Giving Thanks

It seems that heart-breaking, sorrowful and dreadful events are given a certain preeminence in our lives, whether in the media or our memory banks. The tenor of our Country for example skews more toward the feelings associated with all the present negatives of our communities – violence and violent crime, political polarization and disharmony, the delinquency of so many of our youth, and not to mention, the uncertainty of the performance of an economy that to date has gone un-mastered and with respect to Bahamians, generally un-owned. And so we find ourselves overwhelmed by the accompanying statistics, 70 or so murders, a high percentage of AIDS infection, an overall failing grade in our schools, leaders with conflicting solutions, and the list goes on and on.

It is this preoccupation with our shortcomings, disappointments, differences, and fears, I believe that has stifled us in our creative and innovative expressions as a people. There is no doubt that Bahamians are a peculiar people, full of amazing potential, and survivors by design. Wherever we seriously apply our talents, we succeed, on the world stage. Yet while we have exhibited this to some degree in the Arts and in Sports, we haven’t really given our World any major discoveries, inventions or scientific and technological advances. I recall that a Bahamian woman once designed a shoe that can be worn several ways but there are no inventions to date from this Country, equivalent to the significance of the light bulb or the airplane, and there certainly is no Space program that will eventually lead to a conch-shell from our waters, landing on the moon.

A major part of the challenge of our going from ordinary to extraordinary, from Third World to First World rests in our ability to come alive, to unlock our very natural creative wizardry, and redirect the explosive energies of our youth. There is so much emphasis on the amenities, privileges, and systemic efficiencies that make for a First World quality of life, and these all have their places. However, none rivals the importance of the development of our human capital, without which, those tangibles cannot be sustained or advanced.

Ours is a Country largely of imitation and imports. From our language and educational curriculum, to our electronics and automobiles, to our judicial and parliamentary procedures, to the clothes we wear and the things that entertain us most, we are not our own. We have yet to find the will and formula to produce enough from our land and waters to feed ourselves. So the question begs, “Who are we, where are we, and where do we go from here?”

The starting point to adopting solutions, and reversing these unfortunate truths, is a shift in perspective and attitude. Gratitude, believe it or not, carries much of the secrets to inspiring a people to excel. When we become grateful for the journey thus far, proud of being Bahamian, whatever that turns out to be, and mindful of the large and small blessings so prevalent among us in our daily lives, then and only then will we start to become the kind of citizens, World citizens we are destined to be. Because the ultimate truth is that, notwithstanding all that is lacking and must be achieved, we are a “glass” more full than empty.

We are alive, over three hundred thousand strong. Our young are more in numbers, productive than the few destructive. We have the right to speak our minds, vote, and worship God without the fear of incarceration, torture or death. And history serves as a testament that we have the wherewithal to manipulate our economy sufficiently to always ensure the viability of the next generation. Why? Because the one thing sufficiently innovative about us, and not imported or mimicked, is our hallowed and indomitable spirit. Challenge us to rise and we will!

This Thanksgiving season therefore, I just want to pause and thank our God for being Bahamian. How about you?

Power to the People, Again

Whatever your politics, we must realize that there are two major hurdles threatening the quality of life to be enjoyed by our next generation. The more obvious, that of violence, and particularly violent crime refuses to go unnoticed. Its manifestations stare us all in the face daily, rape, murder, assault, even the inability of our political leaders to get along etc. The second is more illusive, that of positioning the ordinary majority to play a greater role in our economic destiny, as our Country captures the attention of key world players now because of our very unique geographical make up. And though seemingly non-connected, the two depend upon each other because aside from being a Country made up of 700 Islands and over 2000 cays, sitting right next to the United States and serving as the gateway to the Caribbean, historically investors have also been attracted to our peaceful nature and Centuries old commitment to democracy.

To say that the wider World does not have much confidence in Black leadership is inflammatory but on an unspoken and therefore, unproven level, it is true. Aided by historical evidence, many expect us to live in a constant state of confusion and irresponsibility, with our leaders distracted by a very natural propensity to “turn on in each other” and or to “be bought.” You will find that very few people are shocked anymore to read about illegality, AIDS, poverty, corruption or political instability when it comes to Black people, whether in Africa, the Caribbean or “African American” communities.

We in The Bahamas, have our share of problems with respect to these stereotypical behaviors but thankfully, at the moment we can still point to a few, the patriotic, the honest, on both sides of the political divide who have not allowed us to slip totally into that dismal abyss. However, to ensure the kind of success as a Nation, as a people, which we are potentially capable of, notwithstanding those two mammoth challenges before us, perhaps it is fitting for power in its truest form to end up once again, in the hearts of an ordinary majority.

At a time when the symbolism and relevance of Parliament as the sovereign protector of democracy, is being questioned, I couldn’t help but to be reminded of the “people’s power movement” which intensified on Black Tuesday in 1965. Having fought the battle on a constitutional level, having appealed to Great Britain and even the United Nations, and although enjoying some successes, for the PLP, the probability balance of attaining Majority Rule, shifted the day the consciousness of collective power was awakened in our people, the ordinary majority. “The symbol of power in this place is the [Speaker’s] Mace,” Pindling purportedly proclaimed. He went on to say, “Power belongs to the people, and the people are outside.” Needless to say, the Mace was hurled through the window, ended up outside with the people, and the rest as they say, is history.

Forty-one men and women represent us in the Honorable House of Assembly, some of them unfortunately, are not allowed to think for themselves, especially the holder of the Mace, while some of them have fallen into the trappings associated with Black leadership. With the exception of the hand-full who sit in the Upper Chamber, the rest of us are outside. The power to overcome our hurdles and secure a bright future it appears, is still outside of Parliament It is with us, within all of us, that is, if we can find the will and cooperation to achieve it.

Agreeing to Disagree

I am certain, that any day now, some political or journalistic personality will finally announce that Rome was indeed built in one day and further, it was built by one man, the Rt. Hon Hubert Ingraham. This news shall in turn comfort all of my fears and concerns regarding the future of our Country. We will all be able to rest comfortably being led by this larger than life, immortal “fire god” whom, at his earliest convenience will provide the remedy for crime and all of our other social ills; he will inspire our youth to play a greater role in the advancement of an instantly developed Island nation with a burgeoning economy; Long Island, Exuma, Cat Island and San Salvador would have rebounded from the effects of TS turned Hurricane Noel; while the leaders of the World, including Musharraff of Pakistan, will come from far and wide bearing expensive gifts for counsel from our esteemed Prime Minister, that is if Speaker of the House, the Honorable Alvin Smith, would allow.

It is important for me to be silly at this very important moment in our development as a Nation, as a people, if only to prove that a senior journalist and a budding political pundit can publicly disagree on any given subject matter and still remain civil. Like that famed, American comedian Red Skelton once said, "I live by this credo: Have a little laugh at life and look around you for happiness instead of sadness. Laughter has always brought me out of unhappy situations. Even in your darkest moment, you usually can find something to laugh about if you try hard enough." Certainly there is great sadness but also great humor in the attempts by some to mislead the public on the facts surrounding the negotiations of the sale of the Royal Oasis, just as the attempts to mislead us with respect to the preliminary groundwork performed by the former administration on the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union negotiations.

At a time when democracy and civility are being violently threatened in the honorable Halls of Parliament, when a life has been tragically lost to the fury of mother-nature, and thousands will find it difficult to sing about the “the first noel” as Christmas will find them worried about how to rebuild their lives and their homes post Hurricane Noel, more of us must cling to the tenets of joy and peace. This is a time of the testing of our humanity and our commitment to the Christian faith. The naked, the thirsty, the hungry, the homeless in our Southern Islands, need us to respond, urgently. Our leaders are all being faced with the great challenge of learning to “speak the truth in love” and when necessary, “turn the other cheek.” And every solution to our social ills lay in the ability of all of us to once again love our neighbors as we love self.

