STATESIDE: States to watch in crucial Senate races
IN the US, this is the time when punditry takes over a central position in the national political discourse.
FRONT PORCH: The usual mistakes and misjudgments of government
AFTER a year in office, the Progressive Liberal Party is facing a similar political gravity that befalls many new governments as their term in office continues and any honeymoon period fades.
PM: ‘No concerns’ that businesses won’t cope
PRIME Minister Phillip “Brave” Davis said yesterday he had no concerns about small business longevity in the face of an impending light bill increase and now a newly announced higher minimum wage of $260 a week. Mr Davis said it was a step in the right direction.
FNM: Address full of promises, not specifics
FREE National Movement leader Michael Pintard criticised Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis’ national address as full of “tremendous promises”, but lacking specifics on how the government will address serious issues such as crime and financing big commitments.
Officials to assess national diploma
EDUCATION Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin revealed officials are hoping that by December they will be able to make an accurate assessment of the national high school diploma so that they can ensure it does not negatively affect students.
FNM pledges to take action over money owed by parks authority
FREE National Movement Leader Michael Pintard revealed the party’s legal team is going to take action against the government on behalf of several people he said are owed money by the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority.
Turks and Caicos thanks for Bahamas police link
NIGEL Dakin, Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, has expressed gratitude to the Bahamas government for lending support to assist in their fight against crime, saying the nation’s officers are already making a difference on the grounds there.
‘The public is better off’: Eliminate price controls
Super Value’s principal yesterday urged the Government to abolish the price control regime rather than expand it, arguing: “Consumers will be better off.”
Gov’t in $40m surplus despite 25% VAT drop
The Government yesterday unveiled a rare $40.2m Budget surplus for July 2022 despite VAT revenues declining by more than 25 percent or some $36.5m year-over-year.
Price control expansion ‘last straw’ for grocers
The Retail Grocers Association’s president yesterday warned that expanding the price control regime could be “the last straw” for small and medium-sized food stores, adding: “I’d like to know what the magic formula is.”
Two-thirds of hotel staff in minimum wage boost
Up to two-thirds of the hotel industry’s workforce may benefit from the 24 percent minimum wage increase unveiled by the Prime Minister, it was revealed yesterday, amid hopes the sector’s rising business volumes will offset the extra cost.
Avoiding common start-up failures
Starting a small business can be extremely rewarding. You are your own boss. You find your own clients, and set your own hours and rates. Sounds easy, right? Sometimes the odds are stacked against you, with a surprisingly high small business failure rate. According to a research company, 20 percent of small businesses fail in their first year, with this figure rising to a stunning 70 percent failure rate by year ten.
Minimum wage rise to hit firms with 'tight margins'
MERCHANTS yesterday said that, while a minimum wage increase is necessary to help ease the cost of living crisis, the increase in payroll expense may force some companies operating on tight margins to lay-off staff.
Innovation hub seeking to boost technology funding
A NEWLY-LAUNCHED innovation hub aims to give Bahamian digital assets and technology entrepreneurs direct access to international financing by forging links with California's Silicon Valley.
Tourism crime threat ‘boggles the mind’
THE Deputy Prime Minister yesterday downplayed the impact of the most recent US travel advisory while saying “it boggles the mind” to believe that criminals would deliberately hurt or target the tourism industry.
NIB unemployed payout drops to $610k monthly
A CABINET minister yesterday said the collective $610,000 per month that the National Insurance Board (NIB) is paying in unemployment benefit is “considerably less” than during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Job fair targeting 2,000 attendees
THE Department of Labour is aiming to attract 2,000 employment seekers to its latest ‘Labour on the Blocks 2.0’ job fair this Saturday, with 45 companies ready to vet and hire as many as possible that same day.
Unions not giving up $300 minimum wage
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) president yesterday asserted that the labour movement will push for a further minimum wage increase to $300 per week once the economy has rebounded “in a strong way”.
‘I don’t know if businesses will survive’ double blow
THE head of the Retail Grocers Association yesterday warned that the government’s decision to expand its list of price-controlled items and increase the national minimum wage at the same time will be a “big hit” to businesses, adding: “I don’t know if they’ll be able to survive it.”
