04212026 BUSINESS

Nassau grid manager exits from BPL deal

BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

THE Opposition’s leader yesterday demanded that the Government provide “clarity and transparency” over the future of New Providence’s energy grid after the management firm overseeing $130m in upgrades and long-term reforms suddenly exited the deal.

Michael Pintard told Tribune Business that much of the Davis administration’s energy reform plans “rely substantially” on overhauling New Providence’s transmission and distribution (T&D) network as he reacted to confirmation that Island Grid, the management firm for Bahamas Grid Company, has withdrawn from the arrangement with effect from yesterday.

Bahamas Grid Company, which is 40 percent owned by Bahamas Power & Light (BPL), in an official statement also revealed that Eric Pike, Island Grid’s principal, and fellow executive, Mei Shibata, have also “stepped down” from their Board positions and roles. It described Mr Pike as a “former chairman”, with that post now taken by Anthony Ferguson, the CFAL chief who helped devise the financial structuring and capital raising for the Bahamas Grid Company transaction.

Eric Pike-led Island Grid ‘concludes’ tie-up after less than two years

Pintard demands ‘clarity and transparency’ on future of grid reforms

Gov’t asserts ‘full faith’ in all-Bahamian leadership of Bahamas Grid

and confidence in its leadership, capacity and ability to deliver on its commitments.”

The Bahamas Grid Company release led on the appointments of Dareo McKenzie and Gladys Fernander as its chief executive and chief financial officer, respectively, hailing this as “marking the company’s transition to a fully independent, all-Bahamian-led operating model”.

Small hotels lasting ‘50 years or more’ five times greater than large resorts

‘Definite correlation’ between Out Island rooms and longevity

Flawed anchor property strategy in development ‘hangover’

BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

number of guest rooms they offer with smaller properties faring better.

The Government, in a statement last night responding to Tribune Business inquiries, sought to reassure that the departures of Island Grid and Mr Pike will have no impact on ongoing investment and upgrades to New Providence T&D infrastructure that fall under Bahamas Grid Company.

“The management agreement has come to an end. The investment is ongoing and continues to progress as planned,” a statement issued by Latrae Rahming, the Prime Minister’s communications director, asserted. “The company is now Bahamian-led, and we have full faith

Gov’ts borrowing costs fluctuate but rate stable

BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE CENTRAL Bank is maintaining an accommodative monetary policy stance of relatively low Discount and Prime interest rates, its Governor affirmed yesterday, in a bid to support lending and private sector activity while the Government’s local borrowing costs will be set by the market.

Speaking at the Central Bank’s Financial Literacy Seminar yesterday, John Rolle addressed concerns over the gap between the Central Bank’s unchanged interest rates and the Government’s rising borrowing costs as The Bahamas works to reduce elevated debt levels amid increasing expense pressures.

Mr Rolle explained that Central Bank does not set the discount rate just based on the Government’s debt levels or borrowing costs alone. Instead, it looks at the overall condition of the economy and, more importantly, whether the financial system is stable and the Bahamian dollar is secure.

“When we look at the discount rate and what it means for the economy as a whole, it is set in relation to the economy generally,” said Mr Rolle.  “But we also focus on other factors that go into the stability of the financial system, and our focus is always on the value of the Bahamian dollar and ensuring that we have adequate support for the value of the currency.”

Mr Rolle said the regulator continues to prioritise access to credit, particularly for businesses and consumers. “Beyond the discount rate, we focus on the ease of access to credit or borrowing for the private sector, because the private sector fits into that space, and we’re still in an accommodating environment insofar as allowing persons to borrow

Briland developer: 70-80% local buying kept money here MARKET - See Page B5

However, the way the release was structured appeared designed to draw attention away, and distract from, the departure of Island Grid, Mr Pike and his colleague less than two years after they signed - and are still a party to - the June 3, 2024, Heads of Agreement signed with the Government for the Bahamas Grid Company T&D takeover on New Providence.

Tribune Business had been hearing suggestions for several weeks that the Island Grid deal was in difficulties, and that the company and Mr

- See Page B5

Housing PPPs ‘win-win’ as IDB readying $50m project

BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

A DEVELOPER has hailed both major political parties’ pledges to partner with the private sector in solving The Bahamas’ housing shortage as a “win-win” for all including home buyers as the Government readies a $50m project with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to tackle the crisis.

Franon Wilson, Arawka Homes president, told

Tribune Business that properly structured public-private partnerships (PPPs) for the construction of lower-cost affordable housing, which is more accessible to middle and lower income Bahamian purchasers, would enable the Government “to stretch the money it does have” while mobilising private sector resources, capital and expertise to tackle this challenge. He spoke as the IDB revealed that a $50m project, branded ‘Sustainable housing

THE BAHAMAS is suffering from “a hangover” caused by the flawed ‘anchor property’ strategy, a resort entrepreneur argued yesterday, asserting that research shows the number of small boutique hotels in existence for 50 years or more is five times’ greater than those with upwards of 50 rooms. Ben Simmons, founder of the Briland-centred Little Island Hotels group, now three properties strong with a fourth under development at The Current, told Tribune Business that Internet research he conducted, assisted by artificial intelligence (AI), revealed a direct “correlation” between Family Island resort longevity and the

opportunities for urban transformation’, is being worked on in partnership with the Bahamian government in a bid to address the affordable homes crisis that both the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and Free National Movement (FNM) have identified as central campaign themes ahead of the May 12 general election.

The entrepreneur, whose The Farm resort was just *included among Travel + Leisure magazine’s 100 best new hotels in the world, said he had focused on the connection “between room size and years in operation” when conducting his research into the resort development model that is best-suited for the Family Islands.

“There’s definitely a correlation between the two, particularly in the Family Islands,” Mr Simmons told this newspaper. “The threshold for rooms is 20-30 rooms, which seems to be an important tipping point. Below this room count, the property can plug into existing infrastructure, access

CONSTRUCT - See Page B4

“The programme aims to improve the supply and sustainability of housing for low and middle‐income households through developing an attractive public-private partnership (PPP) window and more sustainable housing finance,” the IDB disclosed in a document seen by Tribune Business. Other objectives involve “improving the development attractiveness of vacant land tracts and derelict properties, expanding the capacity and useful life of the existing housing stock [and] reforming the regulatory environment for mixed‐use development,

Make environment disclosure treaty ‘real for The Bahamas’

BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net

DEVELOPMENT concerns have not been “heard to the level that we thought was satisfactory”, an Exuma tour operator argued yesterday, as he called for The Bahamas to fully implement the Escazu Agreement’s provisions.

The call came as Bahamian environmental and civic organisations urged the Government to make “Escazu real in The Bahamas”. The regional treaty for Latin America and the Caribbean, which The Bahamas signed on to in June 2025, requires access to environmental information, public participation in environmental decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters.

Eric Carey, former executive director of the Bahamas National Trust (BNT), now chief executive of ONE Consultants, said: “They are legal, binding obligations

under the treaty.” He also urged the Government to “establish clear, enforceable standards for access to information, public participation and access to justice in all environmental decision making.

“Require public disclosure of environmental impact assessments (EIAs), environmental management plans (EMPs) and compliance frameworks before approvals are given with formal definitions of disclosure before approvals and granted,” Mr Carey added. “Establish standards for environmental impact assessments, environmental management plans and compliance management that can be measured when enforced, eliminate conflicts of interest in the environmental review process.

“No firm should design a project, assess its impacts and oversee its own compliance. Empower communities

- See Page B6

SOLUTION - See Page B4

JOB VACANCY

Registration Officer (London/Nassau)

An exciting opportunity to work with a well-established ship registry in the capacity of Registration Officer within the global Registration team.

Working within the Registration Team, the key client delivery team of the flag state. The team is vocal point in client delivery and ensure compliance to flag state legal framework and international maritime regulations upon registration of vessels. There is an exciting opportunity to join a global ship registry in the supporting the London Registration Team as a Registration Officer.

The Registration Team is key to provide efficient and clientfocused services to our stakeholders and customers. With clients across the global maritime industry, the team is the vocal point in client delivery and ensures compliance of flag state legal framework and international maritime regulations upon registration of vessels.

The successful candidate will play a key role in the management of the end-to-end registration process and ensure all transactions comply with national and international maritime regulations.

Nature of the role:

A detail-oriented and proactive person to provide delivery of our Ship Registration Department. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing experienced support and guidance to clients to ensure the smooth processing of vessel registrations, certifications, and compliance documentation in accordance with international maritime regulations and registry policies.

Key responsibilities:

1. Provide quality service to clients registering their vessels and registration transactions with the flag administration.

2. Prepare and compile appropriate vessels’ documents to perform the completion of registration transactions, such as delivery of vessels, change of ownerships, court sales, mortgages etc.

3. Advise clients on the registration procedures for each registration transaction, inclusive of relevant legal and statutory requirements.

4. Ensure that relevant office procedures are followed, and during the registration of vessel transactions and information is put into the database.

5. Manage provisional extension whenever the need arises.

6. Issue various ship documents as ensure delivery of service.

7. Document the change of ownership, change in vessel name and other registration transactions.

8. Provide guidance to junior team members and necessary training of team members were required.

Qualifications required:

• Essential:

o Undergraduate Degree-level with law being preferable.

o Previous experience working as supervisory level in a registry (flag or aviation administration) or registration team at shipping company.

o Up to five (5) years or more experience working in a client-based industry; working directly with lawyers would be useful.

o Ability to read and understand mortgages instruments

o Understanding of IMO and other international maritime conventions

o Experience using vessel registration database.

• Desirable:

· Knowledge of Document Management System

· Knowledge business or insurance sector

Personal qualities required:

Attention to detail is essential

Fluent in both written and spoken English

Highly developed written and oral presentation skills in a professional manner

Good critical thinking and analysis skills

Good inter-personal and cross-culture skills

Good team-working skills

Self-motivated and able to work without supervision

Good organisational skills and capable of logical prioritisation of activities

Computer competency is essential

Benefits: Competitive salary

Annual Leave: 22 days per annum (pro-rated first year) & Bahamas public holidays

Private Medical Insurance

Closing date for applications: 8th May 2026

platform.

the

Realtor unveils AI powered platform

BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

A BAHAMIAN real estate firm is launching an artificial intelligence (AI) AI-powered platform designed to deliver real-time intelligence and streamline how agents operate in a market it believes is at a “crossroads”.

Tim Rodland, founder and chief executive of Rodland Real Estate, said in unveiling the ‘Roro’ platform that the Bahamian real estate market remains strong as firms increasingly turn to technology to improve decision-making and build trust in the sector.

He added that a combination of steady demand and underlying structural challenges is reshaping how real estate firms operate, with greater emphasis being placed on data quality, speed and the ability to interpret market trends accurately. Mr Rodland said that while overall conditions remain positive, the market is becoming more selective.

“So far, the market’s selective. There are still people riding on the high of post-2020, since the COVID era, where prices were still a bit high, but it's actually pretty solid at the moment,” said Mr Rodland.

