AGP Executive Report

World Map Vote: The UN General Assembly backed the “Correct the Map” resolution, with 164 countries voting in favour (including the Bahamas) and only the US opposing, aiming to better reflect countries’ true relative sizes and challenge the Mercator distortion. Power Woes: Bahamas Power and Light reported another disruption tied to generation issues at Clifton Pier, leaving parts of New Providence without power and hurting businesses that lack backup generators. Grand Bahama Health Push: Health Minister Dr. Michael Darville toured a new $200m Freeport healthcare campus, with early phases targeting outpatient and urgent care before summer 2027. Education & Skills: BAMSI opened its 2026–2027 academic year with expanded facilities and student residences, while Innovation Minister Sebastian Bastian urged AI literacy to be built into education and teacher upskilling. Telecom Resilience: BTC highlighted resilience planning at the WTPF forum, stressing redundancy only matters if systems can actually be used when failures hit. Crime & Courts: Court of Appeal granted $30,000 bail to a murder suspect after finding no basis to assume he’d flee or interfere with witnesses. Cruise & Tourism: Norwegian Cruise Line opened its Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay, while Royal Caribbean offered some Utopia of the Seas guests incentives to switch sailings.

UN World Map Vote: The UN General Assembly backed the “Correct the Map” resolution, with the Bahamas among sponsors, aiming to end Mercator-style distortions that visually shrink Africa; it passed 164-1 with six abstentions. Bahamian Artist Dies in Florida Crash: Stefan “Legend” Davis, a well-known Bahamian artist, was killed in Miami-Dade after a driver fleeing a traffic stop crashed into his car; the suspect was arrested and had a military desertion warrant. Local Governance & Accountability: Parks and Beaches Authority executive chairman Jamahl Strachan says an audit of the authority’s spending will be presented to Parliament in coming months, after reports of large government loans and overspending. Education & Labour: BEMU says “all is well” after a meeting with the PM, following court-ordered return to work after industrial action disrupted schools; teachers’ union BUT also signals industrial action alert over stalled negotiations. Disaster Risk & Resilience: PM Philip Davis says the Bahamas is strengthening disaster risk management ahead of future storms, citing a DRM push after Hurricane Dorian. Environment: Parks and Beaches Authority launched a sargassum cleanup pilot at Montagu Beach, recycling removed seaweed into mulch and compost. Business & Skills: Grand Bahama MSMEs joined a “Built to Bounce Back” risk management workshop hosted by GBPA. Aviation Expansion: Flyte received approval to launch private aviation service linking Florida markets with Nassau, Bimini, Marsh Harbour and Eleuthera. Cruise Update: Royal Caribbean cancelled Royal Beach Club Paradise Island day-pass visits for Jan. 23, 2027 due to a full club charter.

Royal Tour: King Charles and Queen Camilla will visit The Bahamas and Antigua & Barbuda this fall as part of a nine-day Commonwealth tour running Oct. 27–Nov. 4, 2026. Public Safety & Crime: Prime Minister Philip Davis denied PLP ties to slain Abaco businessman Warren “Spy” Ellis after a viral campaign photo raised questions. Tragedy in Florida: Bahamian artist Stefan “Legend” Davis was killed in a crash during a police pursuit in Florida; friends remembered him for his airbrush art and community impact. Regional Education: Attorney General Anil Nandlall helped break ground on a new Council of Legal Education law school in Guyana, described as a regional institution for the wider Caribbean. Digital Connectivity: The World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum 2026 opened at Atlantis, with leaders urging small-island resilience and “meaningful inclusion” through better connectivity. Environment: Montagu Beach seaweed was cleared and repurposed into compost for beach restoration efforts. Weather: A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for North Abaco/Grand Bahama, with North Andros and the Berry Islands added. Sports: Sebastian Walcott homered in four straight games for Frisco, while Bahamas basketball and other regional sports updates continued to roll in.

