Sir Randol Fawkes Labour Day Parades Friday, 5th June 2026

The Royal Bahamas Police Force advises the public that the Sir Randol Fawkes Labour Day Parades will take place on Friday, 5th June 2026, commencing at 8:00 a.m. Participants will assemble and depart from Windsor Park, Collins Avenue, and Palm Tree Avenue, respectively.

To ensure the safe and orderly movement of parade participants, the following roads will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at 7:00 a.m. They will remain closed until the parades have passed.

Road Closures East Street between Wulff Road and Bay Street Bay Street between East Street and Navy Lion Road Navy Lion Road between Bay Street and Marlborough Street Marlborough Street between Navy Lion Road and West Bay Street West Bay Street between Marlborough Street and Chippingham Road No Parking Restrictions

Effective 7:00 a.m. until the conclusion of the parades, parking will be prohibited on both sides of the following roadways:

East Street between Wulff Road and Bay Street Bay Street between East Street and Navy Lion Road Navy Lion Road between Bay Street and Marlborough Street Marlborough Street between Navy Lion Road and West Bay Street West Bay Street between Marlborough Street and Chippingham Road Public Safety Measures

The Labour Day Parade route has been designated a No Bottle Zone. The sale of alcoholic beverages by street vendors along the parade route is strictly prohibited.

Additionally, ATVs, scooters, and four‑wheeled recreational motor vehicles will not be permitted in the parades. Participation by motorized vehicles will be limited to two buses only.

Traffic Diversions

Motorists not associated with the parades will be redirected through designated side streets. Drivers are encouraged to plan their routes accordingly and exercise caution when travelling in the affected areas.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force thanks the public for its cooperation and apologizes for any inconvenience these temporary traffic measures may cause.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Sir,

On Sunday, May 10th and Monday, May 11th, global internet sensation IShowSpeed whos real name Darren Watkins Jr., one of the world’s most-watched YouTube streamers with millions of young followers visited The Bahamas. His arrival should have been a moment of pride, a chance to showcase our country to a massive global audience. Instead, what unfolded was a masterclass in disorganization, questionable spending, and a troubling display of how public resources can be mismanaged.

When Speed landed on a private plane, he was greeted with a full red‑carpet rollout by the Ministry of Tourism. The Director and Deputy Director themselves were on-site, along with a Junkanoo group. It was clear that no expense was spared. What was not clear and still isn’t is how much this spectacle cost the Bahamian taxpayer.

Adding to the confusion, the streamer stepped off the plane wearing bright Jamaican colours. Naturally, many Bahamians asked: Why is our Ministry of Tourism rolling out the red carpet for someone promoting Jamaica? That was only the first eyebrow-raising moment.

From there, the chaos snowballed.

A WhatsApp group created for the event showed last‑minute changes some as late as 2 a.m. and a complete lack of coordination. Rumour had it that Speed would do a walkabout at 10 a.m., but nothing happened until nearly 2 p.m., when he finally emerged streaming live on YouTube. By then, crowds of excited children and teens had gathered outside his hotel, only to be met with police officers shouting aggressively at them: “Step back!” “Do not move!” all caught on camera.

Speed was ushered through the back of a waterfront restaurant, where the disorder became even more obvious. Security was rude, police were pushing people, and the entire scene felt unsafe. Yet again, the question arises: Who approved this? And why was this the standard of organization for a taxpayer-funded event?

At Pompey Square, Speed was warmly greeted by Bahamian legend Rick Carey of Baha Men arguably the only moment of genuine hospitality during the entire visit. Rick welcomed him, spoke with him, and gifted him a Baha Men cap. In truth, Rick should have been the host; he demonstrated the professionalism and warmth that our country is known for.

Speed then danced briefly with Julian Believe as the band played “Who Let the Dogs Out,” while police continued pushing citizens aside. Yes, people were excited. Yes, crowds were large. But pushing law‑abiding Bahamians and visitors is unacceptable. Proper planning prevents this. We have hosted countless celebrities downtown without this level of chaos or hostility.

The straw market walk-through was no better. Then came a staged domino game with individuals who appeared to be part of the entourage. Afterward, Speed went to lunch overlooking Nassau Harbour. Again: Who paid for this? The organizers or the Bahamian taxpayer?

