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Car Show 'bounce' in 83-100% sales growth

BAHAMIAN new car dealers yesterday revealed that the Car Show "bounce" appeared to have returned in 2012, with April's sales up between 83-100 per cent month-over-month compared to March.

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CWC: BTC ‘lags’ region despite $75m investment

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) controlling owner yesterday conceded that its network quality “lags” much of the Caribbean and wider world, despite increasing its capital investment by 47 per cent last year.

FNM deputy fears ‘bubble pop’ over infrastructure spend

The Government’s lack of investment in infrastructure will be “a bubble that pops” on the next administration, the Opposition’s finance spokesman warned yesterday, adding that this was contrary to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) advice.

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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.

FAMILIES EARNING UNDER $5K YEARLY INCREASE BY 83%

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The number of Bahamian households surviving on less than $5,000 per year has increased by an "alarming" 83 per cent in the past four years, Department of Statistics data shows, indicating the recession has most im

'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.

Port licensees' 'left at mercy' of Customs

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Supreme Court has left Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) licensees and their $80-$120 million 'bonded economy' "without any recourse" against alleged Customs abuses, a leading QC telling Tribune Business he w

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Pension providers enjoy ‘significant’ 100% inquiry rise

Pension plan administrators yesterday said they had seen a 100 per cent increase in employer inquiries over the past 12 months, describing the surge as “significant” given existing low participation levels.

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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.

$150M TRUST URGED TO RESCUE HOUSING MARKET

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Government was yesterday urged to invest $100-$150 million into a Foreclosure Trust as a way to solve this nation's mortgage/housing crisis, a well-known businessman telling Tribune Business that the returns g

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

INSURANCE BROKERS: OVER 25% TO 'FALL OFF'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor More than 25 per cent of all existing Bahamian insurance brokers and agents are unlikely to be licensed under the new Act governing the sector, the Insurance Commission told Tribune Business yesterday. Arvind Bagh

$112m spent with 'no due process'

$112m spent with 'no due process' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor With more than $112 million in public monies spent "without any evidence of due process", the Bahamian Contractors Association's (BCA) president has urged the Government to use t

$112m spent with 'no due process'

$112m spent with 'no due process' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor With more than $112 million in public monies spent "without any evidence of due process", the Bahamian Contractors Association's (BCA) president has urged the Government to use t

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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”.

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.

Construction finds a regulatory home

By Simon Cooper Res Socius Some things are really strange. We have guarantees for just about everything these days, and that even includes a notice promising that some biscuits have never seen a nut before - unless, of course, the factory owner went craz

Construction finds a regulatory home

By Simon Cooper Res Socius Some things are really strange. We have guarantees for just about everything these days, and that even includes a notice promising that some biscuits have never seen a nut before - unless, of course, the factory owner went craz

BTC to 'exceed' $60- $80m earnings goal

BTC to 'exceed' $60- $80m earnings goal By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) will beat its $60-$80 million operating income projections for 2012 after generating cost savings faster than anticipated, alth