Conflict ‘taint’ fears on GB water hikes
The Government last night demanded the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) and its water affiliate make “a business case that makes sense” for tariff hikes that it argued cannot be subject to “proper public consultation”.
PI entrepreneur tells RCL: ‘We’ve heard it all before’
The Bahamian entrepreneur battling to restore Paradise Island’s lighthouse yesterday accused Royal Caribbean of “trying to baffle us with massive numbers and future promises”, adding: “We’ve heard it all before.”
Port-fighting family in $46.5m GB exit
A Florida-based family who engaged in a bitter public battle with the Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) and its affiliates have put all their Freeport interests up for sale with a $46.5m asking price.
Straw vendors fear being ‘left behind’
STRAW Market vendors yesterday voiced fears they are being “left behind” by developments such as Royal Caribbean’s $100m Paradise Island project and the $322.5m Nassau Cruise Port revamp.
Royal Caribbean scouts Rum Cay
Royal Caribbean’s top executive has confirmed the cruise giant sent a team to scout a potential new destination on Rum Cay, saying: “You can never have enough great product.”
Royal Caribbean: 60% of guests won't visit PI
Top Royal Caribbean executives yesterday pledged that "more than 60 percent of our guests" will never visit its Paradise Island project, as they urged: "We can win together or we can lose together."
Royal Caribbean cut Crown Land to avoid Toby 'conflict'
Royal Caribbean executives yesterday said they reduced their Paradise Island Crown Land demands by 43 percent in a bid to "untangle ourselves" from any "conflict" with Bahamian entrepreneur Toby Smith.
Tax authority chief labels $875m arrears 'alarming'
The Government's top tax collector yesterday branded the $875m in combined outstanding VAT, real property tax and Business Licence arrears as "alarming" even though this sum has been slashed from the previous $1bn.
Ten couriers blocked amid $193m VAT arrears worry
Ten courier companies recently saw Customs temporarily halt clearance of their clients' imports, the Government's top tax official revealed yesterday, as part of a drive to recover $193m in total VAT arrears.
PI investment to be ‘gold environmental standard’
Royal Caribbean executives yesterday pledged their Paradise Island project will set "the gold standard" for environmental sustainability, adding that Atlantis and others should feel "comfortable" their concerns will be resolved.
Tax authorities eye $3m from Briland crackdown
The Government is expecting to realise an extra $3m in revenue from the recent crackdown on Harbour Island tax cheats, its top tax official said yesterday.
Foreign workers 'manipulating system'; cost Gov't thousands
The Government is losing thousands of dollars in fee income because foreign construction workers and their sponsors "have figured out how to manipulate the system", the Bahamian Contractors Association (BCA) chief said yesterday.
GB water supplier: 40% protected from price rise
Grand Bahama's water supplier yesterday pledged that 40 percent of its customer base will not see any price hikes from an adjusted tariff structure due to take effect on May 1 if approved by regulators.
Vacation rental listing ‘not so we can tax you’
The Government's revenue chief yesterday said some 7,500 vacation rental owners have registered with the Department of Inland Revenue but insisted this is "not so we can tax you".
Capitalise on improved 2023 GDP growth to avoid 'bother'
The Bahamas was yesterday urged to "capitalise on the momentum" created by the IMF's increased 2023 economic growth projections otherwise it could face "bother" in the medium to long-term.
