THE Bahamian tourism industry is urging the Government to “pause” the new and increased boating fees until end-October to “save the summer season” and ensure “we get it right”.
Kerry Fountain, the Bahama Out Island Promotion Board’s executive director, told Tribune Business the industry did “not propose throwing the baby out with the bath water” when it met with government representatives last Monday to address the confused and often-hostile reaction from the international boating community to reforms that accompanied the 2025-2026 Budget. With the tourism sector now awaiting the Government’s official response, he confirmed that it recommended halting implementation of the
new and increased fees until end-October 2025 to ensure The Bahamas strikes the correct balance between revenues, regulation and incentivising increased boating-related economic activity.
Pointing out that this would also give The Bahamas sufficient time to accurately communicate the changes, and their rationale, to the boating industry, Mr Fountain told this newspaper there are also elements of the changes that are backed by the tourism
sector - especially the frequent digital cruising card (FDCC) that is valid for two years, and designed to encourage frequent boating visitors to this nation.
However, the Bahamian tourism industry also recommended that the Government adjust the ‘temporary’ 12-month cruising permit to enable visiting boats to enter The Bahamas four times within that year-long period, rather than being restricted to twice within a 30-day period.
And, to facilitate and encourage spontaneous summer trips from Florida to the northern Bahamas, especially Bimini, the Berry Islands, West End and Abaco, the sector is asking that a new permit or category be created that would allow such visitors to enter this nation twice in a 90-day permit.
Describing this as “the meat and potatoes” of
BTC chief in ambition to be Caribbean ‘reference’
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) chief executive says he is pushing to become the Caribbean “reference” and leader as this nation readies to host a major industry summit.
Sameer Bhatti, speaking prior to the 40th CANTO regional communications conference, which kicksoff in The Bahamas this upcoming Sunday, told Tribune Business that his
ambition is to attain a position where “every other Caribbean nation looks” at this nation and views it as a model to emulate for innovation, technology and infrastructure development.
“Selfishly, I want The Bahamas to lead,” he affirmed. “I want every other Caribbean nation to look at The Bahamas as a reference; as a reference for what we’re doing with broadband... Whether it’s mobile or fixed broadband, I want BTC to be a reference.
Developer targets 11-storey West Bay Street condo hotel
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter
jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
A DEVELOPER seeking planning permission to construct an 11-storey condo hotel on West Bay Street, east of Sapodilla, has submitted numerous recommendations to address traffic flow in the area.
BPG Ltd, which is seeking the Town Planning
Committee’s go-ahead to construct 125 condominiums on a 2.37-acre parcel of land, has developed a 200page traffic impact study that calls for a roundabout to be developed at the intersection of West Bay Street and Sea Beach Boulevard. The report suggests that this will also benefit the Mosko Group’s upcoming Rock Point development.
Grounded mailboat in $1.88m insurance fight
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A BAHAMIAN mail boat operator’s bid to obtain summary judgment over a $1.881m insurance dispute related to a grounded vessel has been sunk by the Supreme Court. Justice Simone Fitzcharles, in a June 27, 2025, verdict ruled that a full trial is necessary to determine the validity of insurer concerns over the M/V Legacy’s seaworthiness, and whether its crew were “sufficiently trained and qualified”, when it ran
aground on a coral reef near Egg Island, Eleuthera, on February 8, 2023.
And, in rejecting the attempt by Dean’s Shipping to obtain an early victory over its vessel’s grounding, her judgment also noted that the underwriters are alleging that the mailboat operator “incorrectly claimed” the M/V Legacy was Bahamian-flagged and registered on this nation’s shipping registry when it applied for the hull and marine coverage policy.
Carl Bethel KC, the former attorney general,
KERRY FOUNTAIN
CARL BETHEL KC BRANVILLE MCCARTNEY
Out Island marinas in ‘limbo’ on boating fees
By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business
FAMILY Island marinas say they are in “limbo” due to ongoing uncertainty over the new and increased boating fees that took effect on July 1 and the often-hostile market reaction. The Bluff House Resort and Marina has seen two cancellations due to the changes, according to Molly McIntosh, the resort’s proprietor. She said one of the cancellations was for the July 4 US independence holiday weekend, which is normally a peak period in the summer boating season for Bahamian resorts and marinas. The other was a booking set for August.
Ms McIntosh added that while the Abaco-based resort and maria was booming, as she “can barely manage the business”, she believes the true consequences of the increased fees will reveal themselves when it comes to attracting new business. She is hopeful that repeat guests will eventually come around and accept the new fees.
“We’ve lost a couple reservations,” Ms McIntosh said. “It hasn’t had a huge effect, although there’s a lot of negative talk about it. But I haven’t actually lost very much revenue so far. The biggest worry for us, probably, is new business.
“It’s kind of given The Bahamas a bad name, and might discourage some people from coming. People that have been coming, they might get mad, but I think eventually, though... I mean, everything’s going up everywhere across the world, so they have to expect our fees to increase.
“People are mad about the way it was done. You know, you hear about it a week in advance and people over here have already done cruising permits and probably should have had a little more lead time, a little more information,” she added.
“But the Government, I think they’ve amended a couple things to make it a little better, like changing where they have to have that automated identification system (AIS) on their boat. I think that now is 50 feet and above where it used to be 35 and above. It’s
just it makes people angry, and I’m just hoping that it doesn’t hurt the business for next year.”
Lee Prosenjak, Valentine’s Resort and Marina’s managing director, said as of Friday the Briland-based property had seen four cancellations. “One was a boat issue. One did cancel and didn’t give me a reason why. Another one was a duplicate. I convinced them to stay longer, so that part was good,” he said.
“We did have a few cancellations but, again, it’s hard to tell what’s from that [fees] and what’s from other things. I know I had two at least that were boat engine issues and stuff.
One said ‘I got to go back to Florida instead today’. So, last minute stuff always happens. So having a higher occupancy rate means that there’s more chance of that happening for somebody.
“I think, really, the biggest is yet to come, and it’s probably not for some of these immediate reservations in our mind, anyway. I know that the resorts and marinas in Bimini are feeling differently. But I think it’s going to be a next season thing where people
are like, ‘Well, where are we going to plan to go?’ It’s probably not going to be here, unfortunately.
“By November, December, when people are like, ‘Where are we going to go in the next boating season...’ that’s a typical boating season for everybody in Florida. South-east US starts really around Thanksgiving and that’s kind of the kick-off,” Mr Prosenjak added.
“So, they’re planning in between August and November for where they’re going to go in the next year. And that’s when we do the boat shows like Fort Lauderdale Boat Show. That’ll be very telling when we see the interest at Fort Lauderdale, which is November 1. So that’ll be our next big way point where we can say our reservations are down big time, or they’re normal.”
Bimini Big Game Club Resort and Marina had seen six cancellations as of Thursday with its operator, Stephen Kappeler, adding: “We are down 50 percent in slips over last year for the holiday weekend.”
Romora Bay Resort and Marina in Harbour Island
had suffered two cancellations with one as far out as July 10. Jill Smith, owner and operator of Stella Maris Resort Club and Marina in Long Island, said the fee changes have not impacted the business because they are “too far south” for many boaters. She added that she is “sure they will affect us next season”.
“It has not impacted us,” Ms Smith said. “We’re too far south. We don’t generally have that many boating bookings for July 4 anyway because we’re too far south.
Most boaters head back north because it’s in the hurricane season.
“So the new fees have not affected us as such for right now. I’m sure they will affect us next season, but it’s very late in the season. Like I said, we’re too far south. Most boaters don’t come as far as Long Island right now for the July 4 holiday, anyhow.”
Jackie Callender, Briland Club’s marina manager, said the facility has not experienced any serious impact from the boating fee reforms. She added that the resort has not received any word from Customs or the Ministry of Tourism and,
ELEUTHERA BEWILDERED BY SUDDEN HIKE IN BPL BILLS
By ANNELIA NIXON
ELEUTHERA residents are voicing a mixture of bewilderment and concern over soaring Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) bills that have increased significantly amid persistent power outages.
Keyshna Kemp told Tribune Business she cannot understand how the BPL bill for her gym business, Transformation Fitness, has doubled, while that for her other venture, Da Wash House was lower in comparison. While the gym is tied to her home, Ms Kemp said electricity consumption has not increased at all.
“The fitness and the house are on one thing, and it’s been consistent,” she said. “Nothing has changed. I assure you, nothing has changed. The AC don’t be on over there at the Fitness Centre all day long. When clients go in, they’ll have to turn it on, because we make sure that it’s off.
“We have washers and dryers going all day long [at Da Wash House]. The gym is closed on weekends even. Nothing has changed. There’s no way that my house bill should have doubled. What has changed? I have one child. Like how
you have three, four, five kids home for the summer, I have one child who’s in his room. His room does not have air conditioning. The air conditioning is in my room, and one is next door in the gym.
“Nothing has changed. Why has this doubled compared to Da Wash House? I mean, this has always been an unnecessary high compared to Da Wash House. I don’t understand how the house bill doubled. It’s easy for them to say, ‘Well, you have more children home’. I have one child. I can’t see it,” Ms Kemp added. “You can say the AC is on. My AC is always on. It was on two, three, four, five, six months ago. It was on ten months ago. Maybe if I had just bought an electric car, and I hooked it up to the house to charge, then I could understand this drastic increase in bill. My mind tell me open it and look this morning. I could not believe what I saw.”
A Harbour Island resident, speaking on the basis of anonymity, said that in two years of living on the island “I have had in one month, at least a $300 increase”. They said they have taken the necessary steps to equip their home with energy efficient appliances only to still receive a high electricity bill, and asserted that they have
had to read their meter to ensure accuracy by BPL.
