The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) is urging lawmakers to reconsider a proposal to create a public holiday in honour of former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling, warning that the move could strain businesses already burdened by high costs.

Their statement came after Progressive Liberal Party chairman Fred Mitchell announced on Monday that he had presented a draft resolution to the PLP caucus proposing that Sir Lynden’s birthday — or a date near it — be declared a national holiday.

Sir Lynden, The Bahamas’ first Prime Minister and a central figure in the country’s independence, would have turned 95 on March 22. Mr Mitchell said the resolution will be tabled in Parliament on Thursday and encouraged supporters to rally behind the idea.

While the BCCEC said it supports recognising the contributions of national leaders, it cautioned that the economic impact of another public holiday must be taken into account.

“The challenge with implementing another holiday has to be considered in the broader context,” the group said. “We must consider the opportunity and direct costs of the same for businesses, the bulk of which are MSMEs, struggling with various increases in costs which are not being offset by more sales and productivity.”

The chamber noted that National Heroes Day and Majority Rule Day already commemorate the country’s political and social pioneers. It warned that adding another holiday could result in reduced productivity, higher labour costs due to overtime obligations, and lost revenue for businesses that close while continuing to incur operating expenses.

“We must appreciate that The Bahamas is among the top three countries in the region for the high cost of living and in the top ten for the most public holidays,” the BCCEC said. “We must also look at things such as the rate of productivity in the country, further compounding the declining ease and rising cost of doing business.”

The organisation hopes policymakers will carefully consider these factors when debating the proposal.