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Neil Hartnell

Stories by Neil

LANDFILL SOLUTION REMAINS 20-30MW WASTE-ENERGY PLAN

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Government is still targeting a waste-to-energy plant that could produce 7-10 per cent of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation's (BEC) installed capacity as the 'end game' solution for the Tonique Williams-Darl

AML bucks 'post-Xmas lag' via 10% same-store rise

AML bucks 'post-Xmas lag' via 10% same-store rise By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor AML Foods yesterday said fears of a top-line hit from consumers taking ever-longer to recover from Christmas had failed to materialise, with its same-store sales

BEC partner targets eco-industrial park

BEC partner targets eco-industrial park By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor BEC's ocean thermal energy partner yesterday revealed it plans to develop an eco-industrial park in the Bahamas, leveraging its project into technology and export spin-offs

Bahamas realtor starring on HGTV

A Bahamian realtor with ERA Dupuch played a starring role on the well-known HGTV channel, helping to find a rental property that satisfied the requirements of a professional expatriate couple. "This couple had just moved from Dubai, and were excited about

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

UNION MUST CHICKEN OUT OVER KFC WAGES

By Simon Cooper Res Socius I'm sure that many of us remember the song, My Old Kentucky Home, with some affection. In case you don't, it begins with the words: "The sun shines so bright in my old Kentucky home. 'Tis summer, the people are gay ..." Now while

BTC unveiling changes to directory assistance

BTC unveiling changes to directory assistance The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) yesterday unveiled plans to transform its 916 directory assistance calls service from July 1, 2012, with charges after the first three free calls said to be below

FEEDBACK FROM THE FIRM'S KING

By Ian Ferguson We agree that a stronger focus on our customers enhances our ability to grow and expand our businesses, and to deepen our ability to maximise customer satisfaction. We say often that the customer is 'KING', and that they are the driving f

RULING SET TO DETER 'VEXATIOUS LITIGANTS'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A ruling by Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett might deter Bahamian workers with "marginal claims" from pursuing employment cases in the Supreme Court, rather than the Industrial Tribunal, a leading law firm arguin

Accountants choose Bahamian for report

Accountants choose Bahamian for report Bahamian forensic accountant, John Bain, has been selected to participate in a defining webinar hosted by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) to develop the organisation's integrated report, pa

EDUCATOR GAINS HOTEL HONOUR

Recognising her longstanding support for programs that bring business and education together, the Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA) has presented Sharon Ferguson, the Ministry of Education's education officer for career and technical education, with its ann

Public spending to rise 'less than 0.1% of GDP' via wage freeze end

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 beli

The bigger picture on local buying

Use Chamber voice logo. Byline 'By Ian Ferguson', and use Pic of him The expression 'Buy Bahamian' was uttered many years ago in a desperate plea to encourage locals to support, and buy goods and services, produced in the Bahamas. I believe it was Clevel

DON'T FEAR THE UNKNOWN ON SOFTWARE INSTALLATION

By Deidre M. Bastian So you have just discovered this dyanamic new graphic software, and are eager to install and experiment. But there is one small problem: The fear of making a mistake, as the computer just might blow up or some terrible harm may be do

BORCO: 58% OF STORAGE MONIES FROM 3 CLIENTS

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Oil Refining Company's (BORCO) parent has listed the Grand Bahama-based facility's narrow customer base among its material risks, with 58 per cent of its core oil storage revenues coming from just its

BROKERS LOSE 'TONNES OF BUSINESS' OVER SCOTIA GROUP POLICY

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bahamian insurance brokers have "lost tonnes of business" to Scotiabank (Bahamas) group homeowners insurance programme, a former Bahamas Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) president yesterday saying both parties

HOME BUYERS LOSE $81K OVER STAMP DUTY 'LOOPHOLE'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Some 32 first-time Bahamian home buyers have collectively lost almost $81,000 because there is nothing in statute law to allow the refund of Stamp Duty mistakenly paid on their real estate purchases, it was reveal

Aquapure fears water shortage over duty woes

Aquapure fears water shortage over duty woes By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading bottled water manufacturer is questioning whether it fell victim to an import duty-related scam, as it raced against time yesterday afternoon to clear import

ROAD PROJECT WAGES 50% BELOW 'NORMS'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Wages paid to skilled Bahamian tradesmen by the main New Providence Road Improvement Project contractor were around 50 per cent below market norms, the Bahamian Contractors Association's (BCA) president said yeste

Hotels to beat eight-year rate recovery target

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Hotel Association's (BHA) president believes the industry will return room "rates to pre-recession levels much faster" than the world average, after a renowned travel research firm said this could take

BAHAMIANS QUALIFY AS SANDALS BUTLERS

Nine Bahamians last week graduated from training at The Guild of Professional English Butlers, part of a move by Sandals Royal Bahamian to expand its butler staff. Some 21 butler rooms in its newly renovated Balmoral Towers will come on line soon. Patrick

Hotels to beat eight-year rate recovery target

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Hotel Association's (BHA) president believes the industry will return room "rates to pre-recession levels much faster" than the world average, after a renowned travel research firm said this could take

ROAD PROJECT WAGES 50% BELOW 'NORMS'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Wages paid to skilled Bahamian tradesmen by the main New Providence Road Improvement Project contractor were around 50 per cent below market norms, the Bahamian Contractors Association's (BCA) president said yeste

BROKERS LOSE 'TONNES OF BUSINESS' OVER SCOTIA GROUP POLICY

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bahamian insurance brokers have "lost tonnes of business" to Scotiabank (Bahamas) group homeowners insurance programme, a former Bahamas Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) president yesterday saying both parties

