Rest Peacefully Uncle Wesley

LEVI WESLEY MILLER Sr. was born on the 27th day of November 1917 in Miller’s Long Island, The Bahamas to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Priscilla Miller. He was one of six children born of this union. He was also brother to three half sisters.

At about the age of maturity for a man, 18 years or so, “Wesley” as he was preferably called, left his less developed home, Long Island, for the more progressive City of Nassau, New Providence. Like many of the sons and daughters of the “Out Islands “ of The Bahamas, Wesley found the courage to launch out and make a better living and a life where there were greater opportunities. Who would have known that this single step would have eventually led him to a First World Country, where he would in his lifetime be blessed with a first class, long and prosperous life.

It was through gardening for a wealthy American family who were second home owners in The Bahamas that Wesley found himself eventually resident in the United States of America in 1948. From his very young years he had already demonstrated that he was unafraid of change and that he was always inspired to embrace the chance to do more, and see more, and through hard work, achieve more. With a failed marriage, and other disappointments behind him, West Palm Beach, Florida became his new hope of dreams and aspirations. Wesley Miller went on through humble and honest work to see the United States of America as a Chauffer for the likes of the founders of Campbell Soup, the Colliers who own Collier’s County, and the Grossman’s, originators of the Renuzit company.

Love found Levi Wesley Miller in 1963 when he was introduced by a mutual friend, Willa-Mae Mackey, to the very beautiful and industrious Delphene Hall, who had recently left West End, Grand Bahama for a new life in Florida. It was a tale of love at first sight. A few months later in September 1963, they married and truly became a formidable team. Their union bore two sons, Levi Jr. and David, and in time grandchildren and great grandchildren. It also bore many investments in real property and banking, allowing the two of humble origin and the limitations of their time, through innovation and determination to build a lasting legacy, and to retire on a canal in Palm Beach County.

The two committed themselves to a lifetime of love as described in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. Wesley was above all known for his hospitality to all who passed his way. He never denied anyone a smile, a meal, a song or the reminder of God’s word which he had hid in his heart. God’s Love was the law which ruled his life – it was an unwavering love for the stranger, his neighbors, his family, his friends, and most especially, his darling “Del.”

To describe him as an over-comer and over-achiever is an understatement. Throughout his journey, he was always challenged by life threatening illnesses. Losing a leg to cancer and the early research of cancer, Wesley also survived two major heart-attacks which amounted to six by-pass surgeries. Yet he always found the strength and resolve to press on. Notwithstanding his many health scares, Levi Wesley Miller’s life was 90 years full.

On February 19th however, Wesley was hospitalized once again for what appeared a mild heart attack. Soon after he took an unforeseen turn for the worst and fell into a deep sleep for some ten days. Then on the leap day, the 29th of February, in this leap year, at 12:10 in the afternoon, he took his final breath and made a final leap to the next phase of life, to the ultimate land of the ultimate hope, dream, and aspiration - to spend forever with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We love him and will surely miss him but God truly loves him best.

MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE!

In Hopes They Receive Bail ...

Last year, I felt compelled to, in a literary way, lend my voice to a very necessary anti violence effort. I did so by writing the editor of the Freeport News weekly, often time demonstrating through our political differences, that people can opt to disagree, peacefully. My commitment to an anti-violence campaign was unflinching however, lyc – etv, Love Your Country, End The Violence, was something I had hoped would have resonated with at least a hand full of persons, thereby ensuring that my efforts were not in vain. A few Grand Bahamians assured me that they had heeded the call, and some of them in their own quiet way committed themselves to their own anti violence initiatives. I say this to reiterate that I do not condone violence!

Grace however, is an essential component of anti-violence. Grace is perhaps the foundation of anti-violence – it says – “I will not rightfully or unrightfully retaliate, even in the face of a wrong perpetrated against me.” I go further to include early in this letter, my support for Law and Order. Rules and the enforcement of rules secure the stability of societies – this is not a function of some higher wisdom, it is common sense!

