eleuthera

Friends, family, and colleagues are struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of Jonathan Johnson, the young police officer killed in a car crash on Sunday night along East Bay Street near East Villa.

“He was a very humble young man,” Raymond Bain said. “He had a promising career ahead of him.”

Police said Johnson’s vehicle struck a wall near a curve. He was pronounced dead at the scene. In a preliminary report, authorities indicated that speed may have been a factor.

But for those who knew him, Jonathan Johnson will be remembered for the life he lived.

Before joining the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Johnson served as a corrections officer at the Bahamas Department of Corrections.

At Judea Family Worship Center, where he worshipped, the news sent waves of sorrow.

“My heart hurt,” said Malita Bannister. “Brother Jonathan was faithful to Judea Family Worship Center.”

To his friends, he was a brother.

Jonathan and Jeremy Ferguson had recently made plans to spend time together.

“The last thing we said was, ‘We going balling,’” Ferguson shared. “Now I’m looking at you and hearing bad news.”

Within the police community, the loss has been deeply felt.

“The whole police force will miss you,” said Harrold Brown, speaking on behalf of colleagues who trained, worked, and stood beside Johnson.

He was originally from Lower Bogue, Eleuthera.

Residents and frequent visitors to Eleuthera have warned that large stretches of the island’s main roads are dangerous to drive. Wednesday’s fatal crash in Palmetto Point has renewed urgent calls for road repairs, as many say deteriorating conditions are putting lives at risk.

Two men, aged 21 and 28, were killed in a traffic collision yesterday morning on Queen’s Highway in Palmetto Point. The crash occurred shortly before 7am and involved two vehicles travelling in opposite directions.

The victims, Sanvano Francis and Zearan Forbes, were in the Nissan Bluebird and had to be extricated from the wreckage using the Jaws of Life. They died on the scene.

But as police continue their investigation, residents and road users are pointing to what they say is a long-standing problem on that stretch of highway: potholes, uneven surfaces, poor markings, and limited lighting.

One man said he was nearly killed in the same area last week by “someone ducking a pothole.”

“You have to do a zig-zag to get around the holes in that spot,” said Yuwonka Lafrance.

Craig Gibson said he has repeatedly reported the road conditions. “Them potholes bad, bad right there. And I keep reporting them.”

Watch here, Philippa Kelly, FNM Candidate for South and Central Eleuthera, show the poor condition of the roads where the young men were killed in the collision.

Another resident said the lack of response has been discouraging. “When I complained, I was told they were patching them. That was from last October. Almost October again. It’s sad that something serious and tragic has to happen before anything is taken seriously.”

Others described the road as a constant hazard.

“Trying to avoid potholes can be a challenge,” said Ian Fox.

“They need to fix the road. It’s bad,” said Travis.

Sonia Smith Dean said temporary repairs are not enough. “They need to fix the road properly, not patching. People are losing their lives, damaging their cars, especially rentals. We need new roads.”

Visitors to the island echoed similar concerns.

“At night, with no lines and potholes, the roads are terrible to see on,” said Chris Wharton.

Kim Aranha said driving in Eleuthera often feels unsafe. “No centre lines, no lights, no cat’s eyes, blind corners, blind hills. People drive fast, then add potholes into the mix.”

Some said simple infrastructure upgrades could reduce risk.

“If roads were built with shoulders and painted lines, it would help immensely,” said visitor Jen Iverson. “Speed may be a factor, but better road design gives drivers more room and clearer guidance.”

While authorities have not yet determined the cause of the crash, the public response has placed renewed attention on road safety across the island.

“What does the MP think about the state of the roads?” asked Virginia Ballance.

The Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera is Clay Sweeting, who also serves as Minister of Works and Family Island Affairs — the ministry responsible for maintaining roads in the Family Islands.

For many residents, that dual role sharpens the call for action.

As families mourn two men who lost their lives on Queen’s Highway, those who live and drive in Eleuthera say the tragedy reflects a deeper issue: roads they believe have been allowed to deteriorate for too long.

“We drive in fear,” one resident said. “And we shouldn’t have to wait for more lives to be lost before something changes.”

Featured Images: Shenique Miller FB (showing the accident after the two young men died on Wednesday)

Five months after the killing of South African yacht crew member Paige Bell in Eleuthera, her death is prompting renewed calls for safety reform within the yachting industry.

This week, following the arraignment of Brigido Munoz in the Bahamian court, the Mexican national charged in Bell’s death, friends and colleagues of the 20-year-old stewardess announced the launch of an industry initiative called Protecting Crew Lives (PCL). The group says its mission is to push for greater transparency, safeguarding, and awareness across the yachting sector.

