'FOLLOW THROUGH' CRITICAL TO SUCCESS
By Simon Cooper Res Socius The New Year is upon us once again, and resolutions are flowing like champagne. Wise entrepreneurs around the world are doing something similar. Why is that? The answer is as simple as saying: "Innovate or bye-bye." Perhaps you
RESORT PROJECT'S 'RISE FROM ASHES' VIA $20M SPEND
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor An Eleuthera resort project many thought 'dead and buried' may be about to rise from the ashes, its developer yesterday telling Tribune Business that the revised development would involve an investment "in excess
Hotel industry 'holds its own'
The Bahamas' hotel industry generated a 6.2 per cent increase in room occupancy for the year to end-October 2011, something the Bahamas Hotel Association's (BHA) president said showed the sector was "holding its own". Stuart Bowe, senior vice-president at
SUPERVALUE IN 'OVER 20%' XMAS SALES RISE
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Supervalue supermarket chain saw a more than 20 per cent year-over-year increase in its Christmas sales figures, its owner and president telling Tribune Business yesterday the company was likely to invest a fu
FIRST AN ELECTION, THEN REALITY BITES
By Larry Gibson Happy New Year, Bahamas! I wish to open my first column of the year by wishing my readers good health, and a safe and successful 2012. I thought it would be appropriate to commence with a review of 2011 from a global perspective. Througho
Entertainment 'loses its way'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamian entertainment industry has "lost its way", a leading musical entrepreneur charged yesterday, blaming factors such as a decline in standards among sector players and the 'unfair competition' posed by g
RENEWABLE ENERGY 'AMAZING CHANCE' FOR DIVERSIFICATION
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas has an "incredible opportunity" to diversify its economy by becoming a renewable energy exporter, a leading Caribbean expert yesterday saying it could emulate Israel's 92 per cent penetration rate if i
FIELDS NAMED AS TOP INSURANCE REGULATOR
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Former ColinaImperial executive Michele Fields has been appointed as the Bahamas' chief insurance regulator, Tribune Business can reveal, the Government believing her industry background will allow enhanced superv
$20M FIRE LOSSES 'UNPRECEDENTED'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading Bahamian general insurer yesterday said the pre-recession 60/40 split in its auto book had been reversed in favour of third party coverage, with 2011 an "unprecedented" year for large fire-related claims
NASSAU MUST BE INTELLECTUAL, NOT TOURIST, CAPITAL
By Richard Coulson During several recent months, the downward spiral in share prices and the threat of global recession have been largely driven by news - mostly bad - coming from the Eurozone. The abrupt reversal to price increases over the last few we
AIRLINE HOPES LPIA WOES STAY BELOW $100,000
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading Bahamian-owned airline yesterday said it was hoping that extra fuel and overtime costs incurred due to delays at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) over the Christmas-New Year week did not hit
LAW FIRM BLASTS CUSTOMS OVER 'WHIMSICAL FANCY'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading Bahamian law firm yesterday blasted as "almost unbelievable" Customs' second effort within two years to allegedly disrupt Freeport's $70-$120 million 'bonded goods' economy, arguing that arbitrary requir
ROYALSTAR INVESTORS GET '200% PAY OUT'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor RoyalStar Assurance is expecting to generate a $2-$3 million net profit for 2011 despite enduring a tough year, its managing director yesterday saying the company had to-date "paid out almost 200 per cent" of the
IDB to combat 'stodgy' image
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) country representative yesterday pledged to reach out more effectively to the Bahamian private sector, admitting that the institution was perceived as "too stodgy and bu
HOW A BUSINESS BROKER OPERATES
By Simon Cooper Res Socius People often stop me in the street these days to ask me exactly what a business broker does. I'm always happy to oblige, because some turn out to be sellers and others, buyers. Like any job, I guess the secret's in the skills -
74% 'PERSONAL' CREDIT IMPEDES DEVELOPMENT
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas' development is being "seriously impacted" because its citizens are unable to invest in key productive areas, such as energy and transportation, due to almost 74 per cent of credit going on 'personal'
'Unsustainable' costs drive Old Fort Club's 67% fee rise
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The exclusive Old Fort Bay club yesterday warned members it had "no alternative" but to implement the first ever increase in annual membership dues, raising them by 67 per cent to $5,000 per year, given that costs
