bahamas

Friends and family of Dahphaney Maxine believed there was still so much life ahead of her.

At 20, the Abaco native was building a future as a second-year nursing student at the University of The Bahamas, surrounded by friends, teammates and a community that had watched her grow.

Now, those who loved her are left with memories and the painful reality that her future will remain unfinished.

Her mother, Crystal Bostwick, described a bond that went far beyond the traditional relationship between mother and daughter.

Dahphaney was her “chocolate baby”—the child who had been beside her through life’s highs and lows.

“The first beat outside of my body,” Bostwick wrote.

She described them as being like “peas in a pod,” sharing almost everything and knowing when their relationship needed to be one of mother and daughter and when it could simply be one of friendship.

The loss came just one day before the anniversary of Bostwick’s own mother’s death, adding another layer of pain to an already unbearable moment.

“I know that God would not put more on me than I can bear,” she wrote.

Maxine was found unresponsive in her university dormitory shortly after midnight on Monday and rushed to hospital after CPR was administered. She was later pronounced dead.

News of her death sent shockwaves through her family, the University of The Bahamas community and her hometown of Abaco.

But amid the heartbreak, those who knew Dahphaney are remembering her life.

Pastor Keven Pierre, who remembered meeting her when she first walked into his practice at Murphy Park eager to learn flag football, said he watched her grow into a young woman with a bright future ahead of her.

He remembered her willingness to learn, her development as an athlete and the pride that came with seeing her team win its first championship.

“Your future was so bright,” he wrote in a tribute. “Forever Tigers. Forever our champion.”

For Pierre, Dahphaney was a young person he had watched grow. And now, he said, it was difficult to accept that her life had been cut short.

Across Abaco, condolences have poured in.

North Abaco MP Kirk Cornish remembered Dahphaney as a promising young woman whose loss was being felt by her family, friends, teammates, former schoolmates and the wider UB community.

Her journey had taken her from Patrick J. Bethel High School in North Abaco to the University of The Bahamas, where she was pursuing nursing and building a future of her own.

For retired Royal Bahamas Police Force Chief Superintendent Brian Rolle, the moment was not just a graduation but more about watching his son step into the same life of service that had once shaped his own.

Surrounded by family, friends, instructors and police leaders at the Toronto Police College on August 20, Rolle travelled from the Bahamas with his wife to witness a milestone he had helped inspire years ago.

He was there to present his son, Joshua, with his police badge.

For Joshua, the journey into policing began long before he put on his own uniform.

“Seeing my father in uniform when I was a child sparked my interest in policing,” he said.

As he grew older, that childhood fascination became something deeper—a desire to understand what police officers represent and how their service can make a difference in people’s lives.

His father’s career had given him a firsthand look at that responsibility.

Brian Rolle spent years serving with the Royal Bahamas Police Force, working in mobile patrol and at the airport and harbour. During some night shifts, he recalled, only two officers were responsible for an entire division.

In those moments, communication was essential.

“Talking was my best friend,” Rolle recalled. “You learn how to communicate with people, use your head and work with the community to resolve situations.”

Those lessons followed Joshua across borders.

Joshua had already served as a police officer in the Bahamas before moving to Canada to join his wife. But starting over meant starting again—he had to undergo police training in Canada before earning the opportunity to wear the Toronto Police Service badge. For Joshua, it was a sacrifice and a fresh beginning, carrying the experience he gained at home into a new country while building a new chapter with his wife.

After moving to Canada in June 2025 to join his wife, a childhood neighbour from Freeport whom he had reconnected with years later, Joshua began researching police organizations before choosing the Toronto Police Service.

What stood out to him was not simply the size of the organization or the opportunities it offered, but the emphasis on the people wearing the uniform.

Throughout his training, recruits were repeatedly reminded to protect their mental health, look after their wellbeing and seek help when needed.

“That made me realize Toronto was the right place for me,” he said.

Joshua has now joined 55 Division, beginning a new chapter of service in one of the world’s most diverse cities.

But graduation brought another special moment. He received the Harry Mayzel Leadership Award, one of several honours presented to members of Recruit Class 26-02.

King Charles III is coming to the Bahamas, and before the red carpets are rolled out, there is a question that deserves an answer: How much will it cost us?

The last major royal visit provides a useful benchmark.

When Prince William and Catherine visited The Bahamas in March 2022, the government later reported preliminary spending of $636,194 on the visit. More than $566,000 went to New Providence businesses and vendors, while additional spending was recorded in Abaco and Grand Bahama. The government also highlighted the international media exposure generated by the visit.

CSJ Report also reported at the time that the government had purchased 40 new vehicles and rented five floors at Atlantis for the royal party and entourage.

Four years later, the circumstances are different. This time, a reigning King is coming.

Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has indicated that the visit is expected to involve heightened security and strict protocol. But when asked about the cost, his response was striking.

