Issuu

business@tribunemedia.net

Monday, october 19, 2026

$ 7.45

$ 8.05

$ 7.08

‘We’re not getting a break’: Xmas price rise warnings BY NEIL HARTNELL and ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporters BAHAMIAN shoppers have been warned to brace for Christmas price increases as Tropical Shipping and other freight providers hike rates in response to soaring fuel prices, with one business asserting: “It seems like we’re not getting a break.” Companies spoken to by Tribune Business said Tropical Shipping’s move to increase freight to The Bahamas from the US and Canada by largely 11.1 percent across the board, with effect from November 8, will hit “at a bad time” for consumers as it will likely raise shipping costs for Christmas orders. Reiterating that multiple expense increases “are all coming at us at one time” as far as Bahamian businesses are concerned, many said they have no choice but to raise their own prices so as to maintain margins and ensure they can “survive” to provide essential commodities and critical employment. Debra Symonette, Super Value’s president, told this newspaper the 13-store supermarket chain will seek to hold-off raising grocery prices

Tropical Shipping freight rises to hit ‘at bad time’

for Bahamian shoppers for as long as it can adding “it is highly likely” there will be no immediate increase in response to Tropical Shipping’s move. She confirmed the company is “very conscious” of the struggle many Bahamian households face to make ends meet with cost of living pressures showing no signs of easing - the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimating that this nation will finish 2026 with the second highest annual inflation increase of 5.2 percent among Caribbean tourism-based economies, behind only Jamaica. Tropical Shipping is among the main ocean freight providers to The Bahamas on routes from Florida, other US and Canadian ports, but private sector sources have said it is far from the only sector operator

Rosewood Exuma rival seeks fresh appeal hearing on ‘bias’ BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE “SUBSTANTIVE” verdict on the challenge to the $200m Rosewood Exuma’s key planning approval has been delayed after the project’s top opponent alleged “unfair and/ or biased” treatment and demanded its appeal be reheard. Attorneys for Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club, in an October 8, 2026, application, argued that its bid to overturn the neighbouring East Sampson Cay development’s initial site plan approval should by heard by a different Subdivision

and Development Appeal Board panel. This, it claims, is because the recently-completed September 16-17 hearing was “an infringement” of its “right to a fair hearing and to an independent and impartial tribunal”. The application, which was made even before the Appeal Board renders its verdict on the substantive challenge to Rosewood Exuma, cited several grounds to justify Turtlegrass’s claim that it was not treated fairly. Chief among them is the alleged u-turn or “volte face” performed by the Board on July 22, 2026,

CHALLENGE - See Page B9

Put minimum wage hike ‘on next House agenda’ BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A TRADE union leader is urging the Government to put a minimum wage increase on “the next House of Assembly agenda”, arguing that it is “not humanly possible” for a Bahamian family to live on $260 per week. Obie Ferguson KC, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) president, told Tribune Business that with gas prices standing at a maximum $7.50 per gallon presently, a family with

Super Value chief: ‘Everything seems to be going up’

children could easily spend up to $100 of that $260 more than 38 percent of the weekly minimum wage - on filling up the car for school runs and to get to work. He called for a minimum wage increase to be implemented “urgently, urgently”, and not wait for the National Tripartite Council, the body featuring employers, union and government representatives, and which deals with all labour-related matters in The Bahamas, to deliberate and consult over such a move.

INCREASE - See Page B10

Business adviser: Freight rises to hit Xmas shipments

increasing rates in response to high fuel costs stemming from market volatility sparked by ongoing Middle East instability. Super Value and other food stores are among those set to be most impacted, with Tropical Shipping poised to increase the bunker surcharge for 20 and 40-foot refrigerated containers by $40 and $80 in just under three weeks - from $360 to $400 for the former, and $720 to $800 for the latter. Both represent 11.1 percent rises. “They are all coming at us at one time,” Ms Symonette told Tribune Business of cost and expense increases. “It seems like we are not getting a break. The consumers feel like they are not getting a break, and we are not getting a break either. All

COSTS - See Page B12

$ 7.50

$ 7.56

SITE PLAN FOR BILLY CAY

MSC cruise facility to create 320 jobs and open in 2028 BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net MEDITERRANEAN Shipping Company’s (MSC) proposed $400m Billy Cay cruise terminal will be able to handle up to 20,000 passengers per day and is forecast to create up to 320 full-time, and 350 construction, jobs. The just-released environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the shipping giant’s four-berth facility, located on a man-made industrial site in Freeport Harbour, asserts that it will

removal obstacles to Grand Bahama’s “economic competitiveness” as a cruise tourism destination with construction set to start in January 2027 if all necessary permits and approvals are obtained. The report by Bahamian environmental agency, JSS Consulting, unveiled ahead of the November 2, 2026, public consultation on the project, confirmed that MSC and its Freeport Cruise Terminal affiliate have secured a lease, plus concession rights, over the

TERMINAL - See Page B8

PAGE 2, Monday, October 19, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

Eleuthera ‘beyond ‘emergency’ on BPL BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

Hotel gets own branded water AN ELEUTHERA resort has taken delivery of its own-branded water provided by the private label division of a Florida supplier. The Cove Eleuthera’s natural artesian water, supplied in 16 ounce reusable aluminium bottles bearing its name, was provided by Custom Water Workz, the private label division of Florida-based MSPFLA Inc. MSPFLA, in a statement, said the bottles feature The Cove’s name and branding on resealable aluminium packaging, offering an alternative to traditional disposable plastic bottled water. “The Cove’s decision demonstrates that resorts

have another option when choosing how to package bottled water,” said Daniel Rogers of MSPFLA. “We recognise the need for alternatives to disposable plastic, and we’re actively reaching out to resorts, retailers, beverage distributors and tourism operators throughout The Bahamas. We want to see those alternatives available not just at resorts, but wherever residents and visitors purchase bottled water.” MSPFLA also owns Tropical Waters, a brand developed for tropical markets including The Bahamas, and packaged in 16 ounce reusable aluminium bottles. Tropical Waters is supplied through Bristol Distribution in Nassau.

BAHAMAS Power & Light’s (BPL) reliability and maintenance planning have come under fire from Eleuthera residents, who are arguing that the restoration of a key engine at its Hatchet Bay plant does little to address outage vulnerabilities when other units fail. Dr Leatendore Percentie told a community meeting that BPL’s repeated daily outages have fuelled frustration among residents, who question whether the state-owned utility is adequately planning for equipment maintenance plus investing in infrastructure capable of delivering a more reliable electricity supply. He argued that restoring generation was only part of the problem, with transmission and distribution failures and inadequate maintenance also contributing to service interruptions across the island. “I sincerely hope, sir, that you have found the problem because this situation on Eleuthera is beyond an emergency situation,” said Dr Percentie. “It’s maximised everybody’s frustration to the point where we feel that BPL is not really being honest. Number one, and number two, not being accountable to us.” His comments came as Mark Bethel, BPL’s area manager for Eleuthera, explained how specialists traced repeated trips at the Hatchet Bay power station’s main engine to a faulty control wire that intermittently short-circuited against the engine’s chassis. Mr Bethel said the wire had been damaged by

vibration as the engine worked under heavier loads, making the fault difficult to identify during routine inspections because the problem was intermittent. He said the wire was repaired on Saturday, October 10, but BPL waited until Monday night on October 12 to return the engine to service to avoid another interruption while the utility was relying on rental generation units to maintain supply. The engine was brought back online shortly after midnight on Tuesday, October 13, and Mr Bethel said the system had experienced no further power interruptions since then. However, he acknowledged that the island’s generation system remains vulnerable when individual units fail, particularly in North and Central Eleuthera, where the Hatchet Bay station supplies electricity. The engine is rated at 4.4 mega watts (MW) but has been de-rated to about 2.8 MW because it is overdue for a major overhaul. Combined with rental generating units providing around 6.5 MW, the available capacity on Eleuthera is about 9.3 MW against peak demand of about 7.8 MW in North and Central Eleuthera. Mr Bethel said the loss of even one rental unit could leave the area short of the generation needed to meet demand, explaining why keeping the Hatchet Bay engine online was critical to maintaining voltage, frequency and a stable electricity supply. Dr Percentie questioned why residents continue to face such widespread disruption when a single generating unit fails, arguing that BPL needs to move beyond reacting to problems and develop a more resilient system. He also raised concerns about the utility’s distribution network, noting that residents can still experience outages even when sufficient electricity was being generated.

Mr Bethel said BPL has been reinforcing Eleuthera’s transmission infrastructure for more than two years, including installing taller transmission poles along a circuit extending from Hatchet Bay towards Glass Window Bridge. The first phase of that work has been completed, with further extensions planned. BPL also intends to establish a new primary substation, install additional submarine cables to Harbour Island and improve the ability to transfer electricity between generating stations. Mr Bethel said those interconnections will eventually allow BPL to isolate faults and maintain supply to unaffected communities more effectively. He added that salt exposure, humidity and Eleuthera’s geography create additional challenges for maintaining electricity infrastructure, with equipment exposed to the elements requiring frequent repairs. BPL is also working to restore additional generating capacity at Hatchet Bay. Mr Bethel said another engine, also rated at 4.4 MW but currently derated to approximately 2.8MW, was expected to return to service within two weeks after a replacement part arrived from Denmark. A further engine requires specialist repairs to its exciter, a major generator component, with the work expected to be completed before the end of the year. In the longer term, BPL is targeting May 2027 for completion of the EA Energy project, combining 8.7 MW of solar generation, 20 MW of liquefied natural gas (LNG) generation and 5 MW of battery energy storage. The private sector-led project will supply all power generated to BPL. Mr Bethel said the additional capacity EA Energy capacity is intended to supplement existing generation and help BPL meet Eleuthera’s growing electricity demand. “We won’t over-promise and under-deliver,” he said. “What I can

tell you is that we’re going to take it one day at a time. We’ll keep the power on one good day at a time.” The meeting also heard concerns about unreliable electricity’s impact on Eleuthera’s tourism industry, with a participant reporting that some vacation rental owners have experienced cancellations after prospective guests learned of the outages. The participant said visitors were asking which parts of Eleuthera, including the mainland, Harbour Island and Spanish Wells, had more reliable electricity before deciding where to book accommodation. The concerns centred particularly on smaller vacation rentals that may not have back-up generators, leaving guests and operators more exposed to prolonged interruptions than properties with alternative power supplies. Mr Bethel said BPL’s public relations department will continue to circulate updates on the utility’s repairs and planned improvements as additional generating units returned to service and longer-term projects progress. Residents also raised concerns about damaged appliances, high electricity bills and malfunctioning street lights. Mr Bethel said customers seeking compensation for damaged appliances could submit claims to BPL, which would inspect the equipment and assess the applications. He added that BPL has submitted reports to the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), the electricity sector regulator, on the recent outages. URCA is expected to review the reports and determine any next steps for supervisory action. An elderly resident also appealed for assistance with electricity problems at her home and street lights that left her struggling to find her way in the dark. Mr Bethel said BPL representatives would take her details and arrange to investigate the matter. While apologising for the service disruptions, Mr Bethel thanked residents for their patience and said BPL was working to improve reliability while its additional generation and infrastructure projects moved forward.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, October 19, 2026, PAGE 3

