The current legislation allows ONLY for students and Bahamian Government workers, their spouses and any immediate member of the family living within their household, to register and vote from overseas. Any individuals outside of these categories, i.e., Students, staff of the Bahamas Consulate General, Bahamas Tourist Office, Bahamas Maritime Authority and any international organization to which The Bahamas is accredited; may register to vote.

The provisions do not apply to persons in the above categories who are domiciled overseas.
Please see the guidelines below for further clarification. If you qualify, and have already registered in The Bahamas, you may apply to be allowed to vote from overseas by completing Application Form J, available below, and submitting same to the Bahamas Consulate General -Atlanta, for the attention of the Election Revising Officer.

If you have not yet registered to vote and would like to do so through the Bahamas Consulate – Atlanta, please contact us for an appointment at: 404-214-0492.

Guidelines

Application for Enrollment as Overseas Voter (Form J)

Persons who apply to register must produce their Passport and must satisfy the Revising Officer that they are ordinarily resident in a constituency in The Bahamas. They must also provide two (2) passport size photographs.

Clifford Darling

Governor General of the Bahamas

In Office

2 January, 1992 – 2 January 1995

Born: 2 June, 1922
(Acklins, Bahamas)

Died: 27 December, 2011
(Nassau, Bahamas)

It is with deep sorrow that the Bahamas Consulate in Atlanta informs of the passing of Sir. Clifford Darling, GCVO, JP, Former Governor General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Sir Clifford Darling, GCVO, JP, will Lie-in-State in the foyer of the House of Assembly on 3rd and 4th January, 2012 from 9:00am – 5:00pm. A State Funeral for the late Sir Clifford Darling, GCVO, JP, will be held on Thursday, 5th January at 11:00am., at Zion Baptist Church, Shirley and East Streets, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas, followed by the interment service in the Western Cemetery.

A Book of Condolence is available for signing at the Bahamas Consulate office in Atlanta at:

2970 Clairmont Road NE Suite 690
Atlanta, Georgia 30329

Plan Your Grand Vacation Today

SUWANEE, Ga., July 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Vision Airlines announced that customers can now purchase tickets to Grand Bahama Island at www.visionairlines.com. Vision Airlines has signed an agreement with the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board to begin service to the tropical paradise beginning November 3, 2011. The flights will originate from Ft Lauderdale, FL, Louisville, KY, Richmond, VA, Raleigh/Durham, NC and Baltimore/Washington airports. These new flights will make flying to The Bahamas convenient and affordable again. The new fares will start as low as $39* each-way from Ft Lauderdale and as low as $99* each way from the other cities.

Traveling to Grand Bahama Island has never been easier, with this tropical paradise being a short non-stop flight away.

Grand Bahama Island is a wonderful family vacation destination. Children and parents will equally enjoy the gorgeous beaches, water sports, bone-fishing, and beachside restaurants. Adults will love the tranquil day spa, the beautiful Dick Wilson and Robert Trent Jones Golf Courses, and the colorful nightlife, which includes the Treasure Bay Casino. Families and couples will take pleasure in the hospitable atmosphere that The Bahamas are known for.

“Grand Bahama Island is truly one of the jewels of the Caribbean, however getting there has always been both expensive and time consuming. With Vision Airlines’ new $99 non-stop flights, going to Grand Bahama Island will be easier and more affordable than ever before. These new routes are consistent with Vision Airlines’ business plan of providing great, low-cost service to leisure destinations,” said David Meers, Vision Airlines, Senior Vice President and COO. “People that have never visited will be surprised at how close and convenient Grand Bahama Island is to the east coast of Florida,” added Meers.

Vision Airlines is currently in discussions with other cities on service to Grand Bahama Island.

Flights to Grand Bahama Island are now on sale at www.visionairlines.com or by contacting the Vision Airlines call center, 1-877-FLY-A-JET.

VISION AIRLINES’ HISTORY

Vision Airlines started 17 years ago as Vision Air. The company offered popular tourist flights from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. Over the years, the company grew its brand and a worldwide fleet of jets. It has become one of the prominent charter carriers in the world. Vision Airlines’ clients have included presidential candidates, celebrities, professional sports teams and some of the best-known gaming resorts.

* Restrictions, taxes and fees on $39* and $99* Fares–Fares do not include September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 per U.S. enplanement, Airport passenger facility charges (PFCs) of up to $18 roundtrip, other government taxes and fees (including foreign taxes based on itinerary or billing address) of up to $190 USD may apply; total may vary slightly based upon currency exchange rate at time of purchase. U.S. government excise tax is a user tax to pay for airport construction and airway safety and operations. All fares are per person, one-way and non-refundable. Fares offered are only valid for travel beginning November 3, 2011. The $39* and $99* Fares are limited, not available on all flights, and are subject to availability at the time of purchase. Fares, routes, and schedules are subject to change without notice. A $35 fee per segment per person applies to any change or cancellation made after purchase of SAVER and ADVANTAGE fares, plus any applicable increase in fare. A first bag may be checked for a fee of $15 each way and a second bag may be checked for a fee of $20 each way if purchased more than 24 hours prior to departure. A first bag may be checked for a fee of $20 each way and a second bag may be checked for a fee of $30 each way if purchased less than 24 hours prior to departure.

