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THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2019
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Global Ports CEO hails port deal as economic bonanza By NATARIO MCKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
G
LOBAL Ports Holding’s chief executive said yesterday the developer’s $250m “transformation” of Nassau cruise port will generate billions of dollars for the local economy and thousands of jobs for Bahamians. Speaking with Tribune Business on the sidelines of the signing ceremony of the port deal yesterday between Global Ports Holding and The Bahamas government, Emre Sayin said cruise passengers will be exposed to a much improved experience which will generate greater cruise passenger spend. “We will be investing
EMRE SAYIN $250m in the construction and renovation of the port but over the 25 years we operate the cruise port it is going to bring billions of dollars into the economy and create thousands of jobs,” said Mr Sayin. “What we also want to do together with the government and people of Nassau
is make this the beginning of the transformation of the entire downtown district. We designed the port to integrate with the city. We talked to all stakeholders and will continent to do so as we approach the end of the design phase.” Global Ports Holding, the UK-listed,
Turkish-headquartered operator of 16 cruise ports spread throughout the Mediterranean, AsiaPacific and Atlantic regions, was unveiled in February as the preferred bidder to take over Prince George Wharf’s management and operations, and oversee its redevelopment. “We expect to start operating the port very soon. I would start tomorrow if it was up to me,” said Mr Sayin. “We expect to finalise our designs hopefully before this year is over and then start construction. The construction could take two years. The operations will continue. “I ask the people of
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Turnquest hopes for early release from FATF process By NATARIO MCKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net GOVERNMENT is aiming to be released from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) International Co-operation Review Group (ICRG) process “at the earliest opportunity”, Finance Minister Peter Turnquest said yesterday, noting the country had “carried some significant burdens” as a result of
PETER TURNQUEST
Customs gamechanger in switch to Click2Clear By NATARIO MCKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net CUSTOMS officials said yesterday they had reached a “major milestone” having integrated New Providence seaport to the Click2Clear Portal which will become its primary processing system on September 1. Superintendent Tyrone Sands, underscoring the importance of this move, stated: “This is important because over 80 percent of cargo coming into The Bahamas comes through the New Providence seaport in the Click2Clear business portal. As of September 1, the legacy system known as eCas (Electronic Customs Automated Services) will not be the primary system used for Customs processing.” He added: “This new system creates a level playing field for all importers. Customs processing will be more transparent, efficient and affordable. The system allows us to move toward a cashless Customs and reduce leakage of duty and revenue collection. In October we will introduce online payment.” Crimson Logic is the technology provider for the electronic single window software. Financial Secretary Marlon Johnson said: “One of the things that the automated system will do is allow for greater compliance. It will give
MARLON JOHNSON us a platform to encourage greater compliance simply because it will be a lot more of a challenge to move things around without it being detected. As goods are entered into the system there is artificial intelligence built into the system that will also us to track trends automatically. We can see when there are trends that seem anomalous. We can see when there are specific vendors a group of vendors in the same sector that seem out of sync. It’s a gamechanger in a lot of ways.” He continued: “Many businesses are already registered but all businesses should be registered by September 1 to ensure seamless integration. For individuals it will be September 30, so those persons who are importing should be registered.” As to who needs to register on the system Mr Johnson clarified: “If you travel abroad bringing
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having to comply with everchanging global standards. Mr Turnquest, who was addressing the financial Intelligence Union (FIU) Public-Public Partnership Forum at Poinciana House, stated: “In this environment of ever-evolving global standards, the government has enacted a significant number of new pieces of legislation, or amended existing legislation, to ensure The Bahamas remained globally competitive. In some
instances, these have totally transformed the way business is transacted in this country.” Mr Turnquest noted that since 1989, FATF has been one of the primary international bodies exercising oversight of the global financial sector, with a primary objective to lead anti-money laundering efforts, along with countering the financing of terrorism and the
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$4.76 Lucayan chair: ‘Calculated conspiracy to embarrass board’ By NATARIO MCKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net LUCAYAN Renewal Holdings Ltd (LRHL) chairman Michael Scott yesterday said it was a “calculated conspiracy to embarrass the board” to suggest that the entity was suing the government in its recent Industrial Tribunal proceedings. He was responding to comments by attorney Obie Ferguson regarding proceedings recently filed by LRHL with the Industrial Tribunal seeking constitutional relief in regards to a trade dispute filed by the former Hotel Union with the tribunal in 2017. While the attorney general, the vice-president of the Industrial Tribunal and the minister of labour are listed as respondents, as pointed out by Mr Ferguson, Mr Scott stated that for LRHL it was “not contentious” but a “friendly action” and the board was not suing the government as Mr Ferguson seemed to suggest. Mr Scott told Tribune Business: “This was almost a calculated conspiracy to sabotage and embarrass the board. The board is not suing the government. The attorney general has to be a party to any proceeding
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MICHAEL SCOTT commenced under Article 28 of the constitution. They are automatically a party. This is a friendly action. The essence of it is to get the vice-president of the Board to do her job. She has previously said they don’t have a case but she has refused to rule.” In a statement yesterday, he said: “The proceedings recently filed by LRHL are not contentious, but as a matter of procedure, it is necessary to conclude the outstanding matter and to include the attorney general and the tribunal when a party to a trade dispute is seeking relief under the Constitution.” He continued: “Mr Ferguson would be aware that the Industrial Agreement between the Hotel and the former Hotel Union expired on June 17, 2016, five years after it was signed. In accordance with the Industrial Relations Act and numerous court rulings, the agreement cannot run past five years without a new agreement being negotiated between the parties. Mr Ferguson failed to negotiate a new agreement on behalf of the former Hotel Union.” Mr Scott pointed out that despite no agreement being in place, the former Hotel
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