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Wednesday, February 25, 2026
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Ex-PM’s brother sees $24m Dorian oil spill claim survive BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
support a full trial on the case’s merits. The legal battle, which has been raging for more than five years, centres on Bahamian Frutee Delite’s assertions that oil from the South Riding Point terminal “escaped” during the devastating Category Five storm that struck Grand Bahama in early 2019 and polluted its limestone quarrying business located across the road. Mr Minnis and his company are alleging that the spill was caused by Equinor’s “negligence and nuisance”, and its purported failure to properly secure its storage facility and fuels it held. Equinor, though, in its defence is alleging that Mr Minnis and his company no
A LIMESTONE quarrying business headed by a former prime minister’s brother has seen its $24m damages claim over Hurricane Dorian-related oil pollution survive the bid by South Riding Point’s ex-owner to strike it out. Justice Andrew Forbes, in a February 9, 2026, verdict found it was “unreasonable” to dismiss the claim by Bahamian Frutee Delite Company, whose principal is Cyril Minnis, brother of Dr Hubert Minnis, at this stage of proceedings against Equinor, the Norwegian energy giant, because there is sufficient evidence to
Limestone quarrying business sees off Equinor strike-out Judge: Dismissing Bahamian Frutee Delite ‘unreasonable’ Ex-South Riding Point owner says Dorian an ‘act of God’ longer held a valid lease for the 85.35-acre site because it had expired - and never been renewed - when the storm struck. Thus it is challenging his claim to have “legal rights” the oil-damaged property, while also asserting that Dorian and its catastrophic impacts were “acts of God” that it
cannot be held liable or responsible for. Neither Cyril Minnis nor Dr Hubert Minnis could be reached for comment before press time last night, but multiple sources - as well as other Supreme Court judgments - confirmed that the former is Bahamian Frutee
Delite’s principal. And, while their action survived Equinor’s strike-out bid, Justice Forbes found they had committed a “significant breach” in failing to file all necessary evidence by the deadline set by the Supreme Court. As a result, he ruled that they were not entitled to relief from the relevant “sanctions”, such as fines and penalties, and barred them from filing any further documents and evidence - including witness statements - related to the case. Justice Forbes, in his verdict, recorded Bahamian Frutee Delite’s claim to be the “tenant and occupier” of the 85.35-acre site located on the northern side of South Riding Point’s
main road opposite the Equinor storage terminal and transhipment facility. That location included a 20-acre quarry for the harvesting of limestone. “The claimant alleged that, as a result of a Category five hurricane, Dorian, which struck Grand Bahama on September 1, 2019, a sufficiently large quantity of oil escaped the defendant's property and injured the claimant's property, caused by the negligence and nuisance of the defendants, their servants or agents,” Justice Forbes wrote of Bahamian Frutee Delite’s claim. “The particulars of the claimant's action alleged
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‘Don’t destroy what makes Year-long strike Eleuthera so truly special’ Bahamasair ban is upheld BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net NASSAU CRUISE PORT
DPM tells cruise lines: Help drive passengers off vessels BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net THE deputy prime minister yesterday signalled a more assertive approach towards maximising the cruise industry’s economic benefits for Bahamians as he urged the industry to help drive more passengers off ships while in port to patronise local businesses. Speaking at a meeting with the cruise lines, Chester Cooper, also minister of tourism, investments and aviation, said the Government is seeking measurable improvements in how cruise tourism translates into Bahamian wealth. He outlined a multi-pronged plan that involves rebalancing taxation responsibilities and increasing in-destination spending by passengers as part of a broader push for “shared prosperity”. “Bahamians must share more fairly in the value of the cruise industry,” said Mr Cooper. “We are here to tighten expectations, strengthen collaboration and make decisions that can be measured in real improvements on the ground and in the livelihoods of Bahamian men and women.” Among the priorities outlined was what he described as a need to “move closer towards a happy medium” in balancing taxation responsibilities across the cruise economy. While acknowledging the value of record passenger volumes, Mr Cooper said the economic model must better reflect the impact on local infrastructure and ensure Bahamians see tangible returns. “Fairness strengthens trust. Trust strengthens partnership. And partnership strengthens performance,” said Mr Cooper. “When my shareholders ask me what we are getting, I must articulate clearly and confidently.” Mr Cooper also urged the cruise lines, such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney and their subsidiaries, to help drive more passengers beyond the confines of their vessels and into the wider Bahamian economy. He said The Bahamas is “more than a port of call”, stressing that visitors must be encouraged to explore local culture, cuisine, heritage and attractions throughout the destination. Mr Cooper added that encouraging passengers to come ashore must also translate into higher spending in Bahamian destinations - not merely as an obligation but because the experience compels it. He said that when Bahamian enterprises become economically
