TheBahamasWeekly.com has once again selected Bahamians to canvas their opinions on highlights of The Bahamas over the year 2014, as well as ask about the direction of the country. Their comments will be shared over the coming weeks.

Through this exchange we hope to also highlight Bahamians in our community, and share their personal triumphs, that may or may not have made the news.

Here is the opinion of Youri Kemp:

The most important event of 2014 was the inaugural IAAF World Relays held at the Thomas A. Robinson stadium back in May, 2014. The event was a testament that Bahamians can turn up on a world stage and not only put on an event, but put it on for the world to see and experience in love.

It was also a testament of teamwork from persons on the ground making it happen. The benefits for The Bahamas, its image worldwide, its sports tourism product and the overall tourism product are exponential. In fact, we will not see the benefits of such an event with the naked eye, or much of it in the near future. But, it put us, as a country and as a people, out there in a major way. Put us out there for the world to see.

Yours truly served as the technology coordinator along with a great team of professionals that delivered. Delivered in spectacular fashion! The most fulfilling and rewarding thing any human being can experience is the experience of a job well done, and also that you started something and finished it. No flops, no cop-outs and no half-done offerings- just a job well done.

Good job, Bahamas!

2) Who passed away this year that you feel will be 'most missed' and why?

It has to be Dr. Myles Munroe. I’m not a fan of his literature, never set foot on his church compound one day in my life, never met him or any of his family members, never sat down long enough to appreciate his sermons and certainly differed in view with many of his social and political views. But, he has left an indelible mark on the lives of many persons worldwide. That is to be respected. So much so that he had a state recognized funeral, along with his wife.

The plane crash that not only killed him and his wife, but also everyone on that fateful trip including his second in command, his youth minister and wife along with their living child and unborn child shocked the world. Even president of the United States of America, Barrack Obama, had a note of condolences as a result of this tragic loss of life and human capital. Human capital that cannot be measured in gold, silver, money or any other tangible asset.

One of the things Dr. Munroe said that stood out, and certainly left an imprint on the hearts of many that just can’t be purchased with money, was this quote : “The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life without a purpose .”

When we speak about finding your purpose and add that to another great quote from Dr. Munroe: “Whatever makes you angry, upset, or motivated, is meant for you to solve or be a part of. You are meant to solve whatever problem moves your spirit and emotions…”, you tend to see your life a little differently and use these precious moments in pain and in glory to self-motivate and get yourself on to living life as a life seeking purpose and not just a life lived.

God bless him, his family, friends and all the persons that died on that plane crash and their friends and family members.

3) Who was the 'most inspirational / influential Bahamian' in 2014 and why?

The most influential Bahamian this year has to be another Doctor, this time in Dr. Andre Rollins, the Member of Parliament for the Fort Charlotte constituency.

Say what you will of him, his tactics and sometimes antics, he transformed the way Bahamians thought about their parliamentary democracy, their government and their political history- how it has changed, and may not all be for bad or good, but I feel illuminating to say the very least about it.

The differences he expressed with regard to his party’s leadership seemed like one meant for the Broadway theatres. He had the theatrics and optics down-pat. He had the passion, and more importantly he had the content and used his situation, platform, recent issues with his leadership and channelled all of that into a series of assaults on his own political party, in particular his leader.

The reason why Dr. Rollins is so influential, and why many realize his significant impact on the political and social landscape, is because people came out attacking him. But he also had support, particularly from persons who once saw his political party, The Progressive Liberal Party, as the grand ol’e party for the people. The political party that was supposed to be looking out for the interests of all Bahamians, particularly lower income, black Bahamians.

Dr. Rollins hit a chord, and channelled an underlying spirit that many felt, sentiments that the PLP was just not living up to their longstanding reputation as the “party of party’s”. The party that has seemingly been getting the benefit of the doubt off-top for what the first prime minister, Sir Lynden Pindling and his team had accomplished in years gone by, but nothing much as of late to show that they can and have been living up to that standard with regard to progress for all Bahamians, regardless of socio-economic status or creed.

As the old saying goes, “dogs don’t bark at parked cars”. Most certainly, Dr. Rollins has shown more than many that his car will move, regardless of what you feel of him and think.

4) What were some of the hottest topics for The Bahamas in 2014?

Three topics come right to mind:

1. The new immigration policy of The Bahamas. The policy has caused a shockwave around the Bahamas and the region, and has reached the desktops of persons in the USA and other international organizations. Regardless of whether or not you sympathize with our immigration problem or not, you have to note that it must be done and it is what we should have been doing.

