Harbourside from Doctors
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
THE Government is paying
$39m over a ten-year period to acquire the recently-completed Harbourside in-patient facility on East Bay Street from Doctors Hospital, it was revealed yesterday.
Dr Michael Darville, minister of health and wellness, told Tribune Business that the deal has been structured as a lease-to-own or purchase agreement with payments to the BISX-listed healthcare provider spread out over 120 months - likely to ease the burden on an alreadystretched Public Treasury and taxpayer.
“The Harbourside medical hospital is a ten-year lease purchase agreement - 120 monthly payments with a total purchase price of $38.901m or thirty-eight million, nine hundred and two thousand, nine hundred and fifteen dollars,”
• Minister unveils ten-year lease-to-purchase deal
• PMH kitchen floor could ‘possibly have collapsed’
• Hospital A&E upgrade costs ‘ballooned’ by millions
the minister confirmed in response to this newspaper’s inquiries.
Dr Darville, in unveiling the deal to the House of Assembly earlier, said: “I would also like to inform this honourable House and the general public that final preparatory steps [are being taken] to occupy the new Harbourside East Bay Street, multi-bed hospital facility acquired from Doctors Hospital by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
“This brand new facility was acquired by my ministry and I alluded to it during my last Budget debate communication.” Dr Darville did not respond to other Tribune Business questions on the move, including the rationale for the lease-to-purchase deal and what benefits it will deliver for the Bahamian people and public healthcare, plus what plans there are to ensure it is adequately staffed and resourced when the Government takes control.
Grand Lucayan buyer awaiting building go-ahead in early 2026
By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net
THE Grand Lucayan’s purchaser is expected to receive the necessary permits and approvals to proceed with construction activities during the 2026 first quarter, it was revealed yesterday.
Concord Wilshire is expected to receive construction approval for the Grand Lucayan in the first quarter of 2026 and a second pier is will be completed next year which will accommodate more XL
class ships for Carnival’s Celebration Key and welcome a projected 4 million guests annually to Grand Bahama by 2028.
Jillian Williams, the Grand Bahama Island Promotion Board’s (GBIPB) brand representative, told the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association's (BHTA) 73rd annual general meeting that the island “is on a clear upward trajectory” due to to major investment projects impacting the cruise sector,
Insurers: Make sure NHI has ‘necessary resources’
By NEIL HARTNELL
BAHAMIAN health insurers yesterday urged the Government to ensure the National Health Insurance (NHI) overseer has the “necessary resources” to properly implement its newly-legislated mandate, adding: “As long as they’re ready, we’ll be ready.”
Marcus Bosland, the Bahamas Insurance Association’s (BIA) deputy chair for life and health insurance, told Tribune Business
that while the one-year “transition” period is “sufficient” for the industry to meet its obligations under the NHI Act 2025 it remains concerned on whether the NHI Authority will be able to fully take care of its responsibilities.
Speaking after Dr Michael Darville, minister of health and wellness, confirmed that parts of the NHI Act have been “deferred” for a year so health insurers can adjust their existing policies and
Vacation rental crackdown set for launch in early 2026
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter
jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE Department of Inland Revenue will launch a crackdown on non-compliant vacation rental properties early in 2026 as registration remains below its expectations, it was revealed yesterday.
Shunda Strachan, the Department of Inland Revenue's controller, said increased enforcement against vacation rental owners who have not registered their properties with the tax authority will begin “early in the New Year”. Speaking at a seminar for the Government’s large
taxpayers, Ms Strachan said that although more vacation rental owners are registering their properties, many still have not complied. As a result, the Department of Inland Revenue will now begin enforcement actions with a focus on individuals advertising vacation rentals that are not properly registered. “Vacation rentals, the registration is improving, but there's still room for improvement. So we're about to engage enforcement activities on those that we see advertising but that haven't come forward,” said Ms Strachan.
airlift and room inventory diversification.
Focusing on the Grand Lucayan, she added that US-based investor, Concord Wilshire, is “eager to begin construction” and that, based on government communications, necessary approvals and the start of construction is expected in early 2026.
“Government communication indicates that Concord Wilshire is expected to receive approval to begin construction in the first quarter of 2026,” Ms Williams said.
Dennis Deveaux, Doctors Hospital’s chief financial officer, declined to comment when contacted by Tribune Business yesterday. He told this newspaper as recently as last month that the long-awaited Harbourside location in eastern New Providence will help to boost revenues and earnings for
“The redevelopment is anticipated to significantly enhance the island's room inventory, with refurbishment projected to begin in the same period.” Tribune Business sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested that the developer is hoping to take possession of the Grand Lucayan from the Government imminently. The property is presently closed to paying guests, and the handover has taken longer than anticipated due to ongoing negotiations with the Davis administration to resolve elements of the deal deemed critical to Concord Wilshire and its partners. This newspaper understands that there has been
Rosewood Exuma opponent in legal challenge go-ahead
• Court gives Turtlegrass leave to launch Judicial Review
• Seeking injunction to halt work at Sampson Cay rival
• Threatens to ‘cease’ own first phase if there’s dredging
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
OPPONENTS of the $200m Rosewood Exuma resort yesterday hailed the Supreme Court go-ahead for their bid to overturn the project’s environmental approvals on the basis that they were obtained via a “shifting series of plans”.
Turtlegrass Resort, in a statement responding to Justice Leif Farquharson’s December 2, 2025, Order giving it permission to proceed with its Judicial Review challenge argued that the process by which the neighbouring East Sampson Cay development obtained its certificate of environmental clearance (CEC) was “fundamentally flawed”.
It is also seeking an injunction to halt further work on the Rosewood Exuma development, and threatening to “cease construction” and not even complete the first phase of its own $75m development if its neighbour proceeds with dredging plans.
In arguments supporting its Judicial Review application, Turtlegrass and its principal, Bob Coughlin, argued that the 500 combined guests and staff at Rosewood Exuma once it reaches full operation will almost match what they allege is the 660-strong population “of the entire Exuma cays”.
Hitting out at the rival project’s likely environmental impact, due to its size and scale being too large for both East Sampson Cay and the wider Exuma cays, Mr Coughlin and Turtlegrass complained that plans for the development, which is being spearheaded by Miami-based Yntegra Group, underwent “material modifications” to its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) after the public consultation period had closed. And, asserting that key environmental documents were not presented to the public prior while “deficiencies” were not addressed, they argued that te Department of Environmental
DR MICHAEL DARVILLE
DON’T GET LOCKED IN TO STUDYING FOR A DEGREE
ARE degrees still relevant for business employment? Can you secure a high income career without one? The answer depends on the reason you have for studying for a degree.
As of 2022, only 51 percent of ‘Generation Z’ members showed interest in pursuing a four-year degree - a decline from 71 percent in 2020. Simultaneously, interest in community colleges, career-based education, technical education and on-demand learning has steadily increased. Ultimately, it seems they have good cause to transition into this new norm.
Many in ‘Generation Z’ have opted out of the traditional degree due to the impact of recent global events, including the cost of living, soaring tuition fees and the prospects of lifelong student debt. There has been a continually-widening gap between
DEIDRE BastiaN By
the cost of education and its actual long-run value, making the price of a fouryear course relatively insignificant and of little use to employers. Here are some considerations as you weigh up whether or not to pursue
a degree to secure your future career. When a degree is not necessary
Employer attitudes towards a degree being mandatory to be shortlisted as a recruitment candidate have shifted significantly over the past year. An estimated 1.4m jobs are forecast to become available to non-degree holders, according to Harvard Business Review's ‘The emerging degree reset’ report.
This is largely due to a combination of growing labour demand and a corresponding lack of talent to meet it, resulting in employers becoming less inclined to include this as part of job requirements.
While I am a strong advocate for diverse education, obtaining a degree and having a growth mindset, it is my belief that practical life experience often forms
HOTEL CHIEF: OUR AIR ARRIVALS ‘LIFELINE SOMEWHAT SLIPPED’
By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter
THE Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) president yesterday conceded that air arrivals to New Providence “have somewhat slipped” while cruise passenger visitors continue to expand.
Jackson Weech, also vice-president and general manager of operations for Atlantis, told the BHTA’s 73rd annual general meeting (AGM) that - for many land-based and stopover-dependent tourism businesses - 2025 “did not unfold as strongly as we had hoped”.
“Although our combined results in occupancy, revenue and room nights didn't fully meet our expectations in 2025, our performance indices have clearly clarified where our greatest opportunities lie as we anticipate a robust festive season and then moving confidently into 2026,” Mr Weech said.
“It would be remiss not to reflect upon the fact that air arrivals, our lifeline, has somewhat slipped, while our sea arrivals, comprised largely of cruise passengers, has increased exponentially.”
Joy Jibrilu, chief executive of the Nassau and Paradise Island Promotion Board, said it has maintained a strong presence at key global tourism trade shows. She pointed to
Routes America, which was hosted in The Bahamas in February 2025, adding that it was a milestone for the country that strengthened relationships between The Bahamas and airlines, creating opportunities for future route developments. “As a result of all our collective efforts at Routes Americas and our continued global initiatives, non-stop airlift to Nassau has never been stronger,” Mrs Jibrilu added. “We're now seeing consistent yearover-year growth across the winter season that began with a plus 2 percent increase in November, followed by a solid 6 percent rise this month as additional services return.
“January builds even further, with an 11 percent increase, and February is leading the outlook at 14 percent, marking our strongest month of projected growth. And with airlift on our side, enhancing visibility among high value travellers becomes even more important.”
Latia Duncombe, the Ministry of Tourism’s director-general, said: “As we focus on airlift, the first thing that we do is looking at the non-stop routes. It was mentioned earlier. We hosted Routes Americas in the destination - a partnership with NAD (Nassau Airport Development), the ministry and also our promotion boards.
“But it doesn't stop there. When the meetings have
ended and the sessions are over, our teams are on the ground in meetings looking at routes, the benefits of the routes, the economic performance of the routes, looking at whether or not, from an operational perspective, we can maintain them or even invite other carriers to come. So when the meetings have ended, there's a lot that starts.”
Mrs Duncombe said the ministry has hired Krishna Rolle to lead its international airlift initiatives, and has also formed an airlift strategic committee.
