A TOP Bahamian real estate frm is accusing a Briland tourism operator’s ex-business partner of “harassing” it with “threadbare allegations” that it has exploited his “trade secrets” and confdential customer lists to generate eight highend Harbour Island sales and rentals.
CA Christie and its franchisor, Corcoran Group, in fresh legal flings demanded on Monday that the south Florida federal court block Pablo Conde and his half of the former Conch & Coconut tour operator partnership from “pursuing” discovery against them until he pleads “viable claims” to back arguments they were “unjustly enriched” by their Briland agent’s conduct.
CA Christie blasts revival of ‘threadbare allegations’ in Conch & Coconut battle
‘Shaq’s ex-business ally moves swiftly to refresh ‘unjust enrichment’ allegation
Claims real estate rm aided by his customer list on eight Harbour Island deals
That agent, Julian ‘Shaq’ Gibson, is embroiled in an increasingly bitter legal battle against Mr Conde on both sides of the Florida straits following the messy break-up of their business alliance, which has exposed allegations of illegal ‘fronting’ and more than $1m in unpaid Bahamian taxes. But Mr Conde’s claim that CA Christie was “vicariously liable”, meaning it was responsible, and should assume liability for, Mr Gibson’s alleged Conch & Coconut actions was dismissed on July 10.
Residents voice frustration on Freeport Harbour
plans
BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
RESIDENTS last night
voiced frustration, anger and long-standing distrust of Bahama Rock's operations during a heated public consultation on the company's proposed 270-acre Freeport Habour expansion and acquisition of the former Bahama Cement Company site.
Several attendees argued that decades of blasting, dust,
fooding and property damage to nearby homes and communities must be addressed before regulators consider approving the project.
The consultation frequently descended into tense exchanges as residents challenged company representatives, environmental consultants and government ofcials over the proposal, questioned the credibility of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and, at times, interrupted
Port Lucaya project could revive ‘10-year ghost land’
BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor
nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE GRAND Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s president yesterday urged all parties in the Port Lucaya Marina hold-up to “sit at the table and work at it” given the $22m project’s potential to revive a near ten-year “ghost land”. Ralph Hepburn told Tribune Business that “patience” is required from both Bahamaland Waterways, the marina’s new owner and prospective developer, and both the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) and Grand Bahama Development Company (DevCO),
as the issues that caused the ‘stop work’ order halting the property’s demolition are solvable.
He reiterated, though, that it is vital “the rule of law be followed to the ‘t’”, and to ensure that all parts of the permitting and approval process are “done properly” to ensure the Port Lucaya Marina’s redevelopment moves forward with everything necessary in place. And, speaking after the public back-and-forth between Bahamaland Waterways and the GBPA/ DevCO dominated media coverage earlier this week, Mr Hepburn told this newspaper it may have been
However, in that decision, Judge Kathleen Williams gave Mr Conde and Conch & Coconut LLC, the former US half of the Briland tourism partnership, 14 days to cure these and other defciencies with their case by fling a revised complaint with the south Florida court. Needing no invitation, Mr Conde has done exactly that, coming back with new particulars alleging that CA Christie has exploited, and benefted from, confdential customer lists obtained by Mr Gibson in at least eight transactions.
The US investor alleges he has identifed “at least four” Harbour Island properties that have been sold by Mr Gibson, and a further “three active listings that had been rented to Conch & Coconut customers”, as a result of his erstwhile Bahamian partner purportedly improperly obtaining client data. As a result, Mr Conde is hoping this will be sufcient to revive his claims against CA Christie and its franchisor in a case built on allegations of trademark and intellectual property violations.
However, the Bahamian real estate frm, in response to Mr Conde’s latest pleadings, reiterated that they sufer from the same earlier “defects” in that they provide no evidence to show it “directly participated” in the Briland business of the same
LEGAL - See Page B11
presentations to voice frustration over what they described as years of unresolved complaints.
The meeting, hosted by the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP), formed part of the environmental review process for Bahama Rock's proposal to acquire and mine around
Commonwealth Bank, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) and Bank of The Bahamas, increased by more than $151m in two years as the industry’s postCOVID rebound continues. Last year’s combined net income rose by almost 10 percent,. “Domestic banks’ net income strengthened in 2025 by $49.1m (9.7 percent) to $553.6m after a $102.2m (25.4 percent) expansion in 2024,” the Central Bank disclosed.
Tells Bahamas General Workers Union council to get act together, hold elections
Rules late president’s ‘dismissal’ of ve council members ‘foul of the constitution’ Union’s bank account ‘noncompliant’, 2023 and 2024 external audits quali ed
BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor
A SUPREME Court judge yesterday urged leaders of the trade union formed to represent Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) workers to rapidly cease “internal fghting” that sparked “years of instability” and undermined its “relevance”.
Acting justice Raynard Rigby KC called on members of the Bahamas General Workers Union’s (BGWU) executive council to now “move quickly” in setting dates for the nomination and election of new ofcers following his verdict on a dispute that splintered its leadership into two rival factions amid unproven claims of “a conspiracy.. to destabilise” the organisation. His July 29, 2026, ruling on whether the president or executive council has the power “to suspend or expel” one of the latter’s members resulted in a total defeat for the BGWU’s late leader, Linda Sands, and Natania Johnson, the secretary-general. Acting justice Rigby instead found for their opponents, headed by veteran
269 acres of the former Bahamas Cement Company property at Southwest Point.
The project would involve excavating limestone aggregate before converting the site into new turning basins and deep-water berths to expand Freeport Harbour, a
RAYNARD RIGBY KC DAVE BECKFORD
BAHAMA ROCK EXPANSION
Subscription model key antidote for the businesses that t R OYE II
FEW things give a business owner more peace of mind than knowing what next month's revenue will look like. For decades, subscription models ofered this comfort to a narrow set of industries, primarily magazines, gym memberships and utilities. Today, subscription pricing has spread across nearly every sector, and Bahamian enterprises are beginning to discover what others have known for years. Recurring revenue changes everything.
A subscription model is simply a pricing structure where customers pay a regular amount, usually monthly, in exchange for ongoing access to a product or service. Software companies pioneered the modern version with Software as a Service, but the principle now applies to ftness studios, beauty boxes, meal plans, professional services, software applications, accounting retainers and even car ownership.
The appeal is straightforward. Predictable cash fow allows better planning, smoother hiring and stronger investor confdence. A business with 1,000 customers paying $50 per month knows it has $50,000 arriving next month before doing any new selling. That foundation transforms how you operate.
For Bahamian businesses, the subscription opportunity is signifcant but under-explored. Consider the local ftness studio that traditionally charged per class. Moving to a monthly membership model captures customers who attend irregularly while smoothing revenue. Consider the lawn care service ofering one-of bookings. Shifting to a quarterly maintenance package builds a stable base of work. Consider the accountant
ofering tax preparation seasonally. Adding a monthly book-keeping retainer creates year-round revenue. The economic implications of more subscription-based businesses in The Bahamas are meaningful. Predictable revenue allows owners to invest in equipment, training and expansion with greater confdence. Banks lending to subscription businesses can structure fnancing more favourably because the cash fow is visible. Employees beneft from stable hours rather than seasonal extremes. The entire enterprise becomes more resilient to the shocks that have battered our economy repeatedly.
Yet subscription models are not magic. They require a genuine value exchange. A customer who pays monthly for something they rarely use will eventually cancel and leave dissatisfed. The discipline of subscription pricing is to ensure that customers receive enough ongoing value that staying feels obvious. This shifts the entire customer relationship. You are no longer selling a product. You are stewarding an ongoing relationship.
Successful subscription businesses pay obsessive attention to metrics that traditional businesses ignore. Churn rate, which is the percentage of customers who cancel each month, becomes a daily concern. Customer lifetime value, meaning the total revenue a customer generates across their relationship with you, replaces single transaction thinking. Onboarding, the frst 30 days of customer experience, becomes a strategic priority because it determines whether someone stays or leaves.
For Bahamian entrepreneurs considering this shift, several questions
help test the ft. Is your product or service something customers beneft from continuously rather than occasionally? Can you deliver consistent value month after month without quality slipping? Are you prepared to compete on retention as much as on acquisition? If the answers are yes, the subscription model can transform a fragile transaction business into a stable enterprise.
The Bahamian economy needs more businesses with predictable revenue. Tourism cycles, weather and global volatility have always made local enterprise fnancially turbulent. Subscription models ofer one of the few proven antidotes. They will not suit every business, but for those they ft, they represent a quiet revolution in how value is exchanged and how enterprises are built. The reliable monthly invoice may be the most powerful innovation in modern commerce.
• NB: About Keith Keith Roye II is a highly analytic and solutionsdriven professional with extensive experience in software development. He holds a BSc in computer science and his career includes leading and delivering global software projects in various industries in The Bahamas and the US.
Taxi union optimistic on livery dispute resolution
BY ANNELIA NIXON TRIBUNE Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net
THE BAHAMAS Taxi Cab Union (BTCU) yesterday said the Government seems willing to resolve the long-running dispute with livery operators after what it described as one of its most productive meetings with a Cabinet minister.
Glenys Hanna Martin, minister of tourism, has raised the union’s hopes
that planned industrial action threatening the country’s tourism industry may yet be avoided. Tyrone Butler, its president, said the minister acknowledged that years of weak enforcement had allowed the confict between taxi and livery operators to escalate, as she committed to work alongside Leon Lundy, minister of transport, to ensure existing transportation rules are properly enforced.
“The meeting last week went very well,” Mr Butler
Workpklace
safety must be tailored to Bahamas’ reality
BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter
jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE BAHAMIAN Contractors Association’s (BCA) president yesterday urged the Government to develop workplace safety standards tailored to the realities of the local industry rather than adopting US benchmarks wholesale.
Leonard Sands argued that a Bahamian framework would be more practical, afordable and enforceable than simply adopring the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations template.
He added that while the US OSHA ofers sound principles, The Bahamas must create its own laws, policies and procedures that refect the country's size, level of development and construction environment.
"OSHA does not have jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of The
Bahamas," said Mr Sands. "While it provides good principles to follow, what is more important is that we create the laws, policies and procedures needed to protect workers in The Bahamas." His comments come as the Department of Labour ramps up enforcement of workplace safety rules amid ongoing eforts to strengthen occupational health and safety legislation.
said. “Probably one of the better meetings out of the ministers. We had a very positive meeting. She’s committed to some of the same issues that the transport minister committed to. Only I feel more confdent that we’re going to get better response from her. As you know, she was once minister of transport herself.”
He added that Mrs Hanna Martin had already committed to follow-up discussions scheduled for tomorrow. Mr Butler said she pledged
Earlier this month, labour inspectors halted work at four construction sites in western New Providence after uncovering serious safety violations, including workers operating at heights without proper fall protection.
Mr Sands said the Association supports improving safety standards but cautioned against simply importing US regulations that were developed for a much larger and more industrialised economy.
"You cannot adopt OSHA certifcation in whole because many of the standards simply do not ft our environment," he said. "We don't have skyscrapers, and we don't have the same industrial facilities or agencies that dictate many of the standards OSHA requires."
Instead, Mr Sands argued that The Bahamas should develop standards appropriate for a developing nation.
"It's important for us to develop our own standards because we're a developing nation," said Mr Sands. "The United States has been developing its systems for centuries, while The Bahamas is only 53 yearsold. We're simply not in the same place."
to raise the matter directly with Mr Lundy to ensure the Government adopts a unifed position on the dispute, and also intends to engage the Bahamas Livery Drivers Union.
“She’s made a commitment to speak with the minister of transport to make him fully aware of exactly what the Government’s position should be,” Mr Butler said.
“She is also committed to calling the president of the livery association, have a
The BCA president also warned that adopting standards beyond what the local industry can reasonably sustain would drive up construction costs ultimately borne by consumers.
"We have to be careful," said Mr Sands. "Let's make it practical and create a standard that The Bahamas can aford to maintain. We don't want to push safety requirements in a direction that becomes impractical because the costs associated with maintaining those standards are ultimately passed on to consumers."
Mr Sands said the BCA is focused on helping the Department of Labour develop construction-specifc policies, noting that the
conversation with them to advise them that under no circumstances they should be there [ Lynden Pindling International Airport].”
The BTCU has repeatedly argued that livery operators are improperly soliciting passengers at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) and major hotels, insisting that under existing regulations livery drivers should only transport customers with pre-arranged bookings while taxi operators retain the right to solicit fares directly.
According to Mr Butler, the tourism minister acknowledged the issue has been allowed to worsen over many years because authorities failed to properly enforce existing regulations. “She did admit
Association's expertise lies in ensuring work sites are operated safely and consistently across the industry.
"We are concerned with the construction policy," said Mr Sands. "It's a lot of work to develop what we believe would be an adequate policy covering construction sites, workers and everything related to maintaining a safe construction environment."
While the BCA's work is centred on construction, Mr Sands said the wider Health and Safety at Work Act extends far beyond the industry and will ultimately afect virtually every workplace in The Bahamas.
"I think the public is unaware of the gravity of the
that over the years they’ve allowed it to kind of get out of hand,” he said.
“But her position has been that all of it is really as a result of lack of enforcement, meaning that the Government, whoever was responsible for enforcing the rules, had not done a good job of enforcing the rules.”
Mr Butler said the minister accepted that government shares responsibility for the situation. “She accept that part of that is the Gopvernment’s fault,” he said. “But she say at the end of the day, it all rests with the lack of enforcement.”
The union president added that Mrs Hanna Martin also recognised the
Health and Safety at Work Act because it isn't called the Health and Safety in Construction Act," he said. "It speaks to every place of work."
He added: "You're talking about policies for every workplace where you work - hairdressers, restaurants, law ofces, doctors' ofces, accounting frms, food stores. Every workplace falls under it."
Mr Sands said the BCA will continue working with the Department of Labour, engineering organisations and electrical industry representatives on construction-related matters to help develop practical safety standards for the sector.
LEONARD SANDS
Gov’t completes $29m deal for Doctors’ Harbourside complex
THE Goverrnment yesterday ofcially completed the $29m lease-to-purchase deal that will see it takeover, and ultimately acquire, Doctors Hospital’s recently-completed Harbourside in-patient facility on East Bay Street.
The two sides staged an ofcial handover and contract signing featuring Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) ofcials, who will take over the Harbourside facility at the former Red Roof Inn site to better support he delivery of urgent care and inpatient services.
Dr Michael Darville, minister of health and wellness, hailed the move as “a milestone” and a testament to what can be achieved with bold partnerships. The newly-acquired facility is designed to introduce an afordable care model that bridges the gap between high-cost private providers and public healthcare. Renovation costs for the urgent care facility are pegged at $215,000.
inpatient step-down and extended care; and specialised care services.
120 months - likely to ease the burden on an alreadystretched Public Treasury and taxpayer. He signalled then that the purchase price was $39m, but yesterday it was given at $29m.
“The Harbourside medical hospital is a ten-year lease purchase agreement - 120 monthly payments with a total purchase price of $38.901m or thirty-eight million, nine hundred and two thousand, nine hundred and ffteen dollars,” the minister confrmed in response to this newspaper’s inquiries.
The PHA said the move responds to rising public expectations by modernising service delivery and boosting the capacity of the hospital network.
Minister ‘in STEP’ with trust and estate planners
THE Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners’
(STEP) Bahamas branch
has met with Jerome Fitzgerald, newly-appointed minister of economic afairs, to discuss eforts to grow and promote the Bahamian fnancial services industry.
STEP Bahamas was represented by its chair, Anayah Miller Orelien; chair emeritus and STEP Bahamas conference chair, Theo Burrows; co-deputy chairs, Ronique Bastian and Keisha Larrimore-Smith; directors Natasha Major and Chrislyn Stubbs; ofcer, Jamal Miller; and former chair, John Lawrence. Mr Fitzgerald was joined by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Reginald Saunders;
director of fnancial services, Brandace Duncanson; and ministry ofcer, Achara Grant-Wash.
Among the issues discussed was the ffth annual STEP Bahamas conference, scheduled for March 2027. The branch requested the Ministry's commitment to serve as presenting sponsor for the upcoming year, continuing a relationship it values highly.
STEP Bahamas also outlined its ambition to deepen its local footprint through education and trust and estate-related community initiatives, and welcomed the opportunity to partner with the ministry and its agencies, including the Bahamas Financial Services
The Harbourside purchase is designed to take the pressure of acute public hospitals such as Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), and is designed to serve three primary patient care roles: Urgent and outpatient ambulatory care;
Dr Darville said Harbourside will house an extensive laboratory and pharmacy network; diagnostic imaging; a 46-bed private capacity; a six-chair renal dialysis unit to treat chronic kidney disease and acute kidney failure; a pool for therapy and rehabilitation; speech therapy for stroke victims; orthopaedic cases; and trauma recovery.
The facility will be a revenue-generating commercial arm of the PHA, using a smart business concept called “cross-subsidisation”.
Present for the handover and contract signing were Dr Aubynette Rolle, managing director, PHA; Andrew Edwards, chairman, Board of Directors, PHA; Dr Charles Diggis, president, Doctors Hospital; Michael Jones, director/ project manager, Inline Project Company; Owen Wells, minister of state, Ministry of Health and Wellness. Dr Michael Darville, minister of health and wellness, told Tribune Business last year that the deal has been structured as a lease-toown or purchase agreement with payments to Doctors Hospital spread out over
Dr Darville, in unveiling the deal to the House of Assembly earlier, said: “I would also like to inform this honourable House and the general public that fnal preparatory steps [are being taken] to occupy the new Harbourside East Bay Street, multi-bed hospital facility acquired from Doctors Hospital by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
“This brand new facility was acquired by my ministry and I alluded to it during my last Budget debate communication.”
Board (BFSB), on such eforts. The branchalso reaffrmed its commitment to supporting the ministry's work to promote The Bahamas internationally
as a fnancial services jurisdiction, with particular emphasis on trusts and estate planning.
Branch representatives said the core objective of STEP Bahamas and its annual conference is to bring international expertise and knowledge to local practitioners, building on the experience already present within the jurisdiction. They said the access to information that the branch
provides its members is the same value it hopes to extend to the ministry, in support of the ministry's own goals and its lasting impact on the industry. For its part, the ministry indicated its interest in strengthening ties with the private sector and in receiving documented, evidence-based advice to aid Mr Fitzgerald’s policy deliberations. He expressed his wish that STEP Bahamas
serve as a bridge between the ministry and industry, ofering advice and recommendations on legislative changes and potential initiatives.
Mr Fitzgerald also confrmed the ministry's commitment to supporting STEP Bahamas, including its conference. STEP Bahamas represents fnancial services executives specialising in family inheritance and succession planning.
Photos:Summer Student Cordesha Clarke/BIS
Seated L to R: Brandace Duncanson, director, financial services; Jerome Fitzgerald, minister of economic affairs; Anayah Miller Orelien (STEP Bahamas branch chair; Reginald Saunders, permanent secretary. Standing L to R: Achara Grant-Wash, Ministry of Economic Affairs; Ronique Bastian, STEP Bahamas co-deputy chair; Jamal Miller, STEP Bahamas officer; Natasha Major, STEP Bahamas director; John Lawrence, past STEP Bahamas chair; Theo Burrows, STEP Bahamas chair emeritus; Keisha Larrimore-Smith, STEP Bahamas co-deputy chair; Chrislyn Stubbs, STEP Bahamas director.
Governor’s Harbour airport close timed for tourism lull
BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
AN ELEUTHERA resort manager yesterday said October’s month-long closure of Governor's Harbour airport is unlikely to signifcantly disrupt tourism, adding that the timing gives authorities the best opportunity to complete long-needed infrastructure upgrades ahead of the winter travel season.
Patrick Nolan, manager of Squires Estate in
Governor's Harbour, said October is traditionally one of the slowest periods for tourism in Eleuthera, meaning the temporary closure should have only a limited impact on visitors and local businesses.
"To be honest, it won't have a major impact on our business because October is already a very quiet month," said Mr Nolan. "We have a few bookings here and there, but there's not a lot going on."
Island Airport Development Partners (IADP) last week announced that
Governor's Harbour airport will close throughout October to facilitate a package of airside improvements, including rehabilitation of the runway, taxiways and apron, as well as the installation of upgraded navigational aids.
The company said the airport is expected to resume commercial operations in early November, while North Eleuthera airport will remain fully operational throughout the project.
Mr Nolan said visitors would still be able to
access Eleuthera through alternative airports during the closure. "Most people will simply fy into North Eleuthera or Rock Sound instead," he said. "There are other options."
He added that he welcomed the decision to undertake the work during October, describing it as the least disruptive period of the year for the island's tourism industry.
