Judge finds no evidence to back CA Christie claims
And refuses appeal over Conch & Coconut injunction
But declines to dismiss US case in favour of Bahamas
BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A TOP Bahamian real estate firm has been dismissed as a defendant in the ongoing legal battle between a Harbour Island tourism operator and his former US business partner after a judge found it cannot be blamed for its employee’s purported actions.
Central Bank in ‘cash buffer’ as Gov’t to refinance $3.4bn
BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor
nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A “CASH buffer framework” has been developed to ease the Government’s cash flow and liquidity pressures during the weaker first half of its fiscal year, it has been revealed, amid plans to refinance near-$3.4bn in total public debt during the 2026-2027 Budget period.
Fatal plane crash to ‘take toll on industry’
BY NEIL HARTNELL
BAHAMIAN avia-
The Davis administration, in unveiling its annual borrowing plan for the new fiscal year, disclosed that the Government has worked jointly with the Central Bank to develop a mechanism to relieve any pressures that may result from the traditionally-lower revenue inflows during the six months to
Judge Kathleen Williams, in a July 10, 2026, verdict removed CA Christie and its franchisor, Corcoran Group, as defendants in the south Florida federal court lawsuit launched by Pablo Conde after finding the latter had supplied no evidence to show the Bahamian group was responsible, and should assume liability for, the alleged actions of its Briland agent, Julian ‘Shaq’ Gibson.
Mr Conde and Mr Gibson are embroiled in an increasingly bitter legal battle on both sides of the Florida straits following the messy break-up of their Conch & Coconut tour operator partnership, which has exposed allegations of illegal ‘fronting’ and more than $1m in unpaid Bahamian taxes. Mr Conde named CA Christie as a defendant on the basis it had allegedly been “unjustly enriched” by Mr Gibson’s use
of his “trade secret customer lists” to generate real estate business for the firm.
However, CA Christie hit back by asserting that its inclusion and listing as a defendant was “improper” because no evidence was supplied by Mr Conde and his US firm, Conch & Coconut LLC, to show the company “directly participated” in the Briland business of the same name - Conch & Coconut Ltd - or the conduct complained about involving alleged trademark and copyright friend. Mr Conde had argued CA Christie was “vicariously liable” for Mr Gibson’s actions since he was its agent, or employee, by hanging Conch & Coconut branding next to its own without permission,
‘Safety void’ plus ‘weak enforcement’ concerns cited after fatal Andros crash
BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
AVIATION executives have cited a “domestic safety culture void” and “very weak” regulatory enforcement as factors that potentially contributed to the fatal Independence Day plane crash that killed all ten persons on board.
Captain Randy Butler, former chief executive at Sky Bahamas, told Tribune
Business that - while this nation already possesses a strong civil aviation legal and regulatory framework - it must address “system” weaknesses that have thus far prevented full and effective implementation.
Speaking after Friday’s tragedy, in which the pilot and all passengers were killed when a plane owned by Flamingo Air crashed in bush on its approach to San Andros Airport, he also
called to “keep the politics out” of regulating the domestic Bahamian aviation industry.
This newspaper’s sources have suggested several high-ranking politicians from the major parties have financial interests in Bahamian airlines and domestic carriers, and Mr Butler described the post-crash Civil Aviation Authority of The Bahamas’ decision to temporarily suspend
Flamingo Air’s air operator certificate (AOC) - which prevents it from flying - as an example of “very reactive’ regulation as opposed to being proactive.
Other aviation industry sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, also pointed to Flamingo Air’s past safety record and suggested this should come under increased scrutiny.
research
tion executives yesterday revealed the fatal Andros plane crash will “take a toll on the industry” and “stay with us for a while” as an Opposition MP challenged the level of regulatory oversight applied prior to the crash.
Anthony Hamilton, president of the Bahamas Association of Air Transport Operators, told Tribune Business that “our hearts go out to the families directly impacted” by the ten lives that were lost while predicting that the entire domestic sector will
Tribune Business
SCENES from the crash site of the Flamingo Air aircraft that went down last Friday.
Gov’t pledges to fix nurse appointments after protest
BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Nurses Union (BNU) is demanding sweeping reforms at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, arguing that years-long delays in confirming worker appointments are harming its members’ finances, delaying career progress and worsening healthcare staffing shortages.
Nurses staged a demonstration outside the ministry on Thursday morning as union president, Muriel Lightbourn, alleged that some healthcare workers hired as far back as 2022 remain without appointment or confirmation letters despite repeated assurances the issue would be resolved.
“There are still some nurses who are waiting for appointments and for confirmations from 2022,” Ms Lightbourn said. “There are nurses from the 2022, 2023 and 2024 cohorts who are waiting for appointments or appointment confirmations.”
She said the union has written to Prime Minister Philip Davis KC, requesting a meeting after raising the issue with both himself and Dr Michael Darville,
minister of health and wellness, on numerous occasions over the past two years.
Ms Lightbourn said the delays have become particularly frustrating because foreign nurses recruited by the Government have already received contracts.
“What is a slap in the face to these Bahamian nurses is this,” she said. “Some of those Ghanaian nurses signed those contracts, they have now reached a point where some of them have already re-signed contracts, and these nurses are still waiting on appointments and confirmations.”
She argued that the absence of confirmation letters has significant financial consequences for affected nurses. “Some of them can’t go to the bank,” the union president said. “They can’t borrow $2 because they don’t have a confirmation letter.”
Ms Lightbourn said community nurses conducting home visits have been unable to claim allowances because they remain unconfirmed, adding that years later they could be asked to provide proof of work completed without having received the necessary employment status.
“These nurses are literally going inside people’s
homes to do home visits,” she said. “If something happened to them, they’re not sure whether they’re covered or not.”
Ms Lightbourn maintained that successive promises have failed to produce results, despite what she described as direct intervention from the Prime Minister.
She said she submitted a list of 53 nurses requiring appointments, confirmations, promotions and reclassifications during discussions with Mr Davis in 2024, when he instructed officials to resolve the matter.
“He did give directives for it to be done,” Ms Lightbourn said. “This is 2026. That was in 2024. We still fighting for these nurses.”
She added that many of the affected employees are single mothers facing mounting financial pressures.
“When BPL comes to turn off their light, BPL doesn’t ask them, ‘Did you get appointed yet?’ They just turn off your light,” she said.
Ms Lightbourn also criticised the Ministry of Health’s human resources operations, arguing that staffing shortages cannot be addressed while qualified Bahamian nurses remain
Partnership seeking to aid Abaco entrepreneurs
BY ANNELIA NIXON
THE Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) has signed an agreement with the Abaco
Chamber of Commerce that is designed to expand access to financing, business training and advisory services for entrepreneurs on that island. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) expected to strengthen
collaboration between the two two sides through connecting more businesses with funding opportunities, mentorship, export readiness programmes and networking initiatives, while also encouraging greater
caught in administrative delays.
“I was told that there were 26 nurses that they did an interview with three years ago,” she said. “We’re talking about a nursing shortage here. Why can’t we get these people working?”
Ms Lightbourn called for sweeping changes within the ministry’s human resources department, arguing that persistent delays indicate systemic management failures. “If you don’t understand why human resources is taking long, fire them,” she said. “Move them and bring somebody who is willing to do the job.”
Responding to the demonstration, Dr Darville described the situation as “very sad” and apologised to the affected nurse,while indicating that the ministry is working with the Department of Public Service to expedite outstanding appointments.
“It came to our attention that a group of nurses were here in protest of the delay in their reclassification and appointment letters,” he said. “I do feel for the nurses who are impacted.”
Dr Darville said information relating to the affected nurses had already been forwarded to the Public Service Commission, and
Chamber membership among entrepreneurs.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Samantha Rolle, the SBDC’s executive director, said the partnership reflects the agency’s commitment to ensuring economic development reaches beyond New Providence.
“Achieving national development requires opportunities to extend beyond New Providence and reach every island, rock and cay,” Ms Rolle said. “Economic growth must be inclusive, and our entrepreneurs, regardless of where they live, deserve access to the resources they need to succeed.”
Since 2022, the SBDC has facilitated more than $10.9m in financing for Family Island businesses, with Abaco receiving the second-largest share after Grand Bahama. To-date, more than $5.6m has been injected into Abaco businesses.
Ms Rolle said approvals for Family Island businesses under the SBDC’s guaranteed loan programme have outpaced those in New Providence for 2026, which she described as evidence
confirmed some appointment letters have been issued.
“Apparently a few of the nurses, I can't remember the exact amount, received their appointment letters, and those who showed up here were those who did not receive the appointment letters,” he said.
“We are now working diligently to resolve, and to speak directly with, [the ministry of] public service to expedite the situation. But once again, I feel the pain of those nurses.”
Dr Darville said ministry officials had identified incomplete documentation within some personnel files, but believed those issues had now been corrected before being forwarded to the Ministry of Public Service.
“Appointments are presently taking place,” Dr Darville said. “We’re looking into why the remaining individuals’ situations have not been resolved, and we expect answers by the end of the day.”
Following the protest, Mr Davis also pledged that the
that entrepreneurship is accelerating outside Nassau.
She added that the SBDC’s support extends beyond financing to include entrepreneurial training, mentorship, technical assistance and business advisory services. Ms Rolle said the new partnership will help bring those services closer to entrepreneurs in Marsh Harbour, Sandy Point, Spring City, Coopers Town, Hope Town and the surrounding cays.
“The essence of this collaboration and formalised memorandum of understanding with the Abaco Chamber of Commerce is to highlight the need and the potential outcome of a strong ecosystem,” she said.
“And so what that means is that, when we have the various groups that are there to support small businesses in our communities, we come together in a partnership and focus on some of the key areas that are most needed for our small business owners and entrepreneurs. That is when we realise, and we really be able to achieve, the objectives of the support.”
Ms Rolle also urged entrepreneurs to become members of the Abaco
Government would resolve the matter.
“We are a country that values our nurses,” he said in a statement. “They care for us in our most difficult moments, and their service deserves respect, appreciation and fair treatment.
“I have heard the concerns raised today, and I want every nurse affected to know that you have my commitment that we will resolve your grievances. No nurse should face uncertainty because of administrative delays that affect career progression, compensation or the recognition you have earned through your service.
“I have directed the relevant officials to work together with urgency to address the outstanding matters relating to confirmation, appointments, reclassifications and any associated issues. Where there are administrative barriers, they must be resolved without delay. We will work until these matters are brought to a proper resolution.”
Chamber of Commerce, adding that chamber membership will provide greater access to advocacy, networking opportunities, export readiness programmes, trade missions and funding support available through the partnership.
Chantelle Sands, the Abaco Chamber president, described the agreement as an investment in the island’s economic future, adding that businesses are now looking beyond rebuilding post-Hurricane Dorian and COVID towards expansion.
“Our business community has demonstrated remarkable resilience over the past several years as we continue to rebuild, grow and diversify our local economy,” Ms Sands said. “Partnerships like this are essential.”
More than five years after Hurricane Dorian devastated Abaco, Ms Sands said many businesses have successfully rebuilt but are now seeking guidance to expand operations and launch new ventures.
“There are some entrepreneurs who have great ideas and don’t know how to get them started,” she said.
DR MICHAEL DARVILLE
PHILIP DAVIS KC TEAM - See Page B5
BPL secures supplier discounts up to 20%
BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Power & Light (BPL) says a $90m financing package, plus operational cost savings and supplier discounts, will fund electricity grid upgrades on the Family Islands plus the expansion of transmission infrastructure to support solar energy projects.
Christina Alston, BPL’s board chair, told the Office of the Prime Minister’s media briefingr that the state-owned utility is pursuing multiple initiatives aimed at strengthening its finances while also modernising the grid.
She pointed to the $90m financing secured from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) late last year to support BPL's grid modernisation programme, including advanced metering infrastructure that will allow customers to monitor their electricity usage in real time.
"A key part of the advanced metering infrastructure will put that control in the hands of consumers. They'll be able to log into their accounts in real time, monitor their usage, set budgets, receive alerts and better understand their monthly kilowatt-hour consumption," Ms Alston said.
She added that BPL is also seeking to improve its financial position by reducing operating costs through its Transformation Office. "We've renegotiated contracts with several longterm suppliers and secured discounts of up to 20 percent in some cases," Ms Alston said.
“BPL is a big organisation. As the saying goes, 'How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.' That's exactly what we're doing."
The Board chair also outlined plans to strengthen transmission and distribution infrastructure across the Family Islands to accommodate renewable
energy projects being developed by independent power producers.
"Each independent power producer has a point of interconnection, and we have projects aligned with each one to ensure the electricity they generate can be delivered on to the grid," said Ms Alston said. She identified Eleuthera as one of the utility's greatest transmission challenges.
"We have plans to build a transmission line from the Rock Sound plant all the way to Bannerman Town. That transmission line will strengthen the system in that area," she added. Ms Alston also announced that EA
Energy's solar and battery storage facilities in Abaco and Eleuthera are expected to enter service before year-end.
"We're pleased to announce that EA Energy's projects in Abaco and Eleuthera will have their solar and battery energy storage systems operating before the end of the year," she said, adding that the Abaco facility is expected to begin operating in October.
JoBeth Coleby-Davis, minister of energy, utilities and aviation, acknowledged that while BPL currently has sufficient electricity generation capacity in New Providence, the utility
continues to face transmission and distribution constraints that have been exacerbated by unusually high summer demand.
"As it relates to generation capacity, we have the generation capacity," said Mrs Coleby-Davis.
"The challenge has been transmitting and distributing that electricity. That's where we've seen faults on the system and overloading because of the extreme heat."
She said BPL is continuing to inspect its network, address emerging faults and work alongside Bahamas Grid Company to improve system reliability as the summer progresses.
Taxi operators block LPIA amid livery row
BY ANNELIA NIXON
THE Bahamas Taxi Cab Union (BTCU) temporarily blocked vehicle access to Lynden Pindling International Airport’s (LPIA) international departures terminal at the peak of Independence Day travel amid an escalating, ongoing dispute over competition from livery operators.
Taxi drivers allege this is undermining both their livelihoods and The Bahamas’ transportation regulations, with the demonstration reflecting months of tension between themselves and livery operators over access to travellers arriving at LPIA. Taxi drivers are accusing their livery rivals of improperly soliciting fares on the spot rather than relying solely on pre-arranged bookings that, which they allegs violates existing regulations.
“This is a combination of a lot of frustration on the part of the taxi drivers caused by the aggressive nature of the livery drivers,” BTCU president, Tyrone Butler, said. “How is it that the Government can have one set of transportation drivers operating contrary to the law and you want to hold taxi drivers accountable? That’s not going to happen.”
Mr Butler alleged that some baggage porters and Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) employees are directing arriving passengers to livery operators.
“Livery is supposed to do pre-arranged business,”
Mr Butler said. “You work from your place of business. They have the porters in the baggage claim who are bringing out jobs for them and giving it to them. You have NAD employees who are upselling transportation service for livery drivers.”
But Troy Austin, the Bahamas Livery Drivers Union (BLDU) president, vehemently rejected allegations that its members routinely operate outside the law. He said the union does not condone members soliciting taxi fares and has reported drivers who violate its own standards to the Road Traffic Department.
“I would not call us hackers,” Mr Austin said. “We’re professional chauffeurs. One or two individuals does not reflect on the entire body.” He maintained that the vast majority of livery drivers operate legally, and argued there is sufficient demand for both themselves and taxi services. Mr Austin said the union wants to work with taxi operators and government officials to establish clearer operating standards, and develop solutions that allow both
Minister: BPL LNG switch to save consumers $100m
BY FAY SIMMONS
A CABINET minister says plans to transition Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) baseload generation to liquefied natural gas (LNG) remains on schedule, asserting that the fuel switch will ultimately lower electricity generation costs by as much as $100m annually.
