EDITORIAL: The Bahamian work force is today’s challenge

IT WAS indeed a below-the-belt blow to learn from the World Bank that it is easier to do business in the war-torn West Bank and Gaza Strip than it is to do business in The Bahamas.

Deputy Prime Minister PK Turnquest himself seemed alarmed, complaining The Bahamas was frequently “short changed” by assessments from the World Bank and other international agencies, which often failed to account for improvements and reforms enacted by this nation.

In an interview with Tribune Business recently Mr Turnquest said there will be some legal changes and the implementation of technology solutions “that we think will bring about drastic improvements that warrant a significant upgrade.” However, although technology is a way forward, it is not the full solution. There has to be major improvement in The Bahamas’ workforce.

In a letter published in The Tribune earlier this year the writer complained of expatriate staff appearing in hotels while hotel managers were ignoring the large pool of Bahamians available from which to choose. An exasperated reader replied: “Always the same tired argument. Why would they pay more for a foreigner to come in and do the job when there are Bahamians available? The answer is simple, ‘qualified’ Bahamians are not available. If they were they would get hired. This should be a wake up call that we need to better educate and train our population. We are woefully unaware of just how unqualified we are as a nation.”

Before we go any further we must acknowledge there are many well qualified and responsible Bahamians in our country. However, there are not enough of them to fill strategic areas to maintain the standards a nation requires to deliver results efficiently. There are also many qualified Bahamians, who have settled abroad, many of them in executive positions. So there is nothing wrong with Bahamians who have a good education - and the right attitude - to see a job to efficient and timely completion. However, there are not enough of them.

Too many Bahamians believe that because they are Bahamians they are entitled — with or without effort — to the first pews in the nation — it would seem the only qualification needed is being born in The Bahamas. How many times — especially during the debate on whether Haitian children should be in Bahamian schools - have we not heard the argument that Haitian children should be removed from the classroom to give a Bahamian child a chance to win some of the prizes.

While after school the Bahamian child can be seen sitting on the blocks wasting time with his friends, the Haitian child, is at home studiously doing his homework. Of course, it is only commonsense as to who will be better disciplined and better educated to qualify to walk away with the prizes at school and eventually the responsible positions in the country. That’s the law of nature — those at the bottom, who work hard, naturally move into life’s top positions. While those who waste time enjoying themselves because they feel entitled are the loudest complainers about being cheated out of their birthright — something to which they were born, but failed to nurture.

Everyone knows the civil service is top heavy with too many staff who do not appreciate the fact that hard working Bahamians pay their salaries, Bahamians to whom they give indifferent service. Of course, there are exceptions to this statement. However, there are not enough exceptions to cover up the weaknesses of those who are not pulling their weight. As a result our nation trails behind the war-torn Gaza Strip for the ease of doing business – and it will continue to do so unless we understand that much of the fault lies with indifferent Bahamians.

As another letter writer spoke for many businesses —both Bahamian and foreign—when he wrote: “I have to take blood pressure pills and Ativan before I enter any government office. They work harder at not working than if they just did their job.”

This is the basis of the problem in a nutshell. There is no appreciation of time. In Immigration, for example, when a Bahamian cannot be found to hold a certain position, the business owner has to advertise abroad to search for a suitable applicant. When one is found, interviewed and a contract tentatively agreed, all negotiations are held in suspense awaiting a reply from Immigration as to whether it will issue a work permit so that he can be employed. Meanwhile the Bahamian businessman is not the only employer interested in the applicant, and it depends upon who can close the contract first as to who employs him. We understand there is now a shake-up in Immigration. It must be remembered it is not numbers that are required in that department, but people who understand the need of efficiency and that time is of the essence in business — maybe not to them, but to employers who are searching for the best personnel to keep their businesses competitive.

Today a teenager’s life hangs in the balance because of the indifference of Immigration. The 15-year-old needed urgent medical attention — she’s now in the US after much precious time has been lost — because of Immigration’s either indifference or incompetence, which started before the child was born.

The child’s mother was born in The Bahamas of two Haitian parents. On attaining the age of 18 she was entitled to apply for Bahamian citizenship. This she did. However, she had to wait another 13 years — thanks to the indifference of immigration staff – before she was granted citizenship. In the meantime her daughter was born before she got her Bahamian nationality and on birth the daughter inherited her mother’s Haitian nationality. Being only 15 the teenager was told she had to wait until she is 18 before she would be considered for Bahamian citizenship. Meanwhile, her life was hanging in the balance as time was ticking away. Eventually, concessions were made. Although too much time has been lost, the teenager is now receiving the medical care in Miami that is not available in Nassau. The question is: has too much time been lost to save her life? And, if so, where should the finger of blame be pointed?

We have concentrated on Immigration. But Immigration is not the only government Ministry failing in its duties. We could comment on each government department, starting with the Princess Margaret Hospital, but space will not allow it in this article.

However, unless and until there is a change of attitude in more of our Bahamian work force, the war-torn West Bank and Gaza Strip with continue to leave us trailing behind. It is the human factor with which government now has to wrestle.

Comments

sheeprunner12 says...

It is obvious that the Tribune Editor has a gripe with Immigration (who does not issue citizenships to foreigners) ............. But the larger picture is of national importance.

