By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
FRUSTRATED residents occupied Parliament Square on Friday afternoon as a part of the 'We March' protest against the performance of government in its handling of the internal and external affairs of the country.
Promoted as a silent protest, 'We March' began at Arawak Cay at 1pm, with one estimate of up to 1,000 gathering at the start point.
The protestors walked down West Bay Street towards Rawson Square, singing the national anthem and chanting as bystanders, locals and tourists alike, filmed the occasion.
"I have serious concerns as to the direction this country is headed in and it's about time Bahamians took a stand," Caroline Stubbs, a protestor, told The Tribune.
"We have been complacent too long. We see every nationality come into this country and advance ahead of Bahamians. Children are coming out of school illiterate. Everybody can't have a hotel job. You need educate our people.
"There's only some 300,000 plus of us. Why is the government not educating us? Why don't we have jobs? Why are we importing so many foreigners to do what Bahamians can do? It's time for us to take a stand and say no more Enough is enough!" she stressed.
Dylan Lightbourne, a university student and prospective first-time voter, said that the future appears bleak for Bahamians "and I'm scared to come back because I don't know if there's going to be a possible job for me to come back to".
"I am scared of crime here. I live in a gated community and I'm still scared to live there. I love fishing and I'm scared the Chinese will come in our waters and take all the fish away and we'll have nothing," he added.
"The people are angry. They're frustrated and we need answers," Anna Colebrooke, a senior citizen, told. The Tribune
"We're tired of the secret deals. We're tired of the reports they promised and four and a half years later you still don't have it. I'm here for the people's movement and most importantly on behalf of my grandchildren yet unborn that they can have a better country."
"I don't know much about politics but whatever they're playing around with as their personal game, it's not for the interest of the Bahamian people," said Artis Miller, another senior citizen.
"Anybody can sign a deal now on behalf of the government and the Prime Minister is the leader. I don't know but don't give a s* about it. $40 million went missing from Road Traffic and nobody has been prosecuted for it. And this is who you want running the country?" Mr Miller asked.
"I feel for the nation. We're in a dilemma. There has to be some accountability of some nature because as I see it everybody could do as they feel and get away with it," said Eli Major.
"I'm afraid for the youngsters. The cost of living is over the youngsters' head. They can't afford to purchase a piece of property in this town that is less than $60,000 today and your annual salary is less than $30,000?"
Roger Gomez II, a public defender, said he was "thrilled by what I see".
"The Bahamian people are exercising their constitutional rights. Of course, all of the necessary permits from the government was obtained and we're here as Bahamians to voice our opinions in a peaceful manner which is the nature of our history and culture.
"If you recall, when we got our independence it was called the quiet revolution. So we're just a little louder but the important thing is we're out here peacefully as Bahamians, black, white, just looking for a better way for our country and our people."
Romona Farquharson-Seymour, another lawyer, also supported the citizens right to protest.
"I'm a Bahamian and so I'm here to really support the cause. We have some real concerns with what's happening in the country and we wish for our presence to be felt, to be known to those who are making the decisions to know, listen, we're not happy with what's happening. You have a lot of Bahamians who are hurting.
"They believe there's a certain group coming in and wreaking havoc. Also the lack of transparency. You just see certain moves taking place, certain corporations purchased, whatever the case may be and all you're hearing are just rumours and its really for legislature to speak out and say these are the facts and then we the people can make the decision."
The protest has attracted significant support from activists and civic organisations, as well as the support of the country’s two umbrella unions, the Obie Ferguson-led Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the John Pinder-led National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTUB).
Comments
TalRussell 7 years, 5 months ago
Comrades! Disappointment is the norm to follow these types public protests.
Now What? Today Friday we got to witness 463 peaceful and mostly hungry souls for constructive change marching on the streets of the capital city to effect constructive change for Nassau Town and across The Bahamaand. An well organized and peaceful protest calling for clearly defined change... but as in what change, I am not sure?
A protest equal in the outpouring of public frustration that also mistakenly believed that they too could effect change by answering talk show host Darold Miller's May, 2013 call to March For Equality.