He added that global instability is also influencing buyer behaviour, with The Bahamas attracting interest from investors seeking stability. “We're seeing a lot more people coming from areas with conflict. The Bahamas is proving to be a very safe environment,” said Mr Rodland.

At the same time, he warned that weaknesses within the industry - particularly around agent preparedness and data interpretation - are becoming more visible.

“Our industry isn't broken, but it is at a crossroads,” said Mr Rodland, arguing that “speed is being valued over substance” while low barriers to entry are affecting service quality and client outcomes.

In response, Rodland Real Estate has launched ‘Roro’ to provide continuously updated market data - replacing traditional quarterly reporting cycles with near real-time insights.

“As a sale is updated today, we have the information tomorrow,” said Mr Rodland.

“You ask the same question tomorrow, you get a different answer because new data has been processed.” He added that the system removes the need for manual data analysis, which previously required agents to compile and interpret large datasets.

“Before, you would have to download a bunch of information… plug it into spreadsheets,” said Mr Rodland. “We simplified the process.”

He added that the technology also enables agents to generate pricing guidance, market insights and client-ready materials instantly, improving both speed and accuracy.

“It saves time and helps agents be smarter,” said Mr Rodland. “They can give information… based on today's market, not outdated data.” In addition, the platform automates administrative functions such as communication and marketing materials, allowing agents to focus more on transactions and client engagement.

“A lot of people were sitting doing admin… so we asked, how can we streamline that?” he said. The system is currently being rolled out to the firm’s agents, with potential expansion into other markets under consideration.

Mr Rodland said the broader goal is to shift the industry towards smarter, more informed decision-making rather than simply scaling operations. “This moment… is a reset,” he said. “The market doesn't need bigger; it needs smarter.”

Governor: Bahamas ‘should weather’ Iran conflict fall-out

BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE Central Bank’s governor yesterday warned that The Bahamas is likely to face rising inflation and increased business costs as uncertainty over the Middle East conflict pushes up energy prices and import bills.

John Rolle, speaking at the Central Bank’s financial literacy seminar, said that - as a heavily import-dependent economy - The Bahamas will inevitably feel the effects of higher global prices.

“Insofar as the geopolitical upheaval is concerned, there will likely

be increased inflationary pressures in The Bahamas. Because we are importing goods and services, it means having to pay more for those in The Bahamas,” said Mr Rolle. He pointed to energy as a key transmission channel, with higher fuel prices expected to ripple across the economy.

“Because we are talking about energy, those costs will impact transportation. And if you are in business in The Bahamas, at some level, from an operational point of view, businesses - whether hotels or otherscould also experience some pass-through. So we do anticipate that industry will experience some increased pressures.”

Bahamas

Despite these challenges, Mr Rolle said The Bahamas’ external position remains strong supported by healthy foreign reserves.

“The Central Bank’s role is really to ensure that the economy is in a position, with foreign reserves and other resources, to pay for those increased price items. The Bahamas has very comfortable external reserve levels, and so we should be able to weather the crisis, insofar as the geopolitical tensions and the inflationary impact on The Bahamas are concerned,” the Governor said.

“We have an adequate supply of foreign reserves to accommodate the increased payments that we may need to make, whether

journey’ to fast payment system

BY FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business

THE Central Bank’s Governor yesterday said The Bahamas is moving to implement a national fast payments system aimed at enabling instant transactions, expanding financial access and improving how businesses and consumers make payments.

John Rolle, speaking at the Central Bank’s financial literacy seminar, said the regulator has selected

Price

a provider and is preparing to roll out the fast payments system as part of a broader push to modernise payments and expand digital financial services.

“Insofar as fast pay is concerned, The Bahamas is on a journey where, over the next year, there’s going to be a lot of effort and energy on implementing a fast payment system for the country,” said Mr Rolle. “What that will do is expand access for all persons to be able to send and receive monies instantly, and to have access to the

funds that are exchanged instantly.” He explained the initiative is also expected to reshape the cost and structure of everyday transactions, particularly in peer-to-peer payments.

“We have an emphasis, insofar as fast payment is concerned, on keeping the fees out of the peer-to-peer space, but also allowing innovation in the financial technology space, so that you can get a lot of the solutions that will be needed for merchants,” Mr Rolle said.

He added that the system will support solutions

for energy costs or higher costs for other imports.” Mr Rolle also highlighted the strength of the Bahamian financial system heading into the period of uncertainty.

“Our financial system is in a healthy and sound position, because in times like these, one of the areas where you may tend to have increased pressures is in the banking sector, where institutions may have to be more attentive in managing their lending risk. But our banks are going into this crisis in a very healthy position, insofar as levels of credit risk are concerned,” he added.

Even with those buffers, Mr Rolle warned that the external environment

for merchants both overthe-counter and in the e-commerce space. Mr Rolle said this will allow businesses to integrate payment options that give customers “a greater range of opportunities in terms of how to pay, other than just with cards”.

The Central Bank launched a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process to find a solution provider for the fast payment system in October 2025.  The RFP received 16 responses from domestic and international vendors, and Montran Corporation was selected to develop the system.

“The Central Bank of The Bahamas recently announced that we had selected Montran Corporation to develop the fast payment system for

will weigh on economic expansion. “We expect that whatever amount of growth we experience - and we do still expect growth - it is going to be less than we would otherwise have experienced if the crisis and its associated pressures were not present,” he added. Tourism performance, the Governor noted, will depend heavily on the strength of the US economy. “At this point, the US economy is still on a positive trajectory. Yes, there will be some slowdown in how the US economy performs, but we still expect that, overall, we will see relatively healthy tourism numbers unless the crisis becomes very protracted and we start to see US consumer

The Bahamas,” said Mr Rolle. He said the fast payments push forms part of a broader strategy to expand digital financial services and improve economic efficiency across the archipelago.

“Well, insofar as digital financial services is concerned, for the Central Bank, we think it’s important to continue to have public education and outreach, recognising that in The Bahamas, being an archipelagic country, the more effective and efficient we are using the digital channels, we also impact the efficiency of business and commerce on the whole,” said Mr Rolle. He added that adoption will depend not only on access but also on awareness and security. “We think it is important to continue

app launches with 287 stores, 1,000 users

BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net

THE Government yesterday formally launched its Price Pal comparison app that is designed to boost consumer choice, competitiveness and price discovery with 287 listed stores and more than 1,000 Bahamian users. The launch, which took place at Phoenix Supermarket, marks the app’s transition from a fourmonth beta testing stage to its official roll-out. A concept driven by the Bahamas Trade Commission, it is a multi-government agency project built to drive competiveness and allow Bahamians the opportunity to find the best deals for their groceries and other commodities.

“As of today, over 1,000 Bahamians are now using the app that have signed up for the beta testing,” Barry Griffin, chairman of The Bahamas Trade Commission, said. “And so we hope to increase that number as we move forward. So the app was currently in the beta testing phase, but with the push of that button today, the Prime Minister launched it in the app store and in the Google Play Store. So any Bahamian will be able to simply go into the App Store or Google Play and download the app and use the app.”

He added: “So over 30,000-plus products are in the app across the stores. The app is a free app. You don't have to pay for it.

You just go on. You can use it automatically. But there's also a feature that if you sign up and create an account within the app, more features unlock.

“So, for example, you can do price tracking. So you can choose a particular product, and when the price of that product goes down, you will be alerted. You can also save your shopping list in the in the app if you create a user profile.

Mr Griffin said stores in Grand Bahama, Exuma, Bimini and the Berry Islands, Eleuthera and Abaco are featured in the app. In partnership with the Consumer Affairs Department, price inspectors on a monthly basis will add stores in other islands to the app as well.

Rex Adderley, director of the Consumer Affairs Department, added: “Price Pal has been a topic for some time within the Trade Commission, and one day we decided that we were going to look into it and proceed with it, because we realised it would become an essential tool that can be used by consumers.

“And we did our research, and we came up with the name of Price Pal, went ahead and got it done. Now we're happy today to know that it's finally being launched, and it's going to be a very essential tool for the consumer. Consumer Affairs is also responsible, or would be responsible, for managing the app.”

Senator Randy Rolle, chairman of the Consumer Protection Commission

(CPC), said the app has a feature that allows shoppers to report a complaint.

“Many times Bahamian consumers shop with their eyes, or they don't pay attention to little detail,” he said. “And so what this app will do is, if there is an issue where there's an expiry item or something, they're able to report it on the app and someone is able to work with them; deal with it right away.

“And so we're working closely, along with Rex Adderley and his team, to make sure that we cover a full experience for consumers throughout The Bahamas. And so again, this is important for us, because it's not only a Nassau-centric app. This app is being launched in Exuma, Abaco and, of course, Bimini and Berry Islands.”

Valdez Williams, chief executive of the Novio Group, the Bahamian company that developed the app for the Government, added: “One of the key things in this whole development process is we realised that comparing prices is not just enough. It is how can we make the app useful for daily use? We're talking about price alerts, engaging our consumers in terms of telling them when is the best deal available.

“At the same time, enabling them with shopping

lists to be able to track their spending weeks from now or days from now. At the same time, we want to enable the retailers with data and information to help support the consumers. And so we are doing our best to enable both sides, so both sides are balanced completely.”

Mr Griffin said the app’s success can be measured by daily savings as well as the amount of Bahamians who chose to use it.

“So there is a mechanism within the app where consumers can give their feedback and tell us that the prices are updated, the deals that they're getting, if they're satisfied with the app,” he added.

“There's also a feature for them to help us to improve the app as we go along to say what features and usability factors can make the app more streamlined. So our success will be measured by Bahamians saying ‘The app is helpful. The app is useful. We're finding the stores that have the best bank for our buck’.”

Valentino Gardiner, proprietor of Phoenix Supermarket, added: “I think this technology is long overdue because other parts of the world are already using it.”

Prime Minister Philip Davis KC said: “This initiative is designed to put tools in the hands of consumers to

enable them to save monies when they're shopping.

Price Pal is a comparison app that compares prices across stores and across our communities, and it gives them opportunity to choose where they would wish to shop.

“So I surprised Ms Brown here, who has been a part of the beta testing, which has been in place for the last four months. We've been testing it to ensure that it works. And I heard that Ms Brown would be shopping here this morning. We came to surprise her and to speak to her about her experience in using Pay Pal and she finds it as a tremendous tool.

“She lives in St Barnabas, but she came here because of the savings that she's accruing because of that

confidence wavering,” said Mr Rolle.

“In that case, you could begin to see a more direct negative impact for The Bahamas.” Mr Rolle said the global economy is better positioned than in past crises to manage shocks, but outcomes remain uncertain.

“Everything depends on the severity and duration of the crisis. To the extent that we are able to get beyond this within a reasonable timeframe, we expect that we will not experience the most severe effects,” said Mr Rolle.

He added that The Bahamas is entering the period from a position of relative strength. “We are starting out from a very healthy position in terms of the level of foreign reserves. We are in a healthy position in our banks, and the Government… is in a position to absorb some of the shocks and setbacks, if necessary, better than would otherwise have been the case,” Mr Rolle said.

to educate the population on digital financial services,” said Mr Rolle. “That goes beyond just understanding how to use digital products, but how to be safe from a cyber security perspective, and how to safeguard oneself against potential fraud.” He added that the continued uptake of digital channels will be key to the system’s success. “We do think it is important for there to be continued progression in The Bahamas to adopt digital channels for financial services,” Mr Rolle said.

