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PRIVATE SECTOR LOAN DEFAULTS HIT $301M

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Almost one-third of commercial bank loans to Bahamian businesses are in arrears, something the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's (BCCEC) chairman described as a sign that economic recovery

Tax break may help 41,000 homeowners

Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday said more than 41,000 homeowners could benefit from the Government’s decision to waive real property tax arrears for owner-occupied homes valued at less than $250,000.

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.

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

Water Corp needs 'top up' to $20m subsidies

Water Corp needs 'top up' to $20m subsidies By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Water & Sewerage Corporation will "definitely need" an increase to the existing $20 million taxpayer subsidy allocated to it for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, its gene

29% auto sales rise 'not true market reflection'

29% auto sales rise 'not true market reflection' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The 29 per cent year-over-year new car sales increase for the first two months of 2012 is "not a true reflection" of the anemic overall market, two Bahamas Motor D

29% auto sales rise 'not true market reflection'

29% auto sales rise 'not true market reflection' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The 29 per cent year-over-year new car sales increase for the first two months of 2012 is "not a true reflection" of the anemic overall market, two Bahamas Motor D

Chamber chief says 'space for third mobile operator'

The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce's chief executive believes "there is space for another mobile player", and is urging the Government to issue a third licence come 2019.

2,000 homeowners 'non-performing'

2,000 homeowners 'non-performing' By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor An estimated 1,500-2,000 Bahamian homes have mortgage loans that are more than 90 days past due, the Clearing Banks Association (CBA) told Tribune Business yesterday, with the se

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Gov’t agrees ‘few hundred thousand’ in VAT credits

The Government has approved “several hundred thousand dollars” of Value-Added Tax (VAT) credit refunds, a top official yesterday promising that businesses would not endure “a protracted wait” to receive them.

Competition fears on Super Value's City Markets 'deal'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Rival food retailers have voiced fears that allowing Super Value to acquire City Markets' remaining stores would create a "virtual monopoly" in the New Providence supermarket business, with an estimated 60-80 per

Competition fears on Super Value's City Markets 'deal'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Rival food retailers have voiced fears that allowing Super Value to acquire City Markets' remaining stores would create a "virtual monopoly" in the New Providence supermarket business, with an estimated 60-80 per

INSURANCE BROKERS: OVER 25% TO 'FALL OFF'

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor More than 25 per cent of all existing Bahamian insurance brokers and agents are unlikely to be licensed under the new Act governing the sector, the Insurance Commission told Tribune Business yesterday. Arvind Bagh

Construction finds a regulatory home

By Simon Cooper Res Socius Some things are really strange. We have guarantees for just about everything these days, and that even includes a notice promising that some biscuits have never seen a nut before - unless, of course, the factory owner went craz

Construction finds a regulatory home

By Simon Cooper Res Socius Some things are really strange. We have guarantees for just about everything these days, and that even includes a notice promising that some biscuits have never seen a nut before - unless, of course, the factory owner went craz

PM cuts 2016 GDP growth to just 0.5%

Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday slashed a full percentage point off the Bahamas’ projected economic growth for 2016, cutting real GDP expansion estimates to just 0.5 per cent.

$150M TRUST URGED TO RESCUE HOUSING MARKET

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Government was yesterday urged to invest $100-$150 million into a Foreclosure Trust as a way to solve this nation's mortgage/housing crisis, a well-known businessman telling Tribune Business that the returns g

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

Gas station warning of New Year lay-offs

A gas station operator yesterday warned the 24 percent minimum wage increase will “almost certainly” force the sector to cut staffing levels unless the Government grants a long-awaited margin increase.

BTC to 'exceed' $60- $80m earnings goal

BTC to 'exceed' $60- $80m earnings goal By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) will beat its $60-$80 million operating income projections for 2012 after generating cost savings faster than anticipated, alth