NASSAU, BAHAMAS- The Eleuthera Chamber of Commerce is calling for a long-term economic development strategy, greater recognition of Eleuthera’s role in the national economy and increased support for Bahamian-owned businesses following its review of the Government’s 2026/2027 Budget Communication.
In a position statement released yesterday, the Chamber said that while it is grateful for recent public infrastructure investments on the island, more must be done to ensure sustainable growth and address longstanding challenges.
“We acknowledge and are extremely grateful to see and feel the impact of the recent public investments in Eleuthera’s infrastructure. However, as the voice of business on this island, we must ask: What is the larger, long-term strategic plan to ensure lasting success beyond reactive, ‘catch-up’ measures?” the Chamber said.
It added that residents and businesses continue to experience disruptions due to unstable utility services.
“Our members and residents continue to face daily disruptions and basic hardships due to utility instability, particularly regarding water and electricity. Substantive economic growth cannot thrive on an unreliable foundation. We need a clear, proactive roadmap for utility resilience.”
The Chamber expressed disappointment that the Budget did not fully recognise the economic importance of the Family Islands, particularly Eleuthera, which it described as one of the country’s strongest growth opportunities since 2020.
“We are deeply disappointed that the Budget does not fully recognise the sheer scale and potential of emerging Family Island economies, particularly Eleuthera. Since 2020, Eleuthera’s growth has been one of the strongest and most vibrant opportunities for the expansion and diversification of the entire Bahamian economy.”
According to the Chamber, future economic planning should focus on measuring the impact created by development projects and ensuring more capital remains within local communities.
“This reality must be seized with clear, measurable benchmarks. We must go beyond simply counting tourism arrivals and focus on economic impact per project and capital retention.”
The Chamber also called for the creation of a domestic investment and empowerment regime aimed at protecting established Bahamian businesses and helping startups succeed alongside foreign investors.
Among its recommendations were tailored domestic incentives, policies that prioritise local firms for sub-contracting and supply opportunities connected to major developments, and support for climate resilience initiatives.
“To protect our local legacy businesses and nurture new startups, we must create a supportive environment where Bahamians can thrive alongside foreign investments,” the statement said.
The Chamber further urged the Government to develop a clearly defined Strategic Economic Plan focused on community empowerment, local land ownership, reinvestment in Family Island communities and entrepreneurship education.
“Eleuthera is currently recovering from a multi-decade economic depression. We must learn from our history and maximise this current moment to protect ourselves from future global crises.”
The Chamber said it stands ready to work with the Government on implementing the necessary frameworks.
“We must innovate with the resources we have today to secure our tomorrow. We remain completely committed to ensuring that the wealth generated in Eleuthera truly benefits, empowers, and stays with the people of Eleuthera.”
