Rival Labour Day marches spark worker division fears
BY NEIL HARTNELL and Annelia Nixon Tribune Business Reporters
LABOUR Day celebrations face the prospect of two separate worker parades with the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and its affiliates planning to hold their own march in a move that some fear signals disunity and division within the labour movement.
Obie Ferguson KC, the TUC president, confirmed to Tribune Business that the umbrella body will hold its own march this Friday starting at the House of Labour on Wulff Road at 9am.
Those attending will move west, then turn north on Baillou Hill Road and walk to the Southern Recreation
Ground in honouring Sir Randol Fawkes, widely recognised as the founder of the modern labour movement in The Bahamas. This will be separate from the traditional Labour Day parade, which typically assembles further east on Wulff Road at Windsor Park before moving north on East Street and into downtown Nassau and Bay Street, before ending in the vicinity of Clifford Park and Arawak Cay. The TUC’s move to have a separate parade comes one year after Mr Ferguson announced that the TUC and its affiliates would not participate in the traditional Labour Day parade. The TUC’s plans were announced in a letter
FOCOL’s Shell deal approval like ‘Bahamas winning Olympic gold’
BY NEIL HARTNELL
Tribune Business Editor
nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
TUC and affiliate unions to ‘follow in Sir Randol’s footsteps’
addressed to “all workers and their families”, which has been obtained by Tribune Business. Headed ‘Sir Randal Fawkes annual parade activities’, it calls on attendees to wear black pants and a “white Labour Day shirt” this Friday, June 5, and refrain from wearing any politically-connected clothing.
The document, on TUC headed paper with the umbrella union’s name and logo, and signed by the ‘Sir Randol Fawkes Labour
Plan parade from House of Labour to Southern Recreation
Day Committee’, called on marchers to assemble at the House of Labour on Wulff Road at 8am one hour before the start. Only one banner will be present at the front of the parade.
Mr Ferguson, when contacted by this newspaper over the communication’s authenticity, replied: “Yes, that is accurate.” He explained that the TUC had decided to recreate Sir Randol’s legacy, and celebrate his role as founder of The Bahamas Federation
But veteran unionist concerned: ‘It doesn’t show united front’
of Labour and in leading the fight against Bahamian worker exploitation, by marching to the Southern Recreation Ground Park where he delivered “some of his most notorious speeches”.
Signalling that the Royal Bahamas Police Force has been informed of the TUC’s plans, and that “everything has been done legally” to obtain permission for the march, Mr Ferguson said: “The TUC Board decided that we would now act out, as close as possible, the procedures and route based on what Sir Randol Fawkes did.
Pintard demands answers on $900k building vouchers
BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
“What we are doing, this is the beginning of recreating back to what it used to
THE Opposition’s leader is demanding the Government explain how $900,000 worth of building material vouchers acquired by the Ministry of Finance in the general election run-up were used amid fears they were employed for political campaigning.
FOCOL Holdings chairman yesterday asserted its partnership with Shell in the Clifton Pier liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal is akin to “The Bahamas winning gold in the Olympics” as regulators approved the multinational energy giant’s acquisition of 40 percent ownership in the project.
Sir Franklyn Wilson told Tribune Business that Shell’s decision to team with the BISX-listed petroleum products and energy supplier in the construction of the LNG terminal and associated pipeline infrastructure, a facility that will act as the hub for supplying lower-cost, cheaper fuel vital to the Government’s wider electricity reforms, is “a real expression of confidence and respect” towards the Bahamian firm.
Now, with the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) having unlocked capital investment for the LNG terminal project, and paved the way for its construction and further development, Sir Franklyn asserted that another “very significant transaction” seemingly related to it could be unveiled as early as Monday although he declined to provide further details.
Speaking after URCA, which oversees the energy and national gas sectors, gave its blessing for a tie-up billed as “the structural catalyst” for the commercial scale importation of LNG to New Providence to fuel Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) baseload generation, the FOCOL chief told this newspaper of the regulatory approval: “It is a very significant development.
“The fact that a major global company like Shell became a minority partner of a company led locals from a small country; a country as small as The Bahamas, we at FOCOL take it as a real expression of confidence and respect. This is Shell, this is Shell, and all that it means… any Bahamian can figure out what it means…
“They are prepared to be a minority partner, and that is not a decision the Board of Directors and senior management at Shell will have taken lightly. We at FOCOL see this as a tremendous expression of confidence in us. It’s like The Bahamas winning gold in the Olympics. This is outside the norm,” Sir Franklyn continued.
“The fact that Shell agreed to that, and partnered as the minority, we saw it as a sign of real partnership - that Shell has the confidence to do that. As a general principle, we always operate on the
Michael Pintard, in a June 1, 2026, letter to Michael Halkitis, minister of finance, called for “a full breakdown” on how these vouchers were distributed and the criteria employed to determine who qualified to receive them after the Government’s monthly report on public procurement contracts awarded in March 2026 revealed they were sourced from five different construction materials suppliers via contracts all awarded on the 20th of that month.
The public procurement report, which has been seen and verified by Tribune Business, revealed that the Ministry of Finance sourced some $250,000 worth of building material vouchers from 21st Century Building & Hardware, located on Palm Beach Street, plus a further $200,000 from Wulff Road-based FYP. Some $150,000 was obtained from each of Cartwright’s Building Supplies, Pinder’s Enterprise and Hanson Building Materials to bring the total to $900,000.’
The Ministry of Finance’s report states that the five voucher contracts were awarded in a response to a request for proposal (RFP), signalling there was competitive bidding. However, the collective $900,000 award is separate and apart from the $200,000 worth of Premier Importers vouchers whose generated significant controversy in the run-up to the May 12 general election.
Mr Pintard, voicing concerns that the $900,000 may also have been abused for political purposes given the timing less than two months before the May 12 general election, wrote to Mr Halkitis: “The attached excerpt from the Government's March 2026 procurement report.. shows $900,000 in building supply vouchers approved by the Ministry of Finance.
“We similarly demand a full breakdown as to the destination and use of these vouchers, as well as the underlying process for eligibility and the accompanying audit trail. We need to know who these vouchers were provided to, how they distributed it and whether any of these vouchers were handled or directed by any candidate for office.”
His comments came after Premier Importers revealed that the Ministry of Finance purchased some $200,000 worth of building materials vouchers from itself
‘If ever there’s time to sell bookings, this is it’
BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
SOUTH Andros tourism operators are hoping this weekend's Homecoming festivities will deliver a visitor arrivals boost, with one lodge owner yesterday describing the annual event as one of the island's strongest tourism draws.
Nathan Adderley, owner of Nathan's Lodge, said homecoming traditionally attracts a steady flow of visitors and returning residents, making it an important period for businesses across the island. "If there's ever a time to sell bookings, this is it," said Mr Adderley. "Homecoming always draws a crowd, and we're looking forward to the weekend."
While he described current business conditions as stable, Mr Adderley said tourism operators continue to face challenges linked to transportation access. "Overall, things are going okay. We're holding steady, but business could be
much better if we had stronger airlift into South Andros," he said.
According to Mr Adderley, flight connectivity and service remains well below pre-COVID levels, making it more difficult for visitors to reach the destination. "Before COVID, Western Air was flying twice a day. Now it's down to four flights a week, and that has had a real impact on how easily guests can get here," he said.
Mr Adderley said the reduced schedule has created difficulties for both domestic and international travellers, particularly visitors connecting through Nassau. "I just had a guest last week telling me how difficult it was to reach South Andros. That's a complaint we hear far too often," he said.
"For many international visitors, especially those coming through Fort Lauderdale or other gateways, they often have to spend a night in Nassau before they can get down here. A lot of people don't want to
BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE Supreme Court has ordered the $200m Rosewood Exuma developer to disclose “a very limited number” of further documents relating to the project while blasting its main opponent for embarking on a “blatant fishing expedition” with many of its demands.
Justice Leif Farquharson, in a June 1, 2026, verdict ordered that the resort’s developer produce all communications between its Bahamian environmental consultant, BRON, and the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) relating to concerns voiced by Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club and its principal, Bob Coughlin, “about marine navigation in North Bay” prior to the development’s receipt of its certificates of environmental clearances (CECs). Yntegra Group, Rosewood Exuma’s developer, has repeatedly asserted it has no plans to dredge in Big Sampson Cay’s North Bay
OBIE FERGUSON KC
DAVE BECKFORD
SIR FRANKLYN WILSON
MICHAEL PINTARD
BIG SAMPSON CAY
Maritime Authority launches blockchain seafarer records
THE Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) has launched a blockchain-secured Digital Seafarer Record Book (DSRB) as it continues to transition from a paper-based system to digital maritime administration.
The Authority, in a statement, said its new platform replaces traditional manual documentation with a secure, fully digital and interoperable system for recording and verifying sea service.
The Digital Seafarer Record Book, it added, introduces a modernised electronic method
for creating, verifying and maintaining sea service records. The platform incorporates authenticated digital discharge certificates and secure identity confirmations, enabling real-time, tamper-resistant sharing of seafarer credentials.
The Bahamas Maritime Authority said the blockchain-based system will reduce administrative burdens for seafarers, ship owners and maritime administrations, while enhancing accuracy, transparency and operational efficiency.
Captain Kapila Malawwethanthri, the BMA’s
Four UB students chosen for AIBT Spanish course
THE Association of International Banks & Trust Companies (AIBT) has selected four University of The Bahamas students to participate in its 2026 Spanish immersion programme. The students are Tamia Burrows; Rachelle Flowers; Adlyn Louima; and Reagan Neely. They will leave The Bahamas on June 7, 2026, and spend four weeks studying at Universidad Internacional (UNINTER) in Cuernavaca, Mexico, before returning to this nation on July 5, 2026. The programme is hosted through the university's internationally-recognised Centre for Linguistic and Multicultural Studies (CELYM), which specialises in teaching Spanish to international students.
Located in Cuernavaca, the institution welcomes students from around the world and combines classroom instruction with cultural immersion, workshops and educational excursions designed to strengthen language fluency and cross-cultural understanding.
Established in 2013, the AIBT Spanish immersion programme was created to provide promising Bahamian students with international exposure and language development opportunities that support their personal growth and future careers in
financial services and related industries.
To-date, 19 students have successfully participated in the programme. With the addition of the four students selected for 2026, a total of 23 Bahamian students will have benefited from the initiative since its inception.
Kimberly E. Strachan, an AIBT director, said:
"The Spanish immersion programme continues to be one of AIBT's most impactful educational initiatives. As The Bahamas strengthens its position as an international financial centre, the ability to communicate across cultures and languages becomes increasingly important.
“We are proud to support these outstanding students as they broaden their horizons and develop skills that will serve them throughout their professional careers." As global business environments continue to evolve, multilingual communication and cultural awareness remain increasingly valuable skills for young professionals entering the workforce.
The AIBT said it remains committed to supporting educational and development initiatives that prepare the next generation of Bahamian professionals to compete and succeed in an increasingly competitive global environment.
deputy director for seafarers and manning, said: “This initiative represents an important step forward in improving the efficiency, security and reliability of seafarer record verification. By introducing a secure and fully digital system, the BMA is supporting a more modern and interoperable approach to maritime administration, while helping to reduce administrative burden for seafarers and industry stakeholders.”
Developed using advanced security frameworks, including blockchain-based integrity safeguards, the BMA said
the system has been designed to support high levels of authenticity, data protection and resilience. The platform has also been developed in compliance with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) dataset requirements, the IMO compendium on facilitation and electronic business, and internationally-recognised maritime cyber security standards, supporting seamless global interoperability.
The Authority added that the launch follows the successful completion of a pilot project conducted in collaboration with Carnival Cruise Line and IDSure to
test and validate the platform using high-volume seafarer documentation applications. It said the pilot demonstrated the system’s reliability, scalability and operational readiness for deployment across The Bahamas’ fleet.
Captain Dwain Hutchinson, the BMA’s managing director and chief executive, said: “The launch of the Digital Seafarer Record Book forms part of the BMA’s broader programme of regulatory modernisation and digitalisation, including the recent implementation of the Merchant Shipping Regulations 2026.
We remain committed to leveraging technology to support customer efficiency, responsive service delivery and practical maritime administration.”
The BMA said that a key capability demonstrated during the pilot was the platform’s integrated verification process, allowing ship masters to digitally confirm and authenticate each seafarer’s period of service with full traceability. Each sea service entry is secured and can be independently validated through QR code authentication, enabling maritime administrations and other authorised parties to verify records with confidence.
The Digital Seafarer Record Book was made available to seafarers from Monday, June 1, 2026. Further guidance and registration information will be issued by the BMA.
Minister: TUC ‘broke away last year’ from main parade
CELEBRATE - from page B1
be, which seemed to have gotten a lot of benefits for working people and not only the trade unions. His [Sir Randol’s] message was to work for the working people of The Bahamas. We want to keep it as pure as possible, and make it available to all and sundry; available to all working Bahamians, and the sons and daughters of workers are invited to be there.
“We will end up at the Southern Recreation Grounds Park where he delivered some of his most notorious speeches. We will have a day of celebration, a day of remembrance of what transpired, and be examining the progress we have made as a country. There is no discrimination here. Period. We are concerned about working people.”
However, Dave Beckford, a veteran trade unionist and former candidate for the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) presidency, who will be attending Friday’s traditional Labour Day march, yesterday voiced misgivings over the TUC and its affiliates holding their own separate parade on the basis that it will reinforce the impression there is a split and disharmony within the trade union and labour movement.
“To me, to have a separate route, it doesn’t go well when we’re talking about having one united march, one Labour Day parade. It further divides us; it’s a further division,” he told Tribune Business.
“Sir Randol Fawkes was a uniter, not a divider. I don’t think it’s necessary.
“I’m one for having one united march like it always was. To me, it doesn’t show a united front. It shows more division, and it’s going to put an extra strain on the Royal Bahamas Police Force because they will have to police separate marches. The TUC has quite a few unions under its umbrella. It doesn’t show a unified front for labour in this country, and it’s sad to see Mr Ferguson and the unions in his caucus take a separate route. It doesn’t show unification.”
