IMF's 2.5% Bahamas growth is 'a stretch'
THE Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's (BCCEC) chairman yesterday said it would "really be a stretch" for the Bahamian economy to achieve the newly-released International Monetary Fund's (IMF) projected 2.5 per cent GDP growth rate for 2012, unless it and the Government knew something 'outsiders' did not.
BTC to complete Abaco cell overhaul in mid-May
THE Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is set to complete its wireless system overhaul on Abaco and the northern Bahamas by mid-May, giving customers improved cellular service, including faster speeds for downloads and browsing on smart phones.
Port chair pledges to address 'vitally important' breaks
THE Grand Bahama Port Authority's (GBPA) newly-confirmed chairman yesterday pledged to address Freeport's "critically important" Business Licence and real property tax exemptions, due to expire in 2015, with the Governmsent once the election was over.
Super Value chief: Prices up 2-3% with new Port
SUPER Value's owner yesterday warned the price of many grocery items is likely to increase by at least 2-3 per cent, having been told that freight rates will rise by 10 per cent due to the new/revised charges being imposed by the Arawak Cay Port.
Roberts: Abaco interests up 11%
SUPER Value's owner has told Tribune Business that Abaco has proven "more resilient" to the global recession than any other Bahamas island, with his interests on the island seeing an 11 per cent increase in business year-over-year.
Bahamas ranked in bottom three of finance centres
A FORMER Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) chairman yesterday said a report that ranked the Bahamas a lowly 75th out of 77 global financial centres would "not impact" this jurisdiction's core private wealth management client base, adding that he was "more worried" about G-20 driven regulatory initiatives.
Bahamasair eyes 'break even' despite $21m loss
Bahamasair eyes 'break even' despite $21m loss By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Despite being on target for a $21 million loss in its 2011-2012 financial year, Bahamasair's chairman says the airline is trending in the right direction and eventua
BCA chief: 'Many smaller builders' oppose regulation
BCA chief: 'Many smaller builders' oppose regulation By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Many smaller Bahamian contractors do not support the Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) or its push for legislation to regulate the industry, the latter's
FINCO in profit boost as bad loans hit $100m
FINCO in profit boost as bad loans hit $100m By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The $5.4 million boost from changes to its loan loss provisioning calculation enabled Finance Corporation of the Bahamas (FINCO) to enjoy a 3.18 per cent net income in
$112m spent with 'no due process'
$112m spent with 'no due process' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor With more than $112 million in public monies spent "without any evidence of due process", the Bahamian Contractors Association's (BCA) president has urged the Government to use t
Broker clients want right to sue for $25
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Clients of a failed Bahamian broker/dealer are seeking a Supreme Court order that would assign them the right to sue those deemed responsible for their collective $24.5 million loss, fearing they may lose forever
BEC chairman: Renewable firm 'mischaracterised' RFP-end response
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor BEC's executive chairman has told Tribune Business that the Corporation's renewable energy tender (RFP) ended because no proposal met its required standards, adding that his answer on this had been "mischaracteris
Hotels target 'modest increase' for 2012 Q1
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Nassau/Paradise Island hotel industry is hoping to enjoy "a modest increase in all key metrics" for January and the 2012 first quarter, the Bahamas Hotel Association's (BHA) president last night pointing out t
'Mixed bag': Auto sales 50% off peak
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading auto dealer believes the industry will "eventually" recover to levels comparable to its 2007 peak, despite 2011's new car sales being almost 50 per cent down on that banner period in what was described a
Renewable energy firm 'sidelined' by BEC on tender
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A renewable energy provider has told Tribune Business it felt "sidelined" by the Bahamas Electricity Corporation's (BEC) decision to close its open bidding process and then subsequently sign an agreement with Ocea
Wind farm targets 2013 'commission'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A renewable energy provider is looking to "commission" its Eleuthera wind farm by early 2013, having invested $250,000 in completing the first project phase involving the construction of a Meteorological tower. Th
AML chair: three food retail players likely to survive
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamian food retail market will ultimately be dominated by just three major players, AML Foods' chairman telling Tribune Business in the wake of Robin Hood's demise that consolidation was "inevitable". Dionis
Miller confident on Robin Hood replacement
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Robin Hood's landlord yesterday told Tribune Business he is extremely confident about finding a replacement tenant for the closing retailer, describing the Summerwinds Plaza location as "second to none" and "the b
GROWTH FOCUS 'LATITUDE' VIA AML'S $10M PREF RESTRUCTURE
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor AML Foods says its latest preference share restructuring has given it "a tremendous amount of latitude" to focus on growth opportunities, having raised a further $4.28 million in capital and reduced dividend (inte
AML TO INVEST $3-4M IN NEW FRANCHISE DEAL
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor AML Foods is planning to invest $3-$4 million over the next five years in building its new Carl's Jr franchise to a five-store chain, a business projected to generate an annual $15 million top-line at full build-o
BAHAMAS TO BECOME 'CRUISE NO.1' IN 2012
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas is expected to "exceed" and surpass Cozumel as the Caribbean's leading cruise destination if it maintains its current growth rate, the minister of tourism said, with 2011 stopover visitors to this nati
COMMISSION URGED TO ACT ON $10M PORT PROSPECTUS
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A prominent businessman has again urged the Securities Commission to "become involved" and ensure the prospectus for the $10 million Arawak Cay initial public offering (IPO) is amended to confirm that the 20 per c
COMMUNICATIONS REVENUES FALL 7%
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamian communications industry's total revenues decreased by 7 per cent year-over-year in 2010, falling from $460 million to $428 million, as the sector's regulator pledged to introduce "universal service ob
BAHAMAS OUT OF STEP ON 'INFORMATION AGE'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas must retool its economy and workforce to offer an expanded services menu including software development and retirement homes, the Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's (BCCEC) chairman sugg
CONSTRUCTION & MANUFACTURING: 8,800 JOBS LOST IN 3-YEAR PERIOD
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas lost a total 8,870 jobs in its construction and manufacturing industries between 2007-2010 as a result of the global recession, a United Nations (UN) Body has reported, with per capita GDP only now beg
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
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
Atlantis takeover 'best thing that ever happened'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Brookfield Asset Management's ownership takeover at Atlantis and the One & Only Ocean Club has been described by a leading accountant as "the best thing that ever happened for the Bahamas". Raymond Winder, managin
IMF fiscal reform delays 'may jeopardise recovery'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A failure to rapidly implement tax reforms "could jeopardise a sustained recovery" in the Bahamas, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warning the Government's plans were "not sufficient" to reverse a rising $4.