2. The new Gaming Laws that came into effect in November, 2014. The new gaming law was passed after a previous referendum on gaming had failed at the end of 2013. The referendum was a very controversial one. Some said it was not needed; others said that gambling is evil and considering legalizing it would create social disaster; some have criticized the government for their failed referendum, some even said that the political directorate intentionally meant to botch the process; and some, like me, feel like gaming should have been legalized across the board. The new standard is now that the once illegal web-shops that fronted as gambling houses are now legal, but not gaming across the board for all Bahamians as the still discriminatory practice of Bahamians being barred from casinos still stands. Yes, in 2014 Bahamians are still being barred from going into casinos like decent, tax paying citizens.

3. The Letter of Intent that was signed on behalf of the government, without authorization or legal authority, for a company to produce waste to energy, Stellar Waste, by the now former parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Works, Renward Wells. The issue showed two fundamental things: The lack of concern for the controls, protocol and standards within our government; and the political weakness within the leadership to deal with a matter, a matter that was clearly wrong and was allowed to linger on for months on end with no resolution until the former secretary decided to resign. A matter that did not need any controversy attached to it, whatsoever as nothing was economically or socially wrong with the proposal, other than protocols were not followed. Sad ending to a very unfortunate event.

5) What was the toughest problem faced in 2014. How do we find solutions to correcting it in 2015?

The toughest problem The Bahamas faced this year has to be jobs and the economy. Yes, it’s easy to talk about the current crime problem. And it’s also easy to talk about the immigration problem. But, the economy, economic empowerment for Bahamians and jobs can alleviate the pressures of the latter and help with solving the problems of most of the former.

We do not have the type of economy that can sustain the amount of people in The Bahamas. Not even for regular citizens of The Bahamas. Also, if young Bahamian men had jobs and opportunities, training and access to a better life, many of them would not wish or seek to involve themselves in criminal activity.

Unless domestic investment is unleashed in more creative and workable ways for Bahamians, there is nothing much that can be done. Also, red-tape and bureaucratic bottlenecks must be obliterated in order for entrepreneurs to make a solid go at it. We have work to do and we must turn the page on what we once thought was the only ways to do certain things in an economic sense.

6) Is there an 'unsung hero' you feel should be recognized from 2014 or prior? If so, who and why?

There is not really one single hero, but a series of heroes. Last year I said the unsung heroes were the men and women of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. But, that was last year. This year, it is a series of people we never, ever talk about for doing their duty: That is the amount of fathers that are actually performing their duties as parents and guardians.

I see a neighbour of mine every day. A non-descript fellow. He certainly had his troubles with life and the law. But, every morning I see that man escorting his daughters on foot to school and then back again at the end of the day to collect them.

More and more as of late I’m seeing men, young men and not-so young men, commit and in some instances, re-commit themselves, to their children. Even when the mothers of the children are no longer in their life, like my neighbour, some have made a commitment to their safety and education, their life and takes his time every day to perform his duties as a parent. As well he should.

These are the people we need to be reminded of. Not the absent baby father’s, not the hoodlums waiving their guns up and down the street banging out like the wild-west, not the flavour of the month person that hits controversy for some reason or the other, and not just because we have an easy pick because we see them all the time. But, these are the people, the men that do what they do on a daily basis for their children and their families are what I applaud. Things they are supposed to do, but because it’s easy to talk about the negative on the one hand and the most popular on the other, and when we factor in the lack of male figures in the homes in general, we tend to miss it and see it as nothing important. Not this year however, and it was not missed by this author. We appreciate their efforts and we salute them!

7) Do you have a personal highlight from 2014?

Well, I have been invited to sit in with a solid group of people on a talk-show on ZSR 103.5fm, The Roundtable of Greatness, on Friday afternoons with a spectacular host, and a Bahamian icon, Spence Finlayson- The self-proclaimed “Master Motivator”.

Someone respects me as small as it may seem, as mundane as it may appear. Someone respects what I have to say and write. That’s important to me as much as the exposure lifts me up. I look forward to our meetings; they fill me up with new ideas and energy and ends my week on a high note.

Youri Aramin Kemp, is President and CEO of "KEMP GLOBAL", a Management Consultancy firm, based in the Bahamas which serves all markets. Our core competencies are: Business and Project Planning and Design; Project Execution; Market Researchn and Analysis; and Operations Development. He writes his own column and is a contributor to TheBahamasWeekly.com.  Email: globalviewtoday@gmail.com

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Bahamas 2014: Give us YOUR Year in Review