Pia Glover-Rolle, minister of labour, the public service and National Insurance, in a messaged reply to Tribune Business inquiries, said she recalled the TUC adopted a similar position in 2025 when it elected not to participate in the traditional Labour Day parade. She added that it also held its own march then, although Tribune Business records only show the decision by Mr Ferguson not to take part in the main parade and the TUC hosting its own celebration - albeit not a march.
“This isn’t the first time,” Mrs Glover-Rolle said. “I can recall the TUC did the same thing last year, and a number of their affiliates still marched in the main march. As the minister, I joined the march but the march is the march of the workers.
“The TUC broke away from the march last year, and did their own march, which I think I can recall wasn’t very well attended, but some of their affiliates also participated in the regular march. This isn’t the first time. Last year was the first time the TUC decided to do their own.”
Mr Ferguson last year signalled that one factor driving the TUC’s Labour Day break-away was concerns that the traditional parade was becoming too politicised, with a heavy presence of marchers wearing party colours as the election campaign started to ratchet up.
He yesterday said the TUC had made a decision, as an umbrella union body, to ensure Labour Day is not “confused with any other event going on that day”. The TUC chief added: “It’s almost like Independence Day. Independence is a special day for our country and people, and is a very important day. We don’t want to create any unnecessary confusion from doing what is right, from what Sir Randol Fawkes wanted to do….
“We wanted to make sure that, what Sir Randol Fawkes intended for working people, we are going to carry that out. We have the complaints about the House of Labour. That was supposed to have been upgraded and that has not happened. That is where we are starting from. That’s for historical purposes. You’ll see quite a bit of that fundamental change coming forward on Friday morning. We are going back to what Sir Randol Fawkes did.”
Mr Ferguson said the response to the TUC’s own Labour Day March has been positive, and he added: “We have a worker’s agenda. We are going to keep the worker’s agenda. If you mess around with the workers in a discriminatory manner, we will deal with that. We are going to be the mouthpiece for them now.”
The TUC’s affiliates yesterday pledged support for the House of Labour march. Deron Brooks, the Bahamas Customs, Immigration and Allied Workers Union (BCIAWU) president, reaffirmed that the route was one taken by Sir Randol himself.
“We’re just doing something different, and we’re following the path that Sir Randol took for Labour Day. That’s basically what we’re doing,” Mr Brooks said. “From the House of Labour to the Southern Recreational Grounds, that’s the way Sir Randol walked.”
He added that while individual unions remain free to celebrate Labour Day as they choose, the umbrella organisation is encouraging a collective observance of the day.
“We’re going with the TUC,” Mr Brooks said.
“Customs and Immigration went with the TUC last year, and that event was held at the House of Labour. Every union still has the right to celebrate the way they want to do it, but the bigger body, the umbrella body, just requests that we all do it together.”
Tyrone Butler, the Bahamas Taxicab Union’s (BTCU) president, said his organisation will be marching alongside the TUC. He welcomed the decision to prohibit political colours, arguing that Labour Day should remain dedicated to workers rather than political parties.
“That was always the position of unions,” he said.
“Every union that I know of, because I used to be with the Hotel Workers Union, and that was always our position then, too. We never was a fan of the political parties because what that did was it toojk away some of the members from the different unions.”
Mr Butler added: “Most of the unions don’t particularly like this idea of political parties marching on Labour Day because it
has nothing to do with politics.” He argued that Labour Day’s increasing association with political activity has diluted its original purpose.
“Some years ago the political parties decided to take advantage of it,” he said. “It started in an election year and then they just made it an annual thing. But you could not find any connection between labour and politics, in terms of the holiday. It’s a disservice to the hard-working men and women for politicians to try to get some sort of credit on a day when it was reserved for the worker.”
The RM Bailey Park and Allied Vendors Association is also supporting the TUC’s initiative. Karen Brown, its president, said her members would be embracing the event’s historical significance and marching with the TUC.
“It’s a day for workers, and so we are celebrating workers, and we’re going back to our roots that Sir Randol Fawkes was fighting for,” she said. “So we’ll wear our black and white and take it back to Southern Recreation Grounds because it’s all about workers.”
L to R: Anastacia Johnson, executive administrator, AIBT; Timolin H. Dixon-Leadon, parent; Dr Cristiana Fimiani, head of department, foreign languages and Spanish programme co-ordinator, University of The Bahamas; Tamia Burrows, UB student; Reagan Neely, UB student; Perry Rolle, director, AIBT; Kimberly E. Strachan, director, AIBT; Adlyn Louima, UB student; Rachelle Flowers, UB student; and Sandena Neely, parent.
L to R: Tamia Burrows, Reagan Neely, Adlyn Louima and Rachelle Flowers, the four University of The Bahamas students selected to participate in the 2026 AIBT Spanish immersion programme in Mexico.
South Andros banking like
‘visiting PMH’s A&E unit’
BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
SOUTH Andros residents yesterday asserted the area’s once-weekly banking service has become an allday ordeal for customers, with one comparing it to a visit to the Accident and Emergency Department at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH).
Mildred Duncombe said the current level of banking service remains inadequate for the community's needs, with customers often spending hours waiting to complete basic transactions. "The banking system over here is terrible. Poor, poor, poor," she said.
According to Ms Duncombe, customers
frequently begin queuing hours before the branch opens. "Sometimes people are lining up from 6am or 7am in the morning just to get their business done," she said. "There may only be one teller or two tellers working, and there simply isn't enough staff to handle the demand."
Describing the experience, Ms Duncombe added: "Banking over here is like going to accident and emergency at Princess Margaret Hospital. You know you're going to be there all day. You have to carry breakfast and lunch with you when you're going to the bank because you know you're going to be there for hours."
Ms Duncombe said long waits continue even after customers enter the branch. "People think once they get
inside the bank they'll be served quickly, but that's not the case. You can spend an hour or more inside after already waiting outside," she said. "The system is terrible - absolutely terrible." She also complained about customer service issues and lengthy delays once customers reach the teller. "Sometimes people step away briefly after marking their place in line and are met with an attitude when they return," said Ms Duncombe. "Other customers often have to speak up and say, 'That person was already here.'
"When you're reaching the bank, you think you're going to get served right away. No. You can already be inside for an hour or more waiting. Even when there are only a few people
Fishermen want constant RBDF presence in foreign poacher fight
BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter
WHILE Bahamian
fishermen are cautiously welcoming plans to refurbish three Royal Bahamas Defence Force patrol vessels and acquire an extra auxiliary vessel, some argue the initiative’s success depends on whether authorities keep them operational and maintain a constant presence to deter poachers.
Michael Halkitis, minister of finance, in his 2026-2027
Budget communication announced plans to refurbish three patrol craft and the auxiliary vessel, HMBS Lawrence Major, plus acquire another auxiliary vessel and continue development of Royal Bahamas Defence Force bases in Coral Harbour and Inagua. The investments form part of a broader strategy to strengthen maritime security, improve operational
reach across The Bahamas and bolster border protection.
