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Financial blows 'stop business owners buying safety and surveillance equipment' By ANNELIA NIXON services alarms and cameras, I'm looking at 2022 at all the t #VTJOFTTFT Tribune Business Reporter said she just recently realised places that either had to close anixon@tribunemedia.net how many customers have down or had to just give up TUSVHHMF UP BGGPSE given up their alarms and in certain things because they FINANCIAL blows have turn have undermined their just couldn't afford them anyTFDVSJUZ TZTUFNT prevented business owners security. Mrs Weatherford more. And it's disheartening from investing in safety and surveillance equipment, according to one alarm system service provider. Following three shooting incidents on Monday, all within an eight-hour window and in the vicinity of businesses, the country continues to see a spike in crime. Candace Weatherford, owner of Sure Alarms Systems LTD which installs, monitors and
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points a finger at the COVID19 pandemic, stating safety and security comes with a price that many can no longer afford. “Some of them are schools, like private schools, different places, they were hit so hard financially from the shutdown that they still haven't recuperated,” Mrs Weatherford said. “It's like it's not in the budget. It's disheartening. And here we are in 2025 and
that COVID is still affecting us to this date and time, and I can't blame it on anything else, because before COVID, it was booming. “Before COVID, things were steady, they were good. And through COVID, we worked with a lot of our customers who were feeling the pinch, and we gave a lot of
SECURITY - See Page B2
Darville: groundbreaking for $267m Cat Island load shedding ended after specialty hospital ‘very soon' By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net HEALTH and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville said groundbreaking for the $267m specialty hospital will take place “very soon,” as the government finalizes loan arrangements and moves ahead with site preparations. Speaking to reporters, Dr Darville confirmed that the government is in the final stages of completing a loan agreement with the Chinese Export-Import Bank (Eximbank), while procurement for land clearing is already underway. “We signed the first agreement with the concession loan group with the embassy, and now we in the final stages of the documentation for signing with the Chinese Eximbank. Pleased to also report that we went out for procurement for the clearing of the land. That is going extremely well, and very soon, we will break ground and report to the Bahamian people about what the next steps would be,” said Dr Darville.
DR MICHAEL DARVILLE “I also made a commitment that with the Opening of Parliament, I would update the Bahamian people about the parameters of the loan and what it means, and become very transparent of what the next steps would be.” Prior to Parliament’s summer adjournment, Dr Darville defended the government’s plans for the specialty hospital and pledged to table the loan agreement once finalized
t .JOOJT SBJTFT DPODFSOT PWFS GPSFJHO MBCPVS VTF t 0QQPTJUJPO XBSOT QSPKFDU DPVME CFDPNF AXIJUF FMFQIBOU Speaking in Parliament, former Prime Minister, Dr Hubert Minnis raised concerns about the agreement, particularly regarding the expected use of Chinese labour on the project. He questioned why labour negotiations remain unresolved and expressed frustration that foreign workers will be brought in at a time
HOSPITAL - See Page B2
Chamber backs Exuma resort boom: ‘Get ready to grow’ local businesses told
‘Complete revamp’ of OSH standards promised by Labour Minister
By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
THE Labour Minister has pledged to “completely revamp” Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards in The Bahamas adding that a public consultation will be held soon. A report from the US on human rights, noted that the Ministry of Labour who holds the responsibility, “did not effectively enforce minimum wage, overtime, and OSH laws.” “The government set occupational safety and health (OSH) standards appropriate to the main industries,” the report read. “Some workers in construction, agriculture, informal tourist operators, engineering, and informal sectors endured hazardous conditions. Typically, persons who were unable to work because of hazardous conditions were protected from dismissal; however, there were no statutory provisions that guarantee paid leave. “The Ministry of Labour was responsible for enforcing labor laws, including standards for minimum wage, work hours, and OSH. Ministry inspectors infrequently conducted random site visits. Inspectors levied fines to enforce OSH standards and to investigate employee concerns and complaints. Penalties for violations of OSH, wage, and work hour laws were commensurate with those for crimes such as negligence. The government did not effectively enforce minimum wage, overtime, and OSH laws. Penalties were rarely applied against violators. The number of labor inspectors was not sufficient to enforce
THE Exuma Chamber of Commerce is throwing its full support behind a wave of luxury resort developments on the island, with president Ehren Hanna urging local businesses to prepare for growth as more than 1,500 jobs and expanded economic opportunities are expected. Mr Hanna said the Chamber is committed to connecting its members with resort partners and ensuring local entrepreneurs are positioned to benefit from the investment boom. “The primary mission of the Exuma Chamber of Commerce is to support and champion the success of our local business community, and with each new development comes the chance to connect our members to business opportunities,” said Mr Hanna. “Announcements like Yntegra’s $2 m investment in the community and local businesses, or Amancaya’s project moving ahead, or signs of progress with the Sandals Resort transformation are strong indications that Exuma is right on track. We are committed to partnering with businesses that need local goods and service providers and share our vision for progress.” Mr Hanna pointed to several highprofile developments fuelling this optimism — including the $200m Rosewood Exuma resort on Sampson Cay, the $260m Amancaya resort planned for Children’s Bay and Williams Cay, the $175m Torch Cay resort, and Sandals
EXUMA - See Page B2
By ANNELIA NIXON Tribune Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net
PIA GLOVER-ROLLE compliance. Inspectors had the authority to make unannounced inspections and initiate sanctions. Employers generally cooperated with inspectors to implement safety standards.” Labour Minister, Pia GloverRolle, however, said the ministry is working to bring OSH in The Bahamas to international standards. “We continue to work to improve labour conditions and we are making great strides in that regard,” Ms Glover-Rolle said. “In a few months, we will be introducing a slate of reforms that will modernize every major labour law, including the Employment Act, the Industrial Relations Act, the Public Service Act, and General Orders. “We will completely revamp our Occupational Safety and Health standards, enhance the protections available for casual workers, align our labour laws with international standards, introduce more protections against workplace
REVAMP - See Page B2
two weeks, says BPL By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Power and Light Company announced yesterday that rotational load shedding on Cat Island has ended after more than two weeks. Pedro Marcello, BPL’s Family Regional Island Manager, said the load shedding—which began on August 11 and lasted 16 days—has been discontinued. All four generation units are now on the island, with three fully available and two currently online. The fourth unit is undergoing final mechanical repairs and is expected to be commissioned by the weekend, restoring the generation fleet to full capacity. “This is a proud moment for both BPL and the residents of Cat Island,” said Mr Marcello. “We committed to resolving this issue swiftly, and our teams delivered. The load shedding that began on August 11 is now behind us, and we look forward to having all units fully operational in the coming days.” BPL’s CEO Toni Seymour highlighted the importance of stable electricity connections for Family Island residents and reaffirmed the utility’s commitment to providing quality service.
TONI SEYMOUR “As a native of Long Island, I fully understand how vital consistent electricity supply is to our Family Island communities,” said Ms Seymour “We appreciate the patience shown by the residents of Cat Island and remain committed to delivering the quality of service they deserve.” Last week, Ms Seymour announced that BPL will issue a 50 percent rebate on the base rate to residents in Eleuthera, Long Island, Cat Island, and Abaco in the next billing cycle, as compensation for repeated power outages experienced this summer. She said residents on Cat Island had been experiencing four-hour load shedding intervals, but BPL teams were actively working to address the shortfall
SHEDDING - See Page B2