The Bahama Journal Editorial:

For as long as we can remember, those who occupy the highest perches in the political and economic hierarchy of this land have held to the idea that, once there were jobs in abundance, this land would be happily safe and its people perkily prosperous.

As the record shows, while jobs have been readily available in the Bahamas for much of the past half a century and more [ that is to say, coinciding with the American embargo of Cuba]; this did not deter a spiral of crime that now seems to have become endemic.

Indeed, there is a case to be made that the living might – in truth and in fact – have become far too easy for far too many in that same period.

But yet again, as in all things economic, there are devils to be found in the details; with but one of these being the extent to which high consumer spending in the Bahamas was – for most of the past half century- fueled by debt.

Interestingly, this phenomenon worked its spurious magic at not only the level of the household, but also at the level of the state.

When Bahamians were compelled to wake up [and this just in the past three years or so] like Rip Van Winkle, they opened their eyes to a reality where jobs were scarce, their debts were humongous, their children poorly educated and therefore poorly prepared for hard times.

As is to be expected in the midst of such a shock – some Bahamians responded angrily while others found themselves sinking into a dread mire of despond.

And yet again, some lashed out at others; with some to the point where the result was bloody murder; and on other occasions, rage eventuated into suicide.

And as is to be expected in such a vicious space and in such a nasty place, dog eat dog became the mantra of the day.

And so today as the bloodletting continues, that dread number of Bahamians –men and women alike - who have been killed by some of their feral fellow-Bahamians continues apace.

And for sure, as the nasty count rises, no one – including the current administration or its parliamentary opposition seem to have a clue as to what should be done about this scourge.

Here we can say – without blinking about the sheer horror inherent in the proposition – that, there will come that time when someone would be able to say that the killing he did was the last for the year; and by the same token, someone or the other will be given the dubious distinction of being next year’s first homicide.

Here we suggest that, in the absence of some miracle from the wild blue yonder, the killing will continue.

 We are also fairly certain that, even as Bahamians ring out one year and wallow in their confusions about this or that New Year’s resolution, the beat will continue.

And so, the killings will continue;  schools will continue to fail and some of our benighted leaders will continue with their idle promises to the effect that, they finally see that there is light at the end of this or that tunnel.

And for whatever infernal reason, there will still be all that chatter about how brilliant this or that so-called ‘leader’ just so happens to be.

Whenever we hear this blather, we are sometimes left agog and bemused for the simple reason that, we just do not get it as to how those who are said to be so brilliant could have –at the same time- made such a mess of practically everything they ever touched.

Whether the reference made is to an education system that is in a shambles; a criminal justice system that is creaking at the seams; a public administration that seems so woefully archaic – or to any number of other public services; practically everywhere we look, there is evidence of incipient collapse.

And in the midst of it all, some would dare talk about how brilliant this or that senior man or woman just so happens to be.

Clearly, this stuff has nothing to do with brilliance in performance and service to and on behalf of the Bahamian people.

And as we have previously suggested, the Bahamian people are not really asking for that much. Like others around the world, the Bahamian people -like people elsewhere in the region and world- want to know that the schools work: that the hospitals provide good health care; that they have sufficient food; access to proper housing; that they are protected; and that they are allowed space in which to live out their allotted days in dignity; and for sure, that the courts dispense justice as opposed to delay piled upon delay.

In truth, the Bahamian people are not asking for too much – they only need what is sufficient to keep body and soul together.

December 13, 2010

The Bahama Journal Editorial

Caribbean Blog International