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Wednesday, september 2, 2026

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1,300-job Exuma project ‘fallen by the wayside’

BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net AN EXUMA resort investment promising to create a combined 1,300 construction and full-time jobs has “fallen by the wayside” and will not proceed, Tribune Business can reveal.

The Velaa Luxury Private Island Resort, which was being targeted for Norman’s Pond Cay and referenced in the “selected new foreign investment projects” detailed in the Central Bank of The Bahamas’ 2026 second quarter economic report, did not make it past the “preliminary discussion phase”.

The developer of what was intended to be a 239acre site, featuring 44 resort suites and villas plus 30 branded residences and other hotel-style accommodations, was identified as Island Development Group.

Ryan West, Island Development Group’s principal, and who helped develop the renowned Necker Island private destination in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), owned by flamboyant British entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson, confirmed in an e-mailed response to Tribune Business inquiries that the project is not moving ahead.

“Island Development Group acted as lead on the opportunity you're

‘Lead’ developer confirms Norman’s Pond Cay deal ‘no longer active’ Never got past ‘preliminary talks’ on 239-acre resort development Firm led by Branson’s Necker Island developer still eyes Bahamas referring to, which is no longer active. While Island Development Group remains interested in The Bahamas, the prospective acquisition is not proceeding,” he confirmed.

Floyd Armbrister, an Exuma-based real estate broker, appraiser, land

researcher and real property tax consultant with Imhotep Management, and whose family owns land on Norman’s Pond Cay, backed Mr West’s assessment.

“There were some discussions regarding the matter.

That one has fallen by the wayside,” he told this

Bahamas investor slams $232m US award as ‘insane’

BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net GOWON BOWE

Fiscal revision handling fosters ‘something to hide’ suspicions

BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE GOVERNMENT is “giving rise to suspicions that something is being hidden” by its failure to be transparent and disclose changes to fiscal forecasts for two successive Budget years in a timely manner, a senior banker warned yesterday.

Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief executive and a member of the former Fiscal Responsibility Council, told Tribune Business the Government “is falling victim” to the outdated “trust me, I’ve got this” strategy and messaging employed by previous administrations rather than fully revealing critical developments good or bad - and explaining what they mean for Bahamians.

Speaking out after it emerged that the Davis administration quietly changed the fiscal forecasts for both the closed 2025-2026 fiscal year, as well as the current 2026-2027 Budget period, at the last minute with no official announcement, he argued that this will only result in a “loss of trust” in the Government’s fiscal management by Bahamians as well as create “greater scrutiny” and scepticism moving forward.

Urging the Government to break with past communications strategies, Mr Bowe told this newspaper that this “threatens to overshadow” positive developments such as the narrowing of the annual fiscal deficit compared to COVID levels.

He added that the number of Bahamians simply seeking “credible” announcements has likely reached its highest level ever, and the electorate will have “far greater respect” for administrations that release bad news with the “same objectivity” as positive developments.

“I think the Government is falling victim to the legacy position of telling the constituent base ‘just trust me, I have this’,” Mr Bowe said of the fiscal revision fall-out, “as opposed to appreciating the days and times they are in, and that the number of people simply looking for credible communication is probably at its highest level.

“We have a number of positive developments that are taking place that are starting to become overshadowed by less than transparent decisions which

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A BAHAMAS-BASED investor battling a $232m US court judgment yesterday asserted he is the victim of “a rip-off”, and vowed: “Every single person who has brought this pain to my life will pay.”

Anthony Lyons, a British citizen who lives in Old Fort Bay, told Tribune Business he had been “screwed by the US legal system” in the fight with Dre Health Corporation, an American medical equipment supplier, which has withheld his $3m deposit despite failing to deliver a single COVID-19 mask from the five million boxes per week he had ordered over a six-month period starting in late 2021.

Hitting out after this newspaper revealed Dre Health Corporation had come to The Bahamas in a second failed bid to freeze his assets, he said he had been “unanimously acquitted” following a tenday jury trial before the western Missouri federal court only for a US judge to subsequently overturn

that verdict and award the medical equipment supplier the $232m it is now seeking to collect.

Legal documents seen

by Tribune Business reveal that Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark, in a March 20, 2026, verdict overturned the jury’s decision due to purported “improper trial strategy and trial conduct”

by Mr Lyons’ then-US attorney. However, court papers confirm that the Bahamas-based investor is pursuing two live appeals before the US eighth circuit court of appeals seeking “at minimum… a complete new trial” before a different judge.

Mr Lyons, who has lived in The Bahamas since 2010 after amassing wealth from UK property investments, yesterday challenged how he can now be facing a $232m judgment when Dre Health Corporation has both retained his deposit and failed to deliver any of the COVID-19 masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) it was contractually obligated to provide.

Separate legal documents show Dre Health Corporation retained $2m of the $3m paid by Mr Lyons and Berkley

Says he is ‘rip off’ victim in failed COVID mask deal ‘Screwed by US legal system’ rescinding jury acquittal

A DISABLED advocate yesterday called for 15 percent of monies paid into so-called universal service funds by Bahamian and Caribbean communications providers to be dedicated to boosting digital inclusion for the group.

Kendrick Rolle, founder and lead consultant of the Disability Empowerment Outreach Group, speaking during Pia a panel disGlovercussion at the Rolle International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) 2026 World Telecommunications Policy Forum being held in The Bahamas, said greater

it as “a private island ultra luxury resort on approximately 238.5 acres of Norman’s Pond Cay, featuring 44 resort suites and villas, 30 branded residences and 11 private estates of approximately three acres each.

“The development will include multiple dining venues, an ‘Eveylaa’ well-being centre, fitness facilities, a kids club, a ninehole golf course, a dive shop and Bahamian-operated watersports activities.

A ten-slip marina dock and seaplane facility is also planned.

“The project is expected to generate approximately 800 construction-related jobs and 500 operational positions, while also creating opportunities for Bahamian entrepreneurship and local business participation.”

Island Development Group describes itself on its website as the “leading name in private island development”.

It adds: “Island Development Group specialises in the

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Cruise line makes Bahamas ‘linchpin’ via $350m outlay

BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

Equity, his BVI-domiciled corporate vehicle, but the British investor vehemently asserted that he “doesn’t owe these people a penny” and pledged: “I will prevail. I will win.”

He was also unaware that the US medical equipment supplier, after the Missouri federal court rejected its initial bid, had applied to the Bahamian Supreme Court for an Order freezing his assets until Tribune Business’ report yesterday. This, attempt, too, was shot down by Justice Franklyn Williams KC on the basis there was insufficient evidence to prove Mr Lyons was seeking to transfer, dispose of or hide assets that could pay-off the judgment.

Mr Lyons, who affirmed his US appeal is seeking to set aside the $232m award, blasted: “These people took my $3m deposit and

NORWEGIAN Cruise Line (NCL) says it has invested about $350m into its Great Stirrup Cay expansion with yesterday’s opening of its new Great Tides Waterpark the “linchpin” of a broader strategy to place more ships and visitors in The Bahamas and wider Caribbean.

Dan Farkas, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ executive vice president, general counsel and chief development officer, said the water park’s opening represents the culmination of around three years of planning, development and investment in the Berry Islands private island destination.

“But, most importantly, it represents the linchpin of our new Caribbean strategy,” said Mr Farkas. “We have placed a lot of ships into the Caribbean, and this is the linchpin of it. They are all going to come here and bring their guests here.”

The Great Tides Waterpark features a range of attractions, including large water slides and a children’s water-play area, while the wider Great Stirrup Cay development also includes the Silver Cove area with private cabanas.

Mr Farkas said the expansion is designed to give Norwegian’s cruise guests different experiences at the destination, ranging from more exclusive offerings at Silver Cove to family-oriented attractions at the water park.

He said Norwegian expects the waterpark to handle around 700,000 visitors by the end of next year. “I would estimate that, by the

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Pledges to ‘win’ appeal; ‘thank God’ for Bahamas judge

‘Dedicate 15% of universal fund to digital inclusion for disabled’

BY ANNELIA NIXON TRIBUNE Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net

newspaper. “No, it’s not moving forward. That’s a fact. There were just some preliminary discussions.

I was talking to them on behalf of the family, but some other people own property there also.”

Asked whether the Norman’s Pond Cay proposal was likely to be revived, Mr Armbrister replied: “Not at the moment, but if a new developer wants to come by land is available. If someone wants to buy it, come to me.”

The Central Bank’s description of the seemingly defunct project, which was based on information supplied by the Government’s Bahamas Investment Authority (BIA), describes

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access to technology and related training could allow persons with disabilities to enter digital workforce spaces that may otherwise remain inaccessible.

“Once they are trained using accessible devices, they are now able to enter the inclusive digital space and they will be able to work remotely - data entry, online monitoring, and other stuff like that,” Mr Rolle said. He added that this could be particularly beneficial for persons who are blind, deaf or hard of hearing, as well as people with neurodiverse challenges.

Mr Rolle also called on governments across the Caribbean to dedicate a portion of their universal service funds towards digital inclusion initiatives for persons with disabilities.

“The universal service funds that most Caribbean nations have access to, it is driven by taxing the telecommunications service providers,” he said. “They need to adopt that concept in using 15 percent of

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PAGE 2, Wednesday, September 2, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

Advocates call for wider beach access solutions

BY ANNELIA NIXON TRIBUNE Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net A BEACH advocacy organisation is warning that the removal of the Cabbage Beach fence, while welcome, does not address the wider legal and economic uncertainty surrounding public access to the nation’s beaches.

Dis We Beach said the dispute should serve as a catalyst for the Government to establish permanent protections for recognised beach access points rather than continuing to rely on isolated intervention, negotiations with developers and public pressure whenever access is threatened.

“From the Dis We Beach perspective, however, this issue is much bigger than one fence,” it said. “The fence coming down is important, but it does not solve the underlying problem: The Bahamas still does not have laws that adequately protect public access to our beaches.”

The organisation said existing laws protect the high water mark but do not provide sufficient protection for the public’s ability to reach the coastline.

“We have laws protecting the high water mark, but

not the public’s right to get to it,” Dis We Beach said.

“That means Bahamians are still forced to rely on government intervention, developer agreements and public pressure whenever access is threatened. That is not enough.”

Dis We Beach is now calling on the Government to identify and publicly release all recognised beach access points throughout The Bahamas, establish how those access points will be protected and provide a plan to restore historical access points that have already been lost or restricted.

The organisation pointed specifically to Cabbage Beach, where the recent fencing dispute sparked concern among vendors, watersports operators and other businesses whose livelihoods depend on visitors being able to reach the beach.

“Cabbage Beach is a clear example,” Dis We Beach said. “While attention is now focused on the recent fencing, the historic eastern access point has reportedly been closed to Bahamians for approximately a year and is now guarded by private security.”

Dis We Beach said it was also receiving reports

of access points being locked or restricted at Love Beach, an area near Sun Fun, also known as Rock Point, and other locations in New Providence.

The group argued that the recurring disputes point to a structural weakness in the country’s approach to beach access.

“The question cannot continue to be, ‘Will Government intervene this time?’” Dis We Beach said. “The question has to become: ‘What legal protection exists to ensure Bahamians cannot lose access in the first place?’”

Alexis Lloyd, who has operated a chair and umbrella business at Cabbage Beach for 26 years while also providing souvenirs, towel rentals and watersports, said the fence’s removal has provided a sense of relief among operators.

“I feel we get hope,” he said. “I feel not non-stress any more, and don’t have to worry about the foreign investors taking advantage of the Bahamian people and The Bahamas. And the government listening. The Government is with the people.”

Mr Lloyd’s business has operated at the beach for more than two decades,

underscoring the extent to which small Bahamian businesses have become economically tied to access to the location. When asked about the potential financial consequences had access to the beach been restricted, he said the losses would have been significant.

“You can make $1,000 a day,” Mr Lloyd said. “You could make $2,000 a day sometimes. And you’ll never know what you lose.

It’ll be a big financial loss.”

His concerns were echoed

by Tyrone Butler, president of the Bahamas Taxi Cab Union, who said Cabbage Beach plays an important role with visitors because of its popularity with cruise passengers.

“At some point the Government has got to step in and remedy that situation because the beach over there is a very popular beach for visitors from the cruise port,” Mr Butler said.

“A good chunk of the cruise passengers that come off the cruise ship have always found that beach to be a favourable beach for them to go. It’s good. It has more activity than, say, Junkanoo Beach and it’s bigger.”

Mr Butler said the Government must ensure that development does not ultimately eliminate public

FENCE AT CABBAGE BEACH access to the beach, particularly given the number of Bahamians who depend on the location to earn a living.

He suggested that a clearly defined access route could be established without unnecessarily interfering with private development.

“The property can’t be completely sold in its entirety where it blocks out public access,” he said. “And so the Government has to go in and perhaps pave out a path to the beach that doesn’t impede the developers’ right to develop the property.”

Dis We Beach said the Government should now use the situation to establish a framework that prevents similar conflicts from recurring.

“A workable solution should give both developers and the public certainty,” Dis We Beach said. “Developers should know the boundaries of their property rights, and Bahamians should have clearly defined,

legally protected routes to access their beaches.”

Such a framework, the organisation argued, would also provide greater certainty for businesses that have invested years in building livelihoods around popular public beaches.

For the tourism industry, that certainty could be particularly important as the country continues to depend heavily on visitor spending and the network of small Bahamian businesses that service visitors outside of traditional hotel and resort operations. Dis We Beach maintained that beach access should ultimately be treated as a matter of law rather than something dependent on whether a particular dispute generates enough public attention.

“Beach access should not depend on goodwill, negotiation or public outcry,” the organisation said. “It should be protected by law.”

human resource and revenue-related risks before they become crises. It also focused on how businesses that prepare in advance recover faster, protect jobs and safeguard revenue when disruption hits.

Businesses were also urged to communicate with clarity and lead with confidence. They were given a clear overview of the resources available to them, learning how GBPA and IGBSBB tools and support services can help licensees build resilience after the workshop ends.

Recovery finance focused on the essentials - emergency cash flow, financial documentation, grant readiness and loan preparedness - giving business owners a clearer picture of what it takes to stay viable through a crisis. All participants also

had to draft their own business continuity action plan before leaving.

"When I saw the ad for this workshop, I knew right away it was something I needed to tap into," said Sobig Kemp, pastor of Freedom International Ministries. "It's so timely, given everything we've experienced over the past few decades.

“Too often, we take preparation for granted and we get caught up in the every day responsibilities. This workshop reminded us just how important it is to be ready before the crisis comes, not after. Hearing from business owners who shared their experiences taught us a lot. It was a good gesture by the GBPA to invest in their licensees this way. I felt genuinely cared for, and that spoke volumes."

GB businesses advised on rapid storm rebound CHARLES SEALY II

PHA unveils new managing director THE Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) has named Charles Sealy II, Doctors Hospital’s chief executive, as its new managing director with effect from September 14, 2026.

The Government-owned healthcare body, in a statement, said Mr Sealy brings more than 25 years of executive and leadership experience together with a strong background in healthcare administration, governance and operational change.

He served as Doctors Hospital Health Systems’ chief executive for 14 years, having previously held the positions of chief operating officer and vice-president of operations.

Mr Sealy’s executive responsibilities have included oversight of healthcare operations, nursing, human resources, pharmacy, laboratory services, facilities and other support functions. His academic and professional qualifications include a master of health administration, bachelor of laws,

bachelor of science in public administration, and executive training in healthcare leadership.

The PHA said Mr Sealy will now lead its efforts to strengthen performance, empower employees at every level, and improve the policies, procedures and systems that support the delivery of public healthcare services.

It added that his mandate will focus on improving operational efficiency and accountability, strengthening institutional governance, enhancing the patient and employee experience, and ensuring that the PHA is positioned to respond effectively to the evolving healthcare needs of The Bahamas.

The PHA said this will involve the delivery of safe, compassionate and high-quality care; the creation of a supportive and empowering work environment for healthcare professionals and support teams; and the continued strengthening of public trust in healthcare institutions.

FREEPORT small businesses received advice on how to prepare for, and rebound swiftly from, major hurricanes and other natural disasters at a seminar staged by a Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) affiliate.

The GBPA’s Invest Grand Bahama Small Business Bureau (IGBSBB) hosted ‘Built to Bounce Back’, a full-day risk management and recovery workshop for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) at the Pelican Bay Hotel.

The workshop attracted business owners, bankers, insurers and civic leaders, and sought to drive home that resilience is not something businesses discover after a disaster - it is something they build before one.

Sessions included a business continuity planning exercise, covering risk identification, crisis communication, recovery financing and the practical resources available through GBPA and IGBSBB. “Every business owner in this room has lived through a storm, a shutdown, or a slow season that tested their limits - I know I have,” said Deann Seymour, GBPA chief financial officer.

“With Built to Bounce Back, we wanted to turn that lived experience into something practical - a plan business owners can pull off the shelf the moment disaster strikes rather than scrambling to figure it out in real time. That’s the difference between a business

that survives and one that doesn’t.”

Tammi Mitchell, administrative manager of the Grand Bahama Disaster Consultative Committee, added: "In the years since Dorian, we've made meaningful progress.

Public awareness of disaster preparedness has increased, emergency response planning has improved, and far greater emphasis is now placed on building resilience before disasters occur rather than simply responding after the fact.”

Ralph Hepburn, Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce president, reminded attendees that no business is exempt from risk and that preparation is a responsibility, not an option.

"No matter the size, nature or location of our operations, we are all prone to be affected by these events.

So it is incumbent upon us to always have an executable plan and the means and resources to carry it out," Mr Hepburn said.

"Involved in this planning are assets, equipment, data, finances and connections with other companies and agencies, and the main ingredient is people. Employees and other persons play a meaningful role in the overall planning for before, during and the aftermath of any storm or incident."

The workshop began with a look at risk management strategies for MSMEs, advising business owners how to identify infrastructure, operational, technological,

EY Bahamas unveils its two scholarship winners EY Bahamas has named Avani Sawyer and Claire Bethel as the recipients of its 2026 EY Jamaine McFall Bahamas Scholarship.

Ms Bethel recently completed her high school diploma at St Andrew's International School and will be attending Georgia State University as a freshman, where she plans to pursue a degree in accounting.

"I am beyond grateful to EY Bahamas for awarding me this scholarship and for giving me the incredible opportunity to intern with such an amazing team,” she said. “This experience has greatly encouraged me to embrace new opportunities and grow in ways I never expected. Every day

brought something new to learn, and being surrounded by such supportive and inspiring professionals has only strengthened my confidence and excitement for my future."

Ms Sawyer is a 2026 graduate of Queen's College and will attend Howard University this fall, where she will pursue a degree in accounting as she works towards her goal of becoming a certified public accountant.

"Receiving this scholarship from EY is truly an honour. It has given me the confidence and support to pursue my education at my dream school, Howard University, as I work toward my goal of becoming a certified public accountant,”

FROM L to R: Donillo Culmer, EY Bahamas partner; scholarship winner Avani Sawyer; scholarship winner Claire Bethel; Tiffany Norris-Picher, EY Bahamas country managing partner.

she said. “I will do my very best to uphold the kindness, diligence and hardworking spirit of the late Jamaine McFall, whose legacy continues to inspire students like me. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and look forward to making the most of it."

Valued at $30,000 per year, the scholarship supports outstanding students in pursuing higher education and achieving their career aspirations. In addition to financial assistance, recipients gain experience through an eight-week summer internship and are offered the opportunity for

full-time employment with EY upon the successful completion of their university studies.

Michele Thompson, EY regional managing partner for The Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands, said: “Education is essential to helping young people reach their full potential.

“Through the EY Scholarship programme, we are proud to support talented, hard-working individuals as they pursue new opportunities. At EY, our purpose is to shape the future with confidence, and that includes investing in emerging talent and giving tomorrow’s leaders the support they need to thrive.”

Tiffany Norris-Pilcher, EY Bahamas country

managing partner, added: “Claire and Avani are exceptional students, and we are proud to support their education and career aspirations. Investing in the next generation of Bahamian talent strengthens our community; we are honoured to play a role in that effort.”