For fisherman Emile Knowles, however, the challenge is not simply acquiring vessels but ensuring sufficient assets are deployed in the areas where poaching activity is most prevalent. “The biggest thing is they only have one boat out there at a time,” he said. “They need three boats to patrol between Guinchos Cay and Ragged Island.”
Mr Knowles argued that Dominican poachers have begun using Starlink to monitor Defence Force movements. “The technology they got today, the Dominicans, everybody got Starlink,” he said. “So when the Defence Force is in the area, they get notified.”
Mr Knowles believes authorities should strengthen their presence in the southern Bahamas by expanding the Defence Force’s Ragged Island
operations and maintaining a vessel near Inagua.
“They need to expand Ragged Island’s base and have a boat in the ocean by Inagua,” he said. “When they’re coming down, check all boats in the channel. Stop them before they come down.”
According to Mr Knowles, Dominican vessels frequently travel through the Old Bahama Channel, a major route running between Cuba and the southern Bahamas. “They come down the Old Bahama Channel,” he said. “If they got a radar, they can stop them there.”
Despite closure of the crawfish season, which reopens on August 1, Mr Knowles said illegal fishing activity has continued by Dominicans. “I went out April 18 and they were out there,” he said. “They ain’t stopping. They don’t stop.”
While he supports the Government’s bid to refurbish RBDF vessels, Mr Knowles argued that
South Andros resident
ahead of you, the line barely moves."
Ms Duncombe argued that South Andros may be underserved because customer demand is not being properly reflected. "One of the problems is that many clients were registered with Mangrove Cay addresses," she said. "As a result, people in Nassau may believe the majority of the bank's customers are in Mangrove Cay, and that's simply not the case. "A lot of Mangrove Cay residents use Island Luck and other services for their transactions, while South Andros residents still depend heavily on the bank." Ms Duncombe added: "The reality is that this is the only bank we have. There are no other options."
operational expertise will be equally important. “The biggest thing they need are navigators,” he said. “They need people with experience who know the banks and getting knowledge from local fishermen as well.”
He added that maintaining the fleet will ultimately determine whether the initiative succeeds. “If they get all the boats working that’s enough,” Mr Knowles said. “But they need to get them working and keep them serviced. There’s no use having the boats if they’re tied up to the dock.”
Another fisherman, Lance Pinder, echoed those concerns, questioning why vessel maintenance had not been prioritised earlier. “Well, in all honesty, it’s great,” he said. “But that’s something that should have been maintained straight through from since they’ve been in there.
“I’m proud that they finally waking up. But if they don’t keep the boats maintained and properly running, and also provide the funding for the fuel, the boats will stay to the dock.” Mr Pinder argued that simply acquiring additional vessels will not solve the problem if operational
Mr Collie said the reduced banking schedule is particularly difficult for seniors and residents with mobility challenges. "I can tell you the banking experience over here is bad - very bad," he said. "Banking services are down to one day a week, and that one day is a headache."
"People are frustrated. For many of us, especially retirees, it's becoming harder and harder to deal with." Mr Collie said elderly residents often struggle with the lengthy waits.
"I can't walk very well, my wife can't walk very well, and there are many other people in the same situation. It creates real challenges for us," he said.
Calling for additional service days, he added: "If we could get even a few more banking days each week, residents would feel much better. The service was based in Mangrove Cay for a long time, and right now many people feel Mangrove Cay is receiving
funding and maintenance remain inadequate.
“They could order 10,000 boats, but if the boats are not out to sea, they ain’t doing nobody any good,” he said. While expressing hope that the Government’s plans will translate into stronger enforcement, Mr Pinder said fishermen have become sceptical after years of seeing limited maritime patrol activity.
“We got to sea,” he said. “The fishermen have been through enough in the past five years that we have to see them do what they are going do before we take anything they say at face value.”
Mr Pinder believes three patrol vessels are insufficient adding that, “for the whole entire Bahamas, you need at least six”. He called for two vessels to maintain a constant presence along the southern edge of the Bahama Banks, an area he described as the primary entry point for both Dominican poachers and illegal immigrants.
“That’s where all your action comes through,” he said. “Ninety percent of the action. When I see the boats out there patrolling and bringing in the Dominican
better treatment than South Andros."
The concerns revive an issue that sparked controversy last year, when Bank of The Bahamas reduced operations at its Kemp's Bay branch to one day per week while maintaining four days of service in Mangrove Cay.
The decision drew criticism from residents, businesses and South and Central Andros MP Leon Lundy, who described the move as a "disservice" to residents and warned that Family Island communities were being pushed down a "path of neglect". Businesses also voiced concerns that the reduced schedule would complicate deposits and other banking transactions.
More than a year later, residents interviewed by Tribune Business said access to banking services remains a significant challenge, particularly for seniors and those who rely on in-person transactions.
poachers and sinking them, then I’ll be the first person to say, ‘Yes, you’re doing a good job.’”
The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation (BCCEC) welcomed the planned investments. It’s chief executive, Dr Leo Rolle, said stronger maritime security is essential to protecting the country’s ‘blue economy’.
“I think that’s great,” Dr Rolle said following the Budget communication.
“One of the challenges we have is securing our borders from poachers.”
He said the investment should help ensure that Bahamian fishermen do not feel disadvantaged by foreign vessels illegally harvesting resources within Bahamian waters. However, Dr Rolle also stressed that capital spending should be accompanied by investments in personnel and skills development.
“I do also want to see it tied and coupled with the necessary training, retooling and educational acumen,” he said.
South Andros operator: Airlift constraints hold tourism back
PARTY - from page B1
do that. They want to come straight to South Andros, but that’s not always possible.
“Some visitors tell us the trip is too expensive and too tedious. When you’re competing with other destinations, those extra steps can make a difference.” Mr Adderley said the transportation constraints are also influencing booking patterns, with fewer guests committing to trips far in advance.
“What we’re finding is that we don’t get as many bookings far in advance as we used to,” he said. “A lot of reservations come within a week or so of arrival. We still get some bookings well ahead of time, and local groups continue to support us, but more and more of our business is coming on short notice.”
Despite those challenges, Mr Adderley said he remains optimistic that homecoming will generate increased visitor activity over the Labour
Day holiday weekend and provide a welcome boost for tourism-related businesses throughout South Andros.
“We’re always glad to welcome people home and introduce new visitors to South Andros,” said Mr Adderley. “Once people get here, they usually want to come back. The challenge isn’t convincing them to visit- it’s making sure they can get here without a lot of hassle. If we can solve that, I think the future is very bright.”
URCA’s go-ahead for 40% Shell LNG terminal stake
ENERGY - from page B1
basic theme that you pick your partners wisely and carefully. For us as a small country like The Bahamas, we have to accept Shell has similar principles. The fact that, in applying those principles, they accepted us as a fit and proper partner for them is something we can be proud of.”
Recalling how FOCOL, and its role in the Government’s energy reforms, was declared by the US Export-Import Bank to be its ‘deal of the year’ after providing around $50m in financing for the project, Sir Franklyn then revealed:
“Happening on Monday, there’s going to be a very significant transaction taking place; very significant in the life of the company. I don’t want to say too much, and I don’t want to run ahead of myself.
“Shell taking a minority position with FOCOL, all this is having an impact on FOCOL that is simply immense. Our phones are ringing at FOCOL. FOCOL is challenged with deciding how to deal with all
this. Some very execptional things are happening. We as directors of the company are trying to digest it all and make sure we handle it prudently. We will announce it very soon, very, very soon, another major step.”
FOCOL Holdings recently signed the contract for construction of the LNG terminal and regasification facility at Clifton Pier with industrial contractor, Turner Industries. The URCA approval allowing Shell to proceed with its minority ownership acquisition is the next step towards triggering the investment that will finance the project’s development and bring LNG-fuelled baseload electricity generation for New Providence a step closer to fruition.
Shell, via its Bahamian-domiciled acquisition vehicle, is purchasing a 40 percent interest in New Providence Gas, the entity licensed by URCA to construct, own, operate and manage the Clifton Pier LNG facility for 15 years to July 28, 2040. The multinational energy giant, which will be supplying the LNG this facility will
Finance sourced vouchers from five different suppliers
CONSTRUCT - from page B1
to assist Abaco residents with post-Hurricane Dorian relief. But the vouchers, which were issued in “amounts of $200, $300 and $500”, carried the names and signatures of Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) election candidates and officials. This raised fears - denied by PLP representativesthat Bahamian taxpayer dollars were being improperly used to finance the governing party’s re-election campaign and give it
an unfair advantage. Mr Pintard, in his June 1 letter, returned to this theme by asserting that the Premier Importers vouchers were used “to aid the political campaign of a then-private citizen who was at the time running as a candidate for the governing party”.
Senator Latrae Rahming, communications director in the Prime Minister’s Office, did not respond to Tribune Business requests for comment on the Opposition’s latest voucher attack before press time
Opponent hails victory for ‘transparency, rule of law’
VERDICT - from page B1
to create a commercial shipping channel for vessels to reach its service dock - the facility whose present location is the primary source of the dispute with the adjacent Turtlegrass property and its principal, Bob Coughlin, sparking the latter’s ongoing Judicial Review challenge to his neighbour’s permits.
Justice Farquharson, meanwhile, also ordered Miami-based Yntegra to disclose the revised Heads of Agreement it signed with the first Davis administration on May 21, 2024, plus plans submitted to DEPP for temporary housing and “foundation design”. All these documents, plus the correspondence related to North Bay, must be produced by this coming Monday, June 8. However, the judge described these additional documents as a “very limited number” and he completely rejected the bid by Turtlegrass and its fellow nearby developer, Over Yonder Holdings, to obtain “further disclosure against the Government” and its various regulatory agencies such as DEPP. And Justice Farquharson went so far as to several times find
that Rosewood Exuma’s opponents were engaged in “blatant fishing” that appeared unconnected to the CECs being challenged in the Judicial Review action.
However, both warring parties were again each quick to claim victory last night following the Supreme Court’s ruling. Jeffrey Clark, Turtlegrass’s chief financial officer, hailed the verdict as “a major win for the Bahamian people, for transparency and for the rule of law”. Yntegra, though, countered by asserting that the judge had “dismissed the overwhelming majority of the extensive disclosure requests” as either “unnecessary” or fishing expeditions.
“Yesterday marked a major win for the Bahamian people, for transparency and for the rule of law,” Mr Clark wrote in a messaged reply to Tribune Business inquiries. “Bahamians will now finally be able to see how the Yntegra project came to be granted approvals by DEPP.
“We are extremely pleased that the court recognised these were key documents which the other side had failed to disclose, even though their attorneys had repeatedly insisted that
N O T I C E
AQUILA LIMITED
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:
(a) AQUILA LIMITED is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.
(b) The dissolution of the said company commenced on the 1st June, 2026 when the Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.
(c) The Liquidator of the said company is Leeward Nominees Limited of Vistra Corporate Services Centre, Wickhams Cay II, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Dated this 3rd day of June, A. D. 2026
Leeward Nominees Limited Liquidator
convert back into gas form, is acquiring its interest from a FOCOL-owned subsidiary, Sun Oil Holdings, which will retain the majority 60 percent equity ownership interest.
Acknowledging Shell’s depth and breadth of expertise, plus financial capability, URCA said the natural gas sector in The Bahamas is both in its early development stages and has “high structural barriers to entry” due to the high level of investment and specialised equipment required. “The acquirer brings specialised technical capabilities, including extensive experience in the liquefaction and trading of LNG,” it added.
“The strategic entry of a global minority partner is intended to strengthen project execution, ensure fuel supply resilience, and align New Providence Gas’s terminal operations with the modern infrastructure goals envisioned under the National Energy Policy….
“This change in control is designed to utilise private commercial capital to support the substantial infrastructure deployment, technical development
last night. However, Mr Halkitis last week pledged that the whole issue will be addressed in the upcoming 2026-2027 Budget debate that begins next Monday.
“As we move into the debate, we can address these issues,” he said. “I understand that they (the Opposition) asked several questions, and so those will be addressed.” However, Mr Pintard, in his letter to the finance minister, demanded that the Government disclose who authorised the purchase of the Premier Importers vouchers and the agency responsible for their distribution “in a fair and equitable manner”.
The Opposition leader also asked the Government
everything relevant had already been shared.
“If we had not pressed for these documents, they would never have seen the light of day. It has taken several months and multiple formal requests to secure the release of these critical documents that go to the heart of environmental protection and lawful decision-making. We say - and the court agrees - that they are relevant to the case. We look forward to the moment when Bahamians can finally see what they contain.”
Yntegra, though, while pledging that it will comply with the June 8 document production deadline, said: “In a thorough and carefully reasoned judgment, Justice Farquharson repeatedly cautioned against disclosure requests that amounted to what established judicial authorities describe as ‘fishing expeditions’.
“The court noted that many of the applicants’ requests sought broad categories of internal communications, drafts, analyses, notes, assessments and correspondence that were not necessary for the fair resolution of the Judicial Review claims.
“The Court expressly observed that several requests directed at Yntegra and the project developers constituted ‘blatant fishing’, and that numerous requests appeared to be obvious fishing expeditions rather than legitimate efforts to obtain material necessary to resolve the proceedings,” the Rosewood Exuma developer added.
“The judgment further noted that many of the requested documents related to matters that were peripheral to the issues before the court or concerned policy decisions that fall outside the scope of the Judicial Review challenges.”
and long-term operational needs of the licensed LNG terminal.”
URCA, as regulator, determined that the transaction will not undermine competition in the Bahamian LNG and natural gas supply market. It noted that, while another LNG terminal operator is present on New Providence, Island Power Producers is focused solely on supplying cruise ships docked in Nassau with 70 mega watts (MW) of shore power and will not directly compete with FOCOL and Shell.
“Because New Providence Gas and Island Power Producers target structurally distinct segments of downstream demand, the transaction does not consolidate competing market shares or result in horizontal overlapping constraints,” URCA ruled.
““The entry of [Shell] as a minority partner does not eliminate an active, functioning market competitor, nor does it compress existing consumer choice. Both participants will remain subject to independent, ongoing regulatory oversight under their respective
to identify “the lawful administrative mechanism” used to determine who was eligible to receive the $200,000 vouchers; whether “a proper audit trail” exists; and an explanation for how a PLP candidate’s name appeared on the vouchers and if they had any role in their distribution.
