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Friday, December 19, 2025
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Health funding’s ‘unsustainable’ gap with $24m funding deficit By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net FINANCING for Bahamian public healthcare is “on an unsustainable track” with a $24m annual deficit predicted by the upcoming 2026-2027 fiscal year, it has been revealed, with this shortfall set to worsen due to an increasingly elderly population. The Bahamas’ just-released National Health Strategy Report for 2026-2030, which has been obtained by Tribune Business, discloses that this widening financing gap - which is forecast despite a total $35.3m increase in the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ budget allocation for the current 2025-2026 fiscal year threatens to expand inequality and “impoverishment” by forcing more families to fund medical care from their own funds. The report, which noted that the Government’s annual healthcare spending is less than the 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) threshold viewed as essential to funding the universal health coverage targeted by The Bahamas, also warned that the “sustainability” of National Health Insurance (NHI) could be endangered from patient costs increasing by 53 percent during the five years since the COVID-19 pandemic. The availability of NHI coverage was rated as the “best thing” about
• NHI ‘sustainability’ threat as patient costs surge 53% • Public health system below 20% transparency mark • Sands: ‘Why isn’t closing shortfall $3bn Budget priority?’ Bahamian healthcare by a survey of 1,445 persons conducted in July 2025, with 43 percent selecting this as the top item. However, the Health Strategy Report also revealed that a 2023 assessment of the public healthcare system had exposed that The Bahamas “met less than 20 percent” of transparency and participation standards. And it added that “governance effectiveness is also affected by bureaucratic processes, limited transparency and vulnerability to political standards”, while noting that Bahamian adult obesity rates and hypertension “far exceed the Caribbean average”. “The health system financing is on an unsustainable track, with a
Fishing lodges warning on ‘exclusionary agenda’ By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net LODGE owners and operators are challenging assertions by Prescott Smith, the Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association’s president, that their segment of the industry should be reserved exclusively for Bahamians only. Those spoken to by Tribune Business, while agreeing that fly fishing guides must be 100 percent Bahamian, gave a cooler response to Mr Smith’s suggestion that the same apply
to lodge ownership and operations. Cheryl Bastian, proprietor of Swain’s Cay Lodge in Andros, said The Bahamas should welcome legitimate foreign investors, particularly those who will employ Bahamians and help build communities. “I think if we have investors who are coming in to invest in the country, who are going to employ persons and create jobs and help build communities, we should obviously selectively welcome them as well, as we’ve always done. That’s
CATCH - See Page B4
Appeal court rejects striking ‘stain on the judicial record’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE former general manager of a Freeport-based shipping agent has failed in his bid to remove “a stain on the judicial record” after the Court of Appeal ruled that it was rendered “moot” by previous changes to an injunction imposed on him. The appellate court, in a unanimous verdict, rejected the attempt by Philip Pinder, a former senior executive at BMLS Ltd, known as Bahamas Maritime and Logistics Services,
to have the “original” injunction Order removed from legal records amid the ongoing fight with his ex-employer over allegations he “commercially and financially sabotaged their business” in the immediate aftermath of the principal owner’s passing. With the port services contract for Carnival’s $600m Celebration Key destination on Grand Bahama among the deals at the heart of their dispute, the Court of Appeal recorded BMLS’ allegations that Mr Pinder visited
VERDICT - See Page B7
forecasted deficit of $24m by fiscal year 2026,” the Heath Strategy Report said. “Funding shortfalls will be exacerbated as the DR DUANE SANDS dependency ratio changes, and the country sees a rise in health expenditure for the elderly while the working population shrinks. “Health expenditure shortfall results in significant reliance on private spending, leaving one-third of health costs to be met out-of-pocket. Such financial exposure creates inequities in access, particularly for catastrophic and specialised care, and increases the risk of impoverishment among vulnerable households.” The Health Strategy Report showed that The Bahamas’ spending on healthcare hit a new peak of around $1.3bn, equal to $35,000 per capita or 7.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), in 2023. The Government’s share, at around 4.6 percent of GDP, is lower than internationally-accepted benchmarks for financing universal health coverage, and the funding “shortfall” prediction came despite health’s increased Budget allocation.
CARE - See Page B5
GRAND LUCAYAN
Freeport lacking scale to ‘efficiently support’ Shipyard’s expansion By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net FREEPORT lacks the size and critical mass to “efficiently support” developments such as the $600m Grand Bahama Shipyard dry dock replacement, a prominent hotelier asserted yesterday, as he urged: “We need stopover tourists back.” Magnus Alnebeck, the Pelican Bay resort’s general manager, told Tribune Business that the Shipyard’s imminent expansion - which will require the frequent movement of skilled expatriate personnel into
and out of Grand Bahama was another factor making the Grand Lucayan’s sale and redevelopment all the more urgent. Explaining that the Shipyard alternates between generating “peaks and valleys” in business flows, which are tied to when it has a vessel in dry dock, he added that Freeport and Grand Bahama need to revive their stopover tourism business to create a more consistent, steady “customer base”. The Grand Lucayan’s closure, in anticipation that its
RESORT - See Page B5
PAGE 2, Friday, December 19, 2025 Celebration Key welcomes its onemillionth guest
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Carnival’s $600m GB project hits one million visitors mark CARNIVAL Cruise Line says its $600m Celebration Key project yesterday marked a major milestone by welcoming its one millionth visitor just five months after the Grand Bahama destination opened. To mark the occasion, the cruise line said Andrew Sexton, its one-millionth guest, was greeted with a surprise celebration as soon as he stepped ashore with his family. He was sailing with his wife, their three daughters and extended family from Knoxville, Tennessee, as a special gift from their grandparents. Carnival added that the Sexton family arrived on Carnival Vista, the same ship that made the first call on Celebration Key when it opened in July 2025. It said in a statement that Celebration Key has generated more than 1,000 permanent jobs while partnering with 58 Bahamian-owned companies that have operations on-site. “Both local residents, who have benefited from
the job creation, and our guests have embraced Celebration Key from the very first day, and this milestone underscores an exciting chapter for us in The Bahamas,” said Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line’s president. “We’re proud to lay the foundation for longterm growth and a positive impact in the region, while creating something truly special for our guests.” Since opening on July 19, Carnival said it has served more than 500,000 complimentary Island Eats meals, plus 600,000 beverages, and has offered guests 40 different types of off-site shore excursions – including a parasailing adventure where more than 3,600 passengers have viewed the destination from the air. The cruise line added that more than 49,000 guests have enjoyed the Suncastle water slides, while passengers have also booked over 16,000 premium accommodations, such as private cabanas and super villas. Some 20 Carnival cruise ships currently call on
Celebration Key from ten different US home ports. The cruise line previously said it expects to welcome two million guests to Celebration Key next year, and four million guests by 2028, following the pier expansion that is set to open in summer 2026. During Celebration Key’s development, Carnival said it hired 29 local construction companies, with 96 percent of landside employees being Bahamian, creating significant employment opportunities during the destination’s development. Pia Glover‑Rolle, minister of labour and public service, said previously: “We look forward to the same results that Celebration Key has brought, which is more employment for more locals and the ability for Family Islanders to actually relocate and move back home so that they could have gainful employment in their places of domicile.”
SEXTON family welcomed in Celebration Key as one-millionth guest, greeted with surprise celebration.