Telecom Diplomacy: Prime Minister Philip Davis used the World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum at Atlantis to urge small island states to unite and demand fairer terms in data, licensing and disaster connectivity—warning they’re getting a “sovereignty discount” in negotiations. Education Fallout: The Bahamas Educators Managerial Union returned to work after a Supreme Court interim injunction ended its strike, but BEMU says key grievances over promotions, staffing and pay remain unresolved and relations with the ministry are “not in a good place.” Animal Control Push: A Grand Bahama man faces trial over allegations his dogs attacked a woman on a Freeport beach, as the government moves to tighten enforcement of animal control laws. Cruise Boost for The Bahamas: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay officially opens Sept. 4, adding slides, cliff jumps and an 800-foot river—part of a major private-island upgrade. Sports Spotlight: New Providence’s BJ Murray Jr made his MLB debut for the Chicago Cubs, while Bahamian masters runner Timothy Munnings won World Masters 400m gold in South Korea. Local Nature Getaway: A feature highlights Bonefish Pond National Park on New Providence—1,235 acres of wetlands and mangroves that many Nassau visitors miss.

Education & Labour: The Ministry of Education says school operations resumed without interruption after the Supreme Court ordered Bahamas Educators Managerial Union (BEMU) members back to work, following a strike that had sent students home early; BEMU president Stephen McPhee says the union is still “not in a good place” with government over unresolved issues. Public Safety & Animals: The Ministry of Agriculture launched “Mission Pawsible” to push responsible pet ownership and strengthen animal welfare and enforcement amid renewed concern over dog attacks. Infrastructure: Water and Sewerage Corporation is nearing completion of a $3.6m water main upgrade in Long Island, with new potable water connections for more than 120 homes and businesses. Housing: Housing Minister Keith Bell outlined continued homebuilding and new subdivision plans, including phases in New Providence and upcoming projects for the family islands. Crime: Police are investigating a downtown shooting that killed a 24-year-old man near Parliament and courts, with a suspect reportedly fleeing in a vehicle. Culture: Grand Bahama’s Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Leslia Miller-Brice visited portfolio agencies and held a cultural stakeholders meeting. Tourism/Business: DRM Authority began a three-day business continuity workshop to help small businesses prepare for disasters and disruptions. International Spotlight: Flyte says it has approvals to expand private charter operations from Florida into The Bahamas and Caribbean.

Education Dispute: The Bahamas Educators Managerial Union (BEMU) says it’s “not in a good place” after a Supreme Court interim injunction ordered members back to work, ending a strike that closed public schools early on the second day of the new school year; union leaders cite unresolved issues like salary hikes, pending promotions and staffing shortages, while Education Minister Chester Cooper called the strike “precipitous” and said work is underway to bridge gaps. Cruise & Tourism: Norwegian Cruise Line marked the opening of Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay, a nearly six-acre expansion with 19 slides, cliff jumps and an 800-foot river, as part of a $350m push; the line expects about 700,000 visitors annually by end of next year. Digital Inclusion Push: At the ITU World Telecommunications/ICT Policy Forum in The Bahamas, a disability advocate urged Caribbean governments to set aside 15% of universal service funds for digital inclusion. Business Resilience: The DRM Authority launched three-day Business Continuity Planning workshops for nearly 100 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Local Economy Watch: Abaco short-term rental operators say persistent power outages are damaging appliances and leaving guests without answers. Sports: Bahamian Timothy Munnings won gold again at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu.

