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IDB to combat 'stodgy' image

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) country representative yesterday pledged to reach out more effectively to the Bahamian private sector, admitting that the institution was perceived as "too stodgy and bu

'CATASTROPHE' WARNING OVER INDUSTRIAL UNREST

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Widespread labour-related disruption "could be catastrophic" for an already-weak Bahamian economy, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's (BCCEC) chairman yesterday warning that this was "po

'Aggressive' insurer targets the Bahamas

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor An "aggressive" St Maarten-headquartered underwriter has caused a stir in the Bahamian general insurance market after obtaining regulatory approval to write business in this nation, Tribune Business can reveal, a

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

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

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

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Gov't 'good faith' key to Brewery's 100-job growth

Sands Beer’s manufacturer yesterday said its planned $15 million growth strategy, which could more than double its workforce via the creation of “over 100” jobs in the next five-10 years, depends on the Government maintaining the ‘tax advantage’ it holds over its BISX-listed rival.

Banks to ‘double’ VAT recovery.... to just 10%

The Bahamian banking industry is hopeful it might be able to recover ‘double’ the amount of Value-Added Tax (VAT) inputs than previously thought, as one institution yesterday revealed its total tax burden will increase by $6-$7 million in two years.

‘Breath of fresh air’: 150k cruise arrivals over Xmas

The Downtown Nassau Partnership’s (DNP) co-chair yesterday hailed the increase in cruise ship traffic as a “breath of fresh air” for business with close to 150,000 passenger arrivals forecast for Christmas week.

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

RENEWABLE ENERGY 'AMAZING CHANCE' FOR DIVERSIFICATION

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas has an "incredible opportunity" to diversify its economy by becoming a renewable energy exporter, a leading Caribbean expert yesterday saying it could emulate Israel's 92 per cent penetration rate if i

Tourism ‘softness’ exposed with 7% room revenue fall

Tourism “softness” resulted in a 7 per cent year-over-year decline in peak winter room revenues for Nassau’s major hotels, with both occupancies and pricing coming under pressure.

Engineers chief: Our growth is being ‘stymied’

The Bahamas Society of Engineers (BSE) president yesterday bemoaned how local professionals were frequently being ‘frozen out’ of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects, with work “never touching our soil”.

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

$500M REVENUE RISE NO FISCAL GAP BRIDGE

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Government's annual fiscal deficit averaged more than $170 million during the 2002-2008 'economic boom' years despite an almost $500 million rise in revenues over that period, showing that reining in out-of-co

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Atlantis eyes 100k extra room nights in Marriott tie-up

Atlantis is hoping its 10-year franchise deal with Marriott International will generate an extra 50,000-100,000 room nights per year, its top executive describing the agreement as “the most significant tourism stimulus for the Bahamas this decade”.

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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

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.

Just 12% of mortgages finance 'new buildings'

New Central Bank of the Bahamas date has provided a further insight into the sluggish home construction market, with just 12 per cent of mortgage applications involving 'new builds'.