Donillo Culmer, EY Bahamas scholarship committee leader, said: “We are delighted to award the EY Jamaine McFall Bahamas Scholarship to Claire and Avani. They exemplify academic excellence and demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for the profession. We look forward to supporting their professional growth in the years ahead.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 2, 2026, PAGE 3

Abaco tourism operators hopeful over power plant

BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net ABACO tourism operators are hopeful that a major new hybrid power facility will finally bring greater reliability to the island, but yesterday warned that years of recurring outages are already putting repeat and referral business on which many resorts depend at risk.

Molly McIntosh, the Bluff House Beach Resort and Marina’s top management executive, said the proposed EA Energy plant represents a positive step for an island where unreliable electricity has increasingly affected businesses and residents.

“It certainly is a good step towards making something happen. Can I tell you if I’m confident? I don’t know enough about that technology or the amount of generation that it’s going to put out. I can’t say that I’m confident, but I’m certainly hopeful,” said Ms McIntosh.

She said the power problems have become particularly concerning for Abaco’s tourism industry because many properties depend heavily on returning guests and word-of-mouth referrals.

“We survive on repeat business, and if we’re not going to be able to get that business back here because of something like the power being out all the time, that’s

a terrible thing,” said Ms McIntosh.

“It kills not only the business you have right then and there - you have to give money back and do all kinds of little things to make it up to them - but then they don’t always come back.”

Ms McIntosh said repeat business accounts for a significant share of Abaco’s tourism market, making the visitor experience critical to the island’s ability to attract future guests.

“Our repeat business is probably the highest of anywhere around that I know of. The percentage of business that’s repeat business in Abaco has got to be higher than anywhere else, probably in The Bahamas,” she said. “And if we give them a bad experience, they’re not coming back.”

She said many new guests also arrive because they were referred by previous visitors or friends, meaning an outage can have an impact beyond the immediate loss of revenue. “A lot of times, if it’s a new customer, it’s someone who was referred to come here,” said Ms McIntosh.

“If they come here and they have power outages and no water, and they can’t flush the toilets and that kind of thing, then they’re not going to tell the next person about it. They’re not going to want to come back.”

Ms McIntosh said having generators at individual properties does not completely shield visitors from the consequences of an island-wide outage, particularly because water services are also dependent on electricity.

“Even if a place that people rent has a generator, there are still definitely inconveniences that every tourist staying here will encounter when the power goes off, whether their place has a generator or not,” she said.

“Sometimes the water goes down because our water is generally generated - it comes through electricity. So if the power’s down on the mainland, then we lose water. Even if they have a generator, they don’t have water. And that’s almost as bad as not having power. In some cases, it’s worse.”

Her comments came after Prime Minister Philip Davis KC toured the site of the EA Energy hybrid power facility in Abaco on Friday, as the Government advances a major investment aimed at strengthening the island’s generation capacity.

The project is expected to combine nearly 30 mega watts (MW) of LNG-powered generation with a 60-acre solar facility and 20 MWh (mega watt hours) of battery storage.

The solar component is expected to begin feeding electricity into the grid in November, while the LNG engines and battery storage are targeted to come online

by May 2027.

Ms McIntosh said she was encouraged by the Prime Minister’s visit and the resources being committed to the island’s power infrastructure, although she stopped short of saying the project would definitely resolve Abaco’s problems.

“I’m really hopeful. I really am. I’m so glad to see the PM here and talking. I think they take it seriously, and everything can’t happen immediately,” she said.

“I think things take a little longer in the islands, and it just does. It’s hard to get stuff here and make things happen. I think they did a good job in making it happen pretty quickly, so hopefully it’ll work.”

Emanuel “Manny” Alexiou, proprietor of Abaco Beach Resort and president of the Bahama Out Island Promotion Board, also welcomed the prospect of more reliable generation, although he said questions remain over how the new facility will be operated, maintained and integrated into the wider power system.

“We’ve had a lot of outages, and I think it’s been a little worse than last year overall. There have been some big ones, including

Workplace tension rising on trade union grievances

BY ANNELIA NIXON TRIBUNE Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net THE GOVERNMENT is facing mounting pressure over its handling of unresolved workplace grievances with trade union leaders pointing to stalled industrial agreement negotiations and outstanding payments.

The concerns come as industrial tensions have surfaced with the 20262027 school year start. The Bahamas Educators Managerial Union (BEMU) took industrial action yesterday, while the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) warned its members could follow suit.

Michela Barnett-Ellis, Opposition MP for Killarney and shadow minister for labour, said these developments expose wider weaknesses in the Government’s approach to industrial relations, arguing

that public relations cannot compensate for unresolved workplace disputes.

“Public relations cannot substitute for good industrial relations,” Mrs Barnett-Ellis said. She criticised what she described as the Government’s focus on demonstrating that schools are functioning rather than addressing the underlying labour issues affecting educators.

“The opening of a new school year should be about our children, their teachers and ensuring that our schools are properly staffed, properly managed and ready to provide the education our students deserve,” Mrs Barnett-Ellis said.

“Instead, on only the second day of the 2026-2027 school year, school administrators are taking industrial action, the Bahamas Union of Teachers is warning that its members may soon follow, and the Government is acknowledging shortages of principals and teachers.”

PM: Translate connectivity into meaningful opportunity

BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net PRIME Minister Philip Davis KC yesterday said improved connectivity is critical economic infrastructure for this nation, arguing that The Bahamas must strengthen its networks, connectivity pathways and cyber security as the economy increasingly comes to depend on digital systems.

Speaking at the opening of the Strategic Dialogue of the Seventh World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum (WTPF-26), Mr Davis said infrastructure resilience and digital development must be treated as inseparable, particularly as The Bahamas prepares for future disruptions.

“For The Bahamas, then, infrastructure resilience is inseparable from digital development,” said Mr Davis. “That is why we continue to make investments today anticipating tomorrow’s storms, and that is the kind of progress we are building on.”

Mr Davis said resilient digital infrastructure requires redundancy in networks, diverse connectivity pathways and cyber security to protect the systems increasingly underpinning the economy and communities.

He added that the Government has also been using regulation to encourage investment in emerging communications technologies, including 5G (fifth generation), fibre and satellite services.

“Through our Communications Fee Reduction Scheme, we have used regulation to encourage investment in 5G, fibre and emerging satellite technologies,” said Mr Davis.

He also pointed to the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA) newly finalised technology-neutral framework for satellite services, including low-Earth-orbit, direct-to-device and Internet-of-Things technologies.

“This is what enabling regulation should do: Create space for innovation, encourage investment and competition, and ensure

outages that affected the whole island,” said Mr Alexiou.

He said he was cautiously optimistic about the new generation capacity but warned that improving generation alone may not resolve all of Abaco’s electricity problems.

“I’m going to be more optimistic because we know at least the generation part of it is going to be much more reliable, and I also have faith in the distribution,” he added.

Mr Alexiou compared the electricity system to a highway, arguing that stronger generation will only go so far if the distribution network feeding businesses and communities remains unreliable.

“It’s like you have the main highway to the airport that is in fairly good condition. All the feeders to the highway may not be in great condition,” he said.

“I’m hoping that the big hotels or the big marinas will be able to come off the highway with a decent enough feed that it’s going to be far better than what it was in recent years. As long as you have the generation fairly stable, hopefully the rest of it will become more stable as well.”

Mr Alexiou also questioned what would happen to existing generators that have been installed on the island, arguing that maintenance has been a major part of Abaco’s power problems.

“What are we doing with these generators that have been put in and that we believe should be running this place? They’re not that old. It was a lack of maintenance,” he said. “I hope they’re not managing this new stuff the same way.”

Mr Alexiou said the private sector involvement in the new facility could improve maintenance, but questioned what the arrangement would ultimately mean for consumers and businesses.

“Who is going to run it?

Who’s going to maintain it? If it’s private industry, it stands a chance of being maintained properly. And then the question is, at what cost?” he said.

“The consumer is still paying a lot of it - too much, maybe more than it needs to be - which affects business costs, affects what the hotel has to charge its customers. It’s adding to the cost of doing business.”

Mr Alexiou said greater transparency around the arrangements would also be important.

“I don’t want to say somebody’s making a lot of money out of this or somebody isn’t. I don’t know enough about it, but it leaves all these suspicions when you don’t have accountability or you can’t see anything, any documentation,” said Mr Alexiou.

For Ms McIntosh, however, the immediate priority is seeing the investment translate into more dependable electricity for an island whose tourism businesses cannot afford to repeatedly disappoint visitors.

“They’re putting some resources into it, right? So that’s what we want to see.

Talk, talk, talk doesn’t cut it,” she said. “But when you see some resources going into it - major resources then hopefully, like I said, I am hopeful. We just have to wait and see. But at least there’s some movement in the right direction.” industrial relationship with the Government as satisfactory while significant issues affecting workers remain unresolved.

“We can’t say we are pleased if we have outstanding issues that affect the average Bahamian,” Mr Ferguson said. “If those issues are outstanding or not being addressed properly or on a timely basis, it is very difficult for you to say that things are well.”

However, the assessment of Government and trade union relations is not all negative. Dwayne Woods, president of the National Congress of Trade Unions of The Bahamas (NCTUB), said the relationship has improved and credited social dialogue and negotiations for helping to resolve disputes. The NCTUB has 13 affiliates, Mr Woods said, with around nine having already signed industrial agreements and four or five still pending.

“As far as we are now as the Congress, we’ve come a long way and the Government seems to be working with us,” Mr Woods said.

“With that being said, I have to speak truth to power that it appears that they are on the right track.”

Prime Minister's remarks

MICHELA BARNETT-ELLIS

BELINDA WILSON

Mrs Barnett-Ellis said the BEMU’s concerns over schools without principals, outstanding payments and unresolved promotions are particularly troubling given that some of the issues labelled as “legacy issues” should have been resolved.

She also questioned why higher-level government intervention only came after industrial action commenced, noting that the BEMU has said it raised its concerns with the Government over the past two months.

“If these matters have been actively raised for two months, why did it take the commencement of industrial action to generate this level of engagement?” Mrs Barnett-Ellis asked.

Her comments came as Belinda Wilson, the BUT president, confirmed that the union’s members reported for work on Tuesday, September 1, despite mounting tensions over salary negotiations.

She said 80.5 percent of BUT members who responded to the union’s survey voted to reject the Government’s salary counter-proposal, while 81.1 percent rejected the proposed maximum salary scale. She said the union had given the Government until midnight Wednesday, September 2, to respond to its counter-proposal.

