business@tribunemedia.net
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2025
$5.44 $4.76
$5.45
$5.58
$5.53
‘Someone fall on their sword’: Exuma mooring deal terminated • Gov’t, Bahamas Moorings ‘mutually agree’ break-up • Opposition blasts lease deal: Says it ‘stinks’, ‘reeks’ • Lease witness’s ties to Bahamas Moorings address
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Government yesterday abruptly terminated the Exuma-wide moorings deal amid Opposition demands that “someone fall on their sword” and fears up to 90 percent of boaters may abandon the destination. The Davis administration moved swiftly to quell the mounting controversy and public outrage over its lease agreement with Bahamas Moorings as both sides revealed they have “mutually agreed” not to proceed after
their previously secret tie-up and the involvement of persons with strong links to the Prime Minister’s Office - were exposed. The Prime Minister’s Office, in announcing the break-up, said Bahamas Moorings is “voluntarily relinquishing” its leases and will remove all the moorings and buoys installed to-date at its own cost. And it is also conducting an “internal review” into how Sandra Kemp, its deputy director of communications, witnesses the lease execution and signed it on the company’s behalf while employed by the Government.
BPL fraud trial delay breaches ex-banker’s constitutional rights By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net AN ex-banker charged with defrauding Bahamas Power & Light (BPL) of more than $1m has suffered a breach of his constitutional rights because his trial has yet to conclude after almost seven years. Justice Carla Card-Stubbs, in a February 21, 2025, verdict that does not reflect well on the Bahamian judicial system’s speed, processes and procedures ruled that Reno Bethel’s “right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial court” had been breached by the failure to complete a trial that began on June 20, 2018.
And, in ruling against the Attorney General and Commissioner of Police, she ordered that the charges against Mr Bethel will be “stayed” if the trial is not completed and concluded by December 20, 2025. Justice Card-Stubbs found that the case had languished for more than two years, with no effort made to advance it, until prosecutors were “spurred into action” by Mr Bethel’s suit for violating his constitutional rights. The Tribune’s records show that Mr Bethel, an ex-CIBC Caribbean (Bahamas) employee, was charged on September 4, 2017, following a probe into an alleged fraud ring that cost BPL losses of $1.9m via payment of fictitious invoices to both existing and sham contractors for work that
The statement from Philip Davis KC’s office implied that it was unaware of Mrs Kemp’s involvement as a lease witness or that her husband, Philip A. Kemp II, was one of Bahamas Moorings’ two principals named in the lease document. However, Dr Duane Sands, the FNM’s chairman, told this newspaper that he and other Bahamians find this had to believe especially since Mr Davis himself signed the lease. Blasting the deal as “a blatantly unacceptable conflict of
SEE PAGE B4
was never performed on the stateowned utility’s behalf. Mr Bethel, who pleaded not guilty to all counts and charges, was accused of defrauding BPL of more than $1m within a five-month period. He faced 23 counts of fraud by false pretences, 23 counts of receiving, and one count of conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretences. It was claimed that, between January 27 and May 5, 2017, Mr Bethel $1.034m from BPL’s account at Scotiabank by means of false pretences while employed by CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank (FCIB) at its John F Kennedy Drive branch. It was also alleged that the former CIBC Caribbean employee dishonestly received some $1.426m during the same time period. No mention was made of BPL in Justice Card-Stubbs’ verdict, although the dates and nature of the charges match those in The Tribune’s report of Mr Bethel’s arraignment.
