"Cheers to a new year and
another chance for us to get it right."
- Oprah Winfrey

In a young nation like ours, each year makes its own matchless mark on history, shaping and molding our country as we progress closer to the fulfillment of our founders' fondest dreams for the nation. Therefore, this week we want to Consider This... what does 2013 hold for The Bahamas, its people and its future?

A watershed year lies ahead
As 2012 was a year of elections when the people got to choose their government, 2013 will be a year of consultations and plebiscites. The year 2013 promises to be only the second time in Bahamian history that the voice of the people will be solicited in a series of at least two and possibly three referenda that will change many things for future Bahamians.
In January, the government will go to the people for their views on web shop operations and a national lottery. This marks the first time a non-constitutional issue of national importance will be made the subject of a referendum. A critical matter, both for civil rights and for the national purse, this referendum will undoubtedly create even more controversy and debate than it already has, preparing Bahamians to vote in an informed and educated way.
Moreover, this trip to the polls will truly begin to unleash the voice of the people, freeing it to have more of an influence in governance than an every-five-year vote can ever do. This referendum will also reveal the answer to the real question, a question that will define the Christie administration for years to come: What will the political directorate do once it has ascertained the will of the people?
The next referendum in our year of freeing the peoples' voices will probably take place in June, following the March report of the Constitutional Review Commission, which will be another landmark event of 2013. Finally, after many promises, our 40-year-old constitution, finished with some degree of haste in a cold and dreary pre-Christmas London 40 years ago almost to the day, will be examined and amendments will be proposed to bring it in line with our 21st century world. At long last, women will be afforded the same rights as men and, hopefully, the right to use casinos will be extended to Bahamians, not just foreigners. The people will be asked to go to the polls to ratify these and other amendments and, once again in 2013, cast historic votes that will bring great change to the lives of everyone in The Bahamas.
And, finally, as the nation continues in 2013 to assiduously seek to establish other revenue streams, the very real possibility of oil drilling will once again arise. This very alluring thought of being an oil-rich nation has been around for decades but today's technologies, an ever-increasing per-barrel price and the rising demand for new supplies of black gold make this idea even more pressing. However, those decades have also seen the development of a very vigilant environmental movement, as well as some very serious accidents that have affected wildlife, ecosystems and economies in some instances beyond mitigation.
Therefore, the PLP, in what was a campaign promise, told the voters that they would not approve oil drilling until hearing from the people in a referendum. So it is reasonable to anticipate that this question will come before the people in 2013 as well. Once again, the peoples' voices will be heard and will guide the government's direction as regards the proper use of our natural resources for our benefit and that of our children and grandchildren.

The economy
The economy will once again be the central theme of 2013 as it was in 2012. Its strength or lack thereof will determine much about what the nation can do and not do in the New Year. As our borrowing capability is not as robust as it once was thanks to years of exercising it and also to the recent Standard & Poors' and Moody's downgrades, what happens in the United States and Europe, along with the possibility of a second recession, will be even more important to our economic growth than ever.

Infrastructure
The year 2013 will also see some interesting changes in our infrastructure as the road improvements will finally be completed and, as foreshadowed by Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis, decisions can be made regarding whether or not to accede to the demands of the disgruntled business owners and restore Market Street and Baillou Hill Road as two-way thoroughfares. This decision will definitively demonstrate the depth of the PLP's dedication to 2012's Believe in Bahamians credo.
The other infrastructure that will see completion in 2013 is the new Princess Margaret Hospital addition, a state-of-the-art upgrade to the nation's main healthcare facility, something that will not only benefit the many Bahamians seeking treatment there, but will also enhance the lives of the hardworking and professional staff of PMH. The next dilemma that needs to be tackled to make PMH the healthcare center it deserves to be is the question of parking, but that is probably a puzzle for another year.

Grand Bahama
In 2013, what will become of the economic malaise that has plagued that Grand Bahama? Will the realization of the longstanding promise of its own minister finally bear fruit for the sleeping giant to the north? As the Hawksbill Creek Agreement nears its end, will the government finally exercise its sovereignty over the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the stranglehold that it has on that island, freeing it to become part of The Bahamas once again and begin to realize its potential?
A safe prediction
One of the safest predictions for 2013 is that it will be a year of celebration as we observe the 40th anniversary of independence. What form or fashion those celebrations will take is another, less safe prediction.
With the nation's financial distress, it is clear that the scope of the celebrations may not be as lavish as many would wish, but given the extravagant and exciting event that began the anniversary celebrations, perhaps the upcoming festivities will surpass those that marked the renaming of the bridge to paradise. Whatever glittering and gratifying events that are planned, it will be another reason that 2013 will be unique and memorable.
The year 2013 will also be, as Oprah Winfrey says, "another chance for us to get it right". It will be a year when the peoples' voices will have the opportunity to be heard on very important national matters, when our constitution at long last is revived and reinvigorated, when our fragile economy could make a comeback, when our infrastructure creates an even more dynamic and modern society and when Grand Bahama could begin to finally come into its own.
Most importantly as we celebrate our 40th year of independence, we should seek to "get it right" by becoming a kinder, gentler nation with our feet more firmly on the path toward a secure and bright future. From here, on the brink of the new year, the prospects seem favorably poised in that Mr. Christie's leadership style lends itself to such a change in our political and civil culture as he continues to guide the ship of state into the even safer and more promising harbor of 2013.

o Philip C. Galanis is the managing partner of HLB Galanis & Co., Chartered Accountants, Forensic & Litigation Support Services. He served 15 years in Parliament. Please send your comments to pgalanis@gmail.com.

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