The petitioner filed for divorce from her husband (the respondent), alleging that he treated her with cruelty. She specifically claimed that he had subjected her to mental and emotional abuse and forced her to have sexual intercourse on multiple occasions, even if she refused.
The Bahamas is a signatory to the human rights treaty on the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence Against Women, also known as the Convention of Belém do Pará, which was ratified in May of 1995. This Convention establishes a framework to prevent and eradicate all forms of violence against women in both the public and private spheres, including physical, psychological, and sexual violence.
Chevaneese Sasha Gaye Hall was convicted of four counts of trafficking in persons, as well as two counts of unlawful withholding of identification papers under Sections 3 and 4 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention and Suppression) Act.
The Bahamian Child Protection Act seeks to protect the welfare and rights of children, particularly related to matters such as abuse, neglect, parental responsibilities, and state intervention measures to ensure the care and protection of children. Its purpose is to balance the well-being of children with the preservation of family life. For instance, Section 64 establishes supervision and care orders, which allow authorities to intervene when a child is, or is likely to be, harmed or neglected.
Quincy Kevin Edgecombe, pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse under Sections 10(1)(a) and 11(1)(a) of the Sexual Offences Act. The Act criminalizes sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 14 regardless of consent and precludes any defense based on the accused’s lack of knowledge of the victim’s age. The victim, a 13-year-old girl, testified that she and Edgecombe communicated via Instagram and eventually met to have sexual intercourse at Edgecombe’s friend’s home.
The Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) Act of The Bahamas establishes the framework and process through which victims of domestic violence may obtain a protection order from the Magistrates Court. Section 2 broadly defines domestic violence as physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and financial abuse, which includes conduct such as harassment, stalking, and intimidation. Under this Act, a spouse, partner, child, dependant, or other household member who has been subjected to or threatened with domestic violence may apply for a protection order.
The Employment Act establishes the rights and obligations of employers and employees in The Bahamas, specifically related to hours of work, overtime, leave, redundancy payments, notice of termination, summary and unfair dismissal, child labor, and wages. This Act prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of sex, among other criteria, and requires employers to provide equal pay for substantially similar work.
The Inheritance Act of The Bahamas provides the framework for testate and intestate succession and family-provision claims for dependents of the deceased.
The respondent was employed as a restaurant manager by Island Hotel Company Limited and was later dismissed for sexual harassment. The dismissal followed a complaint from a female employee alleging that the respondent offered to recommend her transfer to the restaurant under his management if she showed her “sexy body” on a video call. The respondent admitted that the video call did occur, but he denied that it was sexual in nature. The employer conducted an internal investigation, a hearing, and an appeal, where he was able to defend himself against the allegations.
The appellant was convicted of unlawful sexual intercourse and sentenced to four years of imprisonment under Section 10(1)(a) of the Sexual Offences Act. The Act criminalizes sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 14 regardless of consent, and precludes any defense based on the accused’s lack of knowledge of the victim’s age. The victim, a 13-year-old girl, testified that the appellant lured her into his home, locked the door, pushed her onto a bed, and forced her to have sexual intercourse.
