By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A FORMER Cabinet minister is pledging to “hold” Baha Mar to its undertaking after construction work related to the $700m resort expansion launched despite an active and ongoing challenge to the project’s planning approvals.
Damian Gomez KC, ex-minister of state for legal affairs in the last Christie administration, told Tribune Business he plans to “check” whether the Cable Beach mega resort developer has breached a pledge given to the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board by its attorneys last Tuesday. Graham, Thompson & Company promised that no construction work or activity would occur before the outcome of the bid by Mr Gomez’s client, who is Richard Demeritte, The Bahamas’ first auditor-general, to overturn the preliminary site plan approval granted by the Town Planning Committee for the Melia Nassau
Beach Resort’s 20-storey replacement. However, at the following day’s ground-breaking ceremony for the development, featuring Prime Minister Philip Davis KC and other Cabinet ministers, it was said that construction work on the project would begin on Thursday - the very next day.
Legal sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, are questioning whether this not only represents a breach of the Appeal Board undertaking but also a violation of the Planning and Subdivision Act’s section 65. “It’s distasteful to have a ground-breaking when there’s an appeal going on,” one contact argued. That section deals with the planning appeals process before the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board. This newspaper was advised that section 65 stipulates that an active appeal effectively acts as a ‘stay’ for
Bahamas protecting ‘five slices of pizza’ over growth to 20-30
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
GRAND Bahama’s Chamber of Commerce president says this nation must shed its protectionist Immigration mentality if the economy and major foreign direct investment
(FDI) projects are to flourish, as he warned: “The reality is we are penny wise and pound foolish.” Dillon Knowles, telling Tribune Business that the private sector advocacy group is “extremely concerned” about Grand
any development projectmeaning construction work cannot take place until the matter is heard and determined by the Board in the developer’s favour.
But Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vice-president of government and external affairs, told Tribune Business that construction work to-date only involves the $700m project’s seawall component. He asserted that this is not covered by, and is separate and apart, from the appeal now before the Subdivision and Development which is only concerned with construction of the new hotel itself.
“The seawall, the first phase, started yesterday,” Mr Sands said on Friday. “They are two separate issues. That application was in prior to the site plan approval - that aspect of the construction of the hotel.”
Asserting that observers were “mixing up two different issues”, he added:
“There is an appeal that has been put forward but that is an appeal against the construction of the hotel… I would simply state that, as mentioned during the ground-breaking, that’s [the seawall] separate and apart from the construction of the hotel.”
Mr Gomez, in reply, acknowledged that Mr Sands may be correct but promised to look into the matter. “If they’ve breached the undertaking that they gave the Board when we were there that they will not do anything besides the ground-breaking ceremony, I’ll make a complaint to the Board,” he told Tribune Business.
“I’ll have to look at it again. He may be right. I’m not sure. I’m going to check it… The appeal, under the statute, operates as a stay. They [Graham, Thompson on Baha Mar’s behalf] told
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@ tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIAN doctors are accusing the Prime Minister of throwing their reputation “under the bus” with vague assertions about National Health Insurance (NHI) billing “irregularities” as the scheme falls up to two months’ behind in paying some providers.
Dr Denotrah Archer-Cartwright, a leading representative of the newly-formed National Health Insurance Providers Association (NHIPA), told Tribune Business that Philip Davis KC needs to “clarify” and fully explain what he meant by revealing that the Ministry of Finance had detected problems with NHI billings and payments.
The Prime Minister added that a reconciliation exercise is being undertaken to determine the cause of these woes, and anomalies identified by NHI executives, but Dr Archer-Cartwright said it
was almost impossible for doctors and physicians to be responsible because they do not bill or make claims for payment on the government-run and financed healthcare scheme.
She explained to this newspaper that NHI providers are compensated using the capitation model, where they are paid a set monthly sum per patient regardless of how many times they see a person or the amount of care and treatment they require. Dr Archer-Cartwright said any billing issues relating to doctors “have to be something NHI is doing or allowing to happen” - not caused by the physicians themselves.
She agreed that the Prime Minister’s remarks threaten to damage the reputation of doctors providing services to NHI, but one healthcare industry source, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested that Mr Davis was likely referring to laboratory services providers and not physicians. They
Taking on clients is first test of credibility and reputation
By DEREK SMITH JR
THE connection between client onboarding and reputation is often under-estimated. While many companies treat this process as an administrative stage that follows commercial success, this discussion refers to the onboarding of clients, institutional partners or strategic stakeholders, and the transition from agreement to active engagement. In practice, this phase is not operational
housekeeping but, rather, the first visible test of institutional credibility. When execution deteriorates at this stage, reputational risk accumulates long before corporate executives become aware of it.
This article examines why onboarding failures erode confidence disproportionately. It also examines how execution gaps escalate into governance exposure, and why ownership of onboarding is now a strategic
necessity rather than a functional detail.
Onboarding delays are structural signals It is common to measure client onboarding efficiency based on speed, volume and completion rates. There is a problem with that framing, as a stakeholder's perception of a company’s health is tied to its onboarding behaviour. Speed and clarity may signal control, but delays and inconsistency also signal fragility. Moreover, friction during
execution is rarely dramatic. Symptoms include repeated documentation requests, unclear decision rights, inconsistent communication or unexplained pauses. While individually each issue appears manageable, collectively, they form a pattern. Patterns shape perception, and perception shapes trust. Furthermore, the critical error that management executives make is assuming that goodwill accumulated during acquisition offsets onboarding
friction. In reality, onboarding is where expectations are tested. If a company cannot execute its first structured commitment smoothly, stakeholders question its ability to execute more complex commitments later. If the service is not up to a credible standard, it is perceived as a problem and erodes confidence in the firm.
Operational friction becomes governance risk
Onboarding breakdowns expose deeper organisational weaknesses. They include where ownership is unclear, escalation paths are undefined and reporting is incomplete. In these situations, speed is not the issue but, rather, structural alignment.
Onboarding risks are often encountered indirectly by Boards.
Complaints rise. The escalation process bypasses the normal channels. Many executives spend disproportionate amounts of time resolving problems that could have been prevented. At this point, onboarding has crossed over into governance territory. There is more to governance than policies and oversight committees.
As a measure, it is based on whether the company behaves predictably in routine stress situations.
Further complications arise from the siloed incentive structures. The success of commercial teams is measured by their acquisitions. Operational teams are evaluated based on their processing performance. Neither party is fully responsible for the transition between promise and delivery. It is in the gap between those incentives where reputation deteriorates. Simply put, onboarding reveals whether
leadership alignment is real or rhetorical.
Why leadership must own the onboarding
Onboarding should not be considered merely a ‘back office’ task but, rather, a strategic control point where it validates claims about competence, co-ordination and reliability.
While some may consider process redesign the 'fix', this writer argues that growth ambitions must reflect a company’s execution capacity, yielding a holistic, consistently positive stakeholder experience. This leads executives to confront a hard question. When onboarding fails, is the issue procedural or is it tolerance for ambiguity and diffuse accountability? Management must own the process because, without behavioural correction, existing processes produce the same friction.
In summary, rethink onboarding as a visible measure of company discipline and leadership alignment. This is because it reveals whether systems, incentives and behaviours are truly integrated or merely assumed to be. Ask yourself whether your company’s current design and ownership genuinely protect its reputation under pressure.
• NB: About Derek Smith Jr Derek Smith Jr has been a governance, risk and compliance professional for more than 20 years with a leadership, innovation and mentorship record. He is the author of ‘The Compliance Blueprint’. Mr Smith is a certified anti-money laundering specialist (CAMS) and holds multiple governance credentials. He can be contacted at hello@pineapplebusinessconsultancy.com
DPM hails American’s Bimini launch as airport 60% finished
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@ tribunemedia.net
THE deputy prime minister has hailed the launch of American Airlines’ service between Miami and Bimini as a significant boost for the island’s stopover tourism industry and residents alike.
Chester Cooper, also minister of tourism and aviation, said the move reflects the Government’s push to expand airlift and upgrade airport infrastructure across The Bahamas.
Speaking at the inaugural flight on Saturday, he said the additional service will improve connectivity, increase visitor arrivals and enhance quality of life for Bimini residents by providing easier access to Florida
and onward connections to major international markets. “Today is a new route of American Airlines here to the island of Bimini. It will be servicing Miami to Bimini three times per week.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the island of Bimini. It’s about progress,” said Mr Cooper. “It’s about expanding airlift, of course, for the benefit of our tourism industry but, more importantly, the benefit of the residents. It adds to their quality of life - easy access to Florida and connectivity to other US cities, etc.”
Mr Cooper said the new route is expected to drive increased visitor arrivals to the island, noting that while Bimini has long attracted travellers by boat, ferry and seaplane, the addition of scheduled commercial
air service creates another gateway to the destination.
He added that the expanded access complements Bimini’s culture and will translate into broader economic benefits, stressing that what is good for tourism ultimately supports the economy and the people of Bimini.
Jose Maria Giraldo, American Airlines’ managing director of operations for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, said the new Miami–to-Bimini route will connect the island to the carrier’s largest hub, giving travellers access to more than 400 peak-day departures to over 170 destinations in 46 countries via south Florida, this further strengthening Bimini’s global reach.
“With this new route from Miami, which will operate three times a week,
we will open the doors of Bimini to our customers around the world, playing a vital role in further promoting the country’s tourism industry.
From Miami, our largest hub, our customers can access more than 400 peak day departures to more than 170 destinations in 46 countries around the world,” said Mr Giraldo.
“Importantly, with today’s launch, we will likely be the only US airline serving Bimini, and we are thrilled to announce that this summer, American will operate up to 35 daily flights to The Bahamasa true milestone for the airline.”
Turning to infrastructure, Mr Cooper said progress on Bimini’s new airport terminal highlights the Government’s commitment to modernising
aviation facilities across The Bahamas.
He added that the Davis administration has embarked on an “aggressive” airport development programme, emphasising that quality infrastructure is essential not only to support tourism growth but also to improve the quality of life for residents.
“It demonstrates progress. Infrastructure is important, not just for the development of the economy and supporting tourism, but again, also for the quality of life of the residents here in Bimini,” Mr Cooper said.
“It gives me great joy to see it coming out of the ground. We have embarked upon a very aggressive airport development programme because we understand that it takes good quality infrastructure
to continue to drive the growth that we’ve seen in tourism, and the growth that we are seeing in our overall economy.”
A recent public-private partnership (PPP) agreement for the South Bimini International Airport involved an $80m, two-phase upgrade to modernise the facility and support increased domestic and international commercial flights, enhance customer service and drive economic growth in Bimini. The project, part of the broader Family Islands Renaissance Project, will deliver a new terminal, airfield improvements and the construction of a new passenger terminal.
The PPP developers said the airport is 50 percent to 60 percent completed, and is expected to begin operation this summer.
Prime Minister: Bahamas must not be swept away in AI ‘tsunami’
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter
jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE Prime Minister says artificial intelligence (AI) can lower barriers to entry, expand opportunity and reshape small economies such as The Bahamas.
Framing the shift as an “AI tsunami” during his address at the RF Economic Outlook, Philip Davis KC said embracing the emerging technology could help level the playing field for entrepreneurs, reduce the
capital required to start businesses and create new pathways to growth. However, he warned that failing to prepare the workforce could leave many at risk of being “swept away”. “To survive and to thrive, we must get ready to ‘ride the wave’, because if we move quickly we can harness the power of this technology to create tremendous change,” said Mr Davis
“Anyone who has spent time interacting with AI, and listening or reading about recent developments,
will be aware of the new potential we have to transform what is possible for small countries like ours.”
