GB Power Debt Warning, an Eleuthera Highway Crash, and a $285M Hospital Move Toward Construction

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

From a quiet southern chain to a packed Nassau desk: Grand Bahama’s chamber president warns taxpayers may face hundreds of millions in power-related debt, Eleuthera mourns a 21-year-old killed on Queen’s Highway, Abaco charter operators say fees are chasing boats away, and Nassau brings a major drug seizure, an eight-year sentence, a Copa diversion after the Panama quake, a $285 million specialty hospital moving toward construction, and a halfway house for severe mental illness before year end.

Listen to the full briefing

Exuma: Business Outlook tomorrow, Sampson Cay still pending

A one-day reminder: the 20th annual Exuma Business Outlook is tomorrow, Thursday, October 15, at the St. Andrew’s Community Centre in George Town. Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper leads the speakers under the theme “Strengthening Foundations for Long-Term Prosperity,” with aviation, workforce and entrepreneurship on the agenda, The Tribune reported earlier this month.

There is still no ruling in the Supreme Court fight over the Rosewood Exuma project on Sampson Cay. We will report the decision when it comes down.

The southern islands: a quiet stretch

From Inagua and Mayaguana through Acklins, Crooked Island and Ragged Island, we found no new local headlines since our last briefing.

The same was true for Long Island, Cat Island, San Salvador and Rum Cay. We are still watching for an update on the Long Island mailboat delays.

Eleuthera: “He was only 21”

Bahamas Latest reports that 21-year-old Charles Dupuch Jr was killed in a traffic accident on Queen’s Highway on Friday night. Police say he was struck by a white CMC Veryca van while walking and was pronounced dead at a local clinic.

His mother, Markera Smith, told The Tribune he was due for surgery in New Providence this week. He loved farming, Junkanoo, swimming and video games, and he had worked as a lifeguard. Police investigations continue. Our condolences to his family.

Abaco: boating fees vs fuel

Yacht charter operators in Abaco say boating fees are hitting harder than high fuel prices. Michael Dillon of Abaco Yacht and Charter Services told The Tribune that the 14 percent foreign yacht charter fee and the cruising permit structure are still driving boats to the British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Dillon says fuel in Abaco is about $7.80 a gallon, and that getting visiting boats back should be the conversation. The Bahama Out Island Promotion Board has previously linked a drop in sea arrivals to Abaco to those fee increases. Operators want the government to compare Bahamian fees with rival destinations and find middle ground.

Grand Bahama: up to about $412m in GB Power debt concerns

Chamber of Commerce president Ralph Hepburn is warning that taxpayers may be saddled with up to about $412 million in debt tied to Grand Bahama Power, Tribune Business reports. The utility still has not received the $80 million in capital works funding Parliament approved before the election.

Hepburn says businesses worry that without aggressive maintenance funding, Freeport’s 90 to 95 percent reliability could slip. A new borrowing resolution would refinance about $332 million and convert more of that debt onto the taxpayer. He also says most companies have not seen lower bills after the rate change, because the fuel charge went up.

Nassau: $76k hydroponic bust and an eight-year sentence

Bahamas Latest reports that officers from the Drug Enforcement Unit, with the Canine Support Unit, seized about 38.3 pounds of hydroponic marijuana valued at roughly $76,000 on Sandilands Village Road. Police say a canine alerted to a large grey duffle bag in a hallway with 25 vacuum-sealed packages, and nine more packages were found in a bathroom. A 34-year-old woman was arrested, and investigators are looking for a 32-year-old man to assist.

In the courts, Our News reports Bradley Moss was sentenced to eight years for a 2024 home invasion on Balfour Avenue. He pleaded guilty to burglary and robbery as part of a plea deal. The court heard that on April 27, 2024, he broke into Roseline Pierre’s home and demanded money; believing he was armed, she handed over $240. A neighbour detained him until police arrived.

Nassau: Copa diversion after the Panama quake

Passengers blasted Copa Airlines after a Nassau-to-Panama flight was diverted to Barranquilla, Colombia, after the powerful Panama earthquake, leaving them on the plane for nearly 12 hours, Bahamas Latest reports.

Passenger Lareinae Toote said she boarded shortly before noon and did not leave the aircraft until late that night. She described limited food, water and information, and said some passengers needed medical attention. Another passenger alleged Spanish-only announcements left English speakers confused, and claimed preferential treatment for some Colombian passengers. That discrimination claim has not been independently verified. A third passenger said she was grateful they avoided Panama during the quake, but questioned flying Copa again.

Nassau: $285M specialty hospital and a mental-health halfway house

Dr Michael Darville says construction on the new $285 million specialty hospital in New Providence should begin before the end of the year, Bahamas Latest reports. The 200-bed facility is planned for a 500-acre property along the New Providence Highway, meant to ease pressure on Princess Margaret Hospital. China Railway Construction Company engineers are on island, and the government previously arranged a $195 million China Export-Import Bank loan covering about 73 percent of the cost. Build time is expected around 36 months once work progresses.

On World Mental Health Day, Dr Darville said the ministry is close to finalising a location for a halfway house for people with severe, chronic mental illness, with an announcement expected before year end. The centre would work with Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre and psychological services, help patients stay on treatment, and begin mending family ties. Community mental health nurses are already working outside clinics to find people who need support.

Sports: Devynne Charlton’s Barrier Breakers clinic

Our News reports that Devynne Charlton, the 60-metre hurdles world record holder and three-time World Indoor Champion, hosted a free clinic at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium through her Barrier Breakers Foundation. The next stop is Saturday, October 17, at Preston H. Albury High School in Rock Sound, Eleuthera.

Weather and our advice

For New Providence on Wednesday, the forecast calls for a high near 85°F, a low around 76°F, east-northeast winds around 10 to 12 mph, and about a 40 percent chance of showers. The National Hurricane Center’s Atlantic outlook continues a no-new-tropical-cyclone-formation posture for the near term.

If you walk along a Family Island highway at night, stay visible and give traffic a wide berth. If you boat or charter, talk to your MP and your association about fees that keep visiting boats away. Check on neighbours who live with mental illness, and support the halfway-house push. And parents: if your teen runs hurdles, get them to Charlton’s Eleuthera clinic on the 17th.