Bahamians need not be afraid or concerned in a negative way about the dynamics of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) treaty.
Making this declaration to the attendants of the International Labour Conference on the Free Trade Area of the Americas, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Agatha Marcelle also said that such treaties and the framework in which they exist are meant to strengthen in blocks and groups of countries their ties and help solve some of the issues between them.
She said one of the major benefits of the FTAA is its call for the removal of trade barriers. And, in the long run, this would make the whole business of trading goods and services less costly for all nations involved.
"I proposed to you that the energy we spend worrying about some of the things involved in the FTAA, consider the wonderful things that are being done now in the country," she said, "that same energy can be channeled positively into improving what we do."
The Parliamentary Secretary said one of the main issues that have arisen out of the whole FTAA phenomenon has been the possible movement of people. She stressed that as far as The Bahamas is concerned, this is not going to happen. She said if anyone thinks that this is not so, then consider the increasing fees paid by Bahamians to have American visas placed in their passports.
"What we need to worry about is, what are we in The Bahamas going to do to keep us competitive," she said. "With or without FTAA, we have to consider that. That has to be our main priority because all around us, people are getting ready to take what we have."
Despite the fact that the FTAA is a draft treaty, Ms. Marcelle said that she believes the country has some very powerful and wonderful sectors that can further enable the nation to compete and in some instances, even better than it is competing now.
Ms. Marcelle said that in the western region, there is a tendency to look at companies such as Disney, which has cornered the tourism market, as competition.
Regardless of this notion, she reminded those present that The Bahamas is far ahead of most countries in the Caribbean region when it comes to the tourism sector.
Proposing a way in which she said the country could keep ahead of the game, Ms. Marcelle said the FTAA is about competition as is life.
"That is the way we are ahead," she said, "when you want to attain and maintain the standard of living that we have or at the capacity that we have, you are playing in the big leagues.
"I like the idea of knowing that our little Bahamas is playing in the big league, and doing it well."
Speaking on an example of where Bahamians are beginning to make a difference in the quality of service they give to the world, she mentioned the good reports received from the delegates of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) conference held in Freeport.
She stated that the CTO conference is about the Caribbean forming strategic partnerships and developing strategies in Tourism so that everyone involved is presented as a united block. Likewise she said it involves creating linkages so that the country can stay ahead in these changing times.
"The organisers of the conference for the most part are Bahamians," she said. "I stand here to tell you that I have seen Bahamian people in the last few days, risen in terms of productivity in their performance to extraordinary standards."
This is very beneficial to the country as there should be some stimulation for Bahamians to get to the next level she said. Further she said getting to next level is about changing attitudes to quality service.
"Put out your best to make your mark on the world. We are good at certain things, especially tourism and banking, we are good at providing service," Marcelle said.
"What we need to be thinking about now is not doing it when we feel like it, but doing it all of the time and liking it when we do it, and there in lies the challenge."
Ms. Marcelle said The Bahamas is well known as a lucrative banking centre. For it to keep ahead of the crowd, the key would be to properly utilise its human resources.
Stating that this is an appropriate area in which to appeal to the trade unions and the leaders of the Trade Union Congress to work very hard at changing the mind set of the Bahamian people, she said that any worthwhile hard work is preparation to stay at the forefront.
"Our challenge is not in worrying about what FTAA will bring, no sovereign government is going to agree to things that hurt its people," she said. "As I speak to you right now, my Government is actively looking for ways we can protect some things that we believe is Bahamian."
A measure, in which the Government is taking steps to this effect, is the launching of a National Quality Service Initiative, which is expected to permeate every sector of the society. According to Ms. Marcelle, this is further preparation for what is ahead in terms of motivating Bahamians into a mode of embracing opportunities rather than looking for problems.
She discussed how a lot of people were extremely concerned about the much talked about problems of Y2K. When the time finally came, she said life went on.
"It is FTAA today, and it will be XYZ tomorrow," she said. "It is the way of the world. We need to stop worrying about the negative aspects and start to figure out how we can stay on top of it because we can."
By Lisa Albury, The Nassau Guardian
