BAHAMAS: Viana Gardiner Heads OPM Deliverables Unit

#Bahamas, January 22, 2018 – Nassau – Counsel and Attorney-at-Law, Mrs. Viana Gardiner has been appointed head of the Deliverables Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister.  The announcement was made by Anthony Newbold, Press Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister during his regular Tuesday Press Briefing at the Cecil V. Wallace-Whitfield Centre, West Bay Street.

The appointment of Mrs. Gardiner fulfills a promise made by Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Hubert A. Minnis in the last quarter of 2017, to promote good governance and accountability within the various government ministries, agencies, departments and corporations, through the establishment of a Deliverables Unit.

The Deliverables Unit will be responsible for tracking projects and initiatives set out and agreed to by the Prime Minister, and establishing timelines for the completion of such projects. The Unit will do the same for projects of various ministers and ministries.  The Deliverables Unit will also assist in the Prime Minister’s push towards a greater “Ease of Doing Business” in The Bahamas.

A member of the Board of Directors of The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation, Ms. Gardiner co-chairs the BCCEC’s Ease of Doing Business Division.

Press Secretary Newbold said Ms. Gardiner brings a wealth of experience to her new position, having previously served as Director of Trade for the Government of The Bahamas.  In that position, she had carriage of the Government’s international trade policy and promotion including matters related to the Government’s bid to accede to the World Trade Organization (WTO); implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreement between CARIFORUM and the European Union and negotiation of a successor agreement to CARIBCAN. Ms. Gardiner also had responsibility for industry and manufacturing development.

Ms. Gardiner currently serves as Deputy Chief of The Bahamas Trade Commission and has previously served as Acting Director of Investments with the Bahamas Investment Authority, Office of the Prime Minister, where she was tasked with the responsibility for encouraging and facilitating foreign direct investments into The Bahamas and investment policy development and promotions.

Ms. Gardiner has also previously served as Secretary/Vice Consul to The Bahamas’ High Commission to Canada with emphasis on trade, investment and commercial matters.

Release: BIS