Consul General Jackson, Minister Fred Mitchell, Guest Speaker Rev. Angela Palacious and Archdeacon James Palacious
|
FLORIDA - The Bahamas Consulate General in Miami, Florida celebrated the 39th Anniversary of Independence in grand style. Consul General Rhoda M. Jackson included a number of different festivities to mark the anniversary. On Friday, 6 July, 2012, Bahamian Gospel Artist out of Freeport, Simeon Outten hosted an outstanding gospel concert at the Sure Foundation Ministries in West Park, Florida.
On Friday, 13 July, the Royal Bahamas Police Force Pop Band serenaded the crowd at Palm Gardens Club, Miami Gardens, Florida with favourites like “Gone to Cat Island” and “Party in the Backyard”.
An Independence Family Fun Day was held on Saturday, 14 July, 2012 at McTyre Park in the City of West Park, Florida and was supported by many Bahamians who came from as far north as Stuart, Florida to as far south as Homestead.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fred Mitchell, visits the staff at The Bahamas Consulate-General to express thanks for the Celebrations held on the weekend.
|
Also attending the Family Fun Day were Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, State Representatives Hazelle Rogers and Perry Thurston, Mayor Eric Jones and members of the Caribbean Consular Corps. Attendees were feted with music by the Royal Bahamas Police Force Pop Band, a local band called Togetherness and a Junkanoo Review. A vast array of Bahamian cuisine including stuffed snapper, the usual conch fritters, conch salad and guava duff, was enjoyed by all.
On Sunday, 15 July, Bahamians in South Florida gathered at the New Mount Olive Baptist Church, in Ft. Lauderdale. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fred Mitchell stressed the importance of the meaningful tradition of engaging the Bahamian Diaspora especially at this time of Independence. He informed of the Government’s initiative to establishing a National Congress in preparation of the 40th Anniversary of Independence for the purpose of crafting a blueprint for where we ought to go as a Nation. He exhorted Bahamians to remember to sing the Lord’s song even in a strange land. The guest Speaker, Rev. Angela Palacious encouraged listeners to move Forward, Upward, Onward, Together, United in love and service. She also encouraged Bahamians abroard and at home to build blocks to forge greater family ties and to promote education and a healthy lifestyle. Rev. Palacious further urged the audience to resolve to establish meaningful legacies.
Special honour was given to Rev. Canon Richard L. Marquess-Barry of the historic St. Agnes Episcopal Church in Miami, Fl., Mr. John A.T. Roker of the New Mount Olive Baptist Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. and Mr. James Moss, Founder of the Bahamas American Federation, for their contribution to the Bahamian in South Florida.
Church officials, Min. Mitchell and CG Jackson
|
Honoree James Moss, CG Jackson, Min. Fred Mitchell, Honoree Canon Rev. Marquess-Barry and Honoree Rev. James Roker
|
Remarks by Fred Mitchell MP Independence Celebration for The
Bahamas in South Florida.Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Ft. Lauderdale
There is a song that goes like this: By the rivers of Babylon,
where we sat down and there we wailed when we remembered Zion. For the
wicked carried us away, captivity, required of us a song. How can we sing the
Lord’s song in a strange land.
That song was immortalised by Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican artist
and is taken from one of the psalms. It is important today in this
context.The song of the people of Zion in exile was a way to remember
from whence they had come.It speaks to this fact: No matter where you are
or what you do, part of your survivability as a human being is to carry the
memories wherever you go.
Today, one hundred andseventy-nine years after the
abolition of slavery and thirty nine years after being freed from the British,
we are here to sing the Lords song in this strange land.We do it by
having established certain traditions.
The tradition we follow here this afternoon with this service is
important. I have tried to come every year even when I was not the
minister because I believe in the mission of the Ministry which is to engage
the Diaspora of The Bahamas. It requires people to people contact.
Our Prime Minister is all about people.
Next month we will engage in other traditions as we mark the
emancipation of the slaves one hundred and seventy nine years ago. We
have been in this strange land for some 350 years. We sing our songs and
we practice our traditions because it helps us with our self worth. It
helps us to mark who we are.
The Charter for Governance says that to mark the 40th anniversary of the
independence of the Bahamas there will be a national congress of people from
across the nation, all walks of life, all political persuasions, similar to
what we did in 1972 in the run up to independence. It will be an
opportunity for us to discuss from whence we have come and to set a blue print
for where we are going. It will be especially important for the young
people of our country because the country is being handed off to them.
I hope that you will all find a way to participate in that
event. It will be important for those of you in Florida to join in. We at
home have to help to make this possible. The Bahamian diaspora is important to
the development of our country.
You can expect more engagement under this administration.
These are not easy times to sing the Lord’s song in this strange
land. Each year I celebrate independence with the people of Exuma and
then move on to Long Island. And in each of those islands, people are
wondering what will happen to them as the economic situation bites ever more
deeply.
Today I join the Bahamian community in south Florida to mark the
anniversary of our country. I bring you greetings on behalf of the
Governor General,our Prime Minister, the the Cabinet and the people of
the Bahamas.
I believe that when the children of Israel sat down and sang the
Lord’s song, they did indeed remember Zion. As we celebrate today, we
know that the times are hard but we celebrate who we are and we know that we
will make it through.
Clement Bethel put it this way: When the road seems rough, when
you’ve had enough. Don’t faint, don’t cry, don’t sigh, wonder why.Just
keep on trying. Cease your crying.Look beyond this present way,
this time will pass.Tomorrow’s another day.
Welcome and I am privileged to be your humble servant on this
occasion in this part of the vineyard.
