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Wednesday, OctOber 21, 2026
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‘Crazy reality’ leaves many business people mulling exit BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net ELEUTHERA’S Chamber of Commerce president is warning that “a lot of people are deciding if they will stay in business” because ever-increasing costs, taxation and regulations mean it “doesn’t make sense any more”. Thomas Sands, speaking in the wake of Tropical Shipping’s move to increase freight rates to The Bahamas from the US and Canada by largely 11.1 percent across the board, said the impact from such hikes is worsened for Family Islands like Eleuthera because of the additional
distance and time involved in shipping goods to them. With this set to provoke “increased costs across the board”, and gas prices on Eleuthera now over $8 per gallon, he told Tribune Business that the island’s businesses - and others outside Nassau - face a “crazy reality” where all costs are surging and margins are insufficient to absorb them. As a result, Mr Sands said he is hearing from many in the business and entrepreneurial community that they have reached “a point where they just can’t make it” and are now considering the future of their enterprises and whether they will remain open. The Eleuthera Chamber chief added that, unlike
Dealer: Gov’t fuel taxes 25% of per gallon price Dismisses Miller’s call for margin cut BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net A VETERAN Bahamian gas station operator yesterday renewed calls for the Government to reduce fuel taxes, equal to one-quarter of the per gallon price, to LESLIE MILLER ease pressure on consumers and businesses rather than cut retail or wholesale margins. Bernard “Porky” Dorsett, owner of Porky’s Rubis Service Station, said the Government needed to act rather than simply continuing to talk of possible relief measures as businesses struggle with higher fuel costs, Business Licence fees and other expenses. He argued that reducing fuel taxes, including VAT, is a better way to bring down pump prices than expecting the petroleum industry and other businesses to absorb mounting costs. Mr Dorsett added that rising fuel and non-fuel prices are driving up operating costs that he and other retailers are increasingly struggling to absorb on fixed gasoline and diesel margins. “Most countries all over the world have removed the fuel tax. Remove the VAT of the gas, remove the taxes of the fuel,” he argued. Mr Dorsett pointed to Barbados as an example of a Caribbean country that has offered fuel tax relief, arguing that The Bahamas should not wait until businesses are in serious difficulty before taking action. “We have to wait till we bury business people in this country, and then they talk, but bring relief?” said Mr Dorsett. “You wait till the bottom fall out, and then you bring in relief.” His comments come as the Government considers ways to ease fuel price pressures, with Keishla Adderley, the Prime Minister’s press secretary, saying last week that the Ministry of Finance had been meeting periodically to examine possible relief for consumers. “I can tell you that the Ministry of Finance has been meeting periodically to take a look at what can be done to see what type of reprieve can be offered to consumers,” said Ms Adderley. “There are no definitive announcements or decisions on that yet, but that’s something that they’ve been looking at for a long time.” Mr Dorsett also responded to former Cabinet minister Leslie Miller’s proposal that fuel margins for wholesalers and retailers be reduced until gasoline
FUELLING - See Page B4
‘Lot of people deciding whether to stay in business’ Eleuthera Chamber chief cites cost, taxes regulation Consumers to ‘feel the pinch’ of rising shipping prices their New Providence counterparts, Family Island businesses lack the same access to resources for quick repairs and maintenance, forcing them to maintain back-up inventories and systems that further add to their expense base. And, in the case of shipping, costs are already
higher than in the capital because of goods having to undergo an extra journey through being transported to Nassau first, then moved on to their Family Island destination. Tropical Shipping is among the main ocean freight providers to The Bahamas on routes from
Florida, other US and Canadian ports, and it is set to increase its bunker surcharge with effect from November 8, 2026, to compensate for higher global fuel and oil prices. It is poised 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, but Mr Sands and others say it is far from the only shipping company having made or planning such a move. “I think the domestic rates have increased. The rates into Nassau and the domestic rates have increased,” Mr Sands told this newspaper. “The end
Church battles for $300k from estate of medical supply company founder Judge ‘defers’ ordering payment for full accounting
BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A NEW Providence church’s demand that it be paid a $300,000 gift from the estate of a medical equipment supplier’s late founder has been “deferred” by the Supreme Court for a full accounting to be performed. Justice Hope Strachan yesterday declared that New Providence Community Church, located on Blake Road, was a “valid” beneficiary of the will of Mary Carolyn Papai, founder and former president of Ports International, amid its battle with her estate’s two executors. However, she held off granting the church’s demand “for an immediate unconditional Order” that the entire $300,000 be paid to it to give the executors, Charles Mackay, attorney and principal of the Mackay & Moxey law firm, and Ronald Harcourt Knowles, 45 days to reconcile and complete a full accounting of the estate’s assets and inventory. New Providence Community Church launched
TRANSPORT - See Page B4
‘Ducks in a row’: Bearer shares to be fully banned BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
Providence Community Church, countered that the deceased had left no personal bank accounts or assets from which to make the $300,000 payment. They added that Ports International could not make the payment because it was a separate legal entity over which they had no control.’ The executor duo also argued that they were not permitted to use other estate assets to “meet the unpaid legacy”. However, Justice Strachan identified that, while the estate’s probate declaration recorded bank deposits as being ‘zero’, it then referenced cash held at Scotiabank and Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), plus other assets, worth a collective $96,007.
VERDICT - See Page B5
ELIMINATE - See Page B4
Executors right Ports International could not pay gift
BPL changes ‘grid code’ amid solar disrupt study BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Power & Light (BPL) has changed “parts of our grid code”, its executive chairman said yesterday, and is studying how utility-scale solar systems respond to grid disturbances in a bid to prevent them from destabilising the system. Christina Alston told a panel discussion at the regional CARILEC energy conference that BPL has changed elements in its grid code following the April 2025 blackout that impacted Spain and parts of neighbouring regions, with the utility examining how solar installations respond to disturbances on the transmission and distributionn(T&D) network.
result is increased costs across the board. Gasoline is well over $8 per gallon now. It’s crazy but that’s the reality. What can I say? It’s real. It is real. “We have no other choice. Everybody has no choice,” he added of increased consumer prices. “I don’t know what to say. The reality is, across the board, all costs are increasing. This thing with the adjustment in how we treat VAT after the removal of the 5 percent [on uncooked food items], that’s a pass-on to expenses. There’s just no other way to explain it to the customers.
THE BAHAMAS should have had its “ducks in a row” long before today’s House of Assembly debate on last-minute revisions to anti-financial crime defences now being inspected by international standard-setters, an Opposition MP is ADRIAN WHITE arguing. Adrian White, the St Anne’s MP, yesterday confirming to Tribune Business that the Government had informed him MPs will debate changes to the Companies Act, voiced surprise that this had not been picked up and amendments made earlier with Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) examiners already present in Nassau for their two-week inspection. The Companies Act (Amendment) Bill 2026 is designed to bring The Bahamas into line with the standards and recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the CFATF’s parent and the global standard-setter on combating money laundering and other financial crimes, by prohibiting domestic companies from being able to issue bearer shares or bearer warrants. The Bill, when passed, will also bring the Companies Act into alignment with the International Business Companies (IBCs) Act, which was overhauled more than 25 years ago in 2000 to ban bearer shares in the financial services industry’s international sector after The Bahamas was ‘blacklisted’ for the first time by the FATF.
New Providence Community Church ‘valid’ beneficiary
its Supreme Court claim almost four years ago on October 26, 2022, asserting that it was due the $300,000 gift as a named beneficiary in the last will and testament of Ms Papai, who passed away on October 21, 2014. It alleged that, despite making “several requests” for payment of the gift, the executors had rejected its demands via two letters issued on August 10, 2020, and December 3, 2021. Subsequently, in addition to the payment demand, the church also called on the Supreme Court as an “alternative”, and “if necessary”, to place Ms Papai’s estate in administration and remove the executors. However, Mr Knowles and Mr Mackay, while admitting that Ms Papai’s will “provided for a legacy” to New
THOMAS SANDS
CHRISTINA ALSTON The objective, she explained, is to prevent solar systems from responding to the same grid disturbance by opening their breakers at the same time, potentially contributing to a loss of system frequency. Ms Alston said the experience highlighted the technical challenges utilities such nas BPL face as renewable generation becomes a larger part of electricity supply. “We actually went in and changed parts of our grid code based on that event, where the utility scale solar on New Providence, we are studying them so that if there is an event
POWER - See Page B8
PAGE 2, Wednesday, October 21, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
SpaceX resumption is ‘test’ of The Bahamas’ oversight BY Captain Randy Butler THE latest planned SpaceX Falcon 9 booster recovery in Bahamian waters is not merely a technology spectacle or a commercial opportunity. It is a test of whether Bahamian authorities are exercising clear, independent and accountable oversight over an activity that can affect national air space, maritime traffic, public safety and the marine environment. Before such an operation proceeds, the public is entitled to know who authorised it, under what legal authority and subject to what safeguards. The need for an explanation is heightened by The Tribune’s October 20, 2026, report that another booster recovery was planned within The Bahamas’
exclusive economic zone, despite September reports that SpaceX had ended its Bahamian booster landing programme. That apparent reversal raises questions about whether an earlier arrangement was reinstated, whether a new authorisation was issued or whether the operation was governed by a different regulatory framework. It also warrants confirmation that the relevant technical assessments, aviation and maritime co-ordination, environmental approvals or clearances, emergency plans and public safety measures were completed or otherwise addressed before approval. These are not objections to technological progress, foreign investment or co-operation with the US. They are requests
for transparency about the exercise of Bahamian regulatory responsibility. A successful landing would not, by itself, demonstrate that the operation was properly overseen. The public should be able to determine whether the risks were assessed in advance, responsibilities were clearly assigned and applicable safeguards were in place. The Bahamas already has a regulatory framework The Civil Aviation (Space Flight and Re-entry) Regulations 2025 appear to establish a framework for specified space flight activities affecting Bahamian air space and territory. The precise application of those regulations to a particular recovery should be confirmed by the competent authority.
CAPTAIN RANDY BUTLER Regulation Six addresses applications for overflight licences, and appears to require information concerning the relevant launch authorisation, proposed flight path, accident and crash response planning and liability insurance. It also appears to require specified application information to be submitted no later than seven days before the proposed operation. Regulation Seven provides that a separate overflight licence is not required where a re-entry licence has been granted for the launch concerned, subject to the regulation’s terms. The Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAAB) commercial space licensing guidance also identifies a
Online travel Gov’t investigating agency boosts access 75% US export to local experiences drop for July A BAHAMIAN-owned and woman-led online travel agency has launched to give locals and others improved access to trip planning and hospitality experiences. Best Stay Travels, in a statement, said its platform showcases verified listings, concierge-level trip planning and tailored itineraries that highlight each destination. It added that its platform, designed and developed in The Bahamas, blends modern travel technology with a community-centred approach, ensuring that host destinations benefit economically and culturally from each visitor. “Although Best Stay Travels serves a global audience, its roots are firmly Bahamian”, said Denise Johnson, chief executive and president of Hospitality Group, and owner of the platform. “We’re investing deeply in our home market, partnering with local stakeholders to share authentic Bahamian stories with the world while delivering a world class booking experience built on trust and genuine hospitality. This launch is not only a milestone for our company but a testament to the
BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
DENISE JOHNSON - CEO BST entrepreneurial spirit shaping The Bahamas’ future,” she added. Best Stay Travels said it functions as a destination-driven receptive tour operator (RTO), bridging gaps across the Bahamian islands by securing exclusive access to local products and stays that legacy commercial platforms overlook. It added that its platform collaborates directly with global travel agencies, trade partners and distributors through cross-marketing and inventory sharing, expanding access to authentic Bahamian experiences worldwide.
THE DAVIS administration is still investigating what drove a reported 75 per cent year-on-year plunge in Bahamian exports to the US in July, the Bahamas Trade Commission’s executive chairman said yesterday. Barry Griffin declined to attribute the drop to any single cause or signal specific measures to address it, adding that the Trade Commission is “looking beneath the headline numbers to understand what was driving the change”, while cautioning that July's performance did not tell the full story of The Bahamas’ export business.
