Viewpoint on The Golden Isles By-Election

Perspectives on The Golden Isles By-Election - Monday 24 November, 2025

From Sean McWeeny, former PLP Cabinet Minister and Attorney General

Some random takeaways on yesterday’s bye-election:

1. That crown on Pintard’s head can rest more securely today than yesterday.   By performing impressively in yesterday’s bye-election (even winning a majority of the polling divisions 8-6), the FNM and Pintard can point to all that as evidence that he is indeed a viable leader of a resurgent Party - no need to send a SOS out to Papa!

2. The COI lost its deposit yesterday (you need to get more than 1/6th or 16.6% of the total votes cast to save your deposit).  With only 6% of the vote, the COI fell well short of that.

Frankly, for all the noise they were making and all the social media coverage they were getting, I thought they would have done better than they did (then again voters may have had Lincoln-fatigue by the end of it all). Still, they prevented the PLP from winning an outright majority of the total votes cast yesterday.  It could also be argued that the COI cost the FNM the election yesterday by garnering 221 votes which, if added to the FNM’s tally, would have given the FNM the victory.  But that’s what spoilers do.   And the COI are certainly shaping up to be spoilers in “close“ seats in the next General Election. Bottom line : they can't win but they can cause you to lose.

3. Darren Pickstock has a lot to be personally proud of and so do Brave Davis, Jerome Fitzgerald and Kevin Simmons (the latter two as campaign managers).  Darren came into Golden Isle a virtual unknown to constituents (in contrast to the FNM’s candidate who had good solid history there).  In just 41 days, Darren made the rounds, showed himself to be a class act from start to finish, and ended up in victory.

4. Finally, the PLP has its work cut out for it.  Yesterday’s results will no doubt be seen (and felt) as a knock in the head, all the more so when one considers the massive firepower and resources the government had brought to bear.

All of it turned out to be a bit underwhelming if the final count is anything to go by.  But the PLP will no doubt see the results as a call to re-assess, reset, and do some things differently in the run-up to the Big One.  If, however, yesterday’s results are interpreted as an affirmation that all is hunky-dorry and right on track, or if nothing but excuses are forthcoming now as to why the PLP didn’t get more votes yesterday, the cycle that has seen every single governing party in the past five General Elections get tossed out after just one term is bound to repeat itself - again.  Sean

Rick Fox Declares His Intention to Enter Frontline Politics in The Bahamas

The prosperous future of The Bahamas depends on the choices we make right now

The Bahamas: It’s Better To Be Number One

The Bahamas Must Be First and It Must Start Now.

Today, I’m announcing that I will be a candidate in the next general election.

For months, I’ve been listening closely to the hopes and frustrations of my fellow Bahamians.  One truth is clear: the future of The Bahamas will depend on the choices we make right now.

You’ve shared that you want more  transparency, a modern economy that prioritizes affordability and security, and a country where opportunity is our reality, not just a promise.

I share that vision. 

And I’m stepping forward today because we cannot wait any longer to realize a Bahamas that we all envision is possible.

Why Now?

We are running out of the one resource we can never get back: TIME.

•⁠ ⁠The time we need to empower our youth with real opportunities.

•⁠ ⁠The time we need to build a nation that runs efficiently, innovates boldly, and leads globally.

•⁠ ⁠The time we need to deliver world-class healthcare, affordable housing, and safe communities.

•⁠ ⁠The time we need to compete on the global stage.

Hurricane Future isn’t coming.  Hurricane Future is here. 

Our Direction

Scripture teaches: “Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long upon this earth.”

We should also honor the fathers and mothers of our nation.  Their legacy brought us to this moment.  Our responsibility now is to move The Bahamas forward. 

We must move with clarity.  We must move with courage.  We must move with honor and integrity.

We will embrace innovation, education, security and opportunity as the pillars of our future.

We will build a future where Bahamians can compete, influence, and lead globally without having to ever leave home.

We will trust in the lord with all of our hearts.  We will not lean on our own understanding and in all of our ways, we will acknowledge him and he will direct our path.

This is Our Moment 

As a candidate and as a leader for The Bahamas I will demand transparency, honesty, integrity while demanding a level of excellence from all of us.

This is bigger than party politics.  This is The Bahamas versus the world.  Imagine a nation where every Bahamian feel secure, safe, empowered, and proud.  Where opportunity flows, innovation thrives, and our people shape the world from home.

More is on the way. 

The Bahamas will lead.  The Bahamas will rise.  The Bahamas will be #1.

It’s Better to Be Number One in The Bahamas.

Source / Comment

The Caribbean Climate Reality

Against the backdrop of a devastating hurricane season that once again underscored the region’s extreme vulnerability, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) will take the Caribbean’s climate agenda to the global stage at the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, scheduled for November 10–21 in Belém, Brazil.

The Bank will lead and participate in a series of events, high-level discussions and bilateral engagements aimed at securing greater access to concessional climate finance and strengthening partnerships for sustainable development.  CDB President, Mr. Daniel M. Best said this intensified engagement reflects both the urgency and opportunity of the moment.

“The Caribbean’s climate reality has never been clearer or more urgent,” he emphasised.  “The recent passage of Hurricane Melissa has underscored what we’ve been warning for years: without predictable, concessional finance, small island states cannot keep pace with escalating climate impacts.  COP30 is one of the most consequential arenas for advancing our case for climate justice and fair financing, and the Caribbean Development Bank will ensure our region’s voice is heard.”

At COP30, the Bank strategically engage governments, international partners, and private investors to deepen partnerships and advocate for increased concessional financing and innovative mechanisms to mobilise resources for the region.  On Monday, November 17, 2025, CDB will co-host three side events that reflect key priorities for climate action and resilience in the Caribbean.

The first session, “Leveraging Private Sector Financing for Transport and Energy Sector Transformation in the Caribbean,” will be held from 10:30 - 11:30 am (BRT) at the CARICOM Pavilion.  The event will explore strategies to unlock private capital through blended finance models, risk-sharing instruments, and innovative partnerships to accelerate investment in renewable energy and sustainable transport systems.

A discussion on “Agriculture and Food Security in the Caribbean: Scaling Innovative Solutions for Climate-Resilient Agriculture” is slated for 12:00 - 1:00 pm (BRT) at the Food and Agriculture Pavilion.  The livestreamed event will spotlight climate-smart agricultural practices and investment opportunities that can strengthen food security and reduce the region’s dependence on imports.

CDB will also join forces with CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean,  the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) and the CREWS Secretariat to turn attention to disaster preparedness with a panel on “Climate Information and Early Warning Systems for Latin America and the Caribbean”  Scheduled for 3:45–4:45 pm (BRT) at the CARICOM Pavilion, the discussion will explore initiatives by the three institutions to finance and implement early warning systems for the region.

“CDB’s agenda at COP30 underscores our approach to climate action, which is practical, innovative, and built on partnerships,” President Best noted.  “The Caribbean is helping itself by developing our own solutions to protect lives, preserve livelihoods and transform our energy, transport and agriculture systems to secure our future, but we need the global community to stand with us.”

CDB targets 30-35% of its resources to climate finance demonstrating its commitment to helping Borrowing Member Countries adapt to the accelerating climate crisis.  The Bank is also better positioned to deliver transformative regional interventions through a recent increase in its GCF financing threshold to USD 250 million and its new Climate Change Project Preparation Fund, both of which will help countries design and finance concrete, high-impact projects faster and more effectively.

Source

Grenada 19 October, 1983

1983 Coup D'état - Grenada

By Everton Obi Powell

Maurice Rupert Bishop (29 May 1944 – 19 October 1983) was a Grenadian revolutionary and the leader of the New JEWEL Movement (NJM) – a party that sought to prioritorize socio-economic development, education and black liberation.  The NJM came to power during the 13 March 1979 revolution which removed Prime Minister Eric Gairy from office.  Bishop headed the People's Revolutionary Government of Grenada (PRG) from 1979 to 1983.  In October 1983, he was deposed as Prime Minister and executed during a coup engineered internally by Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard.

In September 1983, simmering tensions within PRG leadership reached a boiling point.  A faction within the party, led by Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard, tried to make Bishop either step down or agree to a power-sharing arrangement.  Bishop rejected the proposal.

In response, the Coard faction in conjunction with the PRA placed Bishop under house arrest on 13 October.  Large public demonstrations gathered to demand Bishop's release and his return to power.  The protesters numbered as high as 30,000 on an island of 100,000, and even some of Bishop's guards joined the protests.  Despite the sizable support, Bishop knew the determination of the Coard faction.  He confided to a journalist: "I am a dead man."

On 19 October, a crowd of protesters managed to free Bishop from house arrest.  He made his way, first by truck, then by car, to army headquarters at Fort Rupert (known today as Fort George), which he and his supporters were able to seize control of.

At that point, Coard dispatched a military force led by Hudson Austin from Fort Frederick to retake Fort Rupert.  Bishop and seven others, including his cabinet ministers and aides, were captured.

A four-man PRA firing squad executed Bishop and the others by machine-gunning them in the Fort Rupert court yard.  After Bishop was dead, a gunman slit his throat and cut off his finger to steal his ring.  The bodies were transported to a military camp on the peninsula of Calivigny and partially burned in a pit.  The location of their remains is still unknown.

Partly as a result of Bishop's murder, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the nations of Barbados and Jamaica appealed to the United States for assistance, as did Sir Paul Scoon, Governor-General of Grenada.  Within days, President Ronald Reagan launched a U.S.-led invasion to overthrow the PRG.

US invaded within 6 days with 8000 soldiers.  Bernard Cord and Hudson Austin were captured and sentence to death but sentences were commuted to Life.

Austin was release in 2008 and died from cancer in 2022.  The final U.S. report claims 19 killed and 116 wounded; the Cubans to have had 25 killed, 59 wounded and 638 "combatants" captured; the Grenadians to have suffered 45 killed and 358 wounded.

Violence and death surrounded Bishop family.  In 1974 his father Rupert was shot in the back and killed at by Eric Gairy Mongoose Gang during a protest.  Maurice himself was shot and killed during the 1983 execution.  His son's mother and girlfriend was killed during the 1983 execution and his only son Vladimir was stabbed to death in a Toronto nightclub at only 16.

Source / Comment

The Politically Immature and Thuggish Lincoln Bain

Mr. Lincoln Bain, Your childish apologies have become meaningless, weak, and lack substance

Mr Lincoln Bain, refrain from violence.  Focus on substance over spectacle, and let your vision for The Bahamas speak for itself

By Maria Russell
Freeport, G.B. Island, The Bahamas
In response to Tribune242 FaceBook Post,  Pintard Condems Lincoln Bain...

I'm not taking sides, but bullying, intimidation, and fear have no place in a democracy.  That was not the time and place.  It only takes away from the message of the protest.  These silly antics are a turn-off on all levels.  Mr. Pintard has nothing to prove.  He's already a Member of Parliament and the Official Opposition Leader by law as outlined in our constitution.

Mr. Bain, you, on the other hand, have a lot to prove to the Bahamian people, especially if you're serious and ready for mainstream politics.  To get into parliament, one would think that maturity, political sportsmanship, and a willingness to engage in respectful dialogue would be essential.  If you two have a personal beef, maybe it would be wise to settle it out of the political spectrum.

You don't want to be known more for your radicalism than your message.  Having the loudest mouth is unnecessary and a turn-off.  Your apologies will become meaningless, weak, and lack substance.  Antics and polarization won't get you elected.  Empathy and humility will.

Refrain from violence.  Focus on substance over spectacle, and let your vision for the country speak for itself.  If the populace is to take you seriously, you must demonstrate leadership worthy of representing the Bahamas both domestically and internationally.  Your actions will be scrutinized globally, so it's crucial to maintain a level of maturity and statesmanship.  Anything less, undermines your message and credibility.

Source / Comment

Rick Fox - Betrayal or Survival?

Survival is serious, says Rick Fox

BETRAYAL OR SURVIVAL?

Rick Fox Legacy

Was it Betrayal or Survival?  What would you do?

Survival is serious.  The lengths we go to in life to secure our future and our family’s future can be serious.  Some people bet on a life of crime.  I bet on basketball.

Some of you have asked: Why did you play for another team?

It was a simple decision: I played to secure a future for my family.

At the time, The Bahamas didn’t have a national team that competed globally.  There was no path to the NBA from home.  Playing for another team wasn’t betrayal, it was the only opportunity to be seen, to prove myself, and to secure my future.

In the summer of 1990, with the guidance of my coach Dean Smith and my parents, I joined Canada’s NBA summer league team.  I made the all-star team, caught the attention of NBA scouts, and earned my place among the pros.

That decision was never about leaving The Bahamas behind it was about making sure The Bahamas would one day be seen on every stage I stepped on.

Every decision since then has been in service to my family and to The Bahamas.  Every opportunity I’ve had has come from God.  He is driving this ship.

From championship podiums to Hollywood sets, from boardrooms to global summits The Bahamas has been with me every step of the way.

You don’t have to be seen to serve.  You just have to be in action.

And I’ve been a Bahamian in action my entire life building, competing, and winning for my family and our people.

WHAT HAVE I DONE FOR THE BAHAMAS? WHAT WILL YOU DO?

People ask: What have you done for The Bahamas?

My question back is simple: What will you do?

Let’s turn the conversation of service into a competition.  Who among us has done more for the nation we love?

Just because one is unseen doesn’t mean one was absent.  Let me shine a light.

For over 30 years, I’ve made The Bahamas number one: not just in sports, but in business, culture, and innovation.  From courts to boardrooms, studios to sustainability summits, I’ve delivered results that carry the Bahamian flag higher every time.

I’ve rebuilt our basketball programs, mentored athletes, brought world-class coaches, and funded clinics and camps.  I’ve fought for Bahamian players to gain international exposure and opened doors for scholarships around the world.

Through Partanna, I’ve positioned The Bahamas as a leader in climate innovation — creating jobs, opportunities, and global respect for our people.  I’ve sponsored students to study abroad, bringing knowledge and technology home to fuel our growth.

This is the work of impact — not applause.  I don’t chase validation.  I chase results.  I didn’t return home seeking fame or power.  I was invited to help solve national problems: housing, opportunity, and sustainability.

I am not a politician.  I am a winner who happens to be on Team Bahamas.

THE MOVEMENT TO WIN

Some enter politics to serve.  The day I enter, I enter to compete to defend, to facilitate, and to lead.

Winning requires strategy, focus, discipline, and execution the same principles that have guided my success for decades.

This movement is not for everyone.  Some are satisfied with what they have.

But this movement is for Bahamians who want to see our country rise to a level not seen before, locally and globally.

We will finish what our forefathers started.  We will go all the way.

Any unseen work I’ve done, any blessing I’ve received, has been used to lift this nation, open doors for our youth, and build pride that cannot be taken away.

That is my contribution.  That is my legacy.  That is what I’ve done — and will continue to do — for The Bahamas.

Every chapter of my life has been about winning: on the court, on the screen, in business, and now, in building solutions for our people.

Today begins the most important chapter yet: competing and winning for the Bahamian people from home.

I have a vision for the next 50 years: a Bahamas where our children inherit a nation that works for them, not against them.

Where we don’t just talk about progress we deliver it.  No movement builds a future alone.

