02232026 BUSINESS by tribune242

East Bay Street hotel ordered: Reapply with ‘accurate plans’

BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor

AN EAST Bay Street condo hotel and marina project has been told to re-apply for key approvals with instructions that it now “submit complete and accurate plans” for what it intends to develop on a site two properties west of the Nassau Yacht Club.

The Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, in a February 17, 2026, verdict determined that the preliminary site plan approval obtained by Grantanna Holdings had been rendered “otiose”, meaning it serves no practical purpose, after the project’s own architect admitted the developer was seeking to move forward with a different design from what had been presented to secure the permit.

As a result of the admissions by TDG Architects, the Board “set aside” the original approval for Grantanna Holdings, whose principal is Lorne Basden, the Small Business Development Centre’s (SBDC) chairman and Basden Elevator Services president, and ordered that the project be returned to the Town Planning Committee for a fresh application and public consultation

Project sent back to Town Planning over changes

Neighbours and residents says concerns remain

Scale, noise and parking fears are little changed

based on the correct development plan.

Acting on an appeal by attorney Norwood Rolle, who is understood to own property immediately to the east of Grantanna Holdings’ location, and his Moshan Company Ltd, the Appeal Board’s ruling stipulated:

“During the course of the hearing, the Board was presented with a schematic design set prepared by TDG Architects, which differed from the plans and materials that were originally submitted to, and considered by, the Town Planning Committee.

Fisheries nervous for $50m exports on Trump tariff hike

BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A NERVOUS Bahamian fisheries industry is hoping the latest Trump tariff threat to $50m in annual crawfish exports will have calmed when the new lobster season opens on August 1 after the US president moved to hike levies on all goods imported from this nation by 50 percent.

Adrian LaRoda, president of The Bahamas Commercial Fishers Alliance (BCFA), told Tribune Business there were two timing-related factors that may mitigate the impact of Donald Trump’s latest tariff-fuelled retaliation for

BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Opposition’s finance spokesman yesterday accused the Government of violating the law by placing $265.3m worth of borrowings into the National Investment Fund without obtaining parliamentary approval in a bid to maintain “the myth” of its forecast $75.5m Budget surplus.

Kwasi Thompson, the east Grand Bahama MP, in a statement responding to revelations by Tribune Business called on the Government to “set the record

exporters to the US. The first is that, with the current Bahamian crawfish season set to close in just over a month’s time on April 1, this nation has already exported

straight” in the mid-year Budget - due to be unveiled by Prime Minister Philip Davis KC in the House of Assembly on Wednesday - and “clearly disclose the legal authority by which it has transferred the surplus from last year’s $1.067bn foreign currency bond issue into the Fund. Asserting that the Public Debt Management Act gives “no blank cheque”, and mandates that all government borrowing proceeds be deposited into its consolidated fund and not removed unless approved by Parliament, he

“The Board found that the proposal presented on appeal was not the same proposal upon which the Town Planning Committee made its decision, and it was conveyed by TDG Architects that it was not its intention to proceed with the former plans approved and, in fact, it was intended to proceed using the new plans.

“In our view, this abandonment renders the approval under appeal otiose and is thus hereby set aside so that a new application can be presented and considered under the purview of the Town Planning Committee,” the Appeal Board, chaired by Dawson Malone, the Callenders & Co attorney and partner, said.

“Accordingly, the Board directs that the matter be remitted to the Town Planning Committee, and that the second respondent [TDG Architects] submit a fresh application, together with complete and accurate plans and supporting documentation, for consideration in accordance with the Planning and Subdivision Act.”

Mr Basden could not be reached for comment before press time, although Tribune Business left a detailed message and contacts at

‘We’ll see how watertight this sweetheart deal’ for BPL grid is

BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Opposition’s chairman has signalled that a Free National Movement (FNM) administration will review the New Providence energy grid’s outsourcing “to see how watertight this sweetheart deal is”, as he argued: “I don’t think you could have agreed a sweeter deal anywhere else.” Dr Duane Sands, reacting to the Government’s release of documents detailing the agreements between itself and Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) on one side, and Bahamas Grid

Company and its manager, Island Grid Solutions, told Tribune Business that the benefits stemming from the deal to upgrade and maintain Nassau’s transmission and distribution network appear “lop sided” in favour of the latter’s private sector investors.

While conceding that BPL’s customers, namely Bahamian households and businesses, will enjoy some “benefit” from the arrangement, he argued that the main advantages will accrue to Island Grid, a vehicle headed by Eric Pike, chair of North Carolina-based

DONALD TRUMP

Bahamian technology executive: AI not always ‘foe but a friend’

A BAHAMIAN technology executive says artificial intelligence (AI) is not necessarily a “foe but a friend”, and explained how it can help persons advance their careers without causing fear.“AI is not necessarily going to take over all of our jobs and I will show you exactly why,” said Duran Humes, chief executive of Plato Alpha Design and TriblockHR, during the second installment of the DigiLearn Bahamas Public Forum Series. These events are designed to help participants better understand how emerging technologies are changing the job landscape. Held at the University of The Bahamas on Wednesday, February 18, the forum centred on 'Job security: Preparing for a workforce shaped by artificial intelligence and automation.' The session explored what job security means in a rapidly-evolving digital economy and shared practical strategies to help individuals adapt, upskill and thrive in their careers.Mr Humes offered his insights on workforce transformation, the impact of AI and automation on employment, and how professionals can prepare for their future careers. He explained that, according to the World Economic

Forum, in 2025 more than 85m jobs were lost to AI, but an even bigger number - over 97m new jobs - were created due to the technology.Mr. Humes said jobs are not disappearing but changing due to AI. He said that, among the tasks being automated, are data entry and data processing; routine customer inquiries; standard report generation; repetitive scheduling tasks; and basic bookkeeping.However, the skills in demand include AI management and oversight; complex problem solving; human relationship building; creative and innovative work. Mr Humes said the job title stays the same, but the work done will evolve.“It is not necessarily AI that will take your job, but someone who knows how to utilise it will. They

First-ever Aliv chief signs up to Cloud Carib Board

A NASSAU-headquartered cloud services and cyber security provider has appointed Aliv’s first-ever chief executive as a non-executive director.

Cloud Carib, the provider of sovereign cloud, managed information technology (IT) and cybers security services, confirmed the appointment of Damian Blackburn and highlighted what it described as his “decades of leadership” in telecommunications and digital infrastructure across the Caribbean, Europe and the Americas.

This includes his senior roles at ATN International, Aliv, Digicel and Virgin Mobile. Mr Blackburn is joining Cloud Carib as the company expands across the Caribbean and Latin America, which involves te development of sovereign data centre pods for Bermuda, Curaçao and Guyana, coupled with an increased regional presence.

“Damian’s deep understanding of regional telecom ecosystems, coupled with digital infrastructure investment and mergers and acquisitions, makes him an invaluable

addition to our Board,” said Victor Kovacs, Cloud Carib’s chief operating officer.

“His strategic insight into developing industry leadership, while delivering mission-critical services across island markets, directly aligns with our vision to empower Caribbean nations with sovereign, world class cloud solutions.”

Cloud Carib added that Mr Blackburn’s experience will further strengthen Cloud Carib’s ability to deliver secure, compliant

will be faster than you; they will be better than you,” he added. Mr Humes said skills to develop include AI Literacy, and understanding what AI can do; prompt engineering, and communicating effectively with AI tools; data interpretation, and making sense of AI outputs and insights; adaptability, and embracing a continuous learning mindset; and digital collaboration, which means working effectively with AI teams.Mr Humes said employees must use their initiative by employing AI tools without being asked, use judgment by knowing when AI outputs need review, and know how to explain AI insights to non-technical teams and stay current with new tools and methods.

and resilient cloud services tailored to the needs of governments, financial institutions and enterprises across the Caribbean.

“Cloud Carib is at the forefront of a critical shift in the region’s digital evolution,” said Mr Blackburn. “As Caribbean nations and enterprises demand greater data sovereignty, security and performance, the convergence of telecom infrastructure and sovereign cloud capabilities becomes essential. I am excited to support Cloud Carib in accelerating this transformation and expanding its regional impact.”

Farmers: Believe it when see it over VAT input elimination

BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN farmers say they will believe it when they see it after a Cabinet minister disclosed the Government is debating their request for the elimination of VAT on agricultural imports so that they can compete on a level playing field with food imports.

Daphne DeGregory-Miaoulis, proprietor of Abaco Neem and former Abaco Chamber of Commerce president, said the timing of such a move is critical, given that the planting season for Bahamian farmers is swiftly approaching, after Jomo Campbell, minister of agriculture and marine resources, said such a move is under discussion.

“We're excited to hear that the conversation has been had, but timing is very important,” she said. “If the conversation's been had, we need to hear sooner rather than later what the decisions have been because we're coming into planting season.”

Mrs DeGregory-Miaoulis added that, as a country which “has no food security”, all agriculture-related inputs should be VAT-free and duty exempt to enable Bahamian farmers to compete with imports that enjoy bulk volume discounts and economies of scale. She said Bahamians are constantly reminded that millions of dollars leave the country due to imports.

“But the real scare,” she added, “is when we can't import food because of weather or whatever other issues where our borders may be restricted. We need to be able to feed ourselves, and the cost of food is getting out of control.

“The quality of food is also an issue because, due to strained economic conditions, people are buying the cheapest food that they can buy, which is not the healthiest, and it's causing other concerns where now they're having to spend money for health concerns.

