THe WORLD Famous Valley Boys held a rush out as Kimberly Furnish, the US Chargé d’Affaires to the Bahamas, married partner Michael Dowgiewicz at her official residence in Nassau on Saturday.

Prime Minister’s wife Ann-Marie Davis and Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper and his wife Cecilia were among

dignitaries, family and friends who attended the ceremony, conducted by Pastor TG Morrison of Zion Baptist Church. The bride was given away by her children Samantha, Veronica and Calvin Furnish. Music was provided by the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band and catering laid on by Chef Wayne Moncur and his team.

receive at least two increments in December, retroactive to September 1, 2025, depending on their category. The government allocated $10m for the review, which began in June with middle management and is now moving to cover the rest of the service.

Public Service Minister Pia Glover-Rolle has said her ministry has made “significant progress” on long-standing issues and that payment logistics are being handled by the Ministry of Finance. She pointed out that there had been no across-the-board pay increases between 2016 and the Davis administration’s reforms.

Union leaders remain sceptical. Ms Wilson has demanded Cabinet conclusions, salary lists, and detailed timelines for payments. Mr Ferguson has argued that aviation staff have not received raises since 2019 and accused officials of shifting the goalposts on unresolved matters.

The Tribune Limited

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Govt’s battle against JCNP appears to be getting out of hand

THERE seems to be little love lost in the world of Junkanoo right now.

The government and the Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JCNP) seem to be firmly locked in a battle –with the latest steps from Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg the kind of brinkmanship that seems far more likely to alienate the JCNP than bring peace.

Mr Bowleg announced that there had been troubling discoveries about the JCNP’s financial management. What discoveries? We would not know, as he declined to share details.

One would think that such allegations would not be thrown around without some measure of proof – or indication of who might be to blame. But no, here we are, with Mr Bowleg threatening an audit of the JCNP without even the pretense of offering evidence.

As for the Junkanoo parades at the end of the year, Mr Bowleg has already said those will be managed by a newly established Parade Management Committee – with, it should be noted, little time left in the year for such a newly created body to organise two of the premier events in the Bahamian calendar. By doing that, Mr Bowleg not only rejects the call from FNM leader Michael Pintard, who suggested with some wisdom that it should be left in the hands of the JCNP this year and if the government wants to do something else next year then do so with the benefit of more time to implement the changes. No, Mr Bowleg also offers some troubling government overreach by saying that no private parades the JCNP plans to hold will be approved. Really? If private bodies want to hold an event, the government will step in and say no? Sit down, dancers. Stop your building, designers. Put down that trombone. The government says you cannot express yourselves in a privately arranged event.

Mr Bowleg says only two national parades will take place in New

Providence – Boxing Day and New Year’s Day – and the parade committee will be in charge. There will be no room at the inn this Christmas for any others.

Mr Bowleg also says: “I expect all groups to participate.”

And what if they do not? What if they choose to take their performances elsewhere?

Behind all this is a supposed poll which indicated that Junkanoo groups wanted the government to run the parades – but as the JCNP chairman claims, some groups were excluded, such as One Family and Roots.

Mr Bowleg also questioned the JCNP’s history of business licence compliance – although the JCNP promptly produced one to show it is in compliance right now. What happened in previous years, as Mr Bowleg intimated? Well, if it is valid now, the organisation is valid now. Those issuing the licence were presumably satisfied.

If all this feels like a fight that is now out of hand, we would agree.

Whatever is going on with Junkanoo, it is deeper rooted than to be dealt with in this hard-edged way. The JCNP has been the steward of the parades for many years – whatever the problem is, thinking the solution is a new group without the benefit of that experience seems foolhardy at best.

Is there time for a solution to be arrived at? The clock is ticking fast until December. Worse, there seems little willingness to find a middle ground – which is looking like a chasm between the two sides, more and more by the day. If there is one thing we can draw upon from our own experience over the years, it is this: Junkanooers are often fiercely passionate and independently spirited. Telling them what to do has never seemed likely to be a productive outcome. Telling them what not to do seems likelier still to spark that fire. If this is a solution, it does not feel like it.

We must break silence surrounding mental illness

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THIS week, we observe two global moments that speak to the moral and emotional strength of our nation. World Mental Health Day is on October 10, under the auspices of the World Health Organisation, and the International Day of the Girl Child is on October 11, recognised by the United Nations. Though distinct in purpose, these observances share a single truth: the well-being of our people and the empowerment of our girls are inseparable from the progress of our country. When our daughters are strong in mind and spirit, The Bahamas stands taller. Regrettably, we are often reminded that too many among us are suffering in silence. I extend heartfelt condolences to the daughter and son who, on October 9, lost their mother to apparent suicide. Their loss, and the anguish of every family facing similar tragedy, must awaken in us a deeper sense of duty, to listen, intervene, and build systems that value every life.

Here at home, we must confront another painful reality, and that is the rising number of girls being abused by relatives, church leaders, and other trusted adults. These are not isolated stories; they are the symptom of a society that has looked away for too long. Abuse of power leaves lifelong scars, and the emotional wreckage it creates too often drives young people towards despair. We must also remember the little girl who watched her father gunned down in the street, and countless children who witness violence in their homes and neighbourhoods. Their nightmares are real; their innocence is stolen before its time. We must protect the minds and hearts of our children as fiercely as we protect our borders. As we mark World Mental Health Day, let us expand access to counselling, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed care in every school, clinic, and community. As we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, let us renew our vow to ensure

Picture of the day

More mental health help needed

EDITOR, The Tribune

that every girl is safe, supported, and believed, that justice is not delayed, and dignity is not denied. We must break the silence surrounding mental illness once and for all. There is no shame in seeking help. The true shame lies in a society that refuses to provide it. Healing is not weakness; it is strength reclaimed. These two observances remind us of a single, sacred duty: to build a Bahamas where mental wellness and gender equality are not privileges but promises kept. Now while this week spotlights our girls, we must not forget that good mental health belongs to all of us, men and women, boys and girls alike. Our daughters will only rise as high as our sons are strong in character, compassion, and resolve. When our men stand as allies, protecting, uplifting, and walking beside the women of this nation, then, and only then, will we build a Bahamas for all Bahamians.