SEE PAGE B6
Bahamian provider unveils first AI-powered loan officer By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net A BAHAMIAN financial services provider yesterday unveiled what it described as the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) powered
humanoid loan officer, Evelyn Phylistina (Evie). Robert Pantry, founder and chief executive of the Simplified Group of Companies, said it has been integrating AI into its business for the past two years. He added that Evie will make the client experience more efficient and easier,
and the humanoid robots will become available through the group’s technology branch, Simplified Tech. “Simplified Lending has made significant strides in AI automation, leading to new opportunities as a group and the creation of Simplified Tech. Simplified Tech will be dedicated to providing humanoid robots and AI solutions for businesses and individual consumers, both in The Bahamas and internationally,” said Mr Pantry. “We believe Evie is just the beginning of what’s possible. While still in beta testing, she represents the future of financial services and the future of business in general. We believe that AI-driven humanoid
robots will impact every industry in the years as the technology advances.” Mr Pantry said Evie will assist clients with loan applications, inquiries and document processing, allowing Simplified’s human agents to have faster turnaround times and focus on developing more meaningful client relationships. “She’s being developed to assist with loan applications, making the process faster and seamless. Document processing, automating tasks that traditionally require manual effort, client engagement, enhancing the customer experience
SEE PAGE B5
BUOYS being installed in Exuma cays.
PHILIP DAVIS
DR DUANE SANDS
90% Exuma boating boycott if anchorage deal proceeded • ‘Not have returned’ or gone elsewhere in Bahamas By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net SOME 90 percent of visiting boaters were threatening to boycott the Exuma cays if the controversial outsourcing of all anchorages/ moorings had proceeded, it was revealed yesterday. Wally Moran, who writes for sailing publications and has produced videos for the Sailing Channel, told this newspaper an informal online poll he conducted at the weekend revealed that 90.2 percent of respondents - more than nine in every ten - said they would either abandon the Exumas or go elsewhere in The Bahamas if the moorings/anchorage plan took root. Speaking with Tribune Business prior to the joint announcement by the Government and Bahamas Moorings that they have “mutually agreed” to terminate their lease deal, Mr Moran shared poll results that showed 29 percent of boaters would “not have returned to the Exumas”, while a further 61.2 percent would have “gone elsewhere in The Bahamas” if the moorings scheme had gone into effect.
Only 9.8 percent, less than one in ten, said they would have returned to the island chain regardless. “Boaters are very strongly against fees for mooring or anchoring in the Exumas, despite clearly being in favour of spending time in The Bahamas in other locations,” Mr Moran concluded of the snap poll’s findings. “Based on this poll, it can be assumed that mooring or anchoring fees are viewed very negatively by boaters and will strongly affect their decisions on where in The Bahamas to cruise. Although the question was not asked, it is safe to presume that if mooring and anchoring fees are implemented in the Abacos and other areas of The Bahamas, boating tourism will take a substantial hit.” Mr Moran also shared online comments made by boaters responding to his poll, with some asserting “they can keep their mooring money pit” in reference to The Bahamas. One, stating that cruising in the Exumas has been “our top bucket list goal for many years”, said they were finally going to visit in 2025.
SEE PAGE B5
Declining Nassau harbour defences in five-ship wait By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net NASSAU’S main commercial shipping port yesterday disclosed that five vessels were forced by the deteriorating harbour breakwater to wait out at sea during the three months to end-December 2024. Dion Bethell, BISX-listed Arawak Port Development Company’s president and chief financial officer, in
response to Tribune Business that the weakening harbour defences continue to impact “operational efficiency” during bad weather because cargo ships are unable to dock at its facilities due to the high waves. “Regarding the breakwater repairs, there have been no further developments on its repair and remediation. We continue to experience operational disruptions during certain times of the year due to adverse
weather conditions,” Mr Bethell confirmed. “During the second quarter of 2025, we had up to five vessels waiting out at sea due to unfavourable weather conditions and the lack of adequate breakwater protection in the channel. This remains a concern as we work to maintain operational efficiency despite these challenges. The breakwaters, which function as Nassau harbour
safeguards have been in place since Majority Rule some 56 years ago but are “no longer able to absorb the energy from the ocean” especially at high tide or during rough weather. This impacts “the channel” cargo vessels use to access Nassau’s major commercial shipping port, and complicates the work of APD staff, service providers and ship’s crew in
SEE PAGE B6