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Tax crackdown: Govt hits 6,000 businesses, 5,000 property owners
The Government last night unveiled its promised crackdown on tax defaulters, promising to first pursue the largest, wealthiest delinquents - some 6,000 businesses and 5,000 high-end property owners.
GB Power urged: Don’t seek quick $25m recovery
Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC) and its majority owner were yesterday urged not to target “the shortest period of time” to recover their $25 million in Matthew restoration costs from storm-devastated consumers.
GB Power: Consumers to pay $25m storm cost
Grand Bahama Power Company’s (GBPC) plan to recover its $25 million in Hurricane Matthew restoration costs from consumers was last night blasted as “highly irregular and unfair” by one of the island’s MPs.
QC slams ‘free lunch’ for Port and Hutchison
A well-known QC has slammed the Government’s Freeport incentive legislation for “giving a free lunch” to those who can most afford it - Hutchison Whampoa and the Grand Bahama Port Authority’s (GBPA) two family shareholders.
Gov't pushes deficit elimination forecast back three years
The Government has pushed back its original projections for eliminating the fiscal deficit by three full years, and is now pinning its hopes on a $449 million, four-year 'swing' into surplus.
Bahamas ‘open for business’ on oil exploration
The Government was yesterday praised for sending “a signal that the Bahamas is open for business” by moving to bring the oil exploration regulatory regime into law, a move that will facilitate well drilling in 2017.
Wilson: Ingraham responsible for Sth. Eleuthera’s ‘demise’
The developer adjacent to a newly-announced $100 million resort project believes they will together make Cotton Bay “the Caribbean’s premier destination”, as he blasted former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham for decisions that caused South Eleuthera’s “demise”.
Gov't warned: 'We can't take another shock' with NHI
The Government was yesterday warned that National Health Insurance (NHI) would not succeed without private sector buy-in, one executive warning: "The economy cannot take another shock." Edison Sumner, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's (BCCEC) chief executive, told Tribune Business that an unsustainable NHI programme could have "catastrophic effects for a fragile economy" that was still bedding down Value-Added Tax (VAT).
‘Lessons must be learnt’ from Baha Mar’s chinese woe
Lessons must be learned from Baha Mar’s construction woes to ensure other Chinese-led investment projects avoid similar delays, a leading contractor yesterday noting the same company is poised to begin the British Colonial Hilton’s $200 million redevelopment.
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”.
Union chief seeks 100-133% increase in minimum wage
The Trade Union Congress’s (TUC) president yesterday backed a 100-133 per cent increase in the Bahamas’ minimum wage, describing this as “reasonable”.
$225m World Mart principals 'very encouraged' over Chinese meetings
ONCE of the principals behind the proposed $225 million trade market proposed for Freeport yesterday told Tribune Business they were "very encouraged" by the outcome of meetings with China-based strategic partners, and hoped to engage the new PLP government over a Heads of Agreement for the project shortly.
AML chair: City Markets deal 'kept changing'
AML Foods chairman yesterday said its efforts to acquire City Markets' remaining business fell apart because the latter's principal, Mark Finlayson, "kept changing the terms of the deal" on a daily basis, and had nothing to do with the BISX-listed food retail group refusing to take on the chain's staff.
GB Power minimises $4.7m recovery effect
GB Power minimises $4.7m recovery effect By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC) has received regulatory approval to minimise the consumer impact of recovering a $4.7 million impairment charge by spreading it out o
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.
SPEED WEEK CHIEF EYES 2,500-3,000 EXTRA ROOM NIGHTS
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bahamas Speed Week's president has estimated that the revival event generated between 2,500-3,000 room nights for the Bahamian hotel industry, describing its economic impact as "quite substantial". While Bahamas S
IDB TO BAHAMAS: RUN 2.5% PRIMARY SURPLUS
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas was yesterday warned to "pick up the pace" of fiscal reform, the Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) top Caribbean economist saying this country needed to achieve primary Budget surpluses equivalen
ROYALSTAR INVESTORS GET '200% PAY OUT'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor RoyalStar Assurance is expecting to generate a $2-$3 million net profit for 2011 despite enduring a tough year, its managing director yesterday saying the company had to-date "paid out almost 200 per cent" of the
BRISTOL PREMIER'S 'BEST OF THE BEST'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bristol Wine and Spirits is aiming to showcase "the best of the best" in its wine and spirits portfolio through next week's 'soft opening' of its one-acre Premier Cru venue on Gladstone Road, its president yesterd
$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
