There are times in life when bigger is evidently better. And yet again, there are occasions when bigger is harbinger to disaster. Put otherwise, there is a distinction to be made between economic growth and economic development.
Take for instance, current ‘debates’ concerning proposals for the redevelopment of the Cable Beach Strip. There practically everyone seemed to take it for granted that it was set to be built on the scale of operations in Las Vegas.
And while we are reciting examples, the one concerning Guana Cay comes to mind. In both instances, Bahamian leaders were talking the talk in the amounts of hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars.
But now, as the drama involving Guana Cay unfolds; and as more and more Bahamians come face to face with some of the facts concerning this and any number of other large projects slated for ‘heads of agreement’ treatment, some voices are coming forward with the suggestion that more of the same might well be detrimental to the long-term development of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
Bahamians who are thinking in this vein are suggesting that the government’s macro-economic strategy is seriously flawed in that it encourages growth for the sake of growth. These observers are on to something, which is dreadfully important for The Bahamas.
Caught up in this emerging debate are larger issues concerning the question as to how much is enough when it comes to economic growth. In addition, there are other vitally important issues bound up with the land question, community culture, identity and a host of related socio-cultural dynamics, these pivoting on related issues as they pertain to saturation, carrying capacity, sustainability, and stewardship.
Even now, there is the whispered sigh to the effect that The Bahamas is being sold out from under the vast majority of the Bahamian people. We have also heard the suggestion that the government of the Bahamas should act as if it had the best interests of the Bahamian people at heart.
Quite evidently, therefore, a truly caring government would at all times make it its business to hear from the people; respect their views; and seek to represent the same people where and when it matters most, namely in the making of just laws and in the implementation of policy.
As we see it, the people are calling and crying out to the Government for it to do the right thing.
And for sure, doing the right thing requires knowing what is the right thing.
At this juncture – and as regards the Guana Cay project – it is today quite clear that the Christie administration would be well-advised to step back and get a clearer view of not only Guana Cay, but also a host of other initiatives.
While we are not necessarily focusing on that issue, there are very clearly questions that should be posed concerning this and other mega projects. Highest on that list would be the obvious question as to whether such large projects are actually needed.
In this regard, it would be safe to say that while there has in fact been all party agreement on projects such as the one contemplated for Guana Cay, there has also been a persistent current of concern as regards the price Bahamians are being called upon to carry for such ‘developments’.
What these people seem to be getting at is that there are occasions in life when projects might add to growth; and might produce a handful of jobs; but which are – in the meantime – literally so much bad news. Indeed the closer we get to the details, the crazier some of these so-called deals seem.
This is precisely what happened in the case of the Clifton Cay Property, and the proposals for the establishment of another gated community on the island of New Providence. Something similar seems to be happening in the Abacos, as angry residents search for and work for finding a means to shut the project down.
At this juncture, it is anybody’s guess if they will succeed or not.
But what we know for a certainty is that protests to date seem to have caught the Christie administration off-guard and off-stride. Today they seem to be stumbling as they search for the way forward; either deeper into more and more Heads of Agreement, or out of it all together.
A part of the problem relates directly to this larger issue concerning the distinction, which is to be made between economic growth (defined in terms of capital intensivity), and economic development (defined in terms of the personal quality of life index). Growth is growth. And economic development is far more complex, which means that it implies and needs for its fulfillment human satisfaction.
Editorial from The Bahama Journal
