03062017 business

Page 1

business@tribunemedia.net

MONDAY, MARCH 6, 2017

$4.20 Govt ‘credibility loss’ on fiscal targets miss By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net The Government needs to regain its fiscal credibility by publishing a “detailed analysis” explaining why its $314.2 million first half deficit was so high, the Chamber of Commerce’s chairman has urged. Gowon Bowe told Tribune Business that both Bahamians and the international credit rating agencies had “lost confidence” in the Christie administration’s fiscal forecasts, given that Budget projections were frequently missed by ninefigure margins. Disclosing that the 20162017 first half deficit was “higher than what I would have anticipated”, Mr Bowe called on the Government to explain why it had overshot so much, notwithstanding Hurricane Matthew’s impact. He added that it also needed to produce detailed forecasts for the fiscal year’s second half, plus accurate estimates of the full-year performance, warning that there will be “no forgiveness” for projections that turn out to be wildly optimistic. With the Christie administration forced into emergency borrowing worth $130-$150 million to deal with Matthew’s immediate impact, Mr Bowe said that

‘Thorough public analysis’ of $314m deficit sought Chamber chief: Reassure Bahamians, rating agencies ‘No forgiveness’ for continued inaccurate forecasts

$4.24

$4.22

$4.23

Bahamas ‘fraud’ victim claims scheme ongoing By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Government has been urged to probe an alleged Bahamas-based real estate fraud that one victim claims is continuing, despite he and others last week winning a $94,000 judgment in the north Florida courts. John Brier, a US citizen who has led a four-strong group seeking to recover their ‘investments’ in Long Island real estate, said the principals behind the scheme were still promoting it worldwide via e-mail and other electronic means. Mr Brier sounded the

Urges Govt to investigate Long Island soliciting Warns that it’s ‘hurting a lot of people’ Same person, firm that targeted him seeking others alarm after a Canadian citizen sent him a March 1, 2017, e-mail received from Albert Jansen, a resident of Coral Gables, Florida, the same person who solic-

ited his own investment in a Long Island lot. In the e-mail, which has also been seen by Tribune Business, Mr Jansen describes himself as a director of Long Island Investments, which is also the same company involved in Mr Brier’s case and court judgment. Writing to the Canadian citizen, Mr Jansen says Long Island Investments needs to borrow $20,000 to close on “a major development” on the Bahamian island, and asks to borrow this sum. “I am a director of Long Island Investments Ltd, a major owner of real estate in the island of Long Island, Bahamas,” Mr Jansen

writes. “Our company is in the process to start a major development in the island, for which we have already the investors and financing. “However we are missing a small amount for the closing costs of the operation: $20,000.” Mr Jansen then asks to borrow this sum for 120 days, promising that Long Island Investments will return $30,000 to the investor - a 50 per cent return within four months, “This will also open the door for the financing of the sales of lots when we start to place them in the market,” Mr Jansen added. See pg b2

‘Horrendous losses’ via Baha Mar faith erosion By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net Gowon Bowe based on a full-year deficit projection of $100 million, most observers had anticipated a first-half deficit of around $250 million in a ‘worst case scenario’. However, the Central Bank’s January economic See pg b7

Baha Mar’s new owner will likely incur “horrendous losses at the outset” because of the global travel industry’s complete lack of confidence in its continually-moving opening dates, a former director said yesterday. Dionisio D’Aguilar, who sat on the Baha Mar

Board under former owner, Sarkis Izmirlian, told Tribune Business that no travel agent or tour operator would book guests to stay at the property until they were sure it was ready. Mr D’Aguilar, now the FNM’s candidate for Freetown, said Rosewood’s announcement that its 200-room Baha Mar property will open only in Spring 2018 had only added to the confusion surround-

ing the multi-billion dollar development’s readiness. “Clearly, nobody knows what’s going on with Baha Mar,” he told Tribune Business. “Nobody has a clue. They’ve set a date of April 21, but clearly that date is an election gimmick. “We know that because they haven’t turned their reservation system on. They’re not confident they’re going to be ready, See pg b5

Ex-director: No bookings with moving open dates ‘Nobody has clue’ what’s happening with project Travel agents lose confidence in ‘empty promises’

Sarkis: Baha Mar now being used to ‘deceive’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net Sarkis Izmirlian yesterday jumped back into the Baha Mar fray, describing his former development as a ‘Potemkin hotel’ that was being used by the Government to “deceive Bahamians into thinking the situation is better than it really is”. The project’s former owner and his BMD Holdings vehicle broke several months of silence by hitting at the “uncertainty” surrounding the multi-billion dollar resort’s opening, which was further exacerbated last week by Rosewood revealing its 200-

Original developer says project a ‘Potemkin hotel’ Rosewood 2018 open is ‘a huge walk back’ Claims Bahamians ‘can’t have confidence’ in project room property will only open in Spring 2018. Mr Izmirlian and BMD Holdings said Rosewood’s disclosure, which came in an official company release, See pg b4

Bran says landfill woe ‘one of Govt’s biggest scandals’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net The Democratic National Alliance’s (DNA) leader yesterday described the failure to fix the New Providence landfill as “one of the biggest scandals of the Christie administration”, together with the Renward Wells Letter of Intent (LOI) controversy. Branville McCartney, speaking as he drove to investigate the latest blaze to erupt at the landfill, told Tribune Business that the current Government had “five years to do something

DNA chief slams ‘debacle’ of Renew Bahamas deal Bahamians must be ‘vexed, outraged’ by new fire about it and did nothing”. He described the failed outsourcing of the landfill’s management to a private company, Renew Bahamas, as a “debacle” that had condemned Bahamians living in close proximity to the See pg b6

Why Buy Anywhere Else ?

STANDARD SIZE CGI WINDOWS IN STOCK Premier Dealer

Most extensive line of Windows, Doors, Entrance Doors & Hurricane Shutters

Manufactured HERE, in the Bahamas 325-6633/4 | email. sales@stormframewindows.com | website. stormframewindows.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
03062017 business by tribune242 - Issuu