URCA targets Cable 27% price increase decision in ‘first half’
Regulators aim to release a decision on Cable Bahamas’ bid for a 27 per cent basic TV price increase “within the first half” of 2015, after rejecting the company’s claim they are ‘sitting’ on the application.
CIBC regional restructure exercise 75% complete
CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank’s regional restructuring exercise is about 75 per cent through its, its top executive adding that the process was largely complete in the Bahamas.
Gov’t, private sector slam EU ‘blacklisting’
The Government and private sector have slammed as “highly disappointing” the European Union’s (EU) decision to ‘blacklist’ this nation’s financial services industry, arguing that the move has no merit.
Skills worry over $732m Agency ‘3 months away’
The Government’s Central Revenue Administration (CRA) has hired 75 per cent of its target staff, and anticipates being operational in “less than three months”, amid concerns over whether all its recruits have the necessary tax enforcement skills.
TUC ‘emphatic’ in $210 minimum wage opposition
A leading trade union body yesterday said it “emphatically” disagreed with the new $210 weekly wage, arguing that it was sticking up for non-unionised Bahamian workers.
Bimini developer targets 150,000 visitors by 2016
JAMAICA- RESORTS World Bimini’s president yesterday said the development was expecting to attract between 125,000-150,000 visitors next year, benefiting from its parent’s North American strategy to capitalise on the ‘explosion’ of Asian visitors over the next four to five years.
Cable slams URCA on ‘languishing’ 27% TV price increase
Cable Bahamas’ chairman has accused the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) of allowing its application for a 27 per cent basic pay-TV price increase to “languish with no end in sight”.
Contractors Bill: Industry has ‘no idea’ on its fate
Bahamian contractors yesterday said they have “no idea” what the Government intends to do about proposed legislation to regulate their industry, after making all the changes requested.
Gov’t ‘stretched’ to manage FDI projects
JAMAICA- The Government is “stretched” in its capacity to manage major foreign direct investment (FDI) projects, the Prime Minister’s senior policy advisor has conceded.
BPSU chief wanted $250 minimum wage
A trade union leader yesterday praised the increased $210 private sector minimum wage proposal as “a good start”, while admitting he would have preferred $250 per week.
Bahamas tops Caribbean for LA, Houston tourists
The Bahamas is the most sought-after Caribbean destination among US west coast and central markets for a leading travel website’s clients, with this nation urged to “tell the story” of its individual islands and create an ‘urgency’ to visit.
Bahamas ‘unfairly dumped on’ with EU blacklisting
The Bahamas was yesterday “dumped on” through its inclusion on another so-called financial services ‘blacklist’, although an ex-Attorney General and others suggested the development should be taken “with a big grain of salt”.
‘Double-edged sword’ to FNM’s VAT exempt plan
The FNM leader was yesterday warned that exempting ‘breadbasket’ items and utility bills from Value-Added Tax (VAT) was “a double edged sword” that would raise the tax burden for vulnerable Bahamians.
Salary pressure ‘risk’ via minimum wage increase
Higher-paid Bahamian workers were yesterday warned not to expect, or push for, an automatic pay increase now that the minimum wage is being raised by 40 per cent to $210 per week.
CIBC chief ‘satisfied’ KYC policy followed
JAMAICA - CIBC FirstCaribbean’s top regional executive yesterday said he was “reasonably satisfied” that the necessary Know Your Customer (KYC) policies were in place and being followed, even though a disgraced FIFA official hid nearly $1 million from the US tax authorities in a Bahamian account.
