02102026 BUSINESS

BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN bankers yesterday asserted that the 27 percentage point decline in private sector credit, as a proportion of national GDP, over the past 15 years is “no cause for panic” or “solely a sign of weakness” but demands a renewed focus on economic fundamentals.

Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief executive, told Tribune Business that reigniting sustainable lending to households, businesses and consumers requires expanding the number of qualifed borrowers by further lowering unemployment and reviving “discipline” among Bahamians when it comes to savings and their personal finances.

Noting that many existing borrowers are “treading water”, and unable to access further credit because they are effectively maxed out and at their regulatory-permitted limits, he recalled that

• Renewed growth requires more borrowers, ‘discipline’

- while most Bahamian parents and grand-parents obtained their first loan to purchase a home - today’s generation are more likely to do so to acquire vehicles, consumer goods and go on holiday.

Mr Bowe’s call for a cultural, or mindshift, change when it comes to Bahamian saving and borrowing

‘Stop governing in dark’ on PPPs, MP demands

BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Opposition’s finance spokesman yesterday renewed demands for the Government to “stop governing in the dark” while arguing that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had further backed concerns over public-private partnership (PPP) agreements.

Kwasi Thompson, the east Grand Bahama MP, speaking after the Fund unveiled its Article IV consultation report with The Bahamas, told Tribune Business that it had “pretty much confirmed there’s a degree of hidden liabilities in these” arrangements that the Davis administration has entered into on critical infrastructure projects.

In particular, he asserted that the Fund’s warning about “the risk of under-estimating liabilities” created by so-called PPPs had confirmed both previous concerns raised by the Free National Movement (FNM) as well as The Bahamas’ independent Fiscal Responsibility Council.

“You have two independent parties raising those concerns,” Mr Thompson told this newspaper. “I think it speaks to the validity of those concerns. I think all the issues that the Opposition previously pointed out with those PPPs, the breach of the Government’s own PPP policy, the way I know I would put it is: Stop governing in the dark.

“The Government must be more transparent and justify to the public the spending of millions and millions of dollars, which they have not. The IMF’s confirmation, the Fiscal Reponsibility Council’s confirmation, only further raises the concerns the Opposition spoke about.

“It speaks to our concerns wirh respect to the Procurement Act, with respect to granting these direct awards

• Current generation more focused on needs than homes

habits came after the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its just-released Article IV consultation with The Bahamas, disclosed that this nation’s private sector credit - as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) or economic output - is at its lowest level in two decades.

• Not just ‘sign of weakness’; credit-toGDP at 20year low

The Washington D.C-based Fund, while acknowledging that growth was in the initial stages of revival, and The Bahamas was faring better than other Caribbean states, added that the 39 percent credit-to-GDP ratio hit at year-end 2024 was some five percentage points below pre-COVID levels in 2019 and 27 percentage points below the “peak” 66 percent mark achieved just before the 2009 global recession took hold.

“Growth in private sector credit was generally weak in The Bahamas following the global financial crisis and immediately after the pandemic,” the

BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Public Services Union (BPSU) president yesterday branded the call for all 23,000 civil sevants to start contributing to their retirement income as “foolishness”, and asserted: “I’m happy the IMF doesn’t run the country.” Kimsley Ferguson, responding to the International Monetary Fund’s

Minnis: I’d never agree to China hospital loan terms

• Ex-PM would have rejected foreign governing law, arbitration

• Controversy ‘never an issue’ if his administration’s plan used

• Study: Bahamian contractors ‘fully capable’ of doing hospital

BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

DR HUBERT Minnis is asserting he would never have agreed to any government borrowing being governed by a foreign lender’s own laws as the Davis administration has over the second New Providence hospital’s $195m financing. The former prime minister told Tribune Business his administration would never have signed-off on a loan governed by the laws of a foreign jurisdiction, or agreed to the lender’s home country being the legal forum for resolving any disputes, after it emerged that the China Export-Import Bank funding will be subject to Chinese law with

(IMF) recommendation that the Government’s planned pension reforms go further in a bid to close an ever-increasing $2bn-plus hole in the public finances, told Tribune Business that this cannot occur “at the expense” of public officials already deemed “permanent and pensionable”.

He argued that existing civil servants should continue on the existing ‘pay-as-you-go’ scheme, which is 100 percent financed by Bahamian taxpayers in the Government’s annual Budget, and retain their existing benefits while contributing zero to their retirement savings.

And the BPSU chief, while agreeing that all new civil service hires should join the defined contribution pension scheme proposed in the Government’s draft Pensions

Pricing comparison app to aid cost of living fight

BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net

A GOVERNMENT policy advisor yesterday branded The Bahamas as one of the world’s ten most expensive countries to live in as it unveiled an app to enable consumers to compare prices at different merchants. Ian Poitier said PricePal’s launch was significant as it supports the Government’s agenda “about how we bring down prices” and ease cost of living pressure for Bahamian families. By comparing different products at various stores, it will give consumers better price transparency and enable them to identify lowest-cost options.

A national price comparison app, PricePal has also been introduced in a bid to promote fair competition as well as consumer empowerment. It is the result of partnerships between the Office of the Prime Minister, the Bahamas Trade Commission, Consumer

Protection Commission (CPC)which will have a role in managing the app - and the Consumer Affairs Department, which will be responsible for running and maintaining it, along with its developer, the Novio Group.

“I always want to start with just a key sort of data point, which is Tye Bahamas is one of the ten most expensive places in the world. I don't think we really let that land. A country of our size, and a country with all our advantages, and this is something that's obviously continued for a very long time, but it's getting increasingly difficult. Households, families, individuals are really struggling to make ends meet,” Mr Poitier said.

Senator Barry Griffin, chairman of The Bahamas Trade Commission, in a video address presented at last night’s private preview, said the app is his “baby” and that more than 1,500 Bahamians will be able to test it over a two-week period

Beijing as the location for any arbitration proceedings. The Killarney MP, arguing that selecting a “neutral” third-party venue such as the UK for arbitration was the only concession he would have made, said

Bill 2023, also objected to existing civil servants with less than eight years’ service making the switch to such a plan as intended.

Mr Ferguson, whie agreeing that “the burden on the taxpayer needs to be decreased” along with The Bahamas’ $11.5bn national debt, told this newspaper that any reform pain needs to be shared equally across the civil service and not placed disproportionately on the lower ranks. He also argued that, if public officials are to help finance their retirement, then this task needs to be made easier by increasing their salaries. The IMF, in its just-released Article IV consultation report on The Bahamas, called on the Davis

Fight against corruption is deeper than Bahamas’ transparency score

By the Organisation for Responsible Governance (ORG)

AS The Bahamas awaits today’s release of the 2026 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, there is a familiar sense of anticipation. We do not yet know whether our ranking will improve again, as it did last year, or whether it will slip. But focusing too narrowly on the score can risk us missing the deeper conversation we need to have.

Corruption is often discussed through rankings, trends and comparative data, and those measures have value. But for Bahamians living day-to-day, governance is not experienced as an index. It is experienced in offices, communities and institutions; in how decisions are made; how information is shared; and whether enforcement o the rules feels consistent or discretionary.

In The Bahamas, corruption does not always present itself as a dramatic scandal. It shows up quietly and cumulatively; as a process that stalls without explanation. It can be information that is technically public, but practically inaccessible, with requirements that seem flexible for some but rigid for others. These experiences rarely

register in international surveys, yet they shape perceptions and public trust in very real ways. They are the difference between believing institutions exist to serve the public, or believing they exist to manage appearances. This is a gap we must confront honestly. Transparency International’s index measures perceptions that are largely gained through expert and business surveys. It does not fully measure how integrity systems function in small island societies where institutions may be thinly resourced, relationships are close, and discretion carries enormous weight. It does not capture whether laws passed by Parliament are actually brought into force, funded and enforced in ways ordinary people can see and rely on. In The Bahamas, that gap between legislation and implementation continues to matter. Several cornerstone integrity laws remain unfinished business.  The Freedom of Information Act, passed years ago, remains inconsistently operationalised, leaving citizens without reliable access to the very information meant to underpin transparency and accountability. The Ombudsman Act - the framework for an Independent Commission of Investigations and whistleblower protections

under the Protected Disclosures regime - remains not implemented, under-resourced, or both, with limited or no meaningful funding clearly designated in the 2025/26 Budget. The Public Procurement Act is not fully in place. The Disclosures Act has long been acknowledged as weak and in need of revision, yet enforcement remains limited and promises for changes have not materialised.

On paper, the above measures signal progress. On the ground, their absence is felt in the lack of visible, independent oversight. This challenge is not unique to The Bahamas. Across many post-colonial Caribbean societies, corruption rarely looks like crude illegality alone. It more often manifests through patronage, selective enforcement, discretionary political decision-making, and systems that exist in law but not in daily practice. In small island developing states such as ours, where populations are small, social networks are dense and crises are frequent, governance is often shaped by urgency rather than process. Over time, we have seen this normalise shortcuts and weaken the expectation that rules will be applied consistently. These risks are intensifying rather than

Ex-US gov’t advisor, author set to address RF Outlook

AN AUTHOR and US government advisor will this Friday address the 2026 RF Economic Outlook conference on how innovation linked to artificial intelligence (AI) will transform global workplaces.

Jamie Metzl, who focuses on the combination of AI, biotechnology, geopolitics and public policy, will address the February 13 event, which is being held at the Baha Mar Convention Centre, on the theme

‘AI tsunami: Navigating the surge of intelligent innovation’.

A sought-after speaker, he blends intellectual rigour and real life policy experience with enthusiasm for translating complex ideas

receding. The Bahamas is navigating growing flows of climate finance, disaster recovery funds, major infrastructure projects, public-private partnerships (PPPs) and international co-operation on security and development. Each brings opportunity, but also heightened exposure to corruption if transparency and accountability mechanisms lag behind. Implementing integrity systems is a matter of having practical safeguards that hold against waste and erosion of trust.

The present moment is especially significant, as The Bahamas prepares to host the fourth conference of the parties to the Escazú Agreement in April. Escazú, the region’s only binding treaty linking access to information, public participation and justice in environmental matters, speaks directly to the realities we see. It recognises that trust is built when people can see how decisions are made, understand how resources are allocated, and participate meaningfully in processes that affect their communities. Hosting COP4 places The Bahamas at the centre of a regional conversation about transparency and accountability. It also sharpens the question of whether we are prepared to move from commitment to implementation at home. Like many integrity

frameworks before it, Escazú’s promise will only be realised if institutions are resourced, processes are enforced and participation is treated as essential rather than optional. Bahamians now have a critical opportunity, particularly as political parties and candidates fan out across constituencies seeking votes, support and approval ahead of the next general election. Anti-corruption, transparency and integrity reforms are almost always promised in party manifestos. The real test is not whether candidates say they support them; it is whether voters insist on clearer answers to harder questions. How will these laws be fully enacted? When will institutions be resourced? What will ensure enforcement does not depend on political convenience?

Governments may not always place urgency on integrity reforms once elections pass, yet Bahamians can make clear that access to information, independent oversight and enforceable accountability are not optional but, rather, essential conditions for their trust and participation in governance.

MATT AUBRY ORG’s Executive Director

ORG continues to advocate for these reforms to move from paper to practice, and to be implemented in ways that reinforce one another so that access to information, public participation, whistleblower protection and oversight function as a connected system rather than isolated promises. Just as importantly, ORG works to translate these tools into accessible, practical and safe pathways for citizen engagement, so that accountability is not reserved for experts but also available to ordinary Bahamians.

into actionable initiatives.

Mr Metzl helps audiences from a range of industry backgrounds understand not only what is happening, but how it affects them and what comes next.

In his RF Economic Outlook 2026 address, Mr Metzl will provide an oversignt of AI’s progression. He will examine how AI capabilities are compounding across sectors, and focusing on the healthcare sector, will outline how AI is

If The Bahamas improves again on the 2026 Corruption Perceptions Index, that progress should be acknowledged. If it does not that, too, should be examined honestly. But either outcome should be treated as a signal, not a verdict. Trust is not built by rankings alone. It is built close to home, through institutions that work consistently, transparently and fairly, and through citizens who are willing to ask what is promised and how and when it will be delivered. Get informed and get involved.

driving the development of new therapeutic tools while improving care outcomes. Constraints such as data, energy and human resources will also feature in Mr Metzl’s session, along with implications for The Bahamas’ individual and collective health. Following the release of The Bahamas National Health Strategy (2026-2030), his presentation will assess the outlook for the future of Bahamian health.

Bridal chief: Bahamas in top 10 romance locations Petroleum retailer giving back much of margin rise

BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Bridal Association’s (BBA) president yesterday said the jurisdiction remains among the world’s top ten destinations for celebrating romantic milestones with Valentine’s Day just hours away.

Leslie Pinder, speaking to Tribune Business, said The Bahamas continues to attract visitors celebrating special occasions including couples seeking engagement, wedding and anniversary experiences.

“We’re still probably among the top ten countries with a large influx of visitors coming here for celebratory and milestone events,” said Ms Pinder.

“It isn’t just weddings.

Although the Bahamas promotes romance, we have clients that also come for birthdays or anniversary events. Every week, people

reach out about engagements - they want to propose on the beach or in significant areas; at some of our most iconic places of interest.”

Ms Pinder said BBA members aim to make co-ordinating such events seamless for clients, partnering with Bahamian vendors to deliver a comprehensive, one-stop service.

“With engagements, for example - the ‘Marry Me’ signs, the marquee lettersthings like that. Even when those vendors aren’t members of the BBA, as BBA members, when clients come to us, we still work with external vendors to help with the set-up,” said Ms Pinder

“We don’t want clients running all over the place. We’re designed to cover all your needs. You make one call to me, I handle everything, and you get one bill.”

The Ministry of Tourism announced yesterday that Love Week, to be observed from February 8–14, will

be marked through a partnership with the Bahamas Bridal Association, reinforcing The Bahamas’ position as a leading global romance destination.

Ms Pinder said the event will provide an opportunity to build connections with international professionals and strengthen partnerships that support successful events across the islands.

“It’s a way to network with international professionals so you can collaborate - whether they’re hosting an event or working with clients who want to hold events in the Bahamas.

As the BBA, we can lend support, collaborate and help ensure the success of those events.”

Latia Duncombe, the Ministry of Tourism's director-general, said the range of experiences across The Bahamas makes it stand out as a top global romance destination.

“The Bahamas is a destination for a lifetime of love.  Across our islands, couples

Exuma residents urge end to Rosewood Exuma fight

BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

EXUMA residents yesterday called for unity, and for the $200m Rosewood Exuma project and its neighbouring opponents to co-exist, adding that the controversy has divided the community and put future investments at risk.

Ureaka Rolle, a resident of Black Point, said Exuma residents are missing out on job and business opportunities while rival developers quarrel.  Speaking to Tribune Business, she added that she is not opposed to either Rosewood Exuma or Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club as both would provide much-needed employment to residents in the Exuma Cays.

She said she is confused and frustrated about why the Rosewood Exuma project, to be developed by Miami-based Yntegra Group, in particular has sparked so much conflict and opposition.

“I’m all for opportunities, especially for Exuma. Exuma is a big tourist destination, and we don’t have a lot of opportunities here.

A lot of people aren’t working, and one small project can’t do it - or wouldn’t be enough - because when certain phases of a project stop, people lose their jobs, and then they’re out for the next couple of months,” said Ms Rolle. “I’m not against any project, but that is what I’m not understanding. Why is it such a big fight with the Yntegra project?”

Ms Rolle added that while some environmental concerns have been raised, she believes the opposition to the Yntegra project is inconsistent or selective because previous developments involved dredging and did not generate the same level of objection.

“I know there are some concerns about the environmental impact, but I feel like those opposing it pick and choose when they want to voice their opinion on the environment. I’ve heard of

other development projects where they had to dredge the sea or dig up coral beds. So I just can’t understand why this project is so different,” said Ms Rolle.

“I feel like any project that could elevate the people and provide more opportunities should be welcomed, not blocked with excuses.

Pushing away opportunities only harms those who depend on the tourism and hotel industry.”

Ms Rolle said the community has become deeply divided and voiced concerns that the feud could scare off future investors.

“All of a sudden, we have people acting like environmentalists or trying to ‘save Exuma’ when they didn’t care before. The community has been divided since, and I feel like there has to be a line, or some authority - maybe the Government - who can step in,” said Ms Rolle.

“The division right now is out of control, and future investors may not want to invest when they see how people are behaving. Everyone should have come together and said there’s no need to fight or quarrel over which resort or project. It seems like the arguments go deeper than environmental issues; there’s no way you should be arguing over somebody else’s business.”

Ms Rolle said both projects could benefit Exuma, and the rival developers should come to an agreement so the community can begin to benefit from the developments.

“Personally, I don’t have any problem with either Turtlegrass or Rosewood. With all the money available, we should be able to come up with solutions without relying on lawyers or others. I just feel like there’s something else happening behind the scenes, and they’re pushing it as an environmental issue or whatever it is,” said Ms Rolle.

Camron Hamilton, a Black Point resident strongly criticisng the conflict, rivalry and division in the community, voiced concerns that Exuma residents are being

turned against each other over projects that mostly benefit outside investors.

He said he wants the focus to stay on providing real opportunities and benefits for Exuma residents instead of fuelling personal rivalries or disputes between developers.

“I feel like both projects have their own objectives. They say they’re here to help boost the economy in the Exuma Cays, but when I pay close attention, it looks more like a tug-of-war over who runs what. That right there shows me their interest isn’t really what they’re claiming - for both Turtlegrass and Yntegra,” said Mr Hamilton.

“I’m not siding with Turtlegrass. I’m not siding with Yntegra, because from what I see, just starting a project has already turned into a fight, and that’s ridiculous. I don’t like it; we’re against each other. Don’t try to make Bahamians fight over a project that barely benefits us, while others are taking most of the profits.”

Reverend Marjorie Rolle advocated for unity among Exuma residents and urged authorities to make a final decision on the project.  She said dredging is a normal part of island development, pointing out that many islands and cays in Exuma, and throughout The Bahamas, already have docks or marinas that required dredging.

“They need to come together and make a decision, along with the people in charge, and let the development go on. On either side, everybody needs something, so it doesn’t make sense to fuss and fight over foolishness. I call it foolishness because every island with a marina had to dredge,” said Rev Rolle.

“If they’re putting up such a fight like that, they would have to start with Highbourne Cay, which was dredged, and all the adjacent cays that were dredged, and have marinas straight up the Exumas and throughout The Bahamas. Every island and every cay in this area has a

can celebrate every chapter of their journey - from first escapes and engagements to weddings, honeymoons and milestone anniversaries,” said Mrs Duncombe.

“This depth of experience continues to set The Bahamas apart as a leading romance destination.”

The Ministry of Tourism will also host the From the Bahamas with Love conference from February 26 to March 2, and will bring 50 international wedding professionals to experience The Bahamas first-hand.

Participants will visit six islands and take part in activities that showcase the destination’s culture and offerings. The conference also includes a symposium and mini-marketplace to connect international planners with Bahamian romance professionals, strengthening long-term partnerships and positioning The Bahamas as a leading romance and wedding destination.

dock, and some even have a marina.”

Rev Rolle said dredging will not permanently damage the environment or interfere with nearby developments, and that there is room for both developments to benefit without conflict.

“When they first dredged this area, it was muddymuddy, muddy. You would have thought nothing would come back. But today, we have sharks crossing, turtles crossing and fish all over the place. If it could happen here, it could happen at Sampson. So I don’t know why there’s so much fuss about this dredging. It’s only for a season, and after that, it comes back to normal,” said Rev Rolle.

“It will not damage anything. It will not hurt the Turtlegrass or interfere with anyone else’s development. Everybody will have their part, and everyone will be able to enjoy the environment and whatever they put there for their leisure, while leaving each other alone.

“Sometimes we have to step back and just watch to see what’s going on. There comes a point where we can support and help both sides, and you don’t have to pull each other down.”

Another resident, Mr Rolle, said Exuma relies on tourism and development, and decisions should not be biased towards any one person or group. He argued that the more jobs and projects that come, the more locals benefit and return home, which strengthens the community.

“There’s no one person who could take care of Black Point. Whatever jobs come, whatever is happening, we are taking care of the people. The people need jobs, and we need development. We are based on tourism and development, and we can’t be biased,” said Mr Rolle.

“Right now, it looks like one person wants to run this, but it can’t happen like that. We mustn’t limit ourselves. The more jobs come here, the more people return home. That’s better for all of us. Every marina in the Bahamas had to do dredging. How come all of a sudden, this one is a problem?”

BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN petroleum retailer yesterday said he will cut into the industry’s hard-won margin increase by selling diesel at a discount.

Peter Roker, proprietor of Roker’s Gas Station, said consumers now get a 20 cents per gallon of gasoline reduction at night. However, given that diesel is more of a necessity than a luxury for those who operate vehicles using it, he said consumers will see a 12 cent discount per gallon of diesel all day, every day.

“Now, what we did at the service station years ago, when we owned Bargain City, we would give 25 cents off a gallon every night from 12.30am to 5am,” Mr Roker said. “So, when we built a new station, there was nothing off on diesel at all, nothing.

“So when we built a new station, we decided we would give 20 cents off on gasoline at night, and then we give 12 cents off on diesel. I realised that gasoline is for a car that you normally go back and forth to work, go enjoy yourself in, but not something most people make a living from. Whereas diesel is for jitneys, it's for dump trucks, it's for garbage trucks, and it really has an impact on the consumer. So I figured, rather than just do it for the whole night, I would do diesel for 24/7. And that's what I've been doing.

