Whenever you turn on the television today you will find Americans fawning over Hollywood celebrities to the point where they make them appear almost “Saviour-like.”   They have photographers “paparazzi” who stalk such people to get a picture that the public is craving to view.

But here in The Bahamas we don’t fawn over movie stars or rock stars.   We would give the obligatory greeting when required but there will not be a screaming throng of people yearning to catch a glimpse at any celebrity.

This attitude is virtually the same for Bahamians as well.   The golden girls got a fabulous reception on their return and the streets of New Providence were lined to cheer them on, but that was that.   Unless the government makes a big deal about one of these fabulous athletes, they go about their lives without even being noticed.

Yes, the sad truth is that while Americans fawn over legitimate Hollywood celebrities or washed up playboy models like Anna Nicole Smith, Bahamians hardly give their own a backwards glance. No, we Bahamians do not give kudos to our own, but we will quickly try out a local product that has a foreign wrapping.

One such product that many Bahamians are now enjoying is tamarind.   Yes, that’s right, good old “tambrin.” People in this country have now taken to eating tamarinds that have bee imported.   Can you believe that here in The Bahamas, store and vendor operators are allowed to bring into this country and sell, of all things, tamarinds.   Now I don’t know about you, but this deeply disturbs my sensibilities as a native of these islands.  

Perhaps you may not understand my outrage if you did not grow up on an island like New Providence that was and still is, filled with tamarind trees. I grew up in the Fox Hill area that is known for its sapodilla “dilly” trees and tamarind trees.   I spent many days climbing tamarind trees to sink my teeth into “swellies” and ripe ones as well.   There were many times we would have to brace ourselves for the sour punch to kick in, but oh the shear joy to bite into a succulent sweet brown seed filled delight.

I realize that we are not self-sufficient and must rely on other countries to supply many of our needs.   However, to allow something like tamarinds to be brought into our country to be sold for as much as $10.00 a box of about 15 pieces is totally absurd.  

Every government that comes into power talks about us becoming self-sufficient in terms of providing enough staples to sustain the country.   Farmers try really hard to make this a reality, but when they are paid pittance for their produce, it hardly gives them any incentive to work harder at producing more.   But I guess if they were allowed to harvest and package tamarinds and sell them at $10.00 for a count of 15 or 20, they would specialize in growing tamarinds.

Of course the reality is if Bahamians packaged and tried to sell tamarinds to another Bahamian he would be laughed at.   No the sad truth is that the only way a Bahamian would purchase tamarinds from another Bahamian is while waiting in traffic on the streets of New Providence or maybe Grand Bahama.   And, they would not want to pay more than $1.00 for a baggie that holds about 10 tamarinds.

While we may scoff at the American who becomes starry eyed over the Hollywood celebrity or who totally adores the rock star, we need to stop and look at how we treat our own people.   We need to examine why it is that we would spend $10.00 on a box of imported tamarind, but squabble with the peanut man if he charges $1.50 or God forbid, $2.00 for a bag of peanuts.

This week I challenge you to be a Bahamian.   Be a Bahamian who is for Bahamians.   Be a Bahamian who wants to buy Bahamian, but buys foreign because there is no other choice.   This week be proud to be a Bahamian and buy our tamarinds; yes, even the sour ones.