He added that the January-to-July 2026 export total to the US was around 2.8 per cent lower than the corresponding period last year, a substantially smaller decline than the reported year-on-year fall for July alone. "The recent monthly weakness deserves close attention, but a single month does not capture the full export picture," said Mr Griffin. Data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) put Bahamian exports to the US at $25.5m in July 2026, down $78.3m, or 75.4 per cent, from $104m in July 2025. The decline was driven primarily by a $55m fall in the category covering articles imported for repairs and goods exported and
re-entry licence process, and generally refers to submission at least 30 days before the proposed re-entry. The guidance should be read together with the regulations and any applicable licence conditions; the precise deadline may depend on the activity and authority being sought. These provisions make it important to establish the legal classification of the latest SpaceX operation. Was it authorised under a Bahamian re-entry licence, an overflight licence, recognition of a foreign authorisation, an existing approval or another legal arrangement? Did the proposed recovery location - east of Abaco and Eleuthera - affect which provisions applied? The authorities should clarify whether the operation involved re-entry into, or overflight of, Bahamian air space, maritime activities within an area of Bahamian jurisdiction, or some combination of these. The public need not receive commercially sensitive technical information. However, identifying the legal authority, responsible regulator and applicable safety conditions would provide
meaningful reassurance. Regulatory application deadlines should also be distinguished from public notification requirements, which serve different purposes and may be governed by different instruments. FAA co-operation does not eliminate national responsibility On January 15, 2025, The Bahamas and the US entered into a Memorandum of Cooperation concerning Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licensed commercial space operations affecting The Bahamas. The CAAB said the agreement would support recognition of FAA licences, reduce unnecessary duplication and strengthen technical capacity. The legal effect of the memorandum, including whether it provides for recognition, reliance or co-ordination rather than automatic acceptance of every FAA authorisation, should be explained by the relevant authorities. Such co-operation is practical because commercial air space regulation requires specialised expertise. However, recognition or consideration of a foreign licence does not necessarily
returned, plus a $23.4m drop in refined petroleum exports and a $1.92m decline in crustacean exports. Refined petroleum exports alone fell 99.9 per cent year-on-year to almost zero, according to the OEC data. Mr Griffin’s comments leave the immediate cause of the July decline unresolved, with the Government yet to identify the factors behind the fall or outline a specific policy response. He added that the Trade Commission is continuing to monitor developments, and is prepared to engage with exporters and relevant government agencies to better understand the pressures facing businesses and explore practical options. However, Mr Griffin said it will be premature to attribute the decline to any single cause or indicate specific measures at this stage. The distinction between July's reported performance and the year-to-date figures will be important in determining whether the latest result reflects a concentrated monthly disruption
or a broader weakening in export activity. Mr Griffin said the available figures alone do not establish which explanation applies, and further detail on the products, values and underlying movements behind the decline is needed to establish what drove the change. For exporters, the immediate questions include whether the weakness was concentrated in particular products or shipments, whether it continued into subsequent months and what steps, if any, might help address the pressures identified. The Commission’s planned engagement with exporters and government agencies could help clarify those questions, although Mr Griffin has not yet outlined a timetable for the review or announced any interventions. Until more detail emerges, the July figure remains a warning sign but not, on its own, a complete measure of the direction of Bahamian exports to the US market.
Trade chief: Diplomacy is development ‘driving force’ THE Bahamas’ ambassador for trade and global markets says this nation’s diplomacy will become “a driving force” for
national and commercial development. Barry N. Griffin, chairman of Diplomatic Week 2026, told the event’s opening ceremonies: “This year, we place trade and the orange, blue and green economies at the centre of that conversation. Our focus signals a new era of Bahamian diplomacy - one in which commercial diplomacy becomes a driving force for national development.” Mr Griffin explained that the nation’s relationships must open doors for Bahamian enterprise, connecting businesses with buyers; attracting productive investment; bringing expertise to our shores; and creating pathways for entrepreneurs and citizens to compete internationally. “Our orange economy carries the imagination of
our people: Our culture, music, film, fashion and creative enterprise,” he added. Mr Griffin said The Bahamas’ ocean and maritime economy offers opportunities in fisheries, marine innovation, shipping and the sustainable use of the country’s waters. The Ambassador added that the Bahamas’ green economy offers opportunities in agriculture, clean energy, food production and the technologies that will strengthen the country’s resilience. “Trade connects these ambitions to the world,” he added. Mr Griffin said The Bahamas wants to work more closely with its allies and friends. He added: “We invite your businesses, institutions and investors to build partnerships with ours-to create, produce,
BOOSTER - See Page B6
innovate and reach new markets together.” He explained that Diplomatic Week will involve panel discussions on the forces reshaping commerce and emerging opportunities. Mr Griffin said: “You will also encounter some of the best of Bahamian talent, professionals and businesses. Their work will bring our discussions to life and demonstrate the creativity, expertise and enterprise that The Bahamas offers the world. “Let us approach this week with ambition, curiosity and a determination to act. Let us leave with new relationships, concrete opportunities and a shared commitment to carry them forward.” Diplomatic Week brings together The Bahamas’ diplomatic service, international partners, government and private sector to consider how the country’s engagement with the world can advance its national ambitions.
BARRY N. GRIFFIN, Ambassador for Trade and Global Markets and Chairman of Diplomatic Week 2026. Photo:Anthon Thompson/BIS
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, October 21, 2026, PAGE 3
Activist: Latest SpaceX landing is ‘total disregard’ for Bahamas BY FAY SIMMONS TRIBUNE Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net A BAHAMIAN environmental activist blasted the Government for allowing a new SpaceX Falcon 9 booster rocket landing that went ahead yesterday, arguing it showed “total disregard and disrespect for the inhabitants of The Bahamas”. Joseph Darville, head of Save the Bays and Waterkeepers Bahamas, said he was “extremely disturbed” that the operation
proceeded after the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) recently signalled that no further Falcon 9 booster landings would take place in Bahamian waters and the programme had come to an end. “I am so disappointed that this is allowed to happen in our territory, because I haven't seen any compensation to the Bahamian people with respect for any potential damage done or destruction happening within our territory,” he said.
