“The safety of our employees and customers at Shell Service Stations is of paramount importance to us. We remain committed to reducing operational risks and ensuring our team members are trained and equipped to respond to emergencies,” explained Fabian C. Fernander, Sales & Marketing Manager, Sun Oil Limited at a recent Fire Safety Training Course.

Sun Oil Limited recently partnered with the Royal Bahamas Police Force for the preventative fire training exercise at the Police Training College on University Drive. Over thirty Service Champions from Shell stations across New Providence participated. Officers from the Royal Bahamas Police Force Fire Branch led the training exercise, providing participants with a briefing on firefighting, giving basic tips on firefighting and explaining the types of fires and extinguishers. The highlight of the training exercise was braving the heat of a real fire for an actual firefighting exercise.

Sun Oil Limited also presented the Royal Bahamas Police Force with a donation, in gratitude for their service to our country and as a token of appreciation for the invaluable fire safety training provided to its employees.

In his first public lecture under the auspices of the University of The Bahamas’ Government and Public Policy Institute (GPPI), Prime Minister the Hon. Philip Davis QC foreshadowed the completion of a national development plan for The Bahamas, announcing at the Meet the Policy Makers Lecture held on Tuesday 12th July that the draft plan is to be re-examined.

A part of Prime Minister Davis’ address was an historical reflection on the evolution of The Bahamas from pre-independence to a modern nation state. He also affirmed the value of long-term planning.

“Without a National Development Plan, the government of the day has to make decisions and choices, most of which are based on short-term needs. Given our five-year electoral cycle, it is easy to spend money on visible outcomes which might be sufficiently impressive to inspire a few votes. But the money might be better spent on less visible outcomes, such as improving coastal defences, which would prevent long-term coastal erosion,” he explained.

“Without a Plan, governments would also have to start every initiative from scratch, obtaining basic data, formulating options, and consulting the public before determining a course of action. Any rigorous planning exercise, done properly and well, helps to ensure success. It does not guarantee it, but without a plan, success is likely to be far more elusive.”

He pointed out that his administration’s approach to implementing a plan for national development will be impacted by the context which has been inherited, our values and the priorities guiding his administration.

He also espoused the principles of economic dignity and economic justice.

“By giving everyone a chance to earn a fair, decent income, everyone will prosper. What does this mean in practice? We will work to make the system of taxation fairer. We will work towards ensuring that workers earn not just a minimum wage, but a liveable wage. Complete economic equality is an unrealistic goal. What is achievable, however, and morally compelling, is to protect that which I believe to be the common denominator of humanity: the joy of life itself,” Prime Minister Davis said.

On the matter of his administration’s priorities, Mr. Davis identified education as the path to empowerment and prosperity, access to affordable and reliable healthcare, growing a strong economy, and a cultural and social paradigm shift. The Blueprint for Change outlines a substantial number of policies to recover, rebuild and revolutionize The Bahamas, he said.

According to the prime minister, his administration has considered the limits and possibilities of a National Development Plan and reviewed the approaches of previous governments.

In his remarks, GPPI Executive Director and Senior Policy Fellow Mr. Zhivargo Laing said the prime minister’s address was on a topic of seminal national importance.

“On the cusp of our nation’s 50th anniversary of independence, it is our honor to host this important national forum, one which we believe provides excellent dialogue for national policy education,” said Mr. Laing. “We are even more privileged to have for the first time the Prime Minister of our country to present a public policy lecture on a topic critical to our national development.”

A comprehensive process that engaged the feedback and insights of a wide cross-section of the Bahamian society led to the development of a first draft of a national development plan that was unveiled in 2016. A final document has not been completed. Entitled, Vision2040, the draft focuses on four main policy pillars: the economy, governance, social policy and the natural and built environment.

Scotiabank has once again been recognised as The Bahamas’ Best Bank, this time for 2022 by Global Finance Magazine (New York), which selects the best financial institutions around the world every year and is a trusted standard of excellence.

