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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.

Insurers: Don’t sleep on EU blacklisting ‘breathing room’

The Bahamas must not fall asleep after it gained “two years’ breathing room” to escape the European Union’s (EU) tax blacklist and preserve up to 40 percent of its hurricane reinsurance capacity, insurers are warning.

IDB brands price controls ‘poorly targeted subsidy’

The Government’s price controls are a poorly-targeted mechanism to counter soaring 16 percent food inflation as they benefit the rich as much as low income and vulnerable families, a multilateral lender is arguing.

Insurers: ‘Light at end of tunnel’ over taxation

Bahamian insurers yesterday voiced relief that there is “light at the end of the tunnel” after the Government said it would drop plans to move the industry to a Business Licence fee taxation regime.

Property Fund ‘gap’ as PwC to vacate Providence House

THE BISX-listed Bahamas Property Fund is preparing for temporary vacancy at its last fully-occupied property, following a $2.206 million third quarter hit caused by a timing adjustment.

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.

IMF slashes Bahamas 2016 growth to 1.5%

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has slashed its 2016 growth forecast for the Bahamas by a further 0.7 percentage points to just 1.5 per cent, due to the Baha Mar impasse.

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Baha May delay’s 50% cut to growth

Baha Mar’s delayed opening could potentially slash 50 per cent off the Bahamas’ 2015 economic growth forecast, a well-known businessman has warned.

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).

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‘The s*** has hit the fan’

The Bahamian economy is paying the price for the Government’s “financial disasters” in attempting to run businesses, a leading executive blasting yesterday: “The s* has hit the fan.”

Gov't 'dragging on everything'

The Tax Coalition’s co-chair yesterday said there ad been no contact with the Government since the Budget’s unveiling more than a month ago, complaining that the Christie administration was “dragging their feet on everything” vital to the private sector.

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'Five Baha Mars' needed to solve jobless crisis

The Bahamas needs “five Baha Mars going on” simultaneously to achieve the 5.5 per cent GDP growth necessary to slash existing unemployment by 50 per cent and absorb thousands of annual school leavers into the workforce.

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Bank braces for $2.4m tax impact

Bank of the Bahamas is bracing for a $2.4 million fourth quarter hit from the 3 per cent ‘bank tax’ unveiled in the 2013-2014 Budget, its managing director yesterday expressing “cautious optimism” it would return to profitability in its 2015 financial year.

Crossing the generation gap

By Ian Ferguson Much has been said and written on the differences between the four generations present in today's workforce. A number of titles have been given to them, but for the purpose of this discourse, we will refer to them as Traditionalist, Baby

Crossing the generation gap

By Ian Ferguson Much has been said and written on the differences between the four generations present in today's workforce. A number of titles have been given to them, but for the purpose of this discourse, we will refer to them as Traditionalist, Baby

Bank warns on provisions rise

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bank of the Bahamas International has warned investors it may have to increase loan loss provisions further during its financial year's second half, its managing director telling Tribune Business it was "grappling

Crossing the generation gap

By Ian Ferguson Much has been said and written on the differences between the four generations present in today's workforce. A number of titles have been given to them, but for the purpose of this discourse, we will refer to them as Traditionalist, Baby

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

GETTING TO GRIPS WITH IMMIGRATION REALITIES

By Larry Gibson The recent visit by President Martelly of Haiti, and comments he made to a gathering mostly of Haitian nationals and Bahamians of Haitian origin, continue to provoke much highly-charged discussion. No matter where you fall on the immigrat

STOP 'DABBLING' IN RENEWABLE ENERGY

By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Rising oil prices could dampen the pace of Bahamian economic recovery, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's (BCCEC) warned yesterday, emphasising the need for this nation to have "a true,