EDITOR, The Tribune

Recently while doing some research on the island of New Providence, it has occurred to me that Bahamians have divested themselves of their entrepreneurship skills. Years ago tyre repair shops were all owned by Bahamians, now they are owned by Africans, are you telling me there is not one Bahamian person who is not able to work in a tyre shop? Why must a tyre repair person have to be brought into the Bahamas all the way from Africa? Small mom and pops stores were all Bahamian owned, now every store in the black community is Chinese owned, fruit and vegetable stands were Bahamian now they are all owned by Haitians, black barber shops were owned by black Bahamians, now most of them are run by Haitians, lawn care and yard upkeep are now mostly owned by Bahamians, knock off pharmacies are popping up in Haitian homes selling bootleg medicines, car and body shops along with shady tree mechanics are basically run by the Haitian and Jamaican community, want your house painted? Most likely you will have to employ a Haitian.

What has happened to the entrepreneurship of Bahamians that was once prevalent 10-20 years ago, what has happened to our hustle in order to put food on the table for our children, we have totally divested our birthright to foreigners, he who controls the food source controls the country and people. Our fishing industry is being raped by Dominicans, Haitians and Chinese. Cleaning house maids are mostly Jamaicans, Haitian and persons from the Philippines, cooks in restaurants are now mostly Jamaicans and Haitians. What really does Bahamians own except a birth certificate and a passport and many are selling out to foreign marriages to get financial support. Have we become too lazy to notice our country is slipping slowly away? In thirty years will there be such a thing as a born cradle to the grave Bahamian. Will the next demand be for others to start teaching creole in our schools? Keep in mind if you are in my country, then you coming in must learn my language and culture. Have you noticed the large number of taxi cabs that are not Bahamian owned, yes you guessed it.

However, you know that I don’t blame these foreign nationals living in our country, Some Bahamians have become too lazy, non caring, think they are too sophisticated, too educated to do duties mentioned above. We have become totally dependant on foreigners for our well being and care, too tired to do chores ourselves. Have you noticed the young Bahamian boys selling coconut water on every corner, that’s a whole new industry. I just hope they at least leave those young entrepreneurs alone and big brother doesn’t come by and stop them from making an honest living. Don’t think someone hasn’t been eyeing those young boys, think of ways they can take over those corners.

We have become strange fruit in our own land. How I long to hear on Sunday mornings once again shoe shine, shoe shine, how I long to hear the fisherman shouting on his bike fresh fish for sale. How I long to hear once again Mrs Fernander ....come to da shop for quarter pound of sausage. How I long for the good old days.

DR DEREK PINDER ND; PH.D.

Nassau

October 31, 2019