03032026 BUSINESS

Double-digit Out Island hotel fall over ‘Florida hub erosion’

BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

FAMILY Island hotels suffered a

“concerning” double-digit percentage decline in both room revenues and nights sold for January 2026, it has been revealed, with a senior tourism executive warning that The Bahamas must urgently solve a “Florida hub erosion problem”.

Kerry Fountain, the Bahama Out Island Promotion Board’s executive director, told Tribune Business that “preliminary” January numbers for member hotels were down 23 percent year-over-year for room nights sold and 12 percent for room revenues to represent a continuation of the negative trends seen during the 2025 fourth quarter.

He attributed the fall-off to the failure to fully, and comprehensively, replace the loss of around 135,000 annual airline seats into multiple Family Island destinations that was caused by Silver Airways early June 2025 collapse. As a result, airlift seat counts into destinations such as Marsh Harbour, Eleuthera, Georgetown in Exuma and Bimini declined by between 35 percent and up to 75 percent in 2025 compared to the prior year.

Mr Fountain, though, told this newspaper that - while he can “see light at the end of the tunnel” on the south Florida airlift deficiencies - it is

January room revenues, nights sold down 12% and 23%

Seat count to key locations off 35-75% withh Silver loss

Airlift decline

‘uncomfortable truth’ needing local solution

still unknown how the Family Islands and wider Bahamas will get there and “who do we experience that light with?” Thus far, replacing Silver Airways has been somewhat piecemeal, with American Airlines launching direct flights to Bimini three times per week from Miami on February 14.

Bahamasair has also launched direct service between Fort Lauderdale and Georgetown in Exuma, and a variety of smaller carriers such as Tropic Ocean Airways - which eight to ten-seat planes - have sought to partially fill the void left by Silver Airways. However, their seat capacity does not compare to the 50 and 70-seat aircraft that Silver Airways was flying into Abaco, Eleuthera,

Commonwealth Brewery loses bid to resurrect $2.4m claim

BY NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

BISX-listed Commonwealth Brewery’s bid to resurrect a $2.4m damages counterclaim over the loss of its 40-year Budweiser distribution agreement was yesterday dismissed by the highest court in the Bahamian judicial system.

The London-based Privy Council, in a unanimous verdict that rejected the vertically-integrated brewer’s appeal, backed the Court of Appeal’s decision that the three-and-a-half month notice provided by Budweiser’s parent, Anheuser-Busch International (ABI), that it was terminating the two sides’ Bahamian distribution deal and switching to the rival Bahamian Brewery and Beverage Company (Sands) was sufficient.

Both higher courts thus rejected an earlier Supreme Court ruling which found that Anheuser-Busch International should have given the BISX-listed brewer, which is 75 percent owned by rival global brewing giant, Heineken, some 15 months’ warning of its plans to end their relationship. The Privy Council determined that the alleged loss of profits suffered by Commonwealth Brewery subsidiary, Burns House, was “not a relevant consideration” as Budweiser accounted for just 10 percent of its total turnover.

Detailing the background to the dispute, the Privy Council recalled: “In 1975, Burns House and ABI entered into an oral contract for the sale and distribution of beer in the Bahamas, which gave Burns House the exclusive right to distribute Anheuser-Busch International’s products in The Bahamas. “Under the distribution agreement, which continued until 2015, ABI provided Burns House through CND with shipments of products and marketing material. ABI or CND invoiced Burns House for the goods when they were shipped, and each invoice identified that payment was due within one month of the date of the invoice. The

Exuma, Bimini and other Family Islands.

Mr Fountain voiced hope that a Bahamian solution - especially Bahamasair, or Western Air - will be found to fill the airlift gap left by Silver Airways, and signalled that talks involving the national flag carrier have begun. However, he noted that, with Silver Airways’ demise, The Bahamas has also lost the inter-Florida connectivity it provided with other airport hubs such as Orlando and Tampa.

The Promotion Board chief, describing 2025 as an “up and down year”, said last year’s strong first quarter lost momentum around the time Donald Trump made his ‘Liberation Day’ announcement on US

Yntegra cut dredging by 75% over Govt’s ‘$25m carbon losses’

PM’s Climate Change Unit’s carbon credit fear

Warned four-acre seagrass loss ‘not in balance’

Developer cut footprint, pledged to buy credits

BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Rosewood Exuma developer agreed to slash its dredging “footprint” by 75 percent after a unit within the Prime Minister’s Office voiced concern it could cost The Bahamas up to $25m in lost ‘blue carbon credits’ revenues. Documents filed with the Supreme Court as part of the Judicial Review challenge to the project’s environmental approvals disclose that the developer, Miamibased Yntegra Group, also pledged to purchase Bahamian carbon credits once issued after the Government’s Climate Change and Environmental Advisory Unit voiced concern that the dredging would destroy key seagrass meadows.

Gov’t, GBPA urged: Release $357m dispute verdict quick

BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE outcome of the $357m Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) arbitration dispute must be swiftly disclosed to uphold business and investor confidence, it was argued yesterday, amid subtle hints the verdict may not have gone fully the Government’s way.

Dillon Knowles, the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce’s president, told

Tribune Business that - given the decision’s importance for Freeport’s governance and future development - it was vital that both sides rapidly agree to release the outcome and any “conditions” attached because “investors abhor a vacuum and uncertainty”.

He asserted: “Freeport’s governance is dependent on what the ruling is, what the conditions of the ruling are and, the sooner we know what the ruling is and conditions

Union president threatens legal action over Lucayan

BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net

A TRADE union leader yetsterday threatened to sue the Government’s labour director and chief labour negotiator after it was asserted that he had met and discussed Grand Lucayan severnce payouts with them.

Obie Ferguson KC, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) president, threatened legal action against Howard Thompson and Bernard Evans, chief negotiator at the Government’s labour resources unit, over suggestions he had agreed to unfavourable terms in the redundancy exercise for the 94

The Davis administration’s long-stated policy has been to monetise seagrass beds, and other natural assets that extract carbon dioxide from the Earth’s atmosphere, into sustainable revenue streams for The Bahamas. But the Climate Change Unit, in an October 15, 2024, memorandum argued that Yntegra Group’s dredging plans for Sampson Cay’s North Bay were directly contrary to the Government’s environmental posture and plans to leverage such carbon ‘sinks’ into income-generating securities.

Warning that the development’s likely environmental impact was “not in keeping with the requirements which will allow the Government to enter the carbon market

are, the better because investors abhor a vacuum and uncertainty. “Therefore, it’s important for all parties to know what the rules of engagement in Freeport are going to be going forward. Uncertainty is the bane of investors. Investors love certainty. They are not going to plonk down their hard-earned cash in an environment where they

Grand Lucayan middle managers that are represented by his Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association (BHMA).

Mr Ferguson said some members had received as little as $1,200 during Friday’s termination payouts while denying that he met Mr Thompson and Mr Evans to discuss the the matter or that there was any agreement.

“Firstly, let me state unequivocally I never had a meeting with the director of labour,” Mr Ferguson said. “I never had a meeting with Bernard Evans. But I heard all over every radio station indicating that I had a meeting with them, and we came to an agreement with respect to the workers at Grand Lucayan. That is irresponsible.

“I'm filing a writ for defamation of character. I'm a KC. I'm an attorney. I'm the president of TUC. I'm the president of Bahamas Hotel Managerial

don’t know what’s going to happen next from a legal and regulatory perspective.

“That’s the world over, and is not specific to The Bahamas. We need to know the rules of engagement, both as investors and as residents of Freeport. We need to know the rules of engagement. We’ve waited this far, and I guess we have to wait a bit longer, but hopefully we will not have too long to wait.”

Music festival celebrates its 20th anniversary

THE Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation has confimed that the 20th annual Bahamian Music & Heritage Festival will be held from March 13-14 in George Town, Exuma, at the Regatta Park.

It said that, under the theme, ‘Celebrating our past, embracing our future’, this year’s festival will mark two decades of honouring the culture, music and heritage traditions of The Bahamas.

"This festival, remarkably now in its 20th year, has been a strong pillar of the Exuma community,” said Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investments and aviation. “Cultural tourism helps to promote our destination to both the national and international community. This festival not only serves to protect and preserve our heritage but also remains an economic boost that highlights the unique culture of The Exumas.”

The Bahamian Music & Heritage Festival will feature a mixture of cultural activities, educational sessions and concerts geared towards Bahamians and tourists alike. This year’s festival will feature Bahamian musicians and local bands, with performances on Friday, March 13, by Gospel Medley, the Exuma Rake n Scrape Band, Shaad Collie & The VIPS, Bassel Smith, Kenyatta Taylor, Ironn Storr, Veronica Bishop, Funky D and Geno D. On Saturday, March 14, performers will include Obeah Man, Dat Rake Band, The Crusaders, Dimitri, Karrington McKenzie, Jammin’ Rahming, Fanshawn, Nishie L.S. and D Mac. Traditional Bahamian games, a children’s corner offering activities for festivalgoers, interactive arts and crafts demonstrations and local cuisine will also be showcased.

Rubis names Shirley Street as 2025’s top service station

THE Rubis gas station on Shirley Street has been named Service Station of the Year for 2025 - an honour achieved just one year after it opened its doors in November 2024.

Shirley Street Distributors, the station’s owner and operator, said in a statement that the award recognises outstanding performance across service delivery,

operations, customer experience and brand standards. Employees, representatives from Rubis Bahamas, guests and customers recently gathered to celebrate the award. The Shirley Street station’s January employee of the month was also recognised. Rubis Bahamas confirmed that one of the deciding factors in selecting

Shirley Street as the 2025 winner was its performance across multiple rounds of secret shopping conducted throughout the year across all its Bahanas stations.

“Rubis Shirley Street consistently achieved the highest scores in several rounds of secret shopping,” said Shireen Seymour, marketing manager, Rubis Bahamas.

Shirley Street Distributors is a Bahamian family-owned enterprise spearheaded by Anthony Butler. Its operations are headed by Ashley Butler, the general manager.

“We are incredibly proud of our team,” said Anthia Butler of Shirley Street Distributors. “This recognition reflects strong leadership, energy and a daily commitment to delivering premium fuel within a clean, efficient and customer-focused environment.

“We believe in building something that lasts. This station represents our commitment to excellence, to our customers, and to raising the standard of fuel retail in The Bahamas.”

