Is The Bahamas a government country

Tue, Sep 6th 2016, 10:49 AM

The contrast between the proverbial planets on which groupings of individuals within The Bahamas reside is startling. Depending on the political affiliation of a person engaged in a discussion on national matters, it is not unusual to hear opposing assessments on the state of our commonwealth. Loyalists to the governing party will often find a positive angle to any story while opposition forces will always zero in on the negative. This has been the lot and predicament of the Bahamian people over the past several decades, leading many to wonder whether any sitting government has ever done anything right and if any opposing view has ever contained some valid points worthy of consideration.

Regrettably, we have been polarized by the 21st century slave masters and subconsciously initiated into the cult of political tribalism to the detriment of our beloved nation. Our country is at a crossroads with political, economic, social and health challenges that threaten The Bahamian Dream. The natural default in these serious times has been the government, which is tempted daily to deliver, even when it is clear that the state is limited in how much it can do without sacrificing our future and setting dangerous precedents.

The growth of government
In comparison to nations across the globe, The Bahamas is a small archipelagic nation with a population of no more than 400,000 people. It is fair to state that we do not see ourselves as being small; after all, this land is a land inhabited by giants with an indomitable spirit. However, there are certain realities that we must face to successfully navigate a world of political maneuvers and uneven playing fields among the community of nations. In the current term, our realities spurred by external and internal pressures have caused us to implement certain policies thereby changing the dynamics of our country.

Over the past four years, the government has introduced value-added tax (VAT), implemented the U.S. Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), activated a Constitutional Commission/Vote Yes Campaign, created a National Health Insurance (NHI) Secretariat, established the Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI), established the National Training Agency (NTA), set up a Cellular Liberalization Taskforce and reintroduced Urban Renewal. Indeed, other programs may have been omitted from this list and it is important to note that some of these initiatives may have been temporary.

One thing is certain: The Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) government has been quite busy during its current term and has sought to bring about some reforms. While it can be argued that its efforts should be commended, it should also be noted that these programs come at a cost and impact government expenditure and our nation's fiscal position. Local and foreign consultants as well as individuals have benefitted from the growth of government during the past four years. It is anticipated that there will be further expansion of the public service as the job program is rolled out and additional government entities are created in the months ahead.

In the final analysis, the downside effects of a shift toward big government could impede economic growth, create an unfavorable fiscal position for the government, stifle private enterprise growth, transfer labor costs from the private sector to the public service and may open the door to corruption, cronyism and nepotism.

Economic impact

Individuals and corporate entities have benefitted from the size of government historically. The projects embarked upon by the government in recent years would have had some multiplier effect on the economy, albeit they have concurrently increased the level of dependency on government by the private sector. The size of our country and the significant contribution of the government to economic activity ensures that several professional firms, media houses, micro small and medium enterprises and service providers have a lifeline to the state.

The question arises as to how much of the referenced initiatives have had an overall positive impact on our gross domestic product (GDP). VAT has provided much-needed boost to government revenue; FATCA compliance has kept us in the good books of the U.S. from a tax cooperation standpoint; the constitutional referendum sought to bring us in line with the international community and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); NHI is touted as a monumental step in our achievement toward full universal health coverage (and better productivity in the long run); unemployment remains in double digits despite training programs; and BAMSI holds a promise for food security. On the face of it, the listed items have constituted expenditure by taxpayers with potential long-term dividends. The emphasis on long term is important seeing that the economy shrank by 0.5 percent in 2014 and contracted by 1.7 percent in 2015.

The blackballing syndrome
One of the dark sides of the major influence of governments in economies is the propensity for favoritism to entities that support the governing party. The struggle is so real for many that the notion of meritocracy in The Bahamas is seen as utopia. While political parties in opposition have decried victimization and lamented the "blackballing" syndrome, history has shown us that they often become guilty of the same sins they condemned while on the other side of the fence. When will it just be sufficient to be a duly qualified Bahamian company or individual for one to stand a chance for success in this country?

This menace of blackballing in Bahamian lingo is real for persons and companies that do not support a governing party unless of course, they belong to the perceived aristocracy in the best little country on Earth. The extension of this vicious and vindictive approach to governance can now be seen in the case of persons who either stand up against the government or simply express an opinion that is not fully aligned with that of the government. This is a sad state of affairs in a country that had to fight to ensure that everyone has a voice and say in the national dialogue. We cannot allow our nation to deteriorate to a state of fear, anarchy and tyranny while we stand on the sidelines in the comfort of our homes and perks. Our allegiance is not to gold/yellow, red, blue, green or any other colors; we pledge our allegiance to the aquamarine, gold and black and the Commonwealth of The Bahamas for which it stands.

Silence of the lambs
A lamb is often regarded as the symbol of innocence and sacrifice, which are both prima facie good virtues worthy of emulation. In the context of this piece, we consider the Bahamian people as lions and lionesses who are rulers of their own destinies - a people that detest oppression and advocate for a society in which fairness, equal opportunity and economic empowerment are the norm. It is against this backdrop that we lament the silencing of our people one after the other as they are forced to decide between standing on convictions and meeting their financial obligations. These are no doubt symptoms of an enslaved society beholden to a brutal Babylon system.

We ought to refuse to be a people on strings pulled by successive governments. We should not become paralyzed in our advocacy based on the threat of economic marginalization and the blackballing syndrome. The Bahamian people must shed their lamb clothing for the coat of the lions and lionesses that we are as we demand a new order. It is time to usher in a higher standard of governance in our Bahamaland. The former things must pass away and new things we must declare for the glory of the latter shall be greater than the former.

Who will speak for the people?
Current and aspiring leaders in The Bahamas must never lose sight of the tasks before them and must remain mindful that they have a charge to keep. They must champion the cause of the Bahamian people with honesty, diligence, sincerity and humility. As the general election approaches us, the Bahamian people will be keeping track of those who heard their cries but will not forget those who listened and acted in their best interest.

As for us - the Bahamian people, the following Martin Niemoller quote captures the fate of a people who refuse to stand up for justice and that which is right:

"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me."

Is the Bahamas a government country? No, The Bahamas is the people's country and our destiny is in our own hands.

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

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