10032017 business

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business@tribunemedia.net

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2017

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Bahamian fish lodges, guides ‘catching hell’ By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIAN bonefishing lodge owners and guides in the southern Bahamas yesterday said they were “catching hell”, with some alleging that business is being steered to foreign-owned rivals. Nevin Knowles, owner of the Long Island Bonefishing Lodge, argued that since the introduction of legislation to govern the

Hard-hit south sees ‘unbelievable’ decline Claim all business going to foreign rivals Online licensing ‘inconvenience’ industry, Bahamian-owned lodges have seen a major decrease in bookings.

“The only ones catching hell are the Bahamianowned lodges,” he told Tribune Business. “Every lodge in the south-east is basically Bahamian-owned, but American-owned lodges and booking agents don’t seem to want Bahamians to own anything. “They won’t say the numbers, but every foreign-owned lodge is full to capacity; they aren’t feeling anything. Most Americans when they come don’t like to book direct; they go through a booking agent. A

lot don’t trust to send the money direct to the lodges. The booking agents only deal with certain lodges, and they steer the business in that direction. We don’t get much of the Europeans because they tend to go to Belize and Mexico as they get direct flights there.” Mr Knowles argued that Bahamian-owned lodges were effectively being forced out of business completely or, in some instances, being bought out. See PG B5

WEB SHOP LEGALISATION MAY ‘DECIMATE’ FINANCIAL SERVICES By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

LYNDEN PINDLING INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LPIA)

Minister’s final decision on ‘can of worms’ fear By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Minister of Transport must make “the final decision” on whether to approve the introduction of ground transport provider fees at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA), Tribune Business was told yesterday. Ross Smith, the Road Traffic Department’s controller, confirmed to this newspaper that he had given his “input” and referred the Nassau Airport Development Company’s (NAD) plans to Frankie Campbell for ministerial “guidance”. “They have written and given us their proposal on what they wanted to do,” Mr Smith said, “which is to levy certain fees as it relates

NAD transport fee plan referred up Taxi drivers worry hotels to follow Controller: ‘May have to go to Cabinet’ to the taxi drivers going in and out of the call-up area [at LPIA]. “I have given my input and sent that on to the Minister, so the final decision rests with the Minister. He will provide us with guidance, more so on how to deal with the issue. It may have to go all the way to Cabinet. See PG B5

THE Bahamian financial services industry could be “decimated” if global regulators ever wake-up to how the web shop industry was legalised, a businessman said yesterday. Paul Moss, Dominion Management Services’ president, told Tribune Business that the sector’s overnight legalisation by the Christie administration had created “a glaring deficiency in our system”. Pointing out that the then-government failed to address web shop operators’ illegal profits from pre-legalisation days, Mr Moss described the current situation as “a recipe for disaster” with the industry acting as unlicensed money transmission providers and

Entrepreneur sees ‘recipe for disaster’ Bahamas not ‘reading tea leaves’ on sector Regulatory ‘goal posts’ will always move banks in Family Island communities. He accused the Minnis administration of “going along with the programme” left by its predecessor, and failing to address the ongoing risks and issues presented by web shop gaming. “When we look at gaming, the Bahamas is in a real problem here,” Mr See PG B3

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GOVERNOR: ‘GREAT CONCERN’ REMAINS OVER BANK ACCESS By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Central Bank’s governor yesterday said correspondent bank ‘derisking’ remains a “great concern”, given that the Bahamas’ current economic viability depends on these relationships. John Rolle told Tribune Business that the regulator had seen no further deterioration in Bahamian banks’ international ties since its August 2016 survey, which found that almost 25 per cent of respondents had lost at least one correspondent relationship. But, emphasising that the danger had not gone away, Mr Rolle said the global financial system access provided by correspondent banks was “very critical” to the business models of Bahamian financial institution and the wider economy. “We have not taken note of any further shift,” the Governor replied, when See PG B4

Bahamas’ ‘daily existence’ depends on correspondents No further deterioration, but threat remains Fee pressures impacting all countries

JOHN ROLLE

UNION CHIEF ‘110% CONFIDENT’ IN GOVT ON GRAND LUCAYAN By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A TRADE union leader has expressed “110 per cent confidence” in the Minnis administration’s ability to resolve the year-long Grand Lucayan impasse. Michelle Dorsett, whose Commonwealth Union of Hotel Services and Allied Workers represents the resort’s line staff, told Tribune Business she was optimistic that the Government would “secure and protect” the interests of

Optimistic workers will be ‘secured and protected’ As one-year anniversary of closure looms remaining Grand Lucayan workers. Speaking after a recent meeting between the union and Dion Foulkes, minister of labour, Ms Dorsett See PG B6


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