02102025 BUSINESS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2025

Fox’s Balmoral Isl. lease may face legal challenge

By NEIL HARTNELL

A FORMER Cabinet minister has warned he may initiate legal action over the Government’s decision to lease a portion of Balmoral Island to Adrian Fox for part of his proposed $300m resort project.

Damian Gomez KC told Tribune Business he has already written to the Attorney General’s Office to “flag” his concerns that the 21-year deal struck with Island Luck’s co-founder “literally expropriates property that belongs to me” as a result of a preexisting lease interest he holds.

Having obtained Supreme Court permission to seize 50 percent of the shares in Blue Illusions, the failed dolphin attraction that previously operated on Balmoral Island, over $1.25m in unpaid legal bills, he said he was unaware that Mr Fox’s project had received the go-ahead until Thursday’s Heads of Agreement signing with the Davis administration.

The former minister of state for legal affairs in the last Christie administration also told this newspaper he felt misled over the Balmoral Island situation. Having learned that Mr Fox and representatives of his Fox Group of Companies had been on the island, he said he first wrote to the Attorney General’s Office late last year to

inquire “what’s going on” only to be reassured that nothing was happening.

Ryan Pinder KC, the attorney general, did not respond to Tribune Business messages seeking clarity on the Balmoral Island lease situation before press time last night. This newspaper had asked whether the previous Blue Illusions lease had been terminated for non-performance, or was no longer valid for any other reason, and for a response in light of Mr Gomez’s position.

However, the latter confirmed that neither the Government nor Mr Fox have sought to buy out his interest in the lease nor approached him over their plans for the island, also known as Blackbeard’s Cay, which lies off New Providence’s north coast opposite Sandals Royal Bahamian. The island is Crown Land, with the latter resort using the eastern portion via a lease deal with the Government.

And Mr Gomez also argued that the five surviving dolphins rescued from Blue Illusions’ former attraction last year cannot be sold by the Government, and its Department of Marine Resources, without paying the outstanding $1.25m legal bills owed by the former operator.

“They didn’t buy it from me, nor did the Government give me notice of what they were doing,” Mr Gomez told Tribune Business of the Balmoral Island lease and resort deal

with Mr Fox’s group. “I’ve written to the Attorney General’s Office to flag it and that may well lead to further litigation.

“I’m not sure what they’re trying to do. They also seem to want to sell [Blue Illusions] dolphins. I told them they cannot do that without paying me out.” Asked about his likely response, Mr Gomez added: “I’m just going to pursue the Attorney General’s Office. They really are the ones who have disturbed my interest.

“Without giving me notice, they have allowed him to remove property from the island, Adrian and other people. They took the dolphins and haven’t gotten in touch with me. My view of it is they have literally expropriated property that belongs to me.” Asked when he became aware of Mr Fox’s resort project, Mr Gomez replied: “I heard like everybody else when they announced this new project.”

Adrianna Fox, Mr Fox’s daughter, confirmed during Thursday’s Heads of Agreement signing that the $300m resort project includes the lease of a 16.35-acre site on Balmoral Island. Given the island’s size, that almost certainly includes at least a portion of the site that was previously used by Blue Illusions for its dolphin encounter and associated tourist amenities that was mainly targeted at cruise ship passengers.

PILOTS TO CHALLENGE AVIATION TEST AMID OPERATOR CONCERNS

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN pilots will today challenge a controversial aviation exam before the Supreme Court amid airline concerns that the test may impact operations and disrupt planned service expansion.

Drexel Munroe, a pilot and member of the Bahamas Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (BAOPA), told Tribune Business its application for an injunction and permission to launch Judicial Review proceedings against the Civil Aviation Authority of The Bahamas (CAAB) over the air law exam it is mandating all pilots must take and pass is set to be heard at 11am.

While providing few

specifics, other than that the hearing is before Justice Leif Farquharson, he voiced confidence that the Bahamian aviation industry “will have closure one way or another” over an exam that previously raised fears of a pilot shortage until industry regulators extended the deadline to take and pass it from January 31, 2025, to end-June 2025.

“I can tell you that the hearing for the injunction will be heard on Monday morning,” Mr Munroe told this newspaper. “The lawyer that we hired will present our case and they will come with their case. It’s [the exam] going to affect the life of every pilot and, to that extent, it may even affect companies. It’s not just the pilots; this is a ripple effect.”

TAX CHIEF: PROPERTY FILING TARGET ‘AIN’T SO HARD

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

TAX officials say the February 15 deadline to file details of all corporate real estate dealings “ain’t so hard cut” but there is unlikely to be “a blanket” extension for all of a registered office’s clients.

Dexter Fernander, the Department of Inland Revenue’s operations manager, told Tribune Business he was “concerned” to hear that many registered agents fear they may not meet the imminent target for companies and International Business Companies (IBCs) to submit the newly-introduced annual ‘real property declaration’. Amid complaints that

the declaration, a 16-page form that registered offices must fill out for every one of their corporate clients, is “crippling” and “onerous” to the ease and cost of doing business in The Bahamas, he challenged why the required information would not be readily available given that it was required for annual Companies Registry filings and maintaining an entity in good standing.

“I’m concerned about that,” Mr Fernander replied, when informed by this newspaper that many registered offices do not have the required data readily available and are struggling, in some instances, to obtain the information in time.

‘DO NOT LET SARKIS WEAPONISE CHAPTER 11 ON NASSAU HOTELS’

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

BAHA Mar’s contractor is accusing Sarkis Izmirlian of seeking to “circumvent” the Bahamian courts by using its US Chapter 11 protection as a “springboard” to pursue the winding-up of its two Nassau hotels.

China Construction Inc, the contractor’s US arm which is presently in bankruptcy protection in New Jersey, hit back at the Baha Mar developer’s bid to appoint an “independent examiner”, who would be charged with investigating dealings between itself and its Bahamian affiliates, as an effort to “hijack the Chapter 11 process for its own benefit”.

The Chinese state-owned contractor, in particular,

asserted in its February 6, 2025, legal filings that Mr Izmirlian would seek to use the examiner’s findings to support his bid to wind-up both CCA (Bahamas) and CSCEC (Bahamas) before the Supreme Court in Nassau. The former serves as the immediate parent for both CCA’s Bahamian resort interests, the British Colonial and Margaritaville Beach Resort. Mr Izmirlian is aiming to persuade the New Jersey bankruptcy court to appoint such an examiner to probe alleged “fraud, dishonesty, incompetence, misconduct, mismanagement” or other irregularities involving CCA Inc’s dealings with its Bahamian and other affiliates prior to its Chapter 11 filing during the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

UoB ransomware attack exposes cyber challenge

DEVELOPING a strong cyber security framework is essential for

companies given that the threats continue to evolve. By carefully designing such

a framework, a company can not only mitigate risks but also ensure compliance

with regulations and protect its reputation.

In my January 13, 2025, article titled, ‘The workplace risk that threatens 2025’, I noted: “Ransomware attacks can cause disruptions and erode the trust of customers. Executives should prioritise cyber security governance, regular penetration testing and employee training to maintain a strong defensive posture.” Skip forward less than a month, and the headlines scream: “Ransomware attack on university.”

This article will highlight the key priorities that companies should focus on when building their cyber security framework.

Risk assessment and asset inventory

To identify vulnerabilities and potential sources of attack, companies must conduct a thorough risk assessment. This includes:

• Conducting a comprehensive inventory of all digital and physical assets (servers, endpoints, cloud services, Internet of Things (IoT) devices etc).

• Assessing the threat landscape, including internal and external risks.

• Classifying data based on its sensitivity, such as financial records, intellectual property.

A risk-based approach ensures that resources are allocated efficiently to protect the most critical assets.

Zero Trust architecture

With Zero Trust models, no user or device is presumed to be trustworthy by default. The following are the requirements for implementing Zero Trust:

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Ensuring users verify their identity beyond just a password.

• Least Privilege Access: Granting users only the access necessary for their role.

• Micro-Segmentation: Restricting lateral movement within networks by isolating systems and applications.

Adopting a Zero Trust approach reduces the risk of unauthorised access and insider threats. Regulatory compliance, standards and conformance alignment

Companies must ensure their cyber security framework aligns with statutory, regulatory or contractual regimes such as:

• ISO/IEC 27001: International standard

DEREK SMITH BY

for information security management.

• NIST Cyber security Framework: A risk-based approach for managing cyber security threats.

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): Data privacy laws affecting businesses handling European Union (EU) citizens’ data. Good cyber security governance involves a comprehensive and data governance environment

• The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): HIPAA is crucial US legislation that governs the security and privacy of health records, focusing on protected health information (PHI) and electronic protected health information (ePHI) Non-compliance can lead to hefty fines and reputational damage.

Threat detection and incident response

A strong cyber security framework must include real-time threat detection and an incident response plan (IRP) to address cyber incidents effectively. Key components include:

• Security information and event management (SIEM): Monitoring and analysing security events.

• Endpoint detection and response (EDR): Identifying and mitigating endpoint threats.

• Incident Response Team (IRT): A dedicated team to contain, investigate and remediate attacks.

Regular penetration testing and red teaming exercises also help validate the effectiveness of security controls.