Many of the 400 souls to answer Darold's call to march would tell you that that the talk show host, left the toilet's frustration seat still in the upright position he found it.
Honestman 7 years, 5 months ago
Change will come in May 2017 of that we can be sure. This was only a foretaste. Hard for many people to get off work today to come and protest but it won't be as difficult on polling day. China PLP's days are numbered.
TalRussell 7 years, 5 months ago
Comrade Honestman, the prophets at the Guardian radio station's talk shows of 20,000 plus Black Friday protestors showing up never materialized. Instead Rawson Square played to a more intimate crowed in the 100's.....including getting close to several senior PLP Crown Cabinet Minister, Trade Unionists - including the DNA fringe party's Bran, who has never seen a public protest he wouldn't park his car to crash in on - uninvited.
Honestman 7 years, 5 months ago
Tal, you are trying hard to spin your PLP propaganda but it doesn't matter if it was one thousand or twenty thousand. This was the biggest protest march in New Providence this century. Many people were working and couldn't join in but those same people will find it easier to place a X on the ballot paper come election day. You and your other PLP apologists may scoff at the numbers but Christie and his corrupt government know the game is up.
Cobalt 7 years, 5 months ago
Exactly!!! Tell him again.
John 7 years, 5 months ago
Tal Russell, not only can you not write English that others can read and comprehend but, unfortunately (for you) you also cannot count. Or maybe you are just blinded today by the truth.
banker 7 years, 5 months ago
Tal is a liar and showing true colours. According to a counting app ( https://countingthings.com/">https://countingthings.com/ ) the estimate in the left hand side of the pic is close to 700.
TalRussell 7 years, 5 months ago
Comrade, the print and radio media houses have reported throughout the day that "100's" marched in the Black Friday Protest.
How are all "463" of you going to takeover a democratically elected government that has a peoples mandate until May 2017?
What you going do, march to the Churchill Building and shout up to tell 'em peoples PM and his crown cabinet ministers to come downstairs cause the end times are here? The people who voted back in the 2012 General, will not take kindly to being trespassed upon.
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 5 months ago
Assume it was 463. When was the last time you saw 463 people march downtown together against the injustices in this country? I wonder if someone asked Pindling what did throwing the mace out the window do? I wonder if Christie will make it to election. Four of his ministers showed up on the parade, will they be bold enough or want to save their own hides enough for a vote of no confidence?
The_Oracle 7 years, 5 months ago
This march was but the beginning, but the real question is where will it go? how will it end up? One has to understand you are protesting the individuals themselves who have turned the treasury into their own slush funds, turned their Elected authority into personal power, and they will not want to give it up easily. It is noted that a few of the "problems" showed up themselves. Any game plan, for any objective that runs counter to the status quo, will have to be sustained and long term, and must develop in pace with the peoples stomach for adversity and challenge, and as things get progressively worse economically and socially. It is a start for accountability however, albeit late.
SP 7 years, 5 months ago
......... Thank GOD Bahamians Finally Woke Up From Yellow And Red Tribalism .........
Congratulations Bahamians. They don't represent us. Never too late to do the right thing. We must take our country back from these thieving pirates!
PLP and FNM must BE THROWN OUT in 2017!
BahamaPundit 7 years, 5 months ago
In all honesty, this huge an amount of people in the march is a withdrwal of the mandate to lead. If the PM was in keeping with the Westminster System, he would immediately resign and call an election.
Jetflt 7 years, 5 months ago
It's about damn time Bahamians finally stood up and protested this crooked self-centered government that is interested in one thing and one thing only - themselves! Elections are nearing and it's time to once and for all kick the PLP out!!! It's time to DRAIN THE SWAMP!!!
John 7 years, 5 months ago
Tap the people did the government a favor by organizing themselves together and marching to Rawson Square in a peaceful but forceful way to let the government know they are displeased with their leadership and where the country is headed, among other things. The government now has the option to listen to the voice of the people or to continue business as usual. I hold no brief for no one but 6 months is not a long time from Election Day. Then the people will speak again Tal
Greentea 7 years, 5 months ago
"The voice of the people is the voice of God!" The words of Lynden Pindling coming back to bit his party's azz. Perry you listenin?
