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Wednesday, september 23, 2026

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Traveller ‘unease’ puts Out Island resorts off 10% pts ‘Clean up own GOWON BOWE

BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net FAMILY Island resorts yesterday said they are confronting November bookings up to 10 percentage points down on last year’s pace as “uneasy” travellers wait “to see where the dust settles” on multiple global uncertainties. Ben Simmons, proprietor of the Little Island Hotels group, which includes the Ocean View and The Other Side properties on Harbour Island, as well as The Farm on mainland Eleuthera, told Tribune Business that average November occupancies across his resort portfolio currently stand at 35 percent compared to 45 percent at the same point last year. Asserting that he has “got to be optimistic” this gap will close between now and November, which features the US Thanksgiving holiday that traditionally marks the start of the winter tourism season, the resort entrepreneur blamed the year-overyear drop on cost of living pressures, the upcoming US mid-term elections and geopolitical uncertainties. However, Mr Simmons asserted that the outlook for the Christmas and New Year period is strong with December “tracking within 6 percentage points” of the prior year’s occupancy levels. And he voiced confidence that the Little Island Hotels group will also narrow the present 30

Solar must cost under $3 per watt on returns BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN regulators have disclosed that solar photovoltaic (PV) renewable energy systems must cost $3 per watt or less to install if they are to generate returns that match “or exceed” alternative investments. The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), unveiling the results of a study on investment returns associated with small residential solar PV systems, revealed that the findings show even a $4 per watt installation cost may not be sufficiently competitive or attractive when compared to returns generated by rival investments such as corporate bonds and preference shares. And installation costs of $5 per watt or greater are likely to make solar and other renewable investments uncompetitive and unattractive, the URCA report added, revealing that the data obtained showed such expense delivered an internal rate of return of just 1 percent compared to 7 percent for $3 per watt. The net present value (NPV) of such systems also declined significantly, according to the study, falling from $11,995 at $3 per watt to just $1,995 at an installation cost that was $2 per watt higher. “The installed cost of a PV system is a significant factor influencing the economic viability of the investment. Based on the analysis, systems installed at costs exceeding approximately $5 per watt are unlikely to generate returns that are competitive with alternative investment opportunities, while systems installed at approximately $4 per watt may provide returns that exceed lower-risk alternatives such as inflation or bank deposit rates,” URCA said. “Systems installed at approximately $3 per watt or below demonstrate stronger economic performance and may provide returns

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Hotel entrepreneur bids to close 30% pt gap for January Fellow hotel owner sees costs jump 25-30% in two years Abaco property: January will ‘tell the tale’ on ‘27 outlook percentage point gap between current bookings and typical average occupancies of 75 percent for January. “November as of right now, across all three properties, we are definitely behind by about 10 percentage points on occupancy, which isn’t great,” he said. “But we’ve got to be optimistic we will make that up. It’s definitely concerning, but it’s a little bit early to be fair. “Christmas is looking good. December is tracking within six percentage points across the three properties, which this far out is great. January is still pretty far off. It’s 30 percentage points off. We expect that gap to close the closer we get.” Comparing the booking pace for November 2026 and January 2027 with that for the same months in the prior years, benchmarked against this

current point in the year, Mr Simmons said: “For January 2026, as of September 2025, we were pretty much the same. We were about 44 percent then, and we’re about 30 percentage points off now. We’re usually at 75 percent occupancy for January. We’re tracking as we should. “As of last year, we were at 45 percent at this point for November. Our current bookings [for November 2026], we are currently tracking at 35 percent occupancy. We ended up closing last year at 50 percent occupancy for the month. In comparison to where we were last year, 45 percent, we are 10 percentage points off.” Mr Simmons attributed the November softness to a combination of the US mid-term elections, due to be held that month, plus the geopolitical

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‘National strategy’ is urged to secure key building materials BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A CONCRETE provider yesterday urged The Bahamas to develop a “national strategy” for securing and diversifying the supply of aggregates and other key construction materials amid uncertainty over how long Bahama Rock’s production halt will last. Glennett Fowler, president and chief executive of Grand Bahama-based Heroic Concrete & Concrete Products, told Tribune Business that any aggregate shortages that result from Bahama Rock ceasing its mining operation will raise construction costs throughout this nation and potentially delay the deliver of building projects involving hotels, homes, roads and other infrastructure types. She added that the Bahama Rock situation, which has seen the company halt aggregate mining for at least an initial 60 days as it waits for confirmation over whether it will gain approval to access a new source and site, has reinforced the need for the Bahamian construction industry

to diversify supply chains beyond “any single source for a material essential to development across the country”. “No single supplier, operational interruption, regulatory matter or external event should be able to significantly disrupt the availability of a critical construction material across The Bahamas," said Ms Fowler in a statement to this newspaper. "A resilient market requires choice: Multiple dependable suppliers, competitive pricing, adequate inventory and the logistical capacity to move materials efficiently throughout our islands." She added that Heroic was not seeking to criticise any company but, instead, calling for a “more resilient and competitive supply chain that can withstand operational, regulatory and external disruptions”. Competition, they asserted, is a key safeguard to preventing unjustified price increases. "We cannot wait for a shortage to determine whether our supply chain is resilient," Ms Fowler said. "The Bahamas is experiencing significant

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Chamber: Price control regime must reflect commerce realities BY ANNELIA NIXON TRIBUNE Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net THE BAHAMAS Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation’s (BCCEC) chairman yesterday said merchants are increasingly being squeezed between rising operating costs and the need to keep prices competitive. Don Williams, speaking as the Government steps up enforcement of price control laws, said higher fuel, shipping, transportation and logistics costs have made it increasingly difficult for businesses to maintain affordable prices, particularly as consumers have more options to purchase goods online and have them shipped directly to The Bahamas.

“That’s the constant struggle that merchants have,” Mr Williams said. “So while prices increase, whether at the fuel pump, whether it’s in respect to shipping, transportation or simply logistics, the merchants are finding it harder to have that delicate balance of being as affordable and competitive.” He added that global geopolitical uncertainty, especially in the Middle East, and increases in fuel prices over the past several months have resulted in some merchants absorbing higher costs rather than immediately passing them on to consumers. “You’ve seen a lot more merchants that have absorbed a lot more of those costs in the interim because they still want to ensure that

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DAVID MORLEY

house’ before new VAT fines 5.25% interest charge to delay, deter real estate sales Banker urges DIR, Gov’t tackle own ‘inefficiencies’ first Fine ‘unfair’ to mortgage buyers as 21 days ‘impossible’ BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE GOVERNMENT and tax authorities must “clean up their own house” before punishing others over delayed VAT payments, a senior banker asserted yesterday, warning that the imminent 5.25 percent interest charge will hinder the pace of real estate sales. Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief executive, reacting to the planned imposition of this penalty if VAT due on property deals is not paid within 21 days of the conveyance being executed, told Tribune Business that the Department of Inland Revenue and other agencies need to first examine their own “internal inefficiencies” before “casting blame” on the private sector. Noting the absence of a land registry, lack of digitisation and delays caused by the tax authorities holding on to conveyances if they believe VAT is being under-paid, he added that all professions and institutions involved in real estate sales - attorneys, realtors and banks - want to swiftly complete the deal but are “frustrated with the ease of transaction”. Acknowledging that the Government needs to be paid all taxes due as speedily as possible, Mr Bowe told this newspaper that the new interest charge set to be introduced from

October 5 - represents a “broad brush” regulatory approach that appears to treat all practitioners as guilty when, in reality, is just a few who are responsible for late VAT payments. He added that buyers, as a result, may decide not to initiate real estate deals unless they have complete certainty that the transaction will be completed within the 21-day timeline required to avoid the interest charge - a timeframe Mr Bowe described as “a mythical experience” or “Easter bunny situation” given how fast government agencies typically move. Tribune Business revealed on Monday how the new charge was passed into law by Parliament in June 2025 but never enforced until now. Attorneys are warning that the 21-day deadline for payment of due VAT on real estate sales, with the clock running from the moment the conveyance is executed, is “impractical” and will push all mortgage borrowers and international buyers into incurring the Prime plus 1 percent (5.25) interest levy. Once a conveyance is executed, it is packaged with all other necessary documents, including title opinions and searches, and sent to a bank or other lender if mortgage financing is involved. Bahamian banks typically take two to three weeks, or even longer if they have questions, to

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AML’s $15m Cost Right Nassau to be 30% larger AML Foods yesterday said its new $15m Cost Right store will be 30 percent larger than the fire-destroyed original when it opens at Old Trail Road in early 2027. The BISX-listed food retail and franchise group, in a statement, confirmed that construction is underway on its new 70,000 square foot Cost Right Warehouse Club Nassau outlet. It is being developed at the site of the original outlet’s location, which was destroyed along with its affiliated Solomon’s store in the devastating April 2025 fire. At around 70,000 square feet, AML Foods said the

new location will be 30 percent larger than the original Cost Right, creating additional space to support a broader, enhanced shopping experience for customers and the brand’s continued growth. The new facility is expected to open in early 2027. “Seeing construction progress on the new Cost Right Nassau is an exciting milestone for our company and, importantly, for our customers,” said Gavin Watchorn, AML Foods president and chief executive. “Cost Right has long been an important part of how Bahamians shop for value, and we are investing in a new facility that is larger, more modern

and designed to serve our customers well into the future.” While the new store is under construction, AML Foods said Cost Right has remained accessible to Bahamian consumers online through the availability of 120 grocery and janitorial items, together with select frozen products, meat and seafood. These are available online for delivery or pick-up from their temporary Peach Street location, the former Milo Butler Warehouse. Customers can also access these goods through www.costrightfreeport.com, with free delivery to the Peach Street warehouse

Minister outlines Bahamas’ stance on AI and resilience A CABINET minister has given The Bahamas’ views on artificial intelligence (AI), disaster resilience and turning technology advances into development gains at two meetings held alongside the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. Sebas Bastian, minister of innovation and national development, participated in a UN Digital Co-operation Day panel discussion on the role technology can play in disaster preparedness and resilience alongside representatives from Google DeepMind, GSMA and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. He called for a practical approach to the role AI and emerging technologies can play in this area, including measuring whether they help protect people, enable faster recovery from disasters and if they facilitate better decision-making by authorities. Mr Bastian also urged that improvements in

SEBAS BASTIAN weather forecasting, satellite imagery, risk mapping and early warning systems be made available for small states such as The Bahamas to access. “The question for us is not whether the technology exists; it is whether small states can access it, build the local capacity to apply it to our own realities, and rely on it when our people need it most,” he said. “Small island developing state must be included from the beginning in the design of global AI and

resilience initiatives, rather than being brought in after solutions have already been developed.” Mr Bastian then represented The Bahamas at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) group presidential dialogue on AI, which brought together political and private sector leaders from the Caribbean and Latin America to discuss the evolving technology’s likely impact on digitisation and productivity. The minister called for a broader approach to development financing in the digital age, arguing that it should not only be directed at technology adoption but at the persons who will use, adapt and build it. He called for funding to be directed to skills and capacity building, especially in small island states such as The Bahamas, so that their citizens can participate as innovators and creators rather than consumers of technology developed elsewhere.

and Family Island mailboats. Grocery shopping and household appliances are also available in-store and online at Solomon’s Yamacraw. “Rebuilding Cost Right Nassau is about more than replacing what was lost,” Mr Watchorn added. “It is an opportunity to create something better for our customers, our team and the communities we serve. We look forward to welcoming customers back to a new Cost Right Nassau in early 2027.”

