Foreign Labour versus Bahamian Labour in The Bahamas

The imbalanced Bahamian labour market in The Bahamas

Foreign Labour vs. Bahamian Labour

By Jamal Moss

In the Bahamian labour market, a notable disparity exists between the wages and job opportunities available to foreign workers versus Bahamian nationals.  Foreign workers often occupy high-paying positions, while locals frequently find themselves in lower-paying roles or receiving significantly lower wages for similar job titles.

This imbalance can lead to economic inequality and social unrest, with Bahamians feeling marginalized in their own country.  Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach to ensure fair employment practices and opportunities for locals.

Possible Solutions

To address the misalignment between Bahamian labor market supply and demand, several measures can be implemented:

1. Skill Development and Training Initiatives: It is essential to develop targeted training programs that align with the qualifications needed for high-paying occupations in sectors such as tourism, finance, and technology.  By investing in skill development and certification programs, Bahamian workers can better meet the demands of these growth sectors.

2. Promoting Local Entrepreneurship: Encouraging local entrepreneurship can create more high-quality job opportunities for Bahamians.  Providing grants, low-interest loans, and business development services can support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), fostering economic growth and technological advancement.  Jean-Pierre (2022) highlights the importance of such initiatives in boosting local employment and reducing social costs.

3. Policy Review and Reformation: Policies should be re-evaluated to prevent foreign labor from directly competing with local workers.  Setting parameters for the employment of Bahamians and implementing quotas for foreign workers in specific sectors can help balance the labor market.

4. Public-Private Partnerships: Developing partnerships between the government and private sector can enhance internship and apprenticeship programs.  These partnerships can provide on-the-job training for Bahamians, bridging the gap between education and employment, and improving access to better-paying jobs.

By implementing these strategies, The Bahamas can work towards creating a more equitable labor market, ensuring that Bahamian workers have fair opportunities and are better positioned to contribute to and benefit from the country's economic growth.

References

Jean-Pierre, M. (2022). The education system of The Bahamas: The first quarter of the twenty-first century. In The education systems of the Americas (pp. 91-117). Cham: Springer International

Source

The Bahamian Brain Drain - By Jamal Moss>>>

COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS ... SPEECH FROM THE THRONE ... DELIVERED AT THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT ... BY HIS EXCELLENCY SIR ARTHUR FOULKES ... GOVERNOR-GENERAL ... WEDNESDAY, 23RD MAY, 2012

Madam President and Honourable Senators,
Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly,


Today’s Opening of Parliament follows upon my Government’s election to office just sixteen days ago.

My Government has been entrusted by the Bahamian people with a clear and overwhelming mandate to effect important and far-reaching changes in our country for the benefit of all.

The challenges that confront us in The Bahamas today are as numerous as they are complex.  Accordingly, my Government will present an ambitious and extensive agenda for this new Parliament.  The Bahamian people expect and deserve nothing less.

Central to that agenda are two overriding imperatives -

Firstly, the need to reduce violence and crime and build a safer Bahamas.

Secondly, but in tandem with the fight against crime, is the need to build a stronger economy that generates jobs, deepens and broadens Bahamian ownership and produces a higher standard of living for all Bahamians.

Those twin imperatives will dominate the agenda for action of my new Government.

At the same time, however, my Government will also move as resolutely as fiscal realities allow to implement the full range of programmes, legislative proposals and policy initiatives promised in the platform entitled ‘Charter for Governance’.

In this regard, urgent priority will be given to the implementation of the action-plan outlined in the Charter for the first 100 days of my Government.  The implementation of this ‘First 100 Days’ plan is, I am pleased to report, already in stride, as witness the implementation of two of the action-items within the very first week of my Government coming to office, namely, the creation of the Ministry for Grand Bahama and the restoration of the Ministry of Financial Services.


Madam President and Honourable Senators,

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly,


Violence and crime corrode the very fabric of a nation. They must therefore be attacked and eradicated at the root if we are to build a secure and prosperous society.  My Government is absolutely determined to pursue this objective with unbounded energy, imagination, and unwavering dedication.

