The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

ISLAND Luck CEO Sebas Bastian yesterday expressed "optimism" in the gaming sector's prospects for progress under the new Free National Movement administration, adding that its approach to governance is "all in line with the way I think as a business person".

Mr Bastian, in an interview with The Tribune, said he is "not concerned at all" about the Minnis administration, stating that it's a collection of "reputable, competent individuals that in their own rights have become successful in various businesses that they might have been involved in".

Mr Bastian also said he was "overly impressed" by Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis' decision to not follow in the footsteps of previous prime ministers in automatically assuming the minister of finance role, as well as Dr Minnis' decision to appoint someone else to serve in that position.

Mr Bastian said in doing so, Dr Minnis demonstrates himself to be "a man that understands the importance of placing the right person in a (particular) job".

"I don't have any concerns," he told The Tribune when questioned on the matter yesterday. "I trust that the new administration is here for the people. After all, they said it was the people's time, and I've seen some of the things that they had on their platform, I read the Speech from the Throne, and it's all in line with the way I think as a business person.

"I think clearly the country shouted out loud and clear that they needed change and wanted change and change is what we got," he continued. "And I'm optimistic that from where we are right now it is only one way to go and that's up. I'm very optimistic.

"I'm not concerned at all with the new administration. I think it's a compilation of reputable, competent individuals that in their own rights have become successful in various businesses that they may have been involved in, which is refreshing because I always look at government as the biggest business in the country. And when you want a business ran properly it's no better person to run it than a business person."

Mr Bastian went on to say that he is "not a proponent of a plumber doing a carpenter's job," and commending Prime Minister Minnis for not outfitting himself with a Cabinet post whose responsibilities lie outside of his own realm of expertise.

"Obviously his expertise lies in the health profession and other various business places and his strength may not be finance, and as you saw that he elected someone else to do finance," Mr Bastian said. "So that kind of strategic move and thinking really has me optimistic as a citizen and as a business person in the country."

Mr Bastian, in stating that he has become the new president of the Bahamas Gaming Operator's Association (BGOA), said the association will call a meeting shortly with Tourism Minister Dionisio D'Aguilar to "bring him up to speed" on matters pertaining to the sector.

"What he (Mr D'Aguilar) is inheriting fortunately and like most other ministries in the country, he's inheriting an industry that has evolved tremendously that is very much intact," he said. "All of the heavy lifting has already been done, and the Gaming Board did a very good job in transitioning it from an informal economy to a part of the formal economy and getting the regulations in place. So what you see now is they are just focusing on enforcement and enhancement of the regulatory process.

"So a lot of the heavy lifting has been done. It's a skill based industry. Unfortunately it's not like other industries where you can just change a person here and change a person there because they really have to know their way around this specific industry if they want to lead it."

He added: "Mr D'Aguilar obviously is a very successful business person, seems to be a very smart individual so I have no doubt he would acclimatise to the environment of gaming very quickly. There's a lot of great resources and consultants that the Gaming Board has that has all the proper information and guidance. So as it relates to the industry I'm not concerned at all, I think it's steady as she goes. We will continue to offer our input to further enhance the industry going forward but outside of that it's business as usual."