The winner of the 2012 general election was not known at the time today's Front Porch was written. But, whoever is the new government will face the same challenges.
There is the continued challenge of economic recovery and growth from the lingering effects of what is now being called the Great Recession. Economic prospects in The Bahamas are dependent on those of the U.S. While the U.S. economy has improved it still has a way to go.
There are still economic clouds including in Europe which can slow broader recovery in the global economy. Despite promising signs, we will need to be vigilant and aggressive in pursuing job creation and opportunities for growth. This will have to be done in a fiscally prudent manner with a watchful eye on our annual deficit.
Innovative ideas will be needed to strengthen and expand opportunities in the areas of tourism, financial services, maritime services, as well as agriculture and fisheries. Ongoing diversification within these sectors can yield promising results especially in certain niche areas.
The issue of violent crime remains. Despite the rhetoric by some, there is no magic bullet in terms of crime prevention and aggressively combatting the causes of crime and antisocial behavior.
Crime is a complex phenomenon requiring a multifaceted response from aggressive policing to building the capacity of the criminal justice system. It requires also targeted social intervention utilizing strategies known to work in other jurisdictions.
The economy and crime were two of the major issues dominating the election campaign. But there were also other issues which will be on the major list of to-do items for the next government.
The question of oil exploration and drilling made a last minute appearance in the campaign. The decision on drilling will be highly consequential for the country.
It will impact on areas ranging from environmental protection to the regulatory regime needed to oversee drilling.
Further, to avoid the pitfalls which have befallen quite a number of countries in terms of the proceeds of oil sales, the country must have an exceptionally transparent framework regarding oil profits and government revenues.
The matter of healthcare was also discussed in the campaign. Advancing some version of National Health Insurance was spoken of by both of the major parties. Another major component of any healthcare strategy is the creation and upgrade of healthcare facilities.
There is also the long term issue of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes which affect healthcare cost, economic productivity and national development broadly speaking.
The preservation of fisheries and of poaching is now front and center. There will be the need to build the capacity of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force inclusive of bases, marine vessels, aircraft, personnel and various technology.
There is still critical infrastructure work to complete in New Providence and the Family Islands. Grand Bahama, long suffering and with significant economic challenges, will require special and concentrated attention.
The issue of whether to legalize the lottery should be decided this term. Both major parties have agreed to hold a referendum on this matter.
As always, the issue of good governance will be critical. Bahamians not only want a government that will address these and other issues. They also want a government that will be accountable and transparent.
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