Posted 3 December 2018, 7:31 p.m. Suggest removal

Economist says...

Thank you for an excellent editorial. Immigration is the greatest hold up to the expansion of our economy and a reduction of unemployment in The Bahamas.

Sadly too few seem to realize this. They have listened to politicians who have taken advantage of the people's lack of understanding.

Posted 3 December 2018, 11:12 p.m. Suggest removal

Porcupine says...

Immigration is a factor.
However, until we raise the bar on job performance nothing will change.

Posted 4 December 2018, 6:40 a.m. Suggest removal

Cas0072 says...

Please provide the stats to go along with these hateful statements. Even Bahamian children are not safe from insults, it seems. For years some have been trying to call this smart, studious Haitian/dumb, lazy Bahamian narrative into reality. Yet, they fight any attempt that could provide the supporting statistics. I wonder why? Imagine the outrage if someone spouted such negative stereotypes about Haitians and their offspring. Any remark that is not complimentary towards Haitians is considered xenophobic and hateful, even if the observations are true as far as the speaker is concerned. Such double standards.

Posted 4 December 2018, 8:50 a.m. Suggest removal

My2centz says...

This "observation" of this very biased writer is absent of facts. Which academic organizations did this writer contact to corroborate these bold statements? Of the notable ones, I rarely see a Haitian surname among nominees or awardees of academic accolades.

Imagine the uproar and accusations of hate if the article made generalizations about Haitian students...how they make it 12th grade barely speaking English, lack common sense to apply for citizenship in the country they want to live in benefit from, fill up classrooms and force teachers to focus on them taking away valuable resources from Bahamian students...it goes on.

Immigration and the competition it brings can possibly help in raising the bar...but it's clear that a predominantly Haitian influx is not the way to go. A declining grade average over the decades has proven, if anything, they're contributing to the decline.

Posted 4 December 2018, 9:17 a.m. Suggest removal

joeblow says...

Allowing a bunch of illiterate immigrants who don't speak your language into your country has very few if any benefits. Very few!

Posted 4 December 2018, 12:26 p.m. Suggest removal

Economist says...

I agree JoeBlow and that is why our Immigration Policy needs to be smart. Encourage smart enterprising people to come to The Bahamas, as Cayman has done and as Canada does.

Doing so will raise standards in this country. Some Bahamians will adopt a different work ethic, they will see how these young foreign parents participate in their children's schooling.

New ideas and thinking will occur by the various conversations and examples set.

Bahamians can do better and they will do if they have new ideas and can see opportunities.

Posted 4 December 2018, 2:18 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

Our Bahamian high school/college graduates go overseas and do not come back ...... they are replaced with mostly illiterate, unskilled foreigners ........ Bad trade off.

Hence our national workforce crisis ............ and down-spiraling

Posted 4 December 2018, 2:23 p.m. Suggest removal

JackArawak says...

The schools need to crank out more better educated kids, a lot more; forget nationality. The schools have gone downhill since the Pindling days and "Bahamianization" when the (mostly) British head masters and teachers were kicked out. The Bahamian civil service needs to look in the mirror. The government needs to hold the civil servants accountable and right size each department. The Bahamas has a very long row to hoe, very long. Personally, I'm not sure there is sufficient will at the top. The FNM is failing miserably. Personally I don't have a lot of faith in big changes any time soon.

Posted 4 December 2018, 2:46 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

Education begins at home ........ Look at the quality of home life in The Bahamas and ask yourself if schools can fix that ........ and do not point to the 6 or so A-grade socially-elite private schools as the example for the country to follow.

Posted 4 December 2018, 6:14 p.m. Suggest removal

JackArawak says...

I totally agree, education begins at home. However, it continues in the school system and right at the moment the school system is failing miserably; and has been for several decades now.

Posted 5 December 2018, 2:11 p.m. Suggest removal

hrysippus says...

Why not have the "6 or so A-grade socially elite private schools" as a model to follow? Based on their results they are doing things correctly to achieve high academic standards. I understand your implied point that the home environment is a key factor but thinking that the school environment is irrelevant is a mistake and such thinking deserves a D-.

Posted 5 December 2018, 4:50 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

Where do you think most of these private school "smart students" start out???? ........ Check their records ......... Public primary and junior high schools .......... Stop bashing the public high schools ......... they are fighting a losing battle with the private schools mining them with scholarships.

Posted 5 December 2018, 7:41 p.m. Suggest removal

JackArawak says...

Personally I have no particular beef with any school, public or private. I have a problem with a nation D- average. I have a problem with an inept central government (who is ultimately responsible for our educational system) Why is it that time and again, year after, I read things like ''teachers waiting for pay" (or nurses etc) Inept and corrupt government over and over again. An uneducated youth is like "building you house on sand"

Posted 6 December 2018, 8:27 a.m. Suggest removal

hrysippus says...

Hey Sleeprunner12, What are you trying to say, start out what? Do you have a problem with private schools offering scholarships? Why? You scared someone gonna get ahead? I am vert grateful for the scholarships that my children received. One them gets her doctorate next month and that probably would not have happened without scholarship help. Please private schools keep offering scholarships to help advance deserving Bahamians academically.

Posted 6 December 2018, 11:28 a.m. Suggest removal

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