The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

LOCAL businessman Ethric Bowe was doubtful that the government can adequately negotiate the Bahamas’ interests ahead of World Trade Organisation entry next year.

Speaking to The Tribune, Mr Bowe said for the last several decades, no administration has shown an ability to advocate in the best interests of Bahamian businesses.

In fact, Mr Bowe, who is also spokesman of the Coconut Grove Business League (CGBL), insisted that the task was rather “impossible” because the government does not have a clue of exactly how the business community in the Bahamas operates.

He was weighing in on the country’s ongoing bid to sign on as a member of the WTO following its Deputy Director General David Shark’s admission that the success of local businesses once the country signs on is dependent upon the terms of the government’s negotiations.

“I do not have confidence in our government,” Mr Bowe said, “these people who are negotiating on our behalf have proven that they know very little of how we operate.

“And I am not talking about just the PLP administration. I am talking about the FNM too.

“What has this current  administration done to improve anything? Any government that can’t even manage its resources is not capable of negotiating on my or other business owners’ behalf. This government is just not competent to do it.” 

As it stands, Mr Bowe said the Christie administration has not educated business owners enough about  WTO accession or driven a compelling case of why signing onto the agreement is essential.

“Tell the Minister of Financial Services Ryan Pinder to come and explain it to us. What would I be able to gain after we join WTO. Many business owners cannot see the sense or what is the benefit.”

On Wednesday, Mr Shark told The Tribune that local business owners should see the Bahamas’ accession to WTO as more of a benefit than anything else.

While acknowledging numerous concerns of the business community, Mr Shark said it was important to note that accession does not signal a “one size fits all” arrangement. 

At the time he said: “There are worries from the small producers. What does it mean for them? The world looks rather large and scary. But having been here just a couple of days I can already see the Bahamas is tightly inter-woven into the international community.

“Does the WTO mean that tariffs all come down to zero? Does it mean that the Bahamas has to open up its services market fully and let anyone who wants to come do so?  The answer is no. Each country negotiates their way into the WTO. It’s not like a lot of international organisations where you simply sign and say now I am a member. You have to show that you are ready to meet the WTO’s rules with a little bit of lead time to do that.”