Civil service's $55.7m rise critical productivity booster
A Cabinet minister yesterday defended the $55.7m increase in public sector worker compensation during the first nine months of the 2022-2023 fiscal year as essential to boosting morale and productivity.
Bahamas ‘shipwrecked’ if no Development Plan
The Bahamas will “end up shipwrecked” if it fails to fully revive the National Development Plan (NDP) as a mechanism to direct and benchmark improvements on key economic and social metrics, it was argued yesterday.
GBPA: Gov’ts financial demands are ‘contested’
The Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) yesterday hit back at the Government’s financial demands as the Opposition’s leader warned his party will “vigorously resist” any bid to “supersede” Freeport’s founding treaty without consultation.
Almost 1m referrals to Nassau/PI hotels
A senior Bahamian tourism executive yesterday said Nassau/Paradise Island has recovered to 97 percent of pre-COVID business volumes by March 2023 with airlift capacity up by double digits for the year-to-date.
Minister says Bill not removing ‘bread out of farmers’ mouths’
A Cabinet minister yesterday asserted that agricultural-related legislation accompanying the 2023-2024 Budget was being “misinterpreted” amid charges that it is threatening to “take bread out of farmers’ mouths”.
FTX’s Bahamas attorney quiet on $1m ‘bonus’ claim
FTX’s Bahamas attorney yesterday declined to comment on allegations that a “former Bahamian government official” was offered a $1m “bonus” if they could expedite obtaining the necessary licences to operate from this nation.
Royal Caribbean: PI project aims to retain profits locally
A senior Royal Caribbean executive yesterday pledged that a key objective of its $100m Paradise Island project is to have the bulk of revenues and profits generated remain in The Bahamas.
Gov't already rejecting work permit renewals
A Cabinet minister yesterday said the Government has already begun rejecting work permit renewal applications for expatriates who have received approvals “consecutively” for the past 10 years or more.
PM: Gov’t demanding Port Authority repay excess cost
The Prime Minister yesterday accused the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) of failing to repay costs the Government has incurred in providing public services in Freeport despite being billed for these expenses.
PM: COVID lockdown led to employment shrinkage
The Prime Minister yesterday blamed the former Minnis administration’s COVID lockdowns and other restrictions for the shrinkage in the workforce and number of employed Bahamians amid a bitter House of Assembly row.
Opposition chief warns over bidding ‘suspicion’
The Prime Minister yesterday defended the award of two multi-million dollar contracts amid charges by the Opposition’s leader that handling of the bid process “opens up every company to suspicion”.
Bank urges ‘level playing field’ creation for lending
A BISX-listed bank is calling for regulatory reforms that will create a “level playing field” between supervised and non-traditional lenders over providing credit to Bahamian borrowers.
FTX says ex-official got $1m bonus for permits
An attorney and “former Bahamian government official” was allegedly offered a $1m “bonus” to swiftly obtain the necessary licences so that FTX could move to this nation, it was asserted yesterday.
PM says Gov't on pace to hit balanced Budget
The Prime Minister yesterday asserted that the Government remains on track to achieve a fiscal surplus and balanced Budget in 2024-2025, adding: "Revenues will continue to go up, and deficits will continue to go down."
'Most Bahamians can't evade their tax liability'
The Prime Minister yesterday reassured that the Government's real property enforcement efforts are targeted at foreign homeowners and businesses rather than Bahamian families.