“I have a membership club, which is RGS, Roker's Gas Station VIP card. But in any event, our diesel pumps are set for that discount of 12 cents. I spoke to a friend of mine, and he's running about 10 or 15 garbage trucks and he buys an enormous amount of diesel every day. So the point being that when you would get 12 cents off, that's a meaningful discount which goes to your bottom line. Now, in the meanwhile, you're catching a jitney, that is a bit of a relief for the jitney drivers. Most commercial vehicles use diesel.” Mr Roker said the profit margin increase of 25 cents for gasoline and 16 cents for diesel, which was approved by the Government in 2024, will now be put back to the consumer through this discount.

“The margins we got about a year ago or so, I'm now giving that back to the public,” he said. “We got 25 cents [margin increase], I'm giving back 20 cents. Diesel is 24/7. Gasoline is overnight. What I've done, and this is the first time it's ever been done, is we got a 16 cent margin increase on diesel, and I'm giving back 12 cents, and that's 24/7.

“Diesel affects the consumer more than gasoline does. When you go in a jitney, if that jitney driver has relief, then he can pass that on to you. When you get a delivery for bread, that is relief for them.” Mr Roker said he is more focused on helping the community versus the profit he will be losing.

“I have my strategy which is not a new one,” he added. “I've been doing it for over 25 years. I think that all of my altruistic outreach has pleased me in many different ways. I mean, in other words, we are not new to giving. We had programmes before that assisted all of the organisations, like Children's Emergency Hostel, Ranfurly Home for Children.

“We've been involved in thinking out of the box about how to help the wider community through our gas station. So there's nothing new. And certainly, we do these things not looking for how much it cost us or how much we can make, but more so how we're able to serve the community. We're extremely community oriented.”

In 2024, petroleum retailers fought for a rise in their profit margin. The Government approved their first margin increase since 2011, raising the margins from 54 cents to 79 cents per gallon of gasoline and 50 cents for diesel.

Vasco Bastian, the Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association’s (BPRA) vice-president told Tribune Business in an article that he hopes the margin increase will move along reforms including a switch from a fixed to a percentage-based system.

“We hope this is the beginning of more reform that will come to this industry,” Mr Bastian said. “We just don’t want to be an association that is known when we have an issue with gas margins, but we want to be an association that is vocal when it comes to everything and anything dealing with the petroleum industry in this country. We want our seats at the table as this industry continues to grow,” said Mr Bastian.

“We definitely want to eventually become, rather than fixed margin, we want to integrate a percentage rate over time. And we also want to tie the margin to the consumer price index so, as that changes, our margin or percentage rate will also change that way.

“We won’t have to be going to the Government every X amount of years for what we need to survive. As the industry grows, we want to grow with the industry. We want to grow as well as we want to grow with consecutive governments.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL

The public is hereby advised that I, PAMELA BURNSIDE of Lovely Bay, Acklins, Bahamas intend to change my name to PAMELA JOHNSON. 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.

OVERSEE - from page B1

his administration’s reluctance to accept an 80/20 construction worker ratio in favour of the Chinese resulted in Beijing not providing financing for repairs to the Thomas A. Robinson Stadum during its 2017-2021 tenure.

And he reiterated that the controversy over the China Export-Import Bank funding, and the terms and conditions attached, would never have arisen had the Davis administration proceeded with the alternative financing already secured by its predecessor - along with plans to upgrade and expand Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) - when it took office in September 2021.

Dr Minnis said his administration had obtained $115m from Banco Santander, which was guaranteed and underwritten by the World Bank’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and carried just a 1.8 percent interest rate that was lower than the 2 percent now-offered by the China Export-Import Bank for the second New Providence hospital project.

However, this financing was ultimately rejected by the Davis administration and returned to the lender. Dr Michael Darville, minister of health and wellness, previously explained that the Government was uncomfortable that a $20m portion of the World Bank-guaranteed funding had been allocated

RETIRE - from page B1

administration to go further with the long-awaited reforms by “transitioning… all public servants” - not just new recruits and those with less than eight years’ service - to a proposed defined contribution pension scheme.

However, Mr Ferguson immediately hit back by asserting: “For me, as the president of the union, I’m happy the IMF doesn’t run the country. No trade union leader is going to support that foolishness there. If they are deemed a permanent and pensionable public servant prior to passing of legislation, they are entitled to whatever the agreement

to funding the start-up and expansion of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

Dr Minnis, though, challenged why the Davis administration had been so opposed to funding that would have supported young Bahamian entrepreneurs and aided projects in the so-called “orange” and cultural economy. He added that this would still have left $88.4m from the $115m facility to finance PMH repairs and maintenance, plus construction of a new four-storey tower that would have offered the same maternal and child care services as the new hospital.

Meanwhile, the Government’s own feasibility study reveals that Bahamian construction companies and contractors are “fully capable of successfully completing” the second New Providence hospital, which is set to cost a total $268m, as opposed to handing the project to foreign rivals.

“From a technical perspective, the current construction companies in the Bahamian market possess the overall construction capabilities required to undertake this project,” the report, tabled in the House of Assembly last week by Dr Darville, reveals.

“The project involves the construction of a new hospital, and the construction techniques involved are well-established. The companies in the market are fully capable of successfully completing the project.”

was when they hit the age of 65.

“While I agree that there needs to be a decrease in the national debt and the burden on the taxpayer - I agree that needs to happen - but not at the expense of people made permanent and pensionable public servants and entitled by law to their particular benefits. Regarding persons who are currently permanent and pensionable, whatever amount of years they have, the law says what happens.”

Mr Ferguson, though, backed requiring all new civil service hires to join the proposed defined contribution scheme, where both they and the Government

However, while the Government is still trying to negotiate a better construction worker ratio than 50:50, or one Bahamian for every one Chinese, with the Beijing government and its state-owned lender, the project’s main contractor has been named as China Railway Construction Corporation. This entity has already attracted the Trump administration’s attention and been placed on a US sanctions list because of ties to the Chinese military.

China Railway Construction Corporation, which is also a Chinese state-controlled venture, will have been selected because all of Beijing’s overseas lending and investments deals require that they be accompanied by its companies and workers - as happened with the Baha Mar and British Colonial/Margaritaville projects.

Dr Minnis, though, told Tribune Business all this controversy and geopolitical tension with the US could have been avoided if the Government had stuck with the arrangements his administration had left in place. Asked whether he would have accepted the $195m loan’s terms, he replied: “I wouldn’t have agreed to receiving, accepting the money, and arbitration falling under their laws.

“No, arbitration should fall under our laws, and we are still a member of the Commonwealth. If not The Bahamas, why not the UK? No, no, no. Not for arbitration. It’s my laws, and if you want a neutral venue, it’s the UK. One has to ask the question: If their laws are being applied, does it have anything to do with Sarkis and Baha Mar? Did that

play a role in why Chinese law is being utilised?”

China Export-Import Bank, the hospital lender, was also the financier for the $4.2bn Baha Mar project during the much-publicised ousting of original developer, Sarks Izmirlian. However, Dr Minnis said he believes the financing deal with Beijing is “too far gone” for the Government and Bahamas to withdraw from it, although he voiced scepticism in asserting “I’m not convinced they’re going to build a hospital” without explaining why.

Herschel Walker, the US ambassador to The Bahamas, last week argued that the second New Providence hospital’s financing is not “in the best interests” of this nation and pledged that the Trump administration will “help secure a better deal”. Dr Minnis added: “If you listen, I’m saying the same thing that the US ambassador said. I’m just saying it differently.

“If you are using arbitration, use our laws, and if you’re looking for neutrality go to the UK. That’s where our lawyers train and what our laws are based on. We’re saying the same thing; just saying it differently.”

The Government, though, last week justified its decision to accept the Chinese financing on the basis that the US, through federal institutions such as the US Export-Import Bank, had failed to show interest and/ or offer competitive terms.

“The agreement entered into with the government of the People’s Republic of China is concluded, and was undertaken, following careful technical, legal and financial assessment, with the overriding priority being the urgent health

last year along the lines of what the Prime Minister had spoken of, but added: “I haven’t had an opportunity to peruse that.”

would share their retirement costs by each making monthly payments, after it is created and the relevant law passed by Parliament.

“From where I sit, any employee who joins the civil service after the passing of the Bill can be subject to the IMF recommendation,” he told Tribune Business. “I do support that new hirings should contribute to their pension. I think it would cause Bahamians to give consideration to what their retiremment years look like.

However, detailing concerns with the original Pension Bill, the BPSU president urged that the impact from any reforms be evenly spread across all ranks in the public service so that it not fall disproportionately on more junior officials while shielding permanent secretaries and those in more senior posts.

care needs of the Baha-

mian people. This project addresses long-standing capacity gaps in tertiary care, maternal health and critical services, and responds directly to pressures within our public health system,” it said.

“It is also important to place this matter in proper context. Prior to finalising the current arrangements, The Bahamas engaged at the highest levels of the US government on numerous occasions, including discussions with the US Export-Import Bank. While there were conversations, The Bahamas did not receive a financing response that met the scale, timing and certainty required to advance this critical national project.

“The US remains a valued and long-standing partner of The Bahamas across health, security, trade and development. That partnership is neither diminished nor displaced by this agreement, and the Government welcomes the continued engagement and dialogue with our US counterparts in areas of mutual interest.”

Dr Minnis, though, argued that this ignored what the Davis administration met in place. “First of all, we already had $115m approved by the World Bank at 1.8 percent interest,” he told Tribune Business. “What happened, I think, is $20m was for small businesses. Why did you have a problem with that?

“That was for young people who wanted to start their own business, young professionals, young entrepreneurs, the orange economy. Why would you be opposed to that? Some

servants contribute to their pensions, what they need to do is pay public servants decent salaries so they can prepare for their retirement.”

$88.4m was left for PMH out of the $115m. That was for the four-storey wing for exactly what they are trying to do now - maternal and child care, and additional wards, while some monies were for repairs and equipment for the hospital.

“That would have been far better than what they are doing now. The recommendation from the professionals was that should be done at the PMH site where all the infrastructure was already as opposed to a new site where they would have to put that infrastructure in and double the price. If they had done that, none of this would be an issue.”

Recalling tense negotiations between his administration and China, Dr Minnis added: “When we were trying to get money to repair the [Thomas A. Robinson] stadium, they wanted an 80/20 worker ratio. We opposed that; couldn’t accept that. We never got the funding. We opposed the 80/20 because too many Bahamians were looking for jobs…

“I have to pay the money back that I’m borrowing, and if I have to pay it back I must be able to dictate how it’s spent. This should not have been an issue. We had already secured the money.” Banco Santander, to whom that funding was subsequently returned, is the same institution providing a total $150m for which the Government last week obtained House of Assembly approval to guarantee and underwrite its energy reforms. That $150m is split into a $90m revolving credit facility plus two “credit letters of performance” worth $30m each.

unfunded public service pension liabilities at $2.173bn currentlymeaning they represent obligations that no funds are available to pay. Simon Wilson, the Ministry of Finance’s financial secretary, previously described this as “the top risk” to the stability of the Government’s finances.

