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Behind Grey Curtains - MICAL. Southern Bahamas
Behind Grey Curtains:
By: Carl St. Paul (Gibson)
Email: maynergy@gmail.com
With a large bowl of conch salad, a cooler of ice and two shopping bags loaded with soft island beverages.
I looked out from the second floor balcony of a beachfront hotel in New Providence, Bahamas; and heard the noise in the marketplace from the political voices belching phrases like, "Things have never been better " or " Everyone is doing fine just fine you know?"
You still hear some say; “Look even America have the same problems too ...even worst!”
While 'clear out of nowhere', another hollered; “We funded temporary unemployment benefit." Then someone coughed out; "Give us another chance."
True story as their motive seems clear.
These are muttered so often to diminish the pressing need to answer direct questioning of party officials and key cabinet ministers on issues relating to economic, cultural, national security, mental health, physical disability and elder care along with public transportation, agriculture and infrastructure development throughout the islands from being aired or drafted.
Frankly the myth of "Keeping the islands like it always been," has been a verbal assault on island-wide consistent progressive growth.
Examples are numerous:
Public transportation spending would open steady growth as a “fixed asset” and as the expansion throughout the islands grows, such investment could protect the economy from recession and may also help set in place progressive growth and providing a revenue stream to generate funds for needed social services continuum.
What images does transportation in New Providence Bahamas conjures in the mind of an average traveler?
Probably drivers on the left side of the street or highway hastily moving sometimes to nowhere or maybe a standstill on Blue hill or Soldier road to East street; and thanks anyhow to " It's better in the Bahamas," years of promotional campaigns, showing beautiful sadly beaches with almost tourists swimming with dolphins, sharks or stingrays, enjoying Gods' creation far away from their home without a care or worry......and we sing "This land is my land, from Great Inagua to Grand Bahama !"
Take a look at the privately owned “public used” buses or jitney transportation allowed to foment on the island of New Providence, which does moves residents throughout the island and does help limited number of the bus owners and companies.
Note well, "Benefits only a limited number of bus owners," - while not contributing to social services or human resources of the islands' people, nor does it generate revenue for local or national government.
Also some may asked, "Should the bus routes be open to competitive bidding or otherwise"?
Summarily with some $3.5 to $5.5 million annually is derived from the public using the "jitney" services, the local government could benefit while providing social services for the community at large: Example; senior citizen prescription drugs cost, school lunches, or other prominent needed services.
So does the country benefit in any way as we know it today from the ‘public used” privately owned bus services? Or should the system be expanded into a new “comprehensive transit system” (CTS), with “metro cards” usage on all public transit systems for daily, weekly, monthly or other speciality riding?
Another pivotal issue is investors could be courted and scouted in earnest for infrastructure development, which could no doubt miss a giant opportunity if they avoid the looming potential in the islands of the Bahamas.
There are other compelling and endless trends in the Bahamas for the economy to grow and expand at a tiger like rate of 3.5% to 7.0% pace.
Bahamas's highways, roads and privately owned “public transportation systems” contribute to virtually everything of value in the economy and day to day functionality of all the people’s lives - from linking businesses to their suppliers and customers, to bringing jobs, education, health care, recreation, just taking a ride to town and government services within every national's reach.
A country, town, or city is only as good as it transit system. That’s really why continued vital investments in new technology, equipments and infrastructure is encourage for the future to be bright and profoundly cheerful.
Economists have explored the economic impact of public investment for decades and have consistently found that surface transportation systems increase economic output, reduce prices, and raise incomes and profits. Investing in this extensive network has produced enormous economic returns for virtually every person and business in the Bahamas.
Meanwhile the mass usages of this system have to re-adapt due to national security concerns to be made an organized and well functioning part of the carefully designed Bahamas system.
With visionary development and development expansion, the next twenty years could lift the nation and the children for generations to come.
Also as the Bahamas economy growing at a 0.9 % to 2.5 % annually, investors may find banks, supermarket outfits, new mobile phone and media companies with excellent prospects.
Also the building of seaports, power plants, sewer plants, highways, roads, tunnel construction and other infrastructure projects would help sustain any growth in the gross domestic product (gdp) throughout the island nation chain with impressive national gains.
In memory of things past:
From days of Noah, native Bahamians knew of Sir Randol Fawkes who made it his duty to challenge the dominant authorities of his time while laboring faithfully for better employment and working conditions for all inhabitants of the country.
Meanwhile the day seem long as the sun shined brightly at noontime, a handful of cousins sat under a coconut tree and balked about the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., " I have a dream" speech of August 28th, 1963.
It was February 1964 a leap year, many islanders thought "someday" Mayaguana and Inagua would be vital to the chain of islands and maybe will no longer ‘be behind God's back’, as many people surmised.
