12022025 BUSINESS

Fugitive ex-judge’s ‘iconic’ status challenges receiver

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE “iconic” status of a fugitive ex-Supreme Court judge among Bahamian attorneys created an “enormous challenge” for the receiver charged with seizing his local assets when it came to securing legal representation.

Darron Cash, the former Free National Movement (FNM) chairman and Senator, who is the Supreme

• Caused ‘undesirable delay’ on Lockhart assets

• Attorney ‘embarrassment of riches’ swiftly cut

• ‘Pivotal stage’ in recovery for ex-MP victims

Court-appointed receiver for assets identified as owned by Elliott Lockhart KC, disclosed that his initial “embarrassment of

Air arrivals drop in eight of ‘25’s first nine months

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

AIR arrivals to The Bahamas fell against 2024 comparatives in eight of the first nine months this year, Central Bank of The Bahamas data released yesterday reveals, although total numbers are up due to the continued growth and expansion of cruise tourism.

The banking industry regulator, unveiling its monthly economic developments report for October 2025, disclosed in data close to the bottom of the back page that April is the only month to enjoy a year-over-year air arrivals increase with numbers up 9 percent, or 14,300 persons, at 173,000. That, though, is likely to have been at least partially driven by the peak Easter holiday weekend this year falling in April whereas it occurred in March in 2024.

All other months have experienced year-over-year declines, albeit by relatively modest numbers and

percentages. The greatest drop-off was in August, when air arrivals fell by 6.3 percent or 7,700 yearover-year to116,300, while January was down by 6,600 or 4.66 percent at 134,500. Air arrivals is not the same as stopover visitors, as the latter only includes persons who remain in The Bahamas for 24 hours, while the former also includes those who are transiting through this nation and do not spend a full day here. Nevertheless, the raw figures unveiled by the Central Bank suggest relative softness in stopover tourism - a category whose visitors typically spend 28 times more than their cruise passenger counterparts. For the first nine months of 2025, the Central Bank data said air arrivals were only off by 1.9 percent or around 27,800 against prior year comparatives at 1.319m. Total arrivals to The Bahamas were ahead of 2024 at 9.116m as opposed

Graycliff unveils sixth factory experience with Batik launch

By FAY SIMMONS

GRAYCLIFF yesterday further expanded its operations by launching its new Batik Factory in the nearby Mountbatten House.

Paolo Garzaroli, president of Graycliff Cigar Company, said its latest attraction will help preserve a core part of Bahamian heritage while allowing the company to capitalise on the growing tourism market seeking interactive, authentic and cultural experiences. Speaking at the opening yesterday, Mr Garzaroli said visitors to the Batik Factory can participate in hands-on experiences by creating their own shirts, tableware and decorative items, which they will be able to take home. The factory will also

offer production runs for private companies and special events.

“We always wanted to have a lot of hands-on experiences here at Graycliff, and this really fits into the heartbeat of The Bahamas. We are all about authentic Bahamian experiences, and Batik is literally one of the fibres of the Bahamian economy,” said Mr Garzaroli.

“You can come here and have a full experience, where you make your own shirt, you make your own sort of tableware, scapes and that kind of stuff, and you're able to take it with you. So that opens up an avenue for cruise ship passengers; sustainable passengers. We also do production runs for private companies and events.”

riches” in terms of attorneys available to represent him swiftly shrank due to the “long-standing relationships” many held with the

ex-MP and possible “conflicts” if they accepted the assignment.

Mr Cash, in a September 29, 2025, update to the Supreme Court on his progress in identifying, securing and auctioning-off Mr Lockhart’s assets to recover sums owed to his victims and creditors, asserted that “no core element of my work… was impeded” by the lengthy search for legal representation although he described it as an “undesirable period of delay”.

Businesses

He added that he had “reached a pivotal stage” in the receivership and was set to seek the Supreme Court’s approval for “the sale of three major properties” formerly owned by Mr Lockhart. These were not identified in the update sent to Justice Darron Ellis, and well-placed sources - speaking on condition of anonymity - said it was

being ‘taxed to the point of stagnation’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamian Contractors Association’s (BCA) president yesterday voiced fears that businesses are “being taxed to the place where they stay stagnant” after it was revealed there is no escape from having to pay VAT on construction-related expansion projects.

Leonard Sands, speaking out after the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR) confirmed no business will receive an exemption from reforms that accompanied the 2025-2026 Budget, reaffirmed his view that it amounts to a direct 10 percent tax on investment since it will now cost a company an extra $1m to undertake a $10m expansion of its physical premises.

• BCA chief fears construction hit from VAT policy

• FNM finance head: 10% tax to ‘stifle investment’

• Opposition: Reverse ‘major construction’ VAT

With the tax authorities adopting the stance that no Bahamian enterprise will be able to deduct, or reclaim, VAT paid on building materials used in expanding or constructing new facilities worth over $1m, he warned the Government that it “cannot collect tax if businesses don’t exist” amid its desire to obtain every cent and dollar possible to ease fiscal and cash flow woes.

Dionisio D’Aguilar, Superwash’s president, said on Monday he was sounding the alarm for all

Bahamian businesses after the laundromat chain was told by the Department of Inland Revenue it had ““misinterpreted” the VAT Act reforms. While the language employed in the amendments gave him the impression that bona fide companies undertaking legitimate construction-related expansion would be granted an exemption if they applied, the tax authority said this is not so.

unclear whether the necessary approvals had been granted, sales completed and proceeds received. However, Tribune Business previously reported that, in late April 2025, Mr Cash advertised and sought offers on the former offices of Lockhart & Company, Mr Lockhart’s former law firm, located at 35 Buen

Kwasi Thompson, the Opposition’s finance spokesman, told this newspaper his party’s position is that the elimination of VAT deductions, or refunds, on construction materials used for business expansions should be reversed. While he stopped short of committing the Free National Movement

Atlantis reveals projects to create 350 permanent jobs

ATLANTIS yesterday announced that the planned upgrades to its Cove property, as well as the addition of fresh retail, restaurant and amenity offerings, will create 350 full-time jobs when all these projects are completed.

The Paradise Island mega resort, did not place a dollar value on the level of investment it is making, although a Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation release earlier this year said the property was about to embark on $475m worth of capital upgrades.

Atlantis reaffirmed that The Cove will undergo a full renovation, including all 600 guest rooms, beginning in Spring 2026. The Cove pool, public spaces, dining venues and other guest amenities will also be involved, and the property will remain open to guests throughout the project.

The Paradise Island mega resort added that

it will build on its “recent transformation of The Royal [Towers] and Atlantis casino” through further refreshing its product with new guest experiences during 2026. New full-service restaurants, which were not named; a Beach Club; and the return of the Imperial Club at The Royal were among the projects identified. An expanded sports facility and renewal of the Mandara Spa will also be undertaken

Elliott Lockhart KC Darron Cash

SECURE - See Page B4

TAXATION - See Page B2

Leonard Sands

Kwasi Thompson

Audrey Oswell

Entrepreneur enjoys 15% Black

Friday, Cyber Monday sales rise

By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN entrepreneur yesterday said he enjoyed a 15 percent jump in sales due to offering Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals - an increase he aims to maintain once his storefront is completed. Operating primarily through WhatsApp and Facebook Marketplace, 23 year-old Cruz Johnson said he will soon open his first storefront. Currently operating under the name Quick Unlocks, Mr Johnson said the new storefront will also

feature a new name, Tech Wave Electronics, which will encompass all his services including the sale of electronics, gadgets and accessories as well as his gadget unlocking and repair services.

Having acquired the store lease in November, Mr Johnson said renovations should be completed by the end of the week. “My storefront should be completed most likely, the end of this week, because I just got to finish putting up the shelves and then also stocking up the store,” he said. “And I should be putting up one more signage and then I should be completed.

I'm going to actually work on that after this Christmas run, because I know it's going to be hectic. I still allow customers to pick up from in the store, but it would only be possible whenever I have my brother or Dad go there to allow them to pick up.”

The opening of a physical structure for Mr Johnson’s business is only one of the factors contributing to what he said is a Christmas gift. He added that he has also seen a 15 percent in business, attributing it to his Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals which will continue to run until Wednesday.

Water Corp outages ‘really tough’ for Eleuthera to take

By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter

anixon@tribunemedia.net

ELEUTHERA residents and businesses were yesterday told that the Naval Base reverse osmosis plant is fully operational and producing water again following repeated supply loss and reduced pressure last week.

The Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC), on November 30, issued a statement informing the customers that the three desalination trains at the plant are again online.

“The Water and Sewerage Corporation wishes to

advise its customers that as of 9.15 am today, all three desalination trains at the Naval Base Desalination Plant are fully operational and online,” it said.

“Over the past several days, the plant experienced a series of mechanical failures that reduced production to two of the three trains. This temporary loss in capacity limited the volume of water available for distribution and resulted in periods of low pressure or no water for some customers, particularly those in higher-elevation communities.”

Jethro Armstrong, who resides in Eleuthera, said conditions became

Sands: ‘Can’t collect tax if businesses don’t exist’

- from page B1

(FNM) to doing so, should it be returned to government in the upcoming general election, he nevertheless branded it “bad policy” that it represents “a 10 percent tax on investment by Bahamian entrepreneurs.

“This reiterates the point we were making during the Budget communication that it’s a bad policy and it is a disincentive to investment,” the east Grand Bahama MP said yesterday. “This [Superwash’s situation] is a real life example of why we thought it was a bad policy. It really highlights the repeated remarks that the leader of the Opposition [Michael Pintard] and I made during the Budget debate.

“It is a bad policy. It stifles investment. I think this is going to be a disincentive for investors. I think that investors considering investing over $1m in their construction-related expansion projects will think twice because it means that, in proceeding with their plans, they - in effect - will have a 10 percent tax put on their investment. As we said in the Budget debate, it’s a bad policy and a disincentive for investment.”

Mr D’Aguilar confirmed that the VAT Act changes, coupled with the Department of Inland Revenue’s stance, means that Superwash will have to pay almost $400,000 in extra construction-related costs on its near-$4m East Street South new laundromat and retail complex. While he will absorb it, and proceed, he warned that other hardpressed businesses facing small profit margins may elect not to proceed with projects that boost construction and full-time jobs and economic activity.

Tribune Business also reported that blocking businesses from reclaiming, or offsetting, the 10 percent tax paid on construction materials for $1m-plus expansions appears to contravene the very principles and structure on which VAT is founded. VAT registrant companies are supposed to be able to regain, or offset, the tax paid on their ‘inputs’ - such as building materials - against the ‘output’ VAT

paid by end-user consumers. This is now being blocked in this specific circumstance.

Mr Thompson declined to into these technicalities, but reiterated: “From the investor point of view, it’s an additional 10 percent tax on their investment. Any investor looking at expanding their business, starting up their business, is going to think twice before doing so.”

Asked whether the FNM would eliminate or reverse this particular VAT Act amendment if it were elected to government at the next general election, the east Grand Bahama MP did not explicitly confirm ‘yes’ but added that the party’s position is that he treatment of construction-related business expansions should revert to the pre-Budget position.

“Most certainly it’s a policy that ought not to have been put in place,” the Opposition finance spokesman argued. “It was a benefit that investors were able to take advantage of previously, and was a benefit taken away from them. It is, in effect, a 10 percent additional tax on investment.

“We believe it’s a bad policy, we believe it must be addressed, we believe it must be changed and we believe it should go back to the position it was previously. I can state that the FNM’s position is that it should go back to the position it was previously. The reality is it’s a disincentive for investment. It’s in effect an additional 10 percent tax on investment, so it’s bad policy.”

Mr Thompson was backed by the BCA’s Mr Sands, who told Tribune Business the fall-out will likely “hit” all aspects of the Bahamian construction industry by slashing the amount of projects and work available. “I think what the Government should try to understand is what do they think is going to happen,” he said. “I don’t know why they think it will be a positive thing for the expansion of existing infrastructure.

“Clearly, it would retard any industry expansion if I knew I could previously reclaim the VAT on projects $1m and over. You’re

“The sale hasn't even finished yet, and I still selling more than what I usually do on a Black Friday sale,” Mr Johnson said. “It feels like I'm already in Christmas now. This is more than my Christmas gift. This is a blessing from God.

“I haven't had much Black Friday sales over the previous years because, at first, I only used to do unlocking and repair services. But for the last two years of selling electronics now, it's been hectic. Everybody calling me, left, right and centre. Everybody want to pick up, buy this or that. It's just hectic now that so much traffic coming

“It's been really tough. If the water's not out, the power is out. If power's not out, the water's out. A lot of times we go whole days where there's no water and no power. So it's quite frustrating.”

unsanitary when persons did not have water to bathe, flush toilets or brush their teeth with. While he said the water quality was “OK”, residents did not have water for three or four days in a row.

“Everybody on this part of the island was impacted,” he said. “I'm down in Central Eleuthera. The water just goes out for two or three days at a time, and it's very frustrating. It's been out all day, and then sometimes it's different amounts of water for different areas. So some people have water while others don't because the pressure doesn't reach. But it's not a consistent service.

now telling me I should go ahead and expand my business, expand my facilities, expand my plant but I have to pay an extra 10 percent. Why would I want to do that?”

