PM Encourages Nat’l Unity:
Bahama Journal -
Nassau, Bahamas:

In an independence anniversary address to the nation, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham promoted a spirit of national unity.

"Yes, we have our political differences," he said, "but these can be healthy once we do not carry them too far and once we realize that we differ only in the interest of the nation. The common bond that unites us all is the love of our country."

The prime minister said The Bahamas is a diverse society free from the sectarian strife, which threatens to pull some other countries apart.

He said the Bahamas has unchallenged racial equality and religious harmony.

"This year, in commemorating our independence we pay special homage to a number of our forbearers who helped pave the way for the advancement of the Bahamian people by their contributions in education, in the legal profession, in journalism and in trade unionism," Mr. Ingraham said.

"It is our hope that in remembering our forbearers and in recalling their achievements in the face of tremendous obstacles we will be inspired to excellence in all our endeavours."

The prime minister said this is especially appropriate this year as The Bahamas also observes the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Atlantic Slave Trade.

"In this vein, The Bahamas has much of which to be proud. For 34 years we have demonstrated a firm commitment to our democracy and to the advancement of our people both economically and socially," he said.

"We have been a responsible member of the international community through our participation in regional, hemispheric and global organizations and by the cordial relations we maintain with our neighbours."

The prime minister added, "We are a talented people and I believe that once we put our talents to good use, as many of our forbearers did so brilliantly, we can create an even brighter future for those who will come after us."

He said each anniversary of independence provides Bahamians with the opportunity to reflect on how far they have come as a people in realizing their potential.

"We face a multitude of challenges at home and in the world. We are fortunate, however, that we are more equipped than many other developing countries to meet these challenges," the prime minister said.

"We have a healthy democracy with institutions that have their origins centuries before we attained independence. We sometimes forget how fortunate we are in this respect, but we have only to look at those countries which are today struggling to establish these foundational institutions without which there can be no stability."

11 July 2007