“We have spent significant resources helping countries adopt technology,” Mr Bastian said. “We now have to be equally ambitious about building the people who can shape what comes next. For countries like The Bahamas, success cannot simply mean using the technology. It has to mean developing Bahamians with the skills to adapt it, build with it and create solutions of their own.”

Setting out how he plans to exploit The Bahamas’ presence at the UN General Assembly, Mr Bastian added: “We are building on the work we began at the first UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance earlier this year. Since then, The Bahamas has strengthened relationships and opened important doors. “This week is about turning that momentum into tangible opportunities, whether

that is technical expertise, investment, knowledge transfer or partnerships that build greater capability at home. We want to accelerate the work already underway in digital government, AI, cyber security and future skills, while developing Bahamians with the capacity to lead and build in these areas.”

Tourism Development partnering to better equip young Bahamians THE Tourism Development Corporation (TDC) is partnering with Junior Achievement (JA) for a second year in a bid to equip young Bahamians with the knowledge, skills and experience to succeed in an increasingly competitive global economy. The Corporation, in a statement, said it will once again sponsor and mentor students over the 20-week JA programme, providing practical exposure to entrepreneurship, financial literacy, work readiness and the business world. Under this year’s theme, ‘Unlocking potential’, the event will allow TDC to better understand its responsibilities as a JA company while aligning programme logistics, mentorship expectations and the overall student experience. JA has provided TDC with a programme guide and curriculum designed to support the company's dayto-day engagement with students, while reinforcing that JA representatives will remain available to provide guidance and support. “We are incredibly excited to continue this venture with Junior Achievement for a second year, and to also continue investing in the potential of our young people,” said Ashton Cleare, project manager at the Tourism Development Corporation. “Our first year showed us just how valuable these experiences can be when students are allowed to

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learn, lead, create and engage with professionals in a real world environment. This year, we want to build on that foundation and make the experience even more meaningful. We hope that every student who comes through the TDC JA Company leaves with greater confidence, stronger skills and a clearer understanding of what is possible for their future.” Student achievers participate in JA’s orientation and

registration process on September 19, 2026, with the TDC conducting interviews to identify those who will become members of its JA Company for the 2026–2027 programme year. The programme will officially begin with the first TDC student company meeting on October 5, 2026, following the recruitment and orientation process.

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Wednesday, September 23, 2026, PAGE 3

Chamber: Price control regime must reflect commerce realities BY ANNELIA NIXON TRIBUNE Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net THE BAHAMAS Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation’s (BCCEC) chairman yesterday said merchants are increasingly being squeezed between rising operating costs and the need to keep prices competitive. Don Williams, speaking as the Government steps up enforcement of price control laws, said higher fuel, shipping, transportation and logistics costs have made it increasingly difficult for businesses to maintain affordable prices, particularly as consumers have more options to purchase goods online and have them shipped directly to The Bahamas. “That’s the constant struggle that merchants have,” Mr Williams said. “So while prices increase, whether at the fuel pump, whether it’s in respect to shipping, transportation or simply logistics, the merchants are finding it harder to have that delicate balance of being as affordable and competitive.” He added that global geopolitical uncertainty,

especially in the Middle East, and increases in fuel prices over the past several months have resulted in some merchants absorbing higher costs rather than immediately passing them on to consumers. “You’ve seen a lot more merchants that have absorbed a lot more of those costs in the interim because they still want to ensure that they are competitive and they keep that customer base,” Mr Williams said. However, he acknowledged that some companies have already had to increase prices to remain sustainable. Mr Williams also argued that the existing price control framework needs to be more responsive to rapidly changing business conditions, calling for greater dialogue between Government, merchants and other stakeholders. “Currently the price framework, it needs to be whereby there’s a lot more dialogue between all of the key stakeholders in that regard,” he said. “While the framework is in place, it does not account for the rapidly-changing global environment. And, as such, there are so many

fluctuations on a day-to-day basis in the marketplace.” His comments come as the Department of Consumer Affairs intensifies enforcement of price control regulations, with 15 of 17 merchants prosecuted over the past year pleading guilty to violations. Rex Adderley, the Department’s director, previously said the agency has also received complaints about retailers displaying one price on shelves but charging customers more at the cash register, with some businesses allegedly refusing to honour the lower advertised price. Mr Williams said the Chamber supports enforcement and efforts to protect consumers, while noting that the vast majority of businesses comply with government regulations. “I can’t speak to the mindset of the merchants that decided to obviously violate the laws in respect to price control,” he said. “But you would note that there is a considerable amount of merchants in our country, business owners, that abide by all of the rules and regulations of the overnment.” Mr Williams said the Chamber views the Price

Legal advice demand drives law firm’s free annual clinic BY ANNELIA NIXON TRIBUNE Business Reporter anixon@tribunemedia.net A BAHAMIAN law firm yesterday said demand for affordable legal guidance continues to drive participation in its annual free legal clinic, with attorneys reporting recurring needs ranging from divorce and adoption matters to employment, landlord-tenant and business woes. Halsbury Law Chambers will host the event on Saturday, September 26, from 9am to 3pm at its Village Road offices, continuing an initiative it launched more than 20 years ago to provide Bahamians with access to legal advice at no cost. Shelly Nairn, one of its attorneys, said the need for the service has grown over the years as individuals facing significant

legal issues often cannot afford to retain an attorney or even pay for an initial consultation. “Over the years, we saw the need grow for that service; the need for free legal services,” she said. “There was a need in The Bahamas where we saw that people, they had major issues. They couldn’t afford the services of an attorney, so they took advantage of what we had to offer.” Ms Nairn said the clinic has remained consistently well attended, apart from a break during the COVID-19 pandemic. She added that the initiative is intended to help bridge the gap between individuals who can readily afford legal representation and those who may otherwise be unable to obtain legal advice. “We look at our judicial system, and our judicial

system basically operates in the interest of justice,” Ms Nairn said. “And so we have to ensure that justice is available to everyone, whether you can afford it or you can’t afford it.” She added that some individuals have legitimate legal matters but cannot afford even an initial consultation, making the clinic an opportunity to determine whether they have a viable case and what steps they can take. Bria Tai McCartney, another Halsbury Law Chambers attorney, said consultations will be conducted privately and will last around 15 to 20 minutes. “So you will meet with one of our attorneys, and we will sit down with you in a private room and just go through any issues you may be having,” she said. “You can ask us any questions.”

Does The Bahamas need its very own Mia Mottley? THERE are moments in a country’s history when maintaining the status quo becomes more dangerous than changing it. The Bahamas may very well be at that point. Across the Caribbean, small island nations face many of the same challenges: High costs of living, dependence on imports, vulnerability to climate change, limited fiscal space and economies that remain heavily dependent on a handful of industries. Yet, every so often, a leader emerges who is willing to challenge not only how government operates, but how a small country sees itself and its place in the world. For Barbados, Mia Mottley has become that kind of leader. It may seem a moot point, but it is one worth considering: How much of Barbados’ progress can be attributed to ms Mottley’s style of leadership? Her attention to detail, willingness to confront difficult issues and ability to balance economic reform with the social needs of her people have become defining features of her tenure. And while these qualities certainly do not belong exclusively to women, Ms Mottley’s leadership inevitably raises another question for us here at home: Could The Bahamas benefit from a woman at the helm?

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This segment explores what it could mean for The Bahamas to make history by electing its first woman Prime Minister not simply for the symbolism of breaking a political glass ceiling, but for the potential impact a different perspective and style of leadership could have on the country’s future. Women are no strangers to leadership The idea of a woman leading a nation may still generate debate, but women in positions of influence, authority and national consequence are hardly a modern phenomenon. History, including biblical history, is filled with women

who stepped forward at pivotal moments; often when their societies were facing uncertainty, conflict or the need for change. One of the earliest examples can be found in the story of Deborah in the Book of Judges. Deborah was not simply a woman whose advice was sought behind closed doors; she served as a judge over Israel, settling disputes and providing leadership at a critical time in the nation’s history. Beyond the Bible, history continued to produce women who challenged traditional ideas about who could lead. Queen Elizabeth I presided over a transformative period in England; Queen Nzinga resisted Portuguese expansion in Central Africa through both military and diplomatic strategy and, centuries later, women such as Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf would occupy the highest levels of political leadership in their respective countries. Perhaps, then, the question is not whether a woman can lead The Bahamas. History settled that broader question a long time ago. The more interesting question is what The Bahamas might gain from finally giving a woman the opportunity to do so. Accepting change is hard

Control Unit as a strategic partner and supports its efforts to identify non-compliant businesses. “We applaud the efforts of Price Control to ensure that the Bahamian consumer is able to receive the best quality goods at an affordable pricing,” he said. The Chamber is also involved in addressing complaints surrounding merchants charging additional fees to customers who use credit and debit cards, with Mr Williams saying it has worked with both Price Control and the Central Bank on the issue. Mr Williams also backed the Government’s Price Pal app, saying digital price monitoring can help consumers identify price differences while giving regulators another tool to detect potential violations. “The digital price monitoring is an effective tool,” he said, adding that its usefulness depends heavily on consumer participation. “The more consumers that are using the app, the more useful it becomes as a tool.” He added that the platform could also provide a clearer picture of competition in the grocery market by showing consumers that

many merchants are already offering competitive prices. “It gives a level of understanding from both sides,” Mr Williams said. However, the owner of Kenneth’s Food Store, Ivan Carey, said his business has not yet joined Price Pal because of limited manpower and the demands already being placed on his staff. “Our hands are so full right now that we just have not taken on anything else at this time because we are just kind of overwhelmed with work,” Mr Carey said. He added that participating would require employees to input pricing information, something the store currently lacks the resources to manage. “It’s just that you have to have your persons put those prices in,” he said. “We just kind of short on manpower to deal with it.” Mr Carey also said his store has not experienced significant problems with shelf prices differing from prices charged at the register, although he acknowledged that mistakes can occur. “There’s always some room for human error,” he said. “You can give them the right price,

and they still miss and put the wrong price on the items.” Instead, Mr Carey said Kenneth’s reduced its overall mark-up by an additional 10 percent after the Government removed VAT from certain grocery items and has not used the matter as an excuse to raise prices. “When the Government took the VAT off of some of the items, the grocery items, we actually reduced our entire mark-up by 10 percent throughout the whole store,” he said. “So our prices actually went down, and not up.” Mr Carey said the store has kept prices generally steady or reduced them, with increases largely limited to products affected by higher freight costs. He said the lower prices have produced a slight increase in customer traffic, although the reduction in margins has come at a cost. “It definitely cut into the profit margin for sure,” Mr Carey said. “But I guess it somewhat balanced out because we also see more traffic in the store.” For Mr Williams, the challenge is ensuring the price control system can account for those changing costs without weakening consumer protections. He said a framework that is regularly updated through consultation with businesses and other stakeholders would better reflect the realities merchants face.

The clinic will cover a broad range of civil and commercial legal matters, including family law, civil litigation, labour and employment, mortgages and conveyancing, landlord and tenant matters, wills, probate and estates. Ms McCartney said the firm will also address company law matters, including incorporation of limited companies, business name registration, company formation, trademarks and copyright. Criminal matters will not be addressed. Ms McCartney encouraged members of the public to register for appointments ahead of Saturday, although walk-ins will also be accepted. Among the issues Ms Nairn said attorneys have increasingly encountered are divorce and adoption matters. “I have seen an increase in my practice with regards to divorces,” she said, adding that more individuals are seeking legal assistance to leave marriages in which they experience physical or mental abuse.

She also pointed to an increase in adoption applications involving relatives or other caregivers who have raised children for extended periods without having formal legal rights over them. Ms Nairn added: “You would be surprised how many individuals don’t know their rights. They don’t understand the law, or sometimes they’re operating on antiquated law. And they don’t realise over the years that the laws have changed.” Ms McCartney said greater public education about the law should be part of the private sector’s contribution to improving access to legal guidance. “I would say try to spread legal information,” she said. “Try to take any avenue they can to inform the public of just general legal information, so they can know the options that are available to them generally.” Ms McCartney said greater access to information can help individuals understand the

options available to them before deciding how to proceed with a legal dispute. Ms Nairn said there is no specific demographic that dominates the clinic’s clientele, noting that its users range from individuals with limited financial means to people from different backgrounds and circumstances. “There is no demographic of persons,” she said. “It stems from the littlest person to the biggest person.” Halsbury Law Chambers does not generate income from the clinic, with Ms Nairn describing the benefit to the firm as the satisfaction of providing a community service. Ms McCartney similarly described the clinic as an opportunity for the firm to give back to the community. “With any form of community service, you do feel that internal gratification, and we just are happy to give back to the community in this way and help the Bahamian people in whichever way we can,” she said.

From Jamaica’s Portia Simpson-Miller and Dominica’s Dame Eugenia Charles to Barbados’ Mia Mottley, women have already demonstrated their ability to lead Caribbean nations through periods of economic, political and social change. Yet, more than five decades after independence, The Bahamas has never had a woman serve as Prime Minister. That history inevitably shapes our perception of political leadership, making the idea

of a woman occupying the Office of the Prime Minister feel like a significant departure from what we have always known. Beyond the Caribbean, we have seen similar examples of women leading through extraordinary circumstances. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gained international recognition for her government’s early handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. New Zealand moved quickly with border

restrictions, a national alert-level system and an elimination strategy aimed at stopping community transmission. New Zealand’s subsequent Royal Commission found that the elimination strategy during 2020 and into 2021 prevented thousands of premature deaths, and helped protect the health system from becoming overwhelmed. Her leadership was not without

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Bluff House chief not ‘jumping up and down’ over November PERFORM - from page B1 uncertainty caused by Middle East turbulence and conflict and its impact on global oil and fuel prices, which have filtered down supply chains to drive inflation and cost of living concerns among consumers. “It’s the state of oil, the state of diesel, the state of the world. There’s a lot of uncertainty out there,” he told Tribune Business. “Last year, we probably had one or two more weddings. A wedding can swing 10 percentage points for us in a given month because of the buy-out of the three properties. “Generally, there’s a sense of uneasiness in the world. So many things are moving and we just don’t know where things will be next year. Everyone is taking a moment to see where the dust settles. But we seem to be on par and

tracking right where we are for January.” Jeff Birch, owner of the Small Hope Bay Lodge in Andros, and a past president of the Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board, told Tribune Business that his property’s costs have increased by 25-30 percent over the past two years with business levels for November and early winter 2026-2027 relatively flat compared to 2025. Emphasising that he has focused on achieving greater efficiencies and improved guest services, rather than raising his own prices to compensate for higher expenses, Mr Birch said: “It’s looking about the same as last year. It means that it’s not full occupancy but it’s OK. We’ll have to wait until the US mid-term elections are over. It’s about the same as last year, but last year was down a little bit” compared to 2024. Mr Birch, echoing Mr Simmons, said the Family

Island travel market is being impacted by “uncertainty and rising prices”. He added: “I think that costs have probably gone up 25-30 percent over the last couple of years, which has kind of eroded everything, of course, and you cannot keep raising prices. “So it’s a little bit of an uncertain time right now… I’m just trying to be a bit more efficient and deliver good service. I don’t know about other people, but I think The Bahamas is 85 percent dependent on US tourism. Until that levels off it’s kind of uncertain.” Mr Birch also warned that it would be “a bit of a logistical nightmare” for himself and Small Hope Bay Lodge if no solution for the Fresh Creek bridge is in place for the start of the winter tourism season because guests will be unable to travel between the resort and airport by road. This, he added, would negatively impact the customer experience

and first and last impressions of both The Bahamas and Andros. The Government has now announced it will spend about $400,000 repairing the condemned Fresh Creek Bridge after abandoning plans for a temporary crossing that contractors estimated would cost more than $10m. Repairs are expected to begin on October 1 and take four to six weeks. Meanwhile, Molly McIntosh, the top management executive at Abaco’s Bluff House Beach Resort and Marina, said her property - in common with Mr Simmons’ group - is also eyeing a November that is slightly down on 2025 comparisons based on forward bookings. However, she added that reservations for Christmas and New Year are “rolling in” and January will “tell the tale” of how strong 2027 will be overall as this is typically the property’s busiest month for bookings.

“I’m a little bit down with forward bookings for November,” Ms McIntosh told Tribune Business. “Christmas and New Year are looking very good as they normally do for that time with the festive holiday. Thanksgiving is not a busy time for us, but November bookings are not looking as good as I’d like them to look. “The Christmas holiday and New Year looks good and, next year, they are rolling in, but we are not anywhere near the level for next year. They are rolling in for next year, so it is looking good.” Ms McIntosh said the Bluff House’s sale to new ownership last year, and its ongoing renovations and upgrades with the property having closed from September 1 until October 30, were attracting significant attention in the market. The kitchen has been redone and a new chef appointed.

“It’s not looking great. I’m not jumping up and down like ‘yes’,” she added of November. “Christmas is looking good, and forward bookings are rolling in, but I cannot give you a definitive answer [on 2027’s outlook] yet. We’re not full anywhere. We get a lot of bookings in January. January is a huge month, and that will tell the tale. If bookings start rolling in in January like they normally do, we will have a good year.” Ms McIntosh said the Bluff House will re-open on October 30 by accommodating a private pilot group followed by a Halloween party. “Thanksgiving is not a huge time for our bookings anyway. In the last five to six years we’ve not been anywhere near full for Thanksgiving. I’d like to do some promotions to get that business there,” she added.

difficult decision was information related to the urged “greater access” its expansion, and meet The Bahama Rock responding This to legitimate alternative Bahamas’ domestic aggrenot made lightly, and we company’s applications. “With respect to DEPP’s suppliers; more “efficient gate supply needs as well as continue to work with our to DEPP’s EIA requests employees to ensure they review, the company has and transparent” import export orders. are informed and supported. received requests for sup- arrangements; the planned Fred Mitchell, minister

DIVERSIFY - from page B1 development across several islands, and housing, tourism, infrastructure and private sector projects all depend on reliable access to construction materials. We should be planning now for the demand ahead.” She spoke out as Bahama Rock, in a statement responding to Tribune Business inquiries, confirmed that the September 18, 2026, production halt at its existing plant, followed by Monday’s temporary furlough of the company’s 69 hourly-paid staff for a period not to exceed 60 days, has been executed. It added that it has moved to respond to requests by Bahamian environmental regulators for more information and details to

support the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for its proposed aggregate mining of the 515-acre former Bahamas Cement Company property, with further “modelling” and other materials to be provided this week as the company waits for an answer on whether it will receive the go-ahead it says is vital to secure its future. “Bahama Rock can confirm that production operations were suspended on September 18, 2026, and that the temporary lay-off previously communicated to hourly employees became effective on September 21, 2026,” the aggregate miner said. “As communicated to employees, the temporary lay-off is expected to last no longer than 60 days.

