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‘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.

BISX seeks embrace with crowdfunding

The Bahamas International Securities Exchange (BISX) is seeking to marry its Small Alternative Market (SAM) and regulated environment with the new crowdfunding phenomenon, its chief executive said yesterday.

Land registration still ‘stuck in 18th century’

The Bahamas’ land registration system remains “stuck in the 18th century, an Abaco realtor believes, while calling on this country to develop a proper Land Use Plan (LUP).

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Business to take roadworks battle to Privy Council

By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net BUSINESS owners who took the Government to court over Baillou Hill Road and Market Street's transformations into one-way streets say they plan on taking their case to the Privy Coun

‘Bleak’ Xmas start for many retailers

Bahamian retailers yesterday described early Christmas season sales as “slow” and “bleak”, but expressed optimism they will see a major pick-up over the next week.    

Natural resources: New fiscal regime under development

The Government is working with the Commonwealth Secretariat to finalise a new fiscal regime for the mining of sand, aragonite and other Bahamian natural resources, the Minister of the Environment and Housing said yesterday.

Bahamasair to unveil new fleet 'within 30 days'

Bahamasair expects to unveil the "change-out" of its Dash-8 dominated aircraft fleet within the next 30 days, a move it hopes will slash maintenance and operational costs.

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'Seven digit' Atlantisinvestment delayed bygaming reform wait

Atlantis’s top executive yesterday said its planned multi-million dollar, “seven digit” investment in private gaming rooms was being delayed by the wait for casino gaming reforms to be passed.

Activist slams Shell LNG deal as ‘regressive step’

A WELL-known environmentalist yesterday said the adoption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as the Bahamas’ main power source is a “huge regressive step”, questioning why the Government was not aggressively pursuing solar energy.

Mortgage Corp still stuck at 40% arrears

The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation’s (BMC) arrears ratio continues to hover around 40 per cent, its chairman said yesterday, despite it adding $49.7 million in new mortgages to its portfolio over the past four years.

Businesses monitor air cargo fall-out

Bahamian businesses are continuing to monitor the fall-out from new and increased Customs fines on the air cargo industry, which has prompted some carriers to threaten to withdraw from this market.

PI condo complex beats sale forecast

The owner of the former Ocean Place condominium complex on Paradise Island yesterday said it plans to bring 32 units to market by March 2016, telling Tribune Business initial sales had been “better than anticipated”.

FNM deputy: Oil’s value in refining

The FNM’s deputy leader yesterday argued that the petroleum industry’s true value lay in refining, and said the Government need not determine whether commercial quantities of oil exist in the Bahamas before putting the issue to a referendum.

Industrial system frustrates unions

THERE is “no question” that the present industrial relations system is set up to frustrate the Bahamian trade union movement, as one leader renewed his call for a united labour front.

Fishermen: Gov't late on storm relief

Bahamian fishermen are hoping the Government will give further thought to their cry for fuel concessions, one representative telling this newspaper: “That would go a long way to helping the industry”.

Gov’t to tackle mail boat concerns ‘in earnest’

A CABINET minister yesterday said he has committed to a “sit down” with mail boat operators after Christmas to address “in earnest” industry concerns.

Abaco’s airlift capacity up 9%

Abaco has attracted 47,000 stopover visitors year-to-date, a Ministry of Tourism official says, with the island’s airlift capacity for international arrivals increasing for the third straight year.