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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.

Ex-minister pledges to battle $2.57m reversal

An ex-Cabinet minister has pledged "to fight on principle" a $2.57 million damages award against himself and his law firm, which the Court of Appeal last week backed as enforceable.

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.

Litigation concern on Baha Mar delays

Fears were mounting yesterday that the continued delays to Baha Mar’s opening could spark litigation between the parties involved, a Caribbean tourism expert warning they had “better get their act together” to avoid lasting damage to the project and the Bahamas.

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Contractor loses ‘millions’ in 4-year BEC theft fight

A former Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president yesterday said his business had lost “millions of dollars” during his four-year fight against electricity theft charges, and he was now trying “to put the pieces together again”.

Ex-BCA chief may not have obtained ‘fair trial’

Prosecutors “singularly failed” to prove that a former Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) president stole electricity at a prominent downtown Nassau property that he managed, the Court of Appeal ruled.

QC: Port requires ‘economic Viagra’

An outspoken QC yesterday urged the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) to “take a shot of Economic Viagra”, arguing that it had become a mere “collection agency” as opposed to a quasi-governmental developer.

US govt blasts Bar Association

The US government has criticised the Bahamas Bar Association for failing to pursue complaints about the conduct of member attorneys, disclosing that several of its citizens had suffered “significant losses” on flawed real estate deals.

‘Light at end of tunnel’ on Govt mobile buyout

Between 40,000-50,000 Bahamians could own a stake in the second mobile operator’s majority shareholder, with efforts to buy out the Government now glimpsing “light at the end of the tunnel”.

BTC owner dismisses Cable’s mobile threat

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) controlling owner yesterday dismissed the competitive threat Cable Bahamas will pose if it wins the second cellular licence, saying it was “not a big player” when compared to the likes of Digicel.

Fiscal hawk fears politicians won’t ‘face the music’

The Government yesterday asked Moody’s to ‘take a bet’ that its economic growth and Budgetary initiatives will succeed, as a well-known fiscal hawk said: “They’re not going to have to face the music.”

Gov’t renews oil explorer’s four licences

A Bahamas-based oil explorer last night said it had obtained “hugely significant clarity” from the Government renewing its key licences for a further three years, removing a potential obstacle to finding a joint venture partner and drilling its first exploratory well.

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Provider: We can support asset ‘doubling’ to $900m

A Bahamian financial services provider yesterday said it has the infrastructure to support a “doubling” in size to over $900 million in assets under administration, as it seeks to avoid being “pigeon-holed” in the corporate market.

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Governor to ‘bridge gap’ between banks, web shops

The Central Bank’s governor has reaffirmed his commitment to “bridge the gap” between the commercial banking industry and web shop operators, and help ease his licensees’ compliance concerns.

Sixty-day termination notice ‘recipe for woe’

The National Tripartite Council’s co-chairman has branded the proposed ‘60-day advance notice’ that employers must give of impending redundancies as “a recipe for putting your business in trouble”.

Govt ‘encourages’ Bahamian group’s landfill ‘win-win’

The Government is seeking a “holistic” solution to the New Providence landfill’s numerous challenges, and is encouraging a Bahamian consortium to advance its proposal for taking away 25 per cent of existing waste streams.

WTO benefits: ‘Better appreciation’ needed

The Bahamas needs to better understand the costs and benefits associated with becoming a full World Trade Organisation (WTO) member, the Chamber of Commerce’s chairman yesterday warning it could not compromise its $8 billion economy to protect one industry.

QC: VAT rejected if no ‘value for money’

The Bahamian people will not accept Value-Added Tax (VAT) unless the Government convinces them they will receive “value for money” in return, a top QC warned yesterday.

Receiver dismisses 'uninsurable' Baha Mar allegations

Baha Mar's receiver yesterday dismissed claims by firebrand FNM MP, Dr Andre Rollins, that the $3.5 billion development is both "uninsurable" and will cost a further $1.8 billion to complete.

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.