Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce Minimum Wage and Severance Pay Comments - Mar 24, 2015 - 11:48:54 AM
 The Government of The Commonwealth of The
Bahamas is reviewing the minimum wage and severance pay requirements of
the nation with a view to potentially increasing and securing the
benefits on behalf of employees.
The Grand Bahama Chamber of
Commerce (GBCC) fundamentally supports the concepts of free markets. It
believes that free markets promote innovation that improves the world in
which we live. It supports the free movement of financial and
intellectual capital, and supports the concept that businesses ought to
be free to establish compensation and benefits packages as valued by the
market...
Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
“Value Added Tax & The Small Business Sector” - Jan 27, 2015 - 4:37:08 PM
The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce and The Grand Bahama
Port Authority, Limited’s Value Added Tax along with The Small Business Sector
conducted a seminar on the topic of “Value Added Tax & The Small Business
Sector” on January 22, 2015.
The first session was held on Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
commencing with remarks by President of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Kevin Seymour, followed by the President of The Grand Bahama Port
Authority, Limited, Mr. Ian Rolle.
Both sessions were conducted by Mr. Christopher Baker,
F.C.A., Senior Manager, Freeport Office HLB Galanis & Co. which was...
Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
G.B. Chamber President speaks to Sunrise Rotary Club - Jan 15, 2015 - 2:40:55 PM
 On January 1, 2015, the Government
of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas rolled-out the Country’s New Value Added Tax
Regime against a tidal wave of opposition, trepidation, and scepticism. The
Government argues that such tax reforms were necessary, inter alia to broaden
the country’s tax base and to address the vexing issues of a burgeoning
national debt which has now reached $6 billion and recurrent deficits in the
order of $500 million. The reaction from the Country’s taxpayers in the
immediate aftermath of what has been described by many as being a haphazard and
ineffectual roll-out, ranges from outrage and disbelief to a disconcerting
apathy that the world did not come to an end last Thursday and that we the
taxpayers just have suck it up...
Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
Grand Bahama Chamber on the death of Sir Jack Hayward - Jan 14, 2015 - 4:08:35 PM
On behalf of The Grand
Bahama Chamber of Commerce, its board of directors and members, I wish
to extend sincere condolences on the passing of Sir Jack A. Hayward, OBE
to his family, loved ones, the management and staff of The Grand Bahama
Port Authority, Limited and members of the numerous organizations that
he supported and was personally involved with.
Sir Jack Hayward,
was an integral part of The Bahamas, having moved here in the 1950’s
after his father, Sir Charles Hayward, partnered with Wallace Groves,
the pioneer and founder of Freeport.
Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
Grand Bahama Chamber to host 2014-2015 Installation of Officers - Dec 29, 2014 - 2:42:56 PM
Kevin Seymour
|
Under the theme,
“Continuation, Collaboration and Competition”, The Grand Bahama Chamber
of Commerce (GBCC) would be hosting its annual banquet and installation
of officers and directors on January 31, 2015 at the Grand Ballroom of
the Grand Lucayan Resort, Freeport.
Mr. Kevin D. Seymour, the
2014-2015 President of the GBCC, along with his officers and directors
are inviting the business community of Grand Bahama and the general
public to celebrate this evening with them and hear about their plans
for the 2014-2015 year.
In keeping with the
Mission Statement of the GBCC, “To provide the network, to sustain,
promote and support business development in an effort to encourage
sustainable growth and expansion..."
Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
Grand Bahama Chamber announces new board of directors - Nov 6, 2014 - 4:11:41 PM
Officers: President: Kevin D. Seymour (PharmaChem Acquisition Company Ltd.), 1st Vice President: Mr. Dillon F. Knowles (Dillon F. Knowles Consulting Co. Ltd.)...
Directors (Newly Elected):vMrs. Angelika Christie (Radiant Health), Mr. Ralph Hanna (Underwater Explorers Society)...
Serving Second Year of Two Year Term: Ms. Janet Albury, (VIP Services Ltd.), Mr. Wenrick Clarke, (Bank of The Bahamas),
Mrs. Patra Albury, (Pelican Bay Hotel)...
Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
Grand Bahama Chamber Announces Nominees for 5th Annual Business Excellence Awards - Oct 23, 2014 - 4:30:05 PM
Freeport, Bahamas -
The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce will recognize businesses and
business persons who have demonstrated commitment to community building
at the 5th Annual Business Excellence Awards Ceremony scheduled for
Saturday, October 25th at the Regency Theatre.
These prestigious
awards are designed to honour outstanding Grand Bahamian businesses and
executives. Nominations closed a few weeks ago with several businesses
from throughout the community being nominated for the various awards.
Highlighted by nominators were specific business...
Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
Grand Bahama Chamber releases releases vision paper, "The Future of Freeport - 2015 and Beyond” - Oct 3, 2014 - 3:45:49 PM
Freeport, Bahamas - Recently the
Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce presented their vision paper, "The
Future of Freeport - 2015 and Beyond” to
the Minister of Grand Bahama, GBPA top executives and on Wednesday,
October 1, 2014 at the Canal House, Pelican Bay Hotel to their
members. Directors Kevin Seymour, Dillon Knowles, and Dan Romence led
the discussions along with Leigh Termath, First Vice-President, who
served as the MC for the night.
Since
then the President, Barry Malcolm along with
Dillion Knowles appeared on REAL TALK LIVE with Ortland H.Bodie in
Nassau.
The Chamber is now releasing its VISION PAPER to the public...
Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
Grand Bahama Chamber delivers their Vision Paper for 2015 - Sep 28, 2014 - 11:50:58 AM
Freeport, Bahamas – Executives of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce formally
presented to the Government of the Bahamas an extensive analysis of
targeted development opportunities, with specific recommendations for
structuring the economic future of Freeport and Grand Bahama Island upon
expiration of key provisions of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement in August
of next year. The product of many months of work and internal
discussion within its organization, the Chamber has produced and
presented its Vision 2015 -- a blue print for the future development of
Freeport, Grand Bahama Island and by-extension the Country for the
remaining 40 years of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement. The document,
directed to the Office of the Prime Minister, was presented to Minister
Michael Darville at the Ministry of Grand Bahama on Friday.
Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
2014 GB Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards set for October 25th - Sep 21, 2014 - 5:02:41 PM
Freeport, Grand Bahama - After a one
year hiatus, the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) recently
announced the Business Excellence Recognition Awards is back.These
prestigious awards are designed to honour outstanding Grand Bahamian
businesses and executives.
While times are still tough in Grand
Bahama, many businesses are still providing excellent service to their
customers. This is the time when many businesses shine, in the face of
budgetary constraints, tough competition and decreasing sales. So, these
businesses should be commended for their great work.
Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
Grand Bahama Chamber Responds to local VAT concerns in the Business Community - Sep 17, 2014 - 11:56:34 PM
Freeport, Bahamas – After recent meetings in
Freeport and after much local commentary about the upcoming
implementation of VAT, the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce commented
that while Government legislation to some extent recognizes Freeport’s
“tax free” status under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement (HCA), it does not
go all the way in addressing its members’ concerns.
While the
GBCC appreciates the Government’s VAT Team’s meeting with its members,
at a recent lunch and a following Town Meeting, the feedback to the
Chamber from Freeport Licensees and Members is that the presentation
raised more uncertainty than it clarified. As a result, the Chamber
will seek to gain clarification from the Government on various points
raised in the meetings and in subsequent discussion and calls from
members. Some of their concerns were...
Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
Grand Bahama Chamber conducts seminar "Self-Leadership: Your Pathway to Success in Business and Life" - Jun 10, 2014 - 12:15:51 PM
Freeport, Bahamas - The Grand
Bahama Chamber of Commerce conducted a seminar entitled
"Self-Leadership: Your Pathway to Success in Business and Life", this
past Saturday, May 24th at the Chamber's offices. This seminar was one
of many informative, power packed seminars and workshops the Chamber has
slated for the remainder of the year.
The seminar on Self-Leadership covered several topics including;
defining self-leadership and what it means on an individual level,
assuming responsibility for your results by understanding who you are,
what you want, and how to reach your goals, as well as how to be self
motivated and prepared for change and adversities...
Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
Dr. David Allen, of Nassau speaks at GB Chamber Luncheon Meeting - Jun 4, 2014 - 4:28:25 PM
Freeport, Grand Bahama - Grand Bahama
Chamber members were in for a shock at the last Monthly Luncheon Meeting
when Dr. David Allen, of Nassau, presented many statistics about crime
in our country. He gave a dramatic and heartfelt presentation about the
recurring roots of crime and his steps toward preventing crimes. he also
had many recommendations for the Government including using the Defense
Force to assist the police, curfews and national service, among other
things. he also gave details about his The Family Program, which has
received international acclaim He will shortly be working on his
project and subsequent paper called the Allen DeSocialization Assessment
Tool.
Dr. Allen, along with his assistant, Keva Bethel, also
told of plans for Grand Bahama with their The Family People Helping
People Program, to be coordinated with Urban Renewal...
News :
Bahamas Information Services Updates
Grand Bahama Ministry and Chamber working together - Feb 27, 2014 - 11:19:28 AM
FREEPORT, Bahamas –
The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry for Grand Bahama
have forged a good working relationship, designed to further the growth
and development of Grand Bahama Island.