My Government will immediately reinstate and expand the Urban Renewal Programme to serve as a core instrument to combat the underlying social causes of crime and violence.

My Government will establish an Urban Renewal Commission to facilitate inter-agency collaboration and coordination in the delivery of services to the community.

My Government will, as a matter of high priority, introduce a national Crime Management Agenda comprising effective prevention, detection, prosecution and rehabilitation.

My Government will move for the repeal of all provisions of the Police Act which are unconstitutional or attempt to politicize the Police Force or undermine the impartiality and security of tenure of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police.

My Government will also create a National Intelligence Agency comprising all law enforcement departments to address all categories of major crimes on a co-ordinated basis and with a greatly improved intelligence-gathering capability.

My Government will also develop a National Firearms Control Strategy and establish a proper Firearms Department and Database.

My Government will also re-introduce the Swift Justice Initiative to ensure the timely prosecution of cases and reduce the number of persons released on bail for serious crimes.

My Government will also re-introduce, as a matter of the most urgent priority, the Witness Protection Programme so as to ensure that key witnesses and their families are protected.

My Government will also move to amend the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act to assist young and first-time offenders in embracing a life founded on the values of honesty, hard work and respect for the life and property of others.

My Government will also as a matter of high priority, reintroduce School-Based Policing to curb school violence.

My Government will also re-vitalize the Tourism-Based Policing Initiative to enhance visitor safety.

My Government re-affirms its determination to more effectively police our borders against illegal immigration, drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal firearms, and poaching.  The Royal Bahamas Defence Force will therefore be re-equipped and re-positioned to more effectively combat these menaces.

In accordance with its Charter for Governance, my Government will also hold a referendum for the Bahamian people to decide whether a national lottery should be instituted and/or whether webshop-type gaming should be decriminalized but nonetheless regulated in accordance with internationally-accepted best practices and in a way that would ensure optimal revenue-generation for the country.


Madam President and Honourable Senators,

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly,


The plight of homeowners in financial distress must be addressed if a stronger economy is to be restored.

My Government will therefore work with the clearing banks and other institutional lenders to develop a financially sustainable mortgage relief programme aimed at assisting distressed homeowners in saving their homes from foreclosure.  Participation in such a programme would be voluntary.

My Government will also seek to bring employee pension funds under closer regulation and supervision to ensure that pension funds are duly protected; and that trustees and managers of pension funds are held to higher standards of transparency and accountability; and that employees are afforded access to their pension savings for emergency purposes, including mortgage relief.

My Government, in an effort to stimulate the real estate market, will also make good on its commitment to lower the maximum rate of stamp duty on land sales from 12 per cent to 10 per cent; and will also re-introduce a maximum cap on real property tax.

My Government will also enact amendments to the Subdivisions Act to make the building and planning process more efficient and less costly.

My Government, in an effort to help reduce the cost of rental housing, will reform the Rent Control Act and will seek to promote the construction of new rental units at more affordable prices.

My Government will aggressively pursue the expansion of affordable housing especially for lower income Bahamians.  My Government regards this as a social priority that requires focused and sustained attention.

My Government will also seek to provide additional land for home ownership through the purchase of vacant and abandoned lots as a part of the Urban Renewal Initiative.

My Government will create a reliable land register and a proper system of land registration.

My Government will also review and amend as necessary the laws relating to commonage land so as to allow for greater commercial use and beneficial enjoyment of land by commoners.


Madam President and Honourable Senators,

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly,


My Government is deeply wedded to the belief that private enterprise should remain the primary engine of job creation and entrepreneurial opportunity in our country, and that tourism and financial services, supported by industrial expansion, fisheries and agricultural production, should be the chief areas of economic activity in our country.  In this regard, my Government is committed to the formulation and execution of policies that will encourage private investment in these areas while maximizing job creation and career development for Bahamians in the shortest possible time.