“I changed my bulbs to energy efficient bulbs,” they said. “So I’ve done everything possible to cut down. I have inverter AC units. I’ve changed out the AC units. I’ve had the AC units serviced, and all of my appliances are energy efficient. I just got a new energy efficient refrigerator. So I don’t know what else I could do differently, really.
“I cannot confirm, but I have heard from a customer that whatever the fuel charge is.... let’s just say it’s $5. They’re going to multiply that by the amount of days in the month. It may have been an accurate reading last month, but rather than coming out and giving a current meter reading, they had guesstimated it based on the previous usage. So they’re just using that and multiplying it by the amount of days in a month. That’s how they’re coming out with the figure.
“Personally, I used to check my meter constantly. I stopped checking my meter because what can I do? Not pay BPL and then just get turned off? I already visited BPL for false meter reading before and they had to extend me a credit by two months
because they were guesstimating my bill,” the Briland resident added.
“I made them come out and read my meter. I made them come out and change my meter because, at one point, they gave me a bill for $900. I am that detailed. I used to read my own meter.” The resident also attributed the higher bills to surges, adding that “it has to recharge back up to the right voltage”.
“I want to know if they have plans to introduce Pike on the Family Islands,” they said of the US entity contracted to upgrade New Providence’s electricity grid. “Because, again, I cannot confirm, but I was told that Pike is only for Nassau.
“I wanted to know if they plan to introduce Pike on the Family Islands, and if they think that would make a difference with our issues being experienced on the Family Islands which, of course, the islands are larger but less populated, so it should be easier to handle.”
Shaena Lewis, a Briland event planner, said she has passed up about 15 orders due to the fear her electrical equipment will be ruined and she will not receive reimbursement. She said: “Yes, it’s money, like $300. But my machine cost
$6,000. BPL is not going to compensate me.
“I work for myself,” she added. “I’m self-employed. And my business, I deal with a lot of machines, and my power box, what I just bought like last month, it blew. It don’t even want to turn on. So I scared to turn on any of my printers, because a few years ago, I lost all my machines.
“BPL didn’t give me any money back. My Grammy been dead about seven years, and she’s still waiting for a TV. So I’m not going to plug in my machine. So I’m losing money and the power still going off 20 and 30 times a day. So I don’t even know why I have that bill that high.”
Ms Lewis said her latest BPL bill also skyrocketed despite the power barely being on during the prior month. She added that a BPL representative, when she inquires about the high bill, replied: “‘Everybody’s bills are like that’. The lady was like, ‘My bill even high and I work here’.
“We can’t even use no electricity because the electricity been barely on,” Ms Lewis added. “The power was going off 20 and 30 times last month. I can’t even do no work. And then I went away for like, two weeks, so I wasn’t even there.
upon checking the portals, “nothing has changed”. She said “the fee is still the same”.
“It hasn’t really taken any effect for us, because most of our vessels are private yachts,” Ms Callender said, “For them coming in, it mainly provides the service for those vessels that are charter yachts that seem to be the issue. But nothing so far. We haven’t gotten anything from Customs, a memo of rate changes or nothing, only from what we’ve been getting online.
“We had a few guests, and what they’ve seen is the same thing we’ve been seeing online, but nothing came to us, specifically, from Customs or Ministry of Tourism. No one has reached out to us. We haven’t heard from anyone as yet, so we’re still waiting to find out what are the changes. No portals, nothing has changed. I looked on Click2Clear. Nothing has changed. Everything’s still the same.
“So we’re still waiting to get information from tourism, which does all of that, or Customs. And Customs
“And I have an open floor apartment. I have one fridge, one freezer, my machines, but I wasn’t even working like that, so I don’t even understand how my bill went from being average of $100-something to $390, almost $400. That’s atrocious. And like I said, the power don’t be on in my little space. I literally have about a 10 by 10 apartment.
“Normally, my bill is like $119. I was like” ‘I’m not going to rush to pay that. It’s fine. I’m just going to pay with the next bill because I normally pay the bill on the last day of every month’. And my bill was like, $300. It was a Friday and I was like: ‘I’m going to pay it on Monday. It’s fine. It won’t hurt’. I saw the guy by the meter box, but I didn’t think anything of it, because I was like, my bill $300. That ain’t going to hurt nobody,” Ms Lewis added.
“They turned my power off. And I’m like, ‘y’all have the audacity to turn people off... you saw me sir’. You didn’t even say ‘I am disconnecting’ or whatever hell he was doing. You saw me. You didn’t even have the decency to say, ‘Hey, I’m disconnecting today. Y’all could go and pay your bills.’ They didn’t say anything. So they just turned me off. And the power, like, literally never on. He was like, ‘Oh, I just work here. Ain’t nothing I can do. I have to do my job.’ It’s been so disrespectful, so atrocious.”
BRILAND RESORT RECONSIDERS
$850K MARINA EXPANSION
BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business
A HARBOUR Island resort is reconsidering an $850,000 marina expansion due to boating industry push back over the new and increased fees introduced with the 2025-2026 Budget.
Valentine’s Resort and Marina, the largest in Briland with 51 slips, was planning to start the project at the end of July or early August. However, its managing director, Lee Prosenjak said he is not sure the improvements can be justified if there are fewer boating visitors.
“We’ve got a project that’s going up that starts at the end of July or early August for $850,000 worth of improvements to the marina,” Mr Prosenjak said. “And now I got to sit here and factor do all those matter any more? Do I still need them? If I’m going to have less boats, it’s a lot harder to justify spending that money. Which is a lot of Bahamian labour that could come in and Bahamian contractors.”
Mr Prosenjak said the “trickle down” effect from
not proceeding would take a toll on surrounding businesses. “So we have 35 rooms at the resort, and we’ve got 51 dock slips plus the restaurant, of course, and associated businesses,” Mr Prosenjak said. “We have Valentine’s Dive, which is not ours. It’s a tenant of ours’ space. We’ve got the Cocoa Coffee shop, the Dermalogica spa. If we have less people on the island, everybody’s feeling a huge difference in how many feet on the street there is.
“It’s definitely an opportunity cost. It’s a trickle down thing in terms of, if we have 10 less boats in the marina over July 4, well, that means there’s, on average, probably six people that come on a boat. That’s 60 less people to go to dinner at all of the different restaurants, The Landing, the Ocean View Club. They all have 60 less guests to choose from to get reservations. And that’s just at us.
“Factor that by how many other marinas there are across Harbour Island. It’s 60 less people to buy t-shirts in every gift shop. It’s 60 less people that are going to go to the grocery store even to provision
their boats,” Mr Prosenjak continued.
“It’s 60 less people that are going to take advantage of everything, go to lunch at Coral Sands and be at the beach bar, Mrs V’s down on the beach itself. Like that’s a lot of 60 less people, and that’s just on a daily basis. So having 60 less people on the island is a big deal when there’s 1,700 people normally.”
Mr Prosenjak is offering incentives to guests to keep them coming back, including issuing refunds and credit towards future trips. “I had a 130-foot boat that said, ‘Hey, we want a refund,’” Mr Prosenjak added. “They’re leaving early. In the past, I would have said, ‘Oh, sorry. You committed to nights and you only wanted seven now.’
“But I’m like, ‘I can’t risk this customer saying ‘I’m never coming back there again’. So I’m like, ‘Okay, we’ll give you a refund on two nights’, which we normally don’t ever do. But I’m like, ‘I can’t afford to upset this customer right now’.
“We try to be pretty liberal with our policy normally. So if you cancel within 14 days of arrival,
BISX adds another fund listing
THE Bahamas International Securities Exchange (BISX) has added another investment fund to its listings roster. The exchange, in a statement, said the Global Ownership Opportunities Lead Capital Fund Ltd has completed the BISX listing process and can now be found under the symbol ‘GOOL’.
The fund is incorporated as a Bahamian-domiciled International Business
Company (IBC) and is licensed as a Smart Fund SFM007 under the SMART Funds Rules accompanying the Investment Funds Act 2019.
Keith Davies, BISX’s chief executive, said: “BISX is pleased to welcome the Global Ownership Opportunities Lead Capital Fund Ltd to the exchange. We thank Winterbotham and SeventyTwo Global Ventures for their stellar work in utilising the exchange to
help create value for their clients. We look forward to new and unique funds, and other structures, being brought to the Exchange by Winterbotham and our other members.”
Kathrin Mutinelli, SeventyTwo Global Ventures’ managing director, added: “We are proud to announce the listing of the Global Ownership Opportunities Lead Capital Fund Ltd on BISX. This milestone underscores our
then we put the deposit that you paid towards a future stay credit. So we’re trying to keep people still coming. And a lot of times in the boating industry, if it’s bad weather or whatever, then they’re like, ‘Oh, hey, I can’t make it today. I’ll be there tomorrow. We’re still going to stay four days.’” he said.
“Or they might say, ‘We’ll cut it down to three days, but we’ll still be there.’ And so we just say, okay, because we’ll take it in that case. It’s not a hard, fast science sort of thing. So now at holidays we don’t give them the future stay credit.
“So I’ve been very generous. That’s the normal thing, but I’ve been very generous this year to say, ‘Hey, are you coming back? Let’s put it towards a future state credit for you’, just to make sure that we keep them coming back and thinking that they want to come back.”
Valentine’s Resort and Marina may have to charge off-season prices, which is $400 a night and begins usually in mid-August, in late July instead to accommodate any losses. Mr Prosenjak said the lower
commitment to delivering transparent, innovative and well-governed investment structures.
“We extend our sincere thanks to BISX, and to our fund service provider and listing sponsor, Winterbotham, for their valued support in achieving this important step. We look forward to continuing to bring differentiated investment opportunities to our global investor base.”
The Winterbotham Trust Company served as the BISX sponsor member that brought the fund to the exchange.
