Having celebrated The Bahamas' 41st anniversary of independence, there are many realities that face each citizen. Today there are thousands of Bahamians who are unemployed. There are thousands who do not know where there next meal will come from. There are thousands of Bahamians who are unsure of their future. Yet amidst such uncertainty, there is great hope for a bright future.
When we stop believing in ourselves and allow those who would seek to destroy us to control our mental state, we become hopeless. Oftentimes, people look to politicians and expect that their success in life will be based on what the political directorate does. This creates an atmosphere of dependency and is counter to what independence should be about for us all. The Bahamian today has to be a productive and focused individual if he or she is to enjoy the benefits of an independent Bahamas.
Our success as people is not measured in material things. It is measured in the contribution that we make to uplift. The continued work of those who try to instill pride in others is admirable and is to be encouraged. We have to push or pull each other to achieve greatness. The Bahamas must have a plan that is longer than this generation. The previous generation mapped out a strategy and plan that has now materialized 41 years later.
We have the opportunity as citizens to take this country forward and ensure that it grows and moves beyond a typical Caribbean state. This requires ingenuity and innovation. It also requires the next generation to step up and take their rightful role as leaders and substantial contributors to the growth and development of the present and future Bahamas.
The thought of seeing a Bahamas that embraces technological advancements while implementing science is one that breeds optimism. When we can have more of our citizens becoming involved in private sector growth and public sector reform, this gives cause for being hopeful. Today's Bahamians are more educated and more advanced than the independence era generation. We have a great task ahead of us to accomplish even greater things. It means that we must be resolute and convinced that our responsibility as the beneficiaries of the independence movement is to achieve even more and create an even better Bahamas than we inherited.
With all the expectation that many have for the next generation, how is it possible to accomplish these things given the challenging state of affairs? Quite frankly, no one person has the answers to all of these issues but collectively if we put our heads together we can find the answers and implement the solutions. We need a more peaceful and tranquil Bahamas. Maybe with the advancement of our country post-independence we forgot from whence we came and took it for granted. If we analyze our country over the past 41 years, we see that in various households a lot of things happened that created a Bahamas that today is far from perfect.
In spite of the realities that paint a picture of sadness for some, we must still be focused and committed to lifting our people to a brighter and better future. The bloodletting and savagery of our present is not a reflection of who we can be and who we really are as a people. However, from the outside looking in, it may appear that this is who Bahamians have become.
Contrary to what others may think of The Bahamas today, there is hope for a country that loves more. The Bahamas must truly believe in Bahamians and ensure that Bahamians are given opportunities to succeed in every sphere of life. This is no easy task when balancing between the interests of external influences and the needs for national development. However, as a matter of unity in our belief that it is Bahamians who have the most to gain from a better Bahamas, we can have hope in a hopeless world.
What is it that you want for yourself? What kind of future do you want for your children? These kinds of questions provoke so many responses. For those of you who were around 41 years ago, is The Bahamas today better than it was under the British? It is for you to determine that through your actions and in your thoughts.
Thankfully, our country is not at a crossroads. We left that point on July 10, 1973. We are now on a path to development as a young country. We are a young country and that is a fact that should give us all hope. It means that we are growing and learning and our citizens are becoming more astute. Those who take the people of The Bahamas for granted should know there is no mistake that the people cannot reverse. Our country is alert and not as lost as some do believe. For a country that has less than 400,000 people, we celebrated our 41st independence day knowing that we have a great hope in a hopeless world.
It is with a great sense of pride that many of you represent all of us in spheres of life within and outside of The Bahamas. This gives us all hope. The Bahamas that the independence generation championed has the potential to be much better than they envisioned. Regardless of your political view, do you have hope in a hopeless world? It will require people who have hope to move this country forward to a place where opportunity abounds for all Bahamians.
As we all determine what role we will play in the further growth and development of the Bahamas we have examples from the independence era that 41 years ago ushered in The Bahamas that has evolved today. While you journey through life in The Bahamas, make your mark and let your contribution count to making us a better and brighter Bahamas.
o John Carey served as a member of Parliament 2002 to 2007. He can be reached at: johngfcarey@hotmail.com.

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