By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A PROMINENT trade union yesterday asserted workers are “backing the Government 100 percent” over proposed redundancy protections to stop “everything being cancelled” when firms “go belly-up”.
Obie Ferguson KC, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) president, told Tribune Business the Government has finally “come around” to the position he and other labour leaders have been advocating for 15-20 years with plans to mandate that employers pay a “bond” or finance some form of “redundancy insurance” for their staff so that the latter’s benefits are covered in a corporate collapse.
The proposed ‘termination pay’ security is among a package of labour law reforms due to be discussed at Town Hall meetings in New Providence tonight and Grand Bahama tomorrow. Bahamian employers have already voiced strong opposition to the idea, branding it as “dangerous” and “untenable” given the extra cost burden it threatens to inflict following
multiple expense rises in recent years.
Companies have also warned that implementing such a measure will act as a deterrent to hiring and job creation, while some have called for it to only apply to “bad” employers. Mr Ferguson, though, told this newspaper that “we just need to be more sensitive when dealing with working people” and the potential plight they and their families face when an employer suddenly collapses and/or falls into liquidation.
While conceding that companies must operate and “make a profit”, he countered that they have “an obligation to what is reasonable” during times when the business is doing well and set aside monies to help workers’ termination pay and other due
Concerns voiced on fiscal ‘cherry-picking’
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A WELL-KNOWN
banker is challenging why the Government appears to be “cherry picking” certain assets and accounting treatmaents in the last-minute revisions to its 2024-2025 spending and deficit numbers.
Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief executive, told Tribune Business that the Davis administration had not provided a “significantly fulsome explanation” for why The Bahamas’ investment in the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) alone was deemed worthy of being shifted from an ‘expense’ to a below-theline ‘investment’.
Questioning the “uniqueness” of this outlay, and why other assets were not subjected to similarly revised accounting treatments, he added that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would have advised the Government to switch to full accrual-based accounting as opposed to using this method “piecemeal”.
benefits should the unexpected happen.
The TUC president also suggested there should be no discrimination between so-called ‘good’ and ‘bad’ employers, and reiterated his long-voiced position that “$260 per week is a no-no as far as we’re concerned” when it comes to the weekly minimum wage. He and the umbrella union have been pushing for a $90 per week, or 34.6 percent increase, to $350 a week.
“We’re backing the Government 100 percent; we’re supporting the Government 100 percent on that issue,” Mr Ferguson told Tribune Business of the ‘redundancy insurance’ concept. “That’s something we are glad they have accepted the position we have been advocating. For
about 15-20 years we’ve been trying to get that in. They’ve come around, and are at least giving it some serious attention.
“If you recall, that was a position we had advocated several years ago from the Commonwealth of The Bahamas Trades Union Congress. We took the view that, with most of these companies that go belly up, there’s no protection for the workers.
“While these companies are making money and doing extremely well, we said ‘x’ amount has to be put into an escrow account or redundancy fund. What we’re saying is that it just seems reasonable that, when a company goes belly
Avery’s partnership ended over $635,000 legal battle
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A PARTNERSHIP to renovate and re-open Adelaide’s renowned Avery’s Restaurant & Bar has been dissolved by the Supreme Court after it descended into an acrimonious $635,000 legal battle.
Acting justice Cheryl Bazard KC ordered that the business relationship which Tracy Ferguson, the University of The Bahamas (UoB) in-house general counsel, and her husband Joseph Paul Johnson, now said to be seeking the PLP nomination for the upcoming Golden Isles by-election, formed with Lenovo Construction Company’s principals cease with effect from her August 27, 2025, ruling.
Finding that Rondon Williams, Lenovo’s chief, was “entitled to an equal [50 percent] share in the partnership known as Avery’s”, the judge ordered that an
accounting take place - and an “expert” valuation be performed - to determine the worth of construction improvements to the restaurant property.
From there, each side’s contribution to the partnership, and whatever sums they are owed, can be calculated for the six-year period from July 2019 to August 27, 2025. All sums found due and owing to Mr Williams must be paid by December 31, 2025.
Mr Williams, fellow Lenovo shareholder, Ria Smith, and the construction company itself launched legal action against Mr Johnson, the “purported owner” of Avery’s, and his wife on August 10, 2021, seeking damages for alleged “breach of contract, loss of income, loss of profit” plus interest and other costs.
But acting justice Bazard said the invoices, billings and other documents provided by Mr Williams to
Storm flooding fears voiced over hospital
By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net
HOMEOWNERS and residents last night argued that recent flooding from Tropical Storm Imelda shows why Perpall Tract is not a suitable location for New Providence’s new $285.25m hospital. Persons from surrounding communities also raised
concerns about noise and traffic pollution at last night’s Town Planning Committee public consultation. The hospital is targeted for a 50-acre site on New Providence Highway in an area between the six-legged roundabout and the Saunders Beach roundabout.
Many attendees recalled issues with flooding following tropical storm which left many homes inundated
with water. Dr Michael Darville, minister of health and wellness, though, clarified that the project would not be in the specific area of the wellfields and its buildings would be located on higher ground some seven to 14 feet above sea levels.
However, Barbara Hepburn, president of the Grove West Homeowners Association, argued that
Mr Bowe, though, argued that The Bahamas “must be very careful” that, as a sovereign nation, it is not giving the impression that the Washington DC-based fund is “dictating” its fiscal accounting treatments. And he also queried why the IMF’s advice is now being treated as “Gospel” by the Government when, in the recent past, the two have disagreed over The Bahamas’ economic growth and fiscal forecasts.
“There are many expenditures by the Government that could ‘qualify’ as an investment,” the Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief
Michael Halkitis, minister of economic affairs, last week said the IMF had supported the Government reclassifying the $25m CAF investment it made in November 2024 from an ‘expense’ to an ‘investment’. This enabled the Davis administration to remove this sum, which accounted for the majority of the $37.3m eliminated from its year-end spending and deficit figures, off its balance sheet.
A BAHAMIAN health-
care provider yesterday said its $7m investment has transformed the Eleuthera Medical Centre into the island’s first hospital with operations due to start today.
Dr Arlington Lightbourne, the founder and chief executive of Bahamas Wellness Health System, said the Palmetto Pointbased Eleuthera Wellness Hospital, a five-bed facility that will provide ground and air ambulances, 96-Slice CT scan, a hemo-dialysis unit and diagnostic services, has met Joint Commission International (JCI) standards - “the global benchmark for
hospital quality and patient safety”.