"If they're going to close the airport for a month, October is probably the best month they could have chosen," said Mr Nolan.
Ministers meet livery drivers over dispute
GLENYS Hanna-Martin, minister of tourism (third right), met with the Bahamas Livery Drivers Union (BLDU) led by its president, Troy Austin (centre right), yesterday at the ministry's offices. Leon Lundy (fourth left), minister of transport, and the Ministry of Tourism's permanent secretary, Lorraine Armbrister (third left), were in attendance.
He added that the air-
port upgrades are needed before visitor numbers begin climbing again for the winter season. "I would absolutely welcome it because the airport defnitely needs the work completed before next year's busy season," said Mr Nolan. "September and October in Eleuthera are extremely quiet from a tourism perspective. It's a very low-key time of year."
While acknowledging the closure may create some inconvenience, Mr Nolan said he did not expect it to materially afect tourism activity. "Of course it may afect things a little, but it's really nothing that concerns me," he said.
Mr Nolan added that he would have viewed the closure very diferently had it been scheduled during
one of the island's busiest tourism months. "If you told me they were closing the airport in March, I'd be jumping up and down because that would be crazy," he said. "But if they need to do it in October, that's absolutely perfect." The temporary closure forms part of the airport redevelopment programme being undertaken by IADP under the Government's public-private partnership initiative to modernise and upgrade airports across the Family Islands. The Governor's Harbour works are intended to improve operational safety, reliability and the overall experience for airlines and passengers ahead of future growth in air trafc.
Photos:Kemuel Stubbs/BIS
Concerns voiced that blasting impact not addressed seriously
development the company argues is critical to sustaining its operations and supporting the harbour’s long-term growth.
However, many of those who attended said the discussion should not focus solely on the proposed expansion, arguing Bahama Rock must frst answer for the impact of its existing operations on neighbouring communities.
Dillon Knowles, a professional engineer and former Grand Bahama Development Company executive, said the EIA failed to adequately consider whether the operation should instead be relocated away from nearby communities.
“Where we can eliminate risks, we eliminate them. Elimination is always preferable to mitigation,” said Mr Knowles. He argued that while aggregate mining remains important to The Bahamas, the project’s location deserved greater scrutiny.
“We understand the country needs aggregate. We’re not saying Bahama Rock shouldn’t operate,” he said. “We’re saying it should operate from a location that’s more suitable.” Mr Knowles also questioned whether operational convenience had been given too much weight in the assessment.
“Convenience alone does not make this project viable,” he said.
C Allen Johnson, senior spokesman for Preserving Paradise, said the size and complexity of the
environmental impact assessment demanded greater public engagement than a single consultation. “I’ve read this document fve times,” said Mr Johnson, adding that he had submitted hundreds of questions after reviewing the more than 600-page report. “One or two meetings are not enough,” he added. “The community has to understand what they’re being asked to accept.”
Several residents recounted what they described as years of blasting impacts, noting cracks remain visible in their homes at Eight Mile Rock and in the surrounding area, and that previous complaints had never been adequately addressed.
One resident told the meeting that family photographs had fallen from walls during blasting while cracks that frst appeared years ago remain unrepaired. Another described ceilings cracking and homes shaking during blasting, questioning what assurances residents could realistically place in future monitoring programmes.
Travis Williams recalled inviting former company representatives to witness the efects of blasting frst-hand after repeated complaints from residents.
“When they set of the blast, the whole house shook,” said Mr Williams.
He said company ofcials acknowledged the severity of the vibration at the time but claimed little changed afterward. “After that, it became, ‘Get your lawyer’,” he said, drawing audible
NOTICE
reactions from sections of the audience.
Dust generated by quarry operations was another recurring concern. A participant said residents continue to deal with dust settling on homes, vehicles and outdoor areas. “The dust is terrible,” she said. “On paper it looks pretty because it sounds good, but the reality of it is diferent.”
Others raised concerns over fooding, groundwater protection, marine habitats and the long-term implications of converting the former cement property into an expanded harbour basin.
Charles Bennet, while stressing he was not opposed to development, urged Bahama Rock and regulators to ensure water movement and drainage issues were fully understood before any approvals were granted. “I’m not anti-development,” said Mr Bennet. “I just want proper mitigation.”
Questions were also raised about the project’s broader economic benefts, with some residents asking whether Grand Bahama would receive suffcient long-term value in exchange for the loss of natural habitat and continued quarrying activity.
Throughout the evening, DEPP ofcials repeatedly reminded attendees that no decision had yet been made on Bahama Rock’s application.
Dr Rhianna Neely-Murphy, DEPP director, stressed that the public consultation formed only one
IN THE ESTATE OF LAURIN LLEWELYN KNOWLES, late of Mangrove Bush of the Island of Long Island, in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Deceased.
NOTICE is hereby given that all persons having any claims against the above-named Estate are required, on or before the 31st day of August, A.D. 2026 to send their names and addresses, and particulars of their debts or claims, to the undersigned, and if so required by notice in writing from the undersigned, to come in and prove such debts or claims, or in default thereof they will be excluded from the beneft of any distribution AND all persons indebted to the said Estate are asked to pay their respective debts to the undersigned at once.
AND NOTICE is hereby also given that at the expiration of the mentioned above, the assets of the late LAURIN LLEWELYN KNOWLES will be distributed among the persons entitled thereto having regard only to the claims of which the Executors shall then have had notice
AND NOTICE is hereby given that all persons indebted to the said Estate are requested to make full settlement on or before the date hereinbefore mentioned. Dated this 28th day of July, A.D., 2026.
Dated this 28th day of July, A.D., 2026.
c/o PYFROM & CO Attorneys for the Executor, No.259 Shirley Street, P.O. Box N 8958, Nassau, N.P., Bahamas
The Board of Directors of Finance Corporation of Bahamas Limited hereby notifies its Shareholders that a dividend payment of twenty cents ($0.20) per Ordinary share will be paid on 13th August 2026 to all Shareholders of record as at 6th August 2026.
Corporate Secretary
stage of the environmen-
tal review process and that the proposal had not been approved.
She said comments received during the consultation would form part of the Department’s assessment and could result in requests for additional information or changes to the proposal before any regulatory decision is made.
Environmental consultants working on behalf of Bahama Rock also outlined proposed mitigation measures, including blast monitoring, pre-blast property inspections, dust suppression and ongoing environmental monitoring,but many attendees remained unconvinced, arguing similar assurances had been made in the past.
The meeting came just days after environmental activists launched a petition urging the Government and regulators to halt the proposal until an independent review of its environmental, social and economic impacts is completed.
The petition argues that the project would permanently alter part of south-west Grand Bahama through quarrying, dredging and harbour expansion, and calls for a broader assessment of alternative land uses before any irreversible work is approved.
Despite the sometimes combative tone of the meeting, DEPP ofcials encouraged members of the public to continue submitting written comments as the environmental review proceeds, stressing that the consultation process is intended to help inform - not pre-determine - the Government’s decision on the project.
Union president hopeful tourism impact avoided
DRIVE - from page B3
importance of resolving the dispute without damaging The Bahamas’ tourism product.
“She’s prepared to help bring some resolution to it,” Mr Butler said, adding that she also committed to addressing several other concerns the union raised regarding transportation operations at the Nassau Cruise Port while co-ordinating with the Ministry of Transport.
“She’s aware of that. And that is something she is trying to avoid because she believes that the tourists are really something that we should never seek to really damage or cause any unnecessary strain on that industry,” he said.
The meeting marks a shift in tone from the BTCU’s threats to escalate its campaign after claiming previous talks with government ofcials had produced little progress.
Last week, Mr Butler warned that taxi operators were prepared to “cause whatever chaos in the tourism industry” was necessary and withdraw services if the Government failed to stop what the union alleges is illegal competition from livery operators.
The dispute intensifed earlier this month when taxi drivers temporarily blocked access to the international departures terminal at LPIA, accusing some livery drivers of unlawfully soliciting passengers and alleging
NOTICE
baggage porters and Nassau Airport Development Company employees were directing customers toward those operators.
Following that protest, Mr Lundy pledged several reforms to reduce confict between the two sectors. Despite those commitments, the BTCU has continued to press for stronger enforcement while placing its campaign under the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Mr Butler said the latest discussions have left the union more optimistic than at any stage since the confict intensifed.
“She [Mrs Hanna Martin] understands that, but she said it serves no good purpose, and that is why she is committed to try and do whatever she can to help move the process along,” he said.
“To her credit, I will say that I think the team that we took to the meeting left feeling pretty confdent, and feeling pretty satisfed, that with the meeting itself and what was discussed, it felt like we would have got somewhere.”
IN THE ESTATE OF DANIEL DROST, late of West Bay Street of the Western District of the Island of New Providence, in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Deceased.
NOTICE is hereby given that all persons having any claims against the above-named Estate are required, on or before the 31st day of August, A.D. 2026 to send their names and addresses, and particulars of their debts or claims, to the undersigned, and if so required by notice in writing from the undersigned, to come in and prove such debts or claims, or in default thereof they will be excluded from the beneft of any distribution AND all persons indebted to the said Estate are asked to pay their respective debts to the undersigned at once.
AND NOTICE is hereby also given that at the expiration of the mentioned above, the assets of the late DANIEL DROST will be distributed among the persons entitled thereto having regard only to the claims of which the Executor shall then have had notice.
AND NOTICE is hereby given that all persons indebted to the said Estate are requested to make full settlement on or before the date hereinbefore mentioned.
Dated this 28th day of July, A.D., 2026.
c/o PYFROM & CO
Attorneys for the Executor, No.259 Shirley Street, P.O. Box N 8958, Nassau, N.P., Bahamas
NOTICE
IN THE ESTATE OF PATRICIA ANN LEWIS aka PATRICIA LEWIS, late of Treasure Cove Subdivision of the Eastern District of the Island of New Providence, in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Deceased.
NOTICE is hereby given that all persons having any claims against the above-named Estate are required, on or before the 31st day of August, A.D. 2026 to send their names and addresses, and particulars of their debts or claims, to the undersigned, and if so required by notice in writing from the undersigned, to come in and prove such debts or claims, or in default thereof they will be excluded from the beneft of any distribution AND all persons indebted to the said Estate are asked to pay their respective debts to the undersigned at once.
AND NOTICE is hereby also given that at the expiration of the mentioned above, the assets of the late PATRICIA ANN LEWIS aka PATRICIA LEWIS will be distributed among the persons entitled thereto having regard only to the claims of which the Executor shall then have had notice.
