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FIRSTCARIB MARKET CAP SHRINKS 44% DURING RECESSION

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank (Bahamas) has seen its market capitalisation plummet by 44.4 per cent since the recession started, its 2011 annual report disclosing that return on equity (RoE) had also drop

'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.

IDB: $13M 'RETROACTIVE' TO STOP ROADWORKS SHUTDOWN

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor An alarmed Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is providing $13 million in retroactive financing to prevent a "cash flow shortfall" from bringing the New Providence Road Improvement Project to a temporary halt,

Second mobile operator begins launch process

Cable Bahamas yesterday said the clock had started running on the aggressive roll-out timetable for the second mobile operator to launch services to 99 per cent of New Providence within three months, after the Government approved its licensing.

$10M SOCIAL SECURITY REFORMS 'FIRST OF THEIR KIND' IN CARIBBEAN

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas' proposed $10 million social security reform initiative is a 'first-of-its-kind' in the Caribbean, as it will tie welfare payments to "improving human capital" through better educational achievement fo

URCA 'u-turn' over third cellular player

URCA 'u-turn' over third cellular player By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamian communications regulator has reversed course by deciding not to reserve space in the key 700 MHz radio frequency spectrum for a third cellular operator, while

Hotel union on gratuity ‘red alert’

The Bahamas Hotel Catering & Allied Workers Union (BHCAWU) yesterday said it had placed its members on ‘red alert’, amid fears that other New Providence hotels will attempt to follow Baha Mar’s lead and eliminate the 15 per cent gratuity enjoyed by hotel employees.

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FUND 'BELOW PAR' AFTER 50% VACANCY CUT FAILURE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Property Fund's failure to cut the 20 per cent vacancy rate at its flagship Bahamas Financial Centre by half meant its 2011 performance fell "slightly below expectations", although last May's Bahamian

AML chief: ‘Size of pie yet to be seen’

* Uncertainties over Xmas spending * Hopes December ‘uptick’ will persist  * All retailers see October/November fall-off

BISX-listed AML Foods has warned that “the size of the pie” remains unknown when it comes to Bahamian consumer spending this Christmas. Gavin Watchorn, the group’s president and chief executive, told Tribune Business that while it was “very confident” of gaining its due share, the extent of holiday expenditure was difficult to predict given continued economic uncertainty and fragile confidence.

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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.

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.

Trade deficit narrows 9.7%

The Bahamas experienced a 9.7 per cent drop in its trade deficit to $2.554 billion in 2013, largely due to an almost-$300 million fall in its import bill.

Standing out in the crowd

By Deidre Bastian It's no secret that the Internet has tremendously impacted the advertising industry, and online ads are continuing to increase in volume each year. But does this indicate that print advertising is over and will die a slow death? A frien

Standing out in the crowd

By Deidre Bastian It's no secret that the Internet has tremendously impacted the advertising industry, and online ads are continuing to increase in volume each year. But does this indicate that print advertising is over and will die a slow death? A frien

Standing out in the crowd

By Deidre Bastian It's no secret that the Internet has tremendously impacted the advertising industry, and online ads are continuing to increase in volume each year. But does this indicate that print advertising is over and will die a slow death? A frien

TELL, BUT DON'T SELL, YOUR FIRM'S STORY

By D'Arcy Rahming The first time I tried to use Facebook Ads in one of my businesses a couple of years ago, I lost a lot of money. I mean, everything seemed to be going so well. A lot of people were expressing interest in my page judging by the number of

ZNS blasts Cable on ad 'dumping'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor ZNS has alleged that Cable Bahamas' previous Channel 12 tie-up with a radio station owned by a former PLP Cabinet Minister was politically motivated, and an attempt to "cut a deal" with the Christie administration

BTC warns union on its 'long-term health'

BTC warns union on its 'long-term health' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) last night reminded the trade unions representing its staff that it had to safeguard its "long-term health", since an unfavou