This column will be the last one published by yours truly for 2014 and as the countdown begins for the advent of a new year, we pause to reflect on the year that was. We reflect on the events that occurred during a year that many will remember for diverse reasons and the various seasons they experienced therein.
In the final hours of 2014, we hear its swan song echoing through the sands of time and cannot but bear the sound of the ticking clock that ushers in a new beginning for our dear country. While some will recall the faith that sustained them, others will reminisce on the fear that they hope will pass to appear in their rear view mirror in short order. Indeed while the wear and tear left behind by the year are obvious for some, the promise of a new dawn invigorates us to move on. This piece wraps up 2014 with a recap on the highs and lows, ups and downs and trials and triumphs of a year, the end of which draws near.
The demands on government
The various arms of government were indeed busy during 2014 as they sought to discharge their constitutional duties in an environment in which the demands of the populace remains on the rise. The legislature was quite busy and the debates were no doubt spirited and in some cases confrontational as bills with significant implications for our commonwealth were brought to parliament.
The executive made and deferred certain decisions while the judiciary remained under scrutiny as pressure was constantly put on the court system to expedite the administration of justice. The electorate like never before demanded transparency in governance as the status quo in our approach to matters of national importance was challenged by a people recognizing the urgency of now. In essence the fourth branch of government reported for duty and showed up in full scale during the year with the Fourth Estate - journalists - leading the charge in this regard.
The game changers
A number of initiatives introduced during 2014 could very well be described as game changers based on the expected impact on our way of life, our social fabric, moral values, economy and mind set going into the future. The enactment and passage of the value-added tax (VAT) bill which introduced and will bring into effect a new era of taxation in The Bahamas is one of those. After years of burying our heads in the proverbial sand, we finally came to full realization that our fiscal position was not sustainable and decided to address our financial imbalance either by choice or force based on the obvious. While VAT is not the panacea for our financial woes and the fiscal consolidation plan must be properly implemented, there is no doubt that the introduction of this consumption tax represents the most significant change in our tax code since independence.
The Bahamas signed an intergovernmental agreement with the US for the implementation of the Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act in 2014 and also committed to the adoption of the automatic exchange of information global standard on a bilateral basis in 2018. The financial services in The Bahamas will have to adapt to the new paradigm and evolve in the months and years ahead if it is to remain competitive among the community of nations. A new era was also ushered in with the passage of the Gaming Bill which sought to modernize our gaming laws but also legalized web shops in The Bahamas after decades in which they operated without a legal framework, formal structure and were not subject to proper taxation.
The outstanding items
While a number of programs were introduced and plans implemented during the year, some remained outstanding from the agenda set for 2014. One of these items is the constitutional referendum aimed at ending discrimination against men and women in The Bahamas. The planned referendum followed a report by the Constitutional Commission in 2013 and was expected to take place during the year. One of the highlights of the year was indeed the positions taken and utterances made by members of parliament in relation to the Constitutional Amendment Bills. The proposed date has since been changed to a time in 2015.
The opening of Baha Mar in December 2014 was anticipated by both Bahamians and individuals across the globe with high expectations on the impact on our tourism product. This mega resort, which represents arguably the most significant event in our tourism in years, is also expected to give our economy a much needed boost and put a dent on our unemployment figures. Set to open in late spring 2015, all eyes remain on Baha Mar to add a new and dynamic twist to our tourism product.
The goodbyes we said
The frailty of our mortality and fragile nature of humanity flashes before our eyes from year to year as we journey through life. We were reminded on multiple occasions of the inevitability of the end of our voyage here on earth in 2014 as we said farewell to our compatriots, friends and loved ones. The loss of prominent Bahamians such as Edmund Moxey, Myles Munroe, Warren Levarity, Maureen Duvalier and Samantha Perigod just to mention a few reminds us that death is certain and we must live meaningful lives with the goal of leaving the world better than we met it.
The departures that remain touching and more disturbing are those of our brothers and sisters that have been cut down by the menace of violent crime in our Bahamaland. While we mourned the demise of many, our pain and sorrow were increased by the blood that flowed on our streets as a few persons chose to cheapen the precious gift of life that only God can give. The tears and cries of parents, friends and relatives evidenced the abandoned national mantra of being our brother's keeper and the level of deterioration of our moral values.
The conclusion of a year
The festivities of the season will soon give way to the arrival of a new year which provides us with a new opportunity as a blank canvass before an artist. There is so much that can be said of the highs and lows of 2014 albeit the limitation of space does not provide the luxury of a prolonged thesis. The Bimini Bay project, opening of Memories in Grand Bahama, the new immigration policy, BAMSI, Marco's Law, the National Intelligence Agency and labour disputes among others made news headlines during an eventful 2014.
As many Bahamians prepare to bid 2014 farewell and welcome 2015, some of us will be around family and friends while a vast majority will be in church as the watchman provides the countdown. We will say adios to a year that has had its fair share of challenges but we must give thanks as a resilient people for the many blessings we overlooked during the year. The government, private sector, civic society and we the people will do well to reflect on the events of 2014 and make a commitment to do more to enrich the lives of our fellow Bahamians. Selflessness and servitude with unflinching dedication to transparency, responsibility and accountability are prerequisites if the New Year is going to be better than the current year. As the end of the year draws near and final curtains are drawn on 2014, I wish to express my utmost gratitude to the readers and followers of this column for your support during the year. It is my hope, desire and prayer that you have a prosperous 2015. Happy New Year in advance!
o Arinthia S. Komolafe is an attorney-at-law. Comments on this article can be directed to a.s.komolafe510@gmail.com.
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