CEO of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers' Confederation (BCCEC) Edison Sumner said the chamber will be monitoring the policies of the United States' President-elect Donald Trump regarding investments, immigration, financial/corporate services and the offshore sector.

"Any policies that would have a positive impact on the country as a whole, then we would certainly put support behind them. But, if there is a policy shift that we think might have an adverse effect on the country, then of course we are going to have to put ourselves in a position to adjust quickly," Sumner told Guardian Business yesterday.

The chamber executive said the organization would also be looking out for any amendments or policies that may impact local businesses in The Bahamas, in addition to keeping an eye on policies as it relates to U.S. foreign direct investors looking to do business in The Bahamas.

Sumner expressed his congratulations to Trump following his victory in the United States' general election.
He also said that Trump's victory speech was more "diplomatic" in comparison to certain speeches he made during his campaign.

"The language and tone that we heard out of his victory speech was a lot more reasoned than what we heard during the campaign. It was a lot more presidential, a lot more open to building relationships and mending the division that occurred because of the campaigning," Sumner asserted.

He said that the chamber does not have any "immediate anxiety" in regards to the president-elect. "I am sure that his objectives are the same as the country and that is to build a strong and vibrant economy and where that would work to benefit The Bahamas, then we certainly would support initiatives that would benefit this country as well," Sumner said.

For quite some time, the BCCEC has enjoyed a solid, sound and cordial relationship with the United States through the U.S. Embassy in Nassau, according to Sumner.

He said the chamber expects that relationship to continue.

"For us, it is just going to be monitoring the policies that are coming out of the new administration," Sumner explained.
He pointed out that the chamber has worked well for many years with the U.S. whether it was a democratic or republican administration.

Xian Smith, Guardian Business Reporter

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian