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Super Value Eggs priced to save Consumers $5 per Dozen; now sourcing from Dominican Republic

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Deandrea Hamilton

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The Bahamas, March 7, 2025 – Nearly 25,000 eggs were destroyed by the Agriculture Department of the Turks and Caicos  Islands, when officials learned that a local grocer sourced eggs from the Dominican Republic, without the requisite government approvals.  An effort (by that grocery store) which was likely driven by the need to meet the surging demand and beat the soaring prices.

The TCI Animal Health Ordinance 2024 mandates the confiscation and destruction of the commodities, and violators may be subject to fines or other penalties, said a government issued release which also explained why eggs from the DR are not approved for Turks and Caicos consumption.

“It is important to note that the Dominican Republic has not declared itself free from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, making it a high-risk zone for disease transmission into the TCI.”

The 24,840 eggs were discovered during a routine inspection of imports from the Dominican Republic on February 27, 2025.

While reaction to the decision has been mixed, other governments are under pressure to find relief in the cost of this item for consumers.

The Dominican Republic, according to media reports noticed the surge in demand years ago.  The Latino-Caribbean country, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti formulated a plan that is now paying off, tremendously.

News company, Dominican Today reports egg production for February and March in the DR has topped 350 million eggs.

“Since 2019, the country has implemented an avian influenza vaccination program to protect local production and stabilize the industry.  Egg exports have also surged, with shipments averaging 67 million units per month in 2024 to markets such as Cuba, Aruba, and Haiti.”

These days the list of clients has grown and includes the British Virgin Islands and more recently, The Bahamas.

Super Value and its chain of over a dozen stores had to find a solution and introduced Super Value branded eggs to the market with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Debra Symonette, President of Super Value, on Monday March 3, told Bahamian media: “The price of eggs has been soaring for months now, and we have been making every effort to bring these prices down. The bird flu has caused this. It’s been spreading across the US, and as a result, millions of chickens have been killed. As a result of the death of these birds, fewer eggs are being laid, and with the supply going down so significantly, the prices have continued to soar.”

The sticker shock spawned countless memes on social media; residents creating cell phone videos of the local price of eggs and sharing it online.  Super Value soon stopped labelling the eggs with the steep price tags and even announced it was prepared to take the loss for households in The Bahamas did not suffer.

Super Value soon proved that its diligence would cement a new connection; a new source market would drive egg prices per dozen to below $4USD.

“We’re all trying to bring down the price of eggs to a considerable, an acceptable amount and today, we’re glad to say that the Super Value chain of stores, they would [have] reached out to the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, referenced the sources of eggs from some other areas who we’ve been trading with for a number of years, and we would have placed them in the hands of BAHFSA (The Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority) who is in charge all of those safety concerns, meeting all the requisite protocols and everything else,” said Neil Campbell,  permanent secretary.

Campbell also confirmed the new price.

“And today we are pleased to say that through that initiative, we now brought down the price of the eggs to $3.79. Once you add VAT it is now $4.78. So it’s another initiative brought on by the Ministry of Agriculture, where we would have heard the cries of the public, the nation, and received directives.”

Initially the new supplier was not revealed, but it did not take long for the Dominican Republic to be identified.  Almost simultaneously, it also became known that the Turks and Caicos destroyed eggs from the same country, for fear of lower safety standards.

Bahamians questioned whether The Bahamas government was allowing the grocery store chain to put public health at risk.  Super Value aimed to allay fears.

Tribune Bahamas reported: Clifton Fernander, Super Value’s perishables buyer, yesterday reiterated that the lower-priced eggs – sourced from outside the traditional US supply chain – had met all the Government’s health and safety regulatory requirements amid questions over their origin, date, quality and nutritional value. Super Value itself had also tested the eggs’ condition itself by boiling and frying them.

The Bahamas Agricultural Health & Food Safety Authority also issued a statement on March 6.

“BAFSA is in receipt of documents from the Government of the Dominican Republic verifying that the consignment of eggs for Super Value is in good sanitary condition, complies with current regulations, and is, therefore suitable for export and human consumption.”

The fear about eggs and the surge in its cost stem from an outbreak of avian influenza in the United States.

U.S. media reports inform: More than 20 million egg-laying chickens in the US died last quarter because of bird flu, data from the US Department of Agriculture shows.

Egg production plants began shutting down during the second quarter of 2024 due to the detection of the H5N1 strain of bird flu.  Initially costs edged up and then they more than doubled.

Beyond the frustrating costs now attached to this pantry staple, there has been cross contamination with deadly consequences for people.  Earlier this year, a Louisianna native died after contracting the virus.

“As of January 6, 2025, there have been 66 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu in the United States since 2024 and 67 since 2022. This is the first person in the United States who has died as a result of an H5 infection,” informed a January 6, 2025 statement issued by the CDC.