“The more that we grow, and also the more that we grow organically and without heavy-duty pesticides, fertilizers and chemicals that can contaminate not just the food but our water and our land, those are also concerns. So there need to be restrictions on prohibited chemicals and

First grants from $124m debt refinance awarded

THE Bahamas Protected Areas Fund (BPAF) says it has awarded its first round of competitive grants from the $124m in funding unlocked by this nation’s late 2024 debt-for-nature refinancing.

The refinancing of part of the Government’s existing debt was part of The Bahamas’ debt conversion project for marine conservation - an initiative designed to provide sustainable financing for the protection

of this nation’s maritime and ocean environment.The BPAF presented $399,242 in grant funding to nine Bahamian organisations during a ceremony at the British Colonial resort on February 12. The awards

pest management products being brought into the country. And there needs to be more promotion, education on how to grow organically, and using the resources that we have already in our country…”

Tiffany Dennison, owner of Local Organics in Freeport, said while the minister’s statement “sounds great” she believes in action.

“I'm a person of action, so when I see something happen, I will be absolutely thrilled,” she added.

“But I hear a lot of things. For instance, they had a big grant going out last year. Nobody has, as far as I know, gotten the link or even gotten the grant itself, including myself. So yeah, I hear a lot of chit chat, and I love that they're taking it into consideration. But we need some action. We've had enough lip service.”

Mr Campbell, when asked by Tribune Business what was being done to aid farmers who believe VAT should be removed from all “essential agricultural inputs” to help create a level playing field against imported uncooked foods that will be VAT zero-rated beginningon April 1, said the matter is being addressed. He added that he has also received a number of simlar concerns from the fly fishing industry as well.

“You may hear more on that soon, coming from the Office of the Prime Minister and through the Ministry of Economic Affairs,” Mr Campbell said. “But that discussion has been held even at Cabinet level. And so steps are underway to address those concerns, not only from the agricultural standpoint but also from the fisheries standpoint.

“We've gotten a number of concerns and suggestions coming in to us from the fly fishing industry, which is growing as equally as fast as any agriculture or other sector of agro-tourism, and so we are actively seeking new ways to try to make life easier for both farmers and fishers alike.”

Prescott Smith, the Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association (BFFIA) president, said he spoke with Mr Campbell as well as Prime Minister Philip Davis KC and informed them that duty-free exemptions on critical equipment for certified guides are key to industry growth.

represent the first competitively-distributed funds under the project, which it said underscores its role in channelling long-term, dedicated financing towards marine protection and climate resilience.

The nine organizations receiving the first awards are: Bahamas National Trust; Waterkeepers Bahamas; Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF); Friends of the Environment (Abaco); Bahamas Undersea Research Foundation; Blue Action Lab; Bahamas Marine Mammal Organisation; Organisation for Responsible Governance (ORG) Bahamas; ImagiNation InkFunded initiatives span a broad range of priorities, including coral restoration; marine protected area management planning; youth environmental education; baseline marine research; non-profit (NGO) capacity building; community-led park management; climate-smart planning; and the development of sustainable livelihoods within the blue economy.Launched in November 2024, The Bahamas debt conversion project was developed in collaboration with the Government, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Standard Chartered Bank

“We spoke to the minister of marine resources, the Prime Minister, also the minister of tourism in relation to the exemption for certified guides,” Mr sSmith said. “This would allow guides throughout The Bahamas to get the necessary equipment from their trucks, jeeps trailers. This would lead to the expansion of the fly fishing industry beyond just bone fishing, and it will expand the industry for tarpon fishing, permit fishing and expand the revenue generation through the industry.

“The duty free exemption is very important,” he added. “...The industry has evolved to what we seethe modern flats fishing skiff with the poling tower and the graphite push pole. And also accessing fishing grounds depending on the weather conditions. So you can put your flats boat on a trailer and move from one part of the island to the other so that you are giving the anglers the best fishing experience based on the weather conditions.

“So, for example, if the wind is blowing extremely hard coming from the east, you could access flats that are located on the western or other parts of the island that have more protection, but that boils down to being able to move your equipment. A guy can't take the boat and put it on his shoulder. You need to be able to pull it out of the water. At the same time you're carrying the anglers,” Mr Smith added.

“So the same way that a taxi driver can bring their vehicle in duty free, who's spending less time with the client. Why not give the guides the very best equipment that they need so that you can expand the fishing opportunities for the angler and grow the industry, and grow the revenue, foreign exchange coming into the economy?

“But you don't want people to be able to abuse it. That's why we very clearly stipulate that the exemption is for certified guides. So that means someone who is actually a guide, and not somebody just popping up and say, 'Oh, I could bring in a new SUV or a new truck, and I'm a guide’.

and other international partners. The transaction unlocked approximately $124m in funding for marine conservation over a 15-year period, including a guaranteed minimum of $1.2m annually to support marine protection, climate adaptation and sustainable livelihoods — largely through grants to non-governmental and community-based organisations.As the designated conservation trust fund under the agreement, the BPAF is responsible for managing these resources and ensuring a transparent, merit-based grant allocation process.“Today we turn innovative finance into tangible action,” said Glenn Bannister, the BPAF Board chairman. “These inaugural grants reflect our commitment to accountability and local leadership. By investing directly in Bahamian organisations, we are strengthening protected area management and supporting the communities that depend on healthy marine ecosystems.”Established in 2014, the BPAF was created to secure sustainable funding for the Bahamas National Protected Areas System and to advance conservation initiatives vital to the country’s environmental and economic resilience. The Fund has consistently supported climate adaptation, institutional strengthening and disaster recovery efforts, including significant

contributions following Hurricane Dorian.Karen Panton, the BPAF’s executive director, said the awards ceremony was intentionally integrated into a grants writing workshop. “We want emerging and prospective applicants to see what is possible,” she said. “BPAF is investing not only in projects but in people, expanding the national pool of capable grantees and equipping Bahamian organisations to access funding opportunities regionally and internationally.”The BPAF acknowledged the contributions of its partners, including the Government, The Nature Conservancy, the Inter-American Development Bank and Standard Chartered Bank, as well as members of the Grants Review Committee and supporting teams who ensured a rigorous evaluation process.“These first awards mark the beginning of a transformative journey,” Mr Bannister said. “Over the next 15 years, this initiative will provide unprecedented support for marine conservation and sustainable development. BPAF remains committed to ensuring that every dollar entrusted to us delivers measurable, lasting impact for The Bahamas.”

L TO R: Victor Kovacs, Cloud Carib chief operating officer, and Damian Blackburn, at CANTO regional telecommunications conference in Trinidad.

DURAN HUMES, Chief Executive Officer of Plato Alpha Design & TriblockHR. Photo:Llonella Gilbert/ BIS

‘No dredging’ chants expose $200m Rosewood divisions

BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

CHANTS of “no dredging” erupted as a Town Hall meeting on the proposed Rosewood Exuma development closed on Friday night to highlight the deep divisions over the $200m Sampson Cay development.

Tensions ran high throughout the meeting as Felipe MacLean, principal of project developer, Yntegra, presented a revised site plan to the Town Planning Committee and fielded questions directly from

residents, opting not to rely on a lead engineer or architect.

The central dispute again focused on the scale of proposed dredging works in Sampson Cay’s North Bay and the placement of a service dock, with opponents arguing the works could damage marine environment and tourism product.

A Black Point resident told the committee the community’s objection was not to development itself, but to dredging. “The Exuma Cays strongly stand with development,” he said. “What we don’t agree with is the dredging. That’s the most important thing

Dock relocation would end Rosewood Exuma battles

BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE immediate neighbour and chief opponent of the $200m Rosewood Exuma project says all legal battles will cease immediately if the developer compromises on the location of its service dock.

In a statement following the public consultation on the the revised site plan submitted by the project’s developer, Yntegra Group, Bob Coughlin, principal of the Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club, asserted that relocating Rosewood Exuma’s proposed industrial supply dock, fuel storage and waste facilities from North Bay to the southern end of Sampson Cay would resolve the current dispute by ending the need for extensive dredging in shallow waters and allow both developments to proceed without further delay.

He described the southern option as a “straightforward solution”, adding that deep water already exists on that side of the island and would avoid what he characterised as massive dredging through seagrass beds, conch hatcheries and reef systems in North Bay.

“There is a straightforward solution to the situation in East Sampson Cay - one that could end

the current legal disputes, unlock progress for central Exuma and benefit Yntegra itself: Move the industrial supply dock, fuel and waste facilities away from the North Bay and down to the south of Sampson Cay, where deep water already exists and massive dredging would not be required,” said Mr Coughlin.

“We have suggested this to Yntegra repeatedly over the three years since they first announced their plans to turn the North Bay into a commercial shipping channel. They have refused to engage with it seriously. That refusal is now causing real harm - to Exuma's environment, to the broader community of developers and stakeholders in central Exuma, and to Yntegra's own timeline.”

Mr Coughlin maintained that Turtlegrass is not opposed to development, pointing out that his company signed its Heads of Agreement in 2023 and is currently central Exuma’s largest active employer However, he said placing an industrial supply dock next to what he described as the only shared beach on the island was incompatible with the area’s high-value tourism product and pristine marine environment.

“The environmental concerns alone are serious, as demonstrated most recently by the number

we’re here for tonight. It’s not just what Turtlegrass wants — it’s the fishermen, the tour guides, the local guides. We all depend on that beautiful water and that environment. We don’t want it destroyed.”

He added: “We want that environment to stay there for our children and future generations. We all depend on that body of water, and you want to dredge it. We’re here to say we don’t want no dredging. Stop the dredging and find an alternative route.”

In response, Mr MacLean maintained that the project’s total dredging footprint amounts to

of Exumians who got up to raise questions and concerns about dredging at Friday’s Town Hall in Georgetown, Exuma. Yntegra claim the North Bay is ‘mostly sandy bottom’ and that dredging will have minimal impact, yet they have produced no environmental models or studies to support this,” Mr Coughlin added.

“Their own technical report, produced by BRON, the same firm that designed the project and assigned itself responsibility for managing environmental compliance with it, argues against the southern location on the grounds that it could take away from the visual attractiveness of the location. An environmental report making arguments to protect Yntegra’s own ‘panoramic views’ to justify dredging through thriving coral reefs and seagrass fields should raise serious questions for everyone involved.”

Mr Coughlin argued that the southern alternative is not a concession but a better planning outcome, as deep water access already exists at the southern end of Sampson Cay, meaning dredging of North Bay would not be required.

He added that Yntegra is already proposing two marinas covering more than ten acres in the south, and suggested consolidating those plans could free up one location for industrial use without undermining the broader resort vision.

The Turtlegrass chief added that other

2.28 acres, inclusive of a 1.26-acre service dock, describing it as one of the smallest footprints for a resort development of its scale in The Bahamas.

is the dredging; that’s the only issue,” Mr Black said.

“In North Bay all my life we take tourists there snorkelling, and that’s a very important section in our Exuma Cays. There shouldn’t be any dredging in North Bay.”

Mr MacLean responded that the dock and service area locations were dictated by the island’s topography.

“You have to work with the topography of the island,” he said, explaining that fuel storage, waste management, generators and deliveries cannot safely be separated from the dock or placed on unstable terrain.

He added that the figure represents “the real total dredge across all areas” and insisted the works were approved under the project’s Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC).

developments in The Bahamas demonstrate that supply facilities and marinas can operate side by side, maintaining that a redesign would protect the marine environment while allowing the $200m project to move forward.

“The southern alternative is not a concession - it is a better plan. There is already deep water access to the south of Sampson Cay, meaning no dredging of the North Bay would be required,” said Mr Coughlin.

“Yntegra currently plans two marinas covering more than ten acres at the southern end of the island; consolidating these would free one location for industrial use without sacrificing their broader vision. Highbourne Cay and the proposed Torch Cay development demonstrate clearly that a supply facility

Kenneth Black, the Exuma Cays chief councillor, said the issue for many residents was not the broader development but dredging in North Bay. “All my life growing up in the cays, the problem is not the development. The problem

and a marina can operate side by side.”

Mr Coughlin urged the developer to reconsider its position, saying the delays and legal proceedings currently hanging over central Exuma stem from a single planning decision that can still be changed.

In a press statement, Yntegra Group outlined a series of voluntary refinements to its previously approved site plan, including a roughly one-third reduction in the size of the service dock while more than doubling the setback from the nearest neighbouring property from around 500 feet to 1,200 feet.

The company further cited reductions in dredging volume and area, a nearly 50 percent decrease in the size of the seawall and a 45 percent reduction in the floating dock footprint.

“These adjustments reflect ongoing

He argued that flat, accessible land exists only in the northern section of the cay and that separating the dock from the service area would be unsafe and unrealistic.

Mr MacLean also pointed to three separate dock proposals made “in good faith” to reduce perceived impacts and address neighbours’

collaboration with leading environmental, engineering and planning experts, including Bahamian firms such as BRON and Environmental Sustainable Solutions,” the statement said.

Yntegra’s principal, Felipe MacLean, said community feedback had helped refine the project’s design. “Thank you to everyone who came to share their views in George Town,” he said. “Community feedback has been invaluable in refining our plans, and we will continue listening.

“This project will only succeed if the community is part of it. Our focus remains clear: Xreating opportunities for Bahamians, supporting local businesses and delivering a world-class resort that preserves Exuma’s natural environment for generations to come.”

SCENES from the Rosewood Exuma development’s townhall meeting.

Neighbours

Basden Elevator Services for him on Friday. However, the Grantanna Holdings project will now be delayed given that it has to repeat the Town Planning Committee process, and obtain preliminary site plan approval for a second time and, especially with real estate development, such hold-ups inevitably cost money.

However, Grantanna Holdings’ neighbours and nearby residents voiced relief that a project initially billed as featuring a 12-unit condo hotel plus 42-slip marina, along with a 100seat restaurant, clubhouse and three-storey parking garage, will undergo further review and that the checks and balances in the planning regulatory process appear to be functioning.

Neil McKinney, the former Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and John S George principal, who lives three doors to the west of Grantanna Holdings’ location, told Tribune Business that the concerns harboured by himself and other neighbours have changed little since the development was first announced and the earlier Town Planning Committee public consultation hearing.

These include fears that the project is out of scale, and what is being proposed is too large for the location selected; concerns over noise from outdoor and night-time events that will impact their quality of life and enjoyment of their properties; lack of sufficient parking and associated East Bay Street traffic congestion; and the six-storey height of the condo block, as well as the parking garage, which will overlook their properties and undermine privacy.

Mr McKinney also recalled the first Town Planning consultation, which he described as “quite misleading” because the drawings presented by the developer and TDG Architects only showed a four-storey building when approvals were

‘Are

actually being sought for a six-storey property.

“They greatly under-estimated the amount of parking required,” he said.

“They are talking about a 40 boat-slip marina and 100 seat restaurant, and that didn’t allow for staff parking either. They only had 40 parking slips, so their numbers were way off. “I’m glad that there seems to be some sort of further review to it. I still think they are trying to put too much on the site. It’s not a large area… I just think they are trying to put too much in.” Mr McKinney also raised concern over whether Grantanna Holdings’ development will impact already-low water pressure in that part of East Bay Street, adding that without the installation of his own pump he would be unable to take an upstairs shower.

While the developer had suggested it will install its own water desalination plant, the ex-Chamber chief said he had seen no sign of such facilities on its plans. And he also asserted that he is “very sceptical” about the developer’s promises of minimal to no noise, adding that he had asked for the developer and architect’s contact numbers so he can complain if this occurs during the early morning hours.

“I worry about the noise. The architect said I would only hear the light tinkling of a piano. I’m very sceptical of that,” Mr McKinney said. “If someone comes along wanting to have a wedding reception, paying $20,000-$30,000 to use the place, they’re not going to tell them not to play outdoor music. These are the things that would worry anyone.

“I understand they have a right to develop this and, in all honesty, my property may go commercial one day too. I’m not saying it shouldn’t happen, but what they’re trying to put on that property is out of scale. If you’ve got 40 boat slips and a 100-seat restaurant, they would have to raise the

parking” garage to more than three-storeys.

“The main concern is the proportionality of what is going in relative to the size of the property,” Mr McKinney reiterated. “Without seeing the actual plans it’s hard to say, but I’d like to see it scaled back and like to have a commitment of no outdoor music. A restaurant on the south side of the road, they already play outdoor music. I have double insulated windows, electric shutters that I put down, and I still have things rattling on the shelf in my house.

“The music, to me, is a big concern and that it will develop into something that will have outdoor functions and that, obviously, impacts the quality of life that I enjoy in my house.”

Mr McKinney said the proposed six-storey condo hotel, housing around 12 units, will “stand out from the rest of the area”. He added that, if ultimately approved and given the go-ahead, the Grantanna Holdings project could set a precedent for future commercial development along a waterfront stretch that is mainly residential.

“The reality is that, as you come out of Harbour Bay Shopping Centre and head east, there’s a stretch of about six houses all on the waterfront that inevitably, because the commercial rate is more than residential, I’m sure at some point they’ll be developed,” Mr McKinney said. “I love my view looking out at the harbour and boats going by. That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be developed. It’s how it’s developed.”

He added that, if Grantanna Holdings’ project is approved in, or close to, its current form, it might spur his family to look at the potential development opportunities for its four lots and 400 feet of waterfront in the same area across from East Villa restaurant, Bahamas Realty and Club Waterloo.

While Grantanna Holdings has thus far only renovated existing buildings, and not done any of

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the planned development at the site, Mr McKinney also voiced misgivings over whether approval is “a foregone conclusion” and “are we just going through the motions” despite the Appeal Board decision, or if a genuine review will be conducted.

“I’ve got to say that Mr Basden is a nice man and was very pleasant at the earlier meeting. My guess is that they are going to come back with revised drawings,” he told Tribune Business. “They’re not going to scale back. They’ll increase the parking, going up several floors, and the drawings will have to show the full six storeys rather than the four before. Then it’s full steam ahead. That’s my guess.

“I think it’s going to go through. I don’t think there’s anything to stop it. There is a public consultation, and the reality is only a few objected because there were just a few affected by it. It’s going to go ahead. They are going to be putting more on that property than they’ve shown in the original plan. I don’t think they are going to scale back. They will make provision for the car park to hold double the number of cars it held before. I think that, in that sense, they’ll be putting more persons on that property and not less.”

Robin Knowles, who is Grantanna Holdings’ neighbour on its western boundary, yesterday echoed similar concerns to Mr McKinnney. “I’m not totally against it,” he said, but right now I see a parking problem, I see a noise problem and a big eyesore. It’s going to be the end of the eastern end of the island. The building that they have designed doesn’t blend in at all with the houses here. They are beautiful houses all the way to the Yacht Club.”

