The Tribune

By Rev’d Canon S. Sebastian Campbell C.M., J.P.

I couldn’t believe my ears, listening to a live call in show on ZNS 1, Monday, October 29. The topic was the revival of the “celebrations” of Guy Fawkes Day. Yes, sad, but true. In what is supposed to be a post colonial era we actually have minds in the “colonial garbage tin”. Lazy minds, in need of liberation, you think? The challenge in this era is the ongoing evolution of our own peculiar identity as a Bahamian people. The era of mimicking the colonial masters we declared over on July 10, 1973.

In our national anthem we sing, “March on Bahama Land….” How, you may ask.

1. Have October declared and celebrated as Afro-Bahamian History Month, so as to compliment the National Heroes Day Celebrations, already entrenched in this month. It will be ideal to have the weight of law for this, but until then the “Back to Egypt” group can reinvent itself and cause something concrete to happen so as to enlighten our people, especially our children to the realities of our own history.

2. Bring attention to the need to develop our National Heroes Park, already surveyed and dedicated at the Botanical Gardens in Fort Charlotte. The Ministry of the Environment has carriage for this. Soon after his appointment as Minister, Ramon Ferreira promised that Heroes Park is on his agenda. We need the “Back to Egypt” people to bring attention to not only this but the need to advance such an idea throughout our archipelago.

3. To have Memorial days to compliment our national holidays. So as to celebrate meaningfully those legendary characters on whose shoulders we stand as a nation. Barbados has established a national holiday for the father of the nation, Errol Barrow. Surely the ‘Back to Egypt’ people can help us advance such an idea. Just maybe we should have a Lynden Pindling Day.

4. Can’t we have Bahamian images on all our currency. Almost 45 years into independence, no British Monarch should be on our money. Surely we have more than enough Bahamian sons and daughters for this profiling. “Back to Egypt” people, we need to uplift our people on higher pedestals, without competition.

5. The time is long overdue for the declaration and acceptance of our national dress. It’s ridiculous how we in the sweltering heat dress like the Europeans do in their cold climate. Dress is an integral part of one’s cultural identify.

It only stands, without argument, that we are pretenders in our present dress code. Neck tie and jackets, outside, in a 90+ degrees weather is the definition of insanity. “Back to Egypt” can we get the ball rolling?

1. Colonial trappings litter our landscape, they are mentally enslaving. Can we urge the judiciary to unveil itself of British regalia in our courts? The ridiculous wigs is the most enslaving of these trappings. All our institutions should be challenged to look at themselves with the view of making their ‘trappings’ relevant to our cultural setting. The ‘Back to Egypt” crew can avail itself to this opportunity in advancing ideas for our own pomp and pageantry.

2. Can we have a challenge to swearing allegiance to her Majesty the Queen, her heirs and successors. Isn’t it time we swear allegiance to the Bahamas! We are confusing our children, as hypocrites, we say love the Bahamas, but don’t love it enough to swear our allegiance, save that for a foreign power. Back to Egypt, we need a voice to drive home this point, Bahamians first.

3. A voice is needed loud and clear, “to stop holding on to two cowtails,” that we must not serve two masters as far as our national awards are concerned. “Back to Egypt”, please help us to call out loud and clear for the end of colonial awards, symbols of mental slavery. If the Bahamian awards are the highest the country offers, why then should anyone want an inferior award?

4. A revamped political system must be on our agenda as we advance politically. The republic of the Bahamas is the only choice we have with a stifling colonial mind, for which we are known, probably means; we will have to patiently wait for a new generation, free of the colonial intoxication to rise up and lead us out of this Back to Egypt mentality. I congratulate the “vibrant four” for bringing a breath of fresh air on our political scene. I have great confidence they will not be silenced. The time is long overdue to rebrand our politics.

5. We are beckoning to work for a One Bahamas, we must bridge our divide. We are not equal in treatment from Island to Island in this country. Some Islands are still more equal and many family Islands remain out Islands, Out of essential services, such as clinics, doctors, nurses, a morgue, fire services etc. An intentional approach beckons us to stop talk and bring in action.

Yes the “Back to Egypt” mentality must be converted if we are to “March on to glory, our bright banners waving high.”