Aviation tax rises ‘absolute insanity’
The Opposition’s shadow tourism spokesman yesterday described the increased Customs fees/taxes levied on the aviation industry as “absolute insanity”, and called on the Government to “urgently” revisit its policy.
Environmental Levy's threat to tyre shops
The Government’s new ‘Environmental Levy’ is threatening to put tyre shops “out of business”, an attorney warned yesterday, forcing businesses to come up with thousands of extra dollars to clear imported shipments.
Atlantis to add 192 jobs 'within a week'
Atlantis is adding 192 new jobs “within a week” through the opening of Olives Restaurant and expanded high-end casino lounge, its top executive yesterday disclosing the resort was eyeing July-August occupancies in the mid-high 80 per cent range.
Bahama Rock Head welder '40% liable' for accident
A former Bahama Rock head welder has been found ‘40 per cent liable’ for a workplace accident in which he suffered a broken neck, the Court of Appeal also finding the company failed to “properly supervise” its employees.
Ministry clarifies short-term permits
THE Ministry of Financial Services announced yesterday that short-term work visas are not required as part of the Immigration and entry procedure for individuals arriving in the Bahamas on international business, and for client meetings where there is no financial gain.
Minister pushes on specialist attorneys
The FINANCIAL Services Minister yesterday emphasised the need for specialisation within the Bahamian legal profession, arguing that it was of the “utmost importance” to ensure local technical capacity keeps pace with policy developments.
BTC establishes $250k COB Scholars funding
The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) and the College of The Bahamas (COB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish the BTC Scholars Programme, worth $250,000 over a five-year period.
Tax rises put ‘nail in Out Island coffin twice’
NEW and increased Customs fees will have a “more dramatic” impact on Family Island retail businesses, a top private sector executive said yesterday, adding that already-high freight costs coupled with the new 1 per cent Customs processing fee was like “putting the nail in the coffin twice”.
Bahamas moves on ‘very rudimentary’ SPS regime
The MINISTER of Financial Servcies yesterday said the Government was moving quickly to modernise this nation’s “very rudimentary” Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) regime, noting that the Bahamas was perhaps one of the only Caribbean countries without a Standards Bureau.
Nassau conference chooses its theme
Reflecting The Association of International Banks and Trust Companies (AIBT) has chosen, ‘The Shift Has Occurred. How Are You Positioned?’, as the theme for its upcoming 2013 Nassau Conference.
Airlines threaten cut backs over tax rises
Airlines representing 90 per cent of US airlift into the Bahamas have warned they may cut their services due to the Budget’s tax increases, a move that will undermine the tourism industry and threaten plans for a 400,000 seat capacity increase.
Gov't sector policy contradicts PM on BTC cell monopoly
The Government’s draft communications sector policy makes no mention of extending the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) cellular monopoly beyond its current April 2014 expiration, and instead calls for competition to come “as expeditiously as possible”.
Tax 'blindsiding' to hurt job growth
A prominent businessman yesterday criticised the Government for “blindsiding” the private sector with new and increased fees, warning this would be counterproductive at a time when the Bahamas “needs job growth more than ever”.
Gov't to close 30,000 household 'digital divide'
The Government has pledged to close a ‘digital divide’ that has left 30,000 Bahamian households without fixed broadband Internet services, warning that it is “of critical importance that the Bahamas never drops the ball” on electronic communications.
Out Island resorts fear aviation loss to cost ‘thousands’
FAMILY Island resort operators yesterday expressed serious concern over the potential pull back by the private aviation sector, one telling this newspaper that a major fly-in group had already cancelled, costing that community “tens of thousands of dollars” in revenue.