“At the ministry, we've taken an intentional look at airlift, and we said: ‘You know what, we have to look at it from an international perspective and also from a domestic perspective, not leaving anything on the table’,” Ms Duncombe said. “And very recently, we engaged the services of our new general manager for airlift, Krishna Rolle.
“She has extensive experience. She's now leading our international airlift initiatives. Sitting around the table, she can speak to stations. She's managed stations across multiple countries, in the Caribbean, again, adding more resources that we can now benefit from as a destination.
“We have a newly-formed airlift strategic committee with the Ministry of Tourism, myself, chief executive Jibrilu with Nassau and Paradise Island
an excellent substitute for graduate education. It equips you with many tangible in-demand skills that those who have relied on a degree to further their careers are lacking, leaving them ill-prepared for the workforce.
I have also witnessed a significant decline in the number of job listings that require a degree across multiple industries. Moreover, according to the world's largest network that connects with professionals, one in five job posts do not require a degree. This number has increased by 33 percent year-on-year.
There are many high-paying jobs and careers that do not require a degree but, instead, require skills and knowledge gained through vocational education; short, inexpensive courses; and practical learning on the job while being promoted up the career ladder. Some of these include roles such
Promotion Board, and also chief executive Vernice Walkine with NAD. Again, it's a collective destination wide approach as we look at delivering more seats to the destination.”
Jillian Williams, the Grand Bahama Island Promotion Board’s (GBIPB) brand representative, reported that airlift in Grand Bahama is “stable.”
“Airlift remains stable with consistent service to Florida, selects US
as coaches, sales directors, project managers and even software developers. Therefore, if your main goal for pursuing a degree is to secure your career future or increase your salary potential, it might not go as planned.
When a degree is necessary
Degrees should not be completely ruled out. There are occasions when they are necessary, in addition to building career skills. For example, there are industries such as the life sciences, law and some healthcare professions that are impossible to work in without a degree. This is why it is essential to establish from the beginning what your career goals are, so you can be clear on whether your industry has a field-specific requirement for a degree and avoid wasting valuable time and money.
gateways and Canada,” Ms Williams said. “Seasonal and chartered services continue to support visitor access. And for the period of January through October 2025, foreign air arrivals increased by 21.7 percent year-over-year, demonstrating strengthening demand for the destination.
“Cruise arrivals have also grown significantly, increasing by 37.5 percent with the launch of Celebration Key, which now contributes
In addition, if you approach your studies with the right attitude and a growth mindset, you can gain a multitude of career-building ‘power skills’ such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication and relationship-building throughout the experience. So, are degrees still relevant in the current job market? It is a question of relevance. It is time to reimagine education and its true value in relation to work. Until we meet again, live life for memories rather than regrets, enjoy life and stay on top of your game.
• NB: Columnist welcomes feedback at deedee21bastian@gmail. com
About columnist: Deidre M. Bastian is a brand marketing analyst/graphic designer, international award-winning author and certified life coach.
major new volume to the island's cruise sector. Existing cruise calls into Freeport Harbour continue to complement these numbers while fast ferry service from South Florida provides additional short stay and day trip traffic.
“Overall, Grand Bahama has experienced a 59.2 percent year-over-year increase in total foreign, air and sea arrivals for January through October 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.”
JACKSON WEECH JOY JIBRILU LATIA DUNCOMBE
TAX CHIEF: POWER OF SALE IS ‘ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT’
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE Department of Inland Revenue's top executive yesterday asserted it is using its ‘power of sale’ as an “absolute last resort” against real property tax deadbeats who have gone decades without paying taxes.
Shunda Strachan, speaking at a seminar for large taxpayers, firmly rejected the suggestion that the Department is targeting particular businesses or acting without due process. She said that its ‘power of sale’ is used only
in extreme cases involving decades of unpaid taxes.
“The Department of Inland Revenue is engaged in enforcement using the method of ‘power of sale’, and really that is for property owners who have gone decades without paying real property taxes. So it's not an avenue that we're using to collect from those taxpayers that are working with the Department or that may fall behind a couple of years,” said Mrs Strachan.
“These taxpayers are taxpayers either that have never paid real property tax or owe a significant amount of arrears up to decades.”
Mrs Strachan explained that the ‘power of sale’[ is only pursued after extensive
efforts to work with property owners, including outreach, payment plans and past tax amnesties.
She added that businesses which have not paid their taxes cannot be allowed to avoid their obligations while others comply.
“Inland Revenue has a process that it follows before we get to ‘power of sale’. ‘Power of sale’ is the absolute last resort. We would have reached out, we would have offered payment plans, we would have done any number of things.
And you may be aware that the Government did offer several tax amnesties in the past to assist persons,” said Mrs Strachan.
“If we've gone to ‘power of sale’ on a particular property, it means that we have exhausted all means to collect. And then the question: Is it fair for some businesses to pay taxes and others not to pay? It's in the legislation. And so we are mandated to collect the Government's revenue.”
The Free National Movement (FNM) recently accused the Department of Inland Revenue of increasing the use of its ‘power of sale’ enforcement to collect unpaid real property taxes from Bahamian-owned commercial properties
The Opposition called for full disclosure on its use of the ‘power of sale’, seeking the number of Bahamian
commercial and non-owner occupied residential properties seized and sold, who purchased them, and for how much. They also questioned what procedures exist to protect property owners’ equity and ensure they do not lose all their investment after years of building their businesses or properties.
“We are speaking to this matter now because the commercial properties being seized belong to Bahamians, many of whom worked long years to establish businesses on these commercial properties and who employ many other Bahamians. While we accept that the Department of Inland Revenue has
been given certain powers by virtue of legislation, we question whether the laws and procedures are being carried out in a reasonable, proportionate, fair and transparent manner,” said the FNM.
“That you have the power means, firstly, that you must exercise that power reasonably, fairly and transparently in the best interests of the Bahamian people, which must include the consideration and protection of the taxpayer. The Government has a duty to ensure that Bahamians are not unconstitutionally or unreasonably deprived of their property.”
Top airline activates its tie-up with Bahamasair
BAHAMASAIR yesterday confirmed that a premier global airline has activated its interline partnership with the national flag carrier so that its passengers can enjoy improved connectivity to this country.
In a statement, Bahamasair said the partnership with Emirates enables the latter to expand its reach in the Caribbean with its customers able to connect to two Bahamian destinations - Nassau/Paradise Island and Freeport - via the national flag carrier’s Florida gateways.
Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investments and
aviation, said: “This partnership makes one thing clear: The Bahamas is a world class destination. Emirates’ decision strengthens Bahamasair, extends our global aviation reach and delivers strategic access with real economic impact.”
The interline partnership came into effect following
DOWNTOWN NASSAU HOTEL NAMES GENERAL MANAGER
THE Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau has named Shyam Lalu as its new general manager.
With more than 15 years of hospitality leadership experience across multiple brands and destinations,
he will oversee all aspects of the resort’s operations, including guest services, food and beverage, accommodations and team development.
“My top responsibility is to support everyone in
the hotel - from department leaders all the way to our cooks, bussers and room attendants,” said Mr Lalu. “My goal is to ensure guests have a fantastic and memorable stay, while also
a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by both airlines in June. Emirates’ customers can book an entire journey from across its network to Orlando or Miami, and then connect to Nassau or Freeport with a single ticket and additional benefits including a single baggage policy for both airlines. Miami and Orlando are among the 12 US destinations that Emirates currently flies to. It serves Miami with daily flights using its retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft featuring four cabin classes, along with five-weekly flights to Orlando. From the two Florida gateways, customers can use the services of Bahamasair to reach this nation.
helping our team grow and reach the next level.”
The Margaritaville Beach Resort, in a statement, said Mr Lalu’s plans for the resort in 2026 focus on elevating both guest experiences and community
engagement. He aims to expand the resort’s entertainment and activity offerings for both overnight guests and day visitors, including those visiting Fins Up Waterpark, the resort’s restaurants and the St Somewhere spa.
The resort added that he will also work closely with its chefs and culinary team to reimagine and refresh all food and beverage offerings - from the dishes at JWB Steak and Seafood to the casual and locally-inspired Vacation Café.
“We’re thrilled to have someone with Shyam’s experience and insight joining us at Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau,” added Shirlen Godet, marketing manager for the property. “His impressive background, leadership style and genuine enthusiasm for hospitality make him an incredible asset to our team and to our guests.”
A graduate of the Collins College of Hospitality Management at California
Earlier this year, Emirates also signed an MoU with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas to jointly promote tourism to this nation.
State Polytechnic University, Pomona, the Southern California native has experience in accounting, front desk operations and food and beverage as well as management roles.
His career has spanned hospitality brands including Hyatt, the Ritz-Carlton, and Hilton. Mr Lalu’s experience includes serving as director of food and beverage at Amara Resort and Spa in Sedona, Arizona, and assistant director of food and beverage at The Ritz-Carlton Maui and the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel.
He later transitioned into full-scale hotel operations with Aimbridge Hospitality, a hospitality management company, serving as general manager in Dallas and Los Angeles before joining Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau.
JUST 157 FIRMS COLLECTING HALF GOV’TS VAT REVENUE
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE Prime Minister yesterday said that just 157 companies were responsible for collecting more than half of the Government’s VAT revenues during the first eight months of 2025.
Philip Davis KC, addressing the Department of Inland Revenue’s large taxpayer symposium, told attendees: “Consider that through the first eight months of 2025, a total of $478m of VAT revenue was collected by 7,517 VAT registrants.
“Now break that down to our largest taxpayers. The 157 enterprises, which are administered by the Large Taxpayer Unit, collected
$246m of that total, which is more than half. Let me then state the obvious – to say that you are important to the nation’s financial well-being would be a vast understatement.
“You provide essential jobs, produce goods and services critical to our economy, and anchor key industries such as tourism, financial services, telecommunications, energy and logistics. The Bahamian economy cannot grow without you. Our government cannot deliver essential services without your partnership.
“And our people cannot thrive without the stability that your contributions help secure. Every road we pave, every school we support, every hospital we modernise, every service
we improve – each one is strengthened by the contributions you make through taxes, investments, and leadership.”
Meanwhile, Shunda Strachan, the Department of Inland Revenue's controller, said most liquor businesses have responded positively to the Government’s new registration, certification and licensing regime.
She added that the tax authority has begun informing liquor businesses about the new requirements, and many have been receptive. Mrs Strachan said the market is crowded with numerous small outlets, some of which are in locations that may not be ideal.
“The Government did initiate new liquor registration legislation. The Department
of Inland Revenue has been tasked with administering that legislation. We have started by informing liquor businesses we are on the streets, letting them know what is required,” said Mrs Strachan.
“We have had a good response from most businesses because, again, there seems to be a saturation in the market where you have so many little places all over the place; some of them in places where they shouldn't necessarily be. So right now, we've had more positive feedback than negative feedback.”
Mrs Strachan said that to obtain a 2026 Business Licence, liquor businesses must complete a registration process that ensures they meet all requirements, but enforcement will not
begin until April 1 to give them time to make their premises compliant.
“In order for them to get a 2026 Business Licence, liquor businesses will have to go through a registration process, which will mean that they have to get all of the requirements, ensuring that the businesses are in adequate locations, the facilities are adequate to meet the purpose of the business, and so that's now going on. We expect that enforcement will not take place until April 1. So we are giving businesses an opportunity to get their premises fit for purpose,” said Mrs Strachan
She added that liquor businesses located close to schools will be carefully reviewed to decide whether they can continue
TOURISM MARKET DIVERSITY KEY IN CHALLENGING 2025
By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net
THE United Kingdom is “one of our most promising and steadily growing international markets this year”, the Nassau and Paradise Island Promotion Board’s chief executive said yesterday.
Speaking at the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association's (BHTA) 73rd annual general meeting, Joy Jibrilu said visitor source market diversification has key in 2025.
“We've worked to expand our global reach, thereby ensuring that Nassau and Paradise Island is not overly dependent on any single market,” Mrs Jibrilu said. “Instead, we've strengthened our reach across - and efforts across- the UK and Canada, while continuing, and let me stress that, while continuing them in key US regions. Latin America is also on our radar,
and preliminary work has already begun.”
She said a UK roadshow held in September exposed The Bahamas to London, Manchester and Edinburgh which have shown strong engagement and booking potential. “Each event brought together over 30 travel advisors as well as media and industry partners for meaningful conversations and updates that strengthen the relationships that drive bookings to all of our properties,” Mrs Jibrilu said.
She added that peak booking season was launched “with a high impact activation in Canary Wharf in London and South Bank, reaching over 600,000 people”. Mrs Jibrilu said The Bahamas had a creative presence with a London Bridge placement, a 19-page spread in Wanderlust Magazine and e-mail promotions. She said another strategy aimed at the UK market surrounded the filming of
AIRPORT HOTEL BIDS ARE DUE AT END-FEBRUARY
By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net
FINAL bids to develop an airport hotel on six acres at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) are due by the deadline of February 27, 2026, it was revealed yesterday.
Dexter Bodie, Nassau Airport Development Company’s (NAD) manager of business development, told the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association's (BHTA) 73rd annual general meeting that site visits were completed in October and the period when potential bidders submit questions and answers is ongoing.
“In September 2025, an RFP (request for proposal) for an airport hotel was issued to short-listed proponents interested in designing, building, financing and operating a hotel on approximately six acres of NAD-owned land,” Mr Bodie said. “Site visits were completed in October to help proponents better
understand the layout and development potential of the area.
“We are currently in the question and answer portion of the process, which remains open until
Taste of The Bahamas with British celebrity chef, Ainsley Harriott, which will launch in January 2026.
“This 10-part culinary series will launch in January 2026, and will showcase Bahamian chefs, our flavours, our people and our culture to more than 15 million viewers every week,” Mrs Jibrilu said. “It is one of the most powerful international story-telling opportunities to date.”
Mrs Jibrilu said Canada has been the fastest- growing international market for The Bahamas this year, with the highest Canadian airlift the country has seen, taking weekly non-stop flights from 19 to 39.
“A new service from Air Canada, WestJet and a new airline entrant, Porter Airlines, Canada now represents 10 percent of all inbound seats to Nassau, a major boost heading into peak season,” she said. “To support this new airlift, we launched targeted
mid-December, with final proposals due on February 27 next year. This project is a major component of NAD's land side development master plan, and supports our broader goal of creating a gateway district at LPIA (Lynden Pindling International Airport) and, ultimately,
FLY - See Page B10
LEGAL NOTICE
GOLDWYNN EXPRESS HOLDINGS LTD.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Shareholders of GOLDWYNN EXPRESS HOLDINGS LTD. is hereby called to be held at 340 West Bay Street on the 8th December, 2025 at 10:00 o’clock in the forenoon. The object and purpose of the said meeting is to have laid before the Shareholders of the Company the accounts of the Liquidator, Monique Haley, showing the manner in which the winding up of the Company has been conducted and also to hear any explanation that may be given by the said Liquidator.
Dated the 4th day of December, 2025.
Monique Haley LIQUIDATOR Of
GOLDWYNN EXPRESS HOLDINGS LTD.
advertising in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax, supported by billboards, winter focus digital campaigns, partner, co-ops, influencers, trade famillarisation trips and PR activity. Our goal is simple: Ensure that every seat translates into a visitor.”
Mrs Jibrilu said PR and media outreach helped to amplify visibility yearround, and the Board’s PR generated more than three billion impressions through outlets such as Travel and Leisure, Afar, National Geographic and more, which translated to “millions of dollars in added value”.
“Our satellite media tour this summer featuring Nikia Deveaux-Christie, and our foodie storyteller, Nicholas Mitchell, reached over 29 million viewers across major US cities,” Mrs Jibrilu said. “With 40-plus placements and over $200,000 in media value, this was one of the strongest SMTs we've executed today. It brought
Nassau and Paradise Island into living rooms across North America.
“Our website remains one of the most powerful engines of value for the destination. Year-to-date, 2025, we have seen 14 million visits, two million link-outs and increased time on-site to two minutes and 16 seconds. Top US markets such as New York, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta and Philadelphia are outpacing last year's performance.
“And the great news is that internationally, Toronto, Montreal, London, UK and Calgary are all continuing to lead among our international markets. Our 2025 marketing campaigns delivered 238 TV impressions, 112 million digital, 88 million social, and 31.5 traditional media impressions.” Kerry Fountain, the Bahama Out Island Promotion Board's executive director, added: “We have nearly 300,000 and that's up 4 percent. And this only,
operating. “There are some little businesses that are in close proximity to schools where they shouldn't be, and so those ones we're going to look at very closely. It will be a challenging decision, but it's one that we are still going to have to make in terms of whether we allow them to continue to operate.
“That decision will not only rest with the Department of Inland Revenue. There will be a Board or committee appointed to review all of the requirements and to ensure that businesses have what they need or are in the correct proximity to schools.”
by the way, is July through November. This was the fiscal year. Our fiscal year is July 1 through June 30. So this is just for the fiscal year
“It doesn't mean a hill of beans if somebody's coming to myoutislands.com and we're not sending that that hotel lead to Victor, or to Cheryl, or any one of my members that are in here. That is what is important. A number of people that are coming to myoutislands.com and then going off to the individual hotels website to research and perhaps do a booking, and the conversion rate is up 102 percent. That is the number of people that are coming to my website and then going to a hotel's website. So we're performing well with the couple of dollars that we have.” Mr Fountain said with 84 percent of persons planning to travel more in 2026 compared to this year “the mood is bright”. However, he noted that they are conducting their research through artificial intelligence (AI), and those within the tourism industry must get on board with incorporating AI in their operations.
HEALTHCARE - from page B1
the BISX-listed healthcare provider’s 2026 financial year which closes at end-January.
“We completed Harbourside, our long-foreshadowed step down facility with 38 beds for the in-patient community, in 2025,” he confirmed. “We’ll see the income effects of that in fiscal year 2026 in our financial results.” The complex is just one of several multi-million dollar investments, including its Grand Bahama hospital, Village Road imaging cere and multiple clinics, that Doctors Hospital has undertaken in its current growth and expansion phase.
Speaking in December 2024, Mr Deveaux added: “Harbourside had quite a few changes to the scope of the facility to reflect what the needs are in the market. Those changes meant extra time was needed to build it.
“We are now in the final hand over process with the contractor. We’re getting landscaping done, a decision on the parking capacity is almost complete. We’ll make a decision on when we feel ready to open
that facility. It has 38 beds on-site. That’s critical capacity for New Providence. There’s a shortage of bed capacity.
“That facility is virtually complete. Our investors look at the use of cash. That [Harbourside] consumed a fairly significant use of cash. Our total construction costs for that facility roughly approximate what it took us to build the Grand Bahama hospital. It was a fairly significant investment in in-patient capacity in New Providence.” The Grand Bahama hospital’s price tag was pegged at around $25m.
Dr Darville revealed the Harbourside deal during the debate on a resolution to borrow $201.2m from a Chinese-state owned bank to finance the proposed new New Providence hospital to be constructed at Perpall Tract. Among other disclosures was that the flooring of Princess Margaret Hospital’s (PMH) kitchen “could possibly have collapsed” because its concrete structure was “spalling” - meaning it was chipping and flaking.
The minister affirmed that the kitchen will undergo a $5m renovation using a portion of the proceeds from
No premium increase from NHI benefits ‘carving out’
benefits packages, and bring them into line with the healthcare scheme’s standard health benefit (SHB), he added that the sector is monitoring whether the NHI Authority will be “appropriately funded”.
Besides having to enact regulations to support the Act, which was passed on July 30 this year, and give it teeth, Mr Bosland told this newspaper that “two-way data sharing” between private insurers and the NHI Authority also has to be effective.
He added that this was particularly critical to the scheme’s smooth functioning and co-ordination, especially in dealing with issues such as ensuring that the primary care doctor selected by an NHI beneficiary is among the scheme’s approved providers, and for monitoring patient use rates and payments.
“Certainly, from the industry standpoint, we need the year,” Mr Bosland told Tribune Business. “The law requires, essentially, all the health insurance policies issued by insurers to adjust in accordance with
the Act. It will take some time to design the new policies, explain them to customers and implement them.
“A year is required. It’s reasonable to say it’s likely to be sufficient. We’ve been working closely with NHI for some time to have a reasonably good understanding of what is required of us.”