Speaking to the implications for the construction industry, Mr Sands said: “It won’t shut down the industry, but it’s going to hit a lot of projects scheduled for expansion. The ownership may decide not to go ahead with it. If I’m doing a $10m expansion, and you’re telling me I’m going to have to pay $1m extra, why would I want to do this? I would keep my old plant. It is what it is,” the BCA president added.

“I hope the persons involved with it understand the possible impact. I know they [the Government] want to collect taxes, but they cannot collect taxes if businesses do not exist. There’s no win there. I’m hearing rumblings from many businesses which are very nervous about how they’re going to make it to the 2026 first quarter. You’re going to tax businesses to the place where they stay stagnant. That’s the fear. If they do that, that doesn’t help anyone.”

Superwash’s Mr D’Aguilar, the former minister of tourism and aviation, told this newspaper that he believed the VAT Act changes, which accompanied the 2025-2026 Budget passed by Parliament in late June, would allow Bahamian companies undertaking legitimate physical expansion of their premises to apply to the tax authorities for an exemption from the new requirements.

The reforms stipulate that tax deductions on VAT inputs “shall not be allowed in respect of any goods or services acquired for use in, or connection with” property construction, reconstruction or renovations deemed to be a “major” projectmeaning the work is valued at $1m or more - “unless the comptroller otherwise prescribes”.

Mr D’Aguilar said he had taken the latter phrase to mean that companies could seek exemptions from having to pay VAT on building materials acquired for bona fide construction projects designed to expand their core activities. As a result, he applied to the Department of Inland

in and purchasing from me, now that I have the sale ongoing.”

The Fitness Connection, which operates from two physical locations and an online store, also saw an increase in sales with its founder and owner, Demeko Nesbitt, reporting a 50 percent uptick during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Noting that his business is usually busy during he former day, he said they have been planning the deals for three months.

“We are normally busy during Black Friday, and we've been planning for this for about three months,” Mr

Nesbitt said. “So this year, as we anticipated, we did have an increase in traffic; about 50 percent more customers coming through, both online and in-store.

“Cyber Monday was not as busy as Black Friday or Black Friday weekend was. We had different specials from Monday straight through Sunday as of yesterday. So we had a variety of deals. And then on the Black Friday itself, we had some even deeper discounts. But right now we have some specials online. They've been moving at a good pace, but not as not as crazy as the Black Friday time.”

To ease the burden on its customers, the Water & Sewerage Corporation said its teams “provided support through tankered water until full restoration could be achieved”.

It added: “With all three trains now back in service, we are distributing water at maximum capacity over the next several hours to fully repressurise the system. Our goal is to ensure water supply is completely restored to every customer in Central Eleuthera.”

Mr Armstrong said service was not accessible to those who did not have water storage tanks.

“To be fair to Water and Sewerage, they did organise

Revenue for approval to reclaim, or deduct, the VAT paid on Superwash’s construction material inputs.

However, Shunda Strachan, the Department of Inland Revenue’s controller, quickly disabused him of this expectation, asserting that the amendments “explicitly prohibit” VAT deductions on construction projects that fall within the $1m-plus “major” category defined in the Act.

And she asserted that the “unless the comptroller otherwise prescribes” phrase is not providing a gateway for the Department of Inland Revenue to grant exemptions from this legal mandate but, instead, gives the tax authority the ability to issue rules and regulations identifying activities “that do not constitute major construction”.

Mrs Strachan, in her written letter to Mr D’Aguilar, asserted that the VAT Act reforms were designed to ensure that “major construction” projects worth more than $1m received the same VAT tax treatment as purchases of land and/ or buildings - meaning that businesses are unable to treat either as a deductible business expense and offset them against the ‘output’ VAT collected from consumers.

“In respect of your request, it appears that the legislative amendment has been misinterpreted. The action you are seeking would, in effect, require the comptroller to act contrary to what is expressly required under the Value Added Tax Act,” she asserted.

The purpose of the “major construction project” amendments, Mrs Strachan added, was to ensure they and property transactions are subject to “the same treatment”. She added that the reforms “apply where a business premises is constructed, reconstructed or substantially renovated, and such activity constitutes major construction.

“The cost of the construction, reconstruction or substantial renovationtogether with the VAT paid on those activities - form the capitalised cost of the business premises. Please note that under the VAT Act, the comptroller has no authority to override the legislation. The amendment explicitly prohibits the deduction of VAT paid on

water deliveries free of charge to various people, but not everybody was able to access them because not everybody has tanks,” Mr Armstrong said. “So if you have back-up tanks, they'll come and fill your back-up tanks and you can have water for a couple more days. But that's only certain people. So it's not very equitable.

“I know there was a lady down in Palmetto Point who doesn't have any water tanks, so she just was unable to shower for four or five days. She's an elderly lady so what is she supposed to do? She can't carry five gallon waters from a friend's house. So it's all very difficult. It puts people in a very difficult position.”

Mr Armstrong clarified that the Water & Sewerage Corporation workers are doing their best and infrastructure is the issue.

construction, reconstruction or substantial renovation of real property where such activity qualifies as major construction.”

As for the phrase “unless the comptroller otherwise prescribes”, Mrs Strachan argued this did not empower herself and the Department of Inland Revenue to grant exemptions to individual businesses that would allow them to reclaim the VAT paid on construction material inputs.

“The phrase ‘unless the comptroller otherwise prescribes’ refers specifically to the statutory process by which the comptroller may, through regulation or rule made under the authority of the VAT Act, define certain activities that do not constitute major construction. It does not empower the comptroller to make caseby-case determinations for individual registrants, which is the basis of your request,” Mrs Strachan told Mr D’Aguilar.

“The process of ‘prescribing’ involves the comptroller issuing a formal instrument - by regulation or rule - specifying categories of activities that are excluded from the meaning of major construction. Once such a list is lawfully prescribed, it applies uniformly to all registrants. To date, no activities have been prescribed as excluded from the definition of major construction.

“Having reviewed the details in your letter, the activities being undertaken clearly fall within the scope

“Our experience has always been that the people here on the ground, the guys servicing the water, or the guys doing the deliveries, or the guys digging up the roads, trying to solve the issues, are working super hard and are unbelievably nice, and they're absolutely doing their best from Water and Sewerage and from BPL (Bahamas Power and Light),” Mr Armstrong said. “But even they are stuck, because the infrastructure is obviously too old, has not been maintained correctly over many years. “So. It's this really sad situation where everybody on the island, including the people who work for the company, are frustrated, and it's not any of their fault. It's just the lack of investment over many years, and puts everyone in a very, very frustrating, intense position.”

of major construction as defined under paragraphs 50 (1C) (i) and (ii). Accordingly, the comptroller would not have the legal authority to classify your project as otherwise, since doing so would create a precedent applicable to all registrants and thereby defeat the purpose of the amendment. We regret that our response cannot be more favourable to your request.”

One well-placed financial source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Tribune Business that the Department of Inland Revenue position as outlined in Mrs Strachan’s letter is “absolutely incredible”. They added: It’s a tax on high-end investment. It’s a tax on capital formation and it’s going to put a brake on growth. This is the antithesis of what you do in order to spur development.

“We give tax breaks to hotels and small businesses to spur capital formation. You don’t want to add an additional burden because it makes it more expensive and shrinks the dollar value of the investment. This is not the last you will hear of this. It’s going to have severe implications for big projects. In no jurisdiction is this treated as non-refundable VAT because these are business expenses. These are supposed to be refundable.”

ROSEWOOD EXUMA OPPONENTS

ISSUE BAHAMIAN JOBS CHALLENGE

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

OPPONENTS of the $200m Rosewood Exuma project yesterday challenged its assertions over the number of Bahamians it will employ - both in the building phase and fulltime operations - alleging it has obtained government approval for up to 100 construction work permits.

Bob Coughlin, principal behind the neighbouring Turtlegrass Resort development on East Sampson Cay, in a statement queried how many full-time posts will be made available to Bahamians when the developer, Miami-based Yntegra Group, has obtained permission for up to “30 work permits for key managerial staff” during operations.

“Why would a development claiming to support the people of Exuma negotiate such a huge and, in my opinion, totally unnecessary number of foreign work permits into their agreement with the Government? Do they think Exumians and other Bahamians are not capable of doing the work?” Mr Coughlin asked.

“Rosewood Exuma should be called on to explain and justify their unsubstantiated, and apparently unrealistic, claims about local jobs. They say

that they are all about creating jobs for the local community while they have negotiated to employ 100 foreign workers as well as two foreign contractors to build their development. At the end of the day, actions speak louder than words.”

Yntegra did not issue a full response before press time last night, despite Tribune Business efforts to obtain one. It signalled, though, that many of the allegations were false and inaccurate, and that it is putting together a more comprehensive reply.

Turtlegrass’ assertions appear to be based on a December 19, 2023, copy of a Heads of Agreement for the East Sampson Cay project that is thought to have been placed in the Town Planning Committee file when Yntegra made its application for preliminary site plan approval. It is unclear whether the agreement has been subsequently amended or altered, but the document - which has been seen by Tribune Business - appears to be genuine and bears the signatures and names of both Nicole Campbell, the Cabinet secretary, who signed the document for the Government, and Felipe MacLean, Yntegra’s principal. It is standard procedure for the Cabinet secretary to sign Heads of Agreements.

The Heads of Agreement commits Yntegra and

its Sampson Cay Bahamas entity to maintain, “so far as is possible in the prevailing circumstances”, a workforce ratio of 80 percent Bahamian employees to 20 percent expatriates in both the operational and construction phases. This is said to be in accordance with the Government’s prevailing policy.

“In this connection, the Government has agreed in principle, subject to the relevant laws of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, to the approval of 100 work permits for skilled construction workers and 30 work permits for key managerial staff during the operation of the project,” the Heads of Agreement states.

Elsewhere, the document states that the project will hire up to 250 persons for construction and 150 in fulltime operations. While the 30 managerial work permits would meet the 80/20 workforce ratio in favour of Bahamians, the 100 construction permits - if fully issued - would account for 40 percent of the construction workforce if all hired and working at once.

And, in section 4.4, which also deals with work permits, the Heads of Agreements names Americaribe and Venturer, a Singapore-based “shell and contractor” specialising in “mass timber structures”, as entities for which work permits will be granted to their

staff as Yntegra plans to use “special environmentally friendly timber” during the resort’s building.

The Heads of Agreement, while committing the developer to “create opportunities for Bahamian entertainers and performers to regularly perform”, and ensure Bahamian artwork is present, also provides an ‘out’ by stating that nothing prevents it from using non-Bahamian talent.

The document also states that Yntegra is seeking to obtain 146 acres of Crown Land via a grant and lease purchase, with one parcel consisting of 22 acres and the other 124 acres. And, included among the typical VAT and Customs duties tax breaks and concessions on imported construction materials and equipment, is also the standard ten-year real property tax exemption that most resorts gain from the date they begin operation.

Mr Coughlin has been outspoken about his concerns over Yntegra’s Rosewood Exuma development. and has threatened to halt work on his $75m project and abandon his ambitions if he is ignored.

He said the first phase of his project, costing $25m, is nearly complete and that the planned second phase, including a large beach club at an estimated $35m, would require doubling the construction workforce and

creating dozens of permanent jobs. Most staff already employed hail from Black Point.

However, he said that due to the threat of the “massive and destructive” neighbouring development, plans were halted.

“Sadly for Central Exuma employment, we had to pause our development due to the impact that Rosewood Exuma’s aggressive and impractical plans will have on our low-density resort that emphasises the beauty of Sampson Cay.

I’ve been coming to The Bahamas for 30 years and am a permanent resident. I consider this my home, and what they’re trying to do is enormously destructive to the pristine environment that makes The Bahamas, and in particular Exuma, special,” said Mr Coughlin.

The Rosewood Exuma developer has announced plans to file a revised site plan with the Town Planning Committee following community feedback and ongoing controversy surrounding aspects of the project - especially the placement of its service dock.

AG: NEW BILL ‘BACKBONE’ FOR THE DIGITAL ECONOMY

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE Attorney General yesterday said the Data Protection Bill is the “backbone” of The Bahamas’ technology-related legislation.

Yntegra said the new submission follows public consultation over its certificate of environmental clearance and an assessment by the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP). The company said it adjusted the planned location of its service dock, increasing its distance from the neighbouring Turtlegrass Resort property, which now requires a revised plan. Mr Coughlin said any plans to conduct commercial shipping in that area would create serious safety risks for visitors and destroy opportunities for sustainable tourism in the Exumas.

“Converting the North Bay into a commercial shipping channel would create a very unsafe and dangerous situation for our guests and end any chance of creating a positive example of sustainable tourism in the Exumas – benefiting both the environment and the local economy for years to come. They want to turn this pristine marine habitat into a highway for supply ships and fuel boats. Totally impractical.”

Ryan Pinder KC, speaking in the Senate, said current Bahamian data protection laws are outdated and not flexible enough to handle modern technological developments. He added that the new Bill has been designed to accommodate emerging industries that rely heavily on data, such as financial technology (fintech), digital assets, e-commerce, biometrics, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing.

Resort forced to adjust staff over harbour breakwater woe

PRODUCE - from page B1

Mr Garzaroli said Graycliff purchased Mountbatten House a few years back, and the building will serve as a temporary start-up space while the company negotiates with the Government on a permanent home for the factory.

“We bought the building a few years ago, and we’ve done several iterations. So this is the temporary facility for Batik right now. We’re negotiating with the Government on the permanent home for the factory. This is the temporary start-up facility, and then we’re going to move into a larger store,” he explained.

“We had tried to negotiate for the purchase of Androsia - that kind of fell through a couple years ago - and then this kind of presented itself. And like I said, it took us about 15 minutes to make that decision. It wasn’t really a long thought process. This is something that we’ve always wanted to do and create.”

Mr Garzaroli said the Batik Factory offers a completely new and unique experience for Graycliff visitors that will complement

the offerings of the six other factories on the property.

“It gives you access to something that’s been around for 300 years, but also it’s a completely different offering than anything that we have here. We have six different factories here on property. This is a whole other experience that creates something out of basically nothing, and it shows the breadth and width of our fame and people - what we’re able to create, and the colours and the vibrancy,” said Mr Garzaroli.

“It kind of gives us access to a whole different thing that we just weren’t having access to before. We do a lot of local lessons at our winery and our chocolate factory and cigars. And so this gives an additional class that Bahamians can take and learn.

“Batik has been literally part of our Bahamian culture for more than 50 years. So Bahamians identify with the Batik process, and Bahamians are very proud of it, and we are very proud of it and we’re proud to have the master with us.”

Mr Garzaroli said business across all of Graycliff’s factories and the hotel is

Asserting that data is a core part of The Bahamas’ digital economy ambitions, he said the Bill will serve as the foundational legal framework for all

“booming”, driven in large part by the steady flow of cruise passengers visiting Nassau.

However, he said operational challenges remain, particularly at the harbour entrance, where the breakwaters are in need of repair. These repairs are critical to ensure that cruise ships can dock safely during rough conditions and that passengers can disembark without disruption.

Mr Garzaroli recalled a recent weekend when weather and harbour conditions drastically reduced arrivals, forcing the company to make staffing adjustments.

“Business is booming. The cruise lines, obviously, are a big part of that - the volume of passengers is humongous. The only thing that’s kind of the unknown is that at the entrance of the harbour, the breakwaters need to be repaired so the ships can actually get in when it’s a little bit rough,” said Mr Garzaroli.

“So this past weekend, instead of having six ships, we only had one ship. So, the staffing, we had to kind of pivot quickly. We were staffed for an onslaught, and it was just kind of dribbles. But that’s the way business works.”

technology-related legislation in the country.

“The Bill is intended to serve as the backbone of all technology-related legislation, recognising that data, particularly personal data, is a critical component of the digital economy,” said Mr Pinder.

“The regulation of virtually any industry that involves the collection of data, including fintech, digital assets, e-commerce, cyber security, e-government services, biometrics, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence requires a legal framework anchored in strong data protection principles and best practices.”

Mr Pinder said the Bill aims to build trust in how personal data is handled, both within The Bahamas and internationally, and is designed to make the management of personal data more transparent and accountable.

“The Bill seeks to strengthen public confidence, both locally and internationally, in the protection of personal data, enhance transparency and accountability in its handling, and expand the rights, obligations and protection of data subjects/consumers, data controllers and data processors in a rapidly-evolving and increasingly complex technological landscape,” said Mr Pinder.

“The Data Protection Commissioner explained the draft Bill significantly expands the rights of individuals by giving data subjects greater control over their personal information, while also imposing stronger responsibilities on data controllers and processors to ensure transparency, accountability and the secure management of personal data.” Mr Pinder said the Bill establishes a clear legal framework to make sure companies that handle data - both data controllers and data processors -manage personal information responsibly.

He warned that without the framework, there could be gaps in the law, inconsistent enforcement and a loss of public trust, especially when it comes to sensitive personal data.

Receiver faces competing property, minority shareholder rights issues

Retiro Road off Shirley Street. Then, in July, he marketed Goat Cay, a ten-acre undeveloped private island in the Exumas, for sale in a bid to recover the millions of dollars owed to Mr Lockhart’s victims and creditors.

Other assets that could have been targeted include the former judge and MP’s personal residence, with a last known address listed as 67 Ocean Drive, Adelaide Village. Mr Cash, more recently, also advertised for sale a condominium at the Pilot House on East Bay Street plus a residential property located in Sea Breeze, although this occurred after his end-September letter. Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty is handling the latter two properties.

Mr Lockhart is now also being pursued by US federal law enforcement after he was charged with perpetrating a $3.568m fraud against former clients, and Mr Cash said he is dealing with “myriad tangential” issues due to the scale of the receivership including competing property rights claims. He added that he has finally secured legal representation through attorney Paula Adderley-Wilmott.

“I experienced an undesirable period of delay in engaging counsel. This was due to two reasons - “unwillingness” of counsel and “unavailability” of counsel to prioritise this matter within the timeframe I desired,” the ex-FNM chairman and senator explained.

“I am pleased to advise the court that in selecting counsel to represent the receiver in this matter I faced an embarrassment of riches; a fair number of senior attorneys had the requisite experience to serve the interests of justice in this matter.

“Regrettably, having regard to KC Lockhart’s iconic stature in the legal community and his long standing at the Bar, several attorneys contacted took the requested time ‘to think about it’ but ultimately demurred on the basis of long-standing relationships with KC Lockhart or on account of perceived conflict.”

Mr Cash then added: “As I moved up the list of options for counsel, the second issue involved availability (time). I commenced this appointment with the clear understanding that the judgment creditors have been out of funds for a long time and that the court was desirous of my giving effect to its Order within the fastest time possible while doing justice to the interests of all parties concerned.

“My challenge then became finding counsel whose diary afforded them the ability to move at the fast pace I desired in order to complete the sales of properties enumerated in the Order within the letter and spirit of the Order. Suffice it to say that that proved to be an enormous challenge.”

But, with Mrs Adderley-Wilmott now secured as his attorney, Mr Cash added: “I hasten to add that while the efforts to engage suitable and available counsel

Gov’t borrowing responsible for $124m external reserves jump

FLY - from page B1

to 8.382m for the first nine months last year, albeit the rate of growth had slowed

to 8.7 percent compared to 16.3 percent the year before.

were ongoing, no core element of my work as receiver - and work that was essential to properly instructing counsel - was impeded. The work continued apace. It is that work that brings me as receiver to this critical juncture.”

The Supreme Court previously approved a ‘fieri facias’ application brought on behalf of US investor, Dr Paul Fuchs, which authorises officials to seize assets from persons who fail to pay court judgments.

Dr Fuchs is asserting that Mr Lockhart owes him $3.033m over a real estate deal that fell through. Following an October 11, 2023, hearing, the Supreme Court ordered that Mr Lockhart and Lockhart & Co were “jointly and severally liable” to return the $3.033m to Dr Fuchs.

Interest was to be added at an annual rate of three percent from September 8, 2023, and this subsequently rose to 6.25 percent per annum until full payment. Mr Cash was subsequently appointed as receiver over Mr Lockhart’s identified assets in The Bahamas in a bid to recover what is owed to Dr Fuchs and others.

Meanwhile, hinting at progress, Mr Cash told the Supreme Court in his September 29, 2025, letter that he anticipated making applications, and seeking directions, for “the sale of three of the major properties” identified in the court’s Order “within weeks”. He added: “I have now reached a pivotal stage in the performance of my duties under the Order.

This again confirms that cruise tourism is solely driving the growth in Bahamian visitor arrivals, accounting for almost 7.8m of the 9.116m arrivals for the first nine months of 2025. This compares to almost 7.04m cruise arrivals during the comparative period in 2024 - again indicating that the industry and its private islands are now the

“Within the next two to three weeks (or sooner) my counsel will seek to put before the court for its consideration and approval the necessary information related to the sale of three of the major properties listed in the Order… My work as receiver is ongoing, but with respect to the sale of these three properties, virtually all that I can do has been done to facilitate timely and full consideration of these matters by the court.”

Mr Cash continued: “Respectfully, I am also compelled to advise the court that I am at a crucial stage where significant financial resources have been expended and are yet again required to underwrite the costs of providing vacant possession of one of the properties that will be put before the court, and for site preparation, forthcoming contentious legal work and accounting work required for sale of additional properties.

“Approval of the sales applications will be essential for efficient and effective continuation of the receiver’s work.” Mr Cash, detailing the issues he was encountering, said these included the rights of nominee and minority shareholders as well as requests from Mr Lockhart’s former clients and other attorneys for legal files to be passed over to them.

“Given the multiplicity of companies and properties involved, myriad issues have arisen, albeit all tangential, I say, to the duty of giving effect to the Order,” the receiver added.

“These issues, at least one of which has already resulted in a parallel legal action presently before another justice of the Supreme Court, involve matters of competing claims of property

increasingly dominant force in Bahamian tourism.

The Central Bank’s October report conceded that stopover tourism growth moving forward will likely be “more tempered” in comparison to the cruise industry, blaming this on a combination of hotel room inventory shortages and reduced consumer confidence in the US.

“Projections are that the pace of growth in the domestic economy will moderate in 2025, relative to 2024, as economic indicators continue to approach their medium-term potential,” the Central Bank said. “In particular, growth prospects are anticipated to remain significantly linked to developments in the tourism sector.

“Although a less dominant weight in tourism earnings, the cruise sector is poised to register robust gains. However, growth in the stopover segment -which remains dependent on trends in the US market - is expected to be more tempered, reflecting accommodation constraints and more subdued consumer confidence in the United States.”

The Central Bank added that “beyond tourism, new and ongoing foreign

rights, rights of nominee and minority shareholders and matters touching on various aspects of the Companies Act.

“I also wish to preview for his Lordship a forthcoming application relevant to the Legal Profession Act. I have received multiple requests from individuals and an attorney who wish to have files returned to them or to have documents from within the files turned over to them,” Mr Cash continued. “My entreaties to the Bahamas Bar Association - which has authority to act in accordance with the Legal Profession Actrequesting guidance have not yet resulted in a formal response.” Mr Lockhart’s whereabouts are currently unknown, with some sources saying he is still in The Bahamas and others suggesting he may have fled abroad.

Back in June 2024, Mr Lockhart was the subject of an Interpol ‘red notice’, which is a worldwide alert issued to all law enforcement authorities, asking them to help locate, and provisionally arrest, the former MP and ex-Supreme Court judge who was once chairman of Nassau Flight Services, the Gaming Board and the Police Inspectorate.

Prior to the Interpol action, the Royal Bahamas Police Force in early 2024 had issued a ‘wanted poster’ for Mr Lockhart after Dr Fuchs lodged a criminal complaint against him. The Interpol action also revealed that other aggrieved investors were making similar allegations to those asserted by Dr Fuchs.

Daniel Clay Smith Jnr was revealed to have made a separate but similar complaint to the police force’s Financial Crimes Investigation Branch on August 18, 2023. He alleged that, between

investment projects, particularly those focused on onshore cruise-related attractions, are expected to support the continued expansion in the construction sector”.

“Nevertheless, downside risks to the outlook have increased against the backdrop of heightened tariffs on international trade and uncertainties surrounding major economies’ trade policies, both of which could dampen tourism demand and constrain global economic growth,” the banking regulator said.

“In addition, external risks remain relevant, such as the direct and indirect effects of escalating geopolitical tensions and elevated global oil prices….. Tourism output, while at healthy levels, tapered vis-à-vis the previous year as the high value-added stopover segment remained constrained by capacity limitations and reduced demand from the US market.”

Turning to tourism-related data, the Central Bank added: “Recent data from the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) revealed that total departures - net of domestic passengers - [at Lynden Pindling International Airport] edged up by 0.1 percent to

N O T I C E

IN THE ESTATE OF JAMES LANG (a.k.a. JAMES DAVID LANG) late of West Mead Township, Crawford County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, one of the States in the United States of America, deceased.

NOTICE is hereby given that all persons having any claim or demand against the above Estate are required to send the same duly certified in writing to the Undersigned on or before 29 December 2025, after which date the Administrator will proceed to distribute the assets having regard only to the claims of which he shall then have had notice.

AND NOTICE is hereby also given that all persons indebted to the said Estate are requested to make full settlement on or before the date hereinbefore mentioned.

DELANEY PARTNERS

Attorneys for the Administrator Chambers P. O. Box CB-13007 5th Floor Lyford Cay House Western Road, Lyford Cay New Providence, The Bahamas

May 2022 and November 2022, he paid some $3.205m to Mr Lockhart and his law firm to assist with Crown Land on Staniel Cay, Exuma, that he wanted to convert to commercial use.

“In addition, some of the funds were to assist in applying to The Bahamas’ Immigration Department for citizenship (likely permanent residency) for Mr Smith and his family,” the Interpol alert alleged. “By November 2022, nothing had materialised and Mr Smith requested his monies to be returned...The funds have not been received to date.”