Mr Davis said that as new technologies reduce the capital investment required for many businesses, barriers to entry are falling, creating opportunities for Bahamians who may previously have been locked out by cost, connections or “gatekeepers”. However, he warned that the rapid pace of change also carries implications for employment and stressed that policymakers must
ensure the benefits of AI do not flow disproportionately to those who already have access.
“On the other side of this great opportunity sits a very real threat for those who are unprepared. While some people are harnessing AI to expand what is possible, many others are watching this transformation unfold from the other side of the digital divide,” said Mr Davis.
“They are not yet participants in this era. And they are understandably worried about their jobs and their
futures. We must work hard to make sure that the benefits of this new technology do not flow disproportionately to those who already have access, education and capital.”
Mr Davis said The Bahamas must move deliberately to equip its people with the skills needed to adapt, arguing that preparationnot fear - should guide the national response. He urged collaboration between government, the private sector and educators to ensure Bahamians are positioned not only
to withstand the shift, but to thrive in a technology-driven economy.
“It need not be that emerging technologies perpetuate or even deepen existing disparities. We can be intentional about building the future we want; we can work hard to make sure that instead of being left out or left behind, Bahamians are able to access and leverage the technology to level up,” said Mr Davis.
“My friends, the AI tsunami is here. Let’s work together to prepare our people to thrive.”
GB Power seeks to close sale ‘as soon as possible’
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter
jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE Prime Minister has pledged his administration is working to resolve work permit challenges and other woes threatening Grand Bahama Shipyard’s projected expansion.
In response to concerns raised by its chief executive, Chris Earl, over work permit delays and other bottlenecks, Philip Davis KC said officials are actively working to resolve the issues.
“They’re now discussing how to deal with all the wrinkles that’s causing any delay,” Mr Davis said on Friday, indicating that talks are under way to address administrative and logistical constraints.
Mr Davis also revealed that he met with the technical team at the Grand Bahama Power Company during his visit to the island last week, and said they are moving to complete the Government’s planned purchase of the utility “as soon as possible”.
“The technical team I talked with, they’re moving to trying to close the deal as soon as possible,” said Mr Davis.
The Shipyard said its planned expansion — projected to boost annual economic impact to $225m within five years — is being strained by work permit delays, shortages of qualified labour, limited hotel accommodation and soaring air fares to and from Grand Bahama.
Mr Earl warned that thousands of hours of work have already been turned away due to manpower shortages.
Meanwhile, existing skilled staff are working 60–70 hour weeks to meet demand.
He said delays in processing permits are undermining the Shipyard’s ability to attract and retain internationally certified workers, with some choosing to resign or decline opportunities in The Bahamas.
Accommodation shortages are also affecting operations, with customers reportedly unable to secure enough hotel rooms for upcoming projects. Meanwhile, high travel costs - including $3,300 plane tickets - are complicating the rotation of expatriate technical staff.
With roughly $650m in debt tied to its dry dock investments, the Shipyard said it must remain cost-effective to succeed, warning that parts of the surrounding economic “ecosystem” are under-scaled or heavily stretched.
As for GB Power, Mr Davis previously touted the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that has been signed with its existing owner, Emera, as the “first
time” that the Bahamian government has gained “control” of GB Power since the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, Freeport’s founding treaty, was signed in 1955 and pledged that it would end “the long-standing disparity” between electricity prices on Grand Bahama and the rest of the country. “This MOU reflects a shared commitment to explore a new path forward for energy in Grand Bahama. When completed, this would mark the first time the Government of The Bahamas could control the power company since the Hawksbill Creek Agreement was signed,” Mr Davis asserted. “This is important because it will result in universal electricity rates across The Bahamas, ending
a long-standing disparity between Grand Bahama and the rest of the country. It matters because it strengthens national energy planning. And it matters because it directly supports our broader energy reform agenda aimed at bringing down the cost of electricity for Bahamian households and businesses. “This is not about control for its own sake. It is about fairness. It is about affordability. And it is about aligning energy policy with the needs of the people and the modern economy we are building,” Mr Davis said. “Lower energy costs mean lower costs of living. They mean more competitive businesses. They mean a stronger foundation for investment, job creation and long-term growth in Grand Bahama and across the country. “This MOU represents progress. It reflects careful work, serious engagement and a willingness to do what previous administrations avoided. We are moving deliberately, responsibly and in the public interest.”
Residents objecting to ‘speed at which Baha Mar being pursued’
them they would abide by the outcome of the appeal and nothing would happen other than the ceremony. That’s a matter of record.
The proceedings were recorded. That could be a fairly serious breach of representation. I will hold them to that” undertaking.
Tribune Business sources confirmed that the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board held a preliminary hearing on Mr Demeritte’s challenge last Tuesday - one day before the official ground-breaking. The Board, after
determining the identities of the parties involved, ordered that the hearing record be prepared and submissions from both sides sent in.
A date for the substantive hearing of the appeal on its merits was set down for March 2026. Given the concerns and opposition voiced at the Town Planning Committee hearing by Cable Beach residents living close to the development site, it is thought that others may join Mr Demeritte in mounting an appeal, and the Board also ordered that they submit
their arguments prior to the March hearing.
Dawson Malone, the Appeal Board’s chairman, confirmed to Tribune Business: “There was a preliminary hearing on the appeal on Tuesday past, and directions were set down for a substantive hearing in March on a date that was convenient to the attorneys.”
