Gov’t urged: ‘Take heed’ of Social Services report
A former Cabinet minister who had responsibility for the Department of Social Services when in office yesterday urged the Government to “take heed” of the Auditor-General’s damning fraud and corruption-related findings.
Condo complex eyes $100m sell-out tag
A Paradise Island condo complex’s developer said yesterday that just two of the 15 units it initially made available for sale remain, with 100 persons now employed on-site for its construction.
Social Services ‘grossly negligent’ on $4m spend
The Auditor-General has slammed the Department of Social Services for “gross negligence” in allowing $4.237 million to be paid to suppliers without proper authorisation, exposing it to potential fraud and corruption.
Five more families hit by land fraud
Five families have become the latest victims of a massive New Providence land fraud, after the Court of Appeal affirmed that Arawak Homes had superior title to their properties.
Social Services staff shredded documents ‘to conceal fraud’
Government employees have been accused of shredding accounting records “to conceal” corruption and wrongdoing, including a fraud involving food stamps normally issued to poor Bahamians.
Gov’t not meeting obligation to 33% of social workers
The Government is not living up to its obligations to the 33 per cent of Department of Social Services staff who were initially hired via the Unemployment Assistance Programme, the Auditor-General has warned.
No short-term ‘difference’ via Credit Bureau
The proposed Bahamas Credit Bureau will “not make any difference” in the near term, a top Bahamian banking executive yesterday suggesting it would take four-five years from inception to become an effective tool in assessing borrowers.
Jobs concerns for $1.6bn National Insurance fund
Prime Minister Perry Christie yesterday said the Government is “working hard” to sustain the financial services industry, given the threats posed by correspondent banking ‘de-risking’ and other initiatives.
Aviation reforms bring Bahamas ‘into 21st century’
A Cabinet Minister yesterday said the Civil Aviation Bill 2015 and accompanying regulations would take the Bahamian aviation sector “into the 21st century”, creating a new regulator with responsibility for aviation security and safety.
Developer: Gov’t failed to protect us from activists
Blackbeard’s Cay’s developer has slammed the Government for failing to properly protect its $12 million investment from environmental activists, claiming it has been “unfairly treated” in efforts to shut the project down.
Gov’t hiring ‘only way’ we returned to guard landfill
A Bahamian security company says it has only resumed guarding New Providence’s landfill after it was hired by the Government, not the facility’s private sector manager.
Bahamas First ‘not desperate’ to make further acquisitions
Bahamas First is “not desperate” to make further acquisitions, even though its top executive concedes this is the only viable route to growth.
Political parties lack ‘big ideas’
A well-known businessman has criticised the three main political parties for an absence of “big ideas”, while expressing hope that the National Development Plan may spur a cure.
Activists to developer: ‘Stop your whining’
Environmental activists last night urged Blackbeard’s Cay’s principal to “stop whining” over earlier reverses, and slammed as “disingenuous” claims the $12 million project had been treated unfairly in previous legal hearings.
Ex-Chamber chief: End ‘ridiculous bureaucracy’
A former Chamber of Commerce chairman says “ridiculous bureaucratic processes” must cease if the Bahamas is to encourage entrepreneurship, with small business development this nation’s “low hanging fruit”.
