by Rick Lowe
On Second Thought was a weekly column this blogger wrote for The Bahama Journal from July 7, 1998 through September 7, 1999. Some of them might be dated by now, but I republish them here for what they are worth.
On Second Thought! – January 19, 1999.
Bahamianization. Is It Just Rhetoric?
The Bahamianization issue, simply put, is rhetoric that harms us as a people. The recent Senate debate over the selection of a principal for the Eugene Dupuch Law School raised the concern of certain jobs being given to foreigners in the offshore banking industry. Rather than examine the root cause of the reasons that Bahamians might be left out of the loop, we appear to use the opportunity to rail against institutions that have helped a large number of our citizens become middle class or wealthy. The real issue is that many of us continue to steal from our employer or take improper advantage of the opportunities offered. I am sure this is what affects our reputation as far as the offshore banking community is concerned.
If the leaders over the last 35 years had placed more priority on honest hard work than place of birth there would be more Bahamians available to fill the top jobs. In addition, we would have never needed a policy called Bahamianization in the first place. Instead, we continue to concentrate on tearing down the very institutions that have given, and continue to give us the opportunities to succeed. These companies are an essential part of our economy and policies that force them to hire less than qualified individuals are harmful to both the companies and our country.
We still have a long way to go, as experience is not provided by simply attaining an education. I would suggest we examine ourselves first to begin to solve this perceived problem. Once our own issues are dealt with, we will not have to accept the “open secret” (of virtually falsifying work permit applications) referred to.
Share the Passion to Succeed
The older I get the more passionate I am about my country. But should we vilify another before we are satisfied that we are doing the right thing? I think that I have been relatively successful in my career as a banker and now in the automotive industry, but I still cannot rest on my laurels. I must continue to educate myself with the changes taking place in my chosen field and along with our co-workers, implement ideas to achieve our company’s goal of customer satisfaction.
This passion to work hard brings success and must be shared with each and every Bahamian. Once we attain this “culture”, nothing will hold us back. Excuses can no longer be offered up, and if they are, they can be factually disputed!
Having said all this, there will still be Bahamians whose personal ability will not allow them to succeed to the same level as other Bahamians. Beside this, everybody has different personal objectives. What satisfies me