The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Once in a while, there walks onto the stage of this world a man whose vision is as broad as the universe - a man who seems bigger than life; a man whose timing is always punctuated by question marks.

Such a man was Sir Henry Milton Taylor (“HM”), who was born in 1903 on Long Island.

That he was born on Long Island makes him a Long Islander first and foremost – but Long Island could not contain him, for he was born of Long Island for The Bahamas.

In the 1940s, “HM”, entered politics for all the right reasons. He envisioned a country free of fear; racism; intimidation; and victimisation.

A country of justice; fair play; honesty and love, where the downtrodden are lifted up and set on the solid rock of equality for all.

One thing about “HM” is that he knew what he was about, for his 20-20 vision enabled him to see in what direction he wanted to go; and in what direction he wanted The Bahamas to go.

So he took his thoughts and along with Cyril Stevenson and William Cartwright organised them into a manifesto – later strengthened by Sir Lynden Pindling and others that was to rock this country at its foundations, and change forever its course of history forward.

A manifesto that was to eventually cut loose this country from the yoke of colonialism and emancipate the people.

Ironically, just as the inevitability of “Majority Rule” was rising higher and higher on the Bahamian horizon, “HM” found himself in the political wilderness of his own country.

And as he wandered in the hot sands of that wilderness, he came across some of his old political enemies, and though they entertained him for a while; he moved on because he could not live a marriage doomed at the altar.

And so it was, that after a journey of several long, lean years he entered the country he and so many dreamed about for a long time; struggled to give birth to for a long time – not perfect – but a country for all Bahamians!

JEROME CARTWRIGHT

Nassau,

June 25, 2023.