The 2007 Bimini riots should not have happened but they did. At the heart of the matter, we must never forget is that a life was lost. So as not to pre-judge what is still under investigation, I note that a life was taken by a police officer under a heavy cloud of suspicion. That officer has been suspended from active duty but while being investigated is not behind any bars while authorities await the process of justice which will determine his fate. But his is a fate tied to the loss of life – life which cannot be replaced, which no amount of money can restore, rebuild, or return to the family and community of those who suffered the loss.

Temporary insanity or rage associated with provocation or perceived injustice is something very real. This heightened emotional response may not be a very successful defense before our courts but in this instant, at a time when our social fabric is being threatened by crime and violence, perhaps as a people we should come to lend our minds to the idea behind why people sometimes riot. An ordinarily peaceful people do not just wake up one day and decide to wreak havoc on their own community. Their temporary insanity, their temporary loss of control is often time fueled by a sense of injustice. And so South Central Los Angeles burned, shops were looted, and order was lost in response to the unfair beating of Rodney King, at the hands of corrupt police officers. And so too did Bimini. And although they try to cover it up, the Government building on another Island purportedly also went up in flames in response to abuse of power by those hired to protect us, just a few weeks ago.

Three men have been arraigned for their alleged role in the riots of Bimini – the supporting evidence must heavily be grounded in hearsay. Yes buildings were destroyed and the chaos instigated was simply unacceptable. But these three men are not responsible for loss of life. Government property can be restored, rebuilt or replaced. Yet these men have been denied bail. Forget the idea of grace or even some far fetched notion of temporary loss of sanity or good judgment, as a defense. Where is the fair-play in all of this? How can a police officer connected with the loss of life which triggered the rioitous response, await his fate free, and under the tenet of “innocent until proven guilty” while three men who have no cause to ever be that senseless or violent again, find themselves already punished under the harsh conditions of Her Majesty’s prison, having been denied bail?

Come on Bahamas! In order and decency and in the absence of violence, I challenge some of our leaders to question this resulting perceived injustice. Persons must be held accountable and should even be made examples of for their roles in violent acts against society - absolutely. But the system must be seen to be fair or at least trick us into believing it to be so. As for the matter at hand, we run the risk of being more suspicious of authority where there is no equal treatment of civilians. I mean no disrespect to the Magistrate who ruled, clearly the ruling has been influenced by the politics of the day but these men should not have been denied bail, and as a people, we should not allow this travesty without some peaceful opposition.

2007 befaith Person of the Year

ANNA M. HALL

In March of 1960, Anna Miller began her nursing program in England. She was afforded this great opportunity because of her demonstration of excellence in her academic pursuits up to that date. As no surprise, this same level of excellence was carried into her nursing studies and in 1963 she came first in all of England in that year’s graduating class of State Registered Nurses. Being the first Black non English woman to achieve this, it is recounted that there was no prize awarded that year, as had been the usual practice. Not discouraged, Miss Miller furthered her studies and in 1965 became a State Certified Midwife.

Having married a Bahamian who had not yet completed his studies in Law in England, Mrs. Anna Hall advanced her career in England and served as a Nursing Sister in England before returning to The Bahamas with her husband. Additional studies in the field of nursing include, a Certificate in tropical Diseases from London University, and later on, a Certificate in Community Health, and a Certificate in Advanced Nursing Administration from the University of the West Indies.

“Nurse Hall” as she affectionately was called by the people of West End, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas, began her work for the Government of The Bahamas’, Ministry of Health in 1972. For fourteen years, in the quaint fishing village of West End, she dutifully was on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, no vacations or weekends off. This no doubt led to her achieving the record of delivering or assisting in the deliveries of the most children in the Country, having delivered almost 2200 babies to date. There was a break from Midwifery in 1987, when she was transferred to the Island’s main hospital to work in an Administrative capacity. She retired from the Rand Hospital in 2000 as Senior Nursing Officer. During her career she also served as Treasurer for the Grand Bahama branch of the Nurses’ Association for many years.

Post retirement has given her the opportunity to return to her first love in nursing, midwifery. She is a private Midwife and midwifery consultant and the irony of time is now allowing her to in many instances, deliver the children of the children she delivered years before, particularly those from West End. Nurse Hall is also available for other private nursing duties. This mother of four, grandmother of 5, widow of twelve years, avid Church of God of Prophecy member, co-founder of the West End Conch Pearls, marathon walker, graceful woman, has found fulfillment in her life’s work. She has been the first touch to many newborn babies, she has cared for the sick and the dying, she has done her part as Jesus admonished for God’s last and least.

Her most telling example of love and dedication however has been to her family. She was dutifully married to her husband, the late Moses Hall, former PLP Member of Parliament for West End, a relationship that had lasted almost thirty years. And this relationship bore fruit with four children, Kevin and Peter, born in England, and Damien and Faith born in an Independent Bahamas. A next generation also springs forth as she is grandmother to five, Italia, Dahria, Peter Jr., Kevin Jr., and Cynthia.

2007 befaith Runner Up ...

ANDRE JACKSON

André’s inaugural role as Othello with the Wichita Shakespeare Company would mark the beginning of an award-winning career for this young actor often nicknamed “the next Denzel” by fellow cast mates. Following his critically acclaimed performance, André continued to make his mark as a student accepted to the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts. As the first freshman in the school’s history cast in a graduate company production, André’s instructors at the academy encouraged him to forego his second year and immediately begin his professional acting career.

Within months of leaving the academy André landed his first professional role in the award-winning Los Angeles run of The Scottsboro Boys, for which he received the Los Angeles Drama Critic’s Circle Award for Best Actor. His work also helped the play garner the Los Angeles Drama Critic’s Award for Best Ensemble Cast and the LA Weekly Theatre Award for Best Ensemble Cast. That stellar performance was soon followed by a lead role in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, which would go on to win the LA Ovation Award for Best Production and the NAACP Theatre Award for Best Ensemble Cast.

In addition to his work in theater André also has a fledgling career in television and film. He has been seen on The Bold and the Beautiful and cast in numerous independent films, including Brooklyn’s Bridge to Jordan, a multiple award winning film prominently featured in festivals throughout the United States. André is now winning rave reviews in his portrayal of “Simba” on the U.S. national tour of Disney’s award-winning musical The Lion King.

Visiting the Village

In retrospect, it was the inadequate national celebrations of the 200th Anniversary of the abolition of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade which stands out as the greatest disappointment for me for 2007 (yes the outcome of the General Elections was equally as disappointing). But I think we squandered the opportunity to share with our youth, the significance of this milestone, and we lost out on a chance to have wholesome discussions on that moment as a gift from a liberating God, which was a turning point for Western civilization, and of particular importance to the African Diaspora. Two great truths could have been revisited as clues to the seeming breakdown of our Bahamian communities and most predominately Black societies – that Black Africans sold Black Africans into slavery, and that it holds true for descendants of Africa that it still takes a village to raise a child.

I have deliberately pointed out without pointing fingers (because we are all in this thing together), some of the dysfunctions of our people, especially those which affect us politically over the course of the past few weeks so I give them no special place during this Season. It is the significance of the “Village” which captures my heart and attention, and will be my focus should I live to see the New Year. This idea of the nuclear family as the root of our problems and solutions may not be as well thought out as we think. The developmental journey of the family structure in The Bahamas has always been one of intrigue. The “village”, extended family, and a network of key institutions (like church, the junkanoo shack, and school) have always had to help overcome the impact of rampant sweet-hearting, single parent children and those once taboo, teenage pregnancies. So many of us now however have tried to cling to the American facade of success which includes this concept of husband and wife, two point five (2.5) children and the family pet, oh yes all in a nice house with a white picket fence. This has been to our detriment as these nuclear units have been so selfishly insular in their functioning that they may have contributed in a round about way to the deterioration of supposedly interwoven communities.

Christmas for me this year ironically, involves a process of letting go of two very special members of my “Village” – non biologically related Bahamians who didn’t have to help raise me but they did, and how I thank God for them. The first is from the community of West End where almost every adult had the right as well as responsibility to love me, even scold me as a child. Although she married my Daddy’s second cousin, Austin Grant, and was one of my Mother’s closest friends (as they were both duty paid imports to West End) Mrs. Ann Grant or “Aunt Ann” as I called her was a special part of my childhood. You see, my brother and I had to walk home from kindergarten school to my Grandmother’s house as children in West End. On our trek we passed whom I refer to as the seven business matriarchs of West End – Ms. Doompey (matriarch of Johnson’s business), Sister Lilly (Hollingsworth bakery), Ms. Miriam from Butler and Sands, Aunt Ann from the STAR Hotel, Mable Colton had a take-out, then Ms. Mearle and Ms. Gregs (short for Degregory) had neighboring convenience stores. My brother and I enjoyed a special privilege on that long walk to Grandma’s however. We were the only two children often allowed in the Star as Aunt Ann if she saw us passing, was always good for a can of Canada Dry Ginger-Ale, to share between the two of us. Throughout our lives she always found a way to make us feel especially loved. God rest her soul.

