NEW YORK, NY. April, 2014–(Marketwired) – Wedding specialists and a Fortune 500 company have joined The Bahamas for a marriage made in paradise that will result in 16 couples winning weddings in The Islands Of The Bahamas through the 16 Weddings, 16 Islands, One Priceless Day sweepstakes.

…continue >

Michael Cunningham, Chairman, Bahamas Entrepreneurial Venture Fund speaking at the National Conclave of Chambers of Commerce in The Bahamas held last week at SuperClubs Breezes in Nassau. (Photo Harry Cutting/©Dupuch)

Bahamian entrepreneurs need to be more proactive in seeing their businesses come to fruition, according to the Chairman of The Bahamas Entrepreneurial Venture Fund (BEVF), who has also called for greater creativity and innovation in the sector.

Speaking at the National Conclave of Chambers of Commerce in The Bahamas last week, BEVF Chairman Michael Cunningham said: “There are creative minds in our society, but the courage to take the financial risk is lacking” and particularly urged potential businesses in the Family Islands to take advantage of access to funding and support networks.

“We want to see more entrepreneurs giving birth to ventures in the Family Islands,” he said. “It is our hope that entrepreneurs will use major projects in the Family Islands to develop small businesses.”

…continue >

From The Miami Herald:

Adam Goldstein [pictured], who has led Royal Caribbean International for the last 12 years, has been named to a newly created position at the Miami-based parent company.

Goldstein, 54, is president and chief operating officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., effective immediately.

A search is on for a new president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, the largest brand in the company with 21 ships. The fleet includes the world’s largest cruise ships, the 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas.

This is an excerpt from Miami Herald as it appeared on April 7, 2014. For updates or to read the current version of this post in its entirety, please click here.

Go to the source of this post >

Hon Khaalis Rolle, Minister of State for Investments speaking at the National Conclave of Chambers of Commerce in The Bahamas held last week at SuperClubs Breezes in Nassau. (Photo Harry Cutting/©Dupuch)

The government is one step closer to drawing up its comprehensive National Economic Plan, with the longlist of consultancy firms bidding to spearhead the strategy narrowing to six candidates, according to Minister of State for Investments Khaalis Rolle.

Rolle said 16 firms applied to guide the development of the plan and six have been selected from that list. The government expects to announce the successful bidder soon ahead of appointing a national economic planning commission in May, and releasing the plan for public consultation in June.

“We are very confident in the quality of the firms and that they will be able to do what we need done in this process,” he said, addressing delegates at the National Conclave of Chambers of Commerce in The Bahamas last week.

…continue >

WASHINGTON – The US Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have announced that jurisdictions that have reached agreements in substance with the US on the terms of intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) can be treated as having agreements in effect until the end of 2014.

This treatment will be available to jurisdictions that reach agreements in substance prior to July 1, 2014, and that consent to having the status of their agreements disclosed. As an increasing number of jurisdictions reach agreements in substance, the announcement provides foreign financial institutions (FFIs) located in these jurisdictions with the guidance they need prior to the upcoming registration deadlines.

…continue >

During FOCOL’s annual general meeting March 26, 2014, Wilson was reappointed director – a position he has held for more than three decades.

Four directors did not stand for reelection – Carol Lashley, Maitland Cates, Emil Symonette and Sir Albert Miller, who stepped down as FOCOL’s chairman.

…continue >

Pictured: Hon Michael Halkitis, Minister of State for Finance speaking at the National Conclave of Chambers of Commerce in The Bahamas. (Photo Harry Cutting/©Dupuch)

Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis has warned of the effects of not implementing fiscal reform, saying failure to adopt a new system of taxation would reduce investment and harm investor confidence.

According to the Minister, government debt would rise to 62 per cent of GDP if there was no reform and The Bahamas would face a credit rating downgrade.

“In order to ensure economic growth and stability going forward, The Bahamas will need to diversify its sources of revenue collection,” he said, speaking at the National Conclave of Chambers of Commerce in The Bahamas this week.

Three months ahead of the proposed July 1 implementation of value added tax (VAT), the government is prioritizing public education and industry consultation with training programmes soon to be rolled out and public meetings held throughout the country.

…continue >

Pictured: Hon Ryan Pinder speaking at the National Conclave of Chambers of Commerce. (Photo Harry Cutting/©Dupuch)

The Bahamas needs to become a full member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to allow it to trade on an equal footing internationally, according to Minister of Financial Services Ryan Pinder, who said the government is pushing ahead with its bid for accession through ongoing negotations with various members countries.

The Minister spoke of trade as “a powerful avenue for economic diversification” and said that Bahamian businesses would feel the trickle-down effects of becoming a WTO member.

Addressing the National Conclave of Chambers of Commerce in The Bahamas this week, Minister Pinder said strengthening The Bahamas’ trade links would also be beneficial for the burgeoning arbitration sector in the country.

…continue >

Minister of Financial Services Ryan Pinder says that The Bahamas is perfectly positioned to become a centre for dispute resolution in the region.
…continue >

The government has invested $100 million in infrastructure development in Andros, as it works to grow the Family Island economies and provide opportunities for employment in those communities.
Addressing attendees at the National Conclave of Chambers of Commerce in The Bahamas this week, Prime Minister Perry Christie said his government has awarded $20-million worth of building contracts on the island and pledged to invest further, saying: “We are going to make Andros a part of the economy of The Bahamas.”

…continue >