CONTACT: Gini Strobel, +1-678-523-7805, GStrobel@Visionairlines.com

Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority
1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30345
Telephone: (404) 327-9058 — Facsimile: (404) 327-7877

In this regard they have advised that no Travel Documents are to be issued to children born in the United
States to Bahamian parents without a properly authenticated United States birth certificate.

I am pleased for the opportunity to speak to you and to share information on the state of the economy and our prospects for the future.

I will also share with you my Government’s thinking on the role that we play, through policies and initiatives, in providing an environment favorable to the strengthening and diversification of our national economy.

Sound fiscal management is, of course, critical in this regard.

THE ECONOMY OVER THE PAST YEAR

The Bahamian economy over the last 12 months continued to labour under the weight of the residual effects of the global economic and financial downturn, though to a lesser degree than in the previous year.

Buoyed by the modest growth in the global economy, domestic economic conditions stabilized during 2010.  The better performance last year mainly reflected improvements in the key tourism sector, particularly in the high-value stopover segment of the market.

In contrast, consumer spending remained relatively weak, and output in the construction sector was constrained by muted levels of foreign investment inflows.

In the external sector, the estimated current account deficit narrowed, due primarily to higher tourism earnings, while the surplus on the capital and financial account declined, reflecting a decline in direct investments and reduced public sector inflows.

While there are no official employment statistics for 2010, I will say that although some anecdotal evidence exists to suggest a marginal improvement in the unemployment situation, it is a painful fact that unemployment in the country remains far too high.

DOMESTIC ECONOMIC PROSPECTS

I am pleased to advise that there is every expectation that 2011 will see marked improvement.

We anticipate that our economy will grow between 2% and 2.5% this year.  This turnaround will result from:

1.  Increased inward direct investment resulting from a re-start of some stalled investment projects;

2.  New investment inflows;

3.  Significant scheduled public infrastructure investment inclusive of the continuation of the LPIA development, the largest public sector project undertaken ever in The Bahamas; the new Port at Arawak Cay and its associated works; massive infrastructural upgrades in New Providence; expanded health care infrastructure at Princess Margaret Hospital, the Rand Memorial Hospital and elsewhere; new ports and bridges in some Family Islands, and public sector office complexes notably in Abaco, Grand Bahama and New Providence;

4.  Increase in visitor arrivals and spending; and

5.  Growth in domestic credit with improving economic conditions domestically, leading to increased commercial and residential construction.

We therefore anticipate that unemployment will decrease this year but more significantly in the following year.

I should acknowledge, however, a possible cloud on the horizon.  Economists are predicting that crude oil prices will trend upward this year, surging from about $80 per barrel to about $106 per barrel by July. This trend has obvious implications for the price of gasoline, the cost of electricity, the current account, the Government’s fiscal operations and the broader economy.

It is a trend that we will watch closely and we will seek to take appropriate measures to minimize the financial fallout.  Such measures relate to adopting various conservation measures to minimize cost, something that both business and individual households should also do.

DIVERSIFICATION

I now turn to the subject of your Business Outlook – Diversification of the Economy.  It seems to me that the discussion around diversification arises from our desire to see this economy achieve higher levels of growth and perhaps more importantly, to become less vulnerable to shocks in the global economy.  For many, tourism leaves us too open to the vagaries of international economic fluctuations.

The discussions also reveal a preference on the part of some for our having more of a manufacturing and agricultural base to our economy.  Diversification then seems to be defined as less dependence on tourism and financial services (both services) and more involvement in manufacturing (industry) and agriculture.

The desire for higher growth and greater resilience is a legitimate one and is certainly one that my Government shares.  However, the strong legitimate desire must be considered in the context of the reality of The Bahamas.

To be clear, The Bahamas has many of the primary, secondary and tertiary industries found in almost every country in the world, particularly the advanced and developing countries.

We have primary industries such as farming, fishing, and some mining (aragonite); secondary industries such as manufacturing (both local and international); and tertiary industries such as tourism and financial services.

We can have more. What is true is that services dominate our economy even more than they dominate most of the more advanced and higher income developed economies.

An examination of the world’s most developed, high income and high wage economies will show that they are predominantly service-based (between 60% and 75%), with industrial sectors of some 15% to 25% and small agriculture sectors of less than 5%.

These economies hardly have a balance between their services, industrial and agricultural sectors, if that is what some mean by diversification.   The Bahamian economy, which is about 84% service based, 15% industrial based and about 1% agriculture based has a similar although higher imbalance.

An examination of the world’s fastest growing economies will reveal that most are dominated by an industrial base (as much as 73% of GDP), or have large agriculture sectors (as much as 60%) and relatively small service sectors (averaging 37%).

