Bahamian parents urged to play a more active role in their children's education

Minister makes plea to parents
By NOELLE NICOLLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
nnicolls@tribunemedia.net:



BAHAMIAN parents were yesterday urged to play a more active role in their children's education.

Desmond Bannister, Minister of Education, said the difference between students who excel in the public school system and students who under-perform is the support they receive from their families.

He said in his experience, children with Haitian parentage often excel because they are supported by their families, and the same was true for Bahamian children who excel.

"In our public schools we have many, many children who are doing well and excelling, and they are Bahamian children. A priest said this to me at a graduation ceremony, look at all the people who got awards, you can almost know, without seeing the family, the type of family they came from: a family with a commitment to education and a commitment to seeing their children do well. There is nothing I want more than to see my Bahamians excel in education. I have to send the message out there that we have to spend more time with our children," said Mr Bannister.

Education statistics show that less than 10 per cent of the total graduating cohort received a 'C' grade or above on their BGCSE examinations.

Mr Bannister said while he believes the level of commitment to education is displayed by some Bahamian children in the way they are allowed to walk to school with no books in their hands, their pants hanging down and their pants legs in their socks, that is not the majority of Bahamian children, and "only one of the realities we face in education."

"The real issue that all of us have to face is what is our commitment to the education of our children. How much time do we spend with them; how much interest do we display in what they are doing; how much time do we help them with school. These are the real issues," said Mr Bannister.

"My commitment is to try to get as many of my Bahamian brothers and sisters as possible to understand the commitment to excellence in their children's education. I want Bahamians to focus on excellence in their children's education. That is why we are having the parenting seminar in August. We want parents to be aware. When we find scapegoats, when we look for anyone else as scapegoats, we are not really addressing the problem," he said.

Samuel Johnson, a member of the Centreville Primary school board of directors, said he was concerned about Haitian children receiving all of the "benefits, awards and certificates" of the public school system at the expense of Bahamians.

His comments were applauded by some participants in a seminar of more than 100 public school principals and board members, Friday.

Mr Johnson expressed his personal sentiments during the question and answer section of the financial management seminar, where the Minister spoke. However, Ministry officials did not readily have statistics to support the view. A senior official could only confirm the number of children of Haitian parentage is "large" in some inner city schools, and many of them were "indeed excelling."

Bahamians had a lot to say on Tribune242.com about the opinion of Mr Johnson and the response from the Minister, who said there was to be no discrimination of any children in public schools.

"Again, blaming persons of other nationalities is not the problem to solving this crisis. We need more schools, more educational funding, better teaching conditions, more 'old-school' teachers of yester-years, and the list goes on and on. The greater debate here should be about how we, as Bahamians, can go about being more civilly, community-minded parents, teachers, students, neighbours, etceteras," stated a Tribune242.com commenter, under the title "Give me a break!"

"If all of the Haitian (or Jamaican or Guyanese) children were to pack up their 'georgie bundles' and leave the Bahamas, you can bet your last bottom dollar that there would be zero to no change in the overall attitudes toward education in this country! Stop fooling yourselves into thinking that the problem lies elsewhere when it really lies within. And this is coming from a thoroughbred Bahamian, flesh and bone!" stated "True True Bahamian", on the post.

Another Tribune242.com commenter, under the name "Confused", said the view that Haitians outperform Bahamians is of no surprise.

"What I don't understand is why so many Bahamians are up in arms about this, as if this is something new! You know doggone well ya children ain't been doin' what they supposed to do in school! If you do not attend PTA meetings, check over home-work, ensure your children read over their notes from the day's lessons, pick up report cards on time or make time to visit schools and meet teachers to discuss your child's performance in school (whether good or bad), please close your mouths. You are not eligible to partake in this discussion until you fulfil your role as a responsible parent!"

Schools do not collate statistical data on the immigration status of students, as it is not necessary to be a citizen of the Bahamas to attend a public school. All legal residents are entitled to attend a government school in the district they live.

Minister Bannister said, "We don't want schools to be doing that job of looking to see who is this and that, even though statistics may be gathered at some stage. We don't want to turn principles into immigration officers."

Minister Bannister said he was confident that any Haitian student receiving awards in a public school did so based on merit and not any preferential treatment on the part of schools.

"Every parent should look at how his child is doing in school. If his child is not doing well that parent should make a commitment to make sure that child is getting more from him or her. For too long we look at national results and blame a politician for what is happening. We need to stop that and look at the reality of what is happening in our family and determine if we are living up to our responsibilities," he said.

Bahamian parents were advised to take an interest in the education of their children, by a Tribune242.com commenter.

"As a teacher this is no surprise. Haitian students and their families show more interest and value free education. Not only Haitians, but Chinese, Guyanese and Jamaicans are also top competitors.

"Our students have become consumed with material things. The core values of hard work and dedication are slowly dying. Bahamian parents, please, show interest, challenge your children,"

Her advice was to: "Get rid of the PlayStation and Wii. Get your child a book or Leapfrog. Unsubscribe from BET and MTV. Turn on Discovery and PBS! Save the money for Clarke's shoes: No 3.00 (grade point average) no Clarke's! Block Facebook and Youtube. Bookmark Discovery Network, National Geographic and Bahamas.com!"

July 19, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

Perry Christie isn’t performing and doesn’t do anything in the Farm Road constituency

Is your Member of Parliament performing?
By IANTHIA SMITH:


This is the question The Bahama Journal posed to residents in the Farm Road constituency yesterday.

The residents there minced no words in explaining just how they feel about their Member of Parliament, Perry Christie.

Long time Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) supporter Prince Arnette said he is disappointed and "feels let down" by Mr. Christie’s performance over the past three years.

"No, he isn’t performing," Mr. Arnette said. "He doesn’t do anything in this area. If you have an MP with such influence and such power, don’t you think your constituency should look like paradise? Well look around, Farm Road is no paradise."

"That man only comes around every five years when it’s time for election. Other than that, this area stays run down and in a mess; he doesn’t bring programmes in the area, he doesn’t help provide jobs, he doesn’t help the youth, he doesn’t do anything and I’m a big time PLP telling you this."

Welder Mark Johnson said he wants to see more done.

"These people around here need help, man," he said. "We need our MP to come around and ask us what it is that we need, what it is that we’re lacking, how is it that crime is affecting us, what are our children doing; how are they doing in school. But Mr. Christie doesn’t know these things because he doesn’t come around."

Another Farm Road resident who goes by the name Tiffany said she feels like "just because we live in the ghetto they don’t want anything to do with us."

"We (haven’t) had any social programmes, we have nothing for the children to do, there have been no renovations to the government homes, the water pump that we all depend on doesn’t work."

"There are no jobs, the park is a mess and Farm Road just gone to the dogs. The MP for this area does nothing and is just sitting by and watching these things get worst and worst."

But the reviews were mixed.

There are those Farm Road residents who said no matter what their MP does, some constituents are never satisfied.

One area resident who goes by the name "Crab" said he is quite happy with Mr. Christie’s performance and cannot even fathom why someone would complain.

He said as far as he sees things, his MP is doing all he can.

"He can’t do it all," Crab said. "I feel good about him, he’s a busy man and he is doing all he can. We live in the ghetto. What we need is a big bulldozer to come and just knock it all down and start over again because all these people doing is foolishness in the back here."

"But they wont let no one come in the back here and make a change. So when he does the little that he can they complain."

The only time I see my MP is when he’s on TV," one Farm Road woman added. "The people around here are hurting and we need someone to help us. It seems like my vote doesn’t count but I know that it does. Because if there are 60 votes 30 on one side and 30 on the other the one last vote that is coming is what will determine the winner, so guess what, one vote does count."

"These MPs need to stop sitting up in their air conditioned offices and come out here and see what’s going on with the people who put them in office."

"Yes, Perry Christie is doing a good job," said Farm Road resident Andrea Moncur. ‘We live in the ghetto and only so much you can do with people who don’t want to help themselves. You can give them jobs, they go for three weeks and come right back out here on the blocks, so what you want Mr. Christie to do then?"

"The people don’t want to work, they don’t want to do any better and that is not Mr. Christie’s fault. He does his best, it’s just that these young people don’t want to work."

Farm Road constituents said if Mr. Christie would take a minute and walk around the area, he would know that the youth, crime and unemployment are burning issues facing his constituency.

But, according to most of the people the Journal spoke to, they are lucky to even see Mr. Christie outside of campaign mode.

"He needs to do better," another Farm Road woman said. "He need to do something with the (youth) around here, they need something to keep them occupied and keep them interested in the country."