Sourcing eggs to end the “shell shock” to Bahamian consumers was widely praised and residents rushed to Super Value stores to take advantage of the more cost effect product; savings are pegged at around $5 per dozen.

“We have some on the shelves now. People seem to have already gotten the word because people are in there now like crazy everywhere. We’re putting them out as fast as we can.”

Bahamas News

Next U.S. Ambassador?  Walker Pledges Business-Driven Approach as U.S. Looks to Counter China in The Bahamas

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

The Bahamas, September 16, 2025 – For the first time since 2011, the United States is on the cusp of sending an ambassador to The Bahamas — and the nominee, former football star turned entrepreneur Herschel Walker, is promising to bring his business instincts to the diplomatic table.

Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week, Walker underscored that his background in food-service companies and small business leadership has prepared him to think practically about investment. “I know how to run a business, how to create jobs, how to make payroll. Those lessons translate into building relationships and building trust,” Walker said.

Walker, who was nominated by President Trump in December 2024, faced the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on September 11. As of now, he has not yet been confirmed; his nomination remains under review, pending a committee vote before it can move to the full Senate. If approved, he would become the first U.S. ambassador to The Bahamas since 2011.

For years, U.S. officials have stressed security and counternarcotics cooperation with The Bahamas, including through “Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos.” But in areas like infrastructure, medical care, and long-term investment, Washington has often been absent.

Hospitals and clinics remain under-resourced, and hurricane recovery has been slow in many islands. Chinese state-backed firms, by contrast, have shown up with financing packages and construction deals — a presence that has raised alarms on Capitol Hill.

“Only 50 miles off our shore, The Bahamas is too important for us to ignore,” warned Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders during Walker’s hearing. They called China’s inroads “strategic, not charitable,” suggesting Beijing’s long game is about ports, proximity, and political leverage.

Walker positioned himself as a nontraditional but pragmatic envoy. He argued that his business career, rooted in private sector success, equips him to champion American investment in The Bahamas.

He pledged to:

  • Promote U.S. companies interested in medical and infrastructure projects.
  • Support an environment that encourages American investors to see The Bahamas as more than just a beach destination.
  • Highlight opportunities for partnerships that improve public services, healthcare, and resilience against hurricanes.

“I’ve built businesses. I know what it takes to attract investors and create opportunity. That is exactly what I intend to bring to our relationship with The Bahamas,” Walker said.

The Bahamas is not just a tourist paradise. It’s a frontline state in migration, drug interdiction, and hurricane response. More than six million U.S. visitors travel there annually, making stability and safety a U.S. domestic concern as much as a foreign policy one.

And yet, with the ambassador post vacant for 14 years, the U.S. has often looked detached — opening space for China’s ambitious Belt and Road agenda. The fear is that infrastructure deals signed today could give Beijing leverage in the region tomorrow.                                                                                                                                                                                                                Walker’s confirmation would symbolize a course correction, signaling Washington’s intent to re-engage not only in security but in the economic future of The Bahamas.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Not everyone is convinced Herschel Walker is the right man for the job. His nomination revived controversies from his 2022 Senate run, including past allegations, public gaffes, and doubts about whether he has the diplomatic polish the post demands. Some senators and analysts questioned whether celebrity and business experience were enough for a role requiring nuance in foreign policy and geopolitics.

Critics argued that The Bahamas, sitting just 50 miles from Florida and facing intense Chinese interest, deserves a seasoned diplomat rather than a political ally.

Walker confronted those doubts head-on. “People have underestimated me all my life — in academics, athletics, and business,” he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “And I have always proven them wrong, through discipline, determination, and by outworking everyone.”

He admitted he had never served as an ambassador but countered that his career prepared him in other ways: building businesses, managing payrolls, and connecting with people from all walks of life. He framed his business background as a strength, promising to use it to encourage U.S. investment in healthcare, infrastructure, and hurricane resilience projects in The Bahamas.

Rather than sparring with critics, Walker leaned on confidence and persistence: “I know how to build trust and find common ground. That’s what this relationship needs.”

If confirmed, Walker would have to balance his role as diplomat with expectations of being a commercial cheerleader for U.S. firms. His emphasis on entrepreneurship suggests a willingness to push U.S. businesses toward opportunities in healthcare, ports, and post-storm reconstruction — areas where Bahamians say they need the most support.

For Bahamian officials, the question will be whether Washington is prepared to back words with financing. U.S. private sector dollars, paired with aid and development partnerships, could help shift the tide against Chinese influence.

For Walker, the test will be whether his business acumen can translate into diplomatic wins — giving Bahamians alternatives to Beijing, while deepening the U.S. role in the Caribbean.

