The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE government pounding its chest over the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast of 0.1 percentage point economic growth for The Bahamas should not come as a surprise.

The fact that they can achieve a positive economic outlook in the midst of what many regard as below standard governance is to their credit.

Regardless of who takes the credit, I am hoping that the IMF stingy growth projections are exceeded, as any increase in economic growth, however small, is to be welcomed.

Economic growth, being like a rising tide, is supposed to lift all boats.

It is theorised that as the economy grows, personal incomes and living standards ought to increase throughout the society and so should government tax revenue.

In so far as personal income and living standards are concerned, whether such is the case in The Bahamas, to any appreciable degree or at all, is debatable.

The task for this administration is to ensure that the gains to be had in times of economic growth makes its way to the average citizen and resident throughout our archipelago, and not obstructed by those who are capable of doing so, because of the oligopolistic position they enjoy over key sectors of the economy.

This is no time for the administration to prolong its chest pounding, as there are too many persons living on or below the margin economically even when the economy is performing optimally because of the many other undesirable and limiting factors which obstruct the gains to be had by the average citizen.

The government ought to make sure that when the economy grows, and even in times when growth is absence, the prospect for growth and improve standard and quality of living for citizens is made possible through proper policy adoption which addresses the many annoying issues Bahamians are encountering daily especially at public enterprises.

CLAUDE B HANNA

Nassau,

April 28, 2025.