SENATOR MAxINE SEyMOUR

October 9, 2025.

IN a sad coincidence, World Mental Health Day was observed one day after a young woman allegedly took her life, leaving behind two children. While this year’s theme speaks to “access to services – mental health in catastrophes and emergencies” there needs to be a broader discussion on Mental Health services in our country. Women United has taken note of the reports by authorities of the rise in suicide. According to the Commissioner of Police, Shanta Knowles, there has been a 60% increase in the number of suicides and or attempted suicides. Reports also have shown that 1 in 5 young people have considered or attempted suicide. Various organisations have noted a rising sense of hopelessness amongst women with children who cannot find work or who cannot find reasonably priced accommodation. In their experience this results in despair, depression and other forms of mental illness. Mrs Bostwick-Dean said, “Behind every statistic is a person and a family yearning for support, dignity, and hope. We must expand survivor-centered services—hotlines, safe housing, and comprehensive care—that honour the lived experiences of women and their

children.” We have also noted an increasing number of homeless persons on the streets of Nassau. Many of them appear to be suffering from some degree of mental illness. Some of these persons are a danger to the public – like the man who savagely beat a woman and broke her two legs earlier this year as she came off of a bus on Baillou Hill Road.

Having regard to these incidents, observations and trends, Women United calls for the Government to establish the following:

1. Specialised support for survivors of gender-based violence and intimate-partner violence, including confidential hotlines, safe housing referrals, and legal advocacy integrated with mental health care.

2. Child and adolescent mental health services tailored to the unique needs of our youth, with schoolbased programs and teen-specific pathways to care.

3. Sustained investment in training for psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, counselors, and community health workers, with incentives to serve in

high-need areas.

4. Strong collaboration among government ministries (Health, Social Services, Education, Gender Affairs, Disaster Management) and civil society to coordinate mental health responses. Prodesta Moore, the Vice President, commented that: “No ministry can address this alone. Strong, sustained collaboration across Health, Social Services, Education, Gender Affairs, Disaster Management, and civil society is essential to build a resilient mental health system that works for all.”

5. Inclusion of women’s organizsations in planning, implementation, and evaluation of mental health initiatives, ensuring that programs reflect women’s voices and lived experiences.

6. Modernised facilities to provide proper care for the mentally ill.

Lisa Bostwick-Dean, the president of Women United said: “We stand with Bahamian women and girls today, reaffirming that access to mental health care—especially during catastrophes and emergencies—is a right, not a privilege. Our collective response now will determine not only how we endure disasters but how we emerge stronger, more compassionate, and more just.”

WOMEN UNITED October 12, 2025.

Bowleg: I expect all groups to participate

surprised of what may come out of that,” he said, insisting the review is essential to ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

The minister said only two national parades will take place in New Providence — those held on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day under the newly established Parade Management Committee - and that no government-backed approval will be given to private events that compete with them. “There will be no parade that will be sponsored by the government of the Bahamas, that will be private, unless it’s a national parade,” he said. “In New Providence, there will be one parade, and that’s in Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, which are national parades. And there will be no other parades that will compete with those parades. I expect all groups to participate.”

His remarks came after the JCNP, which has overseen the nation’s premier parades for decades, warned it may stage its own events in protest. The organisation has claimed the government’s decision to transfer management to the National Junkanoo Committee (NJC) will cost it nearly $1m, including unpaid sponsorships from ALIV and Commonwealth Brewery and $57,000 recently spent upgrading its scoring system. JCNP Chairman Dion Miller also

dismissed the ministry’s poll that underpinned the decision, calling it “manifestly unfair and unrepresentative” and claiming major groups like One Family and Roots were excluded. Although the most iconic Junkanoo groups support the JCNP, Mr Bowleg defended the government’s move to change management of the parade, saying it was the result of a vote by Junkanoo groups themselves on September 27,

with 19 voting in favour of the NJC taking charge and only two — One Family and Roots — absent due to late notice. “The government would have never been in here to ask the NJC to manage this parade had the groups decided they wanted to take JCNP to manage the parade,” he said. He added that even if the two absent groups had participated, the outcome would not have changed.

The minister also questioned the JCNP’s compliance record, saying the corporation had failed to maintain an active business licence for years. The JCNP has released proof of a licence granted on October 6, 2025, valid until December, but declined to show evidence of licences from prior years, saying those

were irrelevant. While the governance fight escalates, the government has rolled out a broader festival approach around the parades. The NJC will oversee Boxing Day and New Year’s Day across The Bahamas and, in New Providence, implement an expanded cultural programme. The newly formed Parade Management Committee — chaired by veteran Junkanooer Douglas Hanna — is tasked with planning and execution for the 2025 Boxing Day and 2026 New Year’s Day parades, with a mandate that centres on safety, logistics and coordination, including scheduling, participant responsibilities, crowd control, emergency services, street closures, traffic management and the timely removal of parade

elements. Mr Hanna said his initial hesitation changed after reading the draft Junkanoo Authority Bill, which he believes presents an opportunity to improve parade organisation. Subcommittee Chairman Antony Bostwick outlined plans to stretch Junkanoo from a two-day spectacle into a two-week festival, running from December 18 to January 1, in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, the Tourism Development Corporation, Downtown businesses, cruise ship partners and religious groups. “We want to move from Junkanoo events, and as I said earlier, to have Junkanoo festivals,” Mr Bostwick said. “Junkanoo should be on Bay Street, not just two days.” He said the

aim is to make Junkanoo a year-round cultural and economic driver, including food vendors, tourism incubators, cultural showcases and family-friendly events.