This breezy sunday morning most residents had heard and supported the Gandhi-like, non-violent resistant tactics (USA), as was proclaimed by the reverent gentleman throughout North America.
Some people had already begun to filter into New Providence island to join the voices led by Sir Randol Fawkes for labor rights and fair pay; with Sir Lynden O. Pindling and others focusing on the forces dressed as United Bahamian Party (U.B.P) government.
(Even though the U.B.P., stood not only as a government, but a force of racial divide and other transplanted deep pocket financial explorers and bigots seeking to perpetuate a now "once upon a time" separation of native people).
By now the locals were hearing so much about a non-violent resistance, equal rights and justice, a native preacher named Pastor Alexander Brown, kept reminding the congregation that the time had come for Mayaguanian/Inaguians to be " resolute and face the task ahead."
True what the preacher wanted too was running water, paved roads, electricity, public libraries, health clinics, telephone services and regular low cost air travel to New Providence and elsewhere for all citizens of the islands.
Behind grey curtains immersed in actuality knew New Providence basked in the glow of flushing bathrooms everywhere so too the twin islands sought the same, even though the outhouse, sometimes-called latrine was a well-loved local fixture.
Someone suggested early Sunday morning that a "son of the soil" in Parliament would be helpful to achieve what the preacher talked about.
A voice to advocate growth and spearhead efforts to bring employment opportunities and light industries to the southern corner of the Bahamas, near the Turks and Caicos islands where many residents had roots and family history for centuries.
Then like now, all the inhabitants knew was what they still know today - Morton Salt, a lone employer who generated multiple paychecks for migrating workers from neighboring islands, helping families to eat food, buy clothes for school children, church services and other practical needs.
We give thanks for Morton salt - Matthew Town Inagua Bahamas.
Anyhow, in Pirates Well, Mayaguana, the lone constable drove down the narrow quarry road heading to Betsy bay, greeting everyone by their name.
Many residents loved and knew the constable was doing an excellent job, but was he the " son of the soil" the preacher alluded to, since after all he'd given a big mail boat to ply back and forth to Mayaguana and beyond bringing building materials, heavy equipments and food supplies regularly.
“Time would tell," the old man would always say, as lunch time approached; British overseas airline (BOAC) was seen over the horizon on the way to the large airbase not far from Abraham's bay, the capitol town of the island.
As in Pirates Well and neighboring upper bay area some residents had been preparing to go to the evangelical church this time for a prayer meeting, as news flashed on ZNS radio community announcements, requesting a group of long time anchored inhabitants of Mayaguana who had lived on New Providence island to report to Yellow Elder primary school.
This was for an organized meeting called by notables like Mr. Freeman McPhee deceased, Miss Linda Collie, Miss Roselene Gibson, Mr. Everrett Lewis, Mr. Nesbitt Higgins, Mr. Lionel Charlton and Mr. Lincoln Taylor (deceased), to name a few who had been summoned that evening to confront the level of intolerance parading under the umbrella of the political progressive partisans.
This hurriedly called meeting was to establish a group designed with one objective (i.e.) to advance the interest of Mayaguana island, following the defeat of Mr. Bernard Depuch (Independent), by Mr. T. Joseph. Ford (PLP), Progressive Liberal Party 1968.
At this juncture hope was manifested as a "son of the soil” had been elected to the House of Assembly. The preacher's prophecy had come through.
Islanders were proud and shouted; "All the way. All the time."
T. Joe as he was affectionately called by many was simply a Mayaguana/Inagua child who would look out for the people's interests in parliament. And so it was initially.
Nevertheless, going as far back to World War II, the people in Mayaguana made a shift in political loyalty and voted settlement after settlement for Mr. Bernard Depuch (Independent) instead of Mr. T. Joe Ford (PLP), true story.
Even though Mr. Clayton Taylor had concocted a rationale why the people should vote for ”T. Joe", no one took the trashing seriously as his logic was ripe with half-truths and distortions.
The young and older folks who could get out to vote, rallied and a voice were heard loud and clear by the new rulers in Nassau and beyond.
Mr. Bernard Depuch who had been elected only a short time earlier, was greatly admired, saw the hand writing on the wall and "forced" retirement was compelled upon him by the residents of Inagua primarily.
Not one person would lie then; Mr. Bernard Depuch was a honorable man who acted with some level of integrity, valor and cared greatly about the people of both islands even to this day and time in his old age still, interfaces with many residents.
True to this day.
This without a doubt spoke volumes in the annals of former Members of Parliament (Bahamas) history.
In the meantime, the debate continues as to why Mayaguanians favored the well known family man called (Dupuches) who they knew best at the time, instead of the sister island residents differing substantially for a man who did have family roots in the islands.
But again, was it due to the electorate total land size of the island of Inagua or maybe not?
Time never did tell in this instant exactly.
