Bahamas Public Service could learn from Chinese, says Minister Mitchell By ERIC ROSE Bahamas Information Services NASSAU, The Bahamas – Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Public Service the Hon. Fred Mitchell said September 9 that The Bahamian civil service could benefit from taking a look at the Chinese government. “In my role as Minister of the Public Service, it appears to me that there are some lessons which we could learn about the execution of public policy from the People’s Republic of China,” Minister Mitchell said,  “in the sense that there appears to be an ability to make a decision and execute those decisions in a timely fashion. “Obviously the two countries have two different systems, different political systems; but there are lessons to be learnt in how you plan public policy and execute the decisions as a result of those public policy decisions.  I will certainly be commending the lessons which I have observed to my colleagues at the earliest opportunity.” Minister Mitchell was addressing a press conference upon his return from an Asian tour.  He led a government delegation which included Minister of Transport and Aviation the Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Dr. Patricia Rodgers and Protocol Officer Mr. Terry Archer. Minister Mitchell said the impression one gets from China is of a country that has a specific direction and agenda which they are approaching in a disciplined and aggressive fashion.  He said it is also a very dynamic society where tourism is going to be an important sector of its Gross Domestic Product. “If you want to see service, you really can’t help but be impressed by what you find when you live in a hotel in China,” he said. “It is truly impressive and many lessons to be learned.” Minister Mitchell said that there are mutual areas of admiration between the two country. “The Vice President (of China) looked at our GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita, which is the third highest in the Western Hemisphere, and looked one day for China to be able to reach the level of our GDP per capita,” Minister Mitchell said.  “We, of course, look at the fact that this is a highly efficient and technological society.” Minister Mitchell said in October a group of Bahamian business are slated to attend a trade fair with a view to see what opportunities may be there.  An agreement was also signed in China which could lead to a $17-million investment in Freeport with a distribution facility. “That is already one of the signs of where we can go in terms of relations between the countries,” he said. “The name of this game, and what you come away from Asia with generally, is that countries are in business,” Minister Mitchell said.   “They are in the business of trade and commerce and the more trade, the more commerce, the more wealth opportunities there are for a country and The Bahamas can learn lessons from that …” Minister Mitchell also thanked the members of the delegation for the job they did in representing The Bahamas and also those who “kept the factory going” while they were in Asia. “Thank you to all of those and it’s good to be back home,” Minister Mitchell said.  September, 10, 2003