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Monday, June 8, 2026
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Cat Island blackout ‘tragic’ for Rake and Scrape Festival By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net AN island-wide blackout that struck Cat Island during the Labour Day weekend left vendors counting losses and disrupted one of the island's most important annual economic events, with one business owner describing the outage as a "tragic moment" for those who depend on the Rake and Scrape Festival to earn income. Vince McDonald, owner of Curly's Beach Resort, said his business was able to weather the outage thanks to emergency lighting and an established customer base, but many festival vendors were not as fortunate. "I can't say the same for everybody," said Mr McDonald. "I'm an institution, so I have a brand. I don't depend on setting up a stall at the festival.
Business owner calls festival blackout a tragedy
Power failure disrupts key tourism, cultural event
BAHAMAS POWER & LIGHT (BPL) HQ "People on the island look forward to that weekend to make money. That's how they do." He added: "I think it was a tragic moment for them with the lights being off." The outage occurred during the final night of the Cat Island Rake and Scrape Festival, an event
that annually attracts visitors from throughout The Bahamas and provides a significant boost for local businesses, vendors and entrepreneurs. Mr McDonald said many stall operators suffered substantial losses as a result of the power failure.
BALS president: Bahamas ready for geospatial spotlight BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Association of Land Surveyors (BALS) has restored its standing after resolving years of unpaid membership fees and regaining active participation in the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), following a five-year period of dormancy. Speaking at a press conference following the FIG Congress 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, BALS
President Rodrick Wood said the association’s recent achievements represent a turning point for the profession in The Bahamas. He said the achievements the group brought home “will resonate for generations.” Mr Wood noted that the association had ceased operations for five years and was expelled from the International Federation of Surveyors due to unpaid membership fees. “Many of you know that the Bahamas Association of Land Surveyors was
RESTORED - See Page B6
Financial evaluation stalls Beach Club offering By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net ROYAL Caribbean (Bahamas) president Philip Simon said the longawaited public offering for the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island has been pushed toward year-end so potential investors can evaluate financial results based on actual operating performance. Speaking during the beach club's Labour Day community event, Mr Simon said the initial public offering (IPO) remains
on track but management wants to establish a clearer operating record before inviting Bahamians to invest. "That's coming," he said. "We've said it before, and we've pushed that towards the end of the year because we want to operate in partnership with the Government and with our vendors so that we have a good understanding of the business. "When we get to the IPO, we want the numbers to be reflective of the experience thus far. So it's coming."
IPO - See Page B7
BPL outage leaves businesses and visitors stranded "Those people with stalls and booths suffered drastically," he said. While Curly's Beach Resort also lost electricity, Mr McDonald said the business remained open. "We were without power, but I had emergency lighting and other backup lights in place, so people stayed around and enjoyed themselves because that was really the only place to go," he said. "The electricity was down, but it wasn't a major issue for us. We still pushed through. Everybody stayed, and we still did well. We have a very comfortable environment and there were a lot of people there."
VENDORS - See Page B6
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Ferguson: Pay Lucayan workers what’s owed By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net TRADE union leader Obie Ferguson renewed his call for the Government to settle outstanding wages and dues owed to former Lucayan Renewal Holdings employees, arguing that workers who "worked, served and sacrificed" should not have to wait any longer for money they are owed. Speaking at a Labour Day rally organised by the Bahamas Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Ferguson said the long-running dispute involving former Grand Lucayan employees had dragged on for too long and required immediate action. "Those workers are owed wages and dues," he said. "They worked. They served. They sacrificed. And they must be paid what is rightfully theirs." "We call on the Government to settle this matter without delay. Not after another meeting. Not after another promise. Now." The comments mark the latest intervention by
OBIE FERGUSON the veteran trade union leader in a dispute that has stretched for months following the closure of the Grand Lucayan resort and uncertainty surrounding its sale to Concord Wilshire. Mr Ferguson, whose Bahamas Hotel Managerial Association represents middle managers employed at the resort, has repeatedly accused the Government-owned Lucayan Renewal Holdings vehicle of failing to properly address workers' severance and compensation claims. Earlier this year he described the situation facing employees as one of the most severe labour disputes he had encountered, with workers going weeks without pay
DUES - See Page B6