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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

The bigger picture on local buying

Use Chamber voice logo. Byline 'By Ian Ferguson', and use Pic of him The expression 'Buy Bahamian' was uttered many years ago in a desperate plea to encourage locals to support, and buy goods and services, produced in the Bahamas. I believe it was Clevel

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BTC to complete Abaco cell overhaul in mid-May

THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is set to complete its wireless system overhaul on Abaco and the northern Bahamas by mid-May, giving customers improved cellular service, including faster speeds for downloads and browsing on smart phones.

PRIVATE SECTOR LOAN DEFAULTS HIT $301M

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Almost one-third of commercial bank loans to Bahamian businesses are in arrears, something the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's (BCCEC) chairman described as a sign that economic recovery

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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

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

CHAMBER CHIEF 'VERY CONCERNED' AT $300M BAD BUSINESS LOANS

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's (BCCEC) chairman yesterday described as "very concerning" the almost-$300 million worth of 'bad loans' to the private sector, with January's $10.6 mill

CHAMBER CHIEF 'VERY CONCERNED' AT $300M BAD BUSINESS LOANS

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's (BCCEC) chairman yesterday described as "very concerning" the almost-$300 million worth of 'bad loans' to the private sector, with January's $10.6 mill

2,000 homeowners 'non-performing'

2,000 homeowners 'non-performing' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor An estimated 1,500-2,000 Bahamian homes have mortgage loans that are more than 90 days past due, the Clearing Banks Association (CBA) told Tribune Business yesterday, with the se

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

$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

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.”

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.