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ATLANTIS TAKEOVER 'BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Brookfield Asset Management's ownership takeover at Atlantis and the One & Only Ocean Club has been described by a leading accountant as "the best thing that ever happened for the Bahamas". Raymond Winder, managin

Litigation concern on Baha Mar delays

Fears were mounting yesterday that the continued delays to Baha Mar’s opening could spark litigation between the parties involved, a Caribbean tourism expert warning they had “better get their act together” to avoid lasting damage to the project and the Bahamas.

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AML chair: City Markets deal 'kept changing'

AML Foods chairman yesterday said its efforts to acquire City Markets' remaining business fell apart because the latter's principal, Mark Finlayson, "kept changing the terms of the deal" on a daily basis, and had nothing to do with the BISX-listed food retail group refusing to take on the chain's staff.

Chamber urges: ‘Tighten up and enforce’ Enterprises Bill

THE Chamber of Commerce yesterday urged the Government to “tighten up the language”, and enforce the provisions, in the Commercial Enterprises Bill to prevent potential abuses.

'No doubt over VAT chaos' on January 1

A well-known businessman yesterday said he had “no doubt” the Government will be unable to seamlessly implement Value-Added Tax (VAT) come January 1, suggesting “chaos” would result from failing to promptly educate the private sector.

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'Five Baha Mars' needed to solve jobless crisis

The Bahamas needs “five Baha Mars going on” simultaneously to achieve the 5.5 per cent GDP growth necessary to slash existing unemployment by 50 per cent and absorb thousands of annual school leavers into the workforce.

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FUND 'BELOW PAR' AFTER 50% VACANCY CUT FAILURE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Property Fund's failure to cut the 20 per cent vacancy rate at its flagship Bahamas Financial Centre by half meant its 2011 performance fell "slightly below expectations", although last May's Bahamian

SMALL BUSINESS BILL DISCUSSION TARGET BEFORE 2012 ELECTION

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A government minister says he is "reasonably certain" that broad consultation with stakeholders on the much-awaited Small and Medium-Sized Business (SME) Development Bill can be held prior to the general election,

Bahamasair eyes 'break even' despite $21m loss

Bahamasair eyes 'break even' despite $21m loss By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Despite being on target for a $21 million loss in its 2011-2012 financial year, Bahamasair's chairman says the airline is trending in the right direction and eventua

Bahamasair eyes 'break even' despite $21m loss

Bahamasair eyes 'break even' despite $21m loss By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Despite being on target for a $21 million loss in its 2011-2012 financial year, Bahamasair's chairman says the airline is trending in the right direction and eventua

DPM: Bahamas must ‘prove’ itself to S&P

* ‘Not at all’ upset nation still ‘junk’ * Blames former Govt’s failure to deliver * Nation has 12-24 months to execute

The Government must “prove” it can deliver on its fiscal and economic turnaround strategy, the Deputy Prime Minister admitted yesterday, after Standard & Poor’s (S&P) kept the Bahamas at ‘junk’ status. K P Turnquest told Tribune Business he was “not at all” disappointed at the outcome of S&P’s annual review of the Bahamas’ sovereign creditworthiness, despite having previously expressed optimism that the Government could make the case to be upgraded to ‘investment grade’ status.

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RoyalFidelity's fund with 'different angle'

RoyalFidelity is planning to launch an “alternative” US$ fund this summer that aims to minimise market volatility risk, a move coinciding with the maturing of another product forecast to generate 50 per cent investor returns.

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Pinder moves one year after ‘amazing’ deal

One year after receiving a “mind blowing” offer he was unable to turn down, former financial services minister Ryan Pinder yesterday confirmed his career is on the move again - this time to the Graham, Thompson & Co law firm as partner.

BTC TARGETS 30-40 STORES BY END-2012

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is aiming to expand its retail network to between 30-40 stores at 2012 year-end, an executive yesterday telling Tribune Business it hoped to have a national 4G network

MSC cruise port: No lease agreement yet

No agreement has yet been reached to transfer the lease of Ocean Cay to Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) for its private cruise port, with the current holder saying of the project: "It won't be done overnight."

Services Coalition ‘irony’ over WTO

Lack of private sector involvement has been a key factor in why the Bahamas’ bid for full World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership has lasted 15 years and counting, a former Securities Commission principal believes.

CCA: We’ll ‘be laughed at by world’ if Baha Mar not open

Top executives at Baha Mar’s main contractor voiced fears they would “be laughed at by the world” if the mega resort’s target 2015 opening was missed while admitting to multiple “shortcomings and deficiencies” in its construction.

Bank warns on provisions rise

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bank of the Bahamas International has warned investors it may have to increase loan loss provisions further during its financial year's second half, its managing director telling Tribune Business it was "grappling

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GB Power minimises $4.7m recovery effect

GB Power minimises $4.7m recovery effect By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC) has received regulatory approval to minimise the consumer impact of recovering a $4.7 million impairment charge by spreading it out o

BCA chief: 'Many smaller builders' oppose regulation

BCA chief: 'Many smaller builders' oppose regulation By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Many smaller Bahamian contractors do not support the Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) or its push for legislation to regulate the industry, the latter's