THE TRIBUNE
Friday, December 19, 2025, PAGE 3
How a ‘friend’ culture helps workers and employer thrive C
ompanies may not always recognise it, but healthy relationships are often the solution to many of the challenges they seek to solve in the workplace. From declining morale to low productivity and high staff turnover, the presence - or absence - of meaningful connections can shape the entire work experience. This week’s article explores the benefits of having friends at work, and highlights the advantages for both individuals and companies. For employees, workplace friendships significantly improve overall well-being. Having trusted colleagues reduces stress, loneliness and isolation all of which can negatively impact mental and physical
IAN FERGUSON health. When people feel connected, they are better equipped to manage pressure and remain resilient during demanding periods. Friendships also increase
job satisfaction, transforming work from a daily obligation into a more enjoyable and meaningful experience. Motivation and engagement rise when employees feel socially supported. Friends at work encourage one another, celebrate successes and provide reassurance during setbacks. This shared sense of commitment often translates into better performance. Employees are more likely to work efficiently, think creatively and engage positively with clients and customers when they feel comfortable and valued. Additionally, workplace friendships form a strong support system, offering emotional guidance and practical help during
difficult moments or professional challenges. Companies also stand to gain considerably. Studies have consistently shown that engaged employees are more productive, and productivity directly impacts profitability. When employees have close friends at work, they are more invested in their roles and the success of the company. Retention rates also improve, as people are less likely to leave environments where they feel connected and appreciated, saving companies the significant costs associated with recruitment and training. Workplace friendships enhance collaboration and innovation. Trusting relationships make it easier to share ideas, challenge
assumptions and work across teams. Employees are more willing to collaborate when mutual respect and understanding exist. Friendships also contribute to safer work environments, as colleagues look out for one another and communicate more openly, reducing incidents and risks. At a cultural level, friendships help create a positive, inclusive atmosphere. They strengthen corporate culture by fostering empathy, respect and co-operation across departments and backgrounds. Psychological safety plays a key role here; when employees feel safe to speak up and take risks, creativity and problem-solving flourish. Ultimately, workplace friendships build
LPIA operator: Up to 7,600 travellers justifies expansion THE Bahamas’ major airport is predicting that today and Saturday will be among the busiest travel days this year with between 6,700 to 7,600 arriving passengers expected - volumes that its operator says justify the need for expansion to meet the growing demand, The Nassau Airport Development Company, in a statement, said Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) stakeholders have activated their plans to
cope with increased passenger footfall during the peak holiday travel period. Apart from this weekend, NAD said passenger volumes will remain elevated through Christmas Eve and will increase again just before New Year. It added that this increased traffic places the airport’s facilities at or near full operational capacity, and will require close co-ordination and co-operation among all airport stakeholders to
ensure the safe and efficient movement of passengers, baggage and aircraft. NAD added that all US and Bahamian government agencies, as well as companies operating at LPIA, are increasing staffing levels in critical processing areas. It said extra security support will be provided by the Airport Authority between today through Wednesday, December 24, when vehicle congestion is expected to be at its highest.
The LPIA operator urged travellers to plan ahead, arrive early for flights - three hours ahead of US-bound flight, and two hours ahead of international and domestic flights- be patient, and follow all airport recommendations and traffic instructions. It asked persons picking up arriving guests to use LPIA’s free cell phone waiting lot or paid parking facilities, particularly if they need to exit their vehicles, as high
Rosewood Exuma files new site plan, bemoans $3m ‘lost wages’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE $200m Rosewood Exuma developer last night confirmed it has filed a revised bid for site plan approval with Bahamian planning authorities as its principal bemoaned the $3m in “lost wages” for construction workers due to ongoing legal challenges. The Miami-based Yntegra Group, in a release issued ahead of today’s Supreme Court hearing on the attempt by the neighbouring Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club to obtain an injunction barring construction work on Rosewood Exuma until its Judicial Review is determined, said the new application has been filed with the Department of Physical Planning. The bid for site plan approval is separate from today’s court battle, which is dealing with the challenge mounted by Turtlegrass to the certificate of environmental clearance (CEC) awarded by the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP). Felipe MacLean, Yntegra’s chief executive, asserted that the legal fight is delaying job and economic opportunities for Bahamians. “Yntegra has carefully followed all approval processes of the relevant regulatory agencies of The Bahamas and met the criteria for approval, based on the merit of our
submissions,” Mr MacLean said. “Refinements to site plans are a normal and responsible part of the process, and demonstrate an ongoing commitment to incorporating community feedback, as well as guidance from government authorities and technical experts. “We believed then, as we do now, that our project will be environmentally responsible and bring long-term, meaningful opportunities not only to the people of Exuma and the Exuma Cays, but also throughout The Bahamas. The impact of losing more than 150 jobs and $3m in lost wages hurts Bahamian families, especially during the holidays. “Our goal is the same as expressed by the community in the Cays - to move forward with hiring, training and restarting construction so Exuma families can benefit without further delay.” Yntegra described the revised Town Planning Committee application, which was adjusted to account for the new location for Rosewood Exuma’s service dock, as “a normal and responsible part of the process” and response to community and government feedback. The initial application was withdrawn, after being approved by the Committee, just days before the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board was due to conduct a site visit to the project’s Sampson Cay site after Turtlegrass
and Over Yonder Holdings, the Yonder Cay developer, both mounted challenges to that approval. “The submission of the revised site plan is also part of the company’s ongoing efforts to peacefully co-exist with its neighbouring resorts for the benefit of the community in the Exuma Cays, while meeting its commitments to the local community — getting Bahamians back to work and providing opportunities to Bahamian businesses and entrepreneurs by restarting construction,” Yntegra Group added. “These refinements reconfirm Yntegra’s established responsible development practices and align with world class environmental and development standards. This proactive approach will enable all stakeholders to review and provide feedback to the developer once again. The Rosewood Exuma project has been developed through months of rigorous public consultations, multiple technical studies and careful collaboration with [DEPP].” Both sides, as well as the Government and its regulatory agencies, have been preparing for Friday’s Supreme Court hearing on Turtlegrass’s bid for an injunction to preserve the so-called ‘status quo’ and prevent Yntegra Group undertaking any development work on East Sampson Cay until the merits of the full Judicial
Review challenge are determined. Tribune Business sources confirmed that, despite asserting that it is not opposed to the
THE two trade unions representing Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) staff are asserting that morale is “significantly diminished” as they seek another meeting with the Prime Minister to help resolve their grievances with the company. Members of the Bahamas Communications and Public Managers Union (BCPMU) and the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) have been
• NB: Ian R Ferguson is a talent management and organisational development consultant, having completed graduate studies with regional and international universities. He has served organisations, both locally and globally, providing relevant solutions to their business growth and development issues. He may be contacted at tcconsultants@coralwave.com.
traffic volumes are expected around the terminals. To maintain traffic flow on the curb side, and to comply with global airport safety rules, NAD said unattended vehicles will be towed. During this period, parking lots may also be operating at or near full capacity. NAD said the holiday demand justified plans to expand LPIA’s facilities to cope with traveller demand that is only expected to
increase. It added that as LPIA approaches 19 years since the start of its redevelopment, and with terminal facilities nearing 15 years of operation, the airport is “now stretched to its operational limits”. “This period of sustained growth underscores the need for future expansion to support continued demand, enhance the passenger experience and maintain operational efficiency,” NAD added. It said some 4,000 persons work at the airport.
Judicial Review proceedings moving ahead, the Government has hired several top UK legal names to represent it on Friday. Besides Simons Muirhead Burton, the law firm that acted for the Government in the recent Grand Bahama Port Authority
(GBPA) arbitration, the Davis administration is also thought to have hired Edward Fitzgerald KC. He led the defence of Samuel ‘Ninety’ Knowles against US attempts - which were ultimately successful - to extradite the latter more than two decades ago.
BTC unions seek PM meeting as morale ‘hugely diminished’ By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net
community. In an era where loneliness is increasingly recognised as a serious issue, companies that encourage healthy relationships help employees feel a sense of belonging. By valuing connection alongside performance, companies can cultivate workplaces where both people and businesses thrive.
advised to not work outside their job responsibilities following Monday’s demonstration. Sherry Benjamin, the BCPOU president, said the union is prepared to initiate Supreme Court legal action and a strike vote remains an option. “We have asked our members to go to work, double check, triple check and quadruple check their assignments, to make sure that they are correct, because we don't want any retributions for them,” Ms Benjamin said. “We want them to feel comfortable at work, so we are asking them to make sure, to do their due diligence and
double, triple check their assignments. “We are prepared, and we are making steps to take this matter all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to, because we know that's how much we are confident that we are in the right.” She added: “So when you see we go to file a trade dispute, or we apply for a strike vote, that's going to be encompassing all of the issues that we have with BTC, all of them. And there are a whole number of issues that we have with them.” Kendrick Knowles, the BCPMU president said “enthusiasm has been significantly diminished” among BTC staff and the unions may need another
AUDIENCE - See Page B7
PAGE 4, Friday, December 19, 2025
BTC unions renew industrial deal breach concern By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net
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Tamica Colebrook, BTC’s human resources chief, said earlier this week: “Generally speaking, and this is the policy of the company for privacy of our current or past employees, we will not speak on personnel matters. “But, generally speaking, I will also say that every step that is taken with regard to our employees, we follow not only the local labour laws but the terms of the industrial agreement, as well as the company's policies and procedures in onboarding, as well as separation.” The unions, though, are arguing that BTC failed to follow terms outlined in its industrial agreement that called on it to provide them with evidence justifying its dismissals before terminating staff. Sherry Benjamin,
the BCPOU president, said the agreements also state that discipline should be carried out “promptly and it should be wholly defensible”. She added: “Article 6.4 says that if they do not provide the evidence, then no disciplinary action should be taken. I am still waiting, and president [Kendrick] Knowles can speak for himself, but he's still waiting also, to my understanding, to get the evidence to say that they fully met the requirements as per our industrial agreement, because they haven't provided any information to me; nothing pertaining to this matter. They did an investigation, and from that investigation they terminated the persons. That's
not how our grievance process works. “Also article 21.1: Discipline and discharge. It says that discipline should be done promptly, and it should be wholly defensible and able to withstand any scrutiny. That definitely is a breach because, for one, this thing been going on for two years. Their investigation was done last year and the beginning of this year.” Kendrick Knowles, the BCPMU president, recalled that labour negotiator, Bernard Evans, during a recent meeting with the director of the Department of Labour, Howard Thompson, stating that BTC indeed was “in direct violation of the procedures in the industrial agreement as it relates to filing a grievance, following a grievance procedure,
disclosing of investigatory results and taking the necessary actions to notify a person that they have been charged”. “So if the director of labour tells you that you're in breach, and the Government consultant tells you that you're in breach, Bernard Evans went to the extent where he even published that in the papers… indicating that BTC was in total breach of the industrial agreement as it relates to how they handle grievance and discipline and all of that,” Mr Knowles said. “So it's not just me who's refuting that. The director of labour refuted it in the mediation meeting, and the government labour consultant who reports to the Prime Minister, he refuted that in an article he put
in The Tribune… But that clearly shows that he himself told them, face to face, you are in violation.” Ms Benjamin said the unions will take the matter to the Supreme Court if necessary. “That is an option on the table, not just for the termination matter. We're going to go to the Supreme Court if we have to,” she said. “There are a number of breaches in our industrial agreement that BTC is committing on a daily basis, and they're blatantly committing those breaches. And we have been working with them to try and get those matters solved. And it seems to be as if we're pulling tooth and nail to get that done.”
Argue foreign participation needed in lodge operations
a small percentage being repatriated to foreign investors. “I think that is the logic behind the Government’s encouragement of direct foreign investment, is it not? There is an argument that said booking agents charge unreasonable rates of commission, but agents spend to market the properties they represent. So those fees should be considered marketing expenses, necessary through agents with direct channels or undertaken directly, but unavoidable in any case.” Nathaniel Adderley, owner and manager of Nathan’s Lodge, said some non-Bahamians have the reach and resources that Bahamians do not have. However, he also believes only Bahamians must be guides. “I think we are obligated to first, let our people have that level of employment and income… That’s a fairly lucrative business,” Mr Adderley said. “They could make quite a bit of money. So I figured they should get it…. “And then they know the island, they know the flats, that kind of stuff. So I figure they know the culture
a little bit, because it’s more than just fishing out there, but a lot of little things you got to get into. And who’s better to do that than us.” Mr Smith, in a recent Tribune Business interview, reiterated his call for fly fishing industry participants to be Bahamian only. “And the reason I’m very adamant about this is from a conservation standpoint, because you cannot expect Bahamians to protect something if you’re not prepared to give them full ownership in it, so then they protect it for themselves and their children, future generations,” he argued. “So it doesn’t mean that you can’t have partnership externally with persons in the industry, but the industry should be developed by Bahamians. Most of The Bahamas’ resources and its wealth is in 85 percent of the country, which is the marine environment. So advocating for Bahamian ownership to develop this industry, it doesn’t mean that you are excluding foreign partnerships in terms of how the industry is connected to the companies that own the rods, the reels. They’re still benefiting. But if they come in here
and build all the lodges and bring in foreign guys, then what are you going to say? What are the roles for Bahamians to play? And so that’s the issue.” Mr Smith also called for zoning specific areas for do-it-yourself fishing, adding that the fishing licence fees for those wishing to do so be “increased dramatically”. Ms Bastian agreed that some islands should have restrictions implemented on some flats, as they may be sensitive to over-fishing, but added: :We want to continue to permit our customers to come to our beautiful, 100,000 square mile country and still do it yourself.” Mr Smith, who called for more regulation for conservation purposes, said: “Also, there are certain flats that you should not be walking on. Some of them have coral on the bottom. And so professional guides know that there are some areas where you pull a boat, some areas where you walk. “And then even, safety of the angler as far as sharks. So sometimes you have sharks come on the flat - a certain size at a low tide. But you could have a 10,
15-foot shark come on the same flats on a rising tide. “And if an angler is out there who don’t even know because they come from England, Germany, they’re so excited. And you can have people getting killed here on these flats because they’re out there, waist deep in water, landing a bonefish, bleeding. And once the shark come in, that’s it. Then your country ends up with a bad reputation.” Ms Bain added: “Some islands have flats that are best accessed from a boat, and many others where the flats are near the side of a road and therefore attract DIY fishermen. The issue of released bonefish being eaten by sharks is more about how they are handled and released than whether they are caught by an angler on a boat or on foot. “That may in itself be an argument for requiring an educated fishing guide guiding wading anglers. By the way, in 25 years of operation, I have never had a wading angler injured by a shark. So I discount this as an argument to over regulate DIY fishing.” Ms Bain said she would support transparency in establishing a conservation fund, the revenue generated and the appropriation of those funds. “I think that as the organisation recognised by the Government of The Bahamas for the certification and licensing of fly fishing guides, the Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association would better serve the industry with a less exclusionary agenda,” she added.
TWO unions representing Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) employees have doubled down on their promise to initiate Supreme Court following the company’s assertion that it did not in breach their industrial agreements over the terminations of five employees. The Bahamas Communications and Public Managers Union (BCPMU) and the Bahamas Communications and Public Officers Union (BCPOU) are standing “10 fingers, 10 toes down” that BTC’s recent statements regarding the firings did not reflect what had happened.
CATCH - from page B1 how The Bahamas was built,” she argued. “But what is important, and a part of his point, is we should reserve the guiding, which we have now, for just Bahamians. It should be an industry for just Bahamians to actually guide them, but not that investors can’t come in and set up a bonefish lodge, and employ Bahamians to guide the customers and get involved in building activities. We’re so devoid of activities around all these islands.” Elizabeth Bain, who operates the Mangrove Cay Club, said she fully supports Mr Smith’s belief that guides should be Bahamian. However, she disagreed over excluding non-Bahamians from owning lodges. “It could be that Mr Smith’s view that non-Bahamians should be excluded from owning lodges in The Bahamas is based on his belief that only Bahamians will protect the
environment and foreign interests will not,” Ms Bain said. “And there I disagree. It is basic business intelligence to develop and maintain the industry in a sustainable way, and that means all operators and guides working together to protect the habitat from misuse and over-development. Bigger is not better in this business.” Ms Bain and others added that foreign investors can play an important role in fly fishing in The Bahamas. She said foreign partners “are a valuable source of investment capital for Bahamians, and foreign-owned lodges provide high quality employment for Bahamian guides”. “Booking agents, primarily based in the US with direct access to our market, direct their customers to lodges in The Bahamas,” Ms Bain said. “The vast majority of that revenue remains in The Bahamas, covering operating expenses, payrolls, fuel, food and liquor, maintenance, etc, with only
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Friday, December 19, 2025, PAGE 5
Bahamas ‘far exceeds’ Caribbean for adult obesity and hypertension CARE - from page B1 “Total health expenditure in The Bahamas stands at approximately 7.6 percent of GDP with only 4.6 percent derived from public funds; below the 5 percent-plus benchmark recommended for universal health coverage,” the report added. “Recent steps signal momentum toward financial sustainability. The 2025–26 Budget increased allocations to the Ministry of Health and Wellness by $22m, alongside a $13.3m boost in capital spending. Legislative updates have expanded NHI Authority benefits, and work has begun on a sustainable financing framework. This progress represents an important foundation for stronger fiscal governance and resilience.” Dr Duane Sands, a former minister of health and the Opposition’s chairman, told Tribune Business that the report provides “an interesting snapshot of healthcare in The Bahamas” as he challenged why - if the public funding “gap” is forecast at only $24m in the nearterm - the Government has not made it a “priority” to allocate more financing and resources to closing it. Suggesting that $24m is relatively small in the context of the Government’s $3.1bn annual spending Budget, although he suspects the true shortfall to be higher, Dr Sands said: “I think that is somewhat euphemistic at $24m, but at least it’s acknowledged there is a gap. “If we were to write a Budget that had limited
political influence, that said this is what we need to do based on healthcare demand, based on what we need, this is what we’re spending on it right now, the gap in funding is a lot more than that. But, to put it in black and white that there is a gap of many millions of dollars, it at least puts a number there. “It raises the question that if there is that gap in a $3bn Budget, why haven’t you allocated money to close that gap in the context of a $3bn Budget where $60m is being spent on road works in one constituency and $100m on road works in another constituency. Why is this gap not a priority, why has it not been closed with $24m before any of these other items came to light?” Dr Sands argued that this question should be directed to both the Davis administration’s Cabinet and the Ministry of Health and Wellness for “a reasonable answer as to why it’s [the Government] acknowledged this gap, why the minister has gone on record as saying there are delays with payments with NHI. “While they acknowledge the challenges with healthcare financing across the board, they have not moved to close the gap. Why is it that health is not a priority? It [the report] gives an interesting snapshot into the state of healthcare in The Bahamas, but it also raises a number of questions that ought to be answered by this administration as to why they acknowledge there are problems that exist but they do not rise to the level of
Lucayan closure’s uninviting ‘derelict street’ impressions RESORT - from page B1 sale to Concord Wilshire would have closed by now, means Freeport has lost hundreds of hotel rooms and has minimal inventory to accommodate stopover visitors. Mr Alnebeck told this newspaper that, as a result, when the Shipyard has vessels in dry docks the influx of expatriate worker can be “overpowering” for a destination that has lost population, amenity and infrastructure scale. Tribune Business sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, yesterday signalled that the Grand Lucayan sale negotiations have reached an extremely delicate and sensitive stage. After suggesting just days ago that the talks between the Government and Concord Wilshire, the Miami-headquartered developer, were “critical” and could fall apart, they yesterday asserted that the deal is “back on track” but gave no details. This comes just days after it emerged that the Grand Lucayan’s line staff had nor received their weekly pay that was due on both December 5 and December 12. Tribune Business also reported on Monday that the resort’s water supply has been cut-off due to unpaid bills, said to be worth between $900,000 and $1m, that are owed to Grand Bahama Utility Company, which is owned by Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) affiliate, Port Group Ltd. Mr Alnebeck, asserting that the Grand Lucayan’s revival is critical recovering a “tourist base”, told Tribune Business that Freeport now struggles to cope with the Shipyard’s “peaks and valleys” because it lacks sufficient critical mass to properly support an operation of that size. “There is no question in my mind that the Shipyard is a fantastic company to have in Grand Bahama, but we don’t have the size any more to support that kind of place in an efficient way,” he explained. “I don’t only mean airlift, but also hotel rooms, rental cars and grocery stores. “When a dry dock comes in, it becomes overpowering with so many people in the destination for a pretty short time. It’s [the Shipyard] a type of business that has a lot of peaks and valleys. Imagine running a restaurant that has 100 seats, and it does 100 on one
night but just eight the next night. It’s not that easy to staff up and get going. “That’s a bit of a problem for Grand Bahama at the moment. We don’t have the tourist base to give us a consistent base. We only have corporate business that comes and goes in peaks and valleys with ships and dry docks,” Mr Alnebeck added. “We have had complaints that there are not enough taxis at the airport. We need tourists back in Grand Bahama. We need the Grand Lucayan started, and hopefully coming online, so we can get a tourist base.” The Pelican Bay chief said he was unaware of the Concord Wilshire deal’s status, and added: “To me, it seems very confusing. “It’s not good, and especially in the area where Pelican Bay is, it feels like we are the only place open at the end of a derelict street because you have to drive past the Grand Lucayan to get to Pelican Bay, and it doesn’t feel very inviting to come to that area of Freeport any more. Entrances are blocked off and no work is going on any more.” Should the Concord Wilshire purchase close, the Grand Lucayan’s revival and opening of rooms to tourists is unlikely to be swift, given the developer’s plans to demolish virtually the entire property to make way for its $827m investment. Michael Scott, former chairman of Lucayan Renewal Holdings, the Government-owned special purpose vehicle (SPV), when it acquired the Grand Lucayan under the Minnis administration, confirmed that demolition is likely. Asserting that he is “very sceptical” over whether the Concord Wilshire deal will close, given the uncertainty that has dogged it ever since the May 2025 Heads of Agreement signing was lauded with much fanfare by the Davis administration, he added that recent developments have come as no surprise. “Everything I said and predicted is coming true in that there is no sale,” Mr Scott told Tribune Business. “The sale is on again, off again, and nothing seems to be happening with Grand Bahama International Airport. They [the Progressive Liberal Party] were very quick to criticise myself and my Board, but in four going on five years, they’ve done nothing and nothing from nothing equals nothing.
priority where they want to make it a priority.” “Health financing in The Bahamas faces structural challenges,” the Heath Strategy Report admitted. “It is often perceived as a cost rather than an investment, with a lack of dedicated funding sources for key health programmes such as NHI limiting prioritisation and constraining fiscal space for system strengthening. “This framing undermines efforts to position health as a driver of economic resilience and social development. Reframing health as an investment in human capital will be essential for long-term sustainability. The financing landscape is fragmented, with multiple entities contributing to health funding and limited integration across streams. “The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), envisioned as the primary funder for primary care, plays a constrained role due to ongoing parliamentary processes and structural limitations. Primary care funding continues to rely heavily on the [Government’s] consolidated fund, weakening the efficiency and predictability of resource allocation.” The Health Strategy Report also conceded that there are concerns with NHI’s financial sustainability due to rising healthcare costs. Speaking to healthcare equity, and inequalities in accessing needed medical services especially in the Family Islands , the report added: “Financial barriers compound these challenges.
“The only way this is going to work is there needs to be an arrangement for the complete overhaul and restoration of Grand Bahama International Airport.” Mr Scott argued that without the return of US pre-clearance, and an airport capable of efficiently handling the passenger volumes Concord Wilshire requires, the Grand Lucayan will be unable to generate the revenue the developer requires to earn a return on its investment. As a result, he added that it was not surprising that Concord Wilshire - which will have to rebuild stopover tourism in Freeport from zero - is likely seeking to transfer as much risk as possible to the Government via tax breaks, investment incentives and guarantees to secure its financial model. “I don’t know anything about this group, but if they are commercial operators they are not going to be serious about any arrangement, nor are they going to invest any serious amount of capital, without revenue streams to recoup their investment. That’s just simple economics,” Mr Scott said. “I can tell you the physical condition of that hotel has not improved in the last four to five years, and it virtually requires demolition and reconstruction. The most valuable aspect of all of that is the property and it’s location.” Multiple attempts by the Government to offload the Grand Lucayan, which it acquired for $65m in September 2018 to prevent Hutchison Whampoa’s real estate arm from closing it, have foundered. The Minnis administration’s bid to sell it to Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and its Mexican partner, ITM Group, largely foundered due to COVID-19, while the Davis administration’s deal with Electra America Hospitality also failed to progress beyond the initial stages. “I feel very badly for the people of Grand Bahama - they have suffered, suffered, suffered,” Mr Scott told Tribune Business. “We would have had a deal with Royal Caribbean and the Mexican group but for the COVID pandemic. But for the pandemic, but for the shutdown that lasted over a year, we would have had a deal. That is the closest either government has gotten to a deal, a real deal, and I emphasise the word ‘real’.” Mr Scott reiterated that the Davis administration had been premature in unveiling the Concord Wilshire announcement, and said: “They were desperate
“Nearly half of outpatient care (45 percent) is delivered by the private sector, creating affordability concerns. While the rollout of National Health Insurance (NHI) has expanded access to primary care, sustainability issues persist with costs per beneficiary rising by 53 perceny between 2020 and 2025. “Service gaps also affect equity. Mental health needs are increasing among adolescents and adults, yet evaluations and treatment are only available in Nassau, creating logistical and financial obstacles. Blood and transfusion services face ongoing shortages (15), and rehabilitation services are largely unavailable outside major islands.” Dr Sands told Tribune Business last night that the NHI sustainability concerns require the Government to make tough choices about who pays for the scheme and how much, plus what benefits and medical services it is to provide and finance. “NHI ought to be taken in hand and a determination made about how this is going to be managed, what the benefits are going to be, and who is going to pay them,” he argued. “It needs a more rigid utilisation oversight and funding that allows what we have determined to be our goals to be sustainable. “This administration has adopted the same approach to NHI as it has the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA), which is to set these aspirational standards that it has no ability to fund and no intention of funding, but it creates public expectations there will be this be all and end all for everything knowing ful well neither NHI nor the PHA is able to meet the demand.” Meanwhile, the Health Strategy Report also flagged up “inefficiencies”
and challenges with public healthcare’s governance. “The governance structure of The Bahamas’ health system faces challenges with fragmentation, which limits stewardship and accountability,” the document added. “Service delivery is divided between the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Public Hospitals Authority, while the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) has limited capacity to act as system steward. This, combined with unclear mandates and overlapping responsibilities, has contributed to duplication, inconsistent strategic direction and gaps in performance oversight. “The assignment of national programmes to the Office of the chief medical officer has added complexity to governance and created uncertainty around execution responsibilities. Separate strategic plans, varied funding models and inconsistent monitoring mechanisms further challenge system integration,” the Health Strategy Report added. “Governance effectiveness is also affected by bureaucratic processes, limited transparency and vulnerability to political cycles. The 2023 Essential Public Health Functions assessment found The Bahamas met less than 20 percent of standards for participation and transparency. Frequent ministerial changes have made continuity and alignment with long-term priorities more difficult. “Capacity constraints remain a concern. Resources for evidence generation, policy translation and compliance with regional obligations are limited. Monitoring and evaluation systems require strengthening, disease surveillance
needs improvement and the absence of a National Medicines Directorate Bill for medicines and health technologies has been identified as a priority area for development.” Further strain is imposed on The Bahamas’ public healthcare system by its relatively unhealthy population and the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that are responsible for most deaths and demands for medical care. “Hypertension affects 36.7 percent of the Bahamian population, well above the Caribbean range of 20.9 percent to 27.1 percent,” the Health Strategy Report said. “Meanwhile, diabetes prevalence stands at 11.6 percent, slightly higher than the regional average of 11.1 percent. Cardiovascular diseases, particularly ischemic heart disease and stroke, are among the leading causes of death, alongside diabetes and cancers. “Underlying risk factors are worsening among adolescents and adults. Obesity rates have reached 25 percent among adolescents and 76 percent among adults, far exceeding the Caribbean average of 60 percent for adults. Lifestyle behaviours compound these risks: Only 5 percent of adolescents meet recommended fruit intake, while physical inactivity is widespread,” the report added. “Additionally, 84 percent of adolescents and 37 percent of adults are inactive. Harmful substance use is also prevalent, with a lifetime prevalence of 73.9 percent. Tobacco use affects 20.3 percent of adolescents and 17 pecent of adults. Poor dietary habits further exacerbate NCD risks, with high consumption of fried foods, sugars and salt.”
to get something. They were desperate to show that after all that criticism heaped on the FNM that they were doing something. They were desperate to show that, after three years, they were doing something, but all that was very premature and, quite frankly, I’m very sceptical as to whether it will come to pass.” Tribune Business understands that Prime Minister Philip Davis KC and the Government are pushing to close negotiations, and complete the sale, to Concord Wilshire so that he can include the Grand Lucayan among a series of announcements concerning major Grand Bahama-based development projects early in the New Year. This newspaper also understands that the conveyances, transferring title and ownership of the Grand Lucayan from the Government’s special purpose vehicle (SPV), Lucayan Renewal Holdings, to
Concord Wilshire’s own Bahamian-domiciled entity, were completed prior to the much-touted Heads of Agreement signing in May 2025. It is thought that the resort’s acquisition has been structured as a so-called “take-down purchase”, meaning the $120m sales price will be paid in phases by Concord Wilshire. As the developer demolishes each new part of the existing Grand Lucayan, a new portion of the purchase price will be paid to the Government. The $120m has not been paid yet. Tribune Business sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, had suggested 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 the 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 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.
The COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS 2025/CLE/qui/01082 IN THE SUPREME COURT Common Law & Equity Side IN THE MATTER of the Quieting Title Act, 1959 AND IN THE MATTER of the Petition of DENISE CHRISTINE TYNES AND IN THE MATTER of ALL THAT piece parcel of land containing 6000 sq. ft. and being Lot no. 83 situate on the western side of Guadeloupe Street and approximately one hundred and twenty (120’) feet southward of Martinique Road in Golden Gates Subdivision 2 in the western district of the island of New Providence one of the islands in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas which boundaries shape marks and dimensions as are more particularly delineated on the plan filed with the Department of Lands and Surveys being plan 6483 NP and the plan filed in this action. The Petitioner in the matter claims to be the owner by virtue of possession of the tract of land hereinbefore described and the Petitioner has made an application to the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas under Section 23 of the Quieting Titles Act, 1959 to have the title to the said land investigated and the nature and extent thereof determined and declared in a Certificate of Title to be granted by the Court in accordance with the provisions of the said Act. Copies of the said plan may be inspected during normal business hours at a. The Registry of the Supreme Court Marlborough Street, and b. The chambers of the undersigned NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that any person having a dower or a right to dower or an adverse claim or a claim not recognized in the Petition shall on or before the 29th of January 2026 file Notice of such claim in the Registry aforesaid and serve on the undersigned a statement of such claim in the prescribed form verified by an Affidavit to be filed therewith. The failure of such person to file and serve a statement of such claim within the time fixed by this Notice shall operate as a bar to such claim Dated this 4th day of December, A.D., 2025 COMMON LAW CENTRE #16 Ivanhoe Road Nassau, Bahamas info@thecommonlawcenter.com Attorneys for the Petitioner
PAGE 6, Friday, December 19, 2025
THE TRIBUNE
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Friday, December 19, 2025, PAGE 7
Unions assert health and safety list only released after protests AUDIENCE - from page B3 meeting with Philip Davis KC to help address their grievances. “The workers are so hurt and damaged by this that their enthusiasm has been significantly diminished,” Mr Knowles said. “Workers are being advised not to work beyond their job description, not to work beyond their hours of pay, and to ensure that when
they do their work, they pay very close detailed attention to accuracy, because the company has already demonstrated its willingness to penalise persons for going beyond their normal quality. “We would go even further than that. We may need to take another visit to the Prime Minister as a follow-up to our initial meeting because we believe that the Government of The Bahamas needs to respond
Bid ‘moot’ in dispute on ‘commercial sabotage’ VERDICT - from page B1 Michael Hall’s home on the same day that he died to “retrieve” electronic devices and obtain “backups” of business deals it had bid on. The Freeport-based shipping agent is also claiming that, besides erasing “valuable data” from the hard drive on Mr Hall’s computer, Mr Pinder exploited his former employer’s confidential financial and proprietary information to launch his own shipping agency and compete directly with it for contracts - including securing for himself the Carnival deal. These allegations have been vigorously disputed and rejected by Mr Pinder and his attorney, Osman Johnson. “The claim arises from allegations that the intended appellant [Mr Pinder] breached an implied contractual duty to safeguard the intended respondent’s [BMLS] confidential financial and commercial information,” the Court of Appeal noted. “The intended respondent provides their port agency and shipping services to cruise ship operators and to one of the largest operators, Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival at that time was developing a new destination on the island of Grand Bahama, known as Celebration Key.” The Court of Appeal said BMLS was invited by Carnival to bid on the port services contract for Celebration Key in March 2024, and the late Mr Hall executed a non-disclosure agreement related to the deal a month later in his capacity general manager. “Shortly after the non-disclosure agreement
had been executed, and before the contract could be awarded to [BMLS], Michael Hall died. The intended respondent alleges that this new business opportunity between the intended respondent and Carnival arose due to Michael Hall’s long-standing relationship with Carnival,” the court added in its judgment. “The intended respondent asserted that the intended appellant [Mr Pinder] by way of his fiduciary duty had an obligation not to divert business opportunities or to exploit the intended respondent. “They asserted that the same day that Michael Hall died, the intended appellant visited Hall’s home and retrieved his computer, external hard drive and mobile phone, and backed up work related files to the intended respondent’s business which included operations of the business, vendors, clients, contracts and the bid that would have been tendered,” the Court of Appeal continued. “It is also alleged that the intended appellant erased valuable data from Hall’s computer and failed to deliver the computer’s hard drive to the intended respondent, which is now being alleged as conversion and theft. The intended respondent also alleged that the intended appellant deleting and erasing its valuable confidential and commercial data breached his duty, and was therefore unlawful and illegal as they alleged that it amounts to a trespass of Hall’s computer hard disk. “[BMLS] further asserted that, in essence, the intended appellant has commercially and financially sabotaged their
to what’s coming out of BTC right now. Our next step would be we would climb the levels we need to go. We want to follow the correct steps, of course, but we will climb the levels we need to go to achieve our objectives.” Ms Benjamin said she was disappointed at the response from Tamica Colebrook, BTC’s human resources chief, who said two qualified, licensed companies conducted air quality
assessments and deemed the company’s Poinciana Drive location, which was one of the buildings targeted by union members as unhealthy, as suitable for occupation. However, Ms Benjamin said BTC has yet to provide the reports despite the union’s request. “The director [of labour] asked if we would sign the confidentiality agreement in order to view the test, but view it in his office,” Ms Benjamin said. “And we agreed that we would sign and we would come to his office with them, and they can put it up on the screen and we can view the test from his office, and
then they will explain to us what the results were. Why they would say it was good? They never did it.” Ms Benjamin said that, in the presence of Howard Thompson, director of labour, and Bernard Evans, the Government’s chief labour consultant, BTC promised to provide the union with a spread sheet of all known safety issues across its various locations and would add to the list if necessary. However, she said the unions only received the list after the demonstration on Monday. “We had a meeting with the director of labour. We discussed in detail the
health and safety issues in BTC. They admitted to those health and safety issues in BTC, and they agreed that a week after that meeting, they would send us that same list that they sent us on Tuesday after the demonstration,“ Ms Benjamin said. “They said that they would send that the week after the conciliation meeting with the director of labour. We got that on Tuesday. That meeting happened at the end of October. We just got that after the demonstration in front of Poinciana on Tuesday. They are not serious.”
business by the deletion of the data relating to the bid, which would have prejudiced the intended respondent from the valuable business opportunity with Celebration Key to offer its port and agency services. “Subsequently, the intended respondent alleges that the intended appellant has allegedly established a rival business in hopes of being awarded the contract to provide port services for Celebration Key. It is by these acts of the intended appellant [that it] alleges that he has breached several implied terms of his employment contract.” The Supreme Court, on November 14 last year, granted BMLS Ltd an injunction that effectively blocked Mr Pinder and his firm from receiving payment for services provided under the Carnival contract. The injunction, issued by Justice Andrew Forbes, as an alternative stipulated that the former BMLS general manager pay his former employer “any profits” received from the Celebration Key deal with the cruise giant. This was on the basis that Mr Pinder had allegedly used BMLS Ltd’s “confidential information” to help win the Carnival contract. Frederick Smith KC, the Callenders & Company attorney and partner, who is Carnival’s legal adviser, is then understood to have informed Mr Pinder that the injunction prevented his client from paying him for services rendered under the Celebration Cay contract. The cruise line had itself been served with the November 14 injunction,
which Mr Pinder had been unsuccessful in overturning on appeal. However, Mr Pinder and Mr Johnson seized upon Mr Smith’s letter to appear before a different Supreme Court judge and argue - this time successfully for the injunction to be “varied or discharged” on the basis that the ex-BMLS general manager “would suffer irreparable harm or be ruined” if it remained in force as is and he could not receive payment from Carnival. Justice Constance Delancy, in a July 15, 2025, verdict altered but did not eliminate the injunction. However, she did strike out the sections preventing Mr Pinder from being paid by Carnival for services rendered or having to transfer the profits to BMLS Ltd. Besides eliminating the bar on Mr Pinder receiving payment for services provided under the Celebration Key contract, Justice Delancy also removed the section requiring him to return to BMLS Ltd “all the commercial and financial information” that was allegedly “stolen” and deleted from the company’s computers. The justification for this was that it is “an impossibility” to recover deleted information. Mr Pinder, though, was ordered to return the back-up hard drive previously located at the home of the late Mr Hall and provide the password to unlock the company-provided cell phone. He also cannot participate in shipping agency business that “has the benefit” of existing BMLS
contracts, while the Supreme Court has also permitted “the confiscation of all confidential commercial and financial information and property of the claimant, and for the same to be seized from the defendant”. “This includes but is not limited to all statutory financial information such as all tax returns and Business Licences, all information relating to the financial statements of the company/the claimant, balance sheet, profit and loss accounts, actuals, budgets, forecasts, all information relating to the vendors of the claimant, all information relating to the contracts of the claimant, all information relating to the clients of the claimant, and all information relating to any tender submitted by the claimant,” the surviving Supreme Court injunction said of the information to be confiscated. Mr Pinder and his attorney went before the Court of Appeal in a bid to have
Justice Forbes’s original injunction struck from legal records. “Mr Johnson argued that Justice Delancy had modified the order in their favour and, as a result of this modification, the appeal became academic,” the Court of Appeal verdict stated. “However, he contended that the original injunctive order left a ‘stain on the judicial record’. His aim, he said, was to remove the original order from the record, and he argued that, on that basis, he had an interest in continuing the application for leave to appeal.” However, the Court of Appeal agreed with Gail Lockhart-Charles KC, the attorney for BMLS Ltd, that Justice Delancy’s amendments had rendered the action “moot” as there were no outstanding issues left to be decided. As a result, it dismissed the application.
TO ADVERTISE TODAY IN THE TRIBUNE CALL @ 502-2394 Legal Notice INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (No. 45 of 2000) In Voluntary Liquidation
Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, (No.45 of 2000), BEAUMONT PLAINES LTD. (the “Company”) is in dissolution. The date of commencement of the dissolution is 12th December, 2025. Marc Philippe Girardin, is the Liquidator and can be 35 Chemin de la Prairie, Coppet, 1296, Switzerland. All persons having claims against the above-named Company are required to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator before 31st December, 2025.
PAGE 8, Friday, December 19, 2025
THE TRIBUNE
EU DELAYS MASSIVE FREE-TRADE DEAL WITH SOUTH AMERICAN BLOC MERCOSUR By SAM McNEIL Associated Press THE European Union is delaying a massive freetrade deal with South American countries after fiery protests by farmers and last-minute opposition by France and Italy threatened to derail the pact, seen by its backers as an important geopolitical move for both continents. Top EU officials had hoped to sign the EU-Mercosur deal in Brazil this weekend, after 26 years of negotiations. Instead, European Commission chief spokesperson Paula Pinho confirmed that the signature had been put off until January. Experts say the delay could dent the EU's negotiating credibility globally as it seeks to forge new trade ties amid commercial tensions with the U.S. and China. Once ratified, the trade deal would cover a market of 780 million people and a quarter of the globe's gross domestic product, and progressively remove duties on almost all goods traded between the two blocs.
French farmers unions, who fear the deal would undercut their livelihoods, welcomed the postponement. France had led opposition to the deal between the EU and the five active Mercosur countries — Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia. Italy raised new reservations Wednesday. Thursday's agreement for a delay was reached between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa on the sidelines of an EU summit with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, on the condition that Italy would vote in favor of the agreement in January, an EU official said. Chaos in the streets of Brussels The decision came hours after farmers in tractors blocked roads and set off fireworks in Brussels to protest the trade deal, prompting police to respond with tear gas and water cannons. The farmers brought potatoes and eggs to throw and waged a furious backand-forth with police.
Legal Notice
NOTICE
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (No. 45 of 2000)
Protesters burned tires and a faux wooden coffin bearing the word "Agriculture." Their fire unleashed a black cloud that swirled with white tear gas. The European Parliament evacuated some staff due to damage caused by protesters. "We are fighting to defend our jobs," said Armand Chevron, a 23-year old French farmer. Hundreds of farmers like Pierre Vromann, 60, had arrived on tractors, which they parked to block roads around the key institutions of the EU. The Mercosur deal would be "bad for farmers, bad for consumers, bad for citizens and bad for Europe," said Vromann, who raises cattle and grains in the nearby Belgian city of Waterloo. Other farmers came from as far away as Spain and Poland. Reservations about the deal are growing French President Emmanuel Macron dug in against the Mercosur deal as he arrived for Thursday's EU summit, pushing for further concessions and more discussions in January. He said he has been in discussions
POLICE try to disperse protestors during a demonstration of European farmers near the European Parliament in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. Photo:Marius Burgelman/AP with Italian, Polish, Belgian, Austrian and Irish colleagues among others about delaying it. "Farmers already face an enormous amount of challenges," he said, as farmer protests over the trade deal and a cattle disease roil regions around France. "We cannot sacrifice them to this accord." Worried by a surging far right that rallies support by criticizing the deal, Macron's centrist government has demanded safeguards to monitor and stop large economic disruption in the EU, increased regulations in the Mercosur nations like pesticide restrictions, and more inspections of imports at EU ports. Italy's Meloni told the Italian Parliament on Wednesday that signing the agreement in the coming days "would be premature."
NOTICE
"This doesn't mean that Italy intends to block or oppose (the deal), but that it intends to approve the agreement only when it includes adequate reciprocal guarantees for our agricultural sector," Meloni said. Von der Leyen is determined to sign the agreement, but she needs the backing of at least two-thirds of EU nations. Italy's opposition would give France enough votes to veto von der Leyen's signature. In Greece, farmers have set up roadblocks along highways across the country for weeks, protesting delays in agricultural subsidy payments as well as high production costs and low product prices that they say are strangling their sector and making it impossible to make ends meet. A possible counterweight to China and the US
Supporters say the EU-Mercosur deal would offer a clear alternative to Beijing's export-controls and Washington's tariff blitzkrieg, while detractors say it will undermine both environmental regulations and the EU's iconic agricultural sector. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said ahead of the Brussels summit that the EU's global status would be dented by a delay or scrapping of the deal. "If the European Union wants to remain credible in global trade policy, then decisions must be made now," Merz said. The deal is also about strategic competition between Western nations and China over Latin America, said Agathe Demarais, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
FORTIS FOUNDATION
NOTICE SERENUS FOUNDATION
Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 52(2) (b) of the Foundations Act. 2004, FORTIS FOUNDATION is in dissolution as of December 11, 2025.
Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 52(2) (b) of the Foundations Act. 2004, SERENUS FOUNDATION is in dissolution as of December 11, 2025.
International Liquidator Services Ltd. situated at 3rd Floor Whitfield Tower, 4792 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator.
International Liquidator Services Ltd. situated at 3rd Floor Whitfield Tower, 4792 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator.
In Voluntary Liquidation
In Voluntary Liquidation
In Voluntary Liquidation Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, (No.45 of 2000), LUCANO S.A. (the “Company”) is in dissolution. The date of commencement of the dissolution is 16th December, 2025. Maria Eliana Ines De los Angeles Tocornal Fernandez is the Liquidator and can be contacted at Campanario 980, Las Condes, Metropolitan Region, Santiago de Chile, Chile. All persons having claims against the above-named Company are required to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator before 15th January, 2026.
LIQUIDATOR
Legal Notice
Legal Notice
NOTICE
NOTICE
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (No. 45 of 2000)
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (No. 45 of 2000)
In Voluntary Liquidation
In Voluntary Liquidation
Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, (No.45 of 2000), SIGNED for and on behalf of TEXTILE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED (the “Company”) is in dissolution. The date of commencement of the dissolution is 12th December, 2025. Telma Fleischmann is the Liquidator and can be contacted at t.fleischmann@kendris.com. All persons having claims against the above-named Company are required to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator before 12th January, 2026.
Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act, (No.45 of 2000), BRIDGEWATER INTERNATIONAL LTD. (the “Company”) is in dissolution. The date of commencement of the dissolution is 4th December, 2025. CONTINENTAL LIQUIDATORS INC. is the Liquidator and can be contacted at New Horizon Building, Ground Floor, 3 ½ Miles Philip S.W. Goldson Highway, Belize City, Belize. All persons having claims against the above-named Company are required to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator before 5th January, 2026.
LIQUIDATOR
NOTICE Jolliland Holding Company Ltd. In Voluntary Liquidation
Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 52(2) (b) of the Foundations Act. 2004, Jolliland Holding Company Ltd. is in dissolution as of December 11, 2025. Gestam Administration Ltd. situated at 204 Church Street, Sandy Port, Olde Towne, West Bay Street, Nassau, The Bahamas is the Liquidator.
LIQUIDATOR
NOTICE
Drake Asia Pacific Inc. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows: (a) Drake Asia Pacific Inc. is in dissolution under the provisions of the International Business Companies Act, 2000. (b) The dissolution of the said Company commenced on the 17 December 2025 when its Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General. (c) The Liquidator of the said Company is Brian Selvadurai. Dated the 17th day of December 2025. H&J CORPORATE SERVICES LTD. Registered Agent for the above-named Company
N O T I C E
RealtyServer International Inc. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act 2000, notice is hereby given that the above-named Company has been dissolved and struck off the Register pursuant to a Certificate of Dissolution issued by The Registrar General on the 3rd day of December, A.D., 2025. Dated the 19th day of December, A.D., 2025. BRIAN HODGSON LIQUIDATOR 1950 Mayfair Gardens Victoria, British Columbia CANADA
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Friday, December 19, 2025, PAGE 9
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JUDGE PARKER
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MARVIN BLONDIE
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Find all the terms listed be Solution tomor AUSTRIA ● BELGIUM ● BULG CYPRUS ● DENMARK ● EST FRANCE ● GERMANY HUNGARY ● IRELAND ● I NETHERLANDS ● POLAN SPAIN ● SWED
YESTER
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CALVIN & HOBBES
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across: Pro Imitation, Sa (clue), Laste Carp, Fir, Un Hysteria. down: Print, Proud, Oval, Bigamy, Anx Glamour, Un
DENNIS THE MENACE Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday Best described as a number crossword, the task in Kakuro is to fill all of the empty squares, using numbers 1 to 9, so the sum of each horizontal block equals the number to its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the number on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Kakuro increases from Monday to Sunday.
Yesterday’s Sudoku Answer
MICRO CROSSwORD
CHALLENGER
Yesterday’s Answers
Yesterday’s Kakuro Answer
PAGE 10, Friday, December 19, 2025
THE TRIBUNE
Trump signs executive order that could reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug By LINDSAY WHITEHURST and BILL BARROW Associated Press
PRESIDENT Donald Trump signs an executive order reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Washington. Photo:Evan Vucci/AP
PRESIDENT Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that could reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug and open new avenues for medical research, a major shift in federal drug policy that inches closer to what many states have done. The switch would move marijuana away from its current classification as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD. Cannabis would instead be a Schedule III substance, like ketamine and some anabolic steroids. Reclassification by the Drug Enforcement Administration would not make it legal for recreational use by adults nationwide, but it could change how the drug is regulated and reduce a hefty tax burden on the cannabis industry. The Republican president said he had received a deluge of phone calls supporting the move and its potential to help patients. "We have people begging for me to do this. People that are in great pain," he said. Medical marijuana is now allowed by 40 states and Washington, D.C., and many states have also legalized it for recreational use. But U.S. laws have remained stricter, potentially leaving people subject to federal prosecution. The Justice Department under Trump's Democratic
hemp-derived CBD at no cost, if recommended by a doctor, said Dr. Mehmet Oz, who heads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Still, the marijuana changes are not universally welcomed. More than 20 Republican senators, several of them staunch Trump allies, signed a letter this year urging the president to keep marijuana a Schedule I drug. Led by North Carolina Sen. Ted Budd, the group argued that marijuana continues to be dangerous and that a shift would "undermine your strong efforts to Make America Great Again." They argued, too, that marijuana negatively affects users' physical and mental health, as well as road and workplace safety. "The only winners from rescheduling will be bad actors such as Communist China, while Americans will be left paying the bill," the letter said, referring to China's place in the cannabis market. In the early days of the second Trump administration, the Justice Department showed little interest in discussing marijuana rescheduling, which had encountered strong resistance from inside the DEA under Biden, according to a former U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity in an effort to avoid retaliation. Trump has made his crusade against other drugs, especially fentanyl, a feature of his second term, ordering U.S. military attacks on Venezuelan and other boats the administration insists are ferrying drugs. He signed another executive order declaring fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction.
