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Bar: VAT real estate fine ‘doesn’t match the reality’ BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE BAHAMAS Bar Association has branded as “completely impractical” the Government’s plan to impose a 5.25 percent interest charge if VAT due on real estate sales is not paid within 21 days, warning it fails to “match the current commercial reality”. Khalil Parker KC, the Association’s president, in a September 28, 2026, letter to Michael Halkitis, minister of finance, called for the new levy’s introduction this coming Monday to be “deferred” to allow further consultation with practitioners since it will likely catch “the vast majority” of Bahamian mortgage-financed home buyers and cause “significant disruption to the current mode of doing business”. With the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR) asserting that the 21-day period starts running from the moment the seller or buyer in a property transaction signs

Gov’t urged: ‘Defer’ Monday’s 5.25% levy introduction

the conveyance, Mr Parker and the Bar warned that the time required for banks and other lenders to review all mortgage documents, make sure everything is in order and that their security is protected, is just one step in the process that - by itself - can take more than three weeks to complete. Meanwhile, Andrew O’Brien, chair of the Bahamas Bar Association’s real estate committee, separately told Tribune Business when contacted yesterday that multiple real estate sales already in process for more than 21

days but yet to complete could be caught by the tax authorities’ proposed implementation of the new levy from Monday, October 5. Asserting that all real estate-related law and tax changes need to be accompanied by at least a 90-day transition period, so that the market escapes undue disruption and all parties have time to adjust, he added that the uncertainty means attorneys are also unable to properly advise Bahamian and international clients on what their fees and costs are likely to be. “I remain hopeful the Government will take a pause,”

‘Highly unlikely’ PPP overhaul solves ‘off the books’ concerns BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE OPPOSITION’S leader yesterday asserted it is “highly unlikely” a newly-unveiled policy will resolve his party’s concerns that public-private partnership (PPPs) deals are really off-the-books loans designed to keep debt off the Government’s balance sheet. Michael Pintard told Tribune Business he is still waiting for “evidence” that the Davis administration will be “open

and transparent” about the agreements entered into during its first term in office, including the $437m worth of road projects identified as PPPs in the 2026-2027 Budget, as the Government tabled a revised policy governing such investments in the House of Assembly. He spoke out as Michael Halkitis, minister of finance, signalled that the Government accepted a key fiscal watchdog’s call for greater disclosure, transparency and improved reporting of such deals where private sector

capital, developers and managers are engaged to deliver infrastructure and public services for the Bahamian people’s benefit. Addressing the House of Assembly just prior to tabling proposed revisions to the Government’s first-ever PPP policy, which was unveiled in 2018, plus a “private sector first policy” that pledges to give private companies first go at “commercially viable” projects, Mr Halkitis said the Davis administration views recent Fiscal Responsibility Council reports on the topic

Gov’t: Private sector to take infrastructure lead BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE GOVERNMENT yesterday unveiled a policy to involve the private sector “at the very earliest stages” om commercially viable infrastructure and public services projects in a bid reduce the Public Treasury’s burden and generate greater value for money for Bahamians. Michael Halkitis, minister of finance, hailed the ‘Private Sector First’ policy that was tabled in then House of Assembly to kickstart public consultation, asserting that it will help unlock business capital,

MICHAEL HALKITIS knowledge, expertise and management through multiple private-public partnership (PPP) investments designed to benefit and serve the Bahamian public. Explaining that the new policy will work alongside

BUILD - See Page B6

Gov’t, Rosewood Exuma reject ‘salami slice’ claim BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net ATTORNEYS for government regulators and the $200m Rosewood Exuma project’s developer yesterday rejected allegations of “salami slicing” to minimise the development’s effects and avoid full public scrutiny. They arguing that separate certificates of environmental clearance (CEC) for specific works did not amount to a deliberate effort to carve up

the project to hide its full impact, and asserted that extensions of such approvals are a normal part of regulatory oversight. Edward Fitzgerald KC, the UK attorney representing the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) and other government defendants, told Justice Leif Farquharson KC that the various CECs issued for the Rosewood Exuma development did not remove individual components from environmental

HEARING - See Page B7

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Gov’ts watchdog launches probe on National Fund $311m spending Auditor General to investigate controversy

Warning it will catch ‘vast majority’ of mortgage buyers Attorney further calls for ‘at least’ 90-day transition period

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To examine all transactions and records KHALIL PARKER KC Mr O’Brien said. “There’s got to be dozens and dozens of transactions in process that have not allowed for this. They are going to be caught, having dated their conveyances as they normally do, and are already maybe over 21 days and somebody has to pay this new fee. “For any change to a real estate transaction, there has to be at least a 90-day transition period. Lawyers build flexibility into a contract in case the Government changes the laws, so it would be a split 50/50 between the purchaser

PAC probe to proceed on ‘parallel track’ BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@ tribunemedia.net

as “constructive recommendations” rather than “criticism to be resisted”. The Council, in its report reviewing the 2026-2027 Budget, had called for more disclosure on the $437m worth of road improvement projects as fiscal documents “provide only a basic description of PPPs, including project name, the name of the private sector partner, project cost and the designated project location”. To address this, it urged: “As the Government has moved increasingly towards PPPs for delivery of major infrastructure projects, the Fiscal Responsibility Council views publication and

THE GOVERNMENT’S own financial watchdog has launched a probe into the near-$311m worth of MICHAEL PINTARD spending and other transactions purportedly involving the National Investment Fund (NIF), the Opposition’s leader confirmed last night. Michael Pintard, when contacted by Tribune Business, said he is aware that the Auditor General’s Office is initiating its own investigation that will “proceed on a parallel track” with the separate probe into the National Investment Fund controversy that is set to be undertaken by the House of Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The Free National Movement (FNM) leader asserted that the two investigations will “complement” rather than interfere with, or cut across, each other with other sources having revealed to this newspaper earlier this week that the Auditor General’s Office was poised to make its own inquiries into all transactions - including inflows and outflows - involving hundreds of millions of dollars belonging to the Bahamian people. Tribune Business understands that the financial watchdog has already sent letters to Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, and Barbara Zonicle, the treasurer, seeking the co-operation and assistance of their respective offices with an investigation seeking to examine, and reconcile, the movement of all funds into and out of accounts set-up in the National Investment Fund’s name.

UPGRADE - See Page B5

INVESTIGATE - See Page B4

PAYABLE - See Page B4

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Thursday, October 1, 2026, PAGE 3

Livery drivers relocated by LPIA’s airport resort BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net LIVERY drivers at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) will likely have to be relocated across the street from their existing parking area to make way for a proposed 250-room hotel. Stacey Moultrie, principal of SEV Consulting, the Nassau Airport Development Company’s (NAD) environmental advisers on the LPIA airport hotel, told Tuesday night’s public consultation on the project’s environmental management plan (EMP) that the site is currently used for parking by livery drivers. The potential relocation is among the impacts being considered as part of the environmental review process for the hotel project,

Developer likely selected in early 2027; 15-year lease eyed which remains at the conceptual stage. Ms Moultrie said the proposed alternative location for the livery drivers is across the street from where they currently park, although the issue remains subject to further consultation and the project’s development. The proposed airport hotel features two buildings, one containing 120 guest rooms and the other around 130 rooms. Amenities are expected to include a café, fitness centre and meeting room. NAD is pursuing the project through a design, build, finance and operate procurement model, with the bidding process to select a

third-party hotel developer having closed on March 3, 2026. The winning bidder is expected to be selected in early 2027, and will be granted a lease of about 15 years. The project’s construction duration has not yet been finalised, with the current estimate ranging from 18 to 36 months. Ms Moultrie said the design is still being developed and another stakeholder consultation is expected once more details have been completed. That means the potential impact on livery drivers is not yet a settled arrangement, but it gives the airport hotel development a direct impact beyond the construction of the property itself. The hotel is proposed for an already-cleared site near LPIA rather than an undeveloped area. Ms Moultrie described the location

Bahamas eyes Freeport as Canada’s Caribbean hub BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net THE BAHAMAS is exploring the commercial and logistical requirements for positioning Freeport as a transshipment hub for Canadian goods destined for Caribbean and Latin American markets, it was revealed yesterday, as it targets Canadian investment across six sectors. Barry Griffin, chairman of the Bahamas Trade Commission, said the proposal is one of two central propositions being advanced as The Bahamas seeks to broaden its commercial relationship with Canada. The second is positioning The Bahamas as an international business centre where Canadian companies can establish a presence, access financial and professional services and conduct business across the Caribbean and other international markets.

“Our discussions span agriculture, agribusiness and agro-processing; energy; digital commerce and technology; shipping and logistics; retail; and banking and finance,” said Mr Griffin. “We see opportunities for trade and investment in each of those areas.” He added that the Freeport proposition is still being examined, with the Trade Commission now looking at what would be required commercially and logistically for Canadian goods to move through The Bahamas into regional markets. “Freeport has the potential to serve as a transshipment point for Canadian goods destined for the Caribbean and Latin America,” said Mr Griffin. The Trade Commission's push does not currently involve negotiating a new formal trade agreement with Canada, Mr Griffin said, noting that The

Bahamas already benefits from CARIBCAN, which provides preferential access to the Canadian market for eligible goods from this nation and other Caribbean states. Instead, the immediate focus is on expanding the existing commercial relationship by connecting more Bahamian businesses to Canadian opportunities while demonstrating how The Bahamas can support Canadian companies seeking international growth. “Our immediate focus is on expanding the commercial relationship we have; connecting more Bahamian businesses to Canadian opportunities and showing Canadian companies how The Bahamas can support their international growth,” said Mr Griffin. The Commission has identified three areas for follow-up after its recent Toronto discussions. The first is to continue direct engagement between

LYNDEN PINDLING INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LPIA) as a human-altered environment, which she said reduces some of the potential impacts that would occur with developing a previously undisturbed site. Construction activity could also affect traffic around LPIA, with the environmental management plan anticipating the movement of heavy equipment and construction materials. Contractors are expected to avoid peak traffic periods, including the morning work commute between 7.30am and 9am, and the afternoon peak around 3pm.

Stormwater management is addressed in the EMP through culverts, retention storage swales and an underground stormwater system. The underground system would use individual modules capable of holding about 22,000 cubic feet of water, with the objective of preventing the hotel from contributing to flooding or excessive run-off around LPIA. The Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) said the hotel does not require a full environmental assessment,

but the EMP is being reviewed through the consultation process. Bahamians and other stakeholders have 21 business days to submit questions, comments or concerns, after which the feedback will be incorporated into the consultation report and considered as part of the environmental management plan review. A further consultation is expected once the project's detailed design and successful developer have been determined.

Canadian companies and potential Bahamian private sector partners, with Mr Griffin noting those conversations could advance during Diplomatic Week in October through further bilateral discussions involving Canadian representatives. The second is examining the commercial and logistical requirements for using The Bahamas, particularly Freeport, as a hub for Canadian goods moving into regional markets. The third is developing opportunities for Canadian companies to establish operations in The Bahama, and for Bahamian companies to enter or expand in the Canadian market.

However, Mr Griffin cautioned that the initiative remains in its early stages and that the three work areas should not be interpreted as approved projects with firm implementation dates. “These are workstreams at an early stage, rather than three approved projects with implementation dates,” said Mr Griffin. “The meetings in Canada were the start of a process that we expect to continue through further discussions and trade missions.” He also declined to identify Canadian companies that may be considering investment or establishing operations in The Bahamas as a result of the discussions.

Mr Griffin said the Commission had “productive meetings” with Canadian trade officials and private sector representatives, and that there was interest in continuing the discussions, but added that it would be premature to publicly characterise individual companies' plans. The next phase will therefore focus on connecting businesses and institutions, examining specific commercial opportunities and determining which discussions can develop into partnerships. “We are encouraged by the response, while recognising that these relationships take time to build,” said Mr Griffin.

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Pintard: Two probes to help ‘rather than hinder’ on NIF INVESTIGATE - from page B1

to The Bahamas’ $13bn-plus national debt. Total public and taxpayer money placed into the Fund could be higher than $900m. Michael Halkitis, minister of finance, in the 2026-2027 Budget communication said the Government had transferred net or “excess borrowing receipts” worth $700m to the Fund during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. He signalled it has retained these proceeds as cash, and not used them to cover its bills and expenses, which would prevent them from impacting the deficit/surplus position. This might explain how The Bahamas’ national debt increased by $1bn during the 2025-2026 Budget period but did not appear to show up in the deficit, which was just $121.2m for the ten months to end-April 2026. However, besides the $700m, the Davis administration had also previously placed the $265.5m net proceeds from the $1.067bn bond into the National Investment Fund during the 2024-2025 fiscal period. Tribune Business revelations that most of that $265.5m had been removed from the Fund, leaving just a balance of $200,000 at end-March 2026, sparked the increased scrutiny that ultimately led to Mr Rolle’s disclosures about the Board not being convened, and the governance and operational

consequences of this. However, given that Mr Halkitis said some $310.9m has been invested or spent, it is unclear how much cash remains with the Fund and accounts linked to it. Based on Mr Halkitis’s reference to $700m in the Budget debate, this could mean close to $390m in cash savings and other forms of investments have been retained by the Fund. Yet, combining that $700m with the initial $265.5m injection to give $965.5m, that could signal more than $650m has been retained by the Fund. This sparked Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief executive, and others to call for a full independent audit of the National Investment Fund to ensure there is a true reconciliation of all fund movements in and out of its accounts, and a full picture of its financial position obtained, to prevent the controversy becoming more than just governance deficiencies. Mr Halkitis last month rejected Opposition charges and concerns from others by reiterating the Government had stayed within “the exercise of the law” in relation to the Fund and how its monies and other assets have been managed over the past year-and-a-half. While acknowledging the governance deficiencies, the minister signalled that the

Government had acted in accordance with legal advice from the Attorney General’s Office that - until the National Investment Funds Act 2022 becomes fully activated - the Fund is governed by the Public Finance Management Act, and thus comes under the oversight and control of the Ministry of Finance and Public Treasury. Mr Halkitis said the Government is now working to make the Fund fully operational by completing “all the administrative procedures”, including the regulations governing its workings and appointment of an investment committee, “definitely before the end of the year” as he pledged: “We are going to put this behind us.” Speaking in the House of Assembly, he disclosed that $310.9m has been taken from the Fund to-date for investment in infrastructure projects, improving public services and upgrading court facilities throughout The Bahamas. Asserting that this outlay will only benefit the Bahamian people, Mr Halkitis said two-thirds of this sum - $210.6m - has been invested in road and building improvements, plus water system upgrades. The remaining $100.3m, he added, was allocated to airport development projects including in Cat Island, San Salvador, Exuma and Long Island. Tribune

Business understands that the court complex referred to is the demolition of the Rodney Bain building in downtown Nassau and its eventual replacement by a new court complex. “In our view we were authorised by the resolution of Parliament on March 10, 2025, which allowed us to raise some money and, if you read the resolution, it said specifically for infrastructure and development,” Mr Halkitis said. “And so, it means that we were within the law, the exercise of the law. They [the Opposition] have a different opinion. “We recognise that there are some administrative things that need to be completed and we are going to complete them,” he added, “so we look forward to answering all the questions so the public have all the benefits of it. “We did say in the statement that, in the absence of completion of all the administrative procedures, the Ministry of Finance within its powers under the Public Finance Management Act was acting.” Asked when the process of operationalising the Fund will be completed, Mr Halkitis replied: “We are looking to do it as soon as possible; definitely before the end of the year.”

Bar warns of ‘significant disruption’ to how property market operates

as to facilitate the buyer, as borrower, having their loan proceeds advanced by their bank for use to pay the seller the purchase price balance and release the closing deeds from escrow. “The period required for submission of a package to a bank, for completing the bank’s internal review and approval process, for arranging for drawdown of the loan proceeds, for having a property vacated, for arranging handover of possession and escrow release, and for disbursing all payments, including VAT, often takes many weeks after the conveyance is first signed, with the effect that the conveyance and mortgage are already older than 21 days by the point in time when they can be presented to the Department of Inland Revenue for stamping,” Mr Parker and the Association continued. “This process and these steps could comfortably be done within 180 days. Similar issues arise with extended escrow or closing periods, where parties are overseas and the closing documents must be sent to and from The Bahamas or foreign notarisation and apostille certificates must be arranged for the signatories.” The Department of Inland Revenue previously told Tribune Business that it is merely implementing what is mandated by law when it applies the new interest charge with effect from October 5, 2026, to coincide with the upgrades to the VAT Stamp payment portal. It said it is enforcing the VAT Act amendments, passed in June 2025 by Parliament but not implemented until now, that introduce the new 5.25 percent interest charge. These changes, to the VAT Act’s section 47A, stipulate that any tax “not paid by the date on which it becomes due and

payable shall bear interest in respect of the outstanding amount at a rate of prime plus 1 percent”. Real estate used to be exempt from such charges, but the 2025 reforms eliminated this waiver. “Where tax is payable on a supply of real property, the liability to pay interest shall commence 21 days after the date the tax becomes due and payable,” the VAT Act changes stipulate. This is what the tax authorities are now moving to enforce. Mr Parker and the Bar, in their letter, said there was ”regrettably” no prior consultation with the Association over the levy’s planned introduction nor notification of the September 16 meeting. They urged that “a protocol” be agreed so that, in future, it receives “advance notice” of such key issues. Acknowledging the VAT Act reforms, which the Department of Inland Revenue is now seeking to enforce, Mr Parker and the Association wrote: “While we acknowledge the delayed implementation of this amendment, we anticipated that this reflected an acknowledgment that the necessary discussion and dialogue with stakeholders would take place in advance thereof. “This amendment ought not to be enforced without substantive consultation with the Bar Association and other key stakeholders…. We appreciate the Government’s desire to collect all outstanding taxes at the earliest possible date. However, consultation with the Bahamas Bar Association and key stakeholders is appropriate and necessary to avoid creating significant disruption in the current mode of doing business. “Our members do not wish to have an adversarial relationship with Department of Inland Revenue on

proposed policy changes, and note that they play a critical role in facilitating the assessment and collection of VAT on real property transactions,” Mr Parker and the Association added. “We stand willing to provide our input so that any changes can be implemented as smoothly as possible without unnecessary disruptions to long-standing real estate lending and conveyancing business practices. “We therefore request that enforcement of this interest charge be deferred so that we, along with our fellow stakeholders, can make recommendations to the Ministry of Finance on how tax collection can be expedited for VAT on conveyances and mortgages.” They requested a meeting between the Bar Association team and top Ministry of Finance officials to be arranged speedily. The Department of Inland Revenue said it will ensure “taxpayers are not disadvantaged” by subtracting, or deducting, from the 21-day timeline any days, weeks or months that a transaction’s completion is delayed by its own actions. This would typically involve the tax authority reviewing, or holding on to, a conveyance if it has queries over the transaction or is challenging the amount of VAT the parties believe is payable on the deal. However, Mr Parker and the Association said such verbal promises and assurances have yet to be translated into a “formal policy statement or guidance note”. And they reiterated that there is an already-existing 10 percent interest penalty in force, and applied to, real estate deals where conveyances are not brought forward for stamping - and VAT remains unpaid - for more than six months or 180 days.

It is also thought that the probe will assess whether proper controls and administrative systems were in place for oversight of these accounts, from which $310.9m is said to have been spent on airport, road, water and court complex upgrades, and if all monies have been properly accounted for and spent in accordance with relevant Bahamian laws and regulations. Mr Pintard, when approached by this newspaper, said the Public Accounts Committee, Parliament’s spending watchdog and the only committee controlled by the Opposition, still intends to pursue its own separate National Investment Fund investigation and will not stand down because of the move by Brenda Neeley, the Auditor General. “We have made it absolutely clear to the Ministry of Finance that we are prepared to proceed on parallel tracks to gather information,” he told Tribune Business. “We both have standing, and ought to be looking into this matter. This will complement, rather than hinder, any of us getting to the truth of this matter of the National Investment Fund, and whether proper process has been followed. “We will continue our investigation, and we’re

PAYABLE - from page B1 and the seller, but you cannot do that in a bank-financed transaction. “It’s not a good look for our jurisdiction. We cannot tell someone what to expect for their [real estate] fees, and attorneys will not look like we know what we’re doing because we cannot say what the fees are.” Tribune Business previously revealed that the interest charge, if implemented by the Department of Inland Revenue on schedule, threatens to, in effect, automatically push all mortgage purchasers and international home buyers into incurring this extra charge through no fault of their own. This is simply because of how The Bahamas’ conveyancing and property transaction system works. Department of Inland Revenue officials, during a briefing with Bahamian attorneys on September 16, 2026, to alert them to the imminent change, said the 21-day time period will start running from the date the conveyancing document is executed. However, once executed, the conveyance together with all other necessary documents, including title opinions and searches, has to be sent to the bank or other lender if mortgage financing is involved. The banks typically take two to three

happy to learn that the Auditor General has indicated that they have now formally initiated procedures relative to investigating the National Investment Fund.” The Fund is The Bahamas’ equivalent of a sovereign wealth fund, which is a financial vehicle created to assemble and mobilise cash and other assets, then invest them to earn a return and generate wealth for the benefit of all Bahamian citizens. The key concern is that spending and transactions occurred from an account bearing the National Investment Fund’s name even though John Rolle, the Central Bank’s governor who was appointed as one of its directors in August 2025, confirmed it was never properly set-up or put into operation because the Board did not convene or meet. The Fund’s governing 2022 law stipulates that only the Board can establish bank accounts on the Fund’s behalf. Besides the governance concerns, the Opposition and others are charging that the National Investment Fund was used by the Davis administration to launch a pre-election spending spree that could be kept off the Government’s balance sheet and accounting records, thus preventing this from blowing its revised $32.7m Budget surplus target for the 20252026 fiscal year and adding

weeks, or even longer if they have questions, to review and investigate the transaction before they will release the purchase funds. This alone would push a mortgage-financed real estate deal beyond the 21-day timeline for VAT to be paid to the tax authorities on the sale, almost inevitably triggering the new 5.25 percent (Prime plus 1 percent) charge. And, once the bank has completed its role in the process, further time is often required for the seller to receive the purchase proceeds and release all claims to any interest in the property for the deal to close. These challenges were highlighted by the Bar Association and Mr Parker, who advised Mr Halkitis: “As our system currently works, in particular with respect to transactions involving the issuance of mortgage proceeds or the signature of parties outside of The Bahamas, a 21-day period for stamping a document from the date of execution is, in most circumstances, completely impractical and does not match the current commercial reality.” Calling for further consultation with the Association, its member attorneys and other professions involved with real estate sales, they explained why the 21-day deadline for VAT to be paid on real estate sales will likely impose a seemingly unfair penalty on many transactions.

“Closing deeds inclusive of conveyances and mortgages are presently dated and signed before they are submitted to a financial institution for funding of a purchase,” Mr Parker and the Bar Association explained. “The deeds are often held in escrow for extended periods while the bank completes its final due diligence with the borrower, or while parties wait for foreign formalities to be completed for instruments that are signed outside of The Bahamas. “The banks’ position is that the documents must be dated before the banks will undertake their final due diligence before disbursing funds. This also allows the parties to complete transactions from their offices at convenient times versus attending a bank, which flexibility creates an important efficiency for the real estate industry.” They then added: “The date on the escrowed deeds can often differ from the actual closing date by a number of weeks, making the 21-day interest threshold very difficult to achieve. “Using just one example, for the vast majority of local mortgage-backed purchase and financing transactions involving Bahamian buyers getting personal mortgages from Bahamian banks, it is a standard and necessary practice that the conveyance be dated and signed, and delivered in escrow only, so

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Thursday, October 1, 2026, PAGE 5

Minister: Gov’t accepts fiscal watchdog’s PPP suggestion UPGRADE - from page B1 implementation of this assessment framework as an urgent and necessary priority in the interests of providing a platform that will allow for comprehensive disclosure, and the assessment and management of risk.” Apart from roadworks projects on Eleuthera and Exuma by Bahamas Striping and its affiliates, valued at $180m and $62m, respectively, the $437m worth of PPPs identified in the Budget include Cat Island Development Company’s $124m road upgrade and pipeline works on Cat Island, plus similar $52m and $19m works on San Salvador and at Mangrove Cay, Andros, by GDA Paving and Construction and Ambi’s Paving. Mr Halkitis, asserting that the revised PPP policy aims to address such concerns, told the House of Assembly: “The Fiscal Responsibility Council also raised observations regarding PPPs and the need for enhanced disclosure and reporting of PPP-related obligations. The Government welcomes these observations, and views them as constructive recommendations that support our broader objective of strengthening fiscal transparency and fiscal risk management. “It is important to note that PPPs are not undertaken outside the Government’s fiscal and legislative framework. These arrangements are considered as part of the Government’s broader planning and risk assessment process, and are subject to oversight under the Public Finance Management Act. The Government agrees that there is value in continuing to strengthen the policy and institutional framework governing PPPs.” Mr Halkitis said yesterday’s tabling of the revised PPP policy delivered on his promise in the end-May Budget that this would be released, together with supporting documents including a “manual” that sets out how it is to be implemented, after Parliament returned from its summer recess. He added that the Government has worked with Misca Advisors, a UK-based consultancy, to develop a “comprehensive PPP framework” that “is intended to build upon and modernise the existing PPP framework” developed in 2018 “by strengthening transparency, improving project identification and application processes, refinancing risk allocation and

enhancing project approval procedures”. “The new framework incorporates internationally-recognised value for money assessments, fiscal affordability analysis and fiscal risk assessment mechanisms,” Mr Halkitis said. “In that regard, the observations made by the Fiscal Responsibility Council are not regarded as criticisms to be resisted but, rather, as recommendations that complement the Government’s efforts to modernise and strengthen the PPP framework.” A comparison of the 2018 PPP policy with the revised version, which is dated April 2, 2026, but was only tabled in the House of Assembly, shows the Government has retained much of what its Minnis administration predecessor left in place albeit with some new clauses added. The most noticeable change is the addition of a brand-new section that sets out the Government’s “vision” for PPPs, and what they are supposed to deliver for The Bahamas and Bahamian people. Other alterations include two new responsibilties for the PPP steering committee, which has seen these increased from six to eight through the addition of obligations to affirm that projects comply with the new policy and assess the broader impact they may have on the Government’s financial position. “Review PPP projects at key stages, prior to submission for approval, to confirm that the requirements of this policy and the PPP policy manual and assessment framework have been met,” the revised policy now charges the PPP steering committee. “Consider the fiscal implications of PPP projects, including affordability and contingent liabilities, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance.”

The fiscal safeguards are also confirmed in a new later section in the revised policy, which states: “The Ministry of Finance will be responsible for reviewing the fiscal implications of PPP projects and confirming that these are consistent with fiscal priorities and the Government’s fiscal framework, including the requirements of the Public Finance Management Act. “PPP projects will not proceed to procurement without confirmation from the Ministry of Finance that the fiscal implications of the project are acceptable.” However, one observer, with experience of working in government, described the revised PPP policy as “much ado about nothing” given that the modifications appeared to be relatively limited and most of what the Minnis administration left has been retained. And they further challenged whether the Davis administration will “follow it” given that the $437m worth of existing road project PPPs appear neither to conform with the 2018 policy nor the updated version which, according to Mr Halkitis yesterday, will “favour private sector involvement for infrastructure projects that are commercially”. None of these road projects will generate investment returns, or any income, for the contractors/developers unless they are intended as toll roads - highly unlikely given the sparse populations of the Family Islands. “How are they going to retroactively assess the PPPs they’ve done?” the source challenged. “The current PPPs do not fit into the policies and model they are proposing for PPPs unless they go and revise them. “Why haven’t they kept up with the present policy? It’s not like they have a major problem with it. Why not abide by the policy in

place given that you have no philosophical difference with it?” Mr Pintard, the Opposition’s leader, yesterday echoed these concerns by urging the Government to apply its new PPP policy “retrospectively” or retroactively to its existing deals and “open the books” on projects that his party has charged are really “off the books” loans designed to keep debt and liabilities off the Government’s balance sheet even though Bahamian taxpayers still have to repay them. “What happened to the PPP policy that already existed?” Mr Pintard asked. “The real problem confronting The Bahamas is not that there was no PPP policy. The real problem is that the Government has never demonstrated that it complied with the existing 2018 PPP policy when advancing many of the PPP arrangements entered into or expanded since it took office…… “Seeing that the Government didn’t follow the 2018 framework, why are we to believe they will pay any attention to their 2026 version? The Government has increasingly promoted PPPs as a key vehicle for infrastructure delivery across airports, roads, energy and public facilities. Budget documents identify a PPP portfolio valued at approximately $437m. “Yet their own Fiscal Responsibility Council has had to point out that there is no adequate mechanism for disclosing critical PPP information, including

contract dates, contract duration, whether projects are revenue generating, and the nature and extent of debt obligations associated with those projects. In other words, the Bahamian taxpayer has been kept in the dark.” PPPs are typically designed to reduce the financial stress on cash-strapped governments by contracting the private sector to provide the funding, development and expertise to construct much-needed infrastructure or run public services. The Government’s cash flow pressures are eased by requiring the private sector to finance the up-front capital costs, with the latter earning a return on investment - and paying back any lender - from the revenue streams generated by infrastructure assets they develop or services provided. The Opposition, as reiterated by Mr Pintard yesterday, is arguing that many of the projects touted by the Davis administration as PPPs do not fit this model or meet this criteria. Mr Halkitis previously said the Government’s position, though, is that PPPs need not be income generating for the private sector partner. However, the Fiscal Strategy Report 2026 previously disclosed that some of these PPP liabilities have “crystallised” on the Government’s books as a debt that has to be repaid by Bahamian taxpayers. The document, released alongside the 2026-2027 Budget, revealed that some $43.1m of the $140m PPP

funding that the Africa Export-Import Bank has provided for road infrastructure upgrades on Eleuthera and Cat Island has now become a liability that the Government has to repay from the Public Treasury. “The Government faces a potential contingent liability of $140m arising from financing arrangements with the African Export-Import Bank in respect of public-private partnership transactions with Bahamas Striping and Cat Island Infrastructure Company. At the time of preparation of this report, approximately $43.1m of this liability has crystallised in respect of these arrangements,” the Fiscal Strategy Report said. The 2026-2027 Budget shows that the Bahamian Government is already making interest payments to Africa Export-Import Bank. Some $316,751 worth of interest was paid to the African lender during the 2024-2025 fiscal year, with a further $308,137 expended during the first nine months of 2025-2026 despite no provision having been made for the latter when the previous Budget was passed in June 2025. Moving forward, the Government is shown as making six-figure interest payments to the Africa Export-Import Bank for the next three years, with some $532,362 due in the upcoming 20262027 fiscal year. And, starting this year and continuing for each of the subsequent two Budget years, the Government will be repaying the African lender some $1.67m in principal as well.

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Private sector involved at ‘earliest stage’ on commercially viable deals BUILD - from page B1 the revised PPP policy, and a “manual” guiding how such projects should be executed, which were also tabled in Parliament yesterday, Mr Halkitis said of ‘private sector first’: “The public sector presently bears a substantial portion of the pressures linked to infrastructure delivery, including recurring operational expenses and contingent liabilities. “Against this background, the approach will favour private sector involvement for infrastructure projects that are commercially viable while public sector involvement will be for circumstances involving evident market failure or a clearly-established public interest requirement. Under this model, the potential for private sector participation would be considered from the very earliest planning stages. “Projects with commercial potential would be directed first towards private delivery, and public [sector] involvement would only move forward when a private sector solution is not practical or when.. project structuring cannot resolve a market failure. This would mark a more significant movement away from direct government provision of infrastructure and services, but the Government will be focusing instead on enabling, supervising and facilitating private sector investment.” Mr Halkitis, explaining how the ‘private sector first’ policy ties into the PPP revisions and their associated implementation guide, added: “The ‘private sector first’ policy is designed to work in tandem with the revised PPP policy and the wider PPP assessment framework. It reflects the Government’s development priorities to limit fiscal exposure, attracting private capital and drawing more effectively on private sector knowledge and capabilities.

“The initiative sets out a coherent and disciplined way ahead. The revised PPP policy will underpin sound governance. The PPP assessment framework will translate the policy into practical action, and the Government will have a strategic means of handling private sector participation where it can add value. Together, these measures will support the advancement of infrastructure and public services for the benefit of the Bahamian people.” The ‘private sector first’ policy itself signals the Government’s plans for the private sector to take over the financing, execution and management of major infrastructure projects from the taxpayer and public purse - especially if they generate revenue, or income, streams that generate a return on investment and pay-off any debt financing. “The Government continues to carry a significant share of the fiscal burden associated with infrastructure delivery, including up-front capital investment as well as ongoing financial commitments linked to operation, maintenance and contingent liabilities,” the ‘private sector first’ policy said. “In this context, there is a clear rationale for considering a more market- led approach to infrastructure provision, particularly in sectors where projects can attract private investment and operate on a commercial basis. This ‘private sector first’ policy is distinct in its orientation. “It sets out a more directive approach under which infrastructure projects are considered for private sector delivery at an early stage of planning, with public sector implementation proceeding only where private participation is not feasible or where there is clear evidence of market failure. In this model, the role of Government shifts further away from direct provision and toward creating the conditions under

which private investment can be mobilised and sustained.” Acknowledging the financial, operational and maintenance challenges of having to duplicate key assets, such as roads, docks, airports and bridges, plus public utility systems across all inhabited Bahamian islands, the policy added: “The Bahamas faces ongoing challenges in the provision of infrastructure required to support sustained economic growth and improved service delivery. “The geographic dispersion of the islands, combined with relatively small and distributed populations, raises the overall cost of providing infrastructure and keeping it in service over time. In several sectors, this has resulted in constraints on access, as well as inconsistency in service quality and reliability. “Meeting the country’s infrastructure needs requires substantial and sustained investment, alongside improved approaches to delivery and management. In this context, the private sector has the capacity to contribute investment and specialist capability in a manner that can support more efficient and reliable infrastructure provision.” Ports and maritime services; telecommunications; energy and electricity systems; roads, bridges and related networks; water and sanitation services; civil aviation and airports; tourism-related assets; waste management; place=making and urban development; and schools and hospitals and clinics were all cited as examples of PPPs that could be led by the private sector. “Private sector participation (PSP), which includes PPPs and other forms of private participation in infrastructure provision, offers both operational and strategic advantages,” the ‘private sector first’ policy said. “At the operational level, it can improve

efficiency, sharpen the focus on service outcomes, and support a more joined-up approach to delivery across the life of an asset. It can also introduce new methods and practical experience from the private sector. “At a strategic level, PSP can strengthen accountability by clarifying responsibilities between public and private actors. It can also allow public financial and institutional resources to be redirected toward core government functions, particularly policy, supervision and regulatory administration, thereby strengthening overall public sector effectiveness…. “In many countries, infrastructure provision has traditionally been led by the public sector, reflecting the public service nature of these assets. However, this approach is evolving. Fiscal constraints limit the extent to which governments can meet infrastructure needs through public investment alone, particularly where competing priorities exist in areas such as social services and human development,” the policy added. “Enabling the private sector to take a leading role in commercially-viable infrastructure projects can reduce pressure on public finances, allowing government resources to be directed toward areas where alternative sources of investment are limited. The Government of The Bahamas will continue to play a key role in shaping the infrastructure landscape. “This includes establishing a policy and regulatory environment that supports PSP, while maintaining appropriate oversight of service delivery. Direct public sector involvement in infrastructure provision will be focused on areas where there is evidence of market failure that cannot be addressed within a reasonable timeframe. In such

cases, the decision to intervene will be informed by an assessment of the scale of the market failure and the relative costs and benefits of public intervention.” However, Michael Pintard, the Opposition’s leader, in a statement to Tribune Business questioned whether the Government will abide by its revised PPP and new ‘private sector first’ policy as he alleged it had failed to follow the one left in place by the former Minnis administration. “The 2018 policy was not a vague statement of aspirations. It established a detailed process requiring project screening, project concept notes, business cases, value for money assessments, fiscal analysis, risk allocation reviews, competitive procurement, Cabinet approvals, contract management procedures and public disclosure obligations,” he said. “PPPs were supposed to be transparent, accountable and demonstrably superior to conventional procurement. Yet today, the Bahamian public cannot review the business cases for major PPP projects. It cannot review the value for money analyses. It cannot review the contracts themselves in most cases. It cannot even review a complete list of all existing PPP obligations and their associated fiscal risks.” Branding many of the Government’s existing PPPs as “off book transactions” that add “costs and create no value for Bahamian taxpayers”, he added that many such deals involve investments financed by the contractors which “simply places an extra step between the Government and a loan”. Mr Pintard said: “The Government launched an ambitious programme to concession Family Island airports through so-called PPP arrangements. It is

pursuing major energy reforms involving independent power producers, LNG infrastructure and private sector participation. “Let’s be clear, the issue is not whether these public investments are necessary. The issue is whether projects satisfy the principles outlined in the Government’s existing PPP policy. The answer is a simple: ‘No’. That is why the Government should not simply implement the new PPP framework going forward. It should apply it retrospectively.” Calling for all existing PPPs to be reviewed against the standards established in the new policy framework, the Opposition leader urged that all such projects be publicly listed with their contracts disclosed bar commercially sensitive details. He added that all taxpayer liabilities must be disclosed, and said the Government should publish an annual PPP report plus disclose “every appropriation supporting PPP payments” and annual “fiscal risk summaries” for all projects. “And, most importantly, it should contain an explicit prohibition against the use of vendor-financing arrangements masquerading as PPPs where there is no demonstrable transfer of risk, no clear commercial rationale and no measurable value for money benefit,” Mr Pintard blasted. “The Government cannot restore that confidence merely by publishing a stronger policy. It must first open the books on the projects already undertaken. Only then can Bahamians determine whether PPPs have been used as genuine tools for infrastructure development or merely as a convenient mechanism for obscuring public liabilities. The country does not simply need a new PPP framework. It needs a full accounting of the old one.”

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Thursday, October 1, 2026, PAGE 7

Counter-argument over expired permit renewal HEARING - from page B1 scrutiny because the wider project had already been subjected to an assessment. He and attorneys for Yntegra Group, the Miamibased developer, took the position that the environmental approval process is capable of evolving as a development progresses, with regulators able to require additional studies, mitigation or revisions where circumstances warrant. Mr Fitzgerald argued that the principle against “salami slicing” did not apply simply because separate certificates were issued for particular works. He pointed to the proposed service dock as an example, arguing that it had been identified and considered

within the wider environmental assessment and was also the subject of public consultation. The Government’s position is that the service dock has not been hidden from the public and other stakeholders, and that the development plans were subsequently modified in response to concerns raised during the consultation process. Mr Fitzgerald said the location of the dock had been reconsidered, alternative locations examined and additional marine habitat work undertaken before the revised proposal was advanced. The amount of dredging required was also reduced, the Supreme Court court hear in the Judicial Review trial seeking to overturn Rosewood

Exuma’s environmental approvals. The Government and Yntegra argued that these changes demonstrated an environmental approval process that was working as intended, with public concerns capable of influencing the development rather than a process designed simply to rubber stamp the original proposal. Mr Fitzgerald described the environmental assessment as an “iterative process”, and said revisions to the development should not automatically be treated as evidence that the original consultation was defective. The Government also pushed back against the argument that the expiration of a CEC necessarily means the developer must begin the entire environmental approval process

again. The dispute centres in part on CEC 2400A, which Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club, Rosewood Exuma’s key opponent, has argued expired on October 8, 2025, before Dr Rhiana Neely-Murphy, DEPP’s director, extended it. The Government’s position is that extensions are a normal feature of environmental regulation, particularly where there has been no material change to the works or the environmental circumstances. Its attorneys argued that the regulator retains discretion to determine whether an extension requires further environmental studies, a new environmental impact assessment (EIA) or additional public consultation. It therefore rejected the suggestion that an extension of an existing approval

automatically creates the need to restart the environmental assessment process from scratch. Robert Adams KC, representing Yntegra Group, similarly argued that the relevant question was whether the regulator had sufficient information and legal authority to deal with the particular works before it, rather than whether every stage of the wider development had to be treated as a new application. He argued that the environmental approval framework gives the regulator room to assess whether further environmental work is required as a project develops. Mr Fitzgerald also argued that the existence of genuine environmental concerns does not, by itself, establish that the director acted

unlawfully. “A genuine environmental concern does not, without more, establish an error having been made,” he told the court. That argument goes to the distinction between challenging the environmental merits of a development and demonstrating that the decision-making process was unlawful, which is central to the Judicial Review proceedings. The respondents’ submissions also sought to keep the court’s focus on whether the regulator acted within the powers provided under the Environmental Planning and Protection Act and its regulations, rather than having the court substitute its own assessment of the project’s environmental merits.

