Fiscal hawk fears politicians won’t ‘face the music’
The Government yesterday asked Moody’s to ‘take a bet’ that its economic growth and Budgetary initiatives will succeed, as a well-known fiscal hawk said: “They’re not going to have to face the music.”
Businesses monitor air cargo fall-out
Bahamian businesses are continuing to monitor the fall-out from new and increased Customs fines on the air cargo industry, which has prompted some carriers to threaten to withdraw from this market.
Ex-Senator renews call for Bahamian industry ownership
Bahamians must have ownership of key economic sectors "from the top straight through the supply chain", a former FNM Senator is arguing, adding that this would protect the "haemorrhaging" foreign currency reserves.
De-risk 'client migration' to benefit larger banks
Correspondent bank 'de-risking' could drive another wave of Bahamian financial services consolidation by sparking "client migration" to larger institutions, a former finance minister has warned.
Reform progress 'a lot slower' than Bahamas desires
The Chamber of Commerce's chairman yesterday admitted the Bahamas' economic and fiscal reform process was moving "a lot slower" than desired, as he called for unity to ward off a threatened downgrade.
Gov't 'oblivious' to fiscal, economic woe
The Democratic National Alliance's (DNA) leader yesterday accused the Government of being "oblivious" to the Bahamas' economic and fiscal woes, describing the latest downgrade threat as "scary stuff".
Gov't urged: 'Change air cargo fines today'
The Government has been urged to "amend right away this Monday" the new and increased Customs sanctions on air cargo operators, a Bahamian courier company branding them "ridiculous".
Govt sought BPL fix in 12-months
The Government wanted Bahamas Power & Light's (BPL) manager to guarantee its facilities would match the operational standards of comparable energy utilities within a year of taking over, Tribune Business can reveal.
Bahamas facing Moody's downgrade threat in two months
THE Bahamas faces the prospect of a fresh credit rating downgrade within the next two months, after Moody's was stunned by data showing two consecutive years of recession.
Air cargo costs to rise ‘tremendously’
Bahamians were yesterday warned that the cost of imported air freight will increase “tremendously” as a result of the new Customs fees and fines set to be imposed on operators from today.
Services Coalition ‘irony’ over WTO
Lack of private sector involvement has been a key factor in why the Bahamas’ bid for full World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership has lasted 15 years and counting, a former Securities Commission principal believes.
Gov’t ‘accelerates’ WTO member push
The Government’s reconstituted trade negotiating bodies face a “huge task”, its chief negotiator acknowledged yesterday, adding that his appointment showed it wanted to “accelerate” the Bahamas’ accession to full World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership.
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.”