Speaking at an Office of the Prime Minister briefing following the prior weekend’s New Providence-wide blackout, Jobeth Coleby-Davis, minister of energy, utilities and aviation, said the Government will mark another “major milestone” in its energy reforms today with the groundbreaking for New Providence's LNG terminal.
"On Monday, we will embark on a major milestone in our energy transition: The groundbreaking ceremony for New Providence's liquefied natural gas terminal," she said. Explaining the rationale behind the fuel switch, Mrs Coleby-Davis said LNG
burns cleaner fuel than heavy fuel oil (HFO) and automotive diesel that have powered much of BPL's generation fleet for decades while also reducing operating costs.
"Natural gas burns cleaner than heavy fuel oil and diesel, which have powered much of our system for decades. It produces fewer emissions, requires less maintenance and, perhaps most importantly, for every Bahamian family, it costs less to generate electricity," Mrs Coleby-Davis said.
"As LNG is introduced into our generation fleet, consumers are expected to benefit from up to $100m in annual fuel savings. Those savings are expected to flow directly through the fuel component of your electricity bill."
Mrs Coleby-Davis added that LNG will also reduce BPL's dependence on expensive temporary rental generation, allowing more resources to be directed towards strengthening the electricity system.
She said LNG forms one component of a broader energy strategy that also includes utility-scale solar
industries to co-exist while maintaining quality service for visitors.
Mr Butler stopped short of announcing further industrial action, saying Leon Lundy, newly-appointed minister of transport, had earned enough confidence to be given an opportunity to address the concerns.
“The thing is, this is a new minister,” Mr Butler said. “I’m feeling a bit more confident that Mr Lundy is sincere about his efforts. He’s already addressed one or two matters that we brought to his attention.”
Mr Butler said the union’s executive planned to meet with Mr Lundy over the weekend to present a comprehensive list of issues requiring immediate attention, but warned that taxi drivers could return to the airport if meaningful progress is not made.
“We’re going to give the minister the benefit of the doubt to address these issues. Now, if it doesn’t happen, I guess we’ll be back here again next week,” he added.
Taxi operators said Thursday’s demonstration was the culmination of years of unsuccessful discussions over the issue. One driver noted that meetings with airport officials on the matter date back to November 2017.
“NAD at that time promised to fix this issue,” he said.
generation, battery energy storage systems (BESS), upgraded substations and improvements to the transmission network.
"By the end of this transformation, New Providence will be supported by approximately 172 mega watts (MW) of LNG generation, utility-scale solar already under construction, battery energy storage, modern substations, upgraded transmission infrastructure and existing generation working together as one integrated system," sais Mrs Coleby-Davis. "This balanced energy portfolio gives us greater reliability, greater resilience, lower emissions and stronger energy security."
Meanwhile, Christina Alston, BPL’s board chair, confirmed that the pipeline linking the LNG terminal to
“This is 2026. Everybody seems to be passing the buck. We need some resolve to the situation.”
Stephano Wilkinson, the BTCU’s vice-president, said taxi drivers continue to compete directly with livery operators despite operating under different regulatory requirements.
“The 25 years I’ve been driving, 18 years out of that every day we deal with these livery drivers,” he said. “You could set a price for us. You don’t have no price for them. So why would you have them on the same lane as us, frustrating us every day?”
Mr Wilkinson acknowledged that some taxi drivers also violate industry rules, but said the union supports disciplinary action against any members found breaching regulations.
Responding to the protest, Mr Lundy said the Ministry of Transport has already begun implementing changes aimed at reducing conflict between the two transportation sectors.
Among the proposed reforms is the creation of a dedicated transportation desk inside the airport, staffed by NAD personnel, where arriving visitors would receive information on ground transportation services. Under the proposal, livery operators would not have representatives inside the terminal.
the Blue Hills power station also remains on schedule.
"That's still on track," Ms Alston said. "The pipeline is part of the dual-fuel project. We have an owner's engineer who oversees all of the projects and reports weekly on the milestones to ensure everything stays aligned. "You don't want to build a pipeline before the rest of the infrastructure is ready. One of his main responsibilities is making sure all of those milestones line up. The pipeline remains on schedule."
Mrs Coleby-Davis added that the wider electricity transformation remains under way, with transmission upgrades, digital controls and new substations expected to improve reliability while lowering long-term operating costs.
“I already picked out the spot in there where we’re going to put this transportation desk,” Mr Lundy said while speaking with Mr Butler during the demonstration. “The liveries, because of that new proposal, wouldn’t even be on the inside.”
Mr Lundy said discussions with both the taxi and livery unions are continuing, and voiced confidence that the dispute can be resolved through dialogue. “It’s just a lot of misunderstanding,” Mr Lundy said. “I had an open-door policy with both unions, and I’m speaking with them, and we’re resolving the problems.”
He confirmed that the ministry is reviewing proposals submitted by the Bahamas Livery Drivers Union (BLDU), and stressed the importance of avoiding disruptions that could affect the country’s tourism product. “We definitely want to make sure that operations go smoothly, and it doesn’t affect anything, or the tourists leaving or our brand on the whole,” he said. In a statement, NAD said several taxi operators attempted to block the vehicle entrance to the US Departures Terminal and confirmed it worked with the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Road Traffic Department to remove obstructing vehicles. The airport operator said operations within the terminal continued as normal throughout the incident, with staff deployed to assist passengers and minimise disruption.
FRUSTRATION boils over at LPIA as taxi drivers protest what they call unequal enforcement of transportation regulations against livery competitors.
US trademark focus dashes hopes of Florida lawsuit end
but Judge Williams ultimately disagreed.
“According to plaintiffs, CA Christie ‘employs Mr Gibson as a real estate agent to rent and sell properties in The Bahamas’,” she wrote, “and Mr Gibson’s office displays plaintiffs’ marks alongside a sign bearing CA Christie’s logo.
“Plaintiffs aver that Mr Gibson “infringed [their] marks and counterfeited [their] services in furtherance of his job at [CA Christie], and to the benefit of [CA Christie]’. Mr Gibson ‘holds himself out publicly as an agent and employee of [CA Christie]’ and is listed on their website as an estate agent. grounds, Plaintiffs argue that CA Christie ‘is vicariously liable for the tortious and unlawful actions . . . of its agent and/or employee, Mr Gibson’.”
However, Judge Williams found that Mr Conde had failed to supply any evidence to prove his accusations against the high-end Bahamian realtor. “Again, as they did with the Corcoran Group, plaintiffs offer conclusory statements in an attempt to establish
vicarious liability for CA Christie,” she ruled. “Plaintiffs aver that Mr Gibson’s infringement was done ‘in furtherance of his job… using their marks ‘to rent, sell or offer to sell or rent real estate properties in The Bahamas to consumers in the United States and Florida’. Plaintiffs do not, however, explain how Mr Gibson used the marks for those purposes and whether that purported use falls within the scope of Mr Gibson’s duties as CA Christie’s real estate agent.
“Nor do they allege that CA Christie authorised, participated in or even had the ability to control Mr Gibson’s tortious activities. Plaintiffs seem to argue that CA Christie should be vicariously responsible for Mr Gibson’s tortious actions simply because he is its employee or agent and it was, in some unidentified way, unjustly enriched because of his actions.”
And Judge Williams added: “Plaintiffs… submit conclusory statements that allude to agency. They point the court towards CA Christie’s website, which lists Mr Gibson as a ‘real estate agent’. Still, this is not enough to establish vicarious liability…. To establish vicarious liability under
Gov’t debt ‘repos’ goal for 2026 fourth quarter
ROLLOVER - from page B1
end-December plus investors’ aversion to 10 and 20-year bonds.
“Given the concentration of revenue receipts in the second half of the fiscal year, along with investor concentration at the short end of the yield curve, the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance have jointly developed a cash buffer framework to manage in-year gross financing needs,” the Plan reveals.
“This arrangement helps reduce liquidity risks associated with government securities auctions, provides
greater scope to manage borrowing costs and, together with the active use of Treasury Bills, strengthens co-ordination between cash and debt management.”