TalRussell 7 years, 5 months ago
Comrade Greentea. God dwells among the people and I'm not sure He marched with the protestors into the Peoples Rawson Square.
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 5 months ago
The voice of the people is NOT the voice of God. Like everything else strongmen have for centuries twisted the bible to manipulate a religious people who do not read
"The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me"
Read, the voice of the people was a REJECTION of God as leader.
"Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them."
Warning concerning a King:
"So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who had asked of him a king. He said, “This will be the procedure of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots. He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his servants. He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants. He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and use them for his work. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. Then YOU will cry out in that day because of YOUR king whom YOU have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day."
John 7 years, 5 months ago
The voice of people who fear God and keep his laws, is the voice of God. Remember the reason why the people rejected Samuel as their king, which indeed is what is happening in the Bahamas today. They wanted to have a young king and be like the other nations. Samuel was old, but God was older. And yet wiser.
John 7 years, 5 months ago
Then before you can pass judgment on the people you must examine the government in power. Are they like King Samuel a representative of God? Or are they like the kings who God warned them about?
'Exodus 16:8 Moses said, "This will happen when the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening, and bread to the full in the morning; for the LORD hears your grumblings which you grumble against Him. And what are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD." Zakariah 10:8 "When I whistle to them, they will come running, for I have redeemed them. From the few who are left, they will grow as numerous as they were before."
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 5 months ago
What are you talking about? Please read
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 5 months ago
What are you talking about and rationalizing? It clearly says the peoples voice was a rejection of God. God however allowed them "free will" and "allowed" them what they wanted, a human king. He also told them all the pain and suffering their choice would heap upon their heads. Just because a mass of people ask for something it doesn't mean it came from God. Don't mix it up.
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 5 months ago
Een nuttin change in two thousand years eh? The King still takin and takin and taxin and taxin then giving your stuff to his people. The taxin and takin king.
DDK 7 years, 5 months ago
AND JUST WHY WOULD YOU THINK THAT MR. RUSSELL?
banker 7 years, 5 months ago
Big doors swing on small hinges. This protest could be a seminal event in the history of the Bahamas. The most interesting thing is not the wolves in sheep's clothing, the PLP ministers attending, nor Shame Gibson dressed in black, nor Fweddie brushing aside this as minor as a fly buzzing around an empty boil fish bowl. No, the most interesting thing that I find are Tal's comments. Really! It is a bellwether. "Wolf in sheep's clothing" really comes to mind. "Patriotism for sale" and "thirty pieces of silver" are two other ones.
The real tragedy is when Bahamians choose darkness, untruth and evil that casts a pall over their country, their fellow human beings and themselves for the sake of filthy lucre. It is evil multiplied when their inner selves are eventually revealed, and they seek to deceive under the guise of false righteousness.
There has been an egregious murder in the Bahamas -- the murder of a beautiful entity called Truth, and her death has bloodied the hands of the PLP, and not co-incidentally, my foil Tal. Certainty now fills me.
Cobalt 7 years, 5 months ago
How true! Tal Russell is a complete idiot and blind follower of the plp. Even birdiestrachan had enough sense to keep quiet.
Greentea 7 years, 5 months ago
Banker- You extended yourself to eloquence! Here! Here! Couldn't agree with you more regarding truth. Never seen such duplicity in all my life. Everything is upside down in this country. People believe a lie before they believe the truth. People tell you a lie in preference to the truth. When you are honest you are laughed at and mocked and when you rob and steal and get away with it - you are a big man. We value politrickans, pastors, number men and gang leaders in this country. These are THE most powerful people in this country. They have captured the minds, hopes and dreams of the people and they are ALL liars- in some cases pathological. Truth? In the Bahamas? Man that ketch that last mailboat to the back side of Andros a long time ago. Not a church goer, but its as if there is some kind of spirit of deception over this place- Never seen anything like it. We have to fight on. Can't leave the country in the hands of these Philistines and Pharisees.
ashley14 7 years, 5 months ago
I hope this peaceful protest makes some changes. Don't give up. Peacefully make yourselves heard. Then get out and vote on election day. The US made theirselves heard on election day. Your vote does count.
hallmark 7 years, 5 months ago
One good thing about this march is that the Parliamentary Registration Department was out registering voters and ran out of voters cards. So that will be the next step VOTING!
