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  • Businesswoman challenges constitutionality of Cybercrime Act

    Businesswoman challenges constitutionality of Cybercrime Act

    As of Wednesday, 29 April 2026, a prominent Guyanese city businesswoman has initiated a landmark constitutional challenge against a key provision of the country’s 2018 Cybercrime Act, arguing that the clause violates fundamental free speech protections enshrined in Guyana’s constitution and runs counter to the nation’s international human rights commitments.

    Ann Narine, represented by experienced legal counsel Nigel Hughes and Dr. Vivian Williams, filed her fixed-date application with the High Court on 14 April 2026, asking the court to formally strike down Section 19(2) of the 2018 Cybercrime Act on multiple grounds. Narine’s legal team argues the provision is unconstitutional, null and void due to three critical flaws: inherent vagueness, overbroad scope, and disproportionate impact on protected civil liberties. The challenge specifically targets the clause’s violation of Article 146 of the Guyanese Constitution, which explicitly guarantees the right to freedom of expression.

    At the core of the challenge is Narine’s argument that Section 19(2) fails to meet basic legal standards for clarity when criminalizing speech-related conduct. The provision does not provide a defined, consistent meaning for key terms including “humiliation,” fails to clarify the scope of “electronic data” as applied to this section, and sets no clear threshold to separate criminal activity from expression that is legally protected under the constitution. Without these clear definitions, Narine contends the clause cannot be applied consistently or predictably, creating a risk that legitimate speech will be incorrectly criminalized. This inherent ambiguity alone, the application argues, renders the provision unconstitutional under Article 146.

    Narine further argues that the clause lacks the narrowly tailored limits required for restrictions on free speech in democratic societies. International legal standards hold that any limitation on freedom of expression must meet three cumulative requirements: it must be clearly defined by law, pursue a legitimate public aim, and be reasonably justifiable and proportionate to the goal it seeks to achieve. Section 19(2), Narine’s application maintains, fails to meet all three of these requirements.

    The challenge also invokes Guyana’s binding international human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), whose own Article 19 protects the fundamental right to freedom of expression. A broad, uncurbed interpretation of Section 19(2) that criminalizes protected expressive activity would put Guyana in direct breach of this international treaty, the application notes, adding that Guyana’s constitution must be interpreted in alignment with the country’s international human rights commitments.

    Beyond the facial challenge to the provision itself, Narine is also attacking the specific application of the law to her case as unconstitutional. She argues that the criminal charge brought against her suffers from multiple fatal procedural defects that violate her constitutional right to a fair trial. The charge, she notes, fails to identify the specific published content at the center of the allegation, the digital platform where the content was allegedly shared, any recipients of the alleged publication, and the specific actions that took place within the cited time period. By failing to outline these basic details, the prosecution effectively criminalizes unspecified speech and denies Narine the ability to know what case she must answer, violating both Articles 144 and 146 of the constitution, according to the application.

    Further procedural flaws are cited in the challenge: the summons filed against Narine did not specify which exact section of law she is alleged to have broken. Additionally, the sworn information included in the court file was dated after Narine’s initial court appearance, was never served on her legal team, and was not presented to the court when she was first required to respond to the charge and raise objections. Narine argues these omissions deprived her of adequate notice of the allegations against her and the opportunity to prepare a full defense, denying her the fair hearing protections guaranteed under Article 144 of the constitution.

    Narine is also seeking a High Court declaration that her entire prosecution is unconstitutional, unlawful, and constitutes an abuse of court process. Citing Article 187 of the Guyanese Constitution, which enshrines the principle of prosecutorial independence, Narine argues that allowing a prosecution led by an attorney retained, paid, and taking direct instructions from the private complainant in the matter directly violates the constitutional requirement for independent prosecution. As part of this claim, she is asking the court to rule that the fiat granted by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to prosecuting attorney Mikel Puran is unlawful, unconstitutional, null, void, and has no legal effect.

    The application requests multiple court orders: a formal order quashing the DPP’s fiat to prosecute, an order barring any continuation of the criminal charge against Narine, a stay of all proceedings related to the charge until the constitutional challenge is heard and determined. In the alternative, Narine asks the court to issue a permanent stay of the criminal charge on the grounds that it amounts to an abuse of the court’s process.