Through partnerships with regional and international healthcare leaders, he added that the facility will ensure its systems, training and patient outcomes meet world class standards. Care will be affordable and accessible through the Diamond Care medical plan.
“Our full suite of services, including installation of our 96-Slice CT scan, will be rolled out over the coming weeks as we prepare for our grand celebration on November 28, 2025, where we would welcome Eleutherans, alongside national and international stakeholders, to celebrate this achievement together,” Dr Lightbourne said.
OBIE FERGUSON KC
GOWON BOWE
DR MICHAEL DARVILLE SAFETY - See Page B6
Briland feels Silver's loss for slow season
By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune
HARBOUR Island resorts yesterday said they have especially felt the loss of Silver Airways during the slowest slow part of the tourism calendar and urgently need other carriers to fill the airlift gap.
While increased airlift via other airlines was promised after Silver Airways failed to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US earlier this year, a slower-than-normal off-season has caused “suffering" on Harbour Island.
Lee Prosenjak, Valentines Resort and Marina’s managing director, said Briland has been unusually quiet due to the reduction of airlift from the US to Eleuthera. “American [Airlines] and Delta are both on a hiatus and have been since August,” Mr Prosenjak added.
“American starts flying back again on Monday. But
the only carriers that have been coming have been Aztec and Makers Air, and they're not listed on the exchanges. So like, if you're in the US and saying, like, how do I get to Eleuthera, if you Google it or if you're on Expedia, then no results come up. So it feels eerily quiet here. It feels like pandemic levels here.
“American is off about six weeks. I think it is sort of from mid-August through Monday. And Delta take longer off than that. I think they finished out August. So they've been dark all September and October. I don't think they start flying again until November. So, they go like eight or ten weeks. But Silver has always been there to fill the gap - at least four or five days a week. That's a big loss," he continued.
“It's pretty drastic. I think that the number of physical people on the island is probably a fraction of what it was a year ago - like 25 percent of the people that were here a year ago the same time.”
Jack's Bay development names general manager
Asserting that the time to plan for the next off-season is now, Mr Prosenjak added that boaters would not be the ideal target due to fewer numbers travelling during peak hurricane season. He reiterated that more airlift is imperative
“All of September, we haven't had the ability to get anybody here other than Aztec and Makers,” he added. “Makers, I think, fly six days a week, and Aztec flies seven days a week to North Eleuthera. But you're talking about eight seats a day.
“After the Homecoming Festival, which is the 10th through the 13th, we'll be up a little bit more than what we are right now, but that coincides with airlift coming back. At least American will be one flight a day from Miami. In season, they fly at least three flights a day, two from Miami, one from Charlotte.
“They're smart. They know what their statistics are in terms of that, so they're not willing to fly at a loss. They'll do a week or
AN Eleuthera-based private club and residential community has named Richard Howard as its general manager.
Jack’s Bay, the 1,200-acre development southern end of Eleuthera, in a statement said Mr Howard will direct the project's strategic vision as it enters a pivotal phase of growth. He will oversee operations ahead of its phase one opening this fall.
The developer added that Mr Howard will shape the future direction of the club community and oversee day-to-day operations, which includes residential offerings such as the Atlantic Club Cottages and Playground Residences; the Tiger Woods’ TGR Design 'playground course' and Jack Nicklaus Heritage golf courses; spa and fitness offerings including racquet
two at a bit of a loss. They figured out that it's these six weeks that they're not going to fly, because they lose too much money every day by doing it. But, in the meantime, the island suffers," Mr Prosenjak continued.
“So maybe it's Bahamasair that kicks in and does a temporary route, which is probably a lot harder than I'm thinking about, of course, to deal with international regulations about starting a route for six weeks or eight weeks, or something like that. There have been rumors that Western Air might fill that gap and take the route that Silver has left. But that's just rumors. But it would be great to have something happen.”
Another island in need of airlift is Andros, according to Cheryl Bastian, proprietor of Swain’s Cay Lodge. She added that the island would enjoy faster growth and expansion but for high ticket prices and a lack of airlift.
“For some reason, the view is that Andros is
sports; and the Atlantic Clubhouse.
“As Jack’s Bay prepares to welcome its first home owners and guests, the timing could not be more perfect for Richard to join our team, and we are thrilled to have him on property with us,” said Tommy Turnquest, Jack’s Bay's chief executive.
“Richard brings unmatched expertise in club operations and a proven track record to deliver world class service and amenities. His leadership will be instrumental in defining Jack’s Bay as not just a premier private club in the Caribbean, but one of the most extraordinary lifestyle destinations in the world.”
Mr Howard brings more than 25 years' experience in private club and golf course
slower and we don't need airlift,” Ms Bastian said. “We do need airlift. I go to some of the international fly fishing shows and they're complaining that they don't have enough seats. And so we really want a greater effort by the Ministry of Tourism sitting down with our airline partners, because some of the prices are really high.
"When people think about flying from the United States, they pass The Bahamas to go down to Turks and Caicos and Belize and other places, and the cost is cheaper. So, you're flying just from Florida or elsewhere, and you're paying so much to get to Nassau or get to the Bahama islands, and it's cheaper to fly somewhere else.
“We've got to find a way to work with the airlines to reduce those prices. And we need to partner with the Government and the airlines to do that. We're just tired of talking about it. They know the solution to it, which would increase
management to Jack’s Bay. Most recently, he served as chief operating officer and general manager of Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, one of Hawaii’s most exclusive private clubs and home to the PGA Tour's Sony Open.
Jack's Bay's 2025 residential collection includes four-bedroom or six-bedroom fully furnished Atlantic Club cottages and two-bedroom,
heads in beds. But for some reason, they just not budging, and they need to budge off of that, because then you'll have more persons coming and they'll make a lot of money," Ms Bastian added.
“So we don't know why they haven't solved that problem yet by reducing the cost and increasing the airlift. Why should south Andros that's really taking off, with a whole lot of hotels, fishing lodges, and you have distributors and travel agents complaining that there are not enough seats.
"We have south Andros persons complaining because you only have Western Air that has three or two flights a week, or whatever they have. Other airlines, for some reason, are having difficulty in getting in there... There needs to be a meeting of the minds.”
three-bedroom or fourbedroom Playground Residences. Future phases will unveil additional beachfront homes and expanded lifestyle amenities, including a member-only dock and waterfront dining experience.
Jack’s Bay is just a tenminute drive from Rock Sound Airport, which is serviced by direct flights from South Florida and Nassau.
