Dear Editor,
On the evening of July 9, many Bahamians braved the heavy traffic and headed to Clifford Park to celebrate Independence Day. Many of us even reminisced on the first independence ceremony, how much pride we had when we saw the Union Jack come down for the last time and replaced with the Bahamian flag. The intentions may have been good, but today we are less independent than before the flags were replaced.
Hurrying to today, we are totally dependent. Let me explain how we arrived at this clearly obvious position.
We have placed too much value on things British and holding on for dear life to the old monarchy. We are still pledging our allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors.
We go to Government House and it is still decorated with a drape with ER II. What's with that in an independent country that has been so for 43 years? How long will it be before we come to our senses?
Bahamians think nothing of themselves unless and until they are honored by the Queen. We dress in our top hat and waste good money to carry an entourage to London for a ceremony that we say we wanted to be independent of.
We think we are so much more important than others who have not been honored in the same fashion. Psychologically we think we are better or we have done something special to have been considered. We fell prey to the brainwashing.
We have surrendered our courts to the men with superior minds in London to determine if we should make a legal decision here in The Bahamas. Since I am not a legal scholar, please help: does England even have a constitution? Our inferiority complex is so obvious.
Because we must keep something from the "old guard" we have kept the Westminster system. We foolishly allow a system that was designed by men who rigged the system to keep who they wanted in power; that caused us to end up with leaders of the country we don't really want when we did not select them ourselves.
A rigged system to select delegates is what political parties use to select their leaders then they are forced on a public, the majority of which had no say in the matter.
Why don't we let the Bahamian people vote for the prime minister. Why is there not an election for PM where anyone who feels he or she has contribution to make can offer their names? Let the people decide who is best suited.
Today, we elect MPs and they select among themselves who will be the PM. See how fool we have been and are still today? Supposedly intelligent people, walk lockstep with a flawed system to suit themselves. How long are we going to continue to do the same things?
This independent season, we need to end our allegiance and dependence on England, discontinue our dependence on an outdated Privy Council, dump the Westminster system and become a republic. Let us as Bahamians make all of our decisions about us by us. Time for a Bahamian president. Let the people decide.
On another note, why do so many Bahamians subscribe to corrupt practices? Why is stealing from the state not so serious to the powers that be? How come large sums of money are missing from almost every ministry and no one is prosecuted? We are all guilty by commission or omission.
How come people who have been caught redhanded are always transferred to another ministry to steal again? Why are they always protected? There has been some blatant misconduct and nothing is done. Why have the police not done anything or said anything?
Why do the police have to get permission to investigate on a government official who was caught taking up residence in the cookie jar?
We are the laughing stock of the international community. I am embarrassed when my friends call from abroad and tease me for saying nothing.
I dare say we all are equally guilty for seeing and not saying anything. We are too hellbent on protecting our own behinds. Pastors should do more. Many have neglected their flocks for the "mean, green, almighty dollar".
Finally, if you do not come from behind the gates and get involved in the goings-on in this country, those gates will eventually become your prison.
With God as my maker, I fear no human. None!
- Ivoine W. Ingraham
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