Mr Lockhart was then indicted on May 15, 2025, by a US federal grand jury for wire fraud and the alleged “misappropriation” of investor monies. It accused him of using investor monies intended to finance real estate acquisitions in The Bahamas for the “personal enrichment” of himself and Patricia Bullard, the interim administration director for his now-former law firm. She has also been charged. The duo, instead of using the funds as designed, allegedly diverted them to purchase two residential properties in Orlando, high-end watches and a gold bracelet for their own gain. They sent $525,151 towards the purchase of one property just a single day after receiving almost exactly the same amount from the victim, who thought the monies were being applied to his Bahamas property deals. Court documents reviewed by Tribune Business confirm a live arrest warrant has been issued for Mr Lockhart, with the details now entered in the US National Crime Information Centre (NCIC) base. This means he is a fugitive from US justice.

91,022 in October relative to the comparative period in the previous year.

“Specifically, non-US international departures increased by 2.8 percent to 16,159 compared to the same period of 2024. However, US departures fell by 0.4 percent to 74,863. On a year-to-date basis, total outbound traffic declined by 2.4 percent to 1.3m, owing primarily to a 3.5 percent reduction in US departures to 1.2m. Providing some offset, non-US international departures rose by 4.4 percent to 0.2m.”

As for the vacation rental market, the Central Bank report said: “In the short-term vacation rental market, data provided by AirDNA showed that room nights sold increased by 4.6 percent to 36,124 vis-à-vis the same period in 2024. Correspondingly, the occupancy rate for entire place listing edged up to 39.8 percent from 39.6 percent, and hotel comparable listings to 43.3 percent from 41.2 percent.

“The average daily room rate (ADR) reduced for entire place listings by 10.6 percent to $284.87 relative to the same period of 2024. Similarly, the corresponding ADR for hotel comparable listings fell by 4.3 percent to $136.56 in comparison to the previous year.

“On a year-to-date basis, total room nights sold rose by 3.1 percent, and the average daily rates for both entire place and hotel comparable listings increased by 20.9 percent and 3 percent, respectively.”

Elsewhere, the Central Bank said The Bahamas’ foreign currency reserves, which support the fixed one:one exchange rate peg with the US dollar, grew by $123m during October 2025 to close the months at close to $3bn.

“During the month of October, external reserves grew by $123m to $2.93bn, a reversal from the $9.3m decline in the preceding year, owing in part to the receipt of net proceeds from the Government’s external borrowing activities,” it added. “Reflective of this development, the Central Bank’s net foreign currency purchase from the public sector expanded to $165.7m from $18.6m in the prior year.

“Conversely, the bank’s net sales to commercial banks increased to $43.8m from $34.6m in the previous year. Further, commercial banks’ net foreign currency outflows through customers advanced to $45.3m from $31.9m the year earlier.”

Cove’s 600-room upgrade to launch in Spring 2026

REFRESH - from page B1

Atlantis added that it will expand its retail offerings with a mix of new boutique outlets. It said the Tiffany & Co store is set to debut this month, while Lalique and Creed will open in spring 2026 followed by Dylan’s Candy Bar and Vineyard Vines later in the year. Jacquemus opened last month.

“This investment highlights Atlantis’ deep

commitment to our guests, our team and The Bahamas as a premier destination,” said Audrey Oswell, Atlantis president and managing director.

“Following the recent successful upgrades to The Royal Towers and the Atlantis casino, these new projects will further enrich the experiences our guests love and introduce exciting new offerings in 2026.” Tribune Business reported earlier this year

that Atlantis plans to invest around $135m over the next three years in a near-total overhaul of its Cove resort despite a modest fall in revenue per available room (RevPAR).

Analysts at DBRS Morningstar, in evaluating the creditworthiness of mortgage-backed securities that underpined the latest refinancing of the Paradise Island mega resort’s debt, disclosed that the hotel and its owner, Brookfield Asset Management, had invested more than half-a-billion dollars in refreshing multiple aspects of its product and guest experience.

The anticipated Cove improvements appear to be one of the biggest capital expenditures that Atlantis will have undertaken over the past ten to 15 years. The outlay comes after “strong performance since COVID19” with RevPAR, despite a slight year-over-year decline of 2.2 percent for the 12 months to end-May 2025, still some $49 ahead of pre-pandemic levels for the entire resort. RevPAR is a key indicator of hotel pricing power and visitor demand, as its measures yields from available room inventory. Morningstar attributed the decline from a peak of $274

in 2023, down to the pres-

ent $260, on “the phasing out of pent-up transient demand” from leisure visitors that built up due to the COVID-related travel restrictions and lockdowns imposed from 2020 to early 2022.

As for Atlantis’ planned capital works, Morningstar said: “Between 2012 and 2024, the sponsor spent approximately $519.3m across the resort to renovate hotel rooms, lobbies, food and beverage offerings, and the casino, among other improvements.

“Between 2025 and 2027, the borrower plans to renovated the guest rooms, pool

deck and public areas at the Cove hotel tower with an anticipated capital expenditure spend of $135m. This translates into the equivalent of $225,000 per key.”

Detailing Atlantis’ various amenities, Morningstar said these included the 41-acre Aquaventure water park; recently renovated 60,000 square foot casino; a 63-slip marina; a fitness centre equipped with a fourlane pool, six tennis courts and personal trainers; a movie theatre; 11 swimming pools; over 40 restaurants and bars; and 35,000 square feet of leased retail to over 68 international brands.

Covet an Italian masterpiece, but shy of the millions? How about a digital copy at supercar prices

By COLLEEN BARRY Associated Press

THE last person to get their hands on a painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci shelled out more than $450 million at auction.

Now, Italian cultural officials are making it possible to purchase a limited edition, certified digital copy of the Renaissance genius' "Lady with Disheveled Hair'' for roughly the price of a Lamborghini.

The Italian nonprofit Save the Artistic Heritage with its technical partner Cinello are providing well-heeled collectors the possibility of owning a literal projection of original Italian masterpieces, sized and framed to match the museum experience.

Participating museums sign a certificate of authenticity, and in return receive 50% of the profits.

"We don't want to sell a piece of technology. We want to sell a piece

of artwork,'' said John Blem, the Italian-born Danish entrepreneur who founded the initiative and who serves as chairman of Cinello and vice president of the nonprofit.

Revenue sharing is key

The revenue sharing is integral to the project, which aims to help cashstrapped museums access new income streams, and a key part of the sales pitch, Blem said. Over the last two years, Save the Artistic Heritage has contributed 300,000 euros ($347,000) to its Italian museum partners, with prices of the digital masterpieces ranging from 30,000 euros to 300,000 euros.

Contributing to the value, each is sold in a limited series of nine, representing the conventional number of statues that can be cast from a single mold and still be considered original. The catalog of some 250 Italian artworks comes from

about 10 Italian museums and foundations, including the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in Milan, the Capodimonte in Naples and the Pilotta in Parma, which owns Leonardo's unfinished painting on wood of a woman with windblown hair, which sold for 250,000 euros (nearly $290,000).

Blem and a partner are in the process of setting up a similar nonprofit in the United States that is

expected to launch next year.

The Digital Experience

The digital artworks appear backlit on screens sized to match their originals, the luminescent effect bordering on Technicolor for such brightly colored masterpieces as Raffaelo's "The Marriage of the Virgin,'' which hangs in Milan's Brera Art Gallery. Others on display in the non-profit's Milan offices,

When formal systems stop working, neighbors turn to each other in what many call 'mutual aid'

By THALIA BEATY Associated Press

"TIMES are tough. We take care of us."

In early November, Kashish Ali posted those words to her Instagram story as part of a yearslong practice she's had to fundraise for food and drop it off at community fridges in Atlanta, where she's from, and now in New York, where she lives. Ali, who is 32 and a first generation Pakistani immigrant, estimated that her friends and family have trusted her with thousands of dollars over the past couple of years. For her, it's a practice of giving back and creating connection. It's also part of a growing interest in grassroots efforts to meet community needs that many call " mutual aid." Often, mutual aid just comes down to neighbors helping neighbors, and as many face high prices, cuts to government programs and political uncertainty, organizers say interest has swelled. Donating effort or time to mutual aid organizing is also another way to mark GivingTuesday, which falls on Dec. 2 this year, and has become a major day to support nonprofits.

Ali first noticed a fridge on the street outside of a brewery in Atlanta in 2020 and got in touch with the

organizers via social media. She completed a brief volunteer orientation, joined a group text chat and then posted on her Instagram that she would buy and drop off groceries.

"I ended up raising $700 in like three to four hours, which was insane," she said. Now, Ali doesn't think of her grocery runs as volunteering but rather as a habit engrained in her life that directly connects to those around her. She said when she starts putting granola bars, fruit or yogurt into a fridge, people immediately come around to look, chat and grab something to eat.

Afterwards, Ali posts her grocery receipts and photos of the filled fridge to her Instagram account.

"What I noticed was a lot of my friends and family and coworkers and colleagues, they all want to get involved. They want to give back," she said. "But sometimes donating your cash or money to whatever organization, you don't really see what happens with it per se, especially not immediately. So this was a way to get almost instant gratification."

One of the principles of mutual aid is that it welcomes everyone. There's no need to show an ID or prove income or residency, and most often, the organizers of these types of very local projects are

all volunteers. Organizers are also often recipients, with many groups seeking to remove the distinction entirely between those who give help and those who need it.

The low barriers to entry and lack of hierarchy are also part of what distinguishes this approach from the work of nonprofits, organizers said. A mantra of mutual aid is, "solidarity not charity."

Interest in mutual aid organizing often spikes in response to crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic and now, economic and political uncertainty under the second Trump administration.

Aaron Fernando, who works as an organizer for Shareable, which publishes resources about mutual aid and cooperatives, said they saw huge interest in the Mutual Aid 101 webinars they launched earlier this year. Some 1,100 people attended the first one, up from around 70 attendees at a typical webinar.

"It just is and continues to be a disempowering and scary time for a lot of populations," said Fernando,

which he said encourages people to seek new options to find resources and keep their communities safe.

In good times, he said most people don't concern themselves with mutual aid, but there are always people on the margins who are meeting their needs through these types of exchanges. Those small mutual aid projects can grow when disruptions hit.

"Once things go south, those systems, even though they're just like rickety scaffolding, they get built up a little bit, and then, they can catch people if if communities have them," he said.

Yoly Nuñez has been organizing food distributions and exchanges of clothes and household items with the Collective Focus Resource Hub in Brooklyn since the outbreak of the pandemic. Formerly a merchandiser in fashion, Nuñez and her fellow organizers specialize at finding free stuff.

Her group started hearing from friends working in the service industry about which restaurants were throwing food away. Now, they have arrangements

like Leonardo's wind-swept portrait and Andrea Mantegna's "Lamentation over a Dead Christ," are more subdued. On close inspection, details are visible down to the brush stroke, but without any texture that may belong to the original.

"I must say that the digital copy of 'The Marriage of the Virgin' has aroused in me and all those who have seen it a great deal of interest,'' said Angelo Crespi, the Brera Art Gallery's director. "The perfection, the luminosity, the visibility of the painting is amazing. But at the same time it doesn't deceive. … When they get close, people can see that it's a digital copy on a screen."

Digital technology has been gaining ground in the

art space, including digital canvases and even TV sets that display rotating artworks and photographs. The Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam has experimented on two limited-time projects: textured, multidimensional scans of selected masterpieces in its Relievo partnership with Fujifilm and the "Meet Vincent Van Gogh" interactive experience seen by more than 1 million people globally. Luke Gartlan, the head of the University of St. Andrews art history department, said Save the Artistic Heritage's project falls in a long tradition of Italian institutions using copies of artwork to help support their activities and preserve their collections.

with Trader Joe's and Wegmans to pick up food that would otherwise go to waste. They put produce and prepared foods in community fridges outside their Brooklyn storefront and it's taken almost immediately.

"We thought, we need to organize and see how we could help each other." Nuñez said. "And that's literally the whole thought process behind it is like, we're scared and we need to huddle in and help each other."

She said people now reach out to them frequently to ask how to start

their own mutual aid projects, which she encourages. "Usually, we want people to branch off and make their own groups because if we all have groups, it just makes us stronger," she said. Collective Focus decided to incorporate as a tax-exempt nonprofit in part to afford to rent their space. But they make decisions collectively and rely extensively on volunteers, though they do pay some staff members, including Georgina Edmonds, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years.

KASHISH Ali shops for groceries before filling a One Love Community Fridge, Nov. 15, 2025, in Brooklyn, New York.

Photo:Adam Gray/AP

A HIGH-definition, digital version of Andrea Mantegna’s painting, “Cristo Morto nel Sepolcro e Tre Dolenti (The Lamentation Over the Dead Christ),” hangs at the Brera Art Gallery in Milan, Italy, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. Photo:Save the Artistic Heritage/AP

New FDA-approved glasses can slow nearsightedness in kids

By CHAN HO-HIM and DAVID RISING Associated Press

HONG Kong officials said Monday that their investigation into a deadly blaze that killed at least 151 has revealed some of the netting that covered scaffolding used in renovations was not up to fire-safety codes, as a wave of public sympathy and support was met by government moves to stifle criticism.

Wednesday’s blaze, which took until Friday to fully extinguish, started on the lower-level netting covering bamboo scaffolding around one building in the high-rise Wang Fuk Court complex. It then swept inside as foam panels placed over windows caught fire and blew out the glass. Winds carried flames from building to building that all were covered in scaffolding and netting, until seven of eight were ablaze.