MALARK INVESTMENTS LIMITED

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

(a) Malark Investments Limited is in voluntary dissolution under the provisions of Section 138 (4) of the International Business Companies Act 2000.

(b) The dissolution of the said Company commenced on the 2nd day of February 2026 when its Articles of Dissolution were submitted to and registered by the Registrar General.

(c) The Liquidator of the said Company is Sparrow Nominees Ltd. c/o Delaney Corp. (Bahamas) Ltd., Lyford Cay House, Lyford Cay, Nassau, Bahamas.

Dated this 9th day of February, A.D. 2026. Sparrow Nominees Ltd. Liquidator

Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Registration number 212250 B (In Voluntary Liquidation) Notice is hereby given that the above-named Company is in dissolution, commencing on the 20th day of January A.D. 2026.

Articles of Dissolution have been duly registered by the Registrar. The Liquidator is MR. MAURO SERVULO DELGADO SANTOS, whose address is R Tab Ferreira De Carvalho 611, AP 702, Cidade Nova, CEP: 31170180, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Any Persons having a Claim against the above-named Company are required on or before the 19th day of February A.D. 2026 to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator of the Company, or in default thereof they may be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such claim is proved.

Dated this 20th day of January A.D. 2026. MAURO SERVULO DELGADO SANTOS LIQUIDATOR Legal Notice NOTICE

“I object to any persons, whether they have more or less than eight years’ service, being mandated by law to having to contribute to their pension.” Mr Ferguson said he recalled meeting the Prime Minister with Belinda Wilson, the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) president, to discuss the pension reform issue and that Philip Davis KC “indicated they were not prepared to deal with the contributory pension plan at this particular juncture”.

The Prime Minister informed them that a new draft, to replace the proposed Pension Bill 2023, would be created and provided to the public sector unions to obtain their feedback. Like Mrs Wilson, Mr Ferguson confirmed receiving a document late

“If you are trying to balance the Budget or stabilise the economy, you have to give consideration to all classes of person, and not just the small man whose salary is not comparable to people at the higher levels,” he said. “If you want to cut costs, if 65 is the pensionable age, let that be made a criteria for all public servants whatever level you are at. That should be the criteria regardless of where you are in the public service….

“While I am concerned about the direction this country is taking with regard to the burden the taxpayer has to bear, I am of the view that no permanent and pensionable public servant, who may have worked for more than eight years or less than eight years, should be made to be part of a new scheme in an involuntary manner.

“And let them lead by example. If they are going to mandate that public

Creditors having debts or claims against the above-named Company are required to send particulars thereof to the undersigned c/o P.O. Box N-4831, Nassau Bahamas on or before the 8th day of March A.D., 2026. In default thereof, they will be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made by the Liquidator.

Dated the 8th day of February, A.D., 2026.

Peter Maury Liquidator

The IMF, while reassuring that the Government must “honour” all benefits due to existing civil servants under the current 100 percent taxpayer-financed scheme, went further than the most recent proposals outlined in the draft Pensions Bill 2023. This called for all new civil service hires, once they have completed their six month-probationary period, as well as all existing officials with less than eight years’ pensionable service, to join the new scheme. The switch to a defined contribution plan was to have been optional for pensionable public servants with more than eight years’ public service, but the IMF is recommending that the Government go further and require all civil servants regardless of tenure to make the switch in an effort to “lessen the actuarial imbalance of the whole system”.

And it reiterated previous warnings that the unfunded civil service pension liabilities, now estimated to exceed 15 percent of The Bahamas’ annual gross domestic product (GDP) or annual economic output, represent the equivalent of a ‘ticking timebomb’ that threatens to impose a massive burden on Bahamian taxpayers and future generations if not swiftly addressed.

Tribune Business calculations, based on the $14.485bn real GDP projected for the 2025-2026 fiscal year in the Government’s Budget, peg these

“The planned reform to the civil service pension system should be supplemented with more holistic changes,” the IMF’s Article IV report asserted. “This scheme for public servants is funded entirely by the central government, and the unfunded liability exceeds 15 percent of GDP.

“The authorities’ proposal would convert the system over time into a defined contribution pension system. The reform should be complemented by broader changes to lessen the actuarial imbalance of the whole system - indexing the retirement age to life expectancy, and transitioning over time all public servants to the new scheme, instead of only the new hires, while honouring the benefits that have accrued under the existing plan.”

The Government, though, is under no obligation to adopt the IMF’s recommendation that all civil servants - instead of just new hires and those more junior - be made to share the cost of contributing to their retirement income. And it is unlikely to implement any civil service pension reform in the near-term given the upcoming general election where the votes of civil servants and their families could prove key to the outcome.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN as follows:

(a) NAGS HEAD HOLDINGS LIMITED is in dissolution under the provisions of the Companies Act, as amended.

(b) The dissolution of the said Company commenced on the 7th day of February when its shareholders elected to commence voluntary liquidation.

(c) The Liquidator of the said Company is Peter Maury of Shirley Slope, Nassau, Bahamas.

Dated the 7th day of February 2026. Peter Maury Liquidator

IMF acknowledges recovery shoots as post-COVID revival ‘remarkable’

IMF said. “After strong growth leading up to 2008, driven by expansions in lending for residential mortgages and to consumers and businesses, private credit from banks peaked as a share of GDP in 2009, and in nominal terms in 2011.

“Credit growth declined sharply thereafter - more so than the Caribbean average - coinciding with factors such as periods of weaker economic activity, elevated non-performing loans and challenges associated with a domestic bank (Bank of The Bahamas). This credit slowdown was broad-based across all major segments and contributed to a substantial rise in domestic banks’ excess liquidity in the post-global financial crisis period.”

Acknowledging that some post-COVID recovery has taken place, the Fund added: “Private sector credit has rebounded since 2022 following a remarkable rebound in real GDP following Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Strong lending to firms in transportation, distribution, professional services and tourism has underpinned rapid growth in business loans.

“A more modest growth in personal lending is also driving the credit recovery. During this period, domestic banks’ loan approval rates - particularly in

mortgages - have recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

“However, the number of applications for mortgages, consumer loans and commercial credit, while higher than its 2020 trough, remained below pre-pandemic levels by 2024. Still, despite robust growth, private sector credit was at 39 percent of GDP by end2024, five percentage points below 2019 levels and 27 percentage points below the 2009 peak.”

However, Tangela Albury, Commonwealth Bank’s chief financial officer, told Tribune Business that the 27 percentage point decline should not only be viewed as a weakness for the Bahamian economy. She argued that it is also a partial reflection of the rebound in Bahamian GDP and economic growth post-COVID, which means that credit is now being measured against greater output.

And Ms Albury also pointed out that Central Bank and regulatory policy is “supportive of a stronger lending environment” via measures such as the introduction of The Bahamas’ first-ever credit bureau and relaxed debt servicing requirements that borrowers must meet. The Commowealth Bank financial chief, though, agreed with Mr Bowe that the key to sustainable credit growth lies in expanding the pool of qualified borrowers.

The Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief told Tribune Business: “When you think

Bahamas one of world’s top 10 most expensive nations

EXPENSE - from page B1

before it is officially launched to the public. He said Bahamians will be able to file consumer complaints to the Consumer Protection Commission via the app.

A Novio Group executive said the app currently features 51 retailers and is expanding across Nassau and the Family Islands.

She said some merchants are also based in Grand Bahama, Abaco and

Exuma, and more - along with their products - are being added daily. Consumers will be able to see a list of stores on the app. Phase two of PricePal’s roll-out will stretch from today until March 1, which will include consumer testing and feedback, the continuation of retailer onboarding and feature development. Phase three, which will start on March 3, 2026, will be the national launch where it will be

Opposition finance chief says it, Fiscal Council are vindicated

CONTRACTS - from page B1

for millions and millions of dollars. How can you guarantee we are getting the best deal, justify you are getting the best value for money?”

The Washington D.C based Fund called for heightened “oversight and governance” of PPP deals especially given recent Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) findings that this nation will need to find an extra $450m annually by 2030 to meet its needs for investment in roads, healthcare, airports, water and renewable energy. The Bahamas’ requirements for new water and telecommunications

infrastructure, and maintenance and replacement, have been pegged as equal to 3.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) or economic output alone.

“The authorities have prioritised PPPs in providing this incremental investment, building on recent efforts to upgrade airports and improve the electrical grid,” the IMF wrote. “The 2023 Public Procurement Act provides a regulatory framework for these investments.

“Caution, though, is warranted given the risk of underestimating the liabilities associated with PPPs. Effective PPP implementation requires robust governance including in contract bidding,

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL

The public is hereby advised that I, PAMELA BURNSIDE of Lovely Bay, Acklins, Bahamas intend to change my name to PAMELA JOHNSON. 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.

about the way an economy generally works, it is the private sector and the consumer spending that stimulates all activities, and so from that perspective when we see a contraction in the actual spending and eligibility to qualify for credit that raises a concern.

“It’s not one that should create a panic; it’s one where we should start looking at the fundamentals that led to that contraction.” The roots, Mr Bowe said, lie in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent 2008-2009 recession when unemployment surged, bank non-performing loans increased, economic growth emerging from the downturn was more “lethargic” than other nations and consumer loans were not going to business investment.

“From that perspective, when we see a contraction from a financial shock, the rebound is a much more protracted exercise because ultimately we know we’re having to correct the root causes that led to it,” he added. The Bahamas’ recovery from the events of 2008-2009 was previously branded “painfully slow” by the IMF, and Mr Bowe said this nation has not seen a “major economic stimulus” since Baha Mar’s construction and opening almost eight years ago.

Noting that today’s employed labour force numbers are lower, in raw terns, than those from 2019 before Hurricane Dorian

available nationwide, retailer participation will be extended and there will be more feature developments.

Rex Adderley, director of the consumer affairs department in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, said PricePal will be maintained within its office where prices are monitored and regulated.

“We already regulate and monitor prices,” Mr Adderley said. “We already gauge retailers. We already collect pricing information. We already serve as a point of contact for core consumers. It therefore makes perfect sense that the Consumer

procurement and the monitoring of projects.”

The IMF is urging The Bahamas to initiate “a clear process to govern the preparation and procurement of PPP projects, drawing on expertise in the Ministry of Finance” along with “dedicated and proactive fiscal risk management of PPPs”.

It also called for “proper budgeting, accounting and reporting standards that ensure full fiscal transparency and accountability, with potential liabilities quantified and reported”, and “a clear and consistent enabling legal framework”.

