The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas must leverage its relationships with the United States and China "strategically" to achieve its own development goals, a global affairs specialist said yesterday, adding that this requires a strong governmental system.

Jamie Metzel, one of the featured speakers at the Royal Fidelity Economic Outlook conference, said: "The Bahamas, because of where it is, will always have - and need to have - a very close relationship with the United States.

"At the same time, China is moving very aggressively in this region, and I have not the slightest doubt that there will come a time when the Bahamas in some way will be like Jamaica [and] be faced with a very difficult and gut wrenching choice.

"Right now, the smartest thing for the Bahamas to do is hedge between the US and China. The problem is the Bahamas doesn't have that much leverage, particularly with China. They are very smart and strategic. They have a goal of becoming a leading global, comprehensive power by the year 2050 and leading the technological revolution."

Port facilities and highways are among China's biggest and most visible projects in the Caribbean, along with the multi-billion dollar Baha Mar resort, the largest resort project undertaken by China Construction America (CCA).

Mr Metzel added: "In addition to smart hedging, not just playing one side against each other, it's knowing where you would like to be, what are the Bahamas' development goals, what are your human resource development goals and how in your position between the US, China and some other super power; how can all of these relationships achieve your goals?

"That requires a very strong governmental system."

Mr Metzel said that in the absence of a strategic development and human resources strategy, countries can find themselves in a 'dangerous position'. "There are some countries that are better organised and are using their relationship with China strategically, so that that as China builds these massive infrastructure projects their workers are being trained, they are getting the benefits and they are setting the agenda," he said.