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Chamber chief says 'space for third mobile operator'

The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce's chief executive believes "there is space for another mobile player", and is urging the Government to issue a third licence come 2019.

Fiscal hawk fears politicians won’t ‘face the music’

The Government yesterday asked Moody’s to ‘take a bet’ that its economic growth and Budgetary initiatives will succeed, as a well-known fiscal hawk said: “They’re not going to have to face the music.”

Gov’t renews oil explorer’s four licences

A Bahamas-based oil explorer last night said it had obtained “hugely significant clarity” from the Government renewing its key licences for a further three years, removing a potential obstacle to finding a joint venture partner and drilling its first exploratory well.

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Provider: We can support asset ‘doubling’ to $900m

A Bahamian financial services provider yesterday said it has the infrastructure to support a “doubling” in size to over $900 million in assets under administration, as it seeks to avoid being “pigeon-holed” in the corporate market.

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Governor to ‘bridge gap’ between banks, web shops

The Central Bank’s governor has reaffirmed his commitment to “bridge the gap” between the commercial banking industry and web shop operators, and help ease his licensees’ compliance concerns.

Sixty-day termination notice ‘recipe for woe’

The National Tripartite Council’s co-chairman has branded the proposed ‘60-day advance notice’ that employers must give of impending redundancies as “a recipe for putting your business in trouble”.

Govt ‘encourages’ Bahamian group’s landfill ‘win-win’

The Government is seeking a “holistic” solution to the New Providence landfill’s numerous challenges, and is encouraging a Bahamian consortium to advance its proposal for taking away 25 per cent of existing waste streams.

WTO benefits: ‘Better appreciation’ needed

The Bahamas needs to better understand the costs and benefits associated with becoming a full World Trade Organisation (WTO) member, the Chamber of Commerce’s chairman yesterday warning it could not compromise its $8 billion economy to protect one industry.

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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.

QC: VAT rejected if no ‘value for money’

The Bahamian people will not accept Value-Added Tax (VAT) unless the Government convinces them they will receive “value for money” in return, a top QC warned yesterday.

Receiver dismisses 'uninsurable' Baha Mar allegations

Baha Mar's receiver yesterday dismissed claims by firebrand FNM MP, Dr Andre Rollins, that the $3.5 billion development is both "uninsurable" and will cost a further $1.8 billion to complete.

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‘The s*** has hit the fan’

The Bahamian economy is paying the price for the Government’s “financial disasters” in attempting to run businesses, a leading executive blasting yesterday: “The s* has hit the fan.”

Central Bank gives Govt ‘an uppercut’

The Central Bank of the Bahamas yesterday delivered “an uppercut” to the Government’s fiscal projections, urging it to rein in spending amid a $266 million deficit for the first 10 months of the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

IDB: Bahamas needs $560m 'adjustment'

The Bahamas needs a $560 million "adjustment" at present growth rates just to cut its debt-to-GDP ratio to 60 per cent by 2021, amid warnings this nation now lies on the fiscal "dark side".

Baha Mar guest: ‘I’ll only return to look at the ruins’

A Houston entrepreneur says he will never return to the Bahamas unless it is to view “the ruins of the Baha Mar disaster”, after the enforced cancellation of his wedding left him $100,000 “out of pocket”.

Gov't urged: 'Change air cargo fines today'

The Government has been urged to "amend right away this Monday" the new and increased Customs sanctions on air cargo operators, a Bahamian courier company branding them "ridiculous".

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Baha Mar becoming ‘huge white dinosaur’

A former Baha Mar director yesterday warned that the Government will soon “have a huge white dinosaur on their hands”, despite the project’s secured creditor promising that a solution is being developed.

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McCartney: ‘Look elsewhere’ for Baha Mar purchaser

The Democratic National Alliance’s (DNA) leader yesterday said Baha Mar’s potential purchaser would not be granted a casino licence if the Gaming Board “did proper due diligence”, as he accused the Government of “playing with fire”.

IMF slashes Bahamas 2016 growth to 1.5%

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has slashed its 2016 growth forecast for the Bahamas by a further 0.7 percentage points to just 1.5 per cent, due to the Baha Mar impasse.

Bahamas urged to ‘review’ corporate income tax merits

The Bahamas was yesterday urged to examine the benefits of implementing a ‘low rate’ corporate tax, and whether this would unlock potential “benefits” from double taxation agreements.