“There’s no bill for our king.” He added: “Nothing too good for the king.”

But what does “no bill” actually mean?

There will inevitably be costs associated with security, transportation, protocol, government personnel, official events and preparations. Some expenses may also be absorbed by private companies or other public agencies.

The government does not necessarily have to prove that a royal visit is a bad investment.

It can argue that international exposure, diplomacy, tourism promotion and the prestige of hosting a head of state have value. In 2022, the government itself pointed to the more than 40 international media organisations that covered the visit and promoted the Bahamas internationally.

But if there is value, can we measure it?

How much will this visit cost? Who will pay? What will taxpayers provide? What will private businesses or donors contribute? And what tangible benefits will the Bahamas receive in return?

Taxpayers should know what it costs to host him.

In 2022, the public eventually got a number.

This time, perhaps the number should come before the King arrives, not months afterward.

When King Charles III arrives in the Bahamas this October, he will see a country preparing to welcome a monarch. But will he see the same Bahamas that Bahamians experience every day?

For some residents, the royal visit has already sparked a familiar joke: Perhaps the roads will finally get fixed and the lights will stay on—at least while the King is here.

The comments may be humorous, but they reveal something serious about how some Bahamians view their government’s priorities.

Shamere Castro wrote on Facebook: “Yayyyyyy. The roads will finally get paved and downtown might get a quick facelift.”

Carmon Newton asked: “Think the power might stay on for him & a few Roads get fixed?”

And Doyla Fox joked: “All roads his motorcade travels will be freshly paved.”

Because royal visits require extraordinary preparation. Security arrangements, motorcade routes, official venues and public appearances mean roads and public spaces along those routes receive heightened attention.

The Bahamas saw this kind of intense preparation during the March 2022 visit of Prince William and Catherine, when the couple travelled through New Providence, Abaco and Grand Bahama.

Now Charles is returning, this time as King.

And with him comes an interesting public expectation: that the country’s best face will be put forward for the monarch.

Why shouldn’t the best version of the Bahamas be good enough for Bahamians too?

A freshly paved road is still a freshly paved road after the motorcade leaves. A functioning electricity system benefits residents long after the royal delegation departs. A cleaner, better-maintained downtown benefits workers, businesses and visitors every day, not just a visiting head of state.

Of course, the King does not control BPL, road paving or Bahamian infrastructure. And there is no evidence that his visit itself will determine which roads are repaired or when.

But the jokes are revealing something worth paying attention to. They reflect a public perception that when important people come to town, things can suddenly happen faster.

Hubert Ingraham is no longer the leader of the Free National Movement and has not been for more than a decade. But when Ingraham tells FNMs what to do, the party listens.

Speaking at the FNM’s 34th anniversary celebration of its 1992 election victory last week, the former prime minister delivered a blunt assessment of his party’s May 12 defeat.

“We lost in 2026, and we lost badly—even losing some deposits. Accept it,” Ingraham said.

Then came the line that immediately shifted the political conversation toward Michael Pintard’s future:

“Your job is to find who could win for you. Whoever that is.”

Ingraham did not explicitly call for Pintard to resign, but the message was difficult to interpret any other way.

The FNM is preparing for a contested leadership convention. Pintard, who led the party into its devastating defeat, has not walked away. Instead, he has made clear that he intends to determine his own future after the party’s post-election process.

His response to Ingraham on Guardian Radio show ‘Z Live’ with host, Zhivargo Laing, was respectful—but unmistakably firm.

“My reverence and respect for our former leader has not changed,” Pintard said. “But I know when to take advice and when I go my own way.”

He also challenged the timing and venue of Ingraham’s intervention.

“I don’t share his view of timing and place for his comments,” Pintard said, adding that he believed the PLP was “on the ropes.”

Was Ingraham trying to save the FNM or inadvertently helping to divide it?

Ingraham argues that the FNM needs a leader capable of winning.

He pointed to former leaders Cecil Wallace-Whitfield and Kendal Isaacs, saying they were “good men” but could not win, and ultimately looked for someone who could.

Ingraham is talking about past history. He led the FNM to its historic 1992 victory over the PLP and returned the party to government again in 2007. His political legacy gives his words an authority that few former party leaders possess.

But authority is not the same thing as control.

The FNM of 2026 is not the FNM of 1992.

Pintard is the current leader. The October convention, not Ingraham, will determine who leads the party.

And Pintard appears determined not to allow the debate to become a referendum dictated from outside the current leadership.

“My head is unbowed,” he said. “I am a soldier for the Bahamian people.”

He also made clear that he intends to continue attacking the government over issues including electricity, food insecurity, rental assistance and alleged abuses of power.

Ingraham’s meddling raises a question: Can the party challenge the PLP effectively while simultaneously fighting over who should lead it?

Ultimately, the future of the FNM will not be decided by its most famous former leader—or by the current leader alone. It will be decided by the delegates who must determine which man or woman they believe can rebuild the party, reconnect with Bahamian voters and, eventually, beat the PLP.

FNMs will decide how it ends.

For students at the Erin H. Gilmore School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the 2026 BJC examinations were about proving what is possible.

The school, led by Principal Kevin Cartwright, has received the 2026 top BJC School Performance Award, celebrating an achievement that reflects the determination of its students and the commitment of the educators who helped them get there.

Three students in particular—Quintino Barr, Kamall Forbes and Macken Louis—stood out, earning grades ranging from A to C in Mathematics and Health Science.

For their teachers, the achievement is a source of pride.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology praised Science teacher Byron Jones and Mathematics teacher Claudia Bain for their dedication, patience and hard work in preparing the students for the examinations.

But Cartwright says the results cannot be measured simply by the letters printed on examination certificates.

“They represent determination, perseverance, discipline, hard work, and the courage to keep striving for excellence,” he said.

And perhaps that philosophy explains why the school’s latest achievement means so much.

Cartwright has spent years building his leadership around a simple belief: students who are blind or visually impaired should not have their ambitions limited by their disabilities.

His journey as a Teacher of the Blind and Visually Impaired began with a commitment to ensuring students had equitable access to education, independence skills and opportunities to participate meaningfully in society.

Even after moving into administration, he has refused to become disconnected from the classroom.

“I believe that effective leadership in special education must remain connected to the classroom, to the lived experiences of students, and to the instructional realities faced by teachers,” Cartwright said earlier this year.

“Teaching is not separate from my leadership—it informs it.”

He served as Acting Principal from 2023 to 2025 before being formally appointed Principal in 2025.

Today, he describes his mission in terms of access, inclusion, equity and excellence.

The BJC results suggest that philosophy is producing something tangible.

The family of 16-year-old Kaden Smith said he had a way of making people laugh, making friends feel valued and filling a room with his unmistakable smile and big hugs.

Kaden, a Bahamian-American teenager and junior at Portage Northern High School in Michigan, died on August 12 following an accidental drowning at Gun Lake, leaving his family, friends and school communities struggling to understand a loss that came far too soon.

“He was delightfully goofy, loved to laugh, and possessed a deep, authentic compassion for others,” his family wrote in his obituary.

Kaden was a talented musician who played clarinet in his school’s symphonic and jazz bands, bringing what his family described as “soul and comedy” to his performances.

Outside the band room, he could often be found shooting hoops with friends, gaming or enjoying the water he loved so much.

His father, Grand Bahama resident Audley Dean, remembered the simple moments they shared.

“We laugh, we cried, we ate, swim and talk,” he said in a social media post. “This kid was humble and I thank God I got to reconnect with him at the right time.”

Those memories now carry a weight that is difficult to describe.

Kaden’s family says his presence extended far beyond his immediate family. He had close friendships at both Portage Northern and Portage Central High Schools, creating connections that his loved ones hope will continue to live on.

And that is why his family is trying to turn an unimaginable loss into something that can help others.

A GoFundMe campaign is seeking $24,000 to assist with Kaden’s funeral expenses. Any remaining funds will be used to establish memorial scholarships for graduating seniors at both schools.

The family is also asking that memorial contributions be made to the Portage Northern Band Program, a reflection of the music that meant so much to Kaden.

His family says Kaden left behind an immeasurable void, but also a legacy of laughter, kindness, friendship and compassion.

“He will forever be in our hearts,” they wrote.

There was something almost painfully symbolic about Prime Minister Philip Davis addressing the nation Monday night about the country’s electricity crisis: While he was explaining how the government plans to fix the power system, some Bahamians in Nassau were plunged into darkness.

Davis said: “I am not going to stand here and tell you that every light will stay on tomorrow.”

He argued that his administration inherited a system that had been patched together for decades—“rent another engine and patch another cable to get through one more summer”—and said his government was now attempting to transform it.

Everyone knows BPL has problems. The question is whether the government’s plan to fix it is permanent and transparent enough.

The summer outages have stretched far beyond New Providence, affecting Abaco, Andros, Eleuthera, Long Island and other islands.

On generation, Davis says capacity is beginning to return. Blue Hills GT2 is expected back, the battery storage system is returning, two Clifton Pier engines are scheduled before the end of September, and a Blue Hills turbine is expected back in the first quarter of 2027.

Government also says 40 megawatts of rented generation can begin being phased out in January as permanent capacity comes online.

But the more complicated story is the grid.

The Davis administration’s reform plan transferred responsibility for New Providence’s transmission and distribution system to Bahamas Grid Company, while BPL reportedly pays BGC about $8 million monthly for its management.

Yet questions remain about the ownership structure following Pike Corporation’s exit from the arrangement earlier this year.

Davis described BGC as a “fully Bahamian-led utility,” but did not disclose who now owns the 60 percent interest previously associated with Island Grid Solutions.That deserves answers.

Meanwhile, the government’s longer-term vision is substantial: LNG generation scaling to 190 megawatts by late 2027, new pipelines, and combined-cycle plants at Blue Hills expected in 2027 and 2028.

The promise is cheaper and more reliable electricity.

For years, Bahamians have heard about repairs, upgrades, new engines and new plans. What makes this moment different will ultimately be measured not by how ambitious the announcement sounds, but by whether the system becomes resilient enough that a failed engine or damaged piece of equipment no longer plunges areas into darkness.

Davis said: “I am not here to manage this. I am here to fix it.”

Now, the country will be watching to see.

For more than six decades, Dr. JoAnn Deveaux Callender has used her voice to lift others. Now, her family is asking the community to help lift her through another fight.

The celebrated Bahamian soprano, educator, composer and playwright has been diagnosed with a pituitary macroadenoma, a brain tumour pressing against her optic nerves and already causing significant vision loss.

Her medical team has advised that she urgently undergo surgery followed by radiation treatment to preserve her eyesight and protect her future.

Her family is seeking to raise $65,000 CAD, approximately US$46,696, to help cover surgery, radiation, medication, travel, rehabilitation and ongoing medical care.

But for those who know Callender, this is about giving back to a woman who has spent much of her life giving to others.

“Today, she needs us,” her daughter, Jody Knowles, said in an emotional appeal for support.

Callender has been a significant figure in Bahamian music and culture, recognized as one of the country’s leading operatic sopranos and honoured as a Bahamian Icon for her contribution to the arts.

Her voice has taken her around the world, including a performance for Queen Elizabeth II. She has represented the country across the Caribbean, North and South America, Spain, Dubai, London and beyond.

As an educator and adjunct faculty member at the University of The Bahamas, Callender mentored generations of young artists, encouraging them to pursue excellence while embracing and preserving Bahamian culture.

She has also performed across churches, concerts, national celebrations and cultural events, helping introduce audiences to the richness of Bahamian music.

And this is not her first battle with cancer.

Five years ago, Callender was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. She later shared that deeply personal journey through “Breastless Beauty,” a book of poetry and photography documenting her experience, resilience and triumph over adversity.

Now, her family is facing another difficult chapter.

Knowles describes her mother as someone who has always encouraged others to become the best versions of themselves.

“If she has ever inspired you through her music,” she said, “if she has ever performed at your church, your concert, your wedding, a national celebration or a cultural event…”

“If she has ever encouraged your child, mentored a young musician, or made you proud to be Bahamian—we humbly ask you to stand with her now.”

To help, click here: GoFundMe

New Horizon Worship Ministries was filled with songs of praise, memories and silent grief on Saturday as family and friends gathered to lay Nica Juilen to rest.

For Nica’s mother, the moment seemed almost too heavy to absorb.

As the praise team sang, “Goodness of God,” she sat nearly motionless, her head resting on the shoulder of another as she sought comfort in the middle of an unbearable goodbye.

But around her were mourners carrying their own memories of Nica, who they said had a remarkable ability to make others feel loved.

Nica, 26, died after leaving a function and crashing into a utility pole. She later succumbed to her injuries in hospital, leaving behind family, friends and a young son trying to understand a loss no one expected.

For Chloe Miller, Nica became like a sister in just one year.

Their friendship deepened through moments of joy and pain, including when Miller lost her father.

Nica was there to wipe her tears.

“You always encouraged me to do what’s best for me and celebrate my achievements,” Miller remembered. “You have no idea how much you healed me.

“So many priceless memories in so little time.”

Shasheena Clarke remembered Nica as a loving person whose presence could fill a room.

“Her smile lit up a room a mile away,” she said.

Nica may have been small in stature, Clarke said, but she carried herself with a confidence that made her seem much larger.

“She might have been short in stature, but in her mind she was at least seven feet tall.”

Her heart, Clarke said, belonged to three things above all: God, her mother and her son.

She had met Nica through her aunt, but said their connection quickly felt much longer than it actually was.

Pastor Karol Roach urged the grieving family to trust God even when the answers remain beyond their understanding.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” he reminded them.

He spoke about the fragility of life and the limited number of days given to each person.

“Life is short. Life is fragile,” Roach said, reminding the congregation that life is not a rehearsal.

“We measure life in years, but God measures in days.”

Nica’s final day, he said, was June 28, 2026.

The pastor urged those gathered to consider their own numbered days and to make each one count.

“Teach us to number our days,” he said.

As her casket was slowly rolled out of the church, the congregation continued to sing, “It’s Alright Now.”

The song carried her away from the sanctuary, but the memories remained.

Video credit: JS Event Management