The Tribune

WE HAD just settled to write an editorial when the phone rang. What the caller had to say changed the intended subject matter for today’s column.

The call was from a European businessman who, because of the troubles in Europe, was here exploring the possibility of relocating a branch of his business to the Bahamas. He was at the airport on his way to the US, and then back to Europe. While waiting he got into casual conversation with a group of Bahamians. They had obviously been talking about development in the Bahamas, and naturally the progress of BahaMar was part of the conversation.

“Is it true,” he asked us, “that BahaMar is now running six months ahead of schedule?”

We did not know. However, what interested him even more — and was the reason for his call — was the laughing remark of one of the Bahamians in the group.

“Yes, and you know why that is don’t you?” said the Bahamian. “It’s being done mainly by Chinese labour. If it had been Bahamians, it would have been six years behind schedule!”

It was this last bit of information that intrigued him, because he had never factored into his plans the standard and availability of a competent Bahamian work force. He had taken that for granted.

After the recent comments by Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell – prompted by his ambition to fulfil the PLP’s election promise of creating 10,000 jobs if elected – business persons have yet another factor to work into their investment plans.

No business can be planned from year to year. A business is built over the long term. During this period one is surrounded by competent staff, many of whom have grown with the business. For anyone planning on investing in the Bahamas, he will want an assurance that he can move with a certain number of his core staff. As he puts down roots more staff will be needed, and this is where the Bahamian comes in. But there has to be a cadre of Bahamians who have the basic skills on which to build, and who are willing to learn. Along the way, the investor will discover first class, fully trained Bahamians who will then become a part of his “must have” staff. However, business people — outside of the Bahamas that is — are accustomed to choosing the staff they think best suited to their business. They do not expect to have to hassle with Immigration personnel who seem to think they have a right to decide who is suitable to be part of the staff.

There will be a limited number of Bahamians who will qualify. However, for a small country struggling to move ahead there are not enough of them to fill the vacant posts — many of which will have to be filled by non-Bahamians. However, there is an abundance of those who are either unemployable, or who think they are owed a job without making an effort to qualify.

The question now is: Should the Bahamas be held back until 10,000 jobs are filled with Bahamians, or are businesses going to be allowed to decide who they need, while an effort is made to encourage the laggards to embrace a work ethic that will eventually qualify them to join the work force.

There is nothing wrong with Mr Mitchell wanting an immigration policy designed “to help grow this economy and to give Bahamians the greatest stake in this economy.” However, regardless of Mr Mitchell’s intentions, unless Bahamians are willing to work hard for that stake in the economy, not only will they fail, but they will take the country with them.

At the end of last year, Winston Rolle, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce’s chairman, warned that the Bahamas had fallen to 77th place in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings. He pointed out that the Bahamas’ greatest tumbling came in the ease of starting a business in this country. From 74th place in the world it had tumbled to 82nd. It fell very low in many other categories.

It was Mr Rolle’s opinion that the Bahamas had dropped, not because it had done anything “negative”, but that “we didn’t do anything positive, while other countries took measures to leapfrog us.

“We’re not getting progressively worse; it’s just that we’re not doing the things necessary to improve our business environment,” said Mr Rolle.

That statement was made only a few months ago — before Mr Mitchell’s tightening up on Immigration pronouncement, and the continuing demands being made by government on Cable & Wireless to regain two per cent ownership of BTC to remove C&W from its position of control. This threat to the sanctity of a contract entered into by a previous government does not augur well for the future. Nor will it attract new investors. As a matter of fact one wonders if Mr Christie yet understands how much confidence has been lost by his determined position on this matter.

In June last year, Khalis Rolle, Minister of State for Investment, was very optimistic about many investments he said were in the pipeline for the Bahamas.

A couple of pegs were probably knocked from under that hope when he quickly had to come back this year to assure the public that Mr Mitchell’s statement on the hardline change to the Immigration policy was not really government’s final position.

Mr Mitchell’s Immigration position has certainly not made it easy for those in government who are trying to attract investors. These investors are needed to help create the 10,000 jobs that government promised, but can’t deliver.

“We need an environment where you’re encouraged to start a business, and for that business to grow and flourish. That’s the only way we’re going to get employment up,” said Chamber of Commerce Winston Rolle.

So far — and contrary to what Mr Rolle had said earlier — this government is now seemingly doing everything that would discourage both local and foreign investment.