‘Who do we experience light at tunnel’s end with?’ CAPACITY - from page B1

tariffs. While 2025 second quarter numbers were largely flat against 2024 comparatives, Mr Fountain said the second half - apart from August - saw yearover-year declines in key performance statistics and coincided with the loss of airlift capacity and access resulting from Silver Airways’ demise.

Disclosing that member properties suffered a

collective 4 percent decline in room nights sold for 2025, but enjoyed a 1 percent increase in room revenues, he added that performance had tapered off during the 2025 fourth quarter and represented a trend that has extended into early 2026.

“The numbers for January for our hotels look similar to what we were seeing for October, November and December,” Mr Fountain told Tribune Business. “That was down

signifcantly. Preliminary January numbers are down 23 percent. The problems from Fort Lauderdale are still lingering so it’s no surprise.

“Room revenues are off about maybe 12 percent; room nights sold are off 23 percent. It’s concerning for me, and I’m the executive director, so what do you think about the hotels? I think the impact is certainly loss of seat availability out of Fort Lauderdale. Silver

didn’t just serve North Eleuthera. They were trying to maintain service to Governor’s Harbour, in addition to more frequency into North Eleuthera, going into Marsh Harbour twice a day and Exuma.”

The extent of the Family Island airlift capacity loss can be measured by Silver Airways’ last forceast that it would provide 89,00090,000 seats into The Bahamas from December 2024 through to July 2005.

On an annual basis, that works out to an estimated 135,000 seats and more that now have to be filled.

“Last year we started off the year for the first quarter, our numbers were up on average 11-12 percent each month,” Mr Fountain recalled. “That was room nights sold. Then, April was basically flat. May was flat. From June through December, our numbers turned red except for the month of August.” This, he added, mirrored air arrivals as benchmarked by the Ministry of Tourism, which declined straight through the 2025 second half.

This, Mr Fountain added, represented a direct “correlation” with Silver Airways’ collapse and loss of airlift, which occurred at the beginning of June 2025. He said the impact of the carrier’s financial and Chapter 11 bankruptcy struggles started to be felt in January last year when it closed feeder services from Tampa and Orlando.

“Compared to 2024, seat count to Marsh Harbour was down about maybe 35-40 percent, seat count to Eleuthera was down maybe 40-45 percent, Georgetown was down maybe 70-75 percent, and Bimini was down maybe about 60 percent,” the Promotion Board’s executive director told Tribune Business.

“The uncomfortable truth is we don’t have an airlift growth problem. We have a Florida hub erosion problem. We can do all we do at the Promotion Board trying to help our hotels, but we need to figure out who is the right partner; which airline is the right partner to replace the seats lost with Silver Airways?” Mr Fountain suggested two candidates present themselves; Western Air and Bahamasair.

“The fix is getting Fort Lauderdale right,” he told this newspaper. “I believe the answer is Bahamasair, first and second. That is a conversation already started… I see the light at the end of the tunnel. How do we get to the end of the tunnel? Who do we experience that light with? Is

KC: ‘Secret decision infected’ Rosewood Exuma approvals

BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEYS for the $200m Rosewood Exuma project’s leading opponent yesterday argued that a “secret” decision to approve dredging and service dock construction in Sampson Cay’s North Bay “infected all subsequent deliberations” by the Government’s environmental regulators.

Fred Smith KC, lead counsel for Turtlegrass Resort and Island Club, said the public consultation process surrounding Yntegra Group’s development - and the granting of a certificate of environmental clearance (CEC) - was fatally compromised because the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) had already approved similar works months earlier under another CEC.

FRED SMITH KC

Appearing before Justice Leif Farquharson in his client’s Judicial Review challenge to Yntegra’s approvals, Mr Smith said Turtlegrass - along with the Over Yonder Cay developer - is entitled to the complete decision-making record, including environmental management plans (EMPs), internal notes, e-mails and technical assessments tied to the CEC approvals. He pressed the Supreme Court to order full

disclosure of all such correspondence, data analyses and information exchanged between the Government and Yntegra, arguing that a “secret pre-determination” over the North Bay service dock undermined the integrity of the statutory consultation process.

At the centre of the dispute are CEC 2400 and CEC 2894. Mr Smith argued

that approval for dredging, excavation, seawall construction and a service dock in North Bay had already been secured under CEC 2400 prior to the launch of public consultation linked to CEC 2894.

“There was nothing to be consulted about,” he argued, asserting that by the time DEPP embarked on the September 2024 consultation process, “the decision had already been made”.

According to Mr Smith, an application dated July 22, 2024 - well before the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was published for consultation - expressly referenced enabling works that included excavation and the construction of a service dock and jetty.

He said those works were framed in neutral terms as part of a geotechnical study, despite the dock being a “fundamental public issue” that had previously attracted objections.

The formal consultation period began on September

Gov’t invests $6m to help drive rent-to-own

BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter

anixon@tribunemedia.net

SOME $6m has been invested in the Government’s rent-to-own Vinspen Meadows subdivision, which features 35 homes and 12 family-structured units.

Keith Bell, minister of housing and urban renewal, together with Lisa Rahming, state minister for housing and urban renewal, Michael Halkitis, minister of economic affairs, and Prime Minister Philip Davis KC conducted a walkthrough of the subdivision being constructed off St Vincent Road.

“This is the Government's newest subdivision,” Mr Bell said. “And as you would note from our appointment, the Prime Minister gave us a mandate to ensure that we build houses for Bahamians. This subdivision comprises of 35 new homes as well as it will also comprise a 12-unit structure for families, for rent, and a rent-to-own programme. Of note, all of these homes are being built by small Bahamian contractors.”

Jeffery Clarke, acting chief housing officer, said the subdivision is set to be completed by the end of May this year. He added that it “represents investment of some $6m that the Government has agreed to

develop this area”, adding that a 12-unit complex that families can rent-to-own has been proposed. Mr Clarke said most of the homes have already been assigned, but options for the 12-unit complex may still be open for applications and assignment. With other housing projects ongoing in the Family Islands, Mr Clarke said the Government plans to finish housing in San Salvador by the end of May while construction has also begun in Central Pines in Abaco.

“And we have started construction in Central Pines also, with the addition of four other residential homes,” Mr Clarke said. “We’re hoping that we could amplify it up to about 20 homes overall. And so that's ongoing.”

In continued efforts to encourage affordable housing in the country, Mr Bell said last year that the Government is working to complete draft legislation that “would strike the delicate balance” between landlords and tenants’ rights as rental costs continue to increase throughout The Bahamas. While the initial intent was to complete draft legislation before the end of the Davis administration’s term, Mr Davis said Bahamians may not see any legislation related to the matter before the election.

“I don't think you'll see any legislation in respect to rent, and the cost of

rentals, coming before the election,” Mr Davis said.

“But we are looking into how we can ensure that rentals are reasonable to persons who want to rent homes. The challenge is that rentals are a personal contract between the landlord and the tenant.

“It's very difficult for government to intervene in that sort of personal contractual relationship. All we can do is set and regulate, and regulate meaning that we ensure that what is being rented, for example, is fit for rental regularly in the context that the value of the home is commensurate to what the rent might be.

“Those are some things we might be able to do. But in our market today, what has caused rent to be disproportionate is the fact that Airbnbs have become quite an attraction to Bahamians. They're lending their homes to visitors. We don't have enough hotel rooms... to ensure that Airbnb, yes, they can flourish, but not flourish to the detriment of local residents...”

Mr Bell commended law reform commissioners for the first draft of the legislation, adding that landlords have “been very receptive”. He stated there will be consultation “on the part of landlords as well as the wider community, before the legislation actually goes to Parliament”.

“Well, obviously, we know the issue of tenancy

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2, 2024, with a public meeting held on October 3, 2024. However, Mr Smith argued that the exercise was rendered meaningless because regulators had already determined the outcome.

“A decision-maker is required to approach the matter with an open mind,” he said. “That could not occur in circumstances where the issue had already been decided.”

Mr Smith further submitted that there was no standalone application before DEPP for a North Bay service dock at the time the EIA consultation was undertaken. Without such an application, he argued, there was “no lawful basis” upon which the department could properly consult the public on that component of the works.

Mr Smith also referenced the subsequent revocation and reissuance of approvals, arguing that if an earlier CEC had been granted in error, the transparent course would have been to acknowledge that decision

Halkitis, and we're working very closely with him to bring the legislation into existence.

and rentals and landlords, and what they're doing today,” Mr Bell said. “It remains topical. It remains controversial. We have met with the law reform commissioners, and again, as I indicated, that area falls within the remit of Mr

“I commend the law reform commissioners for the first draft of the legislation. What the legislation seeks to do is to strike the delicate balance of the rights of the landlord, while at the same time, protecting tenants. Of course, you

and re-open consultation on the dock specifically. Instead, he said, the prior approval was not disclosed to the public during the consultation process. The applicants are seeking disclosure of what they describe as the full decision-making record, including two EMPs referenced in CEC 2400 and later approvals, as well as internal memoranda, site visit reports and communications between government officials and Yntegra. They argue that partial disclosure to date is insufficient and that the Supreme Court requires the complete documentary trail, beginning with the July 22, 2024 application, to assess whether the approvals were lawfully granted and whether the consultation complied with DEPP regulations.

Attorney Romauld Ferreira, appearing for Over Yonder Cay, adopted Mr Smith’s submissions in full.

The respondents — the Government and Yntegra Group — opposed further disclosure, maintaining that the consultation process complied with statutory requirements and that adequate documentation has already been provided. They are expected to deliver their counter-arguments to Justice Farquharson today.

know, tenants are in an inferior bargaining position, and while they are open to some level of compromise in terms of wanting to move into a premises, we want to ensure that the premises remains tenable, the rent remains affordable, and the place remains in a state where it’s fit for human habitation.”

Environment chief: Seagrass presence ‘not the only factor’

unchallenged”, the Climate Change Unit added that the potential loss of seagrass meadows covering four acres was also “not in balance with the present ecosystem contributions”.

It estimated that the financial loss of the Sampson Cay seagrass beds was equal to $500,000 per year, or $25m over the ‘blue carbon credits’ project’s 50-year lifespan, and suggested that the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources implement “a replanting policy” requiring that three new trees be planted for each one removed. This, the Climate Change Unit added, would likely require Yntegra Group to pay $11.2m in permit fees.

The internal government concerns over the $200m Rosewood Exuma project appeared to spark swift action both from Yntegra Group and within the Davis administration. Another memorandum, written by the Prime Minister’s Office on November 8, 2024, just three weeks after the first communication, signalled that the Climate Change Unit had been reassured by promises to reduce the dredged area from four to just 0.76 acres plus Yntegra Group’s pledge to buy ‘blue carbon credits’ equal to that space.

Dr Rhianna Neilly-Murphy, head of the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP), then addressed the matter in both a November 12, 2024, memorandum to Rochelle Newbold, the Climate Change Unit’s head, and an e-mail sent the same day to Jerome Fitzgerald,

the Prime Minister’s senior policy advisor. While affirming that the developer had been told to “propose an alternate location” for its service dock, she added that factors influencing approval “extend beyond the presence of seagrass”.

Yntegra Group did not respond to Tribune Business’s request for comment before press time last night. However, well-placed sources questioned the dollar values detailed in the Climate Change Unit’s original October 15, 2024, memorandum which was signed on behalf of Creswell Strurrup, permanent secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office.

They argued that, based on those figures, The Bahamas’ seagrass meadows and other carbon ‘sinks’, which extract this gas from the Earth’s atmosphere and convert it back into oxygen, would be collectively worth trillions of dollars - rather than the $50bn value this nation has assigned over a 50-year period. Based on the 23m acres, or 93,000 square kilometres of seagrass beds mapped to-date, they argued that this translates to a value of $2,174 per acre. Multiplying the latter by the initial four acres that were in danger of being impacted by North Bay dredging, they added, works out to an $8,696 valuation over 50 years - not $25m.

Still, the Climate Change Unit in the original October 15, 2024, memorandum revealed that these same four acres had been included in the seagrass bed mapping that had taken place to-date.

The Bahamas’ carbon sinks first have to be identified, mapped and verified before

NOTICE

Yellow Cacau International Ltd.

Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the registration number 210035 B.

(In Voluntary Liquidation)

Notice is hereby given that the liquidation and the winding up of the Company is complete and the Company has been struck off the Register of Companies maintained by the Registrar General.

Dated this 27th day of February A.D. 2026.

ANA LUIZA COUTO DO NASCIMENTO LIQUIDATOR

NOTICE

Oak Overseas Investments Ltd.

Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the registration number 209949 B.

(In Voluntary Liquidation)

Notice is hereby given that the liquidation and the winding up of the Company is complete and the Company has been struck off the Register of Companies maintained by the Registrar General.

Dated this 27th day of February A.D. 2026.

FABIO AUGUSTO DE CARVALHO LIQUIDATOR

NOTICE

EBDASC LTD.

Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the registration number 210204 B.

(In Voluntary Liquidation)

Notice is hereby given that the liquidation and the winding up of the Company is complete and the Company has been struck off the Register of Companies maintained by the Registrar General.

Dated this 27th day of February A.D. 2026.

EMANUEL BONFANTE DEMARIA NETO LIQUIDATOR

any ‘blue carbon credits’ can be issued against the environmental value they provide.

The Davis administration has assigned this task to Carbon Management Ltd, the entity formed to manage the monetisation of The Bahamas’ blue economy assets, and in which the Government holds a 49 percent ownership interest.

“The Government, being desirous to realise the revenue potential presented by the opportunity to monetise ‘blue carbon credits’ from the seagrass meadows, has entered into an agreement with Carbon Management Ltd regarding mapping and monetisation of seagrasses with the requirement of a protection status to be established for all such mapped assets,” the Prime Minister’s Office wrote in the memorandum on behalf of the Climate Change Unit.

The document, which was addressed to both Dr Neely-Murphy and David Davis, permanent secretary in the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, although it named him as permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, then laid out the concerns over Yntegra Group’s proposed Sampson Cay development which faces opposition from nearby resorts and others in Exuma over its scale and likely environmental impact.

Referring to Sampson Cay’s seagrass meadows, the Prime Minister’s Office wrote: “The area has been mapped as part of the National Blue Carbon assets registry. Carbon Management Ltd has expended millions of dollars to document and assess the carbon

sequestration capabilities for inclusion in the carbon credit offering. “It is known that the proposed development will impact more than four acres of untouched seagrass meadows. The marine assessment does not indicate that the marine environment is showing any signs of climate-related stress or stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD). This… confirms the high biological and economical value of the grasses.

“Based on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), it is understood that the project proposes to dredge significant portions of the cay, resulting in complete loss of the wetlands and destruction of seagrass beds and a sandy beach. This is extremely concerning as the wetland ecosystem, which includes the seagrasses, mangroves and offshore reefs are a connected system of benefits and balance.”

Dredging has been an emotive issue over the Rosewood Exuma project, with cries of “no dredging” voiced following the latest Town Hall meeting and consultation on the development. But Felipe MacLean, Yntegra Group’s principal, recently told Tribune Business that the developer has made reductions in dredging areas, dock size and seawall construction in a bid to address concerns.

He added that the 1.26 acres his project plans to dredge to accommodate a service dock is far smaller than what neighbouring properties and other projects in the Exuma Cays have dredged.

“Our neighbour, Over Yonder, has dredged five

NOTICE

Peveril Properties Limited

Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Registration Number 103506 B (In Voluntary Liquidation)

Notice is hereby given that the above-named Company is in dissolution, commencing on the 20th day of January, 2026.

Articles of Dissolution have been duly registered by the Registrar. The Liquidator is Richard L. Broughton, No 6 Bosham Close, Camperdown Heights, P.O. Box SP63801, NP, The Bahamas. Persons having a Claim against the above-named Company are required on or before the 16th day of March, 2026 to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator of the Company, or in default thereof they may be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such claim is proved.

Dated this 3rd day of March, 2026.

Richard L. Broughton Liquidator

NOTICE

Toopan Games Ltd.

Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the registration number 211471 B.

(In Voluntary Liquidation)

Notice is hereby given that the liquidation and the winding up of the Company is complete and the Company has been struck off the Register of Companies maintained by the Registrar General.

Dated this 27th day of February A.D. 2026.

Paulo Egidio Coelho da Silva LIQUIDATOR

NOTICE

JPRNT LTD.

Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the registration number 208709 B.

(In Voluntary Liquidation)

Notice is hereby given that the liquidation and the winding up of the Company is complete and the Company has been struck off the Register of Companies maintained by the Registrar General.

Dated this 27th day of February A.D. 2026.

JUAN PABLO CORREA GOSSWEILER LIQUIDATOR

acres. They are right across from us, and nobody said anything about it. We are dredging only 1.26 acres,” said Mr MacLean.“Other projects in the Exuma Cays like Norman’s Cay at 14.7 acres, Highborne Cay at 5.6 acres, and Bell Island at 4.7 acres, have dredged far more, almost four times’ what we’re doing. So it is astonishing that they are now complaining about a project that is dredging a minimal amount of only 1.26 acres.“

However, the Prime Minister’s Office in the October 15, 2024, memorandum argued that Yntegra Group’s then-plan was at odds with the Government’s environmental and ‘blue carbon credit’ ambitions even though the latter’s proposed 2025 issuance and launch did not occur as planned. And it added that replacing any seagrass lost to dredging would not realise the same carbon sequestration potential or economic value.

“As indicated earlier, millions have already been expended to map and assess the areas of seagrass in Exuma including around Sampson Cay,” the memorandum added. “The calculated cost for the loss of the Sampson Cay proposed seagrass is $500,000 per year for the 50-year lifespan of the project. This amounts to $25m of carbon credit revenue lost. This is the value ‘as is’ without any mitigative uncertainty.

“Further, as The Bahamas’ environmental programme is based on ensuring a resilient and functional environment which is free from unsustainable impacts. It is not recommended that consideration be given to the ‘replanting’ of seagrasses as a mitigative action for those removed or lost due to proposed developments. Such a policy will eliminate The Bahamas from the carbon markets as such action would be in keeping with ‘green washing’.”

Noting that the Government could implement a policy requiring three new trees to be planted for every one lost to development, along with regulations mandating that any damaged habitat be restored, the Prime Minister’s Office even suggested that the Rosewood Exuma project be relocated.

It wrote: “It is further noted that other mitigation costs associated with the Sampson Cay development, such as the proposed replanting of lost trees at a scale of three:one would result in $11.2m just for the permit fees required by law…

“The Ministry [of the Environment and Natural Resources] should consider the full scale of this development and its potential impacts on the present resources and future economic programme of the country. It seems apparent that the proposed development is not in balance with the present ecosystem contributions. The high mitigative cost alone suggests an incongrous placement of the large-scale development on the cay.

“Options for the development should be considered in other locations for which such identified impacts could be realistically and sustainably mitigated, and where assets such as seagrasses and the like will remain unimpacted.”

This appears to have sparked swift action. The Prime Minister’s Office, in a November 8, 2024, memo sent on Mr Sturrup’s behalf to Mr Davis and Dr Neely-Murphy suggested corrective action has been taken.

“We have been provided with the attached information regarding the footprint of the dredged channel,” the Prime Minister’s Office said. “The information provided indicates that the developer has agreed to reduce the impacts to the sea grasses with a reduction from four hectares to that of 0.716 hectares.

“With this reduction the initial referenced impacts to the lost seagrass are notably reduced and further consultation with Carbon Management Ltd has resulted in the developer agreeing to the purchase of carbon credits associated with the impacted space.

“As these two items address the major concerns identified in our original memorandum, we are mindful that mitigation has been implemented to address our earlier concerns.” And, in a follow-up correspondence written four days later on November 12, 2024, Dr Neely-Murphy wrote that public consultation over the Yntegra Group project was continuing.

“As a result of information received into the Department concerning the proposed location of the roll-on, roll-off dock, the developers were instructed to propose an alternate location for this facility,” she said. “The deciding factors extend beyond the presence of the sea grass. Any decisions concerning this project and any other under review by the Department will continue to be made based on the best available science and site specific information.”

NOTICE

AH Sardenha Investments Ltd.

Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the registration number 1500985 (IBC).

(In Voluntary Liquidation)

Notice is hereby given that the liquidation and the winding up of the Company is complete and the Company has been struck off the Register of Companies maintained by the Registrar General.

Dated this 27th day of February A.D. 2026.

NOTICE

KDO LTD.

Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the registration number 209355 B.

(In Voluntary Liquidation)

Notice is hereby given that the liquidation and the winding up of the Company is complete and the Company has been struck off the Register of Companies maintained by the Registrar General.

Dated this 27th day of February A.D. 2026.