"The older ones need jobs but it’s these young ones we really need to worry about and catch while they are young."

Calls to Mr. Christie were not returned up to press time.

July 15th, 2010

jonesbahamas

Bahamas Blog International

Haitian children out-perform Bahamians in The Bahamas' public school system

Haitians outperform Bahamians

By NOELLE NICOLLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
nnicolls@tribunemedia.net:

HAITIAN children are out-performing Bahamians in the public school system, senior government officials have revealed.

And they are excelling because Haitian parents "recognise the importance of education" as a "vehicle for progress".

An official told The Tribune: "I can assure you in many of the public schools, children of Haitian parentage are indeed excelling."

No statistics were available to show the number of children of Haitian parentage in the public school system. However, one senior official said in some inner city schools the number is "large".

At a workshop for public school administrators and board members yesterday, concern was raised over Haitian children receiving all of the "benefits" of the Bahamian education system.

Samuel Johnson, member of the Centreville Primary school board, said he was worried that all of the "benefits, awards and certificates" go to Haitian children, while Bahamian children walk away empty-handed.

He suggested the government may need to look at a system where "non-bona fide" Bahamians have to make a contribution to the cost of their education.

Desmond Bannister, Minister of Education, said there should be no discrimination of Haitian children in public schools.

"We have a responsibility to educate every child in this country. We are not going to do anything less. That is the civilised thing to do. We cannot have any kind of discrimination against any children. For a civilized country that subscribes to the United Nations convention, it is our obligation to ensure children are educated. Any country that discriminates against children labels itself as a barbaric society," said Mr Bannister, speaking at the workshop.

Mr Bannister said when Bahamian children walk to school they have no books in their hands, their pants are in their socks and they hang down, while Haitian children have their bags and books in tow. He said Haitian parents walk their children to school and pick them up.

Mr Bannister said he went to several graduations, and he saw few Bahamians, men in particular, showing interest in their children. He said the Haitian children were flanked by their entire families.

"Take an interest in your children. Our children are not dumb. They have potential," said Mr Bannister, but too many of them "are raising themselves."

He recounted the story of a boy he met, who was in junior high school and had to work nights to raise $600 per month to pay rent for himself and his brother because of "parental neglect."

Bahamians do not have sufficient "motivation for academic excellence" because people do not see an intrinsic value in education, and "the need for educational excellence in order to achieve a good job does not exist," according to one educator.

"Our people live at a very high standard with a low level of education. They have access to the quantity of material things without having to have a very good standard of education. We have to understand that quantity of living does not necessarily equate to quality of life. What quality is about is a certain level of civility, of compassion, of respect for the environment, respect for the rule of law and the democratic processes," she said.

Mr Bannister said when he came out of high school a lot of his peers went to work in the hotel industry; they got "well paying jobs", were able to buy "wonderful cars", build apartments, and live comfortably.

"I understand that we have a whole part of our society that doesn't value education. There is much more to education than (material wealth). Education is important for you to be able to live and exist in society competently; to interact on a daily basis and make a difference in your country. Many of us are losing the ability to reason at a level that allows society to go on," said Mr Bannister.

The lack of education in Bahamian society is evident in the level of public discourse, the level of reasoning, the inability of people "to settle disputes in a rational manner," he said.

Mr Bannister said the important thing was for Bahamians to have the same kind of commitment to education that the generation of his parents and grandparents had.

July 17, 2010

tribune242

The economic downturn impacts Government's plans to further develop the country during the Free National Movement's present term in office

Tribune Exclusive: Economic slump hits PM's plans
By ALISON LOWE
Tribune Staff Reporter
alowe@tribunemedia.net:



THE economic downturn that has gripped the country for almost two years has caused the Prime Minister and his Government to "substantially and significantly" scale down plans to further develop the country during the FNM 's present term in office.

Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said yesterday that appointing a Minister for Grand Bahama Affairs and introducing local government in New Providence are among the initiatives he had planned to undertake before the next general election which have been "postponed."

Mr Ingraham was speaking with The Tribune during an interview at the Cabinet Office yesterday.

Asked to what extent the economic downturn in The Bahamas and the world, which has seen Government revenues fall sharply as import and tourism-related receipts in particular have dropped, impacted plans he had for the country in the 2007 to 2012 term, Mr Ingraham said "significantly, substantially."