Data center bill falls short in Senate as lawmakers take final votes before the midterms By KEVIN FREKING Associated Press A BILL that attempts to address voter worries about data centers and their impact on energy costs failed to advance in the Senate on Wednesday, falling victim to an election-year clash on how best to address a growing concern. Before leaving Washington to campaign, Senate Republicans reserved one of the chamber’s final votes for a bill they hoped would underscore efforts to address the impact data centers have on voters’ monthly energy bills. The bill needed 60 votes to advance, but fell short, 57—43. The bill is a modest one. It requires utility regulators to consider adopting a federal standard that charges large power customers a rate that covers the cost of the system upgrades needed

to serve them. Democrats say it amounts to a suggestion and that more is needed. Republicans say the bill sends a message to regulators to act. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Jon Husted, a Republican from Ohio, is in a tough reelection battle and has been labeled in campaign ads as the “face of data centers” by his Democratic challenger, former Sen. Sherrod Brown. “You all know this is the only game in town,” Husted told reporters in advocating for his bill. “This bill passing is the only way to get a chance to prove to the American people before the midterm elections whose side you’re on.” Senate Democrats say the bill isn’t tough enough The measure passed the House by a vote of 417-3. It needed support from at least seven Democratic

senators to proceed to a final vote, but that didn’t happen given the criticism from within their ranks that it doesn’t go far enough and knowing that passage could give Husted’s reelection prospects a lift. “The bill is a fraud, plain and simple,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said. Democrats have offered competing proposals. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. sponsored legislation that would direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue rules for large electricity customers that requires them to pay for necessary grid upgrades. “They want it optional, which means zero. We want it mandatory,” Schumer said. Republicans are looking to position Democrats as obstructionists who are blocking progress on key voter concerns. Husted’s

bill is one example. Another would be the bill from Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., that would bar members of Congress from purchasing individual stocks. The issue is a popular one with candidates running for office this election cycle, but also includes voter identification requirements that Democrats have called a poison pill. Thune teed up both bills for procedural votes and both failed to meet the 60-vote threshold for advancing. “Both pieces of legislation strike at the very heart of issues that the American people care deeply about, passionately about, and we’ll see if the Democrats are willing to take yes for an answer,” Thune said.

THE U.S. Capitol is seen Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Washington. Photo:Mariam Zuhaib/AP Data centers have become a top campaign issue The House and Senate are both expected to be out of session for all of October. The House left in mid-September, canceling nearly two weeks of votes as Republicans were anxious to get on the campaign trail in a bid to keep

their majority in the next Congress. President Donald Trump has embraced the building of more data centers, but there is growing wariness from voters. About 6 in 10 Americans support limiting the number of new data centers that can be built, including most Democrats and Republicans.

PAGE 8, Thursday, October 1, 2026

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THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 1, 2026, PAGE 9

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

WORDSEARCH JUDGE PARKER

CARPE DIEM

MARVIN BLONDIE

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

UNICEF GOODWILL AMB

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE

TIGER

Find all the terms listed below in Solution tomorrow AUDREY HEPBURN ● DANNY G DANNY KAYE ● FEMI KUTI ● GEO JACKIE CHAN ● JESSICA LA LEO MESSI ● LILLY SINGH ● MIA NANA MOUSKOURI ● ORLANDO PETER USTINOV ● RICKY MA ROGER MOORE ● SHAKIR

YESTERDA QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 1 Journalism, 7 Exile, 8 Manacle, 10 Entirely, 11 Veda, 13 Opting, 15 Expert, 17 Elan, 18 Entrance, 21 Tapioca, 22 Inert, 23 Pestilence. Down: 1 Joint, 2 Unerring, 3 Namely, 4 Long, 5 Secrete, 6 Benevolent, 9 Enactments, 12 Exertion, 14 Trample, 16 Entail, 19 Niece, 20 Foot.

CALVIN & HOBBES

DENNIS THE MENACE

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

TARGET

THE ALPHAPU

ALGEBRAIC acre agaric ALGEBRAIC brace cabal caber cable cage cagier calibre care cigar clear cleg crab crag crib eclair erica garlic glace glacier grace gracile ileac lace lacier race racial relic ribcage rice

Across: Owes, Lavend Toucans, Glass, Oiled, Occult, Adagio, Baffle, Kukri, Farrago, Tweeze Down: Orthodox, Skit, Crackle, Sandal, Frizz, Heifer, Eight (clue), De Drawing, Shame, Rosy

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

PAGE 10, Thursday, October 1, 2026

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The world’s largest oat milk producer has joined an unusual climate journalism campaign CAROLINE REID, with the Swedish oat milk company Oatly, shows a sample of the company’s new milk carton climate campaign for New York Climate Week on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, in New York. Photo:Anton L. Delgado/AP

By ANTON L. DELGADO Associated Press OATLY, the world’s largest producer of oat milk, is sending a new message to its consumers: Most people want their governments to take action on climate change. Splashed on the side of the Swedish company’s cartons is messaging from the “89 Percent Project,” a campaign launched by Covering Climate Now, a global journalism nonprofit. Newsrooms traditionally try not to associate with organized advocacy efforts, but the unorthodox campaign has been gaining traction. Participating news organizations have amplified research that 80% to 89% of people worldwide want their governments to confront climate change. Oatly’s new cartons were first released in Sweden and have since been rolled out to other European nations, including Belgium and Germany. The cartons are expected to be on U.S. shelves by January, said Caroline Reid, senior sustainability director at Oatly. “Companies should be taking much more responsibility, not only in reducing their own environmental footprint, but really working out how they can use their platform to drive a positive future,” Reid said at an event last week during New York Climate Week. Behind the ‘89 Percent Project’ In addition to producing stories on climate change, Covering Climate Now promotes reporting on the issue through journalism trainings, newsroom collaborations and press awards. It launched the “89 Percent Project” last year and describes it as a global collaborative journalism initiative.

The project takes its name from a 2024 study in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature Climate Change. Based on a survey of nearly 130,000 people across 125 countries, the study found that 89% of people want intensified political action on climate change. Most people who want climate action don’t realize they are in the “silent majority,” said Mark Hertsgaard, executive director of Covering Climate Now. But that is beginning to change, as “elements of civil society all around the world pick up this 89% message and spread it themselves.” The project launched with several media partners, including The Guardian, Agence France-Presse and El País. In April, Japanese TV stations said over the next two years they would air announcements about how the majority of Japanese people want stronger climate action. In June, in a separate initiative, 136 Japanese news outlets also began spreading this

That same year, a study based on responses from more than 6,000 Americans and published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature Communications found that most Americans underestimate the prevalence of support for major climate change mitigation policies and climate concern. While 66% to 80% of Americans support these policies, Americans think only 37% to 43% do. “We felt that we, and our fellow journalists, were really missing the story here,” said Hertsgaard, adding he believed the industry was inadvertently “misrepresenting a big part of the climate story, which is that most people around the world want this tackled.” Oat milk company boosts climate message

OATLY containers are displayed at a grocery store May 18, 2021, in North Miami, Fla. Photo:Marta Lavandier/AP messaging via social media platforms, news releases, and other forms of public communication. Numerous polls, surveys and scientific studies in the U.S. have long found that a majority want the government to take more action on climate change, even if the issue is rarely brought up in political campaigns.

In a 2022 poll, The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that nearly two-thirds of Americans thought the federal government was not doing enough to fight climate change, which is primarily caused by the release of greenhouse gases when coal, oil and gas are burned.

Oatly’s milk carton campaign is subtle, especially when compared to the more well-known 1980s U.S. milk carton campaign that put photos of missing children on cartons to spread awareness about their cases. The new cartons feature two stacked text boxes on one side of the carton. The much smaller top box reads: “Politicians! These eleven words represent people not interested in climate action.” The lower box, which takes up most of the carton’s side, has an 89-word message that makes the case that most people want their governments to take climate action and that doing so could lead to political wins. Reid, with Oatly, first read about the climate project in The Guardian. As a company selling alternatives to cow milk, she said the project “aligns with what we’re

trying to do. We’re trying to engage people and make them want to do something different.” Every organization, political party and brand can play a bigger role in contributing to societal net zero, meaning as much carbon being absorbed as is released into the atmosphere, and driving the transition to renewable energy, Reid said. Project treads fine line between journalism and advocacy President Donald Trump has periodically railed about climate change and policies meant to address it, including transitioning to carbon-free energy like wind and solar. During the 2025 U.N. General Assembly, Trump called climate change a “con job” and renewable energy the “Green Scam.” This narrative, which goes against years of science that has established that human-caused emissions are driving the climate to change, has pushed some organizations to take a stronger stand in rebutting the administration and go a step further to advocate for solutions. Covering Climate Now’s project straddles a tightrope between advocacy and journalism, which experts say has pros and cons. “The economic failures of so many news outlets have led to a rise in independent journalism that operates outside the norms established by legacy media outlets,” said Seth Stern, chief of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation.

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Thursday, October 1, 2026, PAGE 11

What to know about the terrifying FlyDubai flight bound for Israel By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS Associated Press ONE pilot stabbed another and attempted to crash a flight from the United Arab Emirates to Israel. Passengers, many of them Israelis, feared for their lives as the FlyDubai aircraft lost half its altitude in about a minute. As Israel scrambled fighter jets out of concern for a possible hijacking, a passenger and crew member burst into the cockpit to subdue the attacker, enabling other crew members to gain control of the aircraft, which landed safely in Saudi Arabia. It was not clear what motivated Wednesday’s attack. The terrifying flight occurred just days before the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that launched the war in Gaza. It has rekindled anxieties about airline security and focused attention on an unsettling question: Are pilots a significant threat to the flying public’s safety? Here’s what we know — and don’t know — about what happened on FlyDubai flight FZ1073: A fight, an alert and a rapid descent The distress call came at 8:44 a.m. local time, about two and a half hours after the flight with about 170 passengers left Dubai and headed to Tel Aviv. The captain and first officer had been fighting in the cockpit after one stabbed the other and tried to crash the aircraft, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The aircraft swiftly lost altitude — dropping from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet (around 10,000 meters to 5,100 meters) in the span of about a minute. It then circled close to the Jordanian border before landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, about an hour later. A person who heard the flight’s communications with air traffic control described the plane being turned away by Saudi Arabia and Jordan before eventually landing in Tabuk, while passengers screamed in the background. The person who heard the

communications spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Aviation experts said they were surprised that the plane did not crash after a descent so extreme that most of the rudder was ripped off the tail. Both pilots suffered injuries that required hospital treatment, according to a statement from Tabuk’s Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport. Netanyahu said Saudi Arabia had arrested one of the pilots. A plane carrying passengers from the flight landed Wednesday evening in Israel. Passengers and crew wrest control A passenger and a crew member managed to enter the cockpit, enabling other crew members to fly the plane to a safe landing, according to Netanyahu, who cited a passenger he had spoken to. The cockpit door on all aircraft is locked during flight for security reasons — a measure that became the industry standard after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, in which hijackers broke into the cockpits of four domestic flights in the United States. Netanyahu said on X that the pilot who had been stabbed opened the cockpit door, which “enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster.” What security checks do pilots undergo? One question surrounding this incident is how anyone on the aircraft — especially a pilot — was able to get a knife onboard. It’s unclear how big the knife was that was used in the attack. Pilots undergo rigorous screening, including passing through metal detectors, at checkpoints at all airports. It’s also standard for airlines to vet their pilots’ background for criminal and employment history, their physical and mental health, as well as having them undergo intelligence and security screening.

Fed watchdog finds no crimes in $2.4B building renovation, only mismanagement By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer THE Federal Reserve’s internal watchdog said Wednesday that the central bank has broadly mismanaged an expansive building renovation project but did not find any criminal violations, as alleged by Trump administration prosecutors. A variety of missteps by the Fed’s Board of Governors and staff inflated the cost of the $2.4 billion renovation, the Fed’s inspector general said. The board did not secure a comprehensive cost estimate at the beginning of the project, nor did it nail down a maximum overall cost, a step that could have forced the building contractor to absorb the impact of inflation, the IG said in a 120-page report. Prices spiked after construction began in 2022. “Our review found that the Board has not effectively managed and executed its ... contract and repeatedly deviated from its cost-management provisions,” the report said. The building project became a high-profile flashpoint in the Trump administration’s efforts to pressure the Fed into cutting its key interest rate. President Donald Trump even visited the construction site last July, when then-Chairman Jerome Powell corrected Trump’s estimate of the project’s expected costs as the two stood in hard hats before TV cameras. Criticism of the project also mounted in Congress, leading Powell to request in July 2025 that the inspector general, Michael Horowitz, investigate the renovation. The building project then became the focus of a criminal investigation by Trump’s Justice Department, specifically into whether Powell had committed perjury during brief testimony about the renovation before a Senate committee. That investigation was dropped in April after a judge quashed subpoenas issued by Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for

FEDERAL Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, right, and President Donald Trump look over a document of cost figures during a visit to the Federal Reserve, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Washington. Photo:Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP the District of Columbia. Pirro said then she would await the outcome of the inspector general’s investigation before deciding whether to take any further action. “At no point during our evaluation did we find reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of federal criminal law had occurred requiring a referral to the U.S. Attorney General,” the IG’s report said. Tim Lauer, a spokesperson for Pirro’s office, said the report is under review. Powell’s term as chair ended in May, but he took the highly unusual step of remaining on the board as one of seven governors. His term as a governor lasts until January 2028. Powell said earlier this year he would remain on the board at least until he is convinced that Pirro’s investigation is done. By keeping his seat, Powell has also prevented the Trump administration from filling another spot on the board.

Trump on Wednesday afternoon seized on the report to renew his call for Powell to resign from the Fed. “He can’t manage a Building, and he certainly shouldn’t be allowed to manage his High Interest Rate Policy,” Trump wrote on his social media site, Truth Social. “And no, I do not want this Building named after President Donald J. Trump, ME!” Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee and a frequent critic of Powell’s, said the report “confirmed that Trump lapdogs U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and Attorney General Todd Blanche have no basis to restart the President’s witch hunt against former Fed Chair Jerome Powell.” Current Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh, who took office last May, welcomed the IG’s findings in a letter and said the General Services Administration, a

federal agency that oversees most government buildings, would take on a consulting role with the Fed to help oversee the project. He also said the Fed would engage an independent auditor to evaluate the building project and all its costs. The Fed, with the GSA, will review all the project’s contracts and “pursue appropriate remedies,” including seeking reimbursement for any work paid for but not performed, the letter said. The report said that the construction costs to renovate two Fed buildings more than doubled from an original estimate of $921 million in February 2020 to $2.018 billion by December 2024. Construction is expected to last until December 2027, long past its originally slated completion date of mid-2024. Some aspects of the project that were criticized by the Trump administration and Republican members of Congress for being luxurious — water fountains, private elevators and marble facades — were not significant drivers of the excessive costs of the project, the report said. Instead, the IG said that a design change by the Fed in 2023 from a mostly open workspace to one with mostly closed office space caused a significant delay in the project’s design. It also delayed the Fed from seeking a maximum cost ceiling for the project at that time. The Fed has long blamed a range of factors for the cost overruns, including a spike in inflation that occurred as the economy emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, unexpected expenses such as asbestos remediation, and additional demands from review agencies.

PAGE 12, Thursday, October 1, 2026

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Senate reaches bipartisan deal on permitting bill to speed approvals of new energy projects By MATTHEW DALY Associated Press SENATORS from both parties said Wednesday they have reached a deal on legislation aimed at speeding up permitting reviews for new energy and infrastructure projects that now face yearslong delays, as lawmakers seek to meet growing demand for electricity and other forms of energy. The bill, proponents argue, would cut down the arduous timeline for getting big energy projects off the ground at a time when demand is rising because of mushrooming data centers for artificial intelligence. The bill would ensure AI data centers are forced to pay for the increased electricity they use and would mark a significant change to a landmark environmental law that critics say slows the

process of building energy projects. Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, called the bill “a major step toward making it faster and more efficient and easier to build infrastructure projects” of all types while maintaining important environmental protections. Vote on the bill won’t happen until after the midterms “The American people sent us here to do big things. This is a big thing. It’s monumental and it’s legacy-setting,” Capito said at a news conference at the Capitol where she was joined by Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah and Democratic Sens. Martin

Heinrich of New Mexico and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island. The four senators lead the chamber’s energy and environment panels. Heinrich said the bill “will mean more energy on the grid, more good-paying jobs, and lower electricity costs for families and businesses. And as data centers drive demand for more power, it will ensure they pay their fair share of the grid upgrades they require — not leave that bill to American families.” A vote on the bill won’t happen until after the midterm elections — reflecting the fraught political reality as elections loom that could change partisan control of both chambers. But the bill represents a rare instance of bipartisanship over the country’s energy policy as lawmakers from both

SEN. Shelly Moore Capito, R-W.Va., chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, thanks members of her staff after announcing a bipartisan bill to reform the federal environmental review and permitting process, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. Photo:J. Scott Applewhite/AP parties agree on the need to build new energy projects of all types. Lee, who chairs the energy committee, said he is confident the bill will be approved in a lameduck session in November, noting its bipartisan support and encouragement from business and environmental groups. Whitehouse, the top Democrat on the environment panel, also was hopeful but said Democrats were still seeking clarity on how the bill will prevent

President Donald Trump’s administration from blocking wind and solar projects. He and Heinrich, the top energy Democrat, have decried what they call Trump’s “reckless and vindictive assault on wind energy” that includes repeated actions to block large-scale wind projects under construction off the East Coast. The administration suspended five offshore wind projects in December, citing unspecified national security concerns.

The projects later moved forward after federal judges intervened. A federal judge also struck down Trump’s executive order blocking wind energy projects early in his second term. Brad Campbell, president of the Conservation Law Foundation, an environmental advocacy group, panned the deal, saying it “appears to adopt a fossil fuel industry wish-list.” He said the bill could roll back protections for clean water and endangered species, limit judicial review

High gas prices are spurring states to waive taxes and regulations amid midterm election By DAVID A. LIEB and JULIE CARR SMYTH Associated Press STATE officials nationwide are focusing on rising gas and diesel prices tied to the war in Iran, offering gas tax holidays and other measures to ease costs as affordability remains a top voter concern in the critical midterm elections. The high gas prices took center stage in Ohio on Wednesday, as lawmakers passed a 90-day state gas tax holiday with broad bipartisan support. Including Ohio, about one-third of U.S. states have implemented some form of fuel tax relief, with many taking action within the past week, according to an Associated Press review. Some states have suspended their fuel taxes. Others have temporarily reduced taxes. And still more have targeted relief only to farmers, loggers and others who use a special type of diesel fuel. The average price of regular gasoline stood at $4.43 a gallon on Wednesday, up roughly 50% since the war with Iran began, according to the AAA motor club. The average price of diesel was $6.41 a gallon — just

a few cents shy of a record high set last week. Here’s what to know about states’ actions on fuel taxes: Ohio governor’s race at center of fuel tax action Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s office said he plans to sign legislation that will suspend the 38.5-cent-pergallon gasoline tax and 47-cent-per-gallon diesel tax through the remainder of this year. The plan taps $725 million from the state’s general fund to pay for roads and bridges typically funded by fuel taxes. Republican legislative leaders scrambled to recall lawmakers to the Statehouse after Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton called for a gas tax holiday last week and rival Republican Vivek Ramaswamy announced a plan to do the same a few hours later. The two are locked in a closely fought contest to succeed DeWine, a term-limited Republican. Democrats criticized Ramaswamy for taking credit for Acton’s idea, while Ramaswamy’s allies said his plan had substance and Acton’s consisted of “tweets.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The public is hereby advised that we, DICRIS BAIN AND SHAWNA SCOTT of 250 Greenturtle Street- Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas, father and mother of RASHAWN LENORAD SCOTT, intend to change my child’s name to RASHAWN LEONARD BAIN. If there are any objections to challenge the name by deed poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, The Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the publication of this notice.

Ramaswamy’s running mate, Rob McColley, is the Ohio Senate president. On Wednesday, McColley used a technical maneuver to quickly close debate on the measure, suggesting Democrats were preparing for nothing more than “theatrics.” Senate Democratic Leader Nickie Antonio said one proposal would have called for an end to the Iran war. Republican state Sen. Michele Reynolds, a co-sponsor of the legislation, said it “will provide much-needed relief to Ohioans at a time when they are feeling the pressure of gas prices continuing to rise.” In the House, Democratic state Rep. Allison Russo, a candidate for secretary of state, accused Republicans of an election-year “stunt” that will save Ohioans an average of $55 over the next three months. Several states have already halted or reduced gas taxes In March, Georgia became the first state to suspend its fuel taxes after the war in the Middle East sent prices spiraling. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp extended the tax

A CUSTOMER checks gas price while he fills up his vehicle’s tank at a gas station in Racine, Wis., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. Photo:Nam Y. Huh/AP break into June. More recently, he announced a 30-day resumption of the motor fuel tax holiday, which began Tuesday. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, a Republican, has extended a fuel tax exemption multiple times since spring, with the current version running through Oct. 5. A six-month, 6-cent reduction in Utah’s fuel tax is in effect through the end of this year. Illinois and Kentucky have more modest fuel tax breaks in effect, delaying increases that were due to take effect in July.

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The public is hereby advised that we, MEGAN MILLS AND WHITNEY BRICE of 117 Spring City - Abaco, Bahamas, father and mother of DAKOTA JANAE MILLS, intend to change my child’s name to DAKOTA JANAE BRICE. If there are any objections to challenge the name by deed poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, The Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the publication of this notice.

Some states have relaxed diesel fuel regulations In the past week, governors in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas all have taken steps to provide fuel tax relief for the agricultural industry amid the harvest season. The executive orders target dyed diesel fuel, which is exempt from state taxes but normally can be used only for off-road machinery like tractors, logging equipment and irrigation pumps. The orders temporarily waive enforcement of those rules, allowing the tax-exempt diesel fuel to be used in vehicles driven on highways. Some governors noted that reduced costs for transporting crops could affect grocery prices. California ends restrictions on cheaper fuel blends The Environmental Protection Agency allowed an

annual switch to cheaper, winter-blended fuels beginning Sept. 1, a couple of weeks earlier than normal. The change could save up to 15 cents a gallon, according to data from the National Association of Convenience Stores. But California sets its own stricter environmental fuel standards. In many parts of the state, summer-blended fuel is required through Oct. 31. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom ended the summer fuel requirement Monday, citing a recent state law that requires a reevaluation of regulations when retail gas prices rise substantially. Fuel tax changes may have a delayed effect for consumers State actions intended to provide relief from high fuel prices don’t always have the effect some consumers expect. That’s partly because fuel price volatility could cause costs to rise even as tax rates fall.

NOTICE PAM Business Investment Ltd. In Voluntary Liquidation Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, PAM Business Investment Ltd. is in dissolution as of September 21, 2026 GUSTAVO DOS SANTOS VAZ situated at Avenida Bem -Te- Vi, 206 Apto. 124, Indianopolis, 04524 - 030, Sao Paulo/SP, Brazil is the Liquidator. LIQUIDATOR ______________________

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Thursday, October 1, 2026, PAGE 13

Senate punts bill to permanently ban Chinese cars until after midterm elections

PRESIDENT Donald Trump winks as the members of the media depart the Oval Office of the White House as Essar Capital Director Prashant Ruia, from left, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, John Jovanovic, chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa., and Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, look on, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Washington. Photo:Alex Brandon/AP

Trump plugs $54 billion natural gas project in Alaska, flanked by a senator in a tight race By THOMAS BEAUMONT, DARLENE SUPERVILLE and WILL WEISSERT Associated Press PRESIDENT Donald Trump said South Korea plans to invest about $54 billion in a natural gas project in Alaska, an announcement he made in the Oval Office on Wednesday flanked by a Republican senator who has found himself in a tough reelection race in the state. It was the second time in three days that the president elevated Senate candidates in states where Trump won comfortably each time he has run for president — but where Republicans are now in surprisingly competitive races just weeks ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. On Monday, Trump made a similar-styled announcement about a massive steel plant in Iowa. On Wednesday, Trump repeatedly praised Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, a twoterm senator and long-time advocate for the Alaska natural gas project who is facing a competitive challenge from Democrat Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman. “He’s got my ear, and he’s had my ear for a long time on Alaska,” Trump said of Sullivan, adding that “all these energy projects are all mine, and I got ‘em done working with Dan Sullivan.” It was not immediately clear how quickly South Korea’s government would advance funding for the project, which comes from pledges made as part of a 2025 trade deal with South Korea, which included promises of $350 billion in U.S. investments in exchange for lower U.S. tariffs on South Korean cars, auto parts and other products. The project consists of an 807-mile (1,300-kilometer) natural gas pipeline connecting Alaska’s North Slope to a liquefied natural gas export terminal in southern Alaska and the White House said it would

eventually reduce energy costs for the state’s residents. “Mr. President, this one is huge for Alaska,” Sullivan said, adding that he’d been working on it “relentlessly.” Trump is hitting the road to promote his administration’s actions The push to deliver big projects in areas where GOP candidates could use a boost comes as Trump’s approval ratings have sunk ahead of the midterm elections. Even Trump himself has begun acknowledging that Republicans could face an uphill climb in their push to retain control of both chambers of Congress after November. “We have to turn this around,” he said on Wednesday, suggesting his administration hasn’t done enough to promote its accomplishments. “I’ve done a very bad job of explaining,” the president said during an earlier event in the White House East Room. He’s promised to try to rectify that by spending much of the next month on the road campaigning. He begins that swing on Thursday with trips to Texas and Alabama, followed by Ohio on Saturday and Nebraska on Monday. All four are normally solidly red states. On Monday, Trump announced plans for a $15 billion steel plant to be built by a Minnesota company owned by an Indian industrial conglomerate in Iowa, where Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson is in a close U.S. Senate contest with Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek for the seat being vacated by retiring two-term Republican Joni Ernst. Hinson spoke in the Oval Office during the announcement. Democrats need to gain a net of four seats in the 100-member Senate to overtake Republicans and gain a majority, and the seats in Iowa and Alaska are among those they’re targeting.

NOTICE

By JOEY CAPPELLETTI and DIDI TANG Associated Press LEGISLATION to permanently ban the sale of Chinese vehicles in the United States stalled out on Wednesday as senators struggled to seal an agreement, virtually guaranteeing that the bill will have to wait until after the November elections. The bipartisan bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio and Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, aims to prevent China’s auto industry from gaining a foothold in the U.S. market. It would ban the import, manufacture and sale of internet-connected vehicles, software and hardware linked to China or other foreign adversaries, including Russia and North Korea. Chinese automakers are already effectively banned from selling or building vehicles in the U.S. under a policy put into place by the Biden administration, but senators are hoping to more permanently shut the door. The summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump in Washington last week, which focused in part on trade between the world’s two largest economies, had given the legislation renewed momentum. Slotkin said nearly every senator was prepared to support it, and they had initially planned to seek passage last week without a formal roll call vote. Senators delayed action to continue negotiations with the lone holdout, Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who argued the legislation could unfairly sweep in Mercedes-Benz. The bill would bar vehicles made by companies with more than a 15% ownership stake from Chinese entities. Mercedes-Benz has nearly 20% passive Chinese ownership. Supporters say they will try again after the elections. But the delay is a setback for bipartisan legislation that has drawn support from automakers and labor unions as Washington grapples with the growing global reach of China’s auto industry — and concerns about potential surveillance technology. “It is literally a driving spy machine on wheels,” Slotkin said of Chinese vehicles. “All of that data and all of that information goes back to Beijing.” Lawmakers see threat from Chinese EVs

SEN. BERNIE MORENO, R-Ohio, talks to reporters outside the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. Photo:J. Scott Applewhite/AP Lawmakers and analysts have warned of dire consequences if Chinese EVs should become available in the U.S. “I am concerned about what can happen to the U.S. automobile industry with the Chinese electric vehicles,” said Republican Sen. Steve Daines in an interview with The Associated Press before the Trump-Xi summit. “They are remarkable, high quality at a much lower cost. But it’s not fair if you have a product that is significantly subsidized by a government to be able to come into our market.” Chinese automakers have expanded rapidly overseas, competing aggressively on price and technology and putting pressure on established manufacturers in Europe and other markets. In the first eight months of this year, China’s exports of new-energy vehicles more than doubled from the previous year, shipping out more than 3.4 million vehicles, according to China Association of Automobile Manufactures. Chinese automakers supplied 60% of global electric car sales in 2025, while European and North American automakers were each responsible for about 15% of global sales, according to IEA, or the International Energy Agency. Their emergence has raised concerns in Detroit that allowing them into the U.S. could expose domestic automakers to a new source of lower-cost competition. Trump, however, has at times taken a more welcoming approach to Chinese investment in the U.S. auto industry. Speaking at the Detroit Economic Club in January, he said he was open to Chinese automakers building factories in the United States as long as they employed American workers.