Mr Bowleg said the government remains committed to ensuring a successful national parade this year, promising confirmed corporate sponsors, national television coverage and a ticket system that gives more access to the public. “Every major sponsor will be a part of these parades,” he said, naming ALIV and Kalik among confirmed partners. “Now, unless they selling me dreams, I expect for all of them to be on the parade.” Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Michael Pintard has accused the Davis administration of playing politics with Junkanoo, warning that it is too late in the season to overhaul the parade’s management structure. He urged the government to delay any major changes until after the holidays and to hold a national Junkanoo conclave in January to address deeper issues dividing the community. Mr Pintard said the government’s process was politically heavy-handed and unrepresentative, arguing that the ministry should “step back and listen” to Junkanooers rather than dictate from above.

Mr Bowleg dismissed the criticism, saying Mr Pintard was “looking for love in the wrong places” and trying to score political points. “The opposition leader’s looking for votes. That’s what he’s doing. He’s making this political. This is not political,” he said. He also argued the JCNP must repair its relationship with the groups if it hopes to return to a leadership role in future, saying the government will respect practitioners’ wishes if they later choose to revert.

The corrosion of purpose

How arrogance and avarice poison public service

There was a time when entering politics meant something noble; the intentions were to serve, a commitment to bettering the lives of others, and a promise to represent those who are left out. In today’s landscape, that original flame of service goes out due to arrogance, greed, and the intoxicating lure of power. The corridors of governance, once meant to echo with the voices of the people, now reverberate with self-congratulation, entitlement, and a superiority complex that alienates leaders from the very citizens who placed them there. This erosion of purpose has real and damaging consequences, leading to policies that serve the few, not the many, and a loss of trust in our democratic institutions.

The original mission: Service before self

Some politicians embark on their journey with a genuine desire to make a difference. They fashion their campaign on change, justice, and fairness. They promise to mediate between privilege and poverty, hope and despair. For a moment, their intentions are pure. They speak with conviction, often shaped by the hardships they’ve witnessed or endured. Their message resonates because it is human. They know what it means to struggle, be overlooked, and need someone in power who listens.

But somewhere along the way, something shifts.

Power is seductive. It begins quietly, as all temptations do — a small privilege here, a special favour there. Soon, what was once unthinkable becomes routine. The line between service and selfinterest blurs. Those who once swore to dismantle the establishment begin to protect it, wrapping themselves in the same systems they vowed to reform. They forget that authentic leadership is not about elevation above others, but connection with them. This seduction of power is a warning, a call to vigilance against its corrosive influence. It’s a transformation that leaves us disillusioned with the current state of politics.

The descent into arrogance

Arrogance doesn’t announce itself; it creeps in gradually. It shows up when a politician stops listening to the people who put them there, when they dismiss criticism as ignorance, when humility gives way to hubris. The “servant of the people” transforms into a self-styled monarch, insulated from accountability and enamoured by the sound of their own voice.

This arrogance manifests subtly: a disdainful tone when addressing dissenters, a reluctance to meet constituents, and an obsession with optics over outcomes. The leader who once walked through neighbourhoods to shake hands now walks only on red carpets. They no longer hear the cries of the people, only the applause of sycophants.

It’s the disease of selfimportance and spreads quickly once it takes hold.

The newcomers who once leaned on the wisdom of seasoned advisors suddenly believe they have outgrown them. experience is dismissed as old-fashioned, caution as cowardice. The transformation from learner to “Mr

FACING REALITY

By Ivo I ne Ingraham

Know-It-All” is complete. These same individuals, who once admired humility in their mentors, now wield arrogance as armour. They confuse leadership with infallibility. They mistake fear for respect.

Avarice: The quiet killer of purpose

If arrogance is the mask, avarice is the motive.

Money — and the influence it buys — has corrupted the core of too many political souls. What begins as a desire for recognition morphs into a hunger for wealth and control. Lobbyists whisper in their ears, donors dictate their decisions, and soon, the people they promised to protect are no longer in the equation.

The mission that once centred around service now orbits around self-preservation and accumulation. The politician’s measure of success is no longer the number of lives improved but the size of their campaign fund, the reach of their network, and the comfort of their seat. They forget that the greatest currency in politics is trust — and once spent, it’s almost impossible to earn back. We witness a disappointing loss of purpose due to avarice and misuse of political power.

The avaricious politician begins to rationalise their greed. “It’s how the system works,” they say. “everyone does it.” however, corruption doesn’t start with the first stolen dollar; it begins with the first compromised principle. The superiority complex of the elected

Perhaps the most damaging transformation is the development of a superiority complex — the dangerous belief that leadership equates to moral or intellectual supremacy. We see it in how some leaders talk down to citizens, as if the electorate is too naive to understand “how things really work”. We see it in their dismissive smirks when confronted with tricky questions and condescending speeches that substitute empathy for eloquence. They forget that no one is too important to serve and no one is too unimportant to be heard. Public office was never meant to be a pedestal. It was meant to be a platform that amplifies the people’s needs, not the politician’s ego standing on it. When power becomes a personal identity rather than a public responsibility, leadership loses its moral compass. humility, the recognition that no one is too important to serve and no one is too unimportant to be heard, is the cornerstone of authentic leadership. The superiority

‘When the speeches are forgotten and the statues crumble, people will remember how a leader made them feel, because in the end, public service is not about power.’

complex is particularly galling because it’s built on insecurity. The same leaders who demand constant validation from the public often lack the internal conviction that once drove them. They cover their loss of purpose with arrogance, their moral emptiness with grand speeches, and their detachment with staged photo-ops.

But people notice. They always do.

The people’s measuring stick

The general public may not have access to classified briefings or insider information, but they have something far more valuable — intuition. People can tell when someone is genuine. They can sense authenticity in the way they feel warmth from sunlight. You can’t fake it, at least not for long.

“how you make people feel” — that’s the actual measuring stick of leadership. It’s not policy papers or press releases that define a leader’s legacy; it’s the collective memory of those they led. Did they feel seen? heard? respected? Or did they feel dismissed, patronised, and used? No leader should ever underestimate the public’s capacity to discern character. You can’t disrespect people Monday through Saturday and expect them to vote for you on Sunday. empathy is not a political strategy — it’s a moral necessity. A politician who cannot connect with the everyday struggles of citizens is unfit to represent them. When arrogance takes the place of authenticity, the disconnection becomes visible. The once-genuine smiles become forced. The town hall visits turn into photo opportunities. The words

lose their soul. People stop believing because they no longer feel believed in.

The few who remain true

Despite the growing cynicism surrounding politics, the rare and remarkable still maintain their genuine connection with the people. They resist the temptations of arrogance and greed, holding tight to the moral compass that first drew them to public service. These leaders don’t measure success in power or possessions but in the progress of those left behind.

They are the ones who still take calls from constituents without delegating empathy to an assistant. They walk through communities, not for cameras, but for understanding. They advocate for those who fall through the cracks, and their words carry the weight of sincerity when they speak. They remember that leadership is not about being above people, but among them. Such leaders are often underestimated because they refuse to play the political theatre. They don’t trade integrity for influence. And though they may not always dominate headlines, history has a way of remembering those who served with humility rather than hubris.

Position should never redefine purpose

Power and influence are supposed to magnify one’s mission, not distort it. Yet too many let the position redefine their purpose. They forget that their office is borrowed, on loan from the people, and can just as easily be taken back.

Authentic leadership requires remembering why you started, even when the rewards of forgetting are great. It

requires resisting the illusion that position makes you essential. Position doesn’t make you; purpose does. Titles fade, but the impact of your integrity does not.

A politician grounded in purpose understands that every decision, every word, every gesture ripples through the lives of others. They recognize that humility is not weakness — it’s strength under control. They lead not to be admired, but to be of use.

The people are taking notes

The arrogance of today’s political class may be tolerated, but it is not unnoticed. The people are watching, listening, remembering. every act of condescension, every moment of hypocrisy, every instance of self-service is recorded in the silent ledger of public opinion. And that ledger is far more enduring than any poll or press conference.

Leaders often mistake silence for approval, politeness for ignorance, and, make no mistake, people are taking notes. When election day comes, the ballots will speak louder than applause. No amount of public relations can mask the stench of arrogance once it has soured the public’s trust.

The call for profound genuineness

If there is one quality that should define public life, it is profound genuineness— not rehearsed empathy, not photo-op compassion, but genuine, unfiltered sincerity. It is the greatest asset any public figure can possess and the rarest. Genuineness requires vulnerability and a willingness to admit imperfection. It requires listening without defensiveness and leading without self-glorification. It’s about remembering that service means sacrifice, not

self-promotion. The public is hungry for authenticity. They don’t expect perfection; they expect truth. They understand that every leader is human, but demand that every leader remain humane. real know real!

Reclaiming the mission

The tragedy of modern politics is not that power corrupts, but that it convinces the corrupted that they are still virtuous. To reclaim the mission of service, politicians must confront their own reflection — to ask not “What can I gain from this position?” but “Who am I here to serve?” If every public official began their day by remembering the faces of those they represent — the single mother juggling two jobs, the veteran struggling with medical bills, the child in an underfunded school — arrogance would wither in the face of empathy. The title of “honourable” should be earned daily, not inherited by election. Leadership without humility is tyranny, and power without empathy is exploitation. The mission must be revived, not through slogans but through sincerity. The measure of a leader is not how high they rise but how deeply they care. In the end

Facing reality, arrogance may win elections, avarice may fill coffers, and superiority may command attention. however, only genuineness earns respect, and only respect sustains leadership. When the speeches are forgotten and the statues crumble, people will remember how a leader made them feel, because in the end, public service is not about power. It’s about people; people always remember the difference between being ruled and being respected.

Bahamas getting the US Ambassador we need

By TOM SMITH

LAST Tuesday, the US Senate confirmed the appointment of Hershel Walker as the next American ambassador to The Bahamas.

“Well, that was a relief,” said a prominent Bahamian with close ties to business and politics in the US. “An awful lot of people took as an insult the fact that there has been no American ambassador in residence here for over 14 years! Now look, I understand there were special circumstances, and that the US did not mean this as any slight to us. I’m just saying, thank God Mr Walker is coming! It’s way past time.”

When US president Donald Trump announced his nomination of Walker, a writer to this newspaper said “this nomination bodes well for our wonderful nation. Trump is sending a very strong signal to The Bahamas that despite the occasional flare ups, he and the American people continue to have an unbreakable bond with The Bahamas”.

In welcoming the new American envoy, let’s offer a bit of an introduction in the form of some things he might expect here.

First, the new ambassador is going to be welcomed, wholeheartedly and enthusiastically. He is somebody – this man was one of the greatest football players in American history. He has remained a public figure, and ran for the US Senate just a few years ago. We like celebrities here, and it is a point of pride for many that many Hollywood and music stars have bought or built homes in The Bahamas.

Frequent athletic visitors and investors have included NBA superheroes Michael Jordan and LeBron James. We enjoy the star power of our illustrious adoptees. The soft-spoken, often unassuming manner Walker displayed while campaigning for the US Senate in his home state of Georgia in 2022 will serve him well here. And it would be good if, as he gets settled into this new job, he can lend his prestige in support of one or more of the very

worthy organizations hard at work in The Bahamas to aid those most in need of assistance.

Second, our new ambassador will lead one of the 25 or so largest US missions anywhere in the world. He will be a spokesman and representative of the numerous American law enforcement, customs, immigration, military and other agencies represented in the imposing new embassy building. There is US presence in several islands outside New Providence, notably in Grand Bahama.

Ambassador Walker is the head of the US mission in The Bahamas. The agencies operating here do so under his authority. But they are led by capable, independent-minded patriots who are experienced in their specialties. Many of them report also to bosses in Florida, Washington and elsewhere. Knitting together such an imposing collection of officials can be challenging, but success in this area is certainly achievable and even to be expected.

The term ‘good will ambassador’ might be overused, but in some respects, our new ambassador will serve that role, and there’s a good chance that he will do it well.

Third, the ambassador will be seen by everyone as the US representative here. His words and actions will count, and they will be noticed. We do not have a large diplomatic community in The Bahamas, but the British and the Chinese are here. The Canadians and the Cubans are represented. Some international organisations have offices here.