Mr Knowles, asserting that properties extending from the Harbour Club to the Yacht Club are no more than two feet in height, said he was especially troubled by the planned restaurant and supporting kitchen being located four-feet away from his boundary

wall and “right on top of my property”. He added: “There’s going to be a noisy kitchen that will take away my privacy, and it’s right where my pool area is; right on top of it.

“When they do their restaurant they’re putting in a deck from the building to the sea. That’s going to totally take away my privacy around my pool, which is my favourite spot.” Calling for the restaurant to be relocated within the property, Mr Knowles added that the parking provisions and numbers as originally calculated by Grantanna Holdings “cannot work” as the 40 marina boat slips could account for all the planned spaces before even restaurant and staff demands are factored in.

“It’s not enough,” Mr Knowles said. “It’s going to be a problem. The property is way too small for their plans. That’s the bottom line. Nobody’s listening.” He added that both his property, and that of attorney Norwood Rolle on the eastern side, will be overlooked and overshadowed by the six-storey condo hotel.

According to TDG Architects, the proposed parking garage was to offer 54 total spaces over three floors, and cover 29,151 square feet. The condo hotel would be spread over six floors, offering a mix of sizes, and cover 34,463 square feet along with a 2,782 square foot pool deck, while the marina

is to be spread across 27,200 square feet. Solar power and energy efficient equipment is to be used to power the development, while so-called ‘grey water’ would irrigate the grounds. The project’s clubhouse would consist of two floors and cover 8,042 square feet, according to Mr Hepburn’s letter, with the estate house and staff quarters comprising 5,451 square feet. An administration building will feature 1,840 square feet.

Grantanna Holdings will likely seek to exploit synergies between its new East Bay Street location and long-standing property on nearby Rose Island that was developed under Mr Basden’s father, Thomas. That $10m property was toured in 2014 by then-prime minister Perry Christie and several of his Cabinet ministers.

A Tribune report at the time said the Rose Island site features 12 air conditioned hotel rooms, a beach-side kitchen, dock, helicopter pad and two sources of water – filtered rain and well water. It also had solar energy and generator power, a conference room, wireless Internet, flat screen televisions and an LCD projector.

Parkgate

are advised to remove them by Saturday, February 28th, 2026.

We are CLOSING and need to vacate the property.

Any vehicles left on the property after the said date will be dumped or sold. Tel 242-807-3331/242-434-6877

BPL managers demand clarity on energy reform

BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net

THE trade union representing Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) middle managers yesterday said it is still seeking clarity on the Government’s energy reforms as its members have not shown interest being seconded to Bahamas Grid Company.

The Bahamas Electrical Utility Managerial Union’s (BEUMU) executive council, in a statement shared with Tribune Business, cited job security, pension and accrued benefits protection - as well as uncertainty surrounding the long-term employment relationship between BPL and New Providence’s new electricity grid owner - as being among the top concerns why their members have not wanted to transfer to Bahamas Grod Company.

“Our members want stability. Being seconded to an entity where they report operationally to Bahamas Grid Company, are paid by Bahamas Grid Company but remain formally

employed by BPL creates understandable questions about accountability, evaluation and long-term placement,” the union said.

“This is not resistance to progress; it is a request for clarity and protection.”

The executive council said its members’ lack of interest stems from uncertainty, and those concerns will remain until the agreement’s impact on employee provisions are fully disclosed and negotiated in writing with enforceable protections.

“Secondment is not a minor administrative adjustment; it affects careers, retirement security and long-term institutional structure,” the union said. “That requires precision, not broad assurances.”

While a transition committee was formed, including executives from BPL’s human resources as well as officials from both BPL unions, many questions remain unanswered.

The managers’ union alleged that talks were limited resulting in stalled negotiations.

“At this stage, meaningful negotiations have

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not advanced to the level required for such a significant structural change,” the union said. “Consultation must go beyond general assurances. For BEUMU, negotiations must include: Written protections for continuity of service, pension safeguards, clarity on supervisory and disciplinary authority, clear exit provisions at the end of the secondment period. Until those matters are properly addressed, we would not characterise the process as fully progressed.”

The agreement between the Government and Bahamas Grid Company stipulates that BPL’s 123 New Providence transmission and distribution personnel would be seconded to the new grid owner within six to 12 months of the secondment period’s start date.

While the agreement also noted that employee terms would be “no less favourable than terms of engagement with BPL with respect to pay rates, vacation days and sick leave”, the union’s executive council referenced their industrial agreement, Article 45. And

there is no obligation on Bahamas Grid Company to adopt ,or be bound by, the terms of the two unions’ industrial agreement with BPL.

“Should any clause, part, or provision of this agreement be rendered invalid by any existing or subsequently enacted legislation, such invalidation of any clause, part, or provision of this agreement shall not invalidate the remaining portions thereof and they shall remain in full force and effect,” the union said of its existing industrial deal.

“Where there is a change in ownership of the company, and an employee continues to be employed after the change of ownership without interruption, the new owner shall be the employer of that employee and the employee’s legally recognised bargaining agent (union) shall continue to be recognised as such. The employment shall be deemed to be continuous notwithstanding the change

of ownership in accordance with section 51 of the Industrial Relations Act.

“This agreement shall be binding on any successor to the ownership or control of the company for the purposes of which the members of the bargaining unit are employed.”

The union statement noted “no less favourable” needs to be legally defined, adding that employment protections stem beyond the categories listed. It said its concerns include a pension plan structure and funding continuity, promotion pathways, redundancy protections, industrial relations jurisdiction and liability and indemnification issues.

“Additionally, the fact that employees would report to Bahamas Grid Company and be paid by Bahamas Grid Company for a year, while remaining technically employed by BPL, creates a hybrid structure that must be clearly governed,” it said.

Moving forward, the union said it sees three paths. It said there will either be "formal structured negotiations leading to a clear, legally binding framework protecting workers”; there will be “delayed implementation if adequate safeguards are not finalised” or “heightened industrial engagement if employees feel protections are insufficient”.

“BEUMU’s preference is the first option - structured, transparent negotiation that protects workers while allowing operational modernisation to proceed responsibly,” it added. “We remain open to engagement, but we will insist that our members’ rights, security and dignity remain central to any transition. Otherwise, we will have to take necessary industrial action if employees feel that protections are insufficient.”

“Our position is that no member should be disadvantaged - directly or indirectly - during or after the secondment.”

BAHAMAS POWER & LIGHT (BPL)

PUBLIC NOTICE

MINISTRY OF WORKS & FAMILY ISLAND AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL PLANNING

PUBLIC NOTICE

MINISTRY OF WORKS & FAMILY ISLAND AFFAIRS

MINISTRY OF WORKS & FAMILY ISLAND AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL PLANNING

AFFAIRS

MINISTRY OF WORKS & FAMILY ISLAND

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL PLANNING

The public is hereby notified that an application for Preliminary Support of Approval (PSA/111/2024) is presently being reviewed by the Town Planning Committee.

The public is hereby notified that an application for Preliminary Support of Approval (PSA/111/2024) is presently being reviewed by the Town Planning Committee. The applicant proposes to amend the existing land use from a ranch and horseback riding operation to include wellness services, yoga classes, fitness programs and mindfulness retreat. The proposed site comprises of approximately 2.34-acres of land, located between Norman Road and Lake Circle, north of Coral Lake Avenue.

PUBLIC NOTICE

The public is hereby notified that an application for Preliminary Support of Approval (PSA/111/2024) is presently being reviewed by the Town Planning Committee.

The applicant proposes to amend the existing land use from a ranch and horseback riding operation to include wellness services, yoga classes, fitness programs and mindfulness retreat. The proposed site comprises of approximately 2.34-acres of land, located between Norman Road and Lake Circle, north of Coral Lake Avenue.

A Public Hearing will be held on Thursday 5th March, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Hearing Room of the Department of Physical Planning for all interested parties to discuss and address any planning issues related to the proposal

MINISTRY OF WORKS & FAMILY ISLAND AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL PLANNING

The file is available for viewing at the Department of Physical Planning, located in the Aventura Plaza on John F. Kennedy Drive, during working hours.

The public is hereby notified that an application for Preliminary Support of Approval (PSA/111/2024) is presently being reviewed by the Town Planning Committee.

The file is available for viewing at the Department of Physical Planning, located in the Aventura Plaza on John F. Kennedy Drive, during working hours.

Interested persons and organizations are invited to review t he information on file and provide written comments prior to the meeting. Comments should be directed to the Acting Director of Physical Planning within twenty-one (21) days of the date of this notice. Submissions can be made via P.O Box N -1611, Nassau Bahamas. Further inquiries can be made to the Acting Director via Tel. (242) 328 -8146 or 3288150 or send us an email: deptphysicalplanning@bahamas.gov.bs

The file is available for viewing at the Department of Physical Planning, located in the Aventura Plaza on John F. Kennedy Drive, during working hours.

The applicant proposes to amend the existing land use from a ranch and horseback riding operation to include wellness services, yoga classes, fitness programs and mindfulness retreat. The proposed site comprises of approximately 2.34 -acres of land, located between Norman Road and Lake Circle, north of Coral Lake Avenue.

Signed Jehan Wallace

Signed Jehan Wallace

Acting Director of Physical Planning

Acting

Director

@departmentofphysicalplanning

Physical Planning Bahamas

of Physical Planning

Physical Planning Bahamas

@deptphysicalplanningbahamas

@deptphysicalplanningbahamas PUBLIC NOTICE

@deptphysicalplanningbahamas

The file is available for viewing at the Department of Physical Planning, located in the Aventura Plaza on John F. Kennedy Drive, during working hours.