Cobalt 7 years, 5 months ago
Funny you should say that. I actually forgot to ask, where is stink mout Bradley Roberts? All of a sudden he's gone mute and ya can't hear from him? After talking all da horse manure!
TalRussell 7 years, 5 months ago
Comrades! I never objected to the Black Friday Protest and only sought clarification of its mindset and if the status quo politico had been allowed to muscle in to noticeably alter its media promoted agenda?
Protester prganizers will now have to be careful not to alienate allies such as the Red Movement Party, DNA and Unionists.....stranger than fiction newfound loyalty to allies than as the protest had been heavily media promoted.....and close and dear friends the media sure as hell turned out to be.....none played their Black Friday message louder than the talk show radio stations. Comrades, to have aligned with Black Friday may just turn into the worst political move by Minnis, cause should I dare ask what in the hell will the Red Movement Party do on General Election Day, when the Black Friday Protest, spins itself into a registered with the Governor General political party?
I mean exactly how many split the number candidates the Red Movement Party can run after carving up constituencies among the DNA and the Black Friday Movement?
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 5 months ago
You're a historian, can you find one time in history when a long standing power was overthrown that people of disparate views and backgrounds didn't come together to do the overthrowing?
OMG 7 years, 5 months ago
TaRussell, this is not about overturning a democratically elected government but clearly about getting those in power to realise that they work for the public and should listen and act accordingly. Lack of transparency indicates something to hide, vast sums of money are stolen and nothing happens, PLP supporters with criminal records are hired,fired and rehired but never prosecuted. Thank God that placid Bahamians are at least seeing the reality of how this country is being run into the ground.
truetruebahamian 7 years, 5 months ago
In days before, any protest like this would have - under linden pindling's government been met with goon squads and retaliation by renunciation of business and shop licences, denial of permits and opportunities, making sure that immediate family and business partners would have any and all permits and applications suspended and denied. These days are a throwback to those dark iniquitous days, but now the people are taking back the power and the government is quaking in its boots after recognising the turn around!
truetruebahamian 7 years, 5 months ago
Tal, were you there? your count is far less than 2% to 5% of what I tallied, and I made damn sure that I was there!
TalRussell 7 years, 5 months ago
Comrade TrueTrueBahamian, does it really matter if my 400ish is correct, or the guesstimate of the protestors numbered at 787....unlike the protest that sprung from the Taxi Strike of 1958, when the then Colonial Governor, ordered for a warship and British troops to set sail from Jamaica to Nassau Harbour to reinforce the 300 policemman's (led by an all white Senior Officers Englishman's Policeman's) whose coloured skins loyalty could not be guaranteed to put down the all coloured protestors..... yet nothing remotely of the sort happened to the Black Friday protestors, under the Royal Rule of Her Excellency Dame Marguerite. Is that not real "People Democracy" political progress?
Comrade, have you forgotten Papa Hubert's, policeman's response to protestors over the sale BTC?
juju 7 years, 5 months ago
Comrade Tal Russell we are not listening to you no more....
Emac 7 years, 5 months ago
I am wondering why people even respond to Tal's comments. Anyone can see that this woman is bi (plp)polar and anything she utters is pure garbage. Thus, what does one to with garbage? You dispose of it. Come election, 2017, Tal and her kind will be disposed of for good!
TalRussell 7 years, 5 months ago
Comrade Emac, it just might be that readers respond cause they know I sincerely care, and that I have never blogged to feed my personal ambitions, or to please the political masters. That I can look into people's eyes and become their twin soul to come to these hereto Tribune blog pagers to ignore the critics while I forge ahead with voicing the silent peoples concerns, not Comrade Tal's.
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 5 months ago
Cause history can't record that no one pointed out the bs. The real question is why do people still clap when the PM gives those long winded off topic speeches?
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