The NHI Act’s main purpose is to introduce the standard health benefit (SHB), which will act as the “minimum” primary care benefits package available to NHI beneficiaries who currently total some 161,000. Private health insurers, such as Colina, Family Guardian and CG Atlantic, will agree with NHI to become “approved insurers” to provide the SHB to beneficiaries enrolled with the Government’s scheme.
Mr Bosland yesterday explained that the standard health benefit’s introduction requires Bahamian private health insurers to adjust existing policies and benefits packages to account for its arrival. As a result, underwriters now have to “carve out” benefits that fall under the
the a $75m loan arranged by CIBC Caribbean. He added that design drawings for the new facility will be completed before year-end, and then the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) will launch a tender bidding process to secure the contractor.
The kitchen’s dilapidated state meant meals for PMH patients were being cooked and prepared at the University of The Bahamas (UoB), then transported to New Providence’s public hospital. “With this CIBC loan now finalised, a contract will be awarded for the kitchen renovation at a value of just under $5m,”
Dr Darville said.
“A lot of people ask why the kitchen is not renovated, as if it was a matter
SHB from current in-force coverage - something that requires them to re-design existing policies.
“Essentially we have to carve out the current benefits that fall under the standard health benefit to allow insurance contracts without any co-payments, cost sharing or deductibles,” Mr Bosland said. “Once you touch one thing it’s like building a house; they have to bind together and line up one on top of the other. It’s going to be a fair bit of work.” However, he said this was unlikely to spark a rise in health insurance premium costs.
Voicing optimism that the Bahamian health insurance industry will fulfill its side of the bargain, Mr Bosland told Tribune Business: “I would say as a caution that there are things the NHI Authority has to do in order to allow us to be effective and we are hopeful those activities will be appropriately funded.
“They still have regulations that they have to pass to support the Act itself, and there’s also the matter that the system requires some dual sharing between the insurance companies and NHI Authority; twoway dual sharing….
“That requires some investment on our side to ensure some of the systems are properly capable
of going in there, cleaning and polishing and replacing aging equipment. Far from the truth. The scope of works includes major structural repairs to the flooring. Do you know that the concrete in the floor of the kitchen was spalling, and it possibly could have collapsed because of the age of the facility?
“So we have to replace the flooring, we have to replace the structural columns including the walls and procure brand new kitchen equipment to improve productivity, logistics and improve the outflow of service of that facility. The ministry’s quantity surveyor has confirmed the structural, plumbing and air conditioning (AC) designs are expected to be
of doing that, but it also requires some work on the part of the Authority.”
The Davis administration expanding the NHI Authority’s annual funding by $2m in the Budget, increasing it from $46.2m to $48.2m for the 2025-2026 fiscal year - an amount projected to remain the same for the following two fiscal years.
Noting this, Mr Bosland added: “They [the NHI Authority] got an increase in the Budget this year. It’s not a massive amount. We want to encourage the Government to fund NHI appropriately to ensure they have the resources required to efficiently implement this Act.
“It’s one thing to have the Act. I’m really hopeful that the NHI Authority has the necessary to implement this. Primary care services, they are expensive in The Bahamas, but are not the primary driver of healthcare costs. It’s the serious illnesses that are the big driver. As long as the NHI Authority team is going to be ready, we’re going to be ready.”
Dr Darville yesterday confirmed in the House of Assembly that the NHI Act’s sections 28(2) through (5) and Sections 34 to 37, which deal with the integration of approved private insurers into the scheme, will be deferred for one year.
completed before the end of this year,” he added. “You can rest assured, Madame Speaker and the Bahamian people, that shortly after a tender process will begin and a contract will be awarded by the PHA Board.” Dr Darville told the House of Assembly that the kitchen works had been delayed by the cost overruns incurred in overhauling PMH’s accident and emergency (A&E) unit.
“One of the challenges I had as minister with the renovations of A&E.. the projected costs ballooned by millions of dollars,” he said, although providing no figure. “It was impossible to finish one project before starting a second project at PMH. I’m very pleased that, very shortly, the long overdue work at the kitchen at PMH will begin.”
Dr Darville, asserting that he inherited the A&E project from the former Minnis administration, said: “I was dealt the cards necessary to complete the project. The project was under-funded, there were unforeseen circumstances during the renovations. The building itself was structurally unsound. In the midst of construction, the roof was compromised. As we begun to move the walls, we found more work, and more work, and more work.”
“This phased approach is deliberate and based on sound technical guidance. It gives the Authority and private insurers the time required for actuarial analysis, systems development and regulatory alignment. This preparation is necessary for a smooth and responsible transition when these provisions come into force,” he explained.
Hailing the NHI Act’s passage into law, he said the provisions now in effect “strengthen governance, accountability and financial management within the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
“They formalise the Authority’s governance structure, continue the National Health Insurance Fund and plan, and set forth the framework for contracting and regulating both public and private providers within the standard health benefits Network. These sections also activate the systems for appeals, enforcement and transitional arrangements that will guide the Authority as it carries out its duties under this updated legal framework,” the minister added.
“In practical terms, these reforms give the Authority the tools to operate with greater transparency, stronger internal controls and improved operational flexibility. They ensure that essential services relied upon by thousands of Bahamians remain
With the construction work both impacting and disrupting patient care and the work of PMH staff, Dr Darville said the A&E upgrades are now complete after “years of trial and tribulation with renovating aging infrastructure”. He added that the new unit will be occupied via a “phased approach” as recommended by medical and nursing staff, and said: “By the grace of God it’s now complete.”
Apart from the kitchen, Dr Darville said the CIBC loan will also be used to finance renovations to the hospital’s operating theatre floors and three floors in PMH’s “legacy unit”. The latter will involve a “long needed” dialysis unit, eye ward and eye theatre, and installation of an elevator linking the first and second floors.
A portion of the $75m facility will also be directed to the “Freeport health campus” and hospital upgrades in Grand Bahama, which Dr Darville conceded have experienced “difficulties” in obtaining the necessary funding. He added that the “recent capital injection” has resulted in design drawings and the procurement of “long lead items” moving more rapidly, with some 135 construction workers now said to be present on-site.
available. Primary care, maternity care, preventative screenings, and other key benefits will continue without interruption, supported by clearer standards and stronger management.”
The standard health benefit (SHB) includes primary care; early detection and preventative care; diagnostic imaging; and paediatric care. Other benefits involve “maternity care by a general practitioner, or by an obstetrician and/or gynaecologist” and “screening programmes for cancer and other specified conditions”.
Under the new NHI Act, beneficiaries will be able to “select a standard health benefit provider” from those approved by the NHI Authority. An “approved insurer”, who will offer the SHB package, must demonstrate “financial stability”; its compliance with the Insurance Act; and “ability” to provide the required benefits.
Such an insurer will be charged with providing “the standard health benefits to every insured person enrolled in [NHI] and covered by an agreement with the Authority”. They will also be mandated to inform the NHI regulator if a plan beneficiary’s “private sickness and health insurance is lapsed [and/or] cancelled” and encourage them to enroll in the Government-run scheme.
DOCTORS HOSPITAL
“We have given a grace period to allow businesses or those entities that have vacation properties to come forward. But, unfortunately, the registration is not as high as we think it should be, and so we will begin enforcement very early in the New Year.”
Mrs Strachan also warned that VAT must
be paid based on where a service is provided, and if an audit shows a taxpayer has not paid due taxes, the Government will issue an assessment and require payment.
Accountants have complained that the Department of Inland Revenue is demanding VAT for services rendered to International Business Companies (IBCs), other
Atlantis eyes 2% increase in rates and occupancies
BUILD - from page B1
some reluctance by the Government to grant all the tax breaks and other investment incentives that the developer is seeking. Concord Wilshire is thought to be arguing that it needs significant concessions given that it is trying to revive a stopover tourism market that sources say is “100 percent dead”, but the Government’s concern is understood to be that it would have to give the same tax breaks to other major investors such as Atlantis and Baha Mar, which have ‘most favoured nation’ clauses in their own Heads of Agreement that
state they are to be treated no less favourably than other resort investors.
Ms Williams, meanwhile, said a second pier will be completed next year to accommodate more of Carnival’s larger XL class ships at the $600m Celebration Key project, which will welcome a projected four million guests annually to Grand Bahama by 2028. Carnival’s Celebration Key, which opened in July, has been cited as one of the key reasons foot traffic has slowed dramatically for Grand Bahama businesses outside the private cruise port. However, Ms Williams reported that the cruise line will complete a second pier
Challenge bids to overturn environmental approvals
PERMISSION - from page B1
Planning and Protection (DEPP) granted Rosewood Exuma’s CEC approvals despite these “fundamental flaws” in the process.
“Our challenge concerns the granting of certificates of environmental clearance (CEC) to Rosewood Exuma/Yntegra,” Turtlegrass said in a brief statement.
“We are convinced that the process for granting the CECs was fundamentally flawed and that no meaningful or proper consultation took place. It is our contention that, under the circumstances, these approvals should not have been granted and are therefore invalid.
“We are also pleased that the court is considering the request for an injunction preventing further work at the Rosewood Exuma/ Yntegra site. It is our hope that this injunction will be granted to prevent any further damage to the pristine marine habitat of Sampson Cay.”
Yntegra did not respond to Tribune Business requests for comment before press time last night. However, it was represented by Robert Adams KC, the Delaney Partners attorney, at the Judicial Review hearing before Justice Farquharson on
November 26, 2025. The Attorney General’s Office acted for the numerous government respondents.
Besides Philip Davis KC, the Prime Minister, these included Clay Sweeting, minister of works and Family Island affairs; the late Vaughn Miller in his capacity as minister of the environment and natural resources; Jobeth Coleby-Davis as minister of transport and energy; Jomo Campbell, minister of agriculture and fisheries; DEPP and its director, Rhianna Neely-Murphy; and Charles Zonicle, director of physical planning. All were named in their government capacities.
Justice Farquharson’s Order gives Turtlegrass permission to proceed with its challenge to four of the five approval decisions cited. One was effectively rendered moot, or null and void, by Yntegra’s own decision to withdraw the previous preliminary site plan approval it obtained from the Town Planning Committee and reapply - effectively starting the process all over again.