Minister: LNG fuel switch ‘bridge, not the destination’ BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net A CABINET minister yesterday said The Bahamas cannot afford to delay its energy transition while households and businesses remain exposed to volatile international fuel prices. Jobeth Coleby-Davis, minister of energy, utilities and aviation, told the 2026 CARILEC Resilient/Renewable Energy Community conference and exhibition Minister of Energy, Utilities and Aviation that renewable energy and institutional reform are critical to improving electricity affordability and security. She added that small island developing states such as The Bahamas and wider Caribbean face a choice between continuing to absorb the costs of imported fossil fuels and deliberately diversifying their energy supplies. “Small island states are often told that the energy transition is too expensive for us. The evidence says it is too expensive to wait,” Mrs Coleby-Davis said. She argued that rising oil prices translate into higher electricity costs for households and operating expenses for businesses, leaving Caribbean economies vulnerable to developments beyond their control. Mrs Coleby-Davis said the Bahamas' ‘New Energy Era’ was designed to address that exposure through renewable generation, battery storage, modernised electricity infrastructure and institutional reform. The Government is targeting renewable energy to meet 30 per cent of The Bahamas’ electricity requirements by 2030, supported by approximately 60 mega watts (MW) of utility-scale solar generation, battery storage and upgrades to the generation fleet. But Mrs Coleby-Davis warned that renewable energy projects alone will not be enough to transform the electricity sector, arguing that investment must be accompanied by stronger institutions, clear policies and effective regulation. “We cannot modernise generation while leaving our networks behind,” she said. “We cannot attract investments without sound regulation, and we cannot deliver lasting reform without institutions capable of sustaining it.” Mrs Coleby-Davis said the Government is also investing in digitisation and advanced

metering with support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as part of wider efforts to modernise the electricity sector. Natural gas will also play a role in the transition, with Mrs Coleby-Davis defending its introduction as a means of reducing dependence on more expensive petroleum fuels while maintaining reliability as renewable capacity expands. “Natural gas is a bridge, not a destination,” she added. Acknowledging concerns about the role of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the energy transition, Mrs Coleby-Davis argued that continuing to rely on petroleum fuels will leave The Bahamas exposed to higher costs and emissions. “Waiting for a perfect solution means Bahamian households pay for the delay,” she said, adding that the Government's renewable energy ambitions remained the destination. The strategy is being applied differently across the country, with the Government pursuing projects designed around the needs of individual islands. On Grand Bahama, Mrs Coleby-Davis said 9.5 MW of solar generation is already operating through an independent power producer (IPP) arrangement, with another 5 MW under construction. She also pointed to plans to advance the integration of Grand Bahama Power Company into a more co-ordinated national framework through the Grand Bahama Energy Company. In Abaco, the Government is advancing a 27 MW hybrid microgrid combining solar generation, battery energy storage and new LNG generation, with full commissioning targeted for spring 2027. The EA Energy project is intended to combine the reliability of firm generation with an increasing contribution from solar power and storage. Mrs Coleby-Davis cited the estimated $3.4bn in damage and losses caused by Hurricane Dorian in 2019 as evidence of the need to build electricity systems capable of withstanding severe weather, particularly in vulnerable Family Island communities.

On Eleuthera, the government is advancing a 20 MW hybrid microgrid also targeted for commissioning in 2027 and again with EA Energy as the private sector partner and producer. Mrs Coleby-Davis argued that the different projects reflected the need for a national energy strategy that can accommodate the distinct electricity demands and infrastructure requirements of individual islands. Beyond infrastructure, she said the success of the transition will depend on credible long-term planning, regulatory frameworks that provide clarity for investors and protect consumers, and investment in the engineers, operators, planners and regulators needed to operate modern electricity systems. Mrs Coleby-Davis pointed to Uruguay, which generates more than 90 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources, as an example of how sustained policy, private investment frameworks and strong public utilities can support a successful transition. She also called for greater co-operation among Caribbean countries, arguing that regional utilities can accelerate progress by sharing technical expertise, policy experience and lessons from past projects. Mrs Coleby-Davis said the message to regional stakeholders was that countries facing similar challenges can achieve more by working together than by attempting to address them independently. “All of us want to inspire that reliability, sustainability, affordability, but the transformation that incorporates the resiliency and the renewable sector that we benefit from as our natural resources,” she said. The minister cited the deployment of Bahamian utility engineers to assist Jamaica with rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Melissa as an example of regional co-operation in practice. Mrs Coleby-Davis said Caribbean countries can learn from one another's experiences, including what had worked, what had failed and which approaches might be suitable for their own electricity systems.

She urged delegates to move beyond policy commitments and focus on implementation, arguing that the ultimate measure of energy reform must be the improvements experienced by households and businesses. “The New Energy Era must be measured not by the infrastructure we built, but by the improvements the Bahamian people experience,” the minister said.

JOBETH COLEBY-DAVIS

PAGE 4, Monday, October 19, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

Chamber backs retirement age increase, no NIB hikes BY ANNELIA NIXON TRIBUNE Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net THE BAHAMAS Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) is backing both the Government’s plans to raise the retirement age and reject further National Insurance Board (NIB) contribution rate increases as it seeks to shield businesses from mounting costs. Don Williams, the BCCEC chairman and acting chief executive, said the Chamber supports continued dialogue on retirement age reform,

citing longer life expectancy and the continued productivity of older Bahamian workers. “We have long been in discussions in respect to the increase in retirement age,” Mr Williams said. “The population is living longer, Bahamians are still working diligently and at a high level of productivity. We look forward to further dialogue with the minister and many of the other labour organisations.” His comments follow statements by Pia Glover-Rolle, minister of labour, the public service and National Insurance, that signalled the Government

is mulling raising the minimum retirement age at some state-owned enterprises (SOEs) from 60 to 62 years-old. It is also looking at increasing the private sector retirement age from 65 to 67 as its preferred options, although both measures will have to be decided after public consultation. Mrs Glover-Rolle told last week’s Exuma Business Outlook conference that the proposals will undergo consultation through the National Tripartite Council, the body that features representatives from the Government, employers and employees, and deals

with all labour-related matters in The Bahamas, before a final decision is made. Retirement age reform is part of wider efforts to strengthen NIB’s long-term financial sustainability amid mounting pressure caused by an ageing population and increased benefit payments, which have exceeded contribution income on an annual basis for the best part of a decade. Mrs Glover-Rolle also highlighted the financial strain imposed on NIB by some retired workers returning to employment while continuing to collect their pensions. Mr Williams said the Chamber is looking

forward to further discussions with the minister and labour organisations as stakeholders consider the implications of extending working lives. On NIB contributions, Mr Williams welcomed Ms Glover-Rolle’s commitment to pursuing alternatives to further increases in the contribution rate, arguing that raising what is effectively a tax on employment will place further pressure on employers and employees already facing higher living costs. “The minister’s comments are welcomed as it does not increase taxes on employees or employers,” Mr Williams said. “We have continued to advocate for lower or no additional taxation on businesses, especially with the increased cost of living. Management of assets is key, and we look forward to the outline NIB will put in place.”

Cabbage Beach advocacy group presses over vendor relocations BY ANNELIA NIXON TRIBUNE Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net BETWEEN seven and ten Cabbage Beach vendors have been relocated ahead of construction work

on the Four Seasons Ocean Club Residences, the Public Parks and Beaches Authority has confirmed, with another two or three still waiting to be moved. Jamahl Strachan, the Authority’s chairman, said the relocation is intended

to reintegrate affected vendors and limit the economic hardship caused by development of the $550m Four Seasons Ocean Club Residences on Paradise Island. “We would have already resettled seven to 10 vendors,” Mr Strachan said. “I

think from last communication with the minister of tourism, we have maybe two or three who are outstanding.” The figures prompted questions from advocacy group Dis We Beach, which said its earlier count identified 21 vendors, and called on the Government to explain how many have been displaced, relocated or remain awaiting new locations. In a statement, the advocacy group said more than 650 people were seeking answers about the future of Cabbage Beach, accusing the authorities of advancing plans without providing a co-ordinated response to questions submitted last week to the Beaches and Parks Authority and the Ministry of Tourism. The group said the public wanted access to approvals, surveys, fencing and beach renourishment plans, alongside safeguards for public access, safety, Crown Land and the foreshore. Mr Strachan, meanwhile, also addressed a proposal raised by Lincoln Deal, the Opposition’s Freetown MP, calling for developers involved in future projects of this nature to have an engagement plan that would gradually restore beach access as construction progresses. However, Mr Strachan said an existing consultation process under each Heads of Agreement made such a proposal largely unnecessary. “But there is an ongoing consultative

process already in place,” Mr Strachan said. “So it’s almost redundant.” He said the appropriate approach to vendor resettlement and replacement locations depends on the number of people affected and the circumstances surrounding each development. “As far as resettlement and replacement, the environment and the scenarios change based on the volume of persons who need to be reintegrated, and also the situation itself,” Mr Strachan said. The Cabbage Beach dispute has escalated in recent months after temporary fencing associated with erosion-control and construction works safety triggered protests from vendors, and concerns about whether beachgoers will retain safe, practical access to the shoreline. The Government previously intervened over the fencing, which was removed following public opposition. The controversy has also raised questions about the economic security of vendors who depend on the beach for their livelihoods and the arrangements governing their return after construction. Under the October 2024 Heads of Agreement for the Four Seasons Ocean Club Residences project, the developer is required to use “best efforts” to facilitate access for vendors through the development site during construction and provide a permanent 15-foot-wide

Mrs Glover-Rolle recently described higher NIB contribution rates as her last resort in addressing the national social security system’s financial challenges, despite actuarial recommendations for further increases to improve the scheme’s sustainability. The Government increased the combined employer and employee contribution rate from 9.8 percent to 11.3 percent on July 1, 2024, split evenly between the two. However, NIB continues to face structural financial pressures as benefit expenditure outpaces contribution income. Mrs Glover-Rolle has tasked NIB’s Board with exploring other options, including diversifying its investment portfolio, improving collections, modernising operations and developing its real estate

AGREE - See Page B12 public right-of-way upon completion. The agreement also provides for existing Bahamian vendors to receive preference for vending opportunities within the completed development. Dis We Beach said the relocation of vendors also removed an important source of day-to-day monitoring of conditions on the beach, raising questions about who will identify blocked access and dangerous conditions while construction continued. “Government cannot keep announcing its next steps while leaving more than 650 people’s questions unanswered,” the group said, calling for a documented response from the relevant agencies explaining what had been approved and how Cabbage Beach would be protected. It also asked when the public can expect a co-ordinated response to the questions already submitted to the authorities. The latest concerns follow previous calls by Mr Deal and affected vendors for written guarantees covering relocation arrangements, financial support and their ability to return to Cabbage Beach after construction. Dis We Beach has separately called for the publication of the project’s environmental approvals and management plans, as well as documentation governing fencing, shoreline works and access arrangements.

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, October 19, 2026, PAGE 5

Poorer households exposed over building code failures BY ANNELIA NIXON TRIBUNE Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net THE BAHAMAS’ failure to enforce building codes is leaving lower income households increasingly exposed to hurricane damage and other climate-related risks, an engineer is warning. Sonia Brown, principal of Graphite Engineering, used the Exuma Business Outlook to call for stronger inspections, tighter regulation of contractors and the increased use of public-private partnerships (PPPs) to improve access to affordable, resilient housing. She argued that The Bahamas cannot blame all damage from hurricanes and other events on extreme weather and climate change alone when inadequate enforcement of existing building standards also contributes to the problem. “We can’t blame all of the damage that happens during hurricanes and other events only on the hurricane and climate change. We are not following the building code,” Ms Brown said. She added the consequences of such failures fall disproportionately on poorer households, but research into sustainable and affordable housing identifies practical measures that could improve building standards and reduce vulnerability. Ms Brown said her research, conducted as part of her master’s programme at the Cambridge Institute of Sustainable Leadership, used surveys of construction professionals, registered engineers and registered architects, alongside interviews. The findings were published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction in a paper co-authored with her dissertation supervisor, Dr Priti Parikh. Ms Brown said evidence-based research should guide decisions on housing resilience rather than relying solely on assumptions about what might work.

Although The Bahamas contributes relatively little to global greenhouse gas emissions, it remains vulnerable to hurricanes, rising sea levels, coral bleaching and warmer ocean and atmospheric temperatures. Among the recommendations emerging from her research, Ms Brown said, are public-private partnerships to expand access to affordable, resilient homes; stronger regulation and enforcement of building standards; improved inspections, investment in infrastructure; and greater accountability across the construction industry. Ms Brown said the Government could use its land holdings to help reduce the cost of housing, particularly as rising property prices make home ownership increasingly difficult. She added that public-private partnerships could involve releasing Crown Land and other government-owned property for residential development while working with private sector companies to construct homes more efficiently. “There’s so many properties that cost $70,000,” she said. “Back in the day, you could have purchased a piece of property for $5,000 or $8,000.” Ms Brown said the Government holds large tracts of land that could be made available for housing development, with private sector participation helping to deliver projects rather than leaving responsibility solely to the state. Her recommendations also stress the need to preserve natural coastal barriers, including wetlands and mangroves, which provide a first line of defence against hurricane-related storm surges and other environmental threats.

Share your news

Ms Brown said that while engineers design buildings to high international standards, weaknesses in implementation undermine those efforts. She identified gaps in oversight, inadequate administrative capacity and insufficiently qualified contractors as factors requiring attention, and called for stronger regulation of construction professionals and contractors. The Construction Contractors Act, which was designed to regulate the profession, still has yet to be brought into effect more than a decade after it was passed into law due to the failure to appoint the Board required to oversee it. Ms Brown, meanwhile, also called for greater accountability and liability across the construction industry, arguing that those responsible for malpractice should face penalties. Building inspections are another area requiring reform, she added, noting that inspection capacity varies significantly across The Bahamas. While New Providence and Grand Bahama have access to more comprehensive inspection services, other islands face uneven coverage, Ms Brown added. She suggested using qualified third-party inspectors, including engineers and retired architects, to help the Building Control Department extend its reach throughout the country. And Ms Brown also called for greater investment in flood prevention and prediction systems, alongside improved spatial planning, to guide decisions about where development should take place. Sustainability must also become a greater consideration in housing construction, Ms Brown

The Tribune wants to hear from people who are making news in their neighbourhoods. Perhaps you are raising funds for a good cause, campaigning for improvements in the area or have won an award. If so, call us on 322-1986 and share your story.

said, acknowledging that building more resilient homes may require higher upfront spending but can deliver benefits over time. She urged prospective homeowners to take a more active role in the construction process, including attending inspections and asking questions about how their homes are being built. Engineers, architects, contractors and academic institutions also have a responsibility to support the development of sustainable, affordable housing, she said.

Ms Brown pointed to existing resources that could help home owners reduce costs while meeting construction standards, including permit-ready housing plans sold by the Department of Housing. These should include architectural, structural, electrical and plumbing drawings, she said. Ms Brown also highlighted the Build Back Better guide to housing standards for The Bahamas, developed by the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness and Management following Hurricane Dorian. “The long and the short of it is, we should not feel hopeless in the face of climate change,” she said. “There are a lot of things that we all can be doing and should be doing to improve the outcomes for affordable home owners.”

Meanwhile, Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and the island’s MP, said affordable housing remains a priority as Exuma continues to grow, stressing the need to ensure residents and workers can afford to live there. “I want our children to understand that they do not have to wait until they are adults to contribute to the development of Exuma,” Mr Cooper said. He encouraged young people to help identify solutions to the island’s housing challenges, and said the Government will continue working with the Ministry of Housing and Land Reform on new developments. “As Exuma continues to grow, we must ensure that Exumians and the people who work here can afford to live here,” he said.

PAGE 6, Monday, October 19, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

Tourism targets year-end for market intelligence platform BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net THE MINISTRY of Tourism is targeting year-end 2026 for the roll-out of a data dashboard designed to give tourism businesses access to information on visitor profiles, travel seasonality, forward bookings and destination performance. Andre Miller, executive director of global communications at the Ministry of Tourism, outlined the plan during the Exuma Business Outlook, where he also detailed the ministry’s marketing campaign for the island, which has generated

more than 125,000 website visits and 37,500 hotel leads. “Now that data dashboard is earmarked to roll-out in its initial phase by the end of this year,” Mr Miller said. “Now we’re going to be pulling data sources from multiple places, visitor profiles, seasonality of travel, in-island insights, economic drivers, forward bookings, marketing performance, brand sentiment, the destination health,and natural resources from a sustainability standpoint. “We’re going to be pulling all of this information into one source, and it’s going to be a market intelligence utility for everyone who is in the industry, so that you will be able to benefit from what we

are doing and all of the information that we are gathering to make more informed decisions, so that your businesses can thrive, and everyone within the tourism industry can rise.” Mr Miller said the Ministry’s marketing efforts are designed to increase awareness of Exuma internationally and direct more potential visitors towards local businesses. “So, just a snapshot of overall performance to-date. We’ve generated over 13m impressions for the Exumas, 6.6m video views. That’s how much times persons are viewing the videos that we’ve been generating,” he added. “Your real estate in terms of what you have in your

store, meaning hotels, properties, when we’re driving them to your specific website, you have to do the conversion. We’re a lead engine from the tourism standpoint, but we’re doing all that we can to advertise and market so we can drive more business to all of you stakeholders.” The Ministry of Tourism also recorded 81 organic social media posts, generating 6.9m views and more than 117,000 engagements across its TikTok, Instagram and Facebook channels. Mr Miller said the ministry’s wider public relations efforts have generated 584 pieces of media coverage, an advertising value of $226m and 2.8bn media impressions from the beginning of 2026 through its third quarter reporting period. The Ministry has also hosted nine media representatives and issued 118 press releases, newsletters and pitches. Canadian media generated 31 secured pieces of coverage, 5.76m media impressions and an advertising value of $53,300, he said. Mr Miller said Exuma’s stopover arrivals are up 4 per cent year-over-year, with The Bahamas as a whole also trending towards a record year for such visitors in 2026. The US accounts for 87 per cent of travellers to Exuma, while Canada accounts for 4 per cent. Canada has recorded year-over-year growth of 6 per cent, according to figures presented by Mr Miller. He said the Ministry wants to build repeat visitation by ensuring tourists receive an experience that justifies the cost of travelling to the Bahamas. “We always speak about, you know, The Bahamas is not exactly the cheapest destination for persons to travel to, which is why it’s incumbent upon everyone to ensure that the value of that experience is that much more rewarding because we have to work harder for persons to be able to come here when we are looking at our competition,” he said. “Once we get someone here, and they see the beauty of what we have to offer, rest assured they will come back.” The visitor profile presented by Mr Miller showed an average stay of 6.5 nights, with 40 per cent of visitors

returning to Exuma. The average visitor age was 42, while the typical booking lead time was more than 91 days. Mr Miller urged tourism operators to plan their marketing campaigns well in advance of the periods when they want to fill rooms or sell experiences. “The lead time, on average, is 91-plus days. So what does that mean? That means that persons are planning roughly three months out,” he said. “If you are trying to fill rooms at a specific time during the calendar year, you need to make sure that your advertising is in front of someone at least three months out.” Mr Miller said the Ministry of Tourism is also working to improve air access and promote existing and upcoming services to Exuma. American Airlines operates a Saturday flight from Charlotte and daily service from Miami, while Aztec Airways flies from Fort Lauderdale on Thursdays and Sundays. Bahamasair also serves Exuma from Fort Lauderdale. Delta’s Atlanta service is scheduled to resume on November 14, with Air Canada flights from Toronto expected to resume on November 15. Mr Miller said businesses should already be promoting to prospective visitors in those markets ahead of the winter travel season. The Ministry of Tourism’s wider campaign, launched in February 2025 under the tagline ‘It’s not one island; it’s a lifetime of them’, seeks to increase awareness of individual Bahamian destinations rather than concentrating on Nassau and Grand Bahama or referring broadly to the ‘Out Islands’. The campaign feature Lenny Kravitz and uses television, streaming services and digital advertising to promote 16 major island groups by name. “The days of advertising 700 islands and cays are gone. You know now we market 16 major island groups within the islands of The Bahamas,” Mr Miller said. He said the approach was intended to familiarise potential visitors with destinations such as Exuma, Long Island, Eleuthera and Abaco, encouraging them to explore islands they might not previously have considered visiting. The Ministry of Tourism uses television and streaming platforms, including CBS, NBC and Amazon Prime, alongside YouTube, Google and Meta advertising. Its digital campaigns also

allows it to re-target people who interact with advertisements, providing additional information and directing them towards booking opportunities. Mr Miller said the Ministry of Tourism has seen an increase in people searching for Exuma as it expanded its island-specific marketing efforts. The Ministry of Tourism is also encouraging businesses to maintain updated listings on Bahamas.com as it develops artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help travellers plan their trips. The website features an AI-enabled trip-planning tool called MindTrip, and Mr Miller warned that businesses will miss potential customers if their information is not discoverable through AI platforms and search engines. “If you don’t have an artificial intelligence strategy, if you are not discoverable, if persons are using the ChatGPTs, the Google Gemini, you name it, in terms of all of these different AI tools,” he said, “if when persons are searching things to do in The Bahamas, things to do in Exuma, and your business is not being found, that means that you are not optimised, and you need to be in a position where you are optimising your listings, your businesses, so that it can be found through these different AI engines.” Mr Miller urged tourism operators to ensure their Bahamas.com listings are accurate and up-to-date so they can benefit from its advertising and digital marketing efforts. Mr Miller said The Bahamas’ natural resources, and the service delivered by its people, remain central to attracting visitors and encouraging them to return. “Everyone has sun, sand, and sea, but at the end of the day, what do we want to really put in front of persons? We have a collection of islands within The Bahamas, a Caribbean within the Caribbean, and at the heart of all of that, what makes us so uniquely different, besides all of our natural resources, is our people,” he said. “Our people are really what’s representative in terms of what will bring persons back, and also the value that you deliver in terms of the experiences that everyone within the industry has to provide to everyone that spends hard-earned money coming from Europe, the UK, Canada, America to see what we have to offer here within the islands of The Bahamas.”