COMPETITIVE AIR FARES, BUT 2/3 OF ROUTES ARE MONOPOLY
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamian air transport market's competitiveness is not being impaired by the fact over two-thirds of its international routes are serviced by just one carrier, a draft national aviation policy revealing that t
CREDIT BUREAU TARGET FOR END 2012/START 2013
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A Bahamian credit bureau should be established by "the latter part of this year or early 2013", the Central Bank's governor has told Tribune Business, with its activation designed to prevent the almost-20 per cent
'UNSUSTAINABLE' COSTS DRIVE OLD FORT CLUB'S 67% FEE RISE
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The exclusive Old Fort Bay club yesterday warned members it had "no alternative" but to implement the first ever increase in annual membership dues, raising them by 67 per cent to $5,000 per year, given that costs
FAILED BROKER IN '16 REGULATORY BREACHES'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Securities Commission uncovered 16 alleged regulatory breaches during an on-site inspection of Caledonia Corporate Management less than one year before its $25 million collapse, Tribune Business can reveal, th
PUT NATIONAL INTEREST 'IN FACE' OF ATLANTIS PARTIES
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Government has been urged to publish a "broad Bahamian policy" on Atlantis, a former finance minister urging it to put this nation's interests "in the face" of the parties starting to fight over the resort's o
CABLE TO 'REVOLUTIONISE' COMMUNICATIONS SECTOR
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Cable Bahamas' chairman has pledged to "revolutionise" the Bahamian communications industry through being the first 'Triple Play' service provider, the company's net income for the nine months to end-September ris
ATLANTIS OWNER 'OUT OF MONEY AT $2.3BN PI SALE
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Atlantis resort's potential new owner could lose the entire $175 million it is owed if the proposed debt-for-equity swap with Kerzner International fails to go through, a lawsuit seeking to block the deal is a
Kerzner couldn't get 'unqualified' 2010 accounts
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Kerzner International defaulted on its $2.5 billion loan agreement in May 2011, a lawsuit has alleged, with auditors unable to provide a set of 2010 'unqualified' financial statements for the Atlantis and One & On
OIL EXPLORER TO 'MOST DEFINITELY' BISX LIST IN 2012
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A Bahamas-based oil exploration company is "most definitely" seeking to list on the local stock market this year via a Bahamian Depository Receipt (BDR) offering, its chief executive yesterday describing the data
Tackle other 'flies in ointment' of Freeport, says QC
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Government's decision to establish a committee to revise the Customs Guide to Freeport was yesterday hailed as "a first step to breathe modern life back into the Hawksbill Creek Agreement", a leading QC tellin
CABLE TO 'REVOLUTIONISE' COMMUNICATIONS SECTOR
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Cable Bahamas' chairman has pledged to "revolutionise" the Bahamian communications industry through being the first 'Triple Play' service provider, the company's net income for the nine months to end-September ris
ATLANTIS OWNER 'OUT OF MONEY AT $2.3BN PI SALE
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Atlantis resort's potential new owner could lose the entire $175 million it is owed if the proposed debt-for-equity swap with Kerzner International fails to go through, a lawsuit seeking to block the deal is a
Kerzner couldn't get 'unqualified' 2010 accounts
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Kerzner International defaulted on its $2.5 billion loan agreement in May 2011, a lawsuit has alleged, with auditors unable to provide a set of 2010 'unqualified' financial statements for the Atlantis and One & On
OIL EXPLORER TO 'MOST DEFINITELY' BISX LIST IN 2012
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A Bahamas-based oil exploration company is "most definitely" seeking to list on the local stock market this year via a Bahamian Depository Receipt (BDR) offering, its chief executive yesterday describing the data
Tackle other 'flies in ointment' of Freeport, says QC
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Government's decision to establish a committee to revise the Customs Guide to Freeport was yesterday hailed as "a first step to breathe modern life back into the Hawksbill Creek Agreement", a leading QC tellin
ATLANTIS BANKRUPTCY FEAR 'VERY FAR FETCHED'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Kerzner International (Bahamas) chief executive yesterday described fears that the company's $2.5 billion lenders would look to foreclose or place the company into bankruptcy as "very far fetched", following Brook
WILSON BLASTS PM FOR 'UNDERMINING' KERZNER POSITION