AND NOTICE is hereby given that all persons indebted to the said Estate are requested to make full settlement on or before the date hereinbefore mentioned.
Dated this 28th day of July, A.D., 2026.
c/o PYFROM & CO
Attorneys for the Executor, No.259 Shirley Street, P.O. Box N 8958, Nassau, N.P., Bahamas
‘Sit at table and work at’ solving marina impasse
unwise for both sides to air their “dirty laundry” given that it will be picked up outside The Bahamas and could impact the very investor confdence essential to driving Grand Bahama’s long hoped-for economic revival.
Bahamaland Waterways and its principals, Peter Hunt, the Port Lucaya Marketplace proprietor, and his business partner, Shmuel Herschkowitz, have maintained that they submitted extensive compliance documentation and believe the demolition permitting process became unnecessarily complicated despite their eforts.
They are arguing that the “immediate danger” posed by the marina’s “life-threatening conditions” must take priority over the administrative procedures they say regulators are citing for imposing a ‘stop work’ order on its demolition.
However, the GBPA is countering that it is merely enforcing long-standing permit requirements designed to protect public safety and ensure legal compliance.
It added that DevCO, as the Port Lucaya Marina’s landlord, must sign-of on and authorise the demolition but it has yet to do so. DevCO, which is 50 percent
owned by the GBPA’s Port Group Ltd afliate, explained it has not done so because Bahamaland Waterways has yet to provide it with the necessary documents and paperwork to show they are now the actual owners and authorised representatives able to speak for Port Lucaya Marina Company, which holds the 99-lease on the property.
Mr Hepburn, suggesting the impasse can be resolved relatively easily, told Tribune Business: “It’s just a matter of having the trail properly mapped out between tenant, landlord and all the legal work, and alll the ‘i’s’ dotted and the ‘t’s’ crossed. Some persons are eager to move on. Everyone wants to make sure everything is done properly at the end of the day.
“I can say this from the Chamber’s point of view. After having discussions with both sides, we still have to be patient and make sure that we have done everything properly before we run ahead to get things done. We have to make sure we have covered all our bases and keep people properly informed with the facts by both sides so that no one is guessing what’s going on.
“Everyone knows these are the steps to be taken, these are the steps that have
to be followed through, both parties are responsible for their own side, and let’s work together to bring about the best possible outcome for Grand Bahama.”
Mr Hepburn said the Port Lucaya Marina approval process “still needs to follow the rule of law”, adding that the Chamber is “watching, waiting and listening to everything going on”. He called on all parties - the developer, DevCO as landlord and the GBPA as regulator - to “sit at the table and work it out as opposed to public expressions things may be out of order”.
“We don’t want to go out with that look, not only on Grand Bahama, but where it will go outside,” the GB Chamber president explained. “We want to keep investor confdence high and deal with dirty laundry in private, not in the public domain.
“It’s going, but we need to be patient at all levels to make sure we are following all the points, and all the ‘i’s’ are dotted and the ‘t’s’ are crossed. Not everyone wants to do things a particular way, but we have to understand this is how the process works.”
Mr Hepburn said a revived Port Lucaya Marina could attract high-end yachts and boats, whose crews and passengers have major spending power and
US thwarts an Iranian missile attack and launches strikes with Saudi Arabia against militias in Iraq
By BEN FINLEY and KONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press
THE U.S. military said Tuesday that it knocked down an Iranian missile barrage and worked with Saudi Arabia’s forces to strike sites in Iraq that Tehran-backed militias have used to launch attacks in recent days, shattering a brief pause in fghting.
All Iranian missiles launched against American forces in the Middle East were intercepted, U.S. Central Command said, adding that they “remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness.” In announcing the strikes in Iraq, the U.S. warned that further attacks on American troops or Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure risked additional action.
The United States and Iran had experienced a period of calm, during which neither announced attacks for days following weeks of escalation over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf waterway
and narrow chokepoint through which 20% of the world’s traded oil normally fows.
There was no immediate comment from Tehran on the U.S. military statement or the strikes.
The fghting fared at the end of a month packed with multiple pressure points on President Donald Trump. In recent weeks, four U.S. troops died during the fghting, while the Pentagon
asked an increasingly skeptical Congress for money to cover the confict’s ballooning costs.
High gasoline prices tied to the choked-of Strait of Hormuz are contributing to fears that Republicans are vulnerable in November’s midterm elections. The U.S. House narrowly passed a resolution to halt military action in Iran last week, sending another warning to Trump that refects the
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disposable income to revive a key area in Grand Bahama’s tourism product that has been badly in need of a lift for a decade since Hurricane Matthew struck the island.
“Port Lucaya Marketplace has been almost a ghost land from 2016,” he told Tribune Business. “Seeing activity back at Port Lucaya would be a good boost to the economy of Grand Bahama if it gets back to the level where we will be able to have trafc in that area.
“When you are dealing with yachting and boats, they are persons who are high-end, have a high level of disposable income and, based on that, I can see the economic benefts to Grand Bahama when we have people coming to our area and spending. It will result in a good beneft to Grand Bahama.
“It allows retail shops to open, straw vendors to open. It will also allow restaurants in Port Lucaya Marketplace to open. I had one or two I managed down there. They are good restaurants that have fallen away because the business was not there,” Mr Hepburn added.
“The spill over from persons in the Port Lucaya area working; they will have income that spills over into spending in other areas of the economy. Tour
war’s unpopularity with many Americans. Trump has repeatedly retreated from threats to knock out bridges, power plants and other infrastructure but he told Fox News Channel earlier Tuesday that Iran knows he’ll “fnish the job” if its leaders don’t make a deal to end the war.
operators and taxi drivers will bring guests to Port Lucaya. All that is a good boost to the beneft of Grand Bahama.”
Bahamaland Waterways, in a notice issued to the GBPA earlier this week, warned on the economic consequences of ordering Executive Marine Management’s demolition work to halt. “The issuing parties further record that the timely reconstruction of Port Lucaya Marina is a matter of substantial public and economic importance to Grand Bahama,’” it said.
“A functioning modern marina is expected to restore signifcant visiting-vessel activity, and support employment and commercial activity throughout Port Lucaya, including Marketplace tenants, restaurants, entertainment venues, the Straw Market, marine contractors, fuel and transport providers and other local suppliers.
“Any continued suspension of the demolition and reconstruction of Port Lucaya Marina will have serious and far-reaching consequences for the future viability of Port Lucaya Marketplace. Following two major hurricanes, hotels closures and the COVID19 period, the owners of Port Lucaya Marketplace continued to maintain the property in a clean, attractive and fully operational
Iran launched its ballistic missile attack before American and Saudi forces carried out strikes in Iraq, according to a U.S. ofcial, who stressed that the two attacks were not connected. The ofcial spoke on condition of anonymity to detail sensitive military operations.
condition,” Bahama Land Waterways added.
“The Marketplace was among the fastest commercial properties in Grand Bahama to reopen after the hurricanes, and remained operational throughout the COVID-19 period. Despite these eforts, occupancy declined at approximately 50 percent, while rental rates have not been increased for more than 12 years.
“In the present economic circumstances, Port Lucaya Marketplace cannot be expected to sustain its longterm operations without the restoration of the marina, which is of substantial importance to increasing visitor trafc, strengthening existing tenants, attracting new businesses and restoring commercial activity throughout Port Lucaya.
“The strategic importance of Port Lucaya Marketplace and the marina has also been discussed with the principals and management of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) and CTL Maritime [its subsidiary] during recent meetings with the owners of Port Lucaya Marketplace concerning the planned development of the beach club and the broader revitalisation of the area.” That latter statement refers to MSC’s redevelopment of the former Breaker’s Cay property at the Grand Lucayan.
“U.S. and Saudi fghter aircraft struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in a strong response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours,” U.S. Central Command said, using an acronym for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
YOUNG men ride motorcycles along the shore as a tractor pulls equipment from the water and commercial vessels appear anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday, July 27, 2026.
Photo:Razieh Poudat/ISNA/AP
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
THE MENACE
JUDGE PARKER
CARPE DIEM
BLONDIE MARVIN
TIGER
HAGAR
CALVIN & HOBBES
DENNIS
Bahamian real estate rm still battles ‘baseless’ suit
name, Conch & Coconut Ltd, or the conduct by Mr Gibson that he is complaining of. CA Christie is thus accusing Mr Conde of harassment and demanding that it not be required to provide “costly” discovery over what it branded “baseless” claims.
It added that its, and Corcoran’s, “opposition is rooted in the fact that they have been dragged into this case based on threadbare allegations and overreaching claims, not because plaintif [Mr Conde] has any legitimate claims against them”. They added that the re-fled south Florida complaint “does nothing to cure the pleading defects dooming all its claims against the Corcoran entities.
“Thus, the Corcoran entities oppose resuscitation of plaintif’s pursuit of discovery as to them, unless and until this court fnds plaintif has indeed plead viable claims against them. Plaintif should not be permitted to engage in harassing discovery merely because it has re-fled groundless claims against the Corcoran entities in an
amended complaint that is currently operative but will face another.. challenge,” CA Christie and Corcoran asserted.
Judge Williams, in her July 10, 2026, verdict, had ruled Mr Conde had failed to provide any evidence to substantiate his “vicarious liability” claim against CA Christie. And the Bahamian real estate frm, in its July 27, 2026, flings asserted he had “failed to explain how Mr Gibson allegedly used the [Conch & Coconut] marks to further CA Christie interests and how CA Christie in any way controlled or participated in those actions”.
“It sufces here to say that plaintif has again pled claims against the Corcoran entities that sufer from the same defects as the original ones. Mainly, the claims again are based on conclusory allegations,” CA Christie and Corcoran argued.
“And, while plaintif attempts to provide certain isolated specifcs about Mr Gibson’s alleged real estate actions and how he purportedly used plaintif’s claimed marks and trade secret information to enhance his real estate endeavours, it
does nothing to address the fundamental missing link: Corcoran’s or CA Christie’s knowledge, control or involvement in any of the alleged ofending actions.
“Plaintif’s claims against the Corcoran entities were baseless from the start and continue to be so. The Corcoran entities should not have to engage in harassing and costly discovery…. The amended complaint proves only that plaintif simply refuses to acknowledge it has no claims against them. Unfortunately, it will now need to be told so for a second time by this court.”
