[xml][/xml]
The Bahamas Weekly Facebook The Bahamas Weekly Twitter
News : Bahamas Information Services Updates Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM


Bahamas Per Capita Income Does Not Reflect Economic Realities
By Matt Maura
Sep 2, 2014 - 10:47:35 AM

Email this article
 Mobile friendly page

Hon.-Philip-Brave-Davis_1_.jpg

APIA, Samoa - The Bahamas’ per capita income is distorted and does not properly reflect the economic realities of its citizens and remote, island communities, where poverty is the rule and not the exception, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development, the Hon. Philip E. “Brave” Davis told delegates attending the United Nation’s Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that misconception and/or misperception has forced the country to co-exist in a world where (international) assistance is predicated on the basis of per capita income as the sole indicator of need.

As a result, The Bahamas continues to “struggle” with communicating to the international community its uniqueness, and the challenges of developing sustainably as an archipelagic nation where Climate Change threatens its very existence, despite numerous eloquent, well-prepared and well-presented attempts to do so.

“For over 20 years we have fought soberly to bring positive change to our plight. We have not been heard, yet we are expected to respond effectively to hurdles imposed, not only by Climate Change, but by cross-cutting challenges that befall every dimension of development,” Mr. Davis said.

“The Bahamas is an ocean archipelagic state. We are comprised of an expanse of 700 islands sprinkled over 100,000 square miles of the world’s most beautiful water. For The Bahamas, the development of our infrastructural and human capital presents an economic challenge because we have to replicate services on many islands.”

Deputy Prime Minister Davis said that as an example, whereas most small island developing states require just one international airport to facilitate travel for its nationals, The Bahamas has 20. He told delegates that to maintain the health of the nation, the Government maintains and operates over 100 healthcare facilities throughout the Commonwealth.

More than 12 per cent (12.8 to be precise) of the Bahamian population, Mr. Davis said, lives below the poverty line. Mr. Davis said the Government of The Bahamas continues to undertake projects that are necessary to the human and capital development of its citizens and the country including providing access to quality education, affordable and resilient housing, safe, potable drinking water, electricity, communications, transportation and security.

One such investment in its people is the Government’s Housing Programme, which Mr. Davis said, is using new construction systems that are more environmentally sustainable and are incorporating energy-efficient appliances and solar water heaters and photovoltaic solar panel systems – all in an effort to reduce the effects of Climate Change in the country and amongst its citizens.

He said this investment in infrastructure and human resource – though costly considering the current economic climate - is an essential one that the Government takes pride in – notwithstanding “current challenging economic times.”

The Deputy Prime Minister said the Government’s efforts to provide for its citizens and to protect its environment from Climate Change and its impacts, to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, and to meet its national and international obligations, have been further burdened by the challenge of irregular and undocumented migration.

He said that notwithstanding the current challenging economic times, we have to be resolute and creative in finding workable solutions to providing for efficient and affordable airlift into as many markets as possible.

“The Government’s responsibility to provide equal access to public services demands a continual upgrade and expansion of infrastructure in our rural and remote communities. For The Bahamas, the development of our infrastructural and human capital represents an economic challenge because we have to replicate services on many islands.

“I have sought to give you an overview of the Bahamian reality. This reality cannot be properly conveyed though until one has seen it and lived it,” Mr. Davis said. ”The Bahamas has been a part of AOSIS for more than 20 years of its existence. For the 20 years, we have shared visions, ideals and challenges. For 20 years, we have set forth our needs [and] for 20 years, we have been denied funding because of our per capita income.

“As a nation, our goals, our dreams and aspirations will materialize through hard work and gut determination,” Mr. Davis added.





Bookmark and Share




© Copyright 2014 by thebahamasweekly.com

Top of Page

Receive our Top Stories



Preview | Powered by CommandBlast

Bahamas Information Services Updates
Latest Headlines
Junkanoo Summer Festival Is Back, Bigger and Better
ZNS Celebrates 86th Anniversary with Church Service
Doctoral degree posthumously conferred to Hon. A.D. Hanna by University of The Bahamas
Select Jif Peanut Butter Products Recall - Update
Dr. Rodney Smith confers final degrees as President and CEO of UB: asks graduates to take the next step with an open mind