SpaceX launched its Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Tuesday morning, carrying 32 payloads into orbit. The launch had originally been scheduled for Monday but was postponed because of poor weather in the booster recovery zone. The Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas (CAAB) issued an advisory on Sunday warning that a Falcon 9 booster landing was planned within The Bahamas’ exclusive economic zone, with residents
Home owners optimistic over Treasure Cay’s sale BY ANNELIA NIXON TRIBUNE Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net TREASURE Cay home owners are expressing renewed optimism over the Abaco destination’s proposed $177m redevelopment following assertions by the Government’s investments chief its sale is “well on the way” to closing. Residents said the signs of progress are raising hopes for job creation, increased property investment and an economic revival in North Abaco amid the wait for Treasure Cay’s long-awaited sale to Jacksonville-based GreenPointe Holdings and its principal, Edward Burr, to complete. Phylicia Woods-Hanna, the Bahamas Investment Authority (BIA) director, recently told Tribune Business that GreenPointe and the Meister family, the vendors, are working through the final items required to close the transaction. Permits for the project have been issued, including pre-construction and demolition approvals, and the parties are said to be working through a final check-list of closing items. Dan Proctor, a second home owner who has lived in Abaco for more than 25 years, said reaction within Treasure Cay’s Facebook groups has been overwhelmingly positive as anticipation builds around the proposed sale. “I think overall the anticipation has been building for a number of years,” Mr Proctor said. “And the frustration was building until Mr Burr got involved, and until maybe in the last year or so, when we’ve seen some real movement on the ground in Treasure Cay.” He added that activity on the ground suggests both the prospective buyer and the seller are serious about completing the transaction, although residents remain cautiously optimistic. “At this point, we’re always cautiously optimistic,” he said. “But, at the same time, we feel that we’re closer now than we ever have been as a community to getting the sale to closure. “We have seen things happen on the ground that have not been widely known or widely reported that indicate that there is serious movement. I mean, there have been a number of things that cost money for a buyer to engage in that we don’t think would happen unless there was a real seriousness around the purchase.” Mr Proctor said the redevelopment is particularly important because Treasure Cay residents and second home owners have spent years without the range of services and business activity they previously enjoyed. While Marsh Harbour remains an option, he said the journey takes about 30 minutes over roads that are sometimes in poor condition, making access to services less convenient. “We’re looking forward to having restored businesses and business activity in the community,” Mr
Proctor said. “It’s important not only for the second home owners and the residents of Treasure Cay but, most importantly, it’s important for the economy of North Abaco, for Treasure Cay, and for the north. “We think that that redevelopment will re-energise the economy, and that’s good for all of us.” Mr Proctor said the years following Hurricane Dorian in 2019 have been difficult for both second home owners and local residents, but the prospect of redevelopment is helping restore confidence in the community. “I’m very excited about what’s happening with property values, with the energy in the community,” he said. “After Dorian, as you well know, it was very, very tough for a number of years for all of us, second home owners and local residents. And I think we see the light at the end of the tunnel. Or at least I do.” Eric Bethel, who owns a home in Treasure Cay, also welcomed the anticipated sale, saying the destination’s revival could encourage property owners and prospective buyers to move ahead with investment plans. “It’s been a long time coming, but it’s happening now,” Mr Bethel said. “All good things for Treasure Cay.” Mr Bethel said several prospective buyers who have rented his
condominiums have been waiting to see whether the sale to Mr Burr and GreenPointe would proceed before committing to purchases or construction of their own homes on Treasure Cay. “I talked to a lot of them, and they said they were kind of waiting to see what happened with the sale,” he said. “I think the sale going through now, they’re going to pull the trigger and maybe start building or start buying, and I think a lot of people are going to start doing stuff now.” Tara Diane, a Treasure Cay resident, said she is encouraged by the activity she has observed involving GreenPointe representatives and preparations for the marina component of the development. She said people associated with the marina project have been visiting the area and putting arrangements in place ahead of the anticipated work, including preparations for demolition and construction. Ms Diane said the redevelopment could have a significant economic impact by creating employment opportunities closer to home for North Abaco residents and encouraging people who left Treasure Cay because of limited job prospects to return. “So for us here, with the economic impact, it’s going to be major,” Ms Diane
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and visitors on the eastern side of Abaco and North Eleuthera potentially able to see the operation or hear sonic booms. The announcement prompted questions about the status of the SpaceX partnership, following reports last month that the company had formally ended its Falcon 9 landing programme in The Bahamas after two touchdowns. Mr Darville said the latest development left him questioning why Bahamians had been given the impression that the programme was over, only for another
operation to be announced. “Where is the respect for the people? Where is the regard for our little bit of territory?” he asked. He argued that The Bahamas could not afford to take risks with its marine environment, given the country’s limited land area and dependence on its surrounding waters. “We, because of the significance of our ocean and a little bit of land that we have, we cannot run any risk of having any sort of drastic, tragic thing happening and blowing up in our waters,” said Mr Darville.
He also questioned whether Bahamians had been adequately informed about the latest operation and argued that the public should have a say in whether such activities are permitted. “I completely do not support such a thing happening unless there was a referendum of the Bahamian people,” he said. Mr Darville said he believes the Government should not allow further operations without the public being made aware of the arrangements and given an opportunity to express its position. He said he hoped DEPP would explain what had been agreed with SpaceX, and why the latest operation had been announced after the earlier indication that the programme had ended.
said. “There’s going to be a lot of jobs that persons now in the north, they won’t have to drive so far to get to work.” She added that the project could also create opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses, allowing local residents to benefit from renewed commercial activity. “It’s been a long time, and I’m just blessed that I am alive that I can see that this is now happening for my community, for my home, and I am happy for our people and for, by extension, Abaconians because they are really going to be able to benefit from this,” she said. “I’m looking at us once again being the crown jewel of the Bahamas here in Treasure Cay.” The proposed redevelopment includes a new marina, a marina village with retail and dining options, the return of the Tipsy Seagull Bar & Grille, beachside amenities and the rebuilding of the golf course and sporting facilities. Previous plans also include a wastewater treatment plant and efforts to explore additional services, including medical care and grocery facilities. Ms Diane said she is not concerned about potential environmental impacts from the marina, arguing that the project largely restores facilities that previously existed in Treasure Cay. “So there is no type of kick back or stand back against the environment or harm to the environment,” she said. “It’s a revitalisation of what was there before. Apart from that, the
marina village where there will be shops, that’s going to be new. But the marina itself with the docks being put in place, that’s been there before.” The proposed $177m investment follows years of uncertainty over Treasure Cay’s sale and redevelopment, with the transaction involving numerous land parcels and complex title issues and approval requirements. GreenPointe, in the meantime, has also marketed a marina ownership programme offering prospective buyers the opportunity to purchase slips ahead of construction, signalling continued preparations for the planned project. For residents, however, the immediate priority is seeing the
