2023

The political arena in the Bahamas was hit with unpredictable events that sent the public reeling.

Here are five top political events that were surprising:

1. Social Services Minister Obediah Wilchcombe died

Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting Obediah Wilchcombe died unexpectedly after complications with a heart condition. The MP for West End and Bimini was discovered unresponsive in his home.

His casket, draped in the Bahamian flag was flown from Grand Bahama to New Providence where a state funeral was held before he was flown to Grand Bahama for burial.

Wilchcombe’s death triggered a by-election in West Grand Bahama and Bimini.

Since he was the leader of government business in the House, Wayne Munroe now fills the role.

2. PLP Kingsley Smith won the West Grand Bahama and Bimini seat in a by-election

Kingsley Smith, the Progressive Liberal Party’s candidate for West Grand Bahama and Bimini in the by-election triggered by the death of OB Wilchcombe, won the seat comfortably after a fight with FNM candidate Ricardo Grant.

The win was expected since the constituency has consistently voted for the PLP; the governing party has a pattern of retaining sweats in by-elections; and voter turnouts are usually lower in by-elections than a general election.

The FNM with Grant led a strong campaign backed by former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, but it was not enough to win the seat.

3. Sylvanus Petty resigned as WSC Executive Chairman

Prime Minister Philip Davis requested that North Eleuthera MP Sylvanus Petty resign from his role as executive chairman of the Water and Sewage Corporation following an admission in court that he gave his daughter a $26,000 contract with the corporation. The conflict of interest was revealed while under cross-examination in an alleged corruption case involving former chairman Adrian Gibson. Petty said he did not frown on nepotism since “everyone in the Bahamas was family.”

4. Kirk Cornish charged with sexual assault

Member of Parliament for North Abaco Kirk Cornish was charged with sexual assault and death threats against a former girlfriend, following months of investigation by authorities. He has denied the claims but prosecution said it found sufficient evidence to charge the 48-year-old politician.

He resigned as Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister.

5. Immigration Minister Keith Bell issued citizenship at a funeral; it was labeled improper

In an “unorthodox” move, Immigration Minister Keith Bell conferred citizenship to a woman and her two children at their relative’s funeral prompting a call for his resignation.

The audio recording went viral as Bell swore in the three people during a funeral at the Metropolitan Church of the Nazarene but Bell defended his actions stating that he was fulfilling the wishes of the deceased man whose wife was also born in Haiti, and whose two children were born in the Bahamas.

As the public cries grew louder, Bell was removed as Minister of Immigration and positioned as Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal.

6. The House of Assembly was suddenly prorogued

The House of Assembly was prorogued unexpectedly on a Saturday, on the advice of Prime Minister Philip Davis, wiping clean the agenda with a new one beginning October 4. Many speculated that the government was attempting to refresh its agenda and shuffle the Cabinet after spurious claims against some of its members. Opposition Leader Michael Pintard believed it was an attempt by the government to evade the “undeniable truth” that it has failed the Bahamian people.

A new session of the House was opened with a newly appointed Governor General Cynthia “Mother” Pratt who read the Speech from the Throne.

The year 2023 was marked by unpredictable events with many people being exposed to uncertainty and violence, some incidents causing fear and shock.

Here are the top five news stories that left us disturbed:

1. Kenise Darville’s death at PMH prompted accusations of neglect (January)

Mother of three, Kenise Darville died days after alleging negligence at the country’s primary healthcare institution, Princess Margaret Hospital. Her viral post detailed her unpleasant experience at PMH as she pleaded for blood after the doctor’s prolonged attempt to order platelets for her condition.

Her death sparked public outrage, renewed calls for health reform, and prompted an investigation.

2. Brothers were killed in Solomon’s Yard Together (April)

Two brothers Shakuar Oliver, 22, and Tyrone Jr, 28 were discovered shot to death in their vehicle parked in the vicinity of Solomon’s Super Center. Shakur, a boxer who represented the Bahamas internationally, and Tyrone Jr who planned to marry in the coming months, were murdered days after their father Tyrone Oliver, 60 warned the youngest son about accompanying his older brother, whose lifestyle grew contrary to how he was raised.

Father Oliver said that the Holy Spirit pressed him to warn his youngest son of the impending doom.

3. Family mourned a mother and daughter found murdered in an apartment (April)

A mother, Allison Thompson, and her 14-year-old daughter were discovered partially decomposed in an apartment on Ross Corner on Allison’s 38th birthday. The discovery was made after neighbors smelled a foul odor emanating from the building.

A 23-year-old man, believed to be a boyfriend, was arrested in connection with their murder.

The incident renewed calls for greater protection of women and girls from violence.

4. American teen goes missing after jumping overboard (May)

Louisiana teenager Cameron Robbins, 18, went missing after going overboard a cruise boat in the Bahamas, while on a post-graduation trip. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force and US Coast Guard suspended search efforts after days of trying to find the missing teen. A video emerged of Robbins in the water, without a life jacket on and dressed only in swim trunks, in a reported dare attempt, as many of his classmates yelled in panic.

He remains missing.

5. American guest killed by shark while paddle boarding near Sandals Beach Resort, Bahamas (December)

American tourist Lauren Erickson Van Wart, 44, visiting the Bahamas from Boston, Massachusetts, was killed by a shark while paddle boarding off the coast of a Sandals Beach Resort. A lifeguard rescued her and her husband who was uninjured during the ordeal.

She died a short time after she was brought ashore.

The rare incident made international headlines with many experts speculating on the shark’s behaviour.

With a little more than 2 weeks in the new year, the Bahamas is now faced with nearly 10 murders, all but one instance, occurring in New Providence.

2022 ended with 123 murders and now it seems the murder rate is set to trend upward for 2023.

Killings have taken their toll on New Providence and it is worrying that the surge may continue.

Those most impacted are young men.

The latest murder case involved 30-year-old Defense Force Officer Alvarez McCoy who was gunned down at his residence in Fox Hill on Wednesday morning after arriving home in his vehicle.

About 4 hours before that tragedy, a man identified on social media as Robert aka Wong, 32, was killed on the front porch of a family residence on Sumner Street, Red Land Acres when gunmen exited a vehicle and fired gunshots at him.

Then earlier on Tuesday morning, a man in his mid-thirties was killed in his car on his way to work when gunmen intercepted him and shot through his car window, killing him instantly.

Then Monday, in Abaco, 24-year-old John Joseph, was killed around 6.30 pm as he arrived home in Bahama Coral. A gunman shot him multiple times and fled in a vehicle.

Why is this happening?

Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander has attributed the heightened crime last year to illegal guns on the streets and bail granted to suspects charged with murder who commit other acts of violence after release.

Just Wednesday, he told reporters that the criminals charged with murder last year were already given bail and are back on the streets.

“When you look at the [number] of individuals who were charged last year, and the [detection] rate is high. You don’t see that in the world when you’re talking about over 60 percent [detection] rate with respect to homicides.

“And out of that 67 percent, you are looking at between 80 to 90 matters solved, and if you were to do your research, you would note that the majority of those individuals are on bail as we speak. That’s a problem,” he said.

“I’m talking about individuals who are on bail for two and three murders and something is wrong with that…

“Individuals who are found in possession of a firearm, 95 percent of the serious crimes that are occurring the weapon of choice is a firearm, so we want to work hand in hand with the … justice system to make sure that it works and we will do our part as law enforcement,” Fernander said.