Employee awareness and training

Human error remains one of the largest cyber security risks. Companies should:

• Conduct regular cyber security training on

phishing, password hygiene and social engineering.

• Simulate phishing attacks to measure employee awareness.

• Implement a security culture, encouraging employees to report suspicious activities. A well-trained workforce acts as the first line of defence against cyber threats.

Third-party and supply chain security

Many cyber incidents originate from third-party vendors. Companies must:

• Conduct due diligence before engaging vendors.

• Require vendors to adhere to cyber security standards and conduct security audits.

• Monitor third-party access to internal systems and data.

Strong vendor security management prevents supply chain attacks.

Back-up and disaster recovery Cyber resilience depends on the ability to recover from incidents such as ransomware attacks. Companies should:

• Implement regular back-ups with off-site and encrypted storage.

• Test disaster recovery (DR) plans frequently.

• Use immutable backups to prevent unauthorised alterations. Effective backup strategies minimise downtime and data loss.

Conclusion Cyber security frameworks require a holistic approach that incorporates risk management, compliance, employee awareness and proactive threat detection. Cyber threats can be significantly reduced by focusing on these key areas while maintaining regulatory compliance and ensuring business continuity.

• NB: About Derek Smith Jr: Derek Smith Jr. has been a governance, risk and compliance professional for more than 20 years with a leadership, innovation and mentorship record. He is the author of ‘The Compliance Blueprint’. Mr Smith is a certified anti-money laundering specialist (CAMS) and the assistant vice-president, compliance and money laundering reporting officer for CG Atlantic’s family of companies (member of Coralisle Group Ltd) for The Bahamas, St Vincent & The Grenadines, St Lucia and Curaçao.

AML’s Eleuthera expansion in $1.6m refit, opening delay

AML FOODS says the opening of its new Eleuthera store has been delayed until May after the outlet’s planned $1.6m refit was delayed by local government elections.

The BISX-listed food retail and franchise group, in a statement, disclosed that the transformation of its newly-acquired Burrows

One Stop Shop Grocery Store into Eleuthera Markets has been pushed back because the elections mean there is no planning board in place to approve the needed construction permits.

Describing the delays to the group’s Eleuthera expansion as “unexpected”, AML Foods said it has hired a “local general contractor” - which it did not name - to undertake the $1.6m store renovation project. It also announced that

it has retained all employees who worked for the previous owners.

“Firstly, we would like to apologise to residents and visitors to the island, as based on our initial announcement they were anticipating a much earlier opening,” said Gavin Watchorn, AML Foods chief executive and president.

“Burrow’s One Stop Shop played a key role in the Eleuthera community, providing an important service to the island for many years. Having the store closed for such a long period, and over the busy Easter vacation season, is something we did not want residents or visitors to experience”.

Mr Watchorn added: “After signing the sales agreement in September, our team engaged

the architect and began mapping out a comprehensive construction plan, sourcing the new refrigeration and equipment, while simultaneously building out the product assortment and logistics process.

“Due to all of the preliminary work that was done, once the sale was actually finalised, we were able to submit our applications almost immediately. Unfortunately, due to local government elections and the transition to a new board, our applications are delayed, and we are unable to begin construction.”

Mr Watchorn said all the building materials and equipment are on island, and AML Foods is ready to proceed with the project once the approvals are in hand. He urged

Eleuthera residents to be patient, and sought to reassure that AML Foods is working with local government and doing everything possible to get the store up and running to begin servicing the island again.

“We remain committed to the island of Eleuthera, and our team will be on island on Friday, February 21, to host a community give back and meet and greet event,” Mr Watchorn said. AML Foods was paying a total $2.5m to acquire the Governor’s Harbour-based food store.

Unveiling its financials for the half-year and three months to end-October 2024, it said it agreed to pay $1.975m to purchase the operations of Burrows One Stop Shop Grocery Store and a further $525,000 for the land and building from which it operates. A

$250,000 deposit, representing 10 percent of the combined purchase price, had already been paid into escrow prior to closing

“During the quarter, the company entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire the assets of Burrows One Stop Shop Grocery Store located at Queen’s Highway, Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, in the amount $1.975m,” AML Foods told shareholders.

“Simultaneously, the company also entered into a land purchase agreement to purchase the land and building of Burrows One Stop Shop Grocery Store for $525,000. The completion of both transactions is subject to due diligence and the final price may be adjusted based on closing procedures.” Mr Watchorn, in a

message to investors, said the deal has yet to close and hinted that this would happen in 2025.

“We are excited to enter the Eleuthera market in the new year and are looking forward to finalising the purchase of Burrows One Stop Grocery Store in Governor’s Harbour,” he added.

“Once the sale is finalised, the store will undergo a complete renovation and reopen as Eleuthera Markets.” The acquisition is following a similar template to that employed by AML Foods when it moved into Exuma through the previous purchase of Exuma Markets. It has focused on entering high-growth Family Island markets by buying existing, well-established businesses that align with its neighbourhood store model.

$45M WEST BAY HOTEL TO MAXIMISE LOCAL MATERIAL

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter

DEVELOPERS behind a proposed $45m West Bay Street resort are planning to source all their construction materials in The Bahamas to provide a further boost to the local economy.

Environmental consultants for the King’s Court Hotel highlighted the project’s potential impact during the public consultation on its environmental management plan (EMP), noting that it will provide jobs for construction workers during both the

demolition and construction phase.

“The project is proposing to hire Bahamian contractors during the operational and construction phase, and it can also increase the economy. Material will be sourced locally where feasible during the construction and operational stage,” said Linnette Cooper, environmental specialist at JSS Consulting.

The King’s Court Hotel will be located at the Bahama Grill site on West Bay Street, just past the western end of Arawak Cay and the junction with Chippingham Road. The

proposal, which covers a 1.39-acre site, has already been granted preliminary site plan approval by the Town Planning Committee provided its “side setbacks” are increased to 15 feet. The proposed works include demolishing two commercial buildings within the proposed project area, and the construction of a 126-room hotel facility with a carrying capacity of 275 persons plus parking facilities. Ms Cooper said notice will be given prior to demolition and signs will be installed at necessary areas around the site.

“We plan to demolish the facade of the building outside of peak traffic because it is located so near the roadway, also designated vehicle and pedestrian routes, and we plan to keep the roadways free from debris,” said Ms Cooper. The project is estimated to take two years to complete, with demolition lasting for two to four weeks and the construction phase 18-22 months.

West Bay Street will likely be closed at night with traffic re-routed through Chippingham. “Demolition operations will be restricted

SCOTIA AIMING FOR RETURN TO ANDROS

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE Andros Chamber of Commerce’s president says Scotiabank is working to re-establish a presence on the island

Darin Bethel told Tribune Business he met with bank executives about the difficulties Andros businesses face when accessing banking services, and was reassured that the Canadian-owned institution is exploring the best way to re-introduce services in Central and North Andros.

He said bank officials will hold a Town Hall meeting in Andros later this month to get direct feedback from residents and businesses, and discuss the security of automated banking machines (ABMs).

“They are working on a plan to re-establish themselves in the community.

The first step is a community meeting for them to outline to the community the challenges that they have had in the past and how they can avoid them in the future,” said Mr Bethel. “They wanted us to know that they have not abandoned the community, and have in fact actually been told through their research to try to find how to reestablish themselves. After communicating with the Chamber, we determined that the community meeting would also help the community to be understanding and be protectors of the of the machines.” Residents have been struggling to access banking services since the area’s sole ATM was vandalised a year ago. Mr Bethel said the Chamber is not opposed to Scotiabank placing the ATM in a location that is closed outside of peak hours to prevent vandals

accessing it.

“It doesn’t have to run 24 hours,” he added. “Even if they find a location to open at five in the morning and close and lock it at night, because all of these damages happened late in the night when there is less traffic. They can probably present that to the community as a probable way to move forward that would protect the best interest of us and the machine.”

Mr Bethel said representatives will also discuss the possibility of a new location that would better serve both North and Central Andros, plus regular visits by Scotiabank personnel so residents can open bank accounts, update information, collect debit and credit cards and other services.

“Several businesses in the area have moved away and they want a location that can service everybody, so they will discuss that. Also,

get some feedback from local business on having a weekly or bi-weekly or monthly visit for account purposes,” said Mr Bethel.

He added that the economy in Andros is growing, and is optimistic the new local government representatives will be supportive of investment and business opportunities.

“We just changed local government and we have a new slate of local representatives. I hope they will work with us to make doing business easier in Andros and be supportive to investment and business opportunities,” said Mr Bethel.

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to daylight hours between 7am and 5pm,” the EMP said. “Road closure will not be required for the full duration of the project, as most of the construction activity will occur at the rear of the site. However, the demolition of the facade of the building will occur at night when there is less traffic to limit impacts.

“During this time the area will be blockaded, and traffic will be rerouted from West Bay Street. Private vehicles travelling west on West Bay Street will be directed on to Chippingham Road [and then back

to West Bay Street].... Private vehicles travelling east on West Bay Street will be diverted on to Saint Albans Drive [and then back on to West Bay Street].”

Although queries arose about neighbouring property lines being encroached on, Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) officials clarified that the area assessed included the 50 feet surrounding the proposed project to ensure neighbours were not negatively impacted. No objections were voiced during the public consultation.

AI AND CLIMATE CHANGE FOCUS KEY FOR CORPORATE CARIBBEAN

By NEIL HARTNELL

BAHAMIAN accountants say “a keen focus” on artificial intelligence (AI) and climate change resilience is essential for local and Caribbean companies to capitalise on the growth optimism identified in their firm’s survey.

Prince Rahming, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC’s) Bahamas territory leader, and Kevin Cambridge, the locally-based regional sustainability head for the firm, both spoke out after its 28th annual global chief executive survey found almost 70 percent of Caribbean corporate bosses expect global economic growth to increase over the next 12 months. This represents a significant jump from the prior year’s 52 percent.

“In the PwC 2025 Global CEO Survey, Caribbean chief executives consistently expressed optimism that economic growth will continue into 2025. In order to capitalise on this momentum, however, a keen focus on reinvention and investments in AI and climate change initiatives are

essential,” Mr Rahming said. “Such investments have been trending in the right direction, aligning with global trends that prioritise sustainability and innovation. Additionally, enhancing workforce capabilities, and strengthening public-private partnerships (PPPs), were seen as vital for driving sustainable development and ensuring long-term prosperity and resilience.”

Mr Cambridge added:

“Creating value from sustainability starts with chief executives challenging themselves and their top teams to bring climatefriendly products, services and technologies to market.

Beyond this effort, companies should take a hard look at their resource use and energy consumption.

“The call to action is clear. And the time to act is now. No matter what group you fall into - those building and maintaining momentum, or you’ve barely started - by fostering a culture of innovation and agility, Caribbean chief executives can navigate the challenges ahead and build resilient, future-ready enterprises.”

The PwC global report, which surveyed 4,701 chief executives across 109 countries and territories, including Caribbean heads, found that 42 percent expect to increase their workforces by 5 percent or more in the next 12 months. This was more than double the percentage, 17 percent, who expect to shrink staff.

The response from Caribbean chief executives was similar, with 44 percent expecting to increase their workforce and just 22 percent expecting to decrease it. But, while Caribbean corporate heads are optimistic about the global economy, cyber risks (31 percent), closely followed by inflation and

workforce capabilities (both 28 percent), were identified as the top risks for the year ahead.

PwC said it was “somewhat concerning” that only 2 percent of companies surveyed globally have implemented resilience measures to combat cyber threats, adding that other work it has conduced “strongly suggests” cyber risks are having an ongoing impact on Caribbean-based businesses.

The accounting firm added that many Caribbean chief executives believe AI will increase efficiency, profitability and revenues in the year ahead. But, at the same time, less than a third, or 28 percent, say they have a high degree of trust in having AI embedded into key processes in their company.

Pointing out that trust in AI remains a hurdle to more widespread adoption, PwC said its survey found chief executives who trust AI reported higher gains from GenAI over the last 12 months and expected higher gains from the technology in the year ahead. They are also more likely to be moving ahead with integration of GenAI into technology platforms,

business processes and workflows.

PwC added that optimism about GenAI’s impact is strong. Almost half of Caribbean chief executives expect to integrate AI, including GenAI, into their technology platforms over the next three years, while more than one-third plan to integrate it into core business processes and workflows. It said almost half, or 47 percent, responded ‘to a moderate extent’ for integrating AI into their core business strategy, positioning them to seize potential opportunities and be ready for the inevitable disruption. When added to a further 19 percent who responded ‘to a large/very large extent’, that percentage reached almost 70 percent with no indicators yet emerging to suggest widespread job losses as a result of AI.

Matt Wood, PwC’s global and US commercial technology and innovation officer, said: “This year’s survey shows a more mature view of GenAI in the enterprise. Chief executives are convinced it has the power to unlock new opportunities. In fact, they

are more optimistic than last year.

“At the same time, they are more aware of the challenges they need to navigate to realise that value. They see the importance of building trust into the way their AI systems are designed, and for now are prioritising integration into core business processes. It is important that they also see the potential GenAI has to generate growth through new products and services, and create value in new ways.”

Some forty-two percent of Caribbean chief executives reported that personal incentive compensation was linked to sustainability metrics in some way. And almost half, or 45 percent, of Caribbean chief executives have experienced the benefit of climate-friendly investments.

The number of Caribbean chief executives who believe their business will not be viable in ten years time fell from 30 percent to 28 percent, the PwC survey added. Caribbean corporate heads also said they reallocate 10 percent or less of financial and human resources from year-to-year.

BAHAMAS TO HOST 1,023 AT AVIATION CONFERENCE

THE Bahamas will host more than 1,023 registered attendees from 63 countries when it holds the three-day Routes Americas 2025 aviation conference at Atlantis starting today.

The event provides an opportunity for aviation, airports and destination stakeholders to meet with key airline representatives, and is projected to have a multi-million dollar direct spending impact for The Bahamas.

Dr Kenneth Romer, director of aviation and deputy director-general of

tourism, described Routes Americas 2025 as the region’s leading air service development conference.

“We are pleased to be hosting Routes Americas 2025 in Nassau, which represents an opportunity for destinations and stakeholders to meet with key airline targets and stay ahead of the competition. Our numbers confirm that The Bahamas is ahead of the competition,” Dr Romer said. The Bahamas will participate in more than 50 meetings at the conference,

with representatives from 93 airlines set to be in attendance along with their counterparts from 421 other organisations. Routes Americas 2025 will facilitate face-to-face interactions aimed at advancing the region’s aviation strategies and creating new air service connections.

“We are going to be using this as a platform to build high-value relationships,” said Dr Romer, adding that The Bahamas will showcase its multi-destination tourism product, including the highly-anticipated Hosted

Airlines Program (HAP), which offers airline executives a chance to explore Exuma and Eleuthera.

Meetings will also be held with key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, Bahamasair, Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) and other leading partners. These discussions will focus on expanding the country’s post-pandemic air connectivity and identifying new market opportunities.

“We are also excited to host around 12 senior airline executives, who will arrive early, visit Exuma and Eleuthera by seaplane, and engage with key Family Island partners,” Dr Romer said.

“Key strategic outcomes of the face-to-face interactions are to further develop our post-pandemic recovery strategy, gain exclusive insight and discuss new market opportunities with the people who decide where the region’s aircraft fly, collaborate with our key targets and further develop our network strategy for existing and new markets and discuss sustainable airport infrastructure development.”

Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister and minister

of tourism, investments and aviation, is expected to address the conference.

Participants represent countries including: The Bahamas, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bon Aire, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Bonaire, Curacao, Cayman, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, France,

Germany, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Latvia, Martinique, Mexico, Netherlands, St Maarten, St Martin, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turks and Caicos, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay.

PRINCE RAHMING

DR KENNETH ROMER, director of aviation and deputy directorgeneral of tourism, talks about Routes Americas 2025, which will be held from February 10-12, at Atlantis, Paradise Island.

Photo: Kemuel Stubbs/BIS

65,000 meter switch to boost customer billing, leak actions

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE WATER and Sewerage Corporation’s (WSC) top executive says consumers will see “major changes” over the next year as the utility transitions to smart meters and monthly billings.

Robert Deal, its general manager, speaking at the Office of the Prime Minister’s weekly media briefing, Mr Deal said the stateowned utility intends to transition all of its existing meters to smart meters by the middle or end of 2026. It is currently working to install the first 5,000, and he explained that the switch will move the customer billing cycle from quarterly

to monthly. “The goal is to by mid to late next year to have changed all of our customer meters across The Bahamas, some 65,000plus, to smart meters,” Mr Deal said. “The first 5,000 meters are already here, and they are being installed now. A further 5,000 should be here by February, and we expect by the end of this year, up to about another 30,000 will arrive. So, we’ll effectively have major meter changes here in New Providence and in the Family Islands.

The primary goal for this smart meter programme is to improve our customer experience and to help us move to monthly billing.”

Mr Deal said the move will allow consumers to better manage their usage

and billing cycles, and alert consumers and the Water & Sewerage Corporation to any leaks faster.

“Customers have some challenges with our ongoing quarterly billing system. It’s an historical or legacy issue, but all of the other utilities have moved quite a while now to monthly billing, and many of our customers struggle with trying to remember when their quarterly bill is due, what period it covers, what period it doesn’t cover,” said Mr Deal.

“Another issue we found in quarterly billing is that if you develop a leak within your house, many of the times, you don’t realise that you have a leak until you get the bill. The leak has been running for three months, and now it creates

a challenge with the customer and Water and Sewerage on how best to resolve that matter.

“The smart meters will help us move to monthly billing, but another key component is that smart meters also come with an alarm system. If you have continuous flow in your house, which means that you have a possible leak, it will send an alarm to us and to the customer.”

Mr Deal said the $100m in financing, including an immediate $50m disbursement, from the Inter-American Development Bank will be used to support infrastructure and upgrades in water and sanitation systems across The Bahamas. Ongoing projects include expanding

water mains, installing desalination plants and upgrading transmission and distribution systems.

He added that the Water & Sewerage Corporation is dealing with increased demand, especially in Family Islands such as Exuma, Eleuthera and Abaco since COVID19, due to increased economic activity and is working to increase water production in all areas.

“Another thing we’re facing. I’m sure our sister company, BPL, has seen it. We’ve seen it as well.

There’s been a real spike in demand coming out of COVID-19. We’ve seen the pick-up in water sales, both here in New Providence and in the Family Islands, and particularly islands like

Exuma and Eleuthera that have high Airbnb demand,” said Mr Deal.

“It’s amazing when you look at the pace of our demand for water growth, particularly on islands like Exuma. Obviously those who are staying with Airbnbs, they use warm water at a much higher rate, with pools showering, as we go back and forth to the beaches, fishing, whatever.

“But we’re really seeing that high demand all over Exuma, but particularly in Central Eleuthera, North Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Spanish Wells. You’ve really seen an uptick in water demand coming out of COVID-19, We believe it’s due to economic activity, and even across the Abacos.”

ELEUTHERA CHAMBER URGES GREATER FOCUS ON FAMILY ISLAND INCENTIVES

By FAY SIMMONS Tribune Business Reporter jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

ELEUTHERA’S Chamber of Commerce president has renewed his call for a greater focus on providing incentives that will aid small business growth and make the sector more sustainable.

Thomas Sands said large investors such as Disney have made a “dramatic impact” on Eleuthera’s economy by creating employment opportunities and attracting new investments to the island.

“South Eleuthera was in an extended period of recession for many years. The investment and confidence by Disney Cruise Lines made a dramatic impact in the confidence of investors in the island of Eleuthera, and it’s not only driven employment but additional investment by other investors in projects in Eleuthera,” said Mr Sands.

“The project was well over $500m. I would expect that even 50 percent or 60 percent of that in cash in the local community, it’s significant. It has grown the economy significantly. In terms of knock-on effect, we’ve seen expansions at other developments like the Cape Resort, and I think

they added another 40 units to what they already had.

“We’re seeing other developments move forward expeditiously, like the Jack’s Bay development and I think, realistically, in terms of foreign direct investments, we’re in the hundreds of millions of dollars invested in Eleuthera as a result of the confidence level being sustained that has translated into a number of new businesses.”

But, while the new business ventures and foreign direct investment (FDI) is welcome, Mr Sands said he has growing concerns about legacy businesses that have struggled through the difficult times and are still fighting to keep their operations afloat.

He added that small Family Island businesses need more incentives and concessions from government so they can expand and keep up with increased economic activity on the island. “It is significant for legacy businesses to be able to make numbers closer to viable. Most of these businesses have barely survived. Most have gone out of businesses,” Mr Sands said.

“I think that they can now begin to see growth at a level where they could begin to see a critical mass of activity that helps to make bottom lines begin

to make sense. One of the things that the Chamber is particularly wanting to see is incentives and concessions for businesses domiciled in the Family Islands of the Bahamas.

“We noted the other day that Family Island businesses cannot access the Family Island Development Act. We understand that the intention is that the incentives and concessions were, in theory, focused to growing business opportunities and supporting the growth and development so that the local economy grows, the locally domiciled businesses grow simultaneously. If we don’t have that happen, then there’s a shortfall and there’s a deficit.”

Mr Sands said he is concerned about the future of Bahamian businesses, and said those outside areas that have received foreign direct investment still struggle and need government assistance.

“I’m concerned about what does our economy look like in the future. Yes, we can have growth and development take place. In Harbour Island, you see a lot of foreign direct investment, a lot of wealth, a model of what we call success in the country. And if you look in the centre, you see a lot of gaps, deficits

SCOTIA AIMING FOR RETURN TO ANDROS

from page three

“A lot of investors come into the community, and things tend to go to local government before central government. I hope they will be more productive and work with the community to help make it stronger.”

Mr Bethel added that the Andros Chamber of Commerce is currently working on its second Business and Investor Conclave, and is open to investors interested in establishing operations in Andros participating.

“We are reaching out to people who want to work with the Chamber to make our economy successful. Entrepreneurs, business owners, our partners like Sun Cash, Kanoo, Bahamas Venture Capital Fund, Bahamas Development Bank, the SBDC and others. If you want to participate email us at androschamber.acc@gmail. com,” he said.

of businesses that cannot make it, that have not kept up, that cannot keep up with the cost of operating a business which is so dramatically high,” said Mr Sands.

“People who, yes, they have employment, but they’ve not been able to keep up with growth and participate. There’s a deficit there, and if we do not do this right, there’s an opportunity, an opportunity of a lifetime, has been provided in partnership with developers like Disney, but we have to be able to step up to the plate.

“We have to be able to participate, and that takes some special concessions, incentives along with funding. In terms of all businesses, entire communities are made up of small businesses that, if they don’t survive, the communities will die.”

Mr Sands said the Chamber has approached successive governments on the matter but has “not achieved much”. He added that Eleuthera needs more reinvestment to tackle its housing deficit as well as incentivise businesses to upgrade their infrastructure and equipment to be more efficient and productive.

“There’s been a focus on concessions, incentives for new businesses, but

the economies of Family Islands, 90 percent of local economies are built and maintained by established businesses that know the challenges, that know the ropes that have to be put in place, the redundancies,” said Mr Sands.

“We encourage new businesses; that is very important. But, if an economy is to grow in these locations, the baseline, the community, has to grow simultaneously. And that’s including the challenge, housing and so forth. You need that reinvestment.

You need people who have real estate, businesses that have real estate, to refurbish apartments, to build new apartments, you need to provide them with the incentives and so forth to make that happen.

“I understand on the tourism side, with airlift, they also saying there’s a void of accommodation in the Airbnbs and hotels. You need to incentivise the local businesses to reinvest in their economies at the lowest price points, at the lowest cost points, to refurbish their businesses, to go to energy efficient equipment. All these things need to happen. Of course, funding comes behind that.”

Mr Sands said Disney has been working with the business community by

granting subsidies and spurring economic activity, but there is still a need for the Government to provide the same level of support they give to business ventures in Nassau.

“Disney has been subsidising a lot of activities and business investments that is really beyond their development, because the communities are void of that infrastructure. Those business activities and local businesses have been deprived for such a time because of the poor economy. It is very hard for them to step up. Just as you incentivise downtown Nassau with concessions and so forth to make downtown Nassau work for the cruise industry, that is essential in the Family Islands of the Bahamas to provide that same level of support,” said Mr Sands.

“Disney is doing its part as a partner beyond what we’ve ever seen by any developer. The local businesses are trying to step up to the plate, but there is a void, and that void requires the same level of concessions and incentives that they would provide a business in downtown Nassau. Legacy businesses, real estate owners and so forth, that needs to take place here.”

PILOTS TO CHALLENGE AVIATION TEST AMID OPERATOR CONCERNS

That impact was confirmed by Anthony Hamilton, the Bahamas Association of Air Transport Operators president and head of administration at Southern Air, who said some of the carrier’s pilots were struggling to pass the air law exam. And this, in turn, was impacting its plans to introduce new equipment to its operations.

“Southern Air Charter Company is challenged with some of its pilots,” he disclosed. “The company is bringing some new equipment on-stream and, before we introduce it, licensing it to meet the qualifications of the Bahamian authorities has presented a difficulty.

“One of the pilots failed it twice. That’s a foreign pilot. But if the Bahamian pilots are also failing the exam, it begs the question. This is a very perplexing situation. I mean, we’ve made some mistakes before with ‘cut and paste’ and other things with regard to the administration for the industry. This warrants a deeper dive.”

The exam has been muchcriticised by Bahamian pilots and other industry operators for lacking relevance to this nation’s

aviation environment, while many have complained about an inability to source study guides and inadequate time to prepare. There were fears that failures may leave Bahamian carriers short of pilots, disrupting flight schedules and the inter-island connectivity relied upon by residents, tourism and commerce.

Devard Francis, the Civil Aviation Authority of The Bahamas chairman, told Tribune Business last month that the regulator had extended the deadline to take and pass the air law exam by five months to June 30, 2025, in response to industry concerns that pilots lacked the time and required study materials to properly prepare. The move, implemented to ease fears that a pilot shortage may result if too few passed the exam and were thus unable to renew their Bahamian licences, has provided some breathing space for the industry. Mr Hamilton said it had brought “a measure of relief” for the sector, with Civil Aviation turning Mr Francis’ pledge into action the very next day.

A January 15, 2025, note sent by Alexander Ferguson, the Civil Aviation Authority of The Bahamas’ director-general, to

all pilots and operators licensed under the Civil Aviation Act 2021 confirmed the exam deadline has been pushed back to end-June but asserted that taking - and passing - it are “non-negotiable”.

“To-date, of the airmen that have sat the applicable Civil Aviation Authority of The Bahamas air law examination, 70 percent have passed,” Mr Ferguson wrote in a note seen by Tribune Business. “There remains a number of airmen who have yet to register and/or sit and pass the applicable air law examination.

“For pilots, a command of air law is non-negotiable given their responsibility for the safety of crew and passengers alike. Air law is a set of rules that govern the use of airspace and aviation activities. It applies to both national and international levels. An air law exam is an assessment of the knowledge of the rules and regulations that govern air travel and air space. These exams are often required for airmen to obtain or renew their licences.”