Interested persons and organizations are invited to review t he information on file and provide written comments prior to the meeting. Comments should be directed to the Acting Director of Physical Planning within twenty -one (21) days of the date of this notice. Submissions can be made via P.O Box N -1611, Nassau Bahamas. Further inquiries can be made to the Acting Director via Tel. (242) 328 -8146 or 3288150 or send us an email: deptphysicalplanning@bahamas.gov.bs

Signed Jehan Wallace Acting Director of Physical Planning @departmentofphysicalplanning

Signed Jehan Wallace Acting Director of Physical Planning

MINISTRY

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

MINISTRY OF WORKS & FAMILY ISLAND AFFAIRS

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL PLANNING

The public is hereby notified that an application for Preliminary Support of Approval (PSA/88/2024) is presently being reviewed by the Town Planning Committee.

The applicant is seeking to rezone Lot 2 Block No. 2 of Vista Marina Subdivision from Single-family to Multi-family residential development The lot measures approximately 12,850 sq. ft and is currently vacant

The public is hereby notified that an application for Preliminary Support of Approval (PSA/88/2024) is presently being reviewed by the Town Planning Committee.

The applicant is seeking to rezone Lot 2, Block No. 2 of Vista Marina Subdivision from Single-family to Multi-family residential development The lot measures approximately 12,850 sq. ft and is currently vacant

PUBLIC NOTICE

A Public Hearing will be held on Thursday 12th March, 2026, at 6:00 p m in the Hearing Room of the Department of Physical Planning for all interested parties to discuss and address any planning issues related to the proposed rezoning.

MINISTRY OF WORKS & FAMILY ISLAND AFFAIRS

OF WORKS & FAMILY ISLAND AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL PLANNING

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL PLANNING

The public is hereby notified that an application for Preliminary Support of Approval (PSA/88/2024) is presently being reviewed by the Town Planning Committee.

Preliminary plans for the proposal are available for viewing at the Department of Physical Planning, located in the Aventura Plaza on John F. Kennedy Drive, during working hours.

Interested persons and organizations are invited to review the i nformation on file and provide written comments prior to the meeting. Comments should be directed to the Acting Director of Physical Planning within twenty-one (21) days of the date of this notice. Submissions can be made via P.O Box N -1611, Nassau Bahamas Further inquiries can be made to the Acting Director via Tel. (242) 328 -8146 or 3288150 or send us an email: deptphysicalplanning@bahamas.gov.bs

The public is hereby notified that an application for Preliminary Support of Approval (PSA/88/2024) is presently being reviewed by the Town Planning Committee.

A Public Hearing will be held on Thursday 12th March, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Hearing Room of the Department of Physical Planning for all interested parties to discuss and address any planning issues related to the proposed rezoning.

Interested persons and organizations are invited to review the i nformation on file and provide written comments prior to the meeting. Comments should be directed to the Acting Director of Physical Planning within twenty-one (21) days of the date of this notice. Submissions can be made via P.O Box N -1611, Nassau Bahamas Further inquiries can be made to the Acting Director via Tel. (242) 328 -8146 or 3288150 or send us an email: deptphysicalplanning@bahamas.gov.bs

Signed Jehan Wallace

Preliminary plans for the proposal are available for viewing at the Department of Physical Planning, located in the Aventura Plaza on John F. Kennedy Drive, during working hours.

Interested persons and organizations are invited to review the i nformation on file and provide written comments prior to the meeting. Comments should be directed to the Acting Director of Physical Planning within twenty-one (21) days of the date of this notice. Submissions can be made via P.O Box N -1611, Nassau Bahamas Further inquiries can be made to the Acting Director via Tel. (242) 328 -8146 or 3288150 or send us an email: deptphysicalplanning@bahamas.gov.bs

Acting Director of Physical Planning

Signed

Signed Jehan Wallace Acting Director of

Jehan Wallace

Physical Planning

Acting Director of Physical Planning

@departmentofphysicalplanning

Physical Planning Bahamas

@deptphysicalplanningbahamas

Preliminary plans for the proposal are available for viewing at the Department of Physical Planning, located in the Aventura Plaza on John F. Kennedy Drive, during working hours.

Signed Jehan Wallace Acting Director of Physical Planning

@departmentofphysicalplanning

Physical Planning Bahamas

@deptphysicalplanningbahamas

Interested persons and organizations are invited to review the i nformation on file and provide written comments prior to the meeting. Comments should be directed to the Acting Director of Physical Planning within twenty -one (21) days of the date of this notice. Submissions can be made via P.O Box N -1611, Nassau Bahamas . Further inquiries can be made to the Acting Director via Tel. (242) 328 -8146 or 3288150 or send us an email: deptphysicalplanning@bahamas.gov.bs

Signed Jehan Wallace Acting Director of Physical Planning

@departmentofphysicalplanning

Physical Planning Bahamas

@deptphysicalplanningbahamas

Exuma sees heated Project town meeting

concerns, saying the current version includes a reduced dock, reduced breakwater and reduced dredging footprint while maintaining increased distance from the neighbouring property.

Bob Coughlin, owner of the neighbouring Turtlegrass Resort and Island Club, disputed the developer’s dredging calculations.

“First of all, that’s ten acres of dredging, not one,” Mr Coughlin said. “You can get out Google Maps. Maybe you can use it better than their engineers. They are completely inaccurate with their numbers.”

He added that there had been “no study of the dredging of the bay” and said photographs showed “hundreds of conch” in the affected waters. “It’s one of those beautiful bays in the

Exumas and they want to destroy it,” Mr Coughlin said.

Mr MacLean rejected those assertions, saying critics were circulating diagrams suggesting dredging outside the permitted zone.

“The permit and the CEC allows only dredging here, just to the axis,” he said, adding that claims of a larger dredging campaign were “a complete lie”.

Labour also emerged as a point of contention, with resident Donovon Ferguson questioning how many foreign work permits would be obtained during both construction and resort operations. Mr MacLean said claims that the project would bring in large numbers of foreign workers were “not supported by the facts”.

He acknowledged that the Heads of Agreement includes the possibility

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that WARREN BROOKS of #44 Sunset Way, Sunshine Park, 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 23rd day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that LIVANEAU DORMEUS of Faith Gardens, 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 23rd day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that ERROL LAGUERRE of Pinder’s Point Freeport Grand Bahama, 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 23nd day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that JEAN BAPTISTE SURVIL of Augusta Street, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 16th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that DESTIN LAFRANCE of #23 Thompson Lane, 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 16th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

of up to 130 foreign work permits across the multi-year construction period if specialised skills are unavailable locally, but stressed that national policy requires a minimum of 80 percent Bahamian employment.

“That means if we were to use the number of foreign permits for certain skilled workers, we will have to hire 520 Bahamian workers,” he said, adding that foreign workers may only be hired when the skill is not available locally and that approvals are time-limited.

Fred Smith KC, the Callenders & Co attorney and partner, and legal representative for Mr Coughlin and Turtlegrass, urged the Town Planning Committee to consider the developer’s prior commitments before granting approval.

He referenced statements made in March

2023 regarding a proposed $550m development on Cave Cay, and questioned whether it was appropriate to approve a developer who had previously made what he described as sweeping promises.

Mr MacLean responded that the ability to complete the project is “a valid concern”, but said developments of this scale are subject to strict financial due diligence, including review of financial capacity, access to capital, corporate structure and source of funds through

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that JACKSON SANCHEZ of Father Callan 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 23rd day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that WESLEY JOSEPH of #25A Podoleo Street, P.O. Box N-1048, 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 23rd day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that ROSTIN CHARLES of East Street, P.O. Box EE-16518, Nassau, 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 23rd day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that ALMONOR MAXON of Carmichael Road, Nassau, The Bahamas, is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 16th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that LAWRENCE ADELSON of 192 Hawkins Drive, Hudson Estate, Freeport, Grand Bahama, 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 16th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

agencies such as the Bahamas Investment Authority and the National Economic Council. He said the project is backed by real investment, real partners and the Rosewood brand, arguing that the approval framework in The Bahamas is designed to prevent incomplete developments.

Lorenzo Rolle, a Black Point resident, called for dialogue between the parties. “If you’re going to affect either one, it’s going to be a problem,” Mr Rolle

said, urging the developer to sit down with Mr Coughlin to resolve concerns over the dock’s placement. Meanwhile, Exuma resident Clayton Smith said the ultimate decision should rest with Bahamians, particularly those living in Black Point and the wider Exuma district. “It’s clear the people of Exuma and the Cays would like to see these projects co-exist,” Mr Smith said. “The decision should be left up to us.”

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that BRITTANIA BAINES of Bamboo Street, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 23rd day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that RAYMOND JOSEPH of Sea Breeze Lane, 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 23rd day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that SONIA DORMEUSSENAT of Faith Gardens, 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 23rd day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that REBERT SAINTIBERT of East 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 16th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that ANTHONY MEME of Brown’s Alley off Kemp 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 16th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

SCENES from the Rosewood Exuma development’s townhall meeting.

Polymers: Only Freeport threat if US tariffs ‘reel out of control’

the majority of what it was sending to the US.

This means fisheries will have been taxed at the original 10 percent tariff imposed on all Bahamian exports to the US, rather than the new 15 percent rate that represents a 50 percent increase in rate terms for all physical goods this country supplies to its northern neighbour.

