Shadow Minister for Finance Kwasi Thompson yesterday urged the Davis administration to heed the concerns raised by the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC).
The BCCEC called on the government to enact policies in its upcoming legislative agenda to improve the business climate in the country.
Thompson said over the last two years the opposition has also heralded the need for relief from high electricity costs, customs software woes and funding for small business.
"The opposition hopes that the Davis administration takes heed to the pertinent issues raised by the BCCEC and that the government pays particular attention to pursuing policies that support the development and growth of Bahamian small businesses and entrepreneurial opportunities," said Thompson.
He added: "The truth is that the Davis administration scarcely if ever utters the phrase ease of doing business and instead has put in place additional bureaucracy and red tape that is making it harder and not easier for small businesses to survive.
"The government must put equal emphasis on the ease of doing business as they put on tax collection."
BCCEC Chairman Khrystle Rutherford-Ferguson called on the government to prioritize easing the burden of doing business in The Bahamas.
She said that the impending opening of Parliament is an opportunity for government to bring forward policies that will "positively impact businesses".
She said one of the vexing issue facing the business community is the intermittent operability of Bahamas Customs' ClicktoClear system, which has been delaying the delivery of goods to companies.
Rutherford-Ferguson also lamented the ongoing frustrations from businesses on flooding issues and the disrepair of roads that impede access to businesses.
Thompson said the opposition is "hopeful but not optimistic" that the government will use the opportunity of a new legislative agenda to improve the business environment.
"The opposition will in the coming days have much more to say on these and other matters that are critical to bringing relief to Bahamians and to setting the country on a course for sustained success," he said.
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