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading businessman yesterday blasted Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham for what he alleged were contradictory public positions that ultimately undermined Kerzner International's "credibility" with its lenders and
ATLANTIS EYES 12-14% GROUP BOOKING RISE
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Atlantis is looking at a 12-14 per cent increase in group business for 2012, the head of Kerzner International's Bahamian operations yesterday saying its $50-$60 million annual capital expenditure plans would like
Atlantis situation shows need for 'Chapter 11 laws'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Trade Commission's co-chairman yesterday called for new laws that would allow troubled, debt-burdened Bahamian companies to restructure, pointing out that the only current available options - receivers
BFSB prepares for its annual summit
The Bahamas Financial Services Board (BFSB) is in the final stages of preparation for this year's International Business and Finance Summit (IBFS), scheduled to be held from February 2-5 at the Abaco Beach Resort in Marsh Harbour, Abaco. IBFS 2012 is bein
BTC TARGETS 30-40 STORES BY END-2012
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is aiming to expand its retail network to between 30-40 stores at 2012 year-end, an executive yesterday telling Tribune Business it hoped to have a national 4G network
WATER CORP DISCONNECTS 5,400 IN '11
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A net 5,435 customers were disconnected by the Water & Sewerage Corporation for non-payment in 2011, data supplied to Tribune Business reveals, even though reconnections reached their highest level for five years.
DOCUMENT BEST FORMAT
By Deidre M. Bastian Have you ever stumbled across a PDF file and wondered how to open it? Or maybe someone e-mailed you a PDF file, but you're not sure how to use it. Perhaps you tried to open it, but Windows would not allow you to do so. You may be say
TAX RETURNS PAY FOR $44M DREDGE IN JUST '1.5 YEARS'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The $44 million Nassau Harbour dredging costs will be paid back in full within one-and-a-half years in taxes alone, the minister of tourism yesterday telling Tribune Business that any impact on the Bahamas' cruise
BRISTOL PREMIER'S 'BEST OF THE BEST'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Bristol Wine and Spirits is aiming to showcase "the best of the best" in its wine and spirits portfolio through next week's 'soft opening' of its one-acre Premier Cru venue on Gladstone Road, its president yesterd
CHARTING THE RIGHT COURSE IN BUSINESS
By Simon Cooper Res Socius Let's face it. The Concordia disaster is one huge mess that never should have happened. My heart goes out to those affected by it, and they are in my thoughts. But there are lessons for businesspeople, too. Let's compare how th
Realtor names top producers
Damianos Sotheby's International Realty has named its 2011 Top Producers. They are: Samira Coleby, for the Bahamas; Bill Albury, Abaco; and Jonathan Morris, Eleuthera. Reflecting on 2011, Ms Coleby said: "The market is changing; clients are continually ch
PM 'elated' over 75% Our Lucaya occupancy level
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Prime Minister said he was "elated" upon learning that Our Lucaya's current occupancy levels were at 75 per cent, adding that an owner other than Hutchison Whampoa would likely have closed the Freeport resort.
'Level playing field' urged over Freeport bonded good reform
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A leading wholesaler yesterday urged that any reforms to Freeport's 'bonded goods' economy create a "level playing field", and not place his firm and others at "a competitive disadvantage" by sucking money out of
BAHA MAR'S OCCUPANCIES 3-4% ABOVE FORECAST LEVEL
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor While occupancies at Baha Mar's two existing Cable Beach resorts are trending 3-4 per cent ahead of 2012 forecasts, the resort developer yesterday said they had yet to reach "levels considered acceptable", followi
KERZNER FORECLOSE WOULD COST $230M
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Some $230 million in costs would be incurred just to foreclose on Kerzner International's Paradise Island properties, a Delaware judge questioning why Brookfield Asset Management should be the only one to potentia
Court urged to halt BEC 'runaway train'
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor Opponents of the $105 million Wilson City power plant argued before the Court of Appeal that their Judicial Review action still has merit in preventing the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) from behaving "as a
Government's watchdog 'robbed' of independence
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor The Auditor-General is being "robbed of administrative independence" because he cannot initiate prosecutions where corruption and fraud involving public monies is suspected, a Public Accounts Committee report noti