Expanding further on these themes, the Fund urged: “The increased use of public-private partnerships to develop infrastructure should go hand-in-hand with stronger PPP oversight and governance. Using this tool effectively will require a strengthening of the institutional framework to clarify risk-sharing arrangements, improve monitoring and enforcing of private partners’ obligations, and ensure transparent fiscal reporting.

“An immediate priority should be to improve fiscal reporting and enhance the overall institutional framework for PPPs. It would be important to quantify and report potential liabilities

NOTICE is hereby given that NESLIN DESTILHOMME of Queens 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 3rd day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

and COVID-19, he added:

“When you look at the credit growth, if we don’t have employment expanding so that new credit is coming on stream, we look at existing credit.” Many persons, he added, are “borrowing to make ends meet” and, as such, are “treading water” and not suitable candidates for new credit.

“We have to look at financial literacy among the young persons to discipline them, and their initial spending coming out of high school and college,” Mr Bowe told Tribune Business, “so that it is not to over-spend on a vehicle, spend on Christmas presents, a holiday or luxury goods. They need to use a credit card and make the payments, so that it becomes like a draw card and they build financial discipline and a payment history.

“They need to show they have accumulated savings so that they can put a down payment on a property. The first thing our parents or grandparents tried to buy was a house or land. The first major expense today is a vehicle which depreciates in value as soon as they drive off the lot.”

The IMF, though, agreed that the Bahamian credit environment is improving with non-performing loans, representing borrowings that are more than 90 days’ past due and on which banks have stopped accruing interest, now at their lowest levels for 17-18 years since the 2008-2009 recession.

“The rebound in private sector credit has coincided with falling trends in the

Affairs Department will serve as an institutional home for PricePal. I am pleased to confirm this evening that PricePal will be maintained within the Office of the Consumer Affairs Department.

“Our team of inspectors will work closely with the platform to support the updating and verification of prices, and to continue engaging retailers to ensure that they have access to the system and are able to update prices directly in a structured and transparent way. This is an important step forward. It represents modernisation of how we

associated with ongoing energy sector investments.”

The Government itself acknowledged the need for improvement.“While highlighting that risk-sharing arrangements under PPPs are carefully designed, they agreed that more efforts could be made to reinforce the PPP institutional framework,” the IMF said of the Davis administration’s response. Michael Pintard, the Opposition leader, has previously seized on the IMF’s statement as “exonerating” FNM concerns that several PPPs touted by the Government, such as the Eleuthera and Exuma roadworks deals with the Bahamas Striping Group of Companies and its affiliates worth a combined $160m, are really structured as “off-thebooks” loans designed to keep hundreds of millions of dollars in debt liabilities off the Government’s balance sheet.

Accusing the Government of effectively “hiding” how much spending, borrowing and debt it is incurring, the Opposition leader called on the Davis administration to publish its own PPP policy if it was not going to follow the one introduced by its Minnis-led predecessor - which remains government policy and has

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that JENNIE CADET of Polhemus 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 twentyeight days from the 10th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

non-performing loan ratio and lending rates, and policies may also have helped increase lending,” the Fund said.

“The non-performing loan ratio has continued to decline to its lowest levels since preglobal financial crisis, supported by the strong economic recovery, while provisions-to-non-performing loans have declined from their 2020 peak, in part due to a reversal in buffers built up during the pandemic.

“Lending rates, particularly on mortgages, have tended to fall in recent years. Policies may have played a role in the observed credit recovery, too, as the Central Bank relaxed some borrower-based measures associated with personal loans and it eased certain requirements for mortgages in 2022 and 2023, respectively.”

Ms Albury, too, acknowledged these developments, telling Tribune Business:

“While the [credit-to-GDP] ratio is approximately 27 percentage points below its historical peak, this should not be interpreted solely as a sign of weakness in the lending environment. Firstly, in part, it reflects stronger economic output, particularly from the tourism sector. GDP growth compresses this ratio when banks maintain disciplined underwriting standards.

“The recent posture of regulatory policy has been intentionally supportive of a stronger lending environment. Measures such as the calibrated relaxation of debt-service ratio requirements and the introduction

carry out our responsibilities. It is it also represents a major shift in how we use technology and data to protect consumers.

“For many years, the weight of Consumer Affairs has relied heavily on manual inspection, paper records and isolated data collection. PricePal introduced a new digital layer to work with. It allows us to see price information in real time. It allows us to identify trends and anomalies more quickly. It allows us to respond faster and more strategically to issues affecting the cost of living,” Mr Adderley said.

never been repealed or replaced.

PPPs are typically designed to reduce the financial stress on cashstrapped governments by contracting the private sector to provide the funding, development and expertise to construct much-needed infrastructure or run public services.

The Government’s cash flow pressures are eased by requiring the private sector to finance the up-front capital costs, with the latter earning a return on investment - and paying back any lender - from the revenue streams generated by infrastructure assets they develop or services provided.

The Opposition has previously argued, though, that several projects touted by the Davis administration as PPPs do not fit this model or meet this criteria. In particular, several sources have pointed to the sudden appearance in the Government’s 2025-2026 Budget, under ‘public debt servicing - interest and other charges - of a $33.93m, ten-year loan due to PPP Investments & Construction Company.

Tribune Business records confirm this is the company that secured a deal with the last Christie administration to construct the Eight Mile Rock government

of the credit bureau are meaningful steps towards reducing information asymmetry and enabling lenders to make more informed credit decisions.” But she added: “Fundamentally, however, sustainable credit expansion requires growth in the credit-eligible population. When debt service levels are already elevated, income growth is struggling to keep pace with inflation and borrowers carry multiple obligations, the pool of qualified borrowers naturally compresses.

“This dynamic can temper credit growth even when liquidity within the banking system remains strong and there is GDP growth. It is also important to recognise that a meaningful level of borrowing activity occurs outside of the traditional banking sector. Credit extended through non-bank channels is less visible in conventional measures of private sector credit, yet it still affects household leverage and repayment capacity.

“Understanding this broader credit ecosystem is therefore critical when forming conclusions about the overall state of lending in The Bahamas. Taken together, rushing to draw sweeping conclusions is not helpful. Rather, focus should be on educating borrowers on predatory lending practices, and moving from credit collection to borrower rehabilitation, then borrower credit restoration. This shift creates sustainable value to both the borrowers and the lenders.”

“The data generated through this platform will help policymakers better understand how prices move, how different sectors behave, and their targeted interventions may be required. This is especially important at a time when cost of living pressures remain one of the most significant concerns for Bahamian households. While no single platform can solve the cost of living challenge on its own, PricePal provides a powerful new tool to support smarter decision making, both for consumers and for government.”

administrative complex in Grand Bahama. The agreement was signed off on May 9, 2017, one day before the general election that brought the Minnis administration and FNM to office. The arrangement was touted as a PPP, and this newspaper’s archives show PPP Investments & Construction Company sought to raise the necessary financing via a $25m bond placement. A further $9m was obtained from Sygnus Capital, the Jamaican investment house, and the deal was structured as a lease-to-own where the Government would pay back the company and lenders via rental payments. However, it has now appeared in the Government’s books as a “loan” that has to be repaid by Bahamian taxpayers. Some $2.308m is due to be paid in 2025-2026, with payments of $2.094m and $1.874m due in 2026-2027 and 2027-2028, respectively.

Opposition sources suggested this represents a “smoking gun” showing that many projects touted by the Government as PPPs are really “off-the-books” loans designed to keep borrowings, spending and debt from showing up in the public finances for as long as possible.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that CHRISTINA UTILE of Podeleo Street, 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 twentyeight days from the 3rd day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

Retail operator of outdoor sportswear pioneer Eddie Bauer files for bankruptcy

By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO AP Business Writer

THE operator of roughly 180 Eddie Bauer stores across the U.S. and Canada has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, blaming declining sales and a litany of other industry headwinds.

The bankruptcy filing marks the third time in a little over two decades for the storied-but-nowtired brand that began as a Seattle fishing shop, later outfitted the first American to climb Mount Everest and made thousands of newfangled down jackets and sleeping bags for the military during World War II.

Eddie Bauer LLC said Monday it had entered into a restructuring pact with its secured lenders as it made the filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey.

Most Eddie Bauer retail and outlet stores in the U.S. and Canada will remain open as the company winds down certain locations. It noted that it will conduct a court-supervised sales process, and if a sale can't be executed, it will begin a wind-down of its U.S. and Canadian operations.

IN this June 17, 2009, file photo, shoppers are reflected in the window as they walk past an Eddie Bauer store, in Seattle.

community hub where folks gathered to share their wisdom, learn, and talk about their experiences in the outdoors," the website says.

The company created an American goose-down insulated jacket, known as the "Skyliner," in 1936, and it became the company's first patented jacket. It also outfitted the first American to climb Mount Everest — James W. Whittaker — with an Eddie Bauer parka in 1963.

Eddie Bauer was in a "challenged situation."

"Over the past year, these challenges have been exacerbated by various headwinds, including increased costs of doing business due to inflation, ongoing tariff uncertainty, and other factors," he said. He noted that while Catalyst's leadership was able to make improvements in product development and marketing, those changes could not be implemented fast enough to fully address the problems created over several years.

Eddie Bauer's stores outside of the U.S. and Canada are operated by other licensees, are not included in the Chapter 11 filings, and will stay open, according to the release.

Authentic Brands Group continues to own the intellectual property associated with the Eddie Bauer brand and may license the brand to other operators, the company said. The operations of other brands in the Catalyst Brands portfolio are not affected by this filing and will continue in the normal course, according to the company. Eddie Bauer's e-commerce and wholesale operations will also not be

"This is not an easy decision," said Marc Rosen, CEO of Catalyst Brands, which maintains the license to operate Eddie Bauer stores in the U.S. and Canada. "However, this restructuring is the best way to optimize value for the retail company's stakeholders and also ensure Catalyst Brands remains profitable and with strong liquidity and cash flow."

Cuba says airlines can no longer refuel on the island as US blockade deepens energy crisis

impacted by the wind down, as they are operated by a company called Outdoor 5, LLC. That was a transition it made in January and became effective Feb. 2.

Eddie Bauer joins a growing list of U.S. retailers this year that are closing stores, as companies reorganize under bankruptcy protection or pare down their operations to focus on the most profitable businesses.

The parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue said last month that it was seeking bankruptcy protection, buffeted by rising competition and the massive debt it took on to buy its rival in the luxury sector, Neiman Marcus, just over a year ago. A few days later, the parent company said it was

By ANDREA RODRÍGUEZ Associated Press

CUBAN aviation officials have warned airlines that there isn't enough fuel for airplanes to refuel on the island, the latest step in its moves to ration energy as the Trump administration

closing most of its Saks Off 5th stores.

Amazon said earlier this month that it was closing almost all of its Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh locations within days as it narrows its focus on food delivery and its grocery chain, Whole Foods Market.

