The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

In recent months and weeks there have been several “staged” demonstrations and protests by so-called activists and their allies over any number of issues. First we had blockages and demonstrations at the foot of the Sir Sydney Poitier Bridge relative to access to the beaches at Paradise Island. Several persons were locked up for promoting an unlawful assembly, inter alia. I believe that the charges were dismissed, but I stand to be corrected.

Next we had a large crowd protesting the draconian restrictions imposed by the Competent Authority. Some say, bogusly, that the Prime Minister is the Competent Authority as a corporation sole (as a single individual) I beg to differ on this liberal interpretation. Yes, the manner in which the PM conducts public business, based, he says, on health protocols, is troubling. Numerous persons were arrested on East Street near the Super Value Branch. I understand that no charges were laid.

Editor, please allow me to digress here for a minute. The entire cabinet, even though it is not specifically stated, comprises the constitutional creature known as the Competent Authority. This is bolstered by the fact that we have a system of cabinet responsibility. It follows, therefore, that all members of cabinet are collectively and jointly responsible for the responses of the Competent Authority……the good….the bad and, of course, the ugly.

Then we saw a demonstration and protest on Bay Street a week or so ago relative to the much toted Aragonite. One would think that the marketing of that product for and on behalf of Bahamians would be the panacea (not pandemic) which would make us all instantly wealthy without lifting a finger. They say that the long debated and awaited Sovereign Wealth Fund would be flushed with millions if not billions of dollars. This is, of course, pie-in-the sky loose talk in my considered view.

I hold a dual honours degree in law and economics from Walbrooke College (an affiliate of the University of London). While I do not profess to be an accomplished economist, I believe that I have enough expertise to venture comments on where the real Sovereign Wealth Fund is possible in short order. Aragonite, standing alone, is not a viable prospect at this time. It has to be mined and we all know that the Bahamian economy is challenged big time.

It is a given that land or real estate is the basis of all tangible wealth. With the rapid growth of the economy during the 1970’s through the 1990’s, the cost of land here in New Providence has gone through the roof so to speak. The average resident here in the capital who does not already own a home or a piece of real estate will, in all probability, never be able to acquire ownership of the smallest piece of property anywhere on this island.

This fact is a tragedy of the highest order when one considers that there are hundreds of thousands of so-called Crown Land which is supposed to be held in trust for all qualified Bahamians. This is the source of the real Sovereign Wealth Fund. Those who have a desire to demonstrate, march and protest should be doing so relative to the long absence of a coherent and logical policy or plan for the average Bahamian, who meets the minimum requirements, to be able to apply and to be successfully granted some Crown Land for residential or commercial purposes.

Are you able to imagine just how many thousands of average Bahamians would dig up their rock holes or shoe boxes to access hidden cash in order to secure a piece of Crown Land, especially for the construction of a modest residence. Tens of millions of dollars which few of us knew that the average Bahamian has would be immediately injected into the domestic economy.

Land clearing; the hiring of an architect; the actual construction and eventual purchase of furniture would pull the economy straight out of the dire hole in which we are now. Even before all of this happens, scores of private land surveyors would be employed to plot out the specific Crown Grant.

The Public Treasury would pull in plenty money for stamp duty and registration fees. Many lawyers would go straight laughing all the way as a result of the legal fees that they would pull in for the preparation of assorted documents. If the PM and the Competent Authority are really believers in it being the people’s time, they would immediately liberalise the granting and smooth the process of one acquiring a piece of our real patrimony……Crown Land.

The manner and way in which the process is designed and operated is a massive frustration and debilitating for the average and politically unconnected Bahamians. This leads to abuses and possible malfeasance by civil servants; their friends; relatives and assumed, in some cases, lovers. This makes a gross mockery of the system and the majority remains on the outside of home and land ownership looking in.

The Lord God Himself warded the entire land within this nation to Bahamians. I pay little attention to the label: Crown Land because the land is Bahamian land. When He said eons ago: ‘Go and possess the land which I will show thee..’ He was speaking directly to all nationalities, but especially Bahamians. To God then, the Great Land Giver, in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND H BODIE Jr

Nassau,

December 13, 2020.