On April 12, 2015, Hillary Rodham Clinton officially declared her intention to contest the next presidential election in the United States. The announcement also formally launched her election campaign several years after she was unsuccessful in her bid to win the nomination of the Democratic Party through the Democratic National Committee. She had lost to now President Barack Obama – an African American, who has won the nomination and subsequently the US presidential election on two consecutive occasions.

While Clinton is seeking to be the first female president of the US, the race to the White House promises to be exciting as other potential candidates are trying to make history as well. The US elections are still several months away; however, the global political landscape has been changing for the most part and staying the same in some cases all at once. Election cycles have ushered in new faces and outsiders in some instances and maintained incumbents in other cases. We consider these changes and review our local environment in this piece.

The power of change

The election of President Obama in the U.S. at the age of 47 was historic not solely because of his race but also because he represented a deviation from the status quo; he was not the typical presidential candidate and built a campaign around not being a part of the establishment.

In 2010, David Cameron became the youngest British Prime Minister since Lord Liverpool in 1812 following the general election that year and having assumed leadership of the Conservative Party in 2005 at the age of 39. It has been stated that Cameron’s speech, which was delivered without notes at the Conservative Party Conference and in which he declared that he wanted “to switch on a whole new generation”, had propelled him to the leadership of that party.

The general elections that produced the current leaders of the US and UK can be compared in that they both highlighted the demand for change by the populace in those countries. They also show that the message and promise of hope packaged in a deviation from business as usual resonates with the electorate regardless of country. The story is incomplete without mention of the lady who is described as the de facto leader of the European Union – Angela Merkel. The Chancellor of Germany entered politics in her 30s before becoming the first female German Chancellor and youngest German Chancellor since World War II.

In many instances, it is safe to say that general election campaigns globally have been reflecting unusual, but strong candidates from all walks of life which include but are not limited to young people (politically speaking), women, minorities and non-aristocrats. This is evidence of the evolving political landscape globally.

Political leadership in the Caribbean

A look at the current political scene in our region shows the diversity in the makeup of leadership within CARICOM. While there is a mix of veteran and astute individuals on the one hand and the young and upcoming on the other, there is one common denominator in the majority of the stories of these individuals. In most cases, our current leaders entered into public life at a young age. Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica was sworn in as the world’s youngest prime minister in 2004 and has remained in that position ever since. Prime Minister of Jamaica Portia Simpson-Miller was first elected to the Parliament of Jamaica at the age of 31 in 1976 and Persad-Bissessar became the first female Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago in 2010.

The Bahamas has its fair share of remarkable journeys of individuals that have served the populace from their youth. The stories of the three prime ministers in post-independent Bahamas are instructive in this regard. The late Sir Lynden O. Pindling, Hubert A. Ingraham and Perry G. Christie took the perilous dive into public life at the pinnacle of their strengths as young Bahamians. It is Pindling’s story however that we isolate in this article.

Sir Lynden, as he was fondly called, joined the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) at the young age of 23, became Parliamentary Leader at 26, Premier of The Bahamas at 37 and Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas at 43 in 1973.

Succession planning

One of the most important duties of leaders is to ensure that there are adequate plans in place for the continuation of the organizations or constituency they lead. The legacy of leaders is determined not solely by their actions and inactions while at the helm but also by the state in which they leave their organizations. In other words, the saying that good leaders work their way daily into redundancy has significant merits when it comes to the often avoided responsibility of succession planning.

Our mortality as human beings makes our exit from whatever position we hold inevitable whether this occurs voluntarily or involuntarily. The acknowledgment of this frailty by political leaders within our archipelago and region as a whole is important if we are to prepare for the future. Simply put, the baton will eventually have to be passed on to the next generation; it is not a matter of "if", but a question of "when".

History will be unkind to members of the current political leadership within CARICOM that are in the twilight of their careers but refuse to groom and mentor potential successors.

The challenge of successors

The next chapter of the book called The Bahamas will be written not by those who wait for the pen to be given to them on a platter. Rather, the authors of the new episode are those that identify the need to write or rewrite aspects of our tale and realize that a pen is required to commence the drafting. The future of our country will not be crafted by those that sit back lackadaisically hoping that they will be found worthy of the higher call; The Bahamas of tomorrow belongs to them that will take hold of the pen and write while they remain uncomfortable.

Political leaders in the current dispensation will achieve more if the Bahamian people would put aside politics and selfish interests in pursuit of a glorious future for our commonwealth. Our country will be better served if new and young leaders emerge from all walks of life to lead us as we embark on the next phase of our voyage. Intending participants must note that this journey is not for the weak nor is it for loyalists of the status quo; it is for those who choose to take risks, persevere and genuinely believe in the Bahamian Dream and the promise it holds for all.

Conclusion

Generations yet unborn will look upon pivotal moments in the history of The Bahamas and will reflect on the role each generation played in response to the calls of destiny. The sacrifices and commitment of many of our forefathers and foremothers will be assessed and weighed in the balance. The contributions of Sir Lynden’s protégés Ingraham and Christie will also be considered against the backdrop of the realities of their times.

We are unsure of what the future of our politics will look like after the exit of the political powerhouses that have dominated the landscape for decades. One thing is certain; there will never be a vacuum of leadership. As we have seen and expect changes in the politics of the countries of the world, The Bahamas will not be immune to the imminent wind of change.

Indeed Pablo Neruda said it best when he stated that “you can cut all the flowers but you can’t stop spring from coming”. The question is, will we be a part of the change, or will we resist it?

• Arinthia S. Komolafe is an attorney-at-law. Comments on this article can be directed to a.s.komolafe510@gmail.com.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian