Earning a living in the islands

[whereitswarm]

Are there any legal and locally acceptable ways for an American citizen to earn a living while visiting the Abacos for several months? Could I own a business? What are the tax problems?

[biggy]

You cannot work for financial gain in the bahamas as a foreign national without a work permit.It is a prolonged procedure that takes more than a few months,especially if you don't have unique skills.If you want to start or buy a business as a alien,it has to be 51% owned by a Bahamian.
Remember the Bahamas must be protective of their own citizens,there is no welfare here and they don't need any more unemployed.If you work illegally,you will most likely be reported to immigration and deported.

[Abacoparrott]

I don't believe 51% Bahamian ownership is the correct figure. Is the new golf course community down near Cherokee 51% bahamian ownership? Other numerous smaller resorts are primarily foreign ownership. I am not questioning that there has to be some bahamian ownership, but maybe a lesser percentage. I'm sure someone will pop up here "tell-it-like-it-is". Heck, if I'm wrong, I might even admit it......Ken

[R]

Good day,
I believe the 51% is correct for most types of business, I think some types of tourist related ventures fall under different regulations.

Regards,
R.

[abacopotcake]

A really useful book that answers all these questions and sooooo many more is the BAHAMAS HANDBOOK. Its an annual publication. Work permits have to be applied for by the EMPLOYER. The Bahamas Investment Authority handles investments. There are certain policies to encourage large investments like WB. Too much info to write here...Read the book!!! In any case whereitswarm, the best advice is that you will need to fund your vacation BEFORE entering the Bahamas.

[Abacoparrott]

Good day,
I believe the 51% is correct for most types of business, I think some types of tourist related ventures fall under different regulations.

Regards,
R.
A lesser percentage for tourist-related ownership than for other businesses.....makes sense to me.....Ken

[R]

I think the idea was to encourage foreign investment.
To me it makes no sense to go to The Bahamas to visit an American, or European resort, but we all know politics.

Regards,
R.

[nancy mcdaniel]

you will not be able to work in the Bahamas while bumming around on your boat. Secondly, most Bahamians simply do not have the kind of jing it takes to build and operate a "resort", never mind the headaches of managing one. Yes, you see American management everywhere, because the consumer demands that level of service. Slowly but surely however, the up and coming generation of young Bahamians is ready to step in and manage these very difficult to manage organizations. Becky Lightborne at Dolphin Beach is an example. American educated, Bahamian born, she is an excellent example of the new Bahamas. Bahamian families who utilize their neighbors to their west for education, sports, socialization etc. benefit and it is about time. Glad us Americans can go out to the Bahamas just off our shores to chill out and glad that Bahamians can come to the USA to take a little bit of our gifts.

[Distance]

tks Nacy for:
"Secondly, most Bahamians simply do not have the kind of jing it takes to build and operate a "resort", never mind the headaches of managing one."

1st --51% bahamian ownership is correct. This is usually a legal issue, that a good lawyer, of which the Bahamas has a vast resource to pick from, can assist with.

2nd--there are many Bahamian Nationals like myself in compentent managerial positions abroad. We will be returning home to our beautiful islands.

just a thought: wouldn't you perserve the right of earning a living for your own as well? The Bahamas is not that different than other countries whereby allowing qualified individuals engagement.

[SamFamAustin]

It rather sounds to me like unless you go to great extremes, the best you (as an expat or tourist) can do is to remotely consult from the Bahamas, such as by phone, fax, email, and internet, as long as you don't "set up shop," have local contracts, offer services or wares on the street, etc. Correct me if this is wrong. Except for some travel these sorts could work at the North Pole - although places like the Abacos would be must more preferrable. Folks in engineering, planning, writing, insurance, and computer services are dying to know the practical and the legalistic "skinny."
Sam

[bahamassun]

Nancy I beg your pardon,I dare you say Bahamains can't build and run a resort.Guess you think that can only be done by a foreigner.You have a lot to learn

[nancy mcdaniel]

resort in the Abacos owned by a Bahamian... Nettie's Different of Abaco. You are correct about a blanket statement regarding all of the Islands of the Bahamas. I meant Abaco.