Mr Conde and his Florida-domiciled Conch & Coconut LLC, in the latest version of their complaint, allege: “Gibson, as a real estate agent for Corcoran CA Christie and the Corcoran Group, uses the Conch & Coconut marks to rent, sell or ofer to sell or rent real estate properties in The Bahamas to consumers in the US and Florida.”
This, he claims, employs “at least a portion of the Conch & Coconut trade secrets to market for Corcoran CA Christie and the Corcoran Group. Gibson infringed the Conch & Coconut marks, and
Regulator hails ‘well contained’ risks despite stability index ‘ebb’
“As a result, the ratio of net income to equity (return on equity) rose to 26.4 percent from 23 percent in 2024, while the ratio of net income to average monthly assets (return on assets) frmed to 4.36 percent rom 4.16 percent in the prior year.
“By components, the ratio of net interest income to average assets eased to 4.82 percent from 5.02 percent, while the ratio of commission and foreign exchange income to average assets frmed by 57 basis points to 1.45 percent. This resulted in a slightly strengthened gross earnings margin by four basis points to 6.4 percent.
“Meanwhile, as the operating costs ratio moved higher by ten basis points to 4.36 percent, the net earnings margin gained only 30 basis points to 1.9 percent. Improved credit quality trends enhanced the net income performance to a lesser extent than in 2024, as banks reduced total provisions for bad debt by approximately two-thirds less,” the banking regulator added.
“This outcome, alongside other, mainly fee-based income growth and
steadied depreciation costs, supported a lessened contribution from other net earnings in the return on assets of 2.43 percent as compared to 2.55 percent the previous year.”
As for banking asset quality, the Central Bank said of the full-year 2025 outcome:
“Domestic banks’ credit quality indicators continued to improve, undergirded by sustained economic growth and ongoing loan writeofs. Total private sector loan arrears fell by $7.7m (1.6 percent) to $461.8m, although a slowdown from the $92.2m (16.4 percent) contraction in 2024.
“The moderation was attributed to the reduction in mortgage arrears, outweighing the increases in commercial and consumer delinquencies. As a result, the ratio of arrears to total private sector loans narrowed by 51 basis points to 7.6 percent compared to the 2.2 percentage point fall-of in 2024.
A breakdown by average age of arrears indicated that the non-performing loan (NPL) segment decreased by $14.7m (4.6 percent) to $303m, trailing the $43.8m 12.1%) retrenchment in the prior year.
“Refecting this outturn, mortgage and consumer non-performing loans
declined by $27.9m (13.5 percent) and $0.5m (0.6 percent), respectively. However, commercial non-performing loans grew by $13.8m (51.7 percent),” the Central Bank added.
“Further, short-term arrears, 31–90 days past due, increased by $6.9m (4.6 percent) to $158.8m, a reversal from a $48.3m (24.2 percent) reduction in 2024.
“Contributing to this outcome, the commercial portion rose by $4.2m (72.5 percent) and consumer arrears by $3.1m (7.2 percent). In contrast, mortgage arrears edged down by $0.4m (0.4 percent). As a result, the ratio of non-performing loans to total private sector loans declined by 50 basis points to 5 percent, while the ratio for short-term arrears remained unchanged at 2.6 percent.”
The Central Bank, together with other Bahamian fnancial services regulators, said “fnancial stability risks within The Bahamas’ fnancial sector remained well contained” during 2025, and in the outlook for this year, despite
counterfeited the LLC services, in furtherance of his job at Corcoran CA Christie, and to the beneft of Corcoran CA Christie and Corcoran Group….
“Gibson runs both his real estate services for Corcoran CA Christie and his infringing concierge business under the [Conch & Coconut Ltd] out of the same ofce – the Bungalow, in order to expose the LLC’s customers to his real estate services,” Mr Conde alleged.
“Gibson has further sold properties to, and listed properties for rent, for Conch & Coconut customers, and after breaching and misappropriating Conch & Coconut’s trade secrets.
“Gibson has sold at least four properties - Tickled Pink, Luna Sea, the Playhouse and Rosebud - and has at least three active listings that had been rented to Conch & Coconut customers through the Conch & Coconut platform - Java Estate, Sea Breeze Villa and White House Villa. Gibson will continue to market his real estate services for Corcoran CA Christie and Corcoran Group using Conch & Coconut’s misappropriated trade secrets.”
the multiple geopolitical uncertainties impacting the world economy which are “underscoring slightly elevated risks over the near-term”.
It added that, while the Bank Stability Index eased slightly in 2025, it remains in strong, healthy territory.
“In 2025, commercial banks maintained robust capital bufers and satisfactory provisioning levels, which resulted in no new concerns arising regarding stability in the banking sector,” the Central Bank asserted.
“The consolidated stress tests results, inclusive of credit, liquidity and interest rate risks, underscored resilience with capital ratios under simulated shocks staying above the regulatory minimum of 17 percent given a baseline average capital to risk-weighted assets ratio which fuctuated between 35 percent and 38.5 percent.
“However, the Bank Stability Index (BSI) ebbed slightly in 2025 as compared to 2024. Similarly,
Mr Conde repeated his allegations that CA Christie has been “unjustly enriched” by being given access to “at least a portion” of his confdential Conch & Coconut customer lists “to generate real estate business and leads” for the company. “The LLC’s customer list is a valuable trade secret resource that Gibson can, and has, used as a Corcoran CA Christie real estate agent to market Corcoran CA Christie’s services to the LLC’s customers,” he claimed.
“Additionally, in July 2025, CA Christie listed Rosalita House as new short-term rental listing, whose owner is a Conch & Coconut customer who were listed and uploaded by Gibson to his real estate marketing spreadsheet on May 30, 2025. Rosalita House expressly does not list Gibson, in an apparent efort to hide Corcoran CA Christie’s intentional use of the misappropriated Conch & Coconut trade secrets.
“Accordingly, Corcoran CA Christie has been unjustly enriched by Gibson’s post-May 2025 closing of real estate transactions on the Tickled Pink, Luna Sea, the Playhouse and
the Aggregate Financial Stability Index (AFSI) softened, relative to the previous year, refecting the rise in global economic uncertainties.”
However, the Central Bank continued: “The stability within the domestic fnancial system remains buttressed by strong capital and liquidity bufers among systemically important institutions, improving balance sheet strength and strengthening co-ordination mechanisms among key Bahamian fnancial sector regulators and through the Bahamas Financial Stability Council (BFSC).
“In its frst full year of proceedings, the Council agreed to pursue near-term priorities, which included strengthening the analytical framework for fnancial stability, particularly around interconnectedness across key sectors, assessment of climate and cyber security related risks and improving data coverage.
“Against this backdrop, the Central Bank, in
Rosebud properties, and/ or will be unjustly enriched when real estate transactions close for Java Estate, Sea Breeze Villa, White House Villa and Rosalita House,” Mr Conde further alleged.
“Thus, Corcoran Group is vicariously liable for Gibson’s theft of Conch & Coconut’s trade secrets and ongoing trademark infringement of the Conch & Coconut marks. Gibson further operates the infringing activities under the Bungalow in the same ofce he operates his real estate services for Corcoran CA Christie, benefting Corcoran CA Christie by marketing their services using the goodwill of the LLC and to the LLC’s customers.
“Corcoran CA Christie is vicariously liable for the tortious and unlawful actions, including Gibson’s trademark infringement and misappropriation of the LLC’s trade secrets as a real estate agent of Corcoran CA Christie and for the beneft of Corcoran CA Christie.”
collaboration with Council members, continues to monitor trends in the fnancial system with the aim of identifying any emerging risks - both domestic and external - to stability.”
The regulator added:
“As to the level of interconnectedness in the banking system, network analysis revealed that despite some interconnectedness between domestic banks, the high capital and liquidity ratios mitigate any related systemic risk. In addition, contagion risks remained low as a result of banks’ small exposures relative to capital levels.
“The credit union sector continued to perform strongly, with improved credit quality and overall balance sheet indicators. Nevertheless, proftability was marginally reduced and average liquidity slightly moderated. Nevertheless, capital adequacy levels continued to exceed the international PEARLS benchmark.”
Union needs to be ‘relevant’ following ‘years of instability’
trade unionist Dave Beckford, the union’s vice-president; Brian Smith, the treasurer; Phillippa Dixon, assistant secretary general; and trustees Ivy Minnis and Richard Johnson.
Acting justice Rigby efectively conceded that power struggles, and fghts for control, are a regular feature of the Bahamian trade union environment, with the interests of members often ignored and neglected during these spats. “Disputes do sometimes arise in the context of leadership of a trade union. Like any contest for control, there are factions that support one side as opposed to another,” he wrote.
“The executive members of a trade union have a duty to the membership of the trade union. They must remain true to the sacred purpose for which that trade union was formed.” And, to remain true to these goals, acting justice Rigby called for the BGWU’s leadership to get its act together and restore the harmony necessary to properly advocate for its BAIC line staf members.
“I cannot end this ruling without admonishing the main players in the union to quickly bring an end to the internal fghting that brought about the years of instability to the union,” the judge blasted. “The members should move quickly to set a date for nomination and election of ofcers. This is imperative if the union is to remain relevant in serving the needs of its members.”
The battle that split the BGWU leadership erupted just before Christmas 2024 when Mr Beckford and the four other members of his executive council group were all dismissed by the late president, Linda Sands, on December 17, 2024.
Mr Beckford and Mr Johnson were allegedly dismissed for violating the union’s constitution by not being current with his membership dues for “more than 12 weeks”, while Ms Dixon was removed for signing a document as “the secretary-general without authorisation”. Dismissal letters bearing the same date were also received by Mr Smith and Ms Minnis.
Ms Sands, in each case, cited that she was empowered as president by the BGWU’s constitution to dismiss the other
executive council members - something they vehemently disputed. She and Natania Johnson sought multiple Supreme Court declarations upholding their actions and the dismissals, including that Mr Beckford, Mr Smith and Ms Minnis were “non-fnancial members” because of their alleged failure to pay union dues and therefore could not perform their executive duties.
“The central contention of the claimants is that the union’s constitution afords unto the president the right to dismiss an executive member,” acting justice Rigby wrote. Evidence provided to the Supreme Court showed that the BGWU’s 2023 and 2024 fnancial statements were both “qualifed” by their auditor, George Watson, although he was not called to testify at the trial.
The 2023 audit found that “no invoices or receipts were available” to support “a signifcant number of cheque” payments, while cash payments of union dues “except for one payment receipt could not be verifed nor traced into the bank statements”.
The auditor concluded: “We were unable to gather sufcient audit evidence,
Wisconsin’s appeals court overturns ruling that had restored collective bargaining power
By SCOTT BAUER Associated Press
A WISCONSIN appeals court on Wednesday restored a 2011 anti-union law that abolished collective bargaining rights, in a setback for unions and public workers. Unions are expected to appeal, sending the case to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which is controlled by liberal justices.
The 2024 ruling striking down the law as unconstitutional had been on hold pending appeal, so Wednesday’s reversal does not change the status quo. The law remains in efect, as it has been the past 15 years, as the legal fght continues.
Enactment of a 2011 anti-union state law, championed by Republicans, sparked weeks of protests and made Wisconsin the center of a national battle over union rights.
That law, known as Act 10, efectively ended most public employees’ ability to bargain for wage increases and other issues, and forced
them to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefts.
Wisconsin court overturns ruling that struck down anti-union law
Supporters of the law say it gives local governments more control over workers and the powers needed to cut costs. They argue that repealing the law, which allowed schools and local governments to raise money through higher employee contributions for benefts, would bankrupt those entities.
Opponents argue the law has hurt schools and government agencies by stripping employees of the right to collectively bargain over pay and working conditions.
Christina Brey, a spokesperson for the unions that brought the lawsuit, said they remain confdent on the merits of the case and that they are considering all available options.
“Wisconsin is better when all employees have a say in our workplaces, whether about class sizes in our schools, safety on the job, hours or any other number of areas,” Brey said.
“Public service workers across the state won’t stop until we regain free, fair and full collective bargaining rights to negotiate with our employers.”
Former Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who introduced and championed the law, praised the decision.
“This ruling is a major win for the hard-working taxpayers of Wisconsin and the people they elect to run our schools, state, and local governments,” Walker said in a text message.
All fve of the Democratic candidates for governor this year have vowed to repeal the law if elected. The primary is Aug. 11.
Tens of thousands protested the anti-union law at the state Capitol
in particular to cash disbursements, as a signifcant amount of the supporting documents were not available for examination, and verifcation of cash receipts and expenditures which comprise cash disbursements, over which there was no system of internal control on which we could rely for the purpose of our audit.”
The audit report for the year to end-December 2024 was a similar story, as the auditor found “support documents for a signifcant number of fnancial transactions were not available for examination”. The report concluded: “We were unable to gather sufcient audit evidence, in particular to dues income and cash disbursements, as the underlying supporting documents were not available for examination.”
Mr Smith, the treasurer, under cross-examination, conceded that the BGWU’s bank account was non-compliant with regulatory requirements, which prevented him from obtaining statements to allow the auditor to complete his work, but added that the union’s fnances were still functioning.
Natania Johnson, in her evidence, detailed a February 7, 2025, executive council meeting where only herself and Ms Sands were present. At this meeting, they decided to replace Mr Smith as treasurer with Nathanya Francesca Bastian, and appoint Kevin Bradley Moxey and Loretta Monique Tomlinson as trustees. All three received their appointment letters the same day. And, in seeking to justify the dismissal of Mr Beckford and his faction, Natania Johnson subsequently alleged they were all involved in “a conspiracy… to destabilise the BGWU” by attacking its leadership. This was accompanied by claims ranging from the freezing of the BGWU’s bank account by Commonwealth Bank’s Golden Gates branch to fears the union would be “de-registered” and allegations that cheques to pay Christmas bonuses to members were not being signed.
However, Mr Beckford and his group counter-attacked by alleging that Ms Sands’ mandate as president has expired due to her June 23, 2023, retirement from BAIC. And they argued that, as executive council members, the union’s constitution gave them “equal powers” that “nullify and/ or cancel” those exercised by Ms Sands in dismissing them. And acting justice Rigby, after reviewing the union’s constitution and respective
powers of the president and executive council, agreed with Mr Beckford and his group that the power to suspend, expel or dismiss any ofcers, members or staf lay with the collective body and not the late Ms Sands.
Noting that the union’s constitution does not provide for a president, only a chairman, the judge wrote:
“The chairman does not have the authority acting alone to suspend or dismiss any ofcer or member of the union. It is also my view that the constitution intended that the powers of the executive council be exercised by the majority of the members of the council….
“It is my view, and I so hold, that the constitution intended to vest the power to suspend or expel an executive council ofcer in the hands of the executive council and not the chairman. The constitution grants unto the chairman the power to act and to carry out the functions on the authority of the executive council. That is, the chairman cannot act alone but must act with the consensus of the executive council.”
As a result, acting justice Rigby ruled that all the dismissals of Mr Beckford and his colleagues were “foul of the constitution” of the BGWU. He also found that Ms Sands and Natania Johnson had failed to prove that Mr Beckford and Mr Smith were “non-fnancial” members of the union.
The law was Walker’s signature legislative achievement, catapulting him onto the national political stage and spurring an unsuccessful attempt to recall him from ofce. Walker used the furor to mount a brief, ill-fated run for president that ended in 2015.
The Republican-controlled Legislature approved the law despite the massive protests that went on for weeks and drew as many as 100,000 people to the state Capitol.
The law efectively ended collective bargaining for most public unions by allowing them to bargain solely over base wage increases no greater than infation. It also disallowed the automatic withdrawal of union dues, required annual recertifcation votes for unions, and forced public workers to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefts. It led to a dramatic decrease in union membership across Wisconsin.
The law has withstood numerous legal challenges over the years, but this is the frst since the Wisconsin Supreme Court fipped to liberal control in 2023.
The lawsuit, fled by seven unions and three union leaders, argued Act 10 should be struck down because it creates unconstitutional exemptions for frefghters and other public safety workers. Attorneys for the Legislature and state agencies countered that the exemptions are legal, have already been upheld by other courts, and that the case should be dismissed.
The Legislature said in court flings that arguments made in the current case were rejected in 2014 by the state Supreme Court.
The only change since that ruling is the makeup of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, attorneys for the Legislature said.
Appeals court agrees with Republicans, questions timing of lawsuit
The three-judge appeals court panel ruled in a 2-1 decision to overturn a December 2024 ruling from Dane County Circuit Judge Jacob Frost, saying the challenged provisions of the law did not violate equal protection guarantees of the Wisconsin Constitution.
NOTICE
The Wisconsin Legislature had a “rational basis” for only placing certain public safety workers under the law, the appeals court said.
“Courts must respect both precedent and our role in deferring to the Legislature’s fscal policy decisions,” the appeals court said.
Appeals Court Judge Shelley Grogan said in a concurring opinion that the timing of the lawsuit was “to say the least, suspect.” The lawsuit was fled in November 2023, three months after the Wisconsin Supreme Court switched from majority conservative control to a majority of liberal justices.
“Renewed attempts to attack Act 10 on already-rejected bases simply because the composition of our supreme court has changed must be rejected,” Grogan wrote. “A law’s constitutionality does not ebb and fow with a court’s composition, and the judicial branch must not be used to advance political agendas on either side of the political spectrum.”
The lower court “had no legal basis” to declare the law unconstitutional, the appeals court said.
In the Estate of HUBERT FREDERICK ALBURY aka. HUBERT F. ALBURY late of No. 30, Murphyville Road, Palmdale, in the Eastern District of the Island of New Providence, one of the Islands of the Commonwealth of e Bahamas, deceased.
NOTICE is hereby given that all persons having any claim or demand against the above Estate, are requested to send their names, addresses and particulars of the same certi ed in writing to the undersigned on or before the 6th day of September, A.D. 2026 and if required, to prove such debts or claims, or in default be excluded from any distribution; AND NOTICE is hereby given that a er the above date the assets will be distributed; having regard only to the proved debts or claims, of which the Executor shall have had Notice. AND NOTICE is hereby given that all persons indebted to the said Estate are requested to make full settlement on or before the aforesaid date.
Dated the 23rd day of July, A.D. 2026
Edgar O. Moxey & Associates No. 16, West Court - O 9th Terr., Centerville P.O.Box N-3447 Nassau N.P., Bahamas Phone:326-8146
Attorneys for the Executor
(D. 23, 30 & 6th)
PROTESTORS of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s bill to eliminate collective bargaining rights for many state workers pack the rotunda at the State Capitol Feb. 17, 2011, in Madison, Wis.
Photo:Andy Manis/AP
announces a $22.5B makeover of Dulles airport that will eliminate the ‘people movers’
By DARLENE SUPERVILLE and MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press
PRESIDENT Donald
Trump on Wednesday
announced a $22.5 billion renovation of Washington Dulles International Airport that will end the use of the widely disliked “people movers,” the mobile lounges that have been used for decades to shuttle travelers to and from the main terminal.
In place of the people movers, the airport will add a new U-shaped passenger train, a central walking tunnel, more moving walkways and new concourses.
An above-ground parking garage closer to the main terminal with space for 32,000 vehicles is also in the ofng, according to Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Dufy.
The airport makeover would add to a long list of renovation projects the Republican president is pursuing to leave a lasting mark on the Washington region after his term ends in January 2029. Among other undertakings, he is building a new White House ballroom and wants to build a towering triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial.
But of all the construction projects Trump is pursuing, the renovations at Dulles could prove to be his most popular and beneft the greatest number of people. The airport, the area’s primary international airport, served roughly 29 million passengers over the past year, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
“This transformation is another step in our ongoing eforts to make Washington, D.C., safe and beautiful again,” Trump said. “We’re
doing something with Dulles that’s going to make it the top anywhere in the world.”
Trump says Dulles modernization is ‘sorely needed’
Trump, who used a laser pointer to explain the renovations displayed on renderings, said the “crazy distances” travelers must walk to get from place to place make Dulles “the worst airport.”
Congress would need to approve some aspects of the renovation plan, Trump said. Construction could start next spring, Dufy said. The plan does not call for expanding Dulles’ runways or adding new ones.
Ofcials said the airlines and the airport authority that operates Dulles would pay for the project with municipal bonds, but they did not spell out how much of the cost might be passed on to travelers through higher fees or ticket prices when fying out of the airport.
John Potter, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates Dulles, said his agency, United Airlines and other airlines operating there have agreed “to fund this thing.” Dulles is one of United’s hubs.
“So this is not requiring federal dollars,” Potter said at the Oval Ofce event. “This is going to be airport-generated dollars, airline contributions, which is phenomenal.”