The reality is that Rome was not built in a day. And, the reality is that the responsibility of building a great Bahamas is not in the hands of one or even a few. This Country’s successful future is dependent upon us finding the unity, the togetherness to move forward. This togetherness begins with the acceptance that there are times more often than not, when some will disagree. But we must all now commit to agreeing to disagree, peacefully.

Slow but True!

On whatever side of the political divide one may sit or if even on the fence, one has to admit that the news and pending certainty about the details of the sale of the Royal Oasis is good news. It is yet another achievement time and chance have allowed this Free National Movement administration to take credit for. And yet another reminder to former Prime Minister Perry Christie who worked and worked, stroke recovery and all, to secure the long term economic success of Grand Bahama, that no matter one’s efforts, there is nothing “sure” when it comes to Bahamian politics. I can share with you that Grand Bahama’s future grew near and dear to the heart of the former Prime Minister, who had walked its streets after every ravaging storm, and in each step dreamt a more spectacular quality of life for the people of this Island. The Ginn development in West End, a revitalized Freeport City with a renovated Royal Oasis, and an upscale development near Barbary Beach, was in his mind to become the perfect complement to the shipping and industrial potential of Grand Bahama.

But true progress it is said, is a slow process and Bahamians it seems, these days, lack patience. Five out of six constituencies rejected the Progressive Liberal Party in the May 2, 2007 General Elections. While core FNM supporters remained FNM, and the swing vote went to the highest bidder, many voters had just become apathetic and disillusioned. The people of Grand Bahama, some of whom had seen waves from the sea rise over some twenty feet, could no longer be inspired by promises, they needed action and if not action, at least a workable plan.

Regrettably, the FNM’s Public Relations machinery and big money over shadowed Christie’s dreams, at least for the moment. And, with this the much needed balance of social harmony through restorative programs with economic advancement through spin-off opportunities has been placed on hold for the benefit of the likes of the Hon. Brent Symonette and his kind, who are speedily taking advantage of the big business already being generated through Christie’s “anchor project” scheme. True to form, the Bay Street Boys or the former UBP’s evolved with time and continue to secure their wealth through entrepreneurial endeavors such as real estate, shipping, trade, construction, and banking, to name a few. The DPM himself is said to have interest in companies including, Bahamas Hot Mix, Bahamas Fast Ferries and Commonwealth Bank – three on a long list.

This is no less than what the Progressive Liberal Party intended for more Bahamians – that even if we have not reached that stage where we own large scale developments and hotels, certainly more of us could enjoy the entrepreneurial benefits like the Bay Street Boys. More of us were to go from merely having jobs, being employees, to owning our own businesses and becoming employers. While it is indeed wonderful news about the Royal Oasis, the time has come for us to want more and to develop the patience and patriotism needed to bring these kinds of dreams into fruition. Because, true progress is indeed, a slow process.

Anti-violence as Anti-crime

Crime and or corruption are so entwined with the development of our Country, The Bahamas, that we really cannot seriously ever address it. We have, as biblical language would describe it, “been born in sin and shaped in iniquity.” Aside from the more major instances of ship wrecking, bootlegging and rum running, the drug trade and money laundering, you will find today that even the most sanctimonious among us are on their way to the “satellite man” because their illegal feed has been “hit” or out of necessity, even “Granny” is breaking some traffic laws in Nassau just to make it home. So when the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham says, “Indeed, we need to develop a zero-tolerance level for crime – all crime – including petty crime…” does this mean that as the leader of the Free National Movement and Prime Minister of our Nation, he will see to it that no more votes are procured through the inducement of money and gifts during general elections?

