BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
GRAND Bahama Power Company’s owner has confirmed its sale to the Government has yet to be finalised as an ex-prime minister joined the Opposition’s leader in calling for Bahamian investors to be offered shares in the utility once any deal closes.
Dr Hubert Minnis and Michael Pintard, for once, both appeared to be united as they each separately urged the Government not to retain 100 percent of GB Power but, instead, steadily reduce its stake post-acquisition by issuing shares to Bahamian institutional and retail investors as a means to boost wealth creation and local ownership of the country’s economy.
However, before any ini tial public offering (IPO) can take place, the Davis administration first has to close its purchase of GB Power with the Canadian utility giant, Emera. The latter, in a late Monday night reply to Tribune Business inquiries after press dead line, revealed that the Government has yet to seal the deal although negotiations
Emera: ‘Constructive’ discussions but no sealed deal yet Minnis and Pintard united in urging shaes for Bahamians
Former PM seeks ‘bottom up’ structure for small investors
Gas station operators face multiple cost rises
BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIAN gas station operators yesterday voiced concern over swiftly-rising fuel costs and VAT’s elimination on uncooked foods as they warned they must increase prices to survive amid the fall-out from Middle East conflict.
Bernard 'Porky' Dorsett, operator of Porky’s Rubis Service Station, said petroleum retailers can only “keep our fingers and toes crossed for better” as the industry braces for higher prices from its suppliers - Rubis, Esso and FOCOL Holdings (Shell) - due to the spike in global crude oil prices.
And the elimination of VAT on unprepared foods means they will be unable to reclaim VAT paid on input expenses associated with these products, further exacerbating cost and inflationary pressures for an industry that operates on fixed gasoline and diesel margins.
This, Mr Dorsett added, means gas station operators must increases prices in their convenience stores, while gasoline prices at the pump will inevitably increase due to the rising cost of imported petroleum.
“Our fuel prices are based on what we buy from the suppliers,” Mr Dorsett said. “Whatever it is, they add the 10 percent VAT plus the cost of the margin. Our margin right now is 76 cents on every gallon of fuel.
“See, our only difference is the higher fuel go up, the higher the VAT go. So the higher fuel go up, the less money we make, because we only make 76 cents on a gallon of fuel based on whether its sold at $10 a gallon or sold at $2 a gallon because we work on a fixed margin...
“If fuel prices drop, then our percentage is better. But as fuel starts to move [higher] our margins just continue to drop, because we buying fuel at a higher cost. We have to sell it at the same 76 cents on a gallon. The only difference is the Government make more money because the VAT go up; because the VAT is 10 percent or whatever the cost is.”
Speaking to the VAT elimination
om uncooked food, Mr Dorsett added:
“We can't recover the money… That's
between the two parties remain active.
“Emera confirms constructive discussions remain ongoing with the Government of The Bahamas regarding an acquisition of the Grand Bahama Power Company,” a spokesperson confirmed in an e-mailed response. “No final agreement has been reached at this time.” While the two sides have already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), Emera said the Government’s proposed GB Power purchase remained only an “option” and was just one of the routes discussions could take.
Emera’s confirmation that no sale has yet been finalised is likely to raise questions during today’s House of Assembly debate on two resolutions, seeking Parliament’s approval for the Government to guarantee $280m worth of borrowings to finance GB Power’s purchase and working capital for the utility, over why the Davis administration is seeking to put these arrangements in place with such seeming haste and urgency given
BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIAN consumers are being warned to brace for “inevitable” hikes in the cost of commodities such as electronics and clothing post-Easter as retailers begin to replenish their inventory amid ongoing fall-out from the Middle East conflict.
Mark A Turnquest, founder of the 242 Small Business Association and Resource Centre, and a well-known consultant to the sector, told Tribune Business that his members and clients are expecting to feel the effects of increased supply chain costs - resulting from higher global crude oil, fuel and energy prices - when they start to purchase and order stock for summer and the remainder of the year.
While Bahamians shoppers will enjoy “stabilised” Easter prices, as retailers will have
purchased and imported these goods ahead of the US and Israel’s end-February assault on Iran, he added that the inflationary effects for this nation will depend on how long the conflict and its economic consequences last with the impact potentially being felt through the ‘Black Friday’ and Christmas seasons.
“Right now they are expecting an increase in prices from their end,” Mr Turnquest told this newspaper of his electronic and clothing retail clients. “They most definitely will have to go up on prices for the summer, Black Friday and Christmas. They don’t know how much at the moment. They are watching the shipping cost increases and the inflationary pressures, and waiting to see how much prices will go up.
“The hope, of course, is that the Trump debacle stops immediately so that prices stabilise,
Cruise port hits back at extenants chief’s PM complaints letter
Working/sanitary and local entertainment concerns raised
Vendor sounds fears over lease renewals on ‘fair terms’
But Port says her toilet facility violated health regulations
BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A FORMER tenants association head yesterday asserted she feels “confident something will be done” as the Nassau Cruise Port pushed back against her complaints over working and sanitary conditions, concerns over whether leases will be renewed “on fair terms” and the alleged lack of Bahamian entertainment and culture.
Yvette Prince, who was president of the Tenants Association of Festival Place for 20 years prior to its replacement by the $330m Nassau Cruise Port transformation, in a letter to the Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers and senior tourism and port officials voiced particular concern that the Prince George Wharf facility lacks sufficient functioning bathrooms to
but they say prices are going up and that’s just how it is.
A lot of them have indicated that the inflationary pressures, when they occur, affect us a lot because they cannot make adjustments fast enough.” Volatile oil markets, which have endured a roller-coaster ride since the Middle East conflict erupted, dipped below $100 per barrel as Tribune Business went to press last night amid hopes that the warring parties may be starting talks to end the conflict. Oil prices surged after Iran effectively cut-off the flow of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargos must pass on their way to market.
All economic sectors are impacted in some way by oil, and the energy and transportation costs that feed off it. While supply chain time lags will delay the impact, The Bahamas will soon start feeling the effect once industries - including retail - sell-off pre-war stock and need to replenish inventories, with higher shipping costs and other increases set to be
accommodate herself, other vendors and staff, and the thousands of tourists who pass through daily.
She argued that the number of bathroom stalls at the expanded Nassau Cruise Port, which is capable of handling six ships and 30,000-plus passengers per day, is less than the number that was inside the much smaller Festival Place facility. And Ms Prince also alleged that she is being “targeted” after being told to remove a toilet from inside her vendor’s booth at the Nassau Cruise Port.
However, the downtown Nassau-based operator last night told Tribune Business that Ms Prince had installed the toilet without the necessary permissions and approvals from both itself and the Department of Environmental Health Services (DEHS). It added
passed on to consumers unable to absorb any, or some, in their profit margins,
“They say prices will remain the same, stabilise for Easter,” Mr Turnquest said of his Bahamian retail members and clients, “but then there’s no guarantee unfortunately. In this world, a lot of people have to realise that when Trump came to power they had make adjustments in preparation for price increases consistently.
“What occurred last year, the shocks were minimised, so there was no great disruption
- See Page B2
BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE PRIME Minister yesterday warned that the Opposition’s plan to eliminate the Post Office Savings Bank would disrupt access to banking services for more than 35,000 Family Island residents and endanger almost jobs.
Philip Davis KC, in a statement, argued that such a move would remove a key financial lifeline for many Bahamians, particularly in areas where commercial banks have scaled back services or withdrawn entirely.