Valentine Grimes, a PLP trustee, previously denied that the party would use public funds in the way alleged by Mr Pintard. “Anything that candidates give out to people, anything, is paid out by the party or the candidate,” he said. The issuance of the vouchers on Abaco was said to be a way to assist Hurricane Dorian victims.
Asserting that the Supreme Court verdict should foster greater confidence in the integrity of the environmental, planning and other regulatory review processes, Yntegra said: “The ruling confirms what Yntegra has maintained throughout these proceedings: That the environmental review, consultation and approval processes generated a substantial and comprehensive record that has already been placed before the court, and that the applicants’ attempts to obtain sweeping categories of additional material were neither necessary nor justified….
“The ruling confirms that the approval process for the Rosewood Exuma project generated a substantial evidentiary record, and that the overwhelming majority of the applicants’ demands for additional disclosure were neither necessary nor justified.
“The Court’s decision represents an important affirmation of the principle that Judicial Review proceedings should focus on the legality and reasonableness of decisions based on the evidence properly before decision-makers, rather than becoming a vehicle for expansive and speculative document requests,” the Miami-based developer added.
“We believe the ruling provides further confidence in the integrity of the environmental, planning and regulatory processes that have been followed throughout the development of the Rosewood Exuma project.”
Both Turtlegrass and Over Yonder Holdings had sought further disclosure of a wide range of documents, including drafts, internal notes, e-mails, What’s App messages, models, data and assessments related
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL
The public is hereby advised that I, OVANDO CHADRICK NORRIS of Tilst Soenderveg 6A, 8381 Tilst, Denmark, intend to change my name to OVANDO CHADRICK NORIUS. If there are any objections to challenge the name by deed poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, The Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the publication of this notice.
licensing conditions and the Natural Gas Act….
“Because the transaction merely introduces a minority partner into an already licensed, asset-specific infrastructure vehicle rather than closing off a previously open commercial market, URCA has not found that the proposed transaction is likely to result in any harmful effects to competition in the relevant market,” the regulator added.
“URCA concludes that the transaction does not pose a threat to the public interest, and considers that it should yield positive structural efficiencies that support the modernisation and stability of the domestic natural gas sector.”
FOCOL and Shell, in their submissions to URCA, said their partnership will “directly facilitate the capital mobilisation necessary for the construction and long-term operation” of the Clifton Pier LNG terminal and “serve as the structural catalyst enabling the commercial-scale importation of LNG into New Providence”, thereby reducing reliance on more expensive,
Asked whether issuing gift cards to people so close to an election amounts to vote buying, Mr Grimes said such practices are carried out by “all sides of the political equation” — a topic long whispered about but rarely addressed publicly.
“There’s nothing wrong with giving that assistance as long as you’re not doing it to influence their vote,” he said. “If I see someone who needs food, what do I do?” Pressed on whether both things can be true — someone can be in need of help and a candidate is trying to influence their vote — he said that would be up to people to interpret. Some
to multiple CECs granted to the Rosewood Exuma project, as well as Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and management plans. Also sought was a copy of a January 9, 2024, memorandum from Prime Minister Philip Davis KC, and other documents linked to the approvals process.
The rival resort developers had argued production of these materials was “essential to determine the lawfulness of the decisions under challenge” in the Judicial Review, which is a special type of legal action used to challenge actions by public bodies and whether they are rational, followed the proper lawful procedures and undertook sufficient public consultation.
Justice Farquharson, though, noted that the Judicial Review primarily sought to challenge the legality of two CECs issued by DEPP. And he noted the need to guard against “fishing expeditions” and prevent the court from becoming overwhelmed by paperwork.
“I am not prepared to order further disclosure of internal documents, analyses and reports of DEPP as requested,” the judge ruled. “On any realistic appraisal, there is already considerable information before the court in relation to the consultation process undertaken.
“If there were any defects in that process, the parties are in my view well positioned to argue the same. No further disclosure of DEPP’s internal documents would appear to be necessary to fairly and justly resolve this issue.”
And Justice Farquharson added: “Based on the foregoing, all documents which were significant to the decisions to issue the impugned
less clean fossi fuels by BPL. They added that the LNG terminal is “a matter of strategic national importance” to the success of the Government’s planned energy reforms, and asserted that their partnership “injects international commercial capital and specialised technical expertise directly into a domestic infrastructure vehicle. This accelerates the capital-intensive deployment of the terminal, reducing execution risk for critical energy infrastructure.
“By stabilising the development framework of New Providence Gas’s terminal, the transaction directly advances the public interest goal of transitioning the energy sector toward natural gas dependency,” URCA said. “The acquirer brings institutional expertise in global LNG sourcing, logistics and trading. This relationship enhances the long- term operational resilience of the terminal, safeguarding fuel supply chain continuity for New Providence.”
Free National Movement (FNM) candidates in the May 12 general election were also issuing building material vouchers to their prospective constituents pre-election. The Bahamas has no campaign finance laws, and there are no clear, enforceable rules requiring full disclosure of political spending or governing the use of public resources during election periods. Both major political parties have continually promised to introduce a campaign finance system but have failed to do so.
CECs appear to have been disclosed by DEPP. “Much of the remainder of [Turtlegrass] and Yonder’s requests relate to broad classes of documents, including ‘all documents, drafts, internal notes, malls, Whats App messages, memoranda, reports, assessments, modelling, data, or other materials that were considered, reviewed, generated, or relied upon (whether formally or informally) by DEPP, the director, or any officer or consultant in connection with the Yntegra development, the CEC applications ..the ElA, the EMP, the public consultation process, or any environmental, technical or socioeconomic assessment’.
“Sweeping requests are also made for (among others) ‘all communications between’ DEPP and the BIA, Department of Physical Planning and the Office of the Prime Minister. In my view, such requests on their face are manifestly excessive and blatant fishing expeditions.” Justice Farquharson added, in particular, that demands for Bahamas Investment Authority (BIA) communications were “a fishing expedition” as the agency was not even a party to the Judicial Review.
As for the information sought from Yntegra, Justice Farquharson found that “many of the requests made of them also constitute blatant fishing or, at a minimum, seek disclosure of documents which are not in my view necessary to resolve the two Judicial Review challenges fairly and justly”. He identified several that “appear to be obvious fishing expeditions”. However, he did Order the production of limited documents from the Rosewood Exuma developer by June 8.
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL
The Public is hereby advised that I, FRESLINE JEAN of Lower Bogue North Eleuthera P.O.Box N9426, Bahamas mother of SKYLAR MYA FERGUSON intend to change my child’s name to SKYLAR MYA JEAN. If there are any objections to this change of name by deed poll, you may write such objection to the Chief Passport Officer, P. O. Box N-3746, Nassau, The Bahamas or at deedpoll@bahamas.gov.bs no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the publication of this notice.
Wall Street inches to more records thanks to booming AI stocks
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer
THE U.S. stock market inched to more records Tuesday as winners of the artificial-intelligence boom kept driving higher.