  • Opposition party condemns imposition of VAT on services provided through social media

    Opposition party condemns imposition of VAT on services provided through social media

    Grenada’s main opposition bloc, the New National Party (NNP), has raised sharp objections to the sitting Dickon Mitchell-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s move to table a Value Added Tax Amendment Bill that would extend value-added tax to a wide range of digitally delivered services. The proposal, if enacted, would apply VAT to nearly every corner of the modern digital economy, according to the opposition’s breakdown.

    Among the services targeted by the new tax are streaming platforms and on-demand digital entertainment, online advertising and digital marketing services, cloud computing infrastructure, website hosting, and remote data storage. The legislation also covers a broader set of digital products: downloadable software, mobile applications, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) tools, automated online e-learning platforms, pre-recorded digital educational content, and all other digital goods distributed through electronic channels.

    In a formal statement released Wednesday, the NNP emphasized that the timing of this tax expansion could not be worse, as ordinary Grenadians already grapple with soaring household expenses that have eroded purchasing power across the country. The opposition pointed to a regional trend of policy action to buffer consumers from global inflationary pressures: many neighboring governments have rolled out fuel subsidies, utility bill relief, expanded food assistance programs, and VAT cuts on essential goods to ease the burden on working families. The NNP argues the NDC administration has failed to match these relief efforts, choosing instead to expand the tax base at the most inopportune moment.

    Emmalin Pierre, leader of the NNP and Grenada’s Opposition Leader, criticized the government’s misplaced priorities in a press briefing. “The cost of food, utilities, and basic services continues to rise, and now this NDC government wants to add VAT to the digital tools that families, students, and entrepreneurs depend on,” Pierre said.

    She went on to argue that the government has failed to uphold its basic responsibility to support the digital sector before imposing new taxes. “Before you tax a sector, you have a responsibility to support it, and this government has done nothing for digital content creators, nothing for small online businesses, and nothing for the Grenadian who is simply trying to access education or entertainment through their phone. This government speaks about economic empowerment, but this bill tells a different story.”

    Pierre stressed that new government revenue should never be generated by deepening financial hardship for ordinary citizens. “Grenadians deserve a policy approach that supports both economic progress and everyday affordability,” she added. This report was compiled via contributing reporting from CMC, with NOW Grenada disclaiming responsibility for contributor statements and opinions.

  • Symbol or Provocation? Venezuela’s Brooch Rattles CARICOM

    Symbol or Provocation? Venezuela’s Brooch Rattles CARICOM

    A seemingly small accessory has sparked a major diplomatic firestorm between Venezuela and Guyana, prying open a decades-old territorial dispute that has already strained regional relations and is currently under international legal review. The controversy ignited during a recent Caribbean tour by Venezuelan acting president Delcy Rodríguez, when she wore a brooch emblazoned with a map that incorporates the contested Essequibo region – territory Guyana claims as its own – directly into Venezuelan national borders.

    Rodríguez displayed the brooch openly during high-level official meetings with leaders in Barbados and Grenada, two member states of the 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM), earlier this month. The deliberate display drew immediate and sharp pushback from Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, who labeled the gesture a deliberate provocation meant to advance Venezuela’s long-held territorial claim through extrajudicial means.

    In a formal circulated letter addressed to all CARICOM heads of government, Ali emphasized that the brooch was far more than a trivial symbolic gesture. With the decades-long border dispute already being adjudicated by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Ali warned that actions like this could erode trust in the peaceful legal process that both sides have agreed to use to resolve the conflict.

    Unapologetic, Venezuelan officials have stood firm in defending the accessory. Rodríguez herself dismissed the criticism, arguing that the brooch simply reflects Venezuela’s long-standing position that the Essequibo region is inherently part of the country’s historic national territory. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil doubled down on this defense, framing Guyana’s outrage as nothing more than a calculated distraction from the strength of Venezuela’s underlying territorial claim.

    The controversy has placed CARICOM, the key regional integration bloc that counts both Venezuela and Guyana as members, in a difficult diplomatic position. In an official public statement released after the incident, the bloc formally acknowledged Guyana’s concerns, reiterated its unwavering commitment to upholding Guyana’s sovereign rights and territorial integrity, and called on all member states to adhere to international law and refrain from any actions that could disrupt the ongoing ICJ proceedings.

    The roots of the Essequibo conflict stretch back more than a century to an 1899 international arbitration ruling that granted the territory, which accounts for roughly two-thirds of Guyana’s current total land area, to the South American nation. Venezuela has refused to recognize the validity of that ruling from its inception, and tensions between the two neighbors have surged dramatically in recent years. The escalation accelerated following major commercial oil discoveries in the Essequibo region by international energy firms including ExxonMobil, turning a long-dormant border dispute into a high-stakes strategic and economic conflict.

    The ICJ formally accepted the case for adjudication in 2018, and scheduled hearings have been progressing as both parties submit legal arguments and evidence to support their positions. Rodríguez’s tour of Caribbean nations was originally intended to deepen diplomatic and economic ties between Venezuela and regional CARICOM members, but the brooch incident has instead laid bare deep underlying divisions across the Caribbean on the dispute, and cast new uncertainty over the future of peaceful diplomatic relations between Caracas and Georgetown.

  • ABLP Calls Out UPP for Misleading Voters in Three Constituencies

    ABLP Calls Out UPP for Misleading Voters in Three Constituencies

    In an official public statement released from its central headquarters, the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) has leveled serious accusations against the opposition United Progressive Party, claiming the rival group is engaged in coordinated efforts to mislead ABLP supporters ahead of voting. The alleged deception is specifically targeted at voters registered in three constituencies across the nation: St. Mary’s North, St. Mary’s South, and St. John’s Rural East.

    According to the ABLP, representatives of the United Progressive Party have directly reached out to confirmed ABLP supporters in these districts, spreading false claims about the location of their assigned polling stations. The governing party confirmed that its internal investigation teams have independently verified multiple reports of this misleading activity, confirming that the misinformation is being spread intentionally, rather than occurring as an innocent administrative error.

    The ABLP frames this deliberate misdirection of voters as far more than a minor logistical issue: it is a fundamental violation and direct assault on the core democratic rights that underpin the nation’s electoral process. Every eligible voter holds the legal and democratic right to cast their ballot in the correct location, and deceptive tactics designed to prevent that undermine the integrity of the entire election.

    In response to this unfolding situation, the ABLP has issued an urgent warning to all registered voters in the targeted constituencies to avoid trusting unsolicited voting instructions from unofficial sources. The party urges electors to cross-check their polling station assignment exclusively through official government electoral channels and approved party resources to ensure they arrive at the correct location on election day. Samantha Marshall, Vice-Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party, signed the official statement.

  • Antiguans voting for a new government

    Antiguans voting for a new government

    Residents across Antigua and Barbuda have turned out to 190 polling stations nationwide on Thursday for a snap general election, called nearly two years ahead of its constitutionally mandated schedule by sitting Prime Minister Gaston Browne. Polling got underway at 6:00 a.m. local time, with voting scheduled to wrap up 12 hours later at 6:00 p.m. the same day.

    According to the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC), a total of 63,330 eligible voters are registered to select representatives for 17 contested parliamentary seats – marking an increase of nearly 3,000 eligible voters from the previous election cycle. The electoral body has publicly committed to running a fully transparent, smoothly coordinated voting process for all participants.

    To address common last-minute administrative issues, ABEC announced that eligible voters needing to replace expired voter identification cards will be able to obtain a temporary Special Identification Card at on-site constituency registration units open throughout election day, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ABEC Public Relations Officer Elisa Graham urged all qualified residents to exercise their democratic right to vote, while noting that no voter will be permitted to cast a ballot without valid official identification. Voters applying for the temporary special ID are required to bring one passport-sized photograph to complete their application on site.

    The election is being overseen by independent international observer delegations from three major regional and global bodies: the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Commonwealth. These observers will monitor the voting process to assess its compliance with international democratic standards.

    Prime Minister Browne, who leads the incumbent Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP), is campaigning to secure an unprecedented fourth consecutive term in office – a milestone no other prime minister in the nation’s history has achieved. Framing his party’s platform as a “renaissance in changing times,” Browne urged voters to stick with the incumbent administration, warning against supporting an opposition that he claims is unprepared to govern. “On election day, do not take a risk on a leader and a team that’s just not ready. Let’s keep Antigua and Barbuda in strong and safe hands,” Browne said.

