longisland

Long Island has traditionally been the reliable territory for the Free National Movement. Election after election, the seat has remained in the party’s winning column, built on consistent support.

With former MP Adrian Gibson no longer on the ballot, the FNM is now represented by Andre Rollins, facing off against Reneika Knowles of the Progressive Liberal Party and Shura Pratt of the Coalition of Independents.

Past results show just how firmly the FNM held the seat. In 2017, Gibson secured victory with 883 votes, comfortably ahead of the PLP’s 576, while an independent candidate received 252 votes.

In 2021, the margin narrowed slightly but remained decisive, with Gibson earning 778 votes compared to the PLP’s 574. Third-party and independent candidates played only a minor role, combining for just 24 votes.

The absence of an incumbent Gibson could change the equation. Rollins, though once a parliamentarian, carries name recognition and constituency connection through family ties.

For the PLP, the path to victory remains steep. Past results show a consistent base of support that has not been enough to overcome the FNM advantage.

At the same time, frustration with traditional party politics has been growing, at least in theory, for alternative parties. That is where Pratt enters the conversation.

It remains to be seen if that frustration translates into actual votes in a constituency that has historically voted FNM.

Newly released court documents tied to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have revealed previously unknown discussions involving a proposed physics research centre in The Bahamas — specifically on Long Island, according to Miami New Times.

Emails contained in the latest Epstein files show that a University of Miami physics professor and an Israeli physicist explored the possibility of Epstein funding a theoretical physics centre in Long Island, several years after Epstein had served jail time for state prostitution charges under a controversial plea deal.

The correspondence dates back to early 2015 and involves Dr Thomas Curtright, a physics professor at the University of Miami, and Dr Eduardo Guendelman of Israel’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The two scientists discussed whether Epstein would be interested in financially supporting a centre focused on advanced theoretical physics, potentially operating as an extension of the University of Miami’s physics programme.

In emails sent to Epstein, Guendelman described the project as a “Center for Theoretical Physics in Long Island, Bahamas” and suggested that Epstein provide guidance on research focus areas, the centre’s name, and even staffing. The scientists also floated topics such as gravity — an area Epstein reportedly had a personal interest in — and invited him to offer input on the direction of the research.

The emails show the academics planned site visits to Long Island and even suggested Epstein join them to view potential locations. At various points, they proposed meetings in The Bahamas, Miami, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, along with Skype calls to further discuss the initiative.

By mid-2015, the discussions expanded to include invitations for Epstein to attend the Bahamas Advanced Study Institute and Conferences (BASIC), an annual physics conference still held in The Bahamas today. According to its website, BASIC continues to attract international physicists and has been hosted at local resorts, most recently in January.

While the emails show sustained engagement throughout much of 2015, it appears Epstein ultimately stepped away from the project later that year. His disengagement coincided with the devastation caused by Hurricane Joaquin, which severely impacted Long Island in October 2015.

In a follow-up message after the storm, Guendelman urged Epstein to reconsider involvement, suggesting that establishing a high-level research centre could help boost morale on the island and potentially receive support from the Bahamian government and local organizations.

There is no indication the proposed physics centre ever materialised, nor that any agreement was finalised.

But the revelations add another layer to the growing scrutiny over Epstein’s global influence, the institutions and individuals willing to engage with him, and the ways the Bahamas appeared in his broader network long before his final arrest and death in 2019.

A grieving mother is appealing for public assistance following the death of her young daughter, who passed away after complications related to Lupus.

Katrina Oliver says she and her husband are struggling to cover burial expenses for their eldest child, Katelyn, who died on Boxing Day. The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of $20,000 to help lay their daughter to rest.

“We’re asking for your help with sending our baby off the way she deserves,” Oliver shared.

Katelyn, who just graduated from NGM Major High School, was described by her mother as joyful, humble, and deeply loving, and was known for her bright smile and infectious laugh. “She was always smiling,” Oliver said. “Her bubbly personality could light up any room.”

