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Mortgage Relief: 16%of targeted borrowers qualify

Some 16 per cent of troubled borrowers targeted by the Government’s revised Mortgage Relief Plan have been enrolled in the scheme, a Cabinet Minister yesterday saying it had already been “more successful” than the first version.

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$8.3m contract to aid Road Traffic revenue

THE Government yesterday signed an $8.3 million contract to modernise the Road Traffic Department, as it bids to improve customer service and maximise revenue.

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Baha Mar: No gratuity deal in 10 months

Baha Mar yesterday said it had been forced to cease the normal 15 per cent gratuity payments at the Meliá Nassau Beach Resort, after 10 months of negotiations failed to reach an agreement with the Bahamas Hotel, Catering and Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) on a new arrangement.

Ex-Senator renews call for Bahamian industry ownership

Bahamians must have ownership of key economic sectors "from the top straight through the supply chain", a former FNM Senator is arguing, adding that this would protect the "haemorrhaging" foreign currency reserves.

Economist: Enterprises Bill $250k should be ‘bit higher’

THE Commercial Enterprises Bill’s $250,000 investment threshold should have been “a bit higher”, a University of the Bahamas economist argued yestrerday. Rupert Pinder, addressing the Rotary Club of West Nassau, said the $250,000 benchmark for foreign companies applying under the Bill did not match the level of incentives being granted.

SCRAP METAL REGULATIONS PUBLICATION TO COME SOON

By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net AMENDMENTS to the Customs Management Bill which are expected to provide for oversight of the scrap metal industry, are expected to be gazetted soon, the Minister the Environment tol

Accountants facing US state challenges

The Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants (BICA) is in talks with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AISPA) to resolve challenges encountered by members in maintaining their US State Board memberships, its president said yesterday.

MSC deal to give Bahamian company ‘widest ever smile’

The Bahamian leaseholder of Ocean Cay will have “the biggest smiles ever” as a result of the deal that will see Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) take over the island for its $100 million cruise port.

ICTs have ‘key role’ in sustainable development

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have a “critical role” to play in ensuring sustainable development, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA) policy director believes.

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Christie: Public funds used to buy votes

PROGRESSIVE Liberal Party leader Perry Christie yesterday accused the government of using public funds to get votes.

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'LOT OF ABUSE' IN WELFARE SYSTEM

By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net The Bahamas' social security system has been subjected to "a lot of abuse", the minister responsible has admitted, acknowledging that welfare assistance was not always being given t

VAT to raise health insurance payments $40-$100 per month

Bahamian workers could see their contributions to employer-sponsored health insurance plans increase by between $40 to $100 per month once premiums are subjected to Value-Added Tax (VAT) from July 1.

Nassau/PI urged to tackle tourism risks

New product development, climate change and the creation of a cultural and natural heritage mapping data base have been identified as priority risk areas that will be addressed over the next 12-months by the Nassau/Paradise Island tourism industry, in response to a sustainable destination assessment.

Union shows ‘Job’s patience’ with BTC

Executives at the trade union representing the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) line staff yesterday said they had displayed “Job’s patience”, accusing management of stalling negotiations on a new industrial agreement.

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Bahamas could get marketplace again in 2013

By NATARIO MCKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas could play host to the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association's (CHTA) Caribbean Marketplace summit again next year, the organisation's president, Josef Forstmayr told

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Atlantis owner eyes 'significant' 5-year investment programme

The Atlantis resort’s owner is looking to invest a “significant sum” in a five-year capital expenditure plan for the Paradise Island resort, having pronounced itself “quite excited” to have completed the $1.9 billion refinancing.

‘Much work’ ahead over business ease

The Bahamas has “a lot of work to do” before it sees a dramatic improvement in the ease of doing business, the Opposition’s finance spokesman said yesterday, adding: “There’s just too much government bureaucracy.”

Just 30% of workers covered by pensions

Just 30 per cent of the Bahamian workforce is covered by employer-sponsored pension plans, the Central Bank’s governor said yesterday, acknowledging that the relative lack of diversified investment opportunities in the Bahamas presented challenges.

Govt continuing ‘targeted’ Customs Duty reductions

The Government is proceeding with its “targeted” reduction in Customs duties to accompany Value-Added Tax (VAT), a Cabinet minister has revealed, with more cuts to be triggered by enhanced revenue administration.

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Union to ‘do what it has to do’ over Hilton meltdown

The  hotel union’s president yesterday said that if working conditions at the British Colonial Hilton do not improve soon it will “do what it has to do”, amid an air conditioning breakdown that has persisted for more than a week.