Sir Stafford Sands on $10 debate rages on
tribune242:
THE DEBATE continued earlier this week over the government's decision to return the image of Sir Stafford Sands to the Bahamas' $10 banknote, replacing the image of Queen Elizabeth II.
On ZNS' Issues of the Day radio programme hosted by Krissy Love, callers voiced their support and condemnation of the government's idea as the show engaged in a wider discussion on race relations in the Bahamas.
One caller, identified as Eric said that Sir Stafford should not have been taken off the $10 bill in the first place by the PLP as he did more for the Bahamas in tourism than any other one person.
Another caller said that he did not see why the debate is continuing to be waged as Sir Stafford clearly had done much for the Bahamas.
Early in the week, opposition spokesman for Foreign Affairs, Fred Mitchell condemned the FNM's decision to return the image of Sir Stafford to the $10 bill after it has been taken off during the PLP administration.
Although generally recognised as the "principal architect" of the modern Bahamas economy, Mr Mitchell said that if the PLP were to regain the government in 2012, this decision would be one that would be reversed once again.
"I think it's an inappropriate tempting of fate in the face of the earlier dispute, and my position is the same; he should not be on the $10 bill, and that it should be removed if there is an opportunity for the PLP to do so at some future point," the Fox Hill MP said.
However, another caller on Issues of the Day said that if persons have contributed to the building of the nation - post 1973 -- they should be the ones who are considered for being placed on the nation's currency.
"Now as far as it pertains to Sir Stafford and his legacy to the entire Bahamas, his contribution is massive. So if they want to erect a bust of him over at the Treasury Department, the Central Bank, or the Ministry of Tourism, or whatever other areas where he played a significant role; name buildings after him," he said.
Another caller, identified as Pauper said that Bahamians need to mature and understand that while Sir Stafford was not a perfect man, he, like Sir Lynden Pindling, had made a tremendous contribution to the Bahamas and should be honoured as such.
"I think we need to grow up and be politically more mature. I don't know the reason, Krissy, like you said why they took him off the bill. I didn't have a problem when they put him on it. See. Krissy, I understand this to be us celebrating the good about Sir Stafford Sands.
"Sir Stafford Sands wasn't perfect. Sir Lynden wasn't perfect, but he is still on the dollar bill.
"So let's celebrate, grow up and be mature.
"Don't worry about all the bad things that Sir Stafford Sands did, and how the majority of us might be black and some of them was white. Let's think about the good that Sir Stafford do and the good what Sir Lynden do. That is why we put them there," he said.
The well-known caller continued to plead for Bahamians to move away from the black and white issue as the racism "baggage" needs to be dropped so that the populace can be "mentally freed."
May 07, 2010
tribune242
A political blog about Bahamian politics in The Bahamas, Bahamian Politicans - and the entire Bahamas political lot. Bahamian Blogger Dennis Dames keeps you updated on the political news and views throughout the islands of The Bahamas without fear or favor. Bahamian Politicians and the Bahamian Political Arena: Updates one Post at a time on Bahamas Politics and Bahamas Politicans; and their local, regional and international policies and perspectives.