CBA Report: New Bahamas Cabinet Highly Competitive with Caribbean Counterparts
The Honorable Perry Christie newly elected Prime Minister of the Bahamas has announced the members of his new Cabinet. The Prime Minister seems to have done a good job of selecting an impressive team of Ministers. A review by the Council of Concerned Bahamians Abroad (CBA) finds that this new Cabinet and executive branch of government in the Bahamas is competitive with the best Cabinets in the English Speaking Caribbean region. This should give Concerned Bahamians domiciled abroad (CBAs) an early sense of relief and hope that the new government is starting out on the right foot in solving the Country’s numerous problems.
Within the past two years, significant political reform has occurred, and governments have changed hands in Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana, St. Lucia, and now the Bahamas. These are some of the more prominent English Speaking countries in the region. The newly elected governments each face daunting tasks, but none more daunting than the new Bahamian government which faces an economy in steep decline, high debt, high crime, substandard education, no Bahamian ownership of major economic engines, poor GDP & GNP, a diminishing international presence, and no effective plan in place to combat the problems. The new Government’s most important task at this time appears to be the establishment and promotion of a clear and convincing plan to redirect the Country’s declining economic posture and international reputation.
In comparison and viewing from the outside, the governments in Trinidad and Jamaica have some significant advantages in resolving their problems, while The Bahamas is at a disadvantage in many ways. Its greatest advantage is its proximity to the United States and its indigenous ties to the juggernaut of South Florida in particular. Trinidad and Jamaica with years in development of their respective industrial and natural resources, and more developed Capital Market Driven Economies (CMDE), have a base which the Bahamas has yet to develop. The failing economies of Bahamian Tourism and Financial Services, while in need of continued development, cannot keep pace with the new economic paradigms controlling the modern global marketplace. As the CBA has proposed, the Bahamas must move to develop a CMDE based economic development system.
The new Cabinet appointments to the incoming PLP administration breed some new hope. Right at the top it is apparent that Mr. Christie has appointed his old and trusted friend Dr. B.J. Nottage to the second most important role in the Government as Minister of National Security and Leader of the Government’s Business in Parliament. Dr. Nottage is well known in parliamentary circles as an expert in the business of parliament, having written the first unofficial handbook of parliamentary practice for incoming parliamentarians when he first became a member of parliament many years ago. In addition, his tenure as leader of the Coalition for Democratic Reform (CDR) is noteworthy for promoting an impressive Platform for reform which many Caribbean Leaders have similarly supported in their efforts to reform their Governments. Most notably, former Prime Minister Bruce Golding attempted to adopt many of the same reforms for Jamaica as noted in the CBA report “Strings Free Government For The Caribbean” on www.ourbahamas.org. Other instructive examples are the quasi-republic changes in Guyana and Trinidad, and the needs for reform expressed by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsavles of St Vincent and the Grenadines. It is obvious that Prime Minister Christie intends to rely on Dr. Nottage to supply much of the heavy lifting in this new administration.
The appointment of Ryan Pinder as Minister of a new portfolio in Financial Services is another impressive appointment. Mr. Pinder, who possesses by education and experience the kind of expertise that is unique to Bahamian politics and government should be excellent in this position. CBAs can feel secure that for the first time a highly trained and experienced U.S. tax lawyer and business expert is at the helm of financial services in the Bahamas. One problem Mr. Pinder faces, however, is that the entire structure of the Financial Services industry in the Bahamas is fatally flawed based on current U.S. and OECD rules and regulations. Despite this, however, no one should doubt that this appointment is a highly valuable one.
The appointment of Fred Mitchell as Minister of Foreign Affairs, a position he previously held, is highly suited for, and by all accounts performed well in, is another excellent appointment. CBAs have generally held Mr. Mitchell in high regard regardless of their party affiliation. It is important to note that Mr. Mitchell has attained a certain level of acceptance and is well regarded in international circles and among fellow diplomats around the globe. His appointment and the history of his performance should bode well for the Bahamas.
The appointment of Allyson Maynard-Gibson as Attorney General seems to also be a valuable one. Mrs. Maynard-Gibson has experience in the job, is a hard worker, and is internationally accomplished in a number of ways that few others available in the Bahamas can match. While this appointment may engender some controversy within the Party for various reasons, it should not detract from the obvious talents and accomplishments she brings to the job.
Khaalis Rolle, by experience and training appears to be a good choice for Minister of State for Investments. This is a most important ministry and portfolio which must adopt a more CMDE approach to investments as The CBA has proposed, with less reliance on Single Owner Controlled Foreign Direct Investment.
Obie Wilchombe, former and now again Minister of the significant portfolio of Tourism, is a capable and experienced performer in this post. He will however find it increasingly difficult to keep the Bahamas competitive in the marketplace. He must be innovative, and for example, utilize the talents of CBAs and Friends of the Bahamas abroad, which is an untapped source not effectively utilized in the past.
Dr. Michael Darville’s appointment as Minister of the new Ministry for Grand Bahama was an innovative move. It is the first Ministry ever to focus on a specific geographic area. Grand Bahama which has the second largest population in the Country, is an Island with unique significance to the Country’s economy.
These seven (7) Ministries will be the most important in establishing a new direction for the Country’s recovery. It appears that the other Cabinet appointments are equally appropriate, and in comparison to the other major Caribbean Cabinets, are highly competitive in talent and experience. It now remains to be seen whether this administration will actually perform as competitively and innovatively in bringing about needed change as some of its Caribbean counterparts have done. This team should have no excuses if they fail to bring significant resolution to the Country’s malaise.
With the talent it has assembled, if this new administration can convince the electorate that it has a plan, and knows how to solve the Country’s money inflow problem which is necessary to resolve the many subsidiary problems it has promised to fix, it can cement its governing position for a subsequent term.
