Bahamasair eyes baggage fees and ticket price hikes
Bahamasair is being “implored” by the COVID-19 crisis to increase revenues by $7.5m annually through the levying of “nominal” ticket price rises and baggage fees, a Cabinet minister revealed yesterday.Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviat
BPL’s $535m bond in Singapore listing
Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) mammoth bond refinancing aims to raise $535m and will be listed in Singapore when placed with international and local investors, a Cabinet minister revealed yesterday.
Time to get the 'boot' off financial services neck
Hubert Edwards, in the fourth of a five-part series, identifies the areas that require attention if The Bahamas is to improve its value proposition. Regional or similar-sized competitor jurisdictions essentially have the same value proposition as
US wants share of overflight revenues
The US has “indicated they want a piece of the pie” if The Bahamas starts charging airlines for flying through its national airspace, a Cabinet minister revealed yesterday. Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, confirmed that the US
Govt alters course on tourist COVID testing
The government yesterday reversed course on its COVID-19 tourism protocols by announcing that all visitors must produce evidence of negative PCR swab tests to enter The Bahamas from July 1. Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister for tourism and aviation, told
Unpaid Lucayan workers ‘authors of own distress’
The Grand Lucayan’s chairman yesterday said the 40 managerial staff alleging they have not been paid for weeks are “authors of their own distress” after they failed to co-operate on accessing unemployment benefits.
Contractor’s part win over bungled BTC agreement
A bungled contract triggered a dispute that resulted in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) being ordered by the Supreme Court to compensate an independent contractor for four months of work.
Bahamian resorts give mixed relaunch dates
More major Bahamian resort properties yesterday unveiled a variety of opening dates, with several pledging an instant relaunch while others have elected to wait until almost year-end.SuperClubs Breezes, the Cable Beach-based all-inclusive, and Comfor
Web shop taxes set to generate 43.5% increase
The government is betting that the “full effect” of the revised web shop gaming tax structure will generate a 43.5 percent year-over-year increase in the upcoming fiscal year, a top official said yesterday. Marlon Johnson, the Ministry of Finance’s
'Too early' to decide new/increased taxes
The deputy prime minister has reiterated that “it’s too early” to determine if new and/or increased taxes will be needed for The Bahamas to escape the fiscal hole created by COVID-19 and Hurricane Dorian.K Peter Turnquest, pictured, in a recent inter
Out Island resorts fear altered tourism reopen
Family Island resorts yesterday voiced fears that the government may halt plans for the tourism industry’s July 1 re-opening as they make preparations to cater to guests from that date. Krystel Brown, general manager of Rollez Villas Beach Resort on
Fiscal Council's MoU eyes July completion
The Fiscal Responsibility Council (FRC) is seeking “autonomy” in its financial affairs as it finalises the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will govern its relationship with the government. Gowon Bowe, who represents the Bahamas Institute of Ch
Hotel re-openings delayed to avoid 'horrendous' loss
A cabinet minister yesterday said “I don’t like, but understand” the decisions taken by Baha Mar and Sandals to postpone their COVID-19 reopenings beyond July 1 to the fall/winter period.Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister for tourism and aviation, said: “I
Time to get the ‘boot’ off financial services’ neck
Hubert Edwards, in the third of a five-part series, sets out the process for repositioning the Bahamian financial services industry.
Ministers to rescue on tourism's 'rocky start'
Ministerial intervention yesterday overcame “a rocky start” to the tourism industry’s re-opening after Bahamas Customs failed to appear at multiple marinas to clear incoming boats and yachts Peter Maury, the Association of Bahamas Marinas (ABM) pres
