Bahamas facing $500m storm bill over next decade
THE Bahamas will reap multi-billion dollar benefits if it acts now to upgrade physical and environmental protections against $500 million in forecast storm damage, an engineer said yesterday.Carlos Palacious, director of operations for Caribbean Coas
Bahamas cannot 'shortcut' exchange control relaxing
THE Bahamas cannot “shortcut” economic reforms essential to underpinning exchange control liberalisation that can go “much further”, the Central Bank’s governor said yesterday.Signalling that further relaxation will be forthcoming, John Rolle said th
IAN FERGUSON: Stretching our thinking for world-class status
YESTERDAY’s Bahamas Business Outlook conference, produced by The Counsellors, focused the discussion on becoming a world-class nation in how we do business. The dialogue encompassed any number of paths, including innovative approaches to doing educat
PM laments 'antiquated' paper-based approvals
THE Prime Minister yesterday lamented the “inefficient” and “antiquated” demands for businesses to obtain written confirmations and certifcations from different government agencies.While addressing the Bahamas Business Outlook conference, Dr Hubert M
Port Authority unveils 'one-stop shop' portal
THE Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) has developed a “one-stop shop” business portal aimed at eliminating “irrelevant and cumbersome’” processes, its president said yesterday.Ian Rolle, delivering a presentation to the Rotary Club of Southeast Nass
'Crazy' property tax 'tears Abaco apart'
“Crazy” real property tax valuations and bills are threatening “to tear apart” Abaco’s real estate market, multiple realtors warned yesterday.They revealed that foreign real estate owners have started receiving real property tax bills that have “doub
WTO: Bahamas has 'too much baggage' unless Government acts
BAHAMIAN businesses will “have our backside handed to us” unless the Government “aggressively” undertakes key reforms prior to joining the WTO, a governance reformer warned yesterday.Robert Myers, a principal with the Organisation for Responsible Gov
Business start-up process in 50 per cent cut
The Government is aiming to “ease the pain of getting into business” through a February 5 launch that will cut this process by more than 50 per cent for some.Marlon Johnson, the acting Financial Secretary, told Tribune Business that the Government ha
Roadside auto dealers 'must pay fair share'
NEW auto dealers yesterday said they were not opposed to Japanese used vehicle imports, and only wanted roadside dealers to “pay their fair share”.Rick Lowe, the Bahamas Motor Dealers Association’s (BMDA) secretary, told Tribune Business that the sec
Gov't urged: 'Act like you care' and end clothing duty
THE Government has been urged to “act like you care” and eliminate import tariffs to allow Bahamas-based clothing and apparel retailers to survive.Robert Myers, the Organisation for Responsible Governance (ORG), told Tribune Business that high duty r
ART OF GRAPHIX: Graphic design adds depth to the brand
YOU may often hear people ask the question: “Aren’t branding and graphic design basically the same thing?” The truth is, yes, they go hand-in-hand, but they are also significantly different.Branding can be defined simply as a mark that indicates owne
Bran's pharmacy rejoinsprescription drug plan
THE Democratic National Alliance’s (DNA) former leader is hoping for a “smoother operation” this time around for his family’s pharmacy, which is again a participant in the National Prescription Drug Programme (NPDP).Branville McCartney had previously
Medical technicians file redundancy pay dispute
THE Department of Labour was yesterday “aggressively” addressing a labour dispute involving 13 employees of St Luke’s Diagnostic Medical Laboratory who have been made redundant. Robert Farquharson, director of labour, told Tribune Business: “That is
'Take fear out': Auto chief backs Japanese testing
A top auto dealer yesterday said he will “definitely” ensure his used vehicles undergo pre-import inspections, arguing that such processes will “take a lot of fear out of consumers”.Fred Albury, the Bahamas Motor Dealers Association’s (BMDA) presiden
Water Corp’s ‘ludicrous’ 8 per cent debt recovery deals
THE Water & Sewerage Corporation’s chairman yesterday said he was reviewing pre-election contracts issued to two debt collectors who have recovered just 8 per cent of the $5 million assigned to them.