No other details were provided on “the buffer”, especially what it involves and how it will work. However, financial sources consulted by Tribune Business suggested the likeliest explanation is that the Government will rely heavily on Central Bank advances to plug any revenue gaps, and make up funding shortfalls, during the fiscal year’s first-half and then pay these down during the tax
actual agency, plaintiffs needed to allege that CA Christie had some ability to control Mr Gibson’s conduct and that he was acting within the scope of his employment.
“Putting aside the conclusory statements, the complaint does not offer specific allegations sufficient to establish either the scope of Mr Gibson’s engagement with CA Christie or CA Christie’s ability to control his conduct… Accordingly, because plaintiffs offer conclusory statements and fail to allege facts sufficient to establish vicarious liability, CA Christie is dismissed from this action.”
Mr Conde also suffered a further reversal after the south Florida federal court rejected his appeal of an earlier decision that refused to impose an injunction that would have barred Mr Gibson and the Briland-based business from using the Conch & Coconut brand and trademarks.
He had challenged the December 2025 ruling that found he “failed to adequately maintain control over defendants’ [Mr Gibson’s] use of their trademark, thereby granting them a ‘naked licence’, which extinguished
and fee-rich six months to end-June.
Several sources, though, yesterday challenged how this will work when set against recently-enacted reforms to the Central Bank Act that tightened the conditions surrounding the regulator’s lending to the Government. These cut the lending limits “from 30 percent to 15.5 percent of the average revenue of the Government or the estimated ordinary revenue of the Government, whichever is less”, although Treasury bills and other securities are excluded from this calculation.
The Central Bank’s last two annual reports, for 2024 and 2025, as well as the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Article IV consultation, disclose
plaintiffs’ ability to assert a trademark infringement claim”. However, Judge Williams dismissed this on the basis that Mr Conde and the US business admitted themselves that they did not have sufficient control over the Briland business and its alleged “quality issues”.
The latest south Florida verdict, though, did not go completely Mr Gibson’s way as Judge Williams also rejected his argument that the case be dismissed in favour of arguing the case in The Bahamas. The Bahamian tourism operator had argued that this nation was the better forum for resolving the legal dispute as all witnesses and evidence, plus the physical business and its assets, are located here.
Judge Williams, though, ruled that The Bahamas was not an appropriate alternative jurisdiction given that Mr Conde’s litigation was founded on violations of US trademark law. “While defendants claim the Bahamian courts are well-suited to redress plaintiffs’ injuries because of the overlapping nature of the underlying facts between this litigation and the parallel proceedings in The Bahamas, they do not explain how that remedy would impact the focus of this litigation:
that the Davis administration effectively ‘maxed out’ these short-term advances during the fiscal year’s first half. It increased these from $192.046m at the start of 2024 to $332.811m at yearend, representing a $140m or 72 percent jump.
The Government’s borrowing plan, released in the 2026-2027 Budget’s aftermath to ensure compliance with the Public Debt Management Act’s legal requirements, asserts that the proceeds generated by the year’s forecast $223.1m surplus - the sum earned by revenues exceeding total public spending - will provide a further “buffer” for its cash and financing needs.
Given the surplus projection, the Davis administration is predicting it will not need to undertake any new borrowings that will add to the Government’s $12.466bn direct debt as at end-June 30. Instead, it is forecasting that it will only borrow to refinance $1.024bn in existing debts, while plans to also rollover a “combined $2.372bn” in outstanding Treasury Bills are excluded from these calculations.
While the report signals that the Government should have no difficulty in meeting its 2026-2027 gross financing needs, a slightly deeper look reveals some ongoing challenges with managing The Bahamas’ public finances - especially the continued heavy reliance on shortterm debt, much of which matures and comes due for repayment in one year.
The annual borrowing plans acknowledges the “refinancing risk” this presents should one major institutional investor, such as a commercial bank, decline to rollover and, instead of refinancing by accepting new securities, instead demands its money back. “Rollover pressure from the large pool of Treasury Bill holdings requires ongoing monitoring,” the report concedes.
And, while no update was given on whether the Government met its 2025-2026 fiscal year goals, the annual borrowing plan admits that many target indicators were missed and there is work to be done to hit the Ministry of Finance’s medium-term debt management strategy targets, too. The report also concedes that Bahamian investors have little appetite for, and are shying away from, the Government’s 10 and 20-year bonds - hurting efforts to extend and smooth out its debt maturities.
“Market absorption was broadly supportive across the two-year to seven-year tenors and the 30-year tranche,” the plan said, implying that there is little appetite for the 10 to 20-year variety, which was seemingly a factor behind the development of the Central Bank “cash buffer”.
As for key 2025-2026 indicators, the annual borrowing plan reveals that more than half of the Government’s debt - some 52.6 percentmust be “refixed within one year”. This means that this
Plaintiffs’ rights under US trademark law,” she wrote.
“The Bahamas, therefore, cannot provide plaintiffs an adequate alternate forum for this dispute. Accordingly, the court declines to dismiss this case pursuant to the doctrine of forum non conveniens.” And Judge Williams also declined to remove Letamae DeCosta Johnson as a defendant, although she did dismiss two of the counts Mr Conde had alleged against her.
“Letamae Johnson was hired by Mr Gibson “at [the plaintiff LLC’s] insistence, to provide accounting, management information, and she was given access to [the LLC’s] platforms to facilitate [the] same, including ensuring that the Bahamian VAT taxes, licensing and registrations were properly handled’,” Judge Williams wrote of Mr Conde’s claims.
“Plaintiffs claim that Ms Johnson.. ‘began to edit [the LLC’s] existing bookings[,] cancelling them or lowering the total pricing for the booking[s] to match the deposit amount, in order to close out the booking[s]’.(Id. at 16). Plaintiffs further allege that Ms Johnson ‘or someone using her account[,] downloaded all of [the LLC’s] booking
portion will be subject to a new interest rate, or debt servicing cost, and the percentage is much higher than the 29.4 percent and 37.4 percent, respectively, that were targeted by the Government for both 2025-2026 and over the medium-term.
Similarly, more than one-quarter of the Government’s outstanding debt - some 27.4 percent - is still due to mature, and repay investor principal, within one year. This. too, remains higher than the 23.1 percent medium-term target. The weighted average interest rate on the Government’s total debt, plus average time to maturity and refixing, were all below their medium-term targets at year-end, while fixed rate debt - a 69.4 percent of the total - is still short of the 83.1 percent goal.
“At end-June 2026, the average time to maturity (ATM) stood at six years compared with the 7.4 years annual target and the 6.8 years medium-term target, while the average time to refixing (ATR) was estimated at 4.5 years - less than both the annual and the medium-term targets,” the annual borrowing plan said.
“The percentage of debt maturing within one year, at 27.4 percent of the total, significantly exceeded the annual target, with efforts continued towards lengthening the maturity profile where market conditions permitted. Foreign currency debt accounted for 45.3 percent of the portfolio, marginally above the annual target, while fixed-rate debt represented 69.4 percent of total debt, reflecting ongoing progress toward reducing interest rate exposure over the medium term.”
The Government, again reaffirming its ambition to broaden the base supporting Bahamian public debt issues, unveiled plans to capitalise on the recent savings bond launch by enticing more retail, or individual, investors to purchase government securities. And it pledged that efforts to modernise the secondary market, where investors can buy and sell government debt among themselves, will be introduced in the 2026 fourth quarter through techniques such as bond swaps or switches.
The goals include “finalising a liability management framework encompassing call options, bond switches and buy back operations to enhance secondary market liquidity and provide additional tools for managing refinancing risk as it falls due”.
“Technical and system enhancements to support repo (repurchase) arrangements were recently completed and are undergoing final legal review, with a projected implementation date of the closing quarter of 2026,” the annual borrowing plan said, along with “scaling up promotion of the recently-launched savings bond to broaden participation of retail investors”.
“The Government recognises the importance of
data from fareharbor.com, through the end of 2025’.