Education Disruption: The Bahamas Educators Managerial Union (BEMU) carried out industrial action, triggering early dismissals and school closures across islands, but the Supreme Court later ordered members back to work and barred further strike activity after disruption to public schools. Public Health Leadership: The Public Hospitals Authority named Charles Sealy II as Managing Director effective Sept. 14, tasking him with improving performance, accountability, and healthcare delivery. Local Justice: A 25-year-old woman in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Leslia McIntosh, was charged with stealing $69,179.25 from the Administrator’s Office and denied the charge; her trial is set for Oct. 1. Politics & Party Tensions: Former PM Hubert Ingraham backed Andre Rollins for FNM leadership amid renewed criticism of current leader Michael Pintard and the party’s post-election struggles. Hurricane Watch: Tropical Storm Dolly’s remnants no longer pose a cyclone threat to The Bahamas, but officials warned of locally heavy rain and gusty winds as moisture moves through the region. Tourism & Travel: The Bahamas is pushing fall travel momentum with expanded airlift and new experiences, while cruise lines adjusted Bahamas port schedules and Norwegian unveiled its Great Tides Waterpark at Great Stirrup Cay. Sports: Team Bahamas beat Panama 100-82 in FIBA World Cup qualifiers, with VJ Edgecombe returning for a 25-point shooting surge.

Education Disruption: Public schools across The Bahamas closed at noon as BEMU launched industrial action over unresolved issues, including overdue promotions and alleged unfair treatment, just after more than 40,000 students returned. Math Focus: DPM Chester Cooper said BGCSE results improved overall, but mathematics remains a crisis with only one in three passing, calling for urgent system fixes. Health & Safety: A national “Mission PAWsible” push begins to improve compliance with the Animal Protection and Control Act after dog-attack concerns, giving owners 30 days to comply before enforcement ramps up. Public Health Warning: An obesity specialist warns black-market demand for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs is rising, driven by high prices and lack of coverage, urging caution over unregulated injections. Energy Update: PM Philip Davis toured a major Abaco hybrid solar-and-LNG project expected to start feeding the grid in November. Sports Spotlight: VJ Edgecombe Jr. scored 25 as The Bahamas beat Panama 100-82 in FIBA World Cup qualifiers; FYFL Season 2 also continued with standout wins. Weather Watch: Tropical Storm Edouard strengthened in the Gulf and is forecast to bring heavy rain and flooding risk to parts of Texas and Louisiana. Crime & Courts: The Supreme Court refused to freeze assets in a $232m investor case tied to a failed COVID-era PPE deal; in Abaco, suspected drug dealer Warren “Spy” Ellis was shot dead outside an auto parts store.

Courts & Justice: A Supreme Court judge has ordered the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority to reconsider its refusal to renew convicted drug trafficker Darryl Bartlett’s pilot licence, saying the decision breached natural justice. Education & U.S. Relations: The Bahamas says it will not renew contracts for 31 Cuban teachers for the new school year, pointing to ongoing negotiations with the U.S. over Cuban health personnel and a push to hire qualified Bahamian educators. Immigration Policy: The U.S. ended a January 2026 pause on immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries, including the Bahamas, after a court order. Sports (FIBA): V.J. Edgecombe Jr. scored 25 as the Bahamas beat Panama 100-82, while Canada stayed perfect in World Cup qualifying with a win over Argentina. Crime: Police say Warren “Spy” Ellis was shot dead in Marsh Harbour, Abaco. Weather & Safety: Tropical Storm Edouard formed in the Gulf and is expected to bring heavy rain and flooding risk to Texas and Louisiana, with residents urged to monitor updates. School Year Start: Officials toured public schools as classes resumed, with reports of staffing and facilities hurdles still affecting some campuses.

Tropical Watch: The U.S. National Hurricane Center has issued advisories for Potential Tropical Cyclone Five in the Gulf, expected to become Tropical Storm Edouard and bring tropical-storm conditions and heavy rain to parts of southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana Tuesday, with flooding the main concern. Storm Spillover: Forecasters are also tracking the remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly, which could still bring locally heavy rain to the Bahamas and parts of Florida later this week even if redevelopment remains uncertain. Back-to-School Support: BTC is backing students and teachers with gift certificates and supplies, plus community donations, as the new school year begins. Energy Update (Abaco): Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis toured Abaco’s hybrid solar and LNG power plant, saying solar will feed the grid in November and the full system could power the Abaco mainland by May 2027. Community & Safety: McDonald’s Bahamas teamed with St Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk for a back-to-school giveaway, while police in the north issued safety reminders for students. Tourism Spotlight: Blue Lagoon Island welcomed three capybaras—“The Breakfast Club”—as new animal ambassadors for guests.