Analysis: If Walker delivers, this appointment could mark a turning point: a U.S. strategy that recognizes that in the Caribbean, investment is diplomacy.

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Bahamas News

Conflicting Reports as Grand Bahama Awaits Its New Airport: What to Believe?

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

September 16, 2025 – Grand Bahama’s wait for a modern international airport has taken another dramatic turn. Just days after reports surfaced that the $200 million redevelopment had collapsed because partners failed to secure financing, the government is now insisting the project is alive and well — with funding in the “final stages” and construction on the horizon.

Earlier This Week: Airport Deal in Dire Straits

The week began with grim headlines. Deputy Prime Minister and Aviation Minister Chester Cooper confirmed that private partners in the much-heralded consortium had not produced financing. “Regrettably, the funding had not happened,” he admitted, sparking widespread fears the deal had crumbled.

Those admissions triggered a storm of skepticism in Freeport. Back in February, the government had declared the airport deal “finalized,” naming Aerodrome Ltd., Manchester Airport Group, and BHM UK as partners. They promised demolition within 30 days, designs in 45 days, and a new terminal by year’s end. But now, more than four months later, not a single milestone has been delivered.

For residents and business leaders, the collapse narrative confirmed their worst fears: that Grand Bahama was once again being strung along with empty promises. Long-stay tourism — the kind that sustains hotels, restaurants, taxis, and shops — depends on a functioning airport. Without it, the island’s economy remains hobbled.

Today: Government Pushes Back

But late Thursday, the government issued a forceful rebuttal. “The redevelopment of Grand Bahama’s International Airport remains a central priority for this administration and is key to the island’s economic renewal,” the statement read. Officials stressed that they are “in the final stages of securing funding and concluding agreements on airport management.”

The statement went further, clarifying the role of Manchester Airport Group, the UK’s largest airport manager. MAG, it said, was never meant to provide financing but remains a core partner in shaping the airport’s development and management. Bahamian contractors, the government insisted, are part of the team tasked with delivering the facility. “Our focus is on results,” the release concluded. “Grand Bahama will have the airport it needs to grow, attract investment, and strengthen its role as a gateway to The Bahamas.”

Who Should Grand Bahama Believe?

The conflicting narratives — one of a deal in “dire straits,” the other of a project in “final stages” — have left Grand Bahama residents struggling to know what to believe. Is the airport project truly on life support, or is the government simply playing its hand close until funding details are nailed down?

Skeptics point out that this is hardly the first time the airport has been declared a priority only to see little follow-through. Promises in 2023, in February 2025, and again in summer 2025 all failed to produce visible progress. Each missed deadline has chipped away at public trust.

Supporters of the government counter that large infrastructure projects are inherently complex, with legal negotiations and financing arrangements often dragging longer than planned. They argue that the continued involvement of Manchester Airport Group is evidence the project is still credible.

The Bigger Picture

Grand Bahama’s airport troubles are intertwined with the stalled $120 million Grand Lucayan hotel sale, which also remains without visible progress 129 days after it was announced. Business leaders insist both projects must move together if the island is to see real recovery. A luxury resort without a modern airport is as unviable as an airport without hotel rooms to fill.

For now, the people of Grand Bahama are left in limbo. This week they were told the airport deal had failed. Today, they’re being told it’s moving forward. The only certainty is that, nearly a year after the latest round of promises, not a single crane has touched the sky.

As one resident put it: “We don’t need more statements. We need to see bulldozers.”

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U.S. Coast Guard Trains Bahamian Partners in Water Survival Skills

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The Bahamas, September 10, 2025 – Rescue swimmers from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama visited Nassau to train Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) and Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) members in water survival skills as part of Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) earlier this week.

“Training alongside our USCG partners ensures our personnel are best prepared for the unique challenges of joint operations” said Superintendent Wendy Pearson, Commander Drug Enforcement Unit.

The multi-day exercise, centered on the USCG’s Shallow Water Egress Training (SWET), enhanced the safety and preparedness of Bahamian partners who routinely operate aboard USCG helicopters during OPBAT missions. The exercise provided hands-on instruction for 31 participants and strengthened interoperability between U.S. and Bahamian agencies engaged in counter-drug, search and rescue, and maritime security operations throughout the region.

“We were excited and proud to have the opportunity to share our expertise with our Bahamian partners. Not only did RBDF and RBPF perform exceptionally well, they exceeded the standards we set for the event,” said Petty Officer Second Class Cole Johnson, USCG.

OPBAT is a cooperative multi-agency international operation supporting The Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands to stop illicit drug smuggling through the region. U.S. Embassy Nassau Chargé d’affaires Kimberly Furnish stated, “Since 1982, OPBAT has worked to stop the flow of illicit narcotics through the Caribbean, destined for the United States or other jurisdictions.  This is international cooperation at its best.”

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