Here again, their profiles do not reflect a balance among economic sectors, if this is what diversification means.  What is true of virtually all of these countries is that they have low GDP per capita relative to the economies dominated by services. Indeed, many are extremely low-income, low-wage countries, which explains why their economies are still dominated by manufacturing and agriculture.

If one looked back at the profiles of today’s most developed economies as they were some 100 years ago, it would be seen that their profiles were much like the profiles of the high growth-rate emerging economies we see today.  They were dominated by industrial and agricultural sectors, were low income and high growth economies.

As they matured, they became more service-based, higher income and relatively slower, though sustained, growth economies.  It is very likely that the emerging economies we see today, as they develop, will follow a similar path and will eventually become more and more service-based, with lower levels of growth and less dependence on their industrial and agricultural sectors.

In The Bahamas there seems to be an impulse to diminish the resilience of tourism as an economic sector, as well as a failure to recognize the opportunity for diversification which exists within the sector itself.

The reality is that the remarkable growth and development we have achieved through services present huge opportunities for further integration of the 7.5 billion dollar economy of The Bahamas by adding value and exploiting natural resources.

Certainly, some of our best prospects for the expansion of agriculture and fisheries lie in their link as food suppliers to our hotel sector and to the domestic market.

One of the earliest and most negative effects of the global recession was the high increase in food prices. The loss of farmland in other countries and the advances made in irrigation, fertilization and distribution make it possible for Bahamian farms to supply Bahamian markets more reliably and competitively.

Our tourism industry is a natural outlet for a well-organized consistent production of the abundant variety of fruits and vegetables grown in the Bahamas.

The productivity of our waters and our fishermen produce an abundance and variety of product that similarly compel a more integrated approach.  The Bahamas could become the seafood capital of the Caribbean.

The development of the dive industry in our country could not have happened were it not for the clients provided from tourism. In one of the most remote parts of my own constituency, Grand Cay, visitors come from as far away as Germany and stay in a small guest house in the middle of the settlement for the sole purpose of diving.

This is true for any number of other nascent businesses employing Bahamians around our country.

We in the Government have long encouraged and promoted, through policy and incentive legislation, a deepening of the local value added to our tourism sector, specifically in the area of sourcing of goods and services.  Examples are: food (fisheries, agricultural produce and condiments), furnishing and finishes (mattresses, pillows, linen and drapes), and the manufacture of uniforms.

Initiatives now underway under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources and the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation continue to augment our output and enhance future prospects.

Special emphasis must now be placed on ensuring that the quality of the locally-produced goods are of the standard and level expected, indeed demanded, by the clientele of our hotels and by Bahamians.

Opportunities for diversification also abound in non-hotel related leisure and entertainment offerings including gourmet eating experiences, for example.  It should not be lost on us that the vast majority of fine dining experiences in The Bahamas are still connected to major resorts.  This is not the case in Barbados, a competitor warm weather tourism destination in our region.

Similarly, opportunities exist for wider retail distribution of reasonably priced, quality straw, shell and turned-wood products, another area where some of our regional competitors have made tremendous strides.  These products, readily seen at specialty arts and craft fairs, deserve wider and more convenient availability to the broader tourism and domestic trade.

All these segments of our economy are ripe for growth and expansion with measurable benefit toward increased diversification in our economy.

Tourism is one of the fastest growing economic activities globally and this growth has been consistent over the years.  Furthermore, it must be borne in mind that the circumstances or situation which undermines or diminishes the performance of tourism will likely have the same effect on most other economic activities at the same time.

Bear in mind, too, that the major industrial economies have been benefitting from a huge tourism sector long before the island economies recognized the enormous potential for economic growth that travel represented.  In the industrial world they called it “invisibles”; they have benefitted substantially from the contribution this activity has made to their economies.

Most other economic activities do not offer any greater resilience than tourism, and given the continued potential for growth and diversification still provided by tourism activity, it seems quite reasonable that we should continue to devote our scarce resources toward the maximizing of growth in this industry.

I note these observations to make this point: it should be the desire of any government to see as many types of economic enterprises and sectors develop in its economy as its resources can promote.  There should never be a hold by the government on the creativity and innovation of the entrepreneurs in its society.

However, the extent to which creativity and innovation occur will largely depend on the ambitions, capabilities and pursuits of the entrepreneurial community itself.  And, to the extent that businesspeople pursue various forms of enterprise in the society is the extent to which the economy will take on the profile of those pursuits.

The Government, working with the business community, might incentivize, promote and facilitate such pursuits but ultimately it is the entrepreneurs that make the actual economic enterprise or sector a reality.

In this regard, I note that the use of indigenous material to reduce our carbon foot print, expand opportunities and conserve foreign exchange are compelling reasons to increase the domestic supply of aggregate, improve quality control and add more local content to the construction of buildings, roads and docks.

Our forests are a compelling and alluring example of historical Bahamian self-sufficiency. Today the agenda should be to develop sustainable industries that enhance our way of life, improve outdoor recreational infrastructure (boardwalks, benches, decks, gazebos). The opportunities exist.

