Garet 'Tiger' Finlayson

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

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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thenassauguardian.com/business/355178594683198.php |title=Garet 'Tiger' Finlayson: Outstanding Black Bahamian Businessman Up Close and Personal, Nassau Guardian |access-date=17 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717020639/http://www.thenassauguardian.com/business/355178594683198.php |archive-date=17 July 2011 |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite journal |last1=MacKenzie |first1=Natario |title=Solomon's Mines close: 30 jobs lost |journal=Tribune Newspaper |date=8 May 2015 |url=http://www.tribune242.com/news/2015/may/08/solomons-mines-close-30-jobs-lost/ |access-date=2 September 2022 |location=Nassau, Bahamas}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Hartnell |first=Neil |date=17 January 2023 |title=Finlaysons fail to escape $2.8m loan default liability |url=http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/jan/17/finlaysons-fail-escape-28m-loan-default-liability/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=The Tribune newspaper |language=en |publication-place=Nassau, Bahamas}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Hartnell |first=Neil |date=1 May 2023 |title=Finlayson fears of ‘ruin’ don’t sway Appeal Court |url=http://www.tribune242.com/news/2023/may/01/finlayson-fears-ruin-dont-sway-appeal-court/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=The Tribune newspaper |language=en |publication-place=Nassau, Bahamas}} The court found no evidence to support the claims but granted them permission to appeal to the Privy Council.

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.{{cite journal |title=Commonwealth Honours |journal=BBC News Online |date=12 June 1999 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/06/99/queens_birthday_honours/366655.stm |access-date=2 September 2022}}

Finlayson was married to Lady Rowena Frances Finlayson (née Rolle), with whom he had four children: Tanya Finlayson-Tynes,{{cite journal |last1=Mitchell |first1=Fred |title=Tiger's Daughter Gets Married |journal=Bahamas Uncensored (Blog) |date=November 2003 |url=http://www.bahamasuncensored.com/nov03.htm}} Rae Finlayson, Nikki Finlayson-Boeuf, and Mark Finlayson. She died in 2020.{{Cite web |last= |date=December 21, 2020 |title=Lady Rowena Finlayson aka Ro wife of Sir Garet ‘Tiger’ Finlayson has died |url=https://www.bahamaspress.com/lady-rowena-finlayson-aka-ro-wife-of-sir-garet-tiger-finlayson-has-died/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=Bahamas Press |language=en-US}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060105104734/http://www.samanacollege.com/garet.html Garet Tiger Finlayson] at Samana College website

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Category:Bahamian businesspeople

Category:Living people

Category:1938 births

Category:People from South Andros

Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire