The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune

Let me congratulate the fifth Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Mr Philip “Brave” Davis. He led the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) to soundly defeat the Free National Movement (FNM) lead by Dr Hubert Minnis in the last general elections.

The Bahamian people spoke decisively and they have bestowed overwhelming confidence in Prime Minister Davis to lead the country. The big question is whether he will be able to retain that confidence. The last five elections have seen one term administrations.

For the most part, Prime Minister Davis has gotten off to a fantastic start. His ministerial appointments seem to be well placed and the country appears to be more energized. Hopefully this continues in the long term.

As Minister of Finance, Mr Davis has placed himself even more in the decision making process to effect the country’s daunting fiscal position. His fiscal policies will be under a microscope and his detractors are seemingly already in attack mode.

In order to improve our fiscal health, in my view several things need to happen.

1) The public service needs to be reduced and government workers collectively need to become more productive. Bahamian governments have known for years that the cost of the public service is unsustainable, but none of them has made the politicaa decision to stop the bleeding. More automation is needed because this will also aid in reducing government spending.

2) As a former Minister of Works, Prime Minister Davis needs to ensure that the issuance of government contracts is depoliticized. Successive governments have used the tendering process to return political favours to their cronies. Additionally, contracts have been issued for works that engineers at the Ministry of Works are aptly qualified to perform. Will the Davis government be brave and stop this blatant wastage of public funds?

3) The Davis administration needs to stop the hiring of temporary workers just to gain political points? This action further adds to our rising debt and puts undue strain on our already limited financial resources.

4) The Davis led government must ensure that outstanding public funds are collected? This includes real property tax, national insurance contributions and mortgage payments from the Bahamas Mortgage Corporation just to name a few.

Prime Minister Davis in the early stages of his term looks like a seasoned and capable politician and his honest demeanour and charisma along with sound financial decisions will hopefully catapult the Bahamian economy into much needed growth. He extended the curfew from day one, he will decrease VAT, his government has tabled the Town Centre Mall post office lease deal and his communication with the media is very refreshing.

Is it really a new day? We will know for sure in the upcoming months.

DEHAVILLAND MOSS

Nassau,

November 7, 2021.