Mr Munroe, though, argued: “Nobody is running from having to take an exam, but if we take it it must make sense for us. If we have to have it, what happens to the qualification

we have to go through before?” He explained he was referring to those Bahamian pilots who returned home with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licence and then had to satisfy questions presented to them by a local examiner. Suggesting the air law exam threatens to undermine, and cut across, that system, Mr Munroe added: “What happened to that? Are you saying that the persons who took that are not qualified or the exam was flawed/ No, no, no. I think someone got above themselves, didn’t think the process through, didn’t say a word and then just pushed the process down our throat. That happens a lot in The Bahamas.

“Nobody thinks these things through. You’re telling us to write a European exam but all our training is done in the US. It’s just asinine, and I would tell them that if they sat with us. The Association, our position, our view on it is that we don’t think the exam is necessary. I can’t think of any country in the world telling its pilots to write an exam or lose their licence. Let the chips fall where they may.”

Mornel Brown, the Association’s president, could not be reached for comment before press time last

night, but in a recent interview with this newspaper he confirmed it had been taking legal advice over The Bahamas air law exam.

“I can’t really speak further to that. We’re taking legal advice on that so I can’t have any further discussions on it,” he said.

Still, confirming that the deadline to take The Bahamas air law exam has been extended, Mr Brown added that the Civil Aviation Authority has made “no concessions or changes” to the structure or content of the test, or allowed it to be ‘open book’ in common with the equivalent for aviation mechanics.

“It gives you more time to source the proper study materials,” he said of the extension. “But, according to their laws and regulations, if you fail the exam more than three times’ you have to go through an appropriate ATO (Air Transport Organisation) training facility but there is no such facility here. You want to take away the licence but there is no training facility here?”

Aviation industry sources had asserted that the air law exam questions appear to have been ‘copied and pasted’ from a European study guide, and bore little resemblance to the

conditions and practices that will be encountered in The Bahamas. They had also encountered difficulties in sourcing study guides and materials and, while not objecting to the exam as a concept, said the contents do not align with what was promised. One, while acknowledging that they shared his concerns about the nature of the questions being asked, said those relating to locations such as London’s Heathrow airport were still relevant because “your pilot’s licence doesn’t limit you to flying in The Bahamas alone”. However, they challenged why questions on issues such as visual flight rules (VFR) when flying at night were included given that night flying “was not allowed in The Bahamas”. Another aviation contact said they were forced to have the study guides shipped to The Bahamas from the UK. “It’s a Bahamas air law exam so it should be on Bahamian air law,” they said. “This test is not based on Bahamas air law, but is based on questions from the EASA test.” The source also pointed out that the terminology and phraseology are different from what Bahamian pilots are used to.

HIGGS & JOHNSON IN ATTORNEY PROMOTION

HIGGS & Johnson has promoted attorney Renai B Martin to senior associate with effect from January 27, 2025. The law firm described her as a valued member of its real estate and development, government and regulatory affairs, and tax practice groups. It added that she is experienced in property transactions, tax advisory and regulatory approvals, while also specialising in resort development and providing advice on acquisitions, financing and master planning.

Sterling H Cooke, Higgs & Johnson’s managing partner, in announcing her promotion, praised Ms Martin for her “exceptional dedication, exemplary work and unwavering commitment to the firm’s values”. He further noted that she has “consistently demonstrated a profound understanding of the law, outstanding professionalism and a dedication to providing exceptional client service”.

Fox’s Balmoral Isl. lease may face legal challenge

from page one

Mr Fox himself later con-

firmed that the Balmoral Island portion involves “a lease from the Government for 21 years”. Mr Gomez, who said it may be possible for him to reach an agreement with the Island Luck co-founder, said he had first learned of the latter’s interest in the property late last year but, when he approached the Government for clarification, he was assured nothing was happening.

“I may be able to do a deal with him. He might want the dolphins. I’m not sure what the Government is planning to do,” the former Cabinet minister revealed to this newspaper. “We got a letter back which was misleading with regard to what was being

announced. They denied they had entered into a lease with him. “What happened this [last] week is completely inconsistent with that letter. Adrian has been in possession for months. I wrote to them to ask what was going on and they wrote me back to deny it. That was the Attorney General’s Office. He [Mr Fox] wouldn’t go and take possession of the thing unless they gave him permission to do so. I’ll do what I have to do.”

Mr Gomez, who is presently embroiled in defending Long Island MP, Adrian Gibson, in a longrunning Supreme Court jury trial, said he will likely instruct his attorney, Dywan Rodgers, of Meridian Law Chambers, to intervene as early as this week.

Prime Minister Philip Davis KC, in announcing

Mr Fox’s Voir Beach project, said: “Balmoral Island will be transformed into a premier recreational paradise. That property will feature three clubhouses, each seating up to 500 guests, 23 land and over water cottages, a 100slip marina, three pools, a performance area and entertainment stage, and a helipad and seaplane docking facilities.”

Tribune Business had previously reported that Blue Illusions had sub-leased the site for its Blackbeard’s Cay dolphin encounter from a Bahamian investor group, which included Cedric Saunders, the late Insurance Management chief; former Cabinet minister, the late Sir Charles Carter; and Abner Pinder. This newspaper also confirmed that the location was leased from the Government.

However, Mr Gomez told Tribune Business that “there was a Heads of Agreement which treated Blue Illusions as the tenant because they paid the Government directly”. Blue Illusions was initially headed by foreign investors, Samir Andrawos and Victoria Iglesias, but the development ran into financial challenges due to the lockdowns and restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A series of Bahamian Supreme Court rulings obtained by Mr Gomez in 2020 and 2021 permitted him to seize 50 percent of Blue Illusions’ shares, previously held by Mr Andrawos, and then sell this interest to recover the $1.25m debt owed to him by the company unpaid legal bills.

Mr Davis, speaking at the

Heads of Agreement signing, said the Voir Beach project will feature “worldclass amenities”. While he estimated around 500 Bahamians would benefit from employment during the construction phase, Adrianna Fox said more than 1,000 will be hired for this aspect, while between 700 and 1,000 permanent jobs will be provided after completion.

“It calls for two 14-storey mixed-use buildings which will blend residential and hotel spaces with world class amenities,” Mr Davis said of the portion that will be constructed on the former Cable Beach manor site. “Guests and residents will enjoy restaurants, roof-top pools, a recording studio, a nightclub, a spa and a seaside bar, and jetty offering a fusion of leisure and luxury.”

Adrianna Fox spoke of Voir Beach breaking ground by summer 2025, adding: “Balmoral Island will be up and running, I think, by early June. We’re going to have some type of feature on that island by June, even if it’s just marine encounters and zip lining.”

However, the extensive nature of what is being proposed will likely require permits from several government agencies. Besides Town Planning Committee approval and the certificate of environmental clearance (CEC) from the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP), the marina, seaplane landing and helipad will likely also require the go-ahead from the likes of the Port Department and Civil Aviation Authority.

‘DO NOT LET SARKIS WEAPONISE CHAPTER 11 ON NASSAU HOTELS’

from page one

However, CCA Inc, in urging the court to reject this move, claimed such an appointment would be premature and a waste of valuable time, assets and resources that would deplete the company’s estate to the advantage of other creditors.

And it repeated claims that it was incorrectly held liable for the $1.642bn fraud and breach of contract damages awarded to Mr Izmirlian and his BML Properties vehicle, instead pinning all the blame on CCA (Bahamas), which it branded “a remote affiliate”. CCA Inc argued that the New York court had wrongly “pierced the corporate veil” by using New York, as opposed to Bahamian, law for this test.

“The examiner motion filed by BML Properties is a transparent attempt to rewrite the facts and circumstances leading up to and following CCA’s Chapter 11 filing, all in support of BML Properties’ ongoing prosecution of claims against CCA’s litigation co-defendants in New York and The Bahamas,” CCA Inc and its attorneys alleged.

“This court should resist BML Properties’ invitation to use CCA’s good-faith Chapter 11 filing as a springboard to pursue its non-bankruptcy enforcement efforts against non-debtors, circumventing the jurisdiction of the Bahamian court in which BML Properties has already brought an enforcement action..” That “enforcement action” is the winding-up petition filed against CCA (Bahamas) and CSCEC (Bahamas), the other two entities which - besides

CCA Inc - have been held liable for the multi-billion dollar damages awarded to Mr Izmirlian.

CCA Inc’s latest filings, though, make crystal clear that filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection was always the plan if Baha Mar’s original developer won his New York case so as to prevent him from being able to enforce his judgment against its assets. CCA (Bahamas) and CSCEC (Bahamas), being domiciled in this nature, do not have access to the equivalent protection.

“BML Properties wants to rush directly to an investigation that would benefit its own ongoing litigation against CCA’s non-debtor affiliates. Ironically, the examiner motion is a thinly-veiled attempt by BML Properties to use estate resources and hijack the Chapter 11 process for its own benefit – the very kind of behaviour of which BML Properties has baselessly accused CCA...,” the Chinese state-owned contractor added.

“The court should decline to authorise BML Properties efforts to weaponise [Chapter 11] into an estatefunded ‘fishing expedition’.

BML Properties should not be permitted to leverage CCA’s legitimate need for bankruptcy protection as a means to pursue scorchedearth discovery tactics in pursuit of enforcing BML Properties’ judgment against non-debtors at the expense of CCA’s estate.”

