The Tribune

By FAY SIMMONS

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

The Prime Minister yesterday defended his administration’s spending on travel as positioning The Bahamas on the world stage and permitting the country to influence key international initiatives, including climate change and financial reform.

Responding to Opposition MP’s calls for the administration to be more “fiscally responsible” about travel spending, Philip Davis KC argued that a strong presence on the global stage is essential for the country’s economic and political well-being.

“The Bahamas will not be in the position that they're in on the global stage. The Bahamas will not be in the position it is in, from a domestic point of view, for the amount of investment flows that come through, in the amount of tourist arrivals, if we didn't have a presence on the world stage,” said Mr Davis.

“As I speak, we are at the table in a number of key initiatives - global initiatives. For example, the most existential threat to the world is climate change, and because of travel and because of our advocacy, we are around the table on the loss and damage initiative, which in fact was put on the agenda in Egypt when the global north were not willing to have it on the agenda. It was our advocacy that got it done, and it's our advocacy that set up the loss and damage fund, and it's our advocacy that is operationalising it, and it's our advocacy that has us at the table.”

Mr Davis said influence and participation in global affairs have real, tangible benefits at home. He explained that The Bahamas has taken its case of unfair treatment in international financial systems - particularly in situations where the country has been blacklisted or penalised - to international forums and is now helping to craft fairer rules for the future.

“It is accepted by yourselves and us that the blacklisting of our country has always been unfairly done because they continue to move the goalposts. We agree on that, right? Because of our advocacy at the UN, at CELAC, in Brussels, and elsewhere - the world, the world, the world - the UN has now adopted. We are now around the table,” said Mr Davis.

“Our Attorney General is out there advocating and crafting a new architecture to ensure that there will be fairness and equity when it comes down to that. So, that is what we are doing.”

Mr Davis maintained his administration has been fiscally responsible and willing to make independent decisions even when advised otherwise by international institutions such as the IMF. 

“Our spending was responsible. Let us agree on one or two things, right? Governing is about choices. Governing is about priorities. Our choices and priorities - if we were irresponsible in our choices and our priorities, I don't think that you'll have the IMF... You indicated that the same people advise us and make recommendations. IMF advises us too,” said Mr Davis.

“They were telling me, just like they always say to you, that if I cut VAT, it will destabilise the country, and that's where you probably got the thought from. That's what they told me. I said no. In fact, they were suggesting, as they were suggesting to you all, that it should be raised to reach the regional average. That's what they're telling you, right? I told them, no. Y'all want me to go that way; I'm going this way. I did. I didn't follow their advice.”