The Tribune

By Rev Canon S Sebastian Campbell

A FEW years ago I went on a tour of the Far East, inclusive of Malaysia. Only through experience one would know that it is all First World. The mindset and physical developments would blow your mind. The cost of living is much lower than here in the western world, and now with a shrinking world many Bahamians physically travel to these parts to do commercial shopping. We are not to be blinded by just thinking China when referring to the Far East. My hotel was a small component within a super expansive shopping complex stretching several blocks. The population is in the millions with mixed ethnic groups and any number of faith groups well entrenched.

I learned many lessons on this tour, sponsored by the Public Hospitals Authority. It was designed to expose me, as chaplain, to advanced models of pastoral care and chaplaincy within hospitals. This exposure really blew my mind. Ironically I’m experiencing and uphill struggle to influence our ‘boxed’ thinking in this area of health care delivery so as to cause a revolution as we modernise and expand on health care in our public system. We are so archaic in so many areas of national development.

Other lessons I learned include a humanitarian approach in rendering public service. An example is in the banking industry. The call-up system is entrenched in the banks. Why should anyone, in this modern era, be forced to stand on long, long lines for service? I shared the revolutionary idea with officials of Scotiabank upon my return. Oh, they were enthralled. But just lip service, hot air, promises were made and nothing has happened. First Caribbean on Blue Hill and Carmichael Road is the model for this simple yet profound humanitarian advancement. Many other business places can well benefit from such and advancement. The Bahamas Electricity Corporation at the mall and main office, Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation in their main stations and others should be more sympathetic to its weary customers. A line for senior citizens only is so outdated; it’s pitiful. With modern technology and conducting business online needs an intentional educational approach. Courses in such technology must be widespread, made available across the archipelago.

I congratulate those who in small pockets are offering such courses, but we are far from being as intentional and all inclusive. Who will “bell this cat”? Your answer is as good as mine.

Churches, civic organisations, business places can directly benefit from this new culture. We must measure up to this inevitable initiative that beckons us. Senior citizens and those physically challenged must be primary in our efforts.

Another time we can discuss how backward we really are in our technology as it might pertain to cellular services or the lack therefore and our transportation system. Their cell phones are traded in every six months and dropped calls are unheard of. Cars are traded in every five years maximum. I guess that they are then shipped to us, the primary users of second-hand products. That “hand-me-down” mindset is well entrenched in our culture.

Offering for public office, one must have a resum� of proven capability, like successfully operating a business of a given magnitude. Oh, if we only had some standard for those offering for public service in these parts. In our system, persons successful at the election polls believe they are endowed with some divine rights, talents and abilities to govern and seek no training and exposure. Shouldn’t we have a system in place where those seeking public office should have a proven track record?

Development does not necessarily bring crime as part of that package. The crime statistic is lower in the Far East than it is in other parts of the world. The Far East countries, particularly Singapore and Malaysia are clean, clean, clean. Litter laws are enforced. Drug laws are enforced without exception, even to the point of death. Crimes, so common place with us, are almost unheard of in these First World countries. Development must come with planning and enforcing moral and ethical codes of conduct.

All this must be grounded on a spiritual foundation that must be unshakeable and uncompromising. The Islamic faith has the edge over all other faith groups and herein we understand the strong moral code of conduct. However, Christianity is growing by leaps and bounds. People cultivate and express their faith, growing numbers go to church.

I preached at St Paul’s Anglican Church in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at four services on one Sunday with a combined congregation of just over a thousand. The cathedral in Singapore has approximately ten services on a Sunday. They use both the church and parish hall for Sunday services. I discovered a people strong in faith and not nominal Christians. They love their God and their church. In fact, I was asked to preach at least an hour each time I went to the pulpit. So well organised, I was required to present my sermon notes on the Friday before so that it could all be on PowerPoint for the Sunday’s presentation. I was moved by their love for God and the excitement in worship.

There is more, but I trust I’ve made the point on modernisation. It must be taken holistically. Each of the above points could be explored as given as given units, but I saw them all as one entity held together by a progressive people. This, I hope, will shatter our own fallacies about modernisation. Modernisation should be influenced by our faith and to understand that all our progress is only because of our God whose son Jesus Christ came that we might have life in all its abundance. Such progress should take us closer to God and thus cause a spiritual explosion that will influence our ethical and moral conduct.