transaction completed and work begin. Ms Diane said Mr Burr’s commitment to Treasure Cay and its residents has helped strengthen confidence in the proposed revitalisation. “Mr Burr believes in this community, believes in the people and the love for Treasure Cay, the love for the people,” she said. “It means a lot. And so just looking forward to the positive outcome of all of this, and that it will benefit Bahamians at large.” The proposed redevelopment has been years in the making, with residents and property owners enduring prolonged uncertainty over the destination’s future following Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
PAGE 4, Wednesday, October 21, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
‘As soon as we get something going another thing comes along to ruin it’ TRANSPORT - from page B1 “Reality is, it’s here. A lot of people are deciding if they stay in business. Between the change in taxation, increase in costs, increase in regulations, some are giving up. They just can’t see it making any sense. I’m hearing it from a lot of people who have been in business for a lot of years. “Some of them have moved to the island years ago. It’s got to a point where they just cannot make it; it makes no sense any more. It’s a very difficult environment to work
in, and it’s magnified in the Family Islands where we don’t have the resources down the street to support your business and maintain it,” Mr Sands explained. “You have to have many back-up systems just to operate. It has a material effect. Traffic, although growing into islands like this, is still a lot less than you would have in the city. It’s a tough environment, it’s a tough time, and margins are not large enough to compensate for all the operating costs and regulations.” Ben Albury, the Bahamas Motor Dealers
Association’s (BMDA) president, told Tribune Business that end-consumers are the ones who will “feel the pinch” from spiralling shipping costs and fuel price hikes while adding that expense increases have effectively become a new normal for the private sector since the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s not going to affect me very much, but we are seeing that increase, the fuel, from all the shipping companies,” he said. “It’s concerning because the end consumers are going to feel the pinch and it’s going to
Companies Act reforms come as Bahamas being inspected with registered share instruments”. The legal revisions appear to be the latest move by The Bahamas to ensure it receives a favourable review from the CFATF, which began its examination of this nation’s anti-financial crime defences on Monday, October 19, with its team of inspectors here until October 30. The House of Assembly last week debated and passed changes to the Anti-Terrorism Act designed to “close a gap between what The Bahamas has committed to internationally and what our [existing] law is able to deliver” when it comes to immediately freezing the assets of, and cutting-off access to the financial system for, persons on
United Nations (UN) sanctions lists. This, too, appeared design to close a legal loophole that could concern CFATF assessors as The Bahamas bids to retain its perfect ‘40 out of 40’ score, or 100 percent compliance, with the FATF’s anti-financial crime standards and recommendations. Mr White, though, yesterday questioned why - given the urgency created by the CFATF visit - the Companies Act changes were not debated and passed at the same time. “Our ducks should be in a row before they get here,” he argued. “They shouldn’t find anything that is unforeseen, and which they have to search for, when they arrive. “In my opinion, by the time they come to town and
Gas station operator fears rising Business Licence fee
their per gallon margins remain largely unchanged. Mr Dorsett also complained about Business Licence audit requirements for businesses with turnover above $5m, saying an audit could cost around $20,000 and represent money that could otherwise be spent on staff or other operating expenses. “Our Business Licence is based on the gross, so as the prices continue to go up, $7, $8 a gallon for fuel, what do you expect our gross to be? Our gross has doubled, so you double our Business Licence,” he said. “A fuel station ain’t no big business. It just handle a lot of cash. That’s all it is - a lot of cash.” Mr Dorsett said he must cover his station’s operating expenses from margins of 76 cents per gallon of gas and 44 cents for diesel. “We’re making 76 cents on every gallon, not on every dollar,” he added. He said he employs about 35 people and wants to keep them employed rather than move towards self-service operations, arguing that fuel price relief was important for businesses seeking to maintain jobs while coping with rising expenses. The pressure on employers comes as the Government considers another increase in the national minimum wage. Pia Glover-Rolle, minister of labour, public service
ELIMINATE - from page B1 “This Bill seeks to amend the Companies Act (Chapter 308) to correct a technical gap in the law concerning bearer shares and bearer share warrants arising in relation to the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force recommendation 24, which prohibits use of bearer shares and bearer share warrants,” the Bill’s ‘objects and reasons’ section states. Besides prohibiting their issuance, the Bill also provides for a sixmonth transition to allow Bahamian domestic-incorporated companies to undertake the “surrender, cancellation and replacement of any existing bearer share instruments
FUELLING - from page B1 prices fall to $6.50 per gallon, dismissing the suggestion as “nonsense”. Mr Dorsett argued that the economics of fuel retailing were being overlooked, with operators facing sharply higher inventory costs while earning a largely fixed amount per gallon sold. “When gas was $3 a gallon, I was making 76 cents. Gas is now $7 a gallon. I’m still making 76 cents,” he said. Mr Dorsett supplied Tribune Business with a fuel price breakdown for New Providence as at October 20, showing average gasoline prices of $7.52 per gallon and diesel prices of $8.12. The breakdown shows that Government taxes account for $1.89, or 25.1 percent, of the gasoline price, while the retailer’s margin is 76 cents and the wholesaler’s margin is 33 cents per gallon. For diesel, Government taxes account for $1.95, or 24 percent, of the $8.12 average price. The retailer’s margin is 44 cents, while the wholesaler’s margin is 18 cents per gallon. Mr Dorsett said the fixed nature of retailers’
margins meant that rising fuel prices do not translate into higher earnings, even as the amount of money required to purchase inventory increases substantially. “Our margin is fixed. So what I’m saying is, right now, the Government is carrying home more than 76 cents in their 10 percent box,” he said, referring to VAT. Mr Dorsett added that the cost of buying fuel has risen dramatically over the decades he has operated his business, increasing the amount of capital tied up in each delivery. When he opened his service station in 1972, Mr Dorsett said, a 9,000-gallon delivery cost less than $5,000. Today, he pays more than $70,000 for the same quantity. “I could buy a 9,000gallon load of fuel for about less than $5,000,” he said. “Today I pay him close to $77,000 for the same 9,000 gallons of fuel.” He argued that the higher cost of fuel also has implications for Business Licence fees, which he said are linked to gross turnover. As the nominal value of fuel sales increases, operators can face higher Business Licence costs even when
drive the prices up. We’ve seen it happen for quite a while due to the logistics of fuel increases. “I’m seeing signs it [the latest fuel hike] could be short-lived but, when the shipping companies increase their rates, it takes much longer… I don’t know they even come back down again. In theory, I’m hoping it will be short-lived. All in a day’s work. We’re seeing other things increase because of fuel prices, such as inland freight. “It’s always a concern whenever prices increase, but it’s not something that’s
being done in a disruptive state, where one group’s getting an advantage over another industry. It’s across the board. Since COVID it’s just like one thing after another. Nothing is a surprise.” Mr Albury, who is also Bahamas Bus and Truck’s general manager, said of the shipping cost rise: “It didn’t just start. It’s just been creeping and creeping. We got a quote the other day, and I had to e-mail back checking it was not a typo. “We are doing what we can on our end to keep costs down as much as we can. I’m looking at ways to increase my shipping, having larger shipments and shipping things together. “We are looking at other shipping methods. Roll on, roll off is more expensive, but we’ve been looking at
containerised shipments. We are having shortages of space [on ships], so we are looking at things to combat that. It’s one of those things. You get to work, see this stuff going on, and it’s just like you have to roll with it. “I’m more concerned with the effect it will have on necessities and a lot of different things consumers are going to need,” Mr Albury added. “That’s what stands out to me. Cars, we get an increase here and there, but they can be absorbed to some degree because we are not an inexpensive product. “We were just getting back from market shortages. There always seems to be something that, as soon as we get something good going, something comes along to ruin it.”
