The Tribune

Focusing on ‘Charting a New Course for Growth in 2014’, Prime Minister Perry Christie will lead the speaker schedule for the 23rd annual Bahamas Business Outlook (BBO).

“We believe that we have attracted the participation of the right group of speakers to achieve our main goal for our 23rd Bahamas Business Outlook,” said Joan Albury, president of TCL Group. and founder and chief organiser of the six-forum Business Outlook series.

“That is, they will examine with expertise and experience what has taken place so far and propose the best course of action for reenergizing the Bahamian economy.”

The one-day symposium is scheduled for January 13, 2014, at the Mel�a Nassau Beach Resort (formerly Sheraton Nassau Resort) on Cable Beach.

Launching the formal conference will be I. Chester Cooper, BAF Financial & Insurance’s president and chief executive, who will give the welcome and introduce the Prime Minister for delivery of the keynote address.

Next on the programme will be a trio of speakers. Michele Thompson, managing partner of Ernst & Young (Bahamas), will lead the group with the ‘Financial Services Feedback’ presentation.

Following the morning break, Kenred Dorsett, minister of the environment and housing, will present the Government’s agenda for ‘Energy Reform’.

Fred Perpall, managing director of The Beck Group, which has been playing an important role in the development of the new Princess Margaret Hospital’s Critical Care Block, will present timely views on ‘Brain Gain’ as opposed to the typical comments on ‘Brain Drain’. The moderator will be Tanya McCartney, FINCO’s managing director, and president of BIFS.

Discussions of tourism, the backbone of the Bahamian economy, are a staple on the BBO agenda. This year, Dr Andrew Spencer, programme director and head of the Centre for Hotel and Tourism Management, UWI-Bahamas, will present ‘Charting a new Course for Tourism in the Bahamas”.

Writer Patricia Glinton-Meicholas and Pamela Burnside, manager of Doongalik Studios, will take on the topic ‘Seein’ What You Lookin’ at: Development from Inside Out’ and ‘Creative Nassau’.

This year’s luncheon speaker is Dr Niambi Hall-Campbell, a psychologist and assistant professor at the College of the Bahamas (COB), who will give the annual ‘Vision for My Bahamas’ address. She will be followed by Godfrey Eneas, agricultural consultant, who will share aA 20 Year Plan for Bahamas Agriculture’. The forum closes at 3pm.

“As organisers of BBO 2014, we have included lots of space for audience feedback. We at TCL firmly believe that relaunching the Bahamian economy and injecting new dynamism requires input from all Bahamians of goodwill. We welcome audience comments following the presentation segments and have prepared for them,” Mrs Albury said.

Those interested in attending Bahamas Business Outlook 2014 may contact Eileen Fielder for ticket information and registration at The Counsellors Limited, tel. 242-322-7505/ 242-325-2482, e-mail: efielder@tclbahamas.com, or register on line at www.tclevents.com.