The four decisions that are now being challenged are the decisions by DEPP to grant the CECs; not require further environmental information to be made public; and not require further
corporate entities and clients who conduct 100 percent of their business activities outside The Bahamas, but Ms Strachan noted that if a service is provided in this nation then VAT is due.
“Value-Added Tax is paid depending on where the service is obtained. So if those services were obtained in The Bahamas, the taxes would be due. So if it is that we have conducted audits on those taxpayers and they haven’t paid the required amount of taxes, then we will definitely issue
in 2026, which will facilitate the arrival of more XL class ships and up to four million guests annually by 2028.
“Carnival’s Celebration Key officially opened in July 2025, marking a transformational milestone for Grand Bahama’s cruise sector,” Ms Williams said. “The project represents an initial investment of over $600m and has created over 1,000 permanent jobs for Bahamians, both directly and with third party operations, along with 58 Bahamian-owned retail and food and beverage businesses operating within the port.
“In its first 12 days of operation, Celebration Key welcomed more than 75,000 passengers, contributing to a substantial surge in cruise arrivals to the island and further strengthening Grand Bahama’s visitor numbers and economic
public consultation once it received fresh information.
Describing the planned Rosewood Exuma project as “a massive resort development”, Turtlegrass - in legal documents seen by Tribune Business -described Sampson Cay’s North Bay as containing “pristine coral and seagrass beds, and is a nursery habitat for sea turtles and conch. And, in its present state, is a major draw for visitors”.
East Sampson Cay, which features 124 Crown Land acres, is presently said to be undeveloped and uninhabited. “The proposed development will cover substantially the entire length of East Sampson Cay, causing the destruction of the current terrestrial environment of the island,” Turtlegrass and its attorneys, Callenders & Company, alleged.
“It will accommodate in the region of 350 guests and 150 staff, thus around 500 people in total. The current population of the entirety of the Exuma cays, for comparison, is around 600 people. The back of house infrastructure will include fuel storage, power generation and waste processing facilities, and a sewerage disposal well into which the liquid sewage created by the development will be pumped.
“The proposed development will also involve the excavation of a service dock linked to a sea wall nearly 400 feet long; the complete obliteration of the island’s two wetlands to create two
an assessment and expect that the taxes be paid,” said Mrs Strachan.
“We will give a grace period and allow various means for them to pay if they need payment arrangements or what have you. But the taxes are due, and they do need to be paid.”
Mrs Strachan said that for a business to reclaim, and net off, VAT on its inputs against the taxes paid by consumers, invoices from suppliers must clearly show the Tax Identification Number (TIN) for all parties.
outlook. The port’s initial pier accommodates two XL class ships simultaneously. A second pier is scheduled for completion in 2026, enabling the facility to birth four of Carnival’s largest XL class ships at once, with the projections of welcoming up to four million guests annually by 2028.”
As for hotel inventory, Grand Bahama currently has 1,313 rooms, which includes small to mid-size hotels, boutique properties and timeshare accommodations, according to Ms Williams.
Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vice-president of government affairs, said the $600m high-end resort set to be built at the Melia site will break ground in February 2026. It will feature 350 rooms, 50 residences and eight villas.
marinas capable of berthing super yachts; and the dredging of approach channels to all these facilities. The dredging, excavation, sea wall construction and pollution caused by the proposed development will devastate the marine environment around Sampson Cay.”
Turtlegrass, in its Judicial Review findings, describes itself as “a small eco-tourism resort” under construction at Big Sampson Cay’s north end. Mr Coughlin was said to have acquired “the remainder” of a 121-acre Crown Land lease for $9.5m in February 2022, signing a Heads of Agreement for his development with the Government in March 2023 and obtaining his own CEC two months later.
“In October, the applicant [Turtlegrass] submitted an application for a seabed lease in front of both recreational beaches in front of Turtlegrass. That application has never been processed,” the Judicial Review documents alleged.
“The applicant has a strong interest in the protection of the natural environment that surrounds Turtlegrass, including the corals, seagrass beds and biodiversity of North Bay.
“The applicant has commenced construction of
Some business owners are complaining about invoices being disallowed due to TIN and other errors, leaving them unable to reclaim input VAT, but Ms Strachan maintained that the policy is not new as it is already stipulated in the VAT Act and the Department is simply enforcing what the law requires.
“The VAT legislation speaks to how VAT invoices should be issued, and that really helps with compliance. In order for us to accept an invoice, for you to claim your input, it
While reporting that occupancy for Baha Mar year-over-year was flat, and that the average daily room (ADR) rate dipped slightly compared to 2024, he noted a “stronger than normal booking pace and robust demand” heading into Christmas and tye New Year, and the 2026 first quarter.
Jackson Weech, BHTA president and vice-president and general manager of operations, for Atlantis said 2025’s first and second quarter were consistent with budgetary expectations while the third and fourth quarter revealed “a sustained softening, aggravated by a particularly soft September and an extended US government shutdown that exacerbated an already challenged posture”.
phase one of Turtlegrass. However, it has put further phases on hold in light of devastating effects the proposed development would have on the local environment. It intends to even cease construction of phase one should the developers commence dredging in North Bay.”
Mr Coughlin has been outspoken about his concerns over Yntegra’s Rosewood Exuma development. and has threatened
has to be clearly laid out. The number one is the VAT invoice. Your TIN has to be clearly on it. So this is not new. This is in the VAT legislation,” said Mrs Strachan She added that the Department of Inland Revenue has met most of its VAT collection targets so far, indicating that revenue is performing as expected.
“VAT collections are on target so far. We have met most of our targets in relation to collections of Value-Added Tax,” Mrs Strachan added.
However, the Paradise Island mega resort’s casino “continues to deliver ahead of expectations.” Mr Weech expects a stronger December, and added: “Looking to 2026 we expect a strong start, driven to a large extent by a solid group room base that will lift ADRs to about 2 percent [up] year over year in the first half,” Mr Weech said.
“For the full year, we are planning for a two point increase in occupancy compared to 2025 along with a modest ADR uptick, positioning us for a healthy growth and continued momentum. Certainly, it’s our expectation that what we’ve seen by way of the first quarter and second quarter will press into the third and fourth quarter of 2026 respectively.
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.
JUDGE PARKER
BLONDIE TIGER
CALVIN & HOBBES
DENNIS THE MENACE
LPIA enjoys strong Thanksgiving numbers
reducing dependency on aeronautical revenue.”
LPIA, in its partnership with NAD as its operators, is also initiating an improved lounge experience for travellers at LPIA. Mr Bodie said the airport will receive additional retail dining and service opportunities as NAD is exploring options for the short, medium and long-term.
He added: “LPIA 2.0 will support long-term growth while improving the guest experience from curbside to air side. Planned upgrades include the
redesign of curb-side and terminal approach areas to improve traffic flow and ease of navigation for airport guests.
“Smart check-in options such as hotel kiosk group processing and other options will reduce waiting times. Airside improvements are expected to add more gates and create more efficient air traffic flow on the air side.
Upgrades to improve the processing of passengers will include improvements within US Customs and Border Protection, helping to reduce bottlenecks and speed up the overall travel
experience. Expanded post-security amenities will strengthen our retail and dining options for travellers.
“And as we build LPIA with every guest in mind, there will be a specific focus on universal accessibility, ensuring that the airport remains welcoming and easy to navigate to all of our guests.”
Mr Bodie reported steady passenger performance at LPIA, including during peak travel periods for 2025. He said this year’s Thanksgiving projections of more than 35,000 passengers align closely to 2024 figures when 35,355 passengers were processed.
“Early indicators suggest that actual numbers will fall within the same range or slightly higher,” Mr Bodie said. “For context, in 2019
we reached more than 30,192 passengers, which was a record in a banner year during pre-pandemic travel times. In 2022 we saw a strong recovery from the pandemic, and came in at roughly 32,000 passengers. 2023 was a record-breaking year all around for us, with more than 45,000 Thanksgiving travellers.
“From an operations standpoint, this Thanksgiving weekend was busy but smooth thanks to our collaboration with airport partners. We expect similar performance during the upcoming Christmas holiday through to New Year’s Day. Our focus remains on operational efficiency and ensuring our guests have a great experience at LPIA.”
With Porter Airlines having touched down at
The EU lays out a plan to fund Ukraine using frozen Russian assets but Belgium says it’s too risky
By LORNE COOK and SAM MCNEIL Associated Press
THE European Union on Wednesday revealed details
LPIA on November 26, Mr Bodie said services from Toronto and Ottawa will officially begin on December 13, while service to Montreal is scheduled to commence on February 5, 2026.
“In addition to Porter Airlines, we continue to have discussions with several airline partners in our ongoing efforts to bring additional airlift and new service to the destination,” Mr Bodie said. “This push to bolster airlift will sustain steady passenger numbers and offer new growth opportunities for Nassau and Paradise Island.”
Mr Bodie said NAD has recently finalised a memorandum of agreement for a commitment to maintain more than 98 percent
prolongation of the war on their side comes with a high cost for them." She said that she had informed the Trump administration about the proposal.
uptime for explosive device and baggage handling systems. “This agreement lays out stronger expectations for reliability and consistency for our daily operations,” he added.
“To strengthen reliability, we have incorporated on-site support along with emergency repair response when needed. The agreement also includes technical training for our team so that they stay ahead of maintenance needs and system updates. We now have a team of five explosive device system technicians working daily to ensure our systems are ready for peak processing periods. These investments will also help to improve security, speed up passenger processing and support consistent service levels across the airport.”
lesser amounts. A total of 210 billion euros worth ($245 billion) are held in Europe.
of its plan to use billions of euros in frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's needs over the next two years, but Belgium rejected the scheme and insisted that it poses major financial and legal risks.
European Commission President Ursula von der
Leyen said that the EU would cover two-thirds of Ukraine's financial and military needs for 2026 and 2027, which the International Monetary Fund puts at 137 billion euros ($160 billion), by providing 90 billion euros ($105 billion). She said that other international partners would be called on to cover the remaining third.
"Today we are sending a very strong message to the Ukrainian people. We are with them for the long haul," said von der Leyen while rolling out the proposal which would use Russian money as collateral to fund Ukraine's economy and war effort through a "reparations loan."