As small and medium-size enterprises are the job- creation engines of today’s economy to an ever-increasing extent, my Government will re-focus the mandate of the Bahamas Development Bank and the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) to provide equity, credit guarantees and marketing and accounting support for fledgling businesses.

The necessary enabling legislation will be introduced by my Government as a matter of priority.

My Government will also implement a number of initiatives, including the grant of special concessions, to promote the economic development of Grand Bahama, and to facilitate the extension of the same benefits that are available under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement to east and west Grand Bahama.

In order to revitalize our critical tourism industry, my Government will seek to increase the number of available and affordable rooms.  Promotional efforts will explore opportunities for tourism growth in niche markets inclusive of film, entertainment, sports, health and religious tourism, as well as medical, heritage and eco-tourism.

The cultivation of new markets in Asia and Latin America will also form a key part of the national tourism promotion plan.

My Government will give focused attention to the refurbishment and re-development of downtown Nassau to make it a pedestrian and shopper friendly city while retaining and enhancing its historical appearance.

My Government will work in collaboration with local and foreign air carriers to improve airlift to and throughout the Islands of The Bahamas.

My Government will also create opportunities for Bahamians to own hotels through a National Resort Development Initiative.

Recognizing that agriculture is an integral part of any sustainable economic development plan, my Government will give focus to increasing food production as a vehicle to promote food security, create jobs and boost domestic investment.

My Government will initiate plans to construct a Bahamian Food Sciences Institute in North Andros with a view to incorporating it into the University of The Bahamas.

My Government will also aggressively pursue the development of a mariculture industry in The Bahamas and the further diversification of a fisheries industry which is reserved for Bahamians.


Madam President and Honourable Senators,

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly,


My Government believes that education is the principal vehicle for promoting the economic development of individuals and the nation as a whole in the overarching framework of a rapidly evolving 21st century global economy. Education is the key to both personal and national empowerment.

Conscious of that truism, my Government will seek to reform our educational system to bring it more technologically in tune with 21st century challenges and to better position Bahamians to compete for jobs both locally and on a global level.

My Government will review and strengthen the National Literacy and Numeracy plans both of which are critical to educational achievement and economic advancement.

My Government will also introduce a standardized National High School Diploma programme to ensure that graduating students meet stipulated minimum levels of proficiency.

My Government will also develop a national regulatory framework to establish, at the secondary school level, a system of Career Path Academies.

Legislation will also be placed before you to establish the University of The Bahamas.

Regulations will also be developed to establish and oversee new standards for Preschool and Early Childhood Education.

My Government recognizes the important role played by the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) in training and re-training Bahamian workers.  Accordingly, the Council for BTVI will be appointed with a view to bringing the BTVI Act fully into operation as rapidly as possible.

My Government will also seek to provide enriching experiences for our youth through innovative programmes that promote cultural and self awareness, community service, social skills training, mentorship, knowledge of civics, and exposure to principles of leadership and responsible citizenship.

“Centres of Excellence” for sports will also be established within Family Island communities to help identify and develop sports talent.

My Government will also promote cultural expression in the visual, performing and literary arts; expand cultural education programmes; and enhance stakeholder participation in the development of our cultural heritage.

My Government will move swiftly to end all forms of discrimination, especially against persons with disabilities.  In keeping with this commitment, legislation will be enacted.  The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will also be signed and ratified.

My Government will bring about the full implementation of the Child Protection Act, 2007.

In an effort to reduce poverty, promote human capital development and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of social assistance programmes, my Government will move speedily to undertake Social Safety Net Reform.

In the area of health care, my Government is firmly committed to the principle of universal access to health care, decentralized health-delivery systems; and a re-engineering of systems for financing the delivery of health care so that it can be more affordable.

My Government will also take steps to advance our nation’s preparations for the introduction of National Health Insurance in a financially sustainable way.  My Government’s commitment to National Health Insurance remains undiminished.

