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‘Lots of muscle’ required for $142m toxic BOB pile

The Bank of The Bahamas bail-out vehicle must now employ “lots of muscle” to recover its remaining “toxic” loan collateral valued at $142m, its chairman revealed yesterday.

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Broker clients want right to sue for $25

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Clients of a failed Bahamian broker/dealer are seeking a Supreme Court order that would assign them the right to sue those deemed responsible for their collective $24.5 million loss, fearing they may lose forever

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Atlantis 'savours' $1.9bn refinance

Atlantis was yesterday said to be “savouring” its completed $1.9 billion debt refinancing, its owner having invested some $500 million in the property since taking control two years ago.

Hotel union on gratuity ‘red alert’

The Bahamas Hotel Catering & Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) yesterday said it had placed its members on ‘red alert’, amid fears that other New Providence hotels will attempt to follow Baha Mar’s lead and eliminate the 15 per cent gratuity enjoyed by hotel employees.

Freeport investment law blasted as ‘anti-business’

Freeport’s new tax incentives law was yesterday branded an “abomination” and “anti-business” by an FNM Senator, who argued that it will undermine both the city’s founding agreement and economic growth.

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$112m spent with 'no due process'

$112m spent with 'no due process' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor With more than $112 million in public monies spent "without any evidence of due process", the Bahamian Contractors Association's (BCA) president has urged the Government to use t

Bank payment charges need ‘legitimate redress’

THE Central Bank yesterday appeared to concede that fees for payment services were too high and “require legitimate redress”, a view shared by 78 per cent of Bahamians.

Stay true to your business ethics

By Deidre M. Bastian Do you have good business ethics? Would you take on a client whose business was ethically appalling? How far would you stretch the truth to help a client sell their products or services? How far would you go in your promises to win a

Stay true to your business ethics

By Deidre M. Bastian Do you have good business ethics? Would you take on a client whose business was ethically appalling? How far would you stretch the truth to help a client sell their products or services? How far would you go in your promises to win a

IMF fiscal reform delays 'may jeopardise recovery'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A failure to rapidly implement tax reforms "could jeopardise a sustained recovery" in the Bahamas, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warning the Government's plans were "not sufficient" to reverse a rising $4.

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.

Just 12% of mortgages finance 'new buildings'

New Central Bank of the Bahamas date has provided a further insight into the sluggish home construction market, with just 12 per cent of mortgage applications involving 'new builds'.

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.”

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Gov’t agrees ‘few hundred thousand’ in VAT credits

The Government has approved “several hundred thousand dollars” of Value-Added Tax (VAT) credit refunds, a top official yesterday promising that businesses would not endure “a protracted wait” to receive them.

FNM deputy fears ‘bubble pop’ over infrastructure spend

The Government’s lack of investment in infrastructure will be “a bubble that pops” on the next administration, the Opposition’s finance spokesman warned yesterday, adding that this was contrary to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) advice.

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.

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$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".

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.

Labour quality 'compromised' roads project

Labour quality 'compromised' roads project By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday accused the main contractor working on the $113 million New Providence Road Improvement Project (NPRIP) of using "poorly tr

$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