By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A BAHAMIAN bank yesterday pledged it will not be deterred from pursuing $20m “unlawfully withheld” by a payments provider despite a Florida court rejecting its bid to freeze these assets.
Deltec Bank & Trust, in a statement responding to Tribune Business inquiries, asserted it “will move forward as planned” with its $35m damages claim
• South Florida court rejects injunction bid
• Bank undeterred: $35m claim ‘goes ahead’
• But interest challenged over Britannia sale
against Ibanera and Michael Carbonara, the latter’s principal, even though the south Florida federal court last week found it had failed to produce sufficient evidence to justify imposing an injunction and temporary restraining order over the disputed assets.
Ellen D’Angelo, a US magistrate judge, in a July 9, 2025, verdict ruled that Deltec “has not demonstrated a substantial likelihood of success on the merits” of its claim against Ibanera, nor shown that it faces “a substantial
threat of irreparable injury” if the $20m said to belong to the bank and its clients is not frozen. As a result, she found it had not met “the burden of persuasion” required for an injunction.
The judge also accepted Ibanera and Carbonara’s evidence that they “have neither stolen nor used the funds for their own purposes”. She appeared to be reassured by the Ibanera chief’s witness testimony that the $20m has been placed “into crypto
currency for safekeeping” until the dispute is resolved. And, in opposing Deltec’s bid for an asset freeze, Ibanera also argued that it had no standing to seek injunctive relief because it had earlier this year closed the sale of its private client banking and fiduciary business to fellow Bahamian institution, Britannia Bank & Trust. As a result, the payments provider challenged whether Deltec has any interest in the $20m - either for its own interest, or that of its clients. Deltec, in its statement to Tribune Business, pledged to continue battling Ibanera and its principal in the south Florida court despite the asset freeze reversal. Pointing out that the judge did not determine the merits of its case, the Bahamian bank and trust provider asserted that the payments provider “must account” for why it continues to hold funds it has no right to.
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor
A CABINET minister yesterday revealed US government-backed institutions showed “no appetite” to finance the new $267m hospital while the UK offer emerged when the China deal was “95 percent done”.
• US was first and showed ‘no appetite’
• UK emerged when deal is ‘95% done’ • Funding ‘in best interest of Bahamians’
Dr Michael Darville, minister of health and wellness, told Tribune Business he “did everything the right way” and “in the best interests of the Bahamian people in terms of interest rate and time to get it done” in securing financing for New Providence’s second hospital - a project the Government views as critical to better serving the public’s healthcare needs.
East Bay St. hotel opponents voicing ‘done deal’ suspicions
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
satellite
By NEIL HARTNELL
CABLE Bahamas yesterday renewed its call for a competitive “level playing field” with satellite communications providers that is “fair, sustainable and balanced” for both consumers and the economy. The BISX-listed communications provider, in a statement responding to Tribune Business’s report on the company’s own warning that it may “be forced to exit the market and/or file for bankruptcy” if regulators fail to ensure it can compete on equal terms with Elon Musk’s Starlink and others, said the decision to launch a second round of consultation on satellite regulation shows its concerns are “valid”. The group, which also includes the Aliv mobile
Speaking after the UK High Commission revealed that an alternative offer to finance the new hospital, involving UK Export Finance, the British government’s trade credits guarantee arm, was made to the Davis administration earlier this year, he revealed that accepting it would have sent a project at least two-and-a-half years in the making “back to the drawing board”.
Dr Darville, telling this newspaper that it was almost impossible to accept the UK offer because the
THE Deputy Prime Minister yesterday said the Government is “courting investors” for proposed hotel sites in downtown Nassau and Cable Beach as it strives to revive Bay Street nightlife.
Chester Cooper, also minister of tourism, investments and aviation, told reporters at the CANTO communications conference that the Davis administration is working to “bring back the spirit of downtown nightlife” through new hotels, residences and overnight cruise ship stops.
While declining to release specifics about the two new hotel projects he alluded to in his 2025-2026 Budget contribution, Mr Cooper said the Government has identified sites downtown and one on Cable Beach for new developments. He said the Government recognises that “a lot is riding on our shoulders” but is committed to building a tourism product that is sustainable.
“I won’t speak to the specifics, except I will say that LPIA (Lynden Pindling International Airport) has issued an RFP (request for proposal) for a new hotel at LPIA; we’re positive about that,” Mr Cooper said. “We’ve identified a few sites in downtown and one in Cable Beach where we are courting investors.
financing negotiations with China were so far advanced, also reiterated that the Government had first approached the US Export-Import Bank, the American government institution that underwrites trade and export funding, for the hospital monies but it, too, showed little interest in aiding the project.
“We’re on a massive push to do some spectacular things downtown for the downtown revitalisation. We are encouraging cruise ships to stay longer, and eventually overnight, to bring back that spirit of downtown nightlife, and encouraging residences and hotels downtown.
“I think as a combination of all of these things, we are seeking to build a product and an economy that’s sustainable, that will last and stand the test of time. And it’s not just one thing or two things that we can do, but all of these things have to work together collectively to ensure the strength and sustainability, ultimately the diversity of our offering,” Mr Cooper added.
“And no amount of noise in the market about what we we’re doing is going to distract us. We recognise that a lot is riding on our shoulders, and team tourism is committed to the task.” Mr Cooper said although air arrivals are “down slightly” from last
OPPONENTS of a proposed East Bay Street condo hotel and marina yesterday voiced suspicions it was “a done deal” after the project received its conditional go-ahead despite their protests. Neighbours of the Grantanna Holdings development, which is to be located at a site two properties west of the Nassau Yacht Club, told Tribune Business the project is akin to “putting ten pounds of potatoes in a five-pound bag” with the land simply too small to contain all the proposed amenities. And, given that the project is set to feature 12-unit condo hotel plus 42-slip marina, along with a clubhouse and 100-seat restaurant, they voiced concerns over a likely significant increase in traffic and parking congestion despite the developer’s plans including an on-site parking garage.
The Town Planning Committee decided to give the go-ahead for the Grantanna Holdings project just five days after the June 26, 2025, public consultation when it met on July 1. However, it has attached a number of conditions to the preliminary site plan approval that must be fulfilled by the developer, whose principal is Lorne Basden, president and director of Basden Elevator Services. These include a plan, and visuals, of screens it is supposed to erect on its eastern and western boundaries to shield the privacy of the developer’s residential neighbours. The developer must also provide copies of all relevant approvals for land reclamation; a copy of its seabed lease; and obtain a certificate of environmental clearance (CEC) from the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) before beginning construction work at the site.
CHESTER COOPER
DR MICHAEL DARVILLE
Maritime safety boost call following Exuma accident
A GROUP of Exuma resorts and businesses is urging the Government to enhance maritime safety enforcement to protect swimmers and divers from speeding boats and jet skis in Bahamian waters.
“We cannot stand by and allow reckless boaters, many of whom don’t know how to read the waters of The Bahamas - and particularly the shallow banks of the Exumas - to carry on as if they were on the I-95 speedway,” said members of the SEA (Save Exuma Alliance).
The group, which was originally formed over concerns surrounding the $200m Rosewood Exuma project by the Miami-based Yntegra Group, sounded the alert that “more lives will be endangered if we don’t act swiftly and with resolve” following an incident earlier this month when a man snorkelling 20 feet from shore was run over by a 20-foot Boston Whaler.
The two men on the speeding boat did not stop. Police have one suspect in custody and have since seized the vessel they believe was involved in the accident. “While news coverage focused largely on the lack of an ambulance and emergency services in the rescue, the focus now should turn to what caused this in the first place and the answer to that is clear – reckless boat handling,” said SEA.