Von der Leyen said that using the frozen assets would strengthen the Ukrainian position at peace negotiations with Russia and the U.S. but it would also send a message to Moscow that "the
Funding Ukraine
EU leaders have committed to fund Ukraine over the next two years, whatever the method. The EU has already poured in over 170 billion euros ($197 billion) since the war started in 2022.
Von der Leyen said that if the loan plan didn't pass muster, the bloc could borrow the money on international markets in a scheme underpinned by its long-term budget. The problem here, though, is that it would require the approval of all 27 member countries, and Hungary has consistently blocked aid to Ukraine.
The biggest pot of ready funds available is through frozen Russian assets. Most of the money is held in Belgium – around 194 billion euros as of June – and outside the EU in Japan, with around $50 billion, and the U.S., U.K. and Canada with
To address Belgian concerns, the commission's complex proposal includes safeguards to protect EU nations from "possible retaliation from Russia," a prohibition of any release of the frozen assets, and a way to borrow money as the EU to "underpin a loan to Ukraine."
Too risky for Belgium
But Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said that his country considers "the option of the reparations loan the worst of all, as it is risky. It has never been done before." Russia has described the scheme as "theft."
Haltingly reading prepared remarks to reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Prévot urged the EU to borrow the money for Ukraine on international markets. "It is a well-known, a robust and a well-established option with predictable parameters," he said.
EUROPEAN Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses a media conference regarding Ukraine’s financing needs for 2026-2027 at EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.
Photo:Harry Nakos/AP
By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer
WHEN Kendrick Lamar began his Super Bowl halftime show earlier this year, he picked a stage design likely familiar to anyone tuning in: a square, triangle, cross and circle.
The Grammy-winning rapper — in front of more than 133 million people — chose to perform on a massive, industrialized grid of flashing lights resembling a giant PlayStation controller.
It was a nice surprise present for Sony's PlayStation, which this year is celebrating its 30th anniversary in North America and Europe. Lamar's nod to the console — which Sony had nothing to do with — was another sign of how far the brand has penetrated the culture, in ways big and small.
From big-budget Hollywood fare like "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" starring Angelina Jolie, to Juice WRLD's video for "Hear Me Calling" to "The Last of Us" on HBO Max, the PlayStation experience has leapt far past the console. Chandler Bing on "Friends" played a PlayStation 1 and the title character fired at PlayStation zombies in the cult movie "Shaun of the Dead."
"We made gaming cool. When we came out we were a little edgy, we were a different, but it was really about being disruptive," says Eric Lempel, senior vice president of Business and Product at Sony Interactive Entertainment. "We feel we are a premier entertainment brand, not just a gaming brand."
From bedroom to living room
Part of the enduring popularity of the PlayStation has been its ability to evolve with the technology, starting in 1995 by picking CD-ROMs that opened the door to 3D gaming. At the time, clunky cartridges were king.
The PlayStation — sparked by a failed partnership between Nintendo and Sony — entered a marketplace dominated by Sega and Nintendo. Sony wanted to bring the arcade experience home and a crucial decision was to consult with game developers first, before building their system.
"Sony realized they needed developers in place from the get-go before they even started designing it," says Anthony Caulfield, who with his wife, Nicola, run Gracious Films and made the independent documentary "The PlayStation Revolution."
adaptive triggers in the current PlayStation 5.
"Every console has to have a purpose, it has to have a reason to exist, and when we find that we have the right amount of new technology that can enable developers to do great things, we push forward," says Lempel.
From the living room to Hollywood
The list of movies and TV shows that have had their origin on the PlayStation is long. It includes: "Uncharted" starring Tom Holland on the big screen, "The Last of Us" with Pedro Pascal on HBO, "Twisted Metal" on Peacock and "Gran Turismo" with Orlando Bloom from Columbia Pictures.
More are on the way, including a live-action "Horizon Zero Dawn" movie that's eying a 2027 release, an upcoming movie version of "Ghost of Tsushima" directed by Chad Stahelski, and Amazon's "God of War" TV series.
Treese says PlayStation games often make the leap to TVs and theater screens because they're realistic, use motion capture and employ talented actors.
"They do really lend themselves to movies because they definitely led that charge of making more cinematic video game experiences," he says. It also doesn't help that Sony Pictures is nearby.
"Hardware manufacturers up to that point basically didn't care what the developers wanted. They just made what they thought was the best piece of hardware," he says.
Some critical steps helped right from the launch. Sony had a number of games ready to go, a development pipeline in place and a killer retail price — $299 — that was less expensive than the rival Sega Saturn. Sony also picked its market carefully, Caulfield says. With Sega and Nintendo largely targeting children, Sony aimed the PlayStation at teens and young adults — catnip for their younger brothers and sisters.
"If you grew up loving Nintendo games, the PlayStation was like a really good next step," says
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that WHATSONN ESTAL-HOMME of Eleuthera, 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 4th day of December 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
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 4th day of December 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
Tyler Treese, the editor-in-chief of PlayStation LifeStyle, an online forum and news site for fans.
When the console first arrived, it was a sensation, going on to sell more than 100 million units globally. "It's when games grew up," says Caulfield. "It's where the gaming went from the bedroom to the living room."
Making the hardware slap
Sony kept up with the technology, packing a DVD into the PlayStation 2 so that buyers had another reason to buy the system.
The PlayStation 2 remains the best selling console of all time, with some 160 million units sold.
"It was one of the best-priced DVD players that also happened to be the best gaming system at the time," says Lempel. "I know
so many people who said, 'That was my DVD player. That's how I started in DVD.'"
Sony hit a wobble with the PS3, which used a Blu-ray deck.
"It made the thing so expensive and it kind of broke that original PlayStation feeling of availability and great value for money," Caulfield says. The 2011 PlayStation network hack that shut down the network for 24 days didn't help. "If they got the PS4 wrong it could have been the end."
But the PlayStation 4 in 2013 stabilized the console, offering immersive online multiplayer options, streaming services and a library of exclusive games. Sony kept going with in-app purchases, 4K resolution and a controller that has haptic feedback and
NOTICE is hereby given that PERRY AMARLEY BAILEY of Lincoln Boulevard off Robinson 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 27th day of November 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
Lempel says PlayStation franchises are finding new audiences in other media because, at base, they're good entertainment. "We have great stories, we've got great IP, and it transcends the category." That has even spilled out into fashion — British Nigerian multidisciplinary artist and designer Yinka Ilori has a line of PlayStation-inspired loungewear — and footwear, thanks to rapper Travis Scott's Nike Dunk Low Cactus Jack X PlayStation sneakers.
"We know that we've struck a chord that goes just well beyond a consumer product," says Lempel. "This is something that people love. It's a big part of people's lives and they love to talk about it. They love to express it in different ways."
Lempel recently got a taste of that expression firsthand. He was at a restaurant in Manhattan when he spotted the PlayStation symbols tattooed on someone's arm. "These are permanent markings on someone's body," he says in wonder. "That's the passion people have."
NOTICE is hereby given that ETENERLY TERVEUS of Zion Boulevard, South Beach, 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 27th day of November 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Shareholders of GOLDWYNN EXPRESS HOLDINGS LTD. is hereby called to be held at 340 West Bay Street on the 8th December, 2025 at 10:00 o’clock in the forenoon. The object and purpose of the said meeting is to have laid before the Shareholders of the Company the accounts of the Liquidator, Monique Haley, showing the manner in which the winding up of the Company has been conducted and also to hear any explanation that may be given by the said Liquidator.
Dated the 4th day of December, 2025.
Haley
Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the registration number 211091 B.
(In Voluntary Liquidation)
Notice is hereby given that the liquidation and the winding up of the Company is complete and the Company has been struck off the Register of Companies maintained by the Registrar General.
SALESFORCE CEO VIES TO OVERCOME INVESTORS' AI SKEPTICISM
WHILE
TOUTING COMPANY'S QUARTERLY NUMBERS
By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer
AFTER riding the artificial intelligence craze to new heights, business software maker Salesforce has been pummeled by a wave of investor skepticism that's intensified the pressure on its persuasive CEO Marc Benioff to reverse the tide.
Benioff, who helped spearhead the transition to cloud computing after founding Salesforce in 1999, got a chance to try to change the AI narrative late Wednesday with the release of his company's latest quarterly results.
The key numbers covering August through October eclipsed the analyst projections that help steer the stock market, providing Benioff with some material to support his contention that Salesforce's big bets on AI will yield a jackpot. The San Francisco-based company earned $2.1 billion, or $2.19 per share, a 37% increase from the same time last year while revenue rose 9% to nearly $10.9 billion.
Salesforce also provided an outlook for the current quarter ending in January that exceeded analysts' predictions. "We're uniquely positioned for this new era," Benioff boasted during a 25-minute address on an analyst conference call that sometimes sounded like an AI sermon that also featured comments about "wow" moments that customers experience
when seeing the company's technology.
Salesforce's shares initially surged by more than 5% after the results came out, but backtracked to a gain of 2% following Benioff's presentation.
It's unclear if that modest momentum will be sustained in Thursday's regular trading session because making more money than
Macy’s posts surprise profit
analysts anticipated isn't necessarily enough to keep propelling a technology stock amid persisting doubts about whether the hundreds of billions of dollars being poured into the much-hyped technology will pay off.
Nvidia, the dominant maker of the chips needed to power AI, put a dent in the wall of worry a couple weeks ago with a quarterly earnings report that soared far beyond analyst estimates and initially eased fears about a Big Tech bubble bursting.
But the tranquility quickly evaporated, leaving Nvidia's stock price slightly below where it was trading before the company's stellar earnings report and 15% below its peak price reached in late October when the chipmaker became the first company to be valued at $5 trillion.
The AI jitters have punished Salesforce even more severely. Before the earnings report was released, Salesforce's market value had plunged by 35%, wiping out about $125 billion in shareholder wealth,
with overhaul under new CEO resonating with shoppers
By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer
MACY'S posted a surprise third-quarter profit and its strongest comparable sales in more than three years as an extensive overhaul of the 167-year-old New York department store begins to resonate with shoppers.
Macy's raised its financial guidance for the year, but its outlook for the crucial fourth quarter was more reserved, reflecting the mood of many customers who have grown more
selective in what they buy during the holiday season.
Trading was volatile Wednesday as investors weighed what appeared to be growing momentum for Macy's under new CEO Tony Spring, and anxiety over the U.S. economy that threatens to curb holiday spending.