    The ABLP’s hold on power is being challenged by the nation’s main opposition bloc, the United Progressive Party (UPP), led by first-time election candidate Jamale Pringle. Pringle has campaigned on widespread discontent with the current administration, arguing that Antiguans and Barbudans have endured too many hardships under Browne’s government. “No longer will the people be subjected to the whims and fancy of a political party or a candidate or political person,” Pringle said. He pledged that a UPP government would implement inclusive policies that benefit all citizens, free of partisan political interference.

    For this election cycle, the incumbent ABLP is fielding candidates in all 17 parliamentary seats. The UPP is running candidates for the 16 seats located on Antigua, while its political affiliate, the Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM), contests the single seat allocated to the island of Barbuda. Three independent candidates are also running for office across multiple constituencies.

    The 2026 snap election comes three years after the 2023 general election, where the ABLP secured a narrow majority, winning 9 of the 17 available seats. The UPP won the majority of the remaining seats, with one seat going to an independent candidate. All eyes are now on the final vote count, which will determine whether Browne makes history as the first prime minister to win four consecutive terms, or if the opposition UPP will unseat the incumbent after three terms in power.

  • Wiping BPL bills ‘makes no sense’

    Wiping BPL bills ‘makes no sense’

    A controversial decision by the Davis administration in the Bahamas to clear all outstanding electricity debts for residents of two remote islands has sparked fierce pushback from the country’s former top power utility executive, who is calling the policy inconsistent, unexplained, and potentially a violation of electoral rules.

    Whitney Heastie, who served as Chief Executive Officer of Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) until his 2022 resignation, has publicly rejected the government’s official justification for wiping the slate clean for Grand Cay and Moore’s Island residents. The move came shortly after Prime Minister Philip Davis toured the two islands and made a public promise of targeted relief to local households, with some residents confirming their accumulated debts – which reached as high as $13,500 for individual properties – were suddenly reduced to zero on their billing statements.

    Officials with the Davis administration have defended the debt cancellation by pointing to widespread financial and operational disruptions sparked by two major crises: 2019’s Hurricane Dorian, which devastated large swathes of the Bahamas, and the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic. The government claims that normal billing and debt collection processes were completely suspended throughout this period, as residents struggled with limited access to banking services, widespread travel restrictions, and crippled local business activity. The administration also has asserted that the preceding government had informally promised residents they would not be required to pay off accrued balances during the crisis, even as those debts continued to accumulate in BPL’s billing system.

    Heastie, who led BPL through the post-Dorian and early pandemic recovery, flatly denies this narrative. He insists that BPL’s board of directors never issued any directive to permanently forgive the outstanding debts of residents on either island. Instead, he says, the established policy at the time was a structured relief program that allowed for the postponement of arrears, while requiring households to stay current on all new monthly electricity charges.

    “The framework we put in place was straightforward: residents kept up with their current bills, and worked out a staggered payment plan to pay down back balances over time,” Heastie explained. “I don’t recall the exact timeline for deferral – whether it was 90 days, 120 days, or custom arrangements for individual households – but the core rule was always current bills had to be paid to keep service active while arrears were paid down gradually.”

    Beyond disputing the government’s background narrative, Heastie has raised two major unresolved questions about the timing and scope of the relief. First, he questions why the Davis administration chose to act on the debt issue now, years after taking office, rather than addressing it earlier in its term. Second, he argues that the selective relief for Grand Cay and Moore’s Island makes no sense when far larger communities on the Abaco mainland and East Grand Bahama suffered far more devastating damage during Hurricane Dorian, requiring a complete rebuild of BPL’s entire transmission and distribution network in northern Abaco.

    “If the government’s goal is to forgive all post-Dorian debt, why single out these two small island communities?” Heastie asked. “Why not extend the same relief to the thousands of households on the Abaco mainland that lost everything when the hurricane hit? I would have expected the government to step in for East Grand Bahama residents the same way they did for these cays.”

    Former Bahamian Works Minister Desmond Bannister has backed Heastie’s account of the previous administration’s policy, confirming that no formal or informal directive to forgive resident debts was ever issued. Bannister added that only the sitting prime minister or works minister could have authorized such a sweeping policy, and no such authorization was ever made.