Dulles, located in northern Virginia, is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from downtown Washington. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is located
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 23rd day of July, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I KAREEM NATHANIEL EDWARDS of Central Pines, Abaco, 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 23rd day of July, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
in Arlington, Virginia, which is closer to downtown, making it popular with members of Congress and local residents.
The president, a former real estate developer, said in December that Dulles was “incorrectly designed.”
He nonetheless praised Eero Saarinen, the Finnish-American architect and designer of the airport’s main terminal. Trump and Dufy said the president reviewed presentations from about 30 architects before Trump settled on the redesign he announced Wednesday.
Some costs might eventually be shared by taxpayers and travelers
Even if the project is largely paid for by the airlines, industry analyst Henry Harteveldt said taxpayers might be asked to cover upgrades to the runways and safety measures as well as new customs and security facilities. The president of Atmosphere Research Group said he also wouldn’t be surprised
to see a passenger facility fee added eventually.
“I’m not taking the statement that they are not going to use taxpayer money at face value,” Harteveldt said.
The reason United and other airlines are willing to invest in Dulles, he said, is that they believe it will help them expand by adding more fights and passengers, boosting their revenue. But this could also contribute to higher ticket prices.
“United is going to try to charge as much for its tickets as it can. Other airlines will do the same,” Harteveldt said. “I think part of the statement that no tax money will be used could
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I, XUEQUAN SU of Eastern Road, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 23rd day of July, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
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 23rd day of July, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship,
LOLLIPOP INC.
Pursuant to the Provisions of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act 2000 notice is hereby given that the above-named Company has been dissolved and struck of the Register pursuant to a Certifcate of Dissolution issued by the Registrar General on the 30th day of July 2026.
be something to placate the public right now.”
Dulles has relied on people movers since it opened in 1962
Designed by Chrysler Corp., the people movers shuttle passengers between the terminal and aircraft.
The airport operates a feet of 19 mobile lounges, each capable of carrying up to 102 passengers, according to its website.
When Dulles debuted, the airport touted the system as a major convenience. Passengers, it said, “had to walk only 200 feet once they entered the
terminal until they were seated in a mobile lounge for the short trip directly to their aircraft,” a service it described as unique to Dulles.
But they have become one of passengers’ least favorite aspects of transiting through Dulles, with travelers — and Trump — complaining that the system is outdated, balky and slow. At times, planes have to wait for a people mover to cross and vice versa, which slows operations at the airport.
One of the lounges crashed in November, sending 18 people to the hospital.
NOTICE is hereby given that I RICHARDO NAVARDO SMITH of #14 Kensington Gardens, Nassau, 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 30th day of April, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147,
NOTICE
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 23rd day of July, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
PRESIDENT Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House about Dulles International Airport modernization, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Washington. Photo:Julia Demaree
A SIGN of Washington Dulles International Airport station is seen during the opening of new Silver Line Extension at Washington Dulles International Airport, in Chantilly, Va., Nov. 15, 2022. Photo:Jose Luis Magana/AP
Cuba loosens control of its private sector in a struggle with a mounting humanitarian crisis
By ANDREA RODRÍGUEZ and ARIEL FERNÁNDEZ Associated Press
IN an efort to fend of a mounting humanitarian crisis, Cuba on Wednesday eased up on longtime restrictions on private vendors and imports, opening up a sector frmly controlled by the Communist-led government.
The reforms would allow for the import and resale of some goods and medicines from other countries, loosen restrictions on oil extraction for foreign companies and implement other changes at a time when the country is plagued by medical and energy shortages.
While private enterprise has slowly opened in recent years, many sales on the country’s informal market have long existed in a gray area — not technically legal but widely used by Cubans struggling to survive the day-to-day hardships.
The measures, which were approved by the parliament last month and went into efect on Wednesday, are expected to bring about a signifcant shift on the island, where the economy and industry have
been strictly controlled by the government since the 1960s.
The reforms come as Cuba has been pushed to the brink by an oil blockade imposed by the United States in January. The move by the Trump administration, meant to put pressure on the government, worsened already crippling blackouts, cut workers of from public transport, crippled infrastructure and deepened shortages in medicine and food.
Last month, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the reforms were necessary because the country “simply cannot continue on its current course.”
In total, the government said it was removing 46 of the 125 prohibitions it had on private industry, and relaxed 35 other regulations.
Still, many bans remain in place — tobacco production, long a staple of the Caribbean island, would remain in state hands. So would internet access, newspaper publishing and radio broadcasting.
The easing of restrictions appeared to target specifc areas hardest hit by the ongoing crisis.
Microsoft beats Wall Street expectations with $90B in revenue
By KAITLYN HUAMANI AP Technology Writer
MICROSOFT posted strong results for its quarterly earnings on Wednesday, beating expectations and showing strong
Medicines, largely purchased through massive groups on apps like Telegram and WhatsApp on the informal market, would now also be sold by private pharmacies. Shelves in state-owned pharmacies selling subsidized medicine are often empty. Many welcomed the loosening of the restrictions.
period a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by FactSet Research had expected the company to earn $4.24 per share on revenue of $87.62 billion this quarter.
growth in its cloud computing platform and a boost in paid AI users. The Redmond, Washington, company earned $90 billion, or $4.81 per share, in the April-June quarter. That is up 18% from the same
Microsoft Cloud revenue was $59.3 billion this quarter, up 27% year-over-year. That growth refects the demand across Microsoft’s cloud computing platform Azure, as well as its frstparty AI applications and services. Azure and other
Francisco Carbajal, a 71-year-old retiree who sufers from seizures, said it gives him hope things would improve.
“What I really want is that there are medications available, because I have diabetic neuropathy and carbamazepine hasn’t arrived at my pharmacy in a long time,” he said as he sat on a street in Havana,
cloud services revenue increased 43%.
For the full fscal year, which closed out at the end of June, the company brought in $331.8 billion in revenue.
“This year, Azure revenue surpassed $100 billion for the frst time, and Microsoft 365 Copilot reached over 30 million paid seats, refecting the confdence customers are placing in us to power their AI transformation,” CEO Satya
to import electric vehicles, which are rapidly becoming a crucial alternative to get around the island where the public transport system has largely collapsed due to gasoline shortages.
Restrictions will also ease on Cuba’s decaying oil sector, making it easier for foreign investors and private businesses.
Cuba’s government had already made moves to loosen restrictions on private industry over the last few decades.
the capital. “Without it, I’m helpless, because I get epileptic seizures.” The government also gave the green light for private care facilities for elderly Cubans — many young Cubans who would have traditionally cared for their aging relatives have migrated abroad. The new measures would also make it easier
Nadella said in a statement Wednesday. The concurrent Azure and Copilot growth indicate that Microsoft is “winning on both fronts,” Michael J. Wolf, founder and CEO of Activate Consulting said in a statement. Microsoft is doing so by “supplying the cloud infrastructure for enterprise AI while monetizing the AI tools embedded in the products workers use every day.”
Investors had been looking for evidence that Azure and Copilot, Microsoft’s fagship AI assistant, could eventually produce returns as concerns about high AI spending have steadily grown across the industry. Chief fnancial ofcer Amy Hood told investors on a call that the company’s capital expenditures and investment expectations remain unchanged for the 2026 calendar year. An accounting change will bring that guidance closer to approximately $175 billion, Hood said, but in practice, the expectations remain “unchanged.” This move marks a break from
Cubans were allowed to seek self-employment and in a massive shift in 2021 — after the tourism-driven economy was roiled by the coronavirus pandemic and a migratory fight from the island began to pick up — authorities allowed the creation of small businesses.
These latest reforms “truly allow and facilitate the participation of nonstate economic actors in the country’s economy,” said Lázara Mercedes López Acea, president of the National Institute of NonState Economic Actors, who presented the new regulations.
competitors that have been steadily increasing their spending forecasts.
Hood said earlier this year that the company expects to invest $190 billion in capital expenditures in 2026, a fgure that includes approximately $25 billion from the impact of higher component pricing. Microsoft’s capital expenditures were $41 billion this quarter.
Bryan Hayes, an investment strategist at Zacks Investment Research, said in a statement that “for the frst time in three quarters, the market appears willing to grant that the spending is buying something real.”
“We remain very confdent in the long-term return on these investments, given these strong demand signals, the increasing product usage we’ve seen and the efciencies that we’re driving across the platform,” said Danielle Criste, Microsoft’s director of investor relations, in an interview. Microsoft’s shares rose about 9% to $426.03 in after-hours trading.
N O T I C E
Reds Trading Limited (Voluntary Liquidation)
Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000, the abovenamed Company is in dissolution, which commenced on the 27th day of July, A.D., 2026. e Liquidator is Galnom Ltd., CUB Financial Center, Western Road, Nassau, Bahamas.
AN image of Fidel Castro hangs on the wall of a state-run pharmacy where a woman asks for medication in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, July 29, 2026. Photo:Ramon Espinosa/AP
A MICROSOFT logo is seen on a screen as people listen at an event at Microsoft headquarters, May 20, 2024, in Redmond, Wash. Photo:Lindsey Wasson/AP
India’s capital part of aggressive electric vehicle targets in bid to curb air pollution
By SIBI ARASU and PIYUSH NAGPAL Associated Press
IN an afuent neighborhood in Delhi, electric vehicle charging stations near a popular shopping area were busy with drivers powering up their scooters, trucks and cars.
India’s capital city is in dire need of more charging facilities, EV drivers say, to implement an ambitious plan to phase out gas vehicles in one of the world’s most polluted cities.
“Charging facilities are not up to the mark yet,” said Shyam Singh, a marketing executive who owns a two-wheel electric scooter, adding that it is hard for long-distance drivers to switch to EVs because the current battery range is not enough.
Delhi uses a bold approach to mainstream EVs
Delhi adopted a new policy on July 1 that aims to make the vast majority of newly registered vehicles electric by 2027. While existing gas-powered vehicles won’t be banned, their numbers are expected to dwindle in the coming years.
Energy experts say the plan is one of the country’s most ambitious electric-vehicle policies and a signifcant step toward improving the city’s air quality and reducing pollution.
The policy provides EV buyers with subsidies and waivers on registration fees and some road taxes, incentives to scrap gas vehicles, and it ofers plans to expand the charging infrastructure. It also targets two- and three-wheelers that make up nearly 70% of vehicles in the city: Starting in 2027, any newly registered threewheeled vehicles and small trucks must be electric, with two-wheelers the following year. Currently, only about 5% of the 8.7 million vehicles registered in Delhi are electric. But EV registrations have been increasing, with over 100,000 in the past year, most of them two- and three-wheelers. Registrations for new gas-powered cars and bigger trucks will still be allowed for the time being.
