Neil Hartnell

BAHAMIAN resort occupancies, which fell by between 5-15 percent during “a really soft” fall 2024, are now rebounding towards levels “pretty close or equal to” last year’s for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

THE Government has beaten its debt buy back target by agreeing to repurchase almost $216m in Bahamian foreign currency bonds that were listed and traded on major international stock exchanges.

BAHAMIAN marinas yesterday voiced optimism that the Deputy Prime Minister and Immigration have cleared up the “confusion” over the $200 ‘stay extension’ fee ahead of the peak winter boating season.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday warned the Government’s 2031 debt target will be “out of reach” without “further revenue reforms” including a possible VAT rate increase.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) yesterday urged The Bahamas to slash crime, reform its labour market and build more hotel rooms to prevent economic growth “slowing” to its 1.5 percent historical average.

Grand Bahama Power Company’s top executive yesterday said he believes it has made sufficient reliability improvements for regulators to restart their review of its proposed 6.3 percent base rate increase.

The Bahamas could expand its annual economic output by 9 percent over the “long-term” it if makes substantial multi-million investments in climate change adaptation and protecting its natural assets.

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

A former health minister yesterday backed the IMF’s call for the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) to impose patient fees on those “with the ability to pay” and “double” its present $20m annual revenues.

Bahamian businesses yesterday branded the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as “out of touch” in calling for “further revenue measures”, including a possible VAT hike, adding: “They need to come live here.”