CIBC’S BAHAMAS PROFITS DOWN 15%
FOR FIRST HALF
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
CIBC Caribbean (Bahamas) has revealed a first-half income decline of more than $10m due in part to a $5.85m year-overyear reversal on loan loss provisions.
The bank, unveiling results for the six months to end-April 2025 and the second quarter, said halfyear profits were down more than 15 percent at $59.8m compared to $70.4m for the previous year. It also incurred loan loss provisions of $1.472m for the first six months as opposed to recoveries of $4.387m during the same period during its 2024 financial year.
CIBC Caribbean also incurred $5.582m in domestic minimum top-up tax for the first half, which represents the 15 percent corporate income tax imposed by The Bahamas to comply with the G-7/ OECD global minimum tax mandate. Some $3.371m of this sum came due during the second quarter, covering the three months to end-April 2025.
Jacqui Bend, CIBC Caribbean (Bahamas) managing director, in her message to shareholders, said: “The bank has demonstrated another solid performance for the quarter, driven by a clientcentric strategy. Despite facing challenges arising from global trade tensions and policy uncertainties, which have impacted economic growth, the bank has managed to maintain its strong performance.
“For the second quarter ended April 30, 2025, the bank reported net income of $30.2m compared to
$27.9m from the second quarter a year ago. Core growth continued across our business segments in both the loan and deposit portfolios. However, the related revenue uplift has been offset by the impact of lower US benchmark interest rates and funding dynamics.
“Operating expenses increased by $0.8m or 2 percent from the prior year’s quarter as the bank continued to invest in key strategic initiatives. Income tax expense for the quarter, which includes the application of global minimum corporate tax, was up $3.4m,” she added.
“For the six months ended April 30, 2025, we reported net income of $59.8m compared to $70.4m from the second quarter a year ago. We recorded a higher year-todate provision for credit losses compared to the same period a year ago due to a provision built in the impaired loan portfolio and the impact of model assumption updates.
“Additionally, the prior year’s provision included a significant account recovery. Overall, our underlying credit quality remains strong. At the end of the second quarter, the bank’s tier one and total capital ratios stood at 27.9 percent, exceeding regulatory requirements. The Board of Directors approved an interim dividend of $0.09 per share subject to regulatory approval.”
BAMSI HAILS ‘GAME CHANGER’ FOR REVIVING THE PORK INDUSTRY
THE Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) has hailed the arrival of a pig herd at its North Andros campus as a “game changer” for efforts to revive the pork industry.
The Institute, in a statement, said the arrival of four breeding boars and 16 female pigs (gilts) last Wednesday will also improve hands-on training opportunities for students. The pigs - pure bred Yorkshire, Landrace, Hampshire and Duroc breeds - were imported from Missouri in the US, and carefully selected to introduce
improved genetics to BAMSI’s swine programme.
It added that this combination of breeds will allow the Institute to produce a four-way cross-breed line using two F1 hybrid parents. These cross-breeds are prized in commercial pork production for their rapid growth, feed efficiency and meat quality.
The imported pigs, which passed a veterinary inspection by the Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority (BAHFSA) prior to shipment, are expected to produce around 2.5 litters
per year, with each litter averaging 14 piglets.
BAMSI added that this expansion will give students the chance to learn key elements of swine production, including bio security measures, animal husbandry, breeding protocols and standard operating procedures in swine management. They will gain skills in managing livestock at various stages of development, and better understand the complexities of modern pork production systems
In a second development phase, BAMSI plans to introduce artificial insemination (AI) techniques. It
added that this will ensure greater consistency in carcass quality and support the development of uniform herds with traits such as lean meat yield, maternal performance and overall productivity.
Tyrone Fowler, BAMSI’s chairman, said the new herd represents an investment in food security and agricultural sustainability.
“This initiative is a game changer; not just for BAMSI’s students, but for the country,” Mr Fowler said. “By improving our genetic stock and introducing modern breeding techniques, we are laying the
foundation for a more resilient and productive pork industry in The Bahamas.”
Justin Taylor, a BAMSI consultant who helped coordinate the importation and herd management plan, added: “This is about building a sustainable pipeline from classroom to commercial farm. With top-tier genetics, science-driven breeding and practical exposure for our students, we are setting the stage for measurable industry impact across The Bahamas.
“It also opens new doors for agri-preneurs to access high-performing stock and modern techniques that can
BAMSI TALKS WITH BAHAMIAN SCIENTIST ON RESEARCH BOOST
By NEIL HARTNELL
THE Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) is in talks with a Bahamian scientist in a bid to strengthen its research capabilities on soil quality.
The Institute unveiled its focus on soil science
following a recent meeting with Dr Robert Taylor, a Bahamian scientist with decades of experience in soil chemistry and fertility.
Tyrone Fowler, BAMSI’s chairman, in a statement described the meeting as a valuable step towards advancing the Institute’s long-term research agenda.
“Dr Taylor’s expertise and previous work in The
Bahamas provide a strong foundation for what we hope will become a meaningful engagement,” he said.
“As we build out our scientific programmes, these early conversations are critical in shaping the direction of our research and capacity-building efforts.”
A former professor, dean and director of land-grant
programmes at Florida A&M University, Dr Taylor previously conducted extensive research at the Bahamas Agricultural Research, Training and Development (BARTAD) station.
He holds degrees from Tuskegee University and Michigan State University, where he earned a doctorate degree (PhD) in soil
chemistry and fertility. Dr Taylor has fellowships from the Soil Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy.
During the meeting, Dr Taylor presented Mr Fowler and BAMSI’s president, Dr Raveenia Roberts-Hanna, with a collection of soil bulletins based on his work across islands including Andros, Nassau, Eleuthera,
improve productivity and profitability. At the same time, we’re strengthening the national genetic pool, ensuring that the future of swine production in The Bahamas is not only more competitive but also more resilient.”
Officials believe the programme could also serve as a catalyst for revitalising the swine industry by providing Bahamian farmers and entrepreneurs with access to high-quality breeding stock and modern production techniques.
Crooked Island, Mayaguana and Acklins. The documents were shared as a reference for BAMSI’s ongoing scientific development, and mark the beginning of exploratory discussions around future collaboration. The Institute said it views this exchange as part of a broader strategy to build a national soil database, and to support its mission of driving sustainable agriculture through education, research and innovation.
GLOBALLY recognised and award-winning Bahamian soil scientist, Dr Robert Taylor, meets with BAMSI leadership to explore the establishment of a soil laboratory in North Andros. Pictured from L to R: Dr Robert Taylor; president of BAMSI, Dr Raveenia Roberts-Hanna; chairman of BAMSI, Tyrone Fowler; Beverley Taylor and Francis Taylor
BAHAMAS PUSHES FOOD SECURITY CONCERNS AT 44TH FAO SUMMIT
THE Bahamas used the 44th session of the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) conference to address food security and other concerns impacting this nation.
Pia Glover-Rolle, minister of labour and the public service, attending in place of Jomo Campbell, minister of agriculture and marine resources, sought to focus attention on key issues for small island developing states (SIDS) such as The Bahamas.
During the conference held under the theme, ‘Fostering innovation for food security’, Mrs Glover-Rolle participated as a ministerial panellist in the opening day session for the ‘Four Betters’ roundtable, outlining The Bahamas’ approach to achieving better
PIA GLOVER-ROLLE
production, nutrition and a better life for all citizens.
Besides the ‘Four Betters’ framework, conference discussions addressed key priorities including a review of the state of food and agriculture, the launch of the medium-term plan 2026-29, and an emphasis
Tourism hails 20th industry education internship close
THE Bahamian tourism
industry and educators met to celebrate and give thanks as the 20th annual educators’ industry internship programme drew to a close. Representatives from the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), the Bahamas MinistryofEducation&Technical & Vocational Training (MOETVT), the University of The Bahamas (UB), the College of Tourism, Hospitality, Culinary Arts and Leisure Management (The CALM), the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), teachers and private sector stakeholders met at The CALM’s Choices restaurant.
Glenys Hanna-Martin, minister of education and
technical and vocational training, and Jackson Weech, president of The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association, spoke at an event called ‘Charting a course from the classroom to the boardroom’.
Mrs Hanna-Martin voiced her admiration for the initiative, recognising the value of teachers understanding what the day-to-day operations of the tourism industry look like in “real life” so they can take the experience from working in the sector back to their students and pass this knowledge on.
Mr Weech gave an insight into his personal journey - from a young adult who had not yet chosen his path, and took tentative
on leveraging existing resources with a focus on SIDS, least developed countries (LDCs) and landlocked developing countries (LLDCs).
Mrs Glover-Rolle delivered The Bahamas’ national statement at a dinner reception supporting this nation’s FAO ambassador, Winston Pinnock, in his candidacy for independent chairperson of the FAO Council. The minister emphasised the significance of Ambassador Pinnock’s candidacy for the Caribbean and SIDS’ representation in global food governance.
“Ambassador Pinnock’s candidacy was historic, representing an important opportunity to demonstrate our interest in shaping global agricultural policy and placing more of a focus on regional and
SIDS-specific issues,” she added.
“I thank Ambassador Pinnock for stepping up, and I also offer congratulations to the newly-elected independent chairperson of the FAO Council, Mina Rizk, who is the youngest person to ever serve in this position.”
Mrs Glover-Rolle also participated as a panellist on “leveraging the blue transformation for resilient ecosystems”, where she highlighted The Bahamas’ work in researching and monetising the carbon sequestration potential of seagrass meadows, efforts to enhance coral resilience, and plans to significantly expand Marine Protected Areas while supporting sustainable blue economy innovation.