“In short, Plaintiffs claim that Ms Johnson facilitated defendants’ misappropriation of their trade secrets and interfered with their bookings. Defendants argue that all of these counts should be dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction. Specifically, defendants argue that Ms Johnson lacks sufficient contacts with Florida because she is a Bahamian national and all of her purported misconduct occurred in The Bahamas. This argument, by itself, is unavailing,” Judge Williams added.
“Here, plaintiffs specifically alleged that Ms Johnson accessed their website and edited their bookings. This allegation is sufficient to establish this court’s jurisdiction because LLC, as a Florida limited liability company with its principal place of business in Florida, allegedly suffered injuries because of Ms Johnson’s conduct… Ultimately, this is sufficient to establish personal jurisdiction over Ms Johnson and, at this early stage, the court will not dismiss her from this litigation.”
broadening the domestic investor base beyond institutional participants, and in fiscal year 2026-2027 concerted efforts will be extended to deepen the pool of retail investors in government paper,” it added.
“This will include a comprehensive and targeted educational campaign to raise public awareness of the range of instruments available, and exploration of digital and community-based distribution channels to expand access.”
Acknowledging that its borrowing plans could change depending on market conditions and other factors, the Government said much of its domestic foreign currency operations involve the annual rollover of the $230m-plus in International Monetary Fund (IMF) special drawing rights (SDRs) extended to it by the Central Bank.
“Approximately 49.8 percent of the $648.4m in scheduled domestic amortisation is in the form of Bahamian dollar denominated bonds. Internal foreign currency obligations, at 40.8 percent, are dominated by the SDR liability to the Central Bank, and local currency loans from financial institutions represent a smaller 9.4 percent of the tota,” the plan forecasts.
“External loan repayments of $375.6m are apportioned across commercial banks (57.1 percent), international financial institutions (28.9 percent) and private capital markets (14 percent).” With the Government seeking to avoid the international bond markets, it is seeking some $100m in new loans - and to draw down on $80.5m in existing loans - from concessional lenders such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
“Drawings will be made in accordance with project agreements and subject to satisfaction of applicable conditions. The largest share, 62.1 percent, relates to a health infrastructure project financed by the Chinese Export Import Bank, with the balance drawn from the IDB (29.8 percent) and the Caribbean Development Bank (8.1 percent) for various other priority projects,” the annual borrowing plan said.
Some $54m is projected to be drawn on the Chinese-financed project, the second New Providence hospital, while the Government “also plans to pursue policy-linked partial credit guarantees to help secure commercial loan facilities of up to $200m”. As for Bahamian dollar raising and refinancings, the annual borrowing plan said: “The Government envisages bond issuance totaling $387.2m comprising the refinancing of $323m in maturing bonds and an additional $64.2m in new offerings.”
Chamber: Prolonged BPL outages inflict major costs
BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net
THE Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation (BCCEC) says prolonged elecricity outages are inflicting significant financial costs and losses on businesses as it renewed calls for improvements to both energy and banking services.
Don Williams, the Chamber’s chairman, said the recent widespread BPL outages affected businesses “throughout the length and breadth of Nassau”, disrupting operations, damaging inventories and preventing many merchants from processing electronic transactions.
“The blackout has significantly affected all businesses throughout
the length and breadth of Nassau, and it’s been a negative impact,” Mr. Williams said. “We have heard the business community, especially the downtown stakeholders, because the lack of power causes issues with equipment as simple as merchant services, as simple as your freezers and your supplies. That inventory is a cost to those businesses.”
While acknowledging that businesses will face financial losses, Mr Williams urged merchants to avoid passing those costs directly on to consumers wherever possible. He argued that reliable electricity supply remains one of The Bahamas’ most urgent priorities as it supports everything from traditional retail operations to online businesses.
“Reliable power is one of the key infrastructures that we need throughout our
Investigators progress probe into fatal Andros plane crash
BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE investigation into Friday's fatal North Andros plane crash has entered its evidence-gathering phase, with investigators examining the aircraft, its maintenance history, flight operations, weather conditions and air traffic services as Flamingo Air's operating certificate remains temporarily suspended.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) said investigators moved quickly after the crash involving the Cessna 402 aircraft, registration C6-FLX, securing and documenting the accident site, preserving evidence and beginning the collection of operational and technical information in accordance with international civil aviation standards.
The Authority said the investigation remains in its preliminary stage and no determination has been made regarding the cause or contributing factors.
"Investigators will continue to gather and analyse factual information relating to all aspects of the occurrence, including the aircraft, flight operations, maintenance, meteorological information, air traffic services and any other relevant evidence," the AAIA said. It added that countries entitled to participate under International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annex 13 have been notified and may appoint accredited representatives to assist the investigation. Kendall Dorsett Jr, the AAIA's chief investigator, has been appointed investigator-in-charge.
The Authority cautioned against speculation, stressing that the purpose of an aircraft accident investigation is to prevent future accidents rather than apportion blame or determine liability.
"The investigation remains in its preliminary stage," the AAIA said. "Any information currently available is preliminary and subject to change as additional evidence is obtained and analysed."
Abaco matches Nassau on SME
fund applications
TEAM - from page B2
“We see this partnership helping entrepreneurs get started by providing advisory services, workshops and business development training that will allow them to sustain their businesses going forward.”
She added that the collaboration could also help diversify Abaco’s economy into new industries. While welcoming recent revisions to boating fees, Ms Sands said the Abaco Chamber continues to monitor concerns within the marine sector and plans to work with the SBDC to develop opportunities tied to the blue economy.
“We’re happy to note that the boating fees have been adjusted,” she said. “Persons still are not quite comfortable with all of the fees that have been amended, but we continue to monitor it and work with government agencies to see how we can improve going forward.”
She said the Abaco Chamber hopes increased awareness and training surrounding the marine, or blue, economy will create new opportunities for Abaco businesses.
Ms Sands also identified several long-standing obstacles facing the island’s business community, including healthcare access, deteriorating port
NOTICE
BT GLOBAL LTD.
Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the Registration Number 200466 B.
(In Voluntary Liquidation)
Notice is hereby given that the liquidation and the winding up of the Company is complete and the Company has been struck off the Register of Companies maintained by the Registrar General.
Dated this 9th day of July A.D. 2026.
FERNAO PAIM BATTISTONI Liquidator
country - not just for lives, but it is what drives a business,” he said. “Whether you are a storefront or whether you are e-commerce, power is essential.”
Mr Williams said the Chamber is in discussions with the Government, and plans to meet with Jobeth Coleby-Davis, minister of energy, utilities and aviation, to discuss measures aimed at reducing the risks posed by future outages.
While he did not provide a timeline for the meeting, he said it would focus on strengthening energy resilience and exploring solutions that could help businesses better withstand future disruptions.
“We know that natural disasters are something that you can’t predict, but how do we now ensure that businesses have reliable power?” Mr Williams said.
“What additional resources, whether it is renewable energy such as solar, can assist businesses in having additional resources just to mitigate against further losses?”
He added that the Chamber will provide an update following the meeting. Beyond electricity, Mr Williams said improving access to banking and payment services, particularly in the Family Islands, remains a major priority as the Chamber continues its broader push to improve the ease of doing business.
He added that many Family Islands are experiencing increased tourism activity and population growth, making access to reliable financial services increasingly important.
“This is a part of ease of doing business,” Mr Williams said. “Whether
it is power, whether it is processing from government agencies, whether it is banking services, we are diligently working so that we can expand the ease of doing business.” Mr Williams said the Chamber will collaborate with financial institutions and private sector partners. Among its priorities, he said, is expanding merchant payment services to more remote Family Islands and cays, while also reducing the cost of those services for small businesses.
The Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Aviation, meanwhile, confirmed that the Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas (CAAB) temporarily suspended Flamingo Air's Air Operator Certificate (AOC) on Friday following what it described as two safety incidents involving the carrier.
The ministry said the suspension is a precautionary safety measure and "should not be treated as an adverse compliance action" against Flamingo Air.