“The temporary suspension of production results from the fact that Bahama Rock’s currently permitted aggregate reserves are substantially depleted, and the company has not yet received the approvals necessary to access additional reserves. While some reserves remain, available permitted material is no longer sufficient to support normal production levels on a sustained basis.” Asked how much progress has been made in obtaining the required certificate of environmental clearance (CEC) from the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP), Bahama Rock added: “We continue to engage with regulators and have responded, and will continue to respond, to requests for additional

plemental information and technical analyse, and has already submitted updates to its filings. We expect to provide additional modelling and supporting materials requested by DEPP this week. We appreciate the ongoing dialogue with regulators and remain committed to providing the information necessary to support a thorough and informed review. Voicing optimism that the “regulatory review process will continue progressing as this additional information is evaluated”, the company added: “Bahama Rock believes the proposed project represents an important opportunity to secure a reliable source of aggregate materials for The Bahamas while preserving local jobs and supporting future infrastructure, housing, tourism, port and commercial development projects, and disaster relief efforts throughout the country…. “We remain focused on securing the necessary approvals to resume normal operations so that our employees can return to work as quickly as possible. At this time, there have been no material changes in the status of the approval process beyond our ongoing engagement with regulators and government officials.” Ms Fowler and Heroic, meanwhile, reiterated that supply chain diversity and security is vital to the Bahamian construction industry’s competitiveness with aggregates among the sector’s most important materials. They added that the Bahama Rock situation creates an opportunity for the Government, private sector and regulators to review the construction supply chain’s strength and act now to ease any vulnerabilities. Besides calling for the “development of additional Bahamian aggregate sources where environmentally responsible and commercially viable”, Ms Fowler and Heroic

building of key construction material inventories and reserves; “competitive shipping and inter-island transportation”; and policies that encourage competition. “Our position is straightforward: Competition is healthy, supply diversity is necessary, responsible environmental stewardship is essential, and no market as important as construction should be unnecessarily vulnerable to the circumstances of any one participant,” Ms Fowler said. She and Heroic added: “The objective should not be to replace one dominant source with another. It should be to build a market in which multiple qualified suppliers can participate and contractors, developers, concrete producers and Bahamian consumers have meaningful choices. As part of its own procurement strategy, Heroic is evaluating alternative domestic and international sources of aggregate.” A rival, Freeport Aggregates, has already pledged to invest a further $9m to expand production and fill the void created by Bahama Rock’s temporary shutdown through servicing contractors and “all of the local needs in The Bahamas”. Gregory Moss, attorney for Freeport Aggregates, revealed in a September 16, 2026, letter to Jobeth Coleby-Davis, minister of energy, utilities and aviation, that it is targeting the 2027 third quarter for completion of its planned capacity expansion which will create 20 new jobs in positions such as dragline operations, quality control technicians, maintenance technicians and fixed equipment technicians. He added that the project, if it proceeds, will take Freeport Aggregates’ post-Hurricane Dorian investment to $19m - including $10m spent by the company on rebuilding its plant. However, Mr Moss’s letter signalled that the company needs to acquire additional land to facilitate

of foreign affairs, in a statement issued in early August said the Government was opposed to Bahama Rock mining the 515-acre former Bahamas Cement Company site. But Bahama Rock has asserted that approving its project will facilitate the near-270 acre expansion of Freeport Harbour - an outcome that will likely take years, if not decades, to achieve. However, Dillon Knowles, an ex-Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce president, says debate on Bahama Rock’s future is pushing “a false narrative” that is causing all residents and parties involved to “lose sight” of the “location” issues at the controversy’s core. He previously told Tribune Business that the needs of all sides could be met if the aggregate miner simply opted for an alternative site for a new materials source rather than focus on its chosen 515-acre Bahamas Cement Company property. Asserting that Grand Bahama has “oodles of land” on its northern shore where limestone/aggregate is plentiful, he added that Bahama Rock had likely selected the former Bahamas Cement Company location because of “convenience” - being next to the current site it has nearly exhausted from mining and so it can minimise costs by avoiding having to truck product from an alternative site to its processing plant. However, Mr Knowles told this newspaper that Bahama Rock’s preferred location - if approved would move the company and its activities even close to Eight Mile Rock and Hepburn Town. And he acknowledged that residents and businesses in these communities have legitimate concerns over this given past mining impacts - especially the use of blasting to dislodge rock, flooding and other environmental impacts.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 23, 2026, PAGE 5

URCA: Study shows renewables save around one-third on light bill RENEWABLE - from page B1

accordance with the framework, which is designed for self-use, [and] to avoid excessive units sent back to the grid. “Over half of the systems studied are projected to be a good investment for the individuals. These systems are likely to beat inflation. Eight out of 11 systems also had a positive net present value over their expected useful life of 20 years, applying a discount factor of 5 percent,” the Bahamian energy regulator added. “This compares favourably with the available return on a Bahamas Government bond over a similar period. Hence, if a government bond is the next best alternative, installing a PV system can be an attractive option. On average, people can expect to make their money back within ten years after installation.” Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) average fuel

charge worked out to 17 cents per KWh (kilowatt hour), URCA said, which is the rate at which solar PV system owners are compensated for selling the excess energy they generate back to the grid. “On average, the units billed after the PV system was installed were 34 percent lower than before. Hence, survey respondents were saving about a third on their electricity bill compared with before,” URCA said. However, the amount of energy sent back to the grid by the solar PV systems studied was 40 percent lower than anticipated. “This result is not necessarily surprising because most systems are not installed under ideal conditions, [such as] south facing at the right angle with no shading. It does show that persons should pay attention to how the system is installed to maximise its

output and their financial return,” URCA said. “Electricity generated by a PV system and consumed directly by the customer provides a higher economic benefit to the customer, as it offsets electricity that would otherwise have been purchased at the applicable retail tariff [of] approximately 31 cents per kWh. “Conversely, electricity exported to the grid is compensated based on the applicable avoided cost value [of] approximately 17 cents per kWh), which reflects the value of the avoided fuel-related costs,” URCA added. “Therefore, from the individual customer’s perspective, maximising self-consumption generally results in a higher direct financial return. However, exporting excess generation remains economically beneficial as it contributes to reducing the need for

conventional generation and provides value to the electricity system. “Customers can improve the economic return on their PV investment by ensuring their system is appropriately designed and installed to maximise energy production. Key considerations include optimal panel orientation south-facing where feasible - an appropriate tilt angle approximately 15 degrees to the horizontal based on the conditions in The Bahamas, and minimising shading from trees, buildings or other structures,” the regulator continued. “Proper system design and installation practices help maximise electricity generation, increase self-consumption and improve the overall financial performance of the PV investment.”

Merchants squeezed by cost rises and need to keep price competitive

goods at an affordable pricing,” he said. The Chamber is also involved in addressing complaints surrounding merchants charging additional fees to customers who use credit and debit cards, with Mr Williams saying it has worked with both Price Control and the Central Bank on the issue. Mr Williams also backed the Government’s Price Pal app, saying digital price monitoring can help consumers identify price differences while giving regulators another tool to detect potential violations. “The digital price monitoring is an effective tool,” he said, adding that its usefulness depends heavily on consumer participation. “The more consumers that are using the app, the more useful it becomes as a tool.” He added that the platform could also provide a clearer picture of competition in the grocery market by showing consumers

that many merchants are already offering competitive prices. “It gives a level of understanding from both sides,” Mr Williams said. However, the owner of Kenneth’s Food Store, Ivan Carey, said his business has not yet joined Price Pal because of limited manpower and the demands already being placed on his staff. “Our hands are so full right now that we just have not taken on anything else at this time because we are just kind of overwhelmed with work,” Mr Carey said. He added that participating would require employees to input pricing information, something the store currently lacks the resources to manage. “It’s just that you have to have your persons put those prices in,” he said. “We just kind of short on manpower to deal with it.” Mr Carey also said his store has not experienced significant problems with shelf prices differing from prices charged at the register, although he acknowledged that mistakes can occur. “There’s always some room for human error,” he said. “You can give them the right price, and they still miss and put the wrong price on the items.” Instead, Mr Carey said Kenneth’s reduced its

overall mark-up by an additional 10 percent after the Government removed VAT from certain grocery items and has not used the matter as an excuse to raise prices. “When the Government took the VAT off of some of the items, the grocery items, we actually reduced our entire mark-up by 10 percent throughout the whole store,” he said. “So our prices actually went down, and not up.” Mr Carey said the store has kept prices generally steady or reduced them, with increases largely limited to products affected by higher freight costs. He said the lower prices have produced a slight increase in customer traffic, although the reduction in margins has come at a cost. “It definitely cut into the profit margin for sure,” Mr Carey said. “But I guess it somewhat balanced out because we also see more traffic in the store.” For Mr Williams, the challenge is ensuring the price control system can account for those changing costs without weakening consumer protections. He said a framework that is regularly updated through consultation with businesses and other stakeholders would better reflect the realities merchants face.

comparable to or exceeding other investment options, such as bonds or equities… There was significant variation in how much people reported paying for their systems. It ranged from $1 per watt to $10 per watt and was the deciding factor on a system’s return.” Yet URCA acknowledged: “It should be noted that customers do not necessarily have full control over the installed cost per watt of a PV system, as pricing is influenced by several factors, including equipment costs, installer pricing, system size, import costs, market competition and financing arrangements. “However, customers may be able to improve the economic attractiveness of their investment by comparing multiple supplier quotations, selecting

BUSINESS - from page B1 they are competitive and they keep that customer base,” Mr Williams said. However, he acknowledged that some companies have already had to increase prices to remain sustainable. Mr Williams also argued that the existing price control framework needs to be more responsive to rapidly changing business conditions, calling for greater dialogue between Government, merchants and other stakeholders. “Currently the price framework, it needs to be whereby there’s a lot more dialogue between all of the key stakeholders in that regard,” he said. “While the framework is in place, it does not account for the

appropriately-sized systems, and considering the total lifecycle cost and performance of the system rather than focusing solely on upfront cost.” URCA conceded that its study only assessed 11 solar PV systems, which imposed limitations on the findings. However, of the 11, seven were shown as generating positive internal rates of return (IRR) of between 2 percent to as high as 38 percent, with net present value pegged at between $16,724 and $857,803. “Residential system sizes ranged from 5 to 15 kW (kilowatts) with the average size being 7.8kW, which was consistent with the BPL’s [residential renewable] framework,” URCA added. “Applying the framework to the annual use before the PV system was installed yields an expected system size of 8 kW. This means systems are being sized in

rapidly-changing global environment. And, as such, there are so many fluctuations on a day-to-day basis in the marketplace.” His comments come as the Department of Consumer Affairs intensifies enforcement of price control regulations, with 15 of 17 merchants prosecuted over the past year pleading guilty to violations. Rex Adderley, the Department’s director, previously said the agency has also received complaints about retailers displaying one price on shelves but charging customers more at the cash register, with some businesses allegedly refusing to honour the lower advertised price. Mr Williams said the Chamber supports

enforcement and efforts to protect consumers, while noting that the vast majority of businesses comply with government regulations. “I can’t speak to the mindset of the merchants that decided to obviously violate the laws in respect to price control,” he said. “But you would note that there is a considerable amount of merchants in our country, business owners, that abide by all of the rules and regulations of the overnment.” Mr Williams said the Chamber views the Price Control Unit as a strategic partner and supports its efforts to identify non-compliant businesses. “We applaud the efforts of Price Control to ensure that the Bahamian consumer is able to receive the best quality

NOTICE OF APPLICATION (pursuant to section 23 of the Natural Gas Act, 10 of 2024, Statute Laws of The Bahamas) NOTICE is hereby given that RenugenPro Ltd. has made applications to the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (“URCA”) for licenses to: import liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) (commercial) and operate LNG terminals. The applications are made with the object of licensing and regulation of the Applicant’s activities for the import of LNG and the operation of LNG Regasification Terminals at (1) Cat Island (2) San Salvador and (3) Long Island. The applications can be inspected by appointment at the Applicant’s office at No. 138 Robinson Road, New Providence, The Bahamas. Any objections to the applications must be made on or before the 16th October, 2026 and shall be made by Affidavit and solemn declaration to be submitted exclusively to URCA’s office located at Frederick Street, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas. Dated the 14th day of September, 2026 Italia C. Chambers Attorney for the Applicant No. 36 Nassau Street New Providence, The Bahamas

PAGE 6, Wednesday, September 23, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

Fidelity head: ‘Look at the log in own eye before pointing to speck in others’ PURCHASE - from page B1 review and investigate the transaction before they will release the purchase funds, thus automatically pushing the transaction beyond the 21-day deadline. “I think this is one where the saying: ‘Less haste, more speed’ applies,” Mr Bowe told Tribune Business. “I think there’s a great appreciation for the viewpoint at the Department of Inland Revenue as it relates to the timeliness of settlement of taxes because it has a knock-on impact on their cash flow and the central government’s in terms of the Public Treasury. “But, at the same point in time, this is one of looking at your own inefficiencies. It’s easy to cast blame and point the finger at the private sector - the legal fraternity, the real estate community and financial institutions - for late payments to be penalised instead of looking internally at some of the bureaucracy and systems in place. You have to first look at the log in your own eye before pointing at the speck in others. “They are seeking to impose punitive charges for recalcitrance. Their viewpoint is that every practitioner is responsible and I don’t think that’s the case. We have some actors that are spoiling the bunch but, by and large, persons are frustrated with the ease of transactions.”

David Morley, the Bahamas Real Estate Association’s (BREA) president, told Tribune Business yesterday he believes it will be “a real challenge if not impossible” to pay VAT on real estate sales within the 21-day deadline where the buyer requires mortgage financing. As a result, he argued it would be “unfair” to impose the 5.25 percent interest charge on the purchaser because, in effect, they are being penalised for how the system works. The BREA chief said that while cash purchases may be able to close within 21 days, mortgage deals likely will not because of the time banks require to review and make sure everything is in order so that their loan security is perfected. He added that the feasibility of meeting this has to be “determined by the Bar Council working with the Clearing Banks Association”. “If the buyer is getting financing, the bank still has to have reasonable time to review the documents,” Mr Morley said, “process it, and release the funds to the buyer’s attorney to complete the sale. That timeframe, whether it’s 30 days, 45 days or 60 days, is really a discussion the Department of Inland Revenue needs to have with the lawyers and banks combined. “I don’t think it’s fair to fine a buyer that penalty if they have not paid in 21 days because the 21 days is an impractical or

unreasonable time to get it done… If there’s financing involved, it may be a real challenge if not impossible to get the VAT paid. The conveyance has to be signed and sent to the bank for them to start processing money. They won’t release the money on an unsigned conveyance. “There are obviously some issues that need to be resolved.” Mr Morley, noting that the Department of Inland Revenue has held-off enforcing this interest charge for almost 16 months, given that it was introduced into the VAT Act in July 2025, called for implementation to be delayed by at least another 30 days to allow for greater consultation with the private sector and make it “a win-win situation” for all parties. “The buyer should not be penalised because of an unrealistic timeframe for completing that was established by statute without conversation with people who can legally do the conveyance in the first place,” the BREA president said, referring to attorneys. He added that the latter will also have to confirm whether is is possible to close and pay VAT on cash deals within 31 days. Acknowledging that the Government wants to receive all due taxes as swiftly as possible, Mr Morley said buyers will have no objection to this as “99.9 percent” want to “complete the transaction

Is Bahamas prepared for a different kind of leadership? ELECT - from page B3 criticism, but that is the point. Women, like men, do not have to lead perfectly to demonstrate that they can lead effectively. And perhaps that is exactly why this conversation is necessary. Bahamian women are already leaders. They lead households, businesses, classrooms, courtrooms, government agencies and some of the country’s most important institutions. The hesitation, therefore, cannot simply be about whether women possess the capacity to lead. Instead, we must be willing to examine whether our traditional expectations of what leadership looks like have kept pace with the society we have become. There will inevitably be resistance. Some of it may be political, some generational, some cultural and some rooted in religious interpretations of the roles men and women should occupy. Those perspectives should not simply be dismissed; they form part of

the society in which any woman seeking the country’s highest office would have to lead. But they should also be challenged. If competence, vision, integrity and the ability to deliver results are the qualities we demand from a Prime Minister, then gender should neither qualify nor disqualify someone from the job. Women are already leading Perhaps one of the strongest arguments for accepting a woman as Prime Minister is that Bahamian women are already helping to run many of the institutions on which the country depends. Women are deeply embedded in the public service, education, the judiciary, financial services, healthcare and, increasingly, national security and corporate leadership. Historically, women have already held a significant share of senior positions within the public service and judiciary. In 2018, women accounted for 78 percent of directors

NOTICE NOTICE is hereby given that I, JAHEIM DARRYON DECIUS of Hope Town, Abaco, Bahamas is applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for registration/naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 23rd day of September, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, Bahamas.

within the public service and 65 percent of permanent secretaries. Women also held 68 percent of justice positions, 83 percent of registrar positions and 57 percent of magistrate positions. The Bahamas has also recently appointed its first woman Commissioner of Police, its first woman chief executive of Bahamas Power and Light and its first woman deputy commander of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. In 2026, Glenys Hanna-Martin also became the first woman appointed to lead the country’s tourism portfolio, an especially significant milestone when tourism remains the cornerstone of the Bahamian economy. This raises an obvious question. If we trust women to educate our children, administer our courts, manage government

right away and get into the property”. Department of Inland Revenue officials, on a conference call with attorneys last week to warn of the 5.25 percent interest charge’s impending implementation, said the tax authority would deduct the time a transaction spends with it for review or challenge from the 21-day period’s calculation. Mr Bowe, conceding that this provides “some comfort”, nevertheless warned there could also be disputes over which party is responsible for any delay. While agreeing that those who willing break laws and regulations should be punished, the Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) chief voiced concern over the Government’s “broad brush” approach to this and asserted: “You get more with honey than vinegar”. Mr Bowe said one of his bank’s “prospective customers” had recently completed a real estate purchase in the US in 15 days “because there was a land registry, they were able to file paperwork in terms of the conveyance. It was able to be registered, probably through an automatic process that gave a land registration number”. Contrasting this with the system in this nation, he added: “Then you come to The Bahamas where they are trying to impose penalties.” Mr Bowe said the banking industry had managed to slash the time for processing and completing departments, oversee major institutions, help safeguard our communities and make decisions that affect the economic and social welfare of the country, why does the idea of a woman sitting in the Prime Minister’s chair still feel revolutionary? The National Development Plan Leadership can set the vision, but a vision without a plan remains simply an idea. This is where The Bahamas’ National Development Plan (NDP), Vision 2040, becomes particularly important to the conversation. The NDP was designed to establish a long-term road map for the country, built around four interconnected pillars: The economy, governance, social policy and the environment. More importantly, it was intended to establish goals, targets and timeframes that extend beyond the life of any single administration. For a woman assuming the Office of the Prime Minister for the first time, the NDP could be

Wall Street holds near its record after Brent oil falls below $100 per barrel By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer THE U.S. stock market held near its record high on Tuesday after oil prices eased again. The S&P 500 was virtually unchanged, edging down by less than 0.1%, and is sitting 0.4% below its all-time high set last month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 185 points, or 0.4%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.5% to its own record. Stocks had been higher in the morning, when the

price for a barrel of Brent crude briefly fell below $98. But oil prices later trimmed their losses, and Brent settled at $99.25 per barrel, down 1.1%. That’s down from the nearly $110 that it touched last week, but it’s still much more expensive than the $72 it was fetching before the war with Iran began. It’s been swinging with uncertainty about when the war will allow crude to freely flow again from the Middle East to customers worldwide.

real estate transactions to six months, which he acknowledged was “not the best”, but represented a marked improvement from 12-15 months. Now, he added, the timeline is moving back towards that period. As for the 21-day interest charge, Mr Bowe told this newspaper: “If we want to have more land transactions and building activity, do we want to increase the cost of doing it or decrease the cost of doing it… “It has the consequence of derailing future transactions and, more particularly, the speed of transactions. Persons will not initiate transactions unless they know they will get through in the 21-day process. I don’t know your expectations, but getting anything from the tax authorities and central government in 21 days is like an Easter Bunny situation. It’s like a mythical experience. It doesn’t happen. “You are going to discourage the speed of transactions and initiation of transactions. I go back to saying less haste, more speed, and clean up your own house before you highlight the dirty laundry of others. There’s a lot the Government and tax authorities can do to improve efficiency, particularly in land matters, before they start imposing penalties.” Department of Inland Revenue officials, in response to concerns raised during Thursday’s briefing, suggested that The Bahamas’ long-standing real estate conveyancing practices and system be changed to address the 5.25 percent interest charge worries.