THE TRIBUNE

ARROW-WORD Arrow-words are like crosswords, but the clues are printed inside squares on the grid. Write your answers in the blank squares in the direction indicated by the arrows. Solution tomorrow

BLONDIE

owed or due Slanting

collision (4-2) Torment

Satellite Mike _, navigation, pictured in short

Revival

quality Lorry fuel

Monday, October 19, 2026, PAGE 7

Former monetary unit of Portugal Arabian Nights hero (3,4) Big

Term of respect

They may require scratching

WORDSEARCH JUDGE PARKER

Scold or rebuke

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

Eastsouth-east (abbr.)

Vaselike vessel

August (abbr.)

Chest-onchest

Offers Bleat (anag.)

Pimple

Mournful poem

Satisfy fully

CARPE DIEM US city

Pictured, _ Kardashian

Banquet

_ bear, Australian marsupial

Assemble

Swimming competition

That woman

Upright

_ Holmes, fictional detective

Slack

Elderly

Humble

Nevertheless (3,3,4)

80s synthpop band (1-2)

Continent Alcoholic drink

Protective glasses

Mineral

Encounter

Floor covering

Skill Cure Melt

Go away!

Tear Quicktempered

Mechanical routine

Land measure

Flipper

MARVIN

TYPES OF DWELLING Find all the terms listed below in the grid. Solution tomorrow A-FRAME ● BOTHY ● CASTLE ● CHALET CHATEAU ● COLONIAL ● COTTAGE ● DACHA GABLEFRONT ● GEORGIAN ● IGLOO LOG CABIN ● MANSION ● RANCH ROUNDHOUSE ● SEMI ● TENT ● YURT

Surrender Singlepiece garments

Sheltered side

Educational building

Hypnotic state

Lentil, say

Young dogs

Vitality

Power _ or crop _

Enjoying continued success (2,1,4)

Crustacean

Not asleep

Cupid

Retired (abbr.)

Excellent

Office of Fair Trading (abbr.)

Adverts, in short

TV series, Vegetable _ Rogue Heroes (abbr.)

Song, _!... I Did It Again Tyrant Insect Evaluate Book of maps

FRIDAY’S SOLUTIONS TIGER

THE ALPHABEATER

ARROW-WORD

Black squares: 2, 3, 7, 10, 11, 16, 17, 22, 23, 26, 29, 33, 34, 38. Across: Street, Urchin, Filing, Ovation, Extra, Maize, Swear, Sincere, Cobalt, Eureka, Pastry. Down: Affixed, Saved, Sulk, Thundery, Jammed, Edgy, Gap, Oxide, Tub, Ices, Caress, Physique, Zany, Known, Cryptic.

Across: Quacks, Suet, Jeer, Beam, Sea, Ludo, Lull, Auk, Help, Its, Etty, Baynton, Daub, Courtier, Any, Neil, Urged, Carl, Amy, Errata, Ask, Retro, Punish, Rue, Tie, Extra, Yellow, And. Down (left to right): Era, Oar, Route, Baseball, Younger, Nil, Cure, Upon, Rye, Ariel, Eke, All, Tot, Dates, Stimuli, Mathew, Tendency, Oast, Area, Aorta, Tau, Irks, Urn, Key, Bill, Knead. Shaded letters: Taskmaster

THE ALPHAPUZZLE

CALVIN & HOBBES

Across: Nuptial, Cave, Fold, Squabble, Merely, Hoaxer, Belief, Grease, Jodhpurs, Warp, Welt, Kneecap. Down: Snooze, Eroded, Sped, Epithet, Pigsty, Flunks, Plough, Gasket, Cabbage, Wick, Svelte (clue), Scrape.

TV CROSSWORD Across: 1 Edith, 6 Cera, 8 Adam West, 10 Beast, 11 Stamp, 12 Nelson, 15 Neil, 16 Murder, 17 Liam, 19 Russian, 21 Tess, 22 Helen. Down: 2 Dent, 3 Happen, 4 Ewan, 5 A Taste For, 6 Chelsea, 7 Ant, 9 Audrina, 13 Name, 14 Caroline, 17 Last, 18 Moss, 20 Sue. TV show: The Pitt

WORDS PLATE

MUDDLESOME Monte Cassino Oudenarde Thermopylae

CLOCK-WISE Solo, Lose, Seal, Aldo, Dope, Peso

QUIZ OF THE WEEK 1 Byker Grove, 2 Caught, 3 Garden, 4 Electric Avenue, 5 Way, 6 Plaice, 7 Drive, 8 Trafalgar Square, 9 Loftus Road, 10 Glenn Close.

PUZZLES@REACHPLC.COM

DENNIS THE MENACE

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE SUDOKU EASY DITLOIDS 1 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous, 2 Kill 2 Birds with 1 Stone, 3 The Lesser of 2 Evils, 4 22 Bones in the Human Skull, 5 4 Parts of a Cow’s Stomach, 6 1 For the Road

9 5 1 4 3 6 2 8 7

TRIVIA WORDSEARCH 1 Cheers, 2 Edwin, 3 Reg Smythe, 4 Noel Coward, 5 Shall We Dance, 6 The Weavers, 7 Don Draper, 8 Frank, 9 Captain Beaky, 10 Kenneth Horne

BATTLESHIPS

8x4=32, 3x5=15, 5x9=45

Across: CHEWS Down: CURRY

7 3 8 5 9 2 4 6 1

4 9 2 6 1 3 7 5 8

3 6 5 7 8 9 1 4 2

8 1 7 2 5 4 6 3 9

1 7 9 8 6 5 3 2 4

5 4 3 9 2 1 8 7 6

SUDOKU DIFFICULT

2 8 6 3 4 7 9 1 5

KAKURO

3 9

KEIJO

5 2 1

2 1 7 9 8 9 2 2 1 4

SMALL CROSSWORD

CROSS DOUBT

6 2 4 1 7 8 5 9 3

1 2 4 8 1 3 1 8 4 9 2 7 5 1 2 9 2

SUMTHING

Across: 1 Orchestra, 7 Core, 8 Doubt, 10 Mat, 11 Alarms, 13 Sensation, 14 Intend, 16 Ova, 18 Nails, 19 Soon, 20 Selecting. Down: 1 Occasions, 2 Roller, 3 Hear, 4 Son, 5 Tummies, 6 Attending, 8 Demands, 9 Fan mail, 12 London, 15 Test, 17 Ale.

SUDOKU MEDIUM

5 7 3 2 6 1 4 9 1 8 3 1

QUICK CROSSWORD

TARGET

Across: 7 Determination, 8 Struggle, 9 Able, 10 Talent, 12 Indeed, 14 Inform, 16 Refute, 18 Chic, 20 Taciturn, 22 Perpendicular. Down: 1 Restrain, 2 Peruse, 3 Smug, 4 Inferior, 5 Strand, 6 Tool, 11 Tempting, 13 External, 15 Occupy, 17 Fitful, 19 Heed, 21 Clip.

THROATILY ahoy hail hair hairy halo halt harl harlot hart hilt hiya hoar hoary holt holy hotly lath lathi litho loath loth oath that thirty thro throat THROATILY throaty tilth troth

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

Saturday’s Sudoku Answer

MICRO CROSSWORD

CHALLENGER

Saturday’s Answers

PAGE 8, Monday, October 19, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

Billy Cay project set to boost GB tourism ‘competitiveness’ TERMINAL - from page B1 54-acre site from Freeport Harbour Company. The development, which is targeted for full completion in 2029, with the first phase finished a year earlier, will be capable of accommodating the world’s largest Icon and Oasis-class cruise ships at a terminal containing “several planned attractions” divided into categories described as ‘wet’, ‘dry’ and ‘unstructured’ collectively occupying almost three acres. Retail, dining and entertainment options will cover close to 15 acres, with another significant portion of the Billy Cay site devoted to “green spaces” that MSC Cruises may develop in the future. Similar to how Nassau Cruise Port functions, some 4.2 acres will contain a ground and water transportation hub for ferrying cruise visitors to tours and attractions around Grand Bahama. The EIA said capacity forecasts suggest up to 160 taxis and 14 50-seat tour buses will be arriving at Billy Cay during peak hours, with MSC’s latest cruise vessels able to carry more than 6,700 passengers and its fleet’s average volumes standing at 4,300 guests. Total annual visitors to Billy Cay are forecast to ultimately reach 3.365m. “The capital investment for the project has an estimated amount of $400m towards the lease of the Freeport Harbour project area and the development, construction and completion of the project,” the EIA said. “Direct jobs associated with construction

works and indirect employment opportunities are anticipated to be generated for the project. “The approximate number of workers scheduled to work during the construction phase of the project will be approximately 350 persons, hired throughout the different phases of the project. “Construction labour will be across a dynamic project timeline with initial marine works, following heavy civil and infrastructure works, and vertical build. All construction contracts awarded will be registered with valid GBPA (Grand Bahama Port Authority) business licences,” the EIA, dated June 26, 2026, and revised on October 9, added. “In terms of labour, the developers will maximise the employment and participation of skilled employment of Bahamians in the construction phases of the project. The percentage of Bahamians to be employed within the Project’s workforce has yet to be determined.” As for the direct employment impacts when Billy Cay hits full operational capacity, the EIA added: “The operational phase is expected to provide long-term employment opportunities directly for those who will be employed at the cruise terminal and indirectly through partnerships with suppliers, local businesses in tour operations, accommodations, supplies, materials, service parts and transportation. “During the operational phase, the number of workers scheduled to work during the project is

approximately 320 persons. It should be noted that this number is estimated based on peak operational hours, and number may fluctuate during slower seasons throughout the year. “In terms of labour, The developers will maximise the employment and participation of Bahamians in management and operations of the project and its underlying amenities. The percentage of Bahamians to be employed within the project’s workforce has yet to be determined.” Together with Carnival’s $600m Celebration Cay destination, which is itself expanding from two to four cruise vessel berths, Billy Cay will take cruise line investment on Grand Bahama to $1bn. And this will likely further increase from Royal Caribbean, which is poised to acquire 50 percent ownership in Sandals, acquiring the former Xanadu resort and associated real estate. Should these additional projects come to fruition, Grand Bahama’s tourism arrivals are set for a multi-million annual boost of upwards of five to six million. The key now will be to offer these visitors the authentic experiences they are seeking, entice more to leave the private cruise destinations, and increase per capita yields and spending to maximise their economic impact. “The project is a proposed multi-phase development with a projected long-term arrival throughput of approximately 20,000 passengers per day of operation,” the EIA said.

