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'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.

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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.

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'

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

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.

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

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.”

Banks to ‘double’ VAT recovery.... to just 10%

The Bahamian banking industry is hopeful it might be able to recover ‘double’ the amount of Value-Added Tax (VAT) inputs than previously thought, as one institution yesterday revealed its total tax burden will increase by $6-$7 million in two years.

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.

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

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

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

'CATASTROPHE' WARNING OVER INDUSTRIAL UNREST

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Widespread labour-related disruption "could be catastrophic" for an already-weak Bahamian economy, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's (BCCEC) chairman yesterday warning that this was "po

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)