The Tribune

EDITOR The Tribune

No pandemic is ever a good one so to speak but they tend to bring out the best in most people. It has been no different in our wonderful nation even though we face unprecedented challenges with the COVID-19 and what I am sure will be debilitating after effects. I am not one, however, to engage, excessively, in doom and gloom theatrics.

Several ministers have risen to the occasion since the advent of the Corona Virus and are worthy of honourable mention. I am not and have never been a member or supporter of the Free National Movement (FNM). No there is nothing wrong per se with that illustrious political party but I do not subscribe to a large part of its known mission statement and I do not support too many of its ministers and parliamentary representatives. Other than this the FNM is now a solid part of our political landscape.

The Hon. Jeffrey ‘Jeff’ Lloyd (FNM-South Beach), Minister of Education, et al, is to be specially called out and recognized on a job well done. Immediately the virus started to emerge Minister Lloyd and his stellar team at Education, inclusive of the Director, brother Marcellus, ordered all governmental schools to be closed. This single act may have prevented widespread and unabated outbreaks within our school systems which could then have been transmitted by infected teachers and even possibly students.

The Minister and his team also closed down the University of The Bahamas and the Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute (BTVI) both servicing thousands of students of all ages and demographics. I shudder to even contemplate what could have happened if Minister Lloyd, et al, were not proactive. Electronic and distance learning protocols are now in place and all students have access to their respective policy and educational material via their computers or Cable Bahamas.

The pandemic has also demonstrated vividly the necessity of a well thought out and sustainable National Youth Service. All political parties and administrations have been talking about this for decades now, in fact, from the days of the late great and deeply lamented Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, our first Prime Minister and the major Founding Father. When he suggested it it was rejected out of hand and laughed to scorn. Today it is a different song.

Minister Lloyd, back in the day, was instrumental in establishing and operating YEAST in conjunction with the Roman Catholic Church. That organization did much good work with our young men principally, but due to politics and, perhaps, jealousy towards the accolades which Lloyd was justifiably receiving. Starting at Grade 10 all Bahamian students, male and female (segregated in the main) should undergo at least a one year period of national youth service.

Areas of discipline would include, based on personal skills and aptitude: health care/support; agriculture; fisheries; infrastructure; governance; religion; engineering; mechanics and, of course, a military component. By the time they enter Grades 11 and 12 we would, across the board, have a disciplined and career trained youth population. National Youth Service members/cadets would receive a reasonable stipend which would have to be invested in a dedicated savings account or governmental savings bonds. I would encourage the Prime Minister and the cabinet to seriously consider the timely introduction of this vital and nation building initiative.

Minister Lloyd already has extensive local and international training in this area. He would be ideal to flesh out and administer the National Youth Service in conjunction with relevant other ministries and agencies.

I am also constrained to single out the Hon. Minister of Tourism & Aviation, Dionisio D’Aguilar (FNM-Free Town). Under his leadership, despite Dorian, the tourism engine was ticking like a clock and firing on all spark plugs. Arrivals were up and stop over visitors were growing dramatically. He and his team had contracted with international and deep pocketed investors to redesign and rebuild the Prince George Wharf; the Free Port Harbour; the Grand Lucayan Resort; the Eleuthera based Disney Resort; expansion of the Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling International Airport; the Freeport Airport and, of course, the refurbishment of downtown here in New Providence.

We often talk about the diversification of our economy, but that is easier said than done. Tourism and financial services will remain, in my view, the twin engines which will drive the economy for the foreseeable future. They are also the quickest routes to start bringing in foreign reserves. Having said that, we should and must as a matter of priority go big into agriculture and fisheries. This is where the Hon. Michael Pintard should rise to the occasion.

As the member of parliament for Long Island (Hon. Adrian Gibson-FNM) suggested recently, each Family Island should be selected and determined as an ideal location for specialized cultivation of selected crops. For instance, Exuma produces wholesome onions in large quantities. Cat Island is great for growing corn which could be ground into flour, maze and/or grits, both for local and international consumption; Eleuthera is good for raising poultry, potatoes and pineapples.

Grand Bahama has great fishing grounds; Aragonite; a deep water port for industrial and transshipment purposes not to mention the tens of thousands of residential lots available in Grand Bahama which could serve as a safety valve to release the population pressures on New Providence. Andros is good for growing almost anything. Farming of all sorts, especially citrus; bananas; cassava; pigeon and other types of peas; Aloes; sugarcane, like Abaco, and more. We need to ramp up, in a meaningful way, real food security. This is Pintard’s baby and he should run with it big time.

As Bahamians we are in this boat together. None of us is able to jump out or off, save and except one wants to be eaten by the Corona sharks or risk drowning. Collectively we have to and must change and adapt as individuals and a nation. The PM and his kitchen cabinet are invited to consider and act on the above. He did, after all, ask for recommendations and suggestions. This is my B$100’s worth. To God then, in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND H. BODIE, Jr.

Nassau,

April 25, 2020