The Tribune

By Ian Ferguson

As we pause to celebrate our National Heroes as individuals who have done good for the Bahamian people and nation, the local business community and the entire working class must also pause to evaluate our progression in industry. As we look throughout the length and breadth of the Bahamas, and the development of every major sector, we must not be afraid to state what is obvious. Our hotels, shipping companies, large-scale land developers, banks and financial institutions, wholesale and retail distribution chains, car dealerships and most other essential services responsible for more than 90 per cent of our workforce, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and economic activity are either foreign-owned and operated, or owned and managed by a small number of Bahamian families who have, since the turn of the 20th century, controlled the nation’s economic engine.

How is this possible, you might ask? What has come out of the efforts of the Bahamian social, political and economic freedom champions, who fought against this very injustice? Are Bahamians of the African Diaspora incapable of owning and operating businesses on a large scale, and becoming greater contributors to the economy? I believe the answers to these questions are quite complex, but as a student of history with a firm enough grasp of civic and economic matters, I accept the challenge in offering some plausible answers and beginning this all-important dialogue.

This article is not written to serve in further dividing the nation relative to class, ethnicity, nationality or any other grouping that might exist. It does seek, though, to empower the disenfranchised, and to encourage them to want and pursue more. Every Bahamian should pledge to excel and be given their due in achieving their goals.

For many years, the Government of the Bahamas has waved the welcome flag for the foreign investor: Thousands of acres of land, concession deals by the dozens, construction and labour arrangements sometimes quite unfavourable towards the Bahamian skilled and unskilled labour force.

Upon close evaluation of the ‘Guide for Investment’ in the Bahamas, it seems as if our philosophy as to the source of our economic prosperity, and formulae for industrial advancement is to allow the expatriate in (by any means necessary), get us working for them (providing hundreds and thousands of predominantly low income jobs) and there we are: Everybody Wins!

While we do not fault the Gvernment for making these decisions, which are felt to be necessary for the further development of the country at large, we do raise alarm when local investors and struggling entrepreneurs are not afforded the same opportunities, concessions and bail-outs. What a tragedy it would be to continuously court the foreign investor and not even give a moment’s thought to the local guy, whose heart and soul is committed to developing HOME.

I long to see in my lifetime millions of dollars in grants, concessions, Crown Land and other benefits given to qualified, passionate and prepared Bahamians, ready to open canning and bottling manufacturing plants and boutique hotels in our Family Islands, or to the Bahamians ready to hold controlling interests in our utility companies, shipping companies, commercial banks and other critical services.

You see, we send a powerful message to Bahamian youth when we give them $5,000 and nothing more to do ‘something’, but turn around and give the nation’s treasure to people from other lands (who, in many cases, have as little knowledge and resources as Bahamian youth). With this kind of government policy we have almost limited our people to owning cleaning and landscape companies, bars, convenience stores, barber shops and a few other service businesses that have relative ease of entry and low yielding profits. Too many of our young people have paid close enough attention to understand this is an unthinkable injustice, and have simply decided to ‘check out’.

Perhaps the greatest setback for the African-Bahamian has been our ‘plantation’ behaviour when it comes to networking, partnerships and basic collaboration. Our slave and colonial past has seemingly made us very distrustful of each other. We are too slow in realising the strength we have in numbers, and in forging associations and conglomerates. So we have before us a 1960s American classic dilemma: We make up 90 per cent of the customers on the bus, but are told to go to the back of the bus. One speech and one protest resolved that issue. Bahamians, it’s time to speak up but, more importantly, it’s time to take action. We accept the motto and the charge… The Bahamas for Bahamians, and YES, we Believe in Bahamians.

NB: Ian R. Ferguson was educated locally, regionally and internationally, having earned a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Miami. During the course of his nearly 20 years in education, talent management and human resources, he has served both the public and private sector in senior management roles. He continues to assist hundreds of local and regional businesses in improving business and service excellence through their human capital.