“If we do not have an agreement with the Government, then we should take industrial action,” Mrs Wilson said. She added

that an emergency general membership meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 4, at which members will discuss the way forward.

At the same time, Mrs Wilson sought to clarify that BUT members were not involved in industrial action yesterday. “Bahamas Union of Teachers members from Grand Bahama to Inagua reported to 162 schools on 24 islands and cays today on time,” Mrs Wilson said. “Some even reported before time.”

Obie Ferguson, president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), said the umbrella union body supports the BEMU and would assist if called upon as it is an affiliate member. He also pointed to unresolved issues beyond the education sector, including outstanding payments allegedly owed to former Grand Lucayan workers who were terminated.

“There are workers in Grand Bahama who were terminated on February 27; they have not yet been paid,” Mr Ferguson said.

“That is creating hardship on those workers. We call on the Government to pay those workers.”

Mr Ferguson said the TUC could not describe its

that new technologies can serve the public interest,” said Mr Davis.

The Prime Minister said The Bahamas has already established a strong connectivity foundation, with nearly 95 percent of the population connected to the Internet and more than 96 percent having access to mobile connectivity.

But he said the next phase of digital development must focus on turning that connectivity into wider economic and social opportunity. “The next step is ensuring connectivity is meaningful, reaches every community and creates opportunity for every Bahamian,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr Davis said that means ensuring people have the skills, affordability, confidence and access needed to participate fully in a digital society.

Free public Wi-Fi is now available in more than 85 public parks and community centres, he added, while government services are increasingly moving online and connectivity continues to expand across the Family Islands.

Mr Davis also linked the country’s digital push to the Government’s broader innovation agenda, pointing

to the establishment of the Ministry of Innovation and National Development (MIND).

“The establishment of the Ministry of Innovation and National Development (MIND) reflects a simple conviction: Innovation is central to national competitiveness, government modernisation and the

future readiness of our people,” he said.

Mr Davis said the broader objective is to build an innovation economy in which Bahamians become developers, entrepreneurs, creators and leaders in the industries of the future.

“For countries like The Bahamas, resilience is a way of life,” he added. The

LABOUR - See Page B5

came as The Bahamas hosts WTPF-26 for the first time, marking the first occasion the

international

policy

forum has been held in a Small Island Developing State.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, September 2, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

Uncertainty over 300-400 job Schooner Bay ‘resort’ DEVELOP - from page B1 sourcing, feasibility assessment and development of private islands. We bring together proven expertise to help analyse, design, develop and operate a successful private island, resort or remote estate.”

There is also a glowing testimony for Mr West from Sir Richard Branson, who states: “Ryan West is the very best person in the world to help develop a private island. He helped us develop Necker and then

went on to develop Moskito Island” which is also in the BVI. Elsewhere, the Central Bank report also cited the prospect of several hundred jobs being created via a resort development at the Schooner Bay community in south Abaco. It described a 38-key, high-end branded hotel that would create between 300-400 permanent jobs for Bahamians and some 500 local employment opportunities overall.

“Schooner Bay, an eco-friendly mixed-use development, will comprise

a 38-key ultra-luxury branded resort, featuring luxury casitas and a tented village, alongside 26 or more branded villas,” the Central Bank said.

“The development will also include a central lobby building, a Marquis spa and wellness pavilion, a beach club and pool complex, a recreation and children’s centre, multiple food and beverage venues and expanded utility and back-of-house facilities.

“The project is expected to create approximately 300 to 400 permanent jobs for

Investor challenges $232m award when other side failed on delivery in the Missouri federal court, only for the application to be dismissed, the Bahamas-based investor said Dre Health Corporation’s application had focused on a $59.5m Old Fort Bay residence, Jungle Cove, which he sold in 2021 before their dispute erupted and has not been part of his assets for five years.

“It was no secret that I sold it five years ago to a guy called Eric Pike of Pike Electrical,” Mr Lyons added, revealing the buyer to be the recently-departed head of Bahamas Grid Company’s management firm. “I’ve never met him, spoken to him or seen him.

Dre are trying to manufacture a story that I am trying to dissipate my assets.”

Mr Lyons said the COVID-19 mask deal with Dre Health Corporation has its origins in a Miami medical exhibition held five years ago in August 2021.

He added that himself and Berkley Equity agreed a deal where the medical equipment supplier agreed to deliver the ordered masks “in 14 days”.

“To this day I have not received one mask,” he blasted. “I ordered five million boxes of masks per week and have never had one mask; not one. These people never had the production capacity. I did nothing wrong here. I got ripped off for $3m by these guys in Kansas. It should never have happened.”

Recalling the two-week trial he endured in the western Missouri federal court,

Mr Lyons said he found it “absolutely shocking” that a judge would subsequently completely overturn the jury verdict in favour of himself and Berkley Equity.

“I got dragged to court and would rather have spent two weeks in Chernobyl than Kansas,” he told Tribune Business. “The jury unanimously, completely acquitted me and here I am dealing 18 months later with a $232m judgment.

“It is an absolutely thoroughly disgraceful act of the US legal system. I will prevail, I will win and every single person who has brought this pain to my life will pay. How can a $3m deposit, never returned, turn into a $232m judgment against me? There are no persons I owe a penny to in the world.”

Mr Lyons, though, said “thank God for the judge in The Bahamas” in response to Justice Williams’ rejection of Dre Health Corporation’s asset freeze bid, which was made with no notice to himself and only the medical equipment supplier’s attorneys, Peter Maynard & Company, present.

“I don’t know who the judge is,” he added. “I didn’t know anything about this. I did not know they had gone to court. It’s outrageous. I have nothing to hide. I have been screwed by the Missouri and US legal system.

I am not letting this go…

They [Dre] have taken $3m.

They admit to a breach of contract, they admit to never having the production

Bank chief: ‘Trust me, I got this’ assurance is stuck in the past

is a new development that requires an amendment.”

The Davis administration, via revisions unveiled after the House of Assembly had completed its May Budget debate, lowered the size of the predicted surplus for the recently-closed 2025-2026 fiscal year by some $42.8m in a signal that it is likely to miss the original $75.5m target. The move trimmed the forecast surplus, which measures by how much tax and other revenue income exceeds public spending, to some $32.7m.

The narrowed surplus, which would still be a positive achievement if attained, is forecast to result from $239.2m in additional total government spending not factored into the original 2025-2026

CHALLENGE - from page B1 they never produced the goods. I do not owe these people a penny. They have got a judgment against me and nothing could be further from the truth. We are appealing it in the eighth circuit court of appeals in the US. “Nothing in the history of the world could be more unfair and more unjust. This is completely 100 percent wrong. I have had a whiter than white business reputation in my 59 years. I’ve lived in The Bahamas for more than 15 years, and have never had to deal with anything like this.”

Mr Lyons said he is far from the only person or entity to endure such problems in their dealings with Dre Health Corporation as he accused the firm of leaving “a trail of destruction behind them”. He again questioned how it was “humanly possible” that most of his deposit was retained for goods never received, yet the US federal courts have turned around and awarded the medical equipment supplier $232m.

“I have been screwed, plain and simple, by the [US] legal system and I am going to win,” Mr Lyons promised, revealing he was blindsided by Dre Health Corporation’s bid to obtain a freeze over his assets in The Bahamas and was only made aware of it by Tribune Business.

Pointing out that it had sought a similar injunction

CHANGE - from page B1 are giving rise to suspicions something is being hidden.

The Government needs to have an approach where it will be open with the public but, equally, not just have the information available but documents setting out what is critical to understand the fiscal situation of the country.

“There’s a fear of less than optimistic news, but people will have far greater confidence and respect that bad news is delivered with the same objectivity as positive news,” Mr Bowe said.

“I think that posture needs

to be done away with. The same way there’s an expectation of material changes being reported under the fiscal legislation, that same principle should be adopted in all communications.

“We are advanced sufficiently as a society to say that, when there are significant developments, positive or negative, these are highlighted and explained.

These revisions to the fiscal forecasts, there’s no understanding of why they have been done - whether a previous estimate was found to be inaccurate or wrong; whether circumstances have changed; and whether there

NOTICE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT, CH 309 as amended by the INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES (WINDING UP AMENDMENT) ACT, 2011 THE INVESTMENT FUNDS ACT, 2003 BHP ADVISORS FUND LIMITED (in compulsory liquidation) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that by Order of the Supreme Court of the Bahamas dated the 26th day of April 2018, BHP Advisors Fund Limited was ordered to be wound up compulsorily. On the 3rd day of December, 2025, Roshan Noronha CPA CA was appointed Official Liquidator to replace Alan E.H. Bates (deceased).

ALL PERSONS having claims against the company are required to submit particulars of their claims in writing to the Official Liquidator at the address set out below on or before the 30th day of September 2026. In default thereof the Official Liquidator will proceed to distribute the assets of the Fund among those entitled thereto, having regard only to the claims of which he shall then have had notice. Creditors are required to state their full name and address, the amount of their claim and the particulars thereof, together with any security held.

Dated this 31st day of August, 2026 ROSHAN NORONHA CPA CA Official Liquidator of BHP Advisors Fund Limited Noronha & Co. Third Floor, Kings Court Bay Street, Nassau.

Telephone: (242) 322-8464 Email: roshan@noronhaco.com P.O Box N 63

Bahamians and generate around 500 local employment opportunities overall, with more than 70 percent of these positions comprising long-term operational roles.”

A resort would mark a departure from Schooner Bay’s long-standing philosophy and ethos of being purely a private residential community for homeowners, although several observers have argued that such an investment would help to generate increased consumer traffic for the businesses

based there and help create critical mass for the development.

It is unclear whether such a project would be undertaken by Schooner Bay Ventures, the existing developer, which has little experience in resort development or if a third-party would undertake this. Tina Gascoigne, Schooner Bay Ventures’ general counsel and one of its principals, did not respond to Tribune Business e-mails seeking comment.

Other efforts to obtain confirmation on Schooner

Bay’s seeming plans also proved fruitless.

Two ex-prime ministers, Hubert Ingraham, who has done commercial legal work for Schooner Bay, and Dr Hubert Minnis, who is one of the development’s homeowners, both said they were unaware and had not heard of any hotel plans.