It was apparent at the time, quite singled-handily residents of Inagua elected Mr. T. Joe Ford (PLP) 1968 and later his apparent reaction to the people of Mayaguana as a result of their voting record became evident to many, while the clan associated with Mr. Clayton Taylor aroused his attention and was duly rewarded.
Then again with Mayaguana and Inagua proximity to New Providence island, at this juncture in the British controlled history of the country, the prevailing consensus in the House of Assembly and beyond was "no need" to parcel out an economic stimulus plan, far away from Nassau, the capitol to an island four hundred miles south of any known tourist venue.
It was just how they (i.e.) the members of parliament thought and projected at the time.
That was then and so it was, as no forward strategic thinkers dared to craft or structured a plan to birth the growth of light industries, eco-tourism. Oil exploration, population growth and housing development outside of New Providence.
Why was that? "Time will tell," the old man would say.
But one thing remain clear to this day; T. Joe Ford (PLP) finished the job begun by the renowned family named Depuches, who had been inserted in the country via the colonials past.
T. Joe Ford did get the people new schools, new nurses' clinics, some paved roads between Betsy bay and Pirates Well. That was not all; even the resident commissioner and nurse moved into official and new residences.
Things could not have been better. 1968 true story.
T. Joe Ford was doing what islanders had hoped for from their Member of Parliament - i.e., to pay attention to the needs of the people and so it was, as Mr. Clayton Taylor reaped benefits greatly as a result of the Member of Parliament favorable discourse with his clan.
Then a tropical depression clamped down on New Providence island and when it was calm again, the sun shone so brightly with no clouds in sight.
Later in the day, Radio Bahamas ZNS news announced another seismic move by the beloved Honorable Prime Minister Sir Lynden O. Pindling, had appointed Mr. T. Joe Ford, chairman of another major government operated entity.
To no one surprise. T. Joe Ford was on the up and up and that was for real.
That was just how it had become, while the looting and scattering of the children's dreams and ambitions were fair game at the time for the Chairman of the Board, the MDA struggled to offset the thrashing, as it became difficult to maintain as many supporters of Mr. T. Joe Ford abandoned the association and stopped paying membership fees following Mr. T. Joe Ford accession.
No one still knew for sure what had happened. But rumors are not always true, as one thing became crystallized and obvious to people, T. Joe Ford's door or telephone was no longer accessible to many of the constituents of M/I ( Mayaguana/Inagua).
The democratically elected Member of Parliament benumbed and reneged on the promises, to be readily available to the voters who had elected him in the first place.
But never give up on the man," an elderly lady from Betsy Bay would always say, as people moved back and forth to the constable residence to use the telephone and get vital mail boat information or just chat about the apparent happenings in town and beyond.
Again this day the beloved constable had made contact with the high command in Abraham's bay, but the commissioner was out fishing with his local confidants even before words had gotten to the constable; gossip was everywhere that the Member of Parliament had taken refuge in New Providence and did not visit Mayaguana hardly anymore.
The Member of Parliament had become noticeably out of sight and residents could no longer reach out and touch him no more.
Though he would show up here and there and someone would always hear where he might have been. True true story.
Then finally word did get from the commissioner's office that he took heart to reveal that T. Joe Ford sounded incoherent and did not give a damn anymore. Something many residents had known for some time. That did not fall well with constituents who voted for him and those who did not vote for him.
Anyhow who could Mayaguanians turn to?
The mail boat, as slow as it was did arrive and were reasonably dependable most of the times when inclement weather did not caused delays.
But the group of civic minded Mayaguanians tried to fill the void and attempted to act as a counter balance to the trifling demeanor displayed by Mr. T. Joe Ford, as the looting and arrest of the beloved children's ambitions and dreams continued.
Who was to give the children a chance?
The bona fide Member of Parliament slipped out and refused to assist the people in any way to become productive citizens who would live and contribute to the homeland.
Mayaguana and Inagua parents never gave up on their children you know, though the MDA ( Mayaguana Development Association), did have a mandate and functioned well to booster the confidence, self esteem and island pride of all who joined even as hope was crushed and dragged into the mud by T. Joe Fords' propensity to berate the promises of the leaders in New Providence.
The children grew up and overcame diversity as the venom heaped on their head by this "son of the soil."
Things are not always what they seem, but with wisdom like Solomon of long ago, Sir Lynden O. Pindling shuffled his cards again and a new cabinet were named with vibrant and confident faces surfacing.
Mr. T. Joe Ford was sidelined to fade in oblivion just before being booted out of the House of Assembly for another " son of the soil" under the banner of Free National Movement (FNM), who for the most part jiggled politics with a level head, recognizing decorum as mandated by his constituents.
This was clearly not what Mr. Clayton Taylor fought so hard for when campaigning for Mr. T. Joe Ford.
