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'NAIL IN COFFIN' OF FREEPORT'S $70-$120M BOND ECONOMY

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bahamas Customs was yesterday accused of "putting another nail in the coffin of Freeport's" $70-$120 million bonded goods economy, a leading attorney describing the terms it was setting as a "bureaucratic perversi

Rival Bahamian bidders in fight for last Gov’t hotel

Rival Bahamian-led bids with strong Andros connections are battling to acquire the last government-owned hotel, Tribune Business can reveal, with at least one proposal focusing on eco-tourism. Prescott Smith, owner of Stafford Creek Lodge, confirmed to Tribune Business that he was heading one group seeking to buy the Fresh Creek-based Lighthouse Club from the Government-owned Hotel Corporation of the Bahamas.

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.”

QC: Legalisation of web shops has defied the critics

The web shop industry’s legalisastion has produced the opposite effect to the predictions of many critcs, a well-known QC has argued.

$1.23M PREFERENCE PAYOUT CAUSES BOB INVESTORS Q1 LOSS

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editors Bank of the Bahamas International's ordinary shareholders suffered a minor $141,676 loss during the institution's fiscal 2012 first quarter, as timing issues related to $1.231 million in preference share dividend

SECOND BAHAMIAN JOINS NAD TOP RANK

A second Bahamian has joined the Nassau Airport Development Company's (NAD) top executive ranks. Kevin McDonald has been appointed to the position of vice-president of maintenance and engineering, with effect from January 1, 2012. He will also become an

Freeport consultation ‘a matter of survival’

The negotiations over Freeport’s expiring tax breaks are “very much a matter of survival” for the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) 3,500 licensees, an outspoken QC arguing that these incentives are among the few “not completely breached” yet.

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Sky Bahamas chiefs deny share allegation

SKY Bahamas' principals yesterday told Tribune Business they completely "deny" allegations by a former executive of the airline that they conspired to squeeze him out of his equity stake in the company, and recorded incorrect shareholdings in the Companies Registry.

THE 'BAHAMIAN DREAM' HAS SOURED FOR SO MANY

Anyone who reads the local newspapers cannot help but notice the large number of distressed Bahamian homes advertised for sale by banks under their mortgage powers. Never before in the history of the Bahamas have so many families suffered the humiliation,

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Wilson: Ingraham responsible for Sth. Eleuthera’s ‘demise’

The developer adjacent to a newly-announced $100 million resort project believes they will together make Cotton Bay “the Caribbean’s premier destination”, as he blasted former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham for decisions that caused South Eleuthera’s “demise”.

Ex-minister: Dingman case 'waste of judicial resources'

Trying the $1.1 million damages claim against Jamie Dingman's failed Nassau restaurant empire in New York will be "a waste of judicial resources", a former Cabinet minister is arguing.

Baha Mar delay: ‘We’re all losers’

A leading businessman yesterday rounded on the “despicable critics” of Baha Mar’s principals, and said of the $3.5 billion project’s delayed opening: “We are all losers.”

BTC owner dismisses Cable’s mobile threat

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) controlling owner yesterday dismissed the competitive threat Cable Bahamas will pose if it wins the second cellular licence, saying it was “not a big player” when compared to the likes of Digicel.

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Minister to activists: Don’t deny us jobs

A Cabinet Minister yesterday urged environmental activists to be “balanced and responsible” when launching legal actions against legitimate developers, warning that these could deny Bahamians much-needed “economic benefits”.

CLICO liquidator saves $670,000 from IRS clutches

CLICO liquidator saves $670,000 from IRS clutches By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor CLICO (Bahamas) liquidator has freed up "significant cash" worth some $670,000 by negotiating a settlement of the US Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) tax claim ag

City Markets sale may close 'within 2 weeks'

City Markets sale may close 'within 2 weeks' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor City Markets' weekend 'Blow Out' sale was designed to clear all existing inventory prior to the supermarket chain's purchase, its current majority owner revealing a de

Liquidator targeting Govt’s $720k oil fee

Some $720,000 in oil exploration license fees that were paid to the Bahamas Government are being targeted by a Cayman-based liquidator, who has written to two Cabinet ministers seeking their assistance in recovering the funds.

Unions’ strike threat ‘like child’s tantrum’

Trade unions have been urged not to “throw a child’s tantrum” over the Sandals situation, the Chamber of Commerce’s chairman warning against any strike action that would “cripple” businesses.

Mayaguana deal 'tremendous coup' for government

Mayaguana deal 'tremendous coup' for government By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Hotel Corporation's chairman has described the revised Heads of Agreement for the I-Group's Mayaguana development as "a tremendous political coup" for the Ingra

LAND PURCHASERS URGED: DON'T USE VENDOR'S ATTORNEY

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Arawak Homes executives yesterday warned Bahamians not to use the same attorney as the seller when purchasing real estate, given the potential for 'conflicts of interest' to arise. Speaking after the developer won