H. Forbes Charter Celebrates “Blessing of the Buses” as Company Expands Fleet and Honours Longstanding Island Partnerships

FREEPORT, BAHAMAS – H. Forbes Charter Services Ltd. marked another milestone in its nearly six decade history, with the company’s ‘Blessing of the Buses’ ceremony, welcoming twelve new Zhongtong coach buses into its fleet. The event, held at Jubilee Cathedral, brought together government officials, Chargé d’Affaires, Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy, Zhongtong representatives, community partners, and members of the H. Forbes staff and family for a thanksgiving and viewing.

The program began with John Bridgewater, grandson of founder Hadley Forbes, who welcomed guests and set the tone for a celebration focused on gratitude and renewal. Son, Hadley Forbes II, told the story of the company, which was founded on May 16, 1966, by Hadley Forbes Sr., H. Forbes Charter Services began with one thirty-seat school bus driven by Mr. Forbes himself. Today, the company is Grand Bahama’s largest ground transportation provider, employing over forty-five team members and operating a fleet of twenty-five vehicles. These range from standard shuttles and VIP coaches to the well-known Big Red enclosed double-decker and open-top sightseeing buses.

As the company expands, its leadership remains firmly focused on community impact. The arrival of twelve new Zhongtong buses supports that mission. The new vehicles will strengthen tour operations and charter services and expand capacity for local partners, supporting the continued recovery and diversification of Grand Bahama’s tourism product and show the company’s continued confidence in the island’s growth.

Ribbon Cutting

Special remarks were also delivered by Mr. Zhang Hongliang, Charge d’Affairs of the Chinese Embassy. “It is an honour for me to fly here from Nassau to the beautiful Grand Bahama Island, and it is quite important for the embassy to be part of this grand ceremony because this is a ceremony between two distinguished companies, China’s Zhongtong Company and the H. Forbes Company,” he said. “This kind of cooperation is the symbol of the friendship of China and The Bahamas. I think, in the future, China will do more, try to help our Bahamian friends to develop with our technology and also with our sincerity. That is our hope. Maybe in the future we will have more and more events like this to show that the friendship and cooperation between China and The Bahamas is deepening all the time.”

Senator James Turn Rolle

Senator James Turn Rolle, the keynote speaker, also expressed optimism about what the new fleet means for the island. “This is a wonderful day for Grand Bahama because we continue to be optimistic, but we have seen the manifestation of the optimism and the work today,” he said. “With Forbes Charter Services presenting twelve state of the art new pieces of equipment to Grand Bahama, it can only be good for us.”

Bishop Godfrey Williams delivered the blessing over the buses, expressing admiration for the company’s commitment to the community. “I am so proud for this opportunity to have been asked to really speak a blessing over this fleet of buses. Twelve buses is such a significant investment and shows what Forbes Charter means to this nation of ours, and indeed Freeport, Grand Bahama,” he said. “The vision where there is no vision, the people perish. Where there is no people, the vision perish. And what we see here today is a vision, a great vision that will expand even to the next generation, and so for this we say congratulations for the work that Forbes Charter is doing in this community, and we give God thanks and praise for it.”

The event also highlighted longstanding partnerships, including a tribute to the connection between H. Forbes Charter Services and the Sands family. In the 1970s, the late Mr. Jimmy Sands, respected entrepreneur and founder of what would later become the Bahamian Brewery, extended support to Mr. Forbes when he operated several aging Blue Bird buses that needed major repairs. Mr. Sands helped finance the work and asked only that Mr. Forbes bring his tours to Butler and Sands. That act of kindness formed a friendship that has lasted nearly fifty years.

In recognition of that partnership and the shared values of entrepreneurship and community upliftment, H. Forbes Charter has dedicated two of its new Zhongtong buses to the Sands brand. The buses carry custom designs to celebrate the contribution of Jimmy Sands and the continued relationship between the two Bahamian companies. The dedication serves as a meaningful way to honour Mr. Sands’ generosity and ensures that his legacy continues to move throughout the community, visible to both residents and the 6 million visitors coming to our shore by 2028 as a symbol of prosperity, partnership and gratitude.