endofyear

The year 2024 was marked by dramatic events. Many people were exposed to tragedies and violence, some incidents sparking fear and shock.

Here are the top eight news stories that left us sad:

1. Politician and Deputy Chair of Free National Movement fatally shot (March 27)

Former Parliamentarian Don Saunders who served as Deputy Chair of the Free National Movement, was tragically killed during an alleged robbery in Gambier Village. He was reportedly seated outside an establishment when two masked gunmen approached him and another individual, demanding cash. Saunders fled and was shot in the neck, dying on the scene.

The incident shocked the nation, highlighting concerns about public safety and leading to calls for enhanced security measures.

2. Social media influencer dies by suicide but family disputes the autopsy

Twenty-seven-year-old Destiny Hamilton, a social media influencer with over 20,000 followers, was found in a bathroom around 8.30 am with a laceration to her wrist, in Guana Cay, Abaco. Police classified the death as a suicide but her family disputed the pathology report, insisting the “story isn’t adding up”.

Her cousin, Bennae Beneby-Pinder insisted that she was full of life and loved living.

Hamilton’s mother, Gladys Hamilton initially agreed with the pathology report but later retracted her statements, requesting an investigation into the death of her daughter be reopened. “I feel in my heart my daughter didn’t kill herself,” she said.

3. Geovanni Rolle was killed on Father’s Day. A suspect was released and the case remains unsolved (July 16)

Geovani Rolle, 38, was killed after arriving at his workplace, near the airport during the early morning hours. A suspect was arrested in the departure lounge of the domestic terminal at the Lynden Pindling International Airport after the killing, but he was released.

Rolle’s family offered a $25,000 reward for anyone with information that leads to the arrest of a suspect responsible for his death but has since publicly expressed that authorities may have colluded with the suspect for his release.

4. Three brothers from Andros were killed in a car crash (September 3)

The nation grieved with the family of three brothers killed in Nassau when their vehicle crashed into a tree off Sir Milo Butler Highway. Philip McCarron,24; Philip D’Caprio,23 died on the scene and Deangelo Christie, 20, died hours later in hospital.

The brothers were reared in Andros but transitioned to Nassau for employment at Bahamas Telecommunications and Bahamas Power and Light.

Their mother Lovan Chrsitie pleaded for donations to help bury her only sons. “My heart is broken in ways I can’t even begin to describe…Any donation, no matter how big or small, will be a blessing as I navigate this painful journey.”

5. Two die after plane ditches in water (September 13)

A Piper Aztec with six people onboard ditched in waters about eight miles west of New Providence.  Emma Williams was en route to her mother’s funeral in Lowe Sound, Andros, and Allen Russell, believed to be in his 80s, and a beloved taxi driver in Andros, died onboard.

6. Boy, 8, commits suicide when mother said ‘no’ to watching YouTube  (October 11)

An older sibling found his brother, eight-year-old Mariano Chery, hanging from the security bars of a window in their home, in what police ruled a suicide. He was transported to the hospital but died.

The boy’s mother later told local dailies that he was denied access to watch YouTube when he became upset, wandered to his room, and was found unresponsive. “Mariano just wanted to watch YouTube, so I said Mariano, let’s watch one more movie. He said ‘Mummy, I don’t want to watch movie. Y’all never let me watch what I want to watch.”

The boy was a third-grade student at TG Glover. “I wish I could’ve catch him in time,” she told The Tribune.

Mariano was the youngest case of suspected suicide in the country.

7. Adriel Moxey was raped and strangled in bushes near her home, after disappearing when school was dismissed (November 20)

The 12-year-old student of Anatol Rodgers High School went missing and was found two days later in bushes through a track road off Faith Avenue South.

She was last seen leaving school, spurring the issuance of a MARCO alert. Her mother, Sasha Moxey, pleaded for her daughter’s safe return, but the child was discovered later that evening partially clothed with a string tied around her neck. Police confirmed she was sexually assaulted and strangled.

The killing spurred public anger.

Authorities said a suspect turned himself in to police and is expected to be charged with her murder, this week.