“The project is anticipated to boost tourism with the construction of a cruise terminal accommodating up to four cruise ships simultaneously. This is expected to bring in 20,000 persons in a day and 3,364,54 persons annually.” The EIA argued that Freeport and, by extension, Grand Bahama will be denied “the benefit of having a modern cruise terminal” in Freeport if the project does not obtain the necessary approvals to proceed - particularly since Billy Cay would accommodate other cruise lines and not just MSC. It will also put to use a man-made cay created by fill previously dredged from Freeport Harbour. “The development of a cruise terminal in Freeport seeks to accommodate the growing demand for cruise tourism and enhance economic competitiveness on the island and wider Bahamas,” the report argued. “With the existing port facilities having a limited berthing capacity and outdated passenger facilities, it is inadequate to handle the growing size of new generation cruise vessels and overall cruise industry expectations. “This is made more apparent as Grand Bahama is still recovering from the physical and socio-economic damage caused by Hurricane Dorian in 2019. This disaster significantly disrupted cruise tourism operations and negatively affecting businesses and livelihoods that depended on tourism - including transportation

providers, restaurants and local vendors. “The hurricane impacted the infrastructure and sales of tour excursion operators, causing many of them to shut down, leaving very limited guest activities available for tourists to participate in while in Freeport,” the EIA continued. “The project is intended to establish a world class cruise destination and tourism hub capable of supporting the continued growth of the cruise tourism sector within the economy of Grand Bahama. “The project is necessary to stimulate sustainable economic development, increase tourism expenditure, create employment opportunities and expand entrepreneurial prospects for the residents of Grand Bahama. It is also designed to enhance the overall visitor experience through the integration of cultural, recreational and commercial amenities that reflect Bahamian heritage and hospitality. “While there have been operations of private cruise destinations in Grand Bahama, development of this cruise terminal seeks to provide berthing facilities for use by multiple cruise line operators making the destination regain competitiveness within the tourism market, strengthen regional and global connectivity and contribute to long-term economic diversification.” Detailing MSC’s plans, and those of its Freeport Cruise Terminal subsidiary, which is also an affiliate of the former’s CTL Maritime entity, the EIA added: “The terminal will contain

a retail, dining and entertainment district including, among other things, a store and cart area, a local vendors market, restaurants, bars, food stands.” Also present will be “theme park experiences including, among others, fountains, pools, zip lines, ride attractions; green spaces; a transportation hub including ground and water transportation (marina); restroom;, and back-ofhouse facilities”. “The planned commencement date for construction activities of the project is January 2027, under a phased implementation program with progressive openings,” the Billy Cay EIA said. “The first berth and the initial phase of upland development are expected to be completed by September 2027. Phase one is anticipated to be completed by mid-2028, with full completion of the project expected in 2029.” Almost one million cruise passengers arrived in Grand Bahama in 2025, due to Celebration Key’s opening, marking the highest number for 54 years - since 2025 - and Billy Cay stands to further boost this performance when it comes to fruition. The EIA said the project will create full-time posts in areas such as food and beverage; recreation and guest experience; facilities maintenance; retail and restaurant operations; artisans and vendors; port operations; safety and security; excursions, tours and ground transportation; and other off-site attractions.

NOTICE

Samorenito Management Ltd.

VERS Holdings Limited

Marswave Holdings LTD.

(Voluntary Liquidation)

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000, the above-named Company is in dissolution, which commenced on the 15th day of October, A.D., 2026. The Liquidator is Galnom Ltd., CUB Financial Center, Western Road, Nassau, Bahamas.

GALNOM LTD.

Liquidator

NOTICE

Marstide Holdings LTD.

Marsedge Holdings LTD.

Marsgate Holdings LTD.

(Voluntary Liquidation)

GALNOM LTD.

Liquidator

NOTICE

Berrymore Properties LTD.

Marsbeam Holdings LTD.

Marslink Holdings LTD.

(Voluntary Liquidation)

GALNOM LTD.

Liquidator

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, October 19, 2026, PAGE 9

Board ‘volte face’ a ‘startling change’ over rival’s evidence CHALLENGE - from page B1 when it reversed a previous decision by deciding that six “expert” reports commissioned by the Rosewood Exuma challenger could no longer be used as evidence in the appeal. Turtlegrass is asserting that decision, signed by Dr Roosevelt Whyms, the Board’s deputy chairman, was “procedurally defective” as its own rules mandate that it be signed by at least two other members. It is alleging that a second version, signed by all five Board members to ensure compliance, only emerged two months later on September 16, 2026, which it branded “extremely odd”. The developer, headed by Exuma resident and US investor, Bob Coughlin, is arguing that - besides “the startling change in position” over the admission of its evidence - the Board also justified its changed stance on a flawed rationale. It asserted that the request to submit the six reports was late, as Turtlegrass already had “ample time” to bring them forward given that the preliminary site plan approval had been granted on March 25, 2025, more than a year prior. Its July 22, 2026, “volte face” thus argued that allowing the reports to be submitted 14 months later would be “unfair” to Miamibased Yntegra Group, Rosewood Exuma’s developer. However, Turtlegrass is countering that there was no undue delay in submitting its fresh evidence. It alleges that the six reports are based new information about its $200m rival that has only recently been disclosed, with Rosewood Exuma’s configuration - and location of key assets having changed significantly during that time. And it is also claiming that Rayson Deleveaux, who was identified as a representative “of the Office of the Attorney General”, had “sat and retired with the Board” during its preliminary June 2026 hearings only to then appear as an attorney acting for the Director of Physical Planning in a related Supreme Court case - something Turtlegrass alleges creates the appearance of a “conflict of interest”. It is also claiming that the Board agreed to the Director of Physical Planning having a “substantive role” in the appeal on September 16, 2026 - the morning of the actual hearing - which could have resulted in a legal “ambush” through not knowing the case the other side would present. Turtlegrass appears to have entered uncharted legal territory with its move, as the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board said it now has to work out the procedure by which the application over alleged “bias” and unfairness, and demands for a fresh hearing before a different panel, can be heard and determined. However, the Board confirmed the move has succeeded in delaying its ruling on the “substantive” challenge by Turtlegrass and its holding entity, Sampson Cay Retreat Ltd, to Rosewood Exuma’s preliminary site plan approval. Yet it also rejected Turtlegrass’s demand that all proceedings be “stayed”, or halted, until

the recusal application is determined. “The Board acknowledges receipt of the appellant’s application dated October 8, 2026, seeking the recusal of the members of the panel hearing this appeal and a rehearing of the appeal before a differently constituted panel,” the Board said in an October 13 letter. “The Board is considering the procedure by which the application will be determined, including the appellant’s request that it be determined by a differently constituted panel. The Board will issue directions on the applicable procedure no later than 21 days, being November 3, 2026. “Those directions will address the constitution of the panel that will determine the application, whether the application will be determined at a hearing, and the time for filing any submissions in response to it. Any party wishing to make written representations on procedure only, and not on the merits, may do so by October 27, 2026.” The Board, though, said it will not halt or pause the existing timetable for both Turtlegrass, Yntegra and the Director of Physical Planning to make final written submissions and arguments over the substantive site plan approval battle. “The Board has considered the appellant’s request for a stay of all further steps,” it added. “That request is refused. The timetable agreed by the parties and directed by the Board on October 1, 2026, remains in place. Maintaining that timetable will preserve the orderly and timely progress of the proceedings in the interests of all parties. “The filing of closing submissions will be without prejudice to the recusal application. No decision on the substantive appeal will be made until that application has been determined. The Board will give further directions on the conduct of the appeal after the application has been determined.” A spokesman for Yntegra Group, the Rosewood Exuma developer, declined to comment on Turtlegrass’s latest legal manoeuvre when contacted by Tribune Business. However, one source familiar with the developer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it likely views its arch rival’s action as the legal equivalent of a “Hail Mary” with little chance of succeeding. They added that the bid for a fresh Subdivision and Development Appeal Board hearing was just another step in Turtlegrass’s tactics to bog Rosewood Exuma’s progress down in time-consuming, costly litigation in the hope that financiers and the resort brand might abandon the project and/or the delays would force Yntegra to bow to its demands. “It’s unfortunate but not unusual,” the source said of Turtlegrass’s latest legal action. “It’s designed to frustrate and delay, and frustrate and delay, and keep the ball rolling as long as they can. The only people who will lose out on this will be local Exumians and Bahamians if this project doesn’t start up.” The location of Rosewood Exuma’s service dock, and potential impacts this and shipping may have on the environment and sea life in East Sampson Cay’s North Bay, are at the crux of the

dispute between the two developers. Turtlegrass and Mr Coughlin are calling for the service dock to be relocated southwards so it will not disrupt their guests’ enjoyment of North Bay. Turtlegrass, in its bid to secure a fresh site plan appeal hearing, said the Board had, at a May 11, 2026, preliminary hearing directed that its “experts’” reports be “filed and served” as evidence, with Yntegra given the opportunity to object to their content. These were filed and served on June 23 this year. The Board then set down June 30 as the date on which Yntegra could voice its objections to the reports and their content, Turtlegrass alleged. The Rosewood Exuma developer, one day before that hearing, challenged admitting the reports “outside of the formal record of appeal” and argued that they had emerged “too late” to be relied upon. Turtlegrass, though, alleged that the Board decided at the June 30 hearing to allow it to submit the extra evidence, but “reserved the question” over whether it would rely upon and consider it in deciding the appeal. Yntegra was also given time to decide if it needed to bring extra evidence. However, that June 30 decision was subsequently overturned and reversed barely three weeks’ later. “On 22 July, 2026, the deputy chairman [Dr Whyms] of the Board issued a letter purporting to indicate that the Board had ‘determined that no additional reports at this stage of the hearing will be allowed’,” Turtlegrass alleged. “Being a written determination of the Board, this was required to be ‘signed by the chairman and two other members of the Board’ (Rule 16(5) of the Appeal Board Rules). The purported determination, however, was signed only by the deputy chairman and was, therefore, procedurally defective. “Moreover, the purported determination infringed the Appellant’s rights to an independent and impartial tribunal and a fair hearing,” Turtlegrass alleged. “The expert reports are obviously relevant to the appeal. Indeed, they are a central part of the Appellant’s case. “Accordingly, their exclusion denied the appellant the opportunity and ability to advance its case before the Board; as the Board implicitly accepted given its determinations at the preliminary hearing and the June hearing. Despite amounting to an extraordinary volte face on the part of the Board, the determination does not even mention – let alone attempt to engage with - the Board’s earlier decisions.” Turtlegrass argued that this was unfair because the Appeal Board gave no real explanation for why it reversed its decision, and nor was it given a chance to respond and challenge the move. And it disputed the rationale advanced by the Board - that it was late in submitting the reports given the 14 months that had elapsed since Rosewood Exuma’s initial site plan approval. “While the Board is cognisant that both applications before the Town Planning

Committee relate to the same site, it is satisfied that the appellant has had more than ample opportunity to have submit any additional reports while the matter was before the Town Planning Committee,” the Appeal Board wrote. “In this particular appeal, having regard to the period between the initial application submitted to the Department of Physical Planning and the subsequent application, the Board is of the view that permitting the introduction of additional reports at this stage may be unfair to the respondents [Yntegra]. “Accordingly, the Board has determined that no additional reports at this stage of the hearing will be allowed.” However, Turtlegrass is arguing that much changed between its first appeal challenge to Rosewood Exuma’s initial site plan approval, which halted after the developer withdrew its application, and the second and current appeal, due to revisions to the project. Asserting that its “expert” reports were responding to these changes, and thus were not late, Turtlegrass alleged it had moved “very quickly”. It added: “The first appeal concerned a separate, earlier grant of approval concerning a substantially different version of the proposed development. “In particular, the earlier master plan depicted the service dock within the North Bay inlet, whereas the master plan for the current application depicted it at the eastern point of North Bay. The location

and configuration of those marine works were material to the environmental issues requiring expert assessment. “The first appeal could not therefore be treated as having afforded an equivalent opportunity to obtain and present expert evidence concerning the proposal before the Board.” Turtlegrass added that environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and environmental management plans (EMPs) have since emerged, along with certificates of environmental clearance (CEC) and infrastructure drawings. Turtlegrass is also railing against the Appeal Board’s decision, taken on the morning of the substantive September 16, 2026, hearing to permit the Director of Physical Planning’s request submitted exactly one week before - that it be allowed to have an active role in the appeal even though the Rosewood Exuma developer knew nothing about the case it planned to bring. While this was resolved by the Director of Physical Planning supplying its written submission, Turtlegrass then alleged: “The appellant subsequently identified that Rayson Deleveaux, who had sat and retired with the Board at the June hearing, and who had been introduced to the parties as being present as a representative ‘of the Office of the Attorney General’, was acting as an attorney to the first respondent [Director of Physical Planning]” in separate Supreme Court proceedings involving Rosewood Exuma.

“Those instructions give rise to a patent conflict of interest and, consequently, amounted to the first respondent having had a representative present during, and privy to – and perhaps advising upon – the Board’s deliberations and decisions,” Turtlegrass alleged. It is also objecting to comments made by Dr Whyms during the hearing which it claims favoured Rosewood Exuma, particularly where, during the evidence of Jeffery Clarke, Turtlegrass’s chief financial officer, where he said: “We do appreciate your contribution, sir... “The Bahamas is a beautiful place and it’s our endeavour effort, each and every one of us here, to do the best we can to keep it. None of us want to come and do anything to bring destruction, not to our home land. We don’t want that, but at the same token, you know, I have a house. “I have somewhere to live, all of us here have a house, and we have somewhere to live, but at the same token, we have children coming and grandchildren, and they are going to need a house, and they are going to need the opportunity to be able to afford themselves a house,” he added. “We are, because some of our pockets are full now, then we should not prohibit the opportunity where they cannot make a living and have a house in this same Bahamas. That will be unfair to our people.”

NOTICE

International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000) Weymouth Incorporated

International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000) Basalt PTC Ltd.

International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000

Registration No. IBC 208556 (B)

Registration No. IBC 176748 (B)

Pursuant to the provision of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000 notice is hereby given that Weymouth Incorporated has been dissolved and struck off the Register of Companies with effect from the19th day of August, 2026

Pursuant to the provision of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000 notice is hereby given that Basalt PTC Ltd. has been dissolved and struck off the Register of Companies with effect from the 10th day of September, 2026

Pursuant to the provision of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000 notice is hereby given that Granite Advisors Ltd. has been dissolved and struck off the Register of Companies with effect from the 10th day of September, 2026

GALNOM LTD. Liquidator

Granite Advisors Ltd. Registration No. IBC 201123 (B)

PAGE 10, Monday, October 19, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

Small business chief: Union demands will ‘kill us to pieces’ INCREASE - from page B1 Mr Ferguson also renewed his and the TUC’s demand for the minimum wage to be raised to $350 per week, representing a $90 or 34.6 percent jump compared to the present $260, which was implemented less than four years ago on January 1, 2023. He added that any increase would further boost consumption and aggregate demand through greater consumer spending. However, Mark A Turnquest, founder of the 242 Small Business Association and Resource Centre, and a well-known consultant to the sector, warned the Government against listening solely to the trade unions on the minimum wage issue as “they will kill us to pieces” if their proposals are not checked. He argued that such an increase, which will raise the cost of hiring and employment costs in industries where the minimum entrylevel wage is prevalent, such as hotels, gas stations, restaurants and retail, should

OBIE FERGUSON KC

MARK A TURNQUEST

not be imposed before January 1, 2028 - and only after long and thorough consultation covering “from Abaco in the north to Inagua in the south”. Describing small businesses as the true “grassroots”, responsible for driving job creation and the wider Bahamian economy, he added that any minimum wage hike also represents a “double whammy” for those employers impacted by raising National Insurance Board (NIB) contributions for those receiving such pay.

Both men spoke out after Pia Glover-Rolle, minister of labour, public service and National Insurance, told last week’s Exuma Business Outlook that a minimum wage increase is “highly likely in the near future” and that the issue is already being studied by the National Tripartite Council. She added that a “wage-setting Council” may also be created to handle the issue moving forward. Mr Ferguson, while backing Mrs Glover-Rolle’s pledge, also urged the Government to translate

NOTICE

BNG Management International Ltd. In Voluntary Liquidation

promises into action. He noted past criticism of himself and the TUC by the same minister when they called for the increase to $350 soon after the present $260 was implemented. “I support the fact that the minister made the statement. In the TUC, we have been asking for that for years,” Mr Ferguson said. “We are certainly looking for it to be done urgently because that has been a TUC platform. We have been criticised for saying it despite it being in the best interests of the country and the Bahamian people. “Now the minister has seen fit to join us, which we welcome, but it needs to be done ASAP; very soon. They could put it on the next agenda for the House of Assembly. But when we asked them previously, they didn’t want to look at it. They thought our request was unreasonable. “What we asked them for was the minimum wage at $350. That was a figure we thought was reasonable. Finally, a minister in

NOTICE

BLUE PIGEON LIMITED In Voluntary Liquidation

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, BNG Management International Ltd. is in dissolution as of September 29, 2026

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, BLUE PIGEON LIMITED is in dissolution as of October 8, 2026

International Liquidator Services Ltd. situated at 3rd Floor Whitfield Tower, 4792 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator.

LIQUIDATOR

government has seen fit to recognise and acknowledge the position of the TUC.” Mr Ferguson also noted that Barbara Cartwright, the minister responsible for social services, last week said it is estimated that 12.5 percent of Bahamians are living below what is officially considered the poverty line. “Yes, we think $350 is reasonable,” the TUC president reiterated. “That’s going to be our position. We are going to be pushing for that because the Bahamian cannot live; the average Bahamian with a family of two, three or even four cannot live on $260 a week. It’s just not humanly possible. “Look at gasoline alone, and imagine that you have to take the children to school in the morning, pick them up, go to work. The gasoline bill is going to be near $100 a week. If the minimum wage is $260 a week, how could they live on that?… The citizens, the working people of the country, they are the ones that keep the economy going. If you give them an increase, that goes back into the cash registers.” Mr Ferguson, though, signalled that “we cannot get too excited” and is waiting on whether the Government will turn rhetoric into reality by action. “Making a commitment is good, but where’s the follow through to it?’ he challenged. Mr Turnquest, though, countered on the minimum wage: “There has to ber consultation throughout the country with Town Meetings to determine what small businesses can bear in relation to a minimum wage increase. There has to be

Town Meetings from Abaco in the north to Inagua in the south on how any hike in the minimum wage is going to affect all small businesses. “They have to determine how much the minimum wage is going to be, and there has to be agreement with small businesses. You cannot listen to the unions; they will kill us to pieces. The grassroots is the small business; the small businessman making $50.000 to $70,000. You have to talk to them. They are the ones driving the country, hiring the majority of people.” As for when a minimum wage hike should be implemented, Mr Turnquest argued that 2027 should be spent on consultation and reaching agreement on an increase to take effect from New Year’s Day 2028. He warned against sudden execution, or doing so in the middle of a year, as the latter would impact business planning. “You cannot burst through in the middle of the year, raising the minimum wage or NIB, as everyone has planned for the year,” he cautioned. “I’m concerned that the Government doesn’t act emotionally and not put an extra burden on small businesses. Who’s going to absorb all those students coming out to look for work? “The Government has got to put some skin in the game and have a strategy to reduce inflation. Do everything in one go. Don’t do things piecemeal. At the end of the day, small businesses drive the country.”

