‘Ball in our lap’ to avoid further Moody’s action
The Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive yesterday said responsibility for avoiding a further credit rating downgrade “falls squarely in the Bahamas’ lap”, as he accused Moody’s of having long planned its latest action.
Tourism Ministry ups marketing efforts amid Zika concerns
Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said yesterday that his ministry was ramping up its marketing efforts to curb the tourism fall-out from Zika fears, with Canada already having issued a travel advisory on the nation.
Ex Baha Mar director: Govt going ‘all in’ with Chinese is a bad move
An ex-Baha Mar director said yesterday that while getting the stalled Baha Mar development going again is positive news, going “all in” with the Chinese would be a bad move long term.
Government ‘relieved’ at Moody’s rating
State Finance Minister Michael Halkitis said yesterday the Government is “relieved” that credit ratings agency Moody’s had decided to only downgrade The Bahamas’ rating by a single notch, from Baa2 to Baa3, noting that economic developments over the next 12-18 months should improve the nation’s outlook.
Bahamas ‘dodges junk status bullet’
The Bahamas yesterday “dodged a bullet” after Moody’s chose not to downgrade its creditworthiness to ‘junk’ status’, and instead upgraded its outlook on this nation to ‘stable’.
Creditors hail PM for ‘not blinking’ in Baha Mar talks
Bahamian contractors and other Baha Mar creditors yesterday hailed Prime Minister Perry Christie and his government for “not blinking” in negotiations with China for payment of multi-million dollar sums owed to them.
Moody’s downgrade branded ‘bittersweet’
Moody’s decision to slash the Bahamas’ sovereign credit rating, but maintain it at investment grade, was yesterday described as “bittersweet” by the Democratic National Alliance’s (DNA) leader.
Tourism ‘wipe out’ concern over Zika
The Opposition’s deputy leader yesterday warned that the outbreak of the Zika virus in the Bahamas could “wipe out our tourism industry altogether”, with Canada already having issued a travel advisory on this nation.
Insurers: Treat NHI adviser with a ‘pinch of salt’
Bahamian insurers yesterday hit back at the rosy National Health Insurance (NHI) picture being painted by the Government’s chief consultants, arguing that their comments should be “taken with a pinch of salt”.
Sanigest work defended
Permanent Secretary to the National Health Insurance (NHI) Secretariat Peter Deveaux-Isaacs yesterday defended the Government’s former NHI consultant Sanigest Internacional, noting that much of its work was being incorporated into the work of KPMG.
BFSB launches industry awards
The Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) yesterday said it had opened nominations in five categories for the 2016 Financial Services Industry Excellence Awards.
Public insurer ‘critical’ to NHI roll-out
THE National Health Insurance (NHI) Secretariat yesterday defended the establishment of a government owned and privately managed public insurer.
Former staff interview for jobs at Sandals
Former Sandals employees were at the Sandals job fair at Christ the King Anglican Church in Ridgeland Park West yesterday to interview for their previous positions, with some questioning the reason for the recent redundancies while others appeared to have no ill will toward their former employer.
‘Wonderful start’ for bad mortgage acquirer
Sir Franklyn Wilson’s group has “gotten off to a wonderful start” with its ‘bad mortgage’ restructuring venture, which helped drive a $65 million year-over-year decline in banks’ non-performing home loans during the 2016 first half.
Chinese home amid Pointe’s permit wait
The Pointe’s Chinese workforce has been sent home until the downtown Nassau development obtains the necessary permits to begin construction of its 200-room condo hotel and associated amenities.
