The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune

As 2018 draws to a close there are several questions which we, as a people and a nation, must ask ourselves. Unemployment and under employment continue to be problematical for the FNM. Apart from a handful of economic foreign direct projects, initiated by the Christie-led government, there is nothing ‘new’ in sight. Yes, the Disney Project is being fleshed out and, yes, the superbly conceived hotel/condominium down at West Bay Street by The Sun Group, is coming out of the ground. Over at Paradise Island The Sterling Group has also now broken ground on a new marina and residential complex.

Apart from the above, however, the FNM administration, led by Dr the Most Honourable Hubert Alexander Minnis (FNM-Killarney), is still searching for a sustainable and viable economic plan for The Bahamas and the almost ‘forgotten’ unwashed masses. It is now commonly accepted that we have to wean ourselves of financial services and tourism but no one, inclusive of the bulk of our politicians, seems to know what the hell to do.

Mind you, infrastructure; liberalisation of Crown Land; modernisation and the ease of Bahamians doing business in The Bahamas; establishment of an appropriate nonpartisan ‘Small Business Development Fund’; legislation to set up a proper Land Registry and enabling Generation Property’ to devolve marketable title to grantees; establishment of local government in New Providence and, last, but not least, the expansion of subsidised college level education and BTVI for vocational and technical skills.

One need not be a rocket scientist to understand and appreciate the rationale and necessity of the above. Our educational system is terrible, despite the well intentioned promises made by the FNM, particularly my good friend and mentor, the Hon Jeffrey ‘Moon Beam’ Lloyd, Minister of Education (FNM-South Beach). Apart from some very expensive contracts to known FNM cronies for renovations and construction at some of our schools, the curriculum remains, basically, the same. It is not helping that the teachers’ union and the administration are at odds, on a non stop basis.

Education, however, is not just ‘the problem’ of the government, but all Bahamians who are parents or guardians. We must and should become more involved. The universal grade ‘D’ must be upended and upgraded, no pun intended. More attention must be paid to the sciences and vocational skills. BTVI should be expanded into the Western Campus to be located in the former Phil’s Food Service Building on Gladstone Road.

Relative to crime, it must be understood that no administration, on its own, will ever be able to ‘solve’ the same. The hands of the church and civil society, to a large extent are also circumscribed, by denominational and internal differences. The family is mandated to ‘rear up a child’ but so many lazy and good for nothing fellow Bahamians are so ‘busy’ with their own personal agenda that they do not have time to check on their children’s holistic development.

I am now more than persuaded that The Bahamas is at a crossroad. We can go left or right but unless and until our political leaders connect with the real world and facts on the ground, we will continue to labour in vain and tread a tread mill, like so many mice. Indeed, like the late great James Brown, we continue ‘talking loud but saying nothing’.

2019 can be a better year for all Bahamians but the biggest obstacle will be the dearth and paucity of vision within the voluminous and oftentimes miniature heads of our leaders, across the board. The cross road symbolises a double minded individual. The one ‘good’ thing about The Bahamas is that we are not a ‘revolutionary nation’ like Haiti or France

In Haiti last month, citizens rioted and burned down buildings and vehicles to protest the increase in fuel prices. This month people of France ‘rebelled’ against the imposition of a fuel and oil tax and are on the streets of that nation.

Minnis, the Most Honourable, and Peter ‘The Grim Reaper’ Turnquest, DPM, (FNM-East End, Grand Bahama) unilaterally, almost, raised VAT dramatically. Other user fees and charges under these people have gone off the chart. Yet, there have been no violent rebellions or protests here at home, thank God. I’m any event, crossroads and all, in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr

Nassau

December 10, 2018