Pictured: Incoming executive director of the Small Business Development Centre, Davinia Blair. (BIS Photo)

The government of The Bahamas has named Davinia Blair as the executive director of the imminent Small Business Development Centre.

Blair’s appointment signals the government’s commitment to building and supporting the institutional framework and the national support programme for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

The centre is the product of a tri-partite arrangement between the Government, the University of The Bahamas and the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employer’s Confederation (BCCEC) and the Ministry of Finance. The centre works to guide the development and funding of MSMEs throughout the country.

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Etienne Dupuch Jr Publications is proud to announce the release of the latest issue of The Bahamas Investor magazine. Packed with critical information for investors, the bumper, high-quality publication contains a mix of in-depth features, profiles, reference materials, news and interviews with industry leaders.

The Fall & Winter 2018 edition contains an interview with Citi Trust’s managing director Elena Mortemore. Overseeing 24 countries and responsible for generating nearly $60 million in revenue, Mortemore says the most rewarding aspects of her job are experiencing different cultures and meeting the needs of her very varied client base.

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The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation (BMOTA) is pleased to report that first quarter international visitor results point to an increase in arrivals, signaling that business turnaround from Q4 of 2017 has continued to flow into 2018. The Ministry is anticipating a strong summer season for tourism across the destination.

Overall, The Bahamas experienced significant increases in foreign air and sea arrivals, which are up 2.8%. Foreign air arrivals alone reached a substantial 18% increase compared to Q1 of 2017.

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Pictured: Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis gives the keynote speech at the opening of the Bahamas Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference at the Grand Lucayan, June 20, 2018. (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

Speaking at the Bahamas Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference last week, Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said The Bahamas is uniquely positioned to quickly become jurisdiction of choice for blockchain companies.

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said that Grand Bahama is the ideal location in The Bahamas to support the establishment and growth of a technology cluster of blockchain, and other software companies that can jumpstart the technology industry in The Bahamas.

In spite of the challenges that come with establishing and growing a technology sector, Prime Minister Minnis said that The Bahamas is uniquely positioned to quickly become the jurisdiction of choice for technology companies, particularly blockchain technology companies, and Fintech solution providers.

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The Central Bank announces the appointment of Ms. Karen V. Rolle as Deputy Inspector of Banks & Trust Companies and Supervised Licensed Institutions, with effect from June 1st, 2018. In this role, and in conjunction with the Inspector, Mr. Charles Littrell, Ms. Rolle will lead the Central Bank’s supervision of financial institutions.

Ms. Rolle has 24 years of experience with the Central Bank, most recently as Manager of the Bank Supervision Department. She is a member of the Central Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee and Policy Advisory Committee. She has represented the Central Bank internationally in many forums, and she is currently the Deputy Chair of the Caribbean Group of Banking Supervisors.

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Five senior Julius Baer Group Ltd private bankers in the Bahamas and Panama left to join Swiss rival Gonet & Cie.

Patrick Feuz, head of Julius Baer’s Nassau operations, chief operating officer Jean-Marc Fellay, and Patrick Guye-Bergeret, a senior relationship manager serving Latin American clients, have joined Gonet & Cie, according to a statement released at the end of last week.

Juan Carlos Hofer and Matthias Krull, senior relationship managers at Julius Baer in Panama, have also joined Gonet, according to the statement.

Director general of tourism Joy Jibrilu is expecting a strong summer season for visitor arrivals. Watch an interview with Jibrilu here.
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The 2018/19 Budget passed Monday evening in the House of Assembly with the majority of Members of Parliament voting for a number of fiscal provisions, including increasing VAT to 12 per cent.

Senate debate now takes place on the Budget, which takes effect, fiscal year beginning July 1.

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Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis delivered his budget 2018/19 contribution in the House of Assembly June 18, 2018. Read the full contribution here.
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Minister of Financial Services, Immigration, Trade and Industry Brent Symonette delivered his budget contribution in the House of Assembly June 13, 2018.
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