NASSAU,BAHAMAS –
The USA is our nearest international trading and economic partner. It has been estimated that almost 75% of all goods and services imported into The Bahamas come from hat nation to the North. Literally 85% of our tourist arrivals originate from that same location. We export few products and perhaps even less in services.
President the Hon. Donald J. Trump , a man after my own heart, has indicated that his administration will impose a 12% Tariff on all Bahamian exports to the USA which would have been ‘produced’ by forced labor!! I understand his rationale BUT fail to see how the increased Tariffs could or should apply to our nation. Basically we export Sea Foods & Marine life to the USA. The larger bulk of such exports are harvested by Bahamian nationals with a handful of foreign workers, mostly from the Dominican Republic, who are paid private sector pay scales !!
It is inconceivable that President Trump would lump or wonderful nation in the same category as China; Thailand; Cambodia; Ceylon and/or Bangladesh, where, historically many workers, especially in the garment and electronic industries , historically, are paid ‘slave’ labor wages or next to nothing. Haiti, unfortunately, also falls into this class. The difference with that poor nation is that the bulk of the manufacturing industries down there is owned and managed by Americans ! The cost of labor there is about $4.00 PER DAY! The products manufacturer or harvested are then export to the USA for consumption!!
Mind you, it must be borne in mind (a double pun) that , according to available statistics, close to 60% of our sea food and marine exports go straight to the USA markets. USA based companies have for decades, to my knowledge, financed and equip Bahamians in the fishing industry. They also buy in bulk and CONTROL the distribution of the same into the USA markets. So, does this mean that USA based business persons and American companies are complicit in engaging ‘slave labor’ in harvesting the produce? To say this would be the most asinine things ever uttered.
The Hon. Frederick Audley (PLP-Fox Hill) has his work cut out for he and his ministry of Foreign Affairs). No doubt he will utilize the now fine tuned diplomatic and negotiating skills of the Hon. Ambassador Wendal Jones , our erstwhile Envoy to the USA & The United Nations. I requested in a nice way, I would walk on a bed of extra hot coals for President Trump (Brave also). He is dead wrong, however, in this case to be ramping up so called tarrifs on our internationally law abiding nation. To God then, in all things, be the glory!!
-Ortland H. Bodie, Jr.
