The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I have a tremendous amount of respect and regard for the Honourable Pia Glover Rolle, Member of the Cabinet of The Bahamas. Nevertheless, I feel it necessary to cry shame upon her suggestion that a minimum of $350 per week for people in The Bahamas would be “a little reckless”.

It is abominable that at this stage of our development, every person cannot actually receive at least a livable wage. In fact, with today’s prices, the cost of electricity, water, food etc., $350 a week wouldn’t really even cut it. That calculates to about $18,000 a year when actually, if you consider the country’s GDP of The Bahamas, Bahamians should be gaining at least $75,000 a year.

However, because of all of the wealth and resources we have are not distributed among the people, but rather concentrated in the hands of a few – including those in the political class – $350 a week is somehow unthinkable. No wonder 40 percent of the public remains below the poverty line.

Politicians must cease insulting the poor people of this country while at the same time causing a decent standard of life to be beyond their reach. On the foodstore line today, you see so many single mothers and older women, digging in their purses – not to find pennies anymore, but 5c and 10c coins – in order to finish purchasing a few little items at the check-out counter.

It’s really heart-rending that a government that has an enormous amount of public wealth at its disposal and frequently travels first-class all over the world, would even suggest that our people, who work hard and arduously for their pay, don’t deserve $350 a week. That is a slap in the face to Bahamians who are struggling to make ends meet, while still being forced to pay 10 percent VAT on breadbasket items by the very same government that thinks giving them a livable wage would be “reckless”.

Where is the regard for Bahamian people, particularly the poor, particularly single mothers with multiple children, the elderly, individuals who have been starved of opportunity, or those who are just down on their luck, etc?

What has happened to us? We used to know better. We used to protect our fellow citizens and strive to be our brother’s keeper.

This is no longer slaves on a plantation. This country must prioritise treating common people with basic decency and dignity. All people are eligible to benefit from the wealth of this country, not just the oligarchy.

JOSEPH DARVILLE

Vice President,

Human Rights Bahamas

November 9, 2023