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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2025
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Gov’t ‘using public purse’ to secure general election t $JWJM TFSWJDF VOJPO DIJFG IJUT PVU BU TBMBSZ SFWJFX THE Bahamas Public Services t 4PNF XPSLFST AJO UIF IPMF Union’s (BPSU) president last PWFS SFUSPBDUJWF SJTFT night accused the Government of “trying to use the public purse” to win the upcoming general elec- t (PW U IBJMT mSTU TFDUPS tion via the latest civil service pay XJEF JODSFBTF JO ZFBST By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
rises. Kimsley Ferguson, whose union represents thousands of public sector workers, voiced misgivings to Tribune Business about how the public service salary review was handled as he complained about the failure to consult and involve both the BPSU and other
trade unions whose members are impacted. Disclosing that his members are asking questions that himself and other BPSU executives are unable to answer, due to their exclusion from the process, he
Second vessel is seized on ‘illegal charter fishing’ By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net A SECOND boat and its crew have been arrested for illegal commercial fishing and charter operations following an undercover multi-agency law enforcement operation in the Berry Islands. Jomo Campbell, minister of agriculture and marine resources, said the covert operation, named ‘Red Dawn 2’, was launched from September 18–19 and resulted in the seizure of a vessel and associated equipment, along with three persons. The case has now been referred to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for further legal proceedings. “This operation was launched to address the persistent problem of unlicensed foreign fishing charters operating illegally
JOMO CAMPBELL in Bahamian waters. Such activities undermine the licensed Bahamian operators, deprive the Government of critical revenue, and are threatening longterm sustainability of our marine resources,” said Mr Campbell. “The Bahamas fisheries sector is a cornerstone of our economy, generating hundreds of millions of
ARREST - See Page B7
Arbitrators retire to determine Govt’s $357m GBPA dispute By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE three-strong arbitration panel that will decide Freeport’s fate has retired to determine its verdict on whether the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) owes the Government some $357m. Tribune Business understands that the panel, chaired by Sir Anthony Smellie KC, former chief justice of the Cayman Islands, and the two UK law lords - Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury and Dame Elizabeth Gloster - have
given no timeline for when a decision will be released after the two-week arbitration proceedings finished in Nassau last Friday, September 19. Given the amount of material and documents, some dating from the 1950s and 1960s, that they have to analyse, along with witness statements, trial transcripts and other evidence, it is thought possible that a decision may not be handed down before year-end and the outcome not determined until the 2026 New Year.
HEARINGS - See Page B5
also expressed concern about how the salary increases are being implemented - especially the “retroactivity” for lower-ranking civil servants. The Government, in announcing the completion of the public
sector salary review, said workers who had nor participated in previous increases - line-staff level employees - would receive a minimum of two salary increments in their December pay period made retroactive to September 1, 2025. However, Mr Ferguson told this newspaper that many of these workers had already spent this money, or borrowed against it for expenses such as their children’s ‘back-to-school’ needs, in anticipation that it would be received this month - not be delayed for three months until December, albeit made retroactive. He added that persons in this situation now “find themselves in a hole’.
KIMSLEY FERGUSON Besides the retroactive payments, the BPSU chief also questioned the “equality” of the increases and their timing as he pointed to gaps between what permanent secretaries and senior civil servants have received; the awards to so-called “middle management” civil servants; and now line staff workers. Support
SALARIES - See Page B4
‘Leverage Trump visa fee hikes for Bahamian technology hub’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas was yesterday urged to seize the “great opportunity” created by Donald Trump’s massive visa fee hikes for foreign workers and spark its long-held ambitions to become a technology hub. Local technology executives told Tribune Business that this nation must “leverage” the fall-out caused by the US president’s decision to hike the application fee for H-1B visas - the permits that skilled foreign workers must possess to live and work legally in the US - more than 60 times’ their previous level to $100,000 per person. With multiple companies, ranging from the very largest to small start-ups, now scrambling to adjust
t /BUJPO VSHFE UP TFJ[F PO AHSFBU PQQPSUVOJUZ t "OE BUUSBDU mSNT TLJMMFE GPSFJHO XPSLGPSDF t 3FRVJSF ADFSUBJO MFWFM PG #BIBNJBO UBMFOU to the sudden fee hike and its impact on their ability to afford specialist foreign labour, they added that The Bahamas’ close proximity and attractive ‘sun, sand, sea’ lifestyle features can prove attractive for firms seeking to relocate or “offshore” key staff just outside the US Keith A. Roye II, Plato Alpha’s chief operating officer and a Tribune Business columnist, told this newspaper that The
Bahamas “can definitely leverage” Mr Trump’s decision to attract technology companies and their foreign staff to “set up shop here” and, in so doing, revive ambitions that have existed since at least 2018 to transform this nation into a technology hub. Pointing out that companies re-domiciling to The Bahamas will still be able to export their services to the US and other
KEITH A. ROYE II countries, he added that their presence - and that of their staff - will increase economic activity and spending throughout this nation’s economy, leading to the creation of jobs in other industries and increased tax and fee revenue for the Government. “Absolutely 100 percent we should look at it. We can look at that to facilitate this whole technology hub scenario that we’ve been trying to grow here,” Mr Roye added. “It will be good to have more
VISA - See Page B8
‘Bearing fruit’: Agriculture in fastest growth for 33 years By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@ tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN agriculture was yesterday said to have grown at its fastest pace in more than three decades through expanding by 26.3 percent over the past year. Jomo Campbell, minister of agriculture and marine resources, credited targeted initiatives for the surge - particularly efforts to attract youth and women into agriculture. He said the Government is preparing to launch another youth-focused initiative connected to programmes offered by the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI). “[Many] of our projects are being geared towards attracting younger persons. Agriculture, for quite some time, has been an aging industry with an average age of about 65 to 66 years [for farmers].
And we’re also seeking to encourage women in farming as well, and the population of female farmers has increased significantly,” said Mr Campbell. “We’re also pleased to share with you that the overall growth of the industry has grown by 26.3 percent. That is the largest growth in the last 33 years. And so our efforts are literally bearing fruit, and in a few short weeks you will see one of the other initiatives that we have aimed towards ensuring the increasing excitement and awareness towards agriculture.” Mr Campbell said his ministry is rebranding agriculture for a new Bahamian generation by breaking stereotypes and integrating technology into the farming experience. He said young people are being introduced to science-based projects that demonstrate the use of laptops, smart
EXPANSION - See Page B8