[nancy mcdaniel]

Distance is correct about many Bahamians working abroad and then hopefully "coming home" to get managerial jobs. It used to be that the Outlands were so remote and so boring (no nightlife, no services, lonely, one-dimensional) that Bahamians either stayed in Nassau or Freeport. Glad to see Bahamians interested in going back. Managerial wages vary hugely from resort to resort. Housing too. We have to expect that the Bahamas would have very strick labour laws as it is such a tiny and fragile economy and if they didn't police it really well, they would have tons of American waitresses, carpenters, musicians you name it, taking jobs away from the Bahamians. Especially being so close to American shores.

[Wonkee]

My Father has tried to get his Work permit for 30 years, he had specialized skills, and refrences from the highest officals, and most respected citizens. To add to this his Mother was born and raised in Cherokee Sound. If it has been this hard for him imagine how hard it can be for others...It must be a Job that no Bahamian can or wants to do. I applied 4 times in three years to be a Utility Carpenter, Farm Labour, and Cabinet Builder. I even had refrences from Michael Bethel Abaco's Senator. It didn't matter, I was rejected.
51% is the correct number, I looked into this while I lived in Abaco, the problem is that you must not be offering a service that a fully owned Bahamian company is offering. As for WB project...Do any of the persons that have a second home that they rent out have to have a Bahamian partner?...Most likely not, it is privately owned. The Winding Bay project is privatly owned, by its members, and private investors. So if you have the money to buy that much land build a golf course, and several buildings, you too can make a profit on it. The project was approved because of the gain to the Bahamian economy. It provides services that are otherwise not avaliable from a Bahamian company, or individual. It has also provided jobs to the local community. It was built in a manner that had minimal impact to the local environment, and made use of some lands that were otherwise unusable.
If I had Jing, and already lived in the Bahamas would I need anymore out of life? I know several Abaconians that have enough Jing to build a large resort, but they do not want to. There is the trouble of getting permits, and the hiring of staff, keeping things maintained, the list goes on. To many of the Bahamians the trouble of a tourist resort is just not worth the little extra money. If you had all the money that you needed to live on, and a home in the Bahamas would you want to have to worry about anything else? Money will never buy you happiness, so why do you need more than you can spend.
well I guess that is my 10 cents I raised it to 10 cents to compinsate for Duty, taxes, and inflation...The other reasons that living in Abaco is not for sisses..

[Pattie and Bob Toler]

Let's keep this discussion in focus--the Bahamian labor laws are almost direct copies of the the ones in the USA--the most sincere form of flattery.

A big difference is that in the US it doesn't matter if you hire illegals unless you want to be in politics someday. In the Bahamas, as in the US, the native people don't want "foreigners" earning money they could be earning (especially if it's alot) as a result, we have labor laws (in most countries)

Here, as in the USA there are tons of foreigners working illegally. But if a national wants THAT job and THAT paycheck (often NOT the case) they are perfectly within their rights to report illegal activity to the govt. Now if it's a nice, bug, juicy paycheck, you can bet that a national will exercise that right. Bahamian or American.

[Abacoparrott]

Nancy I beg your pardon,I dare you say Bahamains can't build and run a resort.Guess you think that can only be done by a foreigner.You have a lot to learn
'ol Johnny Roberts at Nippers can outrun any American when it comes to running a SUCCESSFUL bar/restaurant. He stays one step up on everyone else, works his ass off, hires really good people and STILL keeps it Bahamian......now there are others, undoubtedly, who keep a business running but put a constant drain on the investors pocketbooks. Johnny's is a "sustainable" business......I, for one, am impressed.....Ken

[rumrunner]

Just for the record, where WB is concerned, DeSavry has Bahamian status since he lived in Nassau and was married to a Bahamian. Not conected with them but heard this bit of info the other day when we wsere diucussing Bahamian ownership of retail entities.