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RICHARD HOWARD
Judge: Evidence jumbled and ‘inherently conflicting’
support his claim were little more than a jumbled mess featuring “duplications, quotes” and items not related to work performed on Avery’s - including one receipt showing products bought for Baha Mar. This made it impossible to substantiate his demand for $635,000.
However, she also criticised Mrs Ferguson for drafting a partnership agreement that was “woefully inadequate” because it failed
to include basic details such as the two sides’ roles and duties, including the time, labour and financial contributions each party would make, and how disputes and “conflicts” between them would be resolved.
And acting justice Bazard also slammed “blatant non-compliance” by Mrs Ferguson and Mr Johnson with two case management Orders issued by other judges. She said they failed to file witness statements despite being ordered to do so on March 2, 2023, and November 22, 2024, by
Justice Neil Brathwaite and Justice Carla Card-Stubbs, respectively. As a result, the couple gave no evidence before the trial. The judge, noting that the respective partners “built a friendship and later a business relationship” after they met when working at Baha Mar, where Mrs Ferguson was the mega resort’s former in-house general counsel, also identified several seeming inconsistencies and discrepancies with the couple’s defence.
Mrs Ferguson and Mr Johnson argued that there had been talks in July 2019 with the Lenovo principals over the couple’s plans to re-open Avery’s. The restaurant and bar, popular with Bahamians, expatriates and visitors alike, was founded by Mrs Ferguson’s father, police commissioner Avery Ferguson, and the couple asserted they had already begun renovation work.
They added that negotiations took place with Mr Williams and Ms Smith about establishing an operational partnership, but the draft partnership agreement was never signed by the Lenovo principals so no binding agreement or contract ever existed. However, the construction firm nevertheless “moved in” and began renovations at Avery’s without producing a scope of works or agreed budget.
Mr Johnson and his wife said the cost of works was never discussed between the two sides “until a demand letter” was presented two years later. They also denied claims by Mr Williams and Ms Smith that the latter duo were “to be added to Avery’s bank account” and accused them of making “false, malicious” accusations designed to injure them.
Avery’s social media and Internet advertising asserts that it re-opened in 2019 as a four-star restaurant offering Bahamian dishes, along with an upstairs sports bar, private room and deck. A patio for live entertainment and music surrounds the ground floor, and its advertising says the relaunch was designed to accommodate tourist activities such as cycling and kayaking.
“What is inherently conflicting in the allegation of discussions only being had in July 2019 is that the draft partnership agreement is dated August 2018,” acting justice Bazard noted. “Further, as per paragraph 16 of the defence, ‘Avery’s re-opened in or during September 2019 to the general public’.
“If that is to be believed, then the time between the discussions and completion of the renovation work was a mere two months at best.”
The unsigned partnership
agreement set out three options for how the relationship would be structured, with all three giving the parties a 50 percent share of Avery’s profits or losses. The first involved Mr Williams paying a “buyin fee” of $155,000, close to 50 percent of Avery’s then-$303,000 value, with all renovation and opening costs to be split 50/50 between himself and Mr Johnson. The second involved Mr Williams paying all renovation costs with no “buy-in” fee, while the latter involved a $75,000 “buy-in”, the Lenovo chief paying for all renovations, and opening costs split 50/50.
At trial, Mr Williams asserted that he did not sign the draft partnership agreement because he “disagreed with the clauses regarding the ownership percentage and succession” with the “no buy-in fee” option failing to give him a 50 percent interest in the business.
“The claimant testified that he did not walk away from the partnership but returned the keys and communicated with the defendants before filing the writ,” acting justice Bazard wrote. “He said he handled the construction but business issues were challenging, leading him to believe that leaving was in his best interest.
“The claimant testified that before construction commenced it was agreed that he would gut the building, replace all windows and doors and that the old plumbing lines would be replaced.” The judge said that while Mr Williams was “a credible witness” his testimony about his and Lenovo’s contribution “was largely unsupported by evidence”.
Acting justice Bazard, though, accepted that he had held discussions with Mr Johnson and Mrs Ferguson, and found his role would be focused on providing construction services for Avery’s redevelopment and operation based on the draft partnership agreement’s wording.
The judge, analysing the evidence, found that Mr Williams’ exclusion from Avery’s bank account at
CIBC, “although inconsistent with the intended joint control, does not negate the existence of the partnership”. He argued that Mr Johnson and Mrs Ferguson benefited from his and Lenovo’s work and, as a result, claimed it was mutually agreed he would have 50 percent ownership of Avery’s in return.
The couple, though, accepted that there was “an oral partnership agreement” and accused Mr Williams - Ria Smith and Lenovo having been dropped as claimants - of “abandoning the partnership without notice, failing to meet his obligation to contribute to business expenses, and is therefore not entitled to further profits.”.
Acting justice Bazard, accepting that there was an oral partnership agreement, determined that the two parties planned to share the profits while Mr Williams had “provided capital” and his construction skills. She found that the partnership had not been dissolved in accordance with Bahamian law and the Supreme Court would have to set a date for this.
“The draft partnership agreement was also woefully inadequate in its drafting by the first defendant who is a counsel and attorney-atlaw in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” the judge said of Mrs Ferguson. The document failed to determine how profits and losses were to be allocated between the two parties, plus their respective management and decision-making duties.
But acting justice Bazard added that, based on the lack of reliable invoices and documents provided by Mr Williams, it was “difficult, nay impossible” to determine the value of his contributions. Mr Johnson and Mrs Ferguson argued that, as “the principal drivers of the operation of the business as well as its development” they were best-placed to ensure it continues and preserve value. They asserted that it would be more appropriate for them to purchase Mr Williams’ 50 percent interest at “fair market value”.
BAMSI hosts seminar for fly fishing guides
THE Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) recently hosted a three-day seminar for experienced fly fishing tour guides to further highlight its growing role in tourism development.
The Institute, in a statement, said it was also present for the third annual Fly Fishing Homecoming Conclave. The event, held at the Courtyard Marriott, drew 150 stakeholders and honoured those who helped shape the industry.
Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investments and aviation, used the event to announce that the Tourism Development Corporation will provide scholarships to students enrolled in BAMSI’s fly fishing initiative.
He also praised the Institute’s role in preparing new guides and safeguarding the industry's future. BAMSI is currently the only institution in the world offering a globally-recognised certification in flats fishing in a bid to boost The Bahamas’ leadership in this multi-million dollar sector.
“The current enrollment of new recruits who are currently in training at BAMSI totals 28. This is the highest number we’ll ever see. We expect they will graduate in March 2026. And whenever
I go across the country, I commit to anybody willing to become a fly fishing guide - the Tourism Development Corporation will provide a full scholarship for them at BAMSI,” Mr Cooper said. BAMSI recently hosted a seminar at the National Training Agency for about 30 veteran guides. The sessions focused on reinforcing professional standards, deepening understanding of laws and regulations, and preparing participants to become licensed.
Presenters from the Department of Inland Revenue addressed Business Licence and VAT requirements, while officials from the Department of Fisheries
and the Port Authority discussed sustainability and regulatory oversight. A marketing consultant also equipped guides with strategies to expand their business, strengthen their branding and connect with international clientele.
Dr Raveenia RobertsHanna, BAMSI's president, outlined the Institute’s wider mission and stressed how its work in agriculture, marine science and research not only supports food security but also creates opportunities for eco-tourism.
Guides welcomed the training. Bonefish Linda, who has worked in the industry for more than a decade, said: “I’m happy I
Union leader backing protection for when companies go ‘belly-up’
SECURITY - from page B1
up or goes into liquidation, when it goes into liquidation that sometimes takes years to be resolved,” Mr Ferguson added.
“In the meantime, we know what happens to the workers who are affected. The home mortgage is gone, the car payment is gone, any medical assistance or insurance is gone, and the children’s school fees are gone. Everything is cancelled and the worker has to start over again; they are struggling unless they find another job with equal pay quickly.”
The Government is eyeing the proposed redundancy ‘bond’ or insurance as a way to cover employee termination pay and other benefits when a company suddenly closes down or ceases operation, and/or it becomes insolvent and goes into liquidation. However, in any liquidation the employees are normally at or near the front of any creditors’ queue - usually second behind the Government and its taxes.
Mr Ferguson first called for a national ‘redundancy fund’ to be set up in the wake of the Royal Oasis’ abrupt closure in September 2004 following hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. Some 1,200 Bahamian staff lost their jobs, while Driftwood (Freeport), the property’s operator, fled the jurisdiction with around $22m in storm insurance proceeds and leaving massive multimillion liabilities - including to the workers.
“We say that provisions must be out in place,” the TUC president said yesterday. “We continue to support it. I am satisfied that the 200,000-plus workers here in the country support it. They have given tacit approval to the view advanced to the public. It makes sense and we’re going to continue to pursue this. It’s a major item on our agenda.
“We’ll do what we have to do as a collective to ensure it comes into effect. It’s [redundancy insurance] really necessary. It’s really a part of the workers’ struggle. It’s a part of their economic well-being, part of what is necessary to maintain a family for a reasonable period of time following redundancy during which they have to go out and find new employment.
“When it comes into effect, sudden termination and redundancy will not have a devastating effect on the family because they do not have any money. Sometimes employees are not even aware that their employer is about to close. Sometimes they find out it’s closing when they report to work,” Mr Ferguson continued.
“The idea is that it’s necessary for the protection of the family. We have to revise our laws for this
type of situation. We are not going to abandon that. That’s a major part of our existence. I think it will be very important and very significant because there’s a number of people who are suffering as a result of the closure of their companies and don’t have the funds to hire an attorney or labour advocate.”
Mr Ferguson did not identify any specific recent cases where employees have not received their due severance pay and other benefits upon their employer’s closure or termination. As for employer concerns about an additional cost burden being heaped upon them, he added: “What we are saying is whether you are good or bad, there’s an obligation to do what is reasonable.
“We understand companies have to operate to make a profit. I don’t have a difficulty with that, but while they are doing it and doing well, and the labour workforce is contributing to that success, why would you not make provision in case things go belly up?
“It seems logical to me. We just need to be more sensitive when dealing with working people. They don’t have the means, don’t have the clout; they don’t have the clout to do anything... We’re not suggesting that companies have an obligation to keep you employed for life, but they should give you a reasonable period of time to assess the situation and find a balance. It’s a two-way street.”
Odecca Gibson, executive director for the Bahamas Hotel Restaurant and Employers Association, which acts as the sector’s bargaining agent in industrial negotiations with trade unions, recently branded the requirement for businesses to pay a “bond” or finance some form of “redundancy insurance” for their workers as “perhaps the most controversial” of the Government’s planned labour law reforms.
Addressing the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) quarterly directors meeting, she argued that resorts, tourism operators and the entire private sector “are literally left defenceless” because no information has been provided on how such redundancy protection will be implemented or operate in practice.
Warning that time is running out for the Bahamian business community to challenge the proposal, Ms Gibson said the proposal will heap another “unnecessary cost burden” on employers - many of whom are struggling to survive. And she also cautioned that imposing a redundancy “bond” or insurance will effectively act as a tax on employment, potentially deterring companies from hiring at a time when the number of unemployed workers increased by
almost 9,000 over the seven months to January 2025.
The requirement, if implemented, would likely force companies to set aside thousands of dollars.
“What is being contemplated by the Government of The Bahamas is to introduce a bond or insurance for businesses to ensure that employes receive redundancy or termination benefits when the employer closes down or shuts down its business or goes into insolvency,” Ms Gibson said.
“Our specific queries were who will manage this process? How will employers be assessed to determine what types of contribution will they make to the bond, because they are using the term ‘insurance’? When the bond assessments are done and submitted to the Government of The Bahamas, will those funds find themselves in the consolidate fund or be separated?
“We all know that if the sums go into the consolidated fund they are lost, so the objective of protecting the worker will ultimately be lost because then you will have to go to the Government of The Bahamas to seek the compensation that these supposed employees will have lost as a result of the redundancy exercise or insolvency process.”
came. They taught me a lot about the regulations, and the importance of having a licence. In life, you can’t do anything without being properly licensed, and this training really reinforced that.”
Curry Lewis, owner of Lewis Bonefish Adventures, said the seminar gave him a clearer perspective on the responsibilities of guiding.
“The information helped me better understand what is required to be a licensed guide and how that strengthens the industry,” he added.
Leslie Liz Brace, senior manager sustainable tourism, said: “The partnership between the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and
Aviation and BAMSI is beginning to take root through the National Certification in Flats Fishing programme.”
She pointed out that the veteran guide initiative is designed to integrate sustainability, digital access and regional competition into a traditional industry, adding that the next generation of guides gained access, formal recognition and market access, empowering them to step confidently into a competitive global industry.
Mr Cooper, speaking at the recent conclave, reiterated the Government’s broader vision and pledged continued support for the
EXPERIENCED and young fly fishing guides practice side by side.
fly fishing sector. He said the Tourism Development Corporation will partner with the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) to help Bahamians open fly fishing lodges, and confirmed that dedicated staff will be hired to oversee a new regulatory unit.
“We are also cognisant of the fact that the success of the industry has to be balanced with fair and practical regulations,” Mr Cooper said. “Our focus remains on collaboration with the Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association, our guides, large and small boutique owners, and other stakeholders to ensure that the growth is inclusive for all involved.”
BAMSI said that by equipping new recruits with top-quality training, and helping seasoned guides strengthen their businesses, it is not only preserving a cultural tradition but also positioning The Bahamas as the global leader for sustainable flats fishing and eco-tourism.
From left: Michael Hugh (Inagua), Keito Robinson (Exuma), veteran guide Paul Pinder (Abaco), and Takeo Cox (Inagua).
‘Don’t give impression IMF dictating account practices’
ACCOUNTING - from page B1
told Tribune Business.
“All capital expenditure in theory is investment; any monies spent on road development, and particularly various infrastructure in the Family Islands.
“The question would be what is the uniqueness of this expenditure [the CAF subscription] notwithstanding the purpose for it and the long-term benefits of it, which qualifies it as an asset.” Mr Bowe also queried why the accrualbased accounting method appeared to have been applied to the CAF expenditure, but for others the Government had reverted back to its traditional cashbased accounting.
“Ultimately, why cherry pick on this particular one?” he asked. “The IMF would be advocating for full accrual-based accounting as opposed to piecemeal.... We also have to be very careful to say the IMF is not
dictating our accounting practices.
“The one thing we must do is apply accounting practices consistently and, if we are changing accounting practices, we must disclose that and say we’re doing it across all similar transactions. We have to be very careful with saying, in one breath, that we are following the advice of external parties and then, in the next breath, say we don’t agree with the external parties and will do it our way.
“Why, in this particular instance, is the Government minded to say we are getting advice from the IMF and it’s gospel? We have to be more genuine in our communications as opposed to punch line responses saying ‘the boogeyman made me do it’,” Mr Bowe continued.
“We should not be seen to be cherry-picking accrual versus cash-based accounting and throwing it on external parties.
The Bahamas is a sovereign jurisdiction. It makes its own choices.” He also queried why the likes of subsidies and transfers by the Government to stateowned enterprises (SOEs) were not treated the same as the CAF loan as it could be argued that they, too, were investments.
The Bahamas’ total subscription for CAF shares is just shy of $50m, and is split into two tranches of around $25m - one that was to be paid by end-September 2024, and another by endSeptember 2025. Tribune Business research showed that both appeared to be included in the Ministry of Finance’s capital budgets for both 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 as “capital subscriptions to international agencies”.
Other financial sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, queried why the changed accounting treatment for the CAF loan - which they acknowledged
Facility to halt health care cost ‘destruction of families’
“Eleuthera Wellness Hospital anchors a connected island-wide healthcare network with satellite urgent care centres in Spanish Wells, which is in North Eleuthera, and Rock Sound in South Eleuthera. And this ensures that no Eleutheran, and no visitor to Eleuthera or nearby island, is ever without access to quality emergency or specialty care.
“Our services will include a 24-hour emergency room staffed by highly-trained physicians, nurses and technicians, supported by a growing fleet of advanced
life support ground ambulances and augmented by air ambulance partnerships with MASA Assist and JetICU, making local and international air transport for critical care cases easier than ever before,” he added.
“Comprehensive diagnostics, including a complete laboratory ultrasound, echocardiogram, mammogram, digital X-ray and our soon-to-be commissioned 96-Slice CT scan and a five-bed... short stay admission unit for hospital level care close to home.”
As the first and only hospital on Eleuthera, Dr Lightbourne said urgent care access will be
expanded from 5pm to 9pm with emergency care available past that time.
Beginning on December 1, “it will be fully staffed by certified emergency trained physicians, nurses and technicians, round the clock”. There are currently 40 employed medical staff including physicians, nurses and trained EMS (emergency medical services) personnel, and those numbers are expected to grow over the next few months. The hospital has two advanced life support equipped ambulances, and is seeking to expand its fleet as well as partner with MASA Assist which provides air ambulance
Residents express crime, traffic concerns over Perpall Tract site
SAFETY - from page B1
the recent flooding proves the area is not a suitable site for the hospital. “In recent times, just looking at the flooding that we just had when we were underwater, first time to this level,” Ms Hepburn said.
“And so if the impact assessment some years ago said one thing, we cannot ignore what is happening. And with the tropical storm, we were underwater [and] still underwater, and still without electricity. And so, heaven forbid, a hurricane comes - that’s only a tropical storm. Now it’s OK
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could be justified - as well as the other adjustments making up the $37.3m worth of revisions were not made and disclosed earlier given that they all occurred between seven to 11 months earlier.
They added that the timing of the revisions, coming at the 2024-2025 fiscal year’s end in June, suggested that the Government had scoured its books at the last minute to find ways to cut spending and come in closer to its $69.8m deficit target. Others added that the CAF subscription remained an expenditure and should not alter, adding of the change: “It makes no sense.”
Mr Halkitis, explaining the revisions last week, said: “You might recall that The Bahamas joined the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) during the past year. Part of joining the CAF, we subscribe $25m to become a shareholder in the bank.
“When we initially did it, we classified that as an expenditure. When the IMF came in and did their review, they sat with us and they said: ‘Listen, this is rightfully an investment. It
services from Eleuthera into Nassau, and JetICU into the US.
Dr Lightbourne said the level of investment is “north of $7m” with funding coming largely from a private share offering.
Charles Sealy, chairman of Bahamas Wellness Hospital and Clinics, said that with two urgent care centres and a primary care facility, the hospital provides Eleuthera residents with advanced medical care.
“Today is a proud day for Eleuthera, for The Bahamas, and indeed, for our organisation,” Mr Sealy said. “What began as a vision to bring quality, accessible healthcare to the island has now grown beyond a clinic into a facility, one capable of providing hospital level services to the community of Eleuthera.
Planning and Protection (DEPP), which indicates the land is suitable.
to say it’s probably above sea level. I don’t see how that is mitigating against what we just had.” Dr Darville said the Government and Ministry of Health have obtained a certificate of environmental clearance (CEC) for the project from the Department of Environmental
He added: “I assure you that this particular hospital will have its own sewerage and water plant… I’m not here to justify the work of the Ministry of Environment. We have an environmental certificate that has been approved that forced us to move further for the execution of the funding.”
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doesn’t need to be expendi-
ture. So we removed that $25m from expenditure and put it below the line; it’s an investment.
“I think the entire figure was about $37m. Twentyfive million dollars of that was for CAF, and then the rest was just a combination of other minor revisions. Revisions are not unusual, and that is why a lot of times when we release figures, we say preliminary figures, meaning not final. And I would just encourage all to bear that in mind.”
Mr Halkitis emphasised that fluctuations in the Budget figures are a normal part of fiscal management, and warned against drawing definitive conclusions based solely on monthly fiscal reports. He added that the Government’s finances are dynamic, and figures often undergo changes as more accurate data becomes available and reclassifications are made in consultation with external agencies such as the IMF.
“We release monthly reports, we release quarterly reports, and then we release the annual report. And, unfortunately, sometimes there tends to be an
“For generations, families and those, of course, who came to our shores in Eleuthera have faced challenges in accessing advanced medical care. Too often, our people have had to travel long distances to New Providence for essential diagnostic tests or even hospital services.
“This expansion changes that story. It means that care is not only closer, but it’s also stronger, it’s faster and it’s more comprehensive. It means parents can take their children nearby when they need urgent attention, and our elderly do not need to endure the stress of transfer for services that we can now provide right on island.”
Dr Leonardo Culmer, chief clinical officer, added: “[I] got a call from Dr Lightbourne, and we talked, and because we
Travis Robinson, the prospective FNM candidate for the Fort Charlotte constituency at the upcoming general election, asked Dr Darville to “please reconsider, because the people of Fort Charlotte says, no”.
“You spoke a lot about the EIA, the environmental impact assessment. I personally had an opportunity to review and read that same assessment, which you were referring to, from JSS Consulting. And the most critical area of that report in the outline was their concern for the flooding in Fort Charlotte or in that immediate area,” Mr Robinson added.
“Let’s go from a wider understanding of what we’re referring to… It was a concern that the project would exacerbate the flooding within the area. I read the report. The report also indicated that it is 212 acres of well field. The entire area that you’re referring to is 212 acres of well field. You’re referring to 50 acres, or 50.3 acres, within that well field. All of that is within the well field.”
over-reaction. When you see a monthly report, you see something, ‘oh, the deficit has gone up’. And we have to come out and say, ‘it’s just one month, we got this’,” said Mr Halkitis. He warned that monthly reports, while important for tracking short-term trends, do not provide a complete picture of the country’s fiscal position. He argued that these reports should be viewed within the broader context of quarterly and annual reporting, which capture the cumulative effect of revenue collection, spending adjustments and investment decisions over time.
The Government overshot its 2024-2025 full-year deficit target by just $9.1m thanks to the last-minute revisions which cut its firsthalf ‘red ink’ by $37.3m and enabled it to hit Budget goals.
The Ministry of Finance, unveiling the Government’s fiscal performance for June and the full Budget year, revealed that the fiscal deficit only exceeded initial projections by 13 percent to close at $78.9m compared to the originally-targeted $69.8m.
knew each other very well, and he was someone that I called a friend, we decided to make that move. It is on that basis we have what we have here today, with a strong cadre of participants, executive persons, board of directors, doctors and nurses and a community that is very grateful for the services that we offer.
“And we are equally grateful to be able to offer them. So it’s good for me to know that where my mother and father grew up, I am now, and we are now a part of that system, that nexus that offers emergency care. There are many people who would otherwise have to go to Nassau, and the cost was devastating on their families. It was destroying families. That’s the solution that we foresaw, and that’s what we’re happy to be a part of.”
Another resident of West Grove pointed out the possible challenges with increased traffic if the hospital were to be built in the proposed location. Another resident, Wanda Strachan, said noise levels due to sirens may be a concern and, with crime on the rise in the area, a hospital may invite more.
“I think we have about 14 entrances… to that area,” Ms Strachan said. “We already have a problem on Prospect. You have Balmoral, cars being stolen, gas tanks being stolen. There’s rapes in our neighbourhood. We almost have lost control of our neighbourhood because of the amount of entrances, and we want to get that fixed. Now we’re faced with a hospital being placed in the area.”
Mr Robinson listed a number of surrounding neighbourhoods, pointing out the “horror” of the recent flood. He added that the hospital development would result in water flowing back into nearby communities after heavy rain, and argued that the development “is a bad idea”.
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THE US STOCK MARKET KEEPS
SETTING RECORDS AS AI EXCITEMENT KEEPS BUILDING
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer
WALL Street keeps setting more records, and excitement about the artificial-intelligence industry keeps leading the way.
The S&P 500 climbed 0.4% to set an all-time high following mixed trading on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 63 points, or 0.1%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.7% to its own record.
Advanced Micro Devices helped lead the way and soared 23.7% after announcing a deal where OpenAI will use its chips to power AI infrastructure. As part of the deal, OpenAI could own up to 160 million shares of AMD if it hits certain milestones.
A frenzy around AI has been one of the main reasons Wall Street has been hitting record after record, though that's also raising worries that prices have potentially shot too high. Much of the furor around AI in the last couple weeks has come from OpenAI, which has quickly grown
into a $500 billion company. It's been announcing deals with businesses around the world to develop more AI infrastructure. Another chip company, Nvidia, announced a deal last month where it would invest $100 billion in OpenAI as part of a partnership, creating criticism that the AI investment pipeline was beginning to appear like a circle. Nvidia slipped 1.1% following the AMD announcement. Because it's the most valuable stock on Wall Street, Nvidia was the heaviest weight on the S&P 500.
Outside of tech, Comerica jumped 13.7% after Fifth Third Bancorp agreed to buy it in an all-stock deal valued at $10.9 billion. The combination would create the country's ninth-largest bank. Fifth Third's stock fell 1.4%.
Tesla rose 5.4% after social-media postings by the electric-vehicle maker hinted at a possible product unveiling coming on Tuesday.
Verizon Communications fell 5.1% after the telecom
Bari Weiss is the new editor-in-chief of CBS News after Paramount buys her website
By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer
PARAMOUNT said Monday that it has bought the news and commentary website The Free Press and installed its founder, Bari Weiss, as the editor-inchief of CBS News, saying it believes the country longs for news that is balanced and fact-based.