check, they look at what’s in stone not burning in the bush. These issues are minor amendments to the legislation in terms of time consumed in the House on matters of urgency.” The Opposition MP agreed that the Companies Act reforms “tag on to the Anti-Terrorism amendments we did last week, which they made retroactive to 2019”. He added that the two could have been debated together as part of a “compendium” of legislation, and said: “It’s one step at a time and, when you proceed in that way, the sun goes down before you arrive at your destination. “Your footing is not as strong as it should be. We need a stronger footing in the financial services industry.” As for the timing of the 11th hour Companies Act reforms, Mr White said: “It’s not a steady ship. We are an island nation, but don’t need to make the waters rough around is for
any reason. Let’s stay with smooth sailing.” He added that the elimination of bearer shares in the domestic Bahamian corporate market is unlikely to impact commerce and business volumes, and said: “If we are having to stay in line or will be in line in terms of positioning ourselves as the jurisdiction to go to, I don’t think playing by the rules is the only thing needed. “We have to be a more attractive destination, and provide not only the services but the facilities and institutions that attract the type of wealth we seek for the financial services industry.” Paul Moss, president of Dominion Management Services, similarly agreed that the elimination of bearer shares and warrants under these Companies Act reforms will not impact business for the Bahamian financial services industry either way.
“These are things that have been done away with and frowned upon years ago,” he told Tribune Business. “I guess, in keeping with that, they want to bring it into compliance. I’m sure that [the CFATF review] plays a role in it as well.” Mr Moss said bearer shares and warrants had typically been a product used by The Bahamas’ international financial services industry and, once outlawed by the 2000 legal reforms, “it’s not something people really use a domestic company for”. “It helps with their compliance with the FATF and some of the other alphabetic groups,” he added of the changes. “It’s not widely used in the community. Some of these things are overlooked because we don’t use them. But when it’s pointed out we have to address it. I would not be surprised if this was pointed out to them and they took care of it.”
and National Insurance, said last week that a further increase from the existing $260 per week was likely in the near future, as discussions continue around minimum wage policy and the establishment of a wage-setting council. Mr Dorsett acknowledged that the existing minimum wage was insufficient for many workers facing higher living costs, but argued that increasing wages alone will not resolve
the wider pressures facing businesses and households. “I do agree that that ain’t no money for people to be living on the current minimum wage,” he said. However, Mr Dorsett argued that employers were already contending with higher fuel costs and other expenses, making it necessary for the Government to address the wider cost of doing business alongside any wage increase. He said he viewed a minimum wage increase as only
partial relief for workers rather than a solution to the underlying cost-of-living problem. “A minimum wage increase right now is only trying to ease the pain on some people’s head,” Mr Dorsett said. He added that higher fuel prices are also reducing consumers’ ability to meet household expenses, including food and rent, and called for the Government to take action to ease the pressure on both businesses and ordinary Bahamians.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, October 21, 2026, PAGE 5
Judge urges that probate discrepancies reconciled VERDICT - from page B1 The judge, finding that these entries need to be reconciled before making any further decisions, ordered Mr Mackay and Mr Knowles to conduct a full accounting within 45 days - a deadline that expires on December 4, 2026. And she ruled that the executors were incorrect to determine that the absence of assets from which to make payment “automatically extinguished” the church’s gift. “The principal dispute is whether a $300,000 gift to New Providence Community Church failed because a nominated source was said not to exist and the other belonged to Ports [International],” Justice Strachan wrote. “New Providence Community Church claimed that the gift is demonstrative and survives failure or insufficiency of the nominated source, while the defendants contend that it failed for want of subject matter. In order to make a proper determination, the court must also classify the other gifts in the will and determine their proper place in the administration of the estate.” Other gifts left Ms Papai in her last will and testament included $50,000 to the Cancer Society of The Bahamas, plus a $150,000 “fund upon trust” for three organisations - Smile Train, World Vision and Youth Empowerment through Soccer. Together with the church’s $300,000, these gifts totalled $500,000. Ms Papai also gave all the shares she beneficially owned in Ports International and HMH Enterprises to trustees, who had “powers of sale, conversion and investment, together with powers concerning advancement from capital”, until her son, Happy Hall, turned 35 years-old. Her Sandyport and other real properties were also left to Mr Hall, while a further $30,000 was bequeathed to Alana Wharton for the purchase of a motor vehicle. “New Providence Community Church repeatedly sought payment but received no part of its legacy,” Justice Strachan wrote.
“The defendants say their inquiries revealed no personal banking funds sufficient to satisfy the gift and no corporate authority permitting payment from Ports. They further contend that Ports’ money was not estate property, and that the legacy therefore failed for want of subject matter. “The defendants also relied upon New Providence Community Church’s failure to provide information concerning the cost of the proposed columbarium (structures built to hold human assets), other donors and their intended contributions,” she added. “New Providence Community Church says the will contains no such conditions and that the executors could not lawfully add them. New Providence Community Church also seeks an account and alleges that the administration may have favoured the son over other beneficiaries.” Turning to the submissions of both sides, Justice Strachan said: “New Providence Community Church submits that the words ‘the sum of $300,000’ create an independent monetary gift. Its claim is that the subsequent reference to personal and Ports accounts merely identifies the contemplated source of payment. “Its case is therefore that the gift is demonstrative rather than specific, and does not fail merely because the nominated fund is insufficient or unavailable…. The defendants accept that the will contains the words relied upon but dispute their legal effect. “They contend that the Testatrix [Ms Papai] owned shares in Ports but did not own its bank accounts, and there was no lawful corporate resolution authorising the contemplated payment. They also rely upon their responsibility to preserve the Ports shares specifically
place in trust for the son,” she added. “The court accepts that the defendants’ corporate law point is substantial. The question, however, is whether it determines ownership of Ports’ money only, or also determines whether the testamentary gift itself survives. Those are not necessarily the same question. The distinction lies at the centre of this judgment.” Justice Strachan found that New Providence Community Church’s gift was a “demonstrative pecuniary legacy”, meaning it was to receive the $300,000 stated by Ms Papai from an intended source of funding her personal accounts, and those of Ports International. The executors, though, took the position that they could only make the will’s payments from Ms Papai’s personal funds and assets, which were insufficient, and not those of Ports International. They argued that the company is “a separate legal entity whose assets” they had no permission to distribute. However, Justice Strachan ruled: “The defendants’ contention that the absence of a nominated personal account necessarily caused the legacy to fail is rejected. There is no uncertainty concerning the beneficiary or the amount. “New Providence Community Church is named and $300,000 is fixed. The alleged difficulty concerns the source of payment, which is legally different from uncertainty as to subject matter of the gift…. “The absence, identification difficulty or insufficiency of the designated personal source did not of itself extinguish New Providence Community Church’s demonstrative legacy. The factual status of the banking entries remains to be determined through the account.”
