By ED FIELDS

“Independence mornin’ is like a baby bornin’”. On reflection, those words penned by Priscilla Rollins have significant meaning with respect to both the birth of a nation and the future that lies ahead. As the saying goes, it is easy to “born” a child, it’s another to raise a child.

The words to follow will evoke a range of reactions, but I have arrived at the stage in life where the reactions to what I believe no longer dictate what I say.

As we approach yet another anniversary of our independence, it is appropriate, indeed necessary, to question, analyse and even judge how we have raised our nation. If we continue with the metaphor, we would wish for our child to be respectful, law abiding, polite, educated and a good citizen. That takes work. It takes parenting. How have we parented our Bahamas?

Sadly, there are many signs that we have not done such a great job. Given our age as a nation, we are in our teenage years and frankly it appears that we are delinquent in many respects. While we have many of the trappings of a fairly well-to-do teen, our behaviors resemble more of spoiled brats than disciplined young people. We seem to have gone down a road littered with serious obstacles to our nationhood’s maturation.

Could it be that we have taken more of the timeout approach to how we manage ourselves, our institutions and outlook?

Institutionally, we have clearly failed. In 2018, the InterAmerican Development Bank, graded our public service with a whopping seven percent (7%) for management capability and functional capacity.  What that says in plain English is that we don’t know what we are doing and nothing is working.

We don’t need to guess when it comes to our lack of behavioral prowess. That is on grand display for all to witness even from the bewigged and highest seats in our legislature. What is disturbing is that this behavioral dissonance is being touted as culturally acceptable.

On a daily basis, we encounter interactions that are shocking and over time we have been numbed as to their impact. Paraphrasing Central Bank Governor Julian Francis during an appearance on a local public affairs programme, it seems to be a cultural matter. He concluded that if we were really serious about change, we would be doing more to demonstrate our commitment to change.

However, perhaps all is not lost. I would like to suggest that there is a way out of this national malaise and I will be so presumptuous as to further suggest that it falls to the Prime Minister to champion that process.

Second chances do not come often. The current government perhaps represents that second chance. It is the first government returned to power in over 20 years, a second chance as it were. Odds are the Prime Minister is probably going to end his political career after this term and as such his focus can be on policy not politics. On nation building, not party dynasties.

The Rt. Hon. Philip Brave Davis has the opportunity to become the father of a reborn nation. One that is focused on law and order, public service efficiency, transparency and economic expansion through enlightenment and innovative thought. In doing do, all citizens can be called upon to contribute to this new birth, “not for what their country can do for them, but what they can do for their country”.

Opportunities such as this and in these times are not to be squandered, as it is almost certain that it would not present itself again.

There will be hardship, as is the pain of delivery. And in the raising of a new nation, a new discipline will be required. A stick must be applied along with the carrot. Pleas and prayers alone will not do. The good book that guides this supposedly Christian nation espouses free will, but too has harsh sanctions for breach of the rules. Like Alexander the Great and Richard the Lionhearted, we will require Philip the Brave (pun intended) to oversee the rebirth of a nation. That will demand immense courage.

Our leadership, like good parents, must forgive the sins of the past and pledge to do what is necessary to put us on the right path.

A very real example of this is highlighted by the recent tragic accidents. From last reports, there are tens of thousands of outstanding traffic offence cases sitting on the court’s logs. Let’s accept that the traffic offences don’t seem to be enforced. Could enforcement of offences like speeding, not wearing seatbelts or driving under the influence have saved lives over the past several years?

So, while it is too late for some, let’s get serious about going forward. Dump all of the backlog. Apply amnesty for every misdemeanor traffic offence up to a specified date. Clear the courts. Clear the police summons logbook. Then apply the hammer starting from ticket number one. Ensure that everyone knows that when it comes to traffic violations it’s a new regime. No need to reinvent the wheel, the models are out there for us to adopt.

It is left to our leadership to step off the hamster wheel that gets us nowhere and to lead us on the conveyor belt that leads us to collectively benefit from an independence that takes Bahamians forward, upward, and onward, together.