Initial tests of the netting showed it was up to code, but subsequently investigators collected 20 samples from all areas, including higher floors, and found seven failed safety standards, suggesting contractors skimped to make greater profits, said Eric Chan, Hong Kong’s Chief Secretary.

“They just wanted to make money at the expense of people’s lives,” he told reporters.

Donations for survivors of the fire had reached 900 million Hong Kong dollars ($115 million) as of Monday, authorities said, as a steady stream of people placed flowers, cards and other tributes at a makeshift memorial near the burned out block of buildings.

“When something happens, we come out to help each other, “ said Loretta Loh, after paying her regards at the site. “I have a heavy heart.”

Some 4,600 people lived in the Wang Fuk Court complex in the suburb of Tai Po.

Hong Kong police Disaster Victim Identification Unit staff had searched five of the burned buildings but only made partial progress through the remaining two, said Tsang Shuk-yin, head of the police casualty enquiry unit. Teams were assessing the safety of the other buildings, including the one that caught fire first and suffered the worst damage.

On Monday they recovered another eight bodies, including three that firefighters found earlier but could not retrieve. Dozens of people remain unaccounted for, but some are

Starbucks to pay $35M to NYC workers in settlement as ongoing strike draws pols to picket line

By JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press

STARBUCKS will pay about $35 million to more than 15,000 New York City workers to settle claims it denied them stable schedules and arbitrarily cut their hours, city officials announced Monday, hours before Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders visited striking baristas on a picket line. The development came amid a continuing strike by Starbucks' union that

began last month at dozens of locations around the country. The workers want better hours and increased staffing, and they are angry that Starbucks hasn't agreed on a contract nearly four years after workers voted to unionize at a Buffalo store. Union votes at other locations followed, and about 550 of Starbucks' 10,000 company-owned stores are now unionized. The coffee giant also has around 7,000 licensed locations at airports, grocery stores and other locales.

THE STONEHAVEN PROPERTY TRADING FUND LTD. Reg. No. 173806 B NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION

Notice is hereby given, in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act of 2000, that the above-named Company commenced dissolution procedures on the 28th day of November 2025 and that Sterling (Bahamas) Limited of Suite 202 Marina Lane, Sandyport, West Bay Street, P.O. Box N-9934, Nassau, Bahamas has been appointed voluntary Liquidator of the Company.

Notice is also hereby given that any person having a claim against the Company is required, within 14 days of the date of this Notice, to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to Sterling (Bahamas) Limited, the Liquidator of the Company, or in default thereof they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such debts or claims are proved.

Dated this 28th day of November 2025

Sterling (Bahamas) Limited Liquidator Legal Notice

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

(a) Taguaiba Fund ICON is in dissolution under the provisions of the Investment Condominium Act, 2014

(b) The dissolution of the said Investment Condominium commenced on the 20th day of November, 2025 when its Notice of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

(c) The Liquidator of the said Investment Condominium is Deltec Fund Directors Ltd., Deltec House, Lyford Cay, P.O. Box N-3229, Nassau, Bahamas.

Deltec Fund Directors Ltd. Liquidator

Workers and the company dispute the extent and impact of the strike, but Mamdani, Sanders and some state and city officials sought to amplify the baristas' message by mingling with scores of strikers and supporters outside a Starbucks shop in Brooklyn.

"These are not demands of greed — these are demands of decency," Mamdani, a democratic socialist who ran on pledges to aid working-class people, told the crowd. Some workers carried giant mock-ups of Starbucks takeout cups,

likely among the 39 bodies not yet identified, Tsang said.

“We will have to wait until we get through all seven blocks before we can make a final report,” she said.

Private donations and 300 million Hong Kong dollars ($38.5 million) in start-up capital from the government will be used to help victims rebuild their homes and provide long--term support, local officials said. The government has also given survivors cash subsidies to help with expenses, including funerals, and is working to find them housing.

bearing the union's logo instead of the coffee chain's insignia.

Four years after the first shop's union vote, "Starbucks has refused to sit down and negotiate a fair contract," said Sanders, a Vermont independent who supported Mamdani's campaign.

A message seeking comment on the progressive politicians' picket-line visit was sent to Starbucks.

Striking baristas described a harried workplace with chronic short-staffing, online orders so complex that the ticket is sometimes longer than the cup, and last-minute calls to come in.

"It is the company's issue to give us the labor amount to schedule partners fairly, and they are not scheduling

STONEHAVEN ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD.

Reg. No. 173763

B NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION

Notice is hereby given, in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act of 2000, that the above-named Company commenced dissolution procedures on the 28th day of November 2025 and that Sterling (Bahamas) Limited of Suite 202 Marina Lane, Sandyport, West Bay Street, P.O. Box N-9934, Nassau, Bahamas has been appointed voluntary Liquidator of the Company.

Notice is also hereby given that any person having a claim against the Company is required, within 14 days of the date of this Notice, to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to Sterling (Bahamas) Limited, the Liquidator of the Company, or in default thereof they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such debts or claims are proved.

Dated this 28th day of November 2025

Sterling (Bahamas) Limited Liquidator

Notice

TKB FUND ICON

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

(a) TKB Fund ICON is in dissolution under the provisions of the Investment Condominium Act, 2014

(b) The dissolution of the said Investment Condominium commenced on the 24th day of October, 2025 when its Notice of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

(c) The Liquidator of the said Investment Condominium is Deltec Fund Directors Ltd., Deltec House, Lyford Cay, P.O. Box N-3229, Nassau, Bahamas.

Deltec Fund Directors Ltd. Liquidator

PEOPLE look at the burned buildings near the site of a deadly Wednesday fire at Wang Fuk Court, a residential estate in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong’s New Territories on Monday, Dec. 1,

By Monday, 683 residents had found places in local hotels and hostels, and another 1,144 moved into transitional housing units. Two emergency shelters remained open for others, authorities said.

Residents had complained for almost a year about the construction netting, Hong Kong’s Labor Department said. It confirmed officials had carried out 16 inspections of the renovation project since July 2024 and had warned contractors multiple times in writing that they had to meet fire safety requirements. The latest inspection was just a week before the fire.

Hong Kong’s anti-corruption authorities and police have arrested 14 people, including the directors and an engineering consultant of a construction company, according to Chris Tang, the secretary for security.

People increasingly have been questioning whether government officials should also be held responsible.

“People are angry and think that the HK (Hong Kong) government should be accountable,” said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a locally-based political scientist and senior research

us fairly, no matter how much money we are making them," said Gabriel Pierre, 26, a shift supervisor at a store in suburban Bellmore. Starbucks has been trying to bounce back from a period of lagging sales as inflation-conscious U.S. customers questioned whether its coffee concoctions were worth the money. The Seattle-based company recently reported the first increase in nearly two years in samestore sales — a term for sales at locations open at least a year — but restructuring costs, store redesigns and other changes took a bite out of profits in its July-September quarter. Under the agreement announced Monday with New York City's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection,

fellow at Paris’s Asia Centre think tank.

But the leeway for dissent is limited in the former British colony, which came under Chinese control in 1997 and has moved to quiet public criticism on national security grounds.

“There are rumors being spread by bad people giving fake news about the firefighters not employing the correct tactics to fight the fire, or victims being charged 8,000 Hong Kong dollars a night to stay in hotels - these are all false,” Tang said.

“We will arrest these rumor mongers.”

On Saturday, the Office for Safeguarding National Security blasted what it called “evil schemes” that had “the ulterior motives of using the disaster to create trouble and disrupt Hong Kong.” It did not give specifics.

Also Saturday, a man who helped organize an online petition calling for government accountability was arrested on suspicion of sedition, local media including HK01 and Sing Tao Daily reported. Two others were arrested on Sunday, including a volunteer who offered help in Tai Po after the fire broke out, the same outlets reported.

Starbucks will pay $3.4 million in civil penalties, in addition to the $35 million it is paying workers. The company also agreed to comply with the city's Fair Workweek law going forward.

The company said it's committed to operating responsibly and complying with all applicable local laws and regulations everywhere it does business, but Starbucks also noted the complexities of the city's law.

"This is notoriously challenging to manage," spokesperson Jaci Anderson said.

Most of the affected employees who held hourly positions will receive $50 for each week worked from July 2021 through July 2024, the department said.

GLOBAL FAMILY PLUS LTD. LIQUIDATOR’S NOTICE

Pursuant to Section 138(6) of the International Business Companies Act

NOTICE is hereby given that GLOBAL FAMILY PLUS LTD., a company registered under the International Business Companies Act, has been dissolved and struck off the Register as of the 9th day of September, 2025.

Sterling (Bahamas) Limited Liquidator

2025.

Photo:Chan Long Hei/AP

UK AND US AGREE ZERO-TARIFF DEAL ON PHARMACEUTICALS

LONDON Associated Press

THE U.K. has secured a 0% tariff rate for all U.K. medicines exported to the U.S. for at least three years, officials said Monday, in return for the U.K. spending more on new medicines.

Under the deal, the U.S. agreed to exempt U.K.-origin pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical ingredients, and medical technology from import taxes.

The Trump administration said in return U.K. drugs firms committed to invest more in the U.S. and create more jobs.

The U.K. government said the 0% rate on all of its pharmaceuticals exports was the lowest offered to any country. As part of the deal, it said the country's National Health Service will spend around 25% more in new and effective treatments — the first major increase in such spending in over two decades.

Officials said that means U.K. health authorities will now be able to approve medicines that deliver significant health improvements but might have previously been declined purely on cost-effectiveness grounds, including breakthrough cancer treatments or therapies for rare diseases.

"This vital deal will ensure U.K. patients get the cutting-edge medicines they need sooner, and our world-leading UK firms

keep developing the treatments that can change lives," said Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry said the deal was "an important step towards ensuring patients can access innovative medicines needed to improve wider NHS health outcomes."

"It should also put the U.K. in a stronger position to attract and retain global life science investment

and advanced medicinal research," said ABPI chief executive Richard Torbett.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the agreement "strengthens the global environment for innovative medicines and brings long-overdue balance to U.S.–U.K. pharmaceutical trade."

AstraZeneca is among pharmaceutical giants that have cancelled or paused their investments in the U.K. in recent months.

U.S. ambassador Warren

Stephens recently warned said American businesses will cut future investments if "there are not changes made and fast."

Earlier this year President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed on a framework for a trade pact that would slash U.S. import taxes on British cars, steel and aluminum in return for greater access to the British market for U.S. products, including beef and ethanol.

A LOST GENERATION OF NEWS CONSUMERS? SURVEY SHOWS HOW TEENAGERS DISLIKE THE NEWS MEDIA

By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer

CAT Murphy, a college student, has wanted to be a journalist since she was 11.

Many of her friends don't understand why.

By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press

Prime Minister

BRITISH

Keir Starmer on Monday defended his Treasury chief against opposition claims that she misled the public and the markets about the state of the public finances before last week's budget, a tax-raising economic plan that was preceded by contradictory leaks to the media and the accidental early publication of the entire statement.

Starmer said "there was no misleading" in the run-up to Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves' budget, which the government hopes will raise money to reduce government borrowing, invest in infrastructure and public services, ease the cost of living and spur elusive economic growth.

Three weeks before the budget, Reeves made a speech to prepare the public and markets for a rise in income tax rates, which would have broken a key election promise. After an outcry among governing Labour Party lawmakers, and a better-than-anticipated update on the public finances, she reversed course, opting for smaller revenue-raising measures.

Opposition politicians allege that Reeves knew when she made the speech that the forecast from the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, OBR, was better than expected.

The Conservatives and the Scottish National Party have asked the Financial Conduct Authority to investigate Reeves' comments and leaks to the media before the budget, and Reform U.K. leader Nigel Farage has urged the government's standards adviser to probe Reeves' comments. Reeves denies misleading the public or markets.

When they engage with the news — if they do — they hear a cacophony of voices. They don't know who to believe. Reporters are biased. They make mistakes. Besides, why would you hitch your future to a dying industry?

"There is a lot of commentary — 'Oh, good for you. Look what you're walking into. You're going to be screaming into the void. You're going to be useless,'" said Murphy, a 21-year-old graduate student at the University of Maryland's journalism school. She is undeterred. And it's also why she's not surprised by the findings of a study this fall that documented negative attitudes toward the news media among 13- to 18-year-old Americans. The press rarely fares well in surveys of adults, but it's sobering to see the same disdain among people whose opinions about the world are still forming.

Words to describe the news media today

Asked by the News Literacy Project for one word to describe today's news media, 84% of teens responded with something negative — "biased," "crazy," "boring," "fake, "bad," "depressing," "confusing," "scary."

About half of the teens surveyed believe journalists give advertisers special treatment, make up details such as quotes, or pay or do favors for sources "always or almost always" or "often," and about 6 in 10 say journalists regularly take photos and videos out of context. About onethird or less believe that reporters correct errors when they happen, confirm facts before reporting them, gather information from multiple sources or

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that JEAN REMY PIERRE of Minnie Street, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 2nd day of December, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that DARIO REYEZ DOMINGUEZ of Davis Street, 67 Oakes Field, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 25th day of November, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

cover stories that help protect the public interest at least "often" — practices ingrained in the DNA of reputable journalists.

To some degree, teens reflect the attitudes they're exposed to, particularly when the most prominent politician of their age has made "fake news" a mantra. Experts say few teens follow news regularly or learn in school about the purpose of journalism.

Journalists don't help themselves with mistakes or ethical lapses that make headlines. Opinionated reporters or commentators in an era of political division make readers wonder what to believe.

"Some of this (attitude) is earned, but much of it is based on misperception," said Peter Adams, senior vice president of research and design for the Washington-based News Literacy Project.

Never picking up the news habit

There are ways to turn things around, but it will take work.

Many of Lily Ogburn's classmates get their information from social media.

Their parents didn't watch or read news reports as they grew up, so they didn't pick up the habit, said Ogburn, a senior at Northwestern University's journalism school.

Ogburn is the former editor-in-chief at the well-regarded Daily Northwestern student newspaper. The newspaper's 2023 reports on alleged hazing and racism within the school's football program led to the ouster of its coach. Still, she found some students don't understand the newspaper's role; they believe it exists to protect people in power rather than hold them accountable.

She frequently had to explain what she did to classmates. "There's a lot of mistrust toward journalists," she said. But it has firmed her resolve to stick with the profession.

"I want to be a journalist that people trust," Ogburn said, "and I want to report news that makes people believe and trust in the media."

The news industry's financial troubles over the past two decades have hollowed out newsrooms and left fewer journalists on

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that DIEUNIDE ST. FLEUR NICOLAS of P.O. Box GT 2183, Cowpen Road, Nassau, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 25th day of November, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that QUERBIN ANTONIO DOMINGUEZ DIAZ of Davis Street, 67 Oakes Field, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 25th day of November, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

duty. Along with not seeing much legitimate journalism, young people frequently don't experience it through popular culture — unlike a previous generation, which learned in detail how Washington Post reporters Robert Woodward and Carl Bernstein exposed the Watergate scandal in the Academy Award-winning movie "All the President's Men."

When the News Literacy Project asked, two-thirds of teens couldn't think of anything when asked what movies or TV shows come to mind when they think about journalism. Those who had answers most frequently cited the "Spider-Man" franchise or the movie "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy." Neither portrayal was particularly flattering. Upon retiring as editor of Newsday, Howard Schneider helped develop the State University of New York system's first School of Journalism. But instead of teaching future writers, editors or producers, he became drawn to teaching non-journalists about being news consumers.

Now the executive director of SUNY Stony Brook's Center for News Literacy, Schneider wasn't surprised about any of the recent survey's findings, either.

"The negativity, the feeling that news is biased, is just a reflection of how their parents feel," Schneider said. "The more exposed to news, legitimate news, the more their attitudes turn positive."

He has developed news literacy programs for school districts. "Students will say, 'I get my news from YouTube,'" he said. "I say, 'No, you don't,'" and explains where the news originates and how to be discerning about what they see.

Lessons from a news literacy class

That's one of the lessons that 16-year-old Brianne Boyack has taken from her course in news literacy at Brighton High School in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. She had little trust in news going in, but has learned the importance of double-checking sources when she sees something interesting and seeking outlets she's found reliable.

Her classmate, Rhett MacFarlane, applied what he learned in class to investigate when a friend told him the Louvre was robbed in Paris.

"I've learned that there is definitely fact-checking (in journalism)," MacFarlane, also 16, told The Associated Press. "You guys are professionals and you have to tell the truth or you'd be fired. I thought you guys just did whatever you wanted and chose what to say about a topic."

Still, news literacy programs in schools are relatively rare. Schools already have a lot of subjects to cover to prepare students for the future. And, remember, journalists don't have the best reputations. It can be hard for educators to stick their necks out for them.

"There's an inertia here," Schneider said, "and this is an urgent issue."

a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 2nd day of December 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that DIONICIO DE JESUS DE JESUS FERMIN of Davis Street, 67 Oakes Field, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 25th day of November, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

COLUMBIA College Chicago student Kailey Ryan reads a newspaper in Chicago on Nov. 5, 2024. Photo:Nam Y. Huh/AP

US stocks fall to their first

loss in 6 days as bitcoin tumbles

By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer

U.S. stocks gave back some of last week's rally, as bitcoin fell again on Monday.

The S&P 500 slipped 0.5% and broke a five-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 427 points, or 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite dipped 0.4%.

Last week's rally was largely due to rising hopes that the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate next week to help shore up the slowing job market. Such hopes are still high, with traders betting on a roughly 85% chance the Fed will cut at its next meeting, according to data from CME Group. But yields for longerterm Treasurys nevertheless rose in the bond market Monday. It was part of a worldwide climb for yields

after the head of the Bank of Japan hinted at a possible hike to interest rates there. When bonds are paying higher yields, they can attract investors who would otherwise buy stocks or cryptocurrencies. Higher yields undercut prices for all kinds of investments, particularly those seen as the most expensive. Bitcoin, which was soaring around $125,000 in October, dropped toward $85,500. That's down roughly 6% from a day earlier. That in turn sent stocks lower across the crypto industry. Coinbase Global sank 4.8%, and Robinhood Markets fell 4.1%, for example.

Strategy, the company that used to be known as MicroStrategy and now raises money just to buy bitcoin, lost 3.3%. It said that it sold its stock and raised a fund of $1.44 billion in U.S.

dollars, not in bitcoin, to help pay for its dividends on preferred shares and interest on its debt.

On the winning side of Wall Street was Synposys, which rose 4.9%. It said Nvidia is investing $2 billion in its stock as part of an expanded partnership. Nvidia, which has become Wall Street's most influential stock, swung from an early loss to a gain of 1.6%.

The market, meanwhile, had a mixed reaction to what seems like a strong start for the holiday shopping season. Consumer spending during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday retailing bonanza was expected to exceed expectations, despite uncertainty over the outlook for the U.S. economy.

Williams-Sonoma climbed 1.3%, but Best Buy fell 2.6%.

All told, the S&P 500 fell 36.46 points to 6,812.63.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 427.09 to 47,289.33, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 89.76 to 23,275.92.

In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed in Asia and Europe.

France's CAC 40 slipped 0.3%, dragged down in part by a 5.8% loss for Airbus.

The European aerospace giant said Monday that most of its fleet of 6,000 A320 passenger jets have received an update after a weekend software glitch that could have affected flight controls. Travelers faced minor disruptions as

airlines scrambled to push the software updates out after Airbus warned of the problem Friday.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 tumbled 1.9% on worries about the possibility of higher interest rates. Japan's benchmark interest rate has remained near zero for years in hopes of juicing the economy. Now inflation is holding above the Bank of Japan's target of about 2%.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.09% from 4.02% Friday. It briefly slowed its ascent in the morning after a

report showed activity for U.S. manufacturers shrank by more last month than economists expected.

Jobs are under pressure at manufacturers, and the majority in a survey by the Institute for Supply Management said they're still focused more on managing headcount than on hiring.

Several manufacturers also said tariffs are continuing to make things complicated.

"Conditions are more trying than during the coronavirus pandemic in terms of supply chain uncertainty," one manufacturer told the ISM.

The Associated Press

BITCOIN and companies tied to cryptocurrencies extended a nearly twomonth swoon Monday, tracking with a broader market sell-off in technology companies that many see as overvalued.

Bitcoin slid 5.6% after being down nearly 12% earlier in the day, settling in just above $85,000. The mosttraded cryptocurrency is down about 33% since hitting a record $126,210.50 on Oct. 6, according to crypto trading platform Coinbase.

Bitcoin had soared since April in line with the stock market and driven partly by a more crypto-friendly tone in Washington. Companies that enable investors to buy and sell cryptocurrencies, as well as the growing number of companies who have made investing in bitcoin their main business focus, were hammered in Monday's sell-off.

Coinbase Global fell 4.8% and online trading platform Robinhood Markets lost 4.1%. Bitcoin mining company Riot Platforms dropped 4%. Strategy, the biggest of the so-called crypto treasury companies that raises money just to buy bitcoin, fell 3.3%. The company has reported holding 649,870 bitcoin. As of 4 p.m. ET Monday they were worth about $55.7 billion. Earlier, Strategy said it expects bitcoin to end the year between $85,000 and $110,000, down from an Oct. 30 forecast of $150,000.

American Bitcoin, in which President Donald Trump's sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. hold a stake, fell 15.6% and is now down nearly 47% since Sept. 30. Other Trump-related crypto ventures have seen declines as well. The market value for the World Liberty Financial token, or $WLFI, has fallen to about $4.14 billion from above $6 billion in mid-September, according to coinmarketcap.com And the price of a meme coin named for President Donald Trump, $TRUMP, is $5.70, a fraction of the $45

asking price just before his inauguration in January.

One popular way of investing in bitcoin is through spot bitcoin ETFs, or exchange-traded funds, which allow investors to have a stake in bitcoin without directly owning the cryptocurrency. According to data from Morningstar Direct, investors pulled $3.6 billion out of spot bitcoin ETFs in November, the largest monthly outflow since the ETFs began trading in January 2024. Bitcoin futures are down nearly 24% in the past month. At the same time, gold futures are up almost 7%.

Analysts point to a number of factors that have led to the sell-off in bitcoin and other crypto investments, including a broad risk-off sentiment that has gripped markets this fall, sending investors toward safer havens such as bonds and gold.

In a research note to clients last week, Deutsche Bank analysts also attributed the recent declines in crypto to institutional selling, other long-term holders collecting profits and a more hawkish Federal Reserve. Stalled crypto regulation has also contributed to the uncertainty, Deutsche Bank said.

"While volatility remains inherent, these conditions indicate Bitcoin's portfolio integration is being tested, and raises questions of whether this is a temporary correction or a more prolonged adjustment," the analysts wrote. On the regulatory front, the crypto industry received a boost in July when Trump signed into law regulations that set initial guardrails and consumer protections for stablecoins, which are tied to assets like the U.S. dollar to reduce price volatility compared with other forms of cryptocurrency.

But a bill that creates a new market structure for cryptocurrency remains stalled in the Senate. The bill has been a top priority for the crypto industry since it spent heavily to elect Trump and install other allies in Washington.

OPTIONS trader Steven Rodriguez, left, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025.

Photo:Richard Drew/AP

BITCOIN tokens are seen on April 3, 2013, in Sandy, Utah.

Photo:Rick Bowmer/AP

JUDGE PARKER

CARPE DIEM

BLONDIE

MARVIN

TIGER

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE

CALVIN & HOBBES

DENNIS THE MENACE

Junkanoo Jingle to Bay shines spotlight on childhood leukemia support

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

THIS year’s Junkanoo Jingle to Bay 5K will carry a deeper meaning as the beloved holiday race partners with The Blue Rose Foundation, a local non-profit dedicated to supporting children battling leukemia.

Organisers said choosing the foundation as this year’s beneficiary reflects their commitment to uplifting the most vulnerable young people in The Bahamas –especially during a season centred on giving, compassion and community care.

The race takes place this Saturday at 6am, officially kicking off the festive season as hundreds of “Santas” race, walk, roll and stroll down historic Bay Street. The route begins at Arawak Cay, moves through downtown Nassau via Rawson Square, continues along East Bay Street, and loops back to Arawak Cay. Founded in 2023 by Marcel and Theresa Major of Four Seasons Race Management in partnership with Kandice Weech of TIDE Consultants, Junkanoo Jingle to Bay has quickly become the country’s signature sports tourism holiday event, known for its energetic blend of fitness, culture and Christmas cheer.

The Blue Rose Foundation – founded in 2019 by Philip and Anja Bowe in honour of their late mother

Minerva Kemp – provides crucial support to adolescent leukemia survivors. It also funds scholarships for young musicians studying at the University of The Bahamas. The organisation is known for filling gaps often overlooked during recovery, ensuring survivors receive both emotional and practical help as they rebuild their lives.

Co-race director Marcel Major said aligning the race with The Blue Rose Foundation was both natural and intentional.

“We have chosen the Blue Rose Foundation as our beneficiary because of their meaningful

commitment to supporting children with leukemia. We believe deeply in the work they do, providing tangible assistance to young survivors and uplifting aspiring musicians through annual scholarships,” he said. Charitable impact has always been at the heart of the event. In its first year, the race supported Legacy Church’s youth programme. Last year, it partnered with the Bahamas National Children’s Choir. Each edition shines a light on a charity investing directly in the wellbeing of young people. This third chapter continues that tradition by supporting

families navigating one of life’s most difficult journeys.

“We want this event to bring joy to everyone involved, whether they are runners, walkers, rollers, or pet enthusiasts. The route is always infused with Junkanoo rhythms, and racers get to experience a magical holiday environment complete with snowfall, surprises along the route, music, and laughter,” Major said.