"But that's the reality. You take it the way you find it," he added.

Nonetheless, pressed as to what projects or initiatives in particular he would most regret having to postpone, Mr Ingraham stressed that he "hasn't gone yet."

"Circumstances alter cases. We are committed to those things we said we'd do but circumstances have changed. We are in a different environment so we may not be able to do all those things we'd wished to do but we are doing as many as we can as rapidly as we are able to," he said.

Speaking of plans he expressed early on in the present term to appoint a Minister for Grand Bahama who would be able to bring more focused government attention to the northern island and its long-ailing economy, Mr Ingraham said he cannot now go ahead with this plan because of a lack of funds at this time.

"I am seeking to conserve expenditure and that's one of the things I want to do but there are plenty of things I want to do that I am unable to do," he said.

As for the introduction of local government in New Providence, like that which exists throughout the Family Islands, Mr Ingraham said "that too is one of those postponed things."

"But it is desirable, that it should happen. Whether we'll be able to do it in this term I don't know."

Local Government for New Providence was just one of many promises made by the FNM in its Manifesto and election platform for the 2007 general election. Many have been fulfilled, but many others remain outstanding. Among them, key projects such as the establishment of a National Library, a National Forensic Institute with a DNA lab, establishing a Consumer Protection Agency and constructing new schools to meet the demands of growing communities.

Referring to the advantages of the Local government he would like to see introduced in New Providence, Mr Ingraham said it would be a "more efficient and responsive form of government" that would reduce delays for communities in getting problems addressed by precluding the need to wait for central government to process the situation.

"I don't think you should have to wait for the Ministry of Works to come and fix the pothole in the road, or the street light is out or if you need a license in the area in which you live...(instead) you'd have the local representative you elected to the Council, you'd see him in the foodstore and you'd be able to say 'Listen man...'."

"In places like Green Turtle Cay it's working very well. I was there a few weeks ago and the local district council showed me the post office there and they said you know this part is rotten and needs to be changed etcetera, we've got the materials but we don't have any money, we think it's going to cost about $14,000 to $15,000... so we (central government) were able to help them but they will do the work, they will cause the work to be done," explained the Prime Minister.

July 16, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

Dr David Allen: ...an "ominous and pervasive culture of violence and destruction" taking over The Bahamas

Research shows 'culture of violence and destruction' taking over country
By NOELLE NICOLLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
nnicolls@tribunemedia.net:


THREE years worth of research into the root causes of crime in the Bahamas show an "ominous and pervasive culture of violence and destruction" taking over the country, according to Dr David Allen, psychiatrist and founder of Bahamian Forum.

Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade and Bamboo Town Member of Parliament Branville McCartney spoke at the relaunched Bahamian Forum hosted last week. Dr Allen presented findings from his study that included interviews with families of murder victims, students involved in violent disorderly behaviour, chronic drug addicts, public and private psychotherapy groups, confidential interviews with children, and other sample groups.

"We found a powerful sense of anger amongst us Bahamians. Throughout the three-year study participants talked about "outting", which was the word for killing; poisoning, women particularly, and suicide," said Dr Allen.

"A few months ago we had a young girl commit suicide. We have five of her friends right now who want to do the same thing right now. Their argument is, 'Doc, life is in the body. When there are no good things for you, you can't wear Nike, and designer clothes, you can't have the right weight, you might as well die.'" They believe life is purely in the body," he said.

Dr Allen said Bahamians act based on destructive anger patterns, instead of constructive anger patterns that are fostered from by grieving, forgiveness, gratitude, and compassion, among other factors. He said the destructive anger breeds resentment, bitterness, grudgefulness, lack of inhibition and a "hardness of heart."

Commissioner Greenslade said there were several incidents where family members showed little emotion when one of their own was murdered. They had no interest in helping police solve the crime and treated the murder as collateral damage.

"Bahamians are saying I don't feel the murders anymore; it's just what is supposed to happen. They build a wall in their heart. Most disturbing is we found a number of young girls who had no compunction about giving their bodies for money. They pay for their education, but they also pay for their parents' air conditioning, refrigeration and also their cable. The point is they had no feeling about it. They said, 'Doc, that is what you call survival in the Bahamas.' That was very, very disturbing," said Dr Allen.

"Nearly every person who was involved in a serious crime interviewed had some severe abuse, physical or sexual. We have a chronic child abuse problem in our country," he said.