8. Seamstress found dead in her home after a dinner party with sisters. The suspect was found sitting on her bed (November 24)

72-year-old Vernencha Butler, returning from a birthday party for a sister, was found dead in her home after a break-in, around 3 a.m.

Two male relatives, on arrival at the home, discovered the suspect sitting on her bed, and Butler unresponsive. Police said she was assaulted by the intruder, who was arrested and taken into custody.

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.

When 2022 rolled in, we anticipated a year of hope after two years of lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some news stories in 2022 turned out to be tear-jerkers.

This is a look back at the saddest and most shocking stories of the year.

1. Murder-Suicide of Fenron Ferguson and Heavenly Turveus (January)

Fenron Ferguson, a 24-year-old with his own business, shot himself in the head after killing his girlfriend, 20-year-old Heavenly Turveus. The couple who had a one-month-old baby boy was involved in a tumultuous relationship. Ferguson snuck into the home and committed the crime. The couple was found in her bedroom at her mother’s home. The baby was unharmed.

2. Woman Killed On Her Way to Prayer Meeting (January)

Church-goer Claudette Capron was murdered as she entered the church doors for a prayer meeting. She and her sister were in the parking lot of their church when a 17-year-old gunman chased another man, shooting Capron instead, who had turned around to retrieve a face mask from her vehicle.

3. Three Americans Discovered Dead in Exuma Resort (May)

Three Americans on vacation in Great Exuma were found dead in a resort where officials believed they suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning. Vincent Chiarella, 68, was found first in one villa slumped over in a bathroom and a couple, Michael Phillips, 68, and his wife, Robbie Phillips, 65, celebrating their wedding anniversary in a second villa, showed signs of convulsions. A surviving woman was hospitalized with swollen legs and arms. The tourists all died over the course of one evening.

4. Student Killed in a Park (June)

13-year-old Quinton McKenzie of LW Young School was found in a park in the Kemp Road area with bullets to the neck and jaw. Money was also found in his hand. It is believed the video gamer was playing a gambling game when shots were fired. He, with others, ran but he collapsed and died on the scene.

5. Young Woman Killed in Plane Crash (June)

Aleitheia Sweeting was killed in a plane crash after she and seven others returned from Regatta in Long Island. The young mother wished to return to Nassau early but met her fate after the plane took off. Survivors suffered a broken rib, and a bruised back after the twin-engine aircraft went down in bushes two miles from Deadman’s Cay Airport, as they waited to be found before help arrived. Sweeting was described as a sweet and joyous person.

6. Preschooler Killed by Stray Bullet (July)

4-year-old Kenton Seymour was killed while sitting on the lap of his mother when a bullet pierced the windshield of his father’s vehicle as the family took a late-night drive to get food. The gunman was chasing another man when a stray bullet hit the preschooler.

7. Migrants Overturned and Drowned on Human Smuggling Voyage (July)

17 Haitian migrants including an infant, capsized in a human smuggling operation. The group was trying to make their way to Florida for a better way of life, when their vessel capsized in rough seas and they drowned. Twenty-five people who also attempted to make the dangerous voyage were rescued and others were reported missing.

8. College Grad with Bright Future Murdered After Return from USA (August)

Omar Davis Jr, 21, had just returned from college after graduation when his body was found wrapped in a garbage bag and beaten with wounds to the head, face, and chest area. The grisly discovery in the back trunk of a vehicle came after he went missing the night before the incident when suspects put his body in a parked vehicle behind a grocery store. Davis was one of many Bahamians who received scholarships to attend college in the United States.

9. Bull Shark Kills Tourist on Private Excursion (September)

Cruise ship visitor from Pennysylvania, Caroline DiPlacido took a snorkeling excursion with her children when a bull shark off Rose Island, attacked and bit her. The one-day stop in Nassau to enjoy the country’s marine environment turned deadly in a matter of hours. The private tour operators pulled her from the waters and gave medical assistance, but she died not long after. The 58-year-old was an employee of Gannon University.