My Government has always seen itself as a facilitator of business, and to the extent that we have adopted this posture, we have promoted more diversification of the Bahamian economy than has been seen since the 1960s.

For example, prior to the 1990s there was no private media sector, no container transshipment and no ship care facilities as is the case in Freeport, Grand Bahama; no public securities trading, no competitive telecommunications, no cable services, and no fast ferry services in The Bahamas.

Two decades ago bonefish lodges and domestic handicraft were shadows of what they are today.  In each of these areas we still have much potential for growth.

And, the second home market is being robustly developed with many high-end communities not just in New Providence and Grand Bahama but around our country in Abaco, Bimini, the Berries, Eleuthera, Exuma and Cat Island

It is no accident that among economies of similar size and comparable endowment some grow and prosper while others stagnate.  We believe there is an infrastructure which encourages and facilitates development and growth, and it has been one of the principal objectives of my Government to create that infrastructure.  Such an infrastructure involves many elements.

Notwithstanding what we have done in times past, we continue to move aggressively to create that total environment in which business development and economic prospects flourish.  We have:

• Brought into force a new business Licence Act to streamline the process of doing business in the country;
• Repositioned our financial services sectors by partnering with the private sector to produce a new strategic framework for financial services going forward;
• Safeguarded the financial services sector from almost certain demise by successfully negotiating Tax Information Exchange Agreements that resulted in our being placed on the OECD/G-20 list of fully cooperative jurisdictions;
• Tabled new securities regulations to fully modernize our securities industry and to prepare the way for The Bahamas to become an IOSCO A-signatory country;
• Enacted new domestic and international insurance legislation to modernize our laws in relation to this sector;
• Incentivized the development of restaurants, entertainment facilities and other tourism-related amenities through duty-free provisions;
• Renewed focus in agriculture leading to the development of a five-year strategic plan and new agricultural developments in many parts of the country, most successfully to date in North Andros;
• Launched, with the Government of Singapore, a $9 million programme to implement comprehensive, fully integrated, 24/7 e-government services in The Bahamas beginning in July of this year; and
• Created a comprehensive legal framework for fully liberalized, globally competitive telecommunications to facilitate lower prices, improved services and greater economic empowerment for all, and to position our economy to produce more jobs and business profits through increased competitiveness.

In short, we can do more, much more, to diversify our economy by taking advantage of opportunities staring us in the face.  We are primarily a services-based economy.  Our efforts toward diversification must be stimulated by the service opportunities that will arise in the natural course of our progression and not become stunted by an unfounded fear of an over dependence on services.

Conclusion

We continue to be focussed on strengthening our ability to promote growth and development of our economy through competitiveness, productivity and innovation.

We remain fully persuaded that the gains that our nation has made over the decades through the grit and determination of our people can be surpassed by our present efforts provided we apply ourselves with great focus, unity and industry.

“I would strongly advise persons to use that system because it would free up the waiting time at the office, it would allow staff to pull the files,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Brent Symonette.

The online application can be found at the website  https://epassport.bahamas.gov.bs/ecalendar/Application.aspx

Instructions for applying can be found at:  https://epassport.bahamas.gov.bs/ecalendar/

Since the introduction of machine readable passports and ePassports three years ago, the Passport Office in Nassau has issued 126,000 passports.

Mr Symonette said this number represents “a great achievement”.

“The staff at the Passport Office should be complimented; they’ve done an excellent job,” he said.

Bahamians anywhere in the world can apply for their passports through the Foreign Missions in Washington, DC, Atlanta, New York, Miami, Canada, the United Kingdom and China.

Mr Symonette also addressed the question as to why applicants need to submit their birth certificates when renewing their passport.

“One of the things we are doing is updating our files to make sure we have the right birth certificate and the right documents on file. Some persons who have passports should not be in possession of a Bahamian passport,” he said.

Meanwhile, another aspect to the ePassport programme is the introduction of the mobile unit which travels throughout the country processing renewals and new passport applicants.

The unit is headed to Exuma, and residents there are being urged to have all the necessary documents for processing.

To date, the unit has processed approximately 1,200 applicants.

Enrolled

Once the applicants are enrolled and payment received, the application will go to the Data Entry Department for document scanning and then on to approval and production of the passport.

This process takes 12 days to complete.

So far, the mobile unit has visited Eleuthera, and still on the itinerary are Exuma, Long Island and Andros. There are three members of the mobile unit team – two enrolment officers and one IT officer.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), of which the Bahamas is a member, has mandated that by 2010, all countries must begin issuing machine readable passports or ePassports.

The modern passport is being upgraded from a simple paper document to a more secure one – with biometrics features, including facial characteristics, and fingerprinting.

Article by:
The Tribune

Our overriding objective in doing so is to facilitate the creation of new businesses and the expansion of existing ones, both of which are vital to securing growing employment opportunities for Bahamians and better standards of living. That is of particular importance during the very difficult times that our economy and workers are currently experiencing as a result of the Great Global Recession.

Enhancing the business environment is but one of the many multi-faceted initiatives that we have launched and are implementing to grow the Bahamian economy.

