You’d think the slaves were freed yesterday, the way the PLP ministers are always harping on slavery and how “poor Bahamians” had to suffer. Truth is, there isn’t anybody alive in the Bahamas today who was ever a slave, and I dare say there isn’t anybody whose father was a slave.
And while racial discrimination was a deterent to national growth, and still is, there is a tremendous distinction between racial discrimination, which goes both ways and is still rampant today, and slavery, which hasn’t existed in the Bahamas for well over 150 years.
Yet, PLP ministers are constantly reminding Bahamians about their “slave” past. ﾠPM Perry Christie recently shelled out $24 million dollars ﾠ(money he didn’t have and had no right to spend) on Clifton Park so his government can build some slave inspired heritage park that they hope will influence elections in 2007.
This is the same disgraceful tactic used by the PLP in earlier years. ﾠThey used the government owned television station to broadcast the racially controversial movie “Roots”, over and over again, during election periods to keep the concept of slavery at the forefront of voter’s minds. ﾠIn other words, they would instigate racial tension for their own selfish electoral advantage.
And the beat goes on today.
Just the other day, Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin, told participants of a one-day training workshop, sponsored by the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, that they could either “embrace the bitterness of slavery or the resilience of the slaves”.
What the hell does slavery have to do with the horrible attitude and work ethics of today’s Bahamian civil service?
“After going what we went through in slavery, I find it unimaginable that we would deliberately harm each other because that is the kind of history we escaped, and out of that we find beauty,” the Minister said.
I am not aware of any living Bahamian, or their parents, “going through” anything regarding slavery, or ever “escaping” slavery.
This kind of shameful talk is designed to perpetuate ill feelings between black and whites. It is foolish, irresponsible and racially divisive. Perhaps, the PLP is concerned that Brent Symonette, a white man, may run for the FNM in the 2007 election. ﾠMaybe they are setting the stage for another “Roots” television marathon.
