Bank chief: ‘Room for improvement’ on customer relations
The Clearing Banks Association’s (CBA) chairman has conceded there is “room for improvement” in the industry’s relationship with its customers, adding that it needs to show Bahamians that they receive “value for money”.
Bran: No VAT need if tax cheat offensive implemented earlier
The Democratic National Alliance’s (DNA) leader yesterday argued that the Bahamas “would not have needed Value-Added Tax” (VAT) had successive governments cracked down on tax cheats and enacted other key reforms years ago.
Freeport tax breaks regime ‘unsettling’ industrial investors
The FNM’s deputy leader yesterday warned that Freeport’s new ‘tax breaks’ regime was unsettling the city’s major industrial investors, and urged: “We need less government, not more.”
Banks: Fee increases offset by taxation rise
The Clearing Banks Association (CBA) says any industry gains from fee rises have been more than offset by Value-Added Tax’s (VAT) imposition and the multi-million dollar Business Licence fee increases.
Abaco airport put on ‘cutting edge’
A Cabinet Minister said yesterday that the Nassau Airport Development Company’s (NAD) operator will bring “cutting edge” airport management to Abaco’s primary gateway, and ultimately create more opportunities for Bahamians in aviation management.
‘Bank on something called NHI’ by April
A well-known physician yesterday said Bahamians can “bank on something called NHI” being rolled-out in the first week of April 2017, although he expressed serious doubt over the level of healthcare industry readiness.
Developer’s dolphin claim based on ‘false premises’
The Blackbeard’s Cay developer’s claim to own the project’s eight dolphins was based on “fallacious premises”, the Court of Appeal found, while also criticising its failure to accept ‘the rule of law’.
Christie Govt adds record $2bn to national debt
A governance reform campaigner yesterday said it was “absurd” that the Bahamas is again on pace for a $500 million deficit despite implementing VAT, with the Christie administration set to add more than $2 billion to the national debt.
GB hotels lose 30% of summer market
Grand Bahama’s hotel industry has lost 30 per cent of its summer market due to Vacation Express’s pull-out, the island’s Tourism Board chairman yesterday warning that the sector faced a “devastating” 2017.
Copper theft hurts 600 BTC customers
Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) executives yesterday said it had incurred “significant” financial cost as a result of copper theft over the weekend, which resulted in 600 customers having their services affected.
Realtor fearing ‘havoc’ on Freeport incentives
A prominent Freeport realtor yesterday warned that the city’s new investment incentives regime is threatening to “create a lot of havoc” and confusion for hundreds of existing foreign homeowners.
FNM deputy slams ‘lack of urgency’ on GB tourism ‘freefall’
The FNM’s deputy leader yesterday slammed what he described as the Government’s “startling lack of urgency” over Grand Bahama’s tourism “freefall”.
‘Decisive measures’ call as deficit soars to $314m
A key Ministry of Finance adviser last night warned that the 112 per cent increase in the half-year fiscal deficit to $314.2 million was an “early warning signal” that the Government must take “very decisive measures” to stabilise the national finances.
Dionisio: Govt creating ‘country of dependents’
The FNM’s Freetown candidate yesterday accused the Government of seeking “to create a country of dependents” through ever-increasing social programmes that the Bahamas cannot afford.
Port left licensees ‘hung out to dry’
A former Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) attorney has accused the quasi-governmental authority of leaving its 3,500 licensees “hung out to dry” over Freeport’s new investment incentives regime.