“He is prepared to shut down a public institution that serves Bahamian families, pensioners, workers and small savers across our archipelago. He is prepared to place Bahamian jobs at risk,” said Mr Davis of Michael Pintard, the Opposition leader.
“He is prepared to tear away a service that many Family Island
communities rely on. And he is pretending the Government has the power to order private, foreign-owned commercial banks to do what they have already chosen to stop doing.”
His comments came in response to remarks made by Mr Pintard at a recent campaign launch, where he outlined a proposal aimed at expanding banking access across underserved communities.
“If you have challenges with your government because your government left you in south and central Andros with no banks, I just want you to know we got to make sure you have a bank in South Andros, that you have it in our Family Islands,” said Mr Pintard.
“We will abolish the bank through the Post Office system and work with the clearing house to
Nassau & PI Board gains
two top tourism honours
THE Nassau & Paradise Island Promotion Board (NPIPB) received two international honours from the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) during its recent awards ceremony.
The Board received the Deestination of the Year award for Nassau and Paradise Island’s “vibrant beaches”, while Joy Jibrilu, its chief executive, was honoured for her work in promoting the destination. The awards were presented
at the PATWA International Travel Awards during ITB Berlin 2026. Besides recognising Nassau and Paradise Island’s beaches, and the location’s culture and energy, PATWA issued its Gold Individual Award to Mrs Jibrilu for excellence in destination promotion in the Caribbean region. Presented annually, the PATWA International Travel Awards celebrate destinations, organisations and
individuals that demonstrate excellence in tourism and make meaningful contributions to the sector.
The Board said Nassau and Paradise Island’s recognition as Destination of the Year – Vibrant Beaches highlights a visitor experience that ranges from world class resorts and marine adventures to authentic Bahamian heritage and hospitality.
“We are incredibly honoured to receive these awards from PATWA,” said
Consumer prices ‘stable’ for Easter then into ‘unknown’
for summer, winter and Black Friday when the [US] tariffs were imposed. A lot of them went up a couple of cents and spread the prices and increased costs over a series of fast-selling stock. They don’t have that optimistic approach this year because they don’t know how long the war is going to last and that “Black Gold’ always causes problems.”
Mr Turnquest also warned that, for retailers, increasing prices is not as simple as merely flicking a switch.
“Another thing they are concerned about is raising prices does not come overnight,” he explained. “It has
to be well thought-out. If you raise your prices, and customers cannot afford to pay for your products and services, it affects you a lot.
“Price increases are not theoretical; they are practical. You have to test it a bit and work it out. You can’t just raises prices. If the customer cannot bear a certain price… a lot of customers are really price sensitive. They and their families budget, and they do not make a lot of money.”
He added that his retail clients and members typically serve a middle and lower income market where households have frequently been squeezed by the ‘cost of living’ in recent years. Such
Davis asserts Pintard plan endangers almost 100 jobs
CHANGE - from page B1
make sure that commercial banks lose no money as they provide a service that is needed for Bahamians throughout our Family Islands.”
Responding, Mr Davis said the Government has instead focused on strengthening the Post Office Savings Bank, including increasing the deposit cap from $6,000 to $10,000 and maintaining a 5 percent interest rate for eligible savers - a level he noted is significantly higher than what is typically offered by commercial banks.
He also pointed to potential employment implications, warning that eliminating the institution could impact 98 workers directly tied to the Savings Bank, along with broader risks to the postal workforce across the country.
“What Mr Pintard failed to say is what becomes of the staff, and what protections would be in place for client funds if he abolishes the Post Office Savings Bank,” said Mr Davis.
“He gave no answer on the future of the 98 workers serving across the Family Islands; no answer on the wider postal workforce of more than 256 staff across The Bahamas;and no answer on how thousands of account holders would access their savings in communities where the Post Office remains the closest and most trusted public service.”
The Prime Minister further questioned how account holders would be served if the institution were removed, noting that thousands of Bahamians rely on post offices as their closest and most accessible point for basic financial services.
“He never explained who would carry responsibility
for those depositors, what guarantees would exist for their money, or how families, pensioners and small savers would be treated if this institution is shut down,” said Mr Davis.
“Those omissions matter, because public policy cannot be built on slogans while Bahamian jobs and Bahamian savings hang in the balance.” He added that private commercial banks ultimately make independent business decisions, and cannot be compelled to operate in specific communities, reinforcing the need for a public option to fill existing gaps.
According to Mr Davis, more than 35,000 clients currently use the Post Office Savings Bank, with new accounts continuing to be opened, particularly in Family Island communities where access to traditional banking remains limited.
“Today, more than 35,000 clients rely on the Post Office Savings Bank, and new accounts continue to open across the country, including in the Family Islands. That tells you the need is real. That tells you the service is important to them. That tells you abolition would hurt real people,” said Mr Davis.
“Mr Pintard wants to tear it down. We want to improve it, modernise it and expand its reach. This election is about who stands with Family Islanders when services are under pressure. It is about who protects Bahamian workers. It is about who has a serious plan rooted in reality.
“We will keep investing in Family Island access. We will keep strengthening public services that serve our people. We will keep moving ahead.”
customers, Mr Turnquest said, will often visit five to six stores to find the best price for what they are seeking - especially in electronics where the “first movers, the early adopters” gain a competitive advantage.
“We just wait and see, and that’s unfortunate,” he told Tribune Business. “There’s little I can say as a consultant. They are waiting to see after Easter what their buying power will be. When Easter is over, they will start to go off buying for the summer in April and May, so by May they’ll know. They don’t know yet.”
Mr Turnquest also warned that inflationary and pricing pressures could force
Mrs Jibrilu. “Our vibrant beaches are rivalled only by the vibrancy of our culture and our people, and together they are what make Nassau and Paradise Island truly extraordinary. “I am also deeply honoured to receive this recognition, which reflects our commitment to sharing authentic stories of our people, culture and places while ensuring travellers experience the very best of our destination.”
Bahamian retailers to layoff staff, especially if they cannot earn sufficient revenues to compensate. “They don’t want to jeopardise their customer service levels by not hiring the personnel they need or laying off staff because of the lack of sales in order to survive,” he said.
“If you cannot make it up in sales you have to reduce your costs and expenses, but they indicated they don’t really want to lay-off staff. That’s something they have to look at because, if they cannot increase prices they have to look around and reduce expenses. If you cannot increase sales and reduce costs, you have to look at avenues such as reducing marketing and promotional costs, which can be the death.”
Mr Turnquest said too few persons understand “the sacrifice” entrepreneurs make when they enter business, and having to cover payroll,
rent, light and utilities bills, and various taxes and payments such as VAT and Business Licence fees.
“They are bracing for a price increase,” he reiterated of his retail contacts. “They don’t know how much this price increase will be. They are trying to avoid a price hike, but it’s inevitable. It’s inevitable. Everyone’s trying to see how long this war will take and the impact it will have on the replenishment cost for product they are selling over Easter.”
Brent Burrows II, CBS Bahamas’ vice-president of retail and sales, yesterday said that - while the building materials and home supplies retailer has not yet seen any impact from the Middle East conflict - the effects may be just one to two weeks away.
