|
|
|
|
Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 Our Prime Minister in his 2016 budget communication admitted the burden of debt is unacceptably high. He said that growth in the United States, our major trading partner, is expected to be slightly more buoyant, expanding by 2.4% in 2016 and a further modest strengthening in 2017. These factors augur well for the expansion of our tourism sector.
Our question is: Why are we not tapping into our natural resources, in particular, our people, who can attract tourist and investors?” This government has not mentioned a clear vision or plan for culture moving forward as a country.
We should focus on cultural development at a time when capital can cross borders, investment funds can move from one country to another instantly for new business opportunities. Conditions must be met for the Bahamas to attract more investment dollars.
1. We need a stable government that is transparent and accountable
2) We need a government that will uphold the Rule of Law and
3) We need an investor-friendly climate.
Our government is void of the three elements above. We must fix our governmental impediments to have a wealthy, sustainable economy and work towards balancing our budget.
We believe every Bahamian must be motivated by the pursuit of his/her own interest, which contributes to the public interest in a system that will become self-regulating. It is more than just making money. Let us take the restraints off culture and watch the Bahamas bloom!
The Bahamas being introduced to Carnival with Junkanoo injected creates a contradiction of Bahamian Culture. Too much exposure to foreign culture without developing your own can undermine a country’s cultural identity. Culture and creativity is the glue that keeps hearts, souls and societies together. Ignoring that, takes away the component of natural abilities, leaving a country creatively and culturally bankrupt. Carnival is not the answer to our cultural and artistic economic or social growth and never can be because it is not uniquely Bahamian.
The DNA will cause to be put into our educational cirriculum, through books compiled of historic cultural information and illustrated drawings of Bahamian arts and craft. Learning about Bahamian culture, persons that contributed to it and about who we are as a people will be a requirement under a DNA government.
When a nation focuses more on cultural development, crime and unemployment will decrease; while youth entrepreneurship increases. Culture and creativity has a unique value; it reflects and shapes national and individual identities. Music is powerful and can connect people. A vibrant music economy can help balance our budget, and stop us from sinking deeper in debt.
Nashville, Tennessee is called “Music City” due to creating an atmosphere that breathes a thriving musical scene. A vibrant music economy fuels job creation, economic growth, tourism development and artistic growth, which can be created in the Bahamas. Properly managed, it can attract highly skilled workers in all sectors. In 2013, Nashville Music Industry created more than 56,000 local jobs and contributed 5.5 Billion US Dollars to the local economy.
The DNA will invest in cultural growth and sustainability, and work to bring back some of the cultural elements lost. We will bring back a Jumbey Village venue to be a consistent weekly ‘culture village’ to attract new businesses in the area of art, craft, Bahamian prepared dishes, fresh Bahamian fruit and vegetable stands, Bahamian sculptures, Bahamian designer clothing etc., so that tourists will have an extensive Bahamian experience, rather than a limited one.
The DNA will host a Bahamas Junkanoo & Rake & Scrape Festival to build on and revamp the foreign Carnival and hire Bahamians as front liners, and not pay foreign artists more than Bahamian artists. Music needs a home. We can create in Nassau our own ‘music city’, where artists can get started. The private and public sectors will work together to help this initiative.
A vibrant music economy advances artistic and cultural growth, strengthens community’s social fabric, creates jobs and boosts economic activity and tourism spending. A DNA government will do this. We can spend less on Junkanoo Carnival and get the cultural fire going. Build the people…..and the people will build the country.
Our vision for Culture over the next (20) years, is to be in stages and achieve the following:-
To make the Bahamian Junkanoo Festival a number one cultural expression worldwide.
Building a more sustainable economy with culture being an important component.
Promoting Bahamian artisans above all others.
Implementing culture into our educational system to promote an appreciation for culture in years to come.
Creating a cultural hub/village or music city that can strengthen our economy.
Building a better Bahamas for all who live here, through culture.
To create an environment for local musicians to find meaningful job opportunities on a sustained basis.
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