“That is the issue we have to deal with before another incident like this occurs.”
The man who was injured was taken by truck to a local clinic and later flown by air ambulance to a hospital in the US where he is recovering from life-changing, but non life-threatening, injuries. His recovery period is expected to take months.
“Volunteers rushed to help him, and he survived, but suppose there had been no one nearby to get him out of the water. The end of that story could have been very different,” the SEA statement continued.
“It is time to take the issue of boat safety far more seriously. The Government is spending $250m on security measures, including a new prison. It is time to beef up security on the waters – the very thing that attracts millions of visitors to these islands. Reckless, careless boaters tearing through the waters are a greater danger than sharks and we have strong laws to protect the sharks, but not the people.”
According to the SEA, the rapid tour business expansion sparked by the discovery of swimming pigs has led to "literally dozens of boats" racing through the Exuma cays, ignoring 'No Wake' signs and speeding through areas where swimmers are.
“They visit the sandbars, Thunderball Grotto, the Swimming Pigs at Big Majors, and often have their lunch at Blackpoint or Staniel Cay,” SEA said. “But while there have been economic benefits, there are too many cases of captains operating at fast speeds very close to shorelines and right through anchorages.
"It is not unusual to hear yacht captains screaming on VHF channel 16 about a tour boat throwing a huge wake in the anchorage. These boats can run over 40 feet in length, powered by three or four outboard engines and carrying over 30 passengers.
"They’ve been seen flying through the small cuts at Fowl Cay Resort and Little Sampson Cay, even though both places have 'No Wake' signs clearly posted on the
shore and floating in the water.” The July 1 incident, which drew international attention on CBS in the US, was not the first time visitors or locals had been impacted.
In March 2024, a husband and wife from the US were run over by a larger boat when they were in their dinghy near Staniel Cay in the central Exuma chain. The wife died and her husband nearly lost his life, and was in intensive care for an extended period of time. In January 2023, eight people were injured when the boat they were on crashed into a rock off Pelican Point, also near Staniel Cay.
“When are we going to take this seriously?” the SEA statement asked. “We insist that every driver of a vehicle on the road take lessons and pass a very challenging test before they are licensed to drive.
We demand that they be insured. Yet we allow people to hop in a boat and do whatever they want.
"This must stop, and it can if we require that everyone pass a basic rule of the road test for boating and deputise a volunteer patrol force to monitor the waters. We suggest posting signs of 'no wake' or the speed allowed, advise boaters to remain 200 feet from shore unless travelling at under five knots and other reasonable practices. It is simple. Let us act now before it is too late.”
The grassroots coalition SEA includes Embrace Resort, Bahama Boyzz Adventurezz, Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club, Staniel Cay Yacht Club, Flying Pig Café, Hattie Cay, Over Yonder Cay, Little Major’s Spot, Wild Tamarind Cay, Staniel Cay Adventures and Makers Air.
DIGITAL CARIBBEAN MEANS ENDING CONNECTIVITY GAPS
THE Caribbean’s political and communications leaders have called for the closing of connectivity gaps, policy reforms and improved collaboration for the region to fulfill its digital potential.
The cry came at the 40th annual conference for CANTO, the non-profit regional communications body, which is presently being held in Nassau and has brought together more than 700 delegates from 52 countries, including Prime Minister Phillip Davis KC. Dickon Mitchell, prime minister of Grenada, ten regional ministers with responsibility for communications, and others are also attending.
“CANTO was not formed to watch the evolution of Caribbean telecommunications. We were born to lead it,” said Dr Delreo Newman, chairman of CANTO. “From analog to AI (artificial intelligence), we have powered healthcare, commerce and education across the region. But our work remains unfinished.”
Dr Newman said 15m Caribbean citizens still lack mobile broadband, and four million households remain without fibre even as regional data demand is projected to grow five-fold by 2030. He added that four major global content platforms collectively generated more than $11.5bn in revenue from Caribbean users in 2024, yet their direct contribution to regional network investment remains limited.
Emphasising that this imbalance must be addressed, and reiterating CANTO’s view that digital infrastructure should be a shared responsibility among all who benefit from it, Dr Newman affirmed that CANTO will continue working with CARICOM’s private sector partners and regulators to advance a balanced digital policy.
CANTO’s opening ceremony also featured remarks from Brendan Carr, chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), marking the agency’s first official presence at the conference since 2018.
“We are committed to working with our Caribbean partners to strengthen ties between our networks, our economies and our people,” Mr Carr said. He added that telecommunications is at an inflection point due to AI, low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband and spectrum reform.
The FCC chair also pointed to how US investment in 5G (fifth
generation) and policy agility helped drive down broadband prices and expand service reach, and he called for shared priorities - network security, spectrum harmonisation and infrastructure expansion.
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), said connectivity is not just about speed but also opportunity and resilience. “Connectivity is economic empowerment. It is societal resilience. It is saving lives,” she said. “As the digital tide rises, let us make sure it lifts every island, every community and every life.”
Ms Bogdan-Martin highlighted ITU support in the Caribbean, including school connectivity via Giga, digital ID systems, mobile financial services security and emergency telecoms preparedness. And Teresa Wankin, secretary-general of CANTO, urged delegates to treat the conference as both a forum and a catalyst.
“When you commit to CANTO, whether by attending, exhibiting or sponsoring, you are not just showing up,” she said. “You are joining a movement that is shaping the future of our region.” She highlighted an agenda featuring AI-powered networks, federated cloud infrastructure and fintech (financial technology) convergence. She honoured The Bahamas as a founding CANTO member and most frequent host.
Mr Davis added: “Digital transformation must be about more than systems and speed. It must improve lives, create opportunity and expand access to justice, education and entrepreneurship.” He emphasised that technology must serve local priorities, not simply mirror global trends.
“What we build must be resilient, yes. But it must also be inclusive. A truly digital society leaves no one behind - not the child in the Family Islands, not the
elderly, not the small business owner without formal banking access,” Mr Davis said. He added that his government has introduced initiatives such as Family Island Wi-Fi zones, digitised public services and youth ICT training under MyGateway and TechEdge. The Prime Minister also stressed technological sovereignty. “The tools may be global, but the solutions must be national. We must use this digital tide to lift our people, all our people, and ensure that our data, our systems and our future remain in Caribbean hands.” Mr Davis called on CARICOM nations to unify around data protection, cyber resilience and regulatory co-ordination.
“This is not just about access to technology. It is about access to dignity, to opportunity and to global competitiveness,” he said. “In the Caribbean, we do not wait to be shaped by technology. We shape it to reflect who we are, and who we aspire to be.”
Inge Smidts, chief executive of Liberty Caribbean, added: “Our long-standing partnership with CANTO reflects our shared belief in the power of collaboration to move the region forward. This is our moment to shape a digital Caribbean that reflects our values, meets our needs, and embraces our full potential. The work we do here will echo far beyond these halls.
“This year’s theme strikes at the very heart of what we do at Liberty Caribbean. As one of the region’s leading enablers of digital connectivity, we are deeply invested in building the networks, systems and partnerships that will deliver a gigabit-ready Caribbean - one that is fast, fair and future-ready.”
Dr Newman added: “Let us choose unity over fragmentation. Let us build a Gigabit Society that empowers every citizen, every country and every entrepreneur. This is our moment. This is our mission.”
DISTINGUISHED leaders at the Opening Ceremony of CANTO’s 40th Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition held at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in The Bahamas.
DIGNITARIES take part in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of CANTO’s 40th Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition.
DELEGATES from across 52 countries attend the Opening Ceremony, marking CANTO’s 40th Anniversary milestone in Nassau, The Bahamas.
REVIVING WELLFIELDS SAVES WATER CORP SOME $1.3M
By FAY SIMMONS
THE Water and Sewerage Corporation’s (WSC) top executive yesterday said investment in New Providence’s fresh water wellfields has saved $1.3mand increased output by 50 percent - in just one year.
Robert Deal, the stateowned water supplier’s general manager, speaking at a celebration to mark WSC’s 49 anniversary, said it is investing in improving reliability and efficiency through a series of initiatives such as the Windsor Wellfields project and the Revenue Enhancement Unit that have already yielded results.
“Our Windsor Wellfields project here in New Providence is proving what strategic investment can do. In one year, we have
increased output by nearly 50 percent and saved over $1.3m by reducing reliance on costly desalinated water purchases. That’s real savings, better value for the Bahamian people, and a much more environmentally sustainable solution,” said Mr Deal.
“In 2024 we created a Revenue Enhancement Unit, and it is already paying off. We have achieved various gains via new Water and Sewerage service agreements, addressing legacy revenue leakage failures, closing sewage billing loopholes with several large clients, and an increased increased focus on collections”
Mr Deal said nonrevenue water (NRW), representing water lost from WSC’s system before it reaches bill-paying customers, is now at its lowest level in New Providence since the COVID pandemic following an extensive leak
detection programme that will be extended to the Family Islands with a $50m loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
“Our New Providence non-revenue water, or NRW levels, are now at their lowest post the challenging COVID-19 period and, most importantly, from an operational efficiency perspective, our water sales to our New Providence customers are now over 3.3m imperial gallons more per day, or up 67 percent compared to the commencement of our NRW programmre in 2012 while, at the same time, we are now producing less water,” said Mr Deal.
“This means that leaks are down, efficiency is up and we are moving closer to financial and operational sustainability targets. We have also prioritised Family Island NRW with plans now underway to launch a
dedicated programme supported by our recent $50m loan with the Inter-American Development Bank.
“That commences this month with a Family Island NRW consultancy study to better define our Family Island NRW challenge and priorities, and to assist with the preparation of the required project tender documents.”
As for the Water & Sewerage Corporation’s transition to smart meters and monthly billings, Mr Deal said more than 6,000 smart meters have been installed and funding from the IDB loan will help hire local contractors to assist with the roll-out.
“Over 6,000-plus smart meters have already been installed, and this will intensify in the coming months as we are utilising funding from the $50m IDB loan to execute contracts with small Bahamian contractors to assist us in achieving our
nationwide target of replacing over 60,000 meters by the end of 2026,” said Mr Deal.
“This isn’t just about modernising. It is about delivering service excellence, reducing complaints and resolving issues faster. Combined with our monthly billing transition, smart meters will help reduce high and unexpected bills.”
Mr Deal said negotations with Aqua Design to acquire seven Family Island desalination plants are “nearing conclusion” and an announcement will be made once the asset purchase and sales agreement are executed.
“Cabinet has recently approved the creation of WSCDesalCo, a proposed special purpose vehicle that will eventually own, operate and maintain all WSC supply to salination plants. This move supports greater cost
PM warns on threat of ‘digital colonisation’
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip Davis KC warned regional partners about the dangers of “digital colonisation” as he opened the 40th CANTO communications conference.
He argued that with developing nations growing increasingly dependent on digital platforms, many of them not originating from themselves, the Caribbean must work to secure its digital future with “urgency, seriousness and moral clarity”.
“Digital colonisation is not just about who owns the infrastructure. It is about who decides what is true. Who has access to power. Who profits from
our participation. And who shapes the rules of this century’s economy. If we do not secure our digital future, someone else will define it for us,” said Mr Davis.
“So, the question before us is not whether the world is changing. It is whether we are willing to change with it - and whether we are prepared to do so with the urgency, seriousness and moral clarity this moment demands.”
Mr Davis called for the Caribbean to maintain digital sovereignty by investing in data storage infrastructure, regulating foreign digital actors, building platforms and working together to establish a regional framework.
“Just as we reclaimed our political independence in the last century, we must now assert our digital
independence in this one. This means investing in regional infrastructure so our data is stored under our laws,” said Mr Davis.
“It means regulating foreign digital actors; not to push them out, but to ensure they respect our people, our laws and our values. It means building our own platform so that we are not always the last to know, the last to benefit, the last to matter.
“And it means uniting as a region - not to complain, but to co-ordinate.
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To create a common framework for digital sovereignty that gives the Caribbean a collective voice strong enough to demand respect in the global digital order. Friends, this is not a matter of pride. It is a matter of protection. Because if we do not defend our digital space now, we will soon find it too compromised to recover.”
Mr Davis said the cost of inaction is “visible, measurable and already being borne by the most
vulnerable in our societies”, and the Caribbean must work together to ensure it can withstand current and future threats. “We must also be clear: This is not simply about platforms or data storage; it is about security, sovereignty and stability. Cyber crime is not a future threat. It is a present one. Misinformation, data exploitation and digital surveillance are eroding trust and weakening democratic institutions,” said Mr Davis.
control, greater opportunities for Bahamians and a marked improvement in our national water supply security,” said Mr Deal.
“We are nearing the conclusion of negotiations with Aqua Design Bahamas for the acquisition of their seven desalination plants, and a formal announcement will be made by the Government following the execution of the asset purchase and sales agreement.” Leon Lundy, minister of state with responsibility for the Water & Sewerage Corporation, told Tribune Business that WSCDesalCo will be structured as a private-public partnership (PPP), jointly owned by the Government and private Bahamian investors, who will be given an opportunity to buy into the holding company through a “share offering”.
“Our electoral systems are vulnerable. Our public databases are exposed. Our citizens are being targeted - not with bombs or bullets— - but with falsehoods, with manipulation, with breaches of privacy that go unseen but cut deep.
“This is the nature of modern conflict—quiet, digital and relentless. And if we do not build the legal, institutional and technical frameworks to confront these threats now, then we will lose control of the very systems we depend on to function as sovereign nations.”
Judge rules Deltec failed to give adequate evidence
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“Deltec placed its trust in Ibanera to act as a correspondent bank and transmit funds according to clear instructions. Instead, Ibanera has withheld over $20m entrusted to it - an amount it refuses to return. These facts are not in dispute,” Deltec told this newspaper.
“Last week’s court ruling found simply that it is too early in the process to determine whether Ibanera is currently withholding Deltec’s funds in violation of the contract. This decision does not address the merits of the case, which will move forward as planned.
“The core issue remains: Ibanera must answer for why it is withholding funds, and why it secretly converted Deltec’s funds into crypto currency, all the while continuing to issue account statements showing the funds as fiat currency. Deltec remains committed to recovering its assets and holding Ibanera accountable.”
Judge D’Angelo, in her asset freeze verdict, said Ibanera and its affiliates had agreed to provide cross-border transfers and multi-currency payment accounts for Deltec and its clients under the terms of a July 18, 2024, processing services agreement (PSA). It created segregated client accounts at banks and other financial institutions to hold the funds, which it promised to hold in trust. The accounts were established at the Development Bank of Singapore (DBS), but “Ibanera began having issues with the ability to execute payments on behalf of” Deltec as early as October 2024. The Bahamian bank learnt on October 22, 2024, that the provider’s SWIFT payments via DBS were on hold - at a time
when it had $31.7m in Ibanera’s accounts.