“Not just yet, but I imagine soon,” he told Tribune Business. “We’ll see. I guess it’s hard to say. When you look at the tariff stuff
that was going on, it would only be two-three weeks after an announcement that you would see anything from the vendors. I can’t say this will come into effect two to three weeks from now, but we’ve not gotten any official or concerning communications from vendors related to the Middle East conflict yet.
“I understand diesel prices are about to go up locally in about a week, so maybe that will have an effect, but nothing yet. I think the uncertainty itself is pretty bad because you are so unsure. When you look at what’s happening with oil prices, they are swinging so wildly every day. It’s not the fear that things are destined to turn horrible, but it’s the uncertainty of how bad things will get and how long that will last. It’s the unknowns.”
use
Bahamians urged to conserve on fuel
PRICING - from page B1
the life of the convenience store. We run a 24-hour store. We don’t close. So if I look on my camera, like three, four o’clock in the morning, people be in here looking for grits, and that kind of stuff, shortening and stuff, tuna and stuff, for their breakfast if they don’t have it.
“All this stuff now, all of a sudden, it’s going to create a problem because we got to try to recover the VAT that we pay for the item because we can’t charge you VAT but, when we buy it, we got to pay the VAT on it.” Mr Dorsett said he will have to raise his prices otherwise he cannot remain in business.
“The Government don’t think this thing out,” he said. “If you expect a business to survive, then let’s do business like we should be doing business. You cannot expect to have us paying on one end and can’t recover the funds.
“That’s why the Government has been having a banner year and collecting money. I don’t know what they do with the money, but it has been a banner year to them, because prices have gone so high and you paying 10 percent or whatever the cost is. They’ve been making a lot of money, although they don’t account for it. When fuel starts going up, we continue to make the same money because we work on a fixed margin.
“So, in essence, we make less money because we investing more money to make the same money, and that ain’t business. This has been our fight for years. A year and a half, two years ago, when I was raising hell in the country, this what I was fighting against,” Mr Dorsett said.
“We wanted to level the playing field where, instead of having a fixed margin,
we have a percentage of our costs. So if it goes up, it goes up as a percentage. If it falls, it falls as a percentage. I mean, that makes sense. A fixed margin just don’t work and it never worked.”
Mr Dorsett added that gas prices are already beginning to spike because retailers must be able to afford the incoming fuel once existing stocks become low.
“So a lot of people are concerned about prices going up. But if they don’t put up the price now with what they have, ain’t no way they’re going to be able to buy new fuel,” he said.
“Fuel over $100 a barrel. I don’t know when that’s going to affect us, when that will hit us, but the fact is, we are seeing increases now for
the fact that these oil companies are getting ready to be able to afford to buy new fuel. That’s why you see the prices starting to moving already.
Peter Roker, proprietor of Roker’s Gas Station is warning Bahamians to be conserve fuel as gasoline costs could become significantly higher any day now.
“What I can tell you, which is extremely worrying, is that gas has gone up, unfortunately, higher in the US than in The Bahamas,” Mr Roker said. “Now that is not something we can glorify about. That could be something that really hits us. It could hit us a lot harder than we expect. We have no control over this war, and we must understand that tomorrow we can wake up and gas is $15 a gallon.
“There’s a real war out there going on. People are getting bombed... They are bombing fuel facilities, and
we have no control over that, and the general public should understand to be extremely cautionary in how much they drive and be conservative. And also that they take advantage of any savings they can get.
“And I’m not trying to cause any hype or whatever, but the world is now experiencing a war we can watch on TV. We can watch missiles going across countries and blowing up people and blowing up schools and blowing up God knows what else,” Mr Roker said.
“We are now witnessing... about more than 20 percent of oil being restricted... And it is definitely not inconceivable that we could get up tomorrow morning, and fuel can be $20 a gallon. No one can go and say that can’t happen because it can happen. And also mixed, mixed in that equation, is the profit involved for some people.”
JOY JIBRILU
Tourism arrivals impact not reaching businesses in GB
BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
A GRAND Bahama restaurateur yesterday asserted that while tourism arrivals flows remain steady the spending and economic impact is failing to reach Bahamian businesses.
Tony “Zips” Hanna, owner of Tony Macaroni’s Conch Experience, said while visitor arrivals continue, fewer tourists are leaving private cruise destinations to spend in the wider Freeport area.
Speaking to Tribune Business, he said Spring Break business has slowed to its weakest pace in years and concerns are growing among Grand
Bahama businesses that cruise tourism is becoming increasingly self-contained.
“The tourism business is still here, but it’s slowed down this time,” said Mr Hanna. “This is as slow as I’ve seen Spring Break in a long, long time. Even after the storm, it was much better than this.” He noted that cruise line passengers, particularly from Carnival, continue to generate visitor numbers, but those are largely confined to controlled areas.
“Carnival is still bringing in the numbers, but they’re limited in where they go. That’s the only problem,” Mr Hanna said, pointing to transportation costs and restricted movement as key barriers preventing visitors from venturing beyond
Celebration Key. “Once you get there, you’re basically stuck unless you want to pay $50 to $100 in taxi fares to come into the Freeport area,” he added, According to Mr Hanna, repeat visitors are more likely to explore beyond the port, but they represent a minority of total arrivals.
“The people who have been here before come into town, go to the places they used to visit, and reconnect with people they know,” said Mr Hanna.
“But the majority of visitors on those cruises don’t leave the property; about 90 percent stay there.” Beyond tourism concerns, Mr Hanna also voiced strong opposition to any potential government acquisition of
the Grand Bahama Power Company.
“Absolutely not,” said Mr Hanna. “If the Government can’t run its own company, why would it buy another one?”
He argued that such a move could worsen service reliability and suggested that the Government’s broader involvement in Grand Bahama’s key institutions is driven more by optics than operational readiness.
“If the Government takes control of Freeport Power, in my opinion we’ll see power cuts in the first year,” said Mr Hanna. “The Gvernment, in my opinion, is trying to prove a point that it can run Grand Bahama.”
Earlier this year, the Government confirmed its intention to acquire the Grand Bahama Power Company, but critics have questioned the timing and structure of the transaction, with some describing it as “politically motivated”.
However, the Davis administration is moving forward with a $200m plan to acquire GB Power as part of a broader $280m financing structure it said is aimed at easing electricity costs and driving economic recovery on the island.
]Ginger Moxey, minister for Grand Bahama, tabled two resolutions in Parliament this week that form the backbone of the administration’s approach to energy reform in Grand Bahama, describing them as
BTC targets tourism market via new SIM
BY ANNELIA NIXON
Tribune Business Reporter
THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday launched a SIM card targeted at the tourist market in a bid to boost the connectivity that visitors enjoy with family and friends at home. and accepted the OOKLA Speed Test Award.
Shena Bowleg, BTC’s mobile product development manager, said the carrier is offering tourists a one-day plan, as well as four-day and seven-day plans that will help keep them connected.
“We have three plans and, as of today, we just added the third plan,” she said. “So there is a one-day plan for the quick getaway. That has 12 gigs of data and unlimited calls and texts for visitors coming into The Bahamas. Then we have a four-day plan, quick turnaround as well. That has unlimited data as well as unlimited calls and texts. And then our newest baby is the seven0day plan that was just launched today.
And that has unlimited data as well as texting.”
Ms Bowleg said tourists have the option to use the physical SIM or purchase it beforehand via BTC’s website. “So it's very competitive,” she said. “The cost starts from $15 for the one-day plan to $35 for the seven-day plan. “So we feel that it's been something that's been missing here on the islands for a while, and we wanted to make sure that BTC was the one that brought it first. The response has been really, really good simply because, like I mentioned, the ease of purchase, the fact that they don't have to come around looking or asking when they come off the cruise ships or get off at the airport: ‘Who sells a tourist SIM? Can I get a SIM?’ You go on to the website and you can do it yourself…”
Ms Bowleg said the SIM is already accessible to tourists, and the QR codes associated with it will be visible in high traffic tourism areas, including the airport and some hotels. She said BTC plans to expand the initiative to
most of the Family Islands within this year.
“Our plan is to eventually push out into the Family Islands as well, so that we partner with the smaller Airbnbs and establishments on the Family Islands, so that they're able to sell the QR code, because basically it's just once you have the code, you scan it, and it takes you to the site, and you're able to purchase it the same way you would do any other type of purchase,” she said.
Sameer Bhatti, BTC’s chief executive, said the project was part of BTC’s budgeted plan. Not willing to disclose how much of a return BTC is expecting from this product, he said: “...Tourism had 12.5m into The Bahamas last year. [A] large percentage of those tourists were via cruise ship, and here we are at Blue Marlin Restaurant, right in the middle of Nassau Harbour.
“So we fully expect that this product will perform, will meet the needs of the tourists coming here to New Providence, but also tourists whose port of call it might be in Grand Bahama or elsewhere in
The Bahamas. So we fully expect to provide a valuable choice, a local choice in telecom services to tourists visiting this country.”
Speaking at the launch, Dr Kenneth Romer deputy director-general of tourism, added: “The BTC tourist SIM delivers what today's global travellers expect. Travellers expect speed, convenience, simplicity and a hassle-free experience. It eliminates lines and physical SIM cards and roaming shock, keeping visitors connected from the moment they arrive and even before they land.
“And, ladies and gentlemen, this is the kind of forward-thinking innovation that elevates The Bahamas on the world stage. We often talk about removing friction from the visitor experience, and today, BTC didn't just remove a friction
point; they eliminated a barrier. And, in doing so, they have strengthened the competitive advantage of our tourism product at a time when The Bahamas continues to break records and capture the world's imagination...”
BTC also accepted the OOKLA Speed Test Award for “the best mobile coverage in the Bahamas and the best mobile video experience in the Bahamas”.
Mark Penesso, OOKLA director of sales for the US and Caribbean, said: “These are comprised from data that is taken from speed test users every day. We have more than tens of millions of speed test users all over the world. Here in The Bahamas, our speed test results have yielded BTC for the second year in a row as the winner in having the best mobile coverage.
critical to both the island’s cost structure and its longterm growth prospects. The first resolution seeks parliamentary approval for the government to guarantee a $20 m loan to Grand Bahama Energy Company, a state-owned special purpose vehicle (SPV) established to acquire all ordinary voting shares in GB Power. The financing is being arranged through a consortium of banks led by Standard Chartered Bank. A second resolution would see the Government guarantee an additional $80m borrowing from Royal Bank Bahamas to support capital expenditure and working capital needs tied to the energy system. Michael Pintard, the Opposition leader, has criticised the Davis administration’s plans to acquire the electricity company, noting that while reform is needed the structure being proposed raises serious concerns about debt, transparency and long-term outcomes.
“The mobile coverage is based on some criteria that OOKLA has, and it represents the best mobile coverage across all of The Bahamas, not just here in New Providence or in Nassau, but across all of the islands. OOKLA speed test awards are given to the provider with superior network performance, as determined by our fully independent and unbiased speed test results.
“An OOKLA speed test award win represents a true team effort across the BTC organisation. I think it's appropriate to give acknowledgement to the BTC engineering, marketing, sales, product and management teams for your determination and dedication to provide the best in class service to your mobile network clients in The Bahamas…”
New Mexico jury says Meta harms children’s mental health and safety, violating state law
By MORGAN LEE Associated Press
A NEW Mexico jury determined Tuesday that Meta knowingly harmed children's mental health and concealed what it knew about child sexual exploitation on its social media platforms, a verdict that signals a changing tide against tech companies and the government's willingness to crack down.
The landmark decision comes after a nearly seven-week trial, and as jurors in a federal court in California have been sequestered in deliberations for more than a week about whether Meta and YouTube should be liable in a similar case.
The jury agreed with allegations that Meta made false or misleading statements and also agreed that Meta engaged in "unconscionable" trade practices that unfairly took advantage of the vulnerabilities of and inexperience of children.
Jurors found there were thousands of violations, each counting separately toward a penalty of $375 million. That's less than one-fifth of what prosecutors were seeking. Meta is valued at about $1.5 trillion and the company's stock was up 5% in early after-hours trading following the verdict, a signal that shareholders were shrugging off the news.
New Mexico jurors sided with state prosecutors who argued that Meta — which owns Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp — prioritized profits over safety, and violated parts of the state's Unfair Practices Act.
Port pledges vendors safe from rain, crime
FACILITIES - from page B1
that this represents a breach of her tenancy and lease agreement with the Nassau Cruise Port, while the DEHS had found the facility to be “non-compliant” with health and sanitation regulations.
Ms Prince’s complaints, though, go wider than just a shortage of bathroom facilities and non-functioning stalls. The outspoken vendor, who is the Coalition of Independents (COI) candidate for Yamacraw in the upcoming general election, also alleged that she and other vendors are frequently forced to “shut down completely” when it rains due to a lack of protective awnings and other coverings.
And, claiming that the Nassau Cruise Port has failed to deliver on multiple promises made to vendors prior to its post-transformation opening, Ms Prince voiced fears that - with “everybody’s” lease set to expire in May 2026 and now up for re-negotiationrental rates could be hiked
to the point where they are unaffordable and some may be forced out.
She also told this newspaper that the Nassau Cruise Port is “dead” when it comes to entertainment such as bands and music, and there is “zero” Bahamian culture present - charges that have been vehemently denied by the operator, which said the latter is “core part” of the visitor experience while music and culture is featured regularly. Ms Prince, in an e-mailed letter that was copied also to Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, investments and aviation; Jobeth Coleby-Davis, minister of energy and transport; Alfred Sears KC, minister of Immigration and National Insurance; and Zane Lightbourne, minister of the environment and natural resources. called for 12 separate reforms including being allowed to keep her booth’s toilet and an expansion of restroom facilities to 12 stalls per site.
She also demanded that the Government and Nassau Cruise Port
Juror Linda Payton, 38, said the jury reached a compromise on the estimated number of teenagers affected by Meta's platforms, while opting for the maximum penalty per violation. With a maximum $5,000 penalty for each violation, she said she thought each child was worth the maximum amount.
The social media conglomerate won't be forced to change its practices right away. It will be up to a judge — not a jury — to determine whether Meta's social media platforms created a public nuisance and whether the company should pay for public programs to address the harms. That second phase of the trial will happen in May.
A Meta spokesperson said the company disagrees
“conduct a fair and independent review of tenant rental rates and leases”, including what she said was a government subsidy that had been in place since 2003 to help vendors meet these payment.
“Ensure that the May 2026 lease renewals are conducted transparently and fairly, honouring the long service and loyalty of Bahamian tenants with reasonable terms,” Ms Prince urged. “Establish a permanent, fully-staffed Ministry of Tourism presence at Nassau Cruise Port, with ambassadors on the ground from the arrival of the first ship to the departure of the last, every single day.”
Ms Prince, who confirmed that the e-mail was genuine, told Tribune Business. “I believe all those people that I wrote to, there’s no way that this will be out there and they don’t do anything about it. I feel confident something will be done because I exposed it. Because it’s out there and open, I feel something will be done.” A particular flashpoint appears to be the toilet she has installed in her booth.
The former Tenants Association president said she had merely taken advantage of the sewer line that
with the verdict and will appeal.
"We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and are clear about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors or harmful content," the spokesperson said. "We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously, and we remain confident in our record of protecting teens online."
Attorneys for Meta said the company discloses risks and makes efforts to weed out harmful content and experiences, while acknowledging that some bad material gets through its safety net.
New Mexico's case was among the first to reach trial in a wave of litigation involving social media platforms and their impacts on children. More than
had been built into her booth and those of other vendors, with Nassau Cruise Port officials allegedly confirming they could be hooked up to a toilet or wash basin. Her toilet enables her to avoid having to deal with the alleged shortage of bathrooms and non-functioning stalls, but she said the order to remove it is “not enforcement; that is victimisation” and she alleged she is being “targeted”.
Nassau Cruise Port, though, while confirming that Ms Prince is a current tenant, gave a very different explanation: “The matter at issue relates to the unauthorised installation of a toilet within a retail boutique without any approval - written or otherwise - as required under the terms of the tenant agreement, and without the required inspection and approval by the Department of Environmental Health Services (DEHS) or any other government agency,” it said.
“Retail boutiques are not designed or permitted for individual restroom installations. Following inspection, the Department of Environmental Health Services has determined that the installation is non-compliant with applicable health and sanitation regulations. The matter is now being addressed through the DEHS regulatory enforcement process.
“As the Port operator, we are required to ensure that all tenants adhere to established health, safety and regulatory requirements of the Government of The Bahamas. This matter is therefore one of compliance and consistency across all tenants.”
As for the complaints over restrooms, the Nassau Cruise Port pledged to continuously improve such facilities. “We provide multiple restroom facilities for passengers, staff and tenants throughout the property,” it added. “These facilities are maintained and serviced regularly during operating hours. We continue to monitor usage levels and operational demands and are committed to ongoing improvements to ensure appropriate access and comfort for all users.”
Ms Prince, though, asserted that despite Nassau Cruise Port’s expansion it has fewer functioning bathroom stalls than the old Festival Place property. She added that she ”barely drinks” water during the day to avoid using the bathrooms, while revealing that having to do so exposes her business, hell Souvenirs and Treasures by the Sea International, to potential theft and loss of merchandise because of an inability to lock her booth.
Branding the present bathroom situation as “ludicrous”, she wrote to Philip Davis KC: “Nassau Cruise Port calls itself iconic. I think that it is ironic to call Nassau Cruise Port iconic with a bathroom with three stalls in our area.
“On any given cruise day, up to 20,000 passengers pour through those gates. They arrive from the US, Canada, China, India, Africa and every corner of the world…. They step off that ship full of anticipation,
40 state attorneys general have filed lawsuits against Meta, claiming it's contributing to a mental health crisis among young people by deliberately designing Instagram and Facebook features that are addictive. "Meta's house of cards is beginning to fall," said Sacha Haworth, executive director of watchdog group The Tech Oversight Project. "For years, it's been glaringly obvious that Meta has failed to stop sexual predators from turning online interactions into real world harm." Haworth pointed to whistleblowers like Arturo Béjar, as well as unsealed documents and other evidence, saying it painted a damning picture.
New Mexico's case relied on an undercover investigation where agents created social media
and they are greeted by a women’s restroom with three stalls, one of which has not worked for over a year. “The accessible stall for persons with disabilities has been non-functional for extended periods. In the men’s restroom, there is reportedly a single urinal to serve thousands of men daily, and three toilets. This is unacceptable.”
Ms Prince added: “In the old Festival Place, we had five working stalls in both the men’s and women’s restrooms. The new Port - built in an era of larger ships and greater passenger volumes - somehow opened with fewer functional facilities. That is not a mistake. That is a failure of planning, and it is a failure that reflects on all of us as a nation.
“The restrooms are also routinely closed during the day for cleaning and locked in the evenings, regardless of whether tenants are still working. For those of us who spend eight to ten hours on our feet, this is unconscionable. I have watched colleagues leave the port, walk all the way to the bathroom across the street near the police station simply to pass urine.”
Ms Prince also complained that vendors receive no concessions or discounts on the rent paid to Nassau Cruise Port despite often being forced to close by bad weather. “Everybody’s lease is for three years and they are all up in May,” she said. “Everybody who has sense will be worried about that. They could price you out to get you out. They could price you out.” Ms Prince said rental rates are around $1,400 per month with a $100 late fee imposed if payments are not made on time.
“Our leases are set to expire in May 2026. We ask plainly: What comes next? Will they be renewed on fair terms?” she wrote. “The terms were not fair in this current lease that we have. Will the conditions that have made our working lives increasingly untenable finally be addressed? Or will the expiration of these leases become one more instrument of pressure against the very tenants who have given decades to this port?
“We were also informed by Keith Bell [minister of housing and urban renewal] that our rent should not be as high as it currently is given that these businesses have been government-subsidised since 2003. Yet we continue to pay high rent for a facility that is, frankly, failing us. Twenty-three years of loyalty should count for something. When those leases are renewed, we ask that they reflect that loyalty with fair terms, fair rents and the basic rights every Bahamian business owner and worker deserves.”
The Nassau Cruise Port, though, rejected Ms Prince’s assertions that the merchandise and booths operated by herself and other vendors have been left at the mercy of the elements and crime. “All port marketplace boutiques, including the tenant’s location, are equipped with awning coverage at the
accounts posing as children to document sexual solicitations and Meta's response. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, also said Meta hasn't fully disclosed or addressed the dangers of social media addiction. Meta hasn't agreed that social media addiction exists, but executives at trial acknowledged "problematic use" and say they want people to feel good about the time they spend on Meta's platforms. "Evidence shows not only that Meta invests in safety because it's the right thing to do but because it is good for business," Meta attorney Kevin Huff told jurors in closing arguments. "Meta designs its apps to help people connect with friends and family, not to try to connect predators."
front of each unit. In addition, booths are fitted with roll-down security shutters and air conditioning,” it said.
“The port maintains 24-hour security personnel and surveillance systems to safeguard tenants and their property, and to support safe and continuous operations.” Ms Prince, though, was not done as she voiced concern over the lack of authentic Bahamian cultural, heritage and music in the tourism product.
“There used to be Bahamian bands at Nassau Cruise Port. There was fire dancing, limbo contests, the sounds and sights of a living culture. Visitors did not just see retail - they felt The Bahamas. That is all gone now. Visitors walk through and see merchandise. They do not experience a country. That needs to change,” she argued.
“On rare occasions there were bands, but in front of the enclosed stores, and they did not benefit the masses of us. Some are asking for local entertainment to happen near the braiding centre, where it will be beneficial to the majority of us tenants who struggle when it rains…..
“So many of the Bahamian musicians that are still alive are unemployed for years now because we refuse to hire them any more. We should show some kind of appreciation to our visitors for coming here. This is where the tourism element is needed and lacking.”
