Dear Editor,
Inclement weather conditions over the last few days, along with various forecasts from here and there relating to the annual hurricane season now upon us, seem to suggest that serious preparations for upcoming storms ought to be our work in progress throughout The Bahamas.
Every dark cloud might not mean that rain is coming. And, some say that every cloud has a silver lining.
Perhaps, we may also throw in the notion that lightning and thunder usually go together, but not always.
Some things can be fairly accurately predicted sometimes, but preparation is always worth the effort in any case.
It might rain. It might not. Take the umbrella anyway. Just like umbrellas, an open mind is better than a closed one.
We in The Bahamas might still not be world-class at beach soccer/football yet, but unofficially we could claim championship rights in the sport of kicking-the-can- down-the-road!
We have been excelling at that particular game for many decades now.
Ironically enough, it now appears that our expertise in that endeavor would likely be very detrimental to keeping our ship of state away from those wide and treacherous shoals ahead.
Putting it more bluntly, I would say that that constitutional quagmire related to automatic Bahamian citizenship for children born to migrant parents here, will have to at last be circumspectly traversed.
Of course, it's way past time that this vexing issue was earnestly addressed and resolved. But, that's our style. Call it a Bahamian ting!
Just as with that proverbial umbrella which is better opened, some Bahamians are quite unflinching on the subject, while others are more open to practical compromises.
I have expressed my opinion on this topic, and maintain that the barn door needs to be securely closed, even though some of the horses have already gotten out, so to speak.
At this point, we should put aside blaming those who should have closed the door, or when.
"If ya born here, ya born here."
Maybe now an amendment could be inserted to allow residency status instead of full citizenship in the relevant cases. There may be other ways of solving the problem, but something's gotta give.
Alternatively, we could be throwing the baby out with the bathwater, or cutting off our nose to spite our face.
The storm is building. Looks like hurricane comin'!
Most likely and very soon, the matter will go to the highest court of the land — which is actually not in the land at all — for a final, definitive ruling.
That Privy Council will either confirm or deny the ruling of our appeals court, regarding the automatic rights of children born in The Bahamas to foreign parents in attaining Bahamian citizenship.
We may or may not have one proper, official hurricane shelter within our 700 islands, rocks, and cays, but a lot of us might need more secure shelters from the storms of crazy numbers of new Bahamians soon.
Whatever the numbers are of those who may turn out to be entitled to Bahamian passports and voting cards, the dynamics of governance in this 50 year old Bahamas is bound to be dramatically affected.
What a storm!
Xenophobia and fear-mongering have been brewing here for quite some time, but depending on the outcome of that constitutional interpretation, that storm could be right upon us. No need to panic at this point, nor even after a definitive ruling on the issue, if plans could be clearly drawn up for the way forward.
Just who would be included in drawing up such plans, and exactly what the plans would entail could be considered the eye of the storm. Just how Bahamians - the old ones and the expectant ones - proceed into the second half century of this independent Bahamas will indeed be critical.
When that question about eligibility for nationality is resolved and the related storms passes, a few things might be helpful in keeping our ship of state sailing toward that rising sun, instead of another wary storm.
How about instituting mandatory DNA testing for all newborns and their parents? As controversial as it might be, we will have the opportunity to retire the nation from its once favorite sport; kicking-the-can-down-the-road. Many things will, no doubt, come to light that generations have been kept in the dark about. Light is good!
Mandatory national identification cards would also prove helpful in many, many ways. Unlike the NIB cards, voters cards, or driver's licenses, this comprehensive databased card would have enormous usefulness to each Bahamian, as well as our overall vital national systems.
Having clarity as part of our National Plan for development, the concomitant element would necessarily be the effective and vigorous enforcement.
"Forward, upward, onward together" would be more than a catchy slogan or token motto. Bahamians would at last be able to practice that principle in their daily lives, with real meaning.
Storms/hurricanes come and go. These jewels in our turquoise seas have weathered them from time immemorial. So, getting over one storm, literally or figuratively, wouldn't necessarily mean it's time for grand celebrations. Celebrate, yes. Fifty years as an independent Bahamas is indeed cause for celebrations, however much or little we can point to as progressive movement.
All the same, there is wisdom in knowing that storms are bound to appear in the future. Some storms afford us a relatively long time to prepare. Others seem to just come out of nowhere. Whichever way they happen, when Bahamians take to heart our pledge, with their hands over their hearts, we are bound to survive any storm.
Our ship of state must have its map, its compass, and its capacity ready and intact whenever and wherever it sets sail. Other ships may help. Other ships may be helped. But The Bahamas must operate in its own best interest or sink.
Yours sincerely,
— MB
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