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ELEUTHERA’S Chamber of Commerce president yesterday warned the island is “moving along haphazardly” without a strategic development plan to properly harness its “exponential” growth, adding: “We have to be careful that we don’t destroy what makes Eleuthera truly special.” Thomas Sands, speaking after a US gaming and hospitality owner last week disclosed that he is considering “ideas” for a Governor’s Harbour development that include a “boutique” casino, told Tribune Business that ever-increasing investor and developer interest must be incorporated into a proper long-term strategy that treats Eleuthera’s communities and “way of life” as equally important. Suggesting that there will likely be a “discussion story” around the proposals being advanced by Jeff Jacobs, principal of Jacobs Entertainment, he added that the level of investor interest in Eleuthera has increased drastically over the past five to ten years and - with critical infrastructure such
Chamber chief: Island ‘moving haphazardly’ without plan Must marry ‘exponential’ growth with capacity, way of life’ Casino proposal ‘tied to hip’ of Governor’s Harbour area
THOMAS SANDS as electricity and water already under “strain” the island is “being pressed to focus on a development plan as quickly as we can”. Asserting that this is critical to preserve “quality of life” for Eleuthera residents, and what attracts tourists and investors to the island in the first place, Mr Sands told this newspaper he wants to learn more details about what Mr Jacobs is proposing for Governor’s Harbour before reaching his own
“conclusions”. However, he acknowledged that any project - unlike many others that are developed on remote, ‘greenfield’ sites - will be “tied to the hip” of that settlement and its residents. “Growth in the economy is positive,” the Chamber chief said of Mr Jacobs’ interest. “I get the sense that there are a lot of concerns from various groups about the planning, the execution. I think there’s a mixed type of feeling: Is this the right path for Eleuthera and Governor’s Harbour? I would say that, from a personal perspective, I want to learn more about it before coming to any kind of conclusion. “But I think there’s some interesting discussions because the project surrounds an existing community - it’s not like a development that is
THE Court of Appeal has upheld a more than year-long “comprehensive” injunction barrring Bahamasair’s unionised groundstaff workers from striking and other industrial action following the pre-Christmas 2024 sick-out when just one-third of workers reported for duty. Appeal justice Gregory Smith, giving the court’s unanimous February 11, 2026, oral verdict, found there was “reasonable” evidence to support the national flag carrier’s fears that the Airline, Airport and Allied Workers Union and its members may breach the Industrial Relations Act and thus justify the injunction’s continued imposition. Describing the union’s appeal bid to overturn the injunction, and secure its removal, as “a serious matter that raised serious issues with far-reaching consequences”, he also dismissed its arguments that the stay, or bar, on industrial action could not apply to individual members and that the Supreme Court had not provided sufficient reasons to justify the decision it had come to. Justice Darron Ellis had, on January 24, 2025, approved the continuation of the initial emergency injunction, which was first obtained at an emergency Supreme Court hearing where only Bahamasair’s attorneys were present on December 18, 2024. That halted industrial action, via a sick-out by flight attendants and others, which “couldn’t have been worse” timed since it almost entirely shut down the airline and resulted in hundreds of visitors and Bahamians being left stranded in the peak Christmas travel season. The union and all its members were barred from taking part in any strike or industrial
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Financial services ‘toolbox’ sees competitiveness boost BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Attorney General says legislation newly-tabled in the House of Assembly will provide “another tool in our toolbox” to boost the Bahamian financial services industry’s competitiveness through attracting increased business from Brazil and other jurisdictions. Ryan Pinder KC, in a messaged response to Tribune Business inquiries, said the Usufruct Interest Bill 2026 is a direct response to demand for such a product from high net worth Brazilian clients and their financial advisers. He added that The Bahamas’ own usufruct structure will be launched during a trade mission to Brazil next month, and confirmed that the structure, which gives persons the right to use and enjoy the advantages of property they do not own, represents The Bahamas again
BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
taking a product popRYAN PINDER KC ular in civil law jurisdictions and applying it to this nation’s common law system. “We have had significant inquiry from Brazilian practitioners on the Usufruct structuring, which their clients use extensively for asset and estate planning,” Mr Pinder said of the rationale for the latest financial services product legislation. “We recognised that Brazil was not the only market where usufructs were used extensively. “Most civil law jurisdictions utilise the usufruct for structuring. As such we formed a strategic private sector working group to work on the legislation to ensure widest adoption. This included practitioners from European civil law jurisdictions, Brazilian advisors and
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