News
Ratcliffe: Biden Administration had the Information, Coronavirus Pandemic likely a Lab Leak
Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
The USA, January 29, 2025 – The Biden Administration had the information in hand, following an assessment by the Central Intelligence Agency, but it wasn’t until Trump’s pick for the new director – John Ratcliffe – was confirmed for the job that the world learned research had supported that a laboratory mishap unleashed a deadly virus from a WuHan, China facility.
“I had the opportunity, on my first day, to make public an assessment that actually took place in the Biden Administration, so it can’t be accused of being political. And it does assess and the CIA has assessed that the most likely cause of this pandemic is because of a lab related incident in WuHan,” said Rattcliffe in a startling interview with Fox News on Monday January 27.
A confirmed seven million people were killed and there is considered evidence which supports that the COVID death toll likely hit between 15-25 million people across the planet. The worst public health emergency in a hundred years, and five years on, the pandemic caused by the novel-Coronavirus remains scrutinised and prioritised by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States.
“In the case of the CIA, which is the best foreign intelligence service in the world, after five years, to not have a public assessment, to be honest with the American people about where the likely source of a pandemic that killed millions around the world, including a million Americans and really impacted all 345 million Americans in some way; People lost jobs, they lost houses, they lost their health, they lost their businesses, all of that.”
It is a bombshell announcement which already has China reacting with rejection. Mao Ning, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
spokesperson said the statement communicates facts which are inaccurate and unsupported.
“The conclusion that a laboratory leak is extremely unlikely was reached by the China-WHO joint expert team based on field visits to relevant laboratories in Wuhan,” Ning added, “This has been widely recognized by the international community and the scientific community.”
Americans are responding with disdain directed at the fact that the information was withheld. It comes minus the shock and awe, as many had long surmised that the new virus, which seemed to baffle most health practitioners, was cooked up in a lab.
“We have known this all along. Good for the CIA for finally admitting it,” said a comment under the Fox News broadcast on YouTube.
Others lamented over their personal losses.
“I lost my mother and other relatives due to covid, how are they going to give that back?”
Intuitively, it’s why Fox News host, Maria Bartiromo asked the director what were to be next steps for the CIA and its approach to China.
“Now that it’s out there, he’ll (President Trump be able to use that, to leverage that to have honest discussions on America’s national security posture.”
While Director Rattcliffe stopped short of confirming that Covid-19 was intentionally released, he did offer a prognosis; that eventually all American intelligence agencies will agree with the CIA’s findings. He also assured a relentless pursuit of every truth surrounding the savage pandemic.
“I think it was important for the American people to see an institution like the CIA get off the sidelines and be truthful about what our intelligence shows, at the same time protecting us from adversaries like China if they caused or contributed to this.”
People want to see those guilty held responsible. It remains to be seen if and how that will unfold, even with the vows of the Trump Administration.
In the minutes before the new president, Donald Trump was officially sworn in on January 20, outgoing Joe Biden issued a slew of preemptive pardons, one of them for former COVID response chief, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who many believe played a nefarious role in the creation of and response to the pandemic.
The Bahamas, August 27, 2026 – The Royal Bahamas Police Force wishes to inform members of the public that several individuals are scheduled to appear before the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 27th August 2026, at 12:00 noon.
The individuals and charges are as follows:
An 18-year-old female is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
Three (3) counts of Murder
Three (3) counts of Attempted Murder
Three (3) counts of Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Endanger Life
Three (3) counts of Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm
Two (2) counts of Possession of Ammunition
Armed Robbery
Abetment to Armed Robbery
Stealing
Receiving
The charges stem from three separate shooting incidents and an armed robbery that occurred on Friday, 21st August 2026, and Saturday, 22nd August 2026.
The first shooting occurred in the area of Soldier Road and Baillou Hill Road, resulting in the death of a 51-year-old male.