The Bahamian delegation participated in meetings with key international partners, including the FAO’s Office for Youth and Women (OYW); the Canadian ambassador in Rome, Elissa Ann Golberg; and the 44th FAO session chair, Dr Mabouba Diagne. A meeting was also held with Bahamian Chevening scholar, Emerika Robinson.
“The sustainability of our food systems depends on uplifting and engaging all people by leveraging agriculture and marine resources. We have tremendous untapped potential in these areas that the Davis administration is currently targeting, so it was invaluable to have a presence at this FAO conference to participate in knowledge sharing that can
advance our agenda,” Mrs Glover-Rolle said.
The delegation’s meeting with the FAO’s Office for Youth and Women included a discussion on innovative programmes designed to empower young people and women as agents of change in global food systems. Mrs Glover-Rolle said the insights gained from this discussion will inform crossagency initiatives upon the delegation’s return.
“I’m excited to bring these plans back to The Bahamas as proposed cross-agency initiatives involving the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture; Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training; Ministry of Labour and the Public Service; and Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources,” she added.
steps along varying tracks, before finally finding his way to and through educational platforms, peers and educators.
The Annual Educators’ Industry Internship initiative allows teachers
from across The Bahamas to spend time working in various posts at tourism properties throughout New Providence. The time spent interacting with “fellow” employees, employers and visitors allows teachers to
gain an insight into what the tourism business looks like in reality. It enables them to understand what is expected of employees and entrepreneurs, and the work ethic, level of service, abilities and
attitudes that are necessary for personal and industry success. The educators then use this knowledge to help teach their students about the tourism industry.
GLENYS HANNA-MARTIN, minister of education and technical and vocational training, and Jackson Weech, president of the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), stood with representatives from the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training (MOETVT); the University of The Bahamas (UB); the College of Tourism, Hospitality, Culinary Arts and Leisure Management (The CALM); the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI); educators and private sector tourism industry stakeholders from host properties.
TOURISM URGES BOATING FEE ‘PAUSE TO SAVE THE SUMMER’
what the tourism industry has proposed, Mr Fountain said it also recommended to the Government that it avoid “nickel and dimeing” visiting vessels and their occupants by requiring them to pay separately for cruising, fishing and anchorage fees and permits.
To aid the ease of doing business, it suggested these be consolidated into one payment.
The Government, and particularly the Ministry of Finance, will now have to study the private sector’s recommendations to determine which - if any - it decides to take up or can be accommodated.
The revenue impact on the 2025-2026 Budget from any delayed implementation of the new and increased fees will have to be especially assessed.
Still, Mr Fountain said the meeting with a government representative, who he declined to name other than to say they are a “relevant member” of the Davis administration, was “very, very positive and very, very collaborative”. He emphasised that tourism executives, including Jackson Weech, the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) president, did not seek to overturn the reforms in their entirety.
“Quite honestly, we weren’t proposing that we throw the baby out with the bath water. This is not government bashing. We really believe we have something to contribute, and we’re not just lambasting the Government,” Mr Fountain told Tribune Business. “To give some credence to, or evidence of, that, the first thing we asked for was, until we get it right, let’s measure twice and cut once.
“Until we get it right, let’s put a pause on this. We asked for a pause because the timing could not have been more ill-placed.
Friday was July 4 [the US independence holiday], and it’s the peak of our boating season. This was not only less than 100 percent clear to boaters, but also within our organisations and within The Bahamas.
“We asked for a pause, and asked that that pause be extended out through the end of October to give us an opportunity to save our peak boating season. It will take us time to get it right and, once we get it right, share with the boating community and all different entities in The Bahamas including the Customs officers throughout The Bahamas.”
Mr Fountain, reiterating that the tourism and marina industry “did not propose to throw the baby out with the bath water”, said it told government officials to leave both the frequent digital cruising card (FDCC) “as it is because we thought it’s fair”. They also recommended the same for the ‘temporary’ 12-month cruising permit, albeit with some tweaks.
The Out Island Promotion Board chief said the private sector recommended that the reforms be amended to clarify, and allow, a boat that obtains a 12-month cruising permit to enter The Bahamas four times within that period on the same permit instead of being limited to twice in 30 days. That, he added, was key to enhancing The Bahamas’ value proposition and convincing boaters they are getting their money’s worth.
The revised Customs Management (Amendment) Regulations 2025 introduce a frequent digital cruising card (FDCC) for pleasure vessels that frequent The Bahamas, offering a permit to facilitate “unlimited visits for a period not exceeding two years”. This is conditioned on the vessel obtaining
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clearance to enter from Customs, and the linking of its registration number to the FDCC.
The permit fees are tied to the yacht or boat’s length. Those 50 feet or less will have to pay $1,500 for an FDCC, while those greater than 50 feet but less than 100 feet will have to pay $2,500, and those exceeding 100 feet, $8,000.
Meanwhile, the fees for a temporary cruising permit are also tied to the same lengths. A vessel that is 50 feet or less will have to pay $500 “for a period not exceeding 12 months”, while the fees for those greater than 50 feet and less than 100 feet, and over 100 feet, are being set at $1,000 and $3,000, respectively for the same period. They will also cover Customs and Immigration attendance costs.
“One of the last things we proposed, and this is a very important point for those destinations or marinas within two hours [of the US], like Bimini, is for people who are on vacation, feel the weather is good, want to do some fishing and come over. There’s nothing in the proposed amendments to address this type,” Mr Fountain said.
“What we’re saying is, for those boaters where the family is on vacation, and who want to go to Bimini twice this summer, give them 90 days and the option to go over two times in a 90-day period. That was the meat and potatoes of what we proposed.”
And, rather than force visiting boaters to pay different cruising permit, fishing permit and anchorage fees separately, and at different locations, the Bahamian tourism industry recommended consolidating this process into one payment and payment point.
“Again, we suggested that instead of nickel and dime-ing the boaters, saying you have to pay for this 12 permit permit, pay for that 24 month permit, instead of saying you have to pay this, pay that, incorporate that cost into the [cruising] permit,” Mr Fountain added.
Under the ‘temporary’ cruising permit, if a pleasure vessel carries more than three passengers, every additional one above the
age of six - and who is a non-resident of The Bahamas - will be subject to a $30 per head tax under the Passenger Tax.
The Government, in splitting out the fishing permit fee into a separate levy, and not incorporating it with the cruise permit fee, has set this at $100 and $300 for vessels not exceeding, and exceeding, to feet respectively.
Finally, the new anchorage fees for vessels not mooring at a marina are pegged at $200 for a vessel not exceeding 50 feet; $350 for those between 50 feet and 100 feet; and $1,500 for those over 100 feet.
Meanwhile, amid the awaited government response, the boater backlash continues on online forums: “I have been averaging four to five trips a year to The Bahamas,” one posted on July 1. “I returned from The Bahamas two days ago after spending three weeks there staying at six different marinas.
“At each destination we ate in the local restaurants, rented cars, tipped well and provided locals with far more fish then we ate or brought back home with us. As I have done for the past five years, I had plans to take my boat and tender to the Abacos in August for the opening of lobster (crawfish) season.
“I have cancelled the trip and booked Key West instead solely due to the newly implemented fees. I plan on foregoing The Bahamas next summer and instead making the trip to the north-east. Am I alone or are others foregoing The Bahamas in light of the insulting increase and addition of fees?”
Another, called ‘Dreamcatcher 14’, agreed and added: “No, we are cancelling a Bimini trip and doing the Dry Tortugas/Key West instead. Those new Bahamas fees cover a lot of gas....”
‘Blackdawg’, meanwhile, hinted at the confusion and lack of clarity surrounding the fee changes: “I don’t really care much about the fees as they are small in the big picture. However, until all the details and s*** is together I’m out. I don’t trust anything about the Bahamian government.
“Next thing you know they want to hold your boat or whatever because you missed some fee or whatever that wasn’t clear in the first place. I can’t even tell you what our group spent in Exumas earlier this year alone, but it makes a few grand in fees absolutely irrelevant. Regular smaller trips in our boat aren’t exactly cheap overall; still makes the new discussed fees small chips.
“But I’m not into them trying to roll this new fee/ rules out when clearly they are still figuring it out on our dime/time. It’s the nonsense, greed and terrible management by the officials that will keep us from going back any time soon. Definitely won’t be doing our regular late summer trip in our boat this month,” they added.
“Just got back from almost three weeks in Keys. Water/spearing/fishing not as good as Bahamas, of course, but not bad and basically everything else much better and if you know where to go there’s good water down there, too, and places to avoid over crowded areas. We love doing both, but until this all gets straightened out we’ll do other stuff. It’ll work out and we’ll all go back most likely. But not until they get this cleared up.”
‘Salty Gator’ added: “Went to Grand Cay [on] June 20 weekend for two nights and came back to the states. Weather was nice this past weekend and decided to use our second trip. Cloned the trip and did what I’ve done for years by printing the new cruising permit and bringing the prior one and receipt.
“Customs lady still charged me and made me pay the $150 for the second trip. She even acknowledged I should not have to pay but the ‘system’ said I had to. I agree there is going to be a lot of aggravation and expense for the folks that do two or more shorter trips.” The Yacht Charter Fleet publication, in an online posting, warned that while the intent behind The Bahamas’ boating fee increases and associated reforms was understandable, the scale of the increases - and the way they have been implemented - risks alienating a lucrative, high-spending category of this nation’s tourism market. And it warned that the reforms “only add fuel to a fire” first stoked in 2022 when The Bahamas
imposed an all-in 14 percent tax rate on foreign yacht charter contracts via the combination of VAT and 4 percent Port Department fee. This, it added, created the highest such tax rate in the Caribbean and reduced The Bahamas’ competitiveness versus rival jurisdictions. The publication added that, with the new boating fees and regulations imposed on top of this, locations such as the Turks & Caicos, US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico which have zero to minimal VAT and other charter taxes are now looking increasingly attractive.
