Many Bahamians may be forgiven for sleeping through the dawn of the new year, given projections 2009 may shape up to be just as dusky as last year. Throughout the islands and across all sectors local industry heads weighed in on what the new year would bring in, projections largely based on the current but shifting landscape.

Ena Browne,newspaper vendor,Dolphin Drive

"I fancy the economy would get a bit better in the new year. This year was hard and I fancy that its going to be slow, it's not going to jump up suddenly but it's going to improve.

All of us feel the hard times, we feel the pinch, so therefore people are going to put their head on their bodies and appreciate every little opportunity around. A lot of people have seen changes whereas they were laid off so they know now they have to become their own bosses now. Why depend on someone else to make a dollar when you can be creative?

Because if all the hotels should close down today what are we going to do?

I fancy it should but some of us will just take our ideas and put it out there and stop depending on tourism.

I am out here every day and I'm making a dollar for myself and I interact with all kinds of people from all walks of life and I'm making a dollar. Even if you're picking up bottles you're making a dollar for yourself."

William Wong

President

Bahamas Real Estate Association

"The year, 2009 is going to be a very challenging time for us. It's going to be a challenging period especially for the upscale and local market and I can't tell when there will be a turnaround, but we're hoping it happens soon.

Sandy Schaefer

President

Robin Hood

"It's going to become a much more competitive market in 2009 and the first three months of the year extraordinarily challenging for everyone. We expect a drop off like everyone else, so in the new year we have to become a leaner, meaner fighting machines [and] our biggest issues are going to be inventory controls, to make sure we don't have too much or too little.

n See Schaefer on BR7

Dionisio D'Aguilar

President

Bahamas Chamber of Commerce

"It's no doubt going to be very difficult for businesses in the beginning of the year. Many businesses would have limped to Christmas and now with the fervor of Christmas being over they will be evaluating where they stand now. And some businesses may say 'I've made it this far, it's time for me to let go, I've gone as

Tony Joudi

CEO

Fast Track Construction

"My prediction is [the economy] is going to start flowing in 2009. It's going to pick up some time in March or April and then it's going to dive again and towards the summer [and] pick up again towards the end of the year.

In terms of construction the Bahamas

Robert Sands

President

Bahamas Hotel Association

"No one has any real indication of how it will turnout, all we can do as an industry is to work as hard as we can to ensure that our service delivery and our product is in the very best position during this period.

We continue to support one another in term of private and public

Gregory Moss

President

Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce

"As regards 2009, it is going to be a difficult year for The Bahamas, with the performance of the economy clearly determined by the American one. That's doubly so for Grand Bahama, so dependent on the tourism industry and in

Ivylyn Cassar

Managing Director

Experta Trust Company

Bahamas Ltd.

"Specific to the Bahamian offshore jurisdiction, I basically see what I would call flat performances, meaning that the outlook could get worse or as bad as 2008.

I don't see it getting any better, but I think that we're getting to the bottom of it even though there is continued turmoil in the worldwide financial market.

Vernice Walkine

Director General

Ministry of Tourism

"We're not looking well beyond the first quarter [and] to that degree our hotels can generate as much revenue as possible during this first quarter. That's when occupancy tends to be higher, but nobody is able to project with any certainty what this first quarter will deliver.

There is a lot of waiting for the inauguration of U.S. president-elect Barack Obama, so we're waiting to see what his first step is in restoring the U.S. economy. That will

Hillary Deveaux

Executive Director Securities Commission of The Bahamas

The Commission has prioritized three strategic goals for 2009 that will contribute to its enhanced business capability. Chairman of the Commission, Philip Stubbs, noted that, "These goals translate vision and direction into policies and procedures that will strengthen the capacity of the Commission to execute its mandate more effectively." The Chairman further remarked

Hillary Deveaux

that, "Achieving these goals will help establish a regulatory framework that is responsive to the investment funds, securities and capital markets, as well as facilitate consistency with best practises".

The three strategic goals for 2009 are as follows:

1. Conduct a comprehensive review of the Commission to identify areas of risk and required

improvements.

2. Enhance the legislative framework of the Commission.

3. Enhance transparency in the operations of the Commission