CIRO RIBEIRO IAMAMURA LIQUIDATOR

Parties told: ‘Uncertainty is the bane of investors’

Prime Minister Philip Davis KC yesterday confirmed that “a partial decision has been made” by the three-strong arbitration panel in relation to the Government’s demand that the GBPA pay it $357m to cover public spending incurred in the Port area over a six-year period and which exceeded tax revenues generated by Freeport.

“Well, as you know, the arbitration was confidential,” Mr Davis said. “I can tell you that the decision has been made - a partial decision has been made. But I can’t say any more than that at this moment.” Arbitration was chosen as the dispute resolution forum precisely because it provides all parties with more confidentiality than if they used the court system in The Bahamas or any other jurisdictions.

Tribune Business can reveal that the arbitrators released their decision at mid-morning on Friday but, due to strict confidentiality and non-disclosure provisions that cover both sides and their legal representatives, the outcome has not been disclosed and no one is willing to comment.

However, this newspaper has received indications from multiple sources that the GBPA and its owners, the Hayward and St George families, may be reasonably satisfied - and are not desperately disappointed - with the decision. When it was suggested to one contact that the verdict was by no means a comprehensive victory for the Government, they replied: “It’s even

more interesting than that” but declined to comment further.

Yet Tribune Business was also informed last night that some of the Government’s major supporters were hailing the arbitration outcome as a “big win” for the Davis administration, although this was labelled subsequently as “definitely incorrect” by other contacts. The mixed signals further bolster Mr Knowles’ call for swift disclosure of the decision and its implications for Freeport given the information vacuum that is likely to develop and be filled by rampant speculation.

It is understood that the decision by the arbitrators - Sir Anthony Smellie KC, former chief justice of the Cayman Islands as chairman, and the two UK law lords, Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury and Dame Elizabeth Gloster - may never be made public. However, given the immense public interest and consequences of the verdict, something will have to be released.

Tribune Business has been told that both sides, the Government and GBPA plus the latter’s two shareholder families, will have to agree a joint statement for public release that must also be approved by the arbitrators. Under The Bahamas’ existing Arbitration Act, the panel’s verdict is confidential and will not be publicly disclosed unless both parties agree to this.

The arbitration panel’s decision could be the final verdict in a dispute whose outcome will potentially have a profound impact on Freeport’s future governance and development, as well as ramifications for the

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that SHEENA ANASTACIA MELICE of Ethel Street, Nassau, The Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 3rd day of March, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that BORISLAV PAVLOV BOEV of 18 Belmeken Street, Kostenets, Sofia, Bulgaria, 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 24th 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 MAXON BIEN AIME of Palmetto Point, Eleuthera, 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 24th 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 DIANETTE CENATUS of Augusta Street, 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 24th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

city’s economy, the GBPA’s estimated 3,000-plus business licensees and the wider Bahamas.

It is thought that there is no automatic right, or pathway, for the losing or any aggrieved party to appeal the panel’s verdict to the Supreme Court. Such an appeal can only be mounted with the consent and approval of both parties - the GBPA and the Government - and neither is likely to agree to a further challenge to a decision that favours themselves.

Sources yesterday suggested a government defeat would force it back to the drawing board on tactics and mechanism, but is unlikely to alter the Davis administration’s publicly-sated goal of overturning Freeport’s “status quo” by securing the removal of the Hayward and St George families as the GBPA’s owners.

Mr Davis reaffirmed these ambitions at the recent Grand Bahama Business Outlook conference, branding Freeport a “corporatocracy” that has been managed and administered to favour the private interests of a few rather than the Bahamian people. He also did little to disguise the Government’s position that the city has stagnated under GBPA oversight and the latter has failed to uphold its development obligations as set out in the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, Freeport’s founding treaty.

The Government’s calculation is likely to have been that, even if not awarded the full $357m claim, the arbitrators would have still have found the GBPA was owing major sums to the Public Treasury. And this sum

would have been an amount that Freeport’s quasi-governmental authority and its owners cannot pay.

And, if they failed to respond to a demand letter to pay, the Government’s plan would then likely have been to petition the Supreme Court for the appointment of a receiver to take possession of the Port Group and all its assets, ousting the Haywards and St Georges and selling them off to a new buyer while devolving Freeport’s governance powers to either Nassau or a newly-created local authority. This strategy, though, may have to be reappraised if the GBPA has won or the Government awarded an insignificant sum, while the timing of any reverse would not be desirable with a general election approaching.

The amount demanded by the Government is likely to have increased significantly since the $357m arbitration claim was launched given that the Davis administration has signalled in its annual Budget that it intends to bill the GBPA, Freeport’s quasi-governmental authority, for $75m every year to fund incurred expenses that are not covered by tax revenues generated in the Port area.

These annual billings were to take effect every year from 2024-2025, meaning that - at least in the Government’s eyes - a further $150m is already outstanding, which would take the total now demanded to $507m. Many observers believe the GBPA owes something; it is just a question of how much.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that KEVIN RICARDO AIKEN of Charles Saunder’s highway, Nassau, The Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 3rd day of March, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that RALPH-FRITZ AUGUSTE of Cambridge Street, 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 24th 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 VANGY JEAN JACQUES of Carmichael 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 24th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 24th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

The Government was seeking reimbursement of the claimed $357m under section one, sub-clause five, of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, which stipulates that it can demand payment from the GBPA for providing “certain activities and services” if the costs involved exceed certain tax revenue streams generated in the city.

The original 1955 clause required the GBPA to provide rent-free office and living accommodation to government employees involved in “the maintenance of law and order, the administration of justice, the general administration of Government, the collection of Customs Duties and other revenue and the administration of the Customs Department, the administration of the Immigration Department, Post Offices” and other functions to be mutually agreed.

The GBPA was also required to “reimburse the Government annually” within 30 days of detailed accounts being presented by the latter, but only if “Customs Duties and emergency taxes received by the Government in respect of goods entered or taken out of bond at the Port Area are less than the amount” spent by the Government.

The PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) accounting firm was hired by the Government to analyse, and calculate, just how much the GBPA owes the Public Treasury for public spending in Freeport that exceeds the tax revenues generated by the city. The GBPA has denied that anything is owed, alleging that Freeport contributes around $200m annually in tax revenues.

Multiple sources have questioned why the Government has waited until now - some 60 years or six decades - to try and enforce a Hawksbill Creek Agreement clause dating from the 1950s and 1960s. They argue that it smacks of the Davis administration using this as leverage to force the Haywards and St Georges, the GBPA owners, to sell and exit after they declined to accept the Government’s purchase offer. And the Hawksbill Creek Agreement clause at the centre of the dispute may not be all it seems. It was last amended in 1960, when Freeport was five years-old, the city’s development very much in its infancy, and the only revenues earned by the Public Treasury at the time from the Port area were Customs duties. While it indeed stipulates that the Government should not spend any more in the Port area than it earns in revenues, and that any excess costs over and above the latter should be reimbursed by the GBPA, that clause has not been amended to account for either the Freeport of today or multiple taxes that have been added since then.

Thus VAT, departure taxes and a host of other revenue streams have to be factored into the calculation of whether the Government is spending more than it is earning in Freeport. Several sources have suggested that, rather than go to arbitration, the two sides should instead negotiate amendments to section one, sub-clause five of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement to ensure it is fit for purpose and attuned to the modern world’s realities.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that PAVEL PAVLOV BOEV of 18 Belmeken Street, Kostenets, Sofia, Bulgaria, 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 24th 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 EMANIS SIMILIS of East View Court, 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 24th 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 NANOUNE AUGUSTE of Cambridge Street, 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 24th day of February, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

Labour chief: ‘Misunderstanding’ behind Obie defamation threats

Association that represents those workers. To me, somebody should have at least called me and asked me, ‘Is that a fact?’ But it was carried extensively. So I’m filing an action, a lawsuit for defamation of character and libel. We must be responsible.

“These people have gotten almost zero of what they’re entitled to, but it’s portrayed as though I’m the leader and I had an agreement, or I reached an agreement, with the director of labour and Bernard Evans,” Mr Ferguson continued.

“So it’s important that the people in Grand Bahama, the workers that I signed for them, I negotiated it with the director in the Prime Minister’s Office.

I submitted it to her. They never called me. They never disagreed with anything

that I had on that paper. But ZNS carried it, and other stations, that we had a meeting, we came to an agreement, and everything is going very nice. That is not so.”

Phylicia Woods-Hanna, the Government’s invetsments director, said in a recorded video that Mr Thompson and Mr Evans had met with Mr Ferguson to ensure the severance payouts for Grand Lucayan workers were correct.

However, Mr Ferguson claimed people are trying to discredit him especially since “they know the TUC planning to do something…” hinting at some form of action that will be taken by his affiliate unions.  “They know the TUC met, and they know the TUC planning to do something. So what they’re trying to do, they want to try to discredit. But my officers and the president of these unions, they know

who Obie Ferguson is, and the Bahamian public knows that. My record speak for itself,” he added.

“The taxis are going to be sorted out. Air traffic, we asked for a meeting. Watch and see what’s going to happen. If they think we dead or we ain’t ready to move, they’re joking. They’re joking big time, but we are going to make sure every union participates in this process. This is what they’re trying to do.

“I have clients in Venezuela. The case is coming up in a matter of a couple of weeks. And look what they’re trying to do. They’re trying to say Mr Ferguson is not a credible man. See what gone down in Freeport. He told those people one thing and see. If my client in Venezuela finds out that I am not a credible man, that account is gone. My KC status, that itself is dangerous. Because what’s the point?”

Budweiser owner’s three-month Burns House termination upheld

distribution agreement was never set out in writing and may have developed over time.”

CND is Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana, the Dominican Republic brewer and drinks producer which ABI controls, and which acts as its Caribbean regional distributor. Meanwhile, under its deal with ABI, Burns House was required to provide monthly sales reports; explain its distribution performance; prepare an annual plan and marketing activities, the latter of which the two parties would finance 50/50; report research on “parallel imports” or the grey market; provide a dedicated manager; and pay within 60 days of delivery.

Burns House, in addition to the brand manager, provided development support and assigned three to

four other staff exclusively to Budweiser and the ABI brands. “As required by ABI, Burns House had in place a letter of credit in ABI’s favour in the sum of $250,000 which was automatically renewable annually but which ABI never had to call upon,” the Privy Council added. “..The parties worked well together for over 40 years. Burns House always met its obligations under the distribution agreement. “Burns House was not tied to ABI or CND but was free to market and distribute products, such as beer, wine and spirits produced by other companies, including competitors of ABI and CND. At the time of the termination of the distribution agreement, ABI products represented about 15 per cent of Burns House’s turnover in beer and less than 10 per cent of its overall turnover.

“Burns House had, and has, a warehouse and a refrigeration plant within its warehouse in which it stored products of several producers, including those of ABI and CND. About four years before the termination of the distribution agreement it invested in an upgrade of its refrigeration plant in the warehouse.” ABI, in December 2014, assigned all rights and liabilities associated with the distribution agreement to its regional affiliate, CND. Burns House did not challenge this move. However, it appears that ABI became increasingly uneasy over one of its main global competitors, Heineken, exercising increasing control over Burns House via Commonwealth Brewery’s vertically-integrated brewer, wholesaler and retail model. Heineken, several years earlier in 2011 and 2012, had bought out Garet ‘Tiger’ Finlayson and

Mr Ferguson said the Grand Lucayan workers are angry “because they were told on radio and in the paper, that I agreed with those two people”. He said a woman who worked at the hotel for 29 years received $1,200 during the redundancy exercise.

“... One lady, she’s crying on the phone,” he said. “She got $1,200. You had been there for 29 years. You know what it is. Three weeks. We have service up to 29 years. You see, you multiply that and see how much they’re trying to take from those workers. That’s ridiculous. And then they never even notified the minister of labour. Redundancy says you must notify the minister of labour. If you fail to notify the minister of labour in so many weeks… That ain’t part of the package.”

He added: “Every worker, we have a figure we submitted to the Government in

his family from their interest in Burns House.

“At a meeting in ABI’s offices in Florida on August 4, 2015, Burns House first learned that ABI intended to terminate the distribution agreement. On August 12, 2015, ABI and CND through their Bahamian attorneys, Lennox Paton, issued a termination letter giving Burns House about three months’ notice of the termination of the distribution agreement,” the Privy Council recorded.

“In that letter, ABI said Burns House was owned by a global competitor of CND and ABI (Heineken) and that the distribution agreement was not compatible with ABI’s global strategy of maintaining closer control over its international brands. The letter made clear that there was no criticism of Burns House’s performance as a distributor.” ABI and its attorneys argued that three months’ notice of termination was reasonable, and set the date at midnight on November 1, 2015.

All unsold ABI products were to be repurchased at

November of last year. The director of labour called me a couple of days ago. You know what he said to me? He said to me, ‘Look, Mr Ferguson, could you explain to me the terminology that you use for length of service?’ That was the conversation.

“I would never meet with Evans. So to suggest that I had a meeting with all two of them, and then to give it to the press, and the press carried it through the length and breadth of The Bahamas. My phone was off the hook because that’s not what I agreed to.”

Mr Thompson yesterday clarified that he and Mr Ferguson have had telephone discussions regarding the Grand Lucayan workers in the past, and no final decisions were made during those calls. He said they will meet in person to discuss further.

“For clarity, the director of investments [Mrs

the price Burns House had paid for them. However, the latter’s attorneys, Delaney Partners, argued that a more suitable notice period would have been three-anda-half years - one month for each of the agreement’s 40 years. However, apart from a one-month extension of the notice period, nothing changed.

“Between June 7 and September 9, 2015, ABI issued 74 invoices for products supplied to Burns House by CND. The total sum due on the invoices was $598,512. Burns House did not pay those invoices because it took the view that ABI had not given reasonable notice of the termination of the distribution agreement. Following the last shipment on September 9, 2015, ABI and CND stopped supplying ABIs products to Burns House on the ground of non-payment of the invoices,” the Privy Council said. ABI and CND initiated Supreme Court action against Burns House/ Commonwealth Brewery in January 2016. The latter denied breaching the distribution agreement, “asserting that it was entitled to refuse to pay the invoices to mitigate its losses from the unlawful termination of that agreement.

“Burns House pleaded that it had a right to set off its debts against ABI’s liability in damages arising from its wrongful termination of the distribution agreement without giving reasonable notice, which was the subject of Burns House’s counterclaim for about $2.4m,”the Privy Council added.

“Burns House asserted that the loss of the right to distribute the Budweiser brand, because of its brand prestige, would cause commercial harm to its business and that it would take a period of years to make comparable arrangements.”

The Privy Council, though, said the key issue was what amounted to reasonable notice that the distribution agreement was to be terminated. It agreed with the Court of Appeal that what ABI gave was sufficient, thereby rejecting Commonwealth Brewery’s appeal and the findings of then-Supreme Court justice, Indra Charles, that it should have been 15 months.

“In the Board’s view, the most striking error was the fixing of the period of notice at 15 months on the basis that that was the period over which the termination of the distribution agreement had reduced Burns House’s profits,” the Privy Council ruled. “That is not a relevant consideration. This is because the court, in fixing a reasonable period of notice as a means of allowing parties to adjust to the termination of an agreement, is not seeking to preserve the profits of the recipient of the notice from all diminution.

Woods-Hanna] asked Mr Evans and me to convene a meeting with Mr Ferguson. A face-to-face meeting has not yet occurred. We have had telephone discussions only, and there was no final decision or agreement arising from those calls.

“I have been off island on annual leave since Saturday, 28 February, 2026. Upon becoming aware of the reports today, Mr Evans and I contacted Mr Ferguson directly to address the misunderstanding. The substance of that conversation will remain private,” Mr Thompson added.

“We have agreed to meet in person promptly upon my return to bring this matter to a close and, during that time, I will personally extend an apology to Mr Ferguson KC (whom I hold in high regard) for any miscommunication or misunderstanding.”

“A commercial organisation which agrees to take part in a commercial arrangement without stipulating for a fixed period of notice, and in reliance on receiving a reasonable period of notice, takes the risk that it may suffer a loss of turnover and a loss of profits while it seeks to replace that which it had from the arrangement and otherwise adjusts its business to the termination of that relationship. That is a risk of commercial life.”

The Privy Council added that there was nothing to suggest the staff previously dedicated to ABI’s brands could not be reassigned, while the warehouse and refrigeration upgrades benefited all of Burns House’s brands. It added that all the relevant factors pointed to a “relatively short notice period”.

“The Court of Appeal was entitled to infer from the relatively small contribution of ABI products to Burns House’s overall turnover that products being distributed under the distribution agreement formed a similarly small proportion of the products which were refrigerated. The expenditure on upgrading the refrigeration plant does not appear to be extraordinary expenditure attributable only or principally to the distribution agreement,” the Privy Council added.

“The judge does not appear to have attached any weight to several important factors which point towards a shorter period of notice. Those factors are, under the distribution agreement, Burns House was allowed to distribute its own products and products of other producers which were in competition with ABI.

“The business generated by the distribution agreement amounted to about 10 percent of Burns House’s turnover; the interest of ABI in having the opportunity to set up a new distributorship within a reasonable period of time; and the difficulties which both parties would face by being tied into an arrangement which was going to come to an end, and the commercial risk that one or other party might ‘take its foot off the pedal’ notwithstanding its contractual obligation to perform its part of the contract during the notice period.

“The latter factor was a particular risk for ABI because Burns House traded in competing products,” the Privy Council said. “The first two factors point towards the conclusion that it would be easier for Burns House to adjust to the loss of turnover from the distribution agreement than it would have been for a distributor dependent for its business on distributing the products of others, and upon the product of a particular producer for a high percentage of its turnover. The second two factors are a reminder that it is necessary to consider the interests of both parties to the contract when fixing the reasonable period of notice.”

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net

A PERSISTENT headache is easy to dismiss. A moment of dizziness can be blamed on fatigue. But when symptoms involving the brain begin to surface and progress quickly, they may signal something far more serious.

That was the sobering reminder delivered by Consultant Neurosurgeon Dr Nicholas Burrowes during a recent monthly health talk hosted by the Cancer Society of The Bahamas. Addressing an audience gathered to better understand cancers of the brain, Dr Burrowes walked listeners through what brain tumours are, how they behave, and why certain warning signs should never be ignored.

“Due to genetic changes, cells can grow abnormally in or near the brain, resulting in the formation of a brain tumour,” Dr Burrowes explained, laying the foundation for the discussion.

He clarified that not every tumour found in the brain is cancerous. “Brain tumours can be benign (noncancerous), meaning they grow slowly and stay within a localised area,” he said. “However, when brain tumours grow and spread rapidly, they are known as brain cancers.”

That distinction, he noted, often determines how urgently doctors must act.

Brain cancers are further categorised based on where they originate. “Brain cancers are

Why Brain Health Awareness Matters

classified as primary or secondary,” Dr Burrowes explained. He said while primary brain cancers originate in the brain, secondary brain cancers reach the brain from somewhere else, like the lung, breast, skin, or kidney.

Dr Burrowes then outlined several of the more common primary brain cancers seen in clinical practice. Among them are gliomas, which begin in the supportive tissue of the brain; meningiomas, which form in the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord; pituitary tumours; pineal tumours; germ cell tumours; nerve tumours; choroid plexus tumours; and embryonal tumours that arise from cells left over from fetal development. Each behaves differently, and each presents its own treatment challenges.

Symptoms, he stressed, depend largely on the tumour's size, location, and rate of growth. An individual with brain cancer may experience “headaches, seizures, problems with balance and coordination, weakness on one side or part of the body, nausea and vomiting, confusion, drowsiness, and fatigue, dizziness or loss of consciousness, blurred vision,” he said.

Headaches are the most frequently reported complaint. Dr Burrowes explained that they occur when swelling in the brain increases pressure inside the skull.

He also pointed to the pace at which symptoms develop as an important clue. In comparison to benign tumours, he noted, the symptoms of brain cancer “appear suddenly and worsen quickly, often within a few days or weeks.”

While secondary brain cancers are linked to cancers elsewhere in the body, the origins of most primary brain cancers are less clear. Even so, certain factors may raise a person’s risk. Dr Burrowes listed “increased age, though some brain cancers mainly affect young children, exposure to radiation, inherited syndromes, such as Neurofibromatosis, Tuberous Sclerosis, and Li-Fraumeni syndrome, weakened immune system, smoking” among those concerns.

Unlike breast or prostate cancer, there is no routine screening test for brain cancer.

“Currently, there is no standard, routine screening test for brain cancer,” Dr Burrowes said. Diagnosis typically begins only after symptoms prompt medical evaluation.

Her health, her power

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

AS International Women’s Day approaches, conversations about empowerment often highlight leadership, achievement and breaking barriers. But for many women, one of the most powerful revolutions happening right now is far more personal. It is the decision to finally prioritise their health.

