Gov’t working to create Competitiveness Council
The Government is working with the Organisation of American States (OAS) to develop a framework for a Bahamian Competitiveness Council, a Cabinet Minister yesterday suggesting it would help improve this nation’s ‘ease of doing business’.
Insurers slam ‘misleading’ unity claim on NHI costs
Bahamian insurers yesterday slammed the Government’s “misleading assertion” that all stakeholders had come up with similar cost estimates for National Health Insurance’s NHI) first phase.
Renewable frustration on system inspections
A Bahamian renewable provider yesterday expressed frustration with the process for inspecting alternative energy systems, stressing the need for qualified inspectors.
Hotels beat value for only 1/3 of tourists
Fewer than one-third of stopover visitors received better-than-expected ‘value for money’ from Bahamian hotels, a statistic that will raise renewed fears this nation is pricing itself out of the tourism market.
New ‘economic loss’ lawsuit over BEC’s Clifton pollution
High-end homeowners in southwestern New Providence were yesterday said to be preparing their own legal action for “negligence and nuisance” over BEC’s Clifton pollution, which has resulted in actual economic damage and loss.
GB Power trying to ‘get ahead’ of URCA
The Grand Bahama Power Company’s (GBPC) three-year rate proposal is an attempt “to get ahead” of energy industry reform and URCA oversight of its activities, a Freeport MP charged yesterday.
Uninsured driver victims requiring ‘urgent’ attention
A leading QC yesterday said the Bahamas needed to “urgently” address compensation for victims of uninsured drivers, backing judicial calls for “intervention” by the Government and Parliament.
$1m dilemma over San Sal’s airport
Hurricane repair costs at San Salvador airport have been pegged at just under $1 million, the Minister of Transport and Aviation said yesterday.
‘Blinded’ driver exposes need for better law reform
The Privy Council’s rejection of a blinded accident victim’s $522,000 damages claim has exposed the need for “improved” law reform and reporting processes in the Bahamas, a noted QC said yesterday.
Contractors ‘won’t go quietly’ on $74m Baha Mar debts
Bahamian contractors yesterday vowed not to go “quietly into the night” over the $74 million owed to them over the Baha Mar project, despite acknowledging that their recourse is limited.
Vehicle plates move from ‘night to day’
The Transport and Aviation Minister said yesterday that a “new paradigm” was being explored over the production of vehicle license plates, with a policy decision expected on the issue very soon.
Motorists escape huge cost increase
Thousands of Bahamian motorists yesterday escaped “quite substantial increases” in their insurance premiums, after the legal system’s highest court backed the industry’s current underwriting model.
Baha Mar creditor prospects ‘diminish each passing day’
A former Baha Mar director yesterday said the prospects of Bahamian creditors being made whole “diminish with each passing day”, and added: “They are going to get screwed all the way.”
Gov’t crackdown on 20-25% uninsured motorists is urged
The Government was yesterday urged to crack down on the 20-25 per cent of Bahamian motorists who are uninsured, given the increasing frequency of traffic accidents where victims have no compensation recourse.
‘Blinded’ driver can’t seek $522k insurer damages
A driver “tragically blinded” in a 2004 accident with a jitney cannot enforce a $521,943 damages judgment against a Bahamian insurer because the courts are unable to impose liabilities excluded from policy coverage, the Privy Council ruled yesterday.
