NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – Prime Minister Perry Christie is in the United States for talks with potential investors as well as to attend the “christening of Norwegian Cruise Lines new cruise ship “Breakaway”, according to a government statement issued here.
Bahamas
KINGSTON, Jamaica - The Bahamas government says it will establish a separate entity to regulate the civil aviation sector in the country.
Prime Minister Perry Christie said his administration will be establishing the Civil Aviation Authority to serve as a regulator, taking away that function from the Civil Aviation Department that also acted as a service provider.
Christie said the government has received funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to establish the new entity.
The Bahamas continues to attract the most American luxury travelers, according to a new study released by Resonance Consultancy in collaboration with the Luxury Institute. The report also shows that the island destination more affluent Americans want to visit than any other is the Turks and Caicos.
The Resonance Report on Affluent Travel and Leisure surveyed more than 1,200 affluent U.S. households with incomes of $150k+ to understand their plans for travel, recreation and the purchase of vacation homes in the next 12-24 months.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - EVEN AS Jamaica struggles with a growing food import bill projected to go past US$1 billion for 2012, representatives from Caribbean neighbours The Bahamas are in the island looking to copy our good agricultural practices, looking at ways to improve their food security. Member of Parliament Arnold Forbes and the other six members of the Bahamian delegation were special guests at the official launch of the annual Jamaica 4-H Clubs Achievement Day expo, at the Medallion Hotel, St Andrew, on Monday.
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The main opposition Free National Movement (FNM) wants the Perry Christie government to enforce the law and ensure that illegal web-shops are closed.
FNM leader Dr. Hubert Minnis said he was also calling on the Commissioner of Police, Ellison Greenslade, to enforce the law after Chief Justice, Sir Michael Barnett, overturned the conservatory order which prevented law enforcement officials from enforcing the gambling laws of the country.
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas government is providing a tax amnesty to property owners ahead of the June 30 deadline.
The government says effective immediately, the Real Property Tax Amnesty Programme could save home owners up to 50 per cent of the taxes owned to government if they make arrangements with the assessment team. But the government gave no indication as to how much money is owed to it by tax payers.
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas Monday joined the international community in paying tribute to Margaret Thatcher, described as Britain’s most dominant prime minister since Winston Churchill. Thatcher, 87, had been in declining health for some years, suffering from dementia. She died peacefully following a stroke. Observers said the death of Sir Denis Thatcher, her husband of 50 years and closest confidante, intensified her isolation in what had proved a frustrating retirement, despite energetic worldwide activity in the early years.
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas government says it will move to install emergency lights at the Mayaguana airport after an aircraft crashed into a vehicle killing three people on Thursday.
“As a result of this terrible turn of event the Ministry of Transport is now intervening to procure the immediate installation of emergency lights in Mayaguana and will thereafter install lights in Fresh Creek Andros and Stella Maris, Long Island,” Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said in a statement..
KINGSTON, Jamaica - FINANCE officials from 13 Caribbean island nations and territories met yesterday in Antigua to brainstorm about ways of strengthening anti-money-laundering efforts and asset forfeiture. It's an uphill battle in the Caribbean, which UN experts consider a top destination for the laundering of cocaine income. Last year, eight Caribbean countries or territories were designated by the US as jurisdictions of "primary concern" for money laundering.
NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – The Bahamas will host a one-day Regional Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) workshop next week as Caribbean countries seek to comply with new regulations outlined by the United States.
Financial Services Minister L. Ryan Pinder said that the workshop is being facilitated by the United States Treasury and Internal Revenue Services (IRS) .