Speaking during Friday’s Office of the Prime Minister media briefing, Jobeth
infrastructure and poor road conditions.
She added that reliable healthcare remains critical for a tourism-dependent economy, while inadequate docks complicate the importation of goods for businesses and residents alike.
“The infrastructure on the docks has been in disarray for many, many years,” she said, adding that deteriorating roads across the island also continue to affect the movement of residents, visitors and commercial goods.
Don Williams, president of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation (BCCEC), said the agreement reinforces the importance of supporting businesses throughout the Family Islands rather than concentrating resources in Nassau.
Coleby-Davis, minister of energy, utilities and aviation, disclosed that aviation officials had earlier been notified of another incident involving a Flamingo Air aircraft before the North Andros crash.
"Early this morning we were notified by the investigators of CAAB that there was a first incident that happened with a Flamingo Air flight," she said.
"Once they landed, they were on their way to Mayaguana. The pilot had some concerns, turned around and landed back in Nassau, and once everyone
“The Bahamas is not Nassau-centric,” Mr Williams said. “We have many opportunities amongst our family of islands, and it is up to us to expand not just the opportunities, but the level of funding, resources and mentorship that can be provided.”
Business owners also welcomed the partnership.
Christine King-Wallen, general manager of The Paint Place, said her company has operated in Abaco since 2002, lost everything during Hurricane Dorian and reopened in 2022 after rebuilding.
“We have been resilient in the economy since the hurricane,” Ms King-Wallen said. “Today is a special occasion for every business in Abaco to see the opportunities this partnership will bring to the local economy.”
NOTICE
WBORTOLUCCI HOLDINGS LTD.
Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the Registration Number 206093 B.
(In Voluntary Liquidation)
Notice is hereby given that the liquidation and the winding up of the Company is complete and the Company has been struck off the Register of Companies maintained by the Registrar General.
Dated this 9th day of July A.D. 2026.
WILSON BORTOLUCCI Liquidator
“We’re going to be working with the banks as well as some other private partners,” Mr Williams said. “We’re going to see how we can provide merchant services to a lot more of the Family Islands, especially those remote islands and cays, as well as decreasing the cost of those merchant services.
“We want to ensure that we keep costs as low as possible so that we can keep the economy rolling and keep prices low and affordable.”
Asked whether it was standard protocol for an airline to be suspended following a fatal accident, Mrs Coleby-Davis replied: "There have been other incidents, and so the CAAB officials would be the ones that act in those circumstances, and that is the protocol that they took today."
Flamingo Air, in a statement, confirmed that one of its aircraft was involved in the North Andros accident and said it is co-operating fully with the relevant authorities as the investigation continues.
was off-boarded from the plane there was a fire involving that aircraft. We did have a response to that incident, but there was no loss of life."
The Ministry of Transport also said the AAIA is leading the investigation in accordance with international civil aviation standards and that no further comment will be made while the probe remains active.
Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the Registration Number 210980 B.
(In Voluntary Liquidation)
Notice is hereby given that the liquidation and the winding up of the Company is complete and the Company has been struck off the Register of Companies maintained by the Registrar General.
Dated this 9th day of July A.D. 2026.
MAURO TIECHER Liquidator
NOTICE A2A LTD.
Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Registration number 210000 B (In Voluntary Liquidation)
Notice is hereby given that the above-named Company is in dissolution, commencing on the 9th day of July A.D. 2026.
Articles of Dissolution have been duly registered by the Registrar. The Liquidator is MR. ANDRE LUIZ ANGONES whose address is Rua Carlos de Carvalho, 3480, APTO 1101, Cascavel, CEP: 85801-130, Paraná, Brazil. Any Persons having a Claim against the abovenamed Company are required on or before the 8th day of August, 2026 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 excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such claim is proved.
Dated this 9th day of July A.D. 2026. ANDRE LUIZ ANGONES LIQUIDATOR
FLAMINGO AIR CRASH SITE
BAHAMAS POWER & LIGHT HEADQUARTERS
‘Melting pot’ of issues serve as backdrop to fatal accident
found a number of safety incidents and accidents involving the Bahamian carrier and its planes, dating back at least a decade, including when a passenger door opened in mid-flight during a trip to Staniel Cay in October 2023.
While that flight returned safely to Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA), a publicly-accessible Internet aviation safety database records four incidents involving Flamingo Air planes between 2019 and 2026. In the most recent, on April 9 this year, a Beechcraft 99 owned by Flamingo Air suffered a left main gear collapsed on landing at LPIA, which was found to have been caused by a malfunction of system component failure.
The same type of plane, all operated by Flamingo Air, was involved in three separate incidents at Exuma’s Black Point airstrip between December 1, 2019, and August 24, 2023. Two of these involved the aircraft overshooting the runway and coming to rest in undergrowth, causing substantial damage but no injuries, following landing gear collapses.
Then, just hours before the fatal San Andros crash, another Flamingo Air plane bound for Mayaguana was forced to turn around and perform an emergency landing at LPIA after one
of the engines caught fire in mid-flight.
But, while Mr Butler focused on systemic issues impacting Bahamian aviation regulation, other contacts were focused on what they branded “a melting pot” of other concerns including what they alleged is “the lack of a safety culture” that appears to be taking root in the domestic industry. They also cited economic challenges, with the Government increasingly “squeezing” the industry for taxes and fees; ageing aircraft; lack of training and maintenance; and “complacency” for worsening these woes.
One operator, speaking on condition of anonymity, contradicted Mr Butler by asserting that they receive “in-depth oversight and follow-up” from both airworthiness and operations inspectors at Civil Aviation.
“You cannot blame oversight,” the contact, speaking on condition of anonymity, said. “That’s not the problem. All a safety management system involves is a piece of software feeding data into a computer.
“That’s not going to change the culture. The real problem is the lack of safety culture that appears to be taking place in domestic aviation in The Bahamas.”
They added that operator training and maintenance budgets in an industry that already has relatively thin profit margins have come under increasing strain in
Opposition MP
recent years from ever-increasing expenses and cost pressures.
“The economics of aviation are very difficult to begin with, and the Government has started squeezing harder and harder lately,” the source said. “Part of it’s safety, part of it’s economics. The lack of a safety culture takes higher weight here. The other part is complacency.
“The Bahamas is blessed. We are flat; we don’t have obstacles at the end of the runway, we don’t have to contend with winter ice and very rarely have challenging runways. We exist in a very workload environment.”
This, the source added, when coupled with the fact that pilots are routinely flying to the same destinations within The Bahamas, can breed over-familiarity and carelessness.
“Complacency is a factor, lack of training is a factor, economics is a factor, safety culture is a factor,” the source said. “With 40 year-old planes, this type of stuff will happen more as the lack of safety culture remains. In domestic aviation, there’s definitely a void when it comes to safety culture. You throw all that stuff into the melting pot….” They added that it is also becoming increasingly difficult to retain qualified pilots and mechanics given the higher salaries offered by markets such as the US. Flight tracking data shows that the plane which
asks: ‘What were regulators watching?’
FALL-OUT - from page B1
“take a deep introspective look” at operations as it braces for tougher scrutiny in the accident’s wake.
He spoke before Dr Andre Rollins, the Long Island MP, in a statement issued last night drew attention to past safety incidents and accidents involving the plane’s owner, Flamingo Air, as he directly questioned the level of oversight provided by the Civil Aviation Authority of The Bahamas (CAAB).
“When did the Authority last inspect this aircraft and operator, and after eight accidents and incidents involving this operator since 2012, what exactly was the Authority watching before Friday?” Dr Rollins charged. He also challenged whether the flight was actually being operated by Flamingo Air, or if it had been leased to a third-party operator; whether there was valid insurance in effect and it covered the passengers; and whose air operator certificate (AOC) the flight was made under.
“Without engaging in any speculation, what we do know is that in the wake of the crash, the Government
suspended Flamingo Air’s AOC,” Dr Rollins said.
“Therefore, concerns about aircraft safety are already presumed to be a part of the question surrounding what led to this aviation accident. The public has a right to know whether the Government will fully and transparently provide the answer….
“We must be honest with ourselves. Because our weather is calm and our flights are short, we have come to believe that flying is without risk. It is not. The most dangerous minutes of any flight are take-off and landing, and a ten-minute hop compresses the two highest risk moments into a very small window of time.
“For too long, gear collapses and close calls have been treated as stories to tell instead of warnings to act on,” Dr Rollins further asserted. “Luck is not a safety system, and a culture like that does not fix itself or protect those who rely on safe air transportation between our islands. It is fixed by a regulator focused on safety, industry engagement and the education and protection of licensees and the travelling public.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I OSLENE DIEUJUSTE-CHERY of Cable Beach, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 13th day of July, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that I, JASON DAVILMAR of Brougham Street, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the
crashed, a Cessna 402C with registration number C6-FLX, was flying multiple times daily between San Andros and LPIA during the week prior to the crash. Its registered owner, according to Civil Aviation data from early 2025, was Warren Meadows - likely a relative of Flamingo Air principal, Raymond Meadows. Flamingo Air subsequently confirmed it owns the plane.
Mr Butler, meanwhile, himself a former Civil Aviation safety inspector and accident investigator, told Tribune Business: “What is happening in The Bahamas is we have a regulatory framework but if you don’t implement, if you don’t work it, more regulations are not going to make us safer. This [accident] would have been a number of wake-up calls. This speaks louder because of the time of year.”
The former Sky Bahamas chief, who now lives in Andros, described Friday’s crash scene - which he personally witnessed - as “horrific”. He also lamented the absence of a proper fire crash rescue capacity at San Andros, adding that rescuers were aided by assistance from the nearby US AUTEC naval research facility and the Mennonites to reach the site which was in “rough terrain”.
Mr Butler also criticised what he said was the absence of a readily-available passenger manifest,
which would have prevented family members “coming to the airport in horror” because they feared relatives were on the doomed flight. He added that he overheard some of the victims’ relatives suggesting that they form a ‘Family of Victims of the Andros Crash’ group to press for answers. The ex-Sky chief, describing regulatory enforcement in the domestic aviation sector as “very weak”, said:
“It has to do with training and qualifications. I think there’s a good leader, good group of people there, but there are also too many political appointees and the industry doesn’t respond to them. We need qualified people, but qualified people who demand the respect of the industry because the industry sees them as experienced, qualified people.
“Keep the politics out and you cannot put people in place just because the seats are empty… The operating environment is conducive to these kinds of things happening with all these homecomings and regattas. I would say this [accident] was 100 percent preventable because of the system. It’s the system. It’s like the thing that broke the camel’s back. It’s like a logic gate; if you go left, you have this, go right; you have this.”
Mr Butler questioned whether any checks were regularly conducted on plane weights, both passenger and baggage, prior to
take-offs to prevent aircraft from being overloaded. More stringent scrutiny must also be applied to pilot licences, he argued, to ensure they are qualified to undertake commercial and charter flights, while politicians also need to stop using illegal charters especially at election time.
“Whose flying these party politicians and leaders of the community?” Mr Butler asked. “We have to take it seriously. During the election period, they cannot use illegal charters. The biggest carriers, when there are not enough flights or seats, go and send people to illegal charter operators.
“We have to have a civil aviation structure of qualified people - a system of certification, a system of inspection, a system of dealing with disciplinary issues. This is the moment to set the system up and make it work. You inspect to make sure everyone’s keeping the standards - illegal operators can’t. We have non-certified pilots flying commercial flights, which is no surprise because everyone knows what’s going on.
“People will feel better understanding there’s a safe regime, regulations are in place and being enforced, and people will not take chances. We’ll be looking at a different era.”
“Aviation is the lifeline of our islands. We must restore the pride, diligence and immense level of responsibility required to safely transport our people and our tourists throughout our archipelago. Our aviation industry must operate on one fundamental premise: That a Bahamian licensed aircraft is a safe aircraft.”
Meanwhile, Captain Randy Butler, the former Sky Bahamas principal, told this newspaper it is possible that the Independence Day crash will undermine Bahamian public and traveller confidence in the domestic aviation industry. However, both he and Mr Hamilton agreed that, given The Bahamas’ geography as an archipelago, there is little choice but to fly for quick and efficient travel. And both pointed out that there remain many compliant, safe operators.
“Unfortunately it may, because of how many accidents and the couple of fatal accidents we have had in the past couple of years,” Mr Butler replied, when
asked if traveller confidence has been shaken. But, while acknowledging that all Bahamian carriers may now be viewed in the same light, he added: “The system is in place, the regulations are in place, and there are other aviation operators doing safe flights every day - tens of hundreds of them.
“Yes, it may have an impact. It’s throwing a blanket, but there are other people. Maybe there should be things done by Civil Aviation to show they are doing their job; that there are systems in place and there are enforcement programmes.”
Mr Hamilton, also administrative director at Southern Air charter, told Tribune Business that Friday’s tragedy will hit the entire Bahamian aviation industry hard. Besides the timing, coinciding with a national holiday and 53rd independence anniversary, he added that the small, close-knit sector is “like a family” and has the approach that a passenger’s death has the same impact as losing a close family member or relative.
“It’s absolutely a wake-up call when an incident occurs, and this one is going to remain with us for a while,” he said. “It happened on Independence
Day so it will stand out as a constant memory for not only the families impacted directly but the nation at large has to pay attention to this.
“I repeatedly point out that, in the industry, safety comes first. We won’t know anything until the investigation is completed into this matter, but it’s a concerning situation for the industry, the public, the authorities and the operators at large. It’s something we need to keep before us to deal with this.”
Mr Hamilton, reiterating that safety is the priority in all decisions made relating to the Bahamian aviation sector, added: “Our hearts go out to the families who have been impacted, particularly when you think about the national celebrations and occasion. This one is going to stay with us for a while yet.
“The domestic operators are a family. We’re hearing a lot, and it will take a toll on them all. It will take a toll, given the environment we are in and how important Bahamian aviation is to the future development of the country with it being an archipelago of islands. This will take a toll for the industry at large, and will not be taking it lightly. The
Meta appeals landmark jury verdict that found it to blame for social media addiction for young users
By KAITLYN HUAMANI AP Technology Writer
META, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, has appealed the verdict of a landmark social media addiction lawsuit in Los Angeles, challenging the jury’s determination that the company designed its platforms to hook young users without concern for their well-being. Lawyers representing Meta filed a notice of appeal Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The lawyers will provide their arguments
related to the appeal in subsequent court filings.
The case centered on a 20-year-old woman who said she became addicted to social media as a child and that it worsened her mental health struggles. The jury found that negligence by both Meta and Google-owned YouTube, which was also a defendant in the case, was a substantial factor in causing harm to the young woman, identified in court only by her initials, KGM, and her first name, Kaley.
The jury awarded her $3 million in damages and recommended an additional $3
NOTICE
Cay, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 6th day of July, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
million in punitive damages. Her lead attorney, Mark Lanier, said in a statement Friday that the legal team is expecting the appellate court to “continue the careful application of the law to this case, affirming the verdict of the trial court.”
A notice of appeal starts what can be a lengthy process. A Meta spokesperson provided a statement Friday that they also gave when the jury returned the verdict in March, saying that teen mental health is “profoundly complex and cannot be linked to a single app.”
operators will be taking a deep introspective look.” Forecasting that regulators will now subject the industry to greater oversight scrutiny, Mr Hamilton said: “We all have to work together. It’s all of us that are in it, and we are all impacted in it. When we have these experiences, it impacts all of us. It is a serious toll. The lives of passengers are like the lives of family members. The industry has a responsibility to the community to operate at a very high standard.” He voiced confidence that Franklyn Cambridge, the pilot of the doomed flight, would have done everything possible to avert catastrophe and “drawn on every bit of his training and experience to have a different outcome”.
Mr Hamilton said The Bahamas also has to consider the impact on tourism given that the domestic aviation industry is responsible for moving visitors around this nation and providing critical access to the Family Islands.
