Chairman (Progressive Liberal Party)

The Caribbean is an highly attractive yet competitive destination for FDI especially as, for example, Cuba opens up in terms of tourism and Jamaica has secured major investments in renewable energy. In your opinion, what makes The Bahamas the most attractive business/investment destination in the region?

The Bahamas has been able to achieve a niche in tourism, which we have developed over the years. Our close proximity to the USA places the Bahamas in a very prestigious position. The Bahamas is able to embrace what followed from the closure of Cuba 50 years ago when we started to take off. Cuba now has an excellent product but I think that they have a long way to go in regaining the trust of the international community. They are very nice people and I see them as being to their original prominence, but it appears that the present administration will not allow gambling, which was one of its biggest attractions. So that will not allow them to return in full and there will be some restrictions on their ability to ascent to the top position again. We maintain a friendly relationship with Cuba even when our American friends thought we ought not do so, and we want to push for the normalization of relationships with the Cuban government.

What makes the Bahamas stand out is our people and quality of service. I know that New Providence is the main touristic area but the best value for money from the touristic point of view is in the family islands: Eleuthera, Exuma, Abaco etc. In all of them our added value is in our people. Our people love to serve and to welcome and if that continues we will maintain a relevant position in the region.

The Progressive Liberal Party was founded in 1953 to fight for the liberation and equality of all Bahamians and for representation for the Labour movements in Parliament. How would you describe the state of the country prior to the Christie administration coming into power in 2012 and the state of the country now?

The PLP came to power in 1967 and it remained in office for 25 years. Then we lost to the Free National Movement, which remained in power for 10 years. We then returned to power in 2002, when the country was in terrible condition and it beckoned for the PLP to return. We were able to rebuild the country and get it on the right track until 2007 when the new administration came in and the economy started to go down and unemployment and crime escalated. The administration at this time was borrowing like a drunken sailor and they paid excessive amounts for road works. When the Christie administration came back into power we started to turn the bitter into sweet and rebuild the Bahamas again. For the past three years we have been able to stabilize the country’s financials.

Your government created the Stronger Bahamas initiative, which aims to build a stronger and more modern and prosperous future. Are you satisfied with your party’s progress to date in terms of strengthening the Bahamas and in your opinion, what have been the PLP’s biggest achievements so far?

We created this program for people to reinforce their beliefs in themselves, and to build hope and encourage and remind our people that they have come a long way and that there is still a long way to go. Also that we need to stay focused and dedicated on a noble objective to achieve a common goal, which is employment for our people and a safe Bahamas that free of crime, drugs, and all the negatives that come along with that. Drugs are a major problem for us. The Bahamas has encountered some major challenges with the trafficking of drugs through our country and this contributed to the downfall of the PLP in 1992, which resulted in the Commission of Enquiry. We still deal with this issue because of our proximity to the USA, which is still the major market. Due to our geographical position people use us as gateway, and of course this also contributes to the problem of crime in the country, and the type of solutions we need to implement. I still remember when it was rare to see a policeman with a gun but now they all have them.

North America has always been the main source of tourism and investment for the Bahamas yet the country is now working to attract investment from Asia, South America and Europe. Given your extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, where do you see the biggest opportunities for FDI and what role does foreign investment play in improving the economy of the Bahamas and the country’s growth and development?

There has always been European investment here in the Bahamas. For example back in the old days, many European airlines flew directly to the Bahamas and the Australian airline did too. All that changed when there was a redirection of the hubs and I guess that’s part of the changing world that we live in. We need to focus our attention to bringing some of this business back, and we need to be creative and able to force this new direction for the country.

FDI plays a very significant role in this, particularly in the tourism sector because traditionally local Bahamians didn’t invest their money into the hotel industry like they do, for example, in Jamaica where 60% of hotels are owned by locals. Here in the Bahamas, Bahamians own less than 3%. Our people have traditionally invested in the trade and retail business, for example, shops on Bay Street and other consumer areas.

Having secured $3.5 billion of equity, the Baha Mar saga at heart represents a good news story yet given the recent problems, it continues to do a disservice to the international perception of The Bahamas. Considering the Bahamas is going to have elections in 2017 and the Baha Mar matter will no doubt be politicized, what has to be done to ensure that the Baha Mar doesn’t cannibalise the political debate?

Every matter in the Bahamas gets politicized, even going to church and sitting in the wrong bench will be politicized. Fortunately for us in the Bahamas this recent politicization of Baha Mar has proven that the government was right in the decision it took. The court in Delaware recently decided that the Bahamas is the proper jurisdiction for this matter to be litigated but the opposition went along with the idea that the matter had to be deal with in Delaware.

The Baha Mar matter has now been resolved to an extent that the provisional liquidators with the support of the China Import-Export Bank and the construction company are moving with the guidance of the government to get that property finished in the shortest possible time.

What are your Party’s priorities at present to ensure sustained growth and prosperity in the country in future?

To continue to do what we have been doing, to attract FDI and also to encourage Bahamians to invest money into their country.

Are there any policy initiatives that your party has implemented that you are particularly proud of?

Bimini Island is a good example. When we came to power, this island was doing practically nothing and in less than three years we built a major hotel and thousands of jobs have been created. This is also happening in Eleuthera, where we just signed an agreement with Dr. Luis Carlos Sarmiento, a Colombian investor who will build a Four Seasons Resort on this island next year. We want to replicate this in the other family islands.

Mr. Roberts, on a more personal note, we see you virtually everyday on the front page of the newspaper. Once you retire from the public sphere, how would you like to be remembered by the Bahamian people?

History has a way of taking care of that and I don’t control it. I still remember my father after many years whilst other people don’t. History will do it.

You have extensive experience in politics but also as a businessman, having held leading roles in companies such as The Bahamas Telecommunications Company and Caribbean Motors Ltd, and created your own company, Sunshine Holdings. What would you say has been the most valuable lesson that you’ve learnt over the years that enables you to succeed today in your role as Chairman of the PLP?

Long hours and hard work with focused goals and perseverance. A lot of our people believe Rome was built in a day. They want to plant the seed today and be able to collect the fruits the next day, and life does not happen like that. Nowadays 20-year old fellows expect to have what you have as a 70-year old, something that took 50 years of hard work to achieve. Life doesn’t work like that.

To conclude the interview, Harvard Business Review’s readers include many of the world’s most influential business and political figures. What final message would you like to send to send them about The Bahamas and the PLP?

The PLP is the best political party for the Bahamas. It is a party that has a record for having achieved significant social enhancement for our country and its track record is there even for a blind man to see.