By DR HUBERT MINNIS

Leader, Free National Movement

DAILY we are confronted by new and difficult challenges, and the next generation of Bahamians deserves leadership which is going to tackle these challenges and eradicate deeply-entrenched beliefs which do not benefit us ALL.

I believe that the time has come to involve Bahamians from all facets of society in the discussion on the economy.

Many of Bahamians are terrified of proposed new tax structures coming on stream this year. Many more are severely challenged to meet their basic, bread and butter obligations to their families.

The fiscal and economic crises of our time demand more than a mere ‘knee jerk’ reaction from the nation’s leadership; more than a rush to judgment; more than empty words and the imposition of what might be a punitive tax.

For some time now, I’ve been sharing with you views for The New Bahamas.

Every thought I share with you and each action I undertake for you as leader of the opposition, is for the betterment for all Bahamians. I, like many of you, often wonder how we have plodded along after 40 years, particularly as it relates to the failure of governments to ensure maximum participation by Bahamians in our domestic economy, so as to better provide economic enhanced opportunities to ALL for economic empowerment and freedom.

The time is ripe for The New Bahamian to take advantage of the immense wealth of our Ccountry, as our out-of-date, out-of-touch and tireless modes of thinking which have us at this crossroad, are no longer serving us.

One way in which we can all do more to spread economic wealth and increase business opportunities for all is to move the economy into our respective neighbourhoods. The very same areas which many of us grew up in are begging for relief.

We need the next big idea which goes beyond measly concessions and pennies for promises.

What is stopping us from extending the Downtown Incentive Act, with amendments to include non-commercial properties, to Over-The-Hill in New Providence, even if incrementally, and limited by specific geographic areas, which may be increased over time?

Why aren’t we doing more to foster the location of new, productive, industries in our Family Islands?

These ideas alone would spark a complete revitalisation to many of our historic, yet challenged communities. Imagine government enacting legislation which allows duty concessions for inner city businesses and homes from certain government taxes and fees. Picture extensive Family Island concessions which go beyond duty-free assistance during times of national disaster.

The greatest resource in the hands of the government is Crown Lands; yet vast tracts of such land lies fallow, neglected and under-utilised. Imagine a government which is prepared to make designated plots available for business development in our Family Islands by way of long-term leases of at least 40 years, which would enable the entrepreneur who locates to a Family Island to go to a bank and borrow money to start a business.

When we bring the economy to the community, by imaginative and creative programmes, more Bahamians benefit. These progressive initiatives would represent a major force for the further development of Family Island economies, would encourage more young persons to leave the overcrowded city, and spread economic wealth.

The expansion of the City of Nassau Incentive Act, passed and implemented under the Hubert A Ingraham Administration, to include ‘Over the Hill’ areas, such as Bain and Grants Town, initially, would also truly serve as a force for “Urban Renewal”, by empowering absentee landowners to re-develop their ancestral land and thus to truly renew Over the Hill.

In 2014 and beyond, strengthening the economic vision must be priority number one. Foreign Direct Investment is beneficial to the Bahamas, and we gladly welcome it. However, isn’t it time that we have a leader at the helm, committed to putting greater effort into making the climate for Bahamian entrepreneurship hassle-free, open, accessible and available?

The Bahamian economic dream must be bigger than shares on BISX.

It must not appear that only the politically-connected can benefit from bank loans and outrageous overdraft facilities. Financial Freedom for ALL Bahamians must happen and will happen under a Minnis-led team.

The New Bahamas is my vision of a place where economic empowerment and equal opportunity for ALL enable us to live comfortably in our small, proud nation.

We have talked long enough, and we have waited long enough – 2014 must serve as a wake-up call, a realisation that the future of our nation rests with an FNM government, a government, committed to offering Bahamians ownership and opportunity in every facet of society.

While the Christie government prides itself on a programme called Urban Renewal, we can only admire the effort while asking, “Where’s the beef?” Where’s the evidence that more and more Bahamians are sharing in the economic pie?

In the New Bahamas, true urban renewal occurs when legislators come together to make living conditions better for the neediest in our respective communities.

It is a pity that the very same communities represented by men with the most political clout have degraded over the decades into a more and more blighted landscape of need and despair during the past 40 years of our nationhood. Urban Renewal and Economic Renewal must go hand in hand for its effectiveness to be felt by all!

Indeed, the first great steps towards the economic empowerment of ordinary Bahamians is due to the great vision of Hubert A Ingraham, our former Prime Minister who, during his early years in office removed the oppressive Pindling-era business licensing regime, and who loosened the law to allow ordinary Bahamians to obtain business licences for home-based businesses.

However, much more can be done and much more needs to be done to truly revitalise Bahamian entrepreneurship and re-build our inner city in New Providence, and throughout our ailing economy.

We must immediately buck the notion that Urban Renewal and National Renewal are two separate and distinct programmes.

As the former US President Bill Clinton simply stated during his Presidential campaign: “It’s the economy, stupid!!!”

It was a mantra he repeated time after time to focus the nation’s attention on the most important issue confronting his nation. The issue that needed the most urgent attention and the issue having the greatest impact on other issues facing the US.

Our nation faces a similar challenge at this particular time, as our lagging economy has contributed to the exacerbation of other issues confronting us today.

It is time for our country and our suffering people to benefit from more creative thinking and more positive initiatives from government. It is time for action!

It is distressing to me that our country, which has afforded such great wealth to non-Bahamians, and the favoured few, has thus far failed miserably to provide meaningful economic opportunities to so many, who need so much, yet who have been given such few opportunities.

As leader of the Free National Movement, I’m proud to stand on our party’s history of and legacy of putting more wealth into the hands of average, everyday Bahamians introduced under the progressive FNM administration.

I see The New Bahamas as a place where tangible empowerment is evident in our blighted communities; taking root in our under-developed Family Islands.

The 10,000 job promise has fallen on deaf ears! Yes, we welcome job opportunities in the Bahamian economy, but it is now time for more of us to own this Bahamian economy.