In commenting on the Bank’s achievement, Roger Archer –Managing Director, Scotiabank Bahamas said, “This award is only possible because of the tremendous efforts of our team during what continues to be a very challenging period and I want to say a heartfelt thanks to the entire Scotiabank Bahamas family. As we continue to invest in and evolve our digital banking footprint, we look forward to continuing our tradition of delivering best-in class and even more efficient banking services to our valued customers.”

“We are also extremely grateful for our many loyal customers who continue to place their trust in us their financial services provider of choice.” Archer continued.

Highlights of this year's recognition include the Bank's progress in transforming its business digitally, with continuous features added to the Scotia Caribbean Mobile App, including the launch of Scotia SelectPay™ - an installments programme for credit card customers, the conversion of three branch locations to a digital banking operating model where most day to day and all personal cash transactions are facilitated at Smart ABMs and other innovations that have increased banking security and convenience for all customers..

Joseph D. Giarraputo, publisher and editorial director of Global Finance said the following about the 2022 awards - “...corporate leaders face a new set of challenges concerning the choice of their banking relationships. Following on the enormous difficulties wrought by the pandemic, these changes demand increased attention to global commercial relationships. Our awards support decision-makers in selecting the best financial partners.” Read more about the 2022 Global Finance Best Bank awards here.

In the wake of the COVID pandemic, the Exumas have emerged as a favourite among those seeking to purchase property in The Bahamas, and Andre Bowe, an agent with Island Living Real Estate, said the drastic uptick in demand has resulted in an inventory shortage and driven up prices. “There is a shortage of inventory,” said Bowe, one of several Family Island agents representing Island Living Real Estate.

“I don’t see where that will change anytime soon, as expats and Bahamians are looking, but very few people are of the mind to sell.” Bowe said that challenge has forced a greater focus on vacant lots.

“So, now we are trying to shift to selling vacant land and hoping prospective purchasers are willing to build,” he said.

“This, in turn will be a help to the island economy and provide jobs in construction and related services.

“For realtors it will after five to 10 years hopefully add the needed inventory.”

Unsurprisingly, Bowe said the increased demand has also had a significant impact on prices.

“I know of a pandemic purchase in a sought-after location being resold for double the original purchase price,” he said.

“So yes, demand has driven the price point on Exuma real estate.”

Known for azure waters and dramatic sandbars, the Exuma Cays have long been treasured by the ultra-wealthy who seek a private retreat in paradise, but in the past two years, mainland Exuma has also captured the hearts of many. Historic George Town has been bustling since late 2020, as has the local real estate market, where Bowe said the uptick in demand has come from foreigners and Bahamians alike.

“I have had a surprising number of calls out of the blue from Bahamians looking for property, but most were modest lot inquires,” he said. “Like most family islands, beach and waterfront properties are at a premium price point, and ultimately are sold in the expat market, unlike the commercial property market, where Bahamians have made some premium property purchases.”

Bowe attributed the increased interest to pent up demand and The Bahamas’ relatively good management of the pandemic. “During most of the early pandemic when travel came back into play, real estate on the island vanished,” he said. “Everything for sale was sold. Realtors were all showing and reshowing the few same pieces.

“So, the worldwide lockdown and our comparative low infection rate was a motivating boon possibly.”

Though he noted that interest in mainland Exuma has “cooled” slightly since the early days of the pandemic, Bowe said he expects the Exuma market to continue to thrive, believing that projects on the drawing board or undergoing stages of permitting, should drive exposure and demand. “Simply put, the more people to put toes in the water will trickle down eventually to the real estate market.”

Son of the late Roy Bowe, who was a pioneer of golf in The Bahamas, Andre Bowe resides on Great Exuma, where he enjoys spending his time boating. “I do love the best of The Bahamas, and that’s our waters,” he said. “Ideally, I'd like to sell a property and take my clients fishing, in either order.”