Comparable sales, a good barometer of a retailer's health, have been an ominous sign at Macy's for several years now, serving each quarter as a reminder that the storied department
store chain had a long way to go.
On Wednesday, however, Macy's posted a solid 3.2% increase for the quarter ended Nov. 1, following a 1.9% increase during the second quarter. Those sales includes licensed businesses like cosmetics. For Macy's, which also owns higher end stores like Bloomingdales and Bluemercury, the strong performance is notable because all retailers are navigating a challenging environment with consumers pulling back as prices
rise in a U.S.-initiated trade war.
Yet consumer spending is uneven with higher income households continuing to spend more freely, while lower income families pull back in what is often referred to a "K-shaped economy."
"The K economy is is real," Spring told The Associated Press during a phone interview on Wednesday. "We're fortunate. Bloomingdales and Bluemercury are solidly in the upper part of the K and about half of the Macy's customers are
since Salesforce's stock price peaked at $369 a year ago. The downturn has happened even as Benioff has been doing his best to highlight AI's potential benefits while calling upon the flair for salesmanship that he developed while become the become a chief evangelist behind the rise of software subscription services amid the ruins of the dot-com bust a quarter century ago.
Benioff, who owns Time magazine in addition to his Salesforce job, also is among the Big Tech leaders who have forged ties with President Donald Trump this year while trying to persuade the administration to adopt AI-friendly policies to protect U.S. interests as China also works feverishly on the technology.
Salesforce has been primarily focused on creating Ai agents that can automate more customer sales agents while spawning a digital labor force that will take over jobs that have traditionally been filled by people. In a sign that Benioff intends to practice what he preaches, Salesforce laid
in the upper part of the K. But we do also appeal to an aspirational customer and one that is choiceful. And so our job is to make sure that we get our fair share of the business. " Spring said Macy's had to be "realistic" and "sensible" with fourth quarter guidance.
The company has leaned into promotions to lure shoppers who are tight with their budgets, he said.
Under Spring, who took over the top job in early 2024, Macy's has closed unprofitable stores while investing heavily in modernizing locations. The company has beefed up customer service in the fitting areas as well as the shoe department. It's also been trying to differentiate its luxury business from its rivals with exclusive merchandise.
Roughly 50% of customers at the Macy's have a
off 4,000 of its own customer support workers as its "Agentforce" technology took over more of the responsibilities.
But the corporate customers that buy Salesforce's services haven't been embracing AI agents as quickly as investors initially thought, turning the company into a "poster child" for the doubts hanging over the technology, said Jay Woods, chief market strategist for investment banking firm Freedom Capital Markets.
The second-guessing hasn't dimmed Benioff's AI exuberance – a passion that recently displayed in a resounding endorsement of Google's latest version of the Gemini technology powering its AI suite.
"We all know that the speed of innovation has exceeded the speed of customer adoption," Benioff conceded while confidently predicting that dynamic is about to change dramatically as more companies and government agencies build AI services into their operations.
household income of over $100,000 and at Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury, there's a larger percentage with household incomes over $150,000.
As Macy's navigates what has become a volatile global trading environment due to U.S. tariffs, it's trying to take a more surgical approach when it comes to price increases. The company is working with its suppliers to absorb some of the higher costs.
The impact of tariffs has been less than what Macy's had anticipated, Spring said, but they remain a factor.
Macy's reported net income of $11 million, or 4 cents per share, for the quarter. Adjusted earnings per share was 9 cents, catching industry analysts who had expected a loss of 13 cents off guard.
The company last year earned $28 million or 10 cents per share.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that JONATHAN DELVA of Carmichael Road, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration/ Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 4th day of to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that DAVISHA LYNN JOSEPH of Key West 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 4th 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 JOHNSON ESTAL-HOMME of Eleuthera, 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 4th day of December 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
SALESFORCE CEO Marc Benioff delivers the keynote address at the start of the Dreamforce conference at the Moscone Center, in San Francisco, Oct. 14, 2025. Photo:Jessica Christian/AP
It's time to unpack Spotify Wrapped. Here's how the music streamer compiled your 2025 recap
By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS
AP Business Writer
THE end of 2025 is almost upon us. And it's time to unpack Spotify Wrapped.
On Wednesday, the music streaming giant delivered its annual recap — giving its hundreds of millions of users worldwide a look at the top songs, artists, podcasts and other audio that filled their ears over the past year (give or take a month and some change).
Spotify isn't the only platform — or music streamer — to roll out a yearly glimpse of data collected from consumers' online lives. But since its launch about a decade ago, Wrapped has become one of the most anticipated. And Spotify is billing the 2025 edition to be its biggest yet, with a host of new features it hopes may address some disappointments users had last year.
So, what goes into pulling together Wrapped, and what's new this year? Here's what to know.
How much of the year does Spotify Wrapped cover?
To compile Wrapped, Spotify collects listening data from Jan. 1 through around mid-November.
That gives the company time to solidify finishing touches and deliver its recap to users by early December. But it also means your late November and December streaming habits won't be included, which may be why your favorite holiday songs aren't on the list, or other year-end hits.
What goes into getting top songs, artists and more?
For top songs, artists and — for the first time this year — albums to show up on Spotify Wrapped, the platform looks at a mix of what you stream and how long you listen for.
According to Spotify, users must listen to at least
30 tracks for over 30 seconds each to get top songs. For artists, users need to listen to at least five unique artists for over 30 seconds. And for top album, users need to have listened to at least 70% of the tracks on one album.
The company confirmed that data is collected evenly across all platforms — and that streaming in "offline" mode will also be counted, as long as the device connects back to the internet a few weeks before Wrapped's launch. Listening using Spotify's "private mode" features, meanwhile, won't contribute to any rankings, but will still count toward total time spent on the platform. And Spotify says "background sounds," like white noise, are filtered out.
When does Spotify start building Wrapped each year? What's new in 2025?
Marc Hazan, senior vice president of marketing and partnerships at Spotify, said his team started thinking about 2025 Wrapped the day last year's recap was launched.
Hong Kong leader says fire investigation ‘must uncover the truth’ and promises construction reforms
By CHAN HO-HIM and KEN MORITSUGU Associated Press
HONG Kong will set up an independent committee headed by a judge to determine the cause of a deadly high-rise fire that shocked the city and to recommend changes to prevent a future tragedy, its leader said Tuesday.
John Lee, the chief executive of the southern Chinese territory, pledged to overcome vested interests and bring about systemic change in the construction industry. Police said Tuesday afternoon that more bodies had been found, raising the death toll to at least 156 with about 30 people still missing a week after the fire. "We must uncover the truth, ensure that justice is served, let the deceased rest in peace and provide comfort to the living," Lee told reporters at a weekly press conference. "We want to ensure that we will prevent such a tragedy from happening again."
The fire started last Wednesday around scaffolding on a building at the Wang Fuk Court complex and spread to seven of its eight towers. They were home to more than 4,600
people and many have been left homeless. Forty injured people remain hospitalized, Lee said. A survivor of the fire welcomed the creation of the independent committee. "Everyone, every Hong Kong citizen, every person affected by this accident, all of them want to know the truth of this fire," said May Liang, who was out to lunch with her husband when the fire started. They lost all their belongings, she said. At least 15 people have been arrested by anti-corruption investigators and police, including scaffolding contractors, company directors and an engineering consultant, as authorities investigate suspected corruption and negligence in a renovation project at the housing complex.
The initial investigation has focused on why the fire expanded so rapidly, overwhelming firefighting efforts. Authorities have cited both high winds and substandard materials used for the maintenance work.
Contractors were found to be using substandard netting, authorities said Monday. Among the 20 samples of netting investigators collected at the complex, seven were found to have failed safety standards.
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL PUBLIC NOTICE
The Public is hereby advised that I, CHRISTINA LUNDY AND MAURICIO BRITTON of Heritage Subdivision, Lucaya, Freeport GB, The Bahamas, Parents of CARTER MICHAEL LUNDY a minor intend to change my child’s name to CARTER MICHAEL TRAVIS BRITTON. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Deputy Chief Passport Officer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.
"It's a full year production that touches, without question, every function within Spotify," Hazan told The Associated Press. On day one, he noted, that includes looking at what users think of the Wrapped that just dropped.
Many Spotify subscribers were quick to share disappointments about 2024's recap — with some complaining that Wrapped was too minimalist last year. Others took to social media with memes mocking features that didn't seem to hit the mark.
The look and feel of Wrapped evolves each year, and Hazan notes the development of the 2025 edition was largely driven by last year's feedback.
"We've really taken the feedback to heart — and fueled what we think is the freshest, most action-packed Wrapped experience we've ever done," he added. That includes returning music genres, which were missing in 2024's Wrapped. The platform is also introducing top albums and audiobooks, as well as playcounts for each song that makes your annual playlist. And the experience is more gamified this year. There's a prompt for users to guess their top song before it's revealed and a "listening age" — which takes a stab at guessing how old your music taste is, based on when your favorite tunes were released.
Spotify has also unveiled "Wrapped Party," a feature that allows users to compare their listening habits with friends who also use the app — and win their own award-like titles within the group.
How is AI used?
Among other backlashes Spotify received last year was speculation over how much artificial intelligence played a role in compiling Wrapped.
The most visible use of AI in Spotify's 2024 Wrapped was an accompanying podcast powered by generative AI. Spotify didn't repeat the podcast this year but is introducing another feature, Archive, which uses a large language model to break down your listening on specific days. That's the most AI-focused part of 2025's Wrapped, Hazan said. But the technology is still more broadly supplemented across Spotify's technical operations today, including in scaling the reach of its annual recap.
"Rooted into Wrapped is human creativity," Hazan said, stressing that hundreds of people work on pulling together the recap each year. Technology like AI, he noted, helps "fast track" and "enhance" the product so it can reach the platform's more than 700 million users.
What does Wrapped say about data tracking more broadly?
