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ICON-ic product puts Fund administrators 'more on the hook'
While Bahamian fund administrators will be “much more on the hook” than with similar structures, a senior industry executive says the “rewards” from an ICON-ic launch will be worth the risk.
Govt sought BPL fix in 12-months
The Government wanted Bahamas Power & Light's (BPL) manager to guarantee its facilities would match the operational standards of comparable energy utilities within a year of taking over, Tribune Business can reveal.
Price controls ‘out window’ with WTO
The Bahamas Motor Dealers Association’s (BMDA) president yesterday expressed hope that WTO membership will result in price controls “going out the window” to be scrapped.
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
Be ‘mad as hell’ with PLP, FNM
The Bahamian people “should be mad as hell” with both the PLP and FNM for placing the country in a position where it is being threatened with a downgrade to ‘junk’ status, the Democratic National Alliance’s (DNA) leader has charged.
NHI: Gov’t warned on ‘significant error’
The Government is “making a significant error” over National Health Insurance (NHI) by allowing the initiative to become potentially “divisive”, a well-known businessman warned yesterday.
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.
Realtors targeting $40m sales to wake ‘sleeping giant’
Bahamian realtors yesterday said they were targeting “$40-odd million” in total sales as they bid to awaken the ‘sleeping giant’ that is the Lyford Hills project, which is being developed by ex-Cabinet minister Tennyson Wells.
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.
‘Wild Wild West’ web shop oversight hits Gaming Board
* AG: ‘Difficulty’ undermines ‘blue ribbon’ status * Gov’t ‘seconding’ anti-money launder specialists * Will ‘address forthwith’ web shop money transfers
THE Gaming Board’s “blue ribbon” reputation has been hurt by taking on regulation of the “Wild Wild West” web shop sector, the Attorney General said yesterday. Carl Bethel QC told Tribune Business that the Government was now seconding more experienced anti-money laundering regulators from other agencies to the Gaming Board in a bid to get to grips with a sector deemed “high risk”.
AML chief: ‘Size of pie yet to be seen’
* Uncertainties over Xmas spending * Hopes December ‘uptick’ will persist * All retailers see October/November fall-off
BISX-listed AML Foods has warned that “the size of the pie” remains unknown when it comes to Bahamian consumer spending this Christmas. Gavin Watchorn, the group’s president and chief executive, told Tribune Business that while it was “very confident” of gaining its due share, the extent of holiday expenditure was difficult to predict given continued economic uncertainty and fragile confidence.
BAHAMAS OUT OF STEP ON 'INFORMATION AGE'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas must retool its economy and workforce to offer an expanded services menu including software development and retirement homes, the Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's (BCCEC) chairman sugg
Ex-Chamber chief ‘100% certain’ of credit downgrade
A former Chamber of Commerce president yesterday said he was “100 per cent certain” the Bahamas’ sovereign credit rating will be downgraded by Moody’s, due to its failure to enact fundamental reforms.
Broker warns Feds: 'I'll plead the Fifth'
A Bahamian broker/dealer's principal has warned US federal regulators that their efforts to obtain evidence from him over two alleged multi-million dollar securities frauds will be futile, as his lips will be sealed.
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.
'Little chance' to lower high debt, bad loan levels
The Central Bank of the Bahamas has admitted the current economic climate provides "little opportunity" to reduce high consumer debt and loan delinquency levels, with only 'qualified borrowers' able to access credit.
‘Don’t squander’ tax reform opportunity
THE Bahamas was yesterday urged “not to squander the opportunity” presented by outside pressures to undertake comprehensive tax reform and reposition its economy.
Gov’t ‘won’t ruin’ economy revival with labour laws
* Minister reassures private sector on changes * No move on ‘controversial’ issues yet * Will only proceed if business/union ‘consensus’
THE Government “will not do anything to ruin” efforts to revive the Bahamian economy, a Cabinet Minister pledged yesterday, as he sought to reassure businesses over labour law reforms. Dion Foulkes, the Minister of Labour, told Tribune Business that the Minnis administration had yet to move on “contentious” election commitments to raise the 12-year redundancy pay ‘cap’ and increase the notice period for terminated employees.
Title questions raised over $3m AML deal
CITY Markets pension fund trustees have no legal standing to sell the defunct supermarket chain’s former head office to AML Foods for $3 million, it was alleged yesterday.
Union chief: ‘No way’ would I breach law and Bar regulations
A trade union leader yesterday said there was “no way” he would have agreed to an illegal ‘contingency fee’ in taking on Sandals Royal Bahamian all the way to the Privy Council.