Royal Visit: King Charles III and Queen Camilla have announced an eight-day Caribbean tour for CHOGM 2026, with stops in Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas and Guyana from 27 October to 4 November. Education Push: Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister I. Chester Cooper will deliver the 2026 National Back-to-School Address tonight at 8:00 p.m., focusing on teacher recruitment, literacy and numeracy, exams, student wellbeing and technology in classrooms. Police & Safety: Grand Bahama police are issuing back-to-school safety warnings, while the RBPF Northern District hosts an annual Back-to-School Fun Day for families. Energy & Infrastructure: A $90 million hybrid power project in Abaco—combining solar, LNG and battery storage—moves ahead, with the first phase expected to supply the grid in November. Sports & Community: NACAC president Mike Sands calls for a high-level CARICOM sports commission or sub-committee; locally, the Bahamas Football Association says the men’s team heads to St. Croix for CONCACAF matches. Tropics Watch: Meteorologists are tracking Invest 97L in the Gulf and monitoring remnants of Dolly for possible redevelopment near the Bahamas, with rain and storm risk continuing in the region. Immigration: The U.S. Coast Guard says it transferred 15 migrants to the Bahamas after an interdiction east of Miami Beach.

Tropical Watch: The remnants of former Tropical Storm Dolly are moving west across the Caribbean, and forecast models are tracking whether its moisture could boost rain chances toward Florida later this week, even as the National Hurricane Center says redevelopment is unlikely in the next couple of days. Migration Update: The U.S. Coast Guard transferred 15 migrants to the Bahamas after an interdiction east of Miami Beach, with processing and basic care provided before disposition. Education Spotlight: Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Chester Cooper will deliver the 2026 National Back-to-School Address tonight at 8:00 p.m., outlining priorities from literacy and numeracy to teacher recruitment, student wellbeing, and technology in classrooms. Local Community: McDonald’s Bahamas and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk provided children in Bain and Grants Town with worship, lunch, and school supplies. Security & Crime: A regional illegal firearms trafficking workshop highlighted gun violence’s role in murders, with hundreds of firearms and thousands of rounds reportedly seized and arrests made. Sports & Youth: Bahamas Surf Team athletes head to the International Surfing Association World Junior Championships in El Salvador for the first time in history, while Abaco students took part in the Future Ready Bahamas STEM camp.

Tropical Watch: Forecasters are tracking two Atlantic systems that could bring rain to the Bahamas—remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly (low chance to redevelop) and a separate Gulf disturbance/Invest 97L (also low development odds), with impacts expected to be mostly rainfall rather than major storm threats. Local Economy: RF Bank & Trust VP David Slatter says tourism remains strong and the country is on track for another record year, with construction and infrastructure activity continuing to support GDP. Energy & Power: Prime Minister Philip Davis toured Abaco’s new hybrid solar-and-LNG power plant, aimed at easing frequent blackouts; officials also flagged plans for a similar facility in Eleuthera. Public Safety: A regional illegal firearms workshop with CARICOM IMPACS highlighted gun violence’s role in murders and reported hundreds of firearms and thousands of rounds seized. Community & Education: A back-to-school initiative in Nassau provided worship, lunch, and supplies, while Abaco’s Future Ready Bahamas camp gave students hands-on coding, 3D printing, and AI exposure. Sports & Youth: The Bahamas Surf Team is headed to the International Surfing Association World Junior Championships in El Salvador for the first time. Cruise News: Royal Caribbean has renamed its Bahamas private island to “Perfect Day CocoCay” (dropping the “at”), while Norwegian pushes Summer 2028 bookings with more Bahamas sailings.

