By INDIRIA SAUNDERS, Guardian Staff Reporter

indiria@nasguard.com

If The Bahamas is to remain a trailblazer in the tourism sector a new vision and plan is needed to transform the economy, Prime Minister Perry Christie told civil servants yesterday.

Addressing a workshop on strategic planning and management, the prime minister said the country's tourism product had gone as far as it could and the nation was in urgent need of renewal and modernization.

In order for this to happen, he said, a transformation must take place.

"It was, and is still, 'Better in The Bahamas'; however, as with any model, ours has brought The Bahamas only so far," said Mr. Christie. "It became clear that if we were to maintain our special position in tourism a new vision was needed...[and] it is to transform the economy of The Bahamas in several dimensions."

Even though the nation's model was one of the most successful and is copied throughout the hemisphere, many of the country's smaller islands have been neglected when it comes to benefits of a good tourism sector.

"You know that imitation is said to be the sincerest form of flattery. And we should be flattered because our model was followed, but not emulated, throughout the region and, indeed, worldwide," said Mr. Christie. "However...many of our Family Islands were being left behind in terms of development."

Even though the old model provided Bahamians with living standards comparable to those of advanced industrial countries, he said the new transformation must involve every major inhabited Family Island as well as New Providence and Grand Bahama, so that the lives of all will be transformed for the better in the process. "All must participate in the wealth and prosperity that we create."

Mr. Christie acknowledged that the transformation must show that all Bahamians can find entrepreneurial opportunities to suit their capabilities, their education skills, experience and commitment to the work ethic, and added that Bahamians should be able to readily find well paid employment after this process.

"We are headed toward a zero unemployment percentage," said Mr. Christie. "That means that if we add up the jobs being created, we will find more jobs than bodies to fill them."

The change should also provide the government with the revenues and resources to provide the essential public services, Mr. Christie said, adding that essential public services meant a better life for all Bahamians, especially those who could not provide for themselves because of factors such as ill-health or ill-fortune.