However, he added that The Bahamas has “some of the better pilots in the world”, saying he knew of several who had begun their careers as porters and worked their way up to
José Castañeda, a spokesperson for Google, said in a statement Friday that YouTube plans to appeal and that “these are standard motions for this case to move forward.” Meta and Google had each filed post-trial motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict — a routinely filed motion by defense lawyers asking a judge to toss out the jury’s verdict — and for a new trial. The trial judge, Carolyn B. Kuhl, denied those motions in early June. Tech companies like Meta and YouTube are shielded from legal responsibility for content posted by third parties, based on Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I JUDITHE JOSEPH of Allen Drive, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 13th day of July, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
Global oil demand is dropping, but US drivers keep buying more gas
By CATHY BUSSEWITZ Associated Press
GLOBAL oil demand is set to decline this year for the first time since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, according to a report from the International Energy Agency.
The drop, which the agency expects to amount to about 1 million barrels per day in 2026, is due to higher oil prices and disruptions to physical supply that weighed heavily, but unevenly, on various parts of the world, the report said.
The supply disruptions were caused by the war between the U.S. and Iran, which left ships loaded with crude oil stranded in the Persian Gulf for more than three months, unable to safely travel through the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for oil and gas shipments.
“The future of Hormuz is probably more uncertain today than it was at the beginning of the war,” said Jim Burkhard, vice president and head of crude oil research at S&P Global Energy.
Burkhard said Iran is still trying to control the strait, while the U.S. has not been able to fully restore normal
operations, making a return to prewar conditions unlikely.
Global oil demand averaged just 97.9 million barrels per day in May, down 5.3 million barrels per day from a year earlier. Much of the decline was in Asia, which relies heavily on oil from the Middle East.
China’s decrease of 1.5 million barrels per day, representing a 9% decline, was by far the largest globally, the report said.
But the main exception to the global slump in oil usage was in the U.S., where gasoline use increased in the second quarter of 2026, despite the fact that pump prices were about 50% above their prewar levels in May, the report said.
How China’s actions are keeping oil prices from spiking higher China decided to massively cut down on purchasing oil from the global market as the price rose during the spring, reducing its consumption by almost 6 million barrels per day, Burkhard said.
“What China said is, ‘You know what, prices are high, there’s a crisis. We have this huge inventory stock, we can sustain demand. We’re
US stocks rise as Wall Street shows it’s still hungry for AI winners
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer
U.S. stocks ticked higher Friday after Wall Street showed its appetite is still big for winners of the artificial-intelligence boom.
The S&P 500 rose 0.4% to close out its fourth winning week in the last five.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 149 points, or 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.3%.
SK Hynix, a giant South Korean maker of memory chips, shone in the debut of its stock trading on the Nasdaq. After raising roughly $26.5 billion by selling American depositary shares at a price of $149 each, it jumped immediately after trading began in the midday hours and finished with a gain of 13.1%.
SK Hynix’s stock in Seoul has already surged 634% over the last year thanks to euphoria around AI. The boom has created real profits due to surging demand for computer memory. But it’s also raised worries that AI stock prices have shot have too high and that all the world’s spending on chips and data centers won’t be able to produce enough productivity and profit growth to make it worth it.
That’s led to sharp recent swings for AI stocks, which have grown into some of Wall Street’s most influential because of their huge sizes.
Nvidia was the strongest single force lifting the S&P 500 Friday after rising 4%. Beyond the uncertainty about AI, the focus on Wall Street is shifting to the upcoming reporting season for companies’ profits during the spring.
Delta Air Lines said it was able to absorb higher fuel prices from April through June because of strong demand from customers to fly, including a wide range of corporate travelers. That helped it report profit and revenue for the spring that topped analysts’ expectations, and it gave a forecasted range for upcoming profit in the summer whose midpoint was above analysts’ expectations.
Delta’s stock fell 1.8%, though, after coming into the day with a strong 28.2% rise for the year so far.
Companies across industries will need to produce big growth in profits to justify the big moves for their stock prices, which are broadly near records. Next week will feature earnings reports from many of the biggest U.S. banks, including Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo on Tuesday alone. Elsewhere on Wall Street, Circle Internet Group rose 5%. The company behind the USDC cryptocurrency, which is supposed to keep the value of $1, said it won U.S. regulatory approval to establish a bank. It will operate under the name Circle National Trust, and CEO Jeremy Allaire said the move “marks a defining step in bringing blockchain technology and digital assets into the core of the U.S. financial system.”
WD-40’s stock jumped 10.6% after reporting much stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected.
All told, the S&P 500 rose 31.75 points to 7,575.39.
COMMERCIAL vessels are seen in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
just going to cut by 50% the amount of crude oil we buy,’” Burkhard said.
One way China cut back its consumption was to temporarily stop filling up its strategic petroleum reserve, which it had been adding to at a rate of nearly 1 million barrels per day, said Daniel Sternoff, senior fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University.
The crisis also accelerated China’s saving of road transportation fuels as its
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 149.60 to 52,367.01, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 74.72 to 26,281.61.
In the oil market, prices continued to pare jumps from earlier in the week on worries about how the war with Iran will affect the global flow of crude.
The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, dipped 0.4% to $76.01.
use of electric vehicles grew, he said. “What we’re tracking so far, at least since the crisis began, is China is probably on track to see somewhere between 500,000 and 600,000 barrels per day worth of demand losses for gasoline and diesel. So that’s pretty significant,” Sternoff said. Why oil prices aren’t higher after renewed tension between the U.S. and Iran
A fragile ceasefire enabled some ships to exit
That’s above its $72 price from the start of the week, but it’s still well below its wartime peak of nearly $120. The worry is that continued fighting could block oil tankers from the Strait of Hormuz and prevent the delivery of crude from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide.
President Donald Trump said on his social-media platform that he agreed to continue talks with Iran but
through the Strait of Hormuz in June, which allowed more oil on the market. That led to lower oil prices. But even after tensions escalated between the U.S. and Iran earlier this month, prices didn’t spike.
“This gray zone conflict that the U.S. and Iran are in, it’s not really a shock to the oil market,” Burkhard said. “It can push prices up and down a few dollars like it did the other day, but it’s not the same shock that it was in early March when Iran did what many thought was unthinkable.”
Another reason oil prices didn’t spike very high after recent military strikes is that there were fewer buyers available to scoop up the supply that had become available, experts said.
On top of China dramatically reducing consumption, several refineries in Russia were unable to process crude after being damaged in drone hits from Ukraine, and refineries in the Middle East remained damaged from the war, Burkhard said. As a result, prices for gasoline, diesel and other refined products have stayed inflated longer than oil prices, he said.
also that the United States told Iran “that the Cease Fire is OVER!” In the bond market, Treasury yields ticked higher. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.56% from 4.54% late Thursday. High yields have weighed on financial markets worldwide. Yields have climbed on worries about expensive oil and high inflation, which could push the Federal
“There’s this gush of supply of crude oil being made available to the market, and there’s simply less demand for that crude oil,” Burkhard said.
In the US, high gas prices didn’t keep drivers home
Gasoline prices surpassed $4.50 on average for a gallon of regular in the U.S. in May, rising more than 50% since the start of the war, according to AAA data. But that didn’t stop drivers from hitting the road; in fact, gasoline consumption rose in the U.S. during the second quarter of the year.
One reason may be because the percentage of household income spent on gasoline in the U.S. has been declining for years, Sternoff said. Plus, many people have been transitioning from remote work to in-office jobs, he added.
“Even though it’s a really political price that people pay a lot of attention to, if you are in the higher quintiles of income in the U.S., you might grumble about it, but you’re not really driving less just because of that increase in prices,” Sternoff said.
Reserve and other central banks to raise interest rates.
Higher rates can keep a lid on inflation, but they also slow the economy and hurt prices for all kinds of investments. In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed. South Korea’s Kospi jumped 2.5%, and Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.2% for two of the world’s bigger moves, but stocks fell 1% in Shanghai.
