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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Dear Editor,
I read Pam Burnside’s recent letter where she expressed her surprise upon hearing that members of junkanoo groups had been hassled to vacate Bay St. during the Labour Day parade; this, in order to clear the way for tourist access. I too deplore citizens being harassed but they were placed in that position due to the lack of proper organization and regulations for such events in our country.
Pam occupies my # 1 slot in the ‘Creative Bahamians’ list, and while she notes the lack of coordination, I ask that she considers why that debacle occurred.
The recent Carnival caused major disruption to local tourism business. FACT. The Cruise Ship operators were not properly informed of how Carnival would impact tourism services locally. This was in no way due to lack of effort by local operators trying to be ‘proactive’ but due to the lack of properly organized and coordinated systems with Carnival organizers, police and interested parties.
While I applaud Pam Burnside’s global efforts to put Bahamians at the ‘fore front’, a part of our current “sustenance” IS tourism. While very unfortunate that people were ‘hassled’ we have a duty to meet commitments made to the Cruise Lines to be able to move tourists about our island. If we wish to be seen as a great destination we have to provide a consistent great service. Blocking off roads without putting other alternatives in place does not constitute great service.
Bahamians were trying to give their labour and meet professional commitments on that day. We don’t all get to have the same days off even when they are a public holiday … some have to work.
We no longer (if ever) live in a world where whole families can share ‘same time’ at cultural events.
Local Trade Union organizations couldn’t come together to agree a united route and time for marches so there seemed to be an awfully difficult task for the police to please all of the competing demands.
Let’s face it, we’re not very good at getting this stuff organized. I whole heartedly agree that WE MUST.
In the process, please let’s not lose sight of the fact that everyone is not approaching from the same lane. If we stopped treating so much in our national life like a joke and act like the professionals that we can be, these sorts of problems could be resolved and dear Pam would no longer need to be “aghast”.
Yours faithfully,
Sherry Albury
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