BORCO: 58% OF STORAGE MONIES FROM 3 CLIENTS

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Oil Refining Company's (BORCO) parent has listed the Grand Bahama-based facility's narrow customer base among its material risks, with 58 per cent of its core oil storage revenues coming from just its

BAHAMIANS QUALIFY AS SANDALS BUTLERS

Nine Bahamians last week graduated from training at The Guild of Professional English Butlers, part of a move by Sandals Royal Bahamian to expand its butler staff. Some 21 butler rooms in its newly renovated Balmoral Towers will come on line soon. Patrick

Hotels to beat eight-year rate recovery target

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Hotel Association's (BHA) president believes the industry will return room "rates to pre-recession levels much faster" than the world average, after a renowned travel research firm said this could take

Butterfield Bahamas returns to the black

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Butterfield Bank (Bahamas) narrowly scraped into the black with a $2,000 net profit for its 2011 financial year, reversing the $3.962 million worth of red ink it incurred in the 12 months to December 31, 2010. Det

Banks: SWITCH 'decision likely' by end-April

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The commercial banking industry will "likely make some decisions" by end-April 2012 on the establishment of a local SWITCH network, something that will allow Bahamians debit card access to funds in their chequing

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

Web shop owner in $27m bank rescue

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bahamas-based web shop boss, Craig Flowers, along with BISX-listed Bank of the Bahamas International, were both separately approached to rescue a bust Turks & Caicos bank that required a $27 million injection to r

PUTTING BEST FACE FORWARD

By Deidre M. Bastian Do you find yourself staring at another designer's logo and immediately trying to decipher what typeface or font they used? If you are a designer, it is probably an inevitable habit. However, there are no hard and fast rules to help

Butterfield Bahamas returns to the black

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Butterfield Bank (Bahamas) narrowly scraped into the black with a $2,000 net profit for its 2011 financial year, reversing the $3.962 million worth of red ink it incurred in the 12 months to December 31, 2010. Det

Banks: SWITCH 'decision likely' by end-April

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The commercial banking industry will "likely make some decisions" by end-April 2012 on the establishment of a local SWITCH network, something that will allow Bahamians debit card access to funds in their chequing

Public liens make IBCs 'a bit unique'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The ability to file liens in the public registry against the shares and assets of International Business Companies (IBCs) makes these vehicles "a little bit unique and creates an advantage" for the Bahamas, a seni

Web shop owner in $27m bank rescue

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bahamas-based web shop boss, Craig Flowers, along with BISX-listed Bank of the Bahamas International, were both separately approached to rescue a bust Turks & Caicos bank that required a $27 million injection to r

BAHAMIANS QUALIFY AS SANDALS BUTLERS

Nine Bahamians last week graduated from training at The Guild of Professional English Butlers, part of a move by Sandals Royal Bahamian to expand its butler staff. Some 21 butler rooms in its newly renovated Balmoral Towers will come on line soon. Patrick

Butterfield Bahamas returns to the black

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Butterfield Bank (Bahamas) narrowly scraped into the black with a $2,000 net profit for its 2011 financial year, reversing the $3.962 million worth of red ink it incurred in the 12 months to December 31, 2010. Det

BROKERS LOSE 'TONNES OF BUSINESS' OVER SCOTIA GROUP POLICY

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bahamian insurance brokers have "lost tonnes of business" to Scotiabank (Bahamas) group homeowners insurance programme, a former Bahamas Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) president yesterday saying both parties

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

'ENTHUSIASTIC' FAMILY ISLAND IPO RESPONSE

The Arawak Port Development Company (APD) said the response from potential Family Island investors to its $10 million initial public offering (IPO) had been enthusiastic, after its principals undertake a nationwide roadshow to tout the offering's prospect

PUTTING BEST FACE FORWARD

By Deidre M. Bastian Do you find yourself staring at another designer's logo and immediately trying to decipher what typeface or font they used? If you are a designer, it is probably an inevitable habit. However, there are no hard and fast rules to help

Homebuilder at '1/3 of pre-crisis levels'

Homebuilder at '1/3 of pre-crisis levels' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading Bahamian property developer yesterday told Tribune Business that homebuilding activity is down to "one-third of where it used to be" pre-recession, with the com

'PRIORITISE' TAX EXTENSION FOR FREEPORT IN 2015

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce's president has urged the next government to treat the extension of key Freeport tax incentives, due to expire in 2015, as "a priority" and to end the uncertainty that could st

BTC UNDERTAKES CUSTOMER SURVEY

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has announced that its representatives will be in several communities this month to collect information, in a bid to bring all existing customer records up to date and ensure quick response to reports of faults

ROADS COMPENSATION 'SMOKE AND MIRRORS'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading businessman yesterday said there was "no Christ way on God's green earth" that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) would be able to fully compensate every business affected by the New Providence Road Imp

'PRIORITISE' TAX EXTENSION FOR FREEPORT IN 2015

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce's president has urged the next government to treat the extension of key Freeport tax incentives, due to expire in 2015, as "a priority" and to end the uncertainty that could st

BTC UNDERTAKES CUSTOMER SURVEY

The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) has announced that its representatives will be in several communities this month to collect information, in a bid to bring all existing customer records up to date and ensure quick response to reports of faults

ROADS COMPENSATION 'SMOKE AND MIRRORS'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading businessman yesterday said there was "no Christ way on God's green earth" that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) would be able to fully compensate every business affected by the New Providence Road Imp

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