And, given that Mr Trump can only impose the new 15 percent rate on all US imports - not just those from The Bahamas - for 150 days before needing the US Congress to approve their extension, Mr LaRoda said the Bahamian fisheries industry is hoping that the volatility in US trade and tariff policy will have eased by the time the new crawfish season starts on August 1. The 150-day window’s timing is thus fortunate for the sector because it coincides with lobster’s closed season.

However, Mr LaRoda reiterated that the latest bout of US tariff-fuelled “instability” renews the “uncertainty” that businesses hate most because it makes it almost impossible to plan. And the tariff increase, which Mr Trump intends to take effect tomorrow, will increase the cost of Bahamian lobster for US consumers because it acts as a tax on the product at US borders.

The Alliance president said any further tariff-generated price increases will threaten the competitiveness of Bahamian lobster when compared to domestic US rivals such as those harvested in Maine. While Europe remains the largest export market for Bahamian spiny lobster, he estimated that the US accounts for around $50m, or between one-third to a half, of this nation’s total annual $120m fisheries exports.

Another major Bahamian exporter to the US, Freeport-based Polymers International, yesterday told Tribune Business that while it has already experienced the “negative effect” on sales since the original 10 percent US tariff was imposed in April 2025, the US president’s planned hike to 15 percent is unlikely to “change our economic situation”.

Craig Simms, principal of the expanded polystyrene (EPS) manufacturer, said “the biggest deterrent to sales” has been the

expanding global ban on single use plastics rather than the US president’s unpredictable tariff policies.

He added that Polymers International’s continued presence in Freeport would only be threatened if US tariffs “reel out of control” and “make it super expensive” to export from The Bahamas as opposed to manufacturing domestically in the US.

The latest bout of Trump tariff uncertainty, which most businesses in The Bahamas as well as globally had been praying was a thing of the past, was sparked after the US Supreme Court ruled by a six-to-three majority that the president could not use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose his sweeping ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs on all US trading partners including The Bahamas.

The verdict from the highest US court, finding this law did not give him the power to do so, provoked a furious backlash from Mr Trump. After pledging on Friday to use a different mechanism to impose a 10 percent tariff on all US imports, which would have kept the same rate for Bahamian exporters and left them facing an unchanged situation, the US president created fresh turmoil the following day by hiking the rate to a new 15 percent.

“The cost is going to increase for US consumers,” Mr LaRoda said simply of the implications for Bahamian crawfish and fisheries exports. “Unfortunately, he [Trump] doesn’t like to lose. You’ve got to expect there’s going to be some retaliation somewhere even if it’s only temporary. What we must worry about is, if the tariffs are rolled back in line with the US Supreme Court ruling, he comes back with something else and the instability this could cause not only for fisheries products but any industry.

“We don’t know from month-to-month. We cannot agree to a price, we cannot hedge our price. It’s going to lead to a lot of instability. We have established agreements with US wholesalers that we export to. Those are done at the beginning of the crawfish season. If there are going to be tariff increases, it will cut into their profits, so they won’t buy as much from us.

“Some of these costs will also be difficult to pass through to the consumer,”

Legal Notice

Chiron Partners Fund Ltd.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT (No.45 of 2000)

In Voluntary Liquidation

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, No.45 of 2000, the dissolution of Chiron Partners Fund Ltd. has been completed, a Certificate of Dissolution has been issued and the Company has therefore been struck off the Register. The date of completion of the Dissolution was 29th day of December, 2025.

Legal Notice

International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000)

IOP International Fund Ltd., SAC (the “Company”)

Notice is hereby given that, in accordance with Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, No.45 of 2000, the Dissolution of IOP International Fund Ltd., SAC (IBC No. 177656 B / SAC) has been completed, a Certificate of Dissolution has been issued and the Company has therefore been struck off the Register. The date of completion of the Dissolution was the 29th day of December, 2025.

Marcelo Bandeira de Mello Liquidator

he added. “The consumer is only going to pay so much for any product. If you’re trying to sell product to the mass market, that’s[the tariffs] an issue. Our consumers are middle class Americans. They buy in volume. People with wealth will buy the product anyway but that’s less than 1 percent of the population. That’s not sustainable.”

Bahamian spiny lobster is positioned as a delicacy, or premium product, with a relatively high price point as this nation uses its MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certification, which highlights its commitment to sustainability and health and safety, as a selling point. Mr LaRoda said The Bahamas’ lobster exports can sell for as much as $50-$60 per pound in some states, depending on logistics and transportation costs, so tariff-induced rises make them extremely price sensitive.

The Alliance chief said Trump’s 10 percent tariff has yet to significantly impact Bahamian fisheries exports to the US as the “numbers are reasonably high”. And he added that the industry expects to again export 4.5m pounds of lobster this year with the sector self-regulating to ensure no more than five million pounds is harvested in any one season to preserve sustainability and pricing power.

However, it is unclear whether the 15 percent Trump tariff will push Bahamian lobster beyond a so-called ‘tipping point’ when it comes to pricing. And Mr LaRoda said the fear remains what the US president may do going forward. “Who’s to say whether in eight months’ time the tariff will be 70-80 percent?” he added. “We don’t mind if a policy is in place for 12 months, and you say that you’re going to review it in 24 months, but we just can’t hold him to that. We don’t know what he’s going to do from day-to-day.

“In 90 days he may come back and say he’s going to increase it to 30 percent.

Fortunately, a good portion of our product goes to Europe. While we export to the US the majority of our product goes to Europe. We continue to see that as a stable market. We want to engage the biggest markets and most convenient markets. And the US is a convenient market for us. The cost of doing business in the US is just increasing. Sometimes I have to ask who is advising the president. I’m sure he has a stable of advisers, but boy…….”

Still, Mr LaRoda said the bulk of Bahamian lobster and fisheries exports to the US this season will likely dodge the 15 percent rate given its timing and the 150-day ‘window’ before Congressional approval is required. “Hopefully, this won’t roll into next season,” he told Tribune Business. “If it does, we may have some issues and have to look at the economics going into next season in July.

“That [150 days] puts us into July. We may have to really evaluate strategy closer to that time. We do our agreements at the beginning of the season. How much product are our wholesalers prepared to purchase? If the wholesalers are wary, because the economics are not in their favour, we may have to re-evaluate our harvest then.”

Mr LaRoda said he expects Bahamian fisheries wholesalers and exporters will only discuss the situation once this season ends.

Mr Simms, meanwhile, noting that the US tariff rate was equivalent to The Bahamas’ 10 percent for VAT, said of the former’s impact on Polymers International: “We’ve already been experiencing that on our sales and it does affect us negatively. We also have the negative effect of single use plastic bans around the world and the US, in particular.

“This is just another economic force against us…. We’ve already experienced 10 percent. The 15 percent will be a bit more, but then Congress will have to get

involved. At this point, I don’t think anything changes for our economic situation as far as sales and the reduction in the bottom line. If that becomes higher, it becomes a bigger hurdle to overcome. Any reduction in it will be better for us.”

Mr Simms said “the biggest deterrent” to Polymers International’s sales has been the growing ban on single use plastics, esepcially in the US north-east and on the west coast in states such as California.

He added, though, that the Trump tariff volatility and uncertainty is “just

something else that makes it harder” and disrupts business planning and capital investment. Asked whether the situation threatens Polymers International’s long-term presence in Grand Bahama, Mr Simms replied: “I don’t think so, but if it continues to reel out of control from a sales standpoint, and if if tariffs continue to increase and that makes it super expensive, the corporation may say it’s cheaper to manufacture our product in the US. If it continues, yes, it would.”

Eduardo SilveiraMufarej Liquidator

Thomaz de Carvalho Pacheco e Silva Liquidator

BPL base rate rise key to its survival

Pike Electrical, and other investors in that entity as well as the shareholders who bought the $30m equity ownership in Bahamas Grid Company.

Dr Sands told this newspaper his assessment is based on the fact that the Davis administration has almost completely eliminated any risks for Bahamas Grid Company/Island Grid by giving them control of all New Providence grid-related revenues, including a “first lien” or right of security over this income plus a minimum rate of 5.5 cents per kilowatt hours (KWh) for the period through to April 2031.

He added that the documents also make clear that, while all BPL’s New Providence grid and transmission and distribution assets have been either transferred or leased to Bahamas Grid Company free of any charges or liens, the liabilities - including BPL’s $500m legacy debt - have remained stuck with the state-owned utility and its customers and owners, the Bahamian people.

“That certainly pops out,”

Dr Sands told Tribune Business. “You have to question who really are the true beneficiaries of this deal. And while there are benefits that accrue to the Bahamian public, this seems to be a pretty sweet deal for the persons on the other side. Maybe that explains why the Government has been so tight-lipped about this deal, and it was only after the Prime Minister mistakenly said the details have been released that he had no choice but to release them after his public faux pas.

“There’s no question that this is lop-sided. The true beneficiaries are not the Bahamian people. You ask where are the financial benefits for the struggling Bahamian consumer? We happen to be in an era where energy costs per

KWh happen to be among the highest in the world. When you look at the arrangements of this deal, the real financial benefits fall to the investors and not the consumer who has the obligation to pay the bill.”

However, there has seemingly been an improvement in New Providence’s electricity reliability and consistency since Bahamas Grid Company and Island Grid, and their contractor, Mr Pike’s Pike Electrical, began operating even if energy costs remain high. Bahamas Grid Company, in a recent update, touted 45 percent and 35 percent reductions in outage frequency and duration during 2025.

