In previous opinion pieces in The Tribune, news editor Paco Nunez and chief reporter Rupert Missick Jr argued that, built into the Bahamian social culture, there are mechanisms which keep our people docile and submissive.
And for those old enough to remember, there began a period, post-independence, when tools of intimidation and victimisation were adopted and adapted by the new black power elite, who viciously used them to keep their own "in-line" and under subjection.
Public response to two 'Opinion' pieces by young Bahamian Tribune journalists over the last few days indicates that "the frightened society", or the age of deference, could be nearing an end in the Bahamas.
Both news editor Paco Nunez and chief reporter Rupert Missick Jr explored the theme that election to office does not confer on politicians the right to browbeat the populace and expect immunity from criticism.
They also said elected politicians from the prime minister down are public servants who ought to be held to account, not superior beings whose office makes them unassailable.
Readers have agreed wholeheartedly with their views – and condemned anti-press critics like Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell, PLP chairman Raynard Rigby and Senator Philip Galanis as relics of a dark era in which the people were subjugated by a self-styled elite.
Over the next few days, The Tribune will publish a series of articles under the heading Turning Point challenging young Bahamians, in particular, to carry the country forward into a new age of enlightenment in which freedom of expression takes precedence over the inhibitions of the past.
In this first item, reporter MARK HUMES interviews young Bahamians who feel the time is now right for the people to get out from under the heels of their leaders to express themselves fearlessly on issues that affect their lives…
As a mode of survival, the unwilling Bahamian victims, as Mr Missick noted, transferred their deference for those in authority from a "fearful reverence of a white, foreign, colonial master" to this new black power elite who relied on tools similarly used by the former "masters."
"Over time," continued Mr Nunez in a follow-up to Mr Missick's article, "professionals and politicians from across the, political spectrum have closed ranks on the common Bahamian and tacitly declared themselves to constitute a privileged class …who command an immediate, unquestioning respect – in some cases bordering on idolatry."
Imitating the expectations of their former rulers, this new black elite, too, demanded a measure of unquestionable respect, and anyone bold enough to speak out or speak up against the wrongdoings and ineffectiveness of these new "gods" and/or their cronies were hounded as if by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
But now, the days of our parents' "frightened society" seem to be coming to an end, with the emergence of a young Bahamian intelligentsia.
As has been evident in recent years, more and more young Bahamians are shedding the cloak of intimidation and armed with knowledge are standing toe-to-toe with our leaders on matters of national importance.
Unused to warranted challenges, many of our leaders are reverting to old tactics. But the general consensus among the young men and women contributing to today's article, "the new Bahamian intellectual will remove the old guard from what they are doing now."
Democratic
Young Bahamians, suddenly understanding what a democratic society is about, have become emboldened and are articulating their understanding. More and more, this Internet generation, are bent on making elected officials accountable for their promises, which so loosely flowed when they sought "power" from the people.
Although admitting that the fearful conditioning of "our parents' generation is still alive" in pockets of the youth population, one contributor to today's article said: "I do feel that after this next election. we are going to see some big changes in this country. There is going to be a grassroots movement that is going to sweep the Bahamas, and ain't nothing they can do about it."
Feeling the power enshrined in free speech, many of our nation's youth are taking a page from Bahamian history and, joining the ranks of the "Magnificent Six," Sir Lynden, Sir Milo Butler, Cyril Stevenson, Clarence Bain, Sammy Isaacs, and Sir Randol Fawkes, are demanding more from the establishment.
"Some people, when they see the Prime Minister, they bow or whatever," said Kenisha B. "I do not do that, and it is not because I do not have respect or anything, it is just that I do not feel as if I need to do that, as they are the people that we elected. And I feel as if I am smart enough not to sit idly by and just allow things to happen."
Joining in the debate, Parris Simmons added: "When you can't speak out in your own country, which is supposed to be a democracy with free speech, you are not living in a democracy. You are living in a society where only the economic elite are privileged to speak on certain issues and anyone else who dares to speak out are affected."
He, along with friends Wayne Johnson and Emmanuel Lewis, demonstrated that they were ready to be a part of the "new guard."
These young men, like Cassius Stuart, Omar Smith, Phenton Neymour and Charles Maynard participated in the last election, seeking to add the youth voice to the national scene.
However, in saying "When you speak out in this country, and speak on issues that actually affects national development and national life, you get nowhere. They cut you off at the knees. They cut your arms off, and if they can take your eyes out, they will take your eyes," Mr Lewis spoke a metaphorical truth that many in our society only secretly admit.
"A lot of people do not like to deal with the realities and the truth," his friend Mr Simmons added.
Echoing one of the arguments in Mr Missick's piece, these three young men expressed an established attitude among the nation's youth, with Mr Lewis saying: "The black leaders who came into power, they didn't do anything different from what the UBP were doing, and furthermore, they enriched themselves even more. The black elite are no better, and sometimes worse, than the whites who actually led us."
But these young men see a turning point coming, and Mr Johnson said: "We see a lot of kids coming back from school, and they are seeing the frustration level that we are seeing right now, and a lot of them arc ready to fight and get into the act."
"When we look at our leaders in Parliament, those who we call our leaders, we call them 'right honourable.' How can we call someone 'right honourable' who lies, cheats, steals, and gives everything to their businesses or their associates' businesses. When the young people see that, they are saying, 'we have to change this'," said Mr Lewis. And changing they are.
Voice
Adding her voice to the youthful push in keeping politicians and elected officials grounded, Aniska Rolle said: "I think we should challenge politicians, now more than ever."
Expanding on her point, Ms Rolle added: "Once elected, they work for Bahamian people, and as one of their employers, I want to make sure that they have my best interest and the best interest of my country at heart. If any employer is unsatisfied with their employee, it is their responsibility to tell them. In the same vein , if they are doing a good job, we could congratulate them, but we do not have to. It is our choice.
"The point is they work for us – bottom line – it's their job to serve the country. That is why they put themselves in that position. Obviously, they are not going to please everyone, but, as they say, majority rules. We [young people] are the future of this nation. We have to look out for our best interest and make sure that things are in the right place, because if we don' it is our time to take over, we will have to clean up the mess."
Another of the "new intelligentsia" alluded to earlier, Stanya Stuart, like Ms Rolle, weighed in on the issue saying: "I do not think people today are afraid to give their opinions about politicians and, with the right evidence, I would certainly speak out.
"I wouldn't be afraid to challenge them," she said, "because I think these days we are more aware of our rights and of the fact that politicians are supposed to work for us, the people. And essentially, as their employers, we have a right to say if we feel they are meeting, exceeding, or not meeting our needs."
Eager to play her part in the building of the nation, Sonya Farmer said: "I'm proud to say I have registered for the first time, and I am looking forward to the day my voice matters in the election. After all, our government gets to choose where and how we live, what our education standards will be, what type of job and health care we can have, and even who we can marry. At least we can choose the government that will decide our fate."
Her questions, however, express a genuine concern that more young people are not becoming active and vocal in holding those who offered themselves for public service more accountable.
"Why have we stepped down and not questioned our government as a whole?" Ms Farmer questioned. "Why is there just apathetic acceptance and silence? As a young and apparently educated person… that is the best part about being… in such a revolutionary century."
"Lack of knowledge," says Crystal C, is one of the major factors contributing to the lack of youth involvement in the affairs of the country. "We rely on someone else who we think has more knowledge, sometimes thinking that our knowledge cannot amount to theirs."
And with most of today's contributors agreeing that lack of knowledge and education keeps the masses ignorant and dependent, it is no wonder that there is a "pretence" that creating a functional education system in the Bahamas is a difficult task.
W E B Du Bois, in his Souls of Black Folk, aptly alluded to the fact that education will "stamp out those, that in sheer barbarity, deafen us to the wail of prisoned souls within the Veil, and the mounting fury of shackled men."
And as absurd as it may seem, those who continue to perpetuate the notion that educating a nation's people is a difficult task rely on the ignorance of the unknowing, for as Du Bois noted: "To stimulate wildly weak and untrained minds is to play with mighty fires."
In reality, what this new breed of intellectual young Bahamians have demonstrated in their answers is that an educated populace will be less "awed by title, wealth, social station, pomp and circumstance" and more willing to be critical of authority. They will hold their leaders to a higher standard of accountability, an accountability that many in the black power elite have demonstrated that they are not ready or willing to tolerate.
And as the white colonial masters of our Bahamian past depended on the "unstimulated" minds of our parents to keep them in subservience, fear and awe, so, too, do today's politicians. But if the comments of the young people are any indication, the days of the frightened society are fast slipping away, and those who come to the people, offering themselves up for political office in the future, will be made to know that they are the elected "public servants," and not the other way around. This, they say, is the turning point.
By MARK HUMES, The Tribune
Read Rupert Missick's article entitled: Bahamians Should Demand More From Politicians
Read Paco Nunez's article entitled: ZNS and the Unquestioning Worship of Our Politicians
