After accusing The Tribune’s English managing editor of writing articles about the Bahamas that could frighten off potential tourists and investors, and assuring the public that he was not doing so because he was xenophobic, Mr Philip Galanis was again on the hunt for foreigners.
Last week he wanted government to investigate the appointment of Mr Hannas Babak, an Austrian businessman, who was recently appointed chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority.
It wasn’t as though Mr Babak was working illegally, but after several Bahamians of their own free will had resigned from the Port, Mr Galanis wanted the PLP government to uphold its Bahamianization policy and find out how Mr Babak, a foreigner, got the job. He wanted government to make certain that foreigners were not holding jobs that could be filled by qualified Bahamians.
Mr Galanis said he could not believe there had been “due process in the selection of the replacement for Mr Francis.” Mr Julian Francis, former Governor of the Central Bank, resigned from the chairmanship of the Port after a short stint in the post. He was a banker who had moved into a new business environment. Only he and the Port, both free agents, know why he chose not to stay. It is certainly nothing for any government to investigate.
“Immediately on his (Mr Francis’) retirement, they brought in Babak to replace him,” said Mr Galanis. “I do not recall there being any kind of advertisement or job search made by the Grand Bahama Port Authority to find a Bahamian to replace him.”
“I would be the first to criticise the government if they did not insist on implementing the Bahamianization policy that was established a long time ago, but I am more qualified than Mr Babak, and nobody asked me to take it.”
Of course, Mr Galanis was quick to assure the public that he never wanted the job, but had only made the statement to show that there were in fact Bahamians with the qualifications to fill the post.
How does Mr Galanis know whether he or any other Bahamian has the qualifications that the Port needs at this time in its development?
Mr Galanis’ suggestion that government has the right to enter a man’s private business and judge what he needs or does not need for his staff, is enough to frighten every investor off this island. This is what the Pindling government did, and that is one of the many government-inflicted reasons that this economy collapsed.
Only a business owner knows who and what he needs in his own business. An applicant can show a piece of paper with all kinds of qualifications written down – as the late Sir Stafford Sands often said “paper will stand still and let you write anything on it” – yet that applicant might not be suitable for the job. Maybe the qualifications the employer is looking for have nothing to do with degrees, but more to do with personality, the ability to attract investors to the Bahamas, to dream dreams like the late Edward St George to create great projects that will generate employment. Sometimes it’s just the physical look of the person that will inspire an employer to say: “That’s just the man we want for the job – he’s got the presence.”
How can Mr Galanis say that he, or anyone else for that matter, has what the Port Authority is looking for? How can a government that has no experience in business say who anyone should or should not employ?
No business person in his right mind is going to bring in a qualified foreigner, when an equally qualified Bahamian is available. The cost factor alone, including the cost of the work permit, almost makes the hiring of a foreigner prohibitive. And if a foreigner is in a top position in this country, it means that no Bahamian of like qualifications is available for the position. That is not to say that there are no qualified Bahamians. But it does mean that there are not enough qualified Bahamians for all of the specialty jobs now available in this country. There is even a shortage among Bahamian artisans – electricians, plumbers, and the like. In other words, the Bahamas is growing faster than its people.
Already government members have warned that there are not enough critical skills available among Bahamians and that foreigners will have to be imported.
Even Labour Minister Shane Gibson has to think of the economy when he is about his Haitian purge. Many small businesses could collapse overnight if good judgment is not used in the renewal of Haitian work permits. After all wasn’t it Sir Lynden who told Bahamians that they would no longer have to hew wood or carry water? Well, that’s fine, but someone has to do it. It was this philosophy that opened the door to the Haitian and his much needed labour.
Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe had the good sense to tell Mr Galanis that he was barking up the wrong tree.
Maybe, Mr Wilchcombe would now turn to the lead story in the Business Section of today’s Tribune to discover why Mr Galanis was so keen to have the Port investigated. Apparently, Mr Galanis and his group’s offer to purchase the Port was soundly rejected.
Editorial from The Tribune
