In its budget the government says its new money-maker will be taking over the Bahamian airspace currently handled by U.S. air-traffic controllers. With up to $50 million up for grabs annually, according to Prime Minister Perry Christie if this opportunity is not seized, the alternatives would either be the imposition of new or much higher taxes or running the risks associated with high government debt.
For years, there has been talk of how much money The Bahamas can make by taking over its own air space and this government wants to make that a reality. But are we really in the right economy to do that and is this the right time?
It’s not exactly an overnight undertaking. It involves a large expenditure on equipment, hiring, training and installation; some estimates say the better part of that $50-million figure.
Talks have been going on for a while with a Canadian consultant, but the substance of those talks has been played close to the bureaucratic chest, with rumours that heads will roll if any information gets out.
We deserve to know all the details surrounding this project, what it will cost the country to set it up, and whether Mr. Christie’s feet were on the ground or his head in the clouds when this scheme was born.
Banking on understanding
Moments after the government presented its budget for fiscal 2003/2004, Free National Movement parliamentary leader Alvin Smith said he was disappointed that civil servants will not receive the salary increase they had negotiated under the previous government. Probably not nearly as disappointed as the 24,000 civil servants. The $1,200 increase was to have come in July, but now the government says it will revisit the issue in December. It is banking on the employees understanding that giving the raise when due would have cost the better part of another $30 million, enough to push the deficit into the danger zone as far as international credit and financial stability are concerned. It will be interesting to see whether things improve enough by the end of the year for the government to seriously look at increases.
Editorial, The Nassau Guardian
