The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Government is to be commended for its decision to repeal the Commercial Enterprises Act, an egregious piece of legislation passed by its predecessor.

Having said that, it was disappointing to hear Minister Keith Bell describe the Act’s worst section (which stipulates that, unless the Director of Immigration decides on an application by a foreigner for a work permit within 14 days, then the permit is deemed to have been granted) as deserving of repeal because it is “impractical”.

With respect to Minister Bell, that section (and the whole act) deserves repeal not because it is impractical, but because it is offensive.

Imagine a bill that permits Bahamian applicants to Town Planning to simply ignore the requirement for planning approval and commence with their proposed projects on the grounds that the committee took too long to revert with its decision.

Or imagine an act that required the Prime Minister (as minister for Crown lands) to respond to an application by a Bahamian businessman for a lease or a grant within 14 days, after which the applicant can simply start generating revenues from the use of government land.

As absurd as they may sound, both these measures would actually make it easier for Bahamians to do business in The Bahamas.

But none of them would ever have been contemplated by the FNM when it was coming up with ways of improving the country’s ease of doing business.

Why? Because the FNM did not have Bahamians in mind when they were talking (with foreigners, no doubt) about improving the ease of doing business in The Bahamas. They were thinking exclusively about (and for) foreigners.

That is why the myriad indignities and outrageous charges that Canadian banks impose on Bahamians trying to do business and the needless delays involved in the local business licensing process have never been addressed – much less by targeted legislation.

But when it comes to foreigners, Minnis and crew were prepared to abrogate the most fundamental privilege Bahamians enjoy as workers and owners in their own country (i.e. Bahamianisation) in favour of a default proposition benefiting foreigners and hinged on an issue (government unresponsiveness) of which Bahamians not only have no control, but are all too often themselves the victim.

ANDREW ALLEN

Nassau,

October 30, 2022.