And the judge added: “The defendants are correct with respect to the Testatrix being unable to dispose of company funds as her personal property. Neither did ownership of the shares make the company’s bank accounts the Testatrix’s personal property. “Section 79 of the Companies Act places management and exercise of corporate powers in the directors, subject to its statutory qualification. The executors are therefore correct not to withdraw Ports’ corporate money merely because the will referred to it. “A demonstrative legacy does not authorise an executor to appropriate property owned by a separate legal person. The will itself reinforces this conclusion by subordinating trustee powers concerning Ports to decisions of the Board,” Justice Strachan continued. “The defendants’ argument fails, however, when it treats that corporate conclusion as disposing of the probate question. The legal unavailability of a designated fund does not necessarily destroy the demonstrated gift for which it was nominated. The undischarged benefit remains subject to the statutory regime applicable to pecuniary legacies.” Justice Strachan declined to find that the executors had “improperly preferred” Mr Hall, adding: “The will
itself gives the son significant specific and residuary benefits, which the executors were required to respect. The benefits could not lawfully be administered as though valid pecuniary dispositions to others did not exist.” And she also emphasised that there was no evidence of “alleged fraud, dishonesty, mala fides, willful default, devastavit or causative loss”, while ruling that New Providence Community Church was entitled to an inventory and accounting of Ms Papai’s estate under the Probate and Administration Act’s section 52. Justice Strachan said this was especially needed because of the probate declaration’s reference to zero bank deposits, only to then identify $49,153 as being held at Scotiabank; $820,31 with RBC; household goods worth $40,000; and shares in Ports International and HMH Enterprises each valued at $1,000. She added that this was especially important in determining the order in which Ms Papai’s different bequests were to be paid, and from what source. “The will expressly directed that identified charitable legacies should abate first if there were a shortfall,” Justice Strachan wrote. “No equivalent priority language appears in these three provisions, but the ultimate consequences must still be worked out under the order as dictated in the
Probate Act.” As a result, the judge said the sum payable to New Providence Community Church and other beneficiaries must “await the account” and subsequent Supreme Court Order. “New Providence Community Church therefore succeeds on construction and validity,” Justice Strachan wrote. “The defendants succeed on the narrower proposition that Ports’ corporate property could not be appropriated directly under the will. Final quantum, abatement, resort to specific property and any personal liability of the executors must await the estate account…. “The defendants shall identify the value and disposition of the Sandyport properties, Ports shares and HMH Enterprises shares, and disclose all lawful dividends, distributions or other receipts arising from those shares following the Testatrix’s death. They shall also identify material transfers or advancements made to or for the son.” Once the accounting exercise is completed, the estate’s disposition - and how the bequests and gifts left by Ms Papai are to be settled - will be determined. Justice Strachan said this will decide whether the Sandyport real estate, and Ports International and HMH Enterprises shares, need to be sold or realised.
PAGE 6, Wednesday, October 21, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
Greater clarity urged over oversight regime BOOSTER - from page B2 eliminate Bahamian regulatory responsibility, particularly where an operation may affect Bahamian airspace, waters, residents or public services. The public should understand what CAAB independently verifies, which FAA assessments it may rely on, and how risks specific to Bahamian air space, waters and communities are addressed. This may include determining whether a recovery location is appropriate, evaluating effects on air and maritime traffic, and verifying that emergency arrangements suit local circumstances. The agreement should also provide, or be supplemented by, clear procedures for sharing safety assessments, operational changes, incident information and post-operation findings. These are not arguments against co-operation; they are questions about how it functions in practice and how national responsibilities are preserved. Aviation safety must remain central After more than four decades in aviation, including flight operations, training and safety oversight, I regard the protection of existing air space users as essential whenever new activities are introduced. The Bahamas is an archipelagic nation whose economy and communities depend heavily on aviation. Scheduled airlines, charter operators, general aviation aircraft, emergency medical flights and international overflights operate in and around our air space. Commercial space operations introduce hazards different from those encountered in conventional aviation. A returning booster may follow a carefully planned trajectory, but safety assessments should
also address foreseeable deviations, equipment failures, debris hazards and emergency contingencies. CAAB, the Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority (BANSA), the FAA and relevant air traffic service providers should therefore clarify how they co-ordinated the assessment of the flight path, recovery and contingency areas and potential interaction with civil aircraft. Were affected air space users advised through applicable aeronautical information and operational notice systems? Were temporary restrictions or hazard areas necessary, and how were they communicated? The authorities should identify the specific notices or procedures used, without implying that any particular notice was legally required unless that has been confirmed. Approving an operation is not the same as maintaining effective oversight throughout its execution. An authorisation alone does not demonstrate that every operational safety responsibility was discharged. Oversight, environmental protection and maritime safety The CAAB has identified Ryan Sands as senior manager within its Commercial Space Operations Department, and James Murray as department director. Their participation in the 33rd United Nations/ International Astronautical Federation Workshop on space economy opportunities for emerging nations reflects The Bahamas’ engagement with the developing space economy. That engagement can provide valuable technical knowledge, training and partnerships. It should also prompt the CAAB to explain how domestic oversight operates; who is responsible for licensing, technical safety assessments,
operational surveillance and compliance verification; and how responsibilities are divided between the Commercial Space Operations Department, CAAB’s aviation safety functions and its director-general; and what qualifications and resources support those duties. Environmental and maritime safeguards require similar clarity. Earlier SpaceX operations raised questions about environmental assessments, monitoring and inter-agency approvals. Although CAAB later announced that the required regulatory and environmental clearances had been completed for the February 2026 operation, that announcement does not by itself establish that the October mission was covered or that the same approvals remain valid. The authorities should clarify whether the October recovery required a new assessment, amendment, renewal or revalidation, and whether monitoring and post-operation reporting from earlier landings had been completed and reviewed. The term “environmental clearance” should be used only to describe an approval or determination actually required and issued under applicable Bahamian law, otherwise “environmental review, assessment or authorisation” may be more precise. The proposed location within The Bahamas’ exclusive economic zone also matters. An exclusive economic zone is not legally identical to territorial waters, and that distinction may affect the nature of applicable maritime, environmental and operational requirements. Location within the exclusive economic zone does not, by itself, establish that Bahamian authorities had unlimited jurisdiction over
every aspect of the operation. The responsible agencies should identify the permissions, consultations or notices required under applicable law, explain who had responsibility for maritime safety, and confirm whether navigation warnings were issued to fishing vessels, commercial shipping and recreational boaters. They should also explain what contingency arrangements applied if the booster failed to reach its intended recovery area, while recognising that responsibility may have been divided among Bahamian agencies, the operator and US authorities. Public notice and the change after September According to The Tribune, CAAB issued a public advisory on Sunday for an operation initially scheduled for Monday morning, October 19, before the launch was postponed. The advisory reportedly warned residents and visitors in parts of Abaco and North Eleuthera that the operation might be visible and that sonic booms could be heard. That information was useful, but public notice should be distinguished from operational notifications for aircraft operators, air traffic service providers, mariners and emergency agencies. The authorities should state what public information, aviation and maritime notification requirements applied, when relevant notices were issued, which areas they covered and whether they were updated after the postponement. Unless the governing requirements are identified, it would be premature to characterise the timing or content of the advisory as legally sufficient or deficient. One day’s public notice should not automatically be
characterised as a regulatory violation. Its adequacy is nevertheless a reasonable question when the public may be affected by sonic booms or operational restrictions. The authorities should also clarify whether the advisory was intended as general public information or as a formal notice required by a specific law, regulation, licence condition or operational procedure. The Government and CAAB should also explain how the October operation related to the September announcement that the Bahamian booster landing programme had ended. Was an earlier arrangement reinstated, or was this a separate operation under a different authorisation? The distinction matters because approvals are ordinarily tied to defined activities, conditions and operating parameters, although the applicable legal instrument should be identified before drawing conclusions. An opportunity to demonstrate effective oversight The Bahamas has an opportunity to participate in emerging technologies, attract investment and develop specialised
technical capabilities. Those opportunities should be pursued alongside a firm commitment to aviation safety, environmental protection and transparent regulation. The public is not asking for proprietary information or every technical detail. It is reasonable to expect confirmation of the applicable legal authority, the agencies responsible for approval, the assessments undertaken, the safeguards implemented and the arrangements for verifying compliance. International co-operation and commercial opportunity should strengthen national regulatory capacity, not obscure responsibility. A credible safety oversight system is measured not simply by whether an operation succeeds, but by whether risks were properly assessed, responsibilities clearly assigned, safeguards implemented and compliance appropriately verified. Aviation safety oversight and public safety must remain central to every decision involving commercial space operations affecting The Bahamas. Captain Randy L. Butler
NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that I CLEEF NADAL LEMEUBLE of #44 Malcolm Road East, Chaprl Way, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twentyeight days from the 14th day of October, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that I ARON ANTHONY OZIAS of, Keywest Street applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twentyeight days from the 21st day of October, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that I BERRY SAINDLY REJUSTE of, Nassau Village applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twentyeight days from the 21st day of October, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that I LARREY DALGE of, Hawkins Hill applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 21st day of October, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, October 21, 2026, PAGE 7
JUDGE PARKER
CARPE DIEM
MARVIN BLONDIE
HAGAR THE HORRIBLE
TIGER
CALVIN & HOBBES
DENNIS THE MENACE
CRYPTOQUOTE AXYDLBAAXR is L O N G F E L L O W One letter stands for another. In this example, A is used for the three L’s, X for the 2 O’s, etc. Single letters, apostrophes, the length and formation of words are all hints. Each day the code letters are different. Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday
Yesterday’s Sudoku Answer
MICRO CROSSWORD
CHALLENGER
Yesterday’s Answers
PAGE 8, Wednesday, October 21, 2026
THE TRIBUNE
BPL chair: Adding more generation pointless if not reaching customer POWER - from page B1 on the T&D that they don’t all see the same event and open up their breakers at the same time, and then we lose frequency,” she said. The BPL executive chair warned that renewable energy policies must account for how electricity systems operate, including the need for dependable generation and the technical requirements for maintaining grid stability. “We really need to understand what power does and how power moves before we make these types of policy initiatives that put our countries in the dark,” said Ms Alston. She also questioned whether the pursuit of renewable energy targets could leave utilities paying for generation capacity twice if they must maintain conventional back-up resources to compensate for intermittent supply. “So is then the answer to sit there and have back-ups for the whole 90 percent that you committed to renewables? So now you’re paying for capital assets twice,” she said. Ms Alston said utilities must also carefully evaluate the cost and useful life of infrastructure when deciding how to improve resilience and reliability. She cited battery energy storage (BESS) as an investment with an expected life of about 15 years, compared with transmission and distribution infrastructure that could represent a 35 to-40year investment. The difference, Ms Alston said, makes it important to assess each option against its costs, expected lifespan and contribution to system performance, rather than selecting solutions based solely on their technological appeal. “A gold-plated system is difficult to achieve if you have silver money,” Ms Alston said.
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She explained that utilities must compare the benefits of more expensive resilience measures against what customers can reasonably afford, including whether a less costly solution can deliver most of the desired reliability improvement while allowing the remaining risks to be addressed through other measures. Ms Alston said The Bahamas should prioritise commercially available technologies that customers can afford rather than attempting to finance experimental projects through a relatively small electricity market. “For me personally, I want to pick things off the shelf that the Bahamian people can afford, that is commercially available, because we don’t have the KWH (kilowatt per hour) sales to fund research and development projects,” she said. Ms Alston also argued that renewable energy planning should extend beyond solar to consider other potential sources, including gasification technologies and energy generation from wastewater treatment plants and landfills. Her comments came amid a wider discussion among Caribbean utility executives about the investments needed to integrate renewable generation while maintaining reliable electricity supplies. Ms Alston said utilities must not lose sight of residential customers, schools and others who cannot afford to install their own generation as electricity systems evolve. “One thing that we cannot allow to happen is for electricity to become a social justice issue,” she said. Ms Alston also warned that investment in additional generation will not resolve reliability problems if the infrastructure needed to deliver electricity to customers remained inadequate. “It really doesn’t matter if you bring on additional generation if you can’t get that generation to the customer,” said Ms Alston.