Starting A Revolution in The Minds of Bahamians

We find ourselves in a state of perplexity and uncertainty, a quandary for us as the custodians of our nation. Perspective is a beautiful thing for those who possess the ability to contextualize the potential that exists in our country. I always believe that the Bahamian people are the center of our nation's hopes and aspirations. The cause of building a promising future for all Bahamians is not a partisan one; it is a fundamental responsibility for us as citizens to work in the national interest.

The logical explanation of the little challenges we face as a people would suggest that it is not the difficulty of the problem which we have; it is the fact that our population has a brawny insular and conditioned way of thinking that simply doesn't allow us to solve the problems. Therein lies an astonishing reality of The Bahamas being at a crossroad; is our ability to redefine, retool, reconfigure, and preserve whom we want to be and whom we would like to become as a people.

The necessity of a mental paradigm shift in The Bahamas cannot be underscored; our way of thinking is detrimental to any tangible progress. Truly any meaningful revolution must be inaugurated in the minds of the Bahamian people. The systematic challenges threaten our economic, social, and political fabrics. The lack of economic appreciation and security foster an already welcoming environment for xenophobia.

The gravity of the situation which confronts the country today necessitates a long-term process of nation-building. Because of the lack of mental intervention by using education, we fail to fulfill any core national functions. We determine our unique strengths and weaknesses by our tailored efforts in how we utilize and invest effectively in The Bahamian people.

A comprehensive strategy must be built on the talents of the Bahamian people and must include a more equitable economic environment. The rationalism of denying and disenfranchising our people of a level playing field cannot be justified. If the Bahamian people do not have the required distribution of wealth, they will lack the ability to supply themselves or to fairly compete, empowering the minority to think it is necessary that they own everything with no form empathy for the masses.

The Bahamas is not a free market; it is nothing more than a crony capitalism rewarding the privilege through the systems of political, economic, and social favoritism. If a man's talents and capabilities cannot help him to survive in his own country what can? There will never be sustainable economic growth and development unless we as people deal effectively with anti growth-inhibiting behaviors. The Bahamas problems and challenges are symptoms or manifestations of poorly developed practices, obstinate mediocrity, obsolescent ideologies, and an unsustainable way of thinking.

The dreams of our people will determine the heights of this country. For those who can not comprehend the significance of protecting all things Bahamian, you must understand that we are preserving the fundamental dignity of protecting and building our nation's indigenous values, institutions, and heritage. Protecting what is Bahamian extends beyond preserving our physical attributes, language, song, and dance. It ensures that we always embody our values, institutions, principles, historical experiences, and aspirations so that the next generation of Bahamians can inherit what was preserved for them to enjoy.

We continue to deprive our people of their culture, and when we deprive them of that, we deprive them of their sense of direction or purpose. The tipping point is here, and now we have to determine our way forward. The Bahamas is at a point where it is imperative that the country attract, retain, and utilize highly skilled and talented individuals from all sectors of the country. The Bahamas unsustainable development model must shift to a more talent-driven environment to appropriate economic growth.

Talent and productivity must be our resources and priority for social and economic development. Bahamian talent is the most valuable and important asset for our country to have and to cultivate. Our nation must cut its ties from limitations on talent flows and create an open environment for utilizing talented individuals. I continue to say there's no shortage of talents and capabilities in The Bahamas, just the unwillingness to believe in the shared strength of our people. We must use the necessary tools to liberate our people from the conditions that hinder the flowering of their talents. This country has a peculiar paradox with regards to development; it has the human capital resources but lacks a political, economic, and social framework to leverage them effectively.