There can be no real change without challenge

Tue, May 5th 2015, 12:45 AM

"Change is inevitable. Change is constant". This quote, which is attributed to Benjamin Disraeli, the first Earl of Beaconsfield and former British prime minister, is often separated into two quotes to highlight the certainty and continuous nature of change within the human race. The laws of nature prove this to be true in relation to the metamorphosis of plants and creatures alike, with a living demonstration in the advent and departure of seasons.

Last week, we commemorated the significant event in our history that transpired on what we call Black Tuesday, the essence of which was the clamor for change by the people of this family of islands five decades ago. The desire for change was matched by deliberate action by ordinary people who took a stand to alter the course of Bahamian history. This piece looks at the notion of change, the perception of the populace, the reality that it brings and reactions to real change in our country.

The scrutiny of change

There is a perception that the current administration may very well be the most scrutinized government in the history of The Bahamas. This is not unconnected to the fact that the electorate has taken a more keen interest in the governance of the country and the decisions made by our political leaders. It therefore appears that the government is always operating under a microscope with every move subject to debate and/or criticism.

In reality, what is emerging before our very eyes is the maturity of our democracy and the enlightening of our people which is reminiscent of The Renaissance. These are indeed the actions of a populace seeking more transparency, openness and accountability from their leaders.

While this is a new paradigm in the governance of our country, it is also the new norm and political leaders must acclimatize to this environment in order to survive. This only confirms some aspects of an article entitled "A call to national conscience," published in The Nassau Guardian about three years ago on May 3, 2012.

An excerpt from that article reads: "Political leaders and aspiring candidates on the other hand should be reminded that post this (2012) election, the electorate will hold them accountable like never before in the history of The Bahamas."

A government of change

There seems to be widespread consensus that change is inevitable and bound to occur whether we accept or resist it. The power of change is so profound that it is invoked in every election across the globe as individuals promote themselves either directly or indirectly as agents of change to woo voters. They believe that offering an alternative which deviates from the existing framework provides them with a better chance of success at the polls. While some politicians never follow through on their promises during the campaign trail, others deliver on all or some of them.

The current administration has done some heavy lifting since being voted into office almost three years ago and should be commended for its courage as well as efforts in this regard. The change to the tax system, gaming law reform, immigration reform, investment in the agricultural sector, initiatives promoting our tourism products and efforts to stimulate the economy as a whole readily come to mind.

By the same token, there have been some less than stellar moments in the implementation of some of these initiatives which cannot be overlooked. Any criticism, whether constructive or not, should not serve as discouragement or cause for confrontation; rather it should be used to produce an improved product or service in the future. The government should note that if it expects to bring about real change, it must be prepared to be challenged continuously by the people that will be impacted by this change.

The change desired by the people
The people of The Bahamas carry in our bellies the flame that pushes us to be better today than we were yesterday.

While some do not display this inner strength and have settled for a life of mediocrity due to complacency, many still believe in the promise that The Bahamas holds if we work together towards a common loftier goal.

We still hold out hope knowing that in the words of President Obama, "change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change we seek."

The voices of the Bahamian people are heard on myriad issues impacting our country including crime, more opportunities, greater involvement of the youth in nation building and the economy as a whole. What we seem to forget however, is that the struggle for a better Bahamas commenced several decades ago and it was only through persistence, perseverance, hard work, sacrifice and unity that our predecessors were able to achieve much.

The late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said it best when he stated, "Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle."

Conclusion
As the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) prepares to celebrate its third anniversary in government, it would be unfair to state that the current administration has done nothing worthy of commendation. It would also be disingenuous to suggest that there have not been some moments of disappointment and certain mishaps along the way.

The government must not only be happy to take the praise for its accomplishments, members of government must also be willing to accept responsibility for actions or inactions that their employers - the people - have deemed not to be in their best interest. Whether our political leaders deem any criticism as fair or not, warranted or unwarranted, they ought to learn from it and move on.

History will be the judge of every administration that has governed this great country; the works of our political leaders and elected officials will be weighed in the balance either while their footprints are still visible in the sands of time or when they have long faded away.

In the interim, the Bahamian people will continue to assess and examine the performance of those that lead them. In doing so, we will challenge any change to determine whether it is positive or negative. We know that changing the status quo is no easy task but we are committed to real change and are prepared to challenge whatever stands in its way for the sake of the progress of our land.

We know that, as Robert Kennedy indicated, "Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator. And change has its enemies."

The people are watching to see the individuals who are the enemies of positive change in and progress for our Bahamaland.

o 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

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