Branville McCartney
By NEIL HARTNELL
Tribune Business Editor
nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
Compass Point’s owner is speaking for “85 percent of business persons in The Bahamas”, the DNA’s ex-leader asserted yesterday, adding: “I sympathise with him big time.”
Branville McCartney told Tribune Business that Leigh Rodney’s decision to go public through a full-page newspaper advertisement suggested he was “trying every which way possible to get the attention of the government” so that his ease of doing business concerns were finally addressed.
Revealing that he was all-too familiar with the “feeling of frustration” likely being endured by the US investor, Mr McCartney argued that his resort closure threat should be “a wake-up call” and urged the government to “take heed” and meet privately with Mr Rodney to resolve the matter.
The former Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader, arguing that the Compass Point owner’s “sentiments” align with the “majority of business persons in The Bahamas”, described the ease of conducting business currently as “nightmarish”.
Mr McCartney, whose business interests include the Halsbury Chambers law firm, real estate, education and pharmacy retail, added that the past few years had been “the worst” in 29 years of being in business.
He urged the Minnis administration to “stop pussy footing around and doing the same thing over and over”, only to achieve the same inadequate results, and instead hire whatever expertise is necessary to remove the obstacles facing the Bahamian private sector.
“I’ve never seen an advertisement in that regard,” Mr McCartney said of Mr Rodney’s Tuesday publication in The Tribune, “but that tells us something is amiss. What he’s done and said, that’s just the sentiments of perhaps 85 percent of business persons. He just put it out big time in an advertisement.
“I sympathise with him big time. I know the feeling, feeling the frustration, and I’m sure 85 percent of business people in the country do. I do hope the Government would respond; not publicly, but to his concerns. I do hope they would take the initiative, reach out to him, meet with him and listen to what he has to say and his suggestions.
“There’s no ‘if’s, and’s or but’s about that. Eighty-five percent of business people understand exactly what he’s speaking about; 85 percent or more. It’s rough, man, it’s rough. You have to have fortitude to really even be in business in this country.”
Mr Rodney had alleged in his advertisement that the Minnis administration was reneging on its promise to make doing business easier in The Bahamas, and that it had failed to act on his request to set up a committee - including himself - to make recommendations for improving existing laws and regulations.
He warned: “If the FNM wins the next election without acting upon the promise they made when they were elected two years ago, the Compass Point owner does not want to continue to do business in this country and will therefore close his business.”
Enacting major reforms to facilitate the smooth conduct of commerce by removing unnecessary bureaucracy and “red tape”, thereby improving The Bahamas’ 119th ranking in the annual World Bank standings, was a major thrust of the FNM government’s election campaign and appeal to the private sector.
While some changes have been implemented, the reform effort drive to have eased in recent months. Lynn Holowesko, chair of the Government-appointed ease of doing business committee, told a recent accountants’ conference that it was disappointed more of its recommendations were not incorporated into the 2018-2019 Budget.
“He’s not the only one concerned about doing business in this country,” Mr McCartney said yesterday of Mr Rodney. “I’ve said it over and repeatedly that there seems to be no type of ease, notwithstanding that this administration come in with, I thought, the expertise and know-how to try and ensure it is addressed.
“That has not happened. Doing business over here is a nightmare - from trying to get information, appointments with the government agencies, many of them not knowing what to do and the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. It is nightmarish.
“I’ve been here in business for 29 years, and the last few years have been the worst for doing business over here. For young people coming out and wanting to start their own business in this country, like I did 29 years ago, it’s very daunting.”
Recounting the obstacles he has experienced, Mr McCartney added: “I’ve been doing business with this bank for 29 years. I started a new company and wanted to open a bank account. It took three months-plus to open an account with a bank I’d been doing business with for 29 years since I came home, and I was one of the attorneys for the bank.”
Describing Mr Rodney’s need to take out an advertisement as “amazing”, the ex-DNA leader said he is increasingly seeking investment opportunities “outside the country” in industries such as US real estate and licensed, legitimate medical marijuana production in Canada.
Tribune Business reported yesterday that Mr Rodney’s complaints centre on the hotel licensing process, which he regards as unnecessary and a duplication of effort given that Bahamian resorts also have to pay for Business Licence fees.