The second, who is harder for me to let go, found me in my late teens but our politics caused us to attend the funeral of the late Sir Lynden Pindling together as well as a few PLP Conventions. She was not my peer and therefore I question whether I have the privilege of calling her friend, while I know I have no given right to call her Grandma or “Mama” as Biminites would say. But Mammy Syl, Sylvia Bain of Bimini assumed an unconditional loving role in my life, although we found each other late – she would fix my favorite, corn pudding whenever I went to Bimini, she pinned my clothes during wardrobe malfunctions while in hotels in Nassau, we hung out at an after convention Party one night in Nassau until the wee hours of the morning, she showed me off to her friends whenever I delivered a moving speech or popped up on her television screen during my almost first round of frontline politics, and all of my friends know the story of how she sat me down one day and made me promise to give up Gin, at a time when alcohol was such a challenge for me to overcome. I have kept that promise and her intervention in my life eventually has led to a very controlled relationship with Al (alcohol) notwithstanding the occasional glass of red wine or a cold Kalik. For all this and more I thank her, and although sadly difficult, I release her so that she may enjoy her eternal rest in the arms of The One who loves her best.

Twelve years ago, I buried my biological father, Moses Hall, one week before Christmas so I know the potential impact of loss/death on what should be a yuletide season. Enough time has passed however for me to have learned and now share that grieving over the ones gone should not take away from Christmas as being a time of celebrating life with our loved ones who remain. What I also know for sure, as Oprah might say, is that stepping outside of home and returning to the ideal of “Village” opens a world of opportunities, rights, and responsibilities to give, receive, and share in the magic and boundless mystery of love – and God is love. If not friends or family, let us be “village” then - we may end up raising our next generation in the process. Happy Holidays!

Paradox

Double mindedness is certainly causing a great degree of instability in this Country. On one hand, as a people we say we want peace in our homes and on our streets, we all on some level hope for a bright future for the next generation, and although probably unconscious to many, we are all yearning for the kind of leadership, civic, religious, political, that would move us once more to a collective sense of purpose and renewed patriotism. Yet on the other hand, we revere those things that do not in the least benefit these noble longings, rendering our behavior paradoxical at times.

We like “beating the system” whether that means getting away without paying adequate customs duty or receiving proceeds from illegal activity. We are also more attracted to those things that do not make for peace: confrontation, “sassy-ness” of mouth and spirit, and the condition of “not letting anyone run over us.” And we prefer style over substance any day when it comes to leadership personalities. These are the things which so many of us have been tricked into believing represents strength, when in actuality they are in direct contradiction to the characteristics and philosophies needed to move our Country forward.

When the Free National Movement assumed Government in 1992 its first order of business was to finish off what it started during its election campaign. It wasn’t enough to vilify/demonize, humiliate, and defeat Sir Lynden and the Progressive Liberal Party. So just after top hat and scissor tails came off, after the pageantry of swearing in, that FNM Government led by the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham launched a multi-million dollar Commission of Inquiry. It was an exercise which at the end of the day proved nothing. However, it consolidated the pervasive idea that the “Father” of the modern Bahamas and his team were gangsters from hell who did nothing good for their Country. And, it sealed the notion that Government and politics in The Bahamas is for the wicked few – fueling the apathy and self hatred of our youth whose potential heroes were transformed in a matter of days into public enemies.

Life holds no sanctity in the eyes of so many of our young sons because politicians whether out of anger, pain or revenge, tore away the decency and honor of good men, their perceived enemies. We entered and possibly lost this battle against violence “spiritually” some time ago, when internal and external powerful forces with lots of money, found the formula to encourage un-reconciled men to put personal un-forgiveness above the patriotic duty of upholding the beauty and legacy of the foundation of our people. Our children then only know the stories of treachery, deceit and failure which have been sung louder than the songs of victory, pride, unity, and “how we got over!” And so, our young sons pull real triggers in this new age because they have been socialized in an atmosphere where their Governmental leaders set the tone and engaged in a kind of violence which assassinated/murdered the character and spirit of heroes, and by extension wiped out a meaningful and inspirational part of modern Bahamian heritage.

For the past few weeks in the House of Assembly, through the debate on the Appropriation Bills, some members of this new FNM Government in true FNM fashion, sought to engage in the same kind of senseless violence perpetrated against the Bahamian spirit through the Commission of Inquiry. Thankfully, the Christie led PLP held good ground and very little damage, if any was done. But in an age where we are almost in a state of crisis as a people with even an economy which recently has lost its “equilibrium” we need a Government that will take a time out from playing destructive politics and by action, not words, lead us into a state of peace, reconciliation, ingenuity, and purpose. This is no time for double-mindedness – we cannot speak of peace while allowing our behavior to breed discord. We must see and work towards ending the paradox.

Getting Back To The Future

When you speak with senior Progressive Liberal Party Stalwart Councilors or persons who were eligible to vote for the PLP in the 1962 General Elections, repeatedly you will hear that the PLP’s loss in that Election was perhaps the most devastating of all time. So many of them were certain that the “Movement” which had begun in 1953, and really transcended partisan politics, would have proven successful in that not so fateful year. Notwithstanding the disappointment, there was a greater victory for all Bahamians despite that PLP loss. Not only was it the first time that all sane men 21 and over, irrespective of race and class, could exercise the right to vote but forty-five years ago, 45 short years ago, women finally got the right to vote in this Country, and vote they did in 1962.

Fittingly, the person who appeared on the Love 97/ JCN TV programme Jones and Company, at the beginning of what is embraced as National Women’s Week, was first female deputy leader of a major political party, and first female Deputy Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, PLP Deputy Leader, Cynthia “Mother” Pratt. Amidst all that was educational and even controversial about what was said during the interview, was a response by “Mother” to a question put by Mr. Jones with respect to the way forward for our Country. In no uncertain terms, The Hon. Mother Pratt, a former Nurse, Educator and presently a Minister of the Gospel in addition to her political duties made it clear that we needed to “go back” before we move forward. She insists that as a people we must go back to the basic principles of respect, love, and though increasingly unpopular in a political context, the “fear” of God.

If you didn’t know any better, you could quite easily be persuaded to believe that the progress of this small developing Island Nation is hinged first and foremost on matters of economics, foreign relations, and infrastructure – only. These after all are areas in which solutions are readily available via the history bank of what other countries have done before. And so where it is difficult to dream and have vision in these areas, copying at least sustains us in our pre renaissance state. However, there exists no readily available formula to tell us how to resolve the problems in the area of that which this Nation’s future is truly hinged upon, the “soul of Black folk” (to borrow from W. E. Dubois). Or is there?

Nestled beneath the facts of the modern political history of our Country, and by extension, the early history of the PLP, rest the stuff which once overcame the darkness of a seemingly impossible era of our time. Through it universal suffrage was achieved, as a crowning constitutional victory in what had been a trying struggle on the battle ground of our Parliament. But where all of these victories fell short, there stepped in, the will of a last minute but convicted people who went on to secure Majority Rule, Independence, 34 years of sustainable development, and continued parliamentary democracy. It was the love of Country, respect of self and others, and inspiration that comes only from God which awakened in our people the wherewithal to secure the future of the next generation. As broken as it was, and apathetic because of centuries long denial of fundamental rights and freedoms, and even harsher realities, it was the soul of Black Folk when challenged which overcame, centuries old injustices, White men, their money and their accepted inherent right to control the coffers of this Country. And there in the midst all the while was an ordained man of God, Rev. Harcourt W. Brown, preaching always, the power of those things basic – Respect, Love, God.

We know that it worked then. Like "Mother" Pratt, I can only admonish that we all return to those principles and get back to the business of our future. The next generation is counting on us.