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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

‘Breath of fresh air’: 150k cruise arrivals over Xmas

The Downtown Nassau Partnership’s (DNP) co-chair yesterday hailed the increase in cruise ship traffic as a “breath of fresh air” for business with close to 150,000 passenger arrivals forecast for Christmas week.

BRISTOL PREMIER'S 'BEST OF THE BEST'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bristol Wine and Spirits is aiming to showcase "the best of the best" in its wine and spirits portfolio through next week's 'soft opening' of its one-acre Premier Cru venue on Gladstone Road, its president yesterd

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

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 Sub-Deck: * Gov't acknowledges major difference with IMF over 'timing and will for major tax reform' * Debt Management Committee set up to oversee Bahamas' fiscal position By NEIL HA

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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

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

Florida court blocks $7.59m Bahamas ruling

A contractor’s bid to enforce a $7.59 million Bahamas Supreme Court judgment against a major global hotel chain has been blocked by a Florida appeals court, which ruled the latter was not involved in a $1 billion Bahamian joint venture.

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Gov't pushes deficit elimination forecast back three years

The Government has pushed back its original projections for eliminating the fiscal deficit by three full years, and is now pinning its hopes on a $449 million, four-year 'swing' into surplus.

$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

Tax crackdown: Govt hits 6,000 businesses, 5,000 property owners

The Government last night unveiled its promised crackdown on tax defaulters, promising to first pursue the largest, wealthiest delinquents - some 6,000 businesses and 5,000 high-end property owners.

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

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Bimini Bay facing homeowners revolt

The Bimini Bay Resort is facing a homeowners revolt in the Supreme Court, with multiple purchasers voicing concerns over how their properties and multi-million dollar maintenance fee sums are being managed.

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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.

De-risk 'client migration' to benefit larger banks

Correspondent bank 'de-risking' could drive another wave of Bahamian financial services consolidation by sparking "client migration" to larger institutions, a former finance minister has warned.

'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.

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