As part of its ongoing cARICOM focus in the distinguished Open Lecture Series of The UWI St Augustine, the Rt. Hon. Perry G. christie, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, spoke on April 7, 2014, on “The Role of The Bahamas in Caricom: My perspective on where we are going.” We carry an excerpt from his speech here, and the full text can be seen here.
The University of the West Indies, as the premier regional institution should be front and centre in this interchange. I should not have to look to the University of Florida or the University of Miami alone for the expertise to develop some of our own institutions.
As we speak, we are seeking to develop the Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI). This is being developed in Andros, which is the largest island in The Bahamas. This is a landmass which is larger than the island of Trinidad but with a population of less than 14,000 people. We are seeking to make a concerted effort for The Bahamas to develop its agricultural potential, and train farmers and fishermen who will not only conduct research and development but will grow food for our country. This is a determined effort to make the country more self-sufficient in food production.
An expert from the caribbean was central to developing our ideas on the subject. however, more of this can and should be done.
I think this expertise can be supplied from the region, particularly in the area of tourism which is now the premier industry, supplying billions of dollars to the gross domestic product of the region. Tourism is very much our bread and butter. The University should be front and centre in the forward movement of our tourism product, particularly as the product moves to an even higher end. It should be front and centre in preparing the management talent and in designing synergies so that our countries can develop and obtain more from the tourism product in a sustainable manner.
The all-important area of climate change and the management of the environment is another area where the regional University can help. It is clear from the latest report on climate change that unless there is some dramatic turnaround in the policies of consumption on energy we are in for dramatic shifts in the climate: longer drought cycles and more intense rains and hurricanes. This poses life-changing dangers, especially to low-lying island nations like The Bahamas. If sea level rises over one metre there will be catastrophic consequences.
I am advised that in dominica there is already evidence that the growing cycles are changing because the periods of rainfall are increasing.
Our scientists and academics should be front and centre in the management of these issues for us. This should include not only research and development and advice on what we can do to ameliorate the effects of climate change but also how we can get the capital to manage the issues that we face.
I believe in education. I have already spoken about the development of BAMSI in The Bahamas. BAMSI is just one thrust in the area of education. We have also implemented a new National Training Agency to prepare our people for the phenomenal demand which will come during the next few years for workers in the high-end tourism field. This year The Bahamas will substantially complete a multi-billion dollar tourist product at cable Beach in New Providence which is expected to create 5,000 new jobs. It is expected to open in december of this year. We have to be proactive in ensuring that we can meet the demand for labour in that facility. That is not the only hotel facility creating new jobs but it shows you the magnitude of the issue for us.
There is also afoot the development of the University of The Bahamas. A decision was taken by the government in 2007 to move toward a University of The Bahamas, upgrading the present college of The Bahamas to university status by the year 2015. We are well on our way. clearly, there are synergies between the development of this university and the University of The West Indies which should be developed.
I never miss the opportunity however to make the point that there must be a concerted effort in all of our societies to encourage men and boys to get an education. It is a cause of serious concern to us in The Bahamas and I am advised throughout the region. Too many of our men and boys are choosing not to keep up, to drop out and not to engage in the work and development of society. We must make them a special project, even as we continue to encourage the enviable success which women have and continue to make to the development of our societies.
Faced with these new challenges, The Bahamas and all cARIcOM members need to invest in more research capacity to anticipate and avoid these new forms of challenges and to inform the making of public policy.
The Bahamas Government recognizes that prosperity is linked to national capacity to meet global challenges, innovate and develop new products and services. Therefore, The Bahamas Government has determined to re-position The Bahamas, which has a global reputation for its tourism and financial services industry, as a centre of excellence in tertiary education, training, research, food security and ecological sustainability.
While we are fully committed to the University of The Bahamas, we recognize that one regional university cannot meet our needs to build the capital of The Bahamas to better define our reality and increase our competitiveness in the global arena.
The Government recognizes the importance of higher education to sustainable economic, social and cultural development. In common with other countries, graduates with university level qualifications reduce the need for public expenditure by making less use of public services. They also create employment opportunities in all sectors of the economy, from education, to construction, to health care.
As such, they have become in many ways, the motor which drives the economy. consequently, The Bahamas Government has undertaken to ensure the widest possible access to higher education. consistent with the aim of increasing the number of people with a university education, the Government is encouraging the college of The Bahamas to diversify its course offering and to increase the number of graduate levels programmes.
We have therefore mandated that the college of The Bahamas transitions by September 2015 to the University of The Bahamas to support and drive national development through education, research, innovation and service by offering programmes grounded in the unique features of the Bahamian environment, economy and history. |