But Nassau Cruise Port countered: “Promoting Bahamian culture is a core part of the Nassau Cruise Port experience. Every tenant contributes to the expression of Bahamian culture at the port, and we encourage all to embrace this shared ethos in their day-to-day engagement with visitors.
“We continue to feature local music, cultural activations and guest engagement initiatives - as recently as today - with ongoing efforts to expand and enhance these offerings across multiple areas of the property.
“We respect the right of all tenants to raise concerns. However, it is important that public discussions remain grounded in accurate information and do not detract from established regulatory findings and processes. We remain focused on constructive engagement and ongoing improvements that benefit the entire port community.”
The cruise port also pledged: “Nassau Cruise Port is committed to maintaining a safe, well-regulated and high-quality environment for our tenants, staff and the millions of visitors we welcome each year.
“We take this responsibility seriously and operate in accordance with all applicable health, safety and regulatory standards. As a testament to this commitment, Nassau Cruise Port maintains internationally-recognised ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) certifications and is one of the only cruise ports in the region to do so.”
GB Power deal exact opposite of Gov’t energy reform direction
that negotiations are still ongoing.
The Government has yet to disclose its “game plan”, and the commercial and economic rationale, for acquiring GB Power and adding more than a quarter-of-a-billion dollars to The Bahamas’ $12bn-plus national debt other than implying that Grand Bahama businesses and households will see a reduction in energy bills and costs following the acquisition. It has also yet to show how its valuation of GB Power was derived, given that $200m of the $280m has been earmarked for covering purchase costs.
Emera’s financials for the 12 months to year-end 2025 show that GB Power generated a $10m Canadian dollar contribution to the utility giant’s “consolidated adjusted net income” for the period - a figure that was slightly down on the prior year’s $11m. Using the current exchange rate, that $10m Canadian dollars translates into about US $7.3m.
Those profits were generated from $162m Canadian dollars worth of revenue, which represented a 16.5 percent year-overyear increase compared to 2024’s $139m Canadian
dollar top-line. The increase is likely due to increased economic activity among GB Power’s 20,000-strong customer base, with Carnival’s $600m Celebration Key destination having opened last July. The exchange rate conversion means GB Power generated $118.26m worth of revenues in US dollars last year. The value of the Grand Bahama-based electricity provider’s physical assets, namely property, plant and equipment, narrowed slightly last year from $371m Canadian dollars at year-end 2024 to $361m Canadian dollars some 12 months later.
To give an idea of what the Government is potentially acquiring, Emera said: “With $378m US dollars of assets, and approximately 20,000 customers, GB Power owns 98 mega watts (MW) of oil-fired generation, approximately 100 kilometres of transmission facilities and 1,000 kilometres of distribution facilities. GB Power’s approved regulatory return on rate base is 8.52 per cent.”
Dr Minnis, meanwhile, was united with his successor as Free National Movement (FNM) leader in calling for the Government to steadily, and carefully, sell down its ownership stake in GB Power - if a transaction
PUBLIC NOTICE
INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL
The public is hereby advised that I, CHIKARA CANDICE ROLLE of St. Vincent Road P.O. Box N-314, Nassau, Bahamas intend to change my name to CHIKARA CANDICE CUNNINGHAM. If there are any objections to challenge the name by deed poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Officer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, The Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the publication of this notice.
N O T I C E
International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000)
WAY FORTUNE LIMITED
Registration No. IBC 207036 B
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000 notice is hereby given that WAY FORTUNE LIMITED has been dissolved and struck off the Register of Companies with effect from the 28th day of January 2026.
Galnom Ltd. Liquidator
is sealed - by offering shares to Bahamian investors via a series of IPOs.
He urged that any divestment by the Government adopt a “bottom up” approach, where small individual retail investors are given priority and receive 100 percent of the share amounts they subscribe for, so as to spread wealth creation to as many Bahamians as possible. And, in another dig at the Government’s existing reforms, and the structure of Bahamas Grid Company, the New Providence electricity grid owner, he urged that any GB Power IPO not be “for a select or chosen few”.
“I’d have to have Bahamians involved,” Dr Minnis, now running as an independent candidate for his Killarney seat in the upcoming general election, said. “That’s the thing. Bahamians have to be involved. A certain percentage [of shares] for the private sector, a certain percentage for the public, and a certain percentage for the Government.
‘That would be my view, so that Bahamians be involved. It cannot be a select or chosen few. Wealth and opportunity has to be spread among all. Purchasing and holding it for Bahamians, I don’t have a problem with that…and I’m talking about allowing everyone to have an opportunity.” Bahamas Grid Company’s $30m in equity was obtained via a private offering open just to wealthy, deep-pocketed institutions and individuals, but Dr Minnis argued that any GB Power IPO focus on small, individual investors.
“It should be from the bottom up rather than the top down,” he added. “It creates a bit more work from the bottom up, but at the same time it’s giving every Bahamian an opportunity, and every Bahamian a chance, to be a part of wealth in The Bahamas that is not limited to a few like Bahamas Grid Company with Pike Electrical and the select few. The Government has a responsibility to look after every Bahamian rather than a select few.”
Dr Minnis said the Government could follow the formula his administration employed with the Nassau Cruise Port for any eventual GB Power offering. For the former, an investment fund called the Bahamas Investment Fund was created to hold a 49 percent equity ownership stake in the cruise port, and Bahamian investors acquired their interest by purchasing shares in the Fund.
And the former prime minister added that, much like the Nassau Cruise Port IPO, individual investors could be given access to small “soft loans” of around $1,000 to enable them to purchase shares in GB Power with these debts then repaid from dividend payments received from the utility. “They don’t have to come up with anything but now have an ownership stake,” Dr Minnis added.
“I don’t think the Bahamian public would disagree with that type of formula. You are then doing something to benefit every Bahamian in this county, and that’s the way the Government should start thinking. I don’t think the Government should own
NOTICE
Lionst Inc.
Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 2000 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas registered in the Register of Companies under the registration number 212273 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 23rd day of March A.D. 2026.
LEONARDO DE STEFAN TAVARES LIQUIDATOR
N O T I C E
International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000)
BEST CONNECT ENTERPRISES LIMITED
Registration No. IBC 207292 B
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000 notice is hereby given that BEST CONNECT ENTERPRISES LIMITED has been dissolved and struck off the Register of Companies with effect from the 28th day of January 2026.
Galnom Ltd. Liquidator
N O T I C E
International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000)
GLARE BRIGHT LIMITED
Registration No. IBC 208636 B
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000 notice is hereby given that GLARE BRIGHT LIMITED has been dissolved and struck off the Register of Companies with effect from the 28th day of January 2026.
Galnom Ltd. Liquidator
it. The Government should just be holding it for the Bahamian populace and sell down its interest.”
Dr Minnis said it would also be a worthy gesture and benefit for Grand Bahama residents who have had to absorb relatively high energy costs for years.
“You are saying: ‘I have recognised your pain, I have recognised your suffering, and I am going to create an opportunity for you to have ownership and receive dividends,” he added. Mr Pintard, meanwhile, has voiced similar sentiments. “Why are Bahamians being shut out of this deal?” he asked. Why wasn’t a structure explored that allows citizens to own a stake, share in the future of their island, and build wealth? Instead, all the risk is being placed on taxpayers with no opportunity for citizens to participate.”