This vision needs teammates, builders, and believers.  It will grow as quickly as the Bahamian people decide they’ve had enough — that they deserve more — and are ready to rise.

I’m ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with every Bahamian who wants more: more honesty, more opportunity, more action, more results.

Today is the beginning of a movement that competes, wins, and delivers for The Bahamas.

Source / Comment

The UN Approves a New Multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti to Replace the Kenyan-led Security Support Mission

The UN Security Council on Tuesday 30 September, 2025 - authorized a new multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti to replace the Kenyan-led security support mission, amid escalating gang violence, widespread rights abuses and a humanitarian emergency affecting all aspects of life in the island nation.

The resolution – co-penned by Panama and the United States, and backed by dozens of countries in the region and beyond – was adopted by a vote of 12 in favour, with three abstentions from China, Pakistan, and Russia.  Under an initial 12-month mandate, the GSF will work in close coordination with the Haitian National Police (HNP) and the Haitian armed forces to conduct intelligence-led operations to neutralise gangs, provide security for critical infrastructure, and support humanitarian access.

The 5,550-strong force will also protect vulnerable groups, support reintegration of former fighters and help strengthen Haitian institutions.

The Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, authorised by the Security Council in October 2023, faced chronic underfunding, insufficient personnel, and limited operational capacity, making it difficult to contain gangs that now control large parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

While the MSS enabled the HNP to regain access to some areas and infrastructure, it struggled to match the scale of the crisis.

Kenya, which led the MSS, also backed the new mechanism.

Haiti is facing nearly 1.3 million internally displaced people, rising kidnappings, widespread sexual violence, and gangs that control large areas of the capital.

Haiti is not alone

Introducing the text in the Council, Ambassador Eloy Alfaro de Alba of Panama emphasised the urgency of international support.

“Since last year, this Council has requested the Secretary-General to put forward recommendations to address the multidimensional crisis in Haiti.

Haiti is facing an unprecedented, multi-dimensional crisis that requires our decisive attention,” he said.

He urged all Security Council members to support the initiative, stating that doing so would “send a clear message to Haiti – you are not on your own.”

UN Support Office in Haiti

The resolution also tasks the Secretary-General to establish a UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) to provide logistical and operational support to the GSF, HNP and Haitian armed forces, including rations, medical care, transportation, strategic communications and troop rotation.  UNSOH will also support the Organization of American States’ SECURE-Haiti project and ensure compliance with international human rights standards.

A force against gangs

The United States, a sponsor of the resolution, highlighted the scale of the new mission.  Ambassador Mike Waltz said that the MSS mission lacked the scale, scope and resources needed to take the fight to the gangs and restore a baseline of security in Haiti.

“Today’s vote sets that right.  With this vote to transform the MSS mission to the new Gang Suppression Force, a mission five times the size of its predecessor and with a strengthened mandate to go after the gangs,” he noted.

“The international community is sharing the burden and living up to its promise to help Haiti turn the tide.  It offers Haiti the chance to assume responsibility for its own security.”

Haitian government ultimately responsible

The Council stressed that Haiti’s government retains “primary responsibility” for national security and governance reform, including tackling corruption, illegal arms flows and the recruitment of children by gangs.

The GSF is intended to support Haitian authorities while creating conditions for the country to gradually assume full security responsibility.

A decisive turning point

The decision to transform the MSS mission to the GSF marked “a decisive turning point” in one of the most serious challenges in Haiti’s already turbulent history, the country’s ambassador said after the vote.

While the Multinational Security Support mission has been “a valuable support and a strong signal of international solidarity”, Ambassador Pierre Ericq Pierre stressed: “But the reality on the ground has reminded us that the scale and sophistication of the threat far exceeds the mandate initially granted to this mission.”

As the Security Council granted a stronger, more offensive and more operational mandate, “it is giving the international community the means to respond to the gravity of the situation in Haiti,” he added.

Source / Comment