Lynden Pindling: A transformative leader and national hero

Wed, Jan 15th 2014, 11:00 AM

george smithThe Lynden Pindling International Airport is a facility that the nation can justly take great pride in. It is a testament of what can be achieved, by way of strong and purposeful collaboration between a government and private sector interests.
The partnership between the Airport Authority and the Nassau Airport Development Company in the development and management of LPIA has proven to work successfully. It is a wise formula which the government should use in the upgrading and management of all the major airports in the Family Islands.
The same principles which exist at LPIA should be considered for those government corporations which have placed heavy financial demands on the public treasury. I am thinking particularly about Bahamasair and the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas. The more than $30 million of public funds spent annually in subsidies to those corporations could be much better spent on the education of the nation's children.
The opening of LPIA was also a grand occasion when all Bahamians were called upon to reflect on the life and contributions that the late Sir Lynden Pindling made in shaping our beloved Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
For those Bahamians who are too young to have any memories of Lynden Pindling, this is a ripe time for our nation to erect a living memorial for his eminent stewardship of our nation state during its formative years. It is Sir Lynden's pre-eminence which has earned him the honor to be hailed as the 'Father of our Nation'.
As we reflect on the life and times of this great Bahamian son, I salute him for his passionate and caring leadership, his pragmatic philosophy and his vision that guided the march to the 'Quiet Revolution'.
Every nation has its heroes. There is no nation that has attained greatness without recognizing the existence of some of its citizens whose life's journey propelled them to trod the streets of greatness, of personal sacrifices for the good of the people and who at great odds, labored to usher in periods of transformation.
Greece has Socrates and Alexander; Rome, Caesar and Agustus; Germany has Bismarck and Adenauer; Britain, Alfred, Nelson and Churchill; India has Ghandi and Nehru; America, Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt and King; Africa has Shaka, Nkrumah, Kenyatta, Nyerere, Awolowo, Lumumba and Mandela.
The Bahamas has its list of heroes. They are those who fought for our liberation, sometimes putting their lives on the line. They are those who have given of themselves for the greater good. They are those who are admired for their selfless deeds and noble qualities. They are those who are spoken about with pride. They are those whose life's work has been the transformative spirit throughout our archipelago. Their names have been given and should be given to schools, public buildings, airports, harbors, streets and parks.
Our heroes are freedom fighters like Pompey, Walker, Butler, Fawkes and Darling; they were educators like Dillet, Young, Francis, Coakley and Bethel. They were entertainers like Munnings, Taylor, Chipman and Butler; and the list goes on.
Lynden Pindling is a most worthy hero for Bahamians of every strata, social and economic. He came from ordinary Bahamian stock and rose to the pinnacle of political dominance. He was deeply involved in the people's struggle for their rights and their liberation. He fought to give voice to the oppressed. He was a part of the people's extraordinary journey. He led us to majority rule when we achieved political emancipation on January 10, 1967. "What a glorious day." He brought about an expansion of our economy and ushered in an educational revolution that saw thousands of Bahamians obtain university degrees.
Sir Lynden understood the importance of tourism to our economy, so much so, he served as minister of tourism on two occasions. He knew that it was from tourism that The Bahamas would realize the additional funds to invest in increased educational opportunities, health care and vast infrastructural improvements. He recognized the importance of the New Providence airport as the principal gateway to The Bahamas and brought about improvements to it. He also saw the need to expand and build other airports in the country, in our remotest Family Islands.
Lynden Pindling supported the establishment of The College of The Bahamas, the Central Bank and the National Insurance Board, and was passionate about extending benefits to the aged and the indigent. He established the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to protect our borders and our rich marine resources. He upgraded the Royal Bahamas Police Force into the fine organization it is today.
Sir Lynden was also an ardent supporter of the 'Bahamianization policy', implemented by Arthur Hanna. This policy is credited with unleashing the untapped potential of thousands of qualified Bahamians and gave meaning and purpose to their training, enabling them to assist in the building of the modern Bahamas.
Lynden Pindling also believed that if we were to improve the quality of life for all Bahamians, then the structure of Bahamian society must change. He stressed and saw the benefits and importance of remolding our society and transforming it into a 'Bahamian Nation'. He realized that only as an independent nation could we fulfill our destiny as a great people.
Sir Lynden challenged Bahamians to be greater or better than they were. Sharing his ever expanding 'dream' of a Bahamas which would be envied. A shining example to the world. He encouraged us to fight for the changes we wished to see. That was good advice then and it remains good advice today. He knew The Bahamas suffered when its citizens were indifferent about the affairs of state.
Lynden Pindling's leadership skills, which was shaped by his patriotism, character, discipline, intellect, courage, tolerance and timing made the difference during several crucial periods in the country's history. He interacted with Bahamians and foreign personalities with grace. His shrewdness and his sharpened faith were evident when he played a major role in freeing from prison, after 27 years of incarceration, the great African hero, Nelson Mandela.
He was not aloof or dismissive. He was available to all and was responsive to their concerns.
I believe that in time all of his fellow citizens would come to appreciate all that he achieved for the nation and that much of what we enjoy and take for granted, and all those things which make us proud to be Bahamian, are due in large measure to the intellect, stellar leadership, work and vision of the man that we acknowledge as the 'Father of our Nation'.
As we look back to darker passages and in these difficult days ahead, we pause to say, "To God be the Glory, great things He has done".
We acknowledge that our work is not finished, for the struggle to build a better, just, safe and fairer Bahamas endures; and, as we continue the work, all Bahamians can draw inspiration from Sir Lynden and all those noble Bahamian sons and daughters who have gone to harvest their eternal reward, and those heroes who are still with us.
I salute a grateful people who show appreciation and gratitude for the leadership of one of our 'finest sons'.
May we preserve warm thoughts of Lynden Pindling. May God bless his memory. And, may God keep us in unity, peace and love in this country he served so well.

o George A. Smith is a real estate broker and consultant. He served in Parliament from 1968 continuously for 29 years, was parliamentary secretary to the prime minister in 1972 and 1973, and was a member of the delegation at the London talks on independence in 1972.

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