The winding-up petitions were filed in the Bahamian Supreme Court against CCA (Bahamas) and CSCEC (Bahamas) on the basis that they are insolvent. Tribune Business previously reported that both sides have been negotiating a socalled “protective order” governing how confidential documents and other evidence - disclosed as part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection process involving CCA Inc - will be treated.

However, they are at odds over the issue of whether any evidence disclosed in the Chapter 11 proceedings could then be used by Mr Izmirlian and BML Properties to aid other legal actions against CCA including the Bahamian winding-up proceedings involving its Nassau two resorts. Not surprisingly, Baha Mar’s original developer wants the ability to

do this, while the Chinese state-owned contractor is adamantly opposed.

CCA Inc, meanwhile, said the New York State Supreme Court’s verdict only held CCA (Bahamas) - and not itself - liable for perpetrating any fraud on Mr Izmirlian over the Baha Mar project’s 2015 collapse and failure to complete. And it used its latest legal filings to place as much distance between itself and its Bahamian affiliates as possible.

“CCA Bahamas is CCA’s distant corporate affiliate – not a parent, subsidiary or sibling corporation to CCA,” CCA Inc argued.

“CCA was held liable in the trial decision, not based on any conduct of its own, but only on an erroneously applied veil-piercing theory, which CCA and its co-defendants have appealed and believe will be reversed.

“As the defendants’ appeal explains, piercing CCA (Bahamas) corporate veil to reach its remote affiliate, CCA, was plain error.” This, it argued, stemmed from the fact that the New York court failed to apply Bahamian law, which it

claims should have been used to determine the “veil piercing” because CCA (Bahamas) is a Bahamian company.

“If Bahamian law had been correctly applied, BML Properties would have lost its suit against CCA,” CCA Inc argued.

“In the Bahamas, veilpiercing is allowed only if a plaintiff shows that the defendant created a shell entity to ‘deliberately evade... an existing legal obligation’ that the defendant already owed to the plaintiff. That fact pattern did not apply in the Baha Mar litigation, and BML Properties never argued it did.

“To the contrary, CCA was never party to any contract with BML Properties, and any liability CSCEC (Bahamas) or CCA (Bahamas) incurred to BML Properties only arose at the time of the alleged breaches or fraud in 2014-2015, years after those companies were incorporated in 2009. For these straightforward reasons, the [appeal court] is likely to reverse the trial court’s erroneous decision to pierce the corporate veil.”

The New York State

Supreme Court, though, found that all three entities were part of a common enterprise with senior executives switching and inter-changing between them at will when it suited their purpose. CCA Inc, meanwhile, argued in its February 6, 2025, filing that it has provided sterling cooperation to Mr Izmirlian.

“To date, CCA has reviewed more than 20,000 documents, resulting in 14 separate productions totaling over 18,000 pages of discovery. In response to BML Properties’ everincreasing demands, CCA’s legal and financial teams have been working around the clock to identify and produce responsive documents, ensuring that no unnecessary delays occur,” the contractor asserted.

“The scope and complexity of these productions... underscore the extraordinary diligence with which CCA has approached the process. Despite the significant volume of material requiring review, translation and processing, CCA has continued to make rolling productions without delay, fully complying with its discovery obligations.”

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COMPANIES ACT, 2000 LEGAL NOTICE

DoiT BAHAMAS LTD. (In Voluntary Liquidation)

NOTICE is hereby given that by a resolution passed on the 6th day of December, 2024 the above-named Company was put into voluntary liquidation.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that BCS Corporate Group Ltd., Cumberland House, 15 Cumberland & Duke Streets, P.O. Box SS-6836, Nassau, Bahamas was appointed voluntary liquidator of the Company.

AND TAKE NOTICE that any creditors having debts or claims against the Company are required to send particulars to the Liquidator of the said Company and in default thereof they will be excluded from the beneft of any distribution made by the Liquidator.

Dated this 6 day of February, 2025.

BCS Corporate Group Ltd. Liquidator

SARKIS IZMIRLIAN

Tax chief: Property filing target ‘ain’t so hard cut’

from page one

“If you’re a registered office and doing regular annual filings shouldn’t you have that under your purview? That should be prepared every year for the company filings.”

He added that details regarding changes in corporate structure; changes in shareholders and ownership composition; asset values; real estate holdings; and any major transactions, including buying and selling of property, should be kept by registered offices in the ordinary course of business and be at hand. For that reason, the Department of Inland Revenue did not believe this latest regulatory requirement was especially onerous.

Acknowledging that there will be “a learning curve”, given that this is the first time that ‘real property declarations’ have to be filed with the Department of Inland Revenue, Mr Fernander said: “I’m not sure if there will be another extension. The filing deadline was December 31, which is in line with the companies filings.”

The deadline for 2024, though, is February 15 at the end of this week. And the operations

chief conceded that the Department of Inland Revenue was “a bit lenient” in accommodating Business Licence filings during the first year of the present system when companies with annual turnovers above $5m were, for the first time, required the submission of audited financial statements.

“I’m sure we’ll be lenient,” Mr Fernander said, but added that “it can’t be a blanket” extension granted to all clients of a particular registered office. Instead, these are more likely to be granted on a case-by-case basis that a registered office has to justify.

“We’ll wait for their final submissions,” he continued.

“We had a meeting with the Bar Association. There was a training session that happened with our legal team and the Bar Association, and this was not raised at that time. If they have concerns we’d like them to air them before the intended date for filing. If they are late, are they also late with their Companies Registry filings.

“It’s a new Act that came in. There may be some hesitancy with what their responsibility is as a registered corporate office, and maybe having this material at hand, they don’t have it with regards to each of their

companies. I take the point. We are willing to work with them. It ain’t so hard cut. They need to reach out to our legal department so we can be aware of the concerns they have.”

Included as part of Budget reforms to crack down on VAT evasion involving high-valued real estate, all registered offices and agents - typically law offices and accounting firms - must submit declarations for all corporate clients incorporated as Companies Act or IBCs Act entities by February 15. They have to detail all their clients’ real estate holdings, and all property transactions they were involved in during the past year.

The 16-page form, which has been seen by this newspaper, requires registered agents to declare that all the information supplied by their corporate clients is “true and correct” even though they will not necessarily be able to verify its total accuracy. Details on all beneficial owners/shareholders; property addresses and their tax assessment numbers; and taxpayer identification numbers are just some of the details sought.

Also sought by the Department of Inland Revenue is information on whether a particular

property is jointly owned with another company or person; if it is being held in trust for someone; and if a corporate entity or person is holding it in trust for the reporting company. These specifics must be provided for, and repeated, for all properties owned by the reporting company, as well as all sales and purchases it has participated in.

Andrew O’Brien, the Glinton, Sweeting & O’Brien attorney and partner, last week told this newspaper that while the private sector backed the Government’s drive to crack down on VAT evasion involving highvalue real estate sales it feels there better ways to achieve this objective without further undermining the country’s ease of doing business.

He disclosed that both the Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) and Bahamas Bar Association are working to devise alternatives to the ‘real property declaration’, one of which could involve setting a threshold or floor - say $2m - for the value of transactions that need to be reported to the Department of Inland Revenue. Only real estate deals above this limit would have to be reported.

“We understand the

Government’s concern to close VAT loopholes, and the private sector is willing to assist, but the method that has been presented is onerous and needs to be rescinded,” Mr O’Brien told Tribune Business.

“The BFSB and the Bar Association are putting their heads together to present some alternatives not just complain but, in the meantime, the task that has been given us is unreasonable and I strongly doubt many registered offices and agents are going to have the ability to comply. Furthermore, I don’t think the Department of Inland Revenue is going to be able to process all the information.

“Could you imagine getting this from your registered agent at the beginning of the year and told: ‘You have to get this back to me in two weeks’?” Mr O’Brien argued that much of the information sought by the ‘real property declaration’ should already be in the possession of government agencies such as the Bahamas Investment Authority (BIA), beneficial ownership registry and companies registry.

WASHINGTON Associated Press

PRESIDENT Donald

Trump said he will announce on Monday that the United States will impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, including from Canada and Mexico, as well as other import duties later in the week.

“Any steel coming into the United States is going to have a 25% tariff,” he told reporters Sunday on Air Force One as he flew from Florida to New

Orleans to attend the Super Bowl. When asked about aluminum, he responded, “aluminum, too” will be subject to the trade penalties. Trump also reaffirmed that he would announce “reciprocal tariffs” — “probably Tuesday or Wednesday” — meaning that the US would impose import duties on products in cases where another country has levied duties on US goods.

“If they are charging us 130% and we’re charging them nothing, it’s not going

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL

The public is hereby advised that we, ADAM DAVIS and XUEJIAO LIU of Lot 113 Ocean Club Estates, c/o P.O. Box SP-60063, Paradise Island, The Bahamas, mother and father of JIAHAO CHANG, intend to change our child’s name to AXEL DAVIS If there are any objections to challenge the name by deed poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Offcer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, The Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the publication of this notice.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that SILVIA IRENE BLANCO HIDALGOPINDER of #24 Marine, The Grove, New Providence, The 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 10th day of February, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

to stay that way,” he told reporters.

