Bahamas holding off debt cost pressures
The Bahamas was the only Caribbean nation in early April to escape pressure on its bond yields amid the COVID-19 pandemic, an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report revealed yesterday. The IDB, in its 2020 first quarter “bulletin” on the regio
Hotel union to feed the 5,500 with 'advance'
The hotel union’s president yesterday said it has “risen to the occasion” to provide COVID-19 relief to its 5,500 members via “an advance” from the industry’s Health and Welfare Fund.Darrin Woods told Tribune Business that the Bahamas Hotel, Catering
COVID-19 aid moves businesses to tears
A participant in the government’s $20m small business loan support initiative says many borrowers have been reduced to tears when approved for credit that will help pay staff. Robert Pantry, founder and chief executive of Simplified Lending, said no
Cooking gas suppliers face 'sky high' demand
Cooking gas operators yesterday reassured consumers they have adequate supplies to cope with a surge in demand during the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown period. Barry Pratt, managing director of Island Gas, told Tribune Business : “Supplies are fine a
ART OF GRAPHIX: How to avoid the 'red eye'
Looking back at old photographs, you may see people with the phenomenon known as “red eye”, which develops as a result of using flash photography. What Causes Red Eye in Photographs? Taking a picture in low light causes the flash to go off close to
'Change mindset' for virtual queues
A Bahamian information technology (IT) provider yesterday urged businesses to “change their mindset” and embrace digital solutions to the problem of long customer lines during the COVID-19 crisis.Philip Darville, SolveIT Bahamas’ managing director, t
It's time for the people's time: Part 2
Establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund A sovereign wealth fund, sovereign investment fund, or social wealth fund is a state-owned investment fund that invests in real and financial assets such as stocks, bonds, real estate, precious metals, or even alt
Mask producers mixed over import prohibition
Local face mask producers yesterday had a mixed reaction to the prime minister’s decision to ban the importation of non-medical rivals in a bid to stimulate domestic manufacturing. Oscar Cerna, a local tailor, told Tribune Business that the move wou
Realtor chief forecasts 20% property price fall
The Bahamas Real Estate Association’s (BREA) president yesterday forecast a 20 percent price cut across the real estate market as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Christine Wallace-Whitfield, pictured , told Tribune Business: “I think prices will
Top auto dealer lays-off 80 staff
A major auto dealer yesterday confirmed it is temporarily laying-off 80 staff as the industry prepares to make its case to the government for a partial opening amid the COVID-19 lockdown. Fred Albury, the Auto Mall’s principal, told Tribune Business
Tourism grapples with 'new normal'
A Cabinet minister yesterday said the tourism industry’s “contact sport” must grapple with a “new normal” focused on health and safety in a post-COVID-19 environment. Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister for tourism and aviation, told reporters outside the
Govt's $20m small business loan facility 60% oversubscribed
The government’s $20m small business support initiative has already been oversubscribed by some 60 percent, data provided to Tribune Business revealed last night.Figures supplied by the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) showed that micro and s
Take IMF’s 6.7% growth forecast ‘with grain of salt’
The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) projection yesterday that The Bahamas will swiftly rebound from COVID-19 despair with 6.7 percent GDP growth in 2021 “must be taken with a grain of salt”.
Realtors look for tax cuts
A prominent realtor yesterday urged the Government to slash the tax rate on property sales by 50 percent and "cut all the red tape" to stimulate "real money" inflows to The Bahamas.
Govt to 'spread' tech hub beyond Freeport
The deputy prime minister yesterday said the government will “certainly” seek to spread the Grand Bahama technology hub initiative to other islands in a bid to jumpstart the economy post-COVID-19. K Peter Turnquest, speaking to reporters outside the