The good news, according to Dr Allen, is found in a study condition by John Hopkins university that showed, if community leaders walked around their communities once per week for a period of two years, it would drastically reduce the occurrence of child abuse.

"Can you imagine if each church adopted the area around each church and walked the area around that church each week. They will see the child neglect; they will see the child abuse; they will see the incubation of crime and we can revolutionise the Bahamas in about three years," said Dr Allen.

Dr Allen said the culture of crime and violence was creating a large network of people suffering from trauma. The symptoms of this trauma, he said, were a "deep desire for revenge," insecurity, "upside down values."

"Young men and women join gangs for affirmation, safety, protection, connection and empowerment. This is a growing phenomenon and a serious one, because the herd instinct psychologically is the most violent aspect of human nature. For God's sake we have to stop this now. Property is not respected. With a gun, what is yours is mine. As they say in the hood, with a gun, even if you lose a dice game, you still win," said Dr Allen.

"In a group of 10 to 15 year olds, they don't expect to live long, as a result (they think) you do what you can, get as much money and then if you get killed or kill somebody that's it. One guy said if I kill somebody the most I'll get is six months, then I'll get on bail. That is 15 year olds talking. There is a modeling process happening. And then, of course, they think violence is cool. It's power to kick somebody, to stab somebody and see that blood ooze out," he said.

Dr Allen said there was also a lingering effect of the 1980s cocaine epidemic in the Bahamas. "Drug trafficking continues creating fear because of executions, empowering drug lords in turf wars." He said even though there did not seem to be an increase in new coke addicts, there is a "growing chronic marijuana epidemic among our children from 10 years up."

The challenge for Bahamians, according to Dr Allen, is "to increase our awareness because if we don't we'll use the same old ways to do the same old things expecting a different result, and that is the definition of insanity. We need to find a new way for looking at things, a new way of thinking, because if we don't we will repeat the same old, the same old, the same old."

July 14, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

Bahamas government will seek compensation from British Petroleum (BP) for all the pre-assessment, monitoring and any post oil spill clean-up costs

Bahamas govt confirms it will seek compensation from BP
By KARIN HERIG
Tribune Staff Reporter
kherig@tribunemedia.net:



THE Bahamas government has officially confirmed that it will be seeking compensation from British Petroleum (BP) following the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which could affect the Bahamas' shores.

Environment Minister Dr Earl Deveaux told The Tribune that his government will be seeking compensation for "all the pre-assessment, monitoring and any post spill clean-up."

This comes after a report released by the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimated that Cay Sal Bank and the Bimini Cays are 41 to 60 per cent likely to have shoreline impact from the spill for years to come.

The northwest coast of Grand Bahama, the report said, is 20 per cent likely to be affected, and Andros is less than one per cent likely to be affected.

In an interview earlier this month, Bahamas National Trust (BNT) Eric Carey had said he wants BP to foot the bill in advance.

And while NOAA has concluded that the oil spill most likely will not harm marine life in the Bahamas, Mr Carey said it is still unknown how the dispersants from the spill will affect the country's ecosystem.

The money the government will now be requesting from BP is expected to assist scientific testing and expeditions to monitor the situation.

The next expedition should set sail in about a week and Mr Carey said he hopes BP will cover the costs.

The oil company told the Associated Press on Sunday that the overall cost of dealing with the spill is now at $3.5 billion.

Some $165 million of that sum were paid to settle individual claims. So far, BP has received over 100,000 claims for compensation and made more than 50,000 payments.

It is unknown at this time how much money the Bahamas will be requesting from BP, nor is it clear when or if the oil company will pay out in this instance.

Meanwhile, as BP yesterday removed the containment cap currently in place over the blown-out oil well to replace it with a tighter fitting one, the Obama administration has issued a new offshore drilling ban after a previous moratorium order was overturned.

BP has stated that it believes this second cap will possibly stop the oil from gushing into the Gulf of Mexico.

The company said some oil will still leak out, but the tighter cap will enable them to capture it and funnel it up to the surface where collection ships await.

According to latest estimates, somewhere between 89 million and 179 million gallons of oil have spilled from BP's Deepwater Horizon rig 5,000ft below the ocean surface since an explosion on April 20 killed 11 people.

