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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.

Tax break may help 41,000 homeowners

Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday said more than 41,000 homeowners could benefit from the Government’s decision to waive real property tax arrears for owner-occupied homes valued at less than $250,000.

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'Madness': 90% of loan requests are consumer

The Bahamas' consumer loan "madness" is making sustainable economic development impossible, as more than nine out of every 10 credit applications fall into this category.

RENEWABLE ENERGY 'AMAZING CHANCE' FOR DIVERSIFICATION

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas has an "incredible opportunity" to diversify its economy by becoming a renewable energy exporter, a leading Caribbean expert yesterday saying it could emulate Israel's 92 per cent penetration rate if i

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'.

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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.

$20-$30M INVESTMENT AT LAST HOTEL CORP HOTEL

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor An Illinois-based investor is eyeing a $20-$30 million investment during the first two phases of its plans to transform the last Hotel Corporation-owned property into an upscale boutique resort, with talks aiming

Gas station warning of New Year lay-offs

A gas station operator yesterday warned the 24 percent minimum wage increase will “almost certainly” force the sector to cut staffing levels unless the Government grants a long-awaited margin increase.

SUPERVALUE IN 'OVER 20%' XMAS SALES RISE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Supervalue supermarket chain saw a more than 20 per cent year-over-year increase in its Christmas sales figures, its owner and president telling Tribune Business yesterday the company was likely to invest a fu

$500M REVENUE RISE NO FISCAL GAP BRIDGE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Government's annual fiscal deficit averaged more than $170 million during the 2002-2008 'economic boom' years despite an almost $500 million rise in revenues over that period, showing that reining in out-of-co

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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.

Oil explorer: New fiscal regime does not apply to us

The Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) chief executive yesterday said the Government’s increased ‘take’ from oil exploration would not apply to its activities, because its fiscal terms were already set.

BAHAMAS URGED: ADDRESS FINANCIAL LAW WEAKNESSES

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The US government has again urged the Bahamas to strengthen its anti-terror financing laws and make membership of organised criminal gangs a criminal offence, according to a recently-released US State Department r

Insurers ‘not oblivious’ to Bahamas sanctions threat

THE insurance industry “is not oblivious” to the need for the Bahamas to comply with global anti-financial crime standards and avoid sanctions, its chairman said yesterday.

74% 'PERSONAL' CREDIT IMPEDES DEVELOPMENT

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas' development is being "seriously impacted" because its citizens are unable to invest in key productive areas, such as energy and transportation, due to almost 74 per cent of credit going on 'personal'

'GET YOUR POUND OF FLESH IN THE CORRECT ABATTOIR'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading QC told homeowners embroiled in an ongoing battle with the developers of their $52 million project to "seek their pound of flesh in the appropriate abattoir", rather than trouble Prime Minister Hubert In

PM cuts 2016 GDP growth to just 0.5%

Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday slashed a full percentage point off the Bahamas’ projected economic growth for 2016, cutting real GDP expansion estimates to just 0.5 per cent.

Bahamasair reduces staff 12% in 5 years

Bahamasair reduces staff 12% in 5 years By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bahamasair has reduced staff levels through "natural attrition" by more than 12 per cent over the past five years, Tribune Business was told yesterday, while improving its

Less than 1/4 of NIB pension recipients come from poorest 20%

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Fewer than one in four Bahamians receiving a National Insurance Board (NIB) non-contributory pension come from the poorest 20 per cent of society, an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report disclosing that pl

Govt tax crackdown exposes ‘desperation’

The Christie administration’s much-trumpeted tax crackdown has exposed its “desperation” over the strained fiscal position, the Democratic National Alliance’s (DNA) leader yesterday charging: “The Government is broke.”