Mr Gomez, meanwhile, told Tribune Business that his clients are challenging the Town Planning Committee approvals on the basis of procedural fairness and “irrationality”. He added that they fear their property values will be undermined if Baha Mar places generators and other ‘back of house’ equipment in close proximity to their residences, and feel their legitimate concerns have been ignored “by the speed at which this is being pursued”. The ex-Cabinet minister and his client are now waiting to obtain all the documents within the Department of Physical Planning’s files upon which the Town Planning Committee relied to reach their approval decision. “We are waiting for the documents to be delivered to us; that’s one of the Orders that the Appeal Board gave,” Mr Gomez said.
“Our objections were, quite simply, that it’s very difficult to tell from the resolution that they passed what they relied on to come to the decision that they
have come to, and that’s a breach of the procedure of fairness. Secondly, and in any event, it was irrational because Mr Demeritte had filed some ten or so objections spanning a number of pages, and they didn’t address any of the points which he raised. He was not alone in raising those points.”
With his client and others fearing their concerns have been sidelined and neglected amid the rush to provide Baha Mar with its necessary approvals, and generate construction jobs prior to a general election, Mr Gomez said: “They are afraid that their property values are going to be completely messed up. It’s not the last time it has adversely affected them, and they are a bit offended by the speed at which this being pursued without, it appears, having any regard for their interests.
“They live right next door to the site; Ruby Avenue. They are right at the entrance of Ruby Avenue and West Bay Street.” Mr Gomez said long-time residents had previously been affected by an underground fuel leak that had to be addressed as part of the deal that saw Baha Mar’s original developer, Sarkis Izmirlian, acquire the former Radisson, Wyndham and Nassau Beach Hotels from the Government and Philip Ruffin.
“Bear in mind these people have already suffered from having fuel leaked into the ground causing noxious fumes in their property,” he added. “They had a fuel leak there that had been caused by one of the hotels. It had essentially
polluted the water table and you could actually smell the fuel in their homes. It took a number of years to get that cleaned up.
“Now, here it is, without giving an explanation as to what’s going to be done on the property, they just say they are going to have a back-up thing there without any indication of the dangers it poses to the community. They [residents] were looking for details and asking the Committee to put in types of protection for them. It’a serious issue.
“One would think the Committee would say something that at least would give people confidence their affairs are being addressed. Historically, they’ve [Baha Mar] done their back door thing elsewhere well away from subdivisions and public activities. In this instance, the question is why are you departing from historical traditions,” Mr Gomez said.
“I’m going to fight for them. I’m working on the disclosure to see what is being said. We’re supposed to get the documents that are on file before the Town Planning Committee so we can review it and take advice from experts and respond. Part of the job of a country lawyer is to fight for the country.”
The Town Planning Committee’s public hearing saw residents voice concerns about the noise, safety and impact on their daily lives from Baha Mar’s expansion.
Damien Francis argued that the area was historically a buffer zone, and questioned how the new service building would affect adjacent residential properties. “It’s difficult to understand what
services are actually going in and how that will impact our properties,” said Mr Francis at that hearing. He suggested that a sound-attenuating fence would be more effective than the proposed landscaping in minimising the impact, adding that the current fences on both properties are down thereby leaving the area exposed.
Leslie Munnings also voiced strong opposition to the location directly behind his home. He argued that the service building should instead occupy an existing industrial site, pointing to concerns about the proximity to where his children play, potential noise from generators and past water table contamination.
Graeme Davis, president of Baha Mar, assured residents that the resort owner is committed to addressing their concerns, promising:
“We can make the commitment that we’ll have a solid boundary in that space.” Brent Creary, principal of ArchVenture and the project’s architect, responded that the service building - intended to support the new hotel with utilities, fuel and water storage, cooling towers, and standby generators - has been designed to match the scale of nearby commercial properties.
“We have pushed the building east to increase distance from the residences, and are using heavy landscaping to create a visual and sound buffer,” said Mr Creary. He added that the generators, the only major source of noise, will be fully enclosed with acoustical engineers ensuring that noise levels remain comparable to street traffic.
DPM Chester Cooper: Boating fees update ‘in due course’
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE deputy prime minister has promised an update on potential reforms to the new and increased boating fees will be provided “in due course” with the MInistry of Finance and Ministry of Transport heading talks with the private sector.
Chester Cooper, also minister of tourism, investments and aviation, said: “The review is being done by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transport. I don’t have an update on that at the moment, but I know that you’ll hear more in due course.”
The Government announced just prior to Christmas 2025 that it would “review” the “competitiveness” of the boating fee hikes and accompanying regulatory reforms following the Prime Minister’s intervention, with marina industry chiefs asserting the sector feels as if “every five years we start over again”.
Mr Cooper, in a statement that was released to the international boating community as well as for local consumption, asserted then that the Davis administration will assess the “impacts” and “implementation” of the new and increased fees, plus regulatory adjustments, that were introduced with other Budget reforms on July 1, 2025.
Finally responding to more than six months of advocacy and warnings, and with marinas asserting they will be “satisfied” to generate just 50 percent
of the prior year’s business volumes, Mr Cooper voiced optimism that a solution that reverses this sharp drop-off - as well as generates funding for environmental preservation and sustainable management of maritime resources - can be delivered.
Speaking as the full impact of the Government’s policy is hitting home, with many in the maritime sector describing the 2025-2026 winter boating season as lost, Mr Cooper said: “The Bahamas has built its global reputation on a foundation of warmth, openness and a seamless partnership with those who visit our waters. Our priority is to protect that reputation and ensure the economic prosperity of the Bahamians who depend on it.
“Over the past several weeks, we have listened closely to the concerns expressed by our marina operators, tour guides, service providers and small business owners - particularly in Abaco, Bimini and The Exumas - regarding recent changes to the regulatory framework affecting our boating sector. We have also heard reports of cancellations and the sentiment from some visitors that they felt unwelcome.
“After discussions with Prime Minister Davis on the issues that have arisen, key notes of concern have been identified, and there will be a review of the current framework and its implementation. It is important to note that these measures formed part of a broader policy approach, driven by considerations of regulation, environmental
stewardship and building infrastructure for the sustainable management of our maritime space,” Mr Cooper added.