Diagnosed with Lupus at the age of 12, Katelyn had been living with the chronic illness for several years. According to her mother, she was admitted to St. Louis Children’s Hospital after experiencing flu-like symptoms. Doctors later discovered fluid around her lungs.

After receiving treatment, including medication intended to help her body release the excess fluid, Katelyn was discharged. However, she was rushed back to the hospital shortly afterward after experiencing severe chest pain.

During a subsequent medical procedure, Oliver says her daughter went into cardiac arrest.

“During the sedation, her heart stopped,” she recalled. “When they told me that, for a moment, so did mine.”

Doctors performed CPR for approximately 25 minutes before placing Katelyn on a heart pump. Oliver was later told that her daughter had suffered a severe brain injury due to a lack of oxygen.

“Again, my heart felt like it stopped,” she said.

Four days later, Katelyn passed away.

Oliver says her faith has helped carry her family through the unimaginable loss. “The Lord spoke to me and said, ‘She is with me. You can rest,’” she shared. “We felt peace, but our hearts were shattered.”

Since their daughter’s hospitalization, Oliver says neither she nor her husband has been able to return to work, compounding the financial strain during their time of mourning.

Members of the public who wish to assist the Oliver family can do so using the following details:

Name: Katrina Oliver
Bank: CIBC FirstCaribbean
Branch: Carmichael Road
Transit: 09736
Account: 201708957
Account Type: Chequing

Cash App: $K8ieO

Friends and family are struggling to comprehend the sudden and unbearable loss of the island’s recent traffic fatality, a 16-year-old student of North Long Island High School.

“He was well loved by many,” Member of Parliament for Long Island Adrian Gibson said. “I will personally miss seeing him around the community at my events.”

Amare was riding his motorcycle shortly after 1 p.m. along Brandville Road when he collided with a Jeep traveling west. He was rushed to the island’s clinic in Simm’s for medical care, but despite efforts to save him, Amare succumbed to his injuries.

Gibson knew him because they were cousins. He said the shock is profound.

He remembered him as “a bright, respectful, and striving young man” and someone whose presence left an impression wherever he went.

Amare had recieved the Most Improved Student award and Honor Roll award on his Christmas report card, and was expecting a Christmas gift for his recent achievements.

Since the death of Amare Miller in a traffic accident on Thursday afternoon, loved ones expressed disbelief and are mourning his life.

On the baseball field, Amare was more than just a teammate. Long Island Baseball described him as “a true leader among his teammates and a cherished friend,” noting that his influence extended far beyond the game.

“His impact on and off the field will be remembered,” the organization said. “His spirit will live on through the lives he touched.”

Amare was also a member of the school band, basketball team, the island’s aviator’s club, working towards his dream to become a pilot.

Amare’s parents, Latoya and Alex Miller, are said to be devastated by their son’s passing. “They are living every parent’s worst nightmare,” Gibson shared. “My heart aches for them.”

Grief has also rippled through classrooms at North Long Island High School and Simms Primary School, where his classmates are struggling to process his sudden passing.

Karen Knowles said, “This is a hard one for the family and the kids. You will be missed.”

Though somber, the daughter of Douglas McHardy is breathing a sigh of relief his body was found in the waters of Dean’s Blue Hole in Long Island, Bahamas.

After three days of intense searching, Nakita Headley grieves her father and remembers him as a “jokester and a prankster.”

“I’m going to lean on the laughter and jokes for comfort because if I think of anything else, my heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest.”

Douglas McHardy, a local fisherman and experienced diver, was found 600 feet below sea level after a search spanned several days. The Royal Bahamas Police Force, alongside the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, searched with the aid of an unmanned submersible drone, which ultimately led to the heartbreaking find.

The incident occurred shortly after McHardy attended the funeral of his mother-in-law, and went to the beach with Headley and his grandchildren.

Headley remembers he kept saying, “Now Kita hold on to my grand babies. Don’t let them drown.”

She then moved closer to the shore and soon left to retrieve something from her vehicle. Not long after she returned, he disappeared.

Headley said he was swimming in an area adjacent to the hole and swam across the blue hole to the other side, near the shallow edge.

“One minute he was on top of the water and the next minute he wasn’t.”

Headley said she cherished her father.

“I truly am so proud to be a product of your nurture and love. Not a man of many words but when you did, it would most likely be something you enjoyed talking about…once you start you would not shut up and would repeat the same things over and over. What I wouldn’t do to hear you now so I could roll my eyes to the sky,” she said in a social media post.”

The community of Long Island is also in mourning, as McHardy was a well-known figure, respected for his skills at sea and his jovial nature.

Agnes Write remembers, “He was a hardworking man, always busy and happy.”

Clinto Ritchie said, “He was a great man. Dougie was always humble, hardworking, and loved and supported by his family unconditionally.”

“Dougie was very full of life. Always joyful. You will be missed on Long Island,” Adrian Darville echoed.

Melshalique Knowles said, “He was one of a kind and always happy and pleasant, never a bad word said about him. I will miss Sundays with him and shopping and talking a bunch of foolishness. [He was] such a sweet soul.”

As the island grapples with this loss, the police are coordinating with deep water specialists to safely recover McHardy’s remains.

The family has expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support.

Feature picture credit: Nakita Headley FB page

One year after the OceanGate submersible imploded in the North Atlantic Ocean, killing all on board, its cofounder is planning another adventure. This time, it is in the Bahamas.

Guillermo Söhnlein helped to found OceanGate with Stockton Rush– who died in the submersible implosion. Söhnlein left the company in 2013, retaining a minority stake, and founded Blue Marble Exploration.

Now, Blue Marble Exploration is venturing into Dean’s Blue Hole in Long Island, a sinkhole in the Bahamas using another submersible.

“Venturing into uncharted waters, our team will have to ‘expect the unexpected,'” its website reads.

Dean’s Blue Hole is some 663 feet deep and is the third deepest blue hole in the world. Blue Marble Expedition boasts that it “is an enigma for geologists studying underwater caverns.”

Söhnlein acknowledges that it may meet a few challenges as it descends into the deep hole, including currents, thermal layers, pressure, and visibility.

It is unknown what type of submersible will be used in the expedition since the minivan-sized vessel used by Rush imploded because it was made of carbon fiber composite, which could not withstand the immense pressure and cold due to the depth of the North Atlantic Ocean, some experts argued.

Rush used a video game controller to operate the submarine, which was missing for four days before it was found.

The five adventurers met their demise when they ventured to see the wreckage of the legendary passenger liner, the Titanic, nearly 13,000 feet below sea level. Officials later confirmed the craft imploded due to a “catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber,” instantly killing all people aboard and raising alarms about the safety of extreme tourism.

Rush once tested his vessel in Abaco, Bahamas five years before the implosion.

Long Island MP Adrian Gibson was among six people charged in the Magistrates Court on Monday. He faced multiple charges of bribery, which come as no surprise following weeks of questioning by the Central Detective Unit.

The Free National Movement Member of Parliament was the former Chairman of the Water and Sewage Corporation under the Minnis-led administration. Gibson was a constant critic of Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip Davis, who served as Minister of Works with responsibility for the water company under the Christie-led administration.

Though the FNM was ousted at the polls, Gibson managed to hold on to his seat in a constituency known for its support for the party. After the Progressive Liberal Party was elected, questions arose about Gibson’s conduct and affairs at the corporation.

An audit of the corporations revealed that questionable contracts were issued and Ministry of Works Minister Alfred Sears revealed that the matter was turned over to the police.

What are the charges against Gibson?

Adrian Gibson faces 56 charges. These include:

• One count of false declaration which allegedly occurred on August 23, 2021
• Conspiracy to commit bribery which allegedly occurred between June 23, 2020 and July 7, 2021
• Dishonestly receiving more than $1.2 million for a landscaping contract issued to Elite Maintenance
• Multiple counts of money laundering with a cousin and his campaign manager.
  • 5 counts of conspiracy to commit bribery
  • 6 counts of money laundering with cousin Rashae Gibson
  • 16 counts of money laundering with Campaign Manager Joan Knowles, among others.

Bail was granted at $150,000. He and the others will return to court on September 14 for the Service of a Voluntary Bill of Indictment.

What the FNM says after the charges

Leader of the Free National Movement Michael Pintard says his party stands with Gibson who remains in “good standing” with the party and is “an active and important member of our parliamentary caucus.”

Pintard says Gibson is innocent until he is proven guilty and the party will ensure his rights are not abused. “We remain resolute in our position that at the end of this process, justice and truth shall prevail.”

The sister of the twenty-two-year-old woman killed in a plane crash on Sunday said she will remember her as the “most loving, sweetest and selfless being.”

Aleitheia Newbold was killed when a plane, she and seven others were on crashed in bushes after takeoff in Long Island.

Police said after the crash, they found the extensively damaged twin-engine plane two miles from the airport after it took off from Deadman’s Cay after 9 am.

The other passengers onboard the PA-31-310 plane, sustained injuries, but Newbold died on the scene. With the assistance of the United States Coast Guard, the injured passengers were airlifted to New Providence around 1:30 pm for medical assistance.

Newbold’s sister said she wished she had called Newbold which may have discouraged her from taking the flight.

“Why couldn’t I be a big sister today like I always was to you. Why didn’t I call you this morning? Why couldn’t I have avoided this whole thing from happening by simply calling you as I would?”

Her sister said she is “broken, confused and hurt” since her death.

“Never in a million years…would I dream, think, imagine [or] believe that you would be leaving me so soon.”

After news of her death circulated on social media, Newbold’s boyfriend, Tevin Newbold, with whom she shares a child, showed up at the airport and was informed of her death.  He took to social media to express his disbelief.

“Had to check the ambulance and helicopter myself to find out if it’s really you. They [were] right. You [are] gone forever.”

Newbold’s sister says she will cherish the baby left behind. “Thank you for leaving such a beautiful gem here with me because you knew we’d need her to comfort us in your absence. You made it extra special by having me choose her name. Don’t even worry about her because she’s in the best hands.”

The daughters of Works Minister Alfred Sears and Motivational Speaker and Talk Show Host Spence Finlayson were also passengers on the plane.

Later on Sunday evening, Acting Director in the Department of Meteorology Jefferey Simmons said bad weather did not play a role in the crash.

The Civil Aviation Authority continues its investigations.

Photo credit: Facebook

74 Haitian nationals were repatriated to their home country on Monday morning.

The details

• The Department of Immigration repatriated 57 adult Haitian men, 3 boys, 13 adult Haitian women, and 1 girl to Port-au-Prince, Haiti onboard a Bahamasair flight.
• The group consisted of 21 convicted adult migrants lawfully detained and processed in Long Island and an additional 53 migrants who were lawfully detained and processed for Illegal Landing in South Andros over the Holiday Season.
• The repatriation exercise was led by Senior Immigration Officer Vonetta Darling Flowers and a team of eight (8) officers from the Department’s Enforcement Unit.

What Immigration said

“The public is reminded that the Department of Immigration is committed to carrying out the mandates of our agency to combat illegal migration by establishing effective border
control management to ensure compliance with the Statute Laws of our country.

“We further wish to remind members of the public that it is a criminal offense punishable
by law to harbor illegal migrants in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.”

The big picture

• 45 adult Haitian nationals were found in Long Island after the vessel ran aground the day after Christmas, and 51 were found in Mar’s Bay, Andros on three days after Christmas.

Featured Image: File photo Dept of Immigration