Grand Bahama businesses, meanwhile, continue to voice scepticism about what the Government’s proposed GB Power purchase will mean for energy costs and reliability on the island. “If we’re going to come under the auspices of what goes on in Nassau, it’s a bit scary,” one said.
“I’m sure Emera will be delighted. I’m sure they will be happy to be out.”
And a financial observer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they were “shocked and stunned” that the Government was seeking to increase the national debt by almost $300m through pursuing GB Power’s acquisition. Emera, they added, had seemingly not been seeking to sell or exit, which meant it had likely been “squeezed” by
the Government into doing so. The GB Power purchase which, in effect, is a nationalisation of Grand Bahama’s energy supplier, is also the exact opposite direction that the Government has taken in outsourcing Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) New Providence baseload generation and electricity grid to the private sector, “GB Power should be the least of their worries,” the source said. “It’s a functioning utility. It would be different if it was in trouble or a bad performer, but there’s no urgency other than there’s an election coming up and they want to make a splash. I’m eager to find out what the rationale is going to be. This [Emera’s confirmation the sale has yet to close] makes this $280m exercise more curious because there’s no need to do this right now.
“No one is clamouring for this change. I know quite a few people in Grand Bahama and not one wants the Government to have a greater role. And we haven’t seen the game plan for GB Power. Are we taking on the liabilities? What are we actually purchasing? This has been driven by the Government from day one but there’s no need for the Government to be taking this on.
“You have enough Bahamian capital out there. Let them buy it, let the regulators regulate, otherwise you are setting yourself up for disaster and you will have another BPL and the same problems that BPL has but now in Grand Bahama.”
N O T I C E
International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000)
BAYALAG ESTATE LTD.
Registration No. IBC 202089 B
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000 notice is hereby given that BAYALAG ESTATE LTD. has been dissolved and struck off the Register of Companies with effect from the 3rd day of February, 2026.
Galnom Ltd. Liquidator
N O T I C E
International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000)
FIELD WEALTH LIMITED
Registration No. IBC 207317 B
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000 notice is hereby given that FIELD WEALTH LIMITED has been dissolved and struck off the Register of Companies with effect from the 28th day of January 2026.
Galnom Ltd. Liquidator
N O T I C E
International Business Companies Act (No. 45 of 2000)
HONEST WAY HOLDINGS LIMITED
Registration No. IBC 206989 B
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 138 (8) of the International Business Companies Act, 2000 notice is hereby given that HONEST WAY HOLDINGS LIMITED has been dissolved and struck off the Register of Companies with effect from the 28th day of January 2026.
Galnom Ltd. Liquidator
What to know about the collision on a LaGuardia Airport runway
By JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press
INVESTIGATORS are working to determine what caused a deadly collision between a jet and a fire truck on the runway at New York City's LaGuardia Airport. Here's what to know about the crash and the investigation: What happened on the runway?
An Air Canada regional flight arrived from Montreal around 11:37 p.m. Sunday and struck an airport fire truck, which was crossing the runway to check on an unusual odor reported on another plane.
It was busier than a typical Sunday night at LaGuardia. Because of flight delays, the airport saw nearly 70 takeoffs and landings after 10 p.m. -- more
than double the 31 that were scheduled, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. No planes took off after 11:09 p.m., but planes continued to land every few minutes in misty, somewhat foggy conditions.
About 20 seconds before the collision, air traffic control cleared the truck to cross the runway — but then, about 11 seconds later, a controller started repeatedly telling the truck to stop, National Transportation Safety Board investigator Doug Brazy said Tuesday. It's not yet clear whether the truck's driver heard the call.
Audio recordings from the airport control tower later captured an unnamed controller saying: "I messed up."
The impact crushed the cockpit, sheared the nose
NOTICE is hereby given that I ANDRICKA GABRIELLA KRISTEE SAIMPHILUS of Hibiscus Lane, off Soldier Road, 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 25th 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 I EVENISHA RANISHA JOSEPH of Cowpen Road, 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 25th 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 I SENEQUE MEME of General Delivery, Rainbow Bay, Eleuthera, 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 18th 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 I, ALBERTO BAYARD of Wulff Road, 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 18th day of March, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
off the plane and rolled the mangled fire truck onto its side. Passengers worked together to open emergency exit doors, slide off the plane's wings and help others to safety. What happened to the people aboard?
The pilot and co-pilot were the only confirmed fatalities among the roughly six dozen people aboard the flight, operated by Jazz Aviation on behalf of Air Canada. Officials haven't released the victims' names, but a family member identified one of the dead as Antoine Forest.
About 40 people were taken to hospitals, where some sustained serious injuries. Two emergency responders traveling in the fire truck were also injured.
Most of the injured people were quickly released,
but some remained hospitalized, including a flight attendant who was thrown from the plane and found, still buckled into her seat, many yards (meters) away, according to her daughter. What is to blame for the crash?
Federal investigators don't know yet. They're planning to analyze the plane's cockpit and flight data recorders, interview the air traffic controllers and firefighters, and look into issues that range from control tower staffing to electronics meant to prevent runway collisions, according to NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy.
"We rarely, if ever, investigate a major accident where it was one failure" instead of a cascade of problems, she noted at a news conference Tuesday.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I STACY FANKEA DUBREUS of Bacardi P.O.Box #10389 Road, 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 twentyeight days from the 25th 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 I NORDELLA DIANA DALEY-TURNQUEST of #4 Oak Court East Park Estate Prince Charles P.O. Box N1686, 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 25th 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 I, WILLIAM MANOS of Bahama Sound #18, Exuma, 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 18th day of March, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I, SHANIQUE YANIQUE MILLER of Sandilands Village, 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 18th day of March, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I MARC ARIOCE PETIT-FRERE of Exuma, 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 twentyeight days from the 25th day of March, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
NOTICE is hereby given that I LORENCEAU LOUIS of Wilson Track, P.O Box #4370, 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 18th day of March, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.
The Federal Aviation Administration last year encouraged airports with runway alert systems like LaGuardia's to install transmitters in airport vehicles. Some airports have the devices, but LaGuardia's system instead tracked the truck with radar — and didn't produce an alert, Homendy said. That alert system is only one of various safeguards at LaGuardia. For example, it also has lights in runway pavement that turn red when an aircraft is approaching, so that vehicles can steer clear. Those lights apparently were working, Homendy said. The control tower also affords a physical view of the runway. Two controllers were working there, covering what are often four different jobs, Homendy said. That form of double
duty is common on overnight shifts at airports around the country, but investigators will probe whether that makes sense at a busy airport such as LaGuardia.
The NTSB has raised general concerns in the past about fatigue on overnight shifts in control towers, but Homendy said there's no indication so far that it was a factor in Sunday's collision. Canada has also sent investigators to look into the crash.
How did the crash affect air travel?
LaGuardia — one of the 20 busiest airports in the United States — was shut down after Sunday's crash. One runway reopened Monday afternoon, and that remained the state of operations on Tuesday, when about a quarter of the airport's scheduled flights were canceled and major delays continued. The crash and temporary closure were the latest misery for U.S. airports struggling with long security lines amid a standoff over federal Department of Homeland Security funding.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I TAMPSON DELSONNA of George Town Exuma, 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 twentyeight days from the 25th 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 I SHANIKA EDOUARD of P.O. Box 86B, of Podleo 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 twentyeight days from the 25th 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 I ANNE DIEUDONNE of Soldier Road, 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 twentyeight days from the 25th 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 I, JOHNSON DAVILMAR of Market 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 18th day of March, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
NOTICE
NOTICE is hereby given that I, PATRIQUE ALCIDE of Freeport, Grand Bahama, 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 18th day of March, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.
US stocks give back some of the rally sparked by Trump’s talk of negotiations with Iran
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer
U.S. stock indexes slipped Tuesday and gave back some of their rallies from the day before, while oil prices got back to rising as uncertainty continues about how long the war with Iran will last.
The S&P 500 fell 0.4% after yo-yoing through the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 84 points, or 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite sank 0.8%.
Markets have been on a roller coaster since President Donald Trump raised hopes that the war with Iran could end soon when he said Monday that the United States and Iran held productive talks “regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East.”
His announcement, which came just before Wall Street opened for trading, caused financial markets worldwide to reverse momentum immediately.
It calmed worries that the war may cause a longterm disruption to the oil and natural gas industry in the Persian Gulf, one big enough to send a blast of inflation to the region’s customers worldwide.
But financial market have since gotten both
encouraging and discouraging signals about the war. On one side, attacks continued in the Middle East Tuesday after Iran denied having direct talks with the United States. On the other, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X that his country is ready to “facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks” to end the Iran war.
After all that, the price for a barrel of Brent crude oil rose 4.6% to settle at
$104.49 per barrel, a day after slumping more than 10%. Benchmark U.S. crude rose 4.8% to $92.35 per barrel and clawed back some of its own 10.3% plunge from the day before. In the bond market, Treasury yields returned to rising and upped the pressure on financial markets worldwide. Higher yields make mortgages and other kinds of borrowing more expensive for households and for businesses, which
Trump administration’s $1B deal to stop offshore wind shows an evolution in its anti-wind strategy
By JENNIFER McDERMOTT Associated Press
The Trump administration’s $1 billion payout to a French energy company to walk away from U.S. offshore wind development is a novel tactic against the industry that supporters see as creative — but opponents see as foolish and extreme.
The Interior Department announced Monday that TotalEnergies agreed to what is essentially a refund of its leases for projects off the coasts of North Carolina and New York, and will invest the money in a liquefied natural gas export terminal in Texas and other fossil fuel projects instead. The department hailed it as an “innovative agreement” with the French energy giant so that the “American people will no longer pay for ideological subsidies that benefited only the unreliable and costly offshore wind industry.”
The tactical shift comes after federal courts have thwarted President Donald Trump’s efforts to stop offshore wind through executive action.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the payment “sets a dangerous precedent and is a shortsighted misuse of taxpayer dollars.”
Robin Shaffer, president of the anti-offshore wind group Protect Our Coast New Jersey, applauded what he called “out of the box” thinking. Shaffer said after losing in the courts, the administration needed a way to take back leases that never should have been issued because of the harm offshore wind development causes to the marine environment.
“The Trump administration has been relentlessly creative in its efforts to stop offshore wind development in the U.S.,” he said.
While the Republican president has been particularly hostile to offshore wind, he has also blocked dozens of clean energy projects and canceled billions of dollars in grants to promote clean energy, which he derides as the “Green New Scam.” This comes at a time when the U.S. is trying to boost power supplies in an artificial intelligence race against China and keep electricity bills from rising even higher.
The Iran war has also dealt a massive energy shock to the global economy by choking off most exports of crude oil and liquefied natural gas through the Strait of Hormuz.
A vow to stop offshore wind
On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to end the offshore wind industry as soon as he returned to the White House. Trump said wind turbines are horrible and expensive and pose a threat to birds and other wildlife.
Connecticut is getting power from Revolution Wind, an offshore wind project, and estimates it will lower wholesale energy costs for the state. The National Audubon Society, which is dedicated to the conservation of birds, has said climate change is a greater threat to birds.
Trump has long opposed offshore wind energy. In 2015, he lost his yearslong battle to stop an offshore wind farm near Aberdeen in eastern Scotland when Britain’s Supreme Court unanimously ruled against him. Trump claimed the 11 turbines would spoil the view from his golf course.
He wants to boost production of oil, natural gas and coal, which cause climate change, because he argues that doing so would give the U.S. the lowest-cost energy and electricity of any nation in the world.
His first day back in office, he acted on his campaign promise, signing an
slows the economy. They also hurt prices for all kinds of investments, from stocks to gold to cryptocurrencies.
Gold’s price sank again and settled at $4,402.00 per ounce, down roughly $1,000 from a high point early this month. Its price has dropped despite its reputation as a safe harbor for investors during scary times.
Treasurys paying more in interest make gold, which pays its owners nothing, look worse in comparison,
executive order temporarily halting offshore wind lease sales in federal waters and pausing permitting for all wind projects. The deal comes after the administration is thwarted by the courts
U.S. District Judge Patti Saris vacated Trump’s executive order blocking wind energy projects on Dec. 8, declaring it unlawful as she sided with state attorneys general from 17 states and Washington, D.C., who challenged the order. The administration is appealing.
Two weeks later, the administration ordered
the floor at the New
Thursday, March 19, 2026.
and investors have lost some of the fever that drove gold prices to records earlier this year.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed to 4.39% from 4.34% late Monday and from just 3.97% before the war.
The yield on the twoyear Treasury, which more closely tracks expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do with overnight interest rates, rose to 3.92% from 3.83% late Monday.
The Fed came into this year with expectations of resuming its cuts to interest rates, which would give the economy a boost. But oil prices have jumped so much and the threat of high inflation is so large that traders have nearly erased their bets for a cut to rates this year.
Instead, some are even betting on the possibility that the Fed may have to hike rates this year, according to data from CME Group. That was a nearly unthinkable scenario before the war began. Higher interest rates would slow the economy, but they would also help keep a lid on inflation.
that construction stop on five major East Coast offshore wind projects, citing national security concerns.
Developers and states sued, and federal judges allowed all five to resume construction, essentially concluding that the government didn’t show that the national security risk was so imminent that construction must halt.
TotalEnergies wasn’t one of those; it had already paused its two projects soon after Trump was elected. And the company has now pledged not to develop any new offshore wind projects in the United States. CEO
On Wall Street, Estee Lauder dropped 9.8% to one of the market’s sharpest losses after confirming that it’s in merger talks with Spanish cosmetics company Puig. The potential deal could put such brands as MAC, Clinique, Charlotte Tilbury and Apivita together under one company. Estee Lauder said no final decision has been made yet.
On the winning side of Wall Street was Smithfield Foods. Its stock rose 4.3% after the meat company reported stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected.
All told, the S&P 500 fell 24.63 points to 6,556.37. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 84.41 to 46,124.06, and the Nasdaq composite sank 184.87 to 21,761.89. In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed in Europe.
Asian stocks rose in their first chance to trade following Trump’s announcement on Monday about talks with Iran. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 2.8%, and South Korea’s Kospi climbed 2.7% for two of the world’s larger moves.
Patrick Pouyanné said the refunded lease fees will finance the construction of a liquefied natural gas plant in Texas and the development of its oil and gas activities, calling it a “more efficient use of capital” in the U.S. Kit Kennedy, who directs the power division at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said the proposed payment to TotalEnergies was a “boondoggle” that “transfers nearly $1 billion from American taxpayers to a foreign corporation and the oil and gas industry.”
