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Bahamas ‘open for business’ on oil exploration
The Government was yesterday praised for sending “a signal that the Bahamas is open for business” by moving to bring the oil exploration regulatory regime into law, a move that will facilitate well drilling in 2017.
Landfill chief: ‘Don’t read anything’ into our CEO transition
Renew Bahamas’ principal shareholder yesterday said “nothing can be read” into his stepping down as the New Providence landfill manager’s chief executive, as concerns persist over its financial health.
Property Fund ‘gap’ as PwC to vacate Providence House
THE BISX-listed Bahamas Property Fund is preparing for temporary vacancy at its last fully-occupied property, following a $2.206 million third quarter hit caused by a timing adjustment.
‘Don’t squander’ tax reform opportunity
THE Bahamas was yesterday urged “not to squander the opportunity” presented by outside pressures to undertake comprehensive tax reform and reposition its economy.
Bahamas urged to ‘review’ corporate income tax merits
The Bahamas was yesterday urged to examine the benefits of implementing a ‘low rate’ corporate tax, and whether this would unlock potential “benefits” from double taxation agreements.
Central Bank gives Govt ‘an uppercut’
The Central Bank of the Bahamas yesterday delivered “an uppercut” to the Government’s fiscal projections, urging it to rein in spending amid a $266 million deficit for the first 10 months of the 2015-2016 fiscal year.
Commission names new top regulator
The Securities Commission has named Dave Shannon Smith as its executive director with effect from March 1, 2012. He takes over the post from Commission chairman, Philip Stubbs, who has held it since the departure of former executive director, Hillary Dev
Ex-BREA chief ‘not surprised’ by Smith ruling
A two-time former Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA) president yesterday said he was “not surprised” at the verdict won by ex-minister George Smith, and renewed his call for the Association and Real Estate Board to be separate.
Leading importers face ‘major’ VAT uncertainty
Major importers were yesterday said to be facing “major” uncertainty over how Customs will calculate duty rates post-January 1, a factor that is preventing them from making essential computer system adjustments.
Broker ‘in peril’ if it meets US demands
A Bahamian broker/dealer will “act at its peril” should it comply with US federal regulators’ demands to produce thousands of documents relevant to their ongoing New York legal battle.
Chamber chief ‘tired’ of sour economic reports
The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce’s (BCCEC) chief executive is “tired” of receiving repeated negative economic reports on this nation, which needs to become “more agile” to reverse course.
AG’s Office: We bungled Blackbeard’s Cay appeal
The Attorney General’s Office has admitted that the Government’s appeal over the $8 million Blackbeard’s Cay project was thrown out because it was asleep on the job.
Gov’t urged: Don’t lose momentum on ‘sole tax panacea’
The Government has been urged to set a date for the Central Revenue Agency’s (CRA) creation, the Tax Coalition’s chair fearing that momentum on a tax compliance “panacea” may be lost.
Gov’t plans to narrow VAT payment window
The Government yesterday unveiled plans to shrink the Value-Added Tax (VAT) payment window by seven days, and other revenue enforcement measures, amid the numerous tariff rate cuts consistent with a pre-election Budget.
Insurers: Don’t sleep on EU blacklisting ‘breathing room’
The Bahamas must not fall asleep after it gained “two years’ breathing room” to escape the European Union’s (EU) tax blacklist and preserve up to 40 percent of its hurricane reinsurance capacity, insurers are warning.
Bahamasair loses $3.5m crash monies
The Court of Appeal yesterday overturned a $3.5 million damages award to Bahamasair, finding that the airline had failed to install an upgraded part that may have prevented a 2007 crash landing.
IDB: Baha Mar to up jobless rate 2%
The Bahamas’ unemployment rate will jump by as much as two percentage points due to the 2,000 Baha Mar lay-offs, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is predicting, virtually eliminating the May 2015 decrease.
Payroll tax unable to cover NHI
A 3 per cent payroll tax will not be sufficient to cover the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme’s total costs, the private sector yesterday warning that sticking to a January 2016 implementation will create a “challenging sprint to the finish”.
Engineers chief: Our growth is being ‘stymied’
The Bahamas Society of Engineers (BSE) president yesterday bemoaned how local professionals were frequently being ‘frozen out’ of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects, with work “never touching our soil”.
Govt told: ‘Stop bragging’ about $852m VAT funds
The Opposition’s finance spokesman yesterday urged the Government to “stop bragging” about its $852 million VAT revenues, as this represented monies sucked away from Bahamian consumers and businesses.