The system, which is expected to be launched by the first quarter of 2027, is intended to modernise the country’s payments infrastructure and expand the range of digital transaction options available to both consumers and businesses.

Price Pal programme. And so today I'm going to officially launch it and it will no longer be a test app. We're going to launch the comparison app price bar for all Bahamian consumers to be able to use to decide where they best will shop,” Mr Davis added.

“It's a matter of competition because, as Ms Brown was telling me, when she went on Price Pal and compared prices for the items she wanted, this store was providing the best price for her. And so she's here. She just wants the message to go out at other stores to now be concerned about their pricing, to ensure that they are competitive. That's one of the tools we're using now to help attack this, what I call this, elephant in our room, the cost of living.”

Bahamians feel ‘not big enough’ for Gov’t to roll-out ‘red carpet’

supply chains and operate relatively efficiently.”

However, once resortsboth new and old - exceed this room count, and go above 50 rooms in particular, “the supporting infrastructure is much more fragile” with utilities and an island’s existing labour pool sometimes struggling for capacity to meet the extra demand. “This is true, and we obviously know this,” Mr Simmons said.

“I took the average of a larger property, and found the average lifespan of a large anchor project, particularly greater than 50 rooms, on average is 20-30 years” before it falls into financial difficulties caused by a mixture of different factors such as dependency on commercial airlift; high fixed utility costs and hurricane damage that result in closure or liquidation.

“Any of those things can result in its collapse,” Mr Simmons added. “The third point, the life span of micro hotels, I looked at properties under 30 rooms and, on average, the life span was 50 years. Resorts that are greater than 50 rooms usually last 20-30 years. Properties with less than 30 rooms last greater than 50 years.

“If you look at the entire history of the Family Islands, only five-six properties with more than 50 rooms lasted longer than 50 years - only a handful. On the upside, if you look at hotels that are small boutique properties with under 30 rooms, there’s at least 25-26 of those that have lasted for greater than 50 years. You are talking five times’ more the number of properties that survived this longer period of time; this 50-year mark.” Included in the small boutique ‘survivors’ who have endured for more than 50 years are Harbour Island’s Pink Sands resort, which opened in 1951; the Bluff House on Abaco’s Green Turtle Cay, which started welcoming visitors in 1964; the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, which began operations in 1956; Small Hope Bay Lodge in Andros, which opened in 1960; and Fernandez Bay Village on Cat Island, which launched in 1973.

However, larger properties seem not to have failed so well. They include Eleuthera’s former Club Med resort, which operated as a 75-room all-inclusive for around 30 years until it was destroyed by Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and left abandoned as a deteriorating concrete skeleton. The Out

Major parties in similar housing crisis pledges

SOLUTION - from page B1

multi‐family, urban regeneration, rent control and transit-oriented-development.” Few details or specifics were provided by the IDB as the project is still in the planning and development stages, and the outcome of the upcoming general election may determine whether it moves forward at all and/or how swiftly.

However, the PLP in its ‘Blueprint for Progress’ manifesto is promising to “partner with the private sector, acquire and rehabilitate existing properties, and create a continuous pipeline of affordable units across New Providence and the Family Islands”. The FNM, for its part, says it plans to create a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) “capable of large-scale developments that could build and restore thousands of homes over a five-year period funded in part by a $100m injection from the National Investment Fund”.

Backing the plans for greater private sector involvement, Mr Wilson told Tribune Business: “I think it’s very important that the Government and private sector continue to work together. It’s truly the best of both worlds. At the

end of the day, the Government wants to move the country forward in all aspects, not just home ownership, but with home ownership there are things the private sector can do well.

“Partnering with government is truly a win-win because, at the end of the day, the Government wants to see people in homes. PPPs can work in a way that allows the Government to stretch the money it does have while achieving its goals. That’s where we can have a win-win for the Bahamian people. We have so many islands, so many different settlements and so many needs - every island needs an airport, healthcare and schools.

“There are things that have to be duplicated on every island, and the Government wants to see all move forward.” Mr Wilson added that the creation of a REIT, as proposed by the FNM, to pool capital for investment in home building and rehabilitation, could also provide Bahamian institutional and retail investors with higher returns than they are currently enjoying with the relatively low deposit rates being paid by commercial banks.

“That has the potential to be a win-win,” he

Island Inn, which opened in George Town, Exuma, in the late 1960’s with an 80-room resort was unable to finance required structural renovations and also closed by the late 1990s.

Other so-called Family Island ‘anchor projects’ include the $700m Rum Cay Resort Marina, conceived in the early 2000s but which has failed to progress beyond site clearance, plus the I-Group’s 10,000-acre Mayaguana joint venture with the Government which also stalled out quickly with little to none of the promised development activity materialising. Royal Island, off Eleuthera, was another mega resort investment that went nowhere.

The so-called ‘anchor property’ strategy started under the second Ingraham administration between 1997 and 2002 in a bid to spur economic activity and jobs on the Family Islands and reverse their depopulation. The prime examples were the Four Seasons Emerald Bay resort and Bimini Bay.

The former defaulted on its loan financing, which was picked up by the London office of Japanese insurer, Mitsui. Although owed around $130m, it ended up having to take a likely massive loss when it sold the Emerald Bay resort to

added. “The reality today is that, right now, in the banks, people are paying the banks to lend money. Any opportunity to invest money where people can have a greater return than what they’re getting in the banks has the potential to be another win-win.”

The REIT proposal is not new. Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief executive, told Tribune Business in November 2024 that he and the bank were prepared to back such a vehicle with their own money since, once appropriately financed, it would buy distressed properties from Bahamas-based commercial banks at a fraction (cents on the dollar) of what they are valued at on industry balance sheets.

Once acquired, these properties would then be refitted to provide a readymade affordable, low cost housing solution for hundreds of Bahamian families.

Besides selling them at a knock-down price, which would be feasible given the lower purchase price paid by the REIT, the Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief said it would also have the freedom to enter more creative housing arrangements such as lease-to-own deals.

Besides easing an ‘affordable’ housing shortage, which Keith Bell, minister of housing and urban renewal, has estimated at around 12,000 units, Mr Bowe said his proposal would further boost

Sandals for a price thought to be between $20m-$30m. That property, of course, is now in the process of being converted from the Sandals brand to a Beaches resort.’

As for Bimini Bay, it was originally developed by Miami-based Gerardo Capo and his RAV Bahamas vehicle. They brought the Malaysian resort and gaming conglomerate, Genting, in as majority partners but the two sides are not embroiled in a bitter legal battle in south Florida over RAV Bahamas’ $600m damages claim alleging that its partner has treated the property as a “financial wasteland” by dumping millions of dollars in liabilities generated elsewhere in its empire on the books.

The first Christie administration then accelerated the ‘anchor property’ strategy and, while there were successes such as the Baker’s Bay Golf & Ocean Club, there were also multiple failures such as the $700m Rum Cay Resort Marina project.

Mr Simmons said The Bahamas had invested heavily in a flawed strategy that viewed so-called ‘anchor properties’ as being exclusively mega resorts as opposed to multiple small, boutique resorts that blend in with the culture and character of the Family Islands

the Bahamian economy by finally removing distressed assets that have clogged bank balance sheets for up to 15 years.

In so doing, he explained that funds previously tied-up in non-performing loans would now be freed for lending to productive sectors of the Bahamian economy such as business/ commercial ventures as well as qualified borrowers in the housing market.

This would drive both economic growth and job creation, and Mr Bowe suggested his proposal would get more Bahamian families into their homes faster since the properties are already built rather than having to wait for construction to be completed. It would also likely be less costly for the Government, and potentially reduce its risk exposure, while making greater inroads into the ‘affordable’ housing shortage.

The FNM, in promising to “resolve the housing crisis through innovation”, is pledging to “mobilise hundreds of millions of dollars in private and public lands to create a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) capable of large-scale

as well as being easier for local communities, the infrastructure and workforce to absorb.

“The national economic policy in the 1990s was massive anchor properties in every island, and we’re having a hangover with that era of thinking,” he told Tribune Business. “We’re 30 years on from that time, and clearly it hasn’t worked.

“Given what we know about what has worked here, the strategy for the next 40-50 years is boutique properties. What that looks like is particularly Bahamian-owned properties. It’s a fresh line of thinking. We know they are scaled to support Bahamian entrepreneurs who keep their profits in the country versus large foreign companies that take them out.

“To me, it becomes a self-regenerating paradigm. If local entrepreneurs succeed, it gives a model for other Bahamian entrepreneurs to follow. With large ‘boom or bust’ resorts, this operational knowledge is siloed and we don’t have that continuity,” Mr Simmons said.

“A huge opportunity has been missed, and we cannot continue this. If we support smaller Bahamian projects, there’s less on the line. We are not giving away hundreds of millions of dollars

developments that could build and restore thousands of homes over a five-year period, funded in part by a $100 million injection from the National Investment Fund”.

It added further that, if elected to office, it will seek to “mobilise a portion of the hundreds of millions of dollars in private capital to work alongside public initiatives in making the substantial investments necessary in housing”. This, it added, would see a Pintard-led administration “leverage the Government’s inventory of land and under0utilised public buildings. and place qualifying parcels into a public-private real estate investment trust (REIT-PPP).

“It would: accept Bahamian investor funds and be managed independently with quarterly reporting and annual audits, fund the development of thousands of housing units, including repurposed public buildings and houses acquired from repossession, and remain independent, with decisions made by a board of directors composed primarily of private investors,” the Opposition party added.

in concessions, and most of the $300m spent [by a mega resort], a small fraction stays in-country. They buy materials outside the country on a huge scale that are brought in duty-free under the Hotels Encouragement Act, so there’s very little net benefit to the country.

“The two small hotels we’ve built, a good 70-80 percent of the materials we used were bought in-country. I can pick up 30 2x6 pieces of lumber that we need, and that goes back into the local economy. To me, if we have more of that, we will see sustainable, compounding and ever-increasing growth.”

Mr Simmons added:

“The large ‘boom and bust’ hotels, I don’t think they’re moving the needle in the way these smaller projects and smaller success stories are doing, but not necessarily getting government support. If we are able to push this model, I think it’s going to change the topography of entrepreneurship in this country.

“A large part of the problem with local development is the feeling that ‘I’m not big enough to get the red carpet from government’. More often than not it is red tape. Changing that framework and providing support is a huge opportunity.”

The governing PLP, meanwhile, made similar promises. “We cannot solve a housing shortage without building more housing. We will partner with the private sector, acquire and rehabilitate existing properties, and create a continuous pipeline of affordable units across New Providence and the Family Islands,” the party is promising. It added that it will “partner with high-capacity developers through public-private partnerships to deliver affordable homes at scale”, plus “launch a social housing Acquisition programme to purchase, rehabilitate and bring distressed and abandoned properties into the affordable housing pool”.

The PLP added that it will also build “affordable housing subdivisions across the Family Islands, including Abaco, Eleuthera, and Exuma where the housing shortage is most acute”, and “establish a dedicated Affordable Housing Development Fund drawing on public investment, private capital and multilateral financing”.

Tim Cook will step down as Apple CEO and hand reins over to the iPhone maker’s hardware

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer

APPLE CEO Tim Cook is stepping down from the job that he inherited from the late Steve Jobs, ending a 15-year reign that saw the company’s market value soar by more than $3.6 trillion during an iPhone-fueled era of prosperity.

Cook, 65, will turn the CEO duties over to Apple’s head of hardware engineering, John Ternus, on Sept. 1 while remaining involved with the Cupertino, California, company as executive chairman. That’s similar to the transitions made by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Netflix’s Reed Hastings after they ended their highly successful tenures as CEO.

To allow Cook to assume his new job, Arthur Levinson will relinquish his role as Apple’s non-executive chairman while remaining on its board of directors.

“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company,” Cook said in a statement. “I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people.”

Ternus, 50, has been with Apple for the past quarter century, including the past five years overseeing the engineering underlying the iPhone, iPad and Mac — a role that made him a prime candidate to succeed Cook.

“I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity to carry Apple’s mission forward,” Ternus said in a statement. Cook and Ternus may have more to say about the changing of the guard on April 30 when Apple is scheduled to release its financial results for the first three months of the year. The transition to a new CEO comes at a pivotal time for Apple. Artificial intelligence has unleashed the most upheaval within the industry since Jobs unveiled the first iPhone in 2007. Apple has gotten off to a rough start in AI after stumbling in its efforts to deliver new features built on the technology, as promised nearly two years ago. Earlier this year, Apple finally turned to Google — an early leader in the AI race — for help making the iPhone’s virtual assistant

Siri into a more conversational and versatile helper.

“Cook created a major legacy at Apple but it was ultimately time to pass the torch to Ternus with the AI strategy now the focus,” Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives said. Although he never shook the perception that he lacked Jobs’ vision, Cook leveraged the popularity of the iPhone and other breakthroughs orchestrated by his predecessor to lift Apple to heights that seemed unfathomable when it was on the brink of bankruptcy during the mid-1990s. Not long after Cook took over, Apple became the first publicly traded company to be valued at $1 trillion, then became the first to be valued at $2 trillion and $3 trillion, too.

Manager’s departure not linked to Pike employee shooting death

Pike were considering pulling out. This could not be confirmed prior to yesterday’s announcement, and the Island Grid withdrawal is said to be unconnected to the last month’s shooting death of a Pike Electrical employee, for which Superintendent Berneil Pinder, a senior police officer has been charged. While around 40 Pike workers left The Bahamas in the shooting’s immediate aftermath, to attend the funeral and support the deceased US worker’s family, this newspaper understands that a similar number are due to return to this country to fulfill the grid upgrade contract.

Pike Electrical, founded by Mr Pike’s family in 1945, has provided the manpower, equipment, supplies, expertise and training for the New Providence electrical grid upgrades that have taken place over the past two years. There were suggestions last night that the private equity consortium which acquired majority ownership of Pike in November 2025, TPG and La Caisse, may be replacing Mr Pike and Island Grid in the Bahamas Grid Company deal but this could not be confirmed before press time.

Island Grid is a separate corporate entity formed by Mr Pike to pursue utilities infrastructure deals and projects in island nations such as The Bahamas. The abrupt “conclusion” to its management deal, though, leaves many unanswered questions - questions no one was willing to answer yesterday, as calls and messages left for Mr Pike, Mr Ferguson and Jobeth Coleby-Davis, minister of energy and transport, were not returned or answered before press time last night.

Among the immediate issues for BPL’s 100,000plus New Providence customers, both businesses and households, is whether Bahamas Grid Company will have the necessary resources to continue with the electricity grid overhaul, including its future expansion and maintenance, without the support and involvement of a management partner such as Island Grid.

The three-way Heads of Agreement, signed between the Government, Bahamas Grid Company and Island Grid, details just how reliant the grid operator was on the latter’s expertise. “SPV (Bahamas Grid Company)

shall appoint the T&D manager (Island Grid) as manager of the project,” the documents state.

“The T&D manager shall select a team of Bahamian and non-Bahamian professionals with the technical, financial, operational, management and legal expertise to properly implement and oversee the project and perform the service.” Island Grid also had “the exclusive right to develop and manage the project….. and perform the responsibilities as manager and operator of the T&D system in implementing the project”.

The Heads of Agreement, as well as the capital-raising documents for Bahamas Grid Company, which saw private investors provide it with $30m in equity plus $111m worth of debt financing, also make clear Island Grid’s involvement was intended to be long-term and cover an initial 25-year agreement with an option to extend for a further ten - not a short-term deal for less than two years.

The prospectus for Bahamas Grid Company’s $30m equity capital raise shows Island Grid as earning an annual $4.359m management fee for each of the deal’s first five years based on $75.161m in total revenues. And this is backed by the Heads of Agreement, which states that “for the first five years” Island Grid’s management fees will be equal to 5.8 percent of total grid revenues before thereafter declining by 0.25 percentage points for every 5 percent jump in annual T&D revenues.

“The fundamental question is why does this whole situation seem to have been decoupled?” one financial source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said of Island Grid’s break from Bahamas Grid Company. “The question is: What went wrong? To get a return on investment, you aren’t taking over the entire grid for a short period of time. Your investment horizon is decades. They cannot claim this is all done and planned. This wasn’t for the short-term.”

The source also questioned whether Bahamas Grid Company would gain the same access to, and preferential pricing on, electrical utility equipment without Island Grid’s presence. “They were plugged into the Pike system, so they were getting preferential rates, they were getting critical supplies. These are massive equipment with long lead times,” the source added.

Governor: Market forces set what Gov’t pays for its debt

MARKET - from page B1

and encouraging banks to lend,” said the Governor. At the same time, he drew a distinction between the Central Bank’s policy rate and the Government’s actual borrowing costs.

“Separate and apart from the discount rate the Central Bank sets is the rate that the Government experiences on its borrowing through the auction process,” Mr Rolle said of its Bahamian-dollar bonds and Treasury Bills.

He explained that the auction system ultimately determines the interest rates paid on new debt.

“The auction process in The Bahamas determines, ultimately, what interest rate the Government is paying on new debt,” said Mr Rolle. “We have seen over time sensitivity in terms of the Government’s cost of borrowing.” He added that borrowing costs have continued to fluctuate despite no recent changes to the policy discount interest rate.

“They [Bahamas Grid Company] cannot replicate the Pike partnership. They do not have the reach and expertise, and level of people to pull from.” However, while Island Grid’s management contract may have come to an end, it is unclear whether Pike’s involvement has ceased based on reports that its US employees will be returning to The Bahamas. Meanwhile, the source suggested the absence of Island Grid or any other management firm calls into question Bahamas Grid Company’s reason for being. Set up as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to hold and own New Providence’s electricity grid, they argued that its existence merely creates another layer of cost for electricity consumers and taxpayersand that its functions may be better off folded back into BPL.

Bahamas Grid Company’s investors, especially those who invested in its $111m bond issue, and are awaiting interest payments on their outlay as well as the ultimate return of their investment principal, may also have questions about the end of Island Grid’s involvement after less than two years as this was clearly not contemplated by the offering document that convinced them to part with their funds.

Mr Pintard, meanwhile, questioned whether Island Grid’s exit will impact the grid upgrades that are essential to enable utility-scale solar providers on New Providence, known as independent power producers (IPPs), to safely supply electricity to the T&D network. Bahamas Grid Company’s Heads of Agreement commits it to improvements that are able to accommodate an additional 172 mega watts (MW) of energy supply above and beyond present capacity.

“Much of what the Government has forecast depends on the grid,” the Opposition leader told Tribune Business. “If we are talking about solar deals being signed on New Providence, has the grid upgrade work been completed to the extent it can receive power from IPPs? If the T&D system has not been dealt with, how does that impact all the IPPs relying on a stable grid that has the capacity to receive power from them? Everything hinges on this. It’s a fundamental issue.”

Calling on the Government “to finally be completely open and

“Notwithstanding the fact that the discount rate may not have changed in any recent times, you will see that the Government’s cost of borrowing has moved up and down at times depending on the environment and how investors respond,” said Mr Rolle. On fiscal consolidation, he said progress is being made towards reducing the Government’s debt burden over time. “That is largely a factor of how the Government improves the division between its revenue versus expenditure. We’re seeing progression in that direction,” said Mr Rolle. He added that improvements in The Bahamas’ credit profile will also play a role in lowering borrowing costs. “Through that process, the Government is able to see favourable impacts on the cost of its borrowing, on both local and foreign currency debt,” he said.

Mr Rolle spoke on the sidelines of the Central Bank’s annual financial literacy seminar for high

NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL

The public is hereby advised that I, SHANIQUE

DANISE MARSHALL a.k.a. SHANIQUE DANISE MARTIN of Fox Hill Road North, Nassau, The Bahamas intend to change my name to SHANIQUE DANISE HIGGS. 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.

transparent with what’s happening for this particular agreement, and what are the implications for all the energy projections they have made that are tied to the success of the repair and transformation of the grid”,

Mr Pintard added: “Their overall strategic plan relies substantially on what happens with the transmission and distribution system.”

Island Grid’s departure also appears to coincide with previous Bahamas Grid Company statements asserting that the $130m initial T&D upgrades would be completed this month - April 2026. The latter added that it was “targeting completion in late April”, with outage frequency and duration having declined by 45 percent and 35 percent, respectively, in 2025 compared to 2024.

“The Government has an obligation to clarify for the public whether or not the grid agreement they put in place, which was supposed to fix deteriorating T&D infrastructure, whether or not they [Bahamas Grid Company] have completed that,” Mr Pintard argued. “If they have not completed that, at what stage are they at in this process, and under what circumstances have Pike and the others transitioned from previous positions they held, and where does that leave Bahamas Grid and the grid contract the Government entered into with them?”

While praising Bahamas Grid Company’s all-Bahamian leadership, Mr Pintard reiterated that Bahamians “want to understand whether or not the terms of engagement have been satisfied”. He added that this needed to come from both Prime Minister Philip Davis KC and Mrs Coleby-Davis, adding that the latter prior to the House of Assembly’s dissolution had “gone to great lengths to say everything’s moving ahead” in the aftermath of the Pike employee’s shooting “but this clearly shows this is not the case”.

“They ought to provide clarity with respect to what the agreement is,” Mr Pintard said. “Exactly where does this leave the agreement? Quite frankly, we remain concerned because it has certainly not been a transparent process all along, particularly when

government officials speak on it. Listening to the Prime Minister and minister, we believe they have not provided the public with any clarity before and with this recent development.”

He added that he had spoken to one BPL worker “with significant influence in the union”, who said “uncertainty surrounds” the future of staff at the utility - especially the 123 T&D staff - the “vast majority” of whom opposed being transferred or seconded to BPL.

Mr Pike and Ms Shibata appear regularly as signatories on the New Providence grid deal documents, binding Bahamas Grid Company as well as Island Grid not only in the Heads of Agreement but the likes of shareholder agreements and transition services agreements.

Island Grid’s withdrawal also raises questions over whether the Heads of Agreement’s termination provisions have been triggered - with several clauses appearing to stipulate that one party must buy out the other if this occurs.

“In the event that the management agreement shall terminate at any time and for any reason, the parties hereto undertake and agree to negotiate in good faith, and incorporate into the shareholders’ agreement, details of the manner, terms and timing upon which their respective shareholding in the capital of [Bahamas Grid Company] shall be disposed of which may include the Government having a right of first refusal to acquire 100 percent of the shareholding of [Bahamas Grid Company],” the Heads of Agreement asserts. Bahamas Grid Company is currently 60 percent majority owned by the private investors, including the Arawak Cay port, who provided the $30m equity.

As for its new management team, Bahamas Grid Company said Mr McKenzie has more than 30 years’ leadership experience across the energy and infrastructure sectors, including senior operational roles at GE Vernova and Consolidated Edison of New York.

“He has led large-scale grid modernisation and construction programmes, managed billion dollar capital portfolios, and

delivered complex energy projects focused on reliability, resilience and operational performance,” Bahamas Grid Company added.

Ms Fernander, a former chief financial officer at Commonwealth Bank, is a certified public accountant with more than two decades of executive financial leadership in regulated environments

“Together, Dareo and Gladys bring the operational and financial leadership required to grow a resilient, high-performing utility,” Mr Ferguson said. “Just as importantly, this transition reflects the strength and capability of Bahamian leadership at every level of the organisation.

“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Eric, Mei and the entire Island Grid Solutions team for their leadership and expertise in building Bahamas Grid Company into a fully operational utility and strengthening New Providence’s transmission and distribution system. We now move forward as a fully Bahamian-led organisation, focused on delivering longterm performance for our country, our children and our grand-children.”

“We are honoured to have had the opportunity to set up Bahamas Grid Company and conduct the biggest grid upgrade project for New Providence over the past two years,” said Mr Pike. “I would like to recognise the dedicated employees of Island Grid, Pike and Bahamas Grid Company, whose hard work and commitment were instrumental to this achievement, and extend our best wishes for Bahamas Grid Company’ continued success.” Bahamas Grid Company said that, over the past two years, it has “made meaningful progress in strengthening New Providence’s electricity network, improving reliability by almost 50 percent and updating its critical infrastructure through a $130m grid upgrade project. With the transition to full independence, the company will now be focused on the disciplined management of the system to ensure its longterm system performance”.

school students. “We’re having our annual financial literacy seminar for high school students in The Bahamas, and for us, this is a very important time to expose students to financial management practices, and to get them exposed to understanding, in greater depth, the Bahamian economy and the financial services sector, and more or less encourage them to continue on a lifelong path where they have control over their finances and are financially literate,” said Mr Rolle.

“We want students to understand that when it comes to financially sound behaviour and practices, it begins early in life, and it should be a lifelong journey.”

Legal Notice

AngoEcore Limited

NOTICE is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138 (8) of The International Business Companies Act, 2000, of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, AngoEcore Limited has been dissolved and struck off the Register of Companies in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas according to the Certificate of Dissolution issued by the Deputy Registrar of Companies on the 2nd day of April, 2026. Dated this 3rd day of February, 2026. Dated this 20th day of April, 2026.

Lucy Dalrymple-Smith (Liquidator)

Legal Notice

AFRICOIL DEVELOPMENT FUND LIMITED

NOTICE is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138 (8) of The International Business Companies Act, 2000, of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, AFRICOIL DEVELOPMENT FUND LIMITED has been dissolved and struck off the Register of Companies in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas according to the Certificate of Dissolution issued by the Deputy Registrar of Companies on the 2nd day of March, 2026.

Dated this 20th day of April, 2026.

Stephan Gerlofs Liquidator

Activists call for greater community involvement

to participate meaningfully in decisions that affect their environment, economy and their future.”

This, Mr Carey said, should be done as The Bahamas hosts the fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 4) from April 21-24. The treaty centres around access to environmental information, public participation and justice.

“Lead by example at this COP by demonstrating that The Bahamas is serious about embedding environmental rights international governance,” Mr Carey said. “Establish a clear time-bound road map for implementation with regular public reporting on progress. The Bahamas, my country, the world is watching.

“Hosting COP 4 is an honour. Indeed, it is an honour. The Bahamas hosted all of these meetings, many of them, but it is also a test. Bahamians and the international community will judge us, The Bahamas, not by the speeches we give in conference halls, but by the actions we take in our own islands. Will we ensure that every Bahamian truly has the right to protection of our incredible natural environment, or will that right exist only on paper?”

Mr Carey added: “The Bahamas stands at a crossroads. Billions of dollars in

foreign investment really are pouring into our islands. Large-scale resort developments, infrastructure and projects, luxury real estate ventures are reshaping our coastlines and, indeed, our communities.

“Responsible investment depends on transparency, accountability, public trust. If we allow critical habitats and ecosystems to be degraded and communities to be excluded from decisions that affect their futures, we risk destroying the foundation of our economy and the well-being of future generations.”

Keiran Miller, owner of tour charter company, Staniel Cay Adventures, and a member of SEA (Save Exuma Alliance), said the agreement is what the country needs as he said he will be directly and indirectly impacted by the $200m Rosewood Exuma project.

“We showed up, we spoke out, and we were not heard to the level that we thought was satisfactory,”

Mr Miller said. “Key project documents were not made available to us before grants were approved, and when we raised concerns about dredging in North Bay, among other concerns, those concerns were pretty much set aside and approvals were given to move forward anyway.

“Reality is that this is what happens in communities like ours, and there’s no enforceable standards of transparency and

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that RANDY JOEL HART of P.O. Box N-8727, Ferguson Road, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 21st day of April, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

community participation. And this is exactly what we need.

“When I read what this agreement says: ‘The communities have the right to information before projects are approved. Consultation should be genuine, and people must be able to challenge decisions...’ I recognise that this is exactly what we’ve been missing,” Mr Miller added.

“SEA is not against development. I myself, personally, I’m not against development as well, but what we do want is to encourage development that’s not destructive or harmful of these fragile marine and coastal

environments that we rely on for subsistence, as well as people like myself.

“So what we’re asking for is transparency, a real voice and the ability to protect these water and surrounding fragile environments for the next generation of Exumians, Bahamians and residents, businesses as well, to enjoy.”

Andurah Daxon, executive director of Waterkeepers Bahamas, said the group has been advocating for a permanent ban on oil drilling in The Bahamas, noting that consultation on whether to permit this should be open for public participation and adding that the Escazu agreement

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that I JACOB CORDERO JUAN OCTAVIO of, Sir Lynden Pindling Estate, New Providence, 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 14th day of April, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

would provide the framework needed for this.

Olivia Patterson Maura, executive eirector of Friends of the Environment, said that post-Hurricane Doran and COVID, Abaconians have realised that a healthy environment is crucial for resilience. While the island is experiencing significant development there is a need “for the community to be engaged early, often and in meaningful ways to help shape sustainable outcomes”.

Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, executive director of Bahamas Reef Environmental Education Foundation (BREEF), said developments need to be appropriately scaled, rooted in the community and maintain coastal and beach access for Bahamians.

Matt Aubry, the Organisation for Responsible Governance’s (ORG) executive director, said some

articles in the Escazu Agreement are similar to the Freedom of Information Act.

He added: “So when we think about these types of laws, when we think about the Escazu, what it fundamentally gets down to is that those who the policies are being developed for and around have a role, and so it’s an opportunity for us to say: ‘Hey, we passed laws. We’re signing on to international obligations.’

“But it means something to folks in our communities, to people who are fighting for the environment, for people who depend upon our environment for their livelihoods, and how they can be part of those discussions as we go forward.

“So when we looked out internationally, and we’re talking about carbon sinks and we’re talking about all types of large-scale developments that people are paying attention to, it doesn’t really matter unless it makes a fundamental, sustainable difference in the lives of those folks who are living here,” Mr Aubry added.

“And so this is a great opportunity to work on the reconciliation of that. And the agreement can become a framework that allows folks who are in all of our communities to say ‘this is what this is; what the requirement is. This is what should happen. I should get information about a development that’s happening in my community early to understand and help to develop something that would work in the environments that we have in our different islands’.”

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is grounded after launching satellite into the wrong orbit

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer

JEFF Bezos' rocket company, Blue Origin, blamed a bad engine Monday for a failed weekend launch that left a satellite in the wrong orbit, dooming it.

Launches of the huge New Glenn rocket are grounded until Blue Origin and the Federal Aviation Administration complete their investigation.

The rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Sunday. The recycled first-stage booster performed well, landing on an ocean barge several minutes into the flight. But the upper stage was unable to put the satellite into a high enough orbit to begin operations.

Preliminary data indicate that one of the upper stage engines failed to produce enough thrust, Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said.

The satellite was supposed to join AST SpaceMobile's orbiting network of satellites designed to provide direct space-tosmart phone service.

The rocket's upper stage and satellite reentered the atmosphere Monday, according to the U.S. Space Force. No additional detail was available.

It was only the third flight for New Glenn, Blue Origin's hulking rocket for delivering spacecraft to orbit. NASA is counting on New Glenn to launch Blue Moon lunar landers for the Artemis moon program. SpaceX's Starship is also in the running to land astronauts on the moon as early as 2028.

Towering more than 320 feet (98 meters), the rocket is named for John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth in 1962.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that DILANDE OSCALVA of Carmichael Raod, East Avenue, New Providence, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/ naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 14th day of April, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that I GREGORY AUGUSTIN of Garden Hill #1, Nassau, 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 21st day of April, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

Recognising the warning signs of stomach cancer

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter

A DISEASE that often develops quietly before revealing itself is now at the centre of a renewed call for awareness, as Bahamians are being urged to pay closer attention to the warning signs of stomach cancer.

According to Mr Shaquille Jones of the Cancer Society of The Bahamas, the organisation’s Monthly General Meeting held on Tuesday, April 14, focused on raising awareness, with guest speaker Dr Don Major addressing the realities of the disease.

Dr Major, a consultant surgical oncologist and hepatobiliary surgeon at Princess Margaret Hospital, used the forum to highlight both the global impact of stomach cancer and what it means in a local context.

“Worldwide, stomach cancer is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths,”

said Dr Major, noting that while the disease is more prevalent in regions such as Northeast Asia, it remains relatively uncommon in The Bahamas.

Drawing on local data, he explained that “statistics from the Princess Margaret Hospital Cancer Registry and the Bahamas National Cancer Registry show between nine and 19 cases annually.”

Also referred to as gastric cancer, Dr Major said the disease develops when abnormal cells form in the lining of the stomach and grow uncontrollably. Left untreated, it can extend deeper into the stomach wall and spread to nearby organs such as the liver and pancreas. He said one of the more concerning aspects of the disease is how easily it can go undetected in its early stages. “Stomach cancer is one of the silent killers, as it typically does not have any symptoms in its early stages,” said Dr Major. As the condition advances, however, symptoms begin to surface.

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Dr Don Major

These may include a loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing, fatigue, nausea, unexplained weight loss, persistent indigestion, and stomach pain. In more advanced stages, individuals may also experience black stools, vomiting blood, or a feeling of fullness after eating small amounts.

While the exact cause of the genetic mutation linked to stomach cancer

remains unclear, Dr Major pointed to several factors that may increase a person’s risk. “Scientists haven’t discovered the cause of the genetic mutation that leads to stomach cancer, however certain factors appear to increase the risk of developing the disease,” said Dr Major, identifying Helicobacter pylori infection as the leading risk factor.

He also noted that family history, chronic stomach conditions such as gastritis or ulcers, diets high in fatty or salty foods, tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, and obesity are among the contributors that may heighten risk.

When symptoms persist, early medical evaluation becomes essential. Dr Major explained that diagnosis typically begins with a physical examination before progressing to more specialised tests. “If symptoms are persistent and indicative of stomach cancer, doctors begin the diagnostic process with a physical exam,” said Dr Major, adding that procedures such as upper endoscopy, imaging scans,

blood tests, and laparoscopy may be used to confirm and stage the disease.

Treatment options depend largely on how far the cancer has progressed.

“If the cancer hasn’t spread to other parts of the body, surgery offers the best chance for removal, especially when paired with other treatments,” said Dr Major. He noted that procedures may range from removing tumours during an endoscopy to partial or total removal of the stomach, depending on the stage and location of the cancer. Additional therapies, including chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted treatments, are also used to attack cancer cells and limit their spread. Although stomach cancer cannot be entirely prevented, Dr Major emphasised that there are steps individuals can take to reduce their risk. “Stomach cancer can’t be prevented, but you can reduce your risk by treating H. pylori infection, addressing stomach conditions quickly, avoiding tobacco, maintaining a

healthy weight, and eating a healthy diet that’s high in fruits and vegetables and low in salt and red meat,” said Dr Major. Apart from raising awareness, the Cancer Society of The Bahamas continues to support patients through a range of programmes and services. According to Mr Jones, these efforts include advocacy, free cancer screening initiatives, and support systems aimed at helping individuals detect cancer early and access treatment. Services offered by the organisation include accommodation for Family Island patients receiving care in New Providence, adult support groups, programmes for children living with cancer, and assistance with essential medical devices. To learn more about the work of the Cancer Society or how to get involved, visit www.cancersocietybahamas.org/newsletter, call at (242) 323-4441 or (242) 323-4482, or email at info@cancersocietybahamas.org.

Organic India's Psyllium Whole Husk Fibre leads the natural category as Earth

the company brings to wellness-oriented consumers. Organic India's Psyllium Whole Husk Fibre Continues to Lead the Natural Category as Earth Day Celebrates Consumer Trust in High-Quality, Responsibly Grown Organic Fibre

"As consumers rediscover the category, our Whole Husk Psyllium Fibre has consistently been the number one seller in the natural channel and is gaining broader retail distribution," explains Kat Wiranowski, Director of Marketing. "It's exciting to see a renewed interest in fibre and its role in overall health. In Ayurveda, there's a saying that 'it's not what you eat, it's what you digest', so it's no surprise that this fundamental conversation around fibre is resonating strongly with the consumer."

According to SPINS data, Organic India Psyllium Whole Husk is the number

one selling psyllium fibre supplement in the natural channel.¹

A gluten-free, plantbased dietary fibre, Psyllium Whole Husk Fibre helps support daily intake, digestive regularity and gut microbiome health.* With its neutral flavour, it blends easily into smoothies and beverages and helps improve texture in gluten-free baking and binding in vegan and egg-free recipes. Sourced directly from Certified Organic, small family farms, Organic India psyllium is grown and handpicked with care. Regenerative organic practices nurture the soil and deliver a consistently pure, premium fibre product that reflects Earth Day values, every day of the year.

"Psyllium husk includes both soluble and insoluble fibre, with research showing benefits for heart health, blood sugar control, and digestive health," says Julie

Pace, RDN. "Studies show it can help lower LDL, or 'bad' cholesterol, when taken consistently as part of a low-fat diet. It's also beneficial in managing constipation and may help with gastrointestinal side effects in those taking GLP-1 medications." The fibre supplements market is experiencing rapid growth, with analysts projecting a 5.8%–6.5% CAGR through 2032 as the category expands to more than $34 billion. Growth is driven by rising consumer focus on digestive wellness, gut-microbiome health, and trends like "fibremaxxing." Consumers are turning to psyllium to support a range of needs from increasing their daily fibre intake to helping with satiety in weight-management efforts.*

Organic India is known for its high-quality, ethically sourced herbal wellness products, including

supplements, teas and fibre. The company utilises regenerative organic agriculture, which replenishes the soil, improves biodiversity, increases water conservation and carbon sequestration – helping to regenerate the land.

Psyllium Whole Husk Fibre (MSRP $19.99) is available at Whole Foods Market, Walmart locations nationwide and on CVS shelves in May. The full range of Organic India fibre products can be found at natural food retailers as well as through www. organicindiausa.com and Amazon.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Why Why don't don't some

some Bahamians Bahamians go to go to the the doctor? doctor?

By Jeffarah Gibson Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

BY thetime something feelsserious enough,many Bahamians arealready dealing withmore thanthey expected.

It is a quiet pattern that playsout acrosshouseholds and communities.A headache getsbrushed off.Alingering cough is “just theweather.” A routine checkup gets pushed to next month, then next year. For many, seeing a doctor is not thefirst step. It isthe last resort. Across conversationswith everyday Bahamians, a few common themeskept coming up.Time. Cost.Fear. Andin somecases,simplynotfeeling sick enough to makeit a priority.While healthcampaigns often stress the importance of earlydetection, therealityon the groundtells adifferent story. Manypeople arestill navigatingreal barriersthat make consistent care feel out of reach.

For Keisha, that delay comes down to time and cost. I justdon t go unlessI feel like somethingreally wrong. Between work,the children, and everything else,it’s hard totake awhole daytosit ina clinic.And thenwhen youfinallygo,it doesbealong

wait, plus youstill have to pay. So most times, I just push through and hope it passes. That approach, while common, can comeat a price. Health professionals have longwarnedthatlateinterven-

in for one thing and come out withall kindofdiagnosis. That doesfrighten you.So you tell yourself you good, you strong,you could manage. Butdeep down,you just avoiding it.”

For many reasons, some people only seek care when symptoms begin to interfere with daily life.

tion often leads to more complicated andexpensive treatment.But formanyBahamians,the barriersarenot justabout awareness.They are about reality.

Derrick, a construction worker, said fear also plays a role in why he stays away.

“Honestly, sometimes I don’t evenwant toknow,” he admitted. “You hear people go

Thatfear isnotunusual, particularly among men. Health advocates have consistently pointed out that men are lesslikelytoseekpreventative care, oftenwaiting until symptoms becomesevere. Theresult isthatconditions like hypertension and diabetes aresometimes diagnosedlater than they should be. Thereisalsotheissueofaccess.While publichealthcare

Insurance Commission of The Bahamas sponsors 3rd annual Fertility

THEInsuranceCommission ofTheBahamaswas proudto sponsorthe3rdAnnual FertilityEmpowerment International Conference 2026, held at Atlantis, Paradise Island.The conference broughttogether regional and international stakeholders to advance critical dialogueon fertility,women swellness, andholistic health.

Astheregulatorof theinsuranceindustry,theInsurance Commission recognises the essential link between health, financial protection, andsocial wellbeing. Supportinginitiativesfocused onfertilityandwomen s healthaligns withtheCommission’smandate topromote a responsive, inclusive,and sustainable insurance

sectorthatreflects theevolvingneeds of families and the workforce.

The Commission’sengagement extended beyond sponsorship through participation by two team members whocontributedaspanelspeakers.Ms Trishawna Kelly,Senior Analystin theExaminationsUnit, sharedapersonal perspectivedrawn fromher experience as acancer survivor. Ms Kelly highlighted theimportant questions many womenface following seriousillness, includingfertilityconsiderations and navigating the next phase of life. Her contribution emphasizedthehumanimpactofhealthchallenges and the need for compassionate healthcare and insurance frameworks that support women beyond survival.

The Commission wasalso represented by MrsAanica Scavella, Human ResourceManager, who spokefroman employerandHuman Resourcesperspective. MrsScavella emphasized the importanceof HR beingatthetable toadvocateforan organisation s most valuable resource, its people and theneed for empathy and open dialogue around fertility and women’s health inthe workplace. She furtherhighlighted therole ofemployer-provided insurance coverage as a key component of employee wellness, noting that benefits must be structured to meaningfully support women s health needs and strengthen workforce engagement and stability.

Throughitssponsorshipandparticipation, the Insurance Commission reaffirmedits rolenotonlyas aregulator, but also asa champion for education, advocacy, and collaboration on issues affecting women’s health and economic participation.The Commission remainscommitted tosupporting initiativesthat encouragethoughtful dialogueandpeople-centredinsurance solutions.

services exist, longwait times andovercrowding candiscourage people from going unless absolutelynecessary. Privatecare, ontheother hand, is notalways affordable. For Shanice, navigating thesystem feels overwhelming.

“You haveto planto gotothedoctorlikeit sa wholeevent. Ifyou goingpublic, youknow you could be there all day.Ifyougoingprivate, youhave tomakesure youhave themoney ready. It’s not as simple asjustsaying, I’ll go tomorrow. So sometimes, you just don t go. That hesitationcan turn routinehealth maintenanceinto somethingreactive rather thanpreventative. Insteadof catchingissuesearly, many peopleonly seekcare when symptomsbegin tointerfere with daily life. Andre saidthat wasexactly what happened to him. I used to feel dizzy off and on,butIain’tthinkmuchofit. I keptsaying I’llcheck itout

nextweek, nextmonth.When I finallywent, mypressure washigh andI didn t even know.ThedoctortellmeIhad it for a while.If I had gone earlier, Icould havemanaged it better from the start. Stories like his highlight a larger concern.Lifestyle diseases continueto bea major health issue in The Bahamas, and early detection plays a critical rolein managing them. Yet,the habitof postponing care remains deeply rooted. Part of that habit is cultural. Many people growup seeing relativesrely onhomeremedies orsimply toughit out. While resilienceis oftencelebrated, it can also lead to neglect when it comes to health. There is alsoa mindset that if you are not visibly sick, there is no need to check. Preventative care,including annual physicals and screenings, isstillnotaconsistentpractice for many.

Atthesame time,thereis growing awareness, especially amongyounger adults, about the importance of taking a more proactive ap-

proach. Socialmedia, communityhealth campaigns,and personal experiencesare slowlyshifting theconversation.

But change takes time. For Keisha, the turning point came after a close friend fell ill unexpectedly.It forced her to reconsiderher own approach to health. It kindof wakeme up,to behonest, shesaid. Because youdoesfeel likeyouhave time, likenothing could happentoyou rightnow.But seeing somebodyyour age going throughsomething serious, it make you think different. Istill notperfect with it, but I trying to do better.” Thatshift fromavoidance to awarenessis wheremany believe progress begins.

Encouraging regular checkups, improvingaccess to care,and addressingfears around diagnosis areall part ofthe solution.Butperhaps justas importantischanging the way peoplethink about theirhealth. Notassomething to dealwith whenit goes wrong,but assomethingto maintain consistently.

Listen up! Why volume matters with headphones

CLEVELAND- Ifyou have a habitof wearing headphones all the time or have childrenthat do,it’s important to makesure the volume isn’t too loud. Reports showhearing lossfrom headphonesisa growing concern.

“When you'retalking about listening through headphones, it'sall about how loud youlisten, but alsohowlong. There'sarelationship between the volume of the sound and the length of the exposure. So, you canlisten through headphones safely,but you definitelyhavetolearnhow to dothat,” said Valerie

Pavlovich Ruff,AuD, audiologist at Cleveland Clinic, OH. Dr. PavlovichRuff said it’s generally recommended thatpeoplefollowthe60/60 rule,which iswhen youset thevolume onyourheadphones at60% forabout an hour. Afterthat,it’sbesttotake abreak fortenor 15minutes. Butwhat ifyou’re listening at a lower volume? She said that break is still necessary because it’s not healthyto blockyourear canalsfor longperiodsof time. “The dangerof having something continually blockingyour ear,and some of myhearing aid patientsactuallydealwiththis becausethey havetowear theirhearing aidsallday every day, is that whenyou blockthe earcanal, moisturecan buildupin theearcanal, and it's a breeding ground forbacteria.Youcangetear infections,” she said. Dr. PavlovichRuff said hearing lossfrom headphonescanbepermanentor temporary, itjust depends on the situation. She suggeststhose who may beexperiencing any kindof muffledhearingor ringingofthe earstotalk with an audiologist.

LCIS student accepted to prestigious Juilliard summer programme

LYFORD Cay International School (LCIS) student Katelyn Beukes has been accepted into the prestigious Summer Dance Intensive hosted by the Juilliard School.

As one of the most accomplished dancers at LCIS, Katelyn has been training for the past three years. During that time, she has performed in numerous dance productions, including in the Iconique Ballet at Island House last month, where she danced alongside students from across The Bahamas and the United States. She also performed in The Nutcracker with the London Ballet Theatre at Baha Mar last December. She has also participated in the Bahamas Junior Junkanoo competition as a dancer three times.

Of her acceptance, Katelyn said, “I am so incredibly grateful that I have been accepted to attend the renowned Juilliard Summer Dance Intensive and to everyone who has helped me get here. The audition process was

David Hekman

Associate Professor of Organizational Leadership, University of Colorado Boulder Mallory Decker PhD Candidate, University of Colorado Boulder

When Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour became the highest-grossing concert tour of all time in 2024, hauling in more than US$2 billion, it was hailed as a breakthrough for women in music.

But Swift’s success, it turns out, didn’t translate into broader gains for female artists. A closer look at the list of top-earning tours shows a clear pattern: Among the top 27 highest-grossing tours ever, there are no all-women ensembles, while 14 are all-male.

The same discrepancy appears in album sales: No all-women groups crack the top 100 best-selling artists of all time, while 41 all-men groups do.

Does Swift’s success stem from her status as a solo artist? As scholars of management who have researched organizational behaviour and workplace bias, we argue that it did. And it points to a broader conclusion: Women working in same-gender groups face a “collaboration penalty” that solo women escape. Our work found that this pattern holds across venture capital, professional sports, health care and entertainment.

Why? Our research suggests it’s because all-women groups are seen as more threatening, as they’re more likely to challenge power structures through collective action. Notably,

rigorous, as I had to record 2 pieces—one of which was choreographed by a Juilliard professional. This summer is going to be so inspiring—to see all these amazing dancers and performers show their talent and teach other aspiring students who want to learn from them. The exposure at this intensive will be a great opportunity for me to learn and grow. And I am very grateful for this chance!” Bahamian Cultural Ambassador and LCIS Dance Department Chair Courtney Fox shared, “Katelyn is one of those students who reminds you of why you love teaching. She is self-motivated to the point that she inspires me as an educator. When sharing that I think she should audition for the summer programme, she jumped into action, asking for help, and we spent hours in the studio preparing her videos. She did the work. She’s been doing the work from the moment she stepped into the studio, and I am so unbelievably proud of her. I

can’t wait to see her grow in incredible ways!” Launched in 2016, Summer Performing Arts

Why women in groups face a ‘collaboration penalty’ that solo female stars like Taylor Swift and Coco Gauff escape

this perception was shared by male and female study participants alike – that is, women applied this bias to all-female groups just as men did.

THE VENTURE CAPITAL DISAPPEARING ACT

The starkest evidence appears in start-up funding. Despite years of diversity initiatives, all-women founding teams receive just 2.4% of venture capital dollars – a figure that has barely budged in three decades. What explains this dramatic gap? We designed an experiment in which participants evaluated venture capital pitches that were identical in substance but varied by gender and solo vs. team status. The study’s participants described allwomen investor groups as much more likely to engage in “social competition” –that is, challenging existing power structures through collective action. All-men groups faced no such perception, even when making identical investment

decisions prioritizing diversity.

This prejudgment mattered. Those perceived as “socially competitive” were judged as less deserving of funding and resources, our research found. The penalty wasn’t about competence or performance, because the pitches were the same. It was about how group composition triggers assumptions about motivation. All-women teams were seen as pushing an agenda; all-men teams were just doing business.

WHY WOMEN ON TEAMS PAY A PENALTY

The music industry tells the same story. Solo women can reach the pinnacle. Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Madonna and Pink all rank among the world’s top musical earners. But their success makes the absence of all-women groups even more glaring. If individual women can succeed at the highest levels, why can’t groups of women working together?

Our research on professional sports provides an insight. We analysed prize

With Juilliard is a fully immersive summer programme for ages 12–18, spanning dance, drama,

money from 1,145 major international competitions across 44 sports from 2014-2021. Solo men and solo women earned similar amounts. But in team sports, a massive gap emerged: All-women teams earned less than half of their male counterparts. This wasn’t about performance. The all-women teams in our dataset had won their competitions – they were literally champions. The gap also wasn’t about popularity or revenue generation, as we controlled for sport type and governing body. Something about the group composition itself triggered lower compensation.

To test this mechanism, we conducted another experiment. Study participants viewed identical athlete profiles, varying only by gender and whether the athlete competed solo or in a same-gender group. Once again, all-women groups were perceived as more socially competitive than all-men groups, and this perception predicted lower expected compensation –even when performance statistics were identical.

As a consequence, women team athletes pay an expensive penalty. For example, no women at all appear in Forbes’ top 50 highest-paid athletes in 2025. Notably, the highest-paid female athlete, tennis player Coco Gauff, plays an individual sport –but even her $33 million of earnings in 2025 would rank around 150th if compared with men. And only one of the top 15 highest-paid female athletes plays a team sport: basketball star Caitlin Clark, who earned just $119,000 in WNBA salary her rookie year, compared to $16 million in

musical theatre, piano and voice. Hosted off-site at cutting-edge facilities in Orlando, Florida, this programme offers two-week intensives and is run in collaboration with Nord Anglia Education. Students develop technical skills and artistic capacities in daily studio classes, workshops, seminars, rehearsals, and lessons, with a typical day running from 9am-5pm. Students are exposed to

individual endorsements. Even Clark’s success comes from being valued as an individual brand, not for her team play.

IT’S

NOT JUST ELITE ATHLETES

These patterns don’t apply just to high-profile industries. We found the same effect in a conventional workplace: a large health maintenance organization in the northwestern United States.

We analysed salary data for 682 medical providers across 18 clinic locations.

Among solo practitioners, men and women earned similar salaries. But providers working in same-gender groups showed dramatic pay gaps. Men in all-men groups earned the most ($111,004 on average), while women in all-women groups earned the least ($52,497) – less than half. This held even after controlling for age, experience, credentials, specialty, patient satisfaction scores and clinic location.

These weren’t cherry-picked cases but licensed medical professionals with quantifiable performance metrics, working for an organization with formal human resources policies and pay scales. Yet the gender composition of their immediate work group somehow predicted a $58,000 annual salary difference – despite women’s higher average patient satisfaction scores. Perhaps the most striking illustration comes from professional sports cheerleading. NFL cheerleaders earn approximately $150$500 for performing at the Super Bowl, while the minimum NFL player salary is $885,000.

college-level coursework in their major as well as interdisciplinary skills from faculty of other majors, preparing them for college and career auditions and the many pathways that the performing arts can take them. Summer Performing Arts with Juilliard is rooted in rigorous training within an atmosphere that is infused with positivity and celebrates the success of each student.

Even players on the losing Super Bowl team who never leave the bench earn $103,000 each – roughly 687 times what cheerleaders make for performing the entire game. Both groups face high injury risk. Both perform at the same event. The difference? One is an all-men team, the other an all-women team.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

To counter this deeply entrenched bias, organizations could look at their compensation data not just to detect individual gender gaps but to see whether all-women teams systematically receive smaller bonuses and raises than all-men teams. Likewise, investors and funders could examine whether a team’s gender composition influences the evaluation of proposals, separate from actual team qualifications and business potential. Manager training could also explicitly call out this misconception as inaccurate, unconscious and costly. Most importantly, it should be understood that employees rarely control their team’s gender composition. Women are being economically penalized for something shaped by organizational demographics, project needs and scheduling – factors entirely outside their control. Women can succeed alone. Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Coco Gauff prove that. But until all-women groups receive the same legitimacy, funding and compensation as all-men groups, enormous talent and economic potential will be left on the table. As our research shows, the collaboration penalty isn’t just unfair – it’s economically irrational.

Spring cleaning, but make it fitness ...turning chores into a sneaky workout

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Reporter acadet@tribunemedia.net

THERE is something about spring that makes women want to open up the windows, let the fresh air in, and finally tackle the corners of their homes that have been ignored.

Long-overdue organising projects suddenly feel doable. But while most people see spring cleaning as a seasonal chore, there’s a surprising upside that many overlook; it can double as a full-body workout.

Kate Kersey Research Fellow, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

Antonia Lyons Professor of Addiction Research, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

For many midlife women busily juggling work and care responsibilities, an evening glass of wine can feel like the perfect antidote.

But that everyday habit comes with real risks.

Beyond the familiar hangover, alcohol is linked to at least seven types of cancer, including breast, bowel, mouth and throat cancer. Even one drink a day increases that risk, and it rises further with each additional drink.

Around 70% of women in Aotearoa New Zealand reported drinking alcohol in 2024–25, according to national health data.

Among women aged 35 to 54 who drink, around 16–18% consumed six or more standard drinks on a single occasion at least once a month, and around 5–10% did so at least weekly. Just what do they think about the risks, how do they balance them with

Between sweeping, mopping, bending down and lifting things, cleaning the house is sure to have you moving up and down as if you’re in a workout session, without even realising it.

In fact, the Mayo Clinic notes that “cleaning the house, making the bed, shopping, mowing and gardening are all forms of physical activity,” reinforcing what many are now experiencing firsthand.

For some Bahamian women, cleaning is actually enjoyable. It’s a stress reliever wrapped in productivity.

“Have you ever landed on the house decor and

the demands of everyday life, and where do societal expectations fit in?

Our latest research set out to answer these questions – and found the picture is more complicated than it might first appear.

What women told us

cleaning side of TikTok?

Don’t say I didn’t put you on to something. I love seeing women take pleasure in cleaning their spaces. I know we are tired from long days or nights of work, but I enjoy it because as cliche as it sounds, it relieves stress,” said Vanessa Johnson.

She continued: “And if this counts for a workout as well, then a win is a win. By the time I’m done, I feel accomplished and relaxed at the same time. It clears my mind.”

Others admit they don’t necessarily enjoy cleaning, but still get the job done often without realising the physical benefits.

“I don’t like cleaning at all, but I like a clean space. I have a cleaning lady but that is not to say I don’t take part in cleaning my space myself. If I want to see it done, I have no problem with getting the job done. If that calls for me moving furniture around and whatnot, I’ll surely do it. So, to answer your question, when I have to do heavy chores myself, I would consider it a workout because I’m the type of person who has to do it all at once,” said Jessica, another Bahamian woman and mom of two. That “post-cleaning fatigue” isn’t just in your head. Activities like

scrubbing the bathtub, rearranging furniture, cleaning the rugs, all calls for energy and muscle engagement. Over time, these movements can contribute to improved stamina and even calorie burn.

For some, the proof is right there on their wrist.

“I don’t intentionally make it a workout, but I usually wear my Apple Watch, and after cleaning my house, it tells me every single time that I’ve achieved my workout goal for the day, which is excellent for me,” said Kayla. That unexpected reward is something many can relate to. What starts as a

“quick clean” often turns into several hours of steady movement. It’s functional fitness at its most practical. Even those who approach cleaning casually are reaping the benefits.

“I just clean because I have to,” said Latoya. “But when I really get into it, like deep cleaning the kitchen or bathroom, I’m tired after. I never thought of it as exercise, but I guess it is,” she said.

Spring cleaning may not come with a gym membership or an instructor, but most women agree that it does leave you feeling accomplished in some sort of way.

We interviewed 50 women aged 35 to 60, both individually and in friendship groups, to explore how they understand and manage their drinking. Overall, 29 drank alcohol at least twice a week, and 25 usually had three or more drinks on each occasion. A smaller group of ten drank five or more drinks in a single sitting at least once a week. We found the women were highly aware of

alcohol’s immediate effects. They spoke about its impact on sleep, energy levels and weight, drawing on both expert advice and their own experiences of how their bodies responded to drinking, particularly around menopause. However, they spoke far less about the longer-term health risks. When it did come up, some said they would feel very guilty about their drinking if it later led to cancer.

Keeping up with these demands often means closely managing energy, sleep and well-being. This sense of self-monitoring was also clear in how women described their drinking.

Many spoke about tracking how much they drank and how it affected their sleep, energy and mood, then using that to guide their decisions. Drinking was often seen as acceptable once work and

They described exercising, eating well, managing stress and tracking their consumption through apps, with some also using digital devices to monitor their health. They also talked of staying aware of their mental state while drinking. For some, alcohol was not seen as a problem if they felt in control, calm, happy and drinking for enjoyment.

Challenging the idea of ‘responsible drinking’

Dying for a drink? How midlife NZ women think about alcohol – and its long‑term risks

This focus on alcohol’s immediate effects reflects the pressures many women feel in midlife. Today’s “empowered” woman is expected to juggle work and family, care for others, and maintain her own health and appearance.

parenting responsibilities had been met, and when they felt they were maintaining their health and appearance through diet.

Women who drank more heavily often emphasised how they balanced this with other health behaviours.

Notably, the women often positioned themselves as responsible drinkers –even if they were drinking heavily.

This aligns with wider messaging from the alcohol industry and public health campaigns that people

should “drink responsibly”. The idea suggests there are safe or acceptable levels of drinking, while placing the responsibility on individuals to decide where that line sits.

Yet women live in a climate that encourages alcohol consumption. Alcohol remains socially expected, widely available and pervasive in everyday environments.

Alcohol is often marketed to women as a form of self-care: a way to relax, connect and unwind. Products labelled “low-sugar” or “low-carb” also tap into pressures around body image, creating the impression that some drinks are a healthier choice.

Our findings suggest we need to look beyond individual responsibility and address the wider systems that make drinking feel normal – and even necessary – for many women.

That could mean policy changes such as higher pricing, reduced availability and tighter controls on marketing.

But it also means recognising the pressures many women face, and finding better ways to support them through busy, demanding stages of life that can amplify the pull of alcohol.

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

WITH Election Day set for May 12, a local sorority group is ramping up efforts to ensure that all eligible voters, particularly those who may face barriers, are informed and prepared to participate in the democratic process.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, Island Jewels of New Providence, is hosting a virtual voter education session later this month aimed at increasing awareness around accessible voting and encouraging broader civic engagement across The Bahamas. The initiative comes at a critical time, as national attention turns toward the upcoming general election.

The webinar, titled “SOAR to the Polls: Accessible Voting Every Voice Matters,” is scheduled for April 24, at 7pm. Organisers said the session is designed to provide clear, practical information on voting rights and the accommodations

Sorority Group pushes accessible voting awareness ahead of May 12 Election

available to individuals who may require assistance at the polls.

Participants will hear directly from representatives of key organisations, including the Parliamentary Registration Department, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, the Bahamas Alzheimer’s Association, R.E.A.C.H, and the Bahamas Down Syndrome Association. These groups are expected to offer insight into the voting process, outline available support systems, and

‘I never really know how to answer that’: why do women still have to justify being single?

Maddison Sideris, Associate Teaching Fellow, Sociology, Deakin University

Being a single woman isn’t the social taboo it once was. Singlehood seems to be on the rise, with more single-person households and more women choosing to marry later in life, or not at all. It could even be viewed as trendy, among growing online movements to boycott dating apps and go“boy sober”. So is the stigma attached to being a single woman well and truly gone? My latest research suggests not. I studied two women’s experience of singlehood over the course of 17 years, from their late teens to their mid-30s. Both Gabriella and Suzy (pseudonyms) spent long periods of their adult lives unpartnered, and their experiences show how the identity of a “single woman” still carries a

negative stigma that’s hard to shake. ‘I feel that others see me as a spinster’ The stigma of being a single woman dates back to the 17th century. It was around this time that the term“spinster” – originally used to describe women who worked in textile spinning – was widely adopted to describe unmarried women. Spinsters were seen as a problem in the patriarchal society of the time. Known as “feme sole” in English common law, they had many of the same legal rights as men, including the ability to own property, whereas married women did not. They also defied the idea that a woman’s worth lay only in her value as a wife.

Nonetheless, spinsters who weren’t from wealthy families were at an economic disadvantage and often restricted to lower-income occupations. Even those who were financially secure were granted lower

address common concerns related to accessibility.

The focus on accessible voting is particularly significant for persons with disabilities, seniors, and caregivers, groups that often encounter challenges when attempting to fully participate in elections. By bringing these stakeholders together, organisers hope to create a space where information is not only shared but clearly understood.

“This initiative is about ensuring that no one is left out of the democratic

process,” said Dr Janet Davis Dorsett, president of the Island Jewels of New Providence. “Access to voting is a fundamental right, and awareness is a critical first step toward participation.” Organisers said the webinar will cover a range of topics, including how assisted voting works, what legal protections are in place for individuals who need support, and what voters can expect on Election Day. The goal is to remove uncertainty and

empower individuals with the knowledge needed to exercise their rights with confidence.

The effort forms part of a wider outreach campaign being led by the sorority group in the lead up to the election. Beyond the virtual session, members have been engaging communities through social media campaigns, partnerships with advocacy organisations, and targeted public messaging designed to reach those who may otherwise be overlooked.

social value than their married counterparts.

Although the term feels outdated, my participant Suzy described feeling this way in her early 20s: I am worried about being alone, not having anyone to live with, because I cannot live with my parents forever. Even though I know I am still young at 22, and I am not ready to settle down, I feel that others see me as a spinster and that I am already off the shelf. I thought things had changed nowadays.

Both Suzy and Gabriella worried about societal expectations of them, which they felt were characterised by a linear transition from school to work, to buying a house, to getting married and settling down.

Their own lives transgressed these expectations. For instance, when the women were in their early 30s, Suzy went back to studying while Gabriella moved back in with her parents.

Research shows that traditional markers of adulthood are increasingly being postponed due to economic pressures, changing social attitudes, and people choosing to stay in education for longer.

Society rewards couples

The stigma of singlehood has mostly been researched among older women, with recent work demonstrating that singlehood is more acceptable up until the age of 30.

This feeling was echoed by my participants. Gabriella described being able to resist the stigma in her

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20s, before more of the people around her started to couple up:

I’m in this phase of my life in my mid-30s now, where I think it’s accumulated and now I feel really lonely […] I used to be able to defy it, never really let it get to me, and I was always very positive and stuff, but now I’m just a bit more sensitive, a bit more conscious of it.

Historically, society has been ruled by the tenacity of the “couple norm”, which is the belief that living in a couple is a superior, more natural way to live.

This norm stems from the construction of a hetero-patriarchal society that has long been upheld by social and legal institutions that reward couples. The legacy

With just weeks to go before voters head to the polls, the timing of the initiative underscores the importance of preparation and inclusion. Organisers believe that increasing awareness now can have a meaningful impact on turnout, particularly among populations that have historically been underrepresented. They are also encouraging community organisations, advocates, and members of the public to support the effort by sharing information, participating in discussions, and helping to extend the reach of the message. By building a network of informed voters and engaged stakeholders, the group hopes to contribute to a more inclusive electoral process.

As the country approaches May 12, initiatives such as this highlight the ongoing need to ensure that access to voting is not just a principle, but a reality for all Bahamians.

of this norm is upheld daily through culture, including in the plethora of books, TV series and films centred on finding “the one”.

This culture helps to perpetuate economic inequalities for single people. For instance, Gabriella, who moved back in with her parents during COVID after a break-up, worried she wouldn’t be able to attain her dream home on a single income.

Everyone that I know is in a couple, and I think their success in building their house and their nest and all that stuff has happened because they’ve been able to leverage each other.

Similarly, Suzy described getting financial help from her parents to freeze her eggs at age 34.

Both participants explained how singlehood also sustained an emotional burden, such as through their having to continually defend and justify their single status. As Suzy said:

[People ask], ‘Oh, why are you still single?’, I guess just implying, ‘what’s wrong with you?’.And I never really know how to answer that in a way that isn’t going to cause drama by saying something really sassy back, or in a way that doesn’t make me feel or look really sad.

Although a growing number of women today are choosing to be defiantly single, the couple norm remains pervasive. And many single women – even if they are content in their singlehood – face a unique set of social pressures that are hard to shake off.