By John Carey November 25, 2001
The Free Trade Area of the Americas Agreement (FTAA) that is being shoved down the throat of the government of the Bahamas must ensure that the Bahamian is not wiped out as a result. It is the duty of the government to act on behalf and in the best interest of the people. How can the government verify that the $1,000,000,000 budget presented this past fiscal year can be sustained in subsequent budgets to cover the cost of operating?
How much money has the government spent whisking the Minister of Economic Development and others to negotiating meetings? What have we gotten for our money? Are we only getting lip service on what plans the G8 and others have to push down the pipeline? Over the past few months, we have seen a significant increase in public relations on the part of Zhivargo Laing to discuss this agreement that the Bahamas Government intends to sign on our behalf. Unfortunately, the average person on the street doesnﾴt understand it nor is it being effectively presented. The same speed at which Hubert Ingraham went to educate, enlighten and tell the Bahamian people of the Inheritance Laws he proposed, he ought to now aggressively do the same on this matter and communicate the repercussions and impact of this FTAA.
Millions of people around the world are protesting at every meeting that is held by these negotiating committees. Clearly, they are not protesting because they have nothing to do, but because they have serious concerns that this agreement will destroy their lives and the lives of future generations.
What compromise has our government made to sell the Bahamian people out? Have we presented an agenda that is in our best interest as a country at these meetings? What has been the result of these presentations by our negotiating teams? The Bahamian people deserve to know.
Civil society and government must ensure that the trade derived from this agreement benefits the Bahamian. Globally, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is seen as the institution that is pushing hardest for globalization. This group is developing legislation that will be adopted by the Bahamian government that can enforce unpopular decisions. Decisions that impact the availability of jobs and standard of living in a country are on the horizon. These are the issues that will have the deepest mark on the Bahamian.
The introduction of a direct taxation regime that may or may not include income tax is a very real issue that is being dodged by this government. As is typical, they have chosen to place this on the backburner by not anticipating where the government revenue shortfall will come from after eliminating Customs duties as called for in the FTAA by 2005. The Minister has stated that an increase in imports through the application of a sales tax is a viable option that would replace the lost revenue from customs duties. Is this realistic? Do the numbers compute to represent that shortfall replacement?
Our existing economy does not support domestic economy growth, as this is counter culture to government revenue growth. Moreover, the more the Bahamian imports the better the governmentﾴs revenue potential from dutiable intake. This has been our position for quite some time. Unfortunately, the FNM government has proven that they are managers and not capable of leading and devising strategies to take the Bahamas to a level that is of the first world status. The First world is taking over the Bahamas and the third world mentality of the countryﾴs political leaders are causing the Bahamian to be left behind and in the process destroy the Bahamian people.
Our country needs the political willpower to face the international pressures, which result from the changing geo-political and economic transitioning that is on its way. The Bahamian government seems defenseless against any policy or position that is taken by the G8 or institutional globalist. This suggests incompetence on the part of those negotiating and those charged with political leadership. The wherewithal to do what is in the best interest of the Bahamian as opposed to conceding to every whim and fancy of the internationalist regime of bushwhacking is unavailable in the FNM political directorate. Do they dispute this fact? What is their plan?
The Multilateral trading system, which the FNM government loves to loosely use, may cause an increase in the gap between the wealthy and the poor and reduce many in the middle class to the level of poor. These are real challenges that must be discussed at the national level so that all Bahamians can understand what could be their fate, if they continue to support the FNM government.
Sustainable agriculture, biodiversity and the environment are all areas that are affected by the FTAA. Does the FNM government have a clear-cut policy on how they will proceed on matters such as this? How will our policies position the Bahamian for an improved way of life? Which group of people will be most affected due to the FTAA and what is the plan to protect their economic welfare?
I submit that the FNM government has run out of ideas and is simply accepting anything that they are told by the foreign interest groups. WE MUST NOT BE FOOLED! It is wrong for the Bahamian to be displaced and disadvantaged due to public policy. Is the FNM government guilty of this?