“Recent policy changes threaten to unravel the reputation of idyllic Bahamas yacht charters. A sweeping overhaul of boating regulations, paired with previous tax hikes, is reshaping the financial landscape of chartering in Bahamian waters—and not in its favour,” Yacht Charter Fleet warned.
“On July 1, 2025, The Bahamas implemented one of the most comprehensive maritime regulation updates in its history. While intended to modernise oversight and increase government revenue, the new policies are introducing a complex web of compliance, cost increases, and legal exposure for motor and sailing yacht charter operators and private yacht owners alike...
“The cost inflation resulting from mandatory AIS upgrades, expanded permits and higher passenger taxes is driving up operational costs across the board, with operators forced to absorb or pass on these new costs, which risks pricing The Bahamas out of an increasingly competitive market. Resulting in operators actively shifting superyacht charters to other Caribbean jurisdictions.”
The publication suggested that the FDCC’s impact will be blunted by the need to still comply with Customs processes, thereby “reducing its intended efficiency”. It added: “The 2025 legislation, while intended to provide structure and long-term benefits, only adds fuel to a fire that was already threatening to consume a key tourism sector.
“The combined effect of the previous VAT increases and the recently-added extra charges has created a perfect storm....By adding this new layer of cost and complexity, the latest legislation deepens the charter market crisis begun by the VAT increase. Unless addressed, many yacht charter operators may skip The Bahamas entirely, further eroding what was once a thriving hub for luxury yacht charters.
“The combined effect of the 2022 VAT hike and 2025’s regulatory overhaul is creating a challenging environment for charter operations in The Bahamas. The intent behind the changes - greater oversight, higher revenues, better-managed resources - is understandable. But the execution risks alienating the very stakeholders who contribute most to the country’s tourism economy.”
NOTICE
In the Estate of VIOLET ELOISE CORNISH late of #Dundas Town Abaco, another one of the Islands of the Commonwealth of Te Bahamas, deceased.
Notice is hereby given that all persons having any claim or demands against the above named Estate are required to send their names, addresses and particulars of the same duly certifed in writing to the undersigned on or before the 15th day of July A.D., 2025 and if required, prove such debts or claims, or in default be excluded from any distribution; afer the above date the assets will be distributed having regard only to the proved debts or claims of which the Administrator 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 aforementioned date.
MICHAEL A. DEAN & CO., Attorneys
GROUNDED MAILBOAT IN $1.88M INSURANCE FIGHT
who together with Branville McCartney, the ex-Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader is representing Dean’s Shipping, accused the five members of the M/V Legacy’s insurance underwriting consortium of creating “red herrings” to “delay, prevaricate and stall” paying the claim under the insurance policy.
However, Justice Fitzcharles, pointed out contradictions in the evidence given by Dean’s Shipping and its majority owner, Ernest Dean. For while they are blaming the M/V Legacy’s grounding on the “negligence” of the captain and chief officer, they also praised the crew for “prudently” adjusting course earlier in the same voyage from New Providence to Abaco when a “sudden tropical squall” blew up.
Dean’s Shipping had moved to obtain summary judgment against the insurance consortium on the basis that they had “no real prospect of successfully defending the claim”. The defendants, Aegis Managing Agency, Liberty Managing Agency, Ascot Underwriting, HCC Underwriting Agency and
Amphitheatre Underwriting Agency are all participants in the Lloyd’s of London insurance market.
Lloyds frequently underwrites maritime-related risks in The Bahamas, due to their specialist and highvalue nature, and the five defendants countered by arguing that “the seaworthiness or otherwise of the vessel when it was put to sea on the voyage in question” was in doubt.
They are challenging the condition of its navigational equipment; whether a suitable safety management system was in use, including a navigational watch and roster for work and rest; and that the majority of the crew’s training was conducted in Honduras which is not a jurisdiction recognised by The Bahamas for maritime education.
“On February 8, 2023, the M/V Legacy ran aground on a reef near Egg Island, Eleuthera, The Bahamas, miles off the coast of Abaco, The Bahamas,” Justice Fitzcharles wrote. “A claim was made on the hull and machinery insurance policy. However, payment was not forthcoming.”
The M/V Legacy, which carried cargo in the form of
containers, shrink-wrapped pallets and ro/ro (roll-on/ roll-off) cargo, as well as postal mail and, occasionally, passengers, was eventually freed from the Egg Island coral reef and docked at Arawak Cay.
Freeport-based Bradford Marine valued the repair costs at $1.333m, and Dean’s Shipping is claiming an extra $548,000 as “extraordinary costs, expenditure and economic harm” due to the insurers’ failure t pay the claim. However, the underwriters are challenging this sum, and Justice Fitzcharles said the mailboat operator has provided no evidence to support how the $548,000 was incurred.
Dean’s Shipping, in its evidence, alleged that the M/V Legacy’s grounding occurred at 8am on February 8, 2023, when the chief mate was at the helm. It added that the mailboat was “seaworthy with functional navigational equipment and other redundancies, or back-up equipment”, and it was staffed by a “trained, certified, competent” master, chief mate, chief engineer and crew.
Mr Bethel, in his arguments before the Supreme Court, asserted that the
OUT ISLAND MARINAS IN ‘LIMBO’ ON BOATING FEES
FROM PAGE B2
said to me that they haven’t gotten anything here in Harbour Island. So we’re still in limbo. So we’re still going with the same thing with Customs clearing the boats. The fee is still the same. So no one has made no changes. So I don’t know what the Government’s doing.”
Ms McIntosh at the Bluff House added: “We just wish that we had a little more information. That’s the other thing. I did hear, and this is second-hand, but I heard that some of the Customs and Immigration, they didn’t have all the facts on it yet, and weren’t really prepared when the boats did check in.
“But I’m sure that’ll come around. I just think it was done a little too fast. But people have to understand, fees are going up all over the world for everything. So I think we needed an increase, just not quite as much. If it maybe could have been a little more incremental, you know, maybe a little bit this year, a little bit next year. It would have been easier to swallow and easier to explain if they did it a little bit at a time.”
Therese Turner-Jones, a Bahamian economist, speaking about the national budget at the ‘Be Clear Bahamas’ webinar, said the boating fees controversy highlighted the need for transparency and consultation
“In today’s newspaper, there’s a lot of comments about the taxation of the marinas and what that has done to the private yachting business, which mostly affects our Family Island communities,” Ms TurnerJones said.
“And there was a lot of discussion. A lot was shared by the writer that talked about not having consultation with the marine community to say ‘Alright, these new taxes are coming, these new fees are coming in.’ I think in some cases, the fees increased by 100 percent. And we think that The Bahamas may be the only place someone wants to dock their yachts, but we’re not.
“There are other places they can go, and they’re choosing to do that. So the impact of that 100 percent increase, or the fee, may not have been anticipated, or the research that went into why we should increase the
fees by 100 percent may not have been done thoroughly.
“And here is, again, why it’s important for us to be engaged, because if you’re going to do that, have a conversation with me,” Ms Turner-Jones added. “As the community that will be the recipient of these higher costs, you want to talk about that first. So I think there are some ways in which, if it’s not done properly, the Budget can come to bite us in places we don’t want because we haven’t done enough work or we haven’t had enough consultation with communities who may be on the receiving end of higher fees or the increased taxes or whatever.
“But people pay attention, and because business margins ... alright we’re starting to come out of our post-COVID boom as an economy, but things are still not quite where it ought to be, and our growth rate is not particularly fast. So anything less than 3 percent is not a great growth rate, and we’re under 2 percent per year. So I think we need to be careful and that’s where the consultation, I think, is really important.”
mailboat operator has “always maintained, and the evidence will show, that the grounding of the M/V Legacy was caused by the negligence, if not misconduct, of the captain and chief officer”, identified respectively as Hubert Gale and Tomas Chong Williams. He also asserted that the M/V Legacy “was at all material times seaworthy” when it departed from Nassau at 8.15pm on February 7, 2023, possessing a Garmin GPS maps chartplotter, magnetic and digital compasses, radar and other “redundancies”. The master and chief officer were also said to have completed the same route to Abaco some 24 times “without mishap or incident”.
Mr Bethel, though, “conceded subtly” that not all the master’s certifications were current at the time of the grounding, although he argued that this was an “administrative matter”. And he dismissed the insurers’ arguments that the master and chief engineer’s certifications were not accepted by the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) as a “red herring”.
The former attorney general argued that the insurers were “well aware that the
M/V Legacy was not registered with the Bahamas Maritime Authority and was, instead, licensed with the Port Department under the Boat Registration Act. And the issue of whether Dean’s Shipping incorrectly claimed the vessel was Bahamian-flagged in its application for the insurance policy was described by Mr Bethel as “an innocent misrepresentation which cannot be relied upon”. He argued that the mailboat operator’s US agent, Brian Rigby, had unknowingly asserted the M/V Legacy was still on the Bahamian registry when it had already been removed. However, Richard Horton of Alexiou, Knowles & Company, acting for the insurers, said the damage report by AbleBodied Marine, upon which Dean’s Shipping intends to rely, was only a preliminary assessment of damage to the vessel and does not address the “culpability or negligence” of the master and chief officer.
The insurers, he added, have been able to interview either of the two men, while there is no information on whether the M/V Legacy was seaworthy when it left Nassau on February 7,
2023.
“A vast amount of the crew’s qualifications and certifications were obtained in Honduras, a jurisdiction not accepted by the Bahamas Maritime Authority as being the standard for seafarers to sail on Bahamas-flagged vessels,” the Supreme Court judgment recorded.
