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Baha Mar casino hotel at '20 storeys' by year-end

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The casino hotel for the $2.6 billion Baha Mar project could "be as high as 20 storeys" by year-end, Tribune Business was told yesterday, with work on the core "superstructure" 50 per cent complete by that point.

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Atlantis eyes 100k extra room nights in Marriott tie-up

Atlantis is hoping its 10-year franchise deal with Marriott International will generate an extra 50,000-100,000 room nights per year, its top executive describing the agreement as “the most significant tourism stimulus for the Bahamas this decade”.

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Bahamas ‘must reengineer economy faster than ever’

* QC: 2018 will ‘set economy for 20 years’ * Warns reform pace may be bewildering * Warns of tax, exchange control ‘recalibrating’

THE Bahamas faces having to “substantially reengineer its economy at a much faster pace than ever before” to escape global ‘blacklists’, a prominent QC warned yesterday. Brian Moree QC, senior partner at McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes, told Tribune Business that this nation’s response to the European Union/OECD initiatives in 2018 “will determine the future of the economy” for possibly the next 20 years.

FINCO in profit boost as bad loans hit $100m

FINCO in profit boost as bad loans hit $100m By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The $5.4 million boost from changes to its loan loss provisioning calculation enabled Finance Corporation of the Bahamas (FINCO) to enjoy a 3.18 per cent net income in

FINCO in profit boost as bad loans hit $100m

FINCO in profit boost as bad loans hit $100m By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The $5.4 million boost from changes to its loan loss provisioning calculation enabled Finance Corporation of the Bahamas (FINCO) to enjoy a 3.18 per cent net income in

Profits triple as BAF's 'sleeping giant awakes'

Profits triple as BAF's 'sleeping giant awakes' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor BAF Financial's owners believe they have "awoken the sleeping giant" during their first five years at the helm, "tripling profits" and doubling total assets to $150

$60m project 'hits the pedal'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor An eastern New Providence real estate development is set to take its full capital investment to $60 million by year-end, after its weekend 'open house' produced a "phenomenal turnout" of 400 visitors and five prop

$60m project 'hits the pedal'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor An eastern New Providence real estate development is set to take its full capital investment to $60 million by year-end, after its weekend 'open house' produced a "phenomenal turnout" of 400 visitors and five prop

LANDFILL SOLUTION REMAINS 20-30MW WASTE-ENERGY PLAN

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Government is still targeting a waste-to-energy plant that could produce 7-10 per cent of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation's (BEC) installed capacity as the 'end game' solution for the Tonique Williams-Darl

Airline's 18% fee cost rise in three years

Airline's 18% fee cost rise in three years By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading Bahamian-owned airline yesterday said its fee costs had increased by a cumulative 18 per cent over the past three years, saying the charges levied by various a

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Credit union member growth expands 29%

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bahamian credit unions have outpaced commercial banks through an average total asset growth rate of 9.25 per cent over the past five years, the Central Bank's governor said yesterday, their collective membership h

OECD attacks like ‘unofficial blacklisting’ of the Bahamas

A former finance minister says the recent OECD-inspired media onslaught against the Bahamas is akin to an “unofficial blacklisting” of its financial services industry, describing the situation as “a new form of international colonialism”.

Mortgage Corp loan provisions $71m off norm

Mortgage Corp loan provisions $71m off norm By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation's (BMC) existing policy underestimates loan loss provisioning by more than $71 million, it was disclosed yesterday, its chairman unveil

Mortgage Corp loan provisions $71m off norm

Mortgage Corp loan provisions $71m off norm By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation's (BMC) existing policy underestimates loan loss provisioning by more than $71 million, it was disclosed yesterday, its chairman unveil

Mortgage Corp loan provisions $71m off norm

Mortgage Corp loan provisions $71m off norm By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation's (BMC) existing policy underestimates loan loss provisioning by more than $71 million, it was disclosed yesterday, its chairman unveil

BTC TAKES 4G TO GRAND BAHAMA

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has introduced its fourth generation (4G) network on Grand Bahama via a soft launch. Coming almost a month ahead of schedule, it follows the official launch of the same technology in New Providence one week ea

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Sarkis loses bid to buy $192m claims

The Supreme Court yesterday ruled it was legally impossible for Sarkis Izmirlian to acquire the rights to Baha Mar’s $192 million damages claim against the project’s contractor.

Mango provider eyes staff, retail 'ramp up'

Mango provider eyes staff, retail 'ramp up' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Transfer Solutions Providers (TSP), the Mango card provider, yesterday said it was planning "within two-three months" to ramp up staff levels to 20-25 employees and ope

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Gov't 'good faith' key to Brewery's 100-job growth

Sands Beer’s manufacturer yesterday said its planned $15 million growth strategy, which could more than double its workforce via the creation of “over 100” jobs in the next five-10 years, depends on the Government maintaining the ‘tax advantage’ it holds over its BISX-listed rival.

OUTRAGE OVER UK'S 8% 'AIRLIFT TAX' RISE FOR THE CARIBBEAN

Caribbean hoteliers yesterday expressed outrage over the UK's decision not to change its Air Passenger Duty (APD) banding structure, with the 8 per cent increase set to be imposed from April 2012 increasing airlift (access) costs to the Bahamas for Europe