The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune

Just when I believe that my mind cannot be further boggled, I am sadly proven wrong.

I have attached a photograph sent to me showing a billboard that is prominently displayed in the vicinity of the airport, the Ministry of Tourism’s name big and bold on it, with totally incorrect labelling.

It is amazing that whoever commissioned it does not know what a “true-true” Bahama Parrot looks like. This is yet another example of how ignorant and mediocre we have become with regards to things Bahamian.

But then again, I had to remind myself that this is the same crew that distributed, during the Bahamas’ 41st Independence Cultural Legends Awards, an official government invitation and programme prominently displaying a photograph of a Hawaiian conch shell, blower cut and pasted straight off the internet.

Then, to add to the confusion, I read in Friday’s newspaper that based on the amazing fact that Queen Victoria apparently bathed with a Bahamian sponge, the government is asking for grant funding from the Inter-American Development Bank for the University of Florida to carry out a study to re-grow the type of sponge that Queen Victoria used. Well blow me down ... because right outside the Baha Mar Convention Centre there was a hardworking Bahamian entrepreneur in a booth who has been struggling for years to make an honest living by studying, sourcing, financing, harvesting, promoting and exporting Bahamian sponges all around the world.

He is determined to pursue his vision in spite of the obstacles that he faces from his very own people and in spite of the fact that he cannot even get an audience with the “powers that be” - being neither friend, family nor lover - to assist him financially or otherwise with the revitalisation of this important traditional Bahamian industry which can provide all sorts of employment for Bahamians.

Instead of financing a Bahamian’s vision and supporting our own local experts, government prefers to borrow millions to pay foreigners to show “we natives how to do we very own tings” that have been a part of our heritage for centuries!

Same story, different day. Here we are in the 21st century with blatant examples of slavery alive and well being thrust upon us! What would Queen Victoria say?

So what does this imply: that we do not believe in ourselves, that we believe that foreign is better, that we believe that we tings ain’ good enough? We are hell bent on looking outside our shores to be shown the way even though it has and does exists right here, staring us right in the face if we would only “see what we lookin’ at”.

Another blatant case in point is that once again our millions are being spent on a disgraceful carnival, an event which is forcing another people’s culture upon ours and, yes, essentially raping Junkanoo. Not once, but twice, we are allowing ourselves to be bamboozled whilst soca artists are being paid top dollars over and above our local talent, whilst we allow Bahamian music to be obliterated in favour of a soca-flavoured music competition, and whilst we allow Junkanoo to be relegated to the prostitute of the event.

If a donkey lets you sit on his back, then he deserves to be ridden.

Come on people - wake up and take a stand! Demand to be recognised as the rightful owners of our very own rich Bahamian culture and heritage. It’s later than you think.

PAM BURNSIDE

Nassau,

April 10, 2016.