Bell and Munoz were both crew members aboard Far From It, a 43-metre Richmond yacht docked at Harbour Island at the time of the incident. Munoz pleaded not guilty to the charge on Tuesday.

Those closest to Bell say her killing exposed longstanding gaps in how crew welfare and safety are handled at sea, particularly for young crew members working in close quarters, far away from home.

“Paige’s death has reinforced the urgent need for accountability and meaningful reform in yachting,” friends said in a statement, noting what they describe as the industry’s lack of consistent safeguarding principles.

Among those speaking out is Karine Rayson, director of The Crew Coach and a former chief stewardess, who says crew welfare is frequently treated as secondary in an industry focused on luxury and performance.

“This tragedy once again draws attention to known vulnerabilities in crew welfare that have existed for a long time, but are too often overlooked,” Rayson told SuperYachtNews.

She pointed specifically to the absence of mandatory criminal background checks under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), an international framework governing seafarers’ rights.

“It’s shocking that there’s no mandatory requirement,” she said. “Owners assume checks are being done, but often they aren’t. This is something the MLC must urgently review.”

Bell’s friends and colleagues say Protecting Crew Lives is about ensuring that her death leads to lasting change, not just within yachting, but in how crew safety is prioritised and enforced.

As legal proceedings continue in the Bahamas, her friends say the focus must remain on protecting the lives of crew members who work behind the scenes.

More than a week since Free National Movement Leader Michael Pintard hit back at Prime Minister Philip Davis for calling him a “waterboy” for the Grand Bahama Port Authority, he headed to Eleuthera to deliver water to residents suffering from the supply disruption on the island that has further exacerbated in recent months.

When he was labeled as such, Pintard responded in a press conference last week, “The only people I’m carrying water for are the folks in Eleuthera who can’t get water from this government,” referencing the vexing issue on the island.

On Friday morning, he was seen in Eleuthera loading a water truck with cases of water and delivering them to residents.

“I’m spending my Friday morning in Governor’s Harbour where inconsistent utilities are still plaguing residents…We’ve brought with us an additional 30 pallets of water with more on the way,” he said.

“We’ve also purchased water from local suppliers.”

Residents have protested the water problem, expressing difficulty with taking showers and flushing toilets because the supply is off for many hours, raising hygienic concerns.

The government has a contract with Aqua Design Bahamas Limited, its main water supplier on the island, but has said it faced “recent equipment failure at the reverse osmosis desalination plant and the subsequent delays in repairs are indicative of a significant lapse in service delivery.”

Central and South Eleuthera MP Clay Sweeting said in June that “the level of service provided by Aqua Design Bahamas Limited is unacceptable and does not meet the standards we expect in the Bahamas,” Sweeting said in a statement.

“The government will thoroughly revisit the contractual arrangements with Aqua Design Bahamas Limited.

“If the current arrangement proves inadequate to meet the needs of our people, we will take the necessary steps to seek alternative solutions that ensure consistent and reliable water services.”

A woman is searching for answers after her father’s death in Eleuthera in what authorities believe to be a drowning incident.

Keen surfer Tom Quartiano, 68, from the USA, has been described as a wonderful individual who enjoyed life on the island.

Authorities said he was found on the shores of Surfer’s Beach last week Saturday around 10 am, but do not suspect foul play, as they await an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

His daughter Shannon Eramo is heartbroken and wants to find out what happened.

“I know the surfing community is close so if anyone has any information please let me know. He has been an avid part of Eleuthera his entire life and everyone that knew him, knew how wonderful of a man he was.”

James Athan, a friend of 40 years, said “TQ” as he was affectionately called, was found by tourists with a surfboard and leash still attached to his leg.

He warned surfers in their community never to surf alone.

“Tom and I have surfed waves all over the world and he was an accomplished waterman…It was determined he went out early for a session and was out there alone. No one knows what happened except that he is dead…He was in excellent physical health,” Athans said.

“Don’t surf alone. That’s why we have friends. Any second of any day something bad could happen.”

Linda Coll-Marshall once worked with Quartino in the Detective Bureau. She remembered him as “a class act.”

“I’m still in disbelief about his passing,” she said.

Tom McDevitt has a second home on the island and often surfed with Quartino. “He is one of the kindest gents I have met.”

“It seems he passed doing something he loved in a place he also loved,” his friend Bill Musselwhite lamented.

What appeared to be a dead whale washed ashore on a beach in Eleuthera on Thursday afternoon.

The massive sighting rested on the shore as astonished visitors and beach-goers examined what seemed like its carcass. Two long prongs that resembled tusks protruded from one side of the animal.

Kristel Anderson, one of the first to stumble upon it described it as an “interesting beach find,” adding that it emitted a strong odor.

