The Tribune

By ROCHELLE R DEAN

The Bahamas has seen an unprecedented amount of challenges over the last few years which have highlighted many infractions in its system of governance, policies and overall national development.

While this is no fault of any specific government but the direct responsibility of successive governments which have not been equipped with the tools or the correct sources of competencies to successfully govern, what must be addressed is the style of governance by each political entity to effectively more than systematically build a sustainable nation.

In each electoral term, the Bahamas sees individuals present themselves for political enterprise who may or may not have any particular means by which they intend to govern or progress the country. While this has been the norm for many years, it is the responsibility of each Bahamian political aspirant to determine a style of governance focused on addressing the country’s economic woes and social protection of the people.

Establishing a comprehensive social protection system is the key to good governance, poverty reduction and the successful implementation of the sustainable development goals within the Bahamas’ national development framework.

This further serves as a catalyst to strengthen upward mobility through better safety nets, education, housing and jobs which practically aid in poverty reduction as well as in an improved social services programme that will expedite a decrease in government spending, and an improved fiscal outlook.

At this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, it was determined that 3.4 million people will become unemployed this year, increasing the total of unemployed to 201 million globally.

The Bahamas must begin to implement measures of reform and see the need to focus on national outcomes for its nationals and its leaders must each present individual ideas congruent to and aligned with the global agenda.

The need for a robust social protection system is at the helm of poverty reduction. With stagnant economic growth in the Bahamas, this system must be able to be consolidated as governments and politicians change. But a fully inclusive social system is able to bolster and present new measures to lift the country out of multi-dimensional poverty and see the successful implementation of the National Development Plan and - ultimately - the “sustainable development goals.”

Poverty alleviation begins with a progressive, reformist social protection system.

• Rochelle R Dean is a Bahamian scholar, research fellow and peer-reviewer and a theory writer of economics presently completing a Bachelors of Science dual degree in economics and public administration with Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia. She is an Empower Women Global Champion for Change with UN Women. Comments to dean_rochelle@yahoo.com