NOTICE LITTLE LONDON CAPITAL LTD. Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Registration number 206741 B (In Voluntary Liquidation) Notice is hereby given that the above-named Company is in dissolution, commencing on the 15th day of October A.D. 2026. Articles of Dissolution have been duly registered by the Registrar. The Liquidator is MR. GUSTAVO JUNJI CINAGAVA. Address Rua Jorge Velho 150 AP 805, Londrina, Parana, CEP: 86010-600, Brazil. Any Persons having a Claim against the above-named Company are required on or before the 14th day of November A.D. 2026 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 benefit of any distribution made before such claim is proved. Dated this 15th day of October A.D. 2026.

GUSTAVO JUNJI CINAGAVA LIQUIDATOR

NOTICE VERS Properties Ltd. (Voluntary Liquidation)

NOTICE Nautical Industries Limited (Voluntary Liquidation) Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000, the above-named Company is in dissolution, which commenced on the 15th day of October, A.D., 2026. The Liquidator is Galnom Ltd., CUB Financial Center, Western Road, Nassau, Bahamas. GALNOM LTD. Liquidator

THE TRIBUNE

Monday, October 19, 2026, PAGE 11

Over quarter of workforce lacks formal qualifications BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net MORE than one-quarter of The Bahamas' workforce has no formal qualifications, highlighting a skills gap the Government is seeking to address as it pushes to move workers beyond entry level employment and into higher-quality jobs. Pia Glover-Rolle, minister of labour and National Insurance, told Parliament last week that 27 per cent of the labour force has no formal qualifications, with that proportion rising to 34 per cent among men, as she outlined the need for greater investment in training, upskilling and apprenticeships.

She said the challenge extends beyond getting Bahamians into employment, with the Government seeking to ensure workers have the qualifications and skills needed to advance their careers. “Getting a job is just the start. Our task is to empower people to build careers through training and upskilling and apprenticeships and certifications,” said Mrs Glover-Rolle. The comments came as the latest Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI) labour force survey showed that under-employment increased by 11 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, rising by 2,890 to 29,085 people.

Under-employment includes people who already have jobs but whose work does not provide their desired level of compensation or working hours, or make sufficient use of their skills and experience. Mrs Glover-Rolle said the Government was responding through several programmes designed to help Bahamians gain qualifications and access better employment opportunities. These include Upskill and DigiLearn, which allow participants to develop skills remotely, and the National Apprenticeship Programme, which enables young Bahamians to earn while training for new careers. Mrs Glover-Rolle also highlighted the Public

competitions.She also pointed to the recently-launched Young Innovators Club as a potential pathway towards that participation. The labour force survey also recorded a 19.2 per cent decline in discouraged workers, falling by 505 to 2,135. These are people who are available for work but have stopped actively looking because they believe they are unlikely to find jobs. Mrs Glover-Rolle said the decline suggested more people who had given up searching for work were returning to the labour market. “Discouraged workers fell by 19.2 per cent. These are people who wanted a job but had stopped looking. They no longer believed a job was out there for them,” she said. Mrs Glover-Rolle added that employment gains were being recorded across several industries, including hotels and restaurants, quarrying, electricity, gas and water, and wholesale and retail.

Service Professional Engagement Programme, which provides a year of employment in the public service and the opportunity to become a permanent worker. The programme includes a 10 per cent placement quota for people with disabilities. She said the Government is also preparing young people for emerging occupations, following a recent visit to the WorldSkills Conference in Shanghai with representatives from the National Training Agency and the National Apprenticeship Programme. The Bahamas is seeking associate membership of WorldSkills, she said, which will allow young Bahamians to participate in international skills

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-DAY FORECAST

TODAY

TONIGHT

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

BNSI's figures showed that hotel and restaurant employment increased by 2,020 to 43,765 in the first quarter, while employment in mining, quarrying, electricity, gas and water rose by 1,365 to 5,130. The survey also showed that the national unemployment rate fell to 8.1 per cent from 8.7 per cent in the previous quarter, with the number of unemployed people declining by 1,225 to 20,240. Youth unemployment also fell from 18.2 per cent to 14.2 per cent during the quarter. While welcoming the improvements, Mrs Glover-Rolle said the Government remained focused on ensuring that workers could progress beyond securing their first job. “We want Bahamian youth to be competitive for jobs at home and around the world today and in the future, and we want the skills they build now to become the foundation for life-long careers,” she said.

™

Superior Accuracy for Better Decisions Visit AccuWeather.com

UV INDEX TODAY

FRIDAY

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+ LOW

ORLANDO

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 62° F/17° C

TAMPA

A couple of showers and a t-storm

Mostly cloudy with a t-storm or two

Breezy in the morning; some sun

Showers around; breezy in the a.m.

Mostly cloudy, a couple of t-storms

Some sun with a couple of t-storms

High: 84°

Low: 76°

High: 85° Low: 76°

High: 87° Low: 73°

High: 86° Low: 75°

High: 82° Low: 75°

AccuWeather RealFeel

90° F

77° F

90°-76° F

93°-76° F

92°-78° F

90°-75° F

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 62° F/17° C

ABACO

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 73° F/23° C

12-25 knots

WEST PALM BEACH High: 86° F/30° C Low: 71° F/22° C

8-16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

FREEPORT

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 72° F/22° C

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 73° F/23° C

MIAMI

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 74° F/23° C

12-25 knots

The higher the AccuWeather UV Index number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. Shown is the highest value of the day.

TIDES FOR NASSAU Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

2:37 a.m. 3:05 p.m.

2.3 2.7

8:39 a.m. 9:41 p.m.

1.3 1.3

ALMANAC

Tuesday

3:38 a.m. 4:00 p.m.

2.4 2.8

9:41 a.m. 1.3 10:30 p.m. 1.1

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 82° F/28° C Low .................................................... 77° F/25° C Normal high ....................................... 85° F/29° C Normal low ........................................ 73° F/23° C Last year’s high .................................. 84° F/29° C Last year’s low ................................... 74° F/23° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.04” Year to date ................................................ 25.49” Normal year to date ................................... 32.52”

Wednesday 4:32 a.m. 4:51 p.m.

2.6 2.8

10:40 a.m. 1.1 11:14 p.m. 0.9

Thursday

5:21 a.m. 5:37 p.m.

2.8 2.9

11:33 a.m. 0.9 11:55 p.m. 0.6

Friday

6:06 a.m. 6:22 p.m.

3.0 3.0

12:23 p.m. 0.6 ---------

Saturday

6:49 a.m. 7:05 p.m.

3.3 3.0

12:35 a.m. 0.3 1:10 p.m. 0.4

Sunday

7:33 a.m. 7:49 p.m.

3.5 3.0

1:16 a.m. 1:57 p.m.

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 77° F/25° C

10-20 knots

2:41 p.m. 12:52 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Oct. 25

Nov. 1

Nov. 9

Nov. 17

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 77° F/25° C

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

ANDROS

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 79° F/26° C

W S

LONG ISLAND

TRACKING MAP

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 78° F/26° C

7:10 a.m. Moonrise 6:39 p.m. Moonset

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

8-16 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Sunrise Sunset

CAT ISLAND

0.1 0.2

SUN AND MOON

KEY WEST

VERY HIGH EXT.

High

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 80° F/27° C

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 76° F/24° C

HIGH

The patented AccuWeather.com RealFeel Temperature® is the only index that includes all the weather factors that play a role in how we perceive temperature, including the effects of wind, humidity, sunshine, precipitation, pressure, and elevation. Shown are the highest and lowest values for each day.

MODERATE

8-16 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 86° F/30° C Low: 80° F/27° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C

7-14 knots

6-12 knots

MARINE FORECAST ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday: Today: Tuesday:

WINDS NE at 8-16 Knots NNE at 8-16 Knots NE at 10-20 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots E at 6-12 Knots E at 6-12 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NNE at 10-20 Knots NNE at 8-16 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots NE at 6-12 Knots E at 6-12 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots ENE at 6-12 Knots E at 6-12 Knots E at 4-8 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots ENE at 7-14 Knots NE at 8-16 Knots NE at 7-14 Knots

Tribune First Alert Weather

NASSAU WhatsApp Channel

WAVES 10-14 Feet 8-12 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 8-12 Feet 6-10 Feet 3-5 Feet 3-6 Feet 8-12 Feet 6-10 Feet 6-10 Feet 4-8 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 5-9 Feet 5-9 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 3-6 Feet 3-5 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 10 Miles 6 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 83° F 83° F 85° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 83° F 82° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F

“We got you covered under the radars”

PAGE 12, Monday, October 19, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

‘Everyone is crying’ but businesses must ‘survive’ COSTS - from page B1 we can do is help them where we can. We’re just hoping things change for the better soon, and we’ll all get some relief.” Besides the latest round of ocean freight increases, the Super Value chief said the supermarket chain is also facing the changed VAT treatment of uncooked food, which prevents it and other food stores from reclaiming the tax they pay on their inputs according to the percentage of their sales accounted for by such products. “It is costing us more because we have to expense a lot of it,” Ms Symonette explained of the changed VAT treatment. “They [the Government] are supposed to be looking to work with us and come up with a solution that can have a win-win. We haven’t quite got around to finalising that yet, and we are finding we are paying a significant amount more although I cannot give a dollar figure.” If uncooked food accounts for 50 percent of a company’s sales, that business cannot reclaim half or 50 percent of the VAT that it pays in inputs such as electricity and rental expenses. Apart from this, Ms Symonette said Super Value and other businesses are also contending with rising energy and lease costs, plus staff themselves “expecting a cost of living increase” in wages. “Any kind of change in the supply change eventually trickles down,” she added of shipping costs. “We will have to make some type of adjustment; maybe not right away, but eventually if it lingers on it’s going to affect us because we have the same operating costs. We are going to have to cover those costs, so we will have to make an adjustment in the prices.”

Asked about the timing of any rises, Ms Symonette replied: “We cannot say yet. It’s highly likely we won’t do it right away. We’ll see how it plays out and start to adjust accordingly if necessary. If it lingers on, and it seems likely to linger on.. this situation with the war, the gas prices, the oil, it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere now. Everything seems to be going up. “We won’t be able to control them, and have to survive and have to adjust to meet our expenses. It’s not only that [shipping costs] going up. We have other costs going up. We have to take that into consideration. There’s quite a few. Just paying for maintenance. You call someone and they say they have to put prices up because of the cost of gas for their vehicle. “Everyone is crying, everyone is making adjustments. We cannot get away from it. Everything is going up, up, up. It’s just becoming harder for people to live. We do our best to control certain costs but some things are out of our control.” The Bahamas, as an import-dependent nation that brings in virtually all it consumes from abroad, is especially vulnerable as a non-producing nation to importing inflation and other external shocks that then feed into its own economy. Ms Symonette said she does not believe The Bahamas has reached a cost of living tipping point yet, although the shipping costs jump “may put us a bit closer”. While unable to specify which goods and prices may be impacted, she added: “We understand the pressures that people are under. We are very conscious, and that’s why we offer any specials we can, pass on any rebates we get. “We try to offer different brands and offer different prices so that there is a selection and, if people

need it, there are cheaper brands. We do whatever we can. We feel the pressure too. We are individuals and shop, too. We know what they are facing.” Mark A Turnquest, founder of the 242 Small Business Association and Resource Centre, and a well-known consultant to the sector, told Tribune Business that his clients many of them clothing and electronics goods retailers - have informed him that the Tropical Shipping rate increases could not have come at a worse time with the Christmas shopping season imminent. Some merchants rely on Christmas to make up to 40 percent of their annual sales, and Mr Turnquest said many are now scrambling to try and bring in festive product orders before the November 8 ocean freight hikes. However, he added that the ‘Black Friday’ sales post-Thanksgiving may not be impacted as many retailers will likely have already imported inventory. “In preliminary discussions with my clients, they are concerned about the rise in prices to the customer because they have gone beyond trying to evaluate the impact of Tropical Shipping’s increases and the percentage upwards,” he told this newspaper. “ “They said there is going to be a price rise, and it’s coming at a bad time because what’s coming up in the next two months is Thanksgiving and Christmas. Some of them have put their orders in but have yet to receive their product. That’s what a lot of them are doing. They are fighting to keep their shipping costs down and not have them be a big burden after November 8. “But, because of lack of working capital and cash flow, they may have their shipments coming in one before the hike, one after the hike. The challenge

Opposition demands Gov’t justify GB Power refinance BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net ALL three Grand Bahama Opposition MPs have challenged the Government to justify its proposed $331.82m refinancing of debt linked to the Grand Bahama Power Company. The trio argued that Parliament has not been given the financial information needed to assess the acquisition or its long-term cost to taxpayers. Michael Pintard, the FNM leader, Central Grand Bahama MP, Frazette Gibson, and East Grand Bahama MP, Kwasi Thompson, all opposed last week’s resolution giving the Government permission to undertake the refinancing, questioning why the Government is seeking to move from guaranteeing debt by its Grand Bahama Energy Company (GBEC) acquisition vehicle to taking on the debt directly as sovereign borrowing. Mr Pintard said the Government had failed to provide a comprehensive business case for the transaction, including the financial due diligence and valuation supporting its purchase of GB Power. “If the Government did not know, as they would have us believe about this debt, then they are incompetent. If they knew and did not disclose, they are deceitful,” he argued. The resolution seeks authority to borrow or refinance $331.82m in obligations associated with the acquisition, including $200m in borrowing for the purchase of GB Power’s ordinary shares, and $131.82m in legacy company debt. The original financing arrangements presented to Parliament in March involved $280m in Government-guaranteed borrowing through the Grand Bahama Energy Company, comprising the $200m acquisition financing and a separate $80m facility for capital

expenditure and working capital. The Opposition MPs questioned why the legacy GB Power debvt liabilities were not fully explained when the original resolutions were presented, and why the Government was now seeking to assume the borrowing directly. Mr Thompson said Parliament had still not been given the company’s valuation or sufficient details about the liabilities being assumed, despite the Government returning just months after the acquisition to seek approval for the new financing arrangement. He said the Government must explain what changed between the original approval and the current resolution, including whether the existing debt was known before the acquisition and whether refinancing had always been intended. “If this was the plan, why you didn't tell us that to begin with?” he asked. Mr Thompson also questioned whether the Government has completed the risk assessment required under its framework for guarantees, arguing that proper scrutiny of the original arrangement could have identified whether a different financing structure would have been more appropriate. The Government has defended the refinancing as a means of replacing commercial borrowing with longer-term financing and reducing annual debt servicing costs. However, Mr Thompson said those anticipated savings should be supported by documents showing the existing and proposed interest rates, repayment terms and total cost over the life of the new debt. Ms Gibson said refinancing did not eliminate the underlying debt or, by itself, demonstrate that the original acquisition was financially justified. “A cheaper loan can improve the financing of a transaction, but it cannot by itself justify the transaction,” she said.

She called for the Government to disclose the independent valuation and due diligence supporting the purchase, alongside financial projections showing how GB Power will cover its operating expenses, capital investment and debt repayments while providing electricity at lower rates. Ms Gibson also questioned whether the reduced electricity rates will be supported by genuine operating savings, a government subsidy or additional borrowing, warning that costs could ultimately be shifted from customers’ bills to the national debt.

is that, for Thanksgiving, costs may not go up, but for Christmas, costs may go up. The Christmas shipments are going to get the hit,” Mr Turnquest added. “They will have to determine what the increase in prices for Christmas are. They have indicated they will remain the same for the Thanksgiving period, but that is half as big as Christmas… The timing is very bad. You’re looking at up to 50 percent and over for annual sales for some at Christmas. “Between Thanksgiving and Christmas will be big. A lot of people will be shopping like crazy and then, for the rest of the year, retailers just float. You have seasonal things like Valentine’s, Easter and Back to School but the bulk is Christmas.” Other businesses are equally concerned. Patricia Cleare, speaking on behalf of family-owned vegetarian restaurant Better Living, said she expects shipping-related increases to affect businesses across the board, including those importing frozen, refrigerated and dry goods. She added Tropical Shipping is one of only few shipping providers she knows that transports frozen and refrigerated products, making its pricing particularly important to her restaurant’s operations. Ms Cleare said she believes the cost of dry goods is already rising and further increases are inevitable in an import-dependent economy. She also questioned whether shipping costs ever fall when oil and fuel prices decline. “The only problem I have is when all these increases go up… when the price of oil drops, the problem I have is the price don’t drop for the cost of shipping,” she said. “Once they go there, they don’t ever come down.” Ms Cleare said she has not yet increased prices at Better Living, preferring

to absorb additional costs where possible rather than immediately passing them on to customers. She said she has noticed some changes in freight costs but is trying to maintain existing prices until higher expenses make adjustments unavoidable. “You try as much as possible to hang on and not increase right away because you don’t want to just do that so sudden,” Ms Cleare said. “You want people to be a little bit more settled with what’s going on.” Her restaurant will review the cost of new shipments before setting prices, while existing products will retain their current prices as long as the business can maintain acceptable margins, she said. However, Ms Cleare warned that new products could become more expensive if freight charges rise to levels the restaurant cannot absorb without compromising its ability to offer reasonable charges. She said the business faces additional supply challenges because many of its vegetarian products and supplements are imported, requiring careful sourcing to ensure ingredients meet its requirements. Ms Cleare said some suppliers in the US are experiencing difficulties obtaining certain products, forcing her to look to alternative markets where goods may cost more. “I’ve already had a supplier who already told me that they’re having problems getting in certain things,” she said. “So we have to seek these products elsewhere, other than the United States, and sometimes it costs a little more.” Those sourcing difficulties could compound the effect of higher shipping charges, she added, as businesses may have to travel further along the supply chain to secure the products they need.

Meanwhile, Virley McKinney, project manager and lead engineer at Asphalt Maintenance Paving & Testing Company, said higher freight costs will add to the expenses already facing businesses from rising fuel and building material prices. “That’s expected,” he said. “As a business, we had to increase some fees because of, for example, the increase in building materials as well as fuel. So, at some point, you expect the domino effect.” The company imports equipment and materials, and has already raised some of its prices in response to broader cost increases, he said. Mr McKinney said the company will assess whether its existing price adjustments are sufficient to cover any further increases from Tropical Shipping, or whether additional changes would be necessary. “Ultimately our customers will experience a slight increase,” he said. He added that the company has begun adjusting prices before receiving formal notification from Tropical Shipping, as it sought to account for rising expenses rather than wait for further increases to take effect. Mr McKinney said his firm does not currently intend to switch shipping providers because of its existing relationship with Tropical Shipping, citing reliability in delivery, procurement and availability. Instead, it will determine how much of any additional expense can be passed on to customers and how much the business can absorb. “Some expenses would be passed on to the customer while we’ll probably absorb majority of them,” he said. The extent of any further price adjustments will depend on how the freight increases compare with the changes the company has already implemented, Mr McKinney said.

“One cannot make the cost of electricity disappear simply by moving it from the customer's bill to the national debt,” she said. The MPs also raised questions about the separate $80m facility approved for working capital, including how much had been drawn down, what it had financed and whether it remained a separate obligation. Mr Pintard said Parliament needed a reconciliation of the full cost of the transaction, including existing liabilities, accrued interest, fees and the status of the separate facility. He also questioned why the proposed refinancing had not been clearly identified in the Government’s annual borrowing plan for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The Opposition leader said the Government should

table the full financial due diligence report, a list of liabilities identified before the purchase, the terms of the existing and proposed borrowing, projected interest savings and the total exposure facing taxpayers. Mr Thompson further argued that GB Power’s financial statements and corporate intent statement should be made public following the Government’s acquisition, stressing the information was necessary for Parliament and the public to assess the company’s financial position and the risks to the public purse. He also called for the Government to explain its longer-term ownership plans for the utility, including whether it will retain the company permanently or eventually sell shares to private investors.

Mr Thompson proposed reserving a portion of GB Power for Bahamian ownership through a public share offering or professionally managed investment trust, with smaller investments to allow ordinary Bahamians to participate. The three MPs said they supported lower electricity costs and more reliable power for Grand Bahama, but argued that the Government had not provided sufficient evidence to justify the financial commitments associated with the acquisition. They said the Government should demonstrate how GB Power will sustain lower electricity rates, maintain its infrastructure and service its debt without creating a continuing burden for taxpayers throughout The Bahamas.

its latest 2022 annual report, warned its $1.1bn reserve fund is in “jeopardy of being depleted by the year 2028” without major reforms. That date is now just two years away. NIB’s latest reform efforts come as the Government also considers a further increase in the $260 weekly minimum wage, with Mrs Glover-Rolle indicating that an adjustment could occur in the near future. The National Tripartite Council is reviewing the minimum wage and

considering the establishment of a dedicated wage-setting council to recommend future increases based on factors including productivity and skills. Any further wage increase could raise employment costs for businesses, particularly those in sectors such as the hotels, food stores and gas stations, as employers continue to contend with higher operating expenses.

Chamber urges no extra taxes put on business AGREE - from page B4 holdings to generate additional revenue. This is despite the top recommendation in NIB’s last 11th actuarial report, which called for a 2 percent contribution rate increase to be implemented every two years between 2022 and 2036 to “restore the short

and medium-term financial sustainability of the scheme”. The first Davis administration raised the overall contribution rate by 1.5 percentage points, split equally between employer and employee, from 9.8 percent to 11.3 percent on July 1, 2026. Yet there have been no further hikes since then even though NIB itself, in