For years, women have carried families, responsibilities and expectations, often placing their own physical and mental wellbeing at the bottom of the list. Strength has often meant pushing through. Endurance has been praised. Rest has been postponed.

Now, more women are quietly choosing something different.

For 38 year old Alana Rolle, that shift began with exhaustion she could no longer ignore.

“I kept telling myself I was just tired. I would wake up already drained, drink more coffee and move through the day like that was normal. Even when my body felt off, I convinced myself it was just part of being busy. When I finally went to the doctor and found out my iron levels were dangerously low, it hit me that I had been ignoring warning signs for months.”

She said that moment changed how she views self care.

“I used to cancel my own appointments if something else came up. Now I protect them. I understand that taking care of myself is not a luxury. It is what allows me to show up fully for the people who depend on me.”

For 45 year old Patrice Knowles, the turning point came in the form of anxiety she initially brushed aside.

“I thought what I was feeling was just stress and that it would pass. I would wake up with my heart racing and still tell myself to keep going because that is what women do. But when I realized I was constantly overwhelmed and emotionally exhausted, I knew I could not keep pretending everything was fine.”

Seeking help required vulnerability.

“There is pressure to be strong and to carry everything quietly. Choosing therapy felt uncomfortable at first, but it also felt honest. I am healthier now because I stopped trying to manage everything alone.”

fibroids, I felt relieved to have answers but frustrated that I had minimized my own pain for so long.”

Speaking openly about her experi ence has shifted her perspective.

“So many women messaged me privately to say they were going through the same thing. We are often taught to endure discomfort quietly.

“I used to wear exhaustion like it was proof that I was doing enough.

For 29 year old Brianna Johnson, empowerment meant addressing pain she had normalized for years.

“I grew up hearing that painful cycles were just part of being a woman. I missed work and social events and still told myself it was nothing serious. When I was eventually diagnosed with

Learning to advocate for my body has been one of the most empowering les sons of my life.”

For 52 year old Marcia Bain the transfor mation was less about a diagno sis and more about redefining strength.

“I used to wear exhaus tion like it was proof that I was doing enough. If I was not busy, I felt guilty. But my body started sending signals

At that stage, physicians turn to imaging technology. Tests may include “MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), CT Scan (Computed Tomography), PET Scan (Positron Emission Tomography), MRS (Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy), SPECT Scan (Single Photon Emission CT),” he outlined. If an abnormality is detected, doctors proceed with a biopsy, during which a small tissue sample is removed from the brain and examined under a microscope to confirm a diagnosis.

Treatment, he emphasised, requires collaboration. Based on a

patient’s health and the characteristics of the tumour, doctors may recommend “Surgery, Radiation therapy, Chemotherapy, Targeted therapy,” often in combination. Surgery aims to remove as much of the tumour as safely possible, relieving pressure and easing symptoms, while radiation and chemotherapy target cancer cells that remain. Targeted therapies focus on specific cellular mechanisms that drive tumour growth. As for prevention, Dr Burrowes was candid. “Since there is no single, definitive cause of brain cancer, there is no sure way to prevent it,” he said. Still, he encouraged practical steps that may lower overall cancer risk, including “Eating a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol consumption, not smoking, avoiding unnecessary radiation, getting adequate sleep, Managing stress.” For individuals at higher risk, he advised scheduling regular physical exams and imaging scans, which may help detect abnormalities earlier.

Beyond education, the Cancer Society of The Bahamas continues to provide support services for patients and families facing cancer. Through its Cancer Caring Centre, the organization offers free accommodations for Family Islanders receiving treatment in New Providence. It also facilitates an Adult Support Group, operates the Freedom Kids Club for children diagnosed with cancer, and assists patients with Port-a-Caths and port needles.

through headaches and high blood pressure, and I realized I could not keep

“I now protect my quiet time the same way I protect any responsibility. Rest is not laziness. It is maintenance. And maintaining my health is part of maintaining

These stories reflect a broader shift unfolding quietly among women. The idea that self sacrifice is the highest form of love is being questioned. The belief that pushing through pain is admirable is being reconsidered. Instead, women are learning

Listening to fatigue that lingers. Listening to anxiety that refuses to settle. Listening to pain that feels abnormal. Listening before small warnings turn into serious consequences. International Women’s Day celebrates progress and possibility. Yet perhaps one of the most meaningful forms of progress is happening behind closed doors in doctors’ offices, therapy rooms and quiet bedrooms where women are choosing rest over relentless productivity.

THE old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” may have some truth behind it after all. Eating nourishing foods rich in certain vitamins and minerals can help your immune system fight off illness.

“A strong immune system bolsters your body against the common cold and the flu,” says registered dietitian Julia Zumpano, RD, LD. “It can also help you recover from injury and keep your energy level high.”

Zumpano, a Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, resident dietitian, shares the best minerals and vitamins for your immune system.

Vitamin A supports your white blood cells and the mucus membranes, which are protective linings that remove foreign particles, in your urinary tract, intestines and lungs. Research shows that this helps keep your immune system at its best by protecting it from potential infections.

Good sources of vitamin A include dairy products like milk, yogurt and eggs, fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, and vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach and broccoli.

Vitamin B6 is vital to your immune system. One of its major roles is in producing white blood cells and T cells – the cells that fight

Power Up Your Immune System: 7 essential nutrients your body needs

off invaders, like viruses and bacteria. Good sources of include chickpeas, beef, salmon, tuna and tofu.

Vitamin C is one of the best vitamins to boost your immune system. In fact, researchers say vitamin C deficiency can make you more prone to getting sick.

Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, meaning it can protect your body from toxins that cause inflammation.

Getting your intake of vitamin C on a regular basis is essential for good health because your body doesn’t produce it on its own. It also doesn’t store it for later.

Foods high in vitamin C include bell peppers, citrus fruits and kale. Vitamin D doesn’t just help your body defend itself against infection. It also promotes healing. Studies show that vitamin D may delay a virus’ ability to replicate, reduce inflammation and increase your T cell levels.

You can get vitamin D from foods like fatty fish, canned fish like sardines and tuna, egg yolks, mushrooms and fortified orange juice.

“Your body naturally produced vitamin D when you’re in the sun. Daily

exposure to direct sunlight is the best way to meet your needs of this essential vitamin,” says Zumpano. “There aren’t many whole foods that are good sources of vitamin D. This can make it difficult to meet your needs from food alone.”

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps your body fight off infection. Research shows that vitamin E is one of the most effective nutrients for your immune system function. That’s because it helps keep your T-cells working at peak performance.

Zumpano strongly encourages avoiding

of medical professionals

education sessions and giveaways

“Love Yourself” health fair held in South Andros

The Department of Public Health, through the Miriam Green Clinic, hosted a memorable health fair in South Andros, providing an opportunity for residents to receive free health checks, engage in educational presentations, enjoy giveaways, and connect with fellow community members. The medical professionals of the Miriam Green Clinic came together to present the "Love Yourself Health Fair" on Wednesday, February 25 from 9am to 4pm. The event was held in Kemp's Bay, South Andros and attracted scores of residents from neighbouring settlements for a day of activities designed to remind them that loving themselves includes taking care of their health. Guest speakers included Nurse Rebecca Johnson; Dietician Saunders-Smith; Nurse Preatta Gibbs; and Lukandah Gardiner.

South Androsians received screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol and Diabetes, and were provided professional advice on women's health, dental health and weight loss. Member of Parliament for Central Andros, Mangrove Cay and South Andros Leon Lundy attended the fair and set an example by having his health checks done and listening keenly to the advice of the health professionals at the fair. He assisted in

ensuring the event was a success for both the clinic staff who hosted the event and for his constituents who needed the community outreach provided. Residents left the fair with more than knowledge of their health status and ways to improve their lives. They received healthy treats and giveaways to take home, so that they feel the love intended by the organisers of the fair.

vitamin E supplements.

“Not only is there little clinical research showing that vitamin E supplements benefit your health, but they may also be harmful in some situations,” she warns.

Instead, load up your plate with vitamin E-filled foods like, sunflower seeds, almonds, broccoli and avocado.

Zinc is anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant. Researchers call it the “gatekeeper” of your immune system because it’s responsible for making all your immune cells function properly.

Foods to boost your zinc intake include oysters, lean cuts on beef, pumpkin seeds and turkey breast. One mineral that is less talked about but certainly deserves its place on your priority list is Selenium.

Dietary selenium is a onetwo punch for keeping your healthy. It not only activates your immune system when there’s a threat, but it also tells your immune system when to pump the brakes. That means it can keep your immune system from going overboard, protecting your from chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, Chron’s disease and psoriasis.

Good sources of selenium include tuna, halibut,

cottage cheese and Brazil nuts.

While vitamin supplements can help fill the gaps in your diet, the best way to load up on essential nutrients is to get them straight from the source.

“Your body absorbs and uses vitamins and minerals better when they come from the foods you eat that from a supplement,” Zumpano stresses.

Also, supplements aren’t monitored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Some of them can have side effects, especially if you have taken them before surgery or with other medicines. Supplements can also cause problems if you have certain health conditions and the effects of many of them haven’t been tested in children, pregnant women and other groups. For these reasons, experts say it’s best to get your vitamins and minerals through food rather than use supplements to improve your immune system.

If you think you need a supplement, Zumpano suggests talking with a healthcare provider first. “They can help you understand whether a supplement is right for you,” concludes Zumpano. “They can advise you on how to get your fill of the nutrients your body needs.”

Medical teams across Eleuthera have taken part in emergency medical training as part of continuing efforts to redefine Family Island healthcare – and save lives.

For many years, the lack of emergency care to modern standards across the Family Islands has literally been a matter of life and death – so ensuring that those in need can be helped by staff with the right skills is an important part of improving healthcare throughout the Bahamian archipelago.

Eleuthera Wellness Hospital & Clinics recently invited medical teams from the hospital and satellite clinics to take part in training for basic and advanced cardiac life support, providing updates for techniques and a chance to practice skills.

“This is part of our commitment to being the leaders in emergency care on Eleuthera,” said Bahamas Wellness founder Dr Arlington Lightbourne.

“This really means that staff have the skills and the confidence to help people in their hour of greatest need.”

