business@tribunemedia.net
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
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Thompson: Nassau set for summer of power outages By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net NASSAU could see a summer filled with power outages, according to MP for East Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson. Following a series of outages in numerous New Providence communities over recent weeks and an island-wide blackout in Cat Island during the Labour Day weekend that disrupted the annual Rake and Scrape Festival, he said the growing number of outages represents what he said is the government’s broken promise. “Madam Speaker, the government promised relief. Instead, it delivered more pressure,” Mr Thompson said. He argued that while the Progressive Liberal Party pledged lower electricity rates and improved reliability in 2021, many Bahamians have instead faced escalating energy bills. “Some electricity bills get higher and higher,” he said. “Many cut back on groceries and sacrificed necessities. Businesses faced higher energy costs passed on to consumers. Where was the promised relief? The reality is more pain.” Mr Thompson also pointed to years of power disruptions throughout the Family Islands.
Unreliable power threatens economic activity and investment “Residents in Eleuthera, Abaco, Andros and other Family Islands endured years of crippling blackouts that disrupted homes, businesses and daily life,” he said. He said recent outages in New Providence suggest the country’s largest population may be facing another challenging summer. “Nassau appears to be heading for yet another summer of outages, with BPL making a recent statement blaming equipment failures, underground cable faults and an early summer heat wave,” he said.
‘Trade deficiency should have been addressed years ago’
Park wardens and better surveillance says new Exec Chairman Strachan
By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net THE Government is facing criticism over what the Opposition describes as a delayed response to a trade deficiency that could expose hundreds of millions of dollars in Bahamian exports to new United States tariffs, with concerns mounting over the potential impact on the country’s fishing industry. East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson yesterday argued that the Davis administration only moved to strengthen legislation after the US determined that The Bahamas had failed to adequately prohibit and enforce measures against goods produced through forced labour,” Mr Thompson said. “Now, after that threat has emerged, the government is rushing amendments through parliament in an attempt to correct a deficiency that should have been addressed years ago.” The proposed legislation comes after the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) found that The Bahamas had neither imposed nor effectively enforced a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour, leaving The Bahamas open to facing a 12.5 percent tariff on exports to the US if corrective action is not taken. Mr Thompson said the issue carries particular significance for fishing communities in his constituency and throughout the Family Islands. “In East Grand Bahama, in Sweeting’s Cay, McLean’s Town, High Rock and throughout the Family Islands, fishermen, processors and small businesses depend on access to international markets,” he said. “They work hard every day to provide for their families and keep one of the most important industries alive.”
EXPOSE - See Page B2
By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net
KWASI THOMPSON “Bahamians have every right to demand answers. These explanations do not sound like solutions, but they sound more like excuses.” The criticism comes as concerns grow over the readiness of the country’s electricity infrastructure at the start of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season and during what is traditionally the highest-demand period of the year. Senator Arinthia Komolafe, in a social media statement, highlighted the scope of recent outages, listing affected communities including Fort Charlotte, Carmichael West, Bacardi Road, Carmichael Village, Big Pond, Fire Trail, Golden Isles Road, Victoria Gardens, Excellence Estates, Southern Breeze, Munnings Road, Emerald Gardens, Killarney Shores, Paradise Island, Blair Estates, East Hill, Downtown Nassau, Charlotteville, Love Estates, Airport Industrial Park, Old Fort Bay and Compass Point.
THE Bahamas Public Parks and Beaches Authority is preparing a sweeping modernisation and beautification programme that will include park wardens, expanded surveillance systems, online permits and the restoration of at least five public parks every quarter, according to newly-appointed Executive Chairman. Jamahl Strachan outlined what he described as a comprehensive plan to improve public parks and beaches across New Providence, while eventually extending initiatives throughout The Bahamas. A key component of the authority’s strategy will focus on strengthening security at parks and beaches. Mr Strachan revealed that the Authority
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First equipment shipment next week for $379.2m LNG-to-Power project By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net FOCOL Holdings yesterday unveiled a $379.2m financing package for its LNG-to-Power project, with executives revealing that the first major equipment shipment is due to arrive in The Bahamas next week as construction activity ramps up at Clifton Pier.
Dexter Adderley, the BISXlisted company's president and chief executive, said the financing platform officially closed on Labour Day and will fund critical infrastructure designed to support the country's transition to liquefied natural gas (LNG). "On Friday, June 5, Labour Day in The Bahamas, at approximately 4:24pm, FOCOL's financing platform for its LNG-to-Power project
DEXTER ADDERLEY officially closed for a total of $379.2m," said Mr Adderley. "This represents confidence in the project, confidence in the structure behind it, confidence in the people responsible for delivering it
Strong Labour Day sales help offset rising costs By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net A LIQUOR store operator said a strong Labour Day and Bahamas Carnival weekend helped offset rising wholesale alcohol costs while retailers are now being forced to pass distributor price increases on to consumers. George Robinson Jr., owner of Base Road Wholesale Bar, said retail liquor prices climbed at the start of June after distributors raised prices, with some beer products increasing by about 10 percent and certain spirits rising between 15 and 20 percent. “We had to go up,” Mr Robinson said. “What we don’t like that they did, they went up on us during June 1 and on May the 30 and May the 31 they had a big sale for the public. And then went up on us June 1. We don’t think that was fair. We told them about that. That’s something we
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‘Sweeping modernisation’ promised by new head of public parks and beaches
Opposition says PLP failed to deliver promised relief Energy woes leave Bahamians seeking certainty
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are fighting right there. Nobody made no money that weekend.” The comments highlight mounting tensions between retailers and distributors in The Bahamas’ highly competitive alcohol market, where small businesses often find themselves squeezed between rising wholesale costs and consumers’ sensitivity to price increases. Despite the cost pressures, Mr Robinson said holiday-related events delivered a welcome boost to sales. “The holiday was great,” he added. “We had a good weekend for the holiday. We only got by on the holiday because they [distributors] were close. They are closed on the holidays. So it gives us an opportunity to make something extra.” Labour Day celebrations and Bahamas Carnival festivities generated additional customer traffic throughout the weekend.
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JAMAHL STRACHAN has already begun reviewing security requirements at public recreational spaces across New Providence after receiving reports over the weekend about debris and safety concerns at a popular western New Providence beach frequented by tourists. According to Strachan, authority staff were immediately dispatched to address the issue. The revitalisation is expected to include the deployment of park
IMPROVE - See Page B2
and confidence in the future of energy infrastructure in The Bahamas." The financing package includes a $335m Bahamian dollar syndicated loan led by CIBC Caribbean and supported by RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank and Bank of The Bahamas, together with a $42.2m US dollar component from the US Export-Import Bank and its funding partner, the Private Export Funding Corporation (PEFCO). Mr Adderley said FOCOL has already invested more than $165m in the LNG terminal project and is now moving from planning to execution.
POWER - See Page B2