MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
business@tribunemedia.net
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Racing to issue $30m bonds for CLICO payout By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net The Government and its financial advisers are racing to implement the second phase of the CLICO (Bahamas)payout by the promised end-September deadline, even though some policyholders are reluctant to accept the bonds that will be offered. Tribune Business can reveal that Leno Corporate Services has been hired to structure and advise on the placement of around $30 million worth of government bonds, which are designed to compensate clients of the insolvent insurer who
The Baha Mar creditor payout process “bodes ill for the Bahamian economy’s future” because it discriminates against foreign investors and businesses, an outspoken QC has warned. Fred Smith, the Callenders & Co attorney and partner, told Tribune Business that the decision to favour Baha Mar’s Bahamian creditors over their foreign counterparts was “a terrifying prospect” that could ultimately deter foreign direct investment (FDI) - the lifeblood for much of this nation’s economy. “I am shocked at the attempt to impose a discriminatory, quasi-judicial process in the Baha Mar fiasco,” Mr Smith said. “It is completely unconstitutional, it is patently discriminatory and all it does is highlight the Bahamas as a most undesirable, dangerous and risky environment for foreign direct investment (FDI) and foreign See pg b4
are owed more than $10,000. The bonds, which are to carry an interest rate equivalent to Bahamian See pg b5
QC: ‘Terrifying prospect’ for foreign firms, investors’ Sends ‘negative message’ that hurts economic future Discrimination undermines investment security
Fred Smith QC
‘How the hell’ can taxpayers receive Potter’s Cay return? By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net Opposition politicians are questioning “how the hell” the budget for Potter’s Cay’s upgrade has increased four-fold, while expressing concerns over whether Bahamian taxpayers will get a return on their investment (ROI). K P Turnquest, the FNM’s finance spokesman, told Tribune Business that the Government’s capital works projects have “to make See pg b3
By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
Leno hired to place issue as insurers in due diligence Bishop: I and others reluctant to accept bonds
Opposition politicians query four-fold budget rise FNM deputy: Capital works ‘must make sense’ No Budget line item for planned $9m expenditure
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Government debt issuing shake-up
Promised endSeptember deadline looming
Baha Mar payout process ‘bodes ill for future FDI’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
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John Rolle
The Central Bank has regained the lead role in the issuance of domestic Government debt, amid plans for “important modernisations” in how it is priced and investor ownership tracked. Tribune Business can reveal that a report from the Commonwealth Secretariat, which is thought to be in draft form only, has
influenced the Government to take responsibility for the issuance and pricing of its domestic securities back from the private sector after just one year. This newspaper’s financial industry contacts, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the Commonwealth Secretariat recommended that the issuance of Bahamian government debt should take place primarily via the See pg b6
Central Bank resumes lead role from private sector Govt advised to make move by Comm Secretariat Governor promises price, owner track ‘modernisations’
Attorney’s $100k Fidelity Bank theft ‘a sad case’ By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net The Appeal Court’s president has branded the two-year prison sentence for a veteran attorney, who stole $100,000 from Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) in a mortgage transaction, as “indeed a sad case”. Dame Anita Allen said Alpin Russell Jnr had to be “appropriately punished” by the reimposition of a
custodial sentence, notwithstanding the “outstanding public service” he and his family had given to the Bahamas. Mr Russell, who is now in his late 60s, and worked from the Shirley Street law firm that bears his name, had appealed against the Supreme Court jury verdict that found him guilty of stealing by reason of service. The Court of Appeal judgment upholding that
verdict, and released last week, details how Mr Russell gave a variety of explanations for what happened to the missing $100,000 ranging from his law firm being robbed to using the funds as security for a prior debt owed to him by one of the participants in the mortgage transaction. Dame Anita, delivering the Appeal Court’s verdict, said Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) had hired Mr Russell See pg b4
Two-year prison sentence for Alpin Russell Jnr ‘Solicitor’s lien’, robbery used to explain funds’ fate Bar veteran’s claims ‘totally contradicted’