Yet Dr Sands argued: “If you look at the legacy debt, the legacy debt stays with the BPL and that means, by extension, the Bahamian people. They [Bahamas Grid and Island Grid] get the benefit of the going concern, a stable market and the millions of the legacy debt, which has hamstrung BPL to-date, are left with the Bahamian consumer. That’s astonishing.

“We’re not surprised that they refused to release the details because the Bahamian public would have objected to this give away. They’ve basically given away the patrimony.” Tribune Business reported on

Friday how the Government has given Bahamas Grid Company “sole dominion and control” over electricity grid revenues with BPL reduced to merely a billing and collection agent, although this income is “capped” at $75.16m for the first five years of the 25-year deal.

The Heads of Agreement, which was signed on June 3, 2024, as well as an accompanying “servicing agreement”, give Mr Pike and Island Grid a “first lien” on the transmission and distribution (T&D) revenues, which effectively guarantees they will always be paid first.

The Heads of Agreement stipulates that BPL - and its household and business consumers - “shall be liable for any deficiency” if expenses associated with the New Providence electricity grid exceed revenues generated after Island Grid’s management fees are paid”. The deal also mandates that electricity grid revenues will be calculated based on kilowatt hours billed by BPL, and not on what is billed and collected, which has important implications for Bahamian households and businesses when it comes to the timely payment of their light bills in full becauseto meet its obligations to Bahamas Grid Company and its financial demandsthe state-owned utility will

likely now be much quicker to disconnect for outstanding bills.

Dr Sands described BPL as now “merely a shell company when all is said and done”. He added: “The debt and liabilities are staying with BPL. The benefits, profits and assets go to the new entity. I don’t think you could have agreed a sweeter deal anywhere else.”

Asked whether an FNM administration, if voted to office in the upcoming election, will seek to reverse or unwind elements or all of the Bahamas Grid Company deal, as well as other aspects of the Davis administration’s wide ranging energy reforms, Dr Sands said the Opposition was still “poring through the details” of the 3,260 pages that have been released.

“It would be premature to make a comment except to say we will ensure where possible that the Bahamian people, who are the ultimate owners, are the ultimate beneficiaries. We need to see how watertight this sweetheart deal is,” he told Tribune Business. The Davis administration has made it exceptionally hard for any successor administration to unwind the Bahamas Grid Company deal, which is for an initial 25-year term with an option to renew for a further ten, by agreeing to a clause that mandates the Government pay ‘fair market value’ to buy back the transmission and distribution network and all its assets.

This would like cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and be a sum the Government will struggle to afford.

Asked about this, Dr Sands replied: “It’s not a bit of a poison pill. It’s a betrayal of Bahamian trust. They have sold away Bahamian assets under cover of darkness.”

Separately, well-placed sources familiar with the energy industry and Tribune Business’ own calculations raise questions over the sustainability of the reforms for New Providence’s

baseload electricity and, in particular, whether BPL can survive without an increase in the base rate tariff. BPL bills are split into two - the fuel charge, which is a cost recovery mechanism, and the base rate from which BPL is supposed to cover all its staff, maintenance and capital spending costs and derive a profit. While the first 200 KWh per month are free for all users, the BPL base rate is currently set at 11.95 cents per KWH for between 200KWh and 800 KWh, and at 14.95 cents per KWh above 800 KWh. With the fuel charge only affecting generation, and not transmission and distribution, the base rate is where Bahamas Grid Company and Island Grid will be paid their 5.5 cents per KWh from.

This means that, depending on which base rate is used, between 36 percent to 46 percent of BPL’s base rate tariff income will be paid to Bahamas Grid Company. The missing element in all this is what BPL will be paying Bahamas Utility Company, the subsidiary of BISX-listed FOCOL Holdings, for baseload generation on New Providence.

The only documents released relating to that deal are a power purchase agreement (PPA) between BPL and Energy Holdings Bahamas, another FOCOL affiliate. However, an annex appears to suggest that BPL will be paying around 4.625 cents per KWh initially for all electricity it buys, with this decreasing to around

4.23 cents to 4.27 cents per KWH.

Combining the first figure with Bahamas Grid Company/Island Grid’s 5.5 cents per KWh would seem to indicate that more than 10 cents per KWH of BPL’s base rate, which sources said is around 12.5 cents per KWh when the two different rates are combined, will go to the private sector partners. This would then leave BPL with the crumbs, amounting to between 1.85 cents and 3.85 cents per KWh, to cover its own costs. These costs include around 1,100 staff, some of whom will have seen their jobs outsourced as a result of the Government’s energy reforms, plus the responsibilities it has retained - operating its legacy generation assets, plus transmission and distribution on all Family Islands outside Nassau. One source questioned whether BPL can continue its traditional model of using Nassau, which generates 80 percent of revenues, to subsidise and maintain the Family Islands given that the bulk of income now goes to Bahamas Grid Company/ Island Grid and Bahamas Utility Company/FOCOL Holdings.

“The question becomes how does BPL make it; survive,” the asked. “You have to increase the base rate. The tariff rate has to go up.” The Government, though, will be banking on the nine-figure target savings from switching to renewable energy and liquefied natural gas (LNG) being realised and more than offsetting any base rate changes so that the all-in cost of electricity decreases.

DR DUANE SANDS

Total public sector debt up $321m in 2025 final quarter

argued: “The Government has now admitted what we and many other Bahamians already know: They are moving around hundreds of millions contrary to the requirements of the law.

“ In the first quarter of fiscal year 2025-2026 alone, they have - without the necessary Parliamentary approval - transferred $265.3m into the National Investment Fund while taking on even more new debt to the tune of some $298m.” Mr Thompson argued that the failure to obtain parliamentary approval, and the direct injection into the National Investment Fund, was a mechanism to prevent these monies appearing as debt/borrowings in the Government’s books and thus blowing its $75.5m Budget surplus forecast.

“The Government borrowed nearly $300m and then - to purposefully understate the true level of deficit spending – they have placed over $265m of that borrowed money into an ‘investment fund’ to do spending on routine public infrastructure outside of the budgetary records,” he argued.

“Those funds must by law be appropriated by Parliament and then expended through the Budget framework, even if it is to place in this investment fund. That is the law and the PLP knows it. They know that if they followed the law and treated that $265m properly as capital expenses that would, of course, show that that $75.5m surplus was and continues to be a myth.”

The Ministry of Finance, unveiling its report on fiscal developments for the first quarter of the 2025-2026 Budget year, confirmed that $265.3m of the surplus $300m generated by last year’s external foreign currency bond issue had been

placed into the National Investment Fund to help finance critical infrastructure projects - despite the Free National Movement’s (FNM) arguments that such a move must first be approved by Parliament.

And, according to the report, the Davis administration is also treating the $265.3m as “equity” even though it seemingly represents the proceeds of borrowing given that a bond is a debt security, or IOU, obligating the issuer to repay investors interest and principal. However, the National Investment Fund injection is classified as “equity” in the fiscal summary for the three months to end-September 2025.

This move, though, has been the subject of political controversy both inside and outside the House of Assembly. With the first $767m generated by last year’s bond placement used to rollover, or refinance, existing debt, the Opposition has said it has no problem with using the excess $300m as the Government plans to do via the National Investment Fund.

Rather, its objections lie with the mechanism the Government is using because it believes it must first, under the constitution and statute law, place all borrowing proceeds in the ‘consolidated fund’ and then obtain Parliament’s permission for how they are used.

Mr Thompson reiterated this yesterday, asserting: “All public money must go into the consolidated fund. Further, the Public Debt Management Act states that all proceeds of borrowings must be deposited into the consolidated fund. The constitution further states that no money can be taken out of the consolidated fund unless Parliament approves it by law.

“Nothing in the National Investment Funds Act gives the Government automatic authority to remove hundreds

of millions of dollars from the consolidated fund without proper parliamentary approval. There is no blank cheque in that Act. So the question is simple: Under what law did the Government withdraw $265.3m from the consolidated fund? If it was not properly appropriated by Parliament, then this is not just a political issue; it is a constitutional issue. Parliament must control the public purse. That is the foundation of our democracy.”

And, with the mid-year Budget likeky to be unveiled on Wednesday this week, Mr Thompson added: “The upcoming mid-year Budget cannot gloss over this. It must clearly disclose the legal authority for this transfer. Correct the fiscal projections to reflect the true impact of this $265m. Lay bare the full financial picture.

“If this government is confident in what it has done, then it should have no fear of full transparency. The constitution is not a technicality. Parliament is not a rubber stamp. And the Bahamian people deserve better than financial smoke and mirrors. We will continue to demand accountability, compliance with the law and honest accounting of the nation’s finances.”

Mr Thompson’s comments came as the Ministry of Finance, unveiling its debt report for the three months to end-December 2025, revealed that total public sector debt had increased by a further $321.4m or 2.4 percent during that period to hit $13.886bn. The latter also represented a year-over-year, or trailing 12-month increase, of $699.7m or 5.3 percent.

And the Government also has to rollover, or refinance, some $2.225bn worth of domestically-held debt during the six months between January and end-June 2026. “The principal schedule for external bonds

is relatively well distributed, with recent liability management operations smoothing out maturity peaks over the medium-term,” the Ministry of Finance said.

“Debt forecasts include reissuances of Treasury bills ($2.111bn), Treasury notes ($5.4m) and Central Bank advances ($326.5m). Across the maturity spectrum, the debt profile continues to benefit from the longer maturities and amortidsing structure of multilateral and bilateral credits.” This comes after there was a net $290.3m increase in the Government’s borrowing from the Central Bank during the final three months of 2025 which represents the 2025-2026 fiscal year’s second quarter.