To keep the race fresh, organisers introduce new

features each year. While some details remain under wraps to preserve the surprise, participants can expect holiday-themed entertainment and a Santa race village transformed into a winter wonderland. Supporting local business is another core pillar. Bahamian creatives and vendors are invited annually to showcase their products, ensuring the event reflects the country’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit. Organisers

Community spirit shines at the Annual Fun Run, Walk ’N Roll

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

THE Atlantis Annual Fun Run, Walk ’N Roll unfolded recently with colour, energy and an undeniable sense of purpose, drawing hundreds of Bahamians who arrived ready to move for a cause that touches nearly every family in the country. This year’s event, centred on the theme “Battle for the Cause”, brought together participants of all ages in a vibrant show of unity, wellness and heart. This staging proved especially meaningful for organisers and attendees

er-Neely, Health and Safety Director at Atlantis, the atmosphere went far beyond the impressive turnout.

“This year the competitive spirit of the event created an atmosphere filled with passion, unity and a purpose. We believe the participants connected deeply with the cause, rallying

for a health concern that continues to impact so many in our community,” she said.

The theme inspired a spirited dynamic as supporters rallied behind either breast cancer or prostate cancer awareness. Aisha said the choice resonated strongly because nearly everyone has been touched by cancer in some way.

“Because cancer has touched countless families, this initiative carries special meaning for our team members and the community at large. In that spirit a financial donation will be made to the cause represented by

expressed special thanks to title sponsor JS Steel and Supply, led by Jennifer Ramsey, and to the Nassau and Paradise Island Promotion Board for recognising the race’s long-term sports tourism potential.

Longstanding supporters include Caribbean Bottling Company, Radio House Outreach, Guardian Radio, Alectronic Media, The Counsellors Limited, Doctors Hospital, Thompson Trading, Nassau Agency Limited, BWA, Bahamas Waste and Health Wise.

And while the festive atmosphere draws crowds, organisers emphasise that the true heart of the event lies in giving back.

“To whom much is given, much is required,” Major said. “We firmly believe in supporting charities that create meaningful impact and help strengthen our national development. We select organisations with proven track records of success, those that directly uplift our children and youth.”

Part proceeds from this year’s race will be directed to The Blue Rose Foundation, allowing the board to allocate funds to areas of greatest need. Organisers hope the visibility generated through Junkanoo Jingle to Bay will inspire broader public awareness and increased support for the foundation’s work.

As the race continues to grow, organisers envision Junkanoo Jingle to Bay becoming the country’s premier sports tourism holiday event, attracting even more locals and visitors in the years ahead.

“We believe deeply in The Bahamas, our rich culture, our history, and the power of supporting charities that are making a difference in our communities,” Major said.

Registration is available online at: www.fourseasonsracemanagement.com

gender, either breast cancer or prostate cancer, ensuring the impact reaches those who need it most,” she said.

This year also marked a first: the Fun Run, Walk ’N Roll officially supported a non-profit organisation, adding deeper intention to its mission.

Aisha noted that the participant mix was just as remarkable. “The engagement was outstanding; participants from 18 months to 83 years old, and even a spirited dog, joined in on the fun making it a great experience for all,” she said.

The morning offered touching, uplifting and

embodied the heart of the event. While organisers could not choose a single favourite highlight, Aisha said the day was overflowing with meaning.

“Participants openly shared personal stories of how cancer touched their lives and the reason for their walk or run. Our volunteers, who brought incredible energy and full commitment to their duties, cheering along the route, distributing water, fruits and providing health screening, truly helped to bring about the community spirit we desired,” she said.

Even the route provided its own motivation. “The addition of a DJ along the route gave participants that extra boost, especially to face the bridges and into the final stretch toward the finish line; the energy and excitement helped them to forget about the hard work they did to complete the walk, run or push,” said Aisha.

From infants in strollers to spirited seniors setting their own pace, the Fun Run, Walk ’N Roll once again proved that Bahamians show up — and show out — for causes that matter.

Why doing good also makes us feel good, during the holidays and beyond

(WASHINGTON AP) –

The holiday season is a time for giving thanks, giving gifts - and for many, a time for giving back.

Food banks, services that deliver meals to seniors and other U.S. charities typically see a surge in volunteering between Thanksgiving and the end of the year. But there are good reasons to volunteer at any time of the year.

Alfred Del Grosso volunteers weekly to work the lunch shift at Shepherd’s Table, a food bank in Silver Spring, Maryland.

“I feel more connected to the broader community,” he said.

Most Thursdays, the retired chemist from Kensington, Maryland, also lends an unpaid hand to help clear fallen trees and brush from local trails with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. "It’s mostly volunteers who help maintain the trails," he said.

Researchers who study human evolution and social psychology say that giving back is deeply rooted in human nature. Volunteers say they feel closer ties to the communities they serve.

gratitude,” she said. “In Hinduism, Divali is a time of lights and festiveness and good eating, but also a time in which people give gifts to really express what people have meant to them.”

For Muslims, Ramadan, which ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, is a time for reflection, gratitude and acts of charity. Many Buddhist traditions also emphasize gratitude.

The common purpose of such seasons, which also include non-religious acts of service, is to reinforce our natural cooperative tendencies, Vaish said.

“In human evolutionary history over hundreds of thousands of years, we’ve had to become cooperative in order to work together and survive as a species,” she said.

“We don’t have sharp claws, high speed, many other natural abilities. But what we do have is that we’re super cooperators; we can do more in groups than alone.”

Of course, humans aren’t always cooperative and generous — sometimes we’re also selfish and stubborn.

The tension between selfishness and altruism was recognized even by Darwin, said Michael Tomasello, a psychologist at Duke University. “That’s why life is so complicated. We have all these motives mapped together.”

But reflecting with gratitude on what we have, and seeing others do good, can encourage our most generous tendencies, experts say.

“There’s a quick dopamine hit sometimes called the ‘helpers high.' But there’s also that deeper reward of helping us to establish purpose and meaning,” she said. “By helping other people and believing that small acts can change the world, you can bring coherence to your own life.”

After Mia Thelen retired as a nurse in Owosso, Michigan, she began volunteering for the American Red Cross, starting out by minding the office phones during blood drives before gradually taking on more organizational and administrative responsibilities.

“It’s a good way to spend your time, making the lives of others a little easier,” Thelen said. “I wanted to do something that helps the community."

“And I’m learning a lot: learning computer skills, learning communication skills. I have great co-volunteers.” She enjoys feeling more connected with her neighbors.

“When we feel grateful for all we have, that motivates us to do good things for other people who have helped us, and also to do good things for new people," said Sarah Schnitker, a psychologist at Baylor University.

(AP) — For many children, the experience of getting their first pair of glasses is an inevitable milestone, the first in a lifetime of visits to the eye doctor.

But what if those lenses could actually help preserve the child’s vision and reduce the chances for more serious eye problems in adulthood?

That’s the promise of a new type of lens approved by the Food and Drug Administration in September. While the technology has previously been available in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world, it’s now rolling out in the U.S. Here’s what to know about the new approach.

What is myopia and why is it increasing?

Myopia, commonly called nearsightedness, is when people can clearly see objects at close range but struggle with distant objects, which often appear blurry or indistinct.

Studies conducted around the world have shown rising rates of myopia, which researchers have associated with increased time indoors looking at screens, books and other objects held close to the eyes.

In the U.S., 30% to 40% of children will have myopia by the time they finish high school, according to Dr. Michael Repka, a professor and pediatric ophthalmologist at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Until now, doctors had few options for treating the condition.

“It was typically and simply: ‘Your child needs to

“There’s a nice upwards reciprocal spiral between gratitude and generosity,”

often enhanced at holiday times, she said. For many in the U.S., the season most associated with giving, receiving and volunteering runs from Thanksgiving through Hanukkah and Christmas to New Year’s.

But around the world, a giving season or festival is present in many cultures, said Amrisha Vaish, a developmental psychologist at the University of Virginia.

“Nearly all cultures have events or public festivals that allow people to express

In this photo provided by EssilorLuxottica in October 2025, refractions caused by lenslets embedded in the company's Stellest eyeglass lens are projected onto a table.

wear glasses and they’ll live with it,’” Repka said. “'It will be lifelong and it will likely get worse over the next few years.’”

How do the new lenses work?

The specialized glasses, sold under the brand Essilor Stellest, are approved by the FDA to slow nearsightedness in 6- to 12-year-olds. The FDA said it cleared the lenses based on company data showing children experienced a 70% reduction in the progression of their myopia after two years. Over time, myopia causes the eye to grow longer, worsening vision and increasing the risk of

New FDAapproved glasses can slow nearsightedness in kids

tears to the retina — the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that is essential for vision.

The new lenses use 11 concentric rings filled with tiny raised dots to refocus light onto the retina in a

On an individual level, “giving, volunteering and generosity have the ability to increase our sense of meaning and purpose in life,” said Jenae Nelson, a developmental psychologist at Brigham Young University

way that is believed to slow elongation of the eye.

“Whether this hypothesis is ultimately proven to be true, of course, matters only in part,” Repka said, noting that the lenses appear to work regardless of how the underling science works. In the company study, children wearing the lens showed a 50% reduction in eye lengthening when measured after two years.

Currently, researchers in the U.S. and other countries are conducting their own independent studies to confirm those results.

Ophthalmologists say the potential benefits go beyond preserving vision to heading off some long-term consequences of severe myopia, which can include cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment that can lead to blindness.

“Now we have a way to slow that down and maybe we can prevent kids from having that really elongated eye that puts them at risk for blindness,” said Dr. Rupa Wong, a Honolulu-based pediatric ophthalmologist.

How much will the lenses cost?

The suggested retail price is $450, according to EssilorLuxottica, the company that makes the lenses. Major U.S. vision insurance providers are expected to cover the lenses for children who meet the prescribing criteria.

How do the new lenses compare to older treatments?

The only other FDA-approved product to slow

Another common holiday tradition — sending greeting cards to family and old friends — also provides a chance to enhance or renew social ties, which people are often surprisingly reluctant to do, said Lara Aknin, a social psychologist at Simon Fraser University. Her research has shown that “people are actually hesitant to reach out to old friends, they worry about being a burden or an inconvenience,” she said. But on the flip side, “people who’ve just heard from old friends report it as a really positive experience.”

So go ahead and write those cards or make those phone calls, she said. Use the holidays as an excuse to reconnect, and share a laugh or a warm mulled drink.

myopia are contact lenses made by a company called MiSight. The daily disposable lenses, approved in 2019, use a similar approach intended to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children ages 8 to 12.

But Gupta says many parents and physicians are likely to prefer the glasses.

“A lot of people might be hesitant to put a child as young as 8 in contact lenses, so the glasses offer a really nice alternative,” she said.

Some doctors prescribe medicated eye drops intended to slow myopia, but those are not approved by the FDA.

Which children are good candidates?

Under the FDA’s approval decision, the lenses can be prescribed to any child with myopia who’s within the recommended age range. There were no serious side effects, according to FDA, although some children reported visual disturbances, such as halos around objects while wearing the lenses.

The studies that the FDA reviewed for approval were conducted in Asia. Repka said U.S. ophthalmologists and optometrists may want to see some additional research.

“I think before it becomes widely used, we will need some data in the United States" showing that the lenses work, said Repka, who is conducting a U.S.-based study of the new lenses supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Photo:Luxottica/AP

Volunteer Brent Cohen carries plates of food to guests during the annual Thanksgiving banquet at the Denver Rescue Mission on Nov. 22, 2023, in Denver.

Photo: David Zalubowski/AP

A volunteer waves to a student as she waits in line at Miles Intermediate Elementary School in Atlanta after receiving new shoes from Mercedes-Benz USA, as a part of their Season to Shine holiday program, on Dec. 7, 2022.

Photo: Sharon Johnson.AP

Why being single might feel empowering as a woman in your 20s, but not your 30s

(The Conversation)

For many women in their 20s, being single can feel like an empowering lifestyle choice — a season of freedom, exploration and self-definition. But even in this age of “soft life” inde pendence, the confidence of young single women often sits beside something else: the sense that time is ticking.

Despite being only 21, Georgia already anticipates that her singlehood will eventually become a “prob lem,” and is determined to enjoy her independence “while she can.” Corrine, 23, echoed this sentiment — embracing her single years in her early 20s, but doubt ing that she would feel “empowered” if singlehood were to become permanent.

In a recent study, most women in their 20s described themselves as defiantly single — eager to build the lives they want, unwilling to settle “just to settle down.” Yet many also didn’t imagine single hood as a forever choice.

As Bryony, 26, put it:

“Unless someone can add to my life, I’m not wasting my time. But if I don’t find someone in the next two years, I might start panicking because then I’d be look ing at being 29, 30.”

The ‘internal deadline’

For many women, the panic begins in or around their 30s. Robyn,

25, described this as an “internal deadline” — the unspoken expectation that by 30, a woman should be “in a relationship, think

arrives earlier and more intensely. Women in their 30s and 40s — having moved past that deadline — reflected

on how consuming it once felt. Lydia, 52, joked: “Because I haven’t remarried, I think people assume I shrivelled up in a

coupledom is valid and fulfilling. They have “been there, done that, bought the t-shirt and the divorce,” and now embrace an unattached lifestyle rooted in freedom and self-knowledge.

But who gets to be celebrated?

me, that’s never been the case.”

