Reacting to Donald Trump's rout of Hillary Clinton in the United States' presidential election on Tuesday, Prime Minister Perry Christie said yesterday the relationship between the U.S. and The Bahamas remains strong, and there are local lessons to be learned from Trump's historic win.

Christie also said it is too soon to tell if a Trump presidency would be a boon or hamper the Bahamian economy, but he expects The Bahamas to benefit if the American economy grows.

"We are very hopeful about the outcome of the elections," Christie said in an interview with ZNS News.

"Mr. Trump campaigned very strongly on making America great again.

"And a very significant part of that was boosting the economy of America.

"We expect The Bahamas to be the beneficiary of any positive developments in the American economy.

"We have to wait and see what, in fact, takes place and what policies are engendered by the new government.

"We have always maintained a strong relationship with the United States of America. That relationship is institutionalized in a treaty and other bilateral arrangements, which the Americans promote and protect."

Despite the high approval rating of outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama, Trump, a real estate billionaire, harnessed a wave of working-class voter dissatisfaction to flip traditionally Democratic states into the Republican column, defying deep odds to defeat Clinton, the Democratic nominee.

Christie said Trump's largely unexpected victory speaks volumes to his own administration.

"You cannot compromise on hard work," Christie said.

"... That every effort must be made to ensure that people understand what you are doing for them.

"That the argument of transparency, of accountability, must always be foremost and uppermost in people's minds, those of us who are in public life.

"But that we must never, ever stop working at getting people to understand those policies, those initiatives, that we're taking on thier behalf.

"And my government has not been the best at that, in being able to promote itself because of what it's doing."

Christie also revealed a connection to the new U.S. president.

He said he did work on behalf of Trump's organization as it explored business opportunities in The Bahamas when he was still a practicing attorney.

"I remember when I was in a particular law firm, a partner in a law firm, that we were approached by Robert Trump, the brother of the president-elect, to represent the Trump organization in their investigations into the possible purchase of what was then Resorts International (on Paradise Island)," he said.

"I was the partner with the carriage of that matter, and as a result of that, I would have been made very familiar with the Trump organization.

"I would have been into Trump Tower (in New York) on a number of occasions."

Christie did not say when those interactions took place.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended congratulations to the U.S. government and its people for the "successful conduct of their general election and to the winner President elect Donald Trump".

"A diplomatic note is being sent to confirm these public expressions," read the statement.

"The Government of The Bahamas looks forward to continued good relations with the United States of America."

Opposition parties react
Meantime, Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Deputy Leader Chris Mortimer said yesterday his party wished "nothing but the best" for the incoming Trump administration, and that the election was a perfect example that "you don't count the chickens before the eggs have hatched".

Most American pundits have reacted to Trump's victory with shock.

"It's what democracy is all about," he told The Nassau Guardian.

"At the end of the day it's about the wishes of the electorate.

"The voters spoke and they spoke very loudly.

"They wanted something different, different from the past and they voting overwhelmingly.

"You must respect the wishes of the voters and as far as the DNA is concerned we wish anyone who takes on the mantle of leadership success, because the success of the leader, means that their countries do well and their people do well.

"From the DNA's perspective we hope nothing but the best for the presidency of Donald Trump.

"After a hard-fought battle, we hope both sides get the opportunity to understand that by working together they can achieve their goals."

As it relates to Trump's policy agenda, Mortimer said that will be better determined once Trump's Cabinet and staff are in place.

"When we start to see the key people of his Cabinet, the chief of staff, secretary of defense, some of these things, we will be in a better position to determine -- how effective, how progressive he will be to move the country forward," he said.

Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis also issued a statement extending congratulations to Trump yesterday.

"The United States is our closest ally and historically our two countries have enjoyed an excellent relationship," Minnis said.

"We will continue to devote our efforts to sustain this unique and beneficial relationship with the United States under President Trump."

Royston Jones Jr., Guardian Staff Reporter

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