EDITOR, The Tribune.

THIS is a new day Bahamas. As citizens, we have wondered at our government’s apparent apathy in its leadership of the Bahamas and its people towards a prosperous future.

Yesterday, that question turned to certainty as bandits waltzed into the home of the acting Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis, and pointed a gun at him and symbolically at all Bahamians, our economy, political stability, global image and well being.

There was no security detail. None.

This lack of planning and preparation is a fitting metaphor for where we are as a country today. Our leaders have no vision for tomorrow, are not committed to the future of its children, and are not focused on building a future for the Bahamas. We have only ourselves to blame.

A government is an exact replication of its people. And as a people an entire generation is less interested in school and more interested in participating in an informal economy, with social and economic divides so wide and deep that this seems a rational choice for most.

And the government is nothing more than the status quo, if not an outright support of a divided and failing society fuelled by a black market and social stratification.

If we as Bahamians disagree that the government is a direct replication of its people then we should take to the streets and force this government to hold elections in haste so we can decide on new leadership.

On the eve of Nelson Mandela’s funeral, can we not take our own future into our own hands? Do we not have a leader amongst us who is as committed to the success of our country?

Someone needs to take responsibility for this complete failure in Statehood.

Fire the Minister of Security and anyone else whose duty it was yesterday to protect the government and our country.

Was it better that the bandits were wearing flip-flops and jean shorts rather than combat boots and military fatigues? Does it make a difference? How is random thuggery different from a coup d’etat with a government such as ours?

This government is a complete joke and was caught with its pants down. Literally.

Our acting Head of State was robbed in his own home at gunpoint.

Everything from this point forward that comes out of the mouths of the PLP government is malarkey. As a country we need to use this event as motivation to task ourselves with finding qualified leaders. As a people we have failed miserably. Our country is crumbling and we only have ourselves to blame.

GUSTAVIUS SMITH

New York, NY

December 12, 2013.