What we can address is violence. The big question we must find the will to ask ourselves is “Why are we all so angry?” I know it to be more important to some members of the Governing Free National Movement to, by all means and any means, lock away as many of our Black fathers, brothers and sons, as opposed to committing more resources to restorative programmes and measures designed to get at the root cause of our societal dysfunctions. But how long before we understand that the violence exhibited by the young frustrated Black youth who finds his power in a gun or knife, is not very different from the violence exhibited by even some of our so-called leaders, whose power is in governmental and ministerial privileges conferred upon them. While it is not illegal to publicly embarrass or change the quality of life of someone by publicly firing them as part of one’s victory speech, and while it is not illegal to steal bread from the mouths of the innocent through victimization, all of these acts of violence contribute to the overall breakdown of our society because someone has inappropriately and mercilessly exercised momentary power over another. And in many cases this has been the behavior of choice because so many of us are naturally so very angry – with life.

Indeed, we need to develop a zero-tolerance level for violence – all violence. It would be better for our Prime Minister to lead the charge in this regard. Its really a losing battle if he does not. Out there in the streets, in our schools even in our homes, it isn’t some proverbial “rabbit” who has the proverbial “gun.” Out here, the guns are real! And just as it is almost impossible to reason with some House of Assembly representative who has abandoned all civility and common decency on a Wednesday afternoon, it is almost impossible to convince our young people to choose kinder, gentler methods of conflict resolution.

The Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham however, holds a special power. His style and rough demeanor has resonated with and in so many thousands of angry Bahamians who needed a poster boy for revenge. He can inspire at least 48% of the voting population to choose peace as a way of life by merely telling them to or through leading by example. No better person then to launch a successful national anti-violence as an anti-crime movement, which would capture the words of that most instructive song, “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” No doubt ‘Funky D’ or some other artist can do a remake of the song to make it more relevant to Bahamian times, “Let there be peace in The Bahamas and let it begin in the HIP (Hubert Ingraham Party).”

What’s peace without laughter?

Trust or economic Thrust?

As interested as I have become in the affairs of predominately Black societies, for a long time it was my European heritage of which I was most boastful. Whether the lineage of my maternal or paternal grandmothers, Grant and McCoy of Scotland or that my grandfather while he carried the name Hall, was raised by his grandfather, Jimmy Wells of Long Island, somehow being able to point to White ancestry gave a sense of pride. When I speak therefore, of the UBP influence alive today behind the scenes of the governing Free National Movement, it is done so not out of some hidden anti-White racist motivation but because slavery, just as the discrimination endured by the ordinary majority in this Country pre 1967, was about economics/money and not about race. It is the love of money that is the root of all evil. It is that evil that worries me at this juncture in our development as a people, and that evil which causes my disappointment at the level of support won by the FNM in the past general elections. But money was responsible for that victory as well.

The allegations of conflict of interest surrounding the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Brent Symonette, son of Sir Roland Symonette is an indication of the kind of agenda men like himself are passionate about. And while at the end of the day those allegations may be dismissed as “small things”, what it all represents is the fundamental difference between the principles of Governance as espoused by the Progressive Liberal Party, and the principles that were embedded within the FNM when they joined hands with the fallen UBP.

As angry as so many may continue to be with the PLP because of the sins of some of the sons of the organization, you will find that the overarching principles of advancing the cause and championing the rights of the ordinary majority, whether through education, healthcare, economic empowerment or social welfare, remain paramount to the organization. This fundamental distinction is not so for the FNM. While the personalities of those selected to lead the FNM are sometimes more appealing, that very sinister motive which places things before people, that agenda which denied the majority political empowerment for as long as it could, still comes shining through as the primary thrust of the ones who call the tune of the FNM.

These are critical times for the ordinary majority. We are not as far along socially and economically as we should have been. Some indicators of our rampant deterioration as a society or network of communities is in our violent crime rates, our literacy levels and poor high school performance, and even in our risky and unhealthy lifestyles. On one hand the Country is poised to make a dramatic boom towards economic and infrastructural development, its entire landscape will undergo spectacular change within the next fifteen or so years. On the other hand there is the very real threat that its people as we are now defined, in the majority, will be left behind and relegated to a low waged working class. The potential of one day owning our economy is quickly slipping through our proverbial fingers.

