DPM targets 'next week' on fiscal bill
The deputy prime minister yesterday said he aims to “lay and debate” the Fiscal Responsibility Bill in Parliament next week, conceding that it is critical to the government’s “credibility”.KP Turnquest told Tribune Business: “I am hoping to have it a
DPM pledges crack down on smuggling
THE deputy prime minister yesterday pledged to crackdown on the “big problem” of smuggling, although he was unable to quantify how much this costs the government in lost revenue.K Peter Turnquest, addressing a Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employer
Water Corp in visit to UK counterparts
Members of the Water and Sewerage Corporation’s (WSC) Board and executive management are visiting counterparts in the UK in a bid to improve service efficiencies.While meeting various water utilities and regulators, the delegation also met Ellison Gr
BTVI programme aims to close IT skills gaps
The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) believes its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Summer Youth Programme is another step towards eliminating skills gaps.The programme, launched in partnership with the Office of the Pr
Continued borrowing the 'greater fiscal risk'
THE BAHAMAS can neither tax nor “borrow our way out” from its near-$8bn national debt, the deputy prime minister yesterday branding the latter as a greater fiscal risk.K Peter Turnquest, addressing the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce’s breakfast meeting,
Tech firm's president lures internet event to Bahamas
A Bahamian technology executive used his address to an Internet conference to lure the same event to this nation in 2019.Jason McDowall, chief executive and president of BahamasLocal.com, took the spotlight at IMPACT 18 Holland, an event hosted by th
Atlantis 'strong': Up 27% with Baha Mar
Top Atlantis executives “feel strongly” that Baha Mar’s emergence will not impact their long-term performance after net operating income jumped 27 percent for the 2018 first quarter.The Paradise Island resort’s confidence in its ability to see-off it
'Weigh in' over business licence reform alternatives
The private sector is being urged to “weigh in” and influence government policy on alternatives to the much-maligned business licence fee by providing hard, scientific data.Edison Sumner, pictured, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confed
'Bang on' over $415m aviation boost for GDP
Research showing The Bahamas will enjoy a $415m economic boost if it participates in Caribbean-wide aviation reform has been branded “bang on” by a local airline’s principal.Captain Randy Butler, pictured, Sky Bahamas’ chief executive, told Tribune
Competition watchdog won't be a 'lame duck'
Updated Bahamian competition legislation is designed to prevent the regulator from becoming a “lame duck” by setting out in extensive detail how it conducts investigations.KL Menns, the government’s Brussels-based competition law adviser, in a footno
Govt urged: Treat fiscal responsibility like VAT hike
Governance reformers yesterday urged the government to treat the Fiscal Responsibility Bill with “the same urgency” as the VAT increase given the extra “sacrifice” demanded from taxpayers.Matt Aubry, the Organisation for Responsible Governance’s (ORG
Realtor: Economic citizenship can lower Bahamian tax burden
A prominent realtor has renewed his call for The Bahamas to introduce economic citizenship, arguing it will create a new revenue source and lessen the tax burden on Bahamians.Mario Carey, the founder of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate MCR Bahama
Exuma still concerned over tragedy fall-out
CONCERN persists on Exuma over potential tourism fall-out from the recent boating tragedy, although the island’s Chamber of Commerce president says there have been no mass cancellations yet.“Predictably there are some concerns about what impact this
Digital divide: 40,000 tax payments manual
More than 40,000 tax payments in 2017 were made manually, highlighting how far the government and private sector have to travel to achieve true digital government.The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in an economic analysis of the potential ben
Target web shop contributions for Relays funding
An ex-tourism minister has blasted the decision to stop hosting the IAAF World Relays as “short-sighted”, and urged that funding be raised from web shops and private sponsors.Obie Wilchcombe, pictured, told Tribune Business that the government should