Royal Visit Watch: Buckingham Palace confirmed King Charles III and Queen Camilla will tour the Caribbean for eight days from Oct. 27 to Nov. 4, with stops in The Bahamas, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda, ending at CHOGM 2026. Cruise Branding: Royal Caribbean has dropped the “at” from its Bahamas private island name, making it “Perfect Day CocoCay” (no change to the experience). Energy & Power: Prime Minister Philip Davis toured Abaco’s new hybrid solar-and-LNG plant as the country tackles ongoing blackouts; a similar project is planned for Eleuthera. Education Staffing: Bahamas Educators Managerial Union says multiple schools across New Providence, Cat Island and Andros still lack principals and vice principals ahead of the new school year. Tropical Outlook: Forecasters are monitoring Dolly’s remnants and other Gulf/Atlantic disturbances; development chances remain low, but rain impacts could reach the Bahamas and wider Caribbean. Regional Finance: An IDB report highlights Guyana’s improving debt and jobs, while noting The Bahamas entered 2025 with higher debt burdens than in 2019.

Education Staffing Crunch: Seven New Providence schools still lack principals, with shortages also on Cat Island and Andros, leaving many Family Islands schools without vice principals as the new school year nears. Labour & Pay Talks: The Bahamas Educators, Counselors and Allied Workers Union says about 800 members are getting a 17% salary increase, plus a higher Family Islands geographical allowance of $3,500 for newly appointed teachers. Workforce Wages Debate: The National Tripartite Council is pushing for a new wage-setting approach, with calls to revisit the national minimum wage of $6.50 an hour. Public Safety & Youth: Nassau’s School Police Second Chance Programme is graduating participants after two weeks of mentorship and discipline training aimed at steering at-risk youth away from crime. Drugs & Guns Case: Three men face charges after police seized 222 pounds of cocaine and a firearm at Farmer’s Cay, Exuma, with trial set for January 19. Tropical Watch: The NHC is monitoring Gulf and Atlantic areas for possible tropical development as Dolly’s remnants move toward the Bahamas, with low odds for redevelopment. Sports: Team Bahamas opened the FIBA 2027 Americas Qualifiers with a key road win over Uruguay, 103-94.

Royal Visit: Governor-General Cynthia Pratt welcomed Buckingham Palace’s announcement that King Charles III will visit The Bahamas as monarch in late October, ahead of CHOGM 2026 in Antigua and Barbuda. Power Crisis: Bahamas Power and Light restored electricity to Grand Cay after a three-week outage, with a brief adjustment outage and plans to expedite a more resilient generation system. Finance Watch: The Central Bank warned the public about Allied Bank and Trust Bahamas, saying it is falsely claiming to be licensed, urging people to verify regulators before sending money. Tax System Rollout: The Bahamas Chamber backed the phased launch of the One Tax Bahamas portal, with early registration for the Bahamas Identification Number set to begin Sept. 1. Crime & Courts: An 18-year-old woman, Diamonique Webster, was remanded on charges including three murders and multiple firearm and robbery offences; in Abaco, former beauty queen Lindsay Shiver’s bail was upheld after a judge said her monitoring device issues were handled properly. Immigration Pressure: Haiti received 161 deportees from the US and Bahamas on Aug. 27, including 104 returned by the Bahamasair flight to Cap-Haïtien. Weather: Tropical Storm Dolly was downgraded to an open tropical wave, with heavy rain and flash-flood risk for the Leeward Islands and nearby areas, and an outside chance it could reorganize later. Sports: The Bahamas beat Uruguay 103-94 in FIBA World Cup qualifying, moving into fourth place. Community & Culture: The Seymour family received new keys after a devastating fire, while cultural stakeholders in Grand Bahama called for stronger support and a bigger voice in national cultural decisions.