Bahamas exports decline by 36% to five-year low
The Bahamas’ merchandise trade deficit fell by 12.3 per cent in 2015 to $2.719 billion, as the decline in imports offset a more than one-third reduction in exports.
Air cargo pull-out threat result of ‘ill thought-out policy’
The threat of a Bahamas boycott by Florida-based air cargo operators was yesterday branded as “the unintended consequences of ill-thought out policy” by the Opposition’s deputy leader. K P Turnquest warned that as an import-dependent economy, reliant on international transportation links, the Bahamian economy could only suffer if freight companies reduced or eliminated services to this nation.
‘Much work’ ahead over business ease
The Bahamas has “a lot of work to do” before it sees a dramatic improvement in the ease of doing business, the Opposition’s finance spokesman said yesterday, adding: “There’s just too much government bureaucracy.”
Bran promises ease to exchange control
The Democratic National Alliance’s (DNA) leader has pledged to ease the Bahamas’ exchange control regime if elected to office, and to make the Bahamas known as a “country open for business”.
PM targets ‘top 50’ business ease rank
The Prime Minister yesterday said he was targeting a ‘top 50’ ranking for the Bahamas in the World Bank’s ‘ease of doing business’ index within five years, arguing that its current 106th spot does not reflect its capabilities and potential.
Air freight operators in Bahamas boycott threat
Florida-based air cargo companies are threatening to boycott the Bahamas over the new Customs fees and fines set to be introduced tomorrow, with this newspaper told: “It’s D-Day time.”
Sarkis loses bid to buy $192m claims
The Supreme Court yesterday ruled it was legally impossible for Sarkis Izmirlian to acquire the rights to Baha Mar’s $192 million damages claim against the project’s contractor.
All Govt’s ‘committed sins’ managing nation
A Cabinet Minister yesterday admitted that successive governments had “committed some sins” in failing to properly manage the Bahamas, as he warned: “The world is leaving us behind.”
Engineers chief: Our growth is being ‘stymied’
The Bahamas Society of Engineers (BSE) president yesterday bemoaned how local professionals were frequently being ‘frozen out’ of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects, with work “never touching our soil”.
Development Plan’s first draft complete
The Government’s leading official on the National Development Plan yesterday said its Secretariat had completed a first draft of the project, describing it as a “solutions and strategy” based-document.
NAD eyes fee rise after $15.1m loss
The Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) is currently mulling another fee increase, as it predicts a “few more years” of losses following $15.1 million in ‘red ink’ incurred during its 2015 financial year.
Price control proposal like ‘Gestapo tactics’
The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce (BCCEC) warned yesterday that any Government move to force businesses to reduce prices in line with import duty cuts would be akin to “economic dictatorship” and “Gestapo tactics”.
MSC warns over Customs change shipment delays
The world’s second largest cargo shipper has warned Bahamian companies that their imports will be delayed “until the next sailing” if manifests are not made for compliance with Bahamas Customs’ new requirements.
$6.6bn debt ‘well beyond’ the need for stabilisation
The Bahamas is “well beyond” the point where it merely needs to “stabilise” its $6.6 billion national debt, a former Chamber chairman said yesterday, as he warned that the economy was showing “no desire for growth”.
Union to ‘do what it has to do’ over Hilton meltdown
The hotel union’s president yesterday said that if working conditions at the British Colonial Hilton do not improve soon it will “do what it has to do”, amid an air conditioning breakdown that has persisted for more than a week.