Renee Charles, one of the officials, referring to how the process works in other jurisdictions, suggested that The Bahamas adopt a system where conveyancing documents were executed and mortgage lenders released funds at the same time. She queried if financing approvals “would not have been in existence prior to execution of the document”. “I can explain the position in other jurisdictions,” she said. “There’s a reason for that, right? It is that you would execute the documents at the same time, simultaneously, with the release of the funds from the bank.” This prompted immediate push back from multiple Bahamian attorneys on the call, who argued: “That’s not how it works in The Bahamas.” Noting that there is nothing in Bahamian law that mandates the process Ms Charles spoke of, they countered that banks and other mortgage lenders require the executed conveyance to be submitted as part of the package for their review to ensure the loan security is perfected before they will release the funds. Mr Bowe, when asked about Ms Charles’ suggestion, said: “I would smile and just ask the question: Why can’t the Government get a land registry that will allow it to happen in 24 hours?” Laws to move The Bahamas to a system of registered land, which involve creating a land registry, were passed by Parliament under the first Davis administration to replace the existing manual, paper based title search, but this will take years to fully implement.

particularly powerful. She would not need to reinvent the wheel; much of the groundwork has already been laid. The opportunity would be in execution, taking national priorities and translating them into measurable outcomes. The existing Vision 2040 framework already calls for a results-based approach to governance, strategic planning, programme-based budgeting and monitoring and evaluation. It even identifies strengthening the effectiveness of local government as a development strategy. These are precisely the tools required if we are serious about moving from political promises to national progress. And perhaps this brings us back to the question of a woman’s touch. Not because a woman is inherently better equipped to govern, but because different leadership perspectives can influence how priorities are identified, communicated and ultimately executed. Conclusion

The argument for a woman Prime Minister should never be that The Bahamas needs a woman simply for the sake of making history. But symbolism alone does not reform a country. The real question is whether The Bahamas is prepared for a different kind of leadership. The Bahamas’ first woman Prime Minister will not inherit an easy job. She would inherit many of the same problems that have challenged administrations for decades: The cost of living, energy, education, healthcare, public sector efficiency, economic diversification, Family Island development and the constant vulnerability of an economy heavily dependent on tourism. Her gender will not solve those problems. After more than 50 years of Independence, and 50 years of male Prime Ministers, perhaps making history should no longer seem so radical. So, may The Bahamas’ Mia Mottley please stand up?

On Wall Street, AutoZone rose 3.3% after the retailer reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its revenue fell short. CEO Phil Daniele said the auto parts seller faced “a difficult selling environment” in the first two months of the quarter, but it improved afterward and “we feel we are well positioned for sales growth” in its upcoming fiscal year. At Thor Industries, which sells recreational vehicles, the mood was more muted. CEO Bob Martin said expensive fuel, high interest rates and still-high inflation are stretching its customers’ budgets, and business “never reached the inflection point many in

the industry expected” in its latest fiscal year. Its stock rose 5.5%, though, after it delivered a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Such strong profit reports are one of the main reasons the U.S. stock market has reached the brink of its alltime high despite expensive oil and jitters about whether stocks in the artificial-intelligence industry shot too high. Many companies are close to closing the books on their third quarter of the year, which ends with September. And analysts are forecasting companies in the S&P 500 will report overall growth of nearly 29% for the quarter from a year earlier, according to FactSet.

NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that I MICHAEL DORELUS of Plantol Street, New Providence, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 23rd day of September, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that I NORMA ROSE FORSYTHE-NEWBOLD of #6 Dignity Gardens,New Providence Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 16th day of September, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE is hereby given that I BRIAN JUNIOR HERMAN ROBERTS of Alligator Bay, Long Island, Bahamas, applying to the Minister responsible for Nationality and Citizenship, for Registration Naturalization as a citizen of The Bahamas, and that any person who knows any reason why registration/ naturalization should not be granted, should send a written and signed statement of the facts within twenty-eight days from the 23rd day of September, 2026 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

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Wednesday, September 23, 2026, PAGE 7

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TARGET

THE ALPHAPU

GENERATOR agent agree anger argon argot eager eagre egret enrage ergo ergot garner garnet garret garron garter gate gean gear gene GENERATOR genet genoa genre gent geta gnat goat goatee goer gone goner gore gran grant grantee grantor grat grate grater great greater green greet groan groaner groat grot negate negator ogee ogre onager orange organ rage rager rang range ranger reagent regent regret roger tang tango toerag toga tong

Across: Resolve (clue Jive, Pendulum, Sasha Starch, Casket, Pizzer Coin, Operate. Down: Arnica, Tripod, Horizon, Floppy, Harro Coaxed, Aqueous, Hea Either.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 23, 2026, PAGE 9

A Weekend of Sports and Community Spirit: 5K Run, Volleyball Action, and Celebrating a Local Legend!

CHAMPIONS Jordan Prince Williams receive their awards from Kendal Rolle of the BBSF

Jordan Prince William Falcons victorious at AID High School Basketball Tournament THE Jordan Prince Williams Falcons emerged as the champions of the Bahamas Baptist Sports Federation's 2026 AID High School Basketball Tournament. The one-day event was held on Saturday at the CI Gibson Gymnasium as the Falcons flew past the RM Bailey Pacers in a nail-biting 42-40 victory. Cleshawn Newton, named the most valuable player, led Jordan Prince Williams, coached by Ernest Sanders, with a game high 21 points. Clay Azor led RM Bailey, coached by Lamont 'Redhead' Armly, with 10 points. In the consolation third place game, the CI Gibson Rattlers/Providence Storm knocked off the Charles W Saunders Cougars in a 43-28 decision. Khamani Davis led CI Gibson, coached by Kevin 'KJ' Johnon, with 15 points. The round robin tournament came down to. three-way tie for first place between Jordan Prince

Williams, RM Bailey and Charles W Saunders, all with a 2-1 win-loss record. In the tie-breaker, Jordan Prince Williams secured the top spot with the most points in their games to secure their berth into the championship game. The Pacers and the Cougars were tied on points, but in the headto-head match-up, RM Bailey got the edge and clinched the other championship spot. Charles W Saunders, coached by Dario Saunders, and CI Gibson, who didn't win a game in the round robin, played for third. The Rattlers put together their best game to get their share of the hardware. Here's a look at the results from the round robin: Pacers 40, Rattlers 37: In the opening match that showcased the two government school teams, RM Bailey came out clicking as Windskey Paul and Clay Azor both scored 10 points. Ednel Pierre and Justin Lafleur matched

Yankees activate 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr. following short IL stint with sprained right thumb

the effort for CI Gibon in the loss. Cougars 59, Falcons 48: The battle of the two private schools went to Charles W Saunders, thanks to the 1=8 points from Dario Musgrove. Ephraim Hepburn had a game high 20 and Elijah Pierre added 18 for Jordan Prince Williams. Falcons 58, Pacers 48: Cleshawn Newton poured in a game high 19 points and was followed by Ephraim Hepburn PWH and Kristian Wilson PWH with 14 each. Clay Azor scored 17 for RM Bailey. Cougars 43, Rattlers 42: In a game that could have gone into overtime, Charles W Saunders held on for the win behind the 10 points a piece from Breon Poitier and Daniel Munroe. Justin Joseph had a game high 23 in a losing effort for CI Gibson. Falcons 50, Rattlers 37: As they made sure they got into the championship, Jordan Prince Williams produced the

MVP winner Cleshawn Newton get his award from Kendal Rolle of the BBSF (left) with his coach Ernest Saunders (right)

TRACK

ROAD RACE

RUNNERS up RM Bailey Pacers gets their award from Kendal Rolle of the BBSF

THE Providence Advisors, celebrating 20 years from 2006-2026, will host a 5K and 10K fun run walk on Saturday starting and finishing at 6 am from Goodman's Bay Corporate Centre. All paces and all ages are welcomed with registration fees of $35 for adults and $25 for children 17 and under. All proceeds will go to the Bahamas Kidney Association. To register, persons can write to www.providecedvisors.net/fun-run.

VOLLEYBALL NPVA ACTION

THIRD place finishers CI Gibson Rattlers highest scoring output with Elijah Pierre and Kristian Wilson providing a 1-2 punch with 15 and 13 points respectively. Kaleb Chandler led CI Gibson with nine points.

Pacers 47, Cougars 38: As they assured their place in the championship RM Bailey saved their best game for the last with Kemaj Dean scoring 15 points. Laquane Collins had 13 for Charles W Saunders.

The BBSF will now close out its 2026 campaign and will now prepare for 2027 with their annual Family Fun Run/Walk race that will be held in between January and February. The date has not yet been confirmed.

New York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. reacts in the dugout during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in New York. Photo: Noah K. Murray/AP

THE New Providence Volleyball Association, having kicked off its regular season on Sunday will resume competition tonight at the DW Davis Gymnasium. In the ladies' opener t 7:30 pm, the Lady Warhawks will take on the ces and in the men's feature game at 9 pm, the Warhawks will face the Baller Boys. The scheduled for the rest of the week are as follows: Friday's schedule 7:30 pm Aces vs Valkyrie (L). 9 pm Intruders vs Titans (M). Sunday's schedule 3:30 pm Panthers vs Lady Warhawks (L). 5 pm Warhawks vs Avengers (M).

TRACK

FUNERAL SERVICE

By LARRY FLEISHER ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees activated Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the 10-day injured list Tuesday following a short absence with a sprained right thumb. Chisholm returned after missing 12 games and was batting sixth and playing second base for the nightcap of a doubleheader against the Rays, who need a win to clinch the AL East. Chisholm was placed on the IL Sept. 10, two days after getting injured on a slide at second base attempting to stretch a single in the eighth inning of New York’s 5-3 win over Colorado. He was tagged out by Ezequiel Tovar and his thumb appeared to hit the Colorado shortstop’s cleat. Eligible for free agency after this season, Chisholm is hitting .232 with 19 homers and 55 RBIs in 134 games. He also has 40 stolen bases in 49 attempts, becoming the first Yankee with 40 steals since Brett Gardner had 49 in 2011. Before getting hurt, Chisholm was batting .391 (18 for 46) with two homers and six RBIs in his past 15 games. Anthony Volpe started 10 times at second base during Chisholm’s absence and made a rousing return to the majors with a grand slam and five RBIs Sept. 10. Volpe is hitting .263 (10 for 38) in 11 games since being called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, and .244 with two homers and 26 RBIs in 67 games this year. “We’ll see,” manager Aaron Boone said about Volpe’s playing time. “Obviously, Anthony’s done a good job, but looking forward to getting Jazz back as well.” To clear a spot for Chisholm, Max Schuemann was optioned to the FCL Yankees. In three stints with the Yankees, Schuemann is hitting .194 with two homers and eight RBIs in 43 games.

A celebration of legacy and life for the late former thrower and track and field coach Khyle Anfernee Sharife Higgs, will be held on Friday, October 2 at 10 am at Evangelistic Temple on Collins Avenue. He will then be interred in Lakeview Memorial Gardens. Higgs, 31, passed away on Wednesday, September 16th at his home in Golden Gates. He was the head coach of the Triple Threat Throwers Club and was a member of the Bahamas national track and field teams as both an athlete and a coach.

SWIMMING

SEASON OPENING THE Bahamas Aquatics Federation has released its schedule for the new season, starting with the federation's first event over the weekend of October 2-3 at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex. The meet will begin at 5 pm on the day online and 9 am the next morning. That will be followed by the Alpha Aquatics Invitational on Saturday, October 7at the same venue, starting at 9 am. Three more meets will be staged in November and another in December before breaking for Christmas. The action will pick back up in January, 2027.

PAGE 10, Wednesday, September 23, 2026

THE TRIBUNE

Buddy Hield traded to Charlotte Hornets Trade- From Page B12

That reporting came as Atlanta dealt with a crowded roster. ESPN reported that the Hawks began Tuesday with 16 players on standard contracts, one above the regular season limit, making a move necessary as the team worked toward roster compliance.

Hield’s shooting remains his defining NBA skill. He won the 2020 NBA Three Point Contest and has been one of the league’s more prolific perimeter shooters throughout his career. His 39.5 percent career mark from threepoint range has remained a major part of his value even as his role and minutes have declined in recent seasons. His most recent FIBA performances with The Bahamas also showed

that he remains capable of taking on a larger offensive role when given the opportunity. During the Bahamas’ current FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifying campaign, Hield is averaging 16 points, 5.5 rebounds and three assists through four games, according to FIBA. He opened the second round with 28 points, seven rebounds and four assists against Uruguay on

August 27, knocking down six three-pointers. He followed that with 19 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 100 82 victory over Panama on September 1. Hield shot 5 of 13 from three-point range against Panama. The performances came during a busy offseason for the veteran Bahamian, who has continued to represent the country alongside NBA teammates and young

national team players including VJ Edgecombe. Hield’s national team career has also produced strong numbers over the years. FIBA lists him at a career international average of 19.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game in senior competitions. Now, his attention turns back to the NBA and another new uniform. Charlotte’s decision to acquire Hield gives the veteran shooter another

chance to establish himself in a rotation after seeing his minutes fall sharply with Golden State and Atlanta last season. The Hornets will now have to determine how Hield fits alongside their existing perimeter options, but his career production and shooting provide a clear offensive skill that can be incorporated without requiring him to dominate the ball.

have that honor at this historic moment, both from a personal and national perspective. "It means a tremendous amount to me. I want to be clear that I’m not competing as an official representative of any Bahamian federation or organization. I earned my qualification for the Olympia through my individual journey as a professional athlete," she pointed out. "But I am Bahamian, and I am incredibly proud of that. The Bahamas is and will always be home. It's where my roots in fitness were planted and where most of my preparation for this journey took place. So, when I step onto the biggest stage in bodybuilding, I proudly carry my country’s flag with me because it is part

of who I am and part of my story." With a lot of Bahamians at home and abroad following her journey, supporting her and seeing someone from our small country reach this level makes the moment even more meaningful, according to Quant. "I hope it reminds another Bahamian athlete that where you come from doesn’t have to limit how far you can go," Quant said. And as an athlete would expect, Quant said she's looking forward to soaking up the entire experience. "Walking backstage, seeing the Olympia stage for the first time, standing beside athletes I’ve watched and respected for years, and finally having that moment under the lights," she noted. "I’ve worked so hard to get here, so I really want to be present enough to take

it all in. I’m also excited to have a lot of my family, friends and supporters there who have been following this journey and get to experience this milestone with me." For those who won't be there in person, Quant is calling on their support when she competes in the Figure competition on Friday. The prejudging begins at 9:30 am and finals are scheduled for 6 pm. "I’m especially excited that people back home who can’t make it to Las Vegas will still have an opportunity to follow along through the free Olympia livestream," she pointed out. And just how much attention do she expect to pay to the other athletes in the figure lineup, is she studying any of them, or is she just focusing primarily on bringing the best

version of herself to the stage, Quant assured the public that time will tell. "I respect every woman who has earned her place on that stage because qualifying for the Olympia is an accomplishment in itself. But I’ve been very intentional about not building my preparation around who might be standing next to me," she quipped. "I can’t control another athlete’s physique, preparation or performance. I can control mine. My job is to bring the best version of Dekel that I possibly can, present it confidently and execute when it matters. That mindset has helped me tremendously throughout this prep. I’m aware of the field, but my focus is on what I’m bringing to the stage."

Dekel ‘Bowflex Barbie’ Quant makes history as first Bahamian woman to compete at Joe Weider’s Olympia FitnessFrom Page B12

As she gets set to compete, Quant was asked if it has sunk in yet that you’re about to step onto the Olympia stage, especially knowing what this moment represents in her career? "I don’t think it completely has but being here in Vegas now definitely makes it feel more real. There are still moments where I stop and think, "But wow, I’m really about to compete at the Olympia," she proclaimed. “This is the stage that you watch and dream about as a bodybuilder. To know that I earned my place there and that I’ll actually be standing among some of the best Figure athletes in the world is incredibly special. I think the magnitude of it may really hit me once I’m backstage and about to walk out."

Quant was eager to finish the questions on what's her expectations for her Olympia debut, and what would make this experience a successful one for her? "My biggest expectation is of myself. I want to walk onto that stage knowing I did everything within my control to bring my absolute best. Of course, I’m a competitor and I want to be competitive, but I also understand the caliber of athletes who earn the right to stand on the Olympia stage," she stated. "For my first Olympia, I want to be present, execute what I’ve practiced, showcase the physique I worked so hard to build and genuinely enjoy the experience." Like so many who have carried the flag for The Bahamas in other sports, Quant said she's proud to

Bahamas Youth Flag Football League kicks off 11th season with record participation and growing female involvement By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net The Bahamas Youth Flag Football League is building toward another strong season, with its 11th campaign already underway and participation numbers continuing to grow. The league is currently in Week Four of the regular season, with approximately 200 young players taking part across about 15 teams. This season is expected to be particularly significant for the league as it has recorded its highest number of female participants since its inception. The regular season is scheduled to continue through December 5, giving the young players several more weeks of competition and development. Registration remains open until October 3, allowing additional youngsters to join the league during the current season. The league continues to provide an opportunity for young athletes to learn the fundamentals of flag football while competing in an organized environment. Games and league activities are held at the Flag Football field behind the Old Thomas Robinson Stadium on Saturdays beginning at noon.

The administration team is also available at the field to assist parents and players with registration and other league information. Those interested in joining can find the Bahamas Youth Flag Football League on Facebook and Instagram at @Bahamas Youth Flag Football League.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, September 23, 2026, PAGE 11

Noble Preparatory Academy Spartans shine at 2026 Fall Track and Field Finale in Canada By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net NOBLE Preparatory Academy's founder and president Geno Bullard said he was extremely proud of the way his Spartans athletes performed at the 2026 Fall Track and Field Finale over the weekend. The one-day meet on Saturday was held at the Canadian Games Park in Thorold, Canada. While there, the Spartans teammates interacted with some of their former team-mate from Noble Preparatory Academy, who are now attending

colleges and universities in Canada. This was the third consecutive year that Noble Preparatory Academy got the invitation from coach Fife in Canada and they have enjoyed their experience once again. The Spartans, coached by Andrew Smith and Bullard, were represented by a total of 12 athletes, who all performed exceptionally well against their international counterparts. "It was more than just a track meet, it was more of a cultural experience," Bullard said. "It came full circle, letting the students out there, especially those who

came from the Bahamas, that anything is possible once you put your mind into it and you work hard." Bullard noted that the Spartans turned in some personal best performances, which will only bode well for Noble Preparatory Academy as they prepare for the upcoming season in the Bahamas. Here's a look at the Spartans' performances in Canada:

NOBLE Prep track team

U13 Girls 100m - Serenity Dean - 1st place; 200m - Serenity Dean - 1st place; 600m - Brooklyn Adderley - 2nd place and

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-DAY FORECAST

TODAY

TONIGHT

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Butterfield - 1st place and 1000m - Kaiden Roberts 2nd place. U20 Boys 200m - K'Andre Adderley - 1st place; 400m - K'Andre Adderley - 1st place and High Jump - K'Andre Adderley 1st place. Bullard said the whole objective is for Noble Preparatory Academy to prepare its students for success in a changing world and exposing their students to the world.

U18 Girls 100m - Rihanna Kellman - 2nd place; 200m - Rihanna Kellman - 2nd place and long jump - Rihanna Kellman 3rd place. U18 Boys 100m - Jeremiah Gibson - 1st place; 200m - Jeremiah Gibson - 1st place; 400m Dario Butterfield - 2nd place; 400m - Kaiden Roberts 4th place; 1000m - Dario

1000m - Brooklyn Adderley - 1st place. U14 Girls 600m - Kandis Cash - 1st place and 1,000m - Kandis Cash - 2nd place, U15 Boys 400m - Aiden Smith - 1st place; 400m - Jemo Hamilton Jr. - 4th place and 400m - Keran Russell - 5th place. U16 Boys 100m - Jonathan Linton - 1st place and 200m - Jonathan Linton - 1st place.

