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The Tribune L AT E S T
Volume: 123 No. 109, Thursday, April 30, 2026
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WIPING BPL BILLS ‘MAKES NO SENSE’ Former CEO asks ‘why now?’ after some Abaco residents debt cleared By LEANDRA ROLLE Tribune Chief Reporter lrolle@tribunemedia.net FORMER Bahamas Power and Light CEO Whitney Heastie has rejected the Davis administration’s rationale for wiping out electricity bills for Grand Cay and Moore’s Island residents, saying the decision “makes no sense” and contradicts how relief was handled in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. His comments came after the electricity bills for residents of Grand Cay and
Moore’s Island were zeroed days after Prime Minister Philip Davis visited the area and promised relief. Some residents reported that their debts as high as $13,500 had been reduced to zero. The government attributed the decision to disruptions following Hurricane Dorian and the COVID-19 pandemic, saying normal billing and collection operations were disrupted while residents faced hardship, limited BILLS - SEE PAGE THREE
Former BPL GM Whitney Heastie
COI leader faces perjury claim $700M FREEPORT PROJECT over conflicting wealth records PROMISES 550-ROOM HILTON By AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Digital Editor aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
COI LEADER LINCOLN BAIN
COALITION of Independents leader Lincoln Bain is facing a court action to have him prosecuted for perjury, with a creditor alleging his sworn testimony about his finances was contradicted by his recent election disclosures.
In filings submitted yesterday, Zinnia Rolle claims Mr Bain made “wilful and corrupt” false statements during an April 1 court examination into his ability to pay outstanding debts. The application points to the statutory declaration Mr Bain filed on April 16 under the Parliamentary Elections Act, arguing it shows he had income, business revenue
and assets at the time that were not disclosed in his sworn evidence. Ms Rolle is asking the court to direct that Mr Bain be prosecuted under Section 82 of the Penal Code for perjury. She is also seeking an order requiring him to pay the remaining $85,000 owed within seven PURJURY - SEE PAGE FIVE
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A 550-room Hilton branded resort will form the core of the Grand Lucayan resort’s $700m redevelopment, it was revealed yesterday, amid assertions the project will transform Freeport into a “tourist mecca” to complement “the
mega cruise port of the Caribbean”. Dupuch & Turnquestpledged that the 20-acre beach club to be developed by Mediterranean Shipping Company’s (MSC) cruise arm, as well as the planned resort, will be open to Bahamians and residents as well as other stopover visitors. SEE BUSINESS FOR STORY
Sebas reveals over 20 government contracts in election public filing By KEILE CAMPBELL Tribune Staff Reporter kcampbell@tribunemedia.net THE scale of Sebas Bastian’s business dealings with the government has been disclosed as he seeks to become MP for Fort Charlotte, with more than 20 contracts and agreements spanning direct arrangements with public agencies and commercial leases
for property and vehicle rentals. The filings come alongside similar disclosures from senior party figures, including Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, as candidates comply with constitutional requirements to declare interests in government contracts. Mr Bastian’s disclosure, published under Article 48 of the DISCLOSURE - SEE PAGE FOUR
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PLP FORT CHARLOTT CANDIDATE SEBAS BASTIAN