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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.
Receivables over three times' Water Corporation target
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Just how far the Water & Sewerage Corporation has to go to achieve financial viability has been highlighted by several key financial performance indicators, which show it currently enjoys a -44 per cent operating
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.
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.
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.
DESPITE 41% OF HOTELS SUFFERING 2011 LOSS, MOST POSITIVE FOR 2012
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Although more than half of this nation's hotels are positive on their 2012 outlook some 41 per cent still suffered a net loss last year, the Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA) yesterday unveiling a survey that was ti
DESPITE 41% OF HOTELS SUFFERING 2011 LOSS, MOST POSITIVE FOR 2012
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Although more than half of this nation's hotels are positive on their 2012 outlook some 41 per cent still suffered a net loss last year, the Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA) yesterday unveiling a survey that was ti
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
Caribbean hotel rivals beat Bahamas' 5% RevPAR rise
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamian hotel industry's 5 per cent revenue per room (RevPAR) increase for the first nine months in 2011 was overshadowed by greater rises in many Caribbean competitors, as an industry consultant yesterday to
Caribbean hotel rivals beat Bahamas' 5% RevPAR rise
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamian hotel industry's 5 per cent revenue per room (RevPAR) increase for the first nine months in 2011 was overshadowed by greater rises in many Caribbean competitors, as an industry consultant yesterday to
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.
$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
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
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.”
Tax delinquents warned to brace for ‘shock treatment’
Major tax defaulters were yesterday warned to brace for “shock treatment” from the Government’s recently-unveiled tax crackdown, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce’s (BCCEC) chairman giving his “strong support” to the initiative.
PUBLIC SPENDING TO RISE 'LESS THAN 0.1% OF GDP' VIA WAGE FREEZE END
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Lifting the civil service wage freeze will increase public spending by a sum equivalent to "less than 0.1 per cent of GDP", the Government believes, its major difference with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Public spending to rise 'less than 0.1% of GDP' via wage freeze end
Public spending to rise 'less than 0.1% of GDP' via wage freeze end By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Lifting the civil service wage freeze will increase public spending by a sum equivalent to "less than 0.1 per cent of GDP", the Government beli