In his remarks before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ambassador Walker mentioned the Chinese presence more than once. The Bahamas represent one of the arenas around the world where the critical US-China relationship plays out in a comparatively uncluttered environment. We’ll all be watching.

The term ‘good will ambassador’ might be overused, but in some respects, our new ambassador will serve that role, and there’s a good chance that he will do it well. His exploits and achievements are wellknown. He’s in a good spot to succeed.

The US maintains over 250 embassies and consulates all around the world, a number second only to the overseas representations of China. At the great majority of those diplomatic and consular missions, routine business is conducted mostly out of the headlines and in businesslike fashion. Nothing particularly special or spectacular.

Here in The Bahamas, the US maintains a large presence, driven by factors such as various aspects of bilateral and even multilateral law enforcement cooperation and the millions of American tourists who visit us every year. Embassy staff handle routine matters in these areas.

However, during Ambassador Walker’s tenure here, history informs us that there may be a few occasions when circumstances oblige the US and The Bahamas to work closely, even urgently, to address exigencies that may occur.

Maybe a hurricane like Dorian changes course at the last moment and decides to visit us. We all know all too well the devastation and damage that one of these meteorological

monsters can inflict. Maybe a crisis in Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba or elsewhere in our region provokes a sudden exodus of refugees hoping to reach the United States, and their path leads them through our immense territorial waters. This will elicit in both Nassau and in Washington a sharp concern about the social and economic burdens of such an unexpected influx of desperate people.

Or maybe in halls of the multilateral bureaucracies in Brussels, Geneva, New York or Washington a concern arises about international banking or financial compliance, and a questioning finger is pointed in our direction.

On such exceptional occasions, we may need a US ambassador who can call his president to cut through all the bureaucracy and help us navigate a crisis.

We will soon have an ambassador whose 40-plus year association and friendship with US president Donald Trump tells us that Ambassador Walker will be able to pick up the phone and get the personal attention of an American chief executive who may be the most hands-on president since Franklyn Roosevelt.

Trump is, by his own account, frequently on the phone with friends discussing the issues and events of the day. His is a highly personalised presidency. Our new ambassador is one of those friends.

According to the public record, Ambassador Walker and president Trump became friends when Walker agreed to play for Trump’s New Jersey Generals team in the United States Football League in 1983. During the three years of USFL operation, Walker was dominant, as he had been in college.

After leading the University of Georgia to its first undisputed national collegiate football championship in 1980, he won the Heisman Trophy as America’s best college football player in 1983. A prodigiously accomplished running back, he was named to Sports Illustrated’s all-time AllAmerica first team five years ago.

Ultimately, Walker wound up with the Dallas Cowboys after the USFL failed to force a merger with the all-powerful NFL, and quickly established himself as a Pro Bowl running back. In fact, his success in the NFL led directly to the largest trade in the history of the league, and by some accounts, the largest trade ever in any professional sports league. The Cowboys, slogging to a 1-15 record in 1989, traded Walker and some lower draft choices to the Minnesota Vikings for a package that included three first-round and three second-round draft picks plus players and lower picks. Using those draft choices to select Hall of Famer and alltime rushing leader Emmitt Smith, several Pro Bowlers on defence and others, the Cowboys had improved so much that they appeared in and won three super bowl championships between 1993-96. The Cowboys have never approached that success in the thirty years since then.

Over the intervening years, Trump and Walker reportedly maintained a friendship. Three years ago, Trump endorsed Walker early in the US Senate campaign in Georgia, despite some reported concerns about Walker’s experience in public life and politics.

Trump’s endorsement boosted Walker to the GOP nomination, but he lost in the general election to incumbent Rev Raphael Warnock, who had won a special election for the seat in 2020 and who has been a pastor at Martin Luther King’s Atlanta church for twenty years.

America is the richest nation on earth. Their military and economic power remains unmatched. The Americans control resources beyond our imagination. Florida is on our doorstep. We are one of a small handful of nations that actually share a border with the United States.

If, when we need our ambassador to contact the US chief executive in an emergency, it looks like we may have the right man, and if Hershel Walker can do that, we should be satisfied and grateful.

More than 500 people awarded national honours

By RASHAD ROLLE Tribune News Editor rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Philip

“Brave” Davis hailed this year’s National Heroes Day honourees as the living embodiment of the Bahamian spirit — men and women who have strengthened the nation through quiet, selfless service rooted in faith, compassion, and community.

More than 500 people were awarded national honours at Government House yesterday. The Order of National Hero was bestowed upon Pompey Rolle, who led the 1830 rebellion of a group of slaves in Exuma after the slaves received a transfer order to Cat Island.

Speaking at the official ceremony yesterday, Mr Davis reflected on his own humble beginnings in Cat Island, recalling how a “barefoot boy from Old Bight” could never have imagined one day standing as Prime Minister. He said his journey was not his alone, but a reflection of the Bahamian story.

“When I look around this room today, I see that same story in the lives of

every person being honoured,” Mr Davis said. “I see men and women who have given their time and their hearts to this country. You have done it quietly, without asking for recognition, because you believe in serving others.

The Prime Minister praised honourees drawn from every island and walk of life for choosing “service over self.”

“You chose to give instead of take,” he said. “You chose to make this country stronger, kinder, and more hopeful.”

Mr Davis said true success is not measured by wealth or status, but by the good people do for others.

“Here in The Bahamas, we have always known a different truth,” he said.

“Success is measured by how much we give. It is measured by the love we show, by the good we do, and by the lives we lift up along the way.”

He described the honourees as “the reason The Bahamas continues to stand tall through every storm,” adding that their examples prove the country’s greatest strength lies not in its resources but in the character of its people.

The Prime Minister urged Bahamians, particularly young people, to draw inspiration from the honourees’ lives of service.

“Do not wait for perfect conditions to do good,” he said. “Start where you are. Help where you can. Love this country enough to leave it better than you found it.”