Justice Fitzcharles, in dismissing Dean’s Shipping’s summary judgment bid, ruled that “the cause(s) and circumstances surrounding the grounding of the M/V Legacy” need to be determined by a full trial as these go to the heart of the dispute over the insurance policy payout. And she added that the $472,648 payment made by the insurers previously was merely for “the rescue and salvage of the M/V Legacy” from the Egg Island reef and no admission of liability on the consortium’s behalf. The issues surrounding the vessel’s seaworthiness, crew training and the lack of disclosure regarding Bahamian flag status also have to be resolved at trial.
“The question of which regulatory body the vessel was registered with has the potential to be a material term, express or implied, to the hull and machinery marine insurance policy,” Justice Fitzcharles said, adding that this could provide the insurers with a full defence.
DEVELOPER TARGETS 11-STOREY WEST BAY STREET CONDO HOTEL
FROM PAGE B1
BPG Ltd’s application, filed with the Department of Physical Planning, says the project will provide guests with the “comforts of home with the amenities of a high-end resort”. The premises will host a 144spot parking facility, on-site restaurant, full-service spa, bar, pool and various outdoor activities.
The documents name Philip McKenzie KC, a Davis & Co partner who is also the National Insurance Board’s (NIB) chairman, as the developer’s attorney. The developer’s name, while difficult to decipher
from the hand-writing, appears to be Derek Cogan. Calls to the numbers given on the application were not answered.
“Paradise Breeze Condo Hotel offers an immersive environmental experience designed to exceed every guest’s expectations,” BPG’s application said. “Featuring 125 luxurious condominiums in a premium hotel rental programme, the property combines the comforts of home with the amenities of a high-end resort.
“Each residence boasts modern floor plans and expansive
BTC CHIEF IN AMBITION TO BE CARIBBEAN ‘REFERENCE’
“Whether it’s smart cities and we’re doing Wi-fi in the park, I want us to be the reference. Whether it’s moving an entire island to fibre, as we’ve done in Grand Bahama - and you’ll hear more about that as we publicise it - I want BTC to be the reference. Even as we roll-out Jump, and the success we’re having with Jump, I want BTC to be the reference.”
Jump is the region-wide initiative, spearheaded in The Bahamas by BTC with its Liberty Caribbean immediate parent taking the lead in other nations, to boost digital inclusion and access by offering lowcost connections to those in need. Mr Bhatti, though, said his goals for BTC and the wider Bahamas do not stop there.
“What we are doing, and working hand in glove with the Government on, is CCTV to make this a safer place to reside and visit,”
he added. “I want BTC to be the reference. As we further our infrastructure for nation-building, be it for data centres, cloud or AI (artificial intelligence, I want BTC to be the reference and for The Bahamas to be the reference.
“To me, selfishly, that’s where I am going. That’s where we’re going. How can we make BTC and, by extension, The Bahamas, the reference for the wider region?” Many observers would argue that BTC and The Bahamas have much to accomplish to reach such a status, but the upcoming CANTO conference offers a potential platform to help the carrier build towards that.
Noting that BTC has been a CANTO member since the non-profit was first formed in 1985, Mr Bhatti said the regional communications conference is coming to The Bahamas - and Baha Mar’s Grand Hyatt resort - for the first time in a decade.
BRILAND RESORT RECONSIDERS $850K MARINA EXPANSION
FROM PAGE B3
price may earn him more guests “but that’s less VAT that comes in with that because 10 percent of $400 is less than 10 percent of $600”.
“I think that we’re in a state where we’ve overtaxed everything,” Mr Prosenjak added. “And, yeah, we can talk to the Association of Bahamas Marinas, but at the end of the day, you got to figure
out what’s the right price point, and what’s the right fee and look at it from a holistic nature. Two-and-ahalf years ago, going up on the VAT on charter boats, I understand it.
“We saw that it was a drastic reduction in charter boats, and so you can call that a direct correlation to cause and effect because boats just weren’t coming here. They kept going and kept going by, and went to other destinations.
O T I C E GECKO HILL LIMITED
Creditors having debts or claims against the abovenamed Company are required to send particulars thereof to the undersigned c/o P. O. Box N8326, Nassau, Bahamas on or before 17th day of July A.D., 2025. In default thereof they will be excluded from the beneft of any distribution made by the Liquidator.
Dated the 7th day of July, A.D., 2025
Bennet R. Atkinson Liquidator Ronald Atkinson & Co. Chartered Accountants 24 Marron House, Virginia & Augusta Street P.O. Box N-8326 Nassau, Bahamas
N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:
(a) BONEFISH ALLEY LIMITED is in dissolution under the provisions of the International Business Companies Act 2000.
(b) The dissolution of the said Company commenced on the 3rd day of July, 2025 when its Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.
(c) The Liquidator of the said Company is Bennet R. Atkinson of Ronald Atkinson & Co., Chartered Accountants, 24 Marron House, Virginia & Augusta Streets P.O. Box N-8326, Nassau Bahamas Email: Bennet@ronaldatkinson.com
Dated the 7th day of July, A.D., 2025
HARRY B. SANDS, LOBOSKY MANAGEMENT CO. LTD. Registered Agent for the above-named Company
windows that frame breathtaking, uninterrupted ocean views. Guests can enjoy a range of upscale services and amenities, including breakfast and lunch at the on-site restaurant, a stylish bar, a fully equipped gym, a full service spa, a resortstyle pool and a variety of outdoor activities.
“Whether travelling for business or leisure, Paradise Breeze provides an exceptional destination that blends luxury, convenience, and natural beauty.” The traffic impact study contained recommendations to mitigate traffic blocks and improve safety, including
introducing a roundabout at the intersection of West Bay Street and Sea Beach Boulevard.
“It is highly recommended that this skewed intersection be converted to a 130 feet roundabout in the immediate future,” the study suggested. “The conversion to a roundabout would reduce delays by 74.5 percent at that location along with vehicle and pedestrian conflicts by 33 percent and 72.2 percent, respectively.
“It will also manage speeds along the horizontally curved section of West Bay Street, which would
It is also occurring at a pivotal moment for BTC’s immediate parent, Liberty Caribbean, which rebranded from Cable & Wireless Communications just months ago. The BTC chief said the competition provided by satellite Internet, with Elon Musk’s Starlink already providing such services in The Bahamas and expanding its customer base, along with the challenges posed by over-the-top applications such as What’s App and the need to create a
Like they went down to BVI. They went down to Anguilla. You can see the boats going that way. And same thing with St Barts. We’re now the highest price entry fee anywhere in the Caribbean. We’re on line with places like Monaco.
“So if that’s our target customer, and that’s all we’re going to attract, well, everybody has to reset their earning potential to how many of those boats are there in the world that are going to come here and how are we going to make that happen?” Mr Prosenjak added.
“We’ve got to double down on investments. We
“level playing field” with incumbent operators, will be among the topics likely to be discussed during CANTO.
“I would hope for topics around satellite to come up,” Mr Bhatti said. “We have a third player in the market in The Bahamas and, actually, throughout the Caribbean. Frankly, it’s somewhat of a foundational player, particularly if you have a yacht, you have a boat. It means satellite is a very useful technology for
can’t have staff for all this if not everybody’s going to be here. So it’s a huge amount of people that are impacted by this since 80 percent of our GDP is tourism. To say that we’re going to just raise essentially, taxes on that unilaterally, and cut out a whole bottom section of our market...
“I think the hotels themselves have been in a place where we’ve out-priced our market. To start at $600 a night is a big ask. That means that every tourist that comes here, you got to look at them as someone that’s earning in the US, potentially, to come here with flights or a boat and
NOTICE JFPM LTD.
Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Registration number 204828 B (In Voluntary Liquidation)
Notice is hereby given that the above-named Company is in dissolution, commencing on the 4th day of July A.D. 2025.
Articles of Dissolution have been duly registered by the Registrar. The Liquidator is Mr. Fernando Paulino Mendes, whose address is Av Dona Helena Pereira de Moraes, 290 Apt 204, Parque do Morumbi, CEP: 05707400, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. Any Persons having a Claim against the abovenamed Company are required on or before the 5th day of August A.D. 2025 to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator of the Company, or in default thereof they may be e uded from the beneft of any distribution made before such claim is proved.
Dated this 4th day of July A.D. 2025 FERNANDO PAULINO MENDES LIQUIDATOR
N O T I C E
BONEFISH ALLEY LIMITED
Creditors having debts or claims against the abovenamed Company are required to send particulars thereof to the undersigned c/o P. O. Box N8326, Nassau, Bahamas on or before 17th day of July A.D., 2025. In default thereof they will be excluded from the beneft of any distribution made by the Liquidator.
Dated the 7th day of July, A.D., 2025
Bennet R. Atkinson Liquidator Ronald Atkinson & Co. Chartered Accountants 24 Marron House, Virginia & Augusta Street P.O. Box N-8326 Nassau, Bahamas
be beneficial for the access of proposed Rock Point Development forthcoming. The conversion to a roundabout at this location will realise a clear improvement in traffic flow and safety.”
Other recommendations included the installation of a separated right-turn lane for the condo project as well as a deceleration lane. This would “improve the capacity, traffic flow and safety along West Bay Street provided that the right-of-way width permits”.
BPG Ltd’s traffic study also recommended the installation “of a continuous sidewalk along the south side of West Bay Street from Blake Road to Shakespeare Drive to
broadband in this kind of scenario.
“It’s also being used elsewhere in residences and businesses. We see it in the Family Islands and the cays. We see it all over.”
The BTC chief executive added that over-the-top applications will also merit discussion given that they do not incur the sunk costs associated with hard communications infrastructure, and staff training, that the likes of his carrier and Cable Bahamas do.
Yet the likes of What’s App use this same infrastructure to offer their services to end-users despite not paying a single cent towards its roll-out.
