The arrival of the new year was accompanied by the characteristic fanfare and festivities in The Bahamas. Our leap into 2015 also marked the commencement of the value-added tax (VAT) era for Bahamians as the reality of the new normal within our tax system dawned on many.
There is no doubt that the year has commenced with a number of activities on the national and political fronts which we will discuss in the coming weeks. In the meantime, while we focused on our national issues and local challenges, the world quietly entered into the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD). In other words, as a majority of Bahamians are of African Descent, January 1, 2015 ushered in a decade dedicated to us by the United Nations (UN).
As the United States of America observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day yesterday, tributes and demonstrations were expected. The clarion call for equality, justice and fairness by minorities continues with the message that black lives matter being spread across that nation. This concern was also recently brought to the forefront with the perceived disparity in the level of global attention given to the massacre of thousands on the African continent by terrorists when compared to that in France. This article takes a look at the significance of the IDPAD and what it means to the African Diaspora.

The Durban Declaration
The UN General Assembly had designated 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent (IYPAD) in response to the findings at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR), which had taken place from August 31 to September 8, 2001 in Durban, South Africa. Discussions and conclusions reached at the WCAR produced the Durban Declaration and Program of Action (DDPA) which considered discrimination against people of African descent and recommended an action plan in the global fight against racism.
In the aftermath of the IYPAD, several individuals and over 60 civil society organizations representing people of African descent wrote a letter to UN Member States calling for the UN General Assembly to declare 2012-2022 as the IDPAD. Recognizing that the IYPAD brought attention to racism and human rights issues faced by people of African descent, the aforesaid correspondence noted that the overall purpose had not been met in one year and recommended the adoption of the IDPAD in the implementation of the Durban Declaration.
The purpose of the IDPAD
On December 23, 2013, the UN General Assembly via Resolution 68/237 proclaimed 2015-2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD). The theme for the IDPAD is "People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice and Development" with the overarching objective being to strengthen national, regional and international cooperation in relation to the full enjoyment of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights by people of African descent, and their full and equal participation in all aspects of society. The main objectives of the IDPAD as shown on the UN website are as follows:
o Promote respect, protection and fulfillment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by people of African descent, as recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
o Promote a greater knowledge of and respect for the diverse heritage, culture and contribution of people of African descent to the development of societies;
o Adopt and strengthen national, regional and international legal frameworks according to the Durban Declaration and Program of Action and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and to ensure their full and effective implementation.
It is also expected that during the IDPAD, the UN will encourage its member states and the international community to ensure the inclusion of citizens of African descent in national planning and initiatives as well as implement anti-racism or discriminatory laws in this regard. While the IDPAD will include celebrations around the world and education about the health, economic status, history and culture of Africa's descendants, the UN on its part has undertaken to promote events to acknowledge the Decade.

Commentary and the IDPAD
The IDPAD was launched on December 10, 2014 which coincided with UN Human Rights Day which is observed on December 10, each year. The launch of the IDPAD comes at a pivotal time in our existence after several decades in which discrimination against individuals of African descent has been swept under the proverbial carpet.
This was further highlighted by Sam Kutesa, President of the UN General Assembly as he introduced the IDPAD. Kutesa noted that people of African descent still face racism in every country, region and continent of the world. Noting the link between poverty and racism, he observed that while people of African descent make substantial contributions to the world economy, they continue to be marginalized.
Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs expressed similar sentiments to Kutesa by shining the spotlight on the inequality and limited access to healthcare, education and employment that has become the lot of people of African descent. UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan ?imonovi? surmised that "human rights belong to us all" and added that "this Decade aims to shine a light on inequality, invisibility, underdevelopment, discrimination and violence on each and every continent".

The IDPAD and The Bahamas
The sometimes insular view and approach that certain Bahamians have in relation to matters of national importance leads us to place little or no emphasis on international initiatives that have implications for our country and way of life. Additionally, we are sometimes minded to distance ourselves from or refuse to acknowledge from whence we came as a people. While our history is rich and we boast of a heritage that includes diverse races, the vast majority of our people are descendants of the African continent.
In light of the foregoing, the IDPAD is just as relevant to us as it is for the African Americans and others of the African Diaspora. While we have made significant strides in combating the menace of racism and racial discrimination within our commonwealth, there is still much more to be done particularly in the economic empowerment and financial freedom of Bahamians of African descent.
Our economic model must evolve if we are to eliminate the modern day slavery that is in effect within our Bahamaland. Specific focus should be placed on the endangered species - that is the young Bahamian male of African descent with due regard for the protection for his young and old female counterpart. A key component of this focus is the education of our people to compete on a global scale.

The ruling majority and the future
As we commemorated Majority Rule Day a week ago, it is important that we do not forget our origin and the past that brought us to the present. There is no doubt that the ills of slavery and tales of the transatlantic slave trade will be revived and recounted during The Decade. The fact that such an atrocity was committed against a race cannot be blotted out of the history books and we must teach future generations, but more importantly learn from this experience to ensure that we do not become guilty of the evil done against our ancestors. In the words of George Santayana, "those that do not remember (or learn from) the past are condemned to repeat it".
The IDPAD should not be seen as a time to seek self-pity, retaliate or renew any form of animosity against our fellow human beings. If the truth be told, we the people of African descent have not only discriminated against other races but we have also discriminated against and marginalized our own selves. The IDPAD should be used as an opportunity to right the wrongs against our people which have been perpetuated in some instances by our leaders that have been elected by the majority as well as leaders in commerce.
This decade should be one of reflection as well as action on the status, welfare and condition of our people that constitute the majority with a view to enacting policies to improve the same. The question is what role the majority will play in the destiny of our Bahamas in 2015 and beyond as the International Decade of People of African Descent is upon us. The answers to these questions reside within and not without; we are responsible for our own destiny.

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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