He said the government’s recognition of the honourees reflects the nation’s gratitude to those who have lived lives of purpose.

“You have shown us what true leadership looks like,”

Mr Davis said. “Leadership is not about power or position. It is about responsibility. It is about showing up when others step back, about lifting others up when they are down.”

Mr Davis said the honourees’ faith and perseverance exemplify the values that built the nation and must guide it forward.

“You remind us that this country’s beauty is not only in its waters or its skies, but in its people,” he said. “Your stories are the story of The Bahamas. They are stories of hope, humility, and faith that God rewards those who serve with love and sincerity.”

‘No merit’ in argument to dismiss case against two officers accused in the killing of Deangelo Evans, says judge

stand.

The officers had argued that Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Cordell Frazier committed an abuse of process by filing a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI) after indicating in a letter to the commissioner of police in April 2024 that the prosecution would not move forward. They also claimed that Coroner Kara Turnerquest-Deveaux acted outside her authority when they were summoned before her in September

2024 for the VBI. However, Justice Fitzpatrick found no merit in their arguments. He ruled that although the coroner could not compel the men to attend court, they could appear voluntarily, as Wilson did in January. He said the issuing of a summons was an administrative matter and found no abuse of power in how it was carried out.

discontinue the case was made.

Evans was shot and killed on May 27 2018, after officers responded to reports of an armed robbery in Mason’s Addition. Police said he was armed, but eyewitnesses claimed he was not. In 2023, a Coroner’s Court jury found that Evans’ death was a homicide by manslaughter, one of several such rulings in recent years that prompted the DPP’s office to examine police-involved killings and consider criminal charges against officers. TITLE from page one

The judge also noted that the DPP reversed her decision after reviewing the full coroner’s inquest file, which had not been available when the initial decision to

Man set on fire in violent altercation

A 36-yEAr-olD man was hospitalised with severe burns on Saturday after he was allegedly set on fire during a violent encounter in the Bartlett Hill area of Grand Bahama.

Police said the incident happened shortly after 10am. officers arrived to find the victim suffering from second-degree burns to his face, back, head, shoulders, and arms. He was taken to the Eight Mile rock Clinic for treatment.

The alleged suspect was found nearby and had reportedly been beaten by unknown individuals after allegedly setting the man ablaze. He was detained and also taken to the clinic for medical attention.

Police said both men are known to them and are believed to have mental health challenges.

Justice Fitzpatrick said the defendants failed to prove that they had relied on the DPP’s earlier representation to their detriment or that proceeding with the case would offend the community’s sense of justice. He concluded that there was no abuse of process by the DPP. The officers’ trial is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2026, with a pretrial hearing set for May 1, 2026. Evans’ parents, who have attended hearings throughout the inquest and court

proceedings, were again present for last week’s decision.

Voter verification station now open across country, says Thompson

By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Staff Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net

THE Parliamentary Commissioner said Family Island residents who were initially turned away from registering in New Providence have since been processed as preparations continue for the next general election.

Commissioner Harrison Thompson made the comments during a press conference at the Parliamentary Registration Department (PRD) on Tonique Williams-Darling Highway yesterday, where he also announced that voter verification stations across the country are now open.

The Free National Movement’s Torchbearers Youth Association

President Xavier Knowles said last week that several young voters were denied the chance to register to vote.

Mr Thompson said only a handful of people had been affected, including people from Inagua. He said those matters had been resolved

and urged anyone who still needs to register to visit the department.

Verification stations, he said, are open in every constituency from 5.30pm to 8.30pm, Monday to Friday, until further notice. Mr Thompson said the

exercise is vital to maintaining an accurate and up-to-date register, allowing voters to confirm or correct their personal information ahead of the next general election.

He said 195,610 people are currently listed on the

continuous register, the highest number of registered voters in Bahamian history. Verification, he said, takes no more than five to seven minutes and requires a valid Bahamian passport or current voter’s card.

Verification sites in New Providence include St Paul’s Catholic Church in Lyford Cay, St Anne’s School in Fox Hill, Aquinas College, the Smiley Building, the University of The Bahamas, the Nassau Village and Fox Hill community centres, and Remnant Tabernacle on Carmichael Road. Additional locations include Anatol Rodgers, CR Walker, Thelma Gibson, Government High, Garvin Tynes, TG Glover, and Sybil Strachan schools.

Mr Thompson said verification is voluntary but strongly encouraged, as it improves the system and voting process. He added that voters may consent to have biometric data securely transferred from their passports to the PRD’s new digital platform, which is being upgraded with assistance from the Organisation of American States to modernise the country’s electoral system. So far, 590 people have completed biometric verification, and that data will be integrated into the new

system through coordination with the Passport Office. The PRD will continue to keep a paper backup of the register to prevent disruptions during the election.

For this cycle, the department is registering only new voters, while previously registered individuals remain on the continuous register. New voter cards are expected to be ready by early January 2026. Responding to online rumours, Mr Thompson stressed that no one will lose their right to vote for refusing biometric verification. He said the department’s top priority is protecting the franchise and fighting misinformation that undermines public confidence in the electoral process. Meanwhile, a by-election will soon be called in the Golden Isles constituency to fill the seat left vacant by the death of MP Vaughn Miller in September. Under the Parliamentary Elections Act, a writ for a by-election must be issued within 21 to 30 days of the vacancy.

Future energy Leaders Forum aims to inspire students on sustainabiL ity

By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

HUNDREDS of high school students from across The Bahamas gathered at the British Colonial on Friday for the Future Energy Leaders Forum, a day of discovery, dialogue, and innovation aimed at inspiring the next generation to help build a sustainable national future.

The forum, hosted by INTI Corporation Ltd in partnership with local, regional, and international organisations, brought together government officials, industry leaders, and students to explore solutions to global challenges such as climate change, energy security, and environmental resilience.

INTI president and CEO, Owen Bethel, said the event was designed to spark a deeper curiosity among students about renewable energy and environmental action.

Energy and Transport Minister JoBeth ColebyDavis said events like the forum serve as incubators for transformation, creating spaces where young Bahamians can influence decisions that shape the nation’s energy future.

She highlighted progress on several renewable energy projects across the country, saying the government’s energy transition plan is gaining momentum. “Our Family Islands will benefit from improved generation with cleaner fuel, namely LNG, liquid natural gas and solar with battery storage, many to be completed by 2026 or early 2027,” she said.

“These agreements will transform energy reliability while incorporating renewable components. Closer to home in New Providence, we are making the biggest leap forward.”

Mrs Coleby-Davis said work had already begun on the utility-scale solar project at Blue Hills Power Station, led by INTI, with land clearing and

construction under way. “Before the end of this month, dredging will begin for our LNG project,” she said.

Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis told students that the government’s energy strategy is built on sustainability, reliability, and local empowerment. He said the plan includes constructing solar microgrids across the Family Islands to deliver clean, resilient energy, expanding large-scale solar installations in New Providence to reduce costs, and opening the energy sector to private investment through a transparent, Bahamian-led framework.

He said workforce development will be critical to the transition, with the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute launching a national programme to train Bahamians in renewable energy technology and installation.

“What’s important is for you young people to truly get involved in this fight, because it’s truly a fight,” Mr Davis said. “When I look across this room, I see faces that remind me how far our country has come, how far we still have to go. I believe this generation of Bahamians is ready for what is next for our country.

“You are ready to take on the challenges that once intimidated us. You’re ready to think differently about how we grow, how we protect, and how we build. That belief comes from what I have seen in classrooms, in communities, and in the quiet determination of young people across our islands — finding their own way, sometimes without fanfare, sometimes without recognition, but always with a purpose.”

The forum concluded with a call to action for students to become advocates for sustainability and innovation, reinforcing the message that their generation will be central to shaping The Bahamas’ clean energy future.

Trump urges leaders to put ‘old feuds’ aside as he calls for a new era of harmony in the Middle East

EGYPT Associated Press

President donald trump called for a new era of harmony in the Middle east on Monday during a global summit on Gaza’s future, trying to advance broader peace in the region after visiting israel to celebrate a Us-brokered ceasefire with Hamas.

“We have a once-in-alifetime chance to put the old feuds and bitter hatreds behind us,” trump said, and he urged leaders “to declare that our future will not be ruled by the fights of generations past.”

the whirlwind trip, which included the summit in egypt and a speech at the Knesset in Jerusalem earlier in the day, comes at a fragile moment of hope for ending two years of war between israel and Hamas.

“everybody said it’s not possible to do. And it’s going to happen. And it is happening before your very eyes,” trump said alongside egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-sissi.

nearly three dozen countries, including some from europe and the Middle east, were represented at the summit. israeli Prime Minister Benjamin netanyahu was invited but declined, with his office saying it was too close to a Jewish holiday. trump, el-sissi, turkish President recep tayyip erdogan and Qatari emir tamim bin Hamad Al thani signed a document outlining a broad vision that trump said would lay the groundwork for Gaza’s future.

despite unanswered questions about next steps in the Palestinian enclave, which has been devastated during the conflict, trump is determined to seize an opportunity to chase an elusive regional harmony.

He expressed a similar sense of finality about the israel-Hamas war in his

speech at the Knesset, which welcomed him as a hero.

“You’ve won,” he told israeli lawmakers. “now it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle east.”

trump promised to help rebuild Gaza, and he urged Palestinians to “turn forever from the path of terror and violence.”

“After tremendous pain and death and hardship,” he said, “now is the time to concentrate on building their people up instead of trying to tear israel down.”

trump even made a gesture to iran, where he bombed three nuclear sites during the country’s brief war with israel earlier this year, by saying “the hand of friendship and cooperation is always open.”

trump arrived in egypt hours late because speeches at the Knesset continued longer than expected.

“they might not be there by the time i get there, but

we’ll give it a shot,” trump joked after needling israeli leaders for talking so much.

twenty hostages were released Monday as part of an agreement intended to end the war that began on Oct. 7, 2023, with an attack by Hamas-led militants. trump talked with some of their families at the Knesset.

“Your name will be remembered to generations,” a woman told him.

israeli lawmakers chanted trump’s name and gave him standing ovation after standing ovation. some people in the audience wore red hats that resembled his “Make America Great Again” caps, although these versions said “trump, the Peace President.”

netanyahu hailed trump as “the greatest friend israel has ever had in the White House,” and he promised to work with him going forward.

“Mr. President, you are committed to this peace. i am committed to this peace,” he said. “And together, Mr.

President, we will achieve this peace.” trump, in an unexpected detour during his speech, called on the israeli president to pardon netanyahu, whom he described as “one of the greatest” wartime leaders. netanyahu faces corruption charges, although several hearings have been postponed during the conflict with Hamas. the republican president also used the opportunity to settle political scores and thank his supporters, criticizing democratic predecessors and praising a top donor, Miriam Adelson, in the audience. the moment remains fragile, with israel and Hamas still in the early stages of implementing the first phase of trump’s plan.

the first phase of the ceasefire agreement calls for the release of the final hostages held by Hamas; the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by israel; a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza; and a partial

pullback by israeli forces from Gaza’s main cities.

trump has said there’s a window to reshape the region and reset long-fraught relations between israel and its Arab neighbours.

“the war is over, OK?”

trump told reporters travelling with him aboard Air Force One.

“i think people are tired of it,” he said, emphasizing that he believed the ceasefire would hold because of that.

He said the chance of peace was enabled by his republican administration’s support of israel’s decimation of iranian proxies, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

the White House said momentum is also building because Arab and Muslim states are demonstrating a renewed focus on resolving the broader, decades-long israeli-Palestinian conflict and, in some cases, deepening relations with the United states.

in February, trump had predicted that Gaza could be redeveloped into what he called “the riviera of the Middle east.” But on sunday aboard Air Force One, he

was more circumspect.