    The Bahamian government has only offered vague details of how the debt forgiveness will be funded, saying only that eligible outstanding balances will be absorbed through an offsetting financial arrangement with BPL. Heastie has cast doubt on the sustainability of this plan, noting that BPL was already barely breaking even when he left the CEO post in 2022.

    “Nothing in public finance is free,” Heastie said. “If BPL is on the hook for these tens of thousands of dollars in forgiven debt, how can a company already operating on thin margins absorb that cost?”

    The sudden, targeted relief has also fueled widespread allegations of vote buying ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections. Critics point to clear provisions in the Bahamas’ Parliamentary Elections Act that prohibit any form of financial inducement intended to sway voter behavior. Bannister, a longtime political figure, called this election the worst he has ever witnessed for improper political handouts, saying social media platforms have been flooded with competing politicians one-upping each other with promises of financial gifts to voters.

    “What many politicians and even voters don’t seem to recognize is that these handouts cheapen the value of every vote, and create long-term, serious damage to the integrity of public policy in this country,” Bannister added.

  • FID strengthens capacity to trace, seize cryptocurrency with access to global enforcement platform

    FID strengthens capacity to trace, seize cryptocurrency with access to global enforcement platform

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — As transnational financial criminals increasingly leverage digital tools to hide illicit proceeds, Jamaica’s law enforcement community has announced a landmark upgrade to its anti-crime infrastructure. The island nation’s Financial Investigations Division (FID) has formalized a partnership to gain full access to Asset Reality, a world-leading digital platform designed to assist global law enforcement and public agencies in recovering and managing illegally obtained assets, with specialized capabilities for virtual and crypto-based holdings.

    The operational agreement, which launched on April 27, 2026, grants FID authorized access to the full Asset Reality platform, alongside comprehensive onboarding support and specialized user training for core investigative functions. Beyond basic tracing capabilities, the system streamlines end-to-end workflows for holding, selling off, and reclaiming virtual assets that are tied to open criminal probes and official asset recovery cases.

    According to FID leadership, the integration of this new platform is a core component of the division’s long-term capacity building strategy. For years, Jamaican authorities have focused overwhelmingly on tracking illicit funds moving through traditional formal banking channels, but the growth of decentralized blockchain networks and unregulated cryptocurrency markets has created new blind spots for enforcement. This new tool closes that gap, enabling investigators to follow illicit money across both conventional and digital transaction ledgers.

    “Financial criminals are constantly evolving their tactics to stay one step ahead of law enforcement, and our response has to evolve even faster to outpace them,” stated Dennis Chung, Chief Technical Director of the FID. “This platform drastically improves our ability to identify, secure, manage, and recover illicit assets of all kinds—both tangible physical holdings and intangible virtual assets. This upgrade will strengthen our ongoing investigations, safeguard the stability and integrity of Jamaica’s entire financial system, and cement our standing on the global stage as a reliable, committed partner in the international fight against transnational financial crime.”

  • Holness sets vision for parks in every parish

    Holness sets vision for parks in every parish

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a bold policy announcement delivered at the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) Board Retreat on April 30, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has laid out a new national development vision centered on bringing improved public amenities and accessible housing to communities across every corner of Jamaica. At the heart of this vision is a non-negotiable mandate: the UDC, in formal partnership with the National Housing Trust (NHT), will develop a public park in each of Jamaica’s 14 parishes.

    Holness made clear that meaningful national progress cannot be measured only in economic indicators, but must show up in tangible, daily improvements for ordinary Jamaicans. Accessible, thoughtfully designed recreational spaces, he argued, are a core public good that directly lift community well-being. The island-wide park initiative is designed to extend the benefits of high-quality public spaces to all citizens, regardless of their location, giving every community a safe, welcoming, professionally managed space for leisure, social connection, and physical wellness.

    Drawing on existing successful projects as a blueprint, the prime minister pointed to Harmony Beach Park as a model of what well-executed public space development can achieve. He detailed how projects of this kind do more than provide green space: they reshape entire neighborhoods, boost local pride, and create long-term improvements to quality of life that ripple out across surrounding communities.

    To move the initiative forward quickly, Holness has instructed the UDC to immediately conduct a national survey of state-owned lands, identifying parcels suitable for park development and present a full report to his office outlining potential sites for each parish. He stressed that this process requires disciplined, efficient use of public assets, ensuring that underutilized state lands are put to work serving the public good. The prime minister also emphasized that timely delivery and rigorous project management will be non-negotiable priorities for the program, pushing the UDC to avoid delays and deliver results for Jamaican communities.

    Beyond the park initiative, Holness called on the UDC to leverage its extensive national land bank to advance another critical national priority: closing Jamaica’s persistent housing gap. With unmet demand for affordable quality housing remaining a major challenge across the island, the prime minister said the UDC has a central role to play in unlocking its land reserves for residential development. He called for coordinated action across all relevant government agencies to mobilize resources and address the housing shortage, framing the work as a core responsibility of state development entities.

  • Help us scale up!

    Help us scale up!

    Jamaica’s construction industry is pushing for targeted government intervention to unlock the growth of domestic contractors, after Prime Minister Andrew Holness recently called on local firms to scale up their operations to meet the country’s rising infrastructure and housing demand.

    The call to action comes directly from The Incorporated Masterbuilders Association of Jamaica (IMAJ), which issued a formal media statement responding to Holness’ remarks delivered at a ground-breaking ceremony for the new Galina Housing Development project in St Mary this past Friday. At the event, Holness stressed that Jamaica needs a cohort of large-scale, enterprise-level contractors capable of matching the country’s growing need for affordable housing and public infrastructure, and urged domestic construction firms to expand their operational capacity to fill this gap.

    While the IMAJ has expressed full alignment with the Prime Minister’s vision, the association says turning this goal into reality requires systematic government support to address the structural barriers that have held local contractors back from competing and growing at scale. In its statement, the organization outlined a series of persistent challenges that prevent domestic firms from increasing their asset bases, investing in modern heavy equipment, upskilling workforces, and taking on large-scale national projects.

    Among the most pressing issues identified are uncertain government payment timelines, unstructured procurement processes that derail long-term project planning, and long delays in resolving contractual variation claims. The IMAJ also highlighted the unfair competitive advantage held by foreign contractors, which often access preferential financing and concessionary agreement terms that are not available to Jamaican private construction companies.

    The association also pushed back against the common public narrative that attributes all project delays to contractor misconduct or inefficiency. It noted that the majority of project delays stem from systemic issues outside of contractors’ control, including last-minute scope changes, delayed design finalization, slow regulatory approvals, unforeseen site conditions, and backlogs in variation processing across public sector agencies. If these systemic weaknesses are not acknowledged, the IMAJ argues, local contractors are unfairly blamed for issues they cannot resolve, which discourages the domestic talent and private investment needed to build a sustainable long-term construction sector.

    To address these gaps, the IMAJ is calling on the Jamaican government to develop a formal Emerging Contractor Capacity Policy, co-designed in direct consultation with the organized construction industry, that targets four key priority areas.

    First, the association is calling for a dedicated national contractor capacity building programme, to be administered either through the Development Bank of Jamaica or via a formal partnership with public housing entities such as the National Housing Trust (NHT). This programme would provide domestic construction firms with critical support including affordable equipment financing, working capital loans, bonding facilities, technical skills training, and management capacity building. The IMAJ emphasized that local firms cannot make the large-scale investments Holness has called for without access to low-cost capital to fund expansion.

    Second, the association is demanding sweeping reform of Jamaica’s current public procurement and project management systems. It notes that the current laborious, slow-moving procurement process discourages private domestic firms from bidding for public sector contracts. The IMAJ says public sector agencies must be held to the same accountability standards that the government requires of contractors, with binding, defined timelines for completing procurement approvals, certifying contractor invoices, processing variation claims, and disbursing approved payments. Persistent uncertainty around these timelines makes it impossible for contractors to maintain the investment and growth the government is asking for, the group added.

    Third, the IMAJ is calling for a transparent, enforceable regulatory framework governing foreign contractor participation in Jamaican projects. The association expressed support for Holness’ commitment that foreign-led projects should not be extractive, and must include mandatory transfer of skills and technology to local workers, create space for Jamaican technical expertise, and include binding corporate social responsibility commitments. The IMAJ argues these commitments must be formalized as legally binding contractual obligations, with public, measurable targets for local employment percentages, local subcontracting requirements, local materials procurement, skills certification outcomes, and community investment. All foreign contractors would also be required to publish annual compliance reports to meet these obligations.