July 13, 2010

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

Bahamian National Heroes

National heroes
By RUPERT MISSICK JR
rmissick@tribunemedia.net
and NOELLE NICOLLS
nnicolls@tribunemedia.net
Tribune Staff Reporters:



FORMER Minister of Culture Neville Wisdom tells the story of a primary school teacher who two weeks ago did a class exercise asking students: Who do you identify as a national hero?

Of 16 students, 14 identified President Obama, one identified Dr Martin Luther King and one the late Sir Lynden Pindling.

This story highlights, if nothing else, the poor job earlier generations did in teaching Bahamian history and establishing who is and who should be called a national hero of the Bahamas.

Several years ago a Cultural Commission was appointed to establish just that.

The Commission was to also formulate programmes and strategies for the coordinated promotion, study, research, preservation and enhancement of the Bahamian cultural heritage in music drama, poetry, religious expression, creative writing and their publication, oral story telling, film making, art, sculpture, dress, cuisine, dance and Junkanoo.

They made their first report to government in September 2003.

The Commission's report stated that national heroes are “seminal contributors to the shaping of Bahamian society from slave plantation and colonial fiefdom to an independent nation and an aspiring model society, where all citizens have equal opportunity towards being constructive, creative and self directed human beings.”

A national hero was defined as a person who has gone beyond their personal and historical limitations to give the society a psychic and spiritual rebirth. National hero was distinguished from a hero.

Sacrifice:

A hero was defined as someone whose dedication, hard work and sacrifice has contributed to the society. National heroes are people who were to have accomplishments that have been acknowledged and recognised as a national inspiration by a significant portion of the national body.

Winston Saunders and Charles Carter were appointed co-chairmen of the commission but the committee basically dissolved after Mr Saunders died in November of 2006.

“We had finished most of the work. It was wide ranging and it was a tribute to Mr Saunders because he spent his whole life dedicated to cultural and artistic pursuits. I was just pleased to be a part of it. He was the driving force and unfortunately as fate would have it, when he died it died. I just hope the work hasn't died,” Mr Carter said.

When the 2007 elections took place the present government did not continue the work of the commission.

“The work we did was largely finished and submitted to government. It is probably lodged somewhere in the Ministry of Education or Culture,” Mr Carter said.

Among the recommendations of the committee were:

• A national hero and literature during the month of October;

• A public holiday celebrating national hero's day on the second Monday of October each year, replacing the Discovery Day holiday;

• A Bill for national honours to be introduced;

• Ministry of Education building to be named the Arthur Hanna Complex;

• Ministry of Health building be named after Reverend Dr H W Brown;

• Exuma Street be renamed Amos Ferguson Street;

• Third Terrace Centreville be renamed Rusty Bethel Drive;

• Nassau International Airport be renamed Sir Lynden Pindling International Airport and

• Establish national heroes parks in New Providence and family islands.

All of this seems to be the easier aspects of the commission’s work, however. After this the more problematic and subjective work of establishing who should be called a national hero should have proceeded. And while there may be many Bahamian heroes, the majority will escape the description of national hero.


Contribution:

For example, while 40 or 30 years ago one would never have doubted that Sir Sidney Poitier was a national hero, a new generation is questioning the “real contribution” Sir Sidney has made to the Bahamas.

Although born in Miami in 1927 during his Bahamian parents’ visit to Florida, Sir Sidney – the son of a poor tomato farmer – grew up in Cat Island. Sir Sidney has also served as the Bahamas’ ambassador to Japan and was made an Honorary Knight Commander in the 1970s for his contribution to the arts.

Sir Sidney was the first black actor to win an Academy Award for a lead performance (Lilies of the Field in 1963).

Many of his films tackled racial themes and have been heralded for helping to break down social barriers between whites and blacks during an era of racial segregation.

In February of this year a group of filmmakers protested the College of the Bahamas’ decision to host a conference and film festival dedicated to Sir Sidney.

The most vocal critic of the festival, filmmaker Celi Moss publicly lambasted the college for using its resources to honour the Academy Award winning actor.

“When it comes to the arts in the Bahamas he’s done nothing,” claimed Mr Moss.

Mr Moss’ assertion that the Oscar winner has done nothing for the Bahamas is hyperbolic at best and perhaps a more measured expression of Mr Moss’ opinion would have been that Sir Sidney hasn’t done enough, or rather done what Mr Moss would have seen as enough.

But Sir Sidney had been involved in philanthropic activities in the country, off and on, since he won an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Homer Smith in “Lilies of the Field.”

The first was when Sir Sidney made a personal appearance on the stage of the Shirley Street Theatre on Saturday February 29, 1964 during the Nassau premiere of the movie.

The screening was a benefit sponsored by the Ways and Means Committee of the British Legion as part of an annual drive for funds to aid needy ex-servicemen in the Bahamas.

In the 70s he kept true to his promise.

The 1974 premiere of “Uptown Saturday Night” held in Nassau was in aid of the Bahamas Association for the Mentally Retarded. The premier of “Buck and the Preacher”, Sir Sidney’s directional debut was held in Nassau to aid the construction of Jordan Prince William High School.

College Professor Dr Ian Strachan hit back at the criticism arguing that the event’s protesters are misguided by a sense of “entitlement.”

“What they are basically saying is that despite the fact that Sidney Poitier helped change the world for all black people, he is not worth honouring or studying because he didn’t do something specific for this community that they think are paramount,” Dr Strachan said.

Still to many this is not enough because “it seems he didn’t help today’s struggling Bahamian artists directly, monetarily, by ‘putting in a word’ or by showing up every summer and teaching a class in method acting,” said Dr Strachan.

There was a point where Sir Sidney felt that he was not appreciated by the Bahamian public.

“Lilies of the Field” was Sir Sidney’s 20th film and he told a crowd of more than 600 who gathered at the theatre, “I was beginning to feel that I was not loved here. I have been asked to do things in Asia and Africa and was wondering when someone was going to ask me to do something for my people here.”

He had left Nassau 21 years before with “a bundle and several dollars given to me by my father to make my mark in the world” and was more than willing to help any organization that was doing “something worthwhile for us Bahamians.”

Sir Sidney eventually made a home for himself in Winton, but left in the 70s after he said that he felt harassed by the constant visits of gawking tourists.

Before leaving he also expressed concern over the number of “corrupt” persons with whom Sir Lynden was surrounding himself, although he thought that Sir Lynden himself was an honest man.

In addition to the lament of Mr Moss, there are more who disagree as to whether or not Sir Sidney should be considered a national hero.

Father Sebastian Campbell, who is Chairman of the National Heroes Committee, and member of the National Cultural Development Commission said that Sir Sidney was simply a person who “came along at the right time and was in the right place,” but did nothing to “advance the country”.

Teacher:

“What has Poitier done to advance Era Anne Hanna who worked for 40 plus years as a teacher in Mason Bay, Acklins? She was a teacher, handy man, janitor, who had to ride horse back to the school. She was never absent for one day and taught some of the leading citizens in this country. At the end of her retirement she got no pension nor no gratuity. These are the people we need to recognize as our heroes and stop letting persons with status and fame to trump up their contributions,” he said.

However, Mr Wisdom said even though Sir Sidney left, and it was necessary for him to practise his skills in the US, he was an integral part of the “quiet revolution” of majority rule and Independence.

Father Campbell is concerned, however, that persons, who, unlike Sir Sidney, are not famous or wealthy will be lost to history and their contribution to national development also will be lost.

“The workers of the Burma Road Riot: They are our heroes. They laid the foundation for trade unionism in the Bahamas.

“These are the people we need to rescue from obscurity and write about their triumphs, tell their story. These are the leaders of trade unionism in the Bahamas and yet they are not being recognized,” he said.

Father Campbell believes that the recent Queen’s honours when Kerzner International CEO Sol Kerzner received a knighthood was an example of where wealth and status trumped what he sees as a “real contribution” to the country.

“Status and money should not be the deciding factor in who should get the highest honours in the country. It is wrong. There are many Bahamians who are way ahead of the Sol Kerzners. They didn't give money, because they didn't have it; they gave themselves,” Father Campbell said.

Another Bahamian hero who will have to be rescued from obscurity is Dr Joseph Robert Love.

Dr Love was born in Nassau, in 1839 and died in Kingston in 1914.

He was a teacher, priest, medical missionary, army doctor, journalist and newspaper editor, politician, and legislator, freemason and an advocate for black pride. He grew up in Grant’s Town, and was a member of St Agnes Anglican Church. He emigrated to the United States in the 1860s and was ordained a priest in 1877.

He was the first black medical graduate of the University of Buffalo in 1879, and went to Haiti in 1881 as a medical missionary.

While in Jamaica he was the editor of the weekly paper the Jamaica Advocate and was a big influence on Marcus Garvey.

However, Father Campbell said that Dr Love is not what he would call a national hero.

“What has he done to advance the modern day Bahamas? A part of this challenge needs to be to get Bahamians to write our stories.

“We have to be careful to say that not everyone is a hero. Just because someone did something outstanding he is a hero?

“We have examples of how to go about this from other countries: There is a lot to learn from Jamaica and Trinidad,” he said.

However, Mr Carter believes that Dr Love is one of the many unsung heroes in the Bahamas.

“He is better known in Jamaica than the Bahamas. He helped Marcus Garvey form his consciousness.

“He is one of the most brilliant Bahamians ever made, and he was a (parishioner at) St Agnes.

“That is the same place I go to church.

Message:

“The worst part about that is no one knows him; we are not taught who he was. If you were a Jamaican you would know who he is. I tell young people when they listen to Bob Marley, a Bahamian person influenced that message. But that is not supported by other things that happen in the community (by the cultural narrative). They say okay fine that is what you say, but we don't celebrate him in the country. That is the great tragedy in the Bahamas,” he said.

Mr Wisdom said that Dr Love is not a national hero simply because he does not fit in the Cultural Commission's definition.

“People who have been obscured from the national consciousness because we have done a poor job at education, may have to be classified as hero and not national hero.

“Dr Love would fall into that category,” he said.

Perhaps Sir Stafford Sands personifies this type of person.

Mr Wisdom said, however, he would oppose Sir Stafford being installed as a national hero.

“Sir Stafford represents a division from the philosophy of one Bahamas. He is perceived by most Bahamians as having been a racist. Sir Stafford went to his death bed in self imposed exile in Spain, and in my opinion the mere fact that he did not reconnect with his home denies him the opportunity. He abandoned the country and went into self imposed exile during a period of transition when the country needed all hands on board as we tried to move this new Bahamas upward, onward and forward together. In my opinion, I don't care how bad things get, as a nationalist I am going to stay here and fight. Once you abandon your country you give up the right to be defined as a national hero.

“I do not know (if he was a racist on his death bed), but I do know he did not reconnect with the country. The view that I hold and many hold is that he simply could not accept the fact that the country would be administered by black Bahamians despite the fact Sir Lynden and Sir Milo demonstrated and were consistent in a one Bahamas position.

“There was never any question raised about Sir Roland Symonette as a national hero. He was a contributor and did not abandoned this country. Founding fathers and national heroes don't give up on a country and expect in years to come to be acknowledged as a national hero,” he said.

However, the explanation of why Sir Stafford left for Europe is not so simple.

Around the 1967 election Sir Stafford was not a well man. A chain smoker, he suffered from a serious bronchial condition.

In April of that year he spent six weeks in Miami for treatment of his problem. That was three months before he announced his resignation from the House.

Up until the day of his resignation from the House, Sir Stafford, who had given up his law practice mainly for health reasons, had every intention of spending his winters in the Bahamas.

Five years after his resignation Sir Stafford died of cancer in the London Clinic in England. The National Heroes Bill and the National Honours Bill were passed by parliament, but were not brought into force. A date for implementation was never published.

What about people who are not obscure and have undeniably helped to make the modern Bahamas what it is, but simply were not liked.

Mr Carter said what disturbs him most about the modern Bahamas is the ignorance of and lack of appreciation for Bahamian culture.

“We have a very strong and viable culture that is not being protected, taught and practised. What course in Bahamian history and culture did you have? Look at our country today; look at how many kids are growing up completely devoid of any knowledge of and appreciation for the country they live in,” he said.

The former MP said that the Bahamas is in danger of losing a heritage that really stands out.

Heritage:

“ It is a beautiful heritage. We have everything to be proud of to make us truly Bahamian,” he said.

However, Mr Wisdom pointed out that all Bahamians have some foreign parentage as you go down the various generations.

“There is no such thing as true, true Bahamians.

“We all came here on ships, so being Bahamian really needs to be defined as a person who acknowledges the Bahamas as his or her home, who demonstrates an undying love for the country and who is prepared to give his or her all for the Bahamas for the entirety of their life.

“That is a real Bahamian,” he said.

July 11, 2010

tribune242