NOTICE

“If they want to come in and build the plant and hire you and hire your friends and your neighbors, that’s great. I love that,” Trump said. “Let China come in.” That position has put Trump at odds with an unusual coalition of lawmakers, automakers and labor unions that has pushed to keep Chinese vehicles out of the U.S. market. In April 2026, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said “no” when he was asked if Chinese EV makers such as BYD would come and set up joint ventures in the U.S. But in early September,

information on American drivers and sensitive sites and transmit it to Beijing. Moreno has said China’s auto industry “was built to destroy American manufacturing, gut the middle class, and undermine our national security.” The bill would prohibit the import, manufacture, sale, resale or introduction into interstate commerce of connected vehicles and related software and hardware associated with China, Russia, Iran or North Korea. It would effectively write into law and expand restrictions that began under the Biden adminis-

“I am concerned about what can happen to the U.S. automobile industry with the Chinese electric vehicles. They are remarkable, high quality at a much lower cost. But it’s not fair if you have a product that is significantly subsidized by a government to be able to come into our market.” Republican Sen. Steve Daines before he hosted China’s Xi, Trump again said he would not oppose Chinese automakers building cars in the United States. The White House didn’t respond to a request by AP regarding its stance on the bill. What the bill would do Slotkin and Moreno have framed their legislation around two threats: protecting the U.S. auto industry from heavily subsidized Chinese competitors and preventing technology embedded in connected vehicles from collecting sensitive data on Americans. In July, Slotkin called Chinese cars “surveillance packages on wheels,” arguing that they could collect

tration, making it harder for a future administration to reverse them. But some are concerned that the 15% ownership cap could hurt companies with strong roots in the United States. “We’re not going to have the president of the United States sign a bill — nor would he — that bans Mercedes-Benz from the United States of America,” said Moreno, also mentioning companies like Volvo. “We have to figure out a way to manage all of that.” James Lewis, a distinguished fellow with the tech policy program at the Center for European Policy Analysis, said the bill could return after the midterm elections, given the threat that Chinese carmakers pose to U.S. companies.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that I EMELIA COLLADO NEVOT of Allotment #2 Highbury Park, Nassau, 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 24th 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 I ANNETTE JEAN BAPTISTE of Palm Beach Street, 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 24th 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 I ENID LEWIS of Nassau Village, Wilson Street, 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 1st day of October, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that CIARA KRYSTINA HOPE PRINCE of East Street South, 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 twentyeight days from the 30th day of September, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that LLOYD SHAW of #265 Carmichael Road, Nassau, 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 twentyeight days from the 24th day of September, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that I RICHARDSON ST FLEUR of #8 Golden Isles Road, 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 24th day of September, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

PAGE 14, Thursday, October 1, 2026

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Judge approves Paramount’s settlement with states over Warner buyout, allowing merger to soon close By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP Business Writer A FEDERAL judge has granted Paramount’s settlement agreement with 12 states that sued over the company’s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, allowing the companies to soon close their $81 billion mega merger. In a Wednesday order, U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín ruled that the proposed consent decree was a “fair, reasonable, and good faith approach to address the competitive harms” alleged by the states’ lawsuit. Paramount — which was bought by Skydance just last year — previously called the antitrust challenge the last hurdle ahead of closing its Warner merger, and signaled that it aims to close its Warner acquisition in early October. Shortly after Martínez-Olguín’s ruling Wednesday afternoon, the company announced Ynon Kreiz — current chief executive at toy giant Mattel — will join Paramount on Oct. 5 and serve as co-CEO alongside David Ellison after the merger’s closing.

In a statement, Ellison said Paramount’s merger with Warner marks a “transformational moment for our industry” and that he and his new co-CEO will lead a business that is “creator-first, tech-forward and built to scale globally.” A Paramount-Warner marriage will bring together two of Hollywood’s last five legacy studios. HBO Max, a library full of titles including “Harry Potter” and cable networks such as CNN will also find themselves under the same roof with CBS, the likes of the “Top Gun” franchise and the Paramount+ streaming service. That further concentrates power in an industry already run by just a handful of major players. And many critics of the deal have decried the states’ settlement, arguing the terms are too weak. The final antitrust fight Paramount touted clearances for its Warner acquisition from regulators worldwide over recent months, including the Trump administration’s Justice Department in the U.S. But in July, top prosecutors from 12 states — led

YNON Kreiz poses for a portrait during the 96th Academy Awards Oscar nominees luncheon on Feb. 12, 2024, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Photo:Chris Pizzello/AP by California Attorney General Rob Bonta — sued to block the merger altogether. They alleged a Paramount-Warner combination would “extinguish competition” in Hollywood and lead to fewer choices for consumers, particularly movie theatergoers and cable customers. Last week, the states agreed to settle those claims through new commitments from Paramount, including pledges to increase film

What to know about the terrifying FlyDubai flight bound for Israel By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS Associated Press ONE pilot stabbed another and attempted to crash a flight from the United Arab Emirates to Israel. Passengers, many of them Israelis, feared for their lives

as the FlyDubai aircraft lost half its altitude in about a minute. As Israel scrambled fighter jets out of concern for a possible hijacking, a passenger and crew member burst into the cockpit to subdue the attacker, enabling other crew members to gain control of the aircraft,

which landed safely in Saudi Arabia. It was not clear what motivated Wednesday’s attack. The terrifying flight occurred just days before the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that launched the war in Gaza. It has rekindled anxieties about airline security and

production in the U.S. over the next five years, grant millions of dollars to a fund aimed at supporting workers displaced by the merger and establish new editorial monitoring of CNN and CBS. Martínez-Olguín didn’t greenlight the terms right away — maintaining at a Thursday hearing that the court isn’t merely a “rubber stamp” on a settlement of this kind and that she, like many others, had questions. focused attention on an unsettling question: Are pilots a significant threat to the flying public’s safety? Here’s what we know — and don’t know — about what happened on FlyDubai flight FZ1073: A fight, an alert and a rapid descent The distress call came at 8:44 a.m. local time, about two and a half hours after the flight with about 170

The judge granted outside critics of the settlement (including members of the Block The Merger coalition and the League of United Latin American Citizens) a brief window to share their opposition. She also instructed Paramount and the states to respond to concerns raised by Democratic Sen. Cory Booker. By Wednesday’s order, however, she concluded that the hopes for settlement terms to go further “do not rise to the level of legal violations upon which the Court can reject the parties’ negotiated resolution.” The Writers Guild of America, which had filed its own suit shortly after the states in July, also reached a settlement agreement with Paramount last week — concluding that it couldn’t continue its legal fight alone. Ongoing criticism of the deal The Block the Merger coalition on Wednesday maintained the states’ settlement was a “toothless” deal. “In years to come, we’ll be able to point to this failure to put consumers over passengers left Dubai and headed to Tel Aviv. The captain and first officer had been fighting in the cockpit after one stabbed the other and tried to crash the aircraft, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The aircraft swiftly lost altitude — dropping from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet (around 10,000 meters to 5,100 meters) in the span of about a minute. It then circled close to the Jordanian border before landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, about an hour later. A person who heard the flight’s communications with air traffic control described the plane being turned away by Saudi Arabia and Jordan before eventually landing in Tabuk, while passengers screamed in the background. The person who heard the communications spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Aviation experts said they were surprised that the plane did not crash after a descent so extreme that most of the rudder was ripped off the tail. Both pilots suffered injuries that required hospital treatment, according to a statement from Tabuk’s Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport. Netanyahu said Saudi Arabia had arrested one of the pilots. A plane carrying passengers from the flight landed Wednesday evening in Israel.

the monied interests of corporate consolidation as the tipping-point moment for media in this country,” Block the Merger said in a statement. But, the group added, “if there is one discernible benefit to the approval of this corporate takeover, it’s that people are now wide awake and paying attention — and their anger is not going to fade away.” Before agreeing to settle, Bonta previously said the states would only consider “robust” structural remedies. The bulk of the eventual settlement outlined behavioral requirements, at least in the immediate future, with some potential “court enforceable” penalties if Paramount breaks promises down the road. Even so, most of the company’s new commitments only last five years. Paula Blizzard, an attorney for California, said in Thursday’s hearing that the states eventually settled on terms that didn’t “last forever” because the industry is changing — while immediate divestments, or even the complete blocking of the deal that they initially demanded, could open the door to further acquisitions. Passengers and crew wrest control A passenger and a crew member managed to enter the cockpit, enabling other crew members to fly the plane to a safe landing, according to Netanyahu, who cited a passenger he had spoken to. The cockpit door on all aircraft is locked during flight for security reasons — a measure that became the industry standard after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, in which hijackers broke into the cockpits of four domestic flights in the United States. Netanyahu said on X that the pilot who had been stabbed opened the cockpit door, which “enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster.” What security checks do pilots undergo? One question surrounding this incident is how anyone on the aircraft — especially a pilot — was able to get a knife onboard. It’s unclear how big the knife was that was used in the attack. Pilots undergo rigorous screening, including passing through metal detectors, at checkpoints at all airports. It’s also standard for airlines to vet their pilots’ background for criminal and employment history, their physical and mental health, as well as having them undergo intelligence and security screening.

NOTICE OF APPLICATION (pursuant to section 23 of the Natural Gas Act, 10 of 2024, Statute Laws of The Bahamas) NOTICE is hereby given that RenugenPro Ltd. has made applications to the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (“URCA”) for licenses to: import liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) (commercial) and operate LNG terminals. The applications are made with the object of licensing and regulation of the Applicant’s activities for the import of LNG and the operation of LNG Regasification Terminals at (1) Cat Island (2) San Salvador and (3) Long Island. The applications can be inspected by appointment at the Applicant’s office at No. 138 Robinson Road, New Providence, The Bahamas. Any objections to the applications must be made on or before the 16th October, 2026 and shall be made by Affidavit and solemn declaration to be submitted exclusively to URCA’s office located at Frederick Street, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas. Dated the 14th day of September, 2026 Italia C. Chambers Attorney for the Applicant No. 36 Nassau Street New Providence, The Bahamas

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Thursday, October 1, 2026, PAGE 15

The rise and fall of America’s deadly love affair with the cigarette

Our Journey Since 1987 Says It All

By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer CANCER stick. Coffin nail. Cowboy killer. Those are nicknames, through the decades, for the cigarette — the once-glamorous desideratum of American society that has been tied to tens of millions of U.S. deaths. The cigarette is not an invention of the United States. And while Marlboro is a top-selling international brand, more than 100 countries make cigarettes. The largest manufacturer is in China. But U.S. ingenuity drastically altered the global tobacco industry. And American culture embraced it in the 20th century, making it — for a time — a symbol of stylish adulthood in U.S. movies and media, and omnipresent in bars, restaurants, airplanes and even hospitals. Smoking became "a right of passage for many young people," and by the 1950s nearly half of U.S. adults smoked, says K. Michael Cummings, a tobacco history scholar at the Medical University of South Carolina.

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PAGE 16, Thursday, October 1, 2026

THE TRIBUNE