business@tribunemedia.net
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
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‘The clincher’: $3.5m wall maker to ‘double’ capacity next month BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A BAHAMIAN developer and contractor is next month planning to “double” production capacity at its $3.5m pre-cast walls manufacturing plant one year earlier than planned as it bids to deliver significant time and cost savings for the whole construction industry. Robert Myers, the Windsor Lakes principal and head of Capstone Construction, yesterday told Tribune Business that the expansion will lead to further hirings beyond the plant’s existing 15-strong workforce with orders “booked through” August and September for projects in highend communities such as Lyford Cay, Albany and Baker’s Bay. Touting the energy efficiency and installation benefits of the readymade concrete panel walls, he added that their 5,000 PSI (pounds per square inch) specifications provide “very high strength” to withstand hurricanes while water is unable to penetrate. And Mr Myers told this newspaper that “the real clincher” for Bahamian contractors and the construction industry is that his plant can manufacture walls off-site “in parallel” to building a property’s foundation. Rather than wait for the foundation to be completed before starting to go vertical with the walls, he explained
Pre-cast plant’s expansion year ahead of expectation Owner says orders ‘booked through’ to August/September Says off-site manufacturing saves ‘significant’ time, money that his plant’s pre-cast walls can be installed immediately this is done and in just one day. This, Mr Myers said, will especially cut construction time and costs for Family Island projects and their developers. Rather than having to wait for a building’s foundation to be completed, and then face accommodation, food, transportation and other expenses associated with bringing in a team to construct the walls, he added that his pre-cast products can be shipped in and installed the same day to thus eliminate all these costs for both contractor and project owner. The Windsor Lakes and Capstone chief predicted that, depending on Bahamian construction industry demand, the plant’s size and capacity could “double again” beyond
Freeport businesses demand ‘more clarity’ on city’s future BY FAY SIMMONS and NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Reporters GRAND Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) licencees yesterday demanded “more clarity” over Freeport’s future direction and governance amid concerns from some that both the Government and city’s quasi-governmental authority could be digging in for a prolonged battle. Several private sector executives said the Government’s Monday town hall meeting on the GBPA arbitration ruling did little to clarify the island’s future, with one former Chamber president arguing the decision was already “very clear” while the his successor warned that the business community is still “up in the air”. Ralph Hepburn, president of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, said reactions among members to the meeting have been mixed, but he personally left the event without a clearer understanding of how the dispute between the Government and the GBPA will ultimately affect the latter’s 3,500 business licensees and Freeport residents. “For me personally, I think Mr [Gregory] Moss, in his presentation to those in attendance, tried to walk the line of just covering the legal aspects,” said Mr Hepburn. “I think his presentation was well done in terms of explaining the claims, the counter-claims, the rulings and the effect of the arbitration.” However, he suggested many in attendance were looking for something different as the Town Hall felt more like a “political rally” than a forum that clarified how the dispute will affect the island’s businesses and economic future. “I don’t think the crowd came out to hear about clearing up the arbitration. They came out to what seemed like a political rally,” Mr Hepburn said. He added that while the Prime Minister outlined the Government’s position, the matter itself remains unresolved. “From my understanding of what he said, it has not been completed. Deadlines were given for the parties to get back to the arbitration committee on what resolutions they are coming to, and that process has not started or they haven’t had the chance to
MEETING - See Page B4
D’Aguilar: ‘We’ve pulled the trigger’ on $4m expansion Laundromat chain likely to ‘eat’ conflict cost increases Nassau more impacted than Out Islands if tourism hit BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net SUPERWASH’S president yesterday asserted “there’s no way to stop that juggernaut” of his $4m East Street South expansion despite the “massive shock” caused by the likely imminent economic fall-out from the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Dionisio D’Aguilar, also a former minister of tourism and aviation, told Tribune Business that - while the laundromat chain had already “pulled the trigger” on constructing its new location - the anticipated energy, transportation, construction material and goods price increases will likely cause other developers, investors and businesses to hold-off from making their own job-creating investments.
ROBERT MYERS
PRODUCE - See Page B5
Bahamas must ‘position’ to get Dubai millionaire exodus THE Bahamas must “position ourselves” to exploit the potential mass exodus of millionaires and billionaires from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other Middle East destinations that have become embroiled in the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, a local businessman argued yesterday.
Bahamas faces 30-50 cent per gallon fuel hike in 1-3 weeks Robert Myers, a former Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) chairman, told Tribune Business that - while the war has
created “undoubted” risks for this country’s economy through higher oil prices likely translating into increased fuel, energy and product costs - it has also opened up “potential rewards” it can take advantage of. He pointed, in particular, to the likely departure of numerous high net worth expatriates and their families from the Gulf states after these were targeted by Iran with ballistic missile and drone strikes in retaliation for US and Israel’s attacks. They are now likely realising that the Middle East, and states such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), are not as safe as they first perceived.
Minister asserts cannabis licensing platform ready BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net A CABINET minister yesterday asserted the Government has completed the long-awaited digital platform needed to regulate The Bahamas’ hoped-for medical marijuana industry, thereby clearing the way for the licensing process to begin. Dr Michael Darville, minister of health and wellness, told Parliament that the technology ond online registration portal that will track applications, plus cannabis production and distribution across The Bahamas, is now ready. “The digital platform, known as BioTrack, which monitors the industry from seed to sale, is now completed,” said Dr Darville. He explained that the system is designed to monitor every stage of the medical marijuana
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Superwash ‘juggernaut’ not stopping in face of war’s ‘massive shock’
the imminent expansion given that its concrete wall panels can be employed in a variety of projects ranging from shopping malls to commercial buildings and apartment complexes. Emphasising that the facility is not solely dedicated to serving his Windsor Lakes development, although it is located on-site at the south-west New Providence project, Mr Myers told Tribune Business that the plant evolved from becoming the Bahamian licensee for Superior Walls. While the walls were previously made offshore and imported, he added that “this is the first time” such a product is being manufactured in The Bahamas.
BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
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industry - from cultivation to DR MICHAEL retail sales DARVILLE - ensuring regulators can track production, distribution and licensing compliance. “This digital platform will guide the industry from seed to sale, and support the licensing process that many people have been waiting for,” he added. Dr Darville acknowledged that implementation of the system was delayed after BioTrack was acquired by another company. “We experienced some delays because BioTrack was acquired by another company called Metrc,” he said. The completion of the digital monitoring system is expected to allow regulators to move forward with licensing the businesses that
REGULATE - See Page B7
DIONISIO D’AGUILAR And, despite being heavily-dependent on energy and fuel (propane) for its business, he added that Superwash will likely “eat” the impact of conflict-driven cost increases initially rather than pass them on to Bahamian consumers given that its operating model calls for price stability rather than frequent increases. Bahamians will also likely see reduced disposable incomes
EXPAND - See Page B4 Noting that this is the same market that The Bahamas is seeking to attract to purchase real estate and domicile here, with this nation able to offer the same lifestyle and climate several thousand miles removed from the Middle East and the current conflict zone, Mr Myers told this newspaper: “It could potentially be a benefit. Ten thousand millionaires moved to Dubai last year. “What this demonstrates is that the current instability in the Middle East, that may cause people to pause and think about other tax-friendly environments to live in like The Bahamas. On the one side
FUEL - See Page B5