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Wednesday, July 15, 2026
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Freeport Harbour’s 270-acre expansion to secure 84 jobs BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net BAHAMA Rock’s plan to expand Freeport Harbour westwards by aggregate mining almost 270 acres, enabling it to maintain its 84-strong workforce and annual $25m economic impact, was yesterday hailed as “transformational” for the city’s maritime ambitions. The project’s environmental impact assessment (EIA), completed in October 2024 by Bahamian environmental consultant Bron Ltd, details Bahama Rock’s ambitions to excavate and quarry aggregates from a large section of the
Bahama Rock: Project go-ahead will preserve $25m impact Seeks key approvals to close Bahamas Cement acquisition GB Chamber chief eyes boost for maritime hub ambitions 515-acre former Bahamas Cement Company property that it now poised to acquire. Once sufficient material is extracted, a new turning basin and “deep-water berths” will be created to facilitate greater use of
Freeport Harbour and its value as an economic asset. The proposal by Bahama Rock, which is owned by Martin Marietta, the multinational aggregates, asphalt and ready-mixed concrete supplier, will be subjected to public scrutiny at a July
Immigration’s six day work permit u-turn ‘not lawful’ BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Immigration Department’s abrupt six-day u-turn, first approving then revoking work permits for two Jamaican handymen, has been “quashed” by the Supreme Court which found this action was “not done transparently, lawfully and fairly”. Justice Carla CardStubbs, in a July 13, 2026, verdict that upheld the Judicial Review challenge launched by Bahamian businessman, Omar Munroe, and his two prospective employees, Travor Howell and Alex Garth McNee, detailed evidence that raises multiple concerns and questions over the Immigration Department’s internal controls,
processes and procedures for handling work permit applications. The judgement disclosed that: * The July 24, 2025, letters approving work permits for the two Jamaicans were identified as bearing the signature of then-Immigration director, William Pratt. They were issued one day before Mr Pratt stepped down from the post. However, evidence produced during the Judicial Review hearing showed that the Immigration Department’s subsequent July 30, 2025, letter revoking the permits’ award was also signed by Mr Pratt even though he had supposedly vacated office five days’ earlier. Mr Munroe and the two Jamaicans argued that Mr Pratt had “no authority” to
sign or issue the revocation because he was no longer a serving Immigration director. Justice Card-Stubbs agreed, finding that the Department had provided “no explanation” for why the letter was signed by a seemingly “unauthorised officer”. * Andrew Gittens, a chief Immigration officer assigned to the Department’s investigations department, confirmed that the work permit cards issued to Mr Howell and Mr McNee were “authentic” when they were presented as evidence in the Judicial Review hearing. However, in both his written and earlier evidence, he asserted that the Immigration Department’s internal records showed that neither work permit had been issued. And,
CONCEPTUAL rendering following completion of harbor expansion and aggregate mining. 29 consultation set for the Foster B. Pestaina Centre as part of the process for obtaining certificates of environmental clearance (CECs) and other key approvals. While the EIA is now almost two years old, the meeting signals that Bahama Rock is now poised to pull the trigger on plans that will sustain its presence in Freeport for some years to come. No timeline was provided for
when aggregate mining will be completed, and Freeport Harbour expanded, although the company confirmed that the Bahama Cement Company purchase hinges on it obtaining all mining, environmental and other necessary regulatory approvals. The move coincides with increased economic activity and investment directly related to Freeport Harbour, which is 50/50 owned by Hutchison Whampoa
Case raises concern over Immigration controls and processes
GB resort owners accuse police over failed reclaim
Revocation signed by ex-director five days after stepping down Officer admits permits ‘authentic’ but no record of their issuing despite the July 24, 2025, approval letters bearing Mr Pratt’s signature, Mr Gittens said they had been sent “by individuals acting outside the scope of their authority” and the matter was “under investigation” by Immigration. The senior Immigration officer said the two Jamaican work permits were also never put
CHALLENGE - See Page B4
Family Islands fear loss of Flamingo Air capacity BY ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net FAMILY Island resort operators yesterday warned that Flamingo Air’s temporary bar from flying following Friday’s fatal Andros crash has created furrther uncertainty over visitor access and seat capacity. Those spoken to by Tribune Business said they are hopeful any loss of seats will be offset by new or expanded flights from other carriers, helping to minimise disruption to businesses and essential travel.
While resorts said it is too early to quantify the long-term economic impact, they argued that maintaining safe and reliable air service is critical not only for tourism-dependent businesses but also for residents who depend on domestic flights for banking, medical appointments and other essential services. David Hocher, owner and operator of the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, said his team has been working directly with affected guests whose bookings were tied to Flamingo Air. “We’re scrambling a little to help our customers who previously were booked
on Flamingo to help them rebook,” Mr Hocher said. He added that staff have been directing travellers to alternative carriers, including Titan Airways and Graceful Wings from Nassau, while reminding visitors that their trips to Staniel Cay do not have to be cancelled. “We’ve definitely had to jump in and kind of calm people down a little and tell them, look, there’s other options, and you don’t have to cancel your whole vacation,” Mr Hocher said. He added that Staniel Cay continues to benefit from multiple access options, including
private charter services, Titan Airways’ scheduled flights and Makers Air’s direct service from Fort Lauderdale, particularly for South Florida visitors. Despite those alternatives, he acknowledged wider concerns about the impact on Exuma’s northern cays. “There’s a general concern… that airlift into Staniel, Black Point, Farmers is going to suffer, and so I share that concern,” Mr Hocher said, adding that reliable air service is essential for local communities beyond tourism. “They rely on airlift… for things like banking and
SEATS - See Page B6
‘Limited noise levels’ via Bahama Rock expansion BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net BAHAMA Rock’s proposed Freeport Harbour expansion will likely consume $5.5m worth of electricity per year, it has been projected, with studies seeking to reassure nearby Eight Mile Rock residents that they will endure “limited noise levels” from the project. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the company’s proposed near-270 acre
excavation of the former Bahamas Cement Company site, which will eventually facilitate Freeport Harbour’s westward expansion by creating extra berth capacity and turning basins, forecast that Bahama Rock will consume “substantially similar” levels of electricity to what it uses today. “Bahama Rock currently pays approximately $5.5m a year for electricity in Freeport, greatly underwriting the cost of the power plant [GB Power]
while helping make electricity less expensive for local homeowners,” the EIA, crafted by Bahamian consultancy, Bron Ltd, states. “Based on the current energy demand of the existing quarry Bahama Rock operation at the adjacent site over a one-year period, the anticipated energy demand is expected to average 33,632.64KwH (kilowatt hours) per day. It is anticipated that the energy demand for the project on the Bahamas
Cement Company property would be substantially similar to Bahama Rock’s current utilisation.” Nearby residents and communities, especially Eight Mile Rock, have in the past frequently complained about the noise from Bahama Rock’s site and the blasting activities that have been performed, which have generated allegations of damage to buildings. These concerns are likely to reignite as a result of the proposed
HEARING - See Page B6
BY NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net ATTORNEYS representing the Old Bahama Bay resort’s owners yesterday accused senior police officers of acting “in excess of their authority” after the latest bid to change all locks and seize management control was foiled. Michael Scott KC, in a letter sent to Shanta Knowles, the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s commissioner, asserted that officers had improperly intervened to block agents acting for LRA-OBB and Resort Holdings from “reclaiming the property peaceably” for their clients. This now marks at least the third failed attempt in just over a year by Old Bahama Bay’s two corporate owners, LRA-OBB standing for Lubert AdlerOld Bahama Bay, to regain management control at the West End, Grand Bahama property from Island Ventures Resort and Club (IVRC), the entity formed by a group of condo owners to operate the complex after its original developer, Ginn, defaulted on its financing 15 years ago.
and the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) Port Group Ltd affiliate. Besides the arrival of the Grand Bahama Shipyard’s two dry docks, and continued growth at the Container Port, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is investing $450m at Billy Cay to expand the Harbour’s cruise berths together with a beach club and upgraded retail village.
EXCAVATE - See Page B4
Mr Scott, in his letter to the police commissioner, reiterated his argument that - because IVRC has no lease agreement with his clients - it is not a tenant at Old Bahama Bay, and thus no eviction notice or Supreme Court possession order is required for LRAOBB and Resort Holdings, and their managing agent, Reunion Cay, to reclaim operational and management control. Instead, he asserted that IVRC only possesses a Bare Licence Agreement which was first agreed in May 2019, then renewed on January 31, 2021. This, Mr Scott added, makes IVRC just “bare occupiers” with no legal rights to Old Bahama Bay, and the licence terms permit his clients to move in and retake possession if the management firm fails to vacate upon being told to do so. He added that IVRC was given written notice to vacate almost 17 months ago, on March 26, 2025, but failed to depart by the March 28, 2025, date that was stipulated. “In the events which further developed, and given the failure on the part of
RECOVERY - See Page B6