Learn from necessity as our ancestors did
By Simon Cooper Res Socius The world changed irrevocably after the September 11 attacks and the international economic crisis, which keeps on rolling. Everything we believed in took a knock. People are a lot more cautious, and the employment umbrella we
Liquidation reforms to give nation advantage
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Reforms to the Companies Act's liquidation regime that deal with assets held in trust are "very progressive" and give the Bahamas a competitive advantage over its main Caribbean international financial centre riva
Bahamas 'top of pack' on wealth management
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Revised legislation will leave the Bahamas "at the top of the pack" among Caribbean financial centres when it comes to private wealth management, the Attorney General told Tribune Business yesterday. Lauding amend
Next two years 'great time' for capital raising
Next two years 'great time' for capital raising By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The next two years will be "a great time" for Bahamas-based companies to seek equity or debt capital, a leading investment banker yesterday urging the $35 million s
Operators 'very concerned' over URCA's budget
Operators 'very concerned' over URCA's budget By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The two major industry players are "extremely concerned" with the communications regulator's proposed 2012 budget, warning that financing this through a licence fee i
SECOND BAHAMIAN JOINS NAD TOP RANK
A second Bahamian has joined the Nassau Airport Development Company's (NAD) top executive ranks. Kevin McDonald has been appointed to the position of vice-president of maintenance and engineering, with effect from January 1, 2012. He will also become an
'Missing link' to grow BORCO revenue $20m
'Missing link' to grow BORCO revenue $20m By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Oil Refining Company's (BORCO) revenues could increase by up to $20 million per annum due to its owner creating "a critical link" between its Bahamian and US
Mortgage Corp loan provisions $71m off norm
Mortgage Corp loan provisions $71m off norm By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation's (BMC) existing policy underestimates loan loss provisioning by more than $71 million, it was disclosed yesterday, its chairman unveil
MONTAQUE LIQUIDATORS 'FULL FORCE' IN CANADA
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Liquidators for Owen Bethel's Montaque Capital Partners have been recognised by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice through a ruling given "full force and effect" throughout Canada, a move critical to enabling t
SPEED WEEK 'CAN BECOME LIKE MONACO'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bahamas Speed Week Revival organisers are examining whether to create a permanent race track in the Arawak Cay area, the minister of tourism telling Tribune Business that this nation could effectively match Monaco
The art of leadership
The art of leadership By Ian Ferguson As we prepare ourselves as a nation to select our political leaders for another term in office, the Chamber Voice begins a series on Leadership. Leadership is probably best defined as the ability a person has to bui
Next two years 'great time' for capital raising
Next two years 'great time' for capital raising By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The next two years will be "a great time" for Bahamas-based companies to seek equity or debt capital, a leading investment banker yesterday urging the $35 million s
$1.23M PREFERENCE PAYOUT CAUSES BOB INVESTORS Q1 LOSS
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editors Bank of the Bahamas International's ordinary shareholders suffered a minor $141,676 loss during the institution's fiscal 2012 first quarter, as timing issues related to $1.231 million in preference share dividend
Operators 'very concerned' over URCA's budget
Operators 'very concerned' over URCA's budget By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The two major industry players are "extremely concerned" with the communications regulator's proposed 2012 budget, warning that financing this through a licence fee i
'Missing link' to grow BORCO revenue $20m
'Missing link' to grow BORCO revenue $20m By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Oil Refining Company's (BORCO) revenues could increase by up to $20 million per annum due to its owner creating "a critical link" between its Bahamian and US
BONDED VEHICLE WOE IN FREEPORT
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bahamas Customs is insisting that Freeport residents who have bonded vehicles to operate part-time businesses cannot use them to travel to/from their main jobs, a former Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce president
INSURERS FEAR PREMIUMS 'DOUBLING, QUADRUPLING'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bahamian general insurance underwriters yesterday warned that newly-passed amendments to the Road Traffic Act could result in motor vehicle premiums "doubling, tripling, quadrupling", with some types of coverage w
Mortgage Corp loan provisions $71m off norm
Mortgage Corp loan provisions $71m off norm By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation's (BMC) existing policy underestimates loan loss provisioning by more than $71 million, it was disclosed yesterday, its chairman unveil
The art of leadership
The art of leadership By Ian Ferguson As we prepare ourselves as a nation to select our political leaders for another term in office, the Chamber Voice begins a series on Leadership. Leadership is probably best defined as the ability a person has to bui
GB POWER PLANT 'OVER 60% DONE'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Grand Bahama Power Company yesterday said its new generation plant is "more than 60 per cent complete" after a $40 million investment to-date, as the BISX-listed company that holds 50 per cent of its equity unveil
Next two years 'great time' for capital raising
Next two years 'great time' for capital raising By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The next two years will be "a great time" for Bahamas-based companies to seek equity or debt capital, a leading investment banker yesterday urging the $35 million s