He is understood to have been unhappy about the Hotel Licensing Authority’s insistence that certain signage and minor tiling repairs be done at Compass Point, although its chairman, Ethan Adderley, last night said he ultimately complied with these requirements that are imposed at all Bahamian hotels.
The Compass Point owner is also understood to have wanted to implement specific security arrangements for the resort, particularly for the resort’s parking lot which lies across the road from the West Bay Street resort, and was unhappy at being told to deal exclusively with the Police Staff Association (PSA) - which he regards as a monopoly for this type of work.
And this newspaper was also told he wanted the Road Traffic Department to take action to stop vehicles speeding on the section of West Bay Street directly outside the resort, amid fears that it was only a matter of time before pedestrians were seriously injured in crossing from the parking lot over to the property.
The combination of these concerns, and frustration that the Government appeared not to be taking them and his desires for an improved “ease of doing business” seriously, are thought to have prompted the advertisement - especially since he was being passed between different ministers and agencies, and not receiving any formal responses.
Mr McCartney, arguing that Mr Rodney had “just regurgitated the thoughts of most business persons”, said: “I do hope the Government really takes heed. This is one voice, but he has the majority of business persons behind him in terms of his sentiments, and if you called other business people most would cite the same sentiments.
“He is a business person who has a good business. It’s a business that’s in the number one industry in our country, tourism, so that ought to be very telling for him to be doing this... I hope this is a bit of a wake-up call for the Government, and I do hope the hotel, the resort, would not close. I do hope and pray that is not the case. It would be very, very sad if that were to happen.”
Comments
proudloudandfnm 5 years, 4 months ago
Have to agree. FNM on the wrong side of this showdown...
Foreign or not the dude is 100% right and I have no doubt if something isn't done he'll have no choice but to cut his losses and get the hell out. FNM better wake up and do something....
sheeprunner12 5 years, 4 months ago
85% ............. the other 15% are PEPs or politicians with businesses????????
Clamshell 5 years, 4 months ago
This quote says it all:
“It took three months-plus to open an account with a bank I’d been doing business with for 29 years since I came home, and I was one of the attorneys for the bank.”
Bingo. The bank even beats up its own lawyers. And most government agencies are far worse to deal with than that bank. Oh, man, he nailed it.
proudloudandfnm 5 years, 4 months ago
Yeah it takes 3 months to open an account here because of the Americans. Yet in the USA it takes about 20 minutes....
Time to tell the USA to go sit small and shut up...
John 5 years, 4 months ago
When Sarkis Izmirilian went to , then prime minister, Perry Christie and said ‘help me O Prime Minister, these Chinese are robbing me blind.’ PGC response was ‘The man gone crazy, he losing his mind.’ And, of course, the FNM opposition was the first to jump and holla, ‘help this man, help this foreign investor. Now a few years later another foreign investor , though not as humble and as begging as Izmirilian, presents himself to government and says ‘ hey I love investing in your country, but I’m drowning here, can you throw me s lifeline?’ And so government including the PM and the minister of tourism totally missed the message (despite commercial washers and dryers and aircraft and helicopter parts and caviar being duty free) and called the man a terrorist, a threat, arrogant but they missed the message completely, And having some experience in the hotel industry where they( licensing people) would send you a laundry list of 100 items to be completed for you to get your license. Then when you complete that list, they would send you another and another and just a few weeks before the new license is about to expire, they grant you the license, only for the process to start all over again.
John 5 years, 4 months ago
K P Turnquest Economic Policy has caused more money to leave the country in the past year than in a very long time. Bahamians, who are employed, say they just refuse to give government 12% VAT on everything so they travel abroad to avoid it evade taxes. So not only is this over aggressive and burdensome tax cause the erosion of government revenue, but it is also causing more businesses to shut down and more unemployment. And if the downward spiral continues, the economy will go into recession without recovering fully.
Porcupine 5 years, 4 months ago
Missing the message is exactly right. We are so busy, and so used to, making excuses for our utter failure that the real problems don't have a chance of being addressed. We are too focused on castrating the foreign, arrogant investor, who we happened to court and encouraged them to invest here. Oh yeah, but don't make any noise. Sit still with your money, watching your time and talents be sucked away by a group of money hungry do nothings. And, we want to be taken seriously, as if we are capable, competent, well educated and well traveled. Not so. All the metrics seem to suggest that fully 85% of the country is clueless on how to be good neighbors, fair in their business dealings and able to support measures which encourage personal and social growth. Nobody likes to hear the truth about their failures. But, they are here staring us in the face, whether they are the World Bank stats, crime stats, health stats, education testing stats. and on and on. The simple obligation of keeping electrical current on for the smooth functioning of a major city can't even happen. Doesn't this say something important, our ever indignant Bahamian apologists? This is a serious question that stands before all others. If we can not hear and acknowledge the genuine criticisms of our country, knowing deep down that they are legitimate complaints, what chance do we have of actually accepting the challenge to fix them. The kicking the can down the road has gotten us to this point. We, as a society, have managed to incorporate a style of supposed problem solving that has utterly failed. If we can not see this, there is no hope for this country. It is that simple. Mr. American businessperson, while he may be arrogant and demanding, has a perspective that few in this country can conceive. For the most part, American society actually works for many people. The same can not be said for The Bahamas. There is no honest argument of this fact.
Clamshell 5 years, 4 months ago
Well said.
yeahyasee 5 years, 4 months ago
Say it again!
bcitizen 5 years, 4 months ago
Y'all think it's bad now. Wait till the new customs single window hits Arawak Cay in Nassau in September like it did Abaco 2 weeks ago. People working night day weekends and holidays just to get freight off the dock.
professionalbahamian 5 years, 4 months ago
Yep.. the Compass point owner is only voicing every business owner's issues! It's a real challenge staying in business in this country and the government could care less about the private sector. If we are wrong, prove it- we are fundamentally a service based country plus real estate and a few other areas maybe- we should be doing our best to keep the investors we have. Forget the BS about investors only being guests- they are leaders, pushing hard everyday to keep their businesses open- for example just look what happened with Fast ferries since they first opened- no real government cooperation I don't believe- thus still a crap hole down where they depart from? Just more taxes right !? (No VAT on home insurance is great but why the heck would you leave VAT on health insurance, office rent say under a threshold, food???!!!!!, BPL!!, and then turn around and continue to run a recurring deficit). Yet no VAT (or import duties) elsewhere - Just plain Stupid. Stomp on the small guy - what middle class lol! It can be fixed if they first admit something is wrong lol.
Giordano 5 years, 4 months ago
Boy,! I want somebody to tell me where the VAT-Money is going?. The government is not transparent regarding the amount of money they collect daily only from VAT. The PM (Mr. Perry Christy)who introduced such tax went extra miles,persuading and explaining, with long details,the potential sources of income and he mentioned the various THOUSANDS OF BOATS,(among many others things),who parks all around this Bahamian Archipelago GOT TO PAY VAT even while parks out of any Marina in the family Islands. How much Money the government collect DAILY ONLY FROM VAT? The best kept secret in The Bahamas,is not longer Inagua . It is the accurate answer to this question. Eventhough this current administration added or increased VAT more than double,still not improvement in goods & services. Still not sidewalks,in the huge majority of roads,crime still happening by wholesale,too many HOLES ON THE STREETS and Absolutely not transparency in managing the public pulse.I Where the VAT-MONEY is going? The government should provides all amenities including available parking lots, beside dignity & respect. Also they(The Government) should ensure that "The Law is Equal to everyone even if in fact everyone is different,the law should be equal. All these members of cabinet are serving themselves first ,with the big spoom and displaying too much pomposity with brand new shades like The Blue Brothers ,money hungry people with sticky fingers.
DDK 5 years, 4 months ago
HEAR! HEAR! HEAR! Just wait until you feel the effects of the new Customs ease of doing business nightmare!
concerned799 5 years, 4 months ago
Ironic how we over-regulate what's good (land based hotels) and under regulate and approve what is comparatively stranguling the tourist economy (cruise ships and their terminals). Would suggest such high levels of inspection be visited on the cruise industry and Bahamian law be imposed on all cruise ships coming into Bahamian ports or visiting out islands.
DDK 5 years, 4 months ago
Time to jump back in the game Mr. McCartney. Our poor Country can take no more FNM/PLP musical chair parties. The entire governmental system needs a COMPLETE overhaul.
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