The Tribune

Your Say

By ROCHELLE DEAN

Politics has been the driving force of the Bahamas’ economic development from its quest for independence back in the 1960s.

While the state of the nation was one of potential and development of major industries, politics was the means by which many of its leaders were able to give the people the power to influence the direction of the nation. This means of empowerment was the beginning of a strong democracy and the awakening of a strong nation.

As the years have come and gone, politics globally has been put aside for good governance, while the Bahamas remains stuck in a place of political partisanship that leaves the nation hostage to political pandering, misconceived ideas and pre-conceived notions on all sides of the political divide.

The Bahamian people are left to consider political affiliations before determining professionalism. The country is over saturated with the polarised views of a highly sensitive people that translate to a hyper-partisan society fuelled by political allegiances.

The politics of the country continues to rob the country of progress and substantial progress in development.

The Bahamas must now move away from politics and seek to adopt good governance practices that will remove corruption and the meandering of government officials that continues to produce a culture of angry nationals who cannot take control of their economic activity due to bureaucratic controls put in place by politicians and those with political influence.

A partisan view is not to be questioned, it’s the means by which that view affects the people.

The Bahamas must adopt the policy of quality over politics. The Bahamian people have become synonymous with making decisions relative to political views as opposed to making decisions for the good of the nation.

The country continues to engage in a rollercoaster ride of sorts while good ideas, practical policies and the country’s growth is toppled up and down and back and forth by dubious leaders, the educated ignorance of the politically influential and a confused people.

The Bahamas must look past the politics of the nation while looking toward good governance. The Bahamas must no longer dwell on the foundation of its forefathers and that of its first Prime Minister, Lynden Pindling, but it must begin to analyse its progression and where it is today as a nation.

The Bahamas must consider its industries, policies and laws to determine the growth and future prospects of growth.

The Bahamas must determine its wellbeing and how politics has either impacted the nation’s success or has been a hindrance to its growth.

The country has one major question to ask itself: has politics contributed to the countries stagnation? A country full of opportunities and potential is unable to see beyond the politics.

Poverty alleviation begins with the end of politics and the beginning of good governance.

Rochelle R Dean is a Bahamian scholar, research fellow and peer-reviewer and a theory writer of economics presently completing a Bachelors of Science dual degree in economics and public administration with Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia.