What Bahamians need to understand and appreciate is that this country is not unique, and that its problems and possibilities mirror those of other small states and territories. And as we have previously indicated, a major deficit bedevilling the Bahamas relates to the low regard it collectively gives its own fledgling intelligentsia. There are – even as we make this commentary – any number of highly regarded Bahamians who can and should be called upon to build upon the work done last evening by Prime Minister Arthur.
What is also important today is for the Christie government to recognise that while widespread public dialogue is important, talk must at some point come to an end. That moment is now. Our judgement is that The Bahamas should sign on to the Caribbean Single Market and Economy. In this regard, we note the point made by Prime Minister Owen Arthur that countries like The Bahamas join organizations to protect, defend and enhance their interests. As such, therefore, the watchwords are sovereignty and functional co-operation. The Bahamas has much to gain and little to lose from deepening its involvement with its neighbours.
A long time ago – perhaps as early as 1968 – The Bahamas adopted as its tourism slogan: The Bahamas Not Out Of The Way, Just Out Of This World! While this jingle may have been good enough to tout the touristic wonders of these islands, its flavour lingers in the attitude many Bahamians exhibit towards involvement with its neighbours in the region. Many Bahamians are today reasoning that this country can and should go it alone in the world.
Despite the evidence of facts which attest to the importance of deepening regional ties and involvement in areas of functional co-operation, many Bahamians cling to the outmoded note that ‘outsiders’ are threatening to undermine the Bahamian way of life. To put it as mildly as possible, much of the reaction to so-called ‘outsiders’ has been hysterical and ignorant.
What makes this situation even more interesting is that thanks to upgraded access to media, a small number of voices has, at times, been able to drown out more thoughtful presentations. This amplification of ignorance brings its own harsh downside, which is that politicians might be tempted into inaction because of the intensity of a few loud presentations, rather than doing what they know to be the right thing. This is the impression we are forming as we follow the so-called debate concerning how The Bahamas should respond to the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.
Sadly and regrettably, the level of political debate and discussion is low, when compared to what it is elsewhere in our region. What makes this particularly intolerable is that in a democracy, all voices must be heard – if not heeded – by politicians who wish to be re-elected. Electoral contests are often determined by voters who may be totally ignorant about any number of issues. This explains, in part at least, the currency and importance given to talk radio, town meetings and other civic forums. Last evening, the attentive public was given a major treat at a town meeting featuring the Hon. Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados.
In his handling of this topic, Mr. Arthur demonstrated the importance of informed debate in the shaping of public policy. Obviously, a man of great patience, tact and diplomacy, he deftly parried any number of ignorant jibes, most of them coming from people who were ill-prepared for debate. Notwithstanding this small problem, Mr. Arthur gets our highest appreciation for the work he did in trying to illuminate the pros and cons surrounding the involvement of The Bahamas in the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.
Last evening, Prime Minister Arthur, was, to put it mildly, riveting, impressive and right on target as he addressed an audience of Bahamians on the issues surrounding the Caribbean Single Market and Economy. The Barbadian prime minister was, to repeat, simply brilliant. As we listened to this Caribbean man, his rhetorical prowess was eerily reminiscent of that of another consummate Caribbean Man, the Father of the Bahamian Nation, the late and Rt. Hon. Sir Lynden O. Pindling.
The elementary fact of the matter is that anyone with an iota of sense would have come away from Arthur’s presentation with a renewed sense of Caribbean possibility and the vital importance of reasoned dialogue in a democracy. We must confess that we left the presentation impressed and persuaded. The region and its many peoples should be proud that one of its sons can do so well. Those Bahamians whose ancestral roots are grounded in Barbados have reason to be doubly proud.
Editorial, The Bahama Journal
