All results / Stories / Neil Hartnell

Tease photo

Car Show 'bounce' in 83-100% sales growth

BAHAMIAN new car dealers yesterday revealed that the Car Show "bounce" appeared to have returned in 2012, with April's sales up between 83-100 per cent month-over-month compared to March.

$500M REVENUE RISE NO FISCAL GAP BRIDGE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Government's annual fiscal deficit averaged more than $170 million during the 2002-2008 'economic boom' years despite an almost $500 million rise in revenues over that period, showing that reining in out-of-co

Income-type tax ‘likely inevitable’, warns ex-minister

A FORMER financial services minister believes it is “probably inevitable” that the Bahamas will have to introduce some form of low-rate income tax, warning: “We’re not in the clear yet.”

S&P: Gov’ts fiscal, economic reforms ‘will take time’ to work

* 1.5% average growth forecast lower than IMF’s * Grand Lucayan closure takes out 7% of rooms * Debt to rise through 2020 to 52% of GDP

THE Government’s fiscal and economic reforms will take time to “pay dividends”, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) warned yesterday, as it took a more ‘bearish’ view of the Bahamas’ growth prospects. The rating agency, in its latest Bahamas country assessment, expressed confidence that the Minnis administration’s fiscal reforms will “arrest the deterioration” in the Government’s deficit and the national debt.

FAMILIES EARNING UNDER $5K YEARLY INCREASE BY 83%

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The number of Bahamian households surviving on less than $5,000 per year has increased by an "alarming" 83 per cent in the past four years, Department of Statistics data shows, indicating the recession has most im

Bahamas exports decline by 36% to five-year low

The Bahamas’ merchandise trade deficit fell by 12.3 per cent in 2015 to $2.719 billion, as the decline in imports offset a more than one-third reduction in exports.

DESPITE 41% OF HOTELS SUFFERING 2011 LOSS, MOST POSITIVE FOR 2012

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Although more than half of this nation's hotels are positive on their 2012 outlook some 41 per cent still suffered a net loss last year, the Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA) yesterday unveiling a survey that was ti

DESPITE 41% OF HOTELS SUFFERING 2011 LOSS, MOST POSITIVE FOR 2012

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Although more than half of this nation's hotels are positive on their 2012 outlook some 41 per cent still suffered a net loss last year, the Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA) yesterday unveiling a survey that was ti

Tease photo

BTC to complete Abaco cell overhaul in mid-May

THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is set to complete its wireless system overhaul on Abaco and the northern Bahamas by mid-May, giving customers improved cellular service, including faster speeds for downloads and browsing on smart phones.

PRIVATE SECTOR LOAN DEFAULTS HIT $301M

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Almost one-third of commercial bank loans to Bahamian businesses are in arrears, something the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's (BCCEC) chairman described as a sign that economic recovery

Ex-Hard Rock franchisee queries transfer to ex-MP

Hard Rock Cafe's former Nassau franchisee has questioned why the business was so readily handed to its Bahamian landlord, when a decade earlier he had been "forced" to pay $1 million to end their partnership.

Tease photo

$600m Sarkis claims branded 'hogwash'

An ex-Baha Mar director has slammed as "hogwash" claims that Sarkis Izmirlian lacked the $600 million financing needed to complete the project, accusing the Government of "playing the blame game".

$40M 'CIVIL WAR' RAGES IN PARADISE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A full-scale civil war is raging between the developers and numerous residents of a $40 million Exuma-based real estate project, Tribune Business can reveal, the latter alleging there are difficulties with obtaini

$40M 'CIVIL WAR' RAGES IN PARADISE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A full-scale civil war is raging between the developers and numerous residents of a $40 million Exuma-based real estate project, Tribune Business can reveal, the latter alleging there are difficulties with obtaini

$40M 'CIVIL WAR' RAGES IN PARADISE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A full-scale civil war is raging between the developers and numerous residents of a $40 million Exuma-based real estate project, Tribune Business can reveal, the latter alleging there are difficulties with obtaini

Port's 25% growth hides missed trade potential

Freeport is failing to attract “a wider range” of businesses and become a true logistics/distribution hub, despite the Container Port outstripping all Caribbean rivals with 25 per cent cargo throughput growth.

Tease photo

COMMUNICATIONS REVENUES FALL 7%

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamian communications industry's total revenues decreased by 7 per cent year-over-year in 2010, falling from $460 million to $428 million, as the sector's regulator pledged to introduce "universal service ob

Tease photo

Baha May delay’s 50% cut to growth

Baha Mar’s delayed opening could potentially slash 50 per cent off the Bahamas’ 2015 economic growth forecast, a well-known businessman has warned.

Second mobile operator begins launch process

Cable Bahamas yesterday said the clock had started running on the aggressive roll-out timetable for the second mobile operator to launch services to 99 per cent of New Providence within three months, after the Government approved its licensing.

URCA 'u-turn' over third cellular player

URCA 'u-turn' over third cellular player By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamian communications regulator has reversed course by deciding not to reserve space in the key 700 MHz radio frequency spectrum for a third cellular operator, while