The celebrations on the road to 50 years since our nation gained political independence from the Great Britain were elaborate and impressive. Our golden jubilee was nothing short of a grand affair and it was apparent that the government spared no expense in ensuring that this milestone was a memorable one. While it is disappointing that Bahamians remain in the dark about how much was actually spent on the various events both at home and abroad more than a year later, the first year of the next 50 has commenced.
We celebrate Year 51 in 2024 with an appreciation of the road we have traveled as a nation and with our eyes on the future. The hopes, dreams and aspirations of our people for the years ahead rest on the shoulders of every Bahamian. Leading the charge will be the individuals we elect to chart the course for our Commonwealth. This piece considers the unique position of a country at an intersection between its old and new soldiers on the battlefield of nationhood.
Yesterday’s Struggle
Reflections on the Quiet Revolution take us to a place in the early days of nationhood that featured patriots united in pursuit of a common loftier goal and not divided by political tribalism or classism. No amount of historical revisionism will alter the reality that Bahamians stood side by side to confront injustice, inequality and social vices that impeded our people from achieving their full potential. Supporters of the Progressive Liberal Party and Free National Movement today are children of the same Bahamians who planted the trees whose shade we enjoy today.
We stand tall today on the shoulders of those who came before us and paved the way for the modern Bahamas. Their mission was clear, and the fight was defined as evidenced by events such as the Burma Road Riots, Suffrage Movement, General Strike, Black Tuesday, and the attainment of Majority Rule prior to Independence in 1973. Our ancestors had conviction and backed their talk with their walk-in actions taken for the sake of the country.
Old Soldiers Never Die
The phrase “old soldiers never die, they just fade away” comes from an old army ballad that was popular with British soldiers during World War I. The Bahamian patriots in the generations to which they belong are soldiers. These soldiers are diverse in terms of gender, backgrounds, fields, professions, political affiliation, and race, albeit we all share a common loftier goal. The challenge faced by most old soldiers is that having been at the top of their game for so long and have built their lives around their craft, they have to confront the reality of departure and to have to leave the scene to pave the way for the younger soldiers.
While it is a known fact that even the best soldiers will eventually have to retire and confront their mortality, they struggle to come to terms with the inevitable decline in their fame, prominence and relevance with the passage of time. It is a difficult position that requires fortitude and great character but one which we must all ultimately reach in our lives; hence the importance of building a good legacy.
Shifting Ideologies
An assessment of the years gone by and the legacies of our leaders since 1973 will show how much times have changed. The late Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling had staunch views on gambling, and his concerns on the impact of marijuana use on Bahamian youth are documented in video footage, which has recently re-emerged via social media. In that video, Sir Lynden lamented the degradation of our nation’s social fabric as a result of ongoing use and abuse of what he described as dope.
The landscape of The Bahamas has evolved and continues to evolve away from the firmly held positions of the first PLP-led administration in an independent Bahamas led by Sir Lynden. Gaming has been legalized and regularized albeit Bahamians are still precluded from gambling in casinos while foreigners enjoy this privilege. The Marijuana Bill has now been passed in the House of Assembly, which opens the door to medicinal marijuana and could eventually lead to the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana.
Changing of the Guard
The younger Bahamian soldiers must eventually take on the reins of power. They must prepare themselves while learning from the old soldiers and gleaning their wisdom. Indeed, they must learn from their predecessors’ successes and failures what to do and what not to do.
The next generation of leaders must live up to the expectations of the Bahamian people by having courage with empathy, self-pride with humility, being respectable but respectful and speaking but having the wisdom to listen. The role of the elders in preparing and guiding the willing youth of this nation as they embark on their voyage of service is extremely important. Having been through the wars and being familiar with the perils of the battlefield, they have a duty to preserve the army for future battles as they journey to their twilight years. The legacy of the old soldiers as they fade away will not be defined solely by their exploits or victories on the battlefield but also by the condition or state in which they left the army. Was the army better upon their departure when compared to their enrollment?
The Next 50
As we commence the first year of the next 50 years, many have lost heart and resigned themselves to the reality that nothing will change. This is a clarion call for the reigniting of the fire that once burned in the bellies of Bahamians with an indomitable spirit. Let optimism replace pessimism, hope replaces despair, engagement replaces apathy, and faith replaces fear. We stand at the door of possibilities with a unique opportunity to take our dear nation to greater heights. The baton is not for the faint of heart and those who shrink in the face of adversity.
The inheritors of a Bahamas shaped by the struggles, sacrifices and vision of our predecessors must take their rightful place in writing the new chapters of our nation’s history. This is no easy feat as we confront the keepers of the status quo masked as servants or advocates of the masses. A system and social order stacked against the average Bahamian makes the fight for our nation’s future even more difficult; not one for the weak.
We are at a crossroads and confronted with a pivotal decision. The next generation of Bahamians will need courage, strength, perseverance and persistence to change an oppressive system. The dreams of an accountable and transparent government with checks and balances enacted in legislation to protect the people’s interest must become a reality in the next dispensation. Home ownership, entrepreneurial and investment opportunities should be accessible to all – not a select few in society. A modern healthcare system that works for all should not be a luxury available to the privileged. Our education system should be designed to bring out the best in our young people based on their God-given talent. Bahamians should feel safe in their homes and on the streets without the fear of being the next victim of crime. Fifty years from now after it’s all said and done, what will be said about what we have done to improve on the nation we inherited? Future generations are depending on us.
Written by: Arinthia S. Komolafe (a.s.komolafe510@gmail.com)
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