It's a bold step for the television network of Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather and "60 Minutes," long viewed by many conservatives as the personification of a liberal media establishment. The network is placing someone in a leadership role who has developed a reputation for resisting orthodoxy and fighting "woke" culture.
"I am confident her entrepreneurial drive and editorial vision will invigorate CBS News," said David Ellison, who took over this summer as the corporate leader overseeing the network when his company, Skydance, purchased Paramount. "This move is part of Paramount's bigger vision to modernize content and the way it connects — directly and passionately
— to audiences around the world."
No purchase price was announced for The Free Press, which has grown to reach 1.5 million subscribers since Weiss started it in 2021 after leaving The New York Times as an opinion editor. When she left the Times, she wrote a letter of resignation that spoke of a culture of intolerance at the newspaper and said she was bullied by colleagues who disagreed with her.
Weiss will report directly to Ellison and partner with the current CBS News President Tom Cibrowski, who reports to Paramount executive George Cheeks.
Editor-in-chief is a new role at CBS News. Ellison said that Weiss will "shape editorial priorities, champion core values across platforms and lead innovation in how the organization reports and delivers the news."
In a letter to CBS News employees on Monday, Weiss said that watching CBS was part of a family tradition growing up in Pittsburgh. Her goal in the next few weeks is to get to know the staff, she said. "I want to hear from you about what's working, what
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that ROSELIA JASMIN of Wrights Lane, Wulff Road, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 7th day of October, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that CELIFAITE JOSAMA Faith Avenue, Nassau, The Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration/ Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 30th day of September 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
replaced its chief executive. Dan Schulman, a director at the company and former CEO of PayPal, is taking over for Hans Vestburg.
Elsewhere on Wall Street, trading was relatively quiet as the stock market continues to largely ignore the U.S. government's shutdown. Past closures of the federal government have had minimal effect on the stock market or on the economy, and the bet on Wall Street is that something similar will happen again.
All told, the S&P 500 rose 24.49 points to 6,740.28. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 63.31 to 46,694.97, and the Nasdaq composite rose 161.16 to 22,941.67.
Politics are playing a bigger role in stock markets abroad, as Japanese stocks soared and French stocks slumped following their latest political shake-ups.
Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped 4.8% after the country's Liberal Democratic Party chose Sanae Takaichi as its leader. She was an ally of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who
isn't, and your thoughts on how we can make CBS News the most trusted news organization in America and the world," Weiss wrote. "I'll approach it the way any reporters would — with an open mind, a fresh notebook and an urgent deadline."
Some at CBS News have been concerned about what they see as signs that the news division is moving in a direction more friendly to President Donald Trump. Paramount's merger with Skydance was approved by the administration shortly after Paramount settled the president's lawsuit against "60 Minutes." Ellison has hired Kenneth Weinstein, former head of a conservative think tank and a Trump contributor, as an ombudsman to examine complaints about CBS News.
pushed for lower interest rates and other policies that investors liked.
The yen's value dropped against the U.S. dollar on expectations that Takaichi will boost spending, likely adding to inflationary pressures. That in turn helped push up stocks of Japanese exporters, whose products can become more attractive on the global market when the yen is cheaper.
"Obviously, investors like what she has been saying and certainly today judging by the number of stocks that moved and which stocks moved, it seems like pretty much led by foreigners so far," Neil Newman,
"60 Minutes," which is two weeks into its new season, has been seeking an interview with Trump.
CBS isn't the only news organization to face pressure from the president. He also settled a lawsuit against ABC News, has sued The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, and is fighting a battle with The Associated Press over access. Broadcast news organizations are generally fading in influence with the growth of online alternatives, and have aging audiences. CBS is generally third in popularity behind ABC and NBC, but "60 Minutes" and "CBS News Sunday Morning" have devoted fan bases.
Rather, who stepped down as anchor and managing editor of the "CBS Evening News" in 2005, told The Associated Press
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that MCLURY GASPARD of North Eleuthera Height, The Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration/ Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 7th day of October 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that SADRAQUE VICTOR Golden Gates #2, Nassau, The Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration/ Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 30th day of September 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 30th day of September 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
head of strategy at Astris Advisory Japan, said about Takaichi.
In Paris, the CAC 40 index slumped 1.4% following the resignation of France's new prime minister.
Sébastien Lecornu resigned a day after he named his government, drawing a backlash across the political spectrum for his choice of ministers.
French politics have been in disarray since President Emmanuel Macron called snap elections last year that produced a deeply fragmented legislature.
In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year
that he did not know Weiss and hopes she gets to know the people at CBS News before making any big changes.
"No one has to send a memo to everyone down the line at CBS News about what is going on with journalism and this presidency," Rather said. "It is obvious that there is tremendous pressure to bend the knee to the Trump administration. The fear is that this appointment is part of that overall play."
Weiss has worked in opinion journalism and has little background in broadcast journalism. She has described herself politically as a centrist and wrote a column for the New York Post in 2021 headlined, "10 ways to fight back against woke culture."
Writing for the liberal website the Unpopulist,
Treasury rose to 4.16% from 4.13% late Friday. The shutdown of the U.S. government likely means delays for U.S. economic reports scheduled for this week, though investors will have some earnings reports to comb through, including from Delta Air Lines, PepsiCo and Levi Strauss. Despite the shutdown, the Federal Reserve will release minutes from its meeting last month, when it cut its benchmark interest rate for the first time this year. Much on Wall Street is riding on expectations that the Fed will continue cutting interest rates through this year and into next.
Matt Johnson said that "one reason for The Free Press' popularity is that it offers intellectual reassurances to legions of anti-anti-Trump readers — sophisticated conservatives who may be uneasy about Trumpism, yet want to believe that wokeness and other left-wing excesses are the primary threats to western civilization."
Weiss told fellow CBS News employees that she stood for the same core journalistic values that have defined the profession from the beginning, including reporting on the world as it actually is and being fair, fearless and factual.
In separate staff memos, Ellison and Weiss outlined similar philosophies about a mainstream America being ill-served by a destructive form of partisanship.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that NESKER PIERRE of The Bluff, Eleuthera, The Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration/ Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 7th day of October 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that SANDRA ALEXIS of P.O. Box NB7060. Student Avenue, Nassau, The Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration/ Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 7th day of October 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that GABRIELLA VANESSA LOUVERTURE of Ford Close, Carmichael Road, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 7th day of October, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
JOHN Bishop works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025.
Photo:Seth Wenig/AP
Trump says he's open to health care deal with Democrats as shutdown hits Day 6
By KEVIN FREKING and SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press
PRESIDENT Donald Trump said Monday that he'd be open to striking a deal with Democrats on the health care subsidies they've made central to the shutdown fight, cracking the door slightly to negotiations that Republicans have said should only happen after the government reopens.
But Trump also said "billions and billions" are being wasted, nodding to arguments from conservatives who do not want the health subsidies extended to lessen the cost of plans offered under the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare.
"We have a negotiation going on right now with the Democrats that could lead to very good things," Trump said. "And I'm talking about good things with regard to health care."
Trump's comments were one of the few hopeful signs Monday as the government shutdown hit its sixth day. Negotiations between the two parties have been virtually nonexistent since the start of the shutdown despite the impact on federal services. Democrats have urged that Trump get involved, saying no deal will be possible without the president's approval.
The two Democratic leaders in Congress, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, both
denied there are any negotiations with Trump. Jeffries said the White House "has gone radio silent" since a meeting in the Oval Office last week.
"Trump's claim isn't true, but if he's finally ready to work with Democrats, we'll be at the table," Schumer said.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters "there may be a path forward" on ACA subsidies, but stressed, "I think a lot of it would come down to where the White House lands on that."
More doomed Senate votes
The president's comments came shortly before the Senate took another
doomed pair of votes Monday on funding the federal government. Neither the Republican measure nor the Democratic proposal came close to gaining the 60 votes needed to advance.
Both parties used much of the day to ramp up the pressure on the other to end the impasse.
Thune said a critical food aid program for women, infants and children was starting to run low on funds, blaming Democrats and saying "now it's the American people who are suffering the consequences."
Schumer said his side was ready to work with Republicans to "reopen
the government and end the health care crisis that faces tens of millions of Americans."
"But it takes two sides to have a negotiation," Schumer said.
Earlier in the day, the two sides dug in. House Speaker Mike Johnson said "there's nothing for us to negotiate" while Jeffries declared the "time is now" to work out a deal on health care.
Johnson, R-La., told reporters they could stop asking why he wasn't negotiating an end to the impasse. It was up to a handful of Democrats to "stop the madness" and pass a stopgap spending bill that had earlier passed the House, he said.
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY SAYS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ADDS STRESS ON AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS
By JOSH FUNK AP Transportation Writer
Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday that the government shutdown is putting more stress on air traffic controllers who already
have an extremely stressful job, as well as threatening a program that small communities rely on to help subsidize airline service. Controllers are expected to continue working without a paycheck, Duffy said, so they are now worried
about how to pay their bills in addition to worrying about keeping flights safe.
"Now what they think about as they're controlling our airspace is, how am I going to pay my mortgage? How do I make my car payment? I have a couple kids
at home. How do I put food on the table? I'm working six days a week. Do I have to take a second job and drive Uber when I'm already exhausted from doing a job that's already stressful to think about how I can make extra money
"We did the job to keep the government open, and now it's on the Senate Democrats," Johnson said. The House is not expected to be in session this week, focusing attention on the Senate to take the lead on any deal in the Republican-led Congress. Yet even with House lawmakers away, the Republican and Democratic leaders have been holding almost daily briefings as they frame their arguments and seek to shift blame for the shutdown.
Democrats are insisting on renewing subsidies to cover health insurance costs for millions of households, but Republicans have insisted that can be dealt with later. They say the subsidies are a separate debate than the one on keeping the government funded for a few weeks while the two sides work out their differences on a full-year spending package.
While some Democratic senators said they viewed Trump's comments about the status of negotiations as positive, there was also skepticism from members on both sides of the political aisle about whether they represented much of a breakthrough.
"The discussion can't happen until we reopen the government. The Democrats want to have
because the government may not provide me a paycheck?" Duffy said.
Travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport, where Duffy held his news conference, said controllers should be paid for their work.
"Everyone should get paid for what they are doing. Of course it bothers me," said Daniel Johansson from North Carolina.
A traveler from Utah, Nancy Taylor, agreed.
"Yeah, that would be hard to work for no pay," Taylor said. "But I think they understand the importance of their job. And the safety that provides to us as travelers. They need to get paid." The Transportation Department has been able to keep the air traffic controller academy in Oklahoma City open for now with funding from previous
these talks. The president has just signaled he wants to talk, but reopen the government," said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla.
"I have a hard time taking it seriously," said Sen Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. "Because Johnson and Thune as well as Trump are all saying 'we won't talk until you open up the government.'"
Turmoil for the economy
The stalemate comes at a moment of troubling economic uncertainty. While the U.S. economy has continued to grow this year, hiring has slowed and inflation remains elevated as the Republican president's import taxes have created a series of disruptions for businesses and hurt confidence in his leadership. At the same time, there is a recognition that the nearly $2 trillion annual budget deficit is financially unsustainable.
The Trump administration sees the shutdown as an opening to wield greater power over the budget, with multiple officials saying they will save money as workers are furloughed by imposing permanent job cuts on thousands of government workers, a tactic that has never been used before.
years, but Duffy is still concerned about the potential impact on efforts to hire and train new controllers in the hope of eliminating a longstanding shortage. Duffy said the support staff who train controllers after they come out of the academy could be laid off.
The head of the air traffic controllers union, Nick Daniels, stayed away from political comments, but he urged Congress to end the shutdown.
"We need to bring this shutdown to a close, so that the Federal Aviation Administration and the committed aviation safety professionals can put this distraction behind us, and completely focus on their vital work," Daniels said. Duffy said there has already been a small uptick in controllers calling out sick in a few places.
NOTICE Brain Tech Overseas ltd. Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Registration number 201722 B (In Voluntary Liquidation)
Notice is hereby given that the above-named Company is in dissolution, commencing on the 6th day of October A.D. 2025.
Articles of Dissolution have been duly registered by the Registrar. The Liquidator is MR. LEONARDO DAL BUONO MASCARO, whose address is Av Nove de Julho 3229, C309, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Any Persons having a Claim against the above-named Company are required on or before the 5th day of November A.D. 2025 to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator of the Company, or in default thereof they may be excluded from the beneft of any distribution made before such claim is proved.
Dated this 6th day of October A.D. 2025. LEONARDO DAL BUONO MASCARO LIQUIDATOR
THE SENATE side of the Capitol is illuminated by the sun at dawn in Washington, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.