Trump’s comments are the latest example of his willingness to threaten, and in some cases to impose, import taxes. Tariffs are coming much earlier in his presidency than during his previous four years in the White House, when he prioritized tax cuts and deregulation. Trump has alternately said he sees import taxes as tools to force concessions on issues such as immigration, but also as a source of revenue to help close

the government’s budget deficit.

Financial markets fell on Friday after Trump first said he would impose the reciprocal tariffs. Stock prices also dropped after a measure of consumer sentiment declined on Friday, largely because many respondents cited tariffs as a growing worry. The survey also found that Americans are expecting inflation to tick up in the coming months because of the duties.

Trump on Sunday did not offer any details about the steel and aluminum duties,

PUBLIC NOTICE

INTENT TO CHANGE NAME BY DEED POLL

The public is hereby advised that we, ADAM DAVIS and XUEJIAO LIU of Lot 113 Ocean Club Estates, c/o P.O. Box SP-60063, Paradise Island, The Bahamas, mother and father of QINGYI CHANG, intend to change our child’s name to KIERA DAVIS If there are any objections to challenge the name by deed poll, you may write such objections to the Chief Passport Offcer, P.O. Box N-742, Nassau, The Bahamas no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the publication of this notice.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that MAKEDA TENSETA MCKULSKY of Michelle Avenue, Sir Lynden Pindling Estate, 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 3rd day of February, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

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 3rd day of February, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

He added that a more “long-term solution” is for the information to be provided when each individual transaction occurs, which would ease the burden on all parties involved, while another alternative is for registered agents to submit information via a list rather than “a declaration for each company”.

“I close off with a hypothetical,” Mr O’Brien said of the challenge in complying by the February 15 deadline. “I wonder what the Government will do if there is 90 percent noncompliance. Are they going to shut down the corporate industry? Are they going to fine everybody; put us all in jail?

“We understand the Government’s objective, and are willing to support the effort to plug loopholes for VAT, but what’s been proposed is crippling with the likelihood that the Department of Inland Revenue does not have the manpower to absorb the information even if it receives it.”

“We’re fielding a lot of questions,” he added. “Our clients aren’t sure what they’re supposed to do, and this is an enormous human effort that can be addressed in a more reasonable and meaningful way.” Mr O’Brien said alternatives, apart from setting a floor or threshold such that only high-value transactions have to be reported, include modifying the amount of information required.

TRUMP SAYS HE WILL ANNOUNCE 25% STEEL AND ALUMINUM TARIFFS MONDAY, AND MORE IMPORT DUTIES ARE COMING

or the reciprocal tariffs. Trump previously threatened 25% import taxes on all goods from Canada and Mexico, though he paused them for 30 days barely a week ago. At the same time, he proceeded to add 10% duties on imports from China.

Yet on Friday, he said he would also delay the tariffs on the millions of small packages — often from fastfashion firms such as Temu and Shein — until customs officials can figure out ways to impose them. The small packages have previously been exempt from tariffs.

NOTICE is hereby given that WENNDRICK EUGENE  of East Street, New Providence, The 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 10th day of February, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

NOTICE

NOTICE is hereby given that DONOVON ANTHONY RICHARD HENRY of P. O Box AP-59223 slot 0351, Leviticus Adderley Estate Lot 40, 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 10th day of February, 2025 to the Minister responsible for nationality and Citizenship, P.O. Box N-7147, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

Recent aviation disasters cause fears about the safety of flying

By JOSH FUNK Associated Press

THE spate of recent aviation disasters and close calls have people worried about the safety of flying.

The midair collision that killed 67 near Washington, the fiery plane crash in Philadelphia and now a missing plane in Alaska are only the most high-profile disasters. There was also a Japan Airlines plane that clipped a parked Delta plane while it was taxiing at the Seattle airport earlier this week and a United Airlines plane caught fire during takeoff at the Houston airport Sunday after an engine problem sparked a fire on the wing.

That’s not even to mention the security concerns that arose after stowaways were found dead inside the wheel wells of two planes and aboard two other flights. And don’t forget about the time that a passenger opened an emergency exit door on a plane while it was taxiing for takeoff in Boston.

So of course people are wondering whether their flight is safe?

What happened in the worst incidents?

The January 29 collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter killed everyone aboard both aircraft. It was the deadliest plane crash in the US since Nov 12, 2001, when a jet slammed into a New York City neighbourhood just after takeoff, killing all 260 people on board and five on the ground. There hadn’t even been a deadly crash of any kind involving a US airliner since February 2009.

Crashes are more common involving smaller planes like the singleengine Cessna that crashed in Alaska on Thursday. Ten people including the pilot were killed.

A medical transportation plane crashed in Philadelphia on January 31, killing the six people onboard and another person on the ground. That Learjet generated a massive fireball when

AMAZON REPORTS STRONG EARNINGS STOCKS DIP DUE TO OUTLOOK FOR THE

By HALELUYA HADERO Associated Press

AMAZON on

Thursday reported betterthan-expected revenue and profits for the holiday shopping period, but its stocks dipped in after-hours trading due to disappointing guidance for the current quarter.

The Seattle-based e-commerce and technology company said its revenue for the October-December period totaled $187.8 billion, a 10% jump compared to the same period in 2023. Profits came out to $20 billion while earnings per share reached $1.86, higher than the $1.49 that analysts surveyed by FactSet had anticipated.

for ways to prevent similar incidents.

There have already been troubling revelations about the midair collision, but it will take more than a year to get the full report on what happened.

The NTSB always recommends steps that could be taken to prevent crashes from happening again, but the agency has a long list of hundreds of previous recommendations that have been ignored by other government agencies and the industries it investigates.

it smashed into the ground in a neighborhood not long after taking off from a small airport nearby.

How worried should I be?

Fatal crashes attract extraordinary attention partly because they are rare. The track record of US airlines is remarkably safe, as demonstrated by the long stretch between fatal crashes.

But deadly crashes have happened more recently elsewhere around the world, including one in South Korea that killed all 179 people aboard in December. There were also two fatal crashes involving Boeing’s troubled 737 Max jetliner in 2018 and 2019. And last January, a door plug blew off a 737 Max while it was in flight, raising more questions about the plane. And federal officials have been raising concerns about an overtaxed and understaffed air traffic control system for years, especially after a series of close calls between planes at US airports. Among the reasons they have cited for staffing shortages are uncompetitive pay, long shifts, intensive training and mandatory retirements.

President Donald Trump added to those concerns Thursday when he blamed the midair collision on the “obsolete” air traffic

LAMBAY MANAGEMENT INC. In Voluntary Liquidation

Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Section 138(4) of the International Business Companies Act. 2000, LAMBAY MANAGEMENT INC. is in dissolution as of February 4, 2025.

International Liquidator Services Ltd. situated at 3rd Floor Whitfeld Tower, 4792 Coney Drive, Belize City, Belize is the Liquidator.

NOTICE

IN THE ESTATE of CRYSTAL SUSAN

ROBERT DELEVEAUX AKA CRYSTAL

SUSAN STUBBS late, of #14 Bay Lily Lane of the Eastern District of the Island of New Providence, one of the Islands of Te Commonwealth of Te Bahamas, deceased.

Notice is hereby given that all persons having any claim or demands against the above named Estate are required to send their names, addresses and particulars of the same duly certifed in writing to the undersigned on or before the 20th day of February A.D., 2025, and if required, prove such debts or claims, or in default be excluded from any distribution; afer the above date the assets will be distributed having regard only to the proved debts or claims of which the Executor shall then have had notice.

And Notice is hereby given that all persons indebted to the said Estate are requested to make full settlement on or before the aforementioned date.

MICHAEL A. DEAN & CO.,

Attorneys for the Executor

Alvernia Court, 49A Dowdeswell Street

P.O. Box N-3114 Nassau, Te Bahamas

But the company said it expected revenue for the current quarter to be between $151 billion and 155.5 billion, lower than the $158.56 billion that analysts were expecting. The guidance anticipates "an unusually large, unfavorable impact" from foreign exchange rates, it said.

control system that airports rely on and promised to replace it.

But even with all that, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy went on Fox News earlier this week and tried to assure viewers that air travel is “way safer than traveling in a car and train. This is the safest mode of transportation.”

Amazon is the biggest online shopping destination in the U.S. and has long

recent years, the company in October began offering promotions intended to lure early holiday shoppers. It advertised other discounts during the threemonth period, including on major sales days such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

And the statistics back that up.

The National Safety Council estimates that Americans have a 1-in-93 chance of dying in a motor vehicle crash, while deaths on airplanes are too rare to calculate the odds. Figures from the US Department of

Amazon on Thursday reported it saw $75.5 billion in revenue for its online shopping business, up 7% from the same period in 2023.

Across the retail industry, holiday sales in November and December were better than expected compared

Ben Curtis/AP

PARTS of a plane are lifted from the water near the wreckage site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter, at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia, as an American Airlines aircraft is seen landing on the runway, foreground.

Transportation tell a similar story.

with the previous year as lower inflation on holiday goods enticed shoppers to buy, according to The National Retail Federation. Online shopping also saw record sales levels, Adobe Analytics reported in January.

What is being done?

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating these recent crashes and close calls to determine what caused them and look

Sales for Amazon Web services, the company's prominent cloud computing unit, rose 19% during the fourth quarter. But it fell slightly below analysts expectations. Amazon is one of the biggest players in the competitive tech race around generative artificial

But Duffy said the public is right to say that crashes like the recent ones are unacceptable. That is why he plans to make sure “safety is paramount” as he leads the agency that regulates all modes of transportation.

“I feel really good about where we’re at and where we’re going and the plans we have in place to make sure we even make the system safer and more efficient than it is today,” Duffy said in the Fox interview.

intelligence. Like other tech companies, it has ramped up investments in the technology and is spending billions to expand data centers that support AI and cloud computing. The company is also spending money on other equipment, including its own computer chips and those developed by Nvidia. It has also rolled out its own AI models and integrated the generative AI into other parts of its business.

NOTICE

Shipley Investments Inc.

In the fourth quarter, Amazon reported spending $27.8 billion on property and equipment, significantly

Incorporated under the International Business Companies Act, 1990 of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Registration Number 76010 B (In Voluntary Liquidation)

Notice is hereby given that the above-named Company is in dissolution, commencing on the 24th day of December, 2024.

By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer

Articles of Dissolution have been duly registered by the Registrar. The Liquidator is Richard L. Broughton, No 6 Bosham Close, Camperdown Heights, P.O. Box SP-63801, NP, The Bahamas. Persons having a Claim against the above-named Company are required on or before the 17th day of February, 2025 to send their names, addresses and particulars of their debts or claims to the Liquidator of the Company, or in default thereof they may be excluded from the benefit of any distribution made before such claim is proved.

Dated this 7th day of February, 2025

Donald Trump attends the National Prayer Breakfast at Washington Hilton, Thursday, Photo:Evan Vucci/AP

Richard L. Broughton Liquidator

FEDERAL government payments to news outlets like Politico, The New York Times and The Associated Press for subscriptions or to license content are in the crosshairs of Trump administration spending hawks, with the president on Thursday calling it potentially "THE BIGGEST

Photo:

CHINA LASHES OUT AT US ‘COERCION’ AFTER PANAMA DECLINES TO

BEIJING Associated Press

CHINA on Friday lashed out at what it called US “coercion” after Panama declined to renew a key infrastructure agreement with Beijing following Washington’s threat to take back the Panama Canal.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a briefing that China “firmly opposes the US smearing and undermining the Belt and Road cooperation through means of pressure and coercion”.

Assistant Foreign Minister Zhao Zhiyuan also met Panama’s ambassador to China and lodged solemn representations on Friday, the Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

The Belt and Road Initiative is President Xi Jinping’s signature foreign police drive to bind China closer to countries in the region and beyond by building roads, railways, airports, power plants and other infrastructure. The programme has completed some major projects but also raised concerns about debt and

RENEW INFRASTRUCTURE AGREEMENT

environmental impact. Panama’s decision to walk away from it was seen as a concession to the US over the canal after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Panamanian leader José Raúl Mulino on Sunday that Panama must immediately reduce what President Donald Trump says is Chinese influence over the canal area or face potential retaliation from the United States.

Mulino has rejected pressure from the new US government to discuss ownership of a waterway that is vital to global trade. Despite that, some believe Panama may be open to a compromise under which canal operations on both sides are taken away from the Hong Kong-based Hutchison Ports company, which was given a 25-year no-bid extension to run them. An audit into the suitability of that extension is already underway and could lead to a rebidding process.

A drop in water levels in the canal due to drought has slowed transit through the canal, raising further

complaints from Trump, although the delays appear to have nothing to do with China. Lin said the Belt and

Road Initiative has brought “active participation” from over 150 countries and that it has brought “fruitful results” to Panama and China, but gave no examples.

“We hope Panama will bear in mind the general picture of bilateral relationship and the longterm interests of both peoples, resist external interference, and make the right decision,” Lin said.

CARGO containers sit stacked as cranes load and unload containers from cargo ships at the Cristobal port, operated by the Panama Ports Company, in Colon, Panama, on February 4, 2025.

Photo: Matias Delacroix/AP

Super Bowl commercials rely on comedy and nostalgia to avoid potential missteps

By DEE-ANN DURBIN, MAE ANDERSON and WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS

AP Business Writers

MOST of the commercials airing during this year’s Super Bowl are going for laughs, with advertisers betting that America could use a little break.

As the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs hit the field in New Orleans, a parade of silly ads will hit airwaves on Sunday. Many companies put their ads online ahead of the game, but some held out to maintain an element of surprise.

Humor dominates in the ads released so far. Four old ladies go on a joy ride with WeatherTech, while Eugene Levy’s eyebrows fly off and buzz around after he eats some Little Caesars. Sloths have a case of the Mondays in an ad for Coors Light. A man’s tongue starts dancing to celebrate cold foam from Nestlé Coffee Mate. British singer Seal becomes an actual seal, sad that he can’t hold Mountain Dew with his flippers.

Actor Glenn Powell does a take on Goldilocks for Ram Trucks, while comedian Nate Bargatze clones himself and hires an opera singer because he saved so much money using DoorDash. Shaboozey takes a lighthearted stroll through New Orleans for Nerds, while the stars of the “Fast and Furious” franchise take a slow cruise in a convertible so they can enjoy Häagen-Dazs ice cream bars.

Tim Calkins, a professor of marketing at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, said this was a complicated Super Bowl for advertisers.

Most ads were in development during last fall’s US presidential election race, so avoiding controversy was even more of a priority than usual, Calkins said. The finalized crop of commercials feature a lot of simple humor, nostalgia and few creative risks, he said. But even that approach can backfire.

“That’s the challenge this year. Everybody wants to be safe, but you also want to be interesting,” Calkins said. “Safe advertising isn’t the advertising you notice or remember.” And advertisers can’t afford not to be noticed.

Some of the roughly 80 Super Bowl ads spots cost a record $8m for 30 seconds this year. Here are some of the themes of this year’s Super Bowl ads:

Heartwarming nostalgia

Budweiser brings back its Clydesdales for its Super Bowl ad, including a foal that wants to join the delivery team. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal reenact their famous scene from 1989’s “When Harry Met Sally,” except this time Sally is expressing her enthusiasm for Hellmann’s mayonnaise.

The Muppets search for accommodations with Booking.com, while an Instacart ad features a parade of familiar mascots like Mr Clean, the Jolly Green Giant and the Pillsbury Doughboy. Disney asks what the world would be like without the iconic characters it owns, like Elsa from “Frozen,” Bart Simpson and the Marvel superheroes.

Advertisers are leaning on nostalgia more than they used to in Super Bowl ads, according to Kimberly Whitler, a marketing professor at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. Nods to the past can broaden the appeal of an ad to different generations and connect products to positive cultural moments, she said.

Celebrity mash-ups Putting celebrities together in unexpected

combinations can also broaden the appeal of a commercial. In their Super Bowl ad for Michelob Ultra, actors Catherine O’Hara and Willem Dafoe are pickleball champs. Soccer star David Beckham and actor Matt Damon are longlost twins who bond over Stella Artois. Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and comedian Pete Davidson team up for a HexClad commercial, while Post Malone, Shane Gillis and Peyton Manning have a block party with Bud Light. A slew of celebrities, including Matthew McConaughey, Martha Stewart, Greta Gerwig and Charlie XCX, appear in an ad for Uber Eats.

Linli Xu, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, said celebrity endorsements can get people talking. But with dozens of brands using them, there’s a risk of diminishing returns.

Celebrities can also get so much attention that viewers don’t remember which brand they’re advertising, Xu said.

“There is a balancing act in terms of having celebrities in the ads,” she said.

Serious moments

It isn’t all fun and games at the Super Bowl this year. Pharmaceutical company Novartis urges women to get early detection for breast cancer. Dove warns that half of girls who quit sports have been criticized for their body type. Hims & Hers, a telehealth company, talks about America’s obesity epidemic.

For the third Super Bowl in a row, Come Near — a nonprofit that promotes the teachings of Jesus — is running an ad as part of its He Gets Us campaign. The ad, featuring Johnny Cash’s cover of “Personal Jesus,” shows everyday people being helpful and heroic. And the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, founded by New England Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, has a stark ad featuring Snoop Dogg and Tom Brady saying what they hate about each other, in an effort to show how pointless hate is.

Xu said she expected more ads promoting that unifying message. But for the most part, advertisers went with humor, she said.

“We just had an election year and there’s a lot of discussion around divisiveness,” she said. “People might be wanting to see some unity, everybody

coming together as a country.”

Artificial intelligence arrives Several Super Bowl ads make the case for AI as a helpmate. Chris Pratt, Chris Hemsworth and Kris Jenner team up for an ad wearing Meta ‘s smart glasses, which use artificial intelligence to answer questions about what wearers are seeing. Actor Walton Goggins pitches GoDaddy Airo, which uses AI to help build websites and social content. And Google’s “50 States, 50 Stories” campaign will show viewers a small business from their state that’s using Google’s Gemini AI assistant. But Cirkul, a water bottle brand, pokes fun at AI, showing comedian Adam Devine accidentally ordering 100,000 bottles using the AI assistant on his phone.

THIS photo provided by Booking.com shows Booking.com’s 2025 Super Bowl NFL football spot.

THIS photo provided by Hellmann’s shows Hellmann’s Super Bowl NFL football spot.