NASSAU, BAHAMAS— The framework for a new national body aimed at boosting productivity, innovation and competitiveness across The Bahamas is advancing ahead of schedule, with draft legislation and a five-year strategic plan now entering the ministerial review phase, with stakeholder consultations set to begin later this month.
Edison Sumner, chair of the National Productivity, Innovation and Competitiveness Task Force, said the initiative remains firmly on track to meet its aggressive timelines, positioning the country for the formal establishment of the National Productivity, Innovation and Competitiveness Council by mid-year.
“We have completed the first draft of the legislation and five-year strategic plan for the Council, which are being presented to the minister for their review before taking the documents to stakeholder consultations, which we expect to begin later this month,” Sumner said. “The legislation has already been presented to the government, and the draft strategic plan will be presented before the end of this week.”
Sumner noted that the task force continues to operate ahead of schedule as it moves toward fulfilling its mandate.
“We are still ahead of schedule and have a very aggressive agenda over the next couple of months in order to fulfill our mandate, which is to have the final draft legislation and strategic plan to the government to be tabled in Parliament by May 2026, with the objective of having the new National Productivity, Innovation and Competitiveness Council established sometime in July 2026,” he said.
The task force is serving as a precursor to the permanent council, which once established is intended to play a central role in shaping national policy around productivity growth, workforce development, innovation frameworks and competitiveness across key sectors of the Bahamian economy.
The task force comprises a cross-section of public- and private-sector leaders, reflecting its broad national remit. Members include Sumner as chair, with former Minister of Tourism Vincent Vanderpool Wallace serving as deputy chair. Labour interests are represented by Jewel Fountain and Darrin Woods, while employer representatives include Dr. Leo Rolle and Peter Goudie of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation. The group also includes Kevin Basden, vice-president of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), and Petrenda Russell-Brice, Deputy Director of Labour.