The S&P 500 rose 0.1% after drifting between small gains and losses through the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 228 points, or 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite edged up by less than 0.1%. All three set all-time highs.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise helped lead the market, and its stock soared 19.5% after it reported a profit for the latest quarter that blew past analysts’ expectations. It credited demand from customers building their artificial-intelligence capabilities.
Marvell Technology leaped 32.5% for its best day since its stock began trading in 2000 after Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, suggested at a conference in
Taiwan that Marvell could be “the next trillion-dollar company.” The last company to enter the expanding club of behemoths was Micron Technology, which is likewise riding the AI wave. Nvidia, which slipped 0.7%, has seen its total value top $5 trillion.
Generac climbed 5.7% after saying it signed a deal to provide backup power generators to an unnamed “leading hyperscale data center operator.”
Such “hyperscalers” are spending tremendous amounts of money to build huge AI data centers, which are powering what proponents believe is the next great revolution for the global economy.
Alphabet is one of those hyperscalers, and the parent company of Google said it’s raising $80 billion in cash to help pay for its investments by selling shares of its stock. It’s planning to spend as much as $190
billion on equipment and other investments this year.
That’s more than all the stock of The Walt Disney Co. is worth, and Alphabet is forecasting its spending on investments next year will “significantly increase.”
Such huge sums raise the question about whether AI can produce the profits and productivity necessary to make all the investment worth it.
Critics have already been talking about the possibility of a bubble in AI investment, and Alphabet’s stock fell 3.9%. It was one of the heaviest weights on the S&P 500.
All told, the S&P 500 rose 9.82 points to 7,609.78. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 228.91 to 51,307.79, and the Nasdaq composite inched up 7.09 to 27,093.90.
Analysts have been saying the broad U.S. stock market may be set for a slowdown following an
Canada calls for US and Mexico free trade agreement to be renewed for 16 years
By ROB GILLIES Associated Press
CANADA is calling on the United States and Mexico to renew the free trade agreement among their three countries for another 16 years just as U.S. President Donald Trump revives talk of making Canada the 51st state.
Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s minister for U.S. trade, sent a letter Tuesday to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Mexico’s Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard conveying Canada’s recommendation.
“The Agreement is highly beneficial to each of our countries and to the integrated North American economy,” LeBlanc wrote.
LeBlanc said Canada also received letters from Greer and Ebrard but declined to say what their recommendations are.
The letters come ahead of the scheduled July review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, the latest iteration of a North American free-trade pact that has intertwined the economies of the United States, Mexico and Canada since the early 1990s. It can either be subject to annual reviews going forward, or renewed for 16 years.
LeBlanc and Canada’s Chief Trade Negotiator Janice Charette were in Washington on Tuesday for a meeting with Greer. LeBlanc said he presented a series of proposals to Greer that responded to a number of issues the U.S. has raised with Canada for sometime.
“On July 1 as Ambassador Greer has said publicly, if there is no consensus amongst the three parties to extend for 16 years, the agreement remains in place for 10 more years and there is a series of annual reviews,” LeBlanc said.
LeBlanc has previously said he believes the U.S. might want to have the trade agreement subject to annual reviews, and that the Trump administration might seek to cause uncertainty about the trade pact’s permanence.
Trump has repeatedly said he believes Canada would be better off as a U.S. state — prompting repeated pushback and annoyance from Canadian politicians who have made a point of defending their country’s sovereignty. On Monday, Trump posted “51st State!” on social media linking to a news article reporting that Canada is falling into a technical recession. The post was later reposted
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I DELIA JEAN of Golden Isles, New Providence, Bahamas, 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 June, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I, ERICK LOUIS of P.O. Box CB12401, Howard Drive, East Street South, 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 June, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
unrelenting streak of nine straight winning weeks for the S&P 500, its longest since 2023. The rally has been largely due to strong profit reports from U.S. companies, as well as hopes that the United States and Iran will reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. That would allow oil to flow freely again from the Persian Gulf and hopefully lower its price.
In the oil market, prices rose again to claw back more of last week’s slump. Brent crude oil, the international standard, climbed 1.1% to settle at $96.00
per barrel, and it’s still well above its roughly $70 level from before the war.
In the bond market, Treasury yields were relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.45% from 4.47% late Monday. It briefly jumped after a report said that U.S. employers were advertising many more jobs at the end of April than economists expected, a potential signal of continued health for the U.S. labor market. But it quickly pulled back to where it was just before the report’s release.
High yields worldwide recently have threatened to slow economies and undercut prices for stocks and all kinds of other investments. They have already forced the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate to its most expensive level in nine months, and they could curtail companies’ borrowing to build the AI data centers that have supported the U.S. economy’s growth recently. In stock markets abroad indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 2.5% for one of the world’s biggest moves.
Prime Minister
by U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford issued a peeved response Tuesday: “I can’t believe I have to say this again, but Canada will never be the 51st state. Canada is not for sale.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was asked Tuesday if Ambassador Hoekstra should leave the country, but the Canadian leader said no.
“It’s an administration that we have to work with. It’s our biggest trading relationship. It’s our biggest security relationship ... we take the administration as it is,” Carney said, adding that
Trump posts a lot on social media. “We’re not going to respond to, react to, everything that he posts.” Carney earlier acknowledged some weakness in the country’s economy as
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I, YOLDYNE BAZILE THIBOSS of #27 Rocky Pine 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 June, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I, KERBY JEAN of Lazeretta 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 27th day of May, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I, JEAN JACQUES FLEURY of Farrington 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 June, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
he walked into a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Carney said the U.S. has about 30 different trade irritants with Canada compared to nearly 60 with Mexico.
makes an ad-
at the Canadian
tion of Defense and Security Industries annual defense industry trade show CANSEC, in Ottawa, on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
The U.S. could withdraw from the agreement with six months notice.
“There is a possibility of a new partnership there,” Carney said.
The USMCA has allowed Canada and Mexico to avoid much of Trump’s protectionist measures because many Mexican and Canadian goods are covered by the free trade agreement. But there are some key specific tariffs on things like aluminum that are damaging the integrated North American economy.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I, KIARA CHRISTIE of #9 Clayton Close, Springfield 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 June, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I SONIA SIMEON GARCON #46 Lakeview Drive, South Bahamia, Freeport, Grand Bahama, 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 3rd day of June, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that I, SHERWIN GARDNER of #40 Westridge Drive, Cable Beach, 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 27th day of May, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
TRADERS EDWARD MCCARTHY, left, and Robert Charmak work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, June 1, 2026.
Photo:Richard Drew/AP
CANADIAN
Mark Carney
dress
Associa-
Photo:Justin Tang/AP
Trump’s financial ties face scrutiny after moves benefiting allies and family
By WILL WEISSERT and MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press
PRESIDENT Donald Trump tried to create a near $1.8 billion fund that could be funneled to his supporters as a means of settling a lawsuit he filed against his own government — even arguing that he “gave up a lot of money in allowing” it.
After drawing outcry in Congress and the courts, however, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers on Tuesday that the administration was scrapping plans to create the fund. That potentially means the suit — and the possibility that the president could still cash in — might be back on.