It is not known how long the carcass was on the beach. “If you want to check it out, bring something to cover your nose,” she said.

While beached whales are uncommon in the Bahamas, it is not surprising since most islands remain isolated and thrive with diverse marine life.

Some social media users identified it as the head of a Sperm Whale.

Charlotte Dunn has experiences in marine life, and said it is possible the whale was severed by a ship and its remains floated up the beach.

She notified the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation which was sending a researcher to gather information on the dead marine animal.

Young father Leroy Bethel, killed in Eleuthera on early Easter Monday, was one of his uncle’s favorite nephews.

“I never told him I loved him, but he knew,” Sergio Bethel said as he recalled his last moments with his nephew.

“This is so hard for me and my family because I just talked to him, and now he’s gone. Wow, this is heartbreaking,” he continued.

Bethel was a resident of the small community in James Cistern, and he was found dead not far away. He was discovered shot to death around 3 am while sitting in a vehicle. Police said he sustained a fatal gunshot wound to his upper body.

Shocked by his death, resident of the area Sheila Thompson recalled seeing him the day before the unfortunate incident.

“Life is unexpected,” she said. We just saw [him] yesterday chilling and smiling.”

Bethel shared a son with his former girlfriend Vante Scavella. She took to social media to share her disgust at his violent death.

“My baby’s daddy [is] gone. I can’t believe y’all kill Liam’s daddy like that, and to be the one to find him, is even more painful,” she grieved.

Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera Clay Sweeting said he often interacted with Bethel.

“I remember during my first campaign, Leroy walked with me throughout James Cistern and we use to check in on each other periodically since then,” he recalled.

Residents said they are in mourning and fear that the killing has rocked the quiet and safe community they have come to enjoy.

As police search for the killer, Sweeting said, “As a collective community on Eleuthera, we must all have zero tolerance to violence and continue to fight for the safety of our community.”

Family and friends are grieving the sudden loss of a guidance counselor killed in a car crash off Queen’s Highway, Eleuthera on Friday.

“I am in complete disbelief and feel completely broken. I don’t know what else to say,” best friend D’Licia Taylor said.

Chara Major, a resident of Tarpum Bay, was killed after 5 pm in Salt Bluff when her grey Nissan Note hit a Casuarina tree. Images circulating social media show extensive damage to the vehicle from which she had to be extricated.

Taylor who was also her makeup artist remembers her infectious smile. “It’s hard to say goodbye. It’s really bad and I’m trying. I have so many questions…How am I supposed to do your brows, which lipstick you want…No more nothing? That smile and that grin…I just don’t know.”

The 27-year-old guidance counselor was recently posted at three primary schools in Eleuthera last year September–Emily G. Petty Primary, Emma Cooper Primary and James Cistern Primary Schools–where teachers said she “truly loved what she did and cherished her students and colleagues.”

Minister of Education Glenys Hanna-Martin expressed her sympathies on social media, describing Major’s death as “tremendous loss to the nation.”

After her tragic death, family members were trying to locate one of her beloved pet dogs named Tavari which she often took with her to makeup appointments. Her aunt Anthea Karagiannis said the dog was apparently removed from an apartment where she lived on the island.

“Tafari is a member of our family and we are further distraught to learn that we can not locate [him].”

Major graduated from St John’s College in Nassau, studied psychology at Winston Salem State University and soon returned home to begin her career, which was short-lived.

A Miami couple spent five years building a hut by hand, on land they purchased in Eleuthera.

Architects Melissa and Jacob Brillhart took less than five weeks to put the house together, spending ten days laying the foundation and building the first floor, and three weeks erecting the second floor and shingling the roof.

Living in Miami, they spent weekends visiting Eleuthera to work on their vacation home.

The hut is 600 square feet: the first floor has a kitchen and living room, and the second floor has a bedroom and a small bathroom.

Because the hut is off-the-grid, the Brillharts gather rainwater from a roof with a cistern and rely on solar panels for power. For waste, they dug a septic tank and a drain field. The stove and hot water heater run on propane gas that they fill from the local gas station.

The hut has no air conditioning.

Photo credit: The Insider

Two men of Harbour Island were arraigned in the Magistrates Court today for the death of three people killed in a boating accident on Sunday.

30-year-old Marvin Minns and 33-year-old Renaldo Grant faced manslaughter-by-negligence and other related charges.

Minns and Grant were the said captain and operator of the 28ft vessel that collided with a 17ft Boston Whaler near Harbour Island, killing Jay Roberts, Leanna Cartwright and Candace McDonald. Other passengers, Rozette Carey and Shaquille Cash were injured and remain in hospital.

Grant was found to be operating without a license.

Both men were remanded to the Bahamas Department of Corrections and will return to court on March 24 for a bail hearing.