The plan, which is expected to cost the local government 150 billion rupees ($1.5 billion), will ofer cash amounts of up to 50,000 rupees ($522) for residents who purchase EVs and up to 100,000 rupees ($1,044) for those
who scrap their old gasoline-powered vehicles.
“Delhi’s EV policy is one of the most ambitious policies that I have seen in India,” said Jaideep Saraswat, who leads work on clean power and electric mobility at the Vasudha Foundation. The deadlines, he added, send a signal to automakers and consumers that change is “inevitable.”
While states including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu have ofered incentives for electric vehicle owners and manufacturers, cut taxes and pumped money into setting up charging stations, Delhi is the frst to phase out gas-powered vehicles.
Going electric can reduce pollution
Severe air pollution in Delhi frequently forces school closures, construction bans and emergency public health measures, especially during the winter months. Vehicles cause about a quarter of air pollution in the National Capital Region surrounding Delhi, and two- and three-wheelers are responsible for nearly half of vehicular pollution in the city.
Ruchita Shah, an energy analyst for the global energy think tank Ember, said the city has long been a clean energy pioneer, including its earlier shift toward compressed natural gas vehicles to cut pollution. She said electric vehicles accounted for about 12.7% of Delhi’s new vehicle sales in the 2026 fnancial year, compared with 8.3% nationally.
The new policy’s most forward-looking feature, she said, is linking subsidies
Rotten sh sauce that has long stunk up a small Canadian town is nally being removed
By JIM MORRIS Associated Press
THE townspeople of St. Mary’s can breathe a sigh of relief. They are fnally getting rid of the foul smell of rotten fsh that has for years — when the wind blows their way — wafted over their tiny community in Canada ‘s easternmost province.
And the culprit for the unpleasant odor that has vexed the picturesque town of about 300 people in Newfoundland and Labrador?
About 110 tanks that were left behind — each holding 3,000 gallons of fermented fsh sauce — when the Atlantic Seafood Sauce Company was abandoned more than 20 years ago. The place was left to ruin: windows got broken, the roof blew of, a January storm knocked out a wall. The sauce kept on fermenting as the bacteria did their job — and the townspeople could smell it.
St. Mary’s volunteer mayor, Steve Ryan, says it’s hard to describe just how bad the smell was.
“The worst rotted fsh you ever smelled in your lifetime, times 100,” he told The Associated Press by phone on Wednesday.
As crews kicked of a major cleanup operation at
the dilapidated plant this week, Ryan watched with mixed feelings.
“It’s a big relief,” he said, describing the town’s lengthy “crusade” to get the provincial government to fund the cleanup. The federal government has not contributed to the cost, he added.
“That kind of makes me a little bit mad,” said Ryan, who had briefy worked at the factory after graduating from high school in 1990.
“Every door we came to was just closed in our face. ... They forgot about us.” Over the next few months, workers will drain the vats of left-behind fuid and mix it with peat moss, which will absorb the liquid, he said.
Trucks with giant hoses will then suck up the material and transport it to a pit that has been dug out over three weeks and lined with high-density polyethylene used in landflls. At the end, the pit will be covered with topsoil.
Glenn Sharp, owner of Sharp Management, the company overseeing the task, called it a “unique job.”
“This is a special waste,” he said. “This does not fall under any of the standard classifcations.”
to tight deadlines after which some internal combustion engine vehicles can no longer be newly registered.
Sunil Dahiya, founder of environmental research organization Envirocatalyst, said cleaner vehicles could
signifcantly reduce public exposure to roadside emissions. Still, he cautioned that the benefts will take time to fully materialize because existing gasoline, diesel, and CNG vehicles will continue to operate for years.
ELECTRIC buses move through dense traffic alongside other vehicles and scooters in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
Charging infrastructure is a key hurdle
Some owners of gasoline-powered two-wheelers say this isn’t the right time to go electric.
Siddhant Jha, a 22-yearold software engineer and northern Delhi resident, is worried about the longevity of EVs compared with his traditional two-wheeler, and the annual street fooding damaging a vehicle’s electrical components.
“I’d like to wait for a few years for better models and the 150,000 rupees ($1,566) I’ll spend (on an EV) will make more sense then.”
Jha is also concerned about EV charging accessibility.
Shah, the energy analyst, said the policy’s success hinges on Delhi building sufcient charging infrastructure and sourcing more supplied power from renewable resources rather than fossil fuel plants. Most vehicle charging now
happens at night, when solar power is unavailable, forcing the dependence on thermal power plants to meet demand.
Delhi must also upgrade its electricity grid — especially fast chargers needed by buses, cargo vehicles and cars — to meet the surge in demand and avoid grid failures, said Dahiya, the environmentalist.
Dahiya recommended installing battery storage at charging stations and adopting time-of-day pricing to incentivize charging when renewable power is more abundant.
Delhi’s next challenges will be coordinating with surrounding states to decarbonize the electricity grid and public transport electrifcation, said Saraswat of the Vasudha Foundation.
“As a resident of Delhi, I’m sure each and every one will be extremely thrilled to have this policy. To see that winter where there is no smog, no pollution.”
Photo:Manish Swarup/AP
Telegram’s billionaire founder Pavel Durov has faced legal woes before -- in Russia and France
By The Associated Press
PAVEL Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app, has repeatedly run into trouble with both the Kremlin and Western ofcials as he cast himself as a champion of free speech.
On Wednesday, Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, accused him of aiding what it called terrorist activities. It also said it was adding Durov’s name to international wanted lists.
The Russian-born Durov, 41, responded to the charges by posting an image of himself raising a middle fnger on Telegram’s ofcial account on X. He has denounced previous Kremlin attempts to restrict Telegram as an attack on freedom of expression.
The case marks an escalation of the Kremlin’s eforts to tighten control over the internet and digital communications as it prepares for parliamentary elections in September amid rising public fatigue with the 4-year-old war in Ukraine and its growing economic fallout.
What to know about Durov, Telegram and the charges against him:
Durov founded a popular social media platform in Russia
Durov was born in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, and now also holds citizenship in France, the United Arab Emirates and the Caribbean island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
In 2006 at age 22, Durov and his brother, Nikolai, founded VKontakte, Russia’s largest social network that is similar to Facebook. The company later came under pressure from authorities after mass anti-Kremlin protests in 2011-12, eventually
prompting Durov to sell his stake in VKontakte.
In 2013, he and Nikolai founded Telegram. In 2014, Durov left Russia and moved to Dubai.
Durov, who has a net worth of $6.6 billion according to Forbes, said in a 2024 interview with conservative talk show host Tucker Carlson, that Dubai was “the best place for a neutral platform like ours to be in if we want to make sure we can defend our users’ privacy and freedom of speech.”
A disciple of ftness and healthy living, Durov shared photos of his lean and muscular build achieved via a daily regimen of 300 pushups, intense gym sessions and outdoor activities.
He promotes a strict diet excluding processed foods and alcohol.
He has six children from three former partners and once declared he had donated sperm that fathered 100 children in 12 countries.
Telegram is one of the world’s most popular messaging apps
Telegram, which Durov and his brother launched in 2013, boasts over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide.
It allows for one-on-one conversations, group chats and large “channels” that let people broadcast messages to subscribers. Unlike rivals such as Meta’s WhatsApp, Telegram’s group chats allow as many as 200,000 people, compared to a maximum of 1,024 for WhatsApp. Experts have raised concerns that misinformation spreads easily in such large group chats.
Telegram ofers users end-to-end encryption for their communications, but users must manually activate the option. It’s only available for individual conversations and doesn’t
work with group chats. That contrasts with rival Signal and Facebook Messenger, where chats are encrypted end-to-end by default.
Telegram long has faced criticism in both Russian and the West for a lack of content moderation, which experts say opens up the platform for potential use in money laundering, drug trafcking and sharing material linked to the sexual exploitation of minors. Russian authorities and Western governments have criticized Telegram for refusal to share information about suspected bad actors when required by law.
Durov ran into trouble in Russia and France
Russian authorities tried but failed to block Telegram between 2018 and 2020.
Since Moscow’s fullscale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian authorities have taken methodical steps to control the internet. WhatsApp and Telegram have been restricted and many social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and X, have been banned. YouTube has been throttled, as well. Vkontakte has come under the control of Kremlin-friendly companies. Telegram has been repeatedly fned for failing to comply with ofcial regulations.
It’s still possible to bypass some of the restrictions by using virtual private network services, but many are blocked.
Even as Telegram has been throttled, the Kremlin and the ministries of defense and foreign afairs, as well as other government agencies, still use it regularly.
Earlier this year, Durov announced that the Russian authorities opened a criminal inquiry against him and accused them of fabricating pretexts to restrict access to
Telegram as part of eforts to “suppress the right to privacy and free speech.”
In August 2024, Durov was arrested in Paris amid allegations that his platform was being used for illicit activity including drug traffcking and the distribution of images of child sexual abuse. He was released after four days of questioning on bail of 5 million euros.
Commenting on Durov’s arrest at the time, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the French action as “selective,” arguing that many countries, including Russia, have raised concerns about bad actors using Telegram for harmful activities, and “all platforms of this kind are guilty of this.”
Kremlin ofcials have cast the French case against Durov as proof of the West’s double standard on freedom of speech.
Moscow has rejected Western accusations of using Telegram to coordinate and recruit people to
carry out acts of arson and sabotage in Ukraine and across Europe.
Russia’s latest charges against Durov carry life in prison
The FSB accused Telegram’s administration of failing to remove channels allegedly used by “Ukrainian intelligence agencies, terrorist and extremist organizations to prepare and coordinate acts of sabotage and terrorism, mass murder, and cyberfraud” in Russia.
It accused Ukrainian security services of using a popular dating chatbot on Telegram to lure and recruit Russians for “sabotage and terrorist activities.” The Daivinchik or Leo-Dating chatbot has 13.6 million monthly active users.
The FSB said 46 users of the chatbot aged from 12 to 22 have been detained across Russia over the past year for assaulting law enforcement ofcers, arson and other acts. Durov could face up to life in prison if convicted.
TELEGRAM co-founder Pavel Durov appears at an event on Aug. 1, 2017 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