Nevertheless Mr. Vernon Symonette (FNM) did champion the causes for Mayaguana/Inagua people and pleaded for their plight during his tenure in the House of Assembly with marginal development transpiring.
Main while the personalities and characters who did the leg work for the people of Mayaguana succeeded to bring about a dialogue amongst quarters in the community that conveyed the looming threat to the "homeland security" imposed or implied by Nassau that shun structured economic and civic institutional development in the Family islands.
In retrospect, MDA (Mayaguana Development Association) under the steady eyes of Miss Linda Collie, Miss Roselene Gibson and Mrs. Marie Mckinney, the patron saints of Pirates Well Mayaguana, did mentored the leadership of Mr. Lincoln Taylor (deceased) and also Mr. Lionel Charlton to be proactive and to foment a brotherhood of anchored "indigenous" Mayaguanians who had been witnesses to the turbulence, hurricane Donna, Cuban missile crisis and the rifts within the "house" of Mayaguana and knew well so much more was ahead.
Unlike Mr. Nesbitt Higgins, who was voted into office with much hoopla and cheers? There was much hope anticipated in his presidency. Though during his tenure the exodus of anchored Mayaguanians were accelerated, due in part to his disgust for dissent and free flowing dialogue.
The patron saints were never able to tap into his platform as bedlam surrounded his rule.
Even though the partisans of territorial doom and selfish contours triumphed; the economic, inter-island commerce, civic advancement and infrastructure development, remained a real high bar moving forward, upward and onward into the future.
Time keep slipping into the future was a true true story; as MDA (Mayaguana Development Association) had many popularly elected presidents and supporting casts who knew a Mayaguana of 900 or more inhabitants where emerging enterprises were borned even as the exodus to Nassau, Freeport Grand Bahama and beyond where propelled by the surge and flurry for independence from the United Kingdom throughout the Caribbean and African territories.
The Bahamas with a monetary identity on par with the Americans, independence was an ideal escape from the colonial web set by the British.
MDA the story continues and newer ideas slip into the future.
Behind Grey curtains is a celebration and exploration of family island life.
Senator Jacinta Higgs: Debate on Speech from the Throne
VOICE OF BAHAMIANS:
Madam President, our government has always proclaimed that the voice of the people is the most powerful symbol of true democracy. During our first term in office, we made great efforts to provide Bahamians with numerous opportunities to express matters, issues and concerns that were important to them. We strengthened the Voice of the people by enabling Bahamians from every island in The Bahamas the vehicle to call talk shows with suggestions that were used to advise the government.
In this new term in office, accountability and transparency in government are even more fundamental to our code of beliefs; a code that includes the right of the people to access information regarding the processes of governing. In support of such openness, legislation will be placed before you for the enactment of a Freedom of Information Act.
Our government will be unwavering in its commitment to the people to strengthen and deepen our democracy. Specifically, we will ensure:
Appropriate standards of conduct of Ministers and other Members of Parliament
Accountability to the people through regular public reports on the state of our country
Media access to information
Disclosure in the House of Assembly of all agreements with international investors
Public Service responsiveness to the concerns of citizens.
We will not keep the Bahamian voters, in the dark regarding issues and decisions of national interest. We will continue to operate as the government in the sunshine. We will continue to be guided and governed by national needs and concerns that will formulate our national vision.
VISION FOR THE FUTURE
Madam President, it is critical that during this third term in office, we ensure that our national vision of prosperity for the masses, and the advancement of public good, must be owned by the people. The process of formulating the vision will be ongoing and systematic, and we intend that the vision be talked about all the time, every day, at every meeting and within every ministry. We will thwart any attempt by the other side to distort or misrepresent the national vision of our government.
All local and national decisions should be made from that vision. We must make it clear to others via the media and education how the decisions made by our government relate to the national vision. We are constantly reminded " a people perish for a lack of knowledge and vision, and during the past few years, it became painfully clear that a country can suffer catastrophic consequences when decisions are made outside the scope of a national vision.
Madam President, in an effort to steer our country toward national success and global competitiveness, our government is determined to prioritize the dialogue among the various ministries in response to the continued high incidence of crime in our society. Urgent attention will be given to public safety, increase employment, literacy rates, economic empowerment, and land/home ownership for all Bahamians.
The national vision has been broadened to include the creation of jobs and expansion of Bahamian business ownership in the Bahamian economy. A review of the National Investment Policy of The Bahamas and legislation will be placed before you for the enactment of a National Investment Act. This will provide transparency, clarity, and a “level playing field” for investing in The Bahamas for both Bahamians and international persons.
Copyright (c) - 1975, 1986, 1999,2010 - 2011 C. St. Paul (Gibson). All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2011 Carl St. Paul (Gibson) aka Ammadou. All Rights Reserved