“In the first six months of fiscal year 2025-2026, operations in domestic government securities recorded a net maturity of $221.6m, comprising issuances of $3.345bn and maturities of $3.124bn,” the Ministry of Finance added.

“The yield curve for primary issuances remained upward sloping. Average rates widened on the short end of the curve to 3.45 percent for 91-day Treasury bills, and softened on the u per end to 6.53 percent for the 30-year maturities.”

However, more than one-quarter of the Government’s debt was due to mature and come ready for payment within one year. “The average time to maturity (ATM) was slightly lower at 6.35 years, with external debt registering the largest quarterly decline of 0.5 years to 6.88 years in contrast to a steady 5.94 years for the internal measure,” the Ministry of Finance said.

“By end-December 2025, 27.17 percent of the portfolio was due to mature in one year compared with 27.09 percent in the prior quarter. The proportion of external debt coming due within one year advanced by 1.78 percentage points to 5.26 percent, while net issuance of longer-dated maturities reduced the internal component to 44.54 percent from 45.3 percent in the prior quarter.”

Why adults pursuing career growth or personal interests are the ‘new majority’ student

By CHEYANNE MUMPHREY Associated Press

INTERESTED in starting a business, learning about artificial intelligence or exploring a new hobby? There’s a class for that.

Millions of U.S. adults enroll in credit and non-credit college courses to earn professional certificates, learn new skills or to pursue academic degrees. Some older students are seeking career advancement, higher pay and job security, while others want to explore their personal interests or try new things.

“They might have kids, they might be working full-time, they might be older non-traditional students,” said Eric Deschamps, the director of continuing education at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. But returning to school “opens doors to education for students that might not have those doors open to them otherwise.”

Older students, many of whom bring years of work and life experience to their studies, often are juggling courses with full-time jobs, caregiving and other family responsibilities. It is a challenging balancing act but can also sharpen priorities and provide a sense of fulfillment.

Here’s what experts have to say about returning to school, what to consider beforehand and how to balance coursework with work and personal commitments.

UCLA Extension, the continuing education division of the University of California, Los Angeles, offers more than 90 certificate and specialization programs, from interior design, early childhood education and accounting to photography, paralegal studies and music production. Individual courses cover a wide range of topics, including retirement planning, writing novels, the business of athletes and artists, and the ancient Japanese art of ikebana, or flower arranging.

About 33,500 students — nearly half of them older than 35 — were enrolled during the last academic year. UCLA reported a full-time enrollment of about 32,600 degree-seeking undergraduate students during the same period.

“I prefer calling our (adult) learners not only continuous, but the new majority student. These are learners who tend to already be employed, often supporting a family, looking for up-skilling or sometimes a career change,” Traci Fordham, UCLA’s interim associate dean for academic programs and learning innovation, said.

Higher education experts say some adults take classes for professional development as economic concerns, technological advances and other workforce changes create a sense of job insecurity.

“A great example of that is artificial intelligence. These new technologies are coming out pretty quickly and for folks that got a degree, even just 5 or 10 years ago, their knowledge might be a little bit outdated,” Deschamps said.

EU says US must honor a trade deal after court blocks Trump tariffs

BRUSSELS Associated Press

THE European Union’s executive arm requested “full clarity” from the United States and asked its trade partner to fulfill its commitments after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down some of President Donald Trump’s most sweeping tariffs.

Trump has lashed out at the court decision and said Saturday that he wants a global tariff of 15%, up from the 10% he announced a day earlier.

The European Commission said the current situation is not conducive to delivering “fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial” trans-Atlantic trade and investment, as agreed to by both sides and spelled out in the EU-U.S. Joint Statement of August 2025.

American and EU officials sealed a trade deal last year that imposes a 15% import tax on 70% of European goods exported to the United States. The European Commission handles trade for the 27 EU member countries.

A top EU lawmaker said on Sunday he will propose to the European Parliament negotiating team to put the ratifying process of the deal on pause.

“Pure tariff chaos on the part of the U.S. administration,” Bernd Lange, the chair of Parliament’s international trade committee, wrote on social media. “No one can make sense of it anymore — only open questions and growing uncertainty for the EU and other U.S. trading partners.”

The value of EU-U.S. trade in goods and services amounted to 1.7 trillion euros ($2 trillion) in 2024, or an average of 4.6 billion euros a day, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat.

Adults interested in becoming students again may want to assess their time and budgets, and weigh the potential benefits and consequences, including the financial impact, the potential for burnout and rewards of education that may take a while materialize, academic advisors say.

Deschamps suggests asking where you want to be in 5 or 10 years and how the training and knowledge received through an additional class or certificate can help get you there. For example, if you want to start a microbrewery, learning to brew your own beer or launching a business will help. If a promotion or career change is the goal, training for a new job, refreshing skills or

HAZEL SOARES, 94, center, gets her picture taken with some of her classmates before the start of commencement exercises at Mills College, in Oakland, Calif., Saturday, May 15, 2010.

Photo:Tony Avelar/AP

understanding a different industry may help show you are qualified.

Schools like UCLA and Northern Arizona University are working to make continuing education courses accessible by keeping the cost low in comparison to degree-track classes and offering financial assistance. A variety of learning environments usually are offered — in-person and online classes, accelerated and self-paced instruction — to help adults integrate schoolwork with their home and work lives.

Katie Swavely, assistant director for academic advising and student success at UCLA, started at community college before transferring to UCLA to study anthropology.

“A deal is a deal,” the European Commission said. “As the United States’ largest trading partner, the EU expects the U.S. to honor its commitments set out in the Joint Statement — just as the EU stands by its commitments. EU products must continue to benefit from the most competitive treatment, with no increases in tariffs beyond the clear and all-inclusive ceiling previously agreed.”

Jamieson Greer, Trump’s top trade negotiator, said in a CBS News interview Sunday morning that the U.S. plans to stand by its trade deals and expects its partners to do the same.

He said he talked to his European counterpart this weekend and hasn’t heard anyone tell him the deal is off.

“The deals were not premised on whether or not the emergency tariff litigation would rise or fall,” Greer said. “I haven’t heard anyone yet come to me and say the deal’s off. They want to see how this plays out.”

Europe’s biggest exports to the U.S. are pharmaceuticals, cars, aircraft, chemicals, medical instruments, and wine and spirits. Among the biggest U.S. exports to the bloc are professional and scientific services like payment systems and cloud infrastructure, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, aerospace products and cars.

“When applied unpredictably, tariffs are inherently disruptive, undermining confidence and stability across global markets and creating further uncertainty across international supply chains,” the commission added.

Hungary threatens to block fresh EU sanctions against Russia over oil deliveries

By JUSTIN SPIKE Associated Press

HUNGARY threatened to block a new package of European Union sanctions against Russia and stall efforts to help Ukraine until Russian oil deliveries to Hungary resume.

The EU’s foreign ministers are set to meet in Brussels on Monday to discuss the bloc’s 20th round of sanctions against Moscow, a measure they hope will be approved in time to coincide with the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Tuesday.

In a video posted to social media Sunday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said he would block the sanctions package, accusing Ukraine of deliberately holding back Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline.

“We will not consent to the adoption of the 20th package of sanctions, because we have previously made it clear that until

the Ukrainians resume oil shipments to Hungary, we will not allow decisions that are important to them to be approved,” Szijjártó said.

For the sanctions to pass, the 27-nation bloc needs to reach a unanimous decision.

Russian oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia have been interrupted since Jan. 27 after what Ukrainian officials say were Russian drone attacks that damaged the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude across Ukrainian territory and into Central Europe, leading to rising tensions between Budapest and Kyiv.

Nearly every country in Europe has significantly reduced or entirely ceased Russian energy imports since Moscow launched its war in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Yet Hungary and Slovakia, both EU and NATO members, have maintained and even increased supplies of Russian oil and gas, and received a temporary

exemption from an EU policy prohibiting imports of Russian oil.

Szijjártó also said Saturday Hungary will block a major 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) EU loan to Ukraine meant to help Kyiv meet its military and economic needs for the next two years.

Earlier in the week, Hungary and Slovakia announced they would both cease diesel shipments to Ukraine over oil interruptions, and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico on Saturday said his country would cut off emergency electricity supplies to its embattled neighbor if oil deliveries were not restored by Monday.

Russian missiles and drones in recent months have pounded Ukraine’s energy grid, plunging people into frozen darkness in one of the country’s coldest winters on record. In a statement on Saturday, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said it “rejects and condemns

the ultimatums and blackmail” by Hungary and Slovakia, and that the two countries were “playing into the hands of the aggressor.”

“Such actions, in the context of massive and targeted Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and Moscow’s attempts to deprive Ukrainians of electricity, heating, and gas during extreme cold weather, are provocative, irresponsible, and threaten the energy security of the entire region,” the ministry wrote. Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who maintains the closest relationship with the Kremlin of any EU leader, has long argued Russian fossil fuels are indispensable for his economy, and that switching to energy sourced from elsewhere would cause an immediate economic collapse — an argument some experts dispute. Orbán has frequently threatened to scuttle the bloc’s efforts to sanction Moscow over its invasion, and has blasted attempts to hit Russia’s energy revenues that help finance the war.

EUROPEAN Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses the media at the end of an EU summit at Alden Biesen Castle in Bilzen-Hoeselt, Belgium, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.

Photo:Omar Havana/AP