“On November 19, 2024, plaintiff [Deltec] requested that Ibanera transfer $15m to another one of its accounts. A month later, Ibanera transferred $12m to plaintiff. Notwithstanding its transfer of the partial amount, Ibanera’s issues with money transfers continued in December 2024,”
Judge D’Angelo recorded.
“Beginning in January 2025, plaintiff made repeated requests to Ibanera to transfer the remaining funds - the equivalent of approximately $20m - to plaintiff’s account in another financial institution. Although Ibanera acknowledged the receipt of plaintiff’s transfer request, it did not transfer the funds to plaintiff.”
After Deltec Bank & Trust sent a February 3, 2025, letter demanding the $20m be transferred to it, Ibanera replied that it had failed to comply with its obligations under the PSA and the payments provider has sustained “significant losses” as a result. It countered that it was “entitled to keep the funds to offset its losses” caused by Deltec’s allegedly “unauthorised activities”.
However, the Bahamian institution argued that these “activities” were never “identified” to it, and that the claims were merely a “pretext” and smokescreen to justify why Ibanera continued to “improperly hold” its $20.674m through “unsupported excuses”.
Shonel Clarke, Deltec Bank & Trust’s senior operations department manager and a ten-year employee, testified before the south Florida court that Ibanera in late 2024 “refused to execute client-directed transfers, and provided no adequate explanation or justification despite plaintiff’s repeated inquiries”. “She further testified that plaintiff was
unable to obtain information regarding the status of approximately $20m in various currencies,” Judge D’Angelo wrote.”Defendants also questioned Ms Clarke regarding the number of requests for information plaintiff received from Ibanera, and she testified that 40 to 45 requests, in comparison to approximately 1,500 transactions, was common and minimal.
“On re-direct, Ms Clarke explained that following the sale to Britannia Bank & Trust, some of plaintiff’s clients agreed to transfer their accounts to Britannia and those clients were fully funded with cash holdings.”
Mr Carbonara, testifying on Ibanera’s behalf, said the payments provider “identified irregularities involving plaintiff’s transactions” once it underwent a series of internal and external audits following the closure of its DBS accounts and loss of its Singapore licence. Ibanera terminated the PSA with Deltec on May 2, 2025.
“Mr Carbonara testified that Ibanera retained all the funds associated with plaintiff,” Judge D’Angelo wrote. “He clarified that Ibanera has not used any of plaintiff’s funds to offset any potential liability plaintiff may owe.
“Regarding the impact of the instant litigation, Mr Carbonara testified that Ibanera has lost clients, banking relationships and other business opportunities. Mr Carbonara further explained that Ibanera has suffered significant reputational and financial harm.
“During his cross-examination, Mr Carbonara testified that after Ibanera terminated the PSA, it transferred plaintiff’s funds into a US dollar stablecoin. He stated that the coins are held in a wallet owned by Ibanera LLC. Mr. Carbonara explained that Ibanera LLC transferred the funds into stablecoin to ‘safely
safeguard the funds’, while Ibanera LLC investigated plaintiff’s alleged breach of the PSA.”
Summing up the two sides’ arguments, Judge D’Angelo said Deltec feared “it will suffer immediate and irreparable injury if a temporary restraining order is not issued because Ibanera may dissipate the specific funds it is holding” and has failed to both release the $20m or disclose where the funds are located.
However, Ibanera countered that Deltec “is not entitled to injunctive relief because plaintiff sold its banking interest to Britannia such that it is presently unclear how plaintiff claims an interest in either ‘client funds or . . . its own banking-related funds that are at issue in this litigation’.”
Finding for Ibanera, and rejecting Deltec’s asset freeze bid, the judge ruled that the latter has yet to show it has a strong chance of winning its claim on the merits. “Plaintiff has not provided sufficient evidence on the instant record to demonstrate conclusively that defendants’ withholding of funds was not authorised by the PSA,” Judge D’Angelo wrote.
“The evidence presented at the evidentiary hearing
does not allow the court to determine at this stage whether there was a clear breach of the PSA, whether there were multiple breaches of the PSA, and at what point either party breached the PSA.
“Therefore, the court cannot determine at this juncture whether defendants are currently withholding plaintiff’s funds in violation of the PSA.
Thus, plaintiff cannot establish a substantial likelihood of success on the merits.”
And, as to Deltec’s fears that Ibanera would “dissipate” its $20m unless an injunction was imposed, Judge D’Angelo ruled:
“The evidence showed that defendants have neither stolen nor used the funds for their own purposes.
In fact, at the evidentiary hearing, defendant Carbonara testified that Ibanera is holding the funds at issue and has not misappropriated them.
“No evidence has been presented that defendants have dissipated plaintiff’s funds. In fact, plaintiff has not conclusively established that the funds were improperly moved. Once Ibanera’s account with DBS was closed, the funds had to go somewhere and Ibanera was obligated to
do something. As defendant Carbonara explained at the hearing, the money was placed in crypto currency for safekeeping....
“At the evidentiary hearing, Plaintiff failed to provide any evidence demonstrating that defendants have dissipated its funds. In fact, defendant Carbonara expressly testified that Ibanera has retained the funds and has not used any of the funds to offset damages. At most, future dissipation of funds is speculative. Prospective harm, on its own, does not meet the test of imminence.”
Judge D’Angelo, finding that Deltec “has not established a substantial threat of irreparable injury”, also ruled that imposing an asset freeze would harm Ibanera more than the Bahamian bank and trust company given the latter’s ability to still claim damages if the PSA agreement was violated.
“Because plaintiff has not demonstrated all of the requirements for injunctive relief, the court has no authority to order an asset freeze, accounting, repatriation of the assets and expedited discovery as plaintiff requests,” the judge concluded.
LIBERTY CHIEF: TURN VISION INTO ACTION TO CONNECT CARIBBEAN
LIBERTY Caribbean's top executive has called for the forging of new publicprivate partnerships (PPP), infrastructure initiatives and policy frameworks to build a Caribbean that is "gigabit-enabled".
Inge Smidts, chief executive of the former Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), said: “Today we stand at an inflection point. We have the vision, and now we must translate our dialogue into publicprivate partnerships, joint infrastructure projects and policy frameworks that will deliver a truly gigabit-enabled Caribbean – one that’s resilient, inclusive and sustainable by design."
She was speaking during her opening address at the 40th annual CANTO Conference and Trade Exhibition, currently being held at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau. Liberty Caribbean is the headline sponsor of an event that has brought together leaders from communications, government and technology under the unifying theme ‘Towards a unified and sustainable Caribbean gigabit society’.
“CANTO has been an engine for transformation. It provides us with a forum to collaborate on policy, regulation, investment and innovation. This is where real progress happens; not in isolation, but in shared dialogue and united action,” added Ms Smidts. She identified six priorities to guide this transformation: Ensuring universal gigabit connectivity for education and healthcare; delivering smart, cloud-powered public services; harnessing the Internet of Things (IoT) for hospitality and tourism innovation; developing hurricane-resilient infrastructure; embracing green information and communications operations with sustainable networks; and securing equitable digital access for every Caribbean community.
“Together, we will shape the digital strategies that benefit all Caribbean communities – from the most remote isles to the dynamic city centres,” said Ms Smidts. “Let this 40th anniversary be more than a milestone. Let it be a launchpad as we step
confidently towards a unified and sustainable Caribbean gigabit society.
"We are stronger island to island, shoreline to shoreline, when we stand together. Thank you to CANTO for four decades of steadfast leadership and to all our industry partners and stakeholders for their unwavering collaboration.”
Financing switch would further hold up hospital
HOSPITAL
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had little choice bit to seek Chinese financing, especially given the low 2 percent interest rate and five-year repayment “grace period” offered, spoke after Latrae Rahming, the Prime Minister’s communications director, confirmed this nation has no desire to become caught up in “the geo-political” fight between Beijing and Washington D.C.
“In so far as a UK firm expressing interest in the
hospital, after a conversation with minister of health, who had indicated he was approached by the respective firm, the project was already advanced in its stage,” Mr Rahming added, explaining why the UK Export Finance offer was rejected. “The Government had indicated more than a year ago its intent to proceed with securing funding.”
As a result, the hospital project was “too far” advanced in its development and negotiations with the China Export-Import
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Bank, which also financed Baha Mar, for the UK offer to be obtained. Mr Rahming said the terms offered by the Chinese government-owned institution are a “very favourable financing arrangement for the Government of The Bahamas”.
The Prime Minister’s communications director also confirmed that the Government had “expressed an openness” to working with UK Export Finance, which is understood to be underwriting the $80m Glass Window Bridge Replacement, on future projects and financings in The Bahamas.
Steering clear of the geopolitical fray over what he described as “strictly a financial transaction”, Dr Darville said Tribune Business was “right on target” when asked if he and the Davis administration had sought the hospital financing from US and other sources before turning toand settling on - China.
Affirming that there was “some private sector interest” initially in providing
CANTO is the region’s premier telecommunications conference that brings together regional heads of state and government, along with regulators, telecommunications operators and other stakeholders to network, build alliances, review policy and share best practices as it relates to the industry.
the funding, he added that this source was turned down because the interest rate attached to any debt financing would be too high and costly for Bahamian taxpayers to service. “The interest was the real concern,” the minister confirmed.
Dr Darville said that then, “working with the US embassy at the time”, the Government sought to determine whether the US Export-Import Bank might be interested in underwriting, or guaranteeing, the new hospital. He and Prime Minister Philip Davis KC met with the bank’s chief executive at the Summit of the Americas in early 2022, but the institution at that time was more interested in other types of infrastructure projects.
“We did reach out to the US Export-Import Bank but there was no appetite at the time,” Dr Darville said. “I didn’t do this in isolation. I reached out to the US embassy first. I did everything the right way.” He added that the embassy’s former charge d’affaires under the Biden administration and staff were fully aware of what he and the Government were doing at all times in relation to the hospital.
The UK High Commission, in its statement, asserted that the UK Export Finance offer was designed to match or beat the Chinese terms when it came to project cost, construction timelines and repayment conditions. The
Liberty Caribbean will host several discussions and events during the conference, focusing on topics including digital sustainability, cyber security and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), sustainable infrastructure development, strategies for equitable access to broadband services, and empowering an inclusive digital economy.
Prime Minister, it added, asked them to submit a formal offer to the Ministry of Health.
Dr Darville, echoing Mr Rahming, said the UK offer had simply emerged too late - and the Government was too close to closing the financing deal with the China Export-Import Bank - for it to reverse course on the second New Providence hospital’s funding.
“I did meet with them in good faith,” he added of the UK offer, “sat down with them with my entire team at the ministry. We outlined the project, indicated it was at an advanced stage, and a lot of the design work was completed.” As a result, Dr Darville said it would be tough - it not almost impossible - to “shift gears” at such a late stage by accepting the UK bid. He added that himself and Ministry of Health and Wellness officials came to “a consensus that the project was too far gone by the time they [the UK] got to me, and we could not turn back because the deal was pretty much done. If there was interest, the interest should have been shown a year ago, not in the final few months before we did the deal.
“The deal was pretty much completed by the time we met with UK Export Finance,” Dr Darville added. “All I was doing was looking for economical financing... I reached out to the US government. They had no appetite. I reached out to the Chinese
Liberty Caribbean speakers include Neda Brown, senior director, regulatory and government affairs; Sameer Bhatti, the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC); Aamir Hussain, senior vice-president, chief technology and product officer, Liberty Latin America; Shelton Flash, director, Liberty Business (North Caribbean); Desron Bynoe, vice-president and general manager, Barbados; Felipe Ruiz, vice-president, information security, Liberty Latin America; Stephen Price, vice-president and general manager, Jamaica; Rhys Campbell, director, Liberty Caribbean Charitable Foundation; Carol Robertson, senior business development partner, Liberty Caribbean; and Darron Turnquest, director, people, Liberty Caribbean.
CANTO is a non-profit association made up of operators, organisations, companies and individuals primarily focused on leading the information and communications technology (ICT) sector across the Caribbean region and the Americas.
government and they expressed an interest.
“The UK came back to me in the final hour. We were serious about this facility. This is serious business. The Government came back to me when the deal was 95 percent done. This is strictly a financial transaction, and in the best interests for the Bahamian people in terms of the interest rate and the time to get it done.
“If it was to stop, this deal would not happen under this administration and we would have to go back to the drawing board. It’s a complicated thing to get done.” Dr Darville said changing the hospital’s financing partner at such a late stage would likely mean alterations to designs, construction materials and other plans - requiring at least another eight to nine months’ additional work.
“It would be something this administration would not be able to accomplish,” he added. “It would be on to the next administration. I’ve been working on this for two-and-a-half years. It’s been a complicated matter to get it to where it’s needed.
“It does not happen overnight. This has been reviewed, reviewed, reviewed, reviewed back and forth by engineers. This is a major project, and a 2 percent interest rate, five-year grace period on repayments, no one can offer you that. You cannot get that.”
INGE SMIDTS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, LIBERTY CARIBBEAN
Developer to likely exploit synergies with Rose Island
APPROVAL - from page B1
Grantanna Holdings is also required to submit “revised elevation drawings showing proposed building heights” and obtain approval from the Ministry of Works’ civil design section. The Town Planning Committee will only consider giving “final preliminary approval” once these conditions have been met.
Gavin McKinney, who lives two doors to the west of the Grantanna Holdings development, told Tribune Business he was “formulating a response” to the project’s conditional approval that he plans to send to the Department of Physical Planning.
“At the meeting, the two things I brought up which I hope stick a bit, are that I said, first of all, the piece of land they’re doing this on, what in effect they’re trying to do is put ten pounds of potatoes in a five-pound bag,” he said.
“Number two, the thing that really irked me, is that in their application they applied for six storeys but, in their rendition to the public, they showed four storeys. I stood up and said I will use a polite word, this is a misrepresentation of what you want to do.”
Voicing suspicions that a decision had already been taken on whether to approve the East Bay Street condo hotel prior to the public consultation, and that the planning authorities were merely going through the process, Mr McKinney added: “I’m sure this is all window dressing. We can jump up and down as much as we all like, but this was probably a done deal.”
Charlotte Albury, commodore of the Nassau Yacht Club, echoed Mr McKinney, telling Tribune Business: “I think we had a feeling it was going to happen. It was a done deal. Our greatest concern is the traffic and the parking, and how that’s going to be managed.
“It’s not really going to affect us, but with the high-traffic, the noise and parking, I don’t know how they’re going to manage if they have a 40-slip marina and people parking to use 40 boats, a 12-room condo hotel and a restaurant with 100 spaces. I don’t know how those people are going to park.”
Mr McKinney added:
“There will be a huge effect on traffic. They’re talking about 35 employees, 12 condo hotel units, 100 restaurant spaces. When you add up the amount of vehicles, it will be tough getting in and out of there. Don’t mention 5pm. It’s a joke.”
He warned that significant dredging will be required to develop the project’s marina, and said: “As far as the marina goes, they intend to build a 42-slip marina. Where they intend to go, it’s almost out of the water. It’s turtlegrass, and a little baby conch was there.
“They’re probably going to go down six feet. It goes
Cable says second round shows concerns are ‘valid’
COMPETITION - from page B1
provider, hit out at this newspaper’s headline as “misleading and irresponsible” while accusing Tribune Business of “mischaracterising” its participation in the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA). Tribune Business rejects such assertions and has made that clear in conversation with Cable Bahamas executives. The article’s headline, ‘Cable’s ‘bankruptcy’ fear over satellite regulation’, accurately reported on the contents of Cable Bahamas’ submissions to URCA. It never suggested that the BISX-listed communications provider is “in financial distress” or under any immediate threat, and
against a lot of what the
Prime Minister talks about in terms of the environment. I’m going to mention all this in my response to the Town Planning Committee and Department of Physical Planning.”
Another concern is that the northern shoreline of East Bay Street, which is largely residential in that area, is now subject to commercial development.
Grantanna Holdings will likely seek to exploit synergies between its new East Bay Street location and long-standing property on nearby Rose Island that was developed under Mr Basden’s father, Thomas. That $10m property was toured in 2014 by then-prime minister Perry Christie and several of his Cabinet ministers.
A Tribune report at the time said the Rose Island site features 12 air conditioned hotel rooms, a beach-side kitchen, dock, helicopter pad and two sources of water – filtered rain and well water. It also had solar energy and generator power, a conference room, wireless Internet, flat screen televisions and an LCD projector.
Carlos Hepburn, managing partner at TDG
and a robust long-term strategy,” it said.
there appeared to be no complaints with the article’s contents.
“Our participation in URCA’s consultation on the regulatory framework for satellite-based electronic communications services in The Bahamas is grounded in our responsibility to advocate for fair and future-ready policy,” Cable Bahamas said in its statement.
“At the core of our submission is a call for a level playing field where all service providers, including foreign entrants, are held to consistent standards, obligations and accountability when serving the Bahamian public.”
Cable Bahamas, asserting its financial strength, said its free cash flow has increased by 140 percent during the nine months to end-March 2025 with dividend payments to shareholders having risen by 33 percent.
“Cable Bahamas remains financially strong and strategically focused. We continue to deliver results through disciplined execution, operational efficiency
“Our year-to-date third quarter financial year 2025 performance underscores this strength, with consolidated revenue of $181m and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation) of $69m. Free cash flow increased by 140 percent, driven by strategic investment timing and the ongoing expansion of our fibre-to-the-home network.
“Our balance sheet remains strong, with total assets of $527m. Reflecting our commitment to delivering shareholder value, we increased dividend payments by 33 percent year-over-year and, as we look ahead to the fourth quarter, we remain confident in our financial trajectory and anticipate continued momentum across key performance indicators - further reinforcing the trust placed in us by customers, investors and partners.”
Turning to the satellite regulation consultation directly, Cable Bahamas added: “Our submission to URCA raised legitimate and evidence-based concerns about the premature and unbalanced regulatory treatment of satellite operators. Our position is clear: We support innovation and
Architects, in a Febru-
ary 10, 2025, letter sent to Charles Zonicle, the physical planning director, on behalf of Mr Basden and Grantanna Holdings, confirmed that the East Bay Street project proposes to develop a 12-unit condo hotel plus 42-slip marina, along with a clubhouse, parking garage and other amenities.
“Introducing the newest gem in waterfront living and leisure - a stunning mixed-use development that redefines luxury and convenience,” Mr Hepburn said of the planned development. “This exceptional project features a 12-unit condo-hotel, perfect for discerning travellers seeking an upscale escape, alongside a state-of-the-art marina that caters to boating enthusiasts and water lovers alike.
“At the heart of the vibrant community lies an elegant estate house complete with staff quarters, ensuring residents enjoy unparalleled service and comfort. A modern, leasable office building offers prime commercial space, ideal for businesses looking to thrive in a picturesque setting.
competition, but it must be fair, sustainable and beneficial to Bahamian consumers and the national economy.
“URCA’s decision to issue a second round of public consultation is itself confirmation that the concerns raised by Cable Bahamas, and others in the industry, are valid and merit deeper review. We welcome continued engagement with the regulator and trust this new phase will deliver a more balanced and inclusive framework.
“We have been clear and consistent in our position that satellite services have a role to play, particularly in hard-to- reach or underserved areas, but they cannot replace robust terrestrial infrastructure.”
Cable Bahamas cited a 2024 report by Tarana Wireless, which argued that satellite providers are no substitute for fibre-optic broadband networks, to back its case.
“These limitations reflect why regulatory frameworks around the world are being crafted carefully, and in some cases restrictively, to prevent disruption of national telecom ecosystems. As we highlighted in our URCA response, issuing full-market licences to unregulated, foreign LEO (low earth orbit) providers - without service
“The crowning jewel of this development is the exquisite clubhouse, designed for both relaxation and celebration. Featuring a gourmet restaurant and terrace overlooking the water, it serves as the perfect venue for memorable events, gatherings and culinary experiences.” The proposed parking garage will offer 54 total spaces over three floors, and cover 29,151 square feet.
The condo hotel would be spread over six floors, offering a mix of sizes, and cover 34,463 square feet along with a 2,782 square foot pool deck, while the marina is to be spread across 27,200 square feet. Solar power and energy efficient equipment will be used to power the development, while so-called ‘grey water’ would irrigate the grounds.
The project’s clubhouse would consist of two floors and cover 8,042 square feet, according to Mr Hepburn’s letter, with the estate house and staff quarters comprising 5,451 square feet. An administration building will feature 1,840 square feet. Can also use pic from Tuesday, June 3, 2025, article
obligations, fiscal contribution or local investment - risks undermining the very infrastructure the country depends on,” Cable Bahamas added.
“As the leading communications provider in The Bahamas, we have invested over $85m in our latest fibre network, building the fastest and most advanced fixed broadband infrastructure in the Caribbean region. Our ongoing deployment of XGS-PON (10 Gigabit Symmetric Passive Optical Network) technology enables multi-gigabit speeds and future-ready scalability that reaches thousands of homes and businesses across New Providence with future expansion across the archipelago.
“This is grounded in our commitment for localised investment and improving customer service nationwide, and is why.... Cable Bahamas is committed to progress, to customers and to country. We will continue to invest in technology, improve customer experience and advocate for a telecom sector that is competitive, future-focused and rooted in Bahamian value creation.”
- from page B1
year, the Ministry of Tourism will continue to “stay focused” on its strategies to increase stopover visitors and is re-evaluating
the economic benefit of the cruise industry.
“Air arrivals are down slightly when you compare to last year. We want to continue the growth that we’ve seen. I’ve said over and over that we are constrained somewhat by the lack of available hotel rooms. We’re getting new product on stream,” said Mr Cooper.
“We are assessing the economic benefit of our cruise business. We have
In the Estate of JEREMY JEROME STUBBS, late of the Settlement Marsh Harbour on the Island of Abaco, one of the Islands of the Commonwealth of The 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 certified 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; after the above date the assets will be distributed having regard only 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 for the Administrator Alvernia Court, 49A Dowdeswell Street P.O.
done an extensive study on private islands, for example, and we have put in place some strategies in the recent Budget to tighten up some loopholes to ensure that we’re getting a win-win for the Bahamian people”
Mr Cooper added that the amount of airlift into The Bahamas is increasing, and the Ministry of Tourism will continue to “press forward”.
