The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

This week Americans will be celebrating Thanksgiving in the USA as a national holiday. Traditionally it is a day when they celebrate and thank God or whichever deity that they worship. They celebrate the birth of the USA way back in 1776 and spend time with immediate family and close friends. There is usually an uptick in travelling by air, car or rail to different parts of that country. It is also a magnet for sales and giveaways by stores and other commercial outlets.

Even though we here at home in our wonderful nation do not celebrate all American holidays, many of us who have friends and relatives over in the USA or who may have attended school over there will tend to travel to that country for a few days. Thanksgiving is definitely one of those USA holidays which we embrace with gusto. With the ongoing pandemic and the efforts to rebuild Abaco and Grand Bahama along with high unemployment figures some Bahamians may well ask what is there to be thankful for? With your leave may I suggest some of the myriad reasons why we should be grateful and thankful?

We have survived the ravages of Dorian. Recovery and rebuilding has been a bit slow, but progress is being made. Of course, the reaction of the then Minnis administration towards that killer hurricane was dismal and pathetic at best. He and his people seemed to be unaware of the extent of the physical damage wrought and the exact extent of loss of human lives. His Minister of State for Disasters & Recovery, the Hon Irma Lewis (FNM-Central Grand Bahama) was, in my considered opinion, an on the ground disaster himself and never seemed to find his stride.

They sought to manage the pandemic by what I consider to be ill conceived and even worse implementation of arbitrary curfews and inordinate lock downs both of which decimated the economy and sent thousands of Bahamians to the poor house. All in all the past four years of the Minnis administration were not too good for the average Bahamian.

I am thankful that the people of this wonderful nation rose up in droves and voted Minnis and his people out. They could take no more of his draconian policies and arrogant politics. With the ushering in of the Davis administration, even though things are still challenging, there is a sense of optimism and renewal. The Emergency Powers Act has been allowed to fall away and normal personal and commercial activities have resumed. A new day, indeed, is here.

Even better news is that there are more than enough vaccinations on hand to ensure that every Bahamian and resident who so desires is able to receive at least one jab of the vaccination of choice. Churches have resumed full services while continuing to observe health protocols. Indoor dining is available and everything is looking rosy. Let us all give thanks daily and not just at the traditional Thanksgiving.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr

Nassau,

November 24, 2021.