Briefly, I would recall that these include:

➢ Modernizing all aspects of Customs operations to bring them up to international standards and place the service in a position to better serve the needs of the private sector and facilitate international trade;

➢ Securing enhanced export opportunities to the European Union (E.U.) through our participation in the Economic Partnership Agreement with the E.U.;

➢ Negotiating membership in the World Trade Organization to better protect the export interests of the private sector within the context of a predictable and binding rules-based trading system;

➢ Initiating fundamental structural reforms, including results-based management, within the public service to provide more effective and efficient services to citizens and enterprises;

➢ Streamlining the regulation of non-bank financial services, partly by simplifying authorization and reporting requirements and partly by improving operating efficiency within the regulatory authority;

➢ Launching proactive investment promotion mission in key world cities, in cooperation with the private sector; and

➢ Implementing a new Small and Medium Size Business Development Framework to better serve the needs of that most important sector our economy with its significant job-creation potential.

The Business Licence Bill, 2010 serves as a pivotal component of the Government’s comprehensive and integrated economic growth strategy. The objective of the Bill is to simplify the legal and regulatory requirements to both start and operate a business in both New Providence and the Family Islands, as well as facilitate a one-stop shop approach to business licencing. As a result, business licencing will become easier, faster and more efficient and it will impose much less of a compliance burden on the private sector.

It is proposed that the new Business Licence Act take effect on January 1, 2011 to align its entry into force with the start of the next annual licencing cycle. In the meantime, officials will be working to further streamline application procedures to ensure that the granting of prior approvals by other regulatory agencies is clear-cut and as seamless as possible. They will also be meeting with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and the business community to review and explain the new licencing requirements and application procedures.
Licencing Requirements

Licencing requirements, in particular, will be greatly streamlined. The Bill proposes to eliminate the need for separate applications in respect of shop, liquor, music and dancing and other occasional licences. As well, businesses will no longer need to apply for the registration of business names with the Registrar General; that will be taken care of jointly by the Ministry of Finance/Business Licence Office along with the application for a business licence. As such, the fee of $150 for the registration of a business name will be eliminated.

With the above, the Registration of Business Names Act, the Shop Licences Act, the Liquor Licences Act and the Music and Dancing Licences Act will all be repealed.
Approval and Renewal of Business Licences

In addition, the processing and approval of business licence applications will be more efficient and prompt. The new application forms will clearly spell out all prior regulatory approvals required of various types of businesses such that they will be in a position to more readily submit complete and adequate applications for business licences, along with the requisite business licence tax.

Once that has been done, the Secretary will be required to grant a licence to the applicant within seven working days of receipt of the application. Waiting inordinate and uncertain amounts of time for the processing and approval of an application to start up a new business will be a thing of the past.
Business Licence Tax

The calculation of business licence fees is presently complex and cumbersome. The fee varies depending on the size of the business, with six different categories, namely petty, very small, small, medium, large or very large. The fee also depends on the profitability of the enterprise, with four different categories of profit, namely low, medium, high and very high.

Further complicating calculations is the fact that three different rates of fee are applied: ½ of 1% of turnover, 1% of turnover and 1½% of turnover. And, as if that were not complex enough, profitability is not only calculated by applying a list of allowable costs to produce turnover but that list is different depending on which industry a business finds itself in. One can only imagine the inequities and arbitrariness engendered by such a convoluted calculation of fees, not to mention the opportunities for impropriety. For example, service and repair entities may deduct direct labour and National Insurance costs in calculating profitability but retail and wholesale merchandisers may not. Manufacturers may deduct depreciation of production plant but restaurants and proprietary clubs may not.

Under the new Business Licence Bill, the tax calculation will be significantly simpler and considerably less arbitrary and thereby less subject to manipulation. Three general tax rates will apply, based on the turnover of a business, namely:

➢ $100 per annum where a business has a turnover not exceeding $50,000;

➢ 0.5% of turnover for businesses with turnover exceeding $50,000 per annum but not exceeding $500,000 per annum; and

➢ 0.75% of turnover for businesses with turnover exceeding $500,000 per annum.

Besides introducing this simpler tax structure, the Bill also simplifies the tax calculation by basing it directly on business turnover, or total revenue, rather than requiring the deduction of arbitrary costs and the calculation of notional profitability.

A special rate of ½ of 1% of turnover will apply for businesses in the following sectors: agriculture and animal husbandry/mixed farming; fishing/fish farms; and food/meat/fruit processing. A tax rate of 1% of turnover will apply to service businesses in relation to the following professions: accountants, doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers and other similar or like professions.

A separate and simpler tax schedule is proposed for gasoline stations, again based on total revenues. This schedule replaces a complex fee calculation based on business size and profitability. New businesses will continue to pay an annual business licence tax of only $100.

And, with the elimination of the need for shop, liquor and music and dancing licences, businesses involved in these areas will now only pay for the annual business licence and separate and additional fees will no longer be required. This will eliminate the need to pay a bevy of small “nuisance” fees such as, for example, $1.00 for a shop licence; $100.00 for a wholesale liquor licence; and $200.00 for a restaurant liquor licence.

