Correspondent ‘de-risk’ affects Bahamas banks ‘more than we thought’
The effects of correspondent bank ‘de-risking’ on the Bahamian financial services industry are “more extensive than first assessed”, the Central Bank has conceded, with 57 per cent of impacted institutions unable to find replacement relationships.
Bran pledges ‘15% spend’ fiscal rule
The Democratic National Alliance’s (DNA) leader has pledged to introduce a ‘fiscal rule’ that would limit public spending increases to a maximum 15 per cent year-over-year, thereby preventing governments “running amok” with the taxpayer’s monies.
MP’s alarm over ‘sacred’ NIB funds in BOB bail-out
The use of the Bahamian people’s “sacred” National Insurance Board (NIB) monies to bail out troubled Bank of the Bahamas has been challenged by an FNM MP, who is calling for policies governing the investment of public monies to be tightened.
Tax crackdown: Govt hits 6,000 businesses, 5,000 property owners
The Government last night unveiled its promised crackdown on tax defaulters, promising to first pursue the largest, wealthiest delinquents - some 6,000 businesses and 5,000 high-end property owners.
Governor: Data, privacy regimes may need reform
The Bahamas may have to reform its data and confidentiality regimes to mitigate the threat posed by the loss of correspondent banking relationships to the financial sector and wider economy, the Central Bank’s governor has warned.
QC: Legalisation of web shops has defied the critics
The web shop industry’s legalisastion has produced the opposite effect to the predictions of many critcs, a well-known QC has argued.
Freeport investment law blasted as ‘anti-business’
Freeport’s new tax incentives law was yesterday branded an “abomination” and “anti-business” by an FNM Senator, who argued that it will undermine both the city’s founding agreement and economic growth.
Bahamas can’t afford ‘another five years’ of secretive governance
The Bahamas cannot afford “another five-year cycle” of unaccountable government spending, a governance reformer warned yesterday, arguing that a Fiscal Responsibility Act should have “preceded” Value-Added Tax (VAT).
BOB rights offering takes Govt further down ‘wrong road’
The Government has been pushed further down “the wrong road” on Bank of the Bahamas by the recent $40 million rights offering, an outspoken shareholder said yesterday.
QC tells the web shops: Form own credit union
A prominent QC has called on web shop gaming operators to establish their own credit union, as blasted the Canadian-owned banks’ refusal to accept the sector’s deposits as making “no sense whatsoever”.
Govt told: ‘Stop bragging’ about $852m VAT funds
The Opposition’s finance spokesman yesterday urged the Government to “stop bragging” about its $852 million VAT revenues, as this represented monies sucked away from Bahamian consumers and businesses.
Harbour Island ‘thrilled’ at BPL energy resolution
Tourism stakeholders on Harbour Island yesterday hailed Bahamas Power and Light’s (BPL) plan to provide a 6 Mega Watt (MW) power plant to address long-standing energy concerns as “very encouraging”, one executive telling Tribune Business: “We’re thrilled.”
Govt continuing ‘targeted’ Customs Duty reductions
The Government is proceeding with its “targeted” reduction in Customs duties to accompany Value-Added Tax (VAT), a Cabinet minister has revealed, with more cuts to be triggered by enhanced revenue administration.
‘Farcical’: Govt picks up ‘entire’ $40m BOB issue
Bank of the Bahamas’ 3,000 minority shareholders have demonstrated their “complete lack of confidence” in the bank after forcing the Government to pick up its “entire” $40 million rights offering.
‘Light at end of tunnel’ on Govt mobile buyout
Between 40,000-50,000 Bahamians could own a stake in the second mobile operator’s majority shareholder, with efforts to buy out the Government now glimpsing “light at the end of the tunnel”.