Meanwhile, young soccer players had been waiting at the cricket field since 10 a.m. They were told Speed would visit them. By 3 p.m., they were still waiting.

Instead, Speed was taken to Fort Charlotte to “fire” the cannon. After several failed attempts apparently due to dead batteries in the remote the group gave up. Another embarrassment streamed live to the world.

When Speed finally headed toward the children, he and Julian were sitting on top of an SUV likely against the law leading a convoy of 7–8 vehicles with a full police escort speeding down Shirley Street and East Bay Street. The kids grew excited as the convoy approached… only to watch it drive straight past them to Arawak Cay.

Parents were understandably upset.

At Arawak Cay, the chaos intensified. Police shouting, security pushing, children running dangerously close to moving vehicles. It is a miracle no one was injured.

Then came the most shocking moment: The convoy stopped on East Bay Street one of the busiest roads in Nassau bringing traffic in both directions to a standstill. Children ran into the road. Police shouted and swung batons. And unbelievably, Speed was allowed to race on the main road while traffic was blocked.

All of this is on video.

After 21 minutes, the convoy moved on to a fast-food restaurant and then shark diving.

Let me be clear: IShowSpeed’s visit was good for The Bahamas. We should absolutely welcome influencers of his magnitude. We should pay them. We should promote our country.

But what we witnessed was misuse and mismanagement of public funds, poor planning, unsafe crowd control, and a complete failure to capitalize on a massive global marketing opportunity.

So who is responsible?
The Ministry of Tourism?
Julian Believe?
Both?

Someone must answer.

And finally, what did the world see on Speed’s livestream?
Chaos.
A band.
Dominoes.
Fire dancers.
Lunch dangling from a crane?
A canon that we could not get to fire?
Random spectacles that do not represent everyday Bahamian life.

We missed the chance to show our culture, our history, our food, our people, our beauty authentically and proudly.

This was a moment The Bahamas could have owned. Instead, it became a cautionary tale.

That is my five cents.

A Concerned Citizen

For more than two decades, the Pelican Point Coconut Festival has been a mainstay on East Grand Bahama’s cultural calendar, drawing hundreds each Easter Monday to celebrate heritage, community spirit and authentic Bahamian traditions.

This year, the quaint settlement of Pelican Point came alive as residents and visitors gathered for the 26th Annual Coconut Festival; an event widely cherished for its warm hospitality, culinary delights and vibrant cultural displays.

Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey, officially opened the event, describing it as a testament to the enduring strength and unity of the community.

“The Ministry for Grand Bahama is proud to once again serve as the event’s major sponsor and partner. Reflecting on the festival’s progress since 2022, I am grateful for its continued growth and resilience each year since its return,” Minister Moxey said.

She added that the festival’s success was made possible through the strong collaboration of the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, the residents and visitors of Pelican Point and the dedicated team at the Ministry for Grand Bahama.

“I also wish to recognize and commend the dedication of the beautiful Grand Bahama team who restored the park for the festival’s return three years ago after Hurricane Dorian, the team which employs men and women from East Grand Bahama was committed to reviving the site and  restoring normalcy to the community they dedicated significant time to repairing, rebuilding, painting and beautifying the venue,” she noted.

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Transport, Kingsley Smith also brought remarks and encouraged attendees to immerse themselves in the festival’s signature atmosphere.

“When you look throughout the crowd, you’ll also see plenty persons from West Grand Bahama because we are here to support our East Grand Bahamians. We’re here to support Pelican Point and we do know you have some good food, you have some good drinks and as it relates to coconut you have the best, you are the best,” Smith assured.

Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama, the Hon. Kwasi Thompson, highlighted the constituency’s long-standing reputation for cultural festivities.

“We are the capital for festivals in the Bahamas and I also want to say we have to remember the reason for this Easter season we give God thanks, we give Him praise, we just celebrated His resurrection which means that as a result of God’s resurrection we have victory, victory over sin, victory over death and victory in life so I just want to say God bless you enjoy,” he noted.

The festival concluded with lively performances by the St. Georges’ High School Pop Band, K.B., Fanshawn, Top Tier and an energetic rush-out by the Swingers Junkanoo Group; bringing a spirited close to a day steeped in tradition, unity and Bahamian pride.

For more than two decades, the Pelican Point Coconut Festival has been a mainstay on East Grand Bahama’s cultural calendar, drawing hundreds each Easter Monday to celebrate heritage, community spirit and authentic Bahamian traditions. This year, the quaint settlement of Pelican Point came alive as residents and visitors gathered for the 26th Annual Coconut Festival; an event widely cherished for its warm hospitality, culinary delights and vibrant cultural displays. Minister for Grand Bahama, the Hon. Ginger Moxey, officially opened the event, describing it as a testament to the enduring strength and unity of the community. “The Ministry for Grand Bahama is proud to once again serve as the event’s major sponsor and partner. Reflecting on the festival’s progress since 2022, I am grateful for its continued growth and resilience each year since its return,” Minister Moxey said. She added that the festival’s success was made possible through the strong collaboration of the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, the residents and visitors of Pelican Point and the dedicated team at the Ministry for Grand Bahama. “I also wish to recognize and commend the dedication of the beautiful Grand Bahama team who restored the park for the festival’s return three years ago after Hurricane Dorian, the team which employs men and women from East Grand Bahama was committed to reviving the site and  restoring normalcy to the community they dedicated significant time to repairing, rebuilding, painting and beautifying the venue,” she noted. Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Transport, Kingsley Smith also brought remarks and encouraged attendees to immerse themselves in the festival’s signature atmosphere. “When you look throughout the crowd, you’ll also see plenty persons from West Grand Bahama because we are here to support our East Grand Bahamians. We’re here to support Pelican Point and we do know you have some good food, you have some good drinks and as it relates to coconut you have the best, you are the best,” Smith assured. Member of Parliament for East Grand Bahama, the Hon. Kwasi Thompson, highlighted the constituency’s long-standing reputation for cultural festivities. “We are the capital for festivals in the Bahamas and I also want to say we have to remember the reason for this Easter season we give God thanks, we give Him praise, we just celebrated His resurrection which means that as a result of God’s resurrection we have victory, victory over sin, victory over death and victory in life so I just want to say God bless you enjoy,” he noted. The festival concluded with lively performances by the St. Georges’ High School Pop Band, K.B., Fanshawn, Top Tier and an energetic rush-out by the Swingers Junkanoo Group; bringing a spirited close to a day steeped in tradition, unity and Bahamian pride.

 

There was an extreme weather warning over The Bahamas yesterday - but after the rain stopped, it was British Lion that brought the thunder. 

After the storm of the afternoon, it was a beautiful sunset over the Buena Vista estate that played host to British Lion. John Watling's Distillery is a great venue - here, the stage was set up in the rear courtyard, putting the audience up close and personal with the band. 

The thing with rock stars and their other bands is that you can't get away without mentioning the band with all the Platinum records. This is Steve Harris' other band, but the band you've heard mentioned more often is Iron Maiden. 

That's both recognition of the band's pedigree and a bit of a disservice to the band itself - which is a different soldier than Iron Maiden's trooper, more rock with a fistful of great melodies than Maiden's metal. 

First up came the support act, Tony Moore's Awake, himself a former member of Iron Maiden in the 1970s. Well worth listening to himself, he took to the stage solo to share a very personal story, about his bond with his mother, and his role as a carer for her after she was diagnosed with dementia. It was touching and honest, and very much deserves recognition. 

British Lion kicked things up a gear when they took the stage. Many years ago, at one of my favourite ever gigs, I was standing next to the venue owner when one particular artist took to the stage and after just moments, he turned round to me and said "You can tell when it's real quality" with a big smile. The same here. You can tell when it's real quality. 

British Lion set the tone from the off. It didn't matter that these were performers who have played all kinds of sizes of venue, they were here to entertain and to urge the crowd to make some noise, with expletives and all. 

This was a band that knows its stuff, driving rhythm section and charismatic front man urging the crowd on. They came, they sang, they conquered. 

As a venue, it was great - the rum was flowing, the music was pumping and the crowd were here for it. If this is a sign of more things to come, all the better for The Bahamas to have another music venue, and broadening the range of music on offer. That can only be good for everyone. 

Eventually, British Lion pounded its last thunder, and just in time for the first drops of returning rain. The crowd went home, happy with the night. British Lion? They may just have opened the door to a whole lot more. A great night. 

by STEPHEN HUNT