The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A private sector executive yesterday said information and communications technologies (ICT) can become the next pillar of the Bahamian economy "without fail".

Edison Sumner, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation's (BCCEC) chief executive, said the Bahamas has one of the most robust technological footprints.

"Our fibre optic connectivity is bar none, our geographic location to the Americas is the most ideal," he argued.

"We are situated where we can service the Caribbean and the Americas. We have not taken full advantage of that situation, and if we were to get more people involved we can grow the ICT sector."

Mr Sumner added: "There is a tremendous opportunity for us to grow the ITC industry. I don't think we have tapped into the full potential of it yet, and once you promote that properly you can get more business coming in."

Mr Sumner said the Bahamas can "wave a flag" and announce to the world it is ready for business, leveraging ICT to attract international companies.

"We can say to them that the infrastructure is here, the skills are here, and if they are not we can go through an apprenticeship to train the people that we have," he added.

"I think that ICT can become the next real pillar of the Bahamian economy without fail. We have have worked tourism and financial services, but neither of those two industries - especially financial services - can work without technology being in place."