I would note that the private sector, as represented by the current and past Presidents of the Chamber of Commerce, last week voiced their approval of, and support for, the new Business Licence Bill. The current President was quoted as saying that “it is a reasonable statement of affairs, and is certainly an improvement on the old Bill and legislation”. The past President was quoted as saying “I think that’s a good compromise; I like it. I applaud the Government. What is good about it is that it simplifies it all – it eliminates this working out of gross profit. What is beautiful about this is that it simplifies it all”.
Impact of New Licence Fees

➢ The proposed new tax structure for business licence will, of course, result in no change in the taxes payable by firms with turnover under $50,000 per annum as the tax remains at $100.

➢ Businesses in the agricultural, animal husbandry and mixed farming sector will see a small reduction in aggregate taxes as they go from an effective tax rate of roughly 0.58% to 0.5%.

➢ The tax rate for fishing and fish farms will go from an effective rate of roughly 0.47% to 0.5%.

➢ For Food, Meat and Fruit Processing, tax rate remains unchanged at 0.5%.

➢ Professional Services in aggregate will face an unchanged tax rate of 1%.

➢ Businesses with turnover over $50,000 per annum but not exceeding $500,000 will face a tax rate essentially unchanged at 0.5%.

➢ Finally, for firms with turnover greater than $500,000 per annum, the business licence tax rate will go up from an effective rate of 0.68% to 0.75%.
Business Licence Tax Holiday

As a means of supporting and encouraging the smaller firms in the Bahamian economy during these difficult economic times, the Government announced in the 2010/11 Budget Communication that it was providing a two-year holiday from the payment of business licence tax for small and medium size businesses with turnover under $250,000. This holiday extends over the 2010 and 2011 business licence years.
Appeal Board and Procedures

The Business Licence Bill also proposes to streamline the appeal procedure where applicants which to appeal a decision by the Secretary to refuse a business licence or an assessment of tax payable. To that end, appeals will in future be heard and dealt with by the Business Licence Review Board whose establishment and mandate are set out in the Bill. The Board will replace the Supreme Court as the arbiter of business licence appeals. The Board will have the powers of a magistrate for compelling attendance of persons to give evidence on oath and for the production and inspection of documents.

For appeals in New Providence, the Review Board will comprise a maximum of seven members, including a Chairman, appointed by the Minister. The constitution of Boards in Grand Bahama and the Family Islands will be slightly different in order to better respond to local needs; such Boards will consist of up to five members appointed by the Minister, including the Chairman, a member of the New Providence Board and two members from the Local Government districts, one of whom shall be from the district in which the appealing business is located.

Except where prescribed by regulation, the Board will be empowered to establish its own operating procedures. As well, the Board will have the authority to make, on its own initiative, investigations and inquiries and seek and receive evidence additional to that tendered by the parties to any appeal.

The Review Board will be required to render its decision in writing, including its reasons for the decision, within thirty days of an appeal to the Board. The appeals themselves will be required to be lodged within twenty-one days of the decision by the Secretary.
Offences and Penalties

In the Business Licence Bill, 2010 a distinction has been made between offences of a fraudulent nature and all other offences. For any action that is proven to be fraudulent, there will no longer be an option between a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for two years. Such offences will automatically carry a prison term, which will not exceed two years.

For other types of offences such as carrying on a business without a licence, obstructing the Secretary in the exercise of his functions, or failing to maintain accounts and records as required, for example, the penalty will be a fine of $5,000 plus the sum of $100 for each day the offence continues after the date to which the conviction relates. These amounts are more reasonable and straightforward than the current structure of fines for such offences. In particular, the possibility of confiscating goods, machinery and equipment where a business operates without a licence has been eliminated.

For offences committed by corporations or firms, every director, secretary and officer of the corporation or every partner in the firm, as the case may be, will be guilty of the offence and liable to a like penalty as the corporation or firm.

To simplify the administration of penalties, the Bill proposes to grant the power to the Secretary to compound offences where he is satisfied than an offence has been committed in respect of which a fine is prescribed. Such power will only be exercisable where the person admits in writing that he has committed the offence and requests the Secretary to deal with it.
Regulations

As for the regulation making powers of the Minister, the Bill proposes that he be given the power, among others, to prescribe or vary: the rates of tax payable in respect of any application; the manner and forms in which applications for licences are made, including their contents; the forms in which licences are issued; the terms, conditions and restrictions under which licences may be held.
Exemptions from Business Licence

The Bill proposes to tighten up the various exemptions from the requirement for business licence. For one, only ecclesiastical, charitable and cultural institutions and organizations registered as non-profit entities within The Bahamas will be eligible for exemption. As such, all institutions operating for profit, such as private schools, will be subject to the requirement to pay business licence tax. The same treatment will apply to medical clinics and hospitals operating other than in the service of the Government or of a public body.