“We’re seeing increasing airlift. We’re going to
continue the strategy, and we’re going to continue to tell our own story. So, as the minister of tourism, we’re going to stay focused on our outlook to the future. We’ve laid out extensively what our strategies are for building stopovers. We’re going to continue to stay focused in this building,” said Mr Cooper.
“This business wasn’t built overnight. This is as a result of more than 50 years of hard work, dedication from the retirees and the magnificent team at the Ministry of Tourism. We’re going to continue to press forward.”
NOTICE IN THE ESTATE of KELLI KERIA ALEXANDRIA INGRAHAM late of West Bay Street, in the Western District of the Island of New Providence, one of the Islands of The Commonwealth of The 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 certified in writing to the undersigned on or before the 4th day of August A.D., 2025, and if required, prove such debts or claims, or in default be excluded from any distribution; after the above date the assets will be distributed having regard only to the proved debts or claims of which the Executor shall then have
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 for the Executor Alvernia Court, 49A Dowdeswell Street P.O. Box N-3114 Nassau, The Bahamas
US imposes a 17% duty on fresh Mexican tomatoes in hopes of boosting domestic production
By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer
THE U.S. government said Monday it is immediately placing a 17% duty on most fresh Mexican tomatoes after negotiations ended without an agreement to avert the tariff.
Proponents said the import tax will help rebuild the shrinking U.S. tomato industry and ensure that produce eaten in the U.S. is also grown there. Mexico currently supplies around 70% of the U.S. tomato market, up from 30% two decades ago, according to the Florida Tomato Exchange.
Robert Guenther, the trade group's executive vice president, said the duty was "an enormous victory for American tomato farmers and American agriculture." But opponents said the import tax will make tomatoes more expensive for
U.S. consumers. Mexican greenhouses specialize in vine-ripened tomatoes, while Florida tomatoes are typically grown in fields and picked green. "As an industry, we are saddened that American consumers will have to pay a tomato tax, or duty, for a reduced selection of the tomatoes they prefer, such as tomatoes on the vine, grape tomatoes, Romas, cocktail tomatoes and other specialty varieties," said Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, which represents importers of Mexican tomatoes. Tim Richards, a professor at the Morrison School of Agribusiness at Arizona State University, said U.S. retail prices for tomatoes will likely rise around 8.5% with a 17% duty. Jacob Jensen, a trade policy analyst at the American Action Forum,
a right-leaning policy institute, said areas with a higher reliance on Mexican tomatoes could see price increases close to 10%, since it will be more difficult to replace that supply, while other parts of the U.S. could see price increases closer to 6%.
The duty stems from a longstanding U.S. complaint about Mexico's tomato exports and is separate from the 30% base tariff on products made in Mexico and the European Union that President Donald Trump announced on Saturday.
The Commerce Department said in late April that it was withdrawing from a deal it first reached with Mexico in 2019 to settle allegations the country was exporting tomatoes to the U.S. at artificially low prices, a practice known as dumping.
As part of the deal, Mexico had to sell its tomatoes at a minimum price and abide by other rules. Since then, the agreement has been subject to periodic reviews, but the two sides always reached an agreement that avoided duties.
In announcing its withdrawal from the Tomato Suspension Agreement, the Commerce Department said it had been "flooded with comments" from U.S. tomato growers who wanted better protection from Mexican goods.
"Mexico remains one of our greatest allies, but for far too long our farmers have been crushed by unfair trade practices that undercut pricing on produce like tomatoes. That ends today," Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a statement. "This rule change is in line with President Trump's trade
More than 20 states sue Trump administration over frozen afterschool and summer funding
By BIANCA VÁZQUEZ TONESS AP Education Writer
MORE than 20 states sued President Donald Trump's administration on Monday over billions of dollars in frozen education funding for after-school care, summer programs and more.
Some of the withheld money funds after-school and summer programming at Boys & Girls Clubs, the YMCA or public schools, attended by 1.4 million children and teenagers nationwide. Congress set aside money for the programs to provide academic support, enrichment and child care to mostly lowincome families. But Trump's administration recently froze the funding, saying it wants to ensure programs align with the Republican president's priorities.
Led by California, the lawsuit alleges withholding the money violates the Constitution and several federal laws. Many low-income families will lose access to after-school programs if the money isn't released soon, according to the suit. In some states, school restarts in late July and early August. The Department of Education did not
immediately respond to a request for comment.
After-school programs for the fall are in jeopardy
Darleen Reyes drove through a downpour last week to take her son to a free Boys & Girls Club day camp in East Providence, Rhode Island. She told camp administrators the flash flood warning would have kept her away, but her son insisted on going.
Before kissing his mother goodbye, Aiden Cazares, 8, explained to a reporter, "I wanted to see my friends and not just sit at home."
Then he ran off to play. In Rhode Island, the state stepped in with funding to keep the summer programs running, according to the East Providence club, and the state has joined the federal lawsuit. Other Boys & Girls Clubs supported by the grants have found ways to keep open their summer programs, said Sara Leutzinger, vice president for communications for the Boys & Girls Club of America. But there isn't the same hope for the afterschool programming for the fall.
Some of the 926 Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide that run summer and afterschool programs stand to close if the Trump administration doesn't release the
money in the next three to five weeks, Leutzinger said.
The clubs receive funding from the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers program.
The YMCA and Save the Children say many of the centers they run are also at risk of shuttering.
"Time is of the essence," said Christy Gleason, executive director of the political arm of Save the Children, which provides after-school programming for 41 schools in rural areas in Washington state and across the South, where school will begin as soon as August. "It's not
too late to make a decision so the kids who really need this still have it."
Rural and Republicanled areas especially affected Schools in Republicanled areas are particularly affected by the freeze in federal education grants.
Ninety-one of the 100 school districts that receive the most money per student from four frozen grant programs are in Republican congressional districts, according to an analysis from New America, a leftleaning think tank. New America's analysis used
policies and approach with Mexico."
But others, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Restaurant Association, had called on the Commerce Department to reach an agreement with Mexico.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, and Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, had also urged the Commerce Department to leave the current tomato agreement in place.
In a letter sent to Lutnick last week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and 30 other business groups said
funding levels reported in 2022 in 46 states.
Republican officials have been among the educators criticizing the grant freeze.
"I deeply believe in fiscal responsibility, which means evaluating the use of funds and seeking out efficiencies, but also means being responsible — releasing funds already approved by Congress and signed by President Trump," said Georgia schools superintendent Richard Woods, an elected Republican.
"In Georgia, we're getting ready to start the school year, so I call on federal funds to be released so we can ensure the success of our students."
The Office of Management and Budget said some grants supported left-wing causes, pointing to services for immigrants in the country illegally or LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts.
But Congress' appropriation of the money was in a bill signed by Trump himself, said Maurice "Mo" Green, North Carolina's Democratic superintendent of public education.
"To now suggest that, for some reason, this money is somehow or another needing review because of someone's agenda, I think is deeply troubling," Green told reporters Monday after North Carolina joined the federal lawsuit.
In North Carolina, about 40 schools are already in session, so the state is already trying to figure out ways to keep programs going, using state and local money, along with some
U.S. companies employ
50,000 workers and generate $8.3 billion in economic benefits moving tomatoes from Mexico into communities across the country.
"We are concerned that withdrawing from the agreement – at a time when the business community is already navigating significant trade uncertainty – could lead to retaliatory actions by our trading partners against other commodities and crops that could create further hardship for U.S. businesses and consumers," the letter said.
federal money that has not expired.
The freeze affects programs including mental health services, science and math education, and support for students learning English, North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson said, with the most severe effects in smaller, rural school districts. The freeze could also lead to approximately 1,000 teachers and staff being laid off, Jackson said.
Summer clubs provide instruction for children
At the East Providence summer camp, Aiden, a rising third grader, played tag, built structures with magnetic tiles, played a fastpaced game with the other kids to review addition and subtraction, learned about pollination, watched a nature video and ate clubprovided chicken nuggets.
Veteran teachers from his school corrected him when he spoke without raising his hand and offered commonsense advice when a boy in his group said something inappropriate.
"When someone says something inappropriate, you don't repeat it," teacher Kayla Creighton told the boys between answering their questions about horseflies and honeybees. Indeed, it's hard to find a more middle-of-the road organization in this country than the Boys & Girls Club.
Just last month, a Republican and a Democrat sponsored a resolution in the U.S. House celebrating the 165-year-old organization as a "beacon of hope and opportunity."
TOMATOES imported from Mexico are for sale in a supermarket in Miami, Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
Photo:Lynne Sladky/AP
CHILDREN play with building blocks before participating in math activities during the East Providence Boys and Girls Club Summer Camp at Emma G. Whiteknact Elementary School on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Providence R.I.
Photo:Sophie Park/AP
Tesla’s Autopilot system is in the spotlight at a Miami trial over a student killed while stargazing
By BERNARD CONDON and TOM KRISHER AP Business Writers
A RARE trial against Elon Musk's car company began Monday in Miami where a jury will decide if it is partly to blame for the death of a stargazing university student after a runaway Tesla sent her flying 75 feet through the air and severely injured her boyfriend.
Lawyers for the plaintiff argue that Tesla's driverassistance feature called Autopilot should have warned the driver and braked when his Model S sedan blew through flashing red lights, a stop sign and a T-intersection at nearly 70 miles an hour in the April 2019 crash. Tesla lays the blame solely on the driver, who was reaching for a dropped cell phone.
"The evidence clearly shows that this crash had nothing to do with Tesla's Autopilot technology," Tesla said in a statement.
"Instead, like so many unfortunate accidents since cellphones were invented, this was caused by a distracted driver."
The driver, George McGee, was sued separately by the plaintiffs. That case was settled.
A judgement against Tesla could be especially
damaging as the company works to convince the public its self-driving technology is safe during a planned rollout of hundreds of thousands of Tesla robotaxis on U.S. roads by the end of next year. A jury trial is rare for the company, whose suits over crashes are often dismissed or settled, and this one is rarer yet because a judge recently ruled that the family of the stricken Naibel Benavides Leon can argue for punitive damages.
The judge, Beth Bloom of the U.S. District Court
Starbucks takes
for the Southern District of Florida, issued a partial summary judgement last month, throwing out charges of defective manufacturing and negligent misrepresentation against Tesla. But she also ruled plaintiffs could argue other claims that would make the company liable and ask for punitive damages, which could prove costly.
"A reasonable jury could find that Tesla acted in reckless disregard of human life for the sake of developing their product and
maximizing profit," Bloom said in a filing.
The 2021 lawsuit alleges the driver relied on Autopilot to reduce speed or come to a stop when it detected objects in its way, including a parked Chevrolet Tahoe that Benavides and her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, had gotten out of near Key West, Florida, to look up at the sky. The Tesla rammed the Tahoe at highway speeds, causing it to rotate and slam into Benavides, tossing her into a wooded area and killing her.
aim at remote work, says some employees may need to relocate to headquarters
By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Business Writer
STARBUCKS is requiring some remote workers to return to its headquarters and increasing the number of days that corporate employees are required to work in an office.
In a letter to employees posted on Monday, Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol said corporate employees would need to be in the office four days a
week starting in early October instead of three days a week. The Seattle-based company said that all corporate "people leaders" must be based in either Seattle or Toronto within 12 months. That is a change from February, when it required vice presidents to relocate to Seattle or Toronto. Starbucks said individual employees working under those leaders would not be asked to relocate. But
the company said all hiring for future roles and lateral moves will require employees to be based in Seattle or Toronto.
"We are reestablishing our in-office culture because we do our best work when we're together. We share ideas more effectively, creatively solve hard problems, and move much faster," Niccol wrote in the letter.
Niccol said affected workers who choose not
to relocate will be eligible for a one-time voluntary exit program with a cash payment.
While many workers grew to enjoy working from home during the pandemic, the call for workers to return to offices full-time has been growing over the past year. Major employers such as Amazon, AT&T and the federal government have required employees to work in company sites five days per week. Competition
In legal documents, Tesla denied nearly all of the lawsuit's allegations and said it expects that consumers will follow warnings in the vehicle and instructions in the owners' manual, as well as comply with driving laws. Tesla warns owners in manuals that its cars cannot drive themselves and they need to be ready to intervene at all times.
Plaintiff lawyers argue that Tesla should have a geofenced its Autopilot so it only worked on the big roads it was designed for and drivers couldn't use it on smaller roads such as the rural one where Benavides was killed. They also say data and video evidence shows the Autopilot did detect the Tahoe but then failed to warn the driver as they claim it should have done.
Tesla has since improved its driver-assistance and partial self-driving features, but still faces lawsuits and investigations over what critics say is a gap between its exaggerated depictions of how well they work and what they can actually do.
Federal auto safety regulators recalled 2.3 million Teslas in 2023 for problems
with Autopilot failing to sufficiently alert drivers if they weren't paying attention to the road. They then put Tesla under investigation last year for saying it fixed the problem though it was unclear it actually did that.
Musk has also continued to make public comments suggesting Tesla's "Full Self-Driving" technology, a more advanced version of Autopilot, allows cars to drive themselves, despite warnings from regulators not to do so because it could lead to overreliance on the systems, crashes and deaths. That technology has been involved in three fatal crashes and is under investigation of its ability to see in low-visibility conditions such as sunlight glare or fog.
Tesla is promising a much more robust self-driving technology to power its robotaxis with no one behind the wheel. A test run in Austin, Texas, of the taxis appears to have gone mostly well, though there are scattered problems, such as a case when one cab went down the opposing lane.
for fully-remote jobs is fierce.
Starbucks spokeswoman Lori Torgerson said she didn't have a count of employees who are currently working as "people leaders" or are working remotely. Starbucks has 16,000 corporate support employees worldwide, but that includes coffee roasters and warehouse staff.
Niccol was not required to relocate to Seattle when
a corporate jet to commute to Seattle.
Since then, Niccol has bought a home in Seattle and is frequently seen at the company's headquarters, Torgerson said.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that KENSIA FLEURIMOND of Plantol Street, East Street, Nassau, The Bahamas,, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 15th day of July 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that LAVERN ISAACS of #24 Knowles Drive, Harrold Road, P.O. Box N-832, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 15th day of July, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that RIVERO BELLEVVE of Golden Isles, Farmingale Road, Nassau, The Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 4th day of July 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
A TESLA level three Electric vehicle charger is visible, Feb. 2, 2024, in Kennesaw, Ga., near Atlanta.
Photo:Mike Stewart/AP
he was hired to lead Starbucks last August. Instead, the company said it would help him set up an office near his home in Newport Beach, California, and would give him the use of
THE STARBUCKS mermaid logo is displayed at the company’s corporate headquarters in Seattle on April 26, 2021.