Trump hasn’t been shy about turning the presidency into a major source of personal benefit, involving everything from merchandising deals to crypto ventures to high-dollar political and official events at his properties.
Asked about possible self-dealing, the White House called such suggestions “the same, tired narrative that Democrats have pushed against President Trump, his family, and his administration for a decade.”
“President Trump only acts in the best interests of the American public — which is why they overwhelmingly re-elected him to this office, despite years of lies and false accusations against him and his businesses from the fake news media,” spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement. “There are no conflicts of interest.”
Here are some key ways Trump has reaped rewards
for himself, his children and allies in his second term: Suing his government and deals favoring his family
Last year, the president submitted a claim seeking $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for a FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida as part of an investigation into whether he took classified records from the White House.
How a carjacking in Connecticut led back to a man known as the crypto ‘Godfather’ in California
By DAVE COLLINS Associated Press
ON a leafy Connecti-
cut road in the summer of 2024, would-be kidnappers
pulled a couple from their Lamborghini SUV, beat them in broad daylight and threw them into a van, only to be arrested shortly
thereafter as multiple witnesses, including a passing off-duty FBI agent, called police.
In January this year, Trump, his two eldest sons and the family’s business, the Trump Organization, filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and Treasury Department after a former IRS contractor illegally leaked Trump’s tax returns.
In an attempt to resolve those cases, Trump’s government agreed that $1.776 billion in taxpayer funds be distributed to people who
The investigation would lead police to some sensational findings.
The attack turned out to be linked to a $245 million Bitcoin heist the month before involving the couple’s son. And this week, a California cryptocurrency mogul who authorities say called himself “The Godfather” and had previously hired off-duty sheriff’s deputies to strongarm his
PRESIDENT Donald Trump pumps his fist as he arrives at the White House, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Washington. Photo:Alex Brandon/AP
believe they were targeted by past administrations for politically motivated prosecution — including the Trump supporters imprisoned for attacking police while overrunning the U.S. Capitol in 2021. After blowback from even some congressional Republicans, the Justice Department now said it would comply with a ruling temporarily blocking the fund. Blanche was clearer on Tuesday, telling a House committee that, “We’re not moving forward with the fund.”
But there was less clamor about another part of the deal allowing the government to drop pending IRS audits into Trump and his relatives. Blanche said the Justice Department was not abandoning that part of the agreement.
Separately, the Air Force has agreed to purchase interceptor drones from Powerus, a Florida-based company linked to Trump’s family. And ProPublica reported that direct intervention from the White House preceded the Pentagon agreeing to loan $620 million to Vulcan Elements,
enemies admitted to orchestrating the attempted abduction to get a piece of the son’s stolen loot.
The California man, 25-year-old Adam Iza, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery. Federal prosecutors are seeking a prison term of at least 14 years when he’s sentenced.
Iza’s lawyer, William Paetzold, didn’t immediately respond to Tuesday phone and email messages seeking comment.
The case is part of an increasing trend worldwide of cryptocurrency theft spilling over to violence.
Nightclub fight spawns kidnapping plot
A month before the abduction attempt, one of Iza’s alleged co-conspirators got into a beef with the couple’s son, Veer Chetal, at a Miami nightclub, according to an FBI affidavit. The man, James Schwab, then told an acquaintance to rob Chetal and his friends at their Miami rental home, authorities said. It’s not clear if the robbery happened. Schwab’s lawyers didn’t immediately respond to phone messages seeking comment.
Then came the Bitcoin heist. A few weeks after the nightclub fight, Chetal and two other men hatched an elaborate online scheme that involved impersonating technical support staff for Google and a cryptocurrency exchange. They managed to steal 4,100 Bitcoins — worth about $245 million at the time — from a Washington, D.C., resident, according to court documents.
The trio lived large after the theft, spending millions of dollars on cars, clothing, jewelry, rental mansions and nightclub parties before being arrested, prosecutors said. Chetal pleaded guilty last November and awaits sentencing, while the two other men have pleaded not guilty.
Iza and Schwab, meanwhile, came up with the idea to take Chetal’s parents hostage in a bid to snatch some of his ill-gotten riches, the FBI said, citing information from informants. Schwab and Iza’s brother, Saif Faiq, also were charged in the kidnapping attempt and pleaded not guilty. They recruited six other men to go to Connecticut, paying for their travel and lodging, authorities said. A week after the Bitcoin heist, the group surveilled Chetal’s parents hours before the kidnapping, according to court records.
Abduction quickly goes awry
Sushil and Radhika Chetal were driving in the Lamborghini on Aug. 25, 2024, near Danbury High School when they were
a North Carolina startup linked to Donald Trump Jr. Trump Organization spokesperson Kimberly Benza denied any ethical conflicts between the White House and the family business.
“The Trump Organization operates completely separate from the presidency and is in full compliance with all ethics and conflict-of-interest laws,” Benza said in a statement.
As for Powerus, Benza said Eric Trump was “a passive investor in a vehicle that, among many others, holds an interest” in the company, but wasn’t involved in its decision-making or management.
Trading in financial markets he can help move Trump has traded stocks and bonds in unprecedented ways for a sitting U.S. president.
Office of Government Ethics filings show Trump made more than 3,600 stock trades in the first quarter of 2026 alone — transactions far exceeding $100 million in value.
rear-ended by a car. A white van then pulled in front of the SUV and several men surrounded them, police said.
The men pulled the Chetals out of the SUV and forced them into their van, beating Sushil Chetal with a baseball bat and dragging Radhika Chetal by her hair. The couple were bound with duct tape and the van drove off, according to court documents.
After witnesses called police, officers soon spotted the van and a chase ensued. The van eventually crashed and four of the men got out and fled on foot but were arrested shortly thereafter. The other two men were later found at a home the group had rented in a nearby town. The Chetals were taken to a hospital and released.
The six men, all from Florida, have pleaded guilty in connection with the kidnapping. Two have been sentenced to 11 years in prison and the others await sentencing.
How the ‘Godfather’ went from a Bel Air mansion to federal charges Before Iza’s arrest in the Connecticut case, he was under investigation by federal authorities in California for extorting money and property from victims in Los Angeles and elsewhere, court records show. He was charged in that case a month after the kidnapping and later pleaded guilty.
Iza, also known as Ahmed Faiq, was living in a mansion in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles, calling himself The Godfather while running a crypto trading company, Zort. While stealing millions of dollars and funneling it through shell companies, Iza spent freely on luxury cars and other extravagances, including cosmetic surgery to lengthen his legs, prosecutors said.
Beginning in August 2021, Iza paid around $100,000 a month for his personal protection to a private security firm founded by a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy that also employed other deputies, prosecutors said.
Iza, authorities said, hired off-duty deputies to act as enforcers against people with whom he had personal and business disputes. He used the deputies to extort, intimidate, set people up for arrest and abuse the legal process, prosecutors said.
The deputies used law enforcement databases to generate information about Iza’s enemies and obtained search warrants under false pretenses, authorities said. On one occasion, two deputies held a victim at gunpoint inside Iza’s home, pressuring the victim to transfer $25,000 to Iza’s bank account, prosecutors said.
