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Volume: 119 No.214, September 30, 2022
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Storm fall-out to hit building materials Warning that Florida’s post hurricane reconstruction will impact prices and availability in The Bahamas By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN contractors yesterday warned it is “inevitable” that Florida’s post-Hurricane Ian reconstruction will hit building material prices and availability here as local inflation was revealed to have hit 7
percent. Leonard Sands, the Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president, told Tribune Business that much will depend on the extent of the Category Four storm’s devastating impact plus the nature and scale of rebuilding in the so-called “Sunshine State”. SEE BUSINESS SECTION
HITTING THE RIGHT NOTE
DORIAN TAX BREAKS RENEWAL ‘EVEN MORE URGENT’ AFTER IAN By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
ABACO’S Chamber of Commerce president yesterday said Hurricane Ian’s devastating impact on Florida makes it “even more urgent” that the Government renew her island’s post-Dorian tax breaks in full. Daphne DegregoryMiaoulis told Tribune Business that extending the VAT and duty exemptions on multiple construction materials has now become more vital given that the
cost of sheet rock, plywood and other products will potentially skyrocket due to Florida’s rebuilding demands. Building material availability and shortages may also become an issue given that Florida will be the “priority”, she acknowledged, which could further setback Abaco’s own reconstruction progress that has already been delayed by COVID-19 lockdowns, restrictions and post-pandemic supply chain woes. Any spike in building material prices, which were SEE BUSINESS SECTION
PM DEFENDS REMARKS IN UN ADDRESS By EARYEL BOWLEG Tribune Staff Reporter ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has defended remarks he made at the United Nations last week regarding the European Union blacklisting, saying the time has come for these nations to account for what they have done to countries like The Bahamas. He told reporters that his “cry” at the UN last week was also made to ensure the body takes over the policing of the anti-monetary and antilaundering and terrorist financing regime to make it more “fair” for small island developing states. Last week before the UN, Mr Davis, commenting on the EU blacklisting asserted that “black-governed countries also matter”. Asked about his comments yesterday, he doubled down on his assertions. “What I said is that the evidence is mounting that the targeted countries for blacklisting or SEE PAGE THREE
LEGAL THREAT: PM TELLS FNM ‘BRING IT ON’
By LETRE SWEETING lsweeting@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIAN musician Chavez Parker is reaching new heights in his chosen career, as one of his compositions has been selected for a new Tyler Perry production. See Weekend section for more.
GIBSON ATTORNEY’S RECUSAL REQUEST REFUSED
By PAVEL BAILEY Tribune Court Reporter pbailey@tribunemedia.net
JUSTICE Cheryl GrantThompson has denied Adrian Gibson’s attorney’s recusal request, resulting in the MP’s trial moving forward in her court next May. Murrio Ducille, KC, submitted a recusal application towards Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson arguing of public perception of political bias as the case proceeded on Tuesday. Mr Ducille raised this issue in reference to the
ADRIAN Gibson justice’s late husband, former MP Peter Bethell, being a member of the Progressive Liberal Party, saying it would impede her
impartiality to Gibson as a sitting member of the Free National Movement. The Long Island MP faces numerous accusations of malfeasance linked to his time as executive chairman of the Water and Sewerage Corporation during the Minnis administration. Gibson is alleged to have personally accrued over $1.25m through a series of cheques and wire transfers in connection with contracts awarded to Elite Maintenance and Baha SEE PAGE FIVE
Nassau & Bahama Islands’ Leading Newspaper
IN response to the Free National Movement’s threat of legal action against the government over its failure to follow the Public Procurement Act, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has challenged the opposition to “bring it on”. On Wednesday, FNM Leader Michael Pintard warned that the party intended to take legal action against the government to initiate a judicial review targeting its refusal to follow the Act. Mr Pintard added that he had already spoken with two attorneys and got a quote for a retainer for one of them in relation to this matter. He said the party planned to take the legal route after having tried “every avenue” to get the government to reveal this information. Yesterday, Mr Davis addressed Mr Pintard’s SEE PAGE THREE