My Government will facilitate the Public Hospitals Authority’s acquisition of new cancer-screening technology to ensure that Bahamian women have access to state-of-the-art mammogram machines at both the Princess Margaret Hospital in New Providence and the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama.


Madam President and Honourable Senators,

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly,


My Government will seek to amend the Local Government Act to better define the parameters for the employment of persons providing service to Local Government Councils.

In the area of air transport which is so vital to our archipelagic nation, my Government will overhaul the existing air sector policy to create a safer and more efficient air transport system. This will include the creation of a modern civil aviation regulatory regime, the creation of a fully independent body to investigate air accidents, enhanced communications technology and upgraded radar equipment.

Additionally, steps will be taken to address the management of the Bahamas Flight Information Region (FIR), which will permit access to overflight fees on The Bahamas’ upper airspace.

In relation to maritime transport which is no less vital to our national interests, my Government will procure the implementation of maritime safety standards, protocols and inspection regimes on all national ships and personnel, and the adoption of the Caribbean Ship Safety Code and Small Vessel Code.

To encourage environmental sustainability in Freeport, Grand Bahama the Freeport Bye-Laws Act, 1965 will be amended to impose mandatory standards for environmental management.

My Government will develop a national water policy in conjunction with all stakeholders and will ensure the proper extraction of ground and potable water so that all Bahamian communities will in the shortest possible time have access to piped potable water.

My Government will initiate a plan to lower the cost of electricity throughout The Bahamas through the development of alternative energy production and improved efficiency at BEC in the areas of administration, power production and equipment maintenance.

My Government will review the Regulations established by the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) to ensure that they conform to the Constitution and reflect Bahamian values in the context of responsible freedom of expression in a democratic society.

My Government will finalize its longstanding Foreign Service Orders for the enhancement and strengthening of a professional Foreign Service.


Madam President and Honourable Senators,

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly,


There is an emerging national consensus that the Bahamian tax system is simply inadequate to meet the needs of a modern 21st century society. My Government will therefore launch an extensive review of the Bahamian tax system with a view to proposing alternative means of taxation that address the problems of the current system while providing the Government with a stable, buoyant and adequate source of revenue to meet its governance obligations to the Bahamian people.

My Government will introduce legislation to establish a council of economic advisors. The role of the council will be to develop policy recommendations for Government on the major issues pertaining to economic growth and stability, including tax reform.


Madam President and Honourable Senators,

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly,


There will also be laid before you legislation to prevent the entering into of government contracts, including contracts of employment, or the payment of public monies in connection therewith, between the date of dissolution of Parliament and the date of a General Election unless such contracts or such payments are pre-determined by an independent statutory body to be absolutely critical for the maintenance of essential services.


Madam President and Honourable Senators,

Mr. Speaker and Members of the Honourable House of Assembly,


As my Government now sets about the urgent tasks that I have just outlined it shall be forever mindful that in all things God must come first and that without Him at the centre of our efforts we labour in vain.

My Government shall also remain mindful of the need for complete integrity in the stewardship of the people’s affairs.  Its commitment in this regard is absolute and will remain so.

Finally, my Government believes in Bahamians and in the capacity and determination of the Bahamian people to overcome all the many challenges that lie before us.  Armed with a common purpose and united in patriotism and love for one another, we shall indeed overcome, and achieve for our nation the greatness that is its destiny.

I pray that the blessings of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.

bahamas.gov.bs

 

From Austerity to Prosperity

The Bahama Journal Editorial



While we have no way of precisely forecasting the future, we are fairly certain that – in the absence of a decisive break with business as usual - things are set to get even harder for a broad swath of our people.

This is so not only because we are so dependent on external forces and sources for most of the jobs that provide good incomes; but also because of the fact that in times past, we just did not produce enough and neither did we have - as a people – any real desire to do more.

Instead, we spent as if there was no tomorrow; and we borrowed as if happy days would last for as long as we might have wished.

Today, we know that these were mere illusions; in and of themselves evidence of a dependency that left us vulnerable and open to shock after shock – some of them external and others terrifyingly internal.