“We’ve all enjoyed a certain amount of video streaming,” Mr Bhatti told Tribune Business. “In the past we’ve talked about fair usage policies, but what is fairness?
“What is fairness for the operators in each of these countries, who are investing heavily in their broadband infrastructure, who are investing in their people, who are training and training local talent, right, and
then to stay on the islands at, you know, $600 a night...
“You can’t touch a room in Atlantis for less than $500, or same thing with Baha Mar. Even the holiday in there is $350 a night.
accommodate the vulnerable road users consisting of walkers and joggers”. The Paradise Breeze contractor is also to submit a parking plan to the Ministry of Works for the construction phase “so that the public parking area allotted for the recreational users is not negatively impacted, or there is no indiscriminate parking along West Bay Street fronting the site”.
A traffic management plan will be implemented during construction, “including the necessary signage/cones and flag persons in accordance with the UK Traffic Signs Manual chapter eight to manage heavy trucks on West Bay Street exiting and entering the site”.
certainly investing in the communities?
“It’s a non-trivial business. We know that. What’s a fair and level playing field for us all to compete?” Mr Bhatti asked. “This, for me, we won’t have the answers for at this CANTO, we won’t have the answers for at the next CANTO, but collectively, if we have a shared understanding, I think we can move the needle towards fairness in a better way for the region.
“I’m not solving for the US. I’m not solving for Europe. I’m solving for The Bahamas and the Caribbean. What is fair, and how can our regulators be a part of that; how can our regulators be part of fairness and make it easy or easier for operators to deliver astounding broadband Internet with reliability and consistency, whether you are in Grand Cay or Mayaguana, top-to-toe in this archipelago.
“How can we work with the regulators? What can the regulators do differently? What kind of policies should they set forth that will be helpful and lasting?”
I mean, that’s someone that has at least $150,000 if not $200,000 of earnings every year in the US. And those jobs just don’t exist right now.”
N
O T I C E
PROPERTIES LIMITED (in Voluntary Liquidation)
NOTICE is hereby given in accordance with Section 138(8) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000 that Comiston Properties Limited (the “Company”) has been dissolved and the name of the Company has been struck off the Companies Register.
HIGGS & JOHNSON Lyford Crescent, Western Road Lyford Cay, The Bahamas Attorneys for the Voluntary Liquidator
GECKO HILL LIMITED
N O T I C E IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:
(a) GECKO HILL LIMITED is in dissolution under the provisions of the International Business Companies Act 2000.
(b) The dissolution of the said Company commenced on the 3rd day of July, 2025 when its Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.
(c) The Liquidator of the said Company is Bennet R. Atkinson of Ronald Atkinson & Co., Chartered Accountants, 24 Marron House, Virginia & Augusta Streets P.O. Box N-8326, Nassau Bahamas Email: Bennet@ronaldatkinson.com
Dated the 7th day of July, A.D., 2025 HARRY B. SANDS, LOBOSKY MANAGEMENT CO. LTD. Registered Agent for the above-named Company
SAMEER BHATTI
TRUMP BRANDED, BROWBEAT AND PREVAILED. BUT HIS BIG BILL MAY COME AT A POLITICAL COST
By SEUNG MIN KIM
Associated Press
BARACK Obama had the Affordable Care Act. Joe Biden had the Inflation Reduction Act. President Donald Trump will have the tax cuts.
All were hailed in the moment and became ripe political targets in campaigns that followed. In Trump's case, the tax cuts may almost become lost in the debates over other parts of the multitrillion-dollar bill that Democrats say will force poor Americans off their health care and overturn a decade or more of energy policy. Through persuasion and browbeating, Trump forced nearly all congressional Republicans to line up behind his marquee legislation despite some of its unpalatable pieces.
He followed the playbook that had marked his life in business before politics. He focused on branding — labeling the legislation the "One Big, Beautiful Bill" — then relentlessly pushed to strong-arm it through Congress, solely on the votes of Republicans.
But Trump's victory will soon be tested during the 2026 midterm elections where Democrats plan to run on a durable theme: that the Republican president favors the rich on tax cuts over poorer people who will lose their health care.
Trump and Republicans argue that those who deserve coverage will retain
it. Nonpartisan analysts, however, project significant increases to the number of uninsured. Meanwhile, the GOP's promise that the bill will turbocharge the economy will be tested at a time of uncertainty and trade turmoil.
Trump has tried to counter the notion of favoring the rich with provisions that would reduce the taxes for people paid in tips and receiving overtime pay, two kinds of earners who represent a small share of the workforce.
Extending the tax cuts from Trump's first term that were set to expire if Congress failed to act meant he could also argue that millions of people would avoid a tax increase. To enact that and other expensive priorities, Republicans made steep cuts to Medicaid that ultimately belied Trump's promise that those on government entitlement programs "won't be affected."
"The biggest thing is, he's answering the call of the forgotten people. That's why his No. 1 request was the no tax on tips, the no tax on overtime, tax relief for seniors," said Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee. "I think that's going to be the big impact."
Hard to reap the rewards Presidents have seen their signature legislative accomplishments unraveled by their successors or become a significant political
liability for their party in subsequent elections.
A central case for Biden's reelection was that the public would reward the Democrat for his legislative accomplishments. That never bore fruit as he struggled to improve his poll numbers driven down by concerns about his age and stubborn inflation.
Since taking office in January, Trump has acted to gut tax breaks meant to boost clean energy initiatives that were part of Biden's landmark health care-and-climate bill.
Obama's health overhaul, which the Democrat signed into law in March 2010, led to a political bloodbath in the midterms that fall. Its popularity only became potent when Republicans tried to repeal it in 2017.
Whatever political boost Trump may have gotten from his first-term tax cuts in 2017 did not help him in the 2018 midterms, when Democrats regained control of the House, or in 2020 when he lost to Biden.
"I don't think there's much if any evidence from recent or even notso-recent history of the president's party passing a big one-party bill and getting rewarded for it," said Kyle Kondik, an elections analyst with the nonpartisan University of Virginia's Center for Politics.
Social net setbacks Democrats hope they can translate their policy losses into political gains.
During an Oval Office appearance in January, Trump pledged he would "love and cherish Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid."
"We're not going to do anything with that, other than if we can find some abuse or waste, we'll do something," Trump said. "But the people won't be affected. It will only be more effective and better."
That promise is far removed from what Trump and the Republican Party ultimately chose to do, paring back not only Medicaid but also food assistance for the poor to make the math work on their sweeping bill. It would force 11.8 million more people to become uninsured by 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office, whose estimates the GOP has dismissed.
"In Trump's first term, Democrats in Congress prevented bad outcomes. They didn't repeal the
(Affordable Care Act), and we did COVID relief together. This time is different," said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii. "Hospitals will close, people will die, the cost of electricity will go up, and people will go without food."
Some unhappy Republicans
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., repeatedly argued the legislation would lead to drastic coverage losses in his home state and others, leaving them vulnerable to political attacks similar to what Democrats faced after they enacted "Obamacare." With his warnings unheeded, Tillis announced he would not run for reelection, after he opposed advancing the bill and enduring Trump's criticism.
Even Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who eventually became the decisive vote in the Senate that ensured the bill's passage, said the legislation needed more work and she urged the House to revise it. Lawmakers there did not. Early polling suggests that Trump's bill is deeply unpopular, including among independents and a healthy share of Republicans.
White House officials said their own research does not reflect that.
So far, it's only Republicans celebrating the victory. That seems OK with the president.
In a speech in Iowa after the bill passed, he said Democrats only opposed it because they "hated Trump." That didn't bother him, he said, "because I hate them, too."
"If there is a political dimension to this, it is the extraordinary impact that you're going to have in states like California, blue states with red districts," Tillis said. "The narrative is going to be overwhelmingly negative in states like California, New York, Illinois, and New Jersey."
China imposes anti-dumping duties on European brandy as trade tensions rise
BEIJING Associated Press
CHINA on Friday imposed anti-dumping duties on European brandy, most notably cognac produced in France, as trade tensions between Beijing and United States allies continue to rise.
Chinese authorities agreed to exempt some major cognac makers on condition they maintain their prices above minimum levels.
The tariffs, effective on Saturday, will range from 27.7% to 34.9%, China's Commerce Ministry said. They are to be in place for five years and will not be applied retroactively.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on X that the exemptions for most cognac and armagnac producers are "a positive step towards putting an end to the dispute that was threatening our exports."
"We will continue to support our industry to ensure that its interests are fully protected," Macron said.
The announcement came during a European visit by Chinese Foreign Minister
Wang Yi aimed at ironing out trade differences. Wang was set to visit Paris after stops in Brussels and Berlin.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said he will discuss the issue with Wang when the pair meet later Friday.
The anti-dumping duties are the result of a probe China launched last year into European brandy, after the European Union undertook a probe into Chinese electric vehicles subsidies.
"The investigative authority finally ruled that the dumping of related imported brandy from the EU has existed," read a statement by China's Commerce Ministry. "The domestic brandy industry faces a material threat of damage, and there is a causal relationship between the dumping and the substantial damage threat."
Besides cognac, China has also launched investigations into European pork and dairy products. The brandy probe was the first and targeted mainly French makers of cognac and similar spirits such as Armagnac.
China initially announced provisional tariffs of 30.6% to 39% on French cognac producer Remy Martin and other European brandies after a majority of E.U. countries approved duties
on electric vehicles made in China.
Exemptions include French producers Pernod Ricard, Remy Cointreau and Hennessy.
In a written statement, Barrot praised the "broad
scope of exemptions" as "a positive step for many players in the cognac and armagnac industry." He noted that "several important points remain unresolved, in particular the exclusion of certain
players from the scope of exemptions."
"We remain fully committed to finding a definitive solution, based on the conditions that existed prior to the investigation," Barrot added.
PRESIDENT Donald Trump holds a gavel after he signed his signature bill of tax breaks and spending cuts at the White House, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Washington, surrounded by members of Congress. Photo:Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
BOTTLES of brandy are seen on a shelf at a supermarket in Hangzhou in eastern China’s Zhejiang province Tuesday, Oct. 08, 2024. Photo:Chinatopix/AP
Pressure from Trump for trade deals before Wednesday deadline, but hints of more time for talks
By ELLEN KNICKMEYER and MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press
THE Trump administration is stepping up pressure on trading partners to quickly make new deals before a Wednesday deadline, with plans for the United States to start sending letters Monday warning countries that higher tariffs could kick in Aug. 1.
That furthers the uncertainty for businesses, consumers and America's trading partners, and questions remain about which countries will be notified, whether anything will change in the days ahead and whether President Donald Trump will once more push off imposing the rates. Trump and his top trade advisers say he could extend the time for dealmaking but they insist the administration is applying maximum pressure on other nations.
Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that Trump would decide when it was time to give up on negotiations.
"The United States is always willing to talk to everybody about everything," Hassett said. "There are deadlines, and there are things that are close, so maybe things will push back past the deadline or maybe they won't. In the end the
president is going to make that judgment."
Stephen Miran, the chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, likewise said countries negotiating in good faith and making concessions could "sort of, get the date rolled."
The steeper tariffs that Trump announced April 2 threatened to overhaul the global economy and lead to broader trade wars. A week later, after the financial markets had panicked, his administration suspended for 90 days most of the higher taxes on imports just as they were to take effect. The negotiating window
until July 9 has led to announced deals only with the United Kingdom and Vietnam.
Trump imposed elevated tariff rates on dozens of nations that run meaningful trade surpluses with the U.S., and a 10% baseline tax on imports from all countries in response to what he called an economic emergency. There are separate 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum and a 25% tariff on autos. Since April, few foreign governments have set new trade terms with Washington as the Republican president demanded.
PRESIDENT Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, on April 2, 2025, in Washington. Photo:Mark
letters, and some deals have been made."
He and his advisers have declined to say which countries would receive the letters.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent rejected the idea that Aug. 1 was a new deadline and declined to say what might happen Wednesday.
"We'll see," Bessent said on CNN's State of the Union. "I'm not going to give away the playbook."
He said the U.S. was "close to several deals," and predicted several big announcements over the next few days. He gave no details.
Trump told reporters Friday that his administration might be sending out letters as early as Saturday to countries spelling out their tariff rates if they did not reach a deal, but that the U.S. would not start collecting those taxes until Aug. 1. On Sunday, he said he would send out letters starting Monday — "could be 12, could be 15" — to foreign governments reflecting planned tariffs for each.
"We've made deals also," Trump told reporters before heading back to the White House from his home in New Jersey. "So we'll get to have a combination of
UK foreign secretary visits Syria, renewing ties after 14 years of conflict
CREW ABANDONS LIBERIAN-FLAGGED, GREEK-OWNED SHIP ATTACKED IN THE RED SEA, UK MILITARY SAYS
By JON GAMBRELL Associated Press
CREW members aboard a Liberian-flagged ship set ablaze by a series of attacks in the Red Sea abandoned the vessel Sunday night as it took on water, marking the first serious assault in the vital corridor for trade after a monthslong campaign by Yemen's Houthi rebels there.
Suspicion for the attack on the Greek-owned bulk carrier Magic Seas immediately fell on the Houthis, particularly as a security firm said it appeared bombcarrying drone boats hit the ship after it was targeted by small arms and rocketpropelled grenades. The rebels' media reported on the attack but did not claim it. It can take them hours or even days before they acknowledge an assault.
A renewed Houthi campaign against shipping could again draw in U.S. and Western forces to the area, particularly after President Donald Trump targeted the rebels in a major airstrike campaign.
Shortly before midnight in Yemen, Israel's military issued a warning for three Houthi-held ports and said airstrikes would begin shortly in Hodeidah, Ras Isa and Salif along with at the Ras al-Khatib power station.
The ship attack comes at a sensitive moment in the Middle East, as a possible ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war hangs in the balance and as Iran weighs whether to restart
negotiations over its nuclear program following American airstrikes targeting its most-sensitive atomic sites amid an Israeli war against the Islamic Republic.
"It likely serves as a message that the Houthis continue to possess the capability and willingness to strike at strategic maritime targets regardless of diplomatic developments," wrote Mohammad alBasha, a Yemen analyst at the Basha Report risk advisory firm.
The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center first said that an armed security team on the unidentified vessel had returned fire against an initial attack and that the "situation is ongoing." It described the attack as happening some 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Hodeida, Yemen, which is held by the country's Houthi rebels.
"Authorities are investigating," it said. It later said the ship was on fire after being "struck by unknown projectiles."
Ambrey, a private maritime security firm, issued an alert saying that a merchant ship had been "attacked by eight skiffs while transiting northbound in the Red Sea."
Ambrey later said the ship also had been attacked by bomb-carrying drone boats, which could mark a major escalation. It said two drone boats struck the ship, while another two had been
destroyed by the armed guards on board.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said the ship was taking on water and its crew had abandoned the vessel.
The U.S. Navy's Mideastbased 5th Fleet referred questions to the military's Central Command, which said it was aware of the incident without elaborating.
Moammar al-Eryani, the information minister for Yemen's exiled government opposing the Houthis, identified the vessel attacked as the Magic Seas and blamed the rebels for the attack. The ship had been broadcasting it had an armed security team on board in the vicinity the attack took place and had been heading north.
"The attack also proves once again that the Houthis are merely a front for an Iranian scheme using Yemen as a platform to undermine regional and global stability, at a time when Tehran continues to arm the militia and provide it with military technology, including missiles, aircraft, drones, and sea mines," al-Eryani wrote on the social platform X. The Magic Seas' owners did not respond to a request for comment.
The Houthi rebels have been launching missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the region in what the group's leadership has described as an effort to end Israel's offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
By SAMAR KASSABALLI and BASSEM MROUE Associated Press
BRITISH Foreign Secretary David Lammy met in Damascus on Saturday with Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, marking the restoration of relations after 14 years of tension during Syria's conflict and Assad family rule.
Syria has been improving relations with Western countries following the fall of President Bashar Assad in December in an offensive led by al-Sharaa's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Islamist group.
Al-Sharaa's office said Lammy and the president discussed mutual relations and ways of boosting cooperation and the latest regional and international developments. Lammy later met his Syrian counterpart, Asaad al-Shibani, state media reported.
A statement issued by Britain's foreign office said the visit showed London's commitment to support Syria as the new government seeks to rebuild the country's economy, deliver an inclusive political
"I think we're going to see a lot of deals very quickly," Bessent said.
Trump has announced a deal with Vietnam that would allow U.S. goods to enter the country duty-free, while Vietnamese exports to the U.S. would face a 20% levy.
That was a decline from the 46% tax on Vietnamese imports he proposed in April — one of his so-called reciprocal tariffs targeting dozens of countries with which the U.S. runs a trade deficit.
Asked if he expected to reach deals with the European Union or India,
transition and forge a path to justice for the victims of the Assad government. It added that there will be new U.K. funding to assist with the removal of Assad-era chemical weapons and provide urgent humanitarian assistance in Syria, to bolster U.K. and Middle East security and tackle irregular migration.
The statement said the British government wants to ensure that the Islamic State group's territorial defeat "endures, and they can never resurge."
IS once controlled large parts of Syria and Iraq, where it planned attacks worldwide. It was defeated in Syria in March 2019 when the extremists lost the last sliver of land they once controlled.
The statement said Britain's support for Syria is set to continue, with the additional 94.5 million pounds ($129 million) package announced Saturday. It will provide urgent humanitarian aid to Syrians, support Syria's longer-term recovery through education and livelihoods, and support countries hosting Syrian refugees in the region.
In April, the British government lifted sanctions against a dozen Syrian entities, including government departments and media outlets, to help the country rebuild after Assad's ouster.
Weeks earlier, the U.K. had
Trump said Friday that "letters are better for us" because there are so many countries involved.
"We have India coming up and with Vietnam, we did it, but much easier to send a letter saying, 'Listen, we know we have a certain deficit, or in some cases a surplus, but not too many. And this is what you're going to have to pay if you want to do business in the United States."
Canada, however, will not be one of the countries receiving letters, Trump's ambassador, Pete Hoekstra, said Friday after trade talks between the two countries recently resumed.
"Canada is one of our biggest trading partners," Hoekstra told CTV News in an interview in Ottawa.
"We're going to have a deal that's articulated."
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he wants a new deal in place by July 21 or Canada will increase trade countermeasures.
Hoekstra would not commit to a date for a trade agreement and said even with a deal, Canada could still face some tariffs. But "we're not going to send Canada just a letter," he said.
dropped sanctions against two dozen Syrian businesses, mostly banks and oil companies.
Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order ending many American economic sanctions on Syria, following through on a promise he made to al-Sharaa.
Syria's new leaders have been struggling to rebuild the country's decimated economy and infrastructure after nearly 14 years of civil war that has killed half a million people. In recent months, al-Sharaa visited oil-rich regional countries and France in May in his first visit to the Europe Union.
Also on Saturday, Lammy met in Beirut with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and they discussed the situation along the Lebanon-Israel border following the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war.
A statement issued by Aoun's office, quoted the Lebanese leader as telling Lammy that Beirut plans to raise the number of Lebanese troops along the border with Israel to 10,000. Aoun added that the only armed sides on the Lebanese side of the border will be Lebanon's national army and U.N. peacekeepers.
Schiefelbein/AP
BRITISH Foreign Secretary David Lammy talks to journalists in Antalya, southern Turkey, May 15, 2025.