As well, a telecommunication service subject to a licence under section 21 of the Broadcasting Act will no longer be exempt but will be subject to an annual business licence tax of 3% of gross revenue.
Banks and Insurance Companies

As a means of rationalizing the various fees and taxes paid by the private sector, the Bill proposes to incorporate into the new Business Licence Act the present annual fees imposed on the assets of Banks and Trust Companies appointed by the Controller of Exchange as authorized dealers as defined in paragraph (1) of Regulation 42 of the Exchange Control Regulations. Similarly, the new Act will also incorporate the taxes imposed on insurance companies’ gross premiums collected in respect of local policies.
Conclusion

In conclusion, I wish to stress the vital importance of this new Business Licence Bill to securing important enhancements to the domestic business environment. It is a Bill that will facilitate the start-up of new businesses and streamline the process of business licence renewal. As I have indicated, the private sector is strongly supportive of the Bill and, as such, it is incumbent on this Honourable House to support it as well.

“The Bahamas remains free from any evidence of oil. We are confident that even if we get some effects, it will not affect the vast majority of The Bahamas,” said Eric Carey, President of the Bahamas National Trust and spokesperson for the Oil Spill Contingency Team.

“Whether we are talking about fishing operations or tourism operations, The Bahamas should remain basically business as usual.”

The Oil Spill Contingency Team is keeping watch on the uninhabited islands, such as Cay Sal, near Key West, the Gulf Stream area, and the west coast of Andros.

“We will be watching it closely and paying it careful attention to Western and Northwest Bahamas. As it comes further east, as it is happening in Florida, there are no massive oil spills coming ashore,” said Mr. Carey.

“What they are seeing in Pensacola, Florida are tar balls.”

The Bahamas National Trust will continue their assessments of Cay Sal and Bimini to try and convince the decision makers of what measures, if any, need to be taken.

“We are engaging hundreds of volunteers and we have indications from our experts that came from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) last week, that we need to engage about a thousand Bahamian volunteers to prepare mostly what would be tar ball removals,” said Mr. Carey.

When tar does come ashore, it will be documented and samples will be taken. Scientists want to get a fingerprint of evidence that the tar came from the Deep Horizon accident, but so far The Bahamas has been lucky.

“Currently there is no evidence anywhere in The Bahamas or any indication of any effects of what’s been happening in the Gulf for the past fifty days,” said Mr. Carey.

“The Bahamas remains free and clear. All of our tourism operations, diving operations, fly fishing operations, our way of life, our fishing are proceeding as normal.”

By Gena Gibbs
BAHAMAS INFORMATION SERVICES

The book is a wise and profound collection of thirty-five stories that prove to be meditative and spiritual. Using personal anecdotes and timely narratives to draw the reader into self-reflection, empowerment, and celebration, the author provides a forum to celebrate God’s love.

Reverend Angela Bosfield Palacious was the first female Bahamian deacon (1999) and priest (2000) in the Anglican Diocese of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Nassau, Bahamas – The Cabinet Office announced today that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has appointed Sir Arthur Alexander Foulkes Governor-General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and her Representative in The Bahamas.

The Commission of Appointment was signed by Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace this morning, 13 April 2010.

Sir Arthur will take the Oath of Office, administered by Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett, at the Ballroom of Government House at 9.00 a.m. tomorrow, 14 April, 2010.

He will proceed to Parliament Square where he will read the Speech from the Throne and preside over the opening of a new session of Parliament.

BIOGRAPHICAL PROFILE
Arthur A. Foulkes KCMG

Arthur Alexander Foulkes was born at Mathew Town, Inagua, 11 May 1928, son of the late Dr. William A. Foulkes and Mrs. Julie Foulkes nee Maisonneuve.

He was educated at public schools in Mathew Town and in Nassau and first worked at The Nassau Guardian as a linotype operator and proof-reader.  He joined The Tribune as a linotype operator in 1948 and took up journalism under the tutelage of Editor and Publisher Sir Etienne Dupuch who made him a reporter and later appointed him News Editor of The Tribune.

Sir Arthur was founding editor of Bahamian Times, official organ of the Progressive Liberal Party from 1962 to 1967.  This newspaper played a pivotal role in the campaign for majority rule which was achieved in the general elections of 10 January 1967.  He selected as its motto a quote from American emancipation crusader Frederick Douglass: “Without struggle there is no progress.”

Later, he was a columnist for The Guardian and The Tribune and   from 2002 to 2007 resumed his popular column, To The Point, in The Tribune.

Sir Arthur was one of the founders of the National Committee for Positive Action, a think tank and activist group within the PLP which supported the leadership of Sir Lynden Pindling and contributed significantly to the achievement of Majority Rule.

He drafted the PLP’s petition to the United Nations Committee of Twentyfour (on decolonization) and was a member of the delegation which presented the petition in 1965.  Sir Arthur wrote many political documents over the years and contributed to the manifestos of both major political parties.  He drafted the first platform of the Free National Movement in 1971.

