Property tax and immigration fees up
THE Minnis administration’s VAT grabbed the spotlight yesterday but Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest also announced select increases to real property taxes and immigration fees.Real property tax on foreign-owned vacant la
Charities to benefit from budget move
ONE of the tax relief measures announced by Deputy Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest yesterday will have a direct impact on charities. Mr Turnquest promised that the government will “provide tax relief to individuals and businesses” as he announced a
Police hunt for armed robbers
POLICE are appealing for public assistance as they investigate three armed robberies in the capital on Tuesday.In the first incident, according to reports, a man was standing outside a home in Ridgeland Park when he was approached by two men armed wi
Volunteers offer to walk students home
COMMUNITY activists have launched a pilot volunteer programme that pairs groups of primary schools students with adults who can accompany them as they walk home from school. The initiative “Our Children’s Keepers” follows three high-profile incidents
Out with the old jobs scheme, in with new skills programme
THE National Employment and Empowerment Programme (NEEP) comes to a close today, with the government embarking on a new 52-Week Skills Empowerment Programme. NEEP participants will be given notice pay plus any accrued vacation leave, according to a r
From burden to VAT hike - the FNM's changing view on tax
THE Free National Movement insisted value added tax would be a burden on Bahamians before announcing their plan yesterday to increase the tax rate by more than 50 percent in the next fiscal year.On August 20, 2014, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis and
Web shop patrons to pay stamp tax
WEB shop patrons will have to pay five percent stamp tax on in-store deposits to accounts and any digital online sales, effective July 1, 2018.Although not implicitly stated in yesterday’s budget presentation, it is presumed this tax will be applied
Bus route identified to test out new system
THE government has identified a route for its pilot project on a new busing system, according to Transport Minister Frankie Campbell, who insisted the program moving forward.Mr Campbell told media outside Cabinet the project will not be a “mock bus r
Embiid braves the leap . . . eventually
ALTHOUGH he towers over his opponents on the court, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was no match for the 60-foot tunnel drop through a shark-filled tank at Atlantis Paradise Island Resort.The seven-foot NBA star jetted to The Bahamas this month t
Move to digital seeks to make govt more efficient
THE government will be undergoing a “digital transformation” to strengthen the country’s competitiveness, Deputy Prime Minister K Peter Turnquest said yesterday.Known as the “Digital Bahamas Initiative”, the project will be financed in part by a $500
Ferreira: Other islands have similar environmental hazards to Grand Bahama
ALTHOUGH Grand Bahama has the unique distinction of being “the industrial capital of the Bahamas” which have caused significant pollution problems, Environment Minister Romauld Ferreira said there are other islands which have similar or more environmental hazards.
Govt takes legal possession of site for General Post Office
THE government has now taken legal possession of the old Phil’s Food Service building on Gladstone Road where work will “shortly” begin to ready it for the General Post Office’s relocation, Transport and Local Government Minister Frankie Campbell ann
Mitchell: Henfield should resign if he votes against Interception of Communication Bill
IF Senator Ranard Henfield does vote against the government’s proposed Interception of Communication Bill, he should resigned immediately or be terminated, Senator Fred Mitchell insisted yesterday.Over the weekend, Mr Henfield indicated on social med
Two men and teenager charged with Arawak Cay boat robbery
TWO men and a 16-year-old were arraigned in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday over allegations they robbed a man at gunpoint on a boat at Arawak Cay on Friday.Cecil Martin, 24, Davante Fisher, 22, and the teenager stood before Chief Magistrate Joyann Fe
BUDGET: VAT to rise from 7.5 percent to 12 percent
VALUE-added tax (VAT) will increase from 7.5 percent to 12 percent effective from July 1, Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest announced in the House of Assembly today.