The second shooting occurred in the area of Joe Farrington Road, resulting in the death of a 52-year-old male.
The third shooting occurred in the area of Gladstone Road, resulting in the death of a 36-year-old male.
The armed robbery occurred at a business establishment in the area of Carmichael Road and Baillou Hill Road.
A 21-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on one charge of:
- Murder
The charge stems from a shooting incident that occurred on Tuesday, 21st July 2026, in the area of Samson Street, Nassau Village, which resulted in the death of a 28-year-old male.
A 32-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
- Murder
- Attempted Murder
These charges stem from a shooting incident that occurred on Wednesday, 24th December 2025, in the area of Graham Drive, Yellow Elder, which resulted in the death of a 25-year-old male.
RBPF, PACD
by Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI — In a country where government press conferences are virtually non-existent, ministers are often difficult for
journalists to access and regular broadcast television news has disappeared, TCI Innovation, Technology and Energy Minister E. Jay Saunders has challenged Caribbean media to become “impossible to ignore.”
Speaking at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union gathering, Saunders argued that the Caribbean does not have a relevance problem but a “discoverability and positioning problem.”
Discoverability is precisely the issue in Saunders’ home country. Even Government’s own attempts at video news broadcasting have struggled against the realities of consistently producing a daily, weekly or even monthly newscast.
The difficulties confronting TCI media extend well beyond algorithms: limited advertising revenue, underfunding, shortages of trained professionals and insufficient human capacity leave newsrooms struggling for both staff and stamina.
Then there is the reality of operating in one of the region’s smallest societies. Politicians, journalists, advertisers, businesses and the subjects of stories often exist within the same tight economic and social circles. A controversial report that might create a ripple elsewhere can produce a tsunami in TCI, intensifying concerns among journalists about commercial and professional victimisation.
Saunders believes AI can help.
He urged Caribbean media to use the technology to transform one original story into television, radio, web, podcast, social and translated content without multiplying newsroom workload.
He also wants regional journalism structured so AI systems can find, understand and trust Caribbean sources, moving media beyond traditional SEO into Answer Engine Optimisation.
His ultimate message was emphatic: “Use AI not to make Caribbean media more artificial — but to make Caribbean voices more visible.”
For Turks and Caicos media, however, becoming visible may require more than technology. It requires an environment in which journalism can survive.
That last sentence is where I think we land the plane. It acknowledges that EJ actually has some us
Bahamas News
Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday
Turks and Caicos, August 20, 2026 – The planned participation of the Bahama Brass Band in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ inaugural Constitutional Holiday celebrations on August 30 has sparked public debate over culture, heritage and the historical contributions of Turks and Caicos Islanders abroad.
Organizers defended the invitation, saying the band’s inclusion is intended to highlight the deep historical ties between the two countries
and honor Turks and Caicos men who helped establish and develop the institution in Grand Bahama.
According to the organizers, the Bahama Brass Band began in 1955 in Pine Ridge, Freeport, with Turks and Caicos Islanders, including the late Deacon Reuben Hall Sr. of Middle Caicos and Jenkins Williams and Mervin Hendfield of North Caicos, among those who helped build its foundation. The band eventually grew to more than 50 men.
The organizers also pointed to the participation of Turks and Caicos men in The Bahamas’ Independence celebrations on July 10, 1973, arguing that their contributions became part of Bahamian history while maintaining strong connections to their homeland.
Supporters say bringing the band home represents an opportunity to honor those pioneers, showcase their regional influence and expose younger generations to an important part of Turks and Caicos history.
However, concerns raised publicly described the invitation as potentially disrespectful to local culture and heritage. Organizers acknowledged those concerns, apologizing to anyone who felt overlooked or offended, while maintaining that no disrespect was intended.
The committee said the event should ultimately unite rather than divide, presenting the band’s history as evidence of the reach and resilience of Turks and Caicos heritage.
PHOTO CREDIT: Bahamas Brass Band