Eddie Bauer's namesake founder — an avid outdoorsman — started the company in Seattle in 1920 as Bauer's Sports Shop, according to the brand's website. In 1945, after making more than 50,000 jackets for the military, it launched a mail-order catalog.

"Bauer's Sports Shop was not just a place where people purchased clothing and gear, it was a

cuts the Caribbean nation off from its fuel resources.

The government of Cuba published the notices to airlines and pilots on Sunday night, warning that jet fuel won't be available at nine airports across the island, including José Martí International Airport in Havana,

After Bauer retired in 1968 and sold the business to his partner, the outdoor brand shifted more toward casual apparel and was bought by General Mills Inc. in 1971 and then by Spiegel Inc. in 1988. After Spiegel filed for bankruptcy in 2003 and most of its assets were sold, the remainder of the company was reorganized in 2005 as Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc.

In June 2009, Eddie Bauer filed bankruptcy and was acquired by Golden State Capital, the following month. In 2021, it was acquired by Authentic Brands and SPARC Group LLC.

A year ago, Catalyst was formed by the merger of SPARC and JCPenney, which Simon Property Group and fellow mall landlord Brookfield bought out of bankruptcy.

Rosen noted that even prior to the inception of Catalyst Brands last year,

starting Tuesday and continuing until March 11.

Political pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump on Latin America has effectively severed Cuba's access to its primary petroleum sources in Venezuela and Mexico.

In late January, Trump signed an executive order that would impose a tariff on any goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba, a move that could further cripple an island plagued by a deepening energy crisis.

While the rationing may not disrupt shorter regional flights, it presents a significant challenge for long-haul routes from countries like Russia and Canada — a critical pillar of Cuba's tourism economy.

On Monday, Air Canada announced it was suspending flights to the island, while other airlines announced delays and layovers in the Dominican Republic before flights continued to Havana.

One pilot added that while refueling issues have occurred before, an official announcement of this scale is extraordinary even for an island accustomed to perpetual crisis. The last time such cuts occurred — more than a decade ago — aircraft bound for Europe refueled in Nassau, Bahamas, the pilot recalled. Now, regional airlines could avoid problems by bringing extra fuel, while others could refuel in Cancun, Mexico, or in the Dominican Republic. It remains unclear how long the notice will remain in effect and Cuban officials have made no public comments on the matter.

The fuel shortage deals another blow to a country that relies heavily on tourism, an industry that once generated $3 billion in annual revenue and served as a vital economic lifeline.

Eddie Bauer had nearly 600 stores at its peak in 2001, according to CoStar Group Inc., a commercial real estate data firm.

In a note published earlier this month, Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, wrote that while the Eddie Bauer name is "well known", the brand hasn't kept pace with rivals like Swedish outdoor brand Fjallraven and Canadian label Arc'teryx. He also cited issues with quality deteriorating, which, for an outdoor brand measured by the performance of its products, is very problematic.

"And for many younger shoppers, the brand is seen as somewhat old-fashioned and a bit irrelevant, " he noted.

Cuban officials also announced Monday that bank hours have been reduced and cultural events suspended. In Havana, the public bus system has effectively ground to a halt, leaving residents stranded as endemic power outages and grueling fuel lines reach a breaking point. The energy emergency has forced the suspension of major events like the Havana International Book Fair this weekend and a restructuring of the national baseball season for greater efficiency. Some banks have cut operating hours and fuel distribution companies said they would no longer sell gas in Cuban pesos — and that sales will be made in dollars and limited to 20 liters (5.28 gallons) per user. The latest measures add to others announced Friday, including cuts to bus transportation and limited train departures.

On Thursday, Cuban President Miguel DíazCanel delivered a two-hour televised address, acknowledging the impact and warning that measures would be taken in the coming days.

U.S. sanctions against Cuba have been in place for more than six decades and have long stunted Cuba's economy. But they reached new extremes after a U.S. military operation deposed former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and Trump began to take an even more confrontational tone toward Latin America. For many Cubans, the crisis has translated into power outages lasting up to 10 hours, fuel shortages for vehicles, and a lack of food or medicine that many compare to the severe economic depression in the 1990s known as the Special Period that followed cuts in aid from what was then the Soviet Union.

brings boutique fitness energy to The

way. That’s how real results last,” said Ms Treco. Beyond programming, Spin Drip leans heavily into experience. Music, coaching, and atmosphere are curated to create a space that feels energising without being intimidating. The goal is to challenge people while still making them feel seen and supported.

“Spin Drip is a whole experience. From the moment you walk in, you feel the energy. The music is intentional, it drives the class, lifts your mood, and pushes you past limits you didn’t think you could reach. The coaching style is motivating, inclusive, and real. We meet people where they are, but we also challenge them to rise,” said Ms Treco. Community, however, remains at the centre of the studio’s identity. Ms Treco is deliberate about cultivating an environment that welcomes beginners and seasoned athletes alike.

EXERCISE routines come and go, but spaces that change how people feel about movement tend to last. Spin Drip Studios is carving out its place in The Bahamas by offering a fitness experience that supports heart health, strength, and mental clarity under one roof.

Designed as a boutique indoor cycling experience, the studio combines high-energy spin classes, strength training, and personal coaching with a strong focus on physical health, mental wellbeing, and community connection.

Founded by Brittnee Treco, Spin Drip Studios grew out of a deeply personal place. She tells Tribune Health, her journey into fitness was not about chasing trends, but about finding movement that genuinely supported both body and mind.

Exposure to boutique spin studios overseas revealed how transformative the environment could be, offering not just exercise, but motivation, structure, and purpose.

“I started my own spin sessions because I needed something that truly made me healthier; physically and mentally. Through travelling and experiencing spin studios abroad, I saw how powerful that environment was: the energy, the structure, the sense of purpose people felt walking out of class. I knew immediately that The Bahamas needed that same spark,” said Ms Treco.

The timing, she explains, felt equally important. With growing local conversations around stress, burnout, and cardiovascular health, Ms Treco recognised a shift in what people were seeking from fitness. The goal was not to introduce another workout option, but to offer something that could influence daily habits and long-term health.

“I wanted to be the official spin studio experience for The Bahamas and bring a vibe that wakes our nation up, revives strength, and reminds people that movement can be exciting and empowering,” said Ms Treco.

What sets Spin Drip apart is its intentional balance. While spin remains the heartbeat of the studio, it is supported by Muscle Drip strength training and personalised coaching. This layered approach moves clients away from quick-fix fitness and towards sustainable progress that supports the body over time.

“Spin alone is powerful for cardiovascular health, endurance, and mental clarity, but long-term fitness requires balance. That’s where Muscle Drip and personal training come in. Strength training builds lean muscle, supports joint health, improves metabolism, and protects the body long-term, especially as we age,” said Ms Treco.

Rather than separating these elements, the studio treats them as complementary parts of one system.

“At Spin Drip, everything works together. Spin builds heart health and stamina, Muscle Drip develops strength and resilience, and personal training allows for individual guidance and accountability. We’re not chasing quick fixes, we’re teaching people how to move, train, and take care of their bodies in a sustainable

those returning to fitness after time away.

Spin Drip has also become a gentle re-entry point for individuals who previously felt intimidated by struc tured fitness spaces.

“We’ve seen improved moods, reduced anxiety, better sleep, and a renewed sense of discipline. Fitness becomes something they look forward to, not something they fear,” said Ms Treco.

Looking ahead, her aim is for the studio to become a trusted part of everyday life, accessible to people across ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

“While many women are often the first to step through the doors, Spin Drip is truly for everyone. All gen ders, all fitness levels, all journeys are welcome here,” she said.

“Spin Drip isn’t intimidating or exclusive, it’s welcoming. Whether you’re brand new or advanced, you’re celebrated for showing up. We sweat together, grow together, and support each other beyond the bike. That sense of connection is just as important as the workout itself,” said Ms Treco. The benefits, she notes, extend far beyond physical changes. Clients often arrive feeling overwhelmed or disconnected from their routines and leave with renewed energy and confidence. This has been especially meaningful for

That sense of inclusivity ties directly into the studio’s broader mission.

“Our role is to help normalise move ment, consistency, and community as part of everyday life, not just a shortterm goal. Long-term, the vision is thoughtful expansion and building a movement our residents and clients are proud to be part of one that rep resents strength, energy, inclusivity, and a healthier future for The Bahamas.,” said Ms Treco.

How does salt affect heart health?

While many of us are no strangers to having a sweet tooth, sometimes, your tongue craves something savory, like a salty pile of pretzels or chips. You’ve probably heard that too much salt isn’t good for you, but why is salt bad for your heart?

Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Luke Laffin, MD, answers this question and gives a rundown on sodium, your heart and your health: Sodium is a mineral that we all need. It plays a role in the healthy function of nerves and muscles and helps keep your body’s fluid levels in proper balance, but that fluid balance is delicate.

Too much sodium can cause high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke and heart failure, atherosclerosis, and arrhythmias.

So, keep tabs on your sodium, especially if you have high blood pressure, heart disease or are at risk of developing them.

Dr Laffin suggests aiming to keep your sodium intake below 2,300 milligrams

(mg) per day. That’s equal to about 1 level teaspoon of salt.

“Think about that 2,300 mg as a debit card you get every morning,” illustrates Dr Laffin. “Don’t spend it all in one place. And if you go over, you’ll pay interest — in the form of higher blood pressure.”

Your healthcare provider may make different recommendations depending on your medical history. For example, if you have high blood pressure, your doctor

may recommend eating less salt.

“Almost everyone with high blood pressure should be on a low-sodium diet,” he adds. “If you can get it down to less than 1,500 mg per day, that’s ideal.”

You may consider following the DASH diet, which is designed to lower your blood pressure by eating heart-healthy foods. Lowering blood pressure is an important way to reduce your risk of heart disease.

Doctors also recommend that people with heart failure eat a low-sodium diet. Too much salt can cause fluid to build up around your heart and lungs, making your heart work harder.

Evidence suggests that a limit of 2,000 mg per day of sodium is a good goal for people with heart failure, especially if they also have high blood pressure, but there’s an important caveat.

“Some data suggests very low levels of sodium may lead to worse outcomes in people with heart failure, so discuss sodium intake with

your healthcare provider,” Dr Laffin says. Most people think of salt as the stuff that comes out of a shaker, but that makes up a surprisingly small fraction of the sodium in an average diet. Most of the sodium we swallow comes from prepared and packaged foods. Dr Laffin offers a few strategies for keeping sodium levels in the healthy range for your heart.

Checking the nutrition labels on your food items is a great place to start. Pantry staples like bread, canned soup and salad dressing contain more sodium than you might guess. Packaged foods can also be sneaky sources of sodium, even if they don’t taste salty. But the numbers don’t lie.

You should also beware of the deli counter. “Deli meats, sausages, pickles and even cheese can have a lot of salt,” Dr Laffin says. So, maybe think twice before you order that sky-high club sandwich.

It also helps to get creative with the way that you prepare your food. Instead of letting salt do all the work, look to other spices and seasonings to give your meal some gusto. Try adding garlic, fresh herbs or a squeeze of lemon to kick the flavors up a notch.

Fear of sodium shouldn’t stop you from the occasional restaurant or takeout meal, Dr Laffin says. But think about your choices ahead of time. “Even fast-food restaurants will prepare a no-salt burger or no-salt fries if you ask,” he adds. “People often don’t think to ask, but restaurants are usually happy to do it.” It’s also important to be aware of a common misconception that sea salt or Himalayan salt is better for you than table salt. “When it comes to sodium, they affect blood pressure in the same way,” Dr Laffin clarifies.

Most importantly, you ought to keep track of your salt intake. How much salt you consume each day can have a direct impact on your heart health. To keep track of how much salt is in the foods you’re eating, Dr Laffin recommends reading labels and tweaking your diet where you can.

Small wins can add up to big benefits for your heart. And if you don’t know how much salt is right for you, don’t hesitate to talk to a doctor.

“Watching your salt intake gets easier with practice,” reassures Dr Laffin. “It’s a habit your heart will thank you for.”

US experiencing largest measles outbreak since 2000 – 5 essential reads on the risks, what to do and what’s coming next

By Alla Katsnelson, Associate Health Editor,

The Conversation US Avi Dor, Professor of Health Policy and Management, George Washington University

Daniel Pastula Professor of Neurology, Medicine (Infectious Diseases), and Epidemiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Kathryn H. Jacobsen William E. Cooper Distinguished University Chair, Professor of Health Studies, University of Richmond

Peter Kasson Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

Rebecca Schein, Assistant Professor of Infectious Disease Paediatrics, Michigan State University

Tony Yang Endowed Professor of Health Policy and Associate Dean, George Washington University

The outbreak is exposing the breadth of dangers the disease can pose. South Carolina’s state epidemiologist revealed on Feb. 4 that cases of brain swelling, a rare complication of the disease, had emerged in some infected children, according to Wired magazine.

Some signs suggest that this particular outbreak may be starting to wane. But many public health scholars worry that the resurgence of measles across the U.S. and worldwide, driven by a drop in vaccination rates, may signal a coming wave of other vaccine-preventable diseases.

The Conversation U.S. compiled a set of five stories from our archives to help readers gauge both practical considerations around vaccination and the bigger picture of what the return of measles might mean for public health.

1. A MEASLES VACCINE PRIMER

Measles is one of the most contagious human diseases on the planet – much more contagious than more familiar infectious illnesses such as flu, COVID-19 and chickenpox. But the vaccine, which is given as a two-dose regimen, is 97% effective in preventing measles infection, wrote Daniel Pastula, a neurologist and medical epidemiologist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Most people born after 1957 have received the vaccine as children. A striking – though unsurprising –feature of the South Carolina outbreak is that at least 800 of the reported cases occurred in people who weren’t vaccinated.

For those worried about the risks and wondering how to protect themselves, Pastula offered some essential practical guidance.

“The immunity from a vaccine is effectively the same immunity you get from having measles itself –but vastly safer than encountering the wild virus unprotected,” Pastula explained. “The point of vaccines is to create immunity without the risks of severe infection. It is basically a dress rehearsal for the real thing.”

2.LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES

Most people who contract measles will experience 10-14 days of a high fever, coldlike symptoms, eye inflammation and a rash that starts on the face and spreads across the body. Because the infection usually resolves on its own, it’s easy to dismiss the fact that it can have severe consequences.

“What generally lands people with measles in the hospital is the disease’s effects on the lungs,” wrote Peter Kasson, a biologist studying viruses at the Georgia Institute of Technology, in an article explaining the nearand long-term risks of infection.

Perhaps the most terrifying is a condition called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, or SSPE, in which the virus lies dormant in the brain of someone who recovered from a measles infection and reawakens 7-10 years later to cause “a progressive dementia that is almost always fatal,” Kasson wrote.

This outcome is rare, but it does happen. The Los Angeles County public health department reported a case in September 2025.

.WHAT’S AT STAKE

3

A common adage in public health is that vaccines are often victims of their own success. That’s particularly true for the measles vaccine –because it’s so effective, many doctors and nurses practising today have never seen a case.

Infectious disease paediatrician Rebecca Schein at Michigan State University explored recent modelling studies that predict the trajectory of measles infection rates. One 2025 study she described found that the U.S. is on track to see 850,000 cases over the next 25 years at current vaccination rates. “If vaccine rates decrease further, the study found, case numbers could increase to 11

million over the next 25 years,” she wrote.

That scenario is not a foregone conclusion, of course. Another study suggested that outbreaks could be contained if they’re stopped quickly – as long as 85% of the population is vaccinated against the disease.

4

.WHY DO SOME PARENTS OPT OUT OF VACCINES?

Much ink, digital and otherwise, has been spilt discussing the rise of vaccine hesitancy in the U.S. and globally. But a safe assumption is that parents the world over want the same thing: to keep their children as healthy as possible.

To explain how parents might reasonably weigh the risks posed by vaccines and the risks posed by a disease like measles and decide not to vaccinate, public policy expert Y. Tony Yang and health economist Avi Dor at George Washington University invoked a mathematical framework called “game theory”.

“Game theory reveals that vaccine hesitancy is not a moral failure, but simply the predictable outcome of a system in which individual and collective incentives aren’t properly aligned,” they wrote.

5

.MEASLES-FREE STATUS

Measles is said to be eliminated from a country after at least 12 months during which there’s minimal spread of the disease internally and only small outbreaks linked to international travel.

The World Health Organisation announced on Jan. 26 that the U.K. and five other European countries lost their measles elimination status, according to Reuters. And the organisation’s Pan American office issued an alert on Feb. 3, noting the alarming spread of the disease across North, Central and South America. In November 2025, when Canada lost its measles elimination status, global health epidemiologist Kathryn H. Jacobsen at the University of Richmond noted that the U.S. will likely lose it in 2026, along with Mexico. Jacobsen explained why this designation is so important for public health.

“The loss of measles elimination status is a symptom of a deeper issue: declining trust in public messaging about science and health, which has led to decreased vaccination rates and growing vulnerability to vaccine-preventable diseases,” she wrote.

(AP

Relationship experts and couples say romance doesn't need grand gestures to thrive

DOING something romantic for Valentine's Day does not need to involve a heart-shaped box of chocolates, roses or an expensive dinner, according to relationship experts.

In fact, therapists encourage couples craving intimacy and a deeper connection to focus less on grand gestures and more on expressing love with mundane acts that recognise what matters to their partner.

Romance is not one size fits all.

For some people, it means holding hands, opening a car door or drawing a bath for their lover. Others respond to receiving a hilarious text, coffee in bed or an offer to run a nagging errand. Either way, demonstrating kindness and care in small ways over time helps to support relationships as they evolve, says Traci Lee, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Dallas.

"The more that early on, you as a couple are able to establish good habits of whatever romance is going to look like for you, the better it is," Lee said.

Couples counsellors and people in relationships share ideas for

showing a romantic partner love throughout the year:

Early in a relationship, it doesn’t take much to show romantic intentions, but that changes as couples learn more about each other as individuals, discover what their partner needs for emotional and physical well-being, and experience life together.

“Depending on what stage of the relationship you’re in, romance can mean different things,” Lee said. For example, couples with parenting and caregiving responsibilities have less time to devote to each other than they did during the honeymoon phases right after they started dating or got married.

Gabrielle Gambrell, who lives in New York with her husband of seven years and their two children, thinks romance “should be an evolution” and therefore takes work. One piece of advice she received before getting married stuck with her: Never stop dating.

“You keep romance alive by continuously dating," Gambrell said. "No matter how busy or what happens in the world, me and my husband have a mandatory date night. And every single date night,

we leave the date energized and happy and grateful, and reminded what means the most to us.”

Valentine's Day carries a heavy burden of social pressures, fantasies from movies and books, and individual desires and expectations that often go unexpressed. All can be managed with planning and communication, experts say.

“Some people will say, ‘If I have to tell my partner what to do, then it won’t be romantic.' But I have to remind people that their partner is not a mind reader," Lee said. "I try to blow up the myth that romance can only happen if it's created spontaneously out of thin air.”

Gambrell, who describes herself as a planner by nature, says she typically starts asking her husband questions about their plans for February14 days before. Making assumptions about the best way to celebrate Valentine's Day and comparisons with other couple's relationships are likely to lead to disappointment, she said.

“Love is not perfect. Romance is not perfect. Relationships, there’s nothing perfect about

The ‘hot flush gold rush’: how women feel about being flooded with menopause marketing

Samantha Thomas

Professor of Public Health, Deakin University

Martha Hickey

Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne

Every person with functioning ovaries will eventually experience menopause. While the biology is relatively universal, the experience varies dramatically between individuals and in the same person over time.

Menopause has long been shrouded in stigma and shame, but recently burst into mainstream attention. This may have reduced stigma but has also created confusion, as media, celebrity and commercial interests recognise a new marketing opportunity.

New research from one of us (Samantha) has found that women are frustrated at being bombarded with marketing for menopause “solutions” that simply don’t work.

HOW MENOPAUSE IS MARKETED Pharmaceutical companies, the wellness industry, workplace consultancies, coaches and influencers have all jumped on the menopause market. The “hot flush gold rush” is projected to reach US$24.4 billion by 2030.

One common tactic is creating feminised narratives of empowerment and care, positioning companies and influencers as supportive allies for women.

They encourage individuals to take charge of their menopause experiences by consuming a range of products and services. These include teas, supplements, chocolates, shakes, cooling blankets, pillows and creams promising relief from a wide range of symptoms that might not be related to menopause. There are apps which track symptoms, workplace accreditation programs, and even a “hot flush survival kit”.

Weight-loss companies now offer menopause-specific programs, marketed by celebrities such as Queen Latifah.

COMPANIES FRAME HOW WE THINK ABOUT MENOPAUSE

Most online information about menopause has a commercial “for-profit” interest.

This information shapes women’s expectations and fears by often positioning menopause as the defining, catastrophic challenge of mid-life.

This raises concerns about the commercial exploitation of vulnerable women, encouraging the purchasing of unproven and inappropriate treatments and products.

This hormone focus may overshadow the broad range of mid-life stressors that many women experience in mid-life, including intergenerational care giving responsibilities, financial worries, workplace challenges, and gendered ageism.

Such an approach may also fuel health inequalities by ignoring structural issues that make life hard for women in mid-life.

CONCERNS ABOUT COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION

A recent qualitative survey of over 500 Australian women aged 45–64 years demonstrated support for greater awareness of menopause, but also concern about the commercialisation of menopause. Women reported that companies and some social media

them, but they are beautiful,” she said.

Clarence Smith IV, a 29-yearold middle school teacher and video content creator in Phoenix, remains a big believer in using traditional acts of chivalry to communicate respect and care for his girlfriend, such as positioning himself closer to the curb when they are walking together on a street.

“Romance today involves more seen gestures - let this be seen, let this be shown, let this be big," Smith said, adding that in his dating experience some people see his gentlemanly behavior as old-fashioned. "I do little things like that, and they’re looked at as superbly impactful. We don’t do this anymore. But to me, baby, this is basics.”

While some relationship experts recommend establishing traditions around meaningful holidays, anniversaries and birthdays, others say that creating rituals to mark new seasons or weekends are equally valuable as part of the foundation for merging lifestyles and routines.

Lee says she often explains to her clients a popular analogy in

influencers would “push anything to make a dollar”. They were also worried that exaggerated and catastrophising narratives about the impact of menopause could unnecessarily fuel women’s fears and concerns about ageing:

Women also expressed feeling misled and disappointed when wellness solutions ended up being ineffective.

Complex and conflicting information on social media sites left women struggling to determine what information to trust:

WHAT WOULD ACTUALLY HELP?

Women deserve to be listened to and provided with trustworthy information and supportive environments. Here’s what would make a meaningful difference:

1

. BETTER ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY INFORMATION TO SUPPORT DECISION-MAKING

There is a tsunami of low-quality information online which is drowning out credible information. Women need to know what to expect, how to prepare, and where to get help if needed. Independent, evidence-based information and critical media literacy tools can help women consider their options based on risks versus benefits and preferences.

2

. STOP SCARING WOMEN

Catastrophising menopause is unhelpful. Like all life transitions, menopause carries both losses and gains. Most do not experience severe symptoms, and those entering menopause with negative attitudes may have a worse experience.

the counseling industry: If you get in a fight with your partner and apologise with a dozen roses, that would be great, but bringing one rose every day for 12 days would communicate consistency and dedication. She asks patients, “What are some small things that you can do that are going to be a way for you to show up for your partner in the way that they need it?”

Gambrell says gift-giving is the way she prefers to receive and show love. As a result, it touches her deeply and comes across as a romantic gesture when her husband buys her a scratch-off lottery ticket or stationery item, like a pen or notebook, at the store.

“It's knowing that you’re thinking about me, that I’m on your mind, that you stop what you’re doing to think of me," she said. Smith encourages people to not be afraid of expressing love regardless of how experienced a dating life or how long a relationship they have.

“Do not be afraid to love in your own way," he said. “It’s always worth it. You always win in the end.”

Some women express relief when periods stop and report feelings of liberation, freedom, autonomy and the start of a new phase of life.

3

. BETTER REGULATION OF PRODUCT CLAIMS AND MISINFORMATION

Greater scrutiny and standards from federal government agencies will be essential in helping to safeguard women from misleading product claims, promotions, or inappropriate treatment.

4

. RECOGNISE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL ADJUSTMENTS CAN HELP SUPPORT WOMEN IN MID-LIFE Simple workplace adjustments – such as flexible hours, supportive managers, cooler spaces, or regular breaks – can support the diverse experiences that women may have in mid-life.

5

. PROTECT POLICY FROM VESTED INTERESTS

We need a strong, clear commitment to women’s health and research that addresses women’s priority questions. This should support sustained funding, evidence-based care, equity and long-term well-being. This process must be protected from commercial vested interests, including the pharmaceutical and wellness industries, and clinicians and researchers with conflicts of interest. This will ensure policy decisions are in the best interests of women, not for-profit agendas. Cutting through the commercial noise that has been created about menopause is essential. Only then can we create the social and structural changes needed to support women’s health and well-being in mid-life and beyond.

When women are given room to rise

By Alesha Cadet

Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net

IN recent years, the conversation around women in business has grown louder, but access to meaningful support has not always kept pace. In her role as Vice President of the Fox Group of Companies, Adrianna Fox is working to close that gap by pairing belief with investment, creating pathways for women entrepreneurs to move beyond visibility and into viability. Through the Fox Foundation’s 2026 Women Entrepreneurship Initiative, she is not only spotlighting ambition but placing tangible resources behind it, centring women who are navigating the demanding middle ground between vision and viability. At the heart of this year’s initiative taking place at the Baha Mar Resort in Nassau, on March 19, is a recognition of effort that rarely receives public acknowledgement. Ms Fox points to the quiet trade-offs women make while building businesses, the sacrifices that happen outside of view and without applause.

anxiety, the tears, the selfdoubt, or the nights spent wondering how everything will come together,” said Ms Fox. That awareness is not abstract for her. Ms Fox’s understanding of unseen endurance is rooted in her own early life experiences, which shaped how she views strength and leadership today.

“As a child, I battled seizures. There were moments where my health created fear, uncertainty, and real questions about my future. I understood early what it meant to live with limits that tried to define me,” said Ms Fox.

“I learned that strength does not always look glamorous. Sometimes strength looks like quiet endurance. That experience shaped how I lead and how deeply I see the women who are fighting unseen battles while still building something bigger than themselves.”

Those formative years, she noted, taught her that resilience does not always announce itself. Sometimes it is simply persistence, even when circumstances suggest otherwise.

“I learned that strength does not always look glamorous. Sometimes strength looks like quiet endurance. That experience shaped how I lead and how deeply I see the women who are fighting unseen battles while still building something bigger than themselves,” said Ms Fox.

“The greatest sacrifices are the ones no one applauds; the ones made in silence, behind closed doors, long after everyone else has gone to sleep,” she said.

She explained that women entrepreneurs often pour themselves into their work in ways that extend far beyond financial investment. They stretch emotionally, physically, and mentally, frequently choosing the survival of their business over their own well-being. According to Ms Fox, while the public tends to celebrate milestones and launches, the personal cost behind those moments is largely overlooked.

“Many are choosing payroll over paying themselves. Many are carrying families while carrying businesses, showing up strong for everyone else while quietly running on empty.

The world often sees the launch, the ribbon cutting, the social media highlight — but it does not see the

With International Women’s Day providing the backdrop for this year’s programme, Ms Fox said the theme “Give to Gain” reflects a reality many women already live, rather than an abstract slogan.

“‘Give to Gain’ reflects the lived reality of women across the world. Many have already given more than the world ever recognised, and this initiative is about honouring those silent sacrifices and reminding women that their giving has purpose, value, and power,” said Ms Fox.

While entrepreneurship is often discussed as a linear journey, Ms Fox is particularly concerned about women who find themselves in the most precarious phase of business ownership: growth. She believes the growth stage is the most overlooked, and also the most vulnerable. The businesswoman explained that while

start-ups often attract excitement and established companies gain credibility, women who are trying to scale face rising costs, heavier risk, and increased pressure, often without the support structures they need.

“This is where passion must meet process. This is where vision must be supported by structure. They

need systems, staffing, operational clarity, and real capital, not just encouragement or inspirational quotes,” said Ms Fox.

Having built her own career in spaces where women were underrepresented, Ms Fox said she understands the weight of expansion and the toll it can take.

“Expansion is heavy. Growth comes with risk, sleepless nights, and the fear that one misstep could undo years of work. That stage can either launch a woman into legacy or exhaust her into retreat,” she said. It is precisely this turning point that the Fox Foundation aims to address. Rather than celebrating ambition

from a distance, the initiative places resources at a moment where they can meaningfully alter outcomes. Central to that support is $75,000 in grant funding, which Ms Fox believes carries impact far beyond financial relief.

She noted that financial backing affirms a woman’s legitimacy in ways that influence how she leads, plans, and positions herself in professional spaces.

“She negotiates differently. She stops shrinking in rooms where she once felt small. She plans more boldly. She believes she belongs at the table; not by permission, but by right,” said Ms Fox.

That shift, she added, allows women to move out of survival mode and into strategic leadership, where decisions are driven by long-term vision rather than immediate pressure. For those still caught in daily crisis management, Ms Fox believes the most critical change is internal. She explained that growth requires stepping away from constant firefighting to build systems, delegate responsibility, and introduce structure that supports sustainability.

“You cannot scale chaos. You scale systems. And systems create freedom, stability, and longevity,” she said.

Despite the scale and growth of the initiative, Ms Fox said her motivation remains deeply personal. Her commitment to women entrepreneurs is not rooted in trend or optics, but in lived understanding of what belief and access can unlock.

“I know what it means to overcome, not in theory, but in lived experience. I also know how powerful it is when someone believes in you before the world does,” she said.

She is particularly focused on Bahamian women operating in emerging and unsaturated markets, where innovation often outpaces funding.

“These women are building the future, often without the backing more common sectors receive. Their courage deserves support. When one woman rises, the impact ripples outward. Empowering a woman entrepreneur does not create a moment. It creates generational impact,” said Ms Fox. It is that long view, grounded in both experience and intention, that continues to draw her back to the work year after year.

“And that is work worth returning to, every single year,” she said.

Glitz and Glam at Fashion Show

By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

IT WAS an evening of glitz and glamour for the ladies of the Bahamas District of Pilot International who dazzled the audience at their semi-annual couture show.

The event, held at the Balmoral Club, was the organisation’s first fundraising event for 2026.

It featured models wearing signature garments from Androsia, Diva Ink - under the direction of Mona McPhee and MIMi's Clothing, modelled by Debroah Farrington - and Whitley Brown.

The atmosphere was charged as signature garments were on display with fashions by renowned designer Sabrina Francis, whose garments were modelled by Britney PierreLouis and Erica Johnson.

The show also featured hats and fascinators by Judy's Hat Shop and Bahamian Handmade Bags, by Bernadette Bannister and a jewellery display by Rayana Smith.

Minister of Labour and the Public Service Pia Glover Rolle made a special cameo appearance on the runway wearing a gown designed by the brand Di’Jion LeeCleer.

Ms Glover Rolle was the founder of PTG Marketing and Modelling Agency and many in the audience told her that she had clearly not lost her modelling edge.

“I am honoured and privileged to have been invited by the district governor Sheila McPhee to participate in this fund-raiser,” she said on her social media pages.

“She asked me to showcase one of my personal gowns, of course I count it a privilege and an honour. “The Pilot Club of Nassau is a civic organisation that works on the premise of friendship, service and community leadership. As a woman in leadership, it is an honour to support their first fund-raiser for the years that they can continue the great work that they do in our community and of course across the world.”

District Governor, Sheila Mcphee said that the event went well.

“Those who attended enjoyed them and we served light refreshments as well.”

She said that while they would have liked to persons to attend, those who were in attendance enjoyed themselves immensely. We are just so grateful that we were able to pull it off.”

The Pilot Club is a volunteer-based, women-led civic organisation focused on community service, friendship, and brain-related health education. Part of Pilot International, these clubs support local charities, the elderly, and at-risk youth, with a strong focus on preventing brain injuries.