Noted for his fiery oratory in the Sixties, Sir Arthur was elected to parliament in 1967 and served in various political offices over the years including Minister of Communications and Minister of Tourism in the PLP Government.

Under his leadership the Ministry of Tourism chalked up impressive gains in 1969.  He also presided over the complete Bahamianization of the management of Batelco, the national public telephone corporation.

Sir Arthur got black Bahamian stewardesses on international flights not only to America but Europe as well.  It was on his ministerial watch in 1968 that a Bahamas-based airline, International Air Bahama, flew to Europe for the first time.

Sir Arthur was one of the Dissident Eight who rejected the leadership of Sir Lynden in 1970 and was a founder of the Free National Movement in 1971.  He was appointed to the Senate in 1972 and 1977 and was re-elected to the House of Assembly in 1982.

He attended many international conferences over the years and in 1972 was one of four Opposition delegates to The Bahamas Independence Constitution Conference in London.  He drafted the Opposition Memorandum for the conference.

In the Seventies when Opposition forces in the country seemed hopelessly splintered, Sir Arthur, together with Frank Watson, the late Bazel Nicholls and others, initiated arduous negotiations which finally resulted in a united Opposition under the leadership of Sir Kendal Isaacs in time for the 1982 elections.

In 1992 Sir Arthur entered the diplomatic service of The Bahamas as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (resident in London) and Ambassador to France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and the European Union.

He represented The Bahamas to the Commonwealth in London, and the African Caribbean Pacific Group in Brussels, was Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization and also Doyen of the Caribbean diplomatic corps in the United Kingdom.  He founded Friends of The Bahamas, a London-based association.

In 1999 he was appointed the first Bahamas Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China and Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba.  Both these posts were nonresident.  He is a founding member of the China Bahamas Friendship Association.

He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George by Queen Elizabeth in the 2001 New Year’s honours list.

After the FNM was returned to office in May 2007, he was appointed Director General of Bahamas Information Services, the Government’s news agency, and designated to act as Deputy to the Governor General.

Sir Arthur is fond of the arts and likes classical and jazz music.  He has always taken a special interest in ecology and was an early commentator on environmental issues in The Bahamas.

His wife, Lady Foulkes, is the former Joan Eleanor Bullard of Nassau.

Curriculum Vitae

BIRTH: 11 May 1928, Mathew Town, Inagua, Bahamas

EDUCATION: Public Schools, Mathew Town, Inagua, and Nassau

Tutored in Journalism by the late Sir Etienne Dupuch, Editor of The Tribune

BUSINESS/PROFESSIONAL:

1945    Linotype Operator, Proof-reader, The Nassau Guardian

1948    Linotype Operator, Reporter, News Editor, The Tribune

1963    Founder/Editor, Bahamian Times (official organ of the Progressive Liberal Party)

1967    Founder/Chairman Diversified Services (public relations)

1971-1992   Public Relations Director, Free National Movement Managing Editor, Bahamas Handbook (two years) Columnist The Tribune and The Nassau Guardian

1. 1. Columnist, The Tribune

2007-  Director General, Bahamas Information Services

POLITICAL/DIPLOMATIC

1959 Co-Founder, National Committee for Positive Action (PLP think tank and activist group)

1962    Unsuccessful candidate for Parliament (PLP)

1965   Drafted Opposition Petition to United Nations Committee of Twenty-four (Decolonization); Member of delegation to UN Committee of Twenty-four

1967    Elected to Parliament (PLP) in first black majority Government

Appointed Chairman of Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation

1968    Re-elected to Parliament Appointed Minister of Communications

1969    Appointed Minister of Tourism

1971    One of Dissident Eight and Co-founder, Free National Movement

1972    Appointed to the Senate

Drafted Opposition’s Memorandum for Independence Constitution Conference, London; Member of delegation to the Conference

1977    Re-appointed to the Senate

Spearheaded (with late Bazel Nicholls) re-unification of splintered opposition

1982    Re-elected to Parliament (FNM)

1992-1999   High Commissioner to UK and Ambassador to France,

German y, Italy, Belgium and the European Union Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization Representative to the Commonwealth and the African Caribbean Pacific Group Doyen, Caribbean Diplomatic Corps, UK Co- Founder, Friends of The Bahamas, UK Member of Bahamas delegation to inauguration of new South Africa Government, 1994

1999-2002   First Bahamas Ambassador (non-resident) to People’s Republic of China

Ambassador (non-resident) to Republic of Cuba Chairman, Bahamas Broadcasting Corporation Co- Chairman, Parliamentary Review Commission Co- Chairman, Bahamas Order of Merit Awards Committee Appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (2001) Co- Founder, Bahamas China Friendship Association (2005)

1967-2002   Delegate to numerous international conferences including

Caribbean Community, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Commonwealth Heads, UNESCO, IMO and Joint African Caribbean Pacific/European Union

2007-   Deputy to Governor General

INTERESTS: Literature, music, theatre, art, ecology

FAMILY: Married Joan Eleanor nee Bullard.  Father of seven sons,   four daughters

RELIGION:   Roman Catholic