The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation’s (BCCEC) chief executive says he cannot encourage strike action in the Bahamas at this time, explaining: “It doesn’t help the situation.”

‘We March Bahamas’ organisers last week threatened to initiate a national strike if Prime Minister Perry Christie does not give a national address on steps taken to meet their multiple demands.

But Edison Sumner argued that with the Christmas season having now arrived, and businessed still recovering from Hurricane Matthew, a national strike was not something he could support at this time.

“My fight right now is trying to make the businesses survive the holidays,” he said. “They are still struggling from the impact of the hurricane. We have had some serious economic challenges even before the hurricane.

“In all honesty I cannot encourage a strike action from the business community at this time. To me, it doesn’t help the situation. That’s my position.”

In a letter to Mr Christie, lead organiser Ranard Henfield reiterated that there was no reason to meet privately with the nation’s leader because all issues listed were well within his ability to immediately change “with the stroke of a pen”, given his position as Prime Minister, minister of finance, and minister with responsibility for Crown Land.

Mr Henfield said that if Mr Christie met some of the demands in good faith, via a public address by December 8, he was prepared to convene a meeting with the more than 40 affiliated organisations and the media to discuss controversial issues.