Passing on permission

Still, their experiences reveal a cultural double standard: once women outgrow the “single girl” phase, public attitudes often shift. Older single women quickly find themselves cast into the familiar “cat lady” stereotype — the assumption that their singleness signals loneliness, resignation or

This raises a deeper issue: while the single positivity movement champions autonomy and self-love, it often centres young, conventionally attractive, able-bodied women. The idea of the “empowered single woman” has limits — boundaries defined by age, desirability and mainstream beauty norms. The movement reframes singlehood as empowering, yes — but often only as a temporary stage. A period of self-discovery before the real pressure to settle

The questions still

If singlehood is truly a choice worth celebrating, then it’s worth challenging the narrow window in which society applauds it. Why is singlehood only celebrated when it’s temporary? Who gets to be happily single — and for how long?

Until those questions are addressed, many women will continue navigating the complicated space between empowerment and expectation.

Bangkok

court issues an arrest warrant for Thai co-owner of Miss Universe pageant

By JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — A court in Thailand said Wednesday that it has issued an arrest warrant for a co-owner of the Miss Universe Organisation in connection with a fraud case. Jakkaphong "Anne" Jakrajutatip was charged with fraud and then released on bail in 2023. She failed to appear as required in a Bangkok court on Tuesday. Since she did not

notify the court about her absence, she was deemed to be a flight risk, according to a statement from the Bangkok South District Court. The court rescheduled the hearing for Dec. 26. According to the court's statement, Jakkaphong and her company, JKN Global Group Public Co. Ltd., were sued for allegedly defrauding Raweewat Maschamadol in selling him the company's corporate bonds in 2023. Raweewat says the investment caused him to lose 30 million baht ($930,362).

Financially troubled JKN defaulted on payments to investors beginning in 2023 and began debt rehabilitation procedures with the Central Bankruptcy Court in 2024. The company says it has debts totalling about 3 billion baht ($93 million).

JKN acquired the rights to the Miss Universe pageant from IMG Worldwide LLC in 2022. In 2023, it sold 50% of its Miss Universe shares to Legacy Holding Group USA, which is owned by a Mexican

that Raúl "R" was the target of the investigation.

businessman, Raúl Rocha Cantú.

In an unrelated case in Mexico, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that Rocha Cantú has been under investigation since November 2024 for alleged organised crime activity, including drug and arms trafficking, as well as fuel theft.

The Attorney General's Office said in a statement

A federal agent who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly about the investigation confirmed that it was Rocha Cantú.

The Miss Universe Organisation did not respond to a request for comment.

Earlier this month, a federal judge in Mexico approved 13 arrest orders against targets in the case. The federal agent would not confirm or deny whether an order was issued for Rocha Cantú.

Jakkaphong resigned from all of the company's positions in June after being accused by Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission of falsifying the company's 2023 financial statements. She remains its largest shareholder. Her whereabouts remain unclear. She did not appear at the 74th Miss Universe competition, which was held in Bangkok earlier this month.

This year's competition was marred by various problems, including a sharptongued scolding by a Thai organiser of Fátima Bosch Fernández of Mexico, who was crowned Miss Universe 2025 on Nov. 19. Two judges reportedly dropped out, with one suggesting that there was an element of rigging to the contest. Separately, Thai police investigated allegations that publicity for the event included illegal promotion of online casinos. On Monday, JKN denied rumours that Jakkaphong had liquidated the company's assets and fled the country, but there has been no immediate reaction regarding the arrest warrant. She could not be reached for comment.

Jakkaphong is a wellknown celebrity in Thailand who has starred in reality shows and is outspoken about her identity as a transgender woman.

AP writer Fabiola Sánchez in Mexico City contributed to this report.

Contestants take part in the final round of the 74th Miss Universe Beauty Pageant in Nonthaburi province.

AP Photos:Sakchai Lalit

THAI business tycoon Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip poses for a photo after a news conference in Bangkok, Thailand.

THE Harbour Bay Plaza is brightly adorned with orange bows, symbolising the bright hope Zonta Bahamas carries — that its message to end violence will spread, community by community, until women and girls nationwide are protected.

This weekend, members of the Zonta Clubs of New Providence and Nassau brought their 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence Campaign — also known as the Orange the World Campaign — to the eastern district of New Providence. Along with sharing pamphlets and tying orange bows around Harbour Bay Plaza, the clubs introduced a new feature that quickly became a crowd favourite.

The Zonta Bahamas Say No to Violence Raffle offered a grand prize of $5,000, with ten additional prizes including hotel stays and vouchers for food, fuel, and gas. The raffle, held outside CIBC Bank at Harbour Bay on Saturday, November 29, saw Marie Roberts emerge as the lucky winner of the cash prize.

More importantly, the initiative raised funds to support the organisation’s wide range of programmes designed to make a

Zonta Bahamas takes Orange the World campaign to Harbour Bay

meaningful difference in the lives of women and girls.

One of Zonta’s most impactful initiatives, the Workforce

Readiness Programme, provides inner-city and underprivileged women with the tools they need to gain employment — including professional attire that helps them “dress for success”.

their commitment extends to education. The organisation’s Endowment Fund has transformed lives by helping women pursue higher education later in life. At least 11 Bahamian women over the age of 35 — women who do not qualify for government scholarships because they cannot attend school full-time — have earned bachelor’s degrees thanks to the fund.

The 2025 Orange the World Campaign has already included a Digital Violence Webinar featuring experts such as Minister Paul Scavella, Dr Sean Knowles, and Detective Constable 4754 Tiffany Fernander. Zonta also partnered with the University of The Bahamas to host a hybrid Say No to Violence Symposium, held in person and online on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at the Harry C Moore Library. UB President Dr Robert Blaine delivered the keynote address, with additional presentations from Dr Nikechia Hall-Dennis, gender expert Elaine Sands, and mental therapy coach Philippa Dean.

Zontians also believe in the power of sisterhood, and

“Programmes like these help to deter incidents of gender-based violence against these women,” said Zonta Club of New Providence President ACP Janet McKenzie. “We can help to tackle the rates of violence against women we see in these communities when women can work for themselves and feed their families.”

The annual 16 Days of Activism runs from November 25 — International Day to End Violence Against Women and Girls — to December 10, International Human Rights Day. This year, Zonta’s final event will extend beyond the campaign window: a special forum titled “Protecting the Vulnerable”, focused on people living with disabilities. It will be held December 12 at 10am in the Department of Physical Planning’s Hearing Room on JFK Drive.

MARINE FORECAST

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net

SOME women create magic with their hands, others with their minds, but every now and then you meet one who manages to do both with striking ease. Bahamian creative Shanaye Smith, the visionary behind the newly launched agency By Shanaye Smith, is stepping boldly into her next chapter, blending storytelling, visual artistry and an uncanny ability to make brands feel understood from the inside out.

Her agency describes itself as a home for “crafting stories for corporate brands and refined weddings”, but the real story begins long before the official launch.

“I remember the moment I sat down and thought about what I

The Art of Storytelling: Shanaye Smith carves out her own creative space

wanted to do with my life and what my purpose looked like. I landed on creating stories that make people feel something,” Shanaye recalled. At first, that dream looked like writing the kinds of stories that fill bookshelves. She even imagined herself becoming a New York Times bestseller.

But along the journey, words began to meet visuals and something clicked.

Pairing written storytelling with visual storytelling, she said, became the moment of clarity she needed. “I successfully launched and built two brands prior to By Shanaye Smith, but this year I felt a God-given nudge to build something new with my unique perspective,” she said. That nudge has since evolved into a polished agency with a clear creative signature.

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Writer

“ Studies show it takes 50 milliseconds to make a good impression and five to 10 seconds for people to decide if you’re credible using visual communication.”

Asked to define that signature, Shanaye pointed to her blend of discipline, detail and deep listening. “I believe the By Shanaye Smith signature is a mix of impactful storytelling, a desire for excellence, attention to detail and a knack for asking the right

questions to get to the core of what someone wants to communicate visually,” she said.

In an industry overflowing with content and competition, she believes it is the commitment to mastering small things that sets great creatives apart. “Spending a little extra time on the edit, adjusting the lighting so that it’s just right, moving the overlay on the graphic ever so slightly to the left. All of those little decisions that may seem to most people inconsequential I’ve found make the difference between average and great,” she said. That meticulousness ties directly to one of her guiding philosophies: “Image isn’t everything, but it’s the first thing.” It is a belief anchored in both data and experience. “Studies show it takes 50 milliseconds to make a good impression and five to 10 seconds for people to decide if you’re credible using visual communication,” she explained. In her view, those few seconds determine whether a viewer leans in or scrolls past. “If we want to get to the point where people care enough to appreciate that depth, that positive first impression needs to be immediately made.”

Despite her professionalism, Shanaye describes her creative process with a sense of awe. Whether shaping a corporate brand or capturing a love story, she admits she enters full tunnel vision until the work is complete.

“Honestly watching the entire process come to life is what fills me with excitement. When that time comes and I get to reflect on what has been created, it’s magical,” she said. Watching a concept move from idea to execution, she added, never gets old. “I can only liken it to watching a baby you’ve birthed graduate high school. You’ve taken this tiny seed of an idea, and you know the possibility of what it could become so you’ve watered and nurtured it then you get to see what it’s blossomed into.”

Launching her own agency marks a defining moment – one she describes as both thrilling and stretching. “This new chapter means a lot to me. It has been equal parts scary and exciting but I believe it’s integral to walking in the fullness of my God-given purpose,” she said. And like any true You Go Girl feature, her hope reaches beyond her own success.

“I hope that other young women see my story, my passion and my tenacity and are reminded that if I can have the audacity to do this, they can too,” said Shanaye. In a world where industries feel saturated and timelines move fast, she wants women to remember there is always room for their unique touch. “Others may have a similar goal but the strategy and journey will be completely different,” she said.

The holiday hustle

food shopping and rising living costs, the holidays become a month-long balancing act that women quietly shoulder while trying to keep the season joyful. It is a responsibility rarely spoken aloud, but deeply felt — a reminder that behind the beauty of the holidays sits an invisible financial hustle many women navigate alone.

For Crystal, a single mother of two, December does not arrive gently. It lands like a weight. She started the month seated at her kitchen table with a budget sheet, a calculator and two children buzzing with excitement over what Christmas will look like. Their joy is contagious, but inside, she said, she is stretching numbers and trying to make the month work without falling behind.

“Everything hits at once,” she said. “The kids have Christmas programs, they need outfits, there are gifts, groceries, treats… and prices feel higher every year.”

She saves for months, yet still enters December with a knot in her stomach. Her children never see the stress, only the magic she somehow manages to create.

“I do not want them feeling what I feel. I want them to love the season,” she said.

On the other end of the spectrum is Shanique, a 29-year-old entrepreneur whose December looks entirely different — but carries its own kind of pressure. Her beauty studio and digital marketing side hustle explode with demand the moment the month begins. Her phone rings nonstop. Bookings fill every available slot.

“December is pressure, but it is also opportunity. I make more in this one month than I make in

some quarters,” she told Tribune Woman. But even in the middle of her busiest season, she feels the emotional and financial strain. The long hours take a toll, burnout creeps in, and the temptation to overspend grows when money seems to flow easily. She has learned to treat December as both a blessing and a caution.

“I used to spend as fast as I made it. Now, I think about January. I think about stability.”

While Shanique races through back-to-back clients, Patrice sits in her corporate office staring at holiday emails — Secret Santa sign-ups, charity drives, office parties — all of which come with subtle but steady expectations. For her, the pressure of December is emotional spending.

“You want to show up for everybody. For your coworkers, your family, the church events, the school kids. But sometimes my bank account is like, girl, slow down.”

Patrice loves giving, and she loves making people feel seen, but she has learned that generosity without boundaries can create financial regret. This year, she has a fixed holiday budget and a promise to herself: she is giving experiences, not expensive items.

“I’m doing things that don’t drain me. I want to enjoy Christmas too,” she told Tribune Woman.

And then there is Andrea, a 57-year-old grandmother of five, who remembers the years she tried to deliver the perfect Christmas — the tall tree, the elaborate dinner, the gifts stacked so high the children could barely see over them. It was beautiful, but it was also exhausting and expensive.

“I was trying to create the Christmas I wanted as a child. But now I just want peace.” She has shifted her approach entirely. The holidays are simpler, softer, more intentional. Her grandchildren still light up, still run through her home with excitement and still talk about her famous ham and sweet bread.

“They don’t remember what things cost but they remember how they felt.”

These four women — different ages, different incomes, different lives — share a single truth: December asks a lot from women. They manage the holiday spirit, the logistics, the emotional lift and the finances that hold it all together.

Across The Bahamas, women are the planners, the budgeters, the memory-makers and the emotional anchors. They stretch dollars, juggle obligations and create moments of joy that appear effortless to everyone else — even when the behind-the-scenes reality is a delicate and exhausting financial dance.

Yet, within this December hustle, something else is emerging: a quiet shift toward balance. Crystal is learning to forgive herself for not doing it all. Shanique is learning discipline. Patrice is prioritising peace. Andrea is choosing simplicity over spectacle. Each woman, in her own way, is redefining what a meaningful Christmas looks like.

For many Bahamian women, the season’s true weight is not the shopping bags they carry, but the unspoken expectation that they will hold everything together.