“I’ve not been informed of anything or heard anything,” Dr Minnis said. “I own a home there but they haven’t said anything to me yet. It’s the first time I’m hearing of it. I’ll check.”

facility and here we are, five years later, with a $232m judgment. It’s insane. This has ruined my life.”

Mr Lyons spoke out over concerns that the original Tribune Business article, which was based on court judgments and documents, had given an incomplete and “biased” impression of his battle with Dre Health Corporation.

“Berkley Equity, owned

by Anthony Lyons, agreed to purchase $196m of COVID-19 face masks from Dre,” the Bahamas-based investor’s appeal asserts.

“Dre misrepresented that it possessed the facilities, personnel and capacity to supply them.

“Berkley paid a $3m deposit under an agreement requiring timely satisfactory delivery, inspection and documentation. Dre did not timely deliver the promised product or required documents. The parties memorialised Dre’s default in an addendum, which extended its time to perform and required it to pay Berkley $1.5m. Dre paid only $1m and then sued Berkley for the remaining price and more than $169m in damages.”

During their protracted four-year legal battle, the western Missouri federal court initially awarded Dre Health Corporation some $14.4m for breach of contract while rejecting its allegations of “misrepresentation” by Mr Lyons and Berkley Equity. However, this was followed by “a ten-day trial [that] ended in a unanimous jury verdict awarding no contract damages” against the Bahamas-based investor and his firm.

Yet the western Missouri court “14 months later… replaced that verdict with a $232m judgment, conditionally ordered a new contract damages trial, ordered a new tort trial and imposed liability personally on Mr Lyons”.

The Bahamas-based investor, in his appeal, is arguing: “This was error.

This court should reinstate the original judgment or, at minimum, order a complete new trial, reverse the personal liability order and reassign the case to a new district judge.”

Detailing the background to the dispute, Mr Lyons and Berkley stated: “On September 2, 2021, Dre and Berkley signed a sale and purchase agreement identifying Dre as producer and Berkley as buyer. The SPA contemplated an initial order of five million boxes of blue masks and one million boxes of black masks, with 50 masks in each box, followed by recurring weekly purchases in quantities measured in millions of boxes.

“Berkley agreed to make an initial deposit of $3m, and Dre agreed to begin production on confirmation of that deposit. The agreement required ‘satisfactory delivery’ of five million boxes within ten business days after the deposit and made an additional deposit due only after that delivery.

“It also required invoices, packing lists, shipping information and inspection or video evidence before specified payments, and it allowed Berkley to terminate and obtain return of its deposit if Dre breached or failed to deliver.”

While “Mr Lyons personally supplied the $3m

Berkley wired to Dre on September 3, 2021, Berkley then had no executed end-buyer contract, no end-buyer funds in escrow, and ‘zero assets’” and the two parties “disputed their pre-contract representations”.

“Dre maintained that Berkley represented it had committed buyers, escrowed funds, and the ability to pay, which Mr Lyons denied, while Berkley alleged that Mr. Bawany [Dre’s principal] represented that Dre had the facilities, personnel, materials and financing to fill the order,” the court document reveal.

However, Mr Lyons and Berkley Equity are arguing that Dre did not challenge evidence by two of its former employees who asserted that it “did not actually have facilities capable of filling an order of this size, planned to import masks from China and box them in California, and needed to increase its capacity”.

The deal allegedly foundered over production and delivery delays. “Dre maintained that Berkley’s refusal to pay for available product caused a cash shortage that prevented further production,” court filings allege. “Berkley maintained that Dre’s admitted default, incomplete documents, deficient inspection and inability to produce the agreed volume excused further payment…

“Berkley never paid for or took delivery of the imported or boxed masks, no end buyer paid Berkley for them, and Berkley delivered no product under the one end buyer agreement it ultimately executed.”

Budget. The extra $185.6m in recurrent or fixed-cost expenditure, plus a further $53.6m in unanticipated capital spending, is projected to exceed the extra $196.5m in revenues which will take the Government’s annual income beyond the $4bn mark and beat its original tax target.

However, while the 2025-2026 changes were disclosed, this occurred after the Budget debate had ended thus giving the Opposition little time to assess and challenge them.

No explanation for the revisions was provided, and the alterations were not brought to the Bahamian people’s attention, although a 2025-2026 supplementary Budget was posted on the Government’s fiscal website absent any announcement on its release.

Mr Bowe, acknowledging that the Government’s projections for the public finances are not set in stone, said these may have to be constantly updated and revised as required by external events such as the fall-out from the Middle East conflict and rising oil prices. However, the failure to make timely and transparent disclosures over such adjustments threatens to needlessly undermine the Government’s fiscal credibility.

“Forecasts are just that.

They are not crystal balls,” the Fidelity chief added.

“Those are going to be changing from time to time, but those changes need to come with understanding - whether it’s a change in methodology, and what you are doing to fix is; whether it’s a change in circumstance with unforeseen developments taking place and, positively or negatively, impacting original forecasts.

“We are still suffering from that apprehension

of delivering negative news, and that only creates greater panic, loss of trust and greater scrutiny going forward as opposed to up-front messaging that answers those questions in the first place. There needs to be a plan of action to address it as opposed to burying it.”

The 2025-2026 revisions were compounded by the Government’s move to also adjust projections for the current 2026-2027 fiscal year just one month after the initial forecasts were first revealed by Michael Halkitis, minister of finance, in the aftermath of his endMay Budget presentation.

Research by Tribune Business shows that the Davis administration has increased the Budget surplus projected for the present fiscal year by 30.6 percent, or $68.3m, to $291.4m as compared to the initial $223.1m. This positive outcome is forecast to be achieved despite a less optimistic revenue outturn, with the Government’s total income falling by $103.1m from the initial $4.357bn outturn to $4.254bn, due to a greater drop in public spending.

Recurrent expenditure is now forecast to fall below 2025-2026 levels, hitting $3.58bn as opposed to the now-prior year’s $3.63bn, and representing a $144m reduction from the $3.724bn first predicted for 2026-2027. Capital spending, which is typically dedicated to the Government’s public infrastructure projects, is now pegged at $382.9m - a figure below both the prior year’s revised $420.8m and the $410m originally eyed for 2026-2027.

This newspaper understands that, while the 2025-2026 changes were belatedly disclosed near the end of House of Assembly Budget proceedings, those

for the 2026-2027 period were not revealed at all.

The full extent of the Government’s budgetary adjustments have only been exposed by the Fiscal Responsibility Council, the independent watchdog, via its just-published report on the 2026-2027 Budget in which it calls on the Davis administration to both publicly explain the reasons for the alterations and how these will impact achievement of its fiscal consolidation objectives.

Criticising the manner in which the 2025-2026 fiscal forecasts were altered, the Council said: “The 20252026 supplementary Budget draft estimates of revenue and expenditure was published by the Government at the conclusion of fiscal year 2025-2026 with no accompanying notes or explanations as to what necessitated the extraordinary budget for 2025-2026 and implications that it poses in respect of the Government’s attainment of the established fiscal objectives.

“The supplementary Budget also revised the draft estimates of revenue and expenditure for 2026-2027 contained in the Budget tabled in the House of Assembly on May 27, 2026, without notes or explanations as to the rationale for the revisions, one month after the commencement of the Budget debate.

“While the Fiscal Responsibility Council acknowledges that budgets are presented as draft estimates, the Fiscal Responsibility Council recommends that the revisions be accompanied by details of the rationale for such revisions and the implications for performance vis-à-vis the fiscal objectives.”

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 2, 2026, PAGE 5

Norwegian expects 700k to use water park by end-2027 GROW - from page B1 end of next year, about 700,000 [guests] will come through,” the cruise line chief added.

Mr Farkas said the investment has also generated employment opportunities for Bahamians, with hundreds of construction jobs created during the development phase and positions subsequently transitioning into permanent operational roles.

“We have brought hundreds of jobs in construction to create this, and we have converted those hundreds of jobs into every day operating, maintenance and repair jobs; sales jobs and lifeguard jobs,” he said.

“There’s a place for Bahamians anywhere on our island, and we have gone out of our way, working with [deputy prime minister and former minister of tourism] Chester Cooper, to bring those jobs here and to

make sure that Bahamians are employed.”

Norwegian also highlighted its collaboration with the Government on environmental and regulatory requirements surrounding the expansion.

“We have worked with the Bahamian Government to make sure that it follows all the rules and regulations.

We have all the permits for it,” said Mr Farkas.

“We have done everything in conjunction, hand in hand, with the

Minister affirms diversity, inclusion to break down the ‘digital divides’ COMMUNICATE - from page B1 those funds collected from the universal service funds, and redirect those 15 percent for training and inclusive digital programmes and assistive devices.”

The proposal is based on the “15 percent for 15 percent” target emerging from the World Disability Summit, which Mr Rolle said calls for 15 percent of international development programmes to actively pursue disability inclusion, reflecting the estimated 15 percent of the global population living with disabilities.

Mr Rolle also argued that legislation should be amended to require communications providers to recognise persons with disabilities as a priority group.

The Bahamas, he said, has already taken steps in that direction through the development of the Accessibility Bahamas app, which was designed by persons with disabilities to help empower the community.

Meanwhile, Pia Glover-Rolle, minister of labour and the public service, told the same forum that The Bahamas must move beyond simply expanding access to communications services by ensuring persons with disabilities are equipped to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.

She added that digital inclusion cannot be measured by coverage alone, warning that women and girls, young people and persons with disabilities continue to face significant

Union chief warns against confrontation LABOUR - from page B3 Mr Woods said disagreements with the Government remain, but his organisation has deliberately sought to resolve them away from the public spotlight.

“It’s not that we don’t experience differences or issues with the Government,” Mr Woods said. “But we find ways to resolve our issues by way of social dialogue and we negotiate our issues in the boardroom, not on social media or in the press.” He added that confrontation should be viewed as a last resort and encouraged other unions to pursue dialogue.

Mrs Wilson, however, offered a far more critical assessment in her capacity as president of the Bahamas National Alliance Trade Union Congress (BNATUC), accusing the Government of employing a “divide and conquer strategy” in its dealings with organised labour. She argued that government consultations with unions are often superficial and fail to produce meaningful changes to policies, regulations or legislation.

