EDITOR, The Tribune.

When the new year rolls in, for many persons of goodwill, it is a time of reflection, on the past year, and resolutions for the ensuing year, and positive projections, for guidance and plans for the immediate future, building on the past lessons learnt.

Many Bahamians are still shaking their heads, wondering where are we, after fifty years of independence, and more importantly, what can we expect in the next year. No one in his right mind would expect this government to have any plans or projections beyond 2023. Bahamas Games. That’s it. There was a time when governments had plans for the future. (I was a waiter at the East Hill Club, and, listened to the likes of Roland Symonette expound on what was planned for the future of the Bahamas). The UBP held their informal meetings at East Hill Club.

Maybe, on reflection, both political parties will acknowledge that when the youth of the country is busy with sporting activities crime is down”. Years when Softball and Baseball were King. All crimes were down. Now the parks are empty. Crime is over the roof.

There was a time when New Providence was safe 24/7, for both residents and tourists. Bain Town, over the hill, including Kemp Road, and Fox Hill. Is this something for our elected government to resolve a return to.

Is there any effort or plans, A resounding No! But remember the late Basil Dean, Paul Thompson is still with us, does anybody seek his input.

Obviously I, am a child of the forties, and, have travelled all over the Bahamas, and after all these years, I know there are lots of things we should have done differently.

First off, there was a time when, we, through Austin Levy, and the Harrisville Company in Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera, supplied the entire Bahamas with eggs, milk, poultry and ice cream. In addition they created jobs for all of Eleuthera, even a bumbling teenager from Nassau, my hero Sugar Kid Campbell Dean.

Although the population was only some 79,000 at the time, the blueprint was there all we had to do was expand, (and what I would give for a cup of stiffirine). But what did we do, We destroyed it for political reasons.

The Silos are a reminder of what could have been.

Then, does anybody remember Sawyers tomato paste, and pigeon peas, I do not know the fate of that operation, all I know was that it existed, and Eleuthera supplied tomatoes, maybe they needed a Government subsidy. Can it be revived? Who knows.

Then there was, my great friend the late Peter Bethell, who saw a future in red snappers, and tried to educate our fishermen, by procuring special boats with electric reels, and other equipment. A wasted effort with the boats dying on Potters Cay dock. A wasted effort lost on the Bahamas; but not on our neighbours to the south.

My good friend Etheric Bowe is heading an effort in backyard farming, this same thing that was offered in the columns of The Tribune, by a Mrs Higgs.

The gardening love affair, turned problematic when ladies of the houses, developed a love for lawns and flowering plants. Out went the love for lime and pepper trees along with pigeon peas, and cassava, and, in came the need to cut grass and trim hedges.

The Number one Sport in the country was softball. Then we demolished the Churchill Sports Stadium. What, became of our number one Sport?

My head is spinning, so let me stop, and, ask any other Old Timer what they think.

JEFFREY AUGUST

Nassau,

July 19, 2023.