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Friday, March 6, 2026
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Gov’t can’t be ‘overborn’ by public on Yntegra approval BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Government’s right to approve major investment projects is “not overborn” by the outcome of public consultation and feedback, its top environmental regulator is asserting, with the Rosewood Exuma developer set to pay an annual $527,000 rent for its 124-acre Crown Land lease, Dr Rhianna Neely-Murphy, the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) director, in a January 16, 2026, affidavit filed with the Supreme Court asserted that “sound science” was “the foundation” of its decision to approve the Sampson Cay development’s certificate of environmental clearance (CEC) despite significant concerns and opposition from neighbouring projects and others. And she also rejected claims by Turtlegrass Resort & Island Club and Over Yonder Cay’s developer that a project’s environmental management plan (EMP), as well as the initial Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), “must be published in
Rosewood Exuma CEC based on ‘sound science’
$527k annually for 50-year, 124-acre Crown lease
ROSEWOOD EXUMA advance of the public consultation”. Dr Neely-Murphy said it had never been DEPP’s policy or practice to publish such documents before such a process occurs. Meanwhile, other documents filed with the Supreme
Court as part of the other two developers’ Judicial Review challenge that seeks to overturn the environmental approvals granted to the developer, Miami-based Yntegra Group, reveals that the latter has leased 124 acres
NEC recommended sand mining, rock and fill permits for a 50-year period from the Government for its Sampson Cay project. The lease deal, which was signed on the same December 19, 2023, date that the project’s Heads of Agreement was executed by the Davis administration, commits Yntegra to paying an annual $527,000 rent plus VAT over the lease’s five-decade lifetime. That translates into a total $26.35m payment over that 50-year period. There appears to be no review of the annual rental sum provided for in the lease, and nor does it seem to be linked or indexed to inflation or have any kind of ‘escalator’ clause. The lease also gives Yntegra, or whoever is the
FRUSTRATED former staff at a now-closed Grand Bahama food merchant yesterday voiced fears they now face becoming “another City Markets” amid a near yearlong wait to be paid due severance and other termination benefits. Charlicia Smith, who said she was employed by Sawyer’s Fresh Market for two years, told Tribune Business that efforts to obtain what
workers are owed under the Employment Act have thus far proven fruitless with Department of Labour officials relaying to them assertions by the company’s proprietor that he cannot pay them until receivables due from the Government are collected. Recalling a meeting that she and another ex-Sawyer’s employee held with Freeport-based labour officials two weeks’ ago, she disclosed they were informed that Sandy Sawyer was waiting to receive payments related
to Department of Social Services food vouchers as well as money purportedly owed over similar coupons provided to Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) supporters for the West End by-election in late 2023. Describing her search for a new job as “hell”, Ms Smith - a mother of three - said she is still trying to catch up on bills after being included among the estimated 20 staff who were furloughed when Sawyer’s closed its Lucayan store and distribution warehouse around Christmas 2024.
PM: GBPA owners fail ‘to meet that standard’ BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Prime Minister last night asserted that the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) current owners have failed “to meet that standard” for Freeport’s growth and development that was set by their predecessors as he argued that the city’s governance model is “no longer delivering”. Philip Davis KC, in an open letter replying to concerns raised by Rupert Hayward, the GBPA director and member of one of its two ownership families, again sought to justify the Government’s actions in
launching arbitration proceedings over its demand that Freeport’s quasi-governmental authority pay $357m by asserting that investment in the city has stalled and services have declined. “When I spoke to the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce in May 2024, I said I could not explain why the current shareholders of the Port Authority are not more productive partners for Grand Bahama,” Mr Davis wrote to Mr Hayward. “I reminded them that this was not always the case. Many remember Sir Jack Hayward with respect. His
EXCHANGE - See Page B5
BPL fuel hedge protects from higher energy costs BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net BAHAMAS Power & Light’s (BPL) chief operating officer yesterday said its renewed fuel hedging initiative will protect Bahamians from higher electricity bills as a result of the surge in global oil prices caused by the Iran war. Anthony Christie reassured that the spike in global oil prices to about $85 per barrel will not immediately impact energy costs in The Bahamas after
BPL initiated a new fuel hedge covering two millon barrels of oil in December 2025. The all-in price obtained by the hedge is around $70 per barrel. This, he added, has locked in BPL’s fuel prices and will help to shield the utility from oil market volatility triggered by geopolitical tensions and market uncertainty. “We operate fuel-to-rate fuel charges based upon the cost of fuel at the time. We can’t control that. But, luckily, the company would
SPIKE - See Page B5
Hawksbill Creek’s free trade zone model must survive GBPA battle Top attorney urges owner, governance power changes But Rupert Hayward warns: GBPA ‘not going anywhere’ Arbitratrors: No ‘free pass’ for laws to erode Freeport BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
Although eventually able to find fresh employment last March, she added that National Insurance Board (NIB) unemployment benefits were first received in February 2025 - creating a two-month window where no income was received. Mr Sawyer could not be reached by phone call or text before press time last night, and no response was received to messages sent by Tribune Business. Howard Thompson, the director of labour,
FREEPORT’S tax advantages and free trade zone model must survive the Government’s battle with the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA), a senior attorney argued yesterday, while calling for the latter’s owners to exit and a devolution of its quasi-governmental powers. Terence Gape, the Dupuch & Turnquest law firm’s Freeport-based managing partner, told Tribune Business that the Hayward and St George families need to sell their economic interests to a “proven investor” given the city’s “total lack of growth for the past 22 years”. And he reiterated his belief that the GBPA’s owners had abdicated their development responsibilities to licensees and residents by selling Dorian-devastated Grand Bahama International Airport to the Minnis administration for just $1. However, he argued that any sale should not involve the GBPA’s regulatory, governance and administrative powers. Instead, Mr Gape argued that these should be devolved to a local government or public administration-type body that would assume responsibility for
SEVERANCE - See Page B4
VERDICT - See Page B4
DEFENCE - See Page B5
Ex-GB food store workers fear ‘another City Markets’ BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
GRAND BAHAMA PORT AUTHORITY (GBPA)