Bahamas Independence: What was really intended with Bahamian Independence?

What was really intended with Independence?
By NOELLE NICOLLS
Tribune Staff Reporter
nnicolls@tribunemedia.net:



THE year before independence was successfully negotiated for the Bahamas, the government published a road map for independence in the form of a White Paper.

Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling presented the White Paper to the House of Assembly on October 18, 1972. It indicated what would stay the same after independence, what would change, and the vision for the future of the Bahamas.

What was the meaning of independence from the perspective of the founding fathers? By his own admission, Sir Lynden did not envisage that the Independence Constitution would be dramatically different from the 1969 Constitution, either in form or content.

So what really was the promise of independence? Perhaps the answer lies in an examination of the issues and implications of Independence as they were conceived in 1972.

“Independence is necessary and desirable now for reasons which affect both national development and international relations. Above all, independence will enable the Bahamian people to find their true identity and to establish that freedom towards which all men aspire and to which all are entitled.”


What was set to stay the same following Independence

Monarchy to be retained. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be invited to be Head of State, Queen of our Independent Bahamas.

Conditions for the Prorogation and Dissolution of Parliament will stand.

Bi-cameral form of legislature to be retained. In the main, qualifications for appointment or election to remain unchanged.

Composition of the Executive to be retained.

The Supreme Court and The Court of Appeal for the Bahamas to continue as is.

Appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council to continue.

Royal Bahamas Police Force to retain responsibility for enforcing the Constitution, law enforcement, and the protection of person and property.

The three Service Commissions – Public Service, Police Service and Judicial and Legal Service – to continue.

Membership on Commonwealth Caribbean Secretariat and Caribbean Development Bank to continue.

Automatic succession of treaties, conventions and agreements (dealing with postal activity, telecommunications, road traffic, broadcasting, health service, customs, commerce, visa requirements, racial discrimination, navigation, etc.) on the condition that within a reasonable time and after critical examination of every detail of every treaty or agreement concerned, the government would confirm its succession to some treaties an discontinue others.

Government to retain ownership of Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation, the Bahamas Electricity Corporation and ZNS.

Oil exploration by major oil companies.

Industrial Encouragement Act.

Maintain tax-haven status.

Continue to encourage hotel development and industrial diversification.


What was set to change following Independence

Governor-General to represent the Queen and exercise her executive authority, acting on the advice of the Cabinet or a minister empowered by the Cabinet.

One general election every five years or less except in times of national emergency.

Constituencies Commission to replace Boundaries Commission.

New constitutional clause to make provision for amending the Constitution only through democratic process.

The United Kingdom government will cease to have any responsibility foreign relations, defense and internal security, except by any treaty arrangement that might be made with the Bahamas government to become effective upon or after Independence.

Re-negotiate foreign military base and related agreements (specifically, those between the governments of the UK and the USA, covering installations on several Bahamian islands of missile tracking stations, United States Navy and Coast Guard stations and the Atlantic Underwater Test and Evaluation Center on Andros).

Wider distribution of police throughout the Family Islands and revitalization of Police Volunteer Reserve Strengthen Marine Division.

Eliminate Common Entrance examinations and institute a single ladder system. Introduce a system of senior high schools.

Open central schools up to junior secondary level in the Family Islands.

National Insurance Act to make provisions for cash benefits to specified beneficiary groups.

Central Bank to evolve from Monetary Authority.

Reorganize and reconstitute Post Office Savings Bank as National Savings Bank.

Institute a Development Bank of the Bahamas.

Institute a Bahamas Development Corporation to be responsible for the acquisition, improvement and disposal of land and for the redevelopment of areas cited as physical, economic or social liabilities.

Crown land or government land will no longer be available to non-Bahamians except on the basis of equity participation at the land’s full economic value.

Make public land available to Bahamians to enable them to make an effective start in business.

New sub-division legislation and real estate agents legislation will be introduced to protect the Bahamians and buyers of Bahamian land.

Government to seek equity participation in utility corporations operating in Family Islands.

Establish a national flag carrier that will be substantially owned and controlled by Bahamians.

Encourage more international carriers to install regular services from Europe to the Bahamas.

Stop indiscriminate proliferation of local charter, freight or passenger carriers.

Air Transport Licensing Authority to review all licenses and permits held by airlines not operating in services in the Bahamas. Licenses or permits may be suspended or terminated for airlines inactive for a year.

