The board of directors of Commonwealth Bank Ltd announced at its 2016 meeting last month, that it approved a final extraordinary dividend of six cents per share based on 2015 results of $58 million in net income.

The extraordinary dividend, payable on March 14, 2016 to more than 6,000 shareholders of record as of March 7, brings dividend payments to $0.36 per share for the year and continues a trend of quarterly dividends plus extraordinary dividends.

…continue >

Romora Bay Resort & Marina on Harbour Island is experiencing higher occupancy rates and greater visitor satisfaction, according to the resort.

The resort has hit 100 per cent occupancy several times this year.

“Revenue was up 20 per cent last year and this year it’s 30 per cent,” says Romora Bay’s general manager, Joe Dargavage.

…continue >

Pictured: A scene of the arrival March 2, 2016 of Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex. Click the photo to see more pictures of the event. (BIS Photos/Peter Ramsay)

Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex, was in The Bahamas last week for two days of events surrounding the Governor General’s Youth Awards Programme

The Prince paid a courtesy call on Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, March 3 at Government House.

The royal courtesy call was the first event on the agenda of special events related to the Governor General’s Youth Award Programme.

The full schedule included tours of various schools; a Gold Awards Ceremony of the Governor General’s Youth Award Programme hosted by the royal couple at Queen’s College; GGYA activities in Abaco; and a dinner hosted for GGYA.

…continue >

Canadian investors visited Grand Bahama recently to meet with key stakeholders on the prospect of establishing a performing arts and entertainment academy on the island.

…continue >

Commonwealth Bank has reported unaudited total profits of $58 million for fiscal 2015 with total assets reaching $1.5 billion at year-end, December 31. Earnings were up 9 per cent over 2014 when the bank reported total profit of $53 million. Total assets were up 4 per cent over 2014.

“We are very pleased to present these results to our shareholders who benefit from careful and prudent management that has led to tremendous performance figures,” said Commonwealth Bank president Ian Jennings. “These results reflect a continued emphasis on our entrenched business model which has helped the bank grow in a safe and sound manner despite a challenging economic environment.”

…continue >

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., February 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Travel to Nassau is about to become much easier and more convenient for the Jacksonville-area. Silver Airways today announced it is starting nonstop service between Jacksonville and Nassau on May 28, 2016.

In addition to the new Jacksonville – Nassau service, Silver Airways also recently announced it is starting nonstop service to Nassau from Tampa, Fort Myers, and West Palm Beach starting Memorial Day weekend.

…continue >

The Ministry of Tourism returned to the home of the Miami Heat recently as part of a continuing promotional partnership. The campaign involved Bahamas cultural performances, advertising and other promotional events at an NBA game held at the American Airlines Arena in Florida.
…continue >

The Islands of The Bahamas Florida Sales and Marketing team, “A Bahamas Affair” Road Show, has been described an unqualified success by those in attendance. The major marketing initiative, featuring a live talk show, a 3D presentation, and Junkanoo dancers, wowed the many travel agents that attended the shows, across Florida. The shows began in Orlando and Tampa, Florida and culminated in Hollywood, FL, February 25th.

The shows are the beginning of a major marketing thrust to herald the presence of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism’s focused re-engagement with travel agents. The events have served not only to renew relationships within the travel agent community, but also to advise of the many new and upcoming developments in The Bahamas, and share about the major upcoming events on the Islands – including the Second Annual Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival Festival.

…continue >

While real estate sales are mixed around the region, one market is performing very strongly: The Bahamas.

The 700-island archipelago seems to be surging, according to a new report from Integra Realty Resources.

The Bahamas saw a 20 percent increase in real estate sales volume last year, according to data from the Bahamas Real Estate Association’s MLS.

That came with a 5 percent increase in the average sales price, according to the report, which was authored by James Andrews.

…continue with our excerpt >

This is an excerpt from Caribbean Journal as it appeared on March 2, 2016. For updates or to read the current version of this post in its entirety, please click here.

Go to the source of this post >

Chairman of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement Review Committee (HCARC) Dr Marcus Bethel has suggested that the government would make a determination on the Hawksbill Creek Agreement’s expiring tax concessions within the next three months.

Dr Bethel made the claim while fielding questions from local business owners at the monthly meeting of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) held last week at the Pelican Bay Hotel in Freeport.

…continue >