The Party who was founded to go the extra mile to protect and ensure the viable future of our ordinary majority, the PLP who though not perfect, was committed in more recent years to bringing restoration to our communities, through initiatives like Urban Renewal and educational reform, and national health insurance and a myriad of second chance programs is forced now to be a strong Opposition in the face of an economic thrust agenda seeped in conflict of interest. But no greater conflict than this, that while the Deputy Prime Minister and his kind are out to make themselves even more wealthy, you will find that they have ordered that this Government is not allowed to spend money on “foolishness.” And when you examine what that foolishness really is, you will find that it is anything that gives that added compassion and inspiration needed to lift the ordinary majority to new levels of pride and productivity.

No! This is no era of “Trust.” We are stuck for a little while in a cold and unkind economic thrust. It is that damn love of money ……. Evil!

Black Like Who?

"I claim to be a simple individual liable to err like any other fellow mortal. I own, however, that I have humility enough to confess my errors and to retrace my steps." -- Mahatma Gandhi

Personal growth and change is a lengthy and illusive process. During the years of metamorphosis, because we do not get the luxury of the cocoon experience like the caterpillar which becomes the butterfly, the outward appearance can look quite paradoxical. To the observing human eye, the person undergoing change can by his/her behaviour appear to be changing for the worse while truly, God may very well be dealing with the heart. I am holding out hope that despite what can be seen of the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham, particularly during the House of Assembly proceedings on Wednesday past, internally, it is all a part of his transformation of becoming a better man. However, I am known to be a fool in this regard, believing in the good of others, after all I walk around convinced that we as a people can pull ourselves together sufficiently to become a First World Country. But then, Ingraham never said that he was changing, he self confessed to have been changed, as though he admits that there were aspects about him that had to be done away with.

The Hon. Brent Symonette, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, son of former UBP Premier, Roland Symonette, and heir apparent to the FNM throne, must find it all amusing. There he was nudging, whispering, and sitting next to his new found friend and co-conspirator Prime Minister, who once had to relieve him of his duties in a prior FNM Administration, for what common, ordinary people call thiefin’, as Ingraham led in what became an all out personal attack session nearing the end of the proceedings on October 3. But then Mr. Ingraham did the strangest thing. After having already laid on the Table of the House of Assembly, the 18 heads of agreement negotiated under the Christie led Administration, which only proved that Christie had really been working, and after having made light of the plight of the so many people and their children who are suffering because they are no longer employed in the civil service, from his seat and therefore, off the record, Mr. Ingraham retorted to an Opposition Member that he was, “Black just like you.” “I Black just like you!” Of course his hellish laugh accompanied the statement, as it was loud and boisterous all day long, only confirming that nothing much has changed – yet.

There have always been at least three kinds of Black people. You have the kind that savagely captured neighboring Blacks of other tribes and sold them to Whites into what became the slave trade. These are similar to the ones who undermined the many attempts at uprising against slavery and other forms of racial oppression, even in modern day. Then you have the class of Blacks who are in the majority, they follow whatever is popular at any given historical moment, whether it is a time of passivity or great revolution. Finally, you have a small percentage of Black people who know that the road to freedom is long. And, we are conscious that Black people the world over no matter the appearance of privilege, remain on this journey to true freedom because systems of capitalism and trade so design that there is still no level playing field for Blacks, when it comes to wealth as power. Without economic empowerment, although we can vote and even be elected to Government, our people are still relegated to a second class existence, the apathy of which leads to a displaced energy and the many subsequent social ills which hamper the full success of our Predominately Black societies.

So the question I ask, in all fairness to the man, in whose goodness I choose now to believe, is “Black like who?” When you proclaim to be Black, which kind of Black are you? I know its none of my business ultimately, so just whisper the answer to the one who sits as your co and deputy in our Honourable House of Assembly to your left. After all, he now shares in our African heritage too.