“Effective consultation means jointly examining and discussing problems of concern to both the employer and the union,”

Mrs Wilson said. Among the outstanding issues she identified are the need for a livable wage, an increase in the minimum wage, implementation of a universal agency shop fee, alleged breaches of industrial agreements, workplace discrimination and victimisation, and revisions to the Employment Act and Industrial Relations Act. She also called for a more effective National Tripartite Council and stronger social dialogue, legislation governing occupational safety and health, and improved maternity benefits.

Mrs Wilson said the Government must also address concerns over Bahamianisation, particularly amid what she described as the continued appointment of foreign managers in sectors where qualified Bahamians are available.

“The Government must answer the question sooner than later: Do we still have a Bahamianisation policy?”

Mrs Wilson said. She further criticised the Government’s Labour Relations Unit and questioned whether taxpayers are receiving value for money from consultants involved in negotiations.

For Mrs Barnett-Ellis, the developments in the education sector should serve as

OBIE FERGUSON

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that I MARK ANTHONY ROTHIE MYERS of Harbour Drive Paradise Island, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 12th day of August, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

barriers to accessing and benefiting from technology.

“Real inclusion requires meaningful participation at all levels and by all people,” Mrs Glover-Rolle said.

She pointed to the extra challenge faced by vulnerable groups, noting that a young Bahamian with a disability may confront both a technology gap and an accessibility gap, while a woman from a lower income household on a Family Island can simultaneously face cost, distance and gender barriers.

“If we are truly developing opportunities for everyone, we must address these layered realities,” she added. The issue has significant implications for the Bahamian labour market, particularly as businesses and government increasingly rely on digital a warning that unresolved industrial issues can quickly escalate into disruptions affecting public services.

“Government is one of the largest employers in The Bahamas,” Mrs Barnett-Ellis said. “It should therefore be setting the standard for good industrial relations; early engagement, goodfaith negotiations, timely payment of monies owed, fair treatment of employees and resolution of grievances before they reach crisis point.”

Mrs Barnett-Ellis said the Government should focus less on managing the public perception of its labour relations and more on resolving the disputes themselves.

“Our children do not need a public relations exercise,” Mrs Barnett-Ellis said. “They need principals in their schools. They need teachers in their classrooms.

And the professionals responsible for educating them deserve a government that engages with them before matters deteriorate into industrial action.

“The cameras will eventually leave the schools. The unresolved problems will remain. It is time to move beyond managing the optics and start resolving the issues.”

Bahamian Government, and hired one of their special advisers to assist us in doing that. So I can assure you, with regard to Bahamian regulations and the environment, we meet everything and all those appropriate standards.”

The investment further strengthens Norwegian’s footprint in The Bahamas, where its cruise operations have made private island destinations an important component of Caribbean itineraries.

Asked whether the cruise line has further plans to expand its footprint in The Bahamas, Mr Farkas offered a brief indication that additional developments could be ahead. “All I’ll say is, watch this space,” he said.

Herschel Walker, US ambassador to The Bahamas, also pointed to the project as evidence of the close economic relationship between the two countries.

“I’m so excited about it because it continues to show the partnership that

the US and The Bahamas have. You see the investment that Norwegian Cruise Line is putting in here,” said Mr Walker.

“I think people ought to notice that the US is still your greatest partner, and we will continue to be that.

We’re going to continue to work because The Bahamas are like family. I said that when I first got down here, that this is family. We’re too close together not to be family, so that’s what we continue to work on.”

platforms, remote work and technology-driven services.

Mrs Glover-Rolle pointed to several government programmes as evidence of the country’s efforts to build greater inclusion into education, training and employment initiatives.

She said the Public Service Professional Engagement Programme continues to attract strong enrolment among women and young people, and includes a firm 10 percent placement quota for persons with disabilities.

“Making diversity, equity and inclusion a top priority is the standard that we want every programme to strive for moving forward,” Mrs Glover-Rolle said. She also highlighted the National Apprenticeship Programme, which enables young Bahamians to “earn as they learn” while developing careers in high-demand industries, including information and communications technology (ICT).

Mr Rolle, however, stressed that inclusion must not stop at creating programmes for persons with disabilities. The people those programmes are intended to serve must have a direct role in designing them.

“The key to being effective in providing any service for persons with disabilities is to ensure that they are a part of the decision-making,” he said. “You cannot come up with an idea for a person with a disability and figure, because that’s your idea, that works for them. You put them at a disadvantage.”

Mr Rolle said involving persons with disabilities in the design and leadership of programmes will produce more effective outcomes because they understand first-hand the barriers that need to be addressed. For businesses, the issue extends beyond social responsibility and into workforce participation, productivity and access to talent.

As the Bahamian economy becomes increasingly digital, ensuring that persons with disabilities have access to appropriate devices, training and employment opportunities could expand the pool of workers able to participate in emerging sectors and create new opportunities for remote employment.

“The future we are building must be sustainable and innovative, but it must also create opportunity for all,” Mrs Glover-Rolle said.

While acknowledging that The Bahamas has made “amazing progress”, she said much more remains to be done to ensure diversity and inclusion are embedded in the country’s ICT development.

“The discussions we have today are going to be critical to achieving our shared goals of diversity and inclusion within ICT and closing the digital divide,” Mrs Glover-Rolle said.

India’s power demand is surging, but some solar energy is going to waste

By SIBI ARASU Associated Press WHEN India’s power demand surged at the height of summer, the country struggled to meet evening needs as air conditioners ran longer amid hotter nights. Despite this demand, some renewable energy providers were told to limit their output because the country had more clean electricity available than its grid could safely handle.

In the last 15 months, India curtailed nearly 11 terawatt-hours of solar generation — enough electricity to power about 10 million homes, according to government data and research by energy think tank Ember. That solar power went unused even as extreme heat and poor monsoon rains drove up demand for power in India for cooling and pumping groundwater for agriculture.

India, the world’s most populous country and one of the largest emitters of climate-polluting gases, is rapidly adding clean energy,

especially solar, to its power mix. However, it can’t use all the clean power it could generate because of insufficient transmission and storage capacity and the technical difficulty of shifting between fossil power and renewables.

Energy experts say that contradiction points to the next big challenge for India’s energy transition. Building solar and wind farms is no longer enough. India also needs more transmission lines to move electricity across the country, batteries to store renewable power until it is needed and a more flexible power system that can quickly adjust as wind and solar output rises or falls.

“We’re in a stage where some of the biggest hurdles in renewables are starting to hit us,” said Neshwin Rodrigues, an energy analyst at Ember.

India has more than 300 gigawatts of clean power capacity, more than half its total installed electricity capacity. But coal still

produces most of the country’s electricity.

Experts said the main reason for this is curtailment — when a wind or solar plant could produce electricity but is ordered to reduce or stop generation as the grid cannot take the power.

Rodrigues said that when solar generation surges in the afternoon, it’s difficult for coal units to reduce their output because they are relatively inflexible and cannot ramp down quickly without compromising efficiency, increasing costs or risking operational problems.

Trying to make thermal power plants flexible and adapt to increasing supply from clean energy sources “is like asking an elephant to dance,” said Vinay Pabba, CEO of Hyderabad-based renewable energy company Vibrant Energy.

Pabba said curtailment results in losses for clean power developers. “We get paid only for what we put on the grid,” he said.

The high concentration of renewable generation in western India has also meant that transmission lines in that part of the country get congested quickly. The western states of Gujarat and Rajasthan account for nearly 50% of India’s solar power capacity.

NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that I ELAINE LIBERIS-JOSEPH of Millenium Garden, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twentyeight days from the 2nd day of September, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that MILANDA MOSELUS of P.O. Box N-3331, #761 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Launderdale, Florida, United States of America 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 2nd day of September, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that LYDIA ALEXIS of Lazaretto Road off Carmichael 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 26th day of August, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that MARC-RICHART AUGUSTAVE of Nassau Village, 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 26th day of August, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

PAGE 6, Wednesday, September 2, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

Bessent says 19 finance ministers agreed ‘cheap exports’ are unsustainable, but China dissented

By FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press TREASURY Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday that 19 of the members of the G20 agreed to address streams of “cheap exports” that cause global economic imbalances, but China dissented.

Bessent said that getting even 19 countries to agree to take on the problem was “incredible” and shows “the sheer the enormity of the problem.” Bessent spoke after a two-day meeting of the 20 countries in Asheville, N.C. Bessent said earlier that he’s urging some of his G20 counterparts to take a page from the Trump administration’s playbook of using tariffs and other measures to crack down on trade imbalances.

China is a leading source of the “cheap exports” Bessent criticized and the administration, echoing many economists, has blamed China for trade imbalances that have left it with a large trade surplus

while the U.S. has a sizable deficit. At a closing press conference Tuesday, Bessent also previewed the upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping.

He told reporters that he had warned other nations at the beginning of President Donald Trump ‘s second term that the new U.S. “tariff wall” would mean that Chinese goods would flood their markets.

“And unfortunately, I was right,” Bessent told reporters on the sidelines of the G20 finance minister meetings. “The rest of the world probably needs to take a hard look at what they should be doing to protect their citizens’ jobs, their manufacturing base, so that everything they do doesn’t get offshored.”

The Trump administration’s tariff policies have been criticized by economists and politicians for raising costs for U.S. consumers and, in many cases, for punishing allies. The Tax Foundation, an independent

think tank, found that the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration throughout 2025 raised the overall retail price of imported consumer goods by roughly 7% relative to pre-tariff trends.

Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court in February decided that the sweeping global tariffs that Trump imposed under an emergency powers law during his second term in office were unconstitutional.

The Trump administration has been overhauling its approach, and is eyeing an additional 7.5% tariff on Chinese imports after investigating alleged Chinese excess industrial capacity and forced-labor regulations.

Bessent met with his counterparts from China at the summit and said there was some common ground on Iran, specifically that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon” and that oil and other goods should flow freely through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has restricted.

For a century, journalists have had a voluntary ethics code. Editors are giving it an AI-era reboot

By JOCELYN NOVECK AP National Writer WALK into a corner of a newsroom somewhere and you can often find it affixed to a bulletin board, perhaps peeking out from behind

the coffee pot: the Society of Professional Journalists’s Code of Ethics. It’s less than a thousand words, fitting neatly on a poster.

But those words — organized around four key journalistic principles — are

important enough, asserts Dan Axelrod, that they just might save our democracy.

“I’m going to just say it,” says Axelrod, chairman of the SPJ Ethics Committee and former longtime Gannett business reporter.

TREASURY Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to reporters at the G20 Finance Ministerial in Asheville, N.C., Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026.

Photo:Gerald Herbert/AP He also said Trump and Xi would discuss AI policy when they meet later this month. It “behooves all of us to put up guardrails ... to prevent the non-state actors” building their own models.

Bessent has said China’s trade surplus, which reached a record-high $1.2 trillion in 2025, is a barrier to global economic growth — as well as what he calls excessive regulation.

Global debt has reached a record high of $353 trillion, with the U.S. debt reaching a record $40 trillion in August. Markets have been

concerned about a sell-off in U.S. government bonds, but Bessent told reporters “I don’t think we’re in any kind of dire situation” on bond markets.

Meanwhile, the presence of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, has continued to agitate attendees of the conference hosted by the U.S. Siluanov met with Bessent on Monday on the sidelines of the meeting, but was not included in the traditional “family photo” of ministers.

Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Russia’s

attendance at the G20 finance meeting “created a lot of discomfort around the table, not only from Canada, but from colleagues around the table.”

“We have made sure our discomfort is being heard by colleagues with respect to who is in attendance at the meeting,” Champagne said.

European commissioner for the Economy, Valdis Dombrovskis, said during a press conference with reporters Tuesday that it is not the time to “normalize” relations with Russia.

“This is the way to protect democracy. This is to protect society. There but for the grace of God goes a society without journalists.”

Axelrod is talking not only about the existence of the code but the need, every so often, to update it. It’s a laborious process, taking about a year and countless hours of meetings and feedback, virtual and in person.

Yet as the media landscape seems to shift daily and new technologies

emerge, SPJ has decided that the time is at hand — for the first time in 12 years, and only the sixth in the code’s century-long history.

work for a traditional news organization.

“All of those things and so many more are pretty good reasons to take another look,” he says, “and remind people that there are standards that should be standards, regardless of whether you call yourself a journalist, or the type of platform for which you work.”

A conclave, of sorts, to update the code The seriousness of the undertaking brought the committee and other media ethics experts to Indianapolis in June, after lots of virtual meetings. Seems it wasn’t the most relaxing way to spend a weekend.

“Passions definitely got heated,” Axelrod says.

“Well, there were no fistfights,” quips his colleague, Chris Roberts, vice chairman of the committee and a journalism professor at the University of Alabama. He explains there was “a lot of smithing of the words.”

The result: No white smoke, but a 967-word draft code, 73 longer than the existing one.

But why update in the first place? The first reason — hardly a surprise — is the rapid emergence of AI. “We were thinking about artificial intelligence and how it’s used and sometimes misused by news organizations,” Roberts says, “as they confront that new technology that saves them money, but also causes a lot of trouble if it’s not used effectively and ethically.”

Another issue concerns the very term “professional journalists.” Recent years have seen a huge increase in independent, so-called “creator journalists.” The SPJ thinks they, too, should have a code to guide them.

(The code, as always, is a voluntary guide and not enforceable.)

One key goal is to address an existential crisis in the field: an increasing lack of public trust in the media.

“We’re talking about a world that does not trust us as much as they did,” Roberts says. “We’re talking about politicians and others who go out of their way to smack journalism around because it dares point out their shortcomings.

Meanwhile, the business of journalism has changed so much financially, and a third of journalists don’t

Four key principles remain the same The SPJ, which has some 4,000 members nationwide, was founded in 1909.

In 1926 it adopted its first code of ethics, then formed an ethics committee in 1948 and revised the code five times — the last in 2014.

The four, unchanging key principles: “Seek Truth and Report It.” “Minimize Harm.”

“Act Independently.”

“Be Accountable and Transparent.”

But much else has evolved. A report accompanying the draft notes that traditional newsroom jobs are dwindling as the industry contracts. Simultaneously, it says, there’s been a marked growth in citizen journalists, freelancers, online influencers and pundits. The report cites a Pew study that shows fully onethird of journalists were freelance or self-employed in 2023.

It also cites the shrinking presence of news outlets serving as watchdogs, as well as “people, organizations and private investors without journalism backgrounds, who are buying or opening news properties, affecting news coverage, influencing editorial decisions and pushing personal agendas.”

The SPJ says the rapid rise in use of generative AI and other new technology — in news, as elsewhere — raises ethical questions.

So a new line says: “Remember that speed, technology or medium do not excuse inaccuracy or unfairness. Journalists are ethically responsible for their work, regardless of tools and technologies used.”

WHITE House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, July 16, 2026, in Washington.

Photo:Julia Demaree

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 2, 2026, PAGE 7

MSC Ocean Cay Job Vacancies

Information Technology Manager

The IT Manager will be a guest-focused, strategic, and solutions-oriented technology leader who is comfortable operating in a fast-paced hospitality environment. The successful candidate will provide leadership and oversight of Ocean Cay’s IT operations, ensuring the reliability, security, and continuous improvement of technology services across the island.

The IT Manager will work closely with senior leadership, corporate IT teams, vendors, and departmental stakeholders to align technology solutions with operational requirements and business objectives. This role will also be responsible for leading IT initiatives, managing resources and vendors, supporting technology projects, and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

Duties: • Support the seamless implementation, update and maintenance of the MSC IT processes and function for Ocean Cay. • Support the dedicated end-to-end ship-to-shore technologies when the ship is docked at OC. • Troubleshoot and respond to outages or other failures, including day-of embarkation and/or disembarkation.

• Assist IT Management in planning for contingency plans for the island.

• Assist IT and Business management with collecting requirements for the implementation of desired IT service programs, including crisis recovery programs.

• Ensure there is seamless communication between IT Operations, Ocean Cay Operations, and the ship operations, especially in cases which effect the ship’s arrival/ departure time.

• Collaborate to maintain close and positive relationships with vendors supporting infrastructure, hardware, and networks for OC. • Provide reports to IT management on facility preparedness and viability to support IT services.

• Report to senior IT management all current IT operations status through regular real time communication and by issuing periodic reports.

Skills & Knowledge: • Microsoft and/or Linux, Security+, Network+, CISCO CCNA or similar certification is needed.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Computer Engineering, or related major from a public or accredited private academic institution required.

• Bachelors • Experience in cruise or hospitality operations preferred.

• Basic knowledge of ship-to-shore networks; IT infrastructure / networking.

• Knowledge of Microsoft Active Directory Domains.

• Some knowledge of IT monitoring tools.

• Knowledge in PC and MAC hardware, peripherals, software and OS.

Inventory Manager The Inventory Manager carries out auditing activities, collects data related to the on-site costs and stocks to support the Supply Warehouse & Cost Control Manager in preparing structured reports concerning the island procurement and logistic operations. Processes RDA and ensures all orders are sent to procurement in a timely matter. The purpose of this position is to supervise and coordinate the activities of those engaged in inventory management and to ensure that optimum levels of inventory is maintained and that it is at par with quality standards. They are also responsible for keeping track of inventory records and making sure it is accurate.

Duties: • Ensures the accuracy of data concerning consumption, stocks, and any internal movements.

• Follows approved budgets. Communicates any fluctuation from these budgets in a timely manner to department managers.

• Maintains and follows the onsite inventory procedures, stocks, consumption, supply chain and warehousing operations.

• Carries out regular audits to ensure accuracy and efficiency of any process concerned.

• Assists Supply Warehouse & Cost Control Manager in preparation of structured reports of the auditing activities and implements immediate corrective action.

• To maintain all documents and records accurately on file and available for inspection for a minimum of 12 months.

• Implement and maintain effective cost control in all areas of consumables without negatively affecting quality, guest service or product.

• Works proactively to avoid shortages, wastage and incurring additional expenses due to lack of proper planning.

• Communicates low stock levels and slow-moving inventory to department managers for proper proactive planning. Identifies changes in requisition trends and works to ensure RDAs are adjusted.

• Assists Supply Warehouse & Cost Control Manager with the Procurement & Logistic on-site operations • Ensure compliance with the Company’s Policy & Procedures • Ensure nothing is delivered without an authorized requisition form and that these are signed with authorizing signature.

• Supervises and participates in loading operations.

• Manages proper daily use of all provided company equipment. Ensuring it is used safely, with respect to managing our assets and that it is securely stored, recharged and regularly maintained.

• Trains storekeeping staff on the correct use of all provided equipment.

Skills & Knowledge: • Should be able to demonstrate collaborative work style, strong leadership skills and should have the ability to take proper decision and action whenever any difficult situation arises.

• They should have excellent English oral and written communication skills.

• Good analytical and organizational skills with experience in project management would prove to be an advantage.

• They should have a desire to learn every detail related to inventory operation and have the passion to reach out for promotional opportunities.

• They should enjoy clerical and administrative work with good planning and numeric skills.

• They have a methodical approach to complete the assigned work and possess strong attention to detail.

• A good basic knowledge of all products used in MSC in the hotel, Ocean Cay, technical. (Consumables, chemicals, uniforms, spare parts, etc). Good knowledge of all products in the food and beverage operation, above average computer knowledge, and will be extremely reliable and company minded.

• Excellent knowledge of MMS, Fidelio, Microsoft Programs, XL, POS, network.

• Valid current documentation certifying the health and fitness of the applicant meets all requirements for Ocean Cay personnel based on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

• Proven understanding of MSC sanitation standard protocols.

• Previous cruise ship or hotel/resort experience preferable.

Landscape Manager The Landscape Manager leads the daily operation, maintenance and continual improvement of all landscaped and natural areas, ensuring the destination is consistently guest-ready, horticulturally healthy, safe and maintained within approved environmental, and operational standards.

This includes identification, diagnosis and recommendations with regard to tropical palm, tree, turf, and shrub health, and knowledge of irrigation system operations and maintenance The Landscape Manager works with landscape architects, contractors, arborists, turf technicians, irrigation specialists, machine operators, and staff to provide oversight of the maintenance of the existing landscape of specimen trees, irrigation system, turf, and assists in providing direction and supervision for all landscape assets.