This is the latest in a series of healthcare upgrades from

the team at Eleuthera Wellness Hospital & Clinics. The hospital – the first and only private hospital in a Family Island – opened in October and now maintains extended hours for urgent care at the same location, 24/7 hours for emergencies and hospital admissions and operates clinics in Spanish Wells, Rock Sound and Lower Bogue in Eleuthera and in Nassau. In addition, radiology and imaging services have also been launched in Eleuthera, offering full daily radiology and imaging coverage. The clinic at Lower Bogue has also reopened.

“We see it as our mission to ensure every resident and visitor on Eleuthera has access to timely, safe and world-class healthcare – without leaving the island. Every step we take builds the healthcare services we can offer, and helps to keep people safe and healthy.” Contact Eleuthera Wellness Hospital & Clinics on 242-332-0224

The Bahamas to host Wedding Show Producers International

(WSPI)

2026 Annual Conference at Warwick Paradise Island

AT the invitation of the annual Bahamas Bridal Show, Wedding Show Producers International (WSPI) will host its 2026 annual conference in May at Paradise Island. WSPI is the leading professional alliance of wedding expo owners, directors, and producers spanning the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, including The Bahamas.

WSPI members represent hundreds of consumer bridal show events annually, collectively reaching nearly one million engaged couples and tens of thousands of wedding vendors each year. The 3-day WSPI conference will be held Monday-Wednesday, May 4-6, at Warwick Paradise Island and hosted by the Annual Bahamas Bridal Show and its executive producer Tommy Stubbs, who joined the 70-member WSPI organization last May.

The conference is also in partnership with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Warwick resort. A Destination-Driven Conference Experience The 2026 WSPI Conference in The Bahamas will feature executive workshops & producer-level training, international tourism & destination-wedding partnership discussions, best-practices roundtables, leadership forums & technology talks, Caribbean-inspired networking events and cultural experiences, sponsorship opportunities for global brands, resorts, cruise lines & travel planners.

Stubbs, who founded the Annual Bahamas Bridal Show in 1990, recently made the announcement of the Nassau-bound conference following WSPI’s highly productive appearance at the November 2025 Wedding MBA in Las Vegas, where WSPI showcased its new branding, hosted strategic business development sessions, and strengthened alliances with tourism boards, national brands, and international wedding-industry leaders. WSPI is aggressively unveiling its new

MILAN (AP) — Giorgio

Armani’s niece Silvana Armani took up her uncle’s mantle with quiet confidence, presenting the first signature collection without the input of the iconic founding designer to close Milan Fashion Week on Sunday.

Actor Andie MacDowell, 67, was among the front-row guests for a show that represented a new chapter for the Giorgio Armani fashion group, following the designer's death last September, aged 91.

“One of the things that is really important to me is representing women of a certain age, and showing that we still are fashionable and powerful and strong, and we enjoy life and looking beautiful,’’ MacDowell said as she arrived for the show wearing a dark Armani suit with a three-dimensional rose detail.

"I love this because I was born Rosalie Anderson MacDowell, and I thought this suit was made for me. It makes me feel really elegant," she said.

Giorgio Armani's essence

The Giorgio Armani women’s winter wardrobe for next fall and winter was fluid, essential and wholly contemporary, expressing

membership initiatives, expanding associate-partner categories, and highlighting its newly re-engineered destination romance and travel pavilion, which will launch in major wedding expos across North America this year. Joe Andretta, managing director of WSPI informed that through collaboration with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, WSPI desires to drive increased visibility for The Bahamas at hundreds of live events annually, directly in front of couples actively planning destination weddings. They also hope to engage the broader network of WSPI producers and travel partners to position The Bahamas at the forefront of their offerings and deliver compelling campaigns that elevate brand prestige and generate measurable bookings.

“WSPI is a premier group of bridal show and wedding expo producers, and we’re grateful that WSPI accepted our invitation to hold the conference in The Bahamas,” said Stubbs. “The conference will bring together elite wedding show producers, exhibitors, industry executives, tourism authorities, luxury-hospitality brands, and experiential marketing partners for four days of business growth, content, and collaboration.”

Andretta said: “We’re thrilled to feature The Bahamas so prominently and believe this collaboration will create exceptional exposure and goodwill throughout our North American producer network and the global wedding industry. The selection of the Bahamas as the conference destination marks our (WSPI’s) most ambitious and globally inspired conference to date, reflecting the organization’s ongoing growth,

A model wears a creation from the Giorgio Armani Fall/Winter 20262027 Women's collection presented in Milan, Italy, Sunday, March 1, 2026.

international industry impact, and commitment to elevating the bridal and wedding show marketplace. The conference was held in Orlando, Florida, last year and Mexico in 2024. Andretta further stated that “observing Tommy’s professionalism, creativity, and organizational skills over the years at the Annual Bahamas Bridal Show made it easy for WSPI to make The Bahamas our site for this year’s conference. We’re delighted to have him as a WSPI member. In the short time of his membership, he has already made a tremendous impact.”

Strengthening International Tourism & Destination Alliances

With destination weddings and experiential romance travel representing one of the fastest

A model wears a creation from the Giorgio Armani Fall/Winter 20262027 Women's collection presented in Milan, Italy, Sunday, March 1, 2026.

Silvana Armani honors a fashion dynasty with

essential collection during Milan Fashion Week

the fashion house’s essence. To point, there was no jewelry, save pins with the zodiac sign for Cancer, for the late designer's birth sign.

Opening looks were in an urban slate gray, softened by silken blouses with foulard detailing around the neck. A burgundy belt gave color and structure, while knitwear with the slightest scoop neck maintained discipline. Long overcoats grazed the runway.

As for her uncle, Silvan Armani made soft yet tailored jackets the backbone of the collection, including quilted Japanese-style jackets and colorful shearling coats. They were complemented with fluid trousers, some with side pleats for volume. Winter white trousers with silken high-neck blouses and anoraks suggested an active lifestyle, as did the cozy knitwear, cross-body bags and tinted eyewear.

growing wedding industry segments, Andretta said WSPI is creating strategic bridges between show producers and global tourism partners, and the Bahamas conference will serve as an international hub for new partnerships, sponsorship opportunities, and experiential activations designed for both U.S.-based and international markets.

“Our participation at the Wedding MBA reinforced the extraordinary value, influence, and buying power of our network,” said Andretta.

“The Bahamas is the perfect setting for our 2026 conference because it represents luxury, romance, travel, and experience - the exact direction the wedding industry is moving. We are elevating the standard for collaboration, education, and global partnership.” As managing director of WSPI, Andretta said he remains “genuinely excited about the significant opportunity to spotlight The Bahamas as a premier destination for weddings and honeymoons across our extensive network of shows in the U.S. and Canada. Given the remarkable successes of the Annual Bahamas Bridal Show — and the outstanding engagement we’ve witnessed from couples and travel professionals alike we truly believe the timing is ideal to build on this momentum.”

The Bahamas Bridal Show will stage its 36th annual production Sunday, March 22nd at Grand Hyatt Grand Baha Mar with 45 business as exhibitors, including some of the most prominent Bahamian companies.

“With the assistance of Mr Stubbs and the Bahamas Bridal Show, our WSPI board is eager to explore how we can align with strategic objectives of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. We’re excited of the opportunity of how we can collectively expand The Bahamas’ footprint in the lucrative North American wedding and honeymoon market.”

The color palette shifted to burgundy and midnight blue, the new black. Velvet looks accented with beaded embroidery gave cozy elegance, while eveningwear featured iridescent corsets that sat slightly away from the body. Even the dressier looks were worn with cross-body satchels, suggesting that the Giorgio Armani woman wasn’t waiting at home for evening festivities to begin. Silvana Armani, 70, said after the show that the collection contained looks that she would wear herself.

“Working with fluidity and simplicity came naturally to me, because that’s how I am,” said Armani, who like her uncle took her bows in a navy sweater and trousers. Emporio Armani in concert

Silvana Armani also collaborated with Leo Dell’Orco, as Armani's creative heirs, in a crisp Emporio Armani co-ed collection that previewed on Thursday. The Armani Theater floor was covered in wood to recall a music conservatory, the inspiration for a collection that drew on British formality with Italian sensibility. Tailcoats and waistcoats evoked performance, while denim grounded the looks and gave them fresh modernity. The show closed with a striking finale of starched white shirts and impeccable black tie, drawing long, warm applause for the creative duo.

Olympic medal winners from Team Italia took

They were outfitted for

6-22 Games in EA7 Emporio Armani performance athleticwear.

Where passion meets purpose:

Women of Purpose 242 turns five

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

AS Women’s History Month shines a light on the resilience, influence and legacy of women across generations, Women of Purpose 242 is marking a milestone of its own. The nonprofit outreach ministry is celebrating five years of service, years filled with food and clothing drives, senior home visits, Christmas carolling and a sisterhood built on empathy and love.

For President Deidre Bastian, the journey has always been deeply personal.

“The nonprofit sector looks different for everyone,” she reflected. “While some immediately may feel that serving people and communities is not the path for them, others may discover that it perfectly resonates with their personal goals. Passion has to be the driving force that propels this organisation as it requires planning, sacrifice and teamwork, as it is a voluntary undertaking.”

NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Government remains resolute in its commitment to modernise policies, strengthen support services, expand public education, and foster those strategic partnerships that will ensure equality for women under the law, while further ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, the Hon Myles K LaRoda, said Friday.

Minister LaRoda was addressing the Opening Session of the Second Annual National Women’s Empowerment Symposium held at Bahamas Harvest Church. Friday’s opening symposium signaled the launch of a major fourday focus on equality for women under the law and access to justice, and is a collaboration between the Ministry, the National Women’s Advisory Council (NWAC), and the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting.

Friday’s opening session was also addressed by Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training, the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, and Mrs. Marion Bethel, Commissioner of the Inter-American Human Rights Commission of the Organization of American States.

Minister LaRoda said ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls is not just symbolic language, but a measure of national progress.

“It reflects the strength of our institutions, the fairness of our systems, and the seriousness of our commitment to equality under the law,”

What began as an effort to administer assistance to family members has since evolved into a fully uniformed ministry that is registered and certified under the NPO Act 2019. Today, the organisation operates under the oversight of a Board of Directors made up of individuals with diversified skills supporting the vision. The recent acquisition of personal transportation has further strengthened its ability to serve communities efficiently. Still, beyond structure and certification, Bastian says the heart of the organization remains unchanged. “It is a culture where empathy and love is not only encouraged but is expected,” she said, describing the camaraderie, shared knowledge and uplifting support that exists among the women. That spirit, she believes, extends far beyond their membership and into the communities they serve.