The
top brass from the Chamber, inclusive of President Barry Malcolm, Mrs.
Leigh Tarmath, first vice president and Kevin Seymour, director, met
with the Minister for Grand Bahama Dr. Michael Darville February 24 to
discuss Grand Bahama’s future. The Chamber recently installed a new
slate of officers, with Mr. Malcolm returning as president.
Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
GB Chamber Executives present Chamber's VAT report to Minister Darville - Feb 24, 2014 - 7:38:45 PM
Freeport, Bahamas - Executives of the
Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce met with the Minister for Grand Bahama,
the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, to present him with a copy of this
business organization's "VAT Observations and Recommendations" report
about the proposed Value Added Tax (VAT). This study is a compilation of
the concerns of the business community in Grand Bahama about VAT and
recommendations for the government. The Minister for Grand Bahama was
appreciative of the work the GBCC has done in this regard and vowed to
work closely with them on these and other concerns important to the
business community here...
News :
Local
GB Chamber President Forwards VAT Recommendations to OPM - Feb 20, 2014 - 6:27:23 PM
Barry Malcolm to Reveal Details at Grand Bahama Business Outlook
Freeport, Bahamas - Grand
Bahama Chamber of Commerce President Barry Malcolm on Thursday confirmed that
he has officially forwarded the chamber’s list of recommendations for value
added tax (VAT) to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), but said he won’t
reveal details until he addresses the 16th Annual Grand Bahama
Business Outlook conference next week.
The
government is moving ahead with plans to introduce a 15 percent VAT by July 1 as
a way of increasing revenue and broadening the nation’s tax base.
During
a news conference at The Counsellors Ltd., the Grand Bahama businessman revealed
that those recommendations were submitted this week...
Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
GB Chamber welcome His Excellency Yuan Guisen to Freeport - Feb 17, 2014 - 2:34:38 PM
Freeport, Bahamas - His Excellency Yuan Guisen, Resident Ambassador Of The People’s
Republic of China to The Bahamas and Madame Yang Hong payed a courtesy
call on the Officers and Directors of the Grand Bahama Chamber of
Commerce (GBCC).
Pictured is (left to right) Madame Yang Hong, Barry
Malcolm, President of the GBCC, His Excellency Yuan Guisen, Mercynth
Ferguson, Executive Director GBCC and Billie Bowe, 2nd Vice President
of the GBCC...
Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
GB Chamber challenged to become voice of Wallace Groves Vision - Feb 11, 2014 - 2:46:15 PM
Freeport, Bahamas –
Grand Bahama’s business community came out in force for the Annual
Banquet and Installation of the Officers and Directors of the Grand
Bahama Chamber of commerce Saturday night.
The gala event, held
at the Grand Lucayan Resort, evening began with comments from Barry
Malcolm, serving his second term as the President of the Chamber. He
noted in his presentation that “Issues about the future of Freeport have
occupied much of the Chamber’s attention over the past year, and will, I
expect, similarly occupy us over the next year.”
Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
Grand Bahama Chamber Board to be Officially Installed at Annual Banquet - Feb 7, 2014 - 11:56:41 AM
Freeport, Bahamas –
The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce Annual Installation Banquet for
its 2013-2014 elected Board Members will be held this Saturday, February
8th at the Grand Lucayan Resort.
The guest speakers for the event will be The Hon. Khaalis Rolle, Minister
of State for Investment in the Office of the Prime Minister and Mr.
Alexander Sokoloff, Political - Economic Specialist from the US Embassy
in The Bahamas.
Mr.
Barry Malcolm, returning President of the Grand Bahama Chamber of
Commerce, will be inducted for his second year of service and will be on
hand to address the business community on pressing local issues.The
Banquet, under the theme, “The Future of Grand Bahama – The Way
Forward”...
Community :
Service Organizations :
GB Chamber of Commerce
GB Chamber instructs lawyers to defend the Hawksbill Creek Agreement - Feb 6, 2014 - 10:03:12 PM
Freeport, Bahamas –
After months of discussions and meetings, the Grand Bahama Chamber of
Commerce licensees have made a decision to go forward with a Judicial
Review and instructed their legal council to prepare final submissions
on whether the new Budget fees and regulations implemented under the
Customs Managements Act, which came into effect July 1, 2103, were
lawful under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement (HCA).
After having
exhausted all other means, the Chamber has been left with no option but
to defend itself, its members and the GBPA licensees from the enormous
costs that the new 2013 fee/tax structures have created on doing
business. “We had hoped that initial reports and based on previous
comments by the Prime Minister, that these fees would be reversed, but
they have not come to fruition,” said President of the Chamber Barry
Malcolm.
|
