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Tourism urges boating fee ‘pause to save the summer’ t $BMMT GPS IBMU UP FOE 0DUPCFS UP AHFU JU SJHIU THE Bahamian tourism industry is urging the Gov- t 0OF BMM JO GFF UP TUPQ ernment to “pause” the AOJDLFM BOE EJNF JOH new and increased boating fees until end-October to “save the summer season” t #VU AOPU UISPXJOH PVU and ensure “we get it right”. CBCZ XJUI CBUI XBUFS Kerry Fountain, the By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
Bahama Out Island Promotion Board’s executive director, told Tribune Business the industry did “not propose throwing the baby out with the bath water” when it met with government representatives last Monday to address the confused and often-hostile reaction from the international boating community to reforms that accompanied the 2025-2026 Budget. With the tourism sector now awaiting the Government’s official response, he confirmed that it recommended halting implementation of the
new and increased fees until end-October 2025 to ensure The Bahamas strikes the correct balance between revenues, regulation and incentivising increased boating-related economic activity. Pointing out that this would also give The Bahamas sufficient time to accurately communicate the changes, and their rationale, to the boating industry, Mr Fountain told this newspaper there are also elements of the changes that are backed by the tourism
sector - especially the frequent digital cruising card (FDCC) that is valid for two years, and designed to encourage frequent boating visitors to this nation. However, the Bahamian tourism industry also recommended that the Government adjust the ‘temporary’ 12-month cruising permit to enable visiting boats to enter The Bahamas four times within that year-long period, rather than being restricted to twice within a 30-day period.
KERRY FOUNTAIN And, to facilitate and encourage spontaneous summer trips from Florida to the northern Bahamas, especially Bimini, the Berry Islands, West End and Abaco, the sector is asking that a new permit or category be created that would allow such visitors to enter this nation twice in a 90-day permit. Describing this as “the meat and potatoes” of
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BTC chief in ambition to be Caribbean ‘reference’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) chief executive says he is pushing to become the Caribbean “reference” and leader as this nation readies to host a major industry summit. Sameer Bhatti, speaking prior to the 40th CANTO regional communications conference, which kicksoff in The Bahamas this upcoming Sunday, told Tribune Business that his
ambition is to attain a position where “every other Caribbean nation looks” at this nation and views it as a model to emulate for innovation, technology and infrastructure development. “Selfishly, I want The Bahamas to lead,” he affirmed. “I want every other Caribbean nation to look at The Bahamas as a reference; as a reference for what we’re doing with broadband... Whether it’s mobile or fixed broadband, I want BTC to be a reference.
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Developer targets 11-storey West Bay Street condo hotel By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net A DEVELOPER seeking planning permission to construct an 11-storey condo hotel on West Bay Street, east of Sapodilla, has submitted numerous recommendations to address traffic flow in the area. BPG Ltd, which is seeking the Town Planning
Committee’s go-ahead to construct 125 condominiums on a 2.37-acre parcel of land, has developed a 200page traffic impact study that calls for a roundabout to be developed at the intersection of West Bay Street and Sea Beach Boulevard. The report suggests that this will also benefit the Mosko Group’s upcoming Rock Point development.
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CARL BETHEL KC
BRANVILLE MCCARTNEY
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
aground on a coral reef near Egg Island, Eleuthera, on February 8, 2023. And, in rejecting the attempt by Dean’s Shipping to obtain an early victory over its vessel’s grounding, her judgment also noted that the underwriters are alleging that the mailboat operator “incorrectly claimed” the M/V Legacy was Bahamian-flagged and registered on this nation’s shipping registry when it applied for the hull and marine coverage policy. Carl Bethel KC, the former attorney general,
Grounded mailboat in $1.88m insurance fight A BAHAMIAN mail boat operator’s bid to obtain summary judgment over a $1.881m insurance dispute related to a grounded vessel has been sunk by the Supreme Court. Justice Simone Fitzcharles, in a June 27, 2025, verdict ruled that a full trial is necessary to determine the validity of insurer concerns over the M/V Legacy’s seaworthiness, and whether its crew were “sufficiently trained and qualified”, when it ran
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