bimini

As Category 5 Hurricane Milton churns toward Florida, the Bahamas is under a tropical storm warning beginning early Thursday morning, significantly impacting the northern islands—Abaco, Grand Bahama and Bimini.

Florida is expected to experience fierce a hurricane with a direct hit to Tampa and St Petersburg with tall surges and floodings.

Though the Bahamas is not in the direct pathway of the ferocious hurricane, these islands will experience adverse effects in the next 36 hours.

“Do all you can to stay safe,” Prime Minister Philip Davis warned at a press conference on Tuesday evening. “Prepare now.”

The Bahamas is on the outer peripherals of the hurricane and will experience tropical-force winds. New Providence, Eleuthera and Andros will experience winds, extensive floodings and heavy rainfalls.

Davis announced the closure of schools on these islands and urged residents to prepare.

Meteorologists predict Grand Bahama and Abaco will experience winds and ‘squally’ conditions while Bimini will get gust winds.

Hurricane Milton had weakened to a Category 4 storm but strengthened again to a Category 5 storm Tuesday afternoon, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

Its wind speeds have increased past the Category 5 threshold. The storm is located about 480 miles (775 kilometers) from Tampa as of about 5 p.m. EDT, and has sustained wind speeds of 165 mph (270 kph), the hurricane center said. The hurricane center also extended a storm surge and hurricane warnings on Florida and Georgia’s east coasts.

Tropical storm-force winds will accompany the storm because Milton is considered a large hurricane. Winds are predicted to cause widespread damage to property and trees and leave millions without electricity across Florida.

An extreme flash flood risk — the highest level — is in effect for Tampa to Orlando to Daytona.

The mother of a 32-year-old man who was shot and killed in North Bimini on Thursday, says she has already found forgiveness for the person accused of the shooting.

James Sands, affectionately known as ‘Boo’, a resident of Abaco but who worked in Bimini, was fatally shot at Fisherman’s Village Marina in Bimini.

His mother, Mary Sands, in a social media post, said she forgives the person who killed her son.

“The young man that killed ‘Boo’, I find it in my heart to forgive him, even though my heart is torn apart. My son is gone at an early age.

“Tell him I forgive him,” she said in a voice note that went viral.

Authorities had issued a wanted poster for 28-year-old Shandae Brown, holding him responsible for the murder. Police said Brown is a Jamaican national and worked on the island.

It is not known the motive for the shooting.

But Mrs Sands said her only desire is for the suspect to receive salvation.

“I want him to surrender his life and heart to God before it [is] a day too late.

“‘Boo’ mommy forgives him. Yes, he killed my baby.

“Surrender his life to God. God is waiting on him. If he [can] only ask God to forgive him. Yes, he killed my baby but I still forgive him,” the distraught mother cried.

Though the mother has found forgiveness, family members of the victim said they have not reached a place of pardon. They believe the suspect fled and may never be prosecuted for the homicide.

Sands’ sister Jimillie, told the Tribune that her brother and the suspect worked at competing car rental companies and Sands had warned them that Brown was jealous of his success.

“He (James) told mummy to keep praying for him at his job. He mentioned that one boy had a problem with him, but he wasn’t paying it much mind because everyone was there to make money.”

Police described Brown as brown-skinned, with light brown eyes and is slim built. He is between 5’10 and 6’ feet tall and weighs between 170-180 pounds.

Police warned that Brown may be armed.

The man accused of murdering James Sands in North Bimini on Thursday is on the run and is a danger to the public, police say.

Shandae Brown, 28, is wanted for murder after Sands was fatally shot at Fisherman’s Village Marina in Bimini.

Sands, found unresponsive, sustained gunshot wounds to the body and was pronounced dead on the scene. A graphic picture in circulation shows the victim lying in a pool of blood.

Reports are that the victim was a resident of Abaco and worked on the island.

Authorities said Brown, who lived in Bailey Town, is a Jamaican national and worked as a carpenter on the island. He is described as brown-skinned, with light brown eyes, and slim build. He is between 5’10 and 6’ feet tall and weighs between 170-180 pounds.

Police warned that Brown may be armed.

Anyone with information on Brown’s whereabouts is asked to contact detectives at the Alice Town Police Station at 347-3144 or CDU in Grand Bahama at 352-9774/5.

Police in Bimini are searching for a 28-year-old man who shot and killed an individual on the island on Thursday afternoon.

Key Facts

• Police believed the suspect fatally shot a 32-year-old man around noon when he was found unresponsive with an injury in the Fisherman’s Village in North Bimini.
• He was pronounced dead on the scene.
• Residents say neither the victim nor the suspect were natives of the island.
• Officials say the search continues. If you have information on his whereabouts, you are asked to contact the Alice Town Police Station at 347-3144 or CDU in Grand Bahama at 352-9774/5.

Crucial Quote

Ricardo Grant mounted a strong campaign in the by-election for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, a Progressive Liberal Party stronghold, but he lost to Kingsley Smith by over 878 votes.

Smith secured 2150 votes and Grant got 1272 votes; Lincoln Bain of the Coalition of Independents captured 307 votes.

History has proven that the government of the day wins by-elections in the Bahamas, which was another setback for Grant in an area that has predominantly voted for the PLP, except in 2017 when FNM’s Pakeisha Parker won against Obediah Wilchcombe who died in September, making the seat vacant for a by-election.

Wilchcombe served for three consecutive terms before losing to Edgecombe who has proven that the area is winnable in a general election, which depends a large degree on people’s assessment of the government’s record at the end of a five-year term.

Grant may have lost now, but could win in the general election if he keeps ‘working the grounds’ because by-elections and general elections are different.

Voters’ political behavior differs during a by-election than a general election. And the government of the day has access to more resources to expend in one constituency than if the entire country was heading to the polls.

Chairman of the FNM, Duane Sands lost to Ryan Pinder (now the attorney general) in the Elizabeth Estates constituency in a by-election in 2010 (when PLP Malcolm Adderly resigned his seat) and also lost in the 2012 general election, but he won the 2017 election.

Grant must remain steadfast.

“The focus remains on the citizens of West Grand Bahama and Bimini. We will hold the government’s feet to the fire,” Grant said after the loss.

“I don’t just pass through here, I live here. This is my home…I am invested here…My family is here…The fight here is personal and it will remain personal…We will continue to partner together to continue to do the best we can with what we have.”

Troubled by recent headlines about his purported wealth of $1.8 million, Leader of the Coalition for Independents Lincoln Bain said in a social media post, that it is not an issue worth discussing.

“I don’t have a problem talking about my money….The real big story is not how much money Lincoln Bain declared because it’s the same amount of money I declared the last time.”

Bain, an activist, striving to become a politician, is making this his second attempt at the House of Assembly having thrown his hat into the ring in the 2021 general election where he received 641 votes, losing to PLP Myles LaRhoda who got 1712 votes and FNM incumbent Reuben Rahming received 937 votes.

As he runs in the by-election for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, his financial disclosures caught the attention of critics who questioned how he obtained his assets.

Bain who labelled himself a “businessman” on his financial disclosure, is the wealthiest candidate running in the by-election, according to what’s stated on the disclosure.

Seeking to clarify, Bain said on Wednesday that he owned many retail, wholesale and services businesses–shoes, clothing and weddings services.

He added that most of his money was derived from Information Technology services for the Tribune and the Bahamas government.

“I am an IT professional and the Tribune came to me to do their mobile apps and websites for 100 Jamz, and to do other IT [services].

“They have been my big clients and helping pay my bills for years. They have been writing cheques to Lincoln Bain.”

He continued, “A part of what I have is because I did excellent service for the Tribune,” making other claims that Bahamas Air was another client benefiting from his services.

“I manufactured medical supplies in China and sold [them] to the Bahamas government for the hospital and clinics, medical supply business with a government contract.

“I am well known for many retail businesses, I have owned–retail, and wholesale businesses in this country.  I  am one of the biggest producers of mobile apps in this country—probably. Probably even in the region.”

It is not known how many of these purported businesses are in operation. Bain claimed he retired at 32 years old.

His financial declarations stated that he has $41,000 in his savings account and $600,000 in real estate. His other personal items are worth $175,000; accounts receivable is $250,000; automobile is $20,000; real estate income is $42,000; and other income is valued over $50,000.

He then declared that a property was worth $1.8 million but did not declare a salary amount.

Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party Fred Mitchell insisted the party’s newest ratified candidate Kingsley Smith is rooted in the party despite his most recent switch from the Free National Movement as he runs on the party’s ticket for West Grand Bahama and Bimini in the upcoming by-election.

Smith faced a bitter battle to become the nominee on Friday amidst strong opposition from some party insiders and supporters who remained adamant that he was not a good pick since he has ties to the FNM.

He left the FNM in 2020 to join the PLP. His run incited the circulation of a video showing him dressed in FNM paraphernalia.

Former Immigration and Labour Minister Shane Gibson’s supporters hoped the party would select him as its standard bearer instead, but a squabble ensued between him and Party Chairman Fred Mitchell.

“Brave gatta go,” and “Fred gatta go” a group rowdily shouted at the party’s headquarters after Smith was declared the nominee.

Hoping that everyone gets on board with the party’s decision, Mitchell maintained in a voice note that Smith’s father Kingsley Smith Sr was a stalwart councillor in the Progressive Liberal Party and Smith once served as the Progressive Young Liberal before leaving the party to support his uncle, Dennis Martin, who ran for the FNM in 1992.

“He is safely back in the PLP,” Mitchell affirmed PLP supporters hoping to calm nerves and mend the division after some supporters said they would not vote in the by-election since Smith was elected.

After Smith won in the run-off with Gibson, Prime Minister and Party Leader Philip Davis said he represented a “fresh and new” face to the party which appears to be a direct contrast to Gibson who once served in the PLP’s administration as Minister of Immigration, Labour and Training and was embroiled in bribery scandal but won his case and sued government, settling for 2.5 million dollars after claiming malicious prosecution and false imprisonment.

While endorsing 50-year-old Smith, Fred reminded party supporters, that most of the party was made of the old guard and needed to present younger candidates, adding that Smith is the party’s “attempt to change course, selecting younger people.”

Paraphrasing a 2007 report done by the party, Mitchell said that “if PLP did not change, it was heading for the graveyard.”

“Stalwart councillors were largely over 70 years and in 5 years, 50% would have gone on to glory.”

He continued, “We have no choice but to look to the future, no choice but to attract, invite, embrace a new generation. We have no choice but to lead, guide, direct and embrace them while we are still alive.”

Mitchell himself is 70 years old while Davis is 72 years old.

The FNM’s pick to run in the area, Bishop Ricardo Grant is 55.

Photo credit: Fred Mitchell on social media

The sister of a missing American free diver who went missing in Bimini waters said she will not give up finding her brother, even though the Royal Bahamas Defense Force and the US Coast Guard called off the search.

In hopes that he is still alive, in a message to him she said, “Ryan, we will never stop looking for you.”

Nicole Proulx said Ryan went missing on Friday around 6 pm, while free diving in Bahamian waters near the Bimini Barge Wreck, approximately 1.5 miles west of Bimini Inlet, wearing a green UV hooded shirt, heather green athletic shorts, red dive fins, redfin keepers and green snorkels.

He was never found, but a blue pole, red fins, and green shorts were discovered in the surrounding waters on Sunday.

After the US Coast Guard and Royal Bahamas Defence Force suspended the search on Sunday, friends launched a GoFundMe, seeking $60,000 to find the 31-year-old former police officer. As of Monday, more than $30,000 was raised.

“Any money raised will go towards helping fly the volunteer dive team in this effort to bring Ryan home in an honorable manner that he deserves… If Ryan is found prior to this rescue trip, the money will go directly to his family. Any money left after the team goes over will go to the family also,” friend Shelby Morin said.

She described Ryan as a “friend and just an amazing guy.”

Ryan who is from Connecticut, left Palm Beach County Marina, Florida for Bimini last Thursday with a crew including his wife, after free diving around a sunken boat, when he disappeared.

The U.S. Coast Guard deployed two helicopters and a search plane to assist the Royal Bahamas Defense Force in the search but came up empty. After aircraft crews searched over 673 square miles for Ryan, the Coast Guard suspended the search.

“We offer our deepest condolences to the Proulx family,” Lt. Cmdr. Matt Spado, Coast Guard liaison officer, said in a tweet. “The decision to suspend the active search efforts pending further development is one we never take likely.”

Steve Diffenbacher, a friend said Ryan was a U.S.C.G. licensed boat captain and diver and often ran boats from the Northeast down to South Florida for clients who wanted to transport their boats.

After rescue crews ended their search for two missing men from Bimini, family members are holding out hope they would be found alive and have offered a reward as they piece together the circumstances surrounding the men’s disappearance nearly two weeks ago.

The whereabouts of James Toote, 31, and Nazar Robins, 23, from Bimini, Bahamas are still a mystery after frantic searches led to a dead end. Toote, a fisherman routinely travels to Grand Bahama and took Robins with him expecting to return the next day in a vessel that he purchased.

Family members of the men only grew concerned when they did not arrive in Bimini, and alerted officials about the missing case.

Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force became involved, conducting searches, but to no avail.

“Basically, we searched and searched and searched all week, last week with planes, boats and helicopters. Basically, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force was the lead in the case, and yesterday (Sunday) we searched again and that was our last day. We gave it all just about a full week, two planes, three planes in the air at all times,” Eddie Whan, BASRA Chairman told the Tribune.

“We have done everything that we can possibly humanly do up until [Sunday].

“We have had negative results in all of the searches.”

Relatives have since offered a reward for information leading to the whereabouts of the men, asking for members of the public to help identify the previous operators of the boat before it was purchased.

“We need to backtrack and identify the last person to see them or hear their voices.

“If you know something, please say something. Our families are hurting,” Robin’s sister pleaded.

The men’s cell phones were reportedly last used in the West End area, and their vessel reportedly departed from Port Lucaya in Grand Bahama.

Robin’s mother, Renee Smith also pleaded for help locating the men, “Please! We need closure.

“I believe I will see Nazr again. Hoping and praying still,” she said.

Whitney Brice, the niece of Toote said while she awaits their return, the pain of not knowing is overwhelming.

“From Sunday to now, no word at all. Lord knows this is hurtful. Yes, I trust you Lord but the process is rough.”

Early in the investigation, rumours circulated that the men were arrested in Florida, but the families quickly shot down the speculations.

“The rumours may not be true but someone knows what happened and we will wait for that story,” Robin’s sister said.

More than a week since their disappearance on the high seas, sister Themeia Sands is anxiously awaiting her brothers’ return, who traveled in a boat from Bimini to their purported next stop, Andros.

Themeia took to social media asking for assistance in finding the men, Christopher Mackey and Jerone Sands, showing the bright yellow and white boat they were last seen in.

Mackey, 51, worked at the Water and Sewage Corporation and Sands, 44, was a carpenter and a boat engine repair man, travelling from Nassau to Florida to pick up a boat, purchased by a buyer in the capital.

Family members in Bimini said the men stopped by on their way to Andros, but experienced a problem with the boat’s engine and the hull. And were admonished to take a plane from Bimini but the men opted to continue their journey to Andros, after making the necessary repairs to the vessel.

The brothers left Bimini on Monday 22nd after 3 pm but never reached Andros according to a family member who stood on the dock awaiting their arrival until 2 am.

Since then, the family has been worried, praying the pair will soon call to say they are in good physical shape.

Themeia said, “This is alarming and strange that were funding the sea and aircraft in an effort to find them and bring them home safely. Nothing was spotted. Someone saw or know something.”

The sister, while on social media, agitated for the Royal Bahamas Police force to produce a missing person flyer for the men, calling officers “laid back” in the attempt to help find her brothers.

On Wednesday afternoon, authorities issued the flyer asking for the public’s assistance in finding the men.

If you see Mackey or Sands, call the police at 911 or 502-9991. Family members are also asking the boaters to be on the lookout for the pair.