In the past, certain private institutions have taken the viewpoint that they can dictate their own terms; even that they are doing us a favour simply by setting up an interest within our shores. Such attitudes amount to gross irresponsibility and cannot be justified.


What was envisioned for the future in an independent Bahamas

Improve the facilities for administration of justice in the scattered Family Islands, whereby the courts are taken to the people rather bringing the people to the courts.

Arrangements to be made to ensure safe custody and proper treatment of dangerous criminals.

Seek membership of the ILO, FAO, WHO, UNESCO, IBRD, IMF, GATT (the former name of the World Bank), WTO, Commonwealth Secretariat and other Commonwealth Organizations.

Strive for closer relationship with the Commonwealth Caribbean countries.

Aim of the government to remain at peace with all nations and in co-operation with them, to promote the welfare of mankind all over the world.

It is not practical to suggest that an independent Bahamas would play or attempt to play a major role in the political affairs of the world … (but) our small nation can and will hold a respected place among the nations of the world

Priority matters relating to the law of the sea: The extent of territorial waters; the extent of national jurisdiction over the seabed; and the defense implications of the former matters. Determination of designated national waters, high seas areas, continental shelf. The Bahamas government will strive to have archipelagic principle applied in determining its territorial sea.

Improve efficiency of Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Provide equal opportunity for all Bahamians in a system of education designed to promote progress and unity.

The proposed College of the Bahamas.

A national system of education that will bring about improvements in standards of learning, and provide a more equitable assessment of students’ abilities, achievements and potential.

Primary teacher training facilities to be extended, secondary teacher training facilities to be developed.

The need for expatriate teachers will remain for some years ahead, but the ultimate objective is that of self-sufficiency with qualified Bahamian teachers.

Provision of vocational training in such subjects as hotel management, transport management, banking, business administration, and others.

Improve and extend hospital and medical facilities along the most modern and best tested lines.

Implementation of ILO 1970 recommendations

Introduction of national health insurance scheme.

Community Development Centers will be progressively and systematically established in densely populated areas to cater for pre-natal and post-natal needs, child day-care needs and the recreational needs of young people.


Economic independence:

Properly developed fisheries industry will generate a turnover of some B$10 million per annum.

Co-operative societies to provide credit and marketing facilities to fishermen and farmers.

For many years past, agricultural developments in the Bahamas have been minimal. The government is determined that this shall change. Of the three and a half million acres of land in the Bahamas, nearly half a million acres are now believed to have a high agricultural potential. The national food bill in 1970 was approximately $57 million of which $47.5 million was imported. At least a further B$8 million worth of food, at present imported, can and must be produced internally.

The expert opinion of the UK Land Resources Division states there is no reason why we cannot become self-supporting in poultry, eggs, milk, mutton and pork, citrus and garden products.

Improve means of marketing foodstuffs. New marketing system to account for quality control, grades and standards, price stabilization, storage and handling facilities and a reliable two-way flow of marketing information.

Improve circumstances of small farmers.

Implement programme to encourage consumers to buy Bahamian.

Negotiate loans and financial assistance for new transport facilities, the development and/or redevelopment of urban areas, new and improved amenities for the Family Islands, housing projects, schools, hospitals, roads and sanitation.

Provide monetary support to ensure the preservation of both man-made and natural attractions in the tourism sector and implement major extension to tourist facilities throughout the islands.

Vigorously pursue industrial diversification.

Provide land for small hotels to be owned and operated by local families, especially in the Family islands.

Provide land for enterprising Bahamians seriously interested in farming, commercial and industrial enterprises.

Aragonite mining to represent a source of income for many years ahead. The estimated world demand is 2,000 million tons. The Bahamas probably possesses reserves of this mineral of the order of 50,000 million tons.

Emergence of the Bahamas as a maritime nation.

Encourage food processing and canning, garment manufacture, household furnishings production, light engineering and metal and plastics fabrication.

Public/private partnership in oil industry development to put the country in the forefront of leading international centres for the deepwater terminalling and transshipment of oil, for oil refining and for the manufacture of petrochemicals.

Nationalisation shall not be an instrument of the government’s economic policy.

Investors should make a proper contribution to the economic and social development of the Bahamas.

Commercial organisations should indicate a sincere intent to train Bahamians. The use of foreign personnel should be limited.

Foreign investors should seek partnership with Bahamians.

July 11, 2010

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