Technology ‘catalyst’ for Bahamas revival
EMBRACING information and communications technology (ICT) will serve as the “catalyst” for the Bahamas’ economic resurgence and social development, the Deputy Prime Minister said yesterday.
Opposition’s ‘grave’ fears on Standard & Poor’s visit
THE Opposition leader yesterday said his party has “grave concerns” over the outcome of Standard & Poor’s (S&P) visit to the Bahamas this week.
QC predicts ‘shockwaves’ in GB Power buy-out fight
A prominent QC yesterday predicted that his legal challenge to the GB Power buy-out will “send shockwaves through the foreign investor community”.
World drives Bahamas to introduce income tax
A FORMER financial services minister yesterday said global regulatory initiatives appear designed to force the Bahamas to adopt a corporate/personal income tax alien to its culture.Ryan Pinder, who held this position in the Christie Cabinet from 2012
Gov't 'fooling itself' over Enterprises Bill
THE Government is “fooling themselves” if they believe the Commercial Enterprises Bill is the magical solution to the financial services industry’s woes, a local entrepreneur warned yesterday.Paul Moss, Dominion Management Services’ president, told T
Bill's $250,000 threshold 'inequitable' for Bahamians
THE Commercial Enterprises Bill must not operate “to the detriment of Bahamian businesses”, the Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive warned yesterday, while rejecting claims it undermines ‘Bahamianisation’.Edison Sumner told Tribune Business that th
URCA: Mobile number transfer 'breakdown' shouldn't happen
A SENIOR regulator yesterday conceded there were “lingering challenges” with mobile number portability following last Friday’s “breakdown of sorts”.Stephen Bereaux, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority’s (URCA) chief executive, said the
Actuarial conference hosted by Atlantis
ORGANISERS yesterday said they expect more than 170 actuaries and financial services professionals to attend the Caribbean Actuarial Association’s 27th annual conference, which is being held at Atlantis from November 29-December 1.The annual event br
Caribbean nations urged to embrace information technology sector
CARIBBEAN nations must embrace the ICT sector if they are to improve their growth and development prospects, the Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s (CTU) chairman said yesterday.Speaking at a press conference to highlight ICT Week-The Bahamas, whic
Value of BISX trades sees 44% increase
THE Bahamas International Securities Exchange’s (BISX) All-Share Index continues to move in the opposite direction to major market indices, declining by 3.73 per cent for the year to end-September 2017.The All-Share Index, which measures only stock p
BPL consumer protection feedback ends this week
PUBLIC consultation on Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) Consumer Protection Plan will close this week, sector regulators said yesterday.
Government ‘inundated’ by calls to breach 75% salary deductions
THE Government has been forced to reaffirm the 75 per cent limit on civil service salary deductions, after being “inundated” with demands for the policy’s relaxation.
Radio station fears over URCA spectrum opening
RADIO stations have warned of “a huge problem” if regulators use the opening of currently-closed spectrum bands to issue more FM broadcasting licences. Galen Saunders, More 94 FM’s principal, told Tribune Business that the FM broadcasting market was already over-saturated as a result of the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) issuing too many broadcasting licenses since 2009.
‘Massive disruption’ as BTC, Aliv feud
ALIV has slammed the “massive disruption” caused by the number porting system’s temporary ‘Black Friday’ failure, which is now under investigation by regulators.Damian Blackburn, the new mobile operator’s top executive, told Tribune Business that the system delays had “hugely” impacted Aliv’s promotional drive to grow its customer base on “the busiest shopping day of the year”. He declined, though, to comment on whether he felt the disruption - which primarily impacted Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) customers wishing to switch to Aliv and keep their existing mobile phone numbers - was more than a coincidence.
Enterprises Bill ‘could have saved’ financial services
THE Bahamas “could easily have saved the financial services industry” had it introduced the Commercial Enterprises Bill six to eight years ago, a prominent attorney is arguing. Terence Gape, the Dupuch & Turnquest law firm’s managing partner, told Tribune Business that the Bill’s liberalised work permit regime placed the Bahamas “on a path” that its Caribbean international financial centre (IFC) rivals adopted up to 30 years ago.