“The Ministry of Tourism is focused on ensuring that The Bahamas remains one of the most welcoming and competitive destinations in the region for boating visitors. To that end, I will be working closely with my Cabinet colleagues, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transport, as we advance a review of the process and its ultimate competitiveness. The aim is to assess the framework, its implementation and its impacts.
“I am confident that through dialogue, cooperation, and good faith, we can arrive at an outcome that reflects our values, protects our interests, and reaffirms to the world that The Bahamas remains open, responsive, and ready to welcome all who wish to responsibly enjoy our waters.” However, no announcement of any revisions or agreements with the private sector have yet been made with the Palm Beach Boat Show now just weeks away.
While The Bahamas’ new two-year frequent digital cruising card (FDCC) has gained traction with boaters, others have pointed out that The Bahamas has gone from charging $600 for a cruising permit, which included a fishing permit and no anchorage fee, to a $1,000 cruising permit fee, $350 anchorage fee and $300 per month fishing permit fee.
The ‘temporary’ 12-month cruising permit
fee for a vessel below 50 feet in length has risen from $300 to $500, a two-thirds or 66.67 percent rise, with those between 50 feet and 100 feet seeing an increase of similar magnitude from $600 to $1,000. And the new anchorage fees range from $200 to $1,500 “for foreign pleasure vessels not mooring at a marina”, and are again linked to vessel size.
The Opposition has seized on the boating fee fall-out to promise it will both cut these levies and modernise permit and licensing systems so that they are “accessible” and user-friendly for visitors.
DEPUTY Prime Minister Chester Cooper.
GB Chamber president warns ‘penny wise and pound foolish’
Bahama Shipyard turning away “thousands of hours of work” because it cannot obtain sufficient work permits in a timely manner to facilitate entry of the highly-skilled, certified workers it requires, said The Bahamas too often focuses on protecting the
jobs it has as opposed to growing employment with a targeted Immigration policy that attracts top minds and companies. He compared the situation to a pizza, arguing that The Bahamas is choosing to protect the existing “five slices” rather than growing the size of the pie to 20-30 slices for the benefit of all.
Mr Knowles explained that such growth will not just benefit expatriate investors and the businesses they establish, as their arrival will create extra economic activity and jobs, skills improvements/transfer, and incomes that boost Bahamian wealth and prosperity.
Responding to both the opportunities and challenges set out by Chris Earl, the Grand Bahama Shipyard’s chief executive, in his Grand Bahama Business Outlook speech last Thursday, Mr Knowles told this newspaper that The Bahamas needs to “rethink” its approach to sourcing and attracting FDI by ensuring it provides such projects with the necessary human and other resources they need to succeed. And, if all such resources are not present in The Bahamas, then the country needs to facilitate their entrance.
“That’s a good portion of the challenge,” the GB Chamber chief said of the Shipyard’s work permit woes. “As Chris Earl said in his presentation yesterday, he defined it as this ecosystem that supports the Shipyard. It’s not just having enough of their staff, but having enough collaboration and support systems to tap into for them to be successful.
“The reality of it is we are penny wise and pound foolish. We ask for these things, and when they show up we don’t facilitate them by ensuring we will deliver the resources they need to tap into or we allow the resources to come in which they need to tap into. That’s a huge problem.
“Generally, we have a society mentality where we believe we need to protect the five slices of pizza we have rather than grow the slices to 20-30. That’s a challenge. That’s clearly going to be a challenge for us until we as a people accept we’re too small to be a big player unless we bring in more people to help.”
Mr Earl, in his Grand Bahama Business Outlook address, warned that the near-quadrupling of Grand Bahama Shipyard’s annual economic impact to $225m over the next five years is being threatened by a combination of work permit delays, sky-high air fares and accommodation shortages.
He added that he is “facing some very real challenges” just months into the Shipyard’s $665m “transformation”, with January’s “peak demand” having “exposed fragility with labour, logistics and services” even before the world’s largest floating dry dock, the Lucayan, arrives on the island in May.
With the Shipyard now carrying $650m in debt on its balance sheet as a result of its dual dry dock investment, he said that these weaknesses are undermining the “cost effective” position it must achieve to service this liability, having also “turned away thousands of hours of work” over the last six months due to the shortage of qualified manpower.
These shortages, Mr Earl added, have forced the Shipyard’s existing skilled workforce to work 60-70 hour weeks to meet the
repair demands of cruise ship and other commercial vessel owners. And, due to the lack of supervising mentors, he said the Shipyard has been left with no choice but to reduce the number of Bahamian apprentices it has taken on this year.
This, the Shipyard chief added, has meant “young jobs lost” while “Bahamians have missed out on worldclass training”. He also warned that The Bahamas is “getting a bad reputation” over delays and other issues related to the processing and approval of work permits, with expatriate skilled technicians either resigning or not wanting to come to Grand Bahama.
Mr Knowles told Tribune Business that the GB Chamber and, by extension, other businesses and the wider Freeport community are “extremely concerned” by the Shipyard’s challenges that threaten to undermine maximising the economic benefits from its $665m dual dry dock investment. “We’ve been talking about this for months,” he added.
“The Shipyard is about to take its physical assets on, and has to be paying for them now, but doesn’t have the human resources it needs to be able to take on the jobs that are going to allow it to generate the revenue to pay for those assets it has already acquired. That’s a serious concern for us here in Grand Bahama. That means, as a country, we really need to rethink how we support these projects when we speak to them and ask them to come.”
The Shipyard has to constantly rotate hundreds of skilled expatriate workers in and out of Grand Bahama according to ship repair schedules and the nature of the work demanded, but Mr Earl reiterated this is also being impeded by long-standing hotel room and other accommodation shortages plus skyrocketing air fares for direct travel between the island and US. He said “a plane ticket to get off the island” cost $3,300 as of Wednesdayjust as Royal Caribbean was
sending all its contractors home from Grand Bahama after the Radiance of the Seas refit was completed.
The Shipyard chief also warned that “a customer cannot book” sufficient hotel rooms on the island for a project it wishes to undertake in April and May 2026.
Mr Knowles said the key to solving these challenges involves increasing Grand Bahama’s room inventory, be it hotel rooms, shortterm vacation rentals or long-term rentals, while also expanding airlift so that higher passenger loads enable airlines to lower ticket prices by spreading costs over more people.
“We need to get the hotel [Grand Lucayan] sold and built,” the GB Chamber chief said. “We need to work on getting more Airbnb product on the market. We need to ensure we are putting the necessary funding or access to funding in so the Bahamian people engage in these kinds of activities and take advantage of it and not depend on FDI. This is the kind of thing the Government needs to be working on. How do we engage the Bahamian people in a way that empowers them to be able to take on these kind of opportunities?”
Not everyone, though, was convinced by Mr Earl’s arguments. Maybell Bridgewater, president of the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) Workers Union, which represents Shipyard staff, argued that he seemed to have his “mind made up” and was overlooking Bahamian workers instead of expatriates. “My view is that if he sits down with the Bahamian people and doesn’t criticise we’d be in a better place,” she said.
“We’ve tried to have a conversation with him at the Labour Board and Immigration. Our position is: Send the vacancies to us, give us an opportunity for ten days to find people. We’ve been working hand in hand with the Shipyard, but his mind is already made up as to what he wants.”
Don’t ‘blindly rely’ on AI
By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net
A BAHAMIAN banker says the industry cannot “blindly rely upon” artificial intelligence (AI) and instead must use it wisely to drive efficiency and productivty.
Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief executive, told Tribune Business he believes most persons still want to interact with humans when it comes to their finances. He added that, if used correctly, AI will increase financial services productivity, but it can have the opposite effect if it’s “blindly relied upon” and cause more errors.
“I think some of the original professors and teachers around AI said that AI is not going to take a job from an employee. AI is going to take a job from the employee that doesn't use it and give it to the employee that does use it,” Mr Bowe said.
Mr Bowe said those who “want to be on, what I'm going to say, the upswing, you have to keep yourself up skilled”.
An international speaker at the RF Economic Outlook agreed that upskilling and education are key to ensuring AI does not become a threat to the labour force.
Ian Khan, who spoke on the theme ‘AI tsunami: Navigating the surge of intelligent innovation’, told Tribune Business that the idea AI will eliminate jobs for humans stems from a disconnect between understanding the technology and what a person’s job is.
“There's a disconnect there,” he added. “Number one, your expectations from AI are overblown in proportion. You think AI is going to do something big and crazy, whereas it will not. And you also think that your role, your job, is a pure task-based job that will just vanish.
“So I think that expectation needs to have some realism in it. And I really encourage people to start thinking about their role not as a task. You have to think about your work as a value. What value do you
“And I think that's going to be a very real thing; that if we believe that our skilling stops because we are sitting in a job, we're going to become extinct. But that wasn't just AI. That is, I'm going to sayl, a phenomenon that says if you don't keep learning, you're dying on the vine. So from that perspective, I think that there's a paranoia that robots will take over. I think that that's grossly exaggerated…”
add to a situation, to a role, to a profession, and not just what is the task that I'm performing?”
Adding that AI expectations have been blown out of proportion, Mr Khan encouraged Bahamians who feel truly threatened by its adoption in the workplace to consider upskilling.
“And if you really feel your role is 100 percent going to go away because that is exactly what is happening with people in your profession, then you start looking at upskilling right now,” Mr Khan said.
“Start looking at parallel career moves. If you're in the hospitality industry and you're doing a very particular task, look at what other careers do you have in the hospitality industry where you can do really well, and then start building yourself towards those roles and really have a hedge, have a risk mitigation plan, for yourself when it comes to your future.”
To increase productivity via AI, Mr Khan suggested companies look at what competitors and neighbours in their sector are doing and then create an AI strategy.
He believes all industries can benefit from AI adoption because it is not a “one fit-all solution”, and added that there are a lot of opportunities to improve the hospitality industry in
The Bahamas using the technology.
“And we're not talking about job replacement,” he said. “We're talking about improving the experience that visitors to The Bahamas get. What happens when they step out of the plane? That's where the experience starts, and it ends when they step back on their plane.
“In between this time, there are millions of interactions that they're having. When they're coming to Immigration, when they are talking to the Immigration agent, when they are waiting for their bags, when they are getting into the taxi, when they are entering their hotel, all the way to experiencing The Bahamas in the best way until they are leaving.
“So every interaction is an opportunity to improve it; to make it better. And if you can use technology to do it, great. If you do not need to use technology, there's an opportunity to enhance it. And I think that's so good within the hospitality industry, and other countries are doing it,” Mr Khan said.
“Other countries, Singapore and Dubai and what-not, they're spending a lot of money in investment and time and energy into making those experiences better. And I think
that is such a ripe area to make things amazing in The Bahamas. In addition, there's the usual, the financial industry, the real estate industry, the insurance industry, they can really make their businesses efficient and give their customers much more value than they're doing right now because of AI.”
Michelle Weaver, executive director and head of US thematic research at Morgan Stanley, explained that AI automation substitutes labour for robotics while augmentation helps persons become better at their job by enhancing human capabilities.
“And a good example here comes from nursing, “she said. “I think we all agree nursing is a fundamentally human job. Even if a humanoid robot could walk in and help me and draw my blood, I don't want that happening. I think most people would have a very visceral negative reaction to something like that happening.
“But there's a lot of data entry. There's a lot of ecosystems nurses have to go through. They have to look at patient information. So there are ways for nurses to use AI to make themselves way more efficient, but AI will not take their job.”
