The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A top private sector executive says the National Development Plan must remain apolitical , with Family Island development, access to capital, and skills and productivity development among the key concerns.

Speaking with Tribune Business following a Saturday briefing on the progress of the plan, Edison Sumner, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation’s (BCCEC) chief executive, said: “It is absolutely essential that it remains apolitical and bipartisan, because if it isn’t then it is going to become a political football, and no one wants that. It has to be totally apolitical and have no semblance of politics.”

Mr Sumner added: “That’s why we are pleased that it is being driven essentially by the private sector. The Chamber wants to see this develop as a plan that everyone can buy into, so that the questions and concerns that we have as it relates to private sector businesses, particularly Family Island development, skills and productivity development, access to capital, good governance and freedom of information, these are all the things that are going to be highlighted in the plan.

“The idea is that after the plan is written, the next phase is to ensure that it is implementable and also implemented.

“It is important that we have the right people with the right skill sets and qualifications in place to manage the plan and cause it to be something that any government will be compelled to live by.”