Bahamas Opposition Attacks Government Record On Business

by Leroy Baker, Tax-News.com, New York

16 November 2005

An opposition Senator has attacked the government of the Bahamas for its failure to remove red tape and bureaucratic delays that continue to hinder start-up businesses and investment in general.

Speaking at the Free National Movement convention in Nassau last week, Senator John Delaney claimed that it can take as long as 179 days for a business to receive government approval in the Bahamas. This, he stated, compares to just three to five days for a new business in the United States, and seven days for a start-up venture in Canada, the Bahama Journal reported.

Mr Delaney went on to note that the problem of government bureaucracy was particularly acute in the real estate sector, leading the Bahamas Real Estate Association to criticise the government’s Investment Board and National Economic Council for its inability to streamline the approvals process. However, he observed that problem was widespread, and that government inefficiency affected Bahamian investors at all levels.

"Most problematic is the difficulty in getting governmental decisions in almost any area which calls for governmental approval," said Mr. Delaney.

The FNM Senator also attacked the government for its handling of the Registrar General's Department, claiming that the department has been sent into a state of "complete and utter disarray" following the dismissal of the registrar Elizabeth Thompson, a decision later ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court.

Mr Delaney described this situation as a "nightmare" for lawyers who use the facility on a daily basis.

"The system at the Registrar General’s Department for searching deeds and documents, which must be used daily by law firms and other persons searching title to land, is inadequate, inefficient, and defective regarding data commencing 2003 to present," he remarked.

"It is a nightmare for lawyers and gives rise to the risk of liability," Mr Delaney warned.

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