And so today – and therefore to the nub of today’s argument – we note that, we must – if we are to weather the storms ahead, work harder, produce more and in so many other words, we have to give value for money.

Evidently, the fact of the matter in today’s hard-pressed Bahamas is to the effect that, Bahamians are slowly but surely coming to the realization that they will be obliged to work harder, study more, get more training and otherwise become more competitive if they hope to make it.

Here we note how Prime Minister Hubert A. Ingraham some time ago framed the issue at hand. In this regard, the nation’s chief admonished, "We must never lose sight of the reality that as the world’s economy shrinks, competition increases…”

And so, we can decide to match the competition, out-distance it or fall behind. Put simply, we are in a fight that will determine whether we get out from under our troubles and woes or if we are to fail utterly.

Simply put, if we are to find our own unique road to success, we must demand far more of ourselves and a great deal more of our leaders.

This is surely the way to go if we are to negotiate our way past austerity road; that path that invariably precedes the broad vistas that come with prosperity.

Here we would posit that, the time is nigh for the Bahamian people to realize that the world in which they live, work and where they might prosper, remains one that rewards productivity and creativity.

And for sure, while foreign directed projects like Baha Mar are obviously appreciated, Bahamians must do more for themselves.

Here they are called upon to do so by working harder, remaining sober, becoming more diligent and otherwise, giving appropriate value for money received.

While much of this is easier said than done and while some others might dither and others dawdle, clearly things are currently going from bad to worse.

We need merely refer to some of the grief some small employers are obliged to experience as they try to keep their businesses afloat.

Utility costs are high; so is the price of labor.

There is little to no commensurate value coming the employer’s way – this due to the fact that labor is expensive, often incompetent and just as often, simply unavailable.

This and more information just like this serves to underscore the urgency in the moment for all hands to be put to work if things are going to be kept together.

They must become more productive.

Clearly then, it is this question of productivity that cuts to the heart of that matter which turns on whether the Bahamas has what it takes to compete in the region and in the wider world.

Sadly, the answer must be in the negative.

This neatly explains how it now arises where in certain large enterprises, workers are being routinely ‘thrown overboard’ in efforts to help staunch this or that firm’s money-hemorrhage; thus the emergence here of late of that rising ocean of unemployed and underemployed Bahamians.

And so we would respectfully suggest that –if only at this juncture - we just do not have what it takes to compete with nations that have vast numbers of disciplined workers – men and women who work well and hard – and who do have what it takes to create value.

Here discipline is the key.

When and where workers are disciplined, well-educated and properly trained they become a nation’s most valuable resource.

Contrariwise, when and where they are neglected or denied education and training, they become social parasites; this in turn, exposes them to lives of misery and want.

And so, as night follows day, we must – if we are to survive in this brave new world – work smarter, produce more value and otherwise demonstrate that we can compete in that global economy where the mantra remains, compete or perish.

December 05, 2011

The Bahama Journal Editorial

Bahamas Blog International

Chinese Factory in The Bahamas?

Chinese Manufacturing Company Commits to Building a Factory in The Bahamas

Chinese To Build Factory in The Bahamas

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas

20/08/2004

The Chinese manufacturing company, Jndeli, has committed to building a factory in The Bahamas, Minister of Financial Services and Investments Allyson Maynard Gibson revealed Thursday.

Jndeli, which manufactures luxurious Swarovski silver and crystal products already sold in The Bahamas, intends to create jobs for a significant number of Bahamians, according to the Minister, who spoke to the Journal from Shanghai.

She said the economic benefits to be derived will be tremendous.

“If we just think about the almost five million tourists we are going to have this year, if each of them spends just $20 or more, that’s $100 million more pumped into our economy,” she said.

“So imagine that impact on the economy, in terms of jobs.  Obviously setting up a factory is going to mean jobs.”

Government officials expect that the presence of Jndeli in The Bahamas will fuel widespread entrepreneurship as well.

“You’re talking about serious, serious entrepreneurship,” Minister Gibson said.

She added, “When you’re talking about souvenir production, you’re not just talking about persons creating and copyrighting their products, buy you’re talking also about people having to work to assemble them, making them.”

Prime Minister Perry Christie, who is on a state visit to China, has long talked about the need for there to be stronger linkages between tourism and manufacturing.  Mr. Christie has said that it cannot be acceptable for most of the dollars earned on tourism to leave the country to pay for imports.

It’s precisely the reason why government officials in China are elated that they have been able to lock down such deals like the one with Jndeli.

Minister Gibson termed it an “incredible success.”

 

Company officials, who have visited The Bahamas in the past, are expected to return in October to locate a site for their factory.  There has been no indication of which island they are likely to target, the Minister said.

She said the Chinese have also committed to sending master carvers to The Bahamas to pass on their technical know-how and have also agreed to send persons to The Bahamas to help train Bahamians in packaging fruit, vegetables and seafood.

“So we are moving toward the goals that the prime minister has set for us which is to enhance our souvenir industry, to tap into the significant tourism market that we already have and also in finding ways to do what Jamaica does and that is to maintain as much of the dollar as possible and re-invest it into our economy,” Minister Gibson said.

“This souvenir thing is very exciting,” she pointed out, adding that executives of Jndeli are all set to go.  “We’re looking at really unleashing the creativity of our souvenir producers.”

Chinese Investments in The Bahamas

Optimism About Chinese Investments in The Bahamas and Their Significant Impact on Jobs For Bahamians

Chinese Investments Pour In to The Bahamas

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

19/08/2004

Bahamians will feel the benefits of Prime Minister Perry Christie’s visit to The People’s Republic of China for decades to come, according to Minister of Financial Services and Investments Allyson Maynard Gibson.

Minister Gibson also told the Bahama Journal Tuesday night that Chinese President Hu Jintao has accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Christie to make a state visit to The Bahamas, although she did not indicate when.

She said the benefits that will result from Mr. Christie’s visit to China will extend well beyond the $30 million stadium Chinese officials have committed to funding in The Bahamas.

Minister Gibson added that the COSCO Shipping Company, which intends to be the largest shipping company in the world by 2010, has recently registered three of its ships under the Bahamian flag.

The company’s president has also proposed the expansion of the dry dock ship repair facility in Freeport, which would enable that operation to accommodate the largest cruise ships in the world, the Minister reported.

This would create a significant number of jobs for Bahamians, she said.

“We have every confidence that with Hutchison Whampoa, COSCO and CITIC in The Bahamas, more Chinese companies and investments will follow because of the confidence indicated by those companies in the government and people of the Bahamas,” Minister Gibson said.

The Bahamas is also expected to benefit in the area of tourism from stronger relations with the Chinese government.

Both the president and premier have committed to encouraging more Chinese companies to invest in The Bahamas and establish joint ventures with Bahamians, according to Minister Gibson.

She also said that the Chinese premier intends to designate The Bahamas a preferred travel destination for Chinese people.

As a result, Prime Minister Perry Christie is reportedly encouraging direct flights between China and The Bahamas.

Efforts are also being made to form a partnership with the Chinese so that more souvenirs can be produced in The Bahamas, said Minister Gibson, who added that the intention is to ensure that at least 50 cents of each dollar earned from tourism remains in the country.

“We already have four million visitors from the United States and Europe to support a significant souvenir and handicraft industry originated by Bahamians,” she pointed out.

“But now add to that the potential growth in the tourism sector from the Chinese market which we know will be coming on stream.  Imagine what that would mean, not only in jobs, directly in the tourism industry, but also growth in entrepreneurship and jobs created from that as well.”

She said a Chinese firm, known as NUTEC, is also working with the government to provide equipment that would be used in the scanning of containers.  Minister Gibson said this equipment would improve revenue collection.

She added that it would also help in the fight against illegal drugs and weapons as well as other banned goods.