Since July 2021, Women of Purpose 242 has conducted numerous outdoor food and clothing drives,

fed and visited various senior and children’s homes and supplied critical items where needed. Each Christmas, the organisation commits to feeding a senior home, caroling and interacting with residents during the yuletide season. Over time, the outreach has grown deeper.

“We have no doubt evolved from service oriented to forging friendships and spiritual empowerment,” Bastian explained, noting that the ministry’s growth has come through incremental milestones and humble success stories.

Marking the anniversary during Women’s History

“The timing permits us to share in the awareness campaign to recognise the roles of women not only within the family unit, but among many who have fought for equality and made lasting impacts across all cultures and communities.”

Month feels especially meaningful. As a body of women serving women and families, the alignment offers an opportunity to reflect on the broader contributions of women who have fought for equality, shattered barriers and made lasting impacts across cultures and communities.

“The timing permits us to share in the awareness campaign to recognise the roles of women not only within the family unit, but among many who have fought for equality and made lasting impacts across all cultures and communities,” Bastian said. “It awakens an

overall call to recompense historical progression for all women of past history to present.”

This year’s anniversary observance will begin with a thanksgiving church service, followed by a group luncheon. Later in the year, a traditional awards presentation is planned to recognise dedicated members for their unwavering commitment to service. The growth of the ministry, she said, is reflected not in grand gestures alone, but in steady progress and visible transformation. Among the defining moments have been the emotional encounters experienced during outreach efforts, scenes of brokenness, hunger, joy and humility that tug at the hearts of members and reaffirm their obligation to continue. Bastian also pointed to the impact on young women within the organisation, some of whom began as timid participants but have since become assertive leaders

Presented flowers at the National Women’s Symposium Opening Ceremony is speaker Mrs. Marion Bethel (second left); also pictured, Minister Glenys Hanna- Martin; Mrs. Ann Marie Davis of the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister; and Minister Myles LaRoda. The symposium’s opening ceremony was held at Bahamas Harvest Church, February 27, 2026. The symposium continues Saturday, February 28, at Bahamas Harvest Church, providing a full day of free services, expert advice, and empowering discussions for the entire family.

(BIS Photo/Patrice Johnson)

organising monthly events and empowering others.

“Life defining moments may not happen only by chance, as there are no coincidences, only moments divinely placed in our lives for a reason,” she shared. Witnessing those emotional moments over the years, she added, reminds members why they do the work and the responsibility they feel to keep going.

Sustaining a nonprofit has not been without challenges. Bastian admits she did not choose nonprofit outreach, but feels it chose her. As someone who describes herself as a pragmatist, she focuses on solutions, believing that every milestone, block or encounter high or low has contributed to consolidating the organisation’s vision. Looking ahead, Women of Purpose 242 remains committed to focusing on communities while developing opportunities that pave the way with added footprints and life skills. Through collaboration and partnership, the hope is that continued mentorship of younger women will contribute to a greater purpose that offers a more equitable and inclusive community.

Five years in, Women of Purpose 242 stands as a reflection of what can happen when passion meets planning, when empathy becomes culture and when women commit not only to serving others, but to uplifting one another.

commitment to safeguarding women and girls.

“The Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting remains steadfast in ensuring that our national frameworks continue to evolve -strengthening protections, expanding support services, and improving access to justice across our archipelago.

Minister LaRoda told his audience.

“For women and girls, access to justice means protection from violence and exploitation. It means fair recourse when rights are violated. It means equal opportunity in employment, education, leadership, and economic participation. It means confidence that institutions will respond -- not merely react -- and that they will do so with integrity and accountability.

“Justice,” Mr. LaRoda continued, “must not be delayed, diluted, or denied. It must be accessible,

efficient, transparent, and unwavering. We will create spaces like this symposium not only to educate and empower -- but to listen and act.

“As a Government, we remain resolute in our commitment. We will continue to modernise policies, strengthen support services, expand public education, and foster strategic partnerships. We will create spaces like this symposium not only to educate and empower, but to listen and act.”

Minister LaRoda said a society cannot prosper if

women and girls remain vulnerable within the very systems designed to protect them.

“That is why this symposium matters. This year’s focus – ‘Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls' -- is deliberate, strategic, and necessary. Today we gather not only to discuss justice, but to strengthen it. We gather not only to empower women, but to equip them because when women and girls are protected, prepared, and positioned to succeed, the entire nation advances.”

The Social Services Minister said The Bahamas is party to key regional and international human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence Against Women, which, along with a domestic commitment to safeguarding women and girls, “require action.” He underscored some of those actions already undertaken on the domestic front.

“Through legislative reform such as the Protection Against Violence Act 2023, we have strengthened protections for survivors, expanded access to protective orders, reinforced accountability measures, and embedded human rights principles into our national response framework. This Act reflects alignment between our international obligations and our domestic

“Our broader theme, ‘Give to Gain: Equipping Women for Success in 2026 and Beyond,’ moves this conversation from principle to preparation. It recognizes that justice is not only about legislation. It is about leadership development, economic empowerment, parenting support, mental health awareness, and strategic positioning for the future.”

“Dynamic” panel discussions, practical workshops, access to key service providers, discussions on legal rights and protections, pathways to justice, financial literacy and economic advancement, mental wellness, parenting support, and opportunities for leadership, professional and spiritual growth, and a church service are among the activities planned over the four days. Government agencies, community partners, and advocacy organizations will be present to provide information, guidance, and direct engagement in what officials say will be an opportunity not only to learn, but to connect -- not only to be informed, but to be equipped.

The four days will conclude with an Award Ceremony at Government House (Tuesday, March 3) honouring Women in Law and Order.

Bahamas Fashion Week returns in style

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net

AFTER years away from the runway spotlight, Bahamas Fashion Week is stepping back onto the scene this March 26-29, bringing with it a renewed sense of ambition, polish and possibility.

Founder Kevin Strakan of KJS Collection makes it clear that this return goes beyond a typical social calendar event. For him, it marks a deeply personal come-back to a world he helped shape nearly three decades ago.

“Looking back over the years after establishing Bahamas Fashion Week in 1996, I must say that this is a wonderful comeback,” said Kevin.

For him, it is certainly a great feeling to have taken a break for so long, and be welcomed back with opened arms in the fashion industry. To have designers from Couture Fashion Week, and New York Fashion Week, call him to say that they’ve missed him not being present in their audiences for shows, is heartwarming.

Time away did not dull his connection to the global fashion circuit. Instead, it sharpened his perspective. “After the (COVID-19) pandemic, I’ve seen beautiful black models with glowing skin make it to the runway in Italy and Paris. Seeing that was an inspiration in itself. And also, to have my jewellery collections adorn the Couture Fashion Models of Andres Aquino at the Cannes Film Festival in May, 2026, is a blessing,” said Kevin.

While the comeback carries international undertones, its foundation remains rooted at home. Kevin describes the event as a high-octane showcase infused with polish and theatrical flair. “The heartbeat of Bahamas Fashion Week is the high-energy and that sophisticated style of modelling that only Fifth Avenue can produce. Fashion is my domain. The cat walk is an unreal world where designers display their fantasies on women and men with perfect bodies and perfect smiles,” he said. Beyond spectacle, the platform is designed as a gateway.

“The purpose of BFW is to allow designers and students at fashion institutions to participate in such an event and the opportunity to showcase their creations,” he explained. Participation, he added, offers a practical education in the mechanics of the industry. “By participating in our events which are exactly the same as NYCFW, Bahamian designers get to understand backstage, the real world. And this is the opportunity that BFW can offer by inviting www.andresaquino. com, one of the top fashion houses in NYC; to assist the Bahamian designers whom would like to enter Couture Fashion Week, in February, 2027,” said Kevin. The local imprint is deliberate and unmistakable. “All things Bahamian are what make it uniquely Bahamian,” he said, pointing to the KJS Signature Collection crafted from fruit and local seeds, sea glass, pirate glass more than 100 years old, bootlegger’s bottles from the high seas and old Bahamian coins no longer in circulation.

east, west and downtown. “The decision to have the shows in the east, west and downtown is to allow individuals who would like to see the fashion shows and don’t want to travel too far outside their area,” Kevin noted. “I have clients in the far west who seldom go into town, and by hosting a breakfast show, a luncheon show and a poolside fashion show gives everybody wanting to attend, an opportunity to view our Bahamian Designers Collection nearby their homes,” said Kevin.

He said this is exactly how it happens in NYC during fashion week; there are various restaurants and resorts hosting shows, with a major show held after.

Kevin believes this year’s production introduces tangible opportunities. “This year we have the editor of www.worldfashionmedianews.com and her team attending the events for publication in WFMN magazine, in print and online. There’s an all-inclusive photo-shoot on a private island for the magazine and this gives the Bahamian designers and models a great opportunity to be photographed for publication alongside couture models. Bahamian designers and models will also have one year to prepare to accompany KJS Signature Collection to Couture Fashion Week, February 2027,” said Kevin. Attendees can expect each setting to influence the mood and rhythm of its respective showcase. Each showcase is set to complement each venue where an event is being held. The breakfast show held Downtown is nestled in the streets of Nassau, at a sidewalk café with natural sunlight. Models will feature designs from persons like from Jarressa Johnson, Shenika Walker, Raquel Barr, Kristin Douglas and KJS Collection.

This year’s edition also breaks from tradition by spreading its showcases across multiple locations. Rather than a single central venue, fashion will travel

The event will also pay tribute to industry legacy. “This BFW we will honor Judy Deleveaux, for her lifetime service and dedication to the fashion industry. Judy has designed a special collection for BWF and WFMN Magazine,” he said. In addition, “We have extended an invitation to BTVI Fashion Department to be a part of BFW. We also have Bahamian designers living abroad returning home to participate in the events of BFW,” said Kevin. Production, Kevin promises, will feel cinematic and seamless. “This year you will see a cinema fashion production whereas things run like clockwork. For the designers, there is little left to do but receive well-wishes and try to stay calm,” he said. Kevin also notes a cultural shift behind the curtains. “Once upon a time it used to be a scared environment, attended by only a trusted core of insiders. These days, however, backstage has become an entertainment in its own right, as much part of the fashion show as the catwalk itself - after party,” he said. With its blend of local craftsmanship, international ambition and community accessibility, Bahamas Fashion Week positions fashion once again as performance, pathway and celebration, stitched together in true island style.