Bahamas News
WTO Public Private Consultations – Grand Bahama – 16th to 18th May 2018
#Bahamas, May 11, 2018 – Grand Bahama – The Government of The Bahamas wishes to advise the business community in Grand Bahama that it will be carrying out consultations to obtain private sector input as a part of its efforts to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). The consultations are intended to inform the Government’s negotiating position in respect of various economic sectors. To that end, the input of the business community in this consultative process would be welcomed.
The consultations will be led by Officers from the Ministry of Financial Services, Trade and Industry and Immigration and will take place from Wednesday 16th to Friday 18th May, 2018 at the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, No. 5A East Mall Drive, Freeport Grand Bahama .
Please consult the consultation schedule below to determine the date and time that consultations will be held for your particular industry and confirm your attendance using the contact details below.
If you have any questions regarding which sector your business falls into, please visit the website of the Ministry of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration for more information www.bahamasministryoffinancialservices.com, or contact the Ministry by email at trade@bahamas.gov.bs or by phone at (242) 328-5071-6.
If you are unable to attend the in-person consultations and would wish your input to be taken into consideration, please complete the appropriate Questionnaire (as indicated by sector in the table below), which is attached for your convenience (and also available on the Ministry’s website www.bahamasministryoffinancialservices.com), and return it by email to the Ministry at trade@bahamas.gov.bs.
Please refer to the table below to determine which Questionnaire you should complete:
| Sectors | Applicable Questionnaire |
| Manufacturing, Mining, Agriculture, and Fisheries | Goods Questionnaire |
| Retail and Wholesale | Services Questionnaire, but if you wish to provide input on tariff rates, you are also encouraged to complete the Goods Questionnaire |
| All other sectors | Services Questionnaire |
If your business is a member of an association, please also liaise with your association representative to coordinate the positions, concerns or questions of your particular industry.
WTO PRIVATE SECTOR Consultation Schedule
WEDNESDAY 16th, THURSDAY 17TH AND FRIDAY 18thMay 2018, FREEPORT, GRAND BAHAMA
| Date | Time | Sectors |
| Wednesday, 16 th May 2018 | 8:30 am – 10:30 am | · Professional Services, including:
· Financial services (commercial banking and private banking and wealth management)) · Credit unions · Financial services · Corporate service providers · Insurance and insurance-related services Postal and courier services |
| 11:00 am – 1:00 pm | · Professional Services, including:
· Legal services · Arbitration, mediation and conciliation services · Accounting services · Auditing services · Book-keeping services · Taxation services · Real estate services · Medical services (incl. specialised medical services) · Dental services · Veterinary services · Services provided by midwives, nurses, physiotherapists and para-medical personnel · Health related and social services |
|
| 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | · Professional Services, including:
· Telecommunications services · Advertising and public relations services · Market research and public opinion polling services · Management consulting and related services · Audio-visual services (motion picture, cinemas) · Sound recording services · Audio-visual services (radio and television) · Computer and related services · Cultural services (libraries, museums and other cultural services) · Educational services · Research and development services |
|
| 4:00 pm-6:00 pm | · Professional Services, including:
· News agency services · Investigation and security services · Photographic services · Publishing and printing services · Packaging services (of goods on a fee or contract basis) · Building cleaning services · Personal services · Environmental services · Urban planning services · Landscape architectural services |
|
| Thursday, 17th May, 2018 | 8:30 am -10:30 am | · Tourism-related services including :
· Hotels (incl. Convention Services) · Restaurants (incl. Catering Services) · Travel agencies · Tour operator services · Tourist guide services · Marina operators · Boat charters · Other tourism-related services · Gambling and betting services · Entertainment services · Sporting and recreational services · Passenger and freight transport services · Services incidental to passenger and freight transport |
| 11:00 am -1:00 pm | · Agriculture, including:
· Production of agricultural and horticultural products · Animal rearing and production of animal products · Forestry and logging · Services incidental to agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing, mining, and manufacturing (i.e. services supplied on a fee or contract basis) · Fisheries · Fishing · Aquaculture |
|
| 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | · Wholesale and Retail Services, including:
· Relating to food and beverage · Relating to sales of motor vehicles, parts and accessories, and motor fuel) · Relating to non-food and beverage |
|
| 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm | · Industry
· Manufacturing Services · Mining Services · General construction work for buildings · Construction Industry · Industrial · Shipping (including passenger and Freight Transport) · Architectural services · Engineering services
|
|
| Friday, 18th May, 2018 | 8:30 am –10:30 am | · Meeting with Officials from the Grand Bahama Port Authority
|
| 11:00 am-1:00 pm | · Religious services
· Services of non-profit organisations, community and civil society organisations · Any other Groups not mentioned |
|
| 2:00 pm-4:00 pm | · Union Representatives
|