Duties: • Ability to read landscape, planting, and irrigation plans.

• Educational and practical experience in aspects of palm and tree care, landscape management, native plants, and invasive species identification and removal.

• Exemplary project management skills.

• Experience managing and motivating a diverse team, with a hands-on approach to leadership. Experience making independent and proactive decisions within a larger strategic work plan.

• Comfort working within an active construction site and ability to maintain new landscape installations.

• Ability to talk to guests, staff, contractors, and others with passion and positivity.

• Familiarity with the safe operation of heavy equipment, hand and power tools, and other products unique to the trade.

• Ability to assist with seasonal off-hours emergencies as needed.

• Strong time management, organization, and prioritization skills.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and a Guest-focused mindset.

• Willingness to work in all types of weather conditions.

• Ability to lift 50 pounds.

• Proven ability to work within a harmonious and diverse culture team environment.

• Knowledge of and ability to perform required role in emergency situations.

• Valid current documentation certifying the health and fitness of the applicant meets all requirements for Ocean Cay personnel based on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

Verification that all precautions have been taken against diseases (Vaccinations) that may be endemic to the working area.

Skills & Knowledge: • Minimum five years of experience in landscape maintenance, horticulture, and grounds management, including at least two years in a supervisory or management

role. Resort, private-island, public-garden or comparable hospitality experience is preferred. Curiosity and willingness to learn new horticultural and agronomic methods and practices.

• Relevant horticulture, or landscape qualification preferred, or equivalent practical experience, particularly as it relates to subtropical, coastal, high wind / saline island environments.

• Working knowledge of irrigation system maintenance and water-use management.

• Knowledge of tools, methods and materials pertaining to a grounds maintenance program, including plant material procurement and installation

Managing Director The Managing Director of Ocean Cay is a strategic and operational leadership role responsible for the end-to-end management of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. This includes oversight of all on-island operations, ensuring a world-class experience for guests of both MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys, and safeguarding the island’s commitment to environmental stewardship and operational excellence. Based in Ocean Cay, this role serves as the primary leadership liaison between headquarters, shipboard teams, and on-island operations. Critically, this role also acts as the official Representative of MSC Cruises in The Bahamas, managing relationships with government authorities and ensuring the company’s interests are proactively represented and protected.

Duties: • Oversee the full spectrum of daily island operations, including hospitality, marine logistics, retail, F&B, excursions, and infrastructure.

• Lead and coordinate a cross-functional team, ensuring seamless collaboration with shipboard operations, shore-side departments, and third-party vendors.

• Ensure business continuity and crisis response readiness across all functions.

• Hold full accountability for guest Net Promoter Score (NPS), driving excellence across every operational touchpoint.

• Design and deliver exceptional, brand-aligned guest experiences for both MSC and Explora guests, tailoring offerings to their unique profiles and expectations.

• Drive continuous improvement through guest feedback, service audits, and innovation.

• Ensure consistent delivery of premium service standards across touchpoints, including welcome, activities, dining, and wellness experiences.

• Own and drive revenue generation from Shore Excursions and other ancillary products that enhance the cruise experience.

• Collaborate with commercial and product teams to curate and continuously improve on-island experiences that convert to incremental spend.

• Monitor guest engagement and purchasing behavior to optimize offerings and pricing strategies.

• Partner with internal stakeholders and external consultants to design infrastructure solutions that support Ocean Cay’s growth.

• Contribute to long-term planning for island capacity, guest amenities, utilities, logistics, and sustainability integration.

• Ensure infrastructure investments align with strategic objectives to enhance guest experience and operational scalability.

• Manage the island’s P&L, optimizing resources and identifying revenue growth opportunities without compromising the guest experience or environmental goals.

• Contribute to the strategic evolution of Ocean Cay through input into future development, infrastructure projects, and brand partnerships.

• Serve as the official Representative of MSC Cruises in The Bahamas, particularly in all matters involving governmental authorities.

• Foster strong relationships with local government, regulatory agencies, and key stakeholders to ensure compliance and alignment with national regulations and MSC’s strategic interests.

Skills & Knowledge: • Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, Business, Marine Operations, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in hospitality or operations leadership roles, with at least 3 in a remote or island-based setting.

• Experience in cruise, resort, or private island operations highly preferred.

• Demonstrated success in delivering premium guest experiences across multicultural environments.

• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets and operational KPIs.

Landscape Supervisor The Landscaping Supervisor is responsible for supervising the daily operations of the Landscaping Department and ensuring that all landscaped areas, gardens, lawns, trees, plants, pathways, and outdoor spaces are maintained to the highest standards.

The position provides hands-on leadership to the Landscaping team, coordinates daily work activities, monitors quality and productivity, manages equipment and supplies, and ensures compliance with company health, safety, environmental, and operational standards.

Duties: • Oversee the daily maintenance of lawns, gardens, trees, shrubs, flower beds, and other landscaped areas.

• Ensure lawns are properly mowed, edged, trimmed, fertilized, and maintained.

• Coordinate planting, pruning, trimming, mulching, transplanting, and replacement of plants.

• Monitor irrigation and watering requirements.

• Inspect plants and landscaped areas for disease, pests, damage, or other conditions requiring attention.

• Ensure landscaping areas are free from debris, weeds, litter, and other visible deficiencies.

• Coordinate landscaping activities for special events, projects, and operational requirements.

• Ensure guest-facing areas Skills & Knowledge: • Supervise and provide daily directions to Landscaping employees.

• Prepare and communicate daily work assignments and priorities.

• Monitor attendance, punctuality, productivity, and overall employee performance.

• Ensure adequate staffing and coverage for daily landscaping activities.

• Coach, train, motivate, and develop team members.

• Provide regular feedback and address performance concerns promptly.

• Assist management with performance reviews and disciplinary matters when required.

• Promote teamwork, professionalism, accountability, and positive employee relations.

• Lead by example and maintain a professional standard of conduct.

Irrigation Technician Responsible for the operation and maintenance of all irrigation and drainage systems on the island and grounds.

To consistently exceed guest expectations and provide the highest level of product and services, additional duties and responsibilities may be assigned as needed by a supervisor and / or General Manager.

Duties: • Watering lawns, palms and flower beds and other areas as needed or scheduled.

• Monitors daily water usage and informs Maintenance Engineer of any needed adjustments to the irrigation water usage and computer settings.

• Operates irrigation heads in dry areas needing additional water.

• Designs, implements and maintains mechanical and electrical components of island irrigation system.

• Repairs equipment associated with irrigation (i.e., irrigation pipes and irrigation heads valves etc.).

• Performs preventive maintenance on all equipment associated with irrigation.

• Maintains complete records on all equipment maintenance associated with irrigation.

• Controls expenses associated with irrigation equipment and activities.

• Maintains inventory and ordering of parts needed for irrigation equipment.

• Performs all record-keeping relative to irrigation system including weather and rainfall data; assists in recording fertilizer and pesticide applications.

• Performs daily tank and pump water usage reports.

• Helps apply or water-in pesticides and fertilizers under the supervision of the Pesticides Application Specialist through fumigation.

• Operates dump trucks and other light equipment in hauling materials and removing debris.

Skills & Knowledge: • At least 18 years of age and in good health with no physical limitations, including vision.

• Willingness to learn.

• Some experience working for a landscaping service or golf course grounds crew, specifically working with the irrigation system.

• Proven ability to work within a harmonious and diverse culture team environment.

• Working knowledge of basic electricity and hydraulics related to an irrigation system, including automatic valves and controllers and various types of pumps and pumping systems.

• Knowledge of Rainbird system preferred.

• Knowledge of principles and practices of turf grass management and general horticulture.

• Knowledge of pump station maintenance, operation, and repair.

• Knowledge of tools, methods and materials used in grounds maintenance work.

• Ability to operate irrigation pumps, sprayers and drip irrigation systems.

• Knowledge of and ability to perform required role in emergency situations.

All Applicants please apply through:

mscoceancaymarinereserve.bamboohr.com/careers

PAGE 8, Wednesday, September 2, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

Arrow-words are like crosswords, but the c inside squares on the grid. Write you blank squares in the direction indicate Solu

WORDSEARCH JUDGE PARKER

CARPE DIEM

MARVIN BLONDIE

R B A N Q U E T H M S N J H W L B C N A P B A T O O U A B Q E F T T I N R Z W R E J R L I S O C A R C O U T T O I U L E H E C M R C N V R O E C O G A L I A E S S D A T P A M A L T L A C C N R K L G A A I H G E P D L V I N T S Z D Q Y N N H U T S T R M A U N D Y M H U A Y M A H G N I R E G C H B O D U T I E M I N V E S T I T U R

WORDS RELATED TO THE RO

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE

TIGER

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YESTERDA QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 1 Deputy, 4 Cancel, 9 Stick-in-themud, 10 Eternal, 11 Exile, 12 Civil, 14 Defer, 18 Reign, 19 Travail, 21 Determination, 22 Egress, 23 Chance.

Down: 1 Dispel, 2 Prime minister, 3 Token, 5 Athlete, 6 Commiseration, 7 Ledger, 8 Angle, 13 Ignores, 15 Grudge, 16 Strip, 17 Glance, 20 Abash.

CALVIN & HOBBES

DENNIS THE MENACE

WORDSEARCH

T D E T S E L I O W M N A M D E R L E H O G M S R M M M R N N O B O E N B U R T A R O N V I M A K E R M X H O L V Z R H R A L V M T C A A R E N L K F H G D D F S C S B O B H N J E E R L L M O C H I N B P D A G D T L K B Y E L C R I X I X H N I B T M P N V J Z E D B S E Y F R I E S C I S S Y N S B T

TARGET

THE ALPH

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Across: Glitch, Warm, Racquet Spree, Robe, Ja (clue), Melt, Sw Eel, Florin, Exce Down: Sprat, L Orbit, There, Us Arisen, Raw, Blo Newts, Medic, H Lakes, Pleat.

CRYPTOQUOTE AXYDLBAAXR is L O N G F E L L O W One letter stands for another. In this example, A is used for the three L’s, X for the 2 O’s, etc. Single letters, apostrophes, the length and formation of words are all hints. Each day the code letters are different.

Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

Yesterday’s Sudoku Answer

MICRO CROSSWORD

CHALLENGER

Yesterday’s Answers