SATURDAY

UV INDEX TODAY

SUNDAY

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+ LOW

ORLANDO

Rain at times

Overcast with a brief shower or two

Cloudy with rain and a thunderstorm

A stray afternoon thunderstorm

Partly sunny, a couple of t-storms

A couple of t-storms in the morning

High: 85°

Low: 78°

High: 86° Low: 77°

High: 87° Low: 78°

High: 86° Low: 77°

High: 88° Low: 78°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

99° F

85° F

98°-84° F

100°-86° F

97°-82° F

98°-84° F

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 75° F/24° C

TAMPA

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 75° F/24° C

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 77° F/25° C

6-12 knots

S

WEST PALM BEACH High: 86° F/30° C Low: 75° F/24° C

6-12 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE E

W

FREEPORT

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 75° F/24° C

N

S

E

W

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 77° F/25° C

MIAMI

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 76° F/24° C

4-8 knots

The higher the AccuWeather UV Index number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. Shown is the highest value of the day.

TIDES FOR NASSAU Ht.(ft.)

Today

5:59 a.m. 6:21 p.m.

2.7 3.1

12:04 a.m. 1.1 12:07 p.m. 1.0

ALMANAC

Thursday

6:42 a.m. 7:02 p.m.

3.0 3.2

12:43 a.m. 0.9 12:53 p.m. 0.8

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 86° F/30° C Low .................................................... 74° F/23° C Normal high ....................................... 87° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 74° F/24° C Last year’s high .................................. 89° F/32° C Last year’s low ................................... 79° F/26° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 1.06” Year to date ................................................ 20.65” Normal year to date ................................... 27.90”

Friday

7:23 a.m. 7:41 p.m.

3.2 3.3

1:20 a.m. 1:37 p.m.

0.7 0.6

Saturday

8:03 a.m. 8:20 p.m.

3.4 3.3

1:56 a.m. 2:20 p.m.

0.5 0.4

Sunday

8:44 a.m. 9:01 p.m.

3.5 3.2

2:33 a.m. 3:04 p.m.

0.3 0.3

Monday

9:26 a.m. 9:42 p.m.

3.6 3.1

3:11 a.m. 3:49 p.m.

0.2 0.3

Tuesday

10:11 a.m. 10:27 p.m.

3.7 3.0

3:51 a.m. 4:36 p.m.

0.2 0.4

KEY WEST

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

Ht.(ft.)

Sunrise Sunset

6:59 a.m. Moonrise 7:05 p.m. Moonset

5:20 p.m. 4:00 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Sep. 26

Oct. 3

Oct. 10

Oct. 18

CAT ISLAND

E

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 80° F/27° C

N

S

E

W

6-12 knots

S

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 80° F/27° C

4-8 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Low

SUN AND MOON

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2026

N W

VERY HIGH EXT.

High

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 82° F/28° C

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

HIGH

TM

The patented AccuWeather.com RealFeel Temperature® is the only index that includes all the weather factors that play a role in how we perceive temperature, including the effects of wind, humidity, sunshine, precipitation, pressure, and elevation. Shown are the highest and lowest values for each day.

N

MODERATE

ANDROS

N

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

TRACKING MAP

High: 90° F/32° C Low: 79° F/26° C

4-8 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 90° F/32° C Low: 79° F/26° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 80° F/27° C

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 81° F/27° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 91° F/33° C Low: 78° F/26° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

4-8 knots

4-8 knots

MARINE FORECAST ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday:

WINDS NW at 6-12 Knots WSW at 4-8 Knots SE at 6-12 Knots WNW at 6-12 Knots SE at 3-6 Knots S at 4-8 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots E at 4-8 Knots SW at 6-12 Knots S at 6-12 Knots WNW at 4-8 Knots SE at 4-8 Knots S at 4-8 Knots NE at 4-8 Knots E at 4-8 Knots SE at 4-8 Knots SE at 4-8 Knots ESE at 6-12 Knots SE at 6-12 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots WNW at 6-12 Knots E at 4-8 Knots ESE at 4-8 Knots SE at 4-8 Knots S at 6-12 Knots

Tribune First Alert Weather

NASSAU WhatsApp Channel

WAVES 1-3 Feet 2-4 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-3 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 2-4 Feet 2-4 Feet 0-1 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-2 Feet 0-1 Feet 0-1 Feet 1-2 Feet

VISIBILITY 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 7 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 84° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 85° F 85° F 86° F 86° F 86° F 86° F

“We got you covered under the radars”

SPORTS SECTIO N E

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

BUDDY HIELD TRADED TO CHARLOTTE HORNETS Trade overview and analysis of Chavano “Buddy” Hield moving to the Charlotte Hornets By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net

FILE - Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield (7) moves the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Jan. 13, 2026, in San Francisco. Photo: Godofredo A. Vásquez, AP File

Avengers edge Technicians 3-2 in thrilling season opener, Lady Panthers sweep Hornets to start title defence By JONATHAN BURROWS Tribune Sports Reporter jburrows@tribunemedia.net The Avengers needed five sets and more than two hours to get their title defense off to a winning start, edging the Technicians 3-2 in the opening night feature of the 2026-2027 New Providence Volleyball Association (NPVA) regular season on Sunday at D.W. Davis Gymnasium. In a matchup between last season’s champions and regular season pennant winners, the Avengers prevailed 21-25, 25-20, 18-25, 25-22 and 15-12 to take the early bragging rights in what could develop into another closely contested men’s division. Neither team was able to separate itself for long during the two hour, 19 minute battle. The Technicians struck first, taking the opening set 25-21, but the Avengers answered immediately with a 25-20 win in the second set. The Technicians again moved in front by winning the third set 25-18, leaving the defending champions facing the possibility of opening the season with a loss. The Avengers responded when it mattered most, taking the fourth set 25-22 to force the deciding set. The fifth set remained competitive, but the Avengers managed to make the plays needed down the stretch to secure the 15-12 victory and escape with the match. The closeness of the contest was further reflected

in the overall scoring. Both teams finished with 104 points, underscoring how little separated the two sides throughout the match. The Avengers entered the season looking to build on their championship campaign from 2025, while the Technicians came into the matchup after finishing as last season’s regular season pennant winners. The opening result does little to settle the question of which team will emerge from the men’s division this season, but it provided an early indication that the race could be wide open. Earlier in the evening, the Fidelity/Central Gas Lady Panthers began their quest for another championship by sweeping the Johnson’s Lady Hornets. The Panthers won 25-10, 25-7 and 25-18 in a match that lasted one hour and 11 minutes. They controlled the scoring throughout the contest, accounting for 75 of the 110 total points played. The victory was the first step in the Panthers’ bid for a seventh consecutive NPVA women’s championship. The Panthers went undefeated last season on their way to the title and will enter the new campaign with the pressure of defending that record and maintaining their dominance in the division. The Lady Hornets struggled to find an answer during the opening two sets, as the Panthers raced to a 2-0 lead before closing out the match in the third. While the women’s division enters the season with the Panthers expected to once again be at the centre of the championship race, the men’s competition already has a different look following the opening night battle between the Avengers and Technicians. Regular season action continues Wednesday at D.W. Davis Gymnasium. The Lady Warhawks will face the Aces at 7:30 p.m. in the opening game, while the defending men’s champion Warhawks will meet the Baller Boys in the featured matchup. NPVA games are scheduled for Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays at D.W. Davis Gymnasium throughout the regular season.

CHAVANO “Buddy” Hield is trading one Southern city for another, moving from the Atlanta Hawks to the Charlotte Hornets as the Bahamian sharpshooter begins another chapter in his NBA career. Hield, 33, was traded by the Hawks to the Hornets on Tuesday along with Ryan Nembhard and cash considerations in exchange for veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported. The deal comes just days before the start of another NBA season and will give Hield a new opportunity heading into his 11th season in the league.

Hield was selected sixth overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2016 NBA Draft before being traded to the Sacramento Kings during his rookie season. He has since played for the Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors and Hawks, with the Charlotte move making the Hornets his ninth NBA organization. The Freeport native spent only seven games with Atlanta after joining the Hawks in February as part of the trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Golden State Warriors. Hield averaged 5.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 7.3 minutes per game with Atlanta. His limited role in Atlanta came after he had averaged 8.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 44 games with Golden State earlier in the 2025-26 season. Across the two teams, he averaged 7.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 43.7 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from threepoint range. Hield’s career numbers remain considerably stronger than his most recent season. Through 765 regular-season games, he has averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 39.5

percent from three-point range. He has made 2,9 three pointers per game during his career. His ability to stretch the floor could be the biggest part of his potential role in Charlotte. The Hornets already have several perimeter players, including Coby White, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel, meaning Hield could be used primarily as a veteran shooting option who creates space for Charlotte’s ball handlers and scorers rather than being asked to carry a large offensive load. A recent analysis from Charlotte Hornets On SI described the potential addition as giving Charlotte a proven veteran shooter and noted that Hield could change the makeup of the team’s perimeter group. The trade also follows weeks of reported discussions between the two teams. Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported Sunday that Atlanta and Charlotte had been involved in “on-and-off trade discussions” surrounding Hield and Finney Smith. Fischer also reported that Atlanta had been exploring trades involving Hield’s $9.7 million salary throughout the summer. Trade- See Page B10

Dekel 'Bowflex Barbie' Quant makes history as first Bahamian woman to compete at Joe Weider's Olympia By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net DEKEL 'Bowflex Barbie' Quant is pumped up and ready to take the stage for the biggest performance of her life at the Joe Weider's Olympia Fitness and Performance Weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada. Quant, who left home on September 13, is in Las Vegas making last minute preparations for the figure competition as becomes the first Bahamian female to compete in the prestigious global event. She will follow former Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation president Joel Stubbs as the only other Bahamian to compete in the Olympia. In an interview with The Tribune, Quant outlined her preparation, her attendance and her expectations. With just days away from competition, she was asked how her training and preparation had been going in these final weeks. "Training has gone extremely well. This has probably been one of the best preps I’ve had, not only physically, but mentally. I’m really proud of the level of discipline, consistency and execution I’ve brought to this entire process," said the personal fitness trainer by profession. "These final weeks have been about staying focused, trusting the plan my coach and I have in place, and taking everything one day at a time." She was also asked about her preparation beyond the workouts and what she's been doing physically and mentally to make sure you arrive at your best? "There’s so much more that goes into preparing for a show at this level than what people see in the gym. Training is obviously a huge part of it, but so are nutrition, cardio, posing, recovery, sleep and managing stress," she stressed. "I’ve also been balancing my businesses and responsibilities at home while preparing for the biggest competition of my career. Mentally, I’ve been very intentional about protecting my energy, controlling what I can control and not allowing outside noise to take me away from the goal." Fitness- See Page B10