“i don’t know about the riviera for a while,” trump said. “it’s blasted. this is like a demolition site.” But he said he hoped to one day visit the territory. “i’d like to put my feet on it, at least,” he said. the sides have not agreed on Gaza’s postwar governance, the territory’s reconstruction and israel’s demand that Hamas disarm. negotiations over those issues could break down, and israel has hinted it may resume military operations if its demands are not met. Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble, and the territory’s roughly 2 million residents continue to struggle in desperate conditions. Under the deal, israel agreed to reopen five border crossings, which will help ease the flow of food and other supplies into Gaza, parts of which are experiencing famine. roughly 200 Us troops will help support and monitor the ceasefire deal as part of a team that includes partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and private-sector players.

Oscar-winner Diane Keat O n, star of ‘a nnie Hall’ and ‘ tH e Godfat H er,’ dies at 79

Associated Press

diAne Keaton, the Oscar-winning star of “Annie Hall,” “the Godfather” films and “Father of the Bride,” whose quirky, vibrant manner and depth made her one of the most singular actors of a generation, has died. she was 79. People Magazine reported saturday that she died in California with loved ones, citing a family spokesperson. no other details were immediately available, and representatives for Keaton did not respond to inquiries from the Associated Press. the unexpected news was met with shock around the world. she was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile, or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star,” Bette Midler said in an instagram post. she and Keaton co-starred in “the First Wives Club.”

Keaton was the kind of actor who helped make films iconic and timeless, from her “La-dee-da, la-dee-da” phrasing as Annie Hall, bedecked in that necktie, bowler hat, vest and khakis, to her heartbreaking turn as Kay Adams, the woman unfortunate enough to join the Corleone family.

Her star-making performances in the 1970s, many of which were in Woody Allen films, were not a flash in the pan and she would continue to charm new generations for decades thanks in part to a longstanding collaboration with filmmaker nancy Meyers. she played a businessperson who unexpectedly inherits an infant in “Baby Boom,” the mother of the bride in the beloved remake of “Father of the Bride,” a newly single woman in “the First Wives Club,” and a divorced playwright who gets involved with Jack nicholson’s womanizing music executive in “something’s Gotta Give.” Keaton won an Oscar for “Annie Hall” and would go on to be nominated three more times, for “reds,” “Marvin’s room,” and “something’s Gotta Give. in her very Keaton way, upon accepting her Oscar in 1978 she laughed and said, “this is something.” Keaton was born diane Hall in January 1946 in Los Angeles. Her mother was a homemaker and photographer, and her father was in real estate and civil engineering, and both would inspire her love in the arts, from fashion to architecture.

Keaton was drawn to theatre and singing while in school in santa Ana, California, and she dropped out of college after a year to make a go of it in Manhattan. Actors’ equity already had a diane Hall in their ranks, and she took Keaton, her mother’s maiden name, as her own. she studied under sanford Meisner in new York and has credited him with giving her the freedom to “chart the complex terrain of human behaviour within the safety of his guidance. it made playing with fire fun.” she started on the stage as an understudy in the Broadway production for “Hair,” and in Allen’s “Play it Again, sam” in 1968, for which she would receive a tony nomination. Keaton made her film debut in the 1970 romantic comedy “Lovers and Other strangers,” but her big breakthrough would come a few years later when she was cast in Francis Ford Coppola’s “the Godfather,” which won best picture and become one of the most beloved films of all time the 1970s were an incredibly fruitful time for Keaton thanks in part to her ongoing collaboration with Allen in both comedic and dramatic roles. she appeared in “sleeper,” “Love and death,” “interiors,” Manhattan,” and the film version of “Play it Again, sam.” the 1977 crime-drama “Looking for Mr. Goodbar” also earned her raves. Keaton was celebrated with an AFi Life Achievement Award in 2017. i feel like it’s the wedding i never had, or the big gathering i never had, or the retirement party i never had, or all these things that i always avoided — the big bash,” she told the AP. it’s really a big event for me and i’m really, deeply grateful.”

Urban Renewal hosts youth leadership symposium

More than a dozen students took centre stage in a recent youth symposium aimed at shaping them into the future leaders of The Bahamas. Hosted by the Urban renewal Authority (UrA) in partnership with several national and community stakeholders, the initiative placed young participants at the heart of discussions on growth, resilience, and purpose under the theme “Youth Transitioning to Leaders.”

The symposium formed part of a wider initiative designed to develop a new cohort of youth every six months through career planning, mentorship, and life skills workshops. Supporting partners included the Ministry for Grand Bahama, the royal Bahamas Police Force, the rehabilitation of offenders Committee, and the church. Students actively engaged in the sessions, listening attentively to personal stories and lessons shared by leaders across public and civic life. As the inaugural cohort of the program, they were guided through practical steps for navigating challenges, making informed choices, and understanding the impact of character in leadership. Through storytelling, real-life examples, and interactive dialogue, the young attendees were exposed to the importance of accountability, self-belief, and perseverance. The experience not only reinforced values of integrity and purpose but also laid a foundation for the participants to begin seeing themselves as capable and responsible contributors to their communities and country.

Speakers at the symposium included Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey, UrA Deputy Director Senator Kirkland russell, Assistant Commissioner of Police Advardo Dames, and Bishop Dr Barry Morris.

‘Youth voices unlocked’ in march in Grand Bahama

THe streets of Grand Bahama came alive this past weekend as hundreds of young people gathered for a vibrant Youth March and rally held in celebration of National Youth Month 2025. Under the inspiring theme, “Youth Voices Unlocked,” the event brought together students, youth leaders, civic organizations, and community supporters in a powerful show of unity, purpose, and pride. organized by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (MoYSC), the march marked a key highlight in the monthlong celebration aimed at empowering young

Bahamians and amplifying their voices. Participants from various schools, churches, and youth groups paraded through the streets waving banners, chanting uplifting slogans, and showcasing the energy and enthusiasm that defines the next generation of national leaders. National Youth Month, celebrated throughout october, aims to recognize and empower young Bahamians. The annual observance provides opportunities for youth to showcase their talents, express their ideas, and engage in initiatives focused on leadership, service, and national development.