predecessor, Joe Biden, previously proposed reclassifying marijuana to a Schedule III substance. Unlike Biden, Trump did not have open encouragement from across his party for the move. Some Republicans have spoken out in opposition to any changes and urged Trump to maintain current standards. Such a switch typically requires an arduous process, including a public comment period that has drawn tens of thousands of reactions from across the U.S. The DEA was still in the review process when Trump took office in January. Trump ordered that process to move along as quickly as legally possible, though an
“He’s blowing up boats in Latin America that he says are full of fentanyl and cocaine but on the other hand loosening the restrictions that will allow wider exposure to a firstlevel drug. That is clearly a contradiction.” Jack Riley exact timeline remained unclear. Polling from Gallup shows Americans largely back a less restrictive approach: Support for marijuana legalization has grown from just 36% in 2005 to 64% this year. Yet that's down slightly from a couple of years ago, primarily because of declining
support among Republicans, Gallup said. Trump's order also calls for expanded research and access to CBD, a legal and increasingly popular hemp-derived product whose benefits to treat things like pain, anxiety and sleep issues are debated by experts. A new Medicare pilot program would allow older adults to access legal
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, ANASTASIA DANIELLE JEAN of Freeport, Grand Bahama intend to change my name to ANASTASIA DANIELLE CHARRAFANT. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O.Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of
Jack Riley, a former deputy administrator of the DEA, backed the focus on the drug war as a national security priority, but said marijuana rescheduling sends a conflicting message. "He's blowing up boats in Latin America that he says are full of fentanyl and cocaine but on the other hand loosening the restrictions that will allow wider exposure to a first-level drug," said Riley, who was in the running to lead the DEA upon Trump's return to the White House. "That is clearly a contradiction." Opponents like the group Smart Approaches to Marijuana vowed to sue if the reclassification goes through. On the other end of the spectrum, some pro-marijuana advocates want to see the government go further and treat cannabis more like alcohol. Trump hasn't committed to bigger steps like decriminalizing marijuana, and said Thursday that he encouraged his own children not to use drugs. Still, he said "the facts compel" the government to recognize that marijuana can have legitimate medical applications. And it has become a part of the health care environment in many states. Currently, 30,000 licensed health care practitioners are authorized to recommend its use for more than 6 million patients for at least 15 medical conditions, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found. The Food and Drug Administration has found credible scientific support for its use to treat anorexia-related medical conditions, nausea, vomiting and pain. Older adults, in particular, are using it for chronic pain, which afflicts 1 in 3 from that age group.
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL
The public is hereby advised that I, RHODISTA SHANELL ROLLE of Kennedy Subdivision, Nassau, Bahamas intend to change my name to RODISHA SHANELL ROLLE. If there are any objections to challenge the name by deed poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, The Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the publication of this notice.
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL The Public is hereby advised that I, DIANA GENEITHA SANDS-BROWN of the Western District of the Island of New Providence, intend to change my name to DIANA GENEITHA SANDS. If there are any objections to this change of name by Deed Poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O.Box N-742, Nassau, Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this notice.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that NICOLE YOUTE of Jerome Avenue, Nassau, The Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration/ Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 19th 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 MAXENE DUPELOR of Carmichael Road, #4 Unison 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 19th day of December 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
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Friday, December 19, 2025, PAGE 11
Wall Street rises after an encouraging inflation update, as Micron helps AI stocks stop their slide TRADER Anthony Confusione works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. Photo:Richard Drew/AP
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer U.S. stocks rose on Thursday following an encouraging report on inflation that could help the Federal Reserve keep cutting interest rates next year. A strong profit report from Micron Technology also helped AI stocks halt their sharp slides, at least for now. The S&P 500 climbed 0.8% and broke a four-day losing streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 65 points, or 0.1%, and the strength for tech stocks sent the Nasdaq composite up a market-leading 1.4%. Some relief came from a report showing that inflation was less bad last month than economists expected. That could soothe nerves at the Fed, which is responsible for keeping inflation low and for keeping the job market strong. Inflation is still higher than anyone would like, at 2.7% last month, but if it creeps closer to the Fed's target of 2%, Fed officials could feel more free to cut interest rates to help a
slowing job market. Wall Street loves lower rates because they can boost the economy and prices for investments, even if they may also worsen inflation. To be sure, some along Wall Street said Thursday's inflation update may not move the needle much at the Fed given how noisy
economic reports have been following the U.S. government's earlier shutdown. Next month's update on inflation could provide a better gauge of what's actually happening. But a better-than-expected report on inflation is nevertheless better than the alternative.
Also helping to drive the U.S. stock market was Micron Technology, the seller of memory and storage for computers, which rallied 10.2% after reporting better profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said each of the company's
US jobless claim applications fell by 13,000 last week as layoffs remain low By MATT OTT AP Business Writer U.S. applications for unemployment benefits fell by 13,000 last week, remaining in the same historically healthy range of the past few years even as concerns grow about the health of the labor market. The number of Americans applying for jobless claims for the week ending Dec. 13 declined by 13,000 to 224,000 from the
previous week's 237,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That's more than analysts' forecast of 200,000 new applications. Applications for unemployment aid are viewed as a proxy for layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market. Earlier this week, the government reported that the U.S. gained a decent 64,000 jobs in November
but lost 105,000 in October as federal workers departed after cutbacks by the Trump administration. The unemployment rate rose to 4.6% last month, the highest since 2021. The November job gains were higher than the 40,000 economists had forecast. The October job losses were caused by a 162,000 drop in federal workers, many of whom resigned at the end of fiscal year 2025 on Sept.
30 under pressure from billionaire Elon Musk's purge of U.S. government payrolls. Labor Department revisions also knocked 33,000 jobs off August and September payrolls. Hiring has clearly lost momentum, hobbled by uncertainty over President Donald Trump's tariffs and the lingering effects of the high interest rates the Fed engineered in 2022 and 2023 to rein in an outburst
business units enjoyed stronger revenue and made more in profit off each $1 of that revenue. Micron also gave forecasts for upcoming profit and revenue that blew past analysts' expectations, and Mehrotra credited its position as an "AI enabler," among other things. Billions of dollars are flowing into artificial-intelligence technology, which helped superstar stocks like Nvidia lead the market for years. But questions are rising about whether those stock prices shot too high and whether customers will get a good-enough return on their AI investments through bigger profits and productivity. Worries are also weighing on companies that are borrowing lots of money amid the AI frenzy. Oracle and Broadcom have been at the center of such concerns recently, and their stock prices had been falling sharply since last week despite both reporting
better profits for the latest quarter than analysts expected. On Thursday, Oracle added 0.9%, and Broadcom rose 1.1%. Nvidia, the chip company that's become Wall Street's most influential because of its immense size, gained 1.8%. Another winner was Trump Media & Technology Group, which jumped 41.9% to trim some of its steep loss for the year so far, 69.3% coming into the day. The company, which began with President Donald Trump's Truth Social platform and then moved into cryptocurrencies and various other lines of business, is now moving into nuclear power. It's merging with TAE Technologies in an all-stock deal, and each company will own roughly half of the combined business. The companies said the deal would pair TMTG's ability to raise significant money by attracting investors with TAE's technology.
of pandemic-induced inflation. Since March, job creation has fallen to an average 35,000 a month, compared to 71,000 in the year ended in March. Last week, the Federal Reserve trimmed its benchmark lending rate by a quarter-point, its third straight cut. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the committee reduced borrowing costs out of concern that the job market is even weaker than it appears. Powell said that recent job figures could be revised lower by as much as 60,000, which would mean employers have actually been shedding an average of
about 25,000 jobs a month since the spring. Companies that have recently announced job cuts include UPS, General Motors, Amazon and Verizon, but those workforce reductions can take months to show up in the government's data. The Labor Department's report Thursday also showed that the fourweek average of claims, which evens out some of the week-to-week volatility, rose by 500 to 217,500. The total number of Americans filing for jobless benefits for the previous week ending Dec. 6 rose by 67,000 to 1.9 million, the government said.
PAGE 12, Friday, December 19, 2025
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