    Finally, the IMAJ has formally requested a permanent seat at the table during the policy development process, arguing that any national policy designed to build local contractor capacity that does not include input from the organized construction industry will fail to address the real, on-the-ground constraints that domestic firms face.

  • Sebas reveals over 20 government contracts in election public filing

    Sebas reveals over 20 government contracts in election public filing

    As candidates vying for parliamentary seats in the Bahamas move to meet mandatory constitutional transparency rules, a comprehensive look at Sebas Bastian’s declared business interests has revealed an extensive network of over 20 active contracts and lease agreements with multiple Bahamian government agencies, as the aspiring Fort District MP positions himself for election.

    The mandatory disclosures, required under Article 48 of the Bahamian Constitution, demand that all political candidates publicly declare any direct or indirect financial interests tied to government work to prevent conflicts of interest. Bastian’s filing is among a series of similar public releases from senior ruling party figures, including Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, who is also standing for election.
    Bastian’s declaration details both direct and indirect holdings spanning multiple core sectors of the Bahamian public sector. Direct arrangements include service agreements with Bahamas Power & Light (BPL), the Water & Sewerage Corporation, and the National Insurance Board for utility and employment-linked social insurance services. Beyond core service provisions, the filing outlines multiple commercial lease agreements that see Bastian-linked entities rent out office and warehouse space to major public bodies, including the Public Hospitals Authority, the National Insurance Board, and the Bahamas Bureau of Standards.
    Among the most substantial contracts listed are vehicle lease agreements tied to Bastian-controlled EV Motors Ltd. The company holds multi-year leases of up to 60 months with three public entities: the Ministry of Finance, BPL, and Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC). The single largest contract is an agreement to lease 62 vehicles to the Ministry of Finance, a major commitment for the public finance body.
    Insurance brokerage represents another key line of Bastian’s government-linked business, handled through his BMGIA Insurance Ltd. The firm acts as the broker of record for a range of public sector entities, from the Civil Aviation Authority and Ministry of Tourism to the Public Hospitals Authority, Nassau Flight Services, Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, and the Bahamas Union of Teachers.
    The declaration also includes a 2022 heads of agreement linked to Bastian’s Venetian Village Holdings Ltd and its affiliate entities, granting a 20-year concession for the $200 million Venetian Village development project in western New Providence, a large-scale commercial and residential development previously reported by local business media. The filing also references a separate construction contract with the Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs to build a public access road connected to the development project.
    In a rare added note to his declaration, included to reinforce his commitment to transparency, Bastian clarified that a large portion of assets connected to his family are held in pre-existing trusts valued at approximately $160 million, over which he holds no formal control. In his personal filing, Bastian declared a total of $28,945,545 in personal assets, $930,000 in annual income, and just $175,000 in outstanding liabilities, placing him among the candidates with the highest declared personal wealth in this election cycle. He explained that he is only a discretionary beneficiary of the trusts, holding no legal ownership or controlling interest over the assets, and thus is not required to include the $160 million in trust holdings in his personal asset declaration.
    Turning to other senior candidates, Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper’s own declaration revealed holdings in office space rental agreements and insurance-linked arrangements with multiple public entities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nassau Airport Development Company, the Education Loan Authority, and the Disaster Risk Management Authority. Cooper, who is a principal owner of BAF Financial & Insurance (Bahamas) — the rebranded former British American Insurance Company of the Bahamas — has declared a current net worth of $28 million, a sharp increase from his 2021 declaration of $14.8 million and 2017 declaration of $7.9 million.
    Other candidates across the country have also filed their required disclosures, revealing their own government-linked business interests. Edward Whan II, the candidate for Marco City, has declared janitorial service contracts covering 14 different public locations, alongside warehouse and office rental agreements with Control Chemicals Freeport Ltd, Grand Bahama Health Services/Public Hospitals Authority, and the Ministry of Public Service. These contracts are set to run from July 2025 through June 2030. Whan II also disclosed a financial stake in Cash N Go Ltd, a company that holds debt collection service agreements with major public agencies including BTC, BPL, the Water & Sewerage Corporation, Bahamasair, Bahamas Immigration, and DigiPay.