The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Governance reformers yesterday asserted it is “critical” that legislation giving the National Development Plan (NDP) legal effect minimises political interference to the greatest possible extent while voicing concerns about lack of civil society representation.

Matt Aubry, the Organisation for Responsible Governance’s (ORG) executive director, told Tribune Business that The Bahamas cannot afford to get the National Development Planning Institute Bill 2026 wrong given that it offers statutory legal footing for an initiative designed to provide a long-term road map and guide for the country’s development.

Bahamians have only until January 31, 2026, to provide consultation and feedback on the draft legislation, and he voiced concern that such a short window could result in “more marginalised voices” being unable to participate while those voices with greater time and weight could have greater influence on the Bill.

And Mr Aubry and ORG both voiced concern over the level of civil society involvement and participation provided for by the Bill. While it gives one seat on the Planning Institute’s 19-strong Board to “a representative of the umbrella organisation of civil society”, they pointed out that no such body exists to represent the interests of an estimated 1,200 non-profit and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in The Bahamas.

“It’s so critical,” Mr Aubry told this newspaper of the Bill. “It’s the mechanism that will continue and push forward the NDP. It’s really important to get as wide a consultation about that and have input to build that ownership and for the NDP not to be politicised. We want to encourage people to pay attention and give feedback. Having more opportunity for consultation gets us into a broader spectrum of views.”

Felix Stubbs, who heads the National Development Plan’s steering committee, told Tribune Business recently that the goal is to push the Bill “very rapidly” through the consultation process with the aim of tabling it in the House of Assembly next month. That will occur after a tight two-week consultation, enabling Bahamians to submit feedback, concerns and potential changes to the Bill, which will drive any adjustments made by the Attorney General’s Office.

That consultation ends on January 31, with Mr Stubbs indicating that the tight timeline and rapid progress are designed to ensure the Bill is passed before the 2026 general election to keep it free of political interference and challenges over whether it will be a priority for a new administration.

Mr Aubry, while agreeing that this was a “practical necessity”, argued that “at the same time we need to balance that with making sure we get this right”. He pointed out that greater understanding, involvement and input from the Bahamian people are key to the NDP and Planning Institute “hold up in the long run and are as independent a structure as possible”.

Maximising public involvement, the ORG chief added, will also build greater trust and civic ownership of the NDP, thus helping to act as a safeguard and check against future attempts to impose greater political control.

“I think the NDP, if done right, could really bring so much in terms of redefining our direction as a country in ways that don’t go in five year bursts, that are not potentially or are affected by politicised agendas or perceived to be affected by political agendas,” Mr Aubry told Tribune Business. “I think there’s always a structural challenge in these things reporting up to the minister.”

He added that broad-based participation by civil society groups, which operate in numerous areas ranging from the environment to gender-based issues, will also help ensure the Institute and NDP remain on course. ORG, in a document setting out what it described as “key considerations” for evaluating the legislation, also queried whether the Family Islands and their interests are properly represented on the Institute’s Board.

“One of the potentially problematic elements of the draft Bill is its reference to a single Board seat held by an ‘umbrella organisation of civil society’. The Bahamas does not currently have an entity that represents the full spectrum of civil society. Civil society representation must be inclusive, legitimate and transparent,” ORG said, questioning who would sit in such a seat and how this would be determined.

“The draft Bill outlines a Board of up to 19 members with representation from government, political parties, University of the Bahamas, business associations, unions, civil society and others. Representation must be carefully designed so that it is inclusive and credible in practice.

“Does representation reflect the full diversity of The Bahamas, including the Family Islands? Are youth, persons with disabilities and community development stakeholders included meaningfully? Does the structure risk over-representing politically connected or Nassau-centred institutions?”

Proposing that this section of the Bill be altered, ORG said: “ORG believes the Bill should strengthen civil society representation to reflect the real diversity of registered non-profit organisations across The Bahamas, including churches and faith-based service groups.

“ORG recommends that the Bill be amended to allocate multiple civil society seats that reflect key sub-sectors” such as environmental, faith-based and Family Island groups.

ORG also raised concerns over whether there should be stronger parliamentary oversight and safeguards over the Institute. “The Bill defines the ‘minister’” as the Prime Minister, provides that they may issue directions of a general nature as to the policy to be followed by the Board, and that the Board must give effect to those directions,” it added.

“Is the Institute independent enough to survive changes in government? Are ministerial direction powers appropriately limited and transparent? Are there safeguards to ensure the Institute cannot be used to advance a political agenda?”

The Bahamas National Development Planning Institute will “initiate and co-ordinate” all national planning, and have oversight responsibility for its governance and implementation, while being held accountable by its own Board of Directors.

The proposed legislation, besides creating the Planning Institute, makes it responsible for advising the Government “on major issues relating to governance, the economy, social policy and the environment of The Bahamas”.

And, if passed in its current form, the Planning Institute will also develop a plan “for the most effective use of The Bahamas' resources by assessing existing and projected social, economic and manpower resources” plus “prepare governance, economic, social policy and environmental models for the guidance of policymakers, investors and other planners”.

The National Development Plan, which was conceived and put together during the last Christie administration, was intended to be a cross-party, non-partisan and non-political effort to develop a ‘road map’ that would guide the country’s direction and progress The Bahamas towards the kind of nation its citizens desire.

However, despite seeking to be non-partisan, the National Development Plan appeared to be shelved under the Minnis administration, with little to no progress made as first Hurricane Dorian, and then the COVID-19 pandemic, dominated its four-and-a-half tenure in office.

The National Development Plan represented the first ever co-ordinated effort to plan the Bahamas’ development in a systematic manner using empirical data and analyses, and input was sought and obtained from multiple stakeholders including the private sector, civil society groups, non-profits and the general public.

Labelled ‘Vision 2040’, it aimed to break with The Bahamas’ past ad hoc approach to national growth by setting a clear path towards a more sustainable future. Its ‘road map’ was designed to feature measurable goals and objectives for the Bahamas to attain, so that its progress towards achieving its development targets can be judged according to set timelines.

Vision 2040 focused on four main policy pillars - the economy, governance, social policy and the environment, both natural and built - in its first 400-page draft. The Bill, in its ‘objects and reasons’ section, states: “The Government wishes to establish the National Planning Institute to provide for the Government’s goals and strategy for the long-term development of The Bahamas.

“The work of creation and implementation of the National Development Plan shall be that of the body corporate, the Institute. The Institute will carry out the necessary functions and be possessed of the requisite powers.”