The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE Bahamas, despite her size and geopolitical location weild a great deal of influence and sway within the region. We have the third largest per capita income in the Western Hemisphere. Regular tourists and business entrepreneurs flock to our shores either seeking sand, sun and sea or business opportunities. We also enjoy a well established democracy and the rule of law, despite the occasional hiccups. Having said that, however, we must also realise that race; politics and the economy, almost 52 years of Independence, dominates our everyday life.

Our racial mix is diverse but basically is composed of black Bahamians; black Haitians and other black Caribbean natives; ethnic and migrating Chinese and others of Asian descent; white/Conchy Joe Bahamians (the Abacos; Long Island; Eleuthera; Exuma and Grand Bahama) and the rest may be lumped together as ‘mongrels’ with all due respect. How does this play out in retail politics and the economy?

Traditionally, black Bahamians, especially those who may not be well educated, along with a sizable portion of our black Haitian brothers and sisters are relegated to the very bottom of the economic totem pole as labourers or to put it crudely, “beasts of burden” or the heavy manual lifting. With incomes hovering at the minimum wage levels, these classes will never be able to get off the treadmill of poverty and financial stress. Who really cares, however?

The next class is the educated and professional black Bahamians such as accountants; doctors; lawyers and business entrepreneurs. These are the traditional paths for so called middle and upper black classes of Bahamians. We have done extremely well in bringing these people to the forefront of our economic and political development and maturity. The late great and deeply lamented Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, et al, were products of this initiative as I am also myself

While we who are “fortunate” to be in these classes, we wield no real political, much less economic, power. By and large Black Bahamians make up the bulk of the electorate and are the determining factor in electoral outcomes. The landscape is now dominated by the PLP and the FNM. The fringe groups and perennial candidates will always be with us. In the 2017 generals they acted as “spoilers” in a handful of seats and this time around, no doubt, they will do the same. Those constituencies have tended to be at a loss to the FNM, not the iconic PLP which, historically, is a cohesive and united party.

The White Bahamian and a selected cadre of Blacks/mulatto have long dominated the economic and metrics of the country. I do not see this abating anytime soon and may well be expanded. The majority of the larger business establishments are owned/dominated by these classes of Bahamians. The shopping malls; the banks and insurance companies; food stores (to which the traditional Black Bahamian has been shut out) and, of course, the gated communities. They and their off springs are entrenched economically and, I dare say, politically.

The chances of a white dominated political party coming back to power is almost an impossibility so what are the options for white Bahamians to play a meaningful role and influence in retail politics? Simple. They act through a series of political surrogates and entities. Their wealth, of course, plays an oversized part in their dominance and influence therewith or therein. The FNM and the now defunct United Bahamian Party (UBP) comes readily to mind.

It is unfortunate that the credit worthiness of countless Black Bahamians is in the dumpster while the Bahamian of a lighter hue, without being racist, is able to access funding for private and business purposes. This would have come about due to any number of financial considerations. Banks and lending institutions, after all, are in the business of making money off their depositors and shareholders. They do not run a charity, as so many Black Bahamians, et al, seem to think.

With over six million tourists per year the white foreign investors; some wealthy Conchy Joes and one or two black Bahamians seem to be directly benefitting from developments in resorts; marinas; gated communities; real estate development and second homes for ex patriates and the beat goes on. The black Bahamian, unfortunately due to any number of reasons, is doomed to remain a salaried employee, if he/she is fortunate to hold down a minimum wage job.

These are some of the critical issues which the PLP will have to address if it is to secure a second consecutive term in office as it is increasingly asking the people of this wonderful nation for. If that party were to lose the general elections, I am almost certain that we will witness “The Mother of All Witch Haunts” and, possibly, multiple Commissions of Inquiry and Police investigations and prosecutions. To God then, in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND H BODIE, Jr

Nassau,

March 26, 2025.