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Garet 'Tiger' Finlayson

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Bahamian business magnate

Sir Garet 'Tiger' Orlanda Finlayson OBE (born 4 August 1937 in Andros) is a Bahamian businessman.

Early life

Finlayson was born in 1937, the son of Hastings Finlayson, a tailor, and Maud (née Rolle) Finlayson.

Business career

Tiger Finlayson is one of the most successful black businessman in the Bahamas. At one time, Finlayson owned more than half the businesses on Bay Street, the Bahamas' leading shopping street. Previously, Bay Street businesses were owned for generations by white business merchants known as the Bay Street Boys.

Finlayson owns leading Bahamian businesses Solomon Mines (luxury retail goods), Burns House and Butler & Sands (liquor stores). Over the years, Finlayson's business concerns have included car dealerships, hotels, furniture, office products and restaurant businesses.

Finlayson's acquisition of Solomon Mines in 2004-2005, however, was less successful with closures and the loss of jobs in 2015.

In 2023, Finlayson and his son, Mark, were ordered to pay a $2.763 million outstanding balance to Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation on a defaulted loan secured on their yacht, Maratani X. The pair failed to convince the Court of Appeal to block a $2.743 million judgment arguing that enforcing the judgment would cause them "grave commercial harm" and potentially ruin them. The court found no evidence to support the claims but granted them permission to appeal to the Privy Council.

Awards and legacy

A philanthropist, Finlayson has donated millions of dollars in scholarships to allow young people to attend university, something Finlayson himself never did.

In 1999, Finlayson was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the economic growth and development of the Bahamas.

Personal life

Finlayson was married to Lady Rowena Frances Finlayson (née Rolle), with whom he had four children: Tanya Finlayson-Tynes, Rae Finlayson, Nikki Finlayson-Boeuf, and Mark Finlayson. She died in 2020.

References

  1. ^ "Birth record for Garet Finlayson". Family Search. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Garet 'Tiger' Finlayson: Outstanding Black Bahamian Businessman Up Close and Personal, Nassau Guardian". Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
  3. ^ MacKenzie, Natario (8 May 2015). "Solomon's Mines close: 30 jobs lost". Tribune Newspaper. Nassau, Bahamas. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  4. Hartnell, Neil (17 January 2023). "Finlaysons fail to escape $2.8m loan default liability". The Tribune newspaper. Nassau, Bahamas. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  5. ^ Hartnell, Neil (1 May 2023). "Finlayson fears of 'ruin' don't sway Appeal Court". The Tribune newspaper. Nassau, Bahamas. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  6. "Commonwealth Honours". BBC News Online. 12 June 1999. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  7. Mitchell, Fred (November 2003). "Tiger's Daughter Gets Married". Bahamas Uncensored (Blog).
  8. "Lady Rowena Finlayson aka Ro wife of Sir Garet 'Tiger' Finlayson has died". Bahamas Press. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2024.

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