In addition, Minister Gibson reported that government officials are in discussion with the Chinese to form partnerships between them and the College of The Bahamas in the areas of math, science and technology. 

The Clifton Property Bill to Establish the Clifton Heritage Authority Is Scheduled For Parliamentary Debate

The Official Opposition, Free National Movement (FNM) Party Parliamentarians Will Not Dispute The Core Issue of Turning The Clifton Property into a National Park 

Bahamas Government To Move On Clifton

By Candia Dames

candiadames@hotmail.com

15/01/2004

The large parcel of land on the western tip of New Providence known as the Clifton property has long been in limbo.

But that could soon come to an end.

As Members of Parliament prepare to begin debate on a bill to establish the Clifton Heritage Authority, the spotlight could again be placed on the controversy over the property that once ignited passionate debate that reached a fever pitch several years back.

Opposition Whip in the House Brent Symonette told the Bahama Journal Wednesday that there are questions that will no doubt arise regarding whether the Authority will be truly independent.

He said he expects "an interesting and heated debate."   But he noted that the opposition should not dispute the core issue - that is turning the land into a national park.

Five years ago, some members of the Free National Movement Government supported turning the area into a multimillion-dollar gated community with then Deputy Prime Minister Frank Watson insisting that, "the development will bring a stream of returning tourists year after year...it will provide any number of other jobs in the tourism industry."

Since that debate died down, the property, which was the site of significant archaeological finds, has remained untouched.

Among other things, the Authority would lead the way in raising money for the government to pay for the land, which is estimated by some to be worth about $20 million.   The government intends to issue bonds in this respect.

In 1989, the then government acquired the property from Nancy Oakes, who now resides in London.

The matter has stretched three administrations, but Ms. Oakes, now ailing, never received payment for the land.

Her attorney, Paul Adderley, told the Bahama Journal Wednesday that before the present government came up with this new option to pay for the property, she had been interested in getting the property back.

"The Constitution provides for prompt payment," he noted.

Mr. Adderley also pointed out that Ms. Oakes "is not as rich as people think she is" and he intimated that the payment would be long overdue.

Establishing a national park at the Clifton property would be a fulfillment of a Progressive Liberal Party campaign promise.  In fact, Mr. Symonette believes the debate in parliament will turn into a "political football."

In early 1999, the PLP, while in opposition, joined the tide of strong resistance to the Clifton Cay development proposed at the time.  Prime Minister Perry Christie, while in opposition, said he believed that the development would have placed in foreign hands far too much of the extremely scares natural resources that exist in New Providence.

Mr. Christie said he believed that the government should have retained the full 600 acres of land in trust for the Bahamian people.  The portion of land that would be under the Authority's control would be 208 acres.

"If the government can raise $20 million to fund the cost of a new bridge to the Sun International Resort (now Kerzner International) it can surely apply the same ingenuity to raise a lesser amount of capital to hold the Clifton Cay property in trust for present and future generations of Bahamians,"  Mr. Christie told the Bahama Journal in February, 1999.

American investors, James Anthony and James Chaffin, were in 1999 pushing a plan to turn Clifton into a $400 million gated community, a proposal that was so strongly opposed by some Bahamians, the investors soon packed up and left town.

Now, Clifton appears to face future persons who had opposed the development had been pushing for.

The bill before parliament would give the Authority to be established the power to "hold, manage, maintain, preserve, promote and develop [the property] as a national park and historic cultural heritage site."

The Authority would also enter into archaeological and other joint ventures with persons and entities of international and unimpeachable repute.

It would no doubt be a bit of a victory for the Coalition to Save Clifton Cay, which has quieted since debate on the property fizzled, but, according to its leader, has continued to review developments regarding the property.

Vice President of the Senate Dr. C. B. Moss, who helped form the Coalition several years ago, said the group supports the bill, but has some "minor" concerns.

But Rev. Moss added, "We think that the spirit of the proposed legislation would provide adequate protection for what we want to see there."