The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

As an Offshore Bahamian of Chinese ancestry, my views of the Baha Mar project is and how it is playing out is quite tragic and sad.

On the one hand, I think it is visionary of any government party (whether PLP or FNM or DNA) to attempt to resurrect the tourism prospects of a small island nation whose main geographical national assets are “sun, sand and sea” and as such should be given ‘A’ for effort and foresight.

The Bahamas has suffered economically since Independence and has not lived up to its potential as the Playground of the“ Western World” or “It’s Better in the Bahamas”. The 9/11 attack; the OECD’s previous evaluation of the Bahamas as a “harmful tax regime” and the Great Recession amongst other factors have not helped to revive the “Bahamian Riviera”. One can analyse all these external factors ad nauseam and point fingers, but it does not resolve the declining prospects of The Bahamas.

The saddest part and perhaps the most significant contributor to the Bahama Islands demise is not, in my opinion, an external factor, but an internal one being the psyche of the Bahamian people themselves.

Xenophobia, racism, bigotry and all other forms of intolerance and a sense of entitlement is what has destroyed The Bahamas. It is obvious from the blog comments that there is a deep seated resentment and hatred of anything foreign or non-Bahamian. The reasons may well be that many average Bahamians living “Over the Hill” are not participating in the fruits that a minority-educated white collar group are enjoying. Regardless of the reason – the references to “Yellow” masters, “Haitian Overload” etc, reveal that the majority of Black Bahamians feel that the Bahamas is for them and them only and anyone else needs to get the hell out or “call immigration man”.

I am reluctant to reveal this part of my commentary to the People of the Bahamas as this will in essence reveal who I am, but I feel compelled to tell my families’ personal story of how difficult it was living in the Bahamas from 1952-1980.

In the years preceding Independence, my family was granted “Belonger” status, but eventually every member of my family was denied citizenship by the Pindling Government. We all eventually had to leave to different countries at great personal sacrifice and cost. So I totally understand the charges of discrimination currently being levied by various political organisations - Haitian-born Bahamians. I was born in Nassau at the PMH and when I turned 18, Pindling wanted to strip away my choice of “birthright” to Bahamian citizenship, but the Catholic Archdiocese voiced opposition to that and fortunately it did not happen. My family was the first to build a Chinese owned and operated hotel in The Bahamas on East Bay Street. We also ran a successful Chinese Restaurant called The White Gates (replaced by DaVinci/Tiger Finlayson?) next to the Olympia Hotel. We also operated the Hong Kong Gift Shop at the then British Colonial Hotel and a photography store called Rainbow Studios which was located in the – Arcade. We employed many Bahamians and in turn recirculated the money earned back into the Bahamian economy. We were entrenched in the Bahamian lifestyle and knew no other country. No money was being repatriated to China or anywhere else.

During those years, the PLP government was fuelled my hatred or resentment perhaps evolving from years of dominance by the former UBP party and implemented a mandate to rid the island of the non-black business class and all “expatriates” it deemed unsympathetic to their cause. By eliminating the business class who had helped to contribute to the fabric of Bahamian society, the majority black Bahamian took control and became the new masters. I have heard many stories of Bahamians who had non-Bahamian spouses who had to vacate their homes out West, near Traveller’s Rest and who had to leave the island being denied any form of residency. In essence the Bahamian government had nationalised all of the Belonger’s assets. I also know of white collar professionals who called “their cousin” in immigration to not renew so and so’s work permit so that they could ascend the corporate ladder.

The results of that tragic immigration policy are in existence today: the irony is that when the PLP voluntarily kicked out and made extinct a contributing merchant class with a long economic history in the islands – it involuntarily allowed a class of economic refugees to replace it! A matter in which the government had no say! So the result is that those Bahamians who were once racist are now xenophobe/bigots despising Haitian people who are the same colour!

The existing resentment fosters crime and The Bahamas now has a terrible reputation as perhaps one of the most violent nations in the world (barring war torn nations). As a child living at the foot of Hawkins Hill, my BB gun was stolen from me, our guineps , mangos, guavas were stolen while barely given a chance to ripen along with several bicycles and break ins.

Where does this mentality come from? To illegally take what belongs to others? Despite the high levels of churches on every corner — The Bahamas is not an enlightened or progressive society but a taking and finger pointing one.

Singapore is an island not much larger than the New Providence. In 1973, they were poor and undeveloped. As we know now, the nation is a power house but The Bahamas is not. Bahamians should not focus on a colour or race issue: the issue is a cultural one. If a nation lacks the cultural know-how to build it, allow others in to help you. There is no reason why the Bahamas cannot be like Singapore economically – if they choose it to be or can be led down that path like Sir Lee Kuan Yew did for his people.

Bahamians need to be re-assess their attitudes and try to be more humble and respectful towards any nation who is willing to advance $2.4 billion in a foreign project that at anytime can be nationalised and their collateral “lost”. Who would be brave enough to take such a risk? The question Bahamians need to ask: ”Are we a great nation?” and if not, how can we get there? Happy ‘42 Independence anniversary.

EX BAHAMIAN

July 10, 2015.