A Better Bahamas – Now!

“A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has been destroyed by itself from within” -W. Durant-

Regardless of who wins the upcoming election this nation will be faced with issues that have been trending in a downward spiral with each successive five year term. From the 1980 to present after each five year administration has completed its term, we have had record crime numbers, record deficits and increasing unemployment rates.

There must come a time when we as Bahamians individually and collectively unite and realize that the governing bodies (Ruling Party/Her Majesty’s Opposition) cannot, and should not be tackling these issues alone. We all have to bear some burden of responsibility for solving these ongoing crisis.

With respect to crime each succeeding administration has introduced programs, strengthened laws, built courts, and increased policing manpower. However crime continues to grow like a cancer destroying us from within.

The deficit year after year continues to balloon out of control. The plans to reign in the spending and reduce our need to borrow seem to at best be wishful thoughts with no concrete plans.

Each year almost five thousand youth leave high school’s looking for an opportunity to find a job in the working arena. They are left to only to feel frustration, disappointment and eventually anger.

The definition of Insanity they day is “to do the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” Others note that the legal term of insanity is “mental illness of such a severe nature that a person cannot distinguish fantasy from reality.” In either case it seems that our country has been feeling these affects for years upon years.

Though we may all have our political preferences, which makes for a strong democracy we must never forget that we are Bahamians first. The political footballing about the various record numbers have been going on for far too long, it is as if it has become the acceptable norm.

I fear that if we allow this to continue come the next election we will not be united as a country to deal with it, I fear that the attitude that may prevail is “you asked for it u got it so let’s see if u fix it” . Now is not the time for petty bickering, we (the people) need to see leaders from both sides working together, and uniting us as Bahamians too face this onslaught.

Maybe the true winner of this election will not be the one who comes out having become the ruling party, but the one who can lead this country to greatness by uniting it under common ideals to overcome its problems. It may be the one that recognizes that one does not have to have a title to be a leader, and that there are thousands of outstretched hands, listening ears and loving hearts who will gladly follow with a sincere desire to change the course of our present path to one of making us a better Bahamas.

Keith M. Dean