Mr Khan said while AI augmentation can help
persons get their job done quicker and more efficiently, it still requires governance and so the human element is not completely removed from the equation.
“Undoubtedly, some roles, some professions, are augmented with AI, which means you can use AI as an assistant,” he said. “You can use AI as a superpower to do your job better. You can really enhance the quality of your job and what you do. You can do it even better than just you doing it alone.
“But that doesn't mean you are out of the picture, because at the end of the day, AI needs governance. AI needs somebody to manage it. AI needs human oversight. So elevate yourself in your thinking about your role, and start thinking about what are the skills that you can add to yourself that will help you do your job better and start performing your job better with AI.”
Downtown benefits from taking a ‘bite out of Bay’
THE Tourism Development Corporation says downtown Nassau was transformed into a celebration of food and culture through the return of its Bites on Bay festival on Saturday, February 7.
The Corporation said the event, held at the corner of Bay Street and Elizabeth Avenue, drew families, visitors and food lovers together in the heart of the
city and reaffirmed its role as a catalyst for downtown Nassau’s revitalisation.
“The underlying purpose of the Bites on Bay experience and movement really is to bring our visitors and Bahamians alike into an encounter where we allow culture, through food, through music, through dance, to really come alive,” said Ian Ferguson, the Tourism Development
Corporation’s executive director and chief executive.
“In a very community-based way, it brings together our locals and our visitors, sharing the joys, the excitement and the exuberance that is the Bahamian experience.”
Bites on Bay featured some of Nassau’s most popular food trucks.
Families were a strong presence throughout the
day.
“I decided to bring the kids because I love taking them to cultural events,” said Keenya Farrington, one attendee.
“Any time I can get them outdoors to enjoy food and culture, it’s a big plus for me.” For vendors, the event connected their brands directly with the community and visitors exploring downtown.
“Showcasing my business at Bites on Bay feels powerful and grounding,” said Trevor Morley of Luxury Elixirs, one of the participating vendors.
“It’s an honour to see people just stop by and support something that’s genuine, that’s born right here.”
Bites on Bay is designed to develop into a food truck park experience held every other month,
injecting energy into Bay Street while creating real opportunities for Bahamian chefs, cooks and food entrepreneurs to grow their audiences and businesses.
The initiative forms part of the Tourism Development Corporation’s broader strategy to reimagine Downtown Nassau as a vibrant social, cultural and culinary destination for both residents and visitors.
GOWON BOWE
Prime Minister Davis’ concerns
laboratories, not doctors
explained that some laboratories may have been charging for services not required by a patient, or deciding the types and amount of tests needed themselves rather than acting on doctor recommendations.
Still, responding to Mr Davis’s concerns over billing irregularities, Dr Archer-Cartwright hit back by saying: “We don’t know anything about that, and why we don’t is because they don’t communicate anything. Doctors don’t bill NHI. This is why he needs to get more understanding
and sit down with us because we don’t bill NHI. They have the power.
“They tell us who is on the patient list, they tell us what they are going to pay us and when they are going to pay us.
“We don’t even know when now. We haven’t heard anything on when they are going to pay us something. We’ve gone from a guaranteed date of payment to nothing…. And it’s the same capitation rate across the board regardless of whether the patient comes in. You can have some patients with lots of visits, some have less visits, so it balances out.”
One NHI doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that physician providers are still being paid the $12.50 per patient rate that they first received in 2017 despite the substantial rise in the cost of living subsequently and constant inflationary pressures. Asked about the Prime Minister’s “irregularities” concerns, they said: “We don’t know anything about that and what seemed to be a ‘throw under the bus’ thing to harm our reputation with the public when it’s their inadequacies that are causing the problems.
“We don’t bill; we have a slate of patients. I think
everybody’s upset. There are people who won’t say anything because they are afraid of being victimised. We were paid on January 21 for the first half of December. We’re trying to organise and be involved with meaningful negotiations with the Government as an association. That’s the only way we can get through. They are shorting NHI, so they have no choice but to short us.”
The doctor continued: “I think the Prime Minister was using us and saying that we are doing irregular things. I think The Prime Minister was throwing us under the bus to ruin our reputation with the public.
“We don’t even bill NHI. NHI pays us according to the number of people who have signed up with us. We are never promised payment on a certain date any more. NHI informs us that they are working on it. And thank us for our patience, which we don’t have any more. I think some providers will get tired with inconsistent government payments and they will pull out of the scheme. The NHI signs contracts with the doctors every year but breaks the contract willy nilly.
“Added to that, there have been no increments in our income to cover the cost of inflation. Now the Government wants to claw back money from us to pay for the electronic medical records by charging us a monthly fee for using them. Also they also want to charge us for each doctor working in our offices,” they added. “We also have to pay twice for inspection of our offices, once by Hospital and Healthcare Facilities and secondly by NHI, and only NHI does an inspection.”
Dr Archer-Cartwright, confirming these and other concerns, suggested the real issue is that NHI lacks a sustainable funding model with demand from more than
160,000 enrolled Bahamian patients and associated costs simply overwhelming the scheme’s allocation of $48m in taxpayer funding in the 2025-2026 Budget - which itself represents a $2m increase on past years. Revealing that some doctors are not being paid the capitation rate for patients who are clearly included among their NHI population, she said: “We can see someone two to three times and not get a dollar or cent, and ask for NHI to figure it out because you’ve seen the patient…. They’ve made things so confusing and so inefficient now that they are not having conversations with us to understand what is going on.
“They’re taking people off of lists without notice to the patient or doctors. We’re in a bad position. We have no information on what’s happening. We don’t know why they’re doing it. Who feels it? The doctors feel it and the patient feels it. The Prime Minister, we don’t know what he’s talking about and which executives are talking to him. He needs to clarify what he said.
“Doctors do not put in claims. Anything irregular has to be something NHI is doing or allowing to happen. It can’t come from us, the physician providers, because we don’t have the power,” Dr Archer-Cartwright added. “I do believe it has harmed our reputation, and this is why I urge the Prime Minister to give clarity and speak with the providers so that he can understand what is going on. We don’t know whether they are doing audits etc.
“We’ve seen the problems, and we don’t understand where they are coming from. For us, we’ve only ever been told that the Government never sent the money. It’s sitting there in the Treasury. They put in an allocation that is $2m more and, if they are not paying the providers, where is the money going every month? If you budgeted $48m, $2m
more than last year, why every month can’t you pay everybody? That’s a big red flag to me, nothing to do with the providers.
“The scheme has really grown over the past three years. Were they not monitoring that? They added a lot of providers when they were struggling to pay their current providers. Why expand the programme? You know you are having financial issues but continue to expand the programme. Wouldn’t it be sensible to recognise that, take s pause, stabliise it and give the Government time to figure out how to pay for it while keeping the providers you have?”
Another healthcare professional, speaking on condition of anonymity, yesterday said they interpreted the Prime Minister’s comments as being directed at NHI laboratory services providers rather than doctors. Unlike the latter, they said laboratories bill for the services they provide to NHI via a portal which calculates what is to be paid to them.
“Labs may have been billing for services not required for that particular patient at that particular time,” the source said. “They were making decisions for that patient without the required recommendation from physicians as to what tests to perform. I think it was directed at them. I don’t think it was directed at doctors because, as providers, they are capitated. They are required to see the patient and document it in their records.
“I know they’ve taken steps in real time to correct that and changed the scope of services being provided to persons under NHI. The reality is I think the biggest problem with NHI is the sustainability of it. I’m not sure the model they have is sustainable. And with the new healthcare strategy how is that all going to integrate together and be sustainable?”
NOTICE
In the Estate of REUBEN ALEXANDER FOX late of East Bay Street, Eastern District, New Providence, one of the Islands of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, deceased.
NOTICE is hereby given that all persons having any claim or demand against the above Estate are required to send the same duly certified in writing to the undersigned on or before the 6th March 2026 after which date the Executrix will proceed to distribute the assets having regard only to the claims of which she shall then have had notice.
AND NOTICE is hereby given that all persons indebted to the said Estate are requested to make full settlement on or before the date hereinbefore mentioned.
W. E. OLANDER & CO.
Attorneys for the Sole Executrix 432 Bay Street, Nassau, The Bahamas
Call to action over plans for Eleuthera investment
DEAR Business Editor,
I AM writing in the hope of connecting with the people of Governor’s Harbour, and the communities of Eleuthera, about an issue that could shape the future of this area for generations. As someone who has spent decades working on environmental and community development across The Bahamas, I have seen what happens when large, out-of-scale developments are introduced into small island communities without sufficient public discussion.
In several Family Islands, projects of this nature have left permanent environmental scars, placed heavy strain on utilities
and healthcare services, resulted in increased crime and social pressures, and fundamentally changed the character of communities in ways that residents never anticipated. At the same time, I fully recognise and appreciate the importance of development. Our Family Islands need investment, jobs and economic opportunity. Growth is both necessary and welcomed. However, that growth must be sustainable, carefully managed and in step with the organic evolution of our communities - not a sudden leap toward a pace and scale of life that can overwhelm the
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that DESTIN LAFRANCE of #23 Thompson Lane, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 16th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that JEAN BAPTISTE SURVIL of Augusta Street, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 16th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that LUNISE SYLVAIN of Rolle Terrace, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twentyeight days from the 9th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
character and capacity of a small settlement.
Recently, residents have been hearing about a proposed resort and residential development in and around Governor's Harbour. Details remain unclear, but what is being described is significant - a 'sea to sea' footprint that could include a marina, golf course, luxury housing and, potentially, a casino. There are also questions being raised locally about whether the developer wants to use public (government) land, including areas such as Cupid’s Cay and the former Navy Base, on an island where many local residents are already struggling to obtain
access to government land for locally-owned and operated businesses. Residents are also asking what increased population and workforce needs could mean for housing, services and daily life. While investment and economic opportunity are important for Eleuthera, projects of this scale and nature deserve careful public discussion and broad community input before decisions are made.
Residents have begun asking basic questions: How large is the proposed development? How might it affect traffic; infrastructure, including water and power reliability; housing
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that ANTHONY MEME of Brown’s Alley off Kemp Road, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 16th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that ALMONOR MAXON of Carmichael Road, Nassau, The Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 16th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that ASHANTI ANEIKA INGRAM of #22 Sunset Close off Carmichael Road, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 9th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
costs; beach access; and the character of daily life?
What would a golf course of this size mean for water use and the surrounding environment? And how might the need to bring in hundreds of non-Eleutheran construction and hospitality workers affect housing, services and the pace of life in the settlement?
A small group of Governor’s Harbour residents is supporting an independent effort to reach out to the community to hear their views over the coming weeks. Residents, local business owners and property owners are encouraged to participate and share their perspectives.
Now is the time for the community conversation to begin.
Sincerely
Eric CareyResident and long-time Eleuthera advocateOn behalf of a small group of Governor’s Harbour residents
These are not anti-development questions. They are the questions any community would ask. Eleuthera has always welcomed thoughtful investment. But developments that may significantly reshape the area should be guided by transparency, public participation and respect for residents' long-term well-being.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that LAWRENCE ADELSON of 192 Hawkins Drive, Hudson Estate, Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 16th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that REBERT SAINTIBERT of East Street, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twentyeight days from the 16th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that JUNIOR ALEXANDRE of Carmichael Road, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 3rd day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that SUSAN ANN-MARIE JAMES of #22 Sunset Close off Carmichael Road, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twentyeight days from the 9th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