Spotify is far from the only company to track what users do on its platform — and feed back some of that data, with a nostalgic twist, at the end of the year. Streaming rival Apple Music rolled out its annual "Replay" on Tuesday. And YouTube this week unveiled its new "Recap," which similarly breaks down its listeners' music habits. Social media platforms, Google search and even dictionaries also offer their own year-end reflections. These recaps may signal more transparency for users, because they can see some data in their hands. And products like Wrapped have become particularly popular because they're personalized and now designed to share online — leaving many to look forward to it as an "annual ritual" of sorts, notes Yakov Bart, a marketing professor at Northeastern University. Still, one concern is the normalization of now-constant "tracking of digital footprints that consumers leave online," he added. "What Spotify Wrapped is able to do is essentially package this tracked data into the form of entertainment," Bart said. "It reframes all this digital tracking that's constantly happening behind the scenes into something that's fun … And so, instead of kind of feeling under surveillance, users (are) basically feeling seen."
THIS March 20, 2018 file photo shows the Spotify app on an iPad in Baltimore. Photo:Patrick Semansky/AP
Wall Street pulls near its all-time high
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer
U.S. stocks rose near their record levels on Wednesday as mixed data on the economy kept alive hopes that a cut to interest rates is coming soon.
The S&P 500 gained 0.3% and pulled within 0.6% of its all-time high set in late October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 408 points, or 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.2%.
The biggest jump in the S&P 500 came from Microchip Technology, which leaped 12.2% after saying it expects sales and profit for the final months of the year to come in at the high end of the forecasted ranges it earlier gave. CEO Steve Sanghi said business is doing better than expected, and it's reducing inventory levels.
Marvell Technology was another winner and rose 7.9% after the supplier of semiconductor products delivered a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected.
CEO Matt Murphy credited demand for its data center products, while also announcing a purchase of Celestial AI to bolster its artificial-intelligence infrastructure business. The
deal's price tag could top $3.25 billion.
Stocks broadly got a lift from easing Treasury yields in the bond market. Yields fell after a report suggested U.S. employers outside of the government may have cut more jobs in November than they added. While the surprisingly weak report from ADP may be discouraging for people looking for jobs, it also bolstered expectations that the
Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate next week. If the Fed does, that would be the third cut of the year in hopes of helping the slowing job market.
Investors love lower interest rates because they boost prices for investments and can charge up the economy.
A separate report Wednesday on activity for U.S. services business was more encouraging. It said
growth was stronger last month than expected for businesses in the retail, finance, insurance and other industries.
The report from the Institute for Supply Management's survey also said that prices were increasing at their slowest rate since April. That's important because the main argument against cutting interest rates is that it could worsen inflation.
Dec. 2, 2025.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.06% from 4.09% late Tuesday. Lower interest rates can boost prices for all kinds of investments, and bitcoin climbed above $93,000 following its scary downward run in recent weeks. It briefly plunged below $81,000 last month.
On Wall Street, American Eagle Outfitters rallied 15.1% after the retailer reported a better profit than expected. Its CEO, Jay Schottenstein, said it also saw a strong start to the holiday shopping season with an acceleration in demand across its brands during the Thanksgiving weekend.
Capricor Therapeutics surged 371.1% after the biotech company reported encouraging results for its potential therapy for people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
On the losing end of Wall Street were relatively few companies, including one out of every three stocks in the S&P 500 index. But among them were some of the market's most influential stocks, which kept indexes in check. Microsoft fell 2.5% and was the heaviest weight on the S&P 500.
Macy's lost 1.1% after flipping between losses and gains through the day. It reported a profit for the latest quarter that was much better than the loss that analysts were expecting, but its stock had already come into the day with a gain for the year so far that more than doubled the S&P 500's. All told, the S&P 500 rose 20.35 points to 6,849.72. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 408.44 to 47,882.90, and the Nasdaq composite gained 40.42 to 23,454.09. In stock markets abroad, indexes were close to flat in Europe following a mixed finish in Asia. Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped 1.1% on gains for technology stocks like Tokyo Electron. SoftBank Group Corp. leaped 6.4% following reports that its founder, Masayoshi Son, regretted having to sell shares in computer chipmaker Nvidia to help pay for other investments. Chinese indexes sank following the release of data showing weaker factory activity. Stocks fell 1.3% in Hong Kong and 0.5% in Shanghai.
OpenAI awards $40.5M to a wide range of nonprofits under new foundation structure
By THALIA BEATY Associated Press
OpenAI has awarded $40.5 million to more than 200 nonprofits in the first round of grants it has made since it rebranded its nonprofit as the OpenAI Foundation in October.
The foundation has committed $25 billion to fund health research and what it calls AI resilience, meaning ways to minimize the risks of these technologies. It hasn't said how quickly it will grant out those funds.
OpenAI promised to grant out $50 million in July in response to the recommendations of an advisory commission they convened to offer feedback about how it should accomplish its mission of building safe artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. It said it would announce another $9.5 million in grants in the coming months based on recommendations from its board of directors.
The grant funding is unrestricted, meaning the nonprofits can use it however they choose. However, OpenAI asked groups to apply with projects that support AI literacy, strengthen civic life or foster economic opportunity. The awards were limited to nonprofits with an annual budget between $500,000 and $10 million.
OpenAI said more than 3,000 nonprofits applied for this first round of funding and said a group of outside advisers reviewed the applications with the board making final grant decisions. Few of the grantees are dedicated to technology. Instead, they include journalism organizations, dance companies and community organizations.
The Three Rivers Young People's Orchestras based in Pittsburgh received $90,000, which is 10% of its annual budget this year. Executive director Lindsey Nova said she was shocked to have been chosen. Her organization already uses ChatGPT as an assistant and drafting tool, which she mentioned in her application.
"It's here to stay. It's not going anywhere, so we might as well do our best to to make sure that it's a tool for good," she said of AI technologies.
Her organization, which runs multiple kinds of youth orchestras, proposed to use the funds to research the possibility of developing two different apps. One would record rehearsals and add bookmarks when
queued by the conductor. The goal would be to produce notes about what the conductor said during the rehearsal paired with the relevant clip of the rehearsal.
"That can't replace the conductor. It can't replace the kids learning how to play their instrument," Nova said. "There's nothing about the children's experience that will be replaced by a robot, but they'll have a better sense of what they need to work on between rehearsals."
Her organization worked with Adam Hertzman, who runs Adartova, a small philanthropic consulting practice, to brainstorm ideas and apply for the grant. His wife is also on the organization's board.
Hertzman said he'd been jumping up and down to let his clients and network know about the grant opportunity from OpenAI because he thought few small and medium nonprofits had heard of the open call.
"Given the size of the potential grants, the simplicity of the application process and the fact that the grants are unrestricted, I would have expected more," nonprofits to apply, he said.
OpenAI was formed as a nonprofit in 2015 but then incorporated a for-profit subsidiary that has grown to be one of the most valuable startups in the world.
For years, it had been trying to escape its nonprofit roots to make it easier to attract investors.
In October, the company reached an agreement with regulators to formally reincorporate as a public benefit corporation, though the nonprofit board of directors remains the highest decision making body.
On Monday, the for-profit wing of OpenAI said issued a new call for applications for research proposals into AI and mental health that would mostly go to nonprofits. It said it would award $2 million by the middle of January to applicants. The company faces multiple lawsuits alleging that ChatGPT drove people to suicide or created harmful delusions in people with no prior mental health issues.
TRADER John Romolo works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Tuesday,
Photo:Richard Drew/AP
SAM ALTMAN co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, testifies before a Senate committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 8, 2025.
Photo:Jose Luis Magana/AP
Longest US government shutdown cost Delta Air Lines $200 million
By RIO YAMAT AP Airlines and Travel Writer
THE longest government shutdown on record cost Delta Air Lines an estimated $200 million, CEO
Ed Bastian said Wednesday in the first disclosure by a U.S. airline regarding the shutdown's financial impact.
Bastian told investors that refunds "grew significantly" while bookings slowed amid the uncertainty in air travel caused by the 43-day shutdown, contributing to Delta's loss of about 25 cents per share.
The shutdown, which began Oct. 1, led to long delays at major airports and historic flight cancellations at 40 of the country's busiest airports as more unpaid air traffic controllers missed work, citing additional stress and the need to take on side jobs. As the shutdown dragged into a second month, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an emergency order requiring commercial airlines to cancel up to 6% of their domestic flights — a decision that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described as necessary to guarantee safe air travel.
"When you've got the secretary of transportation telling people we don't have controllers, questioning the safety at some level of travel, which has never before happened," Bastian said, it led to more customers holding off on booking their holiday travel.
More than 10,000 flights were cut between Nov. 7,
when the FAA's order took effect, and when the restrictions were fully lifted on Nov. 16, less than two weeks before Thanksgiving, the busiest travel period in the U.S.
Despite the disruption to air travel, Bastian said Wednesday he believes the shutdown's impacts are in the rearview. He said Delta had a busy Thanksgiving week and that bookings through the end of the year, especially around Christmas and New Year's Day, were "really strong."
"I think we're through it and it was transitory," Bastian said of the shutdown.
"We're looking forward to a strong December, a strong close to the year."
Airports impacted by the flight restrictions during the shutdown included large hubs in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Atlanta.
The flight cuts started at 4% and later grew to 6% before the FAA rolled the restrictions back to 3%, citing continued improvements in air traffic controller staffing after the shutdown ended Nov. 12.
Controllers were among the federal employees who had to continue working without pay throughout the shutdown, missing two full paychecks.
President Donald Trump took to social media during the shutdown to pressure controllers to "get back to work, NOW!!!" He called for a $10,000 bonus for those who stayed on the job and suggested docking pay for those who haven't.
A week after the shutdown ended, the FAA announced only 776 controllers and technicians with perfect attendance during the shutdown would receive bonuses, leaving out nearly 20,000 other workers.
On Wednesday, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation, Space and Innovation, sent a letter to Duffy demanding that he also award bonuses
to the remaining FAA workers.
"It is wrong to financially penalize these Federal employees for responsibly managing life events beyond their control while working without pay," she said.
Duffy didn't immediately respond Wednesday to the letter, but when asked about the bonuses last week at a news conference ahead of the Thanksgiving travel period, Duffy said that
both he and the head of the FAA recognize "some of the difficult circumstances our controllers were going through" during the shutdown. But Duffy said a cutoff on the bonuses was necessary. "If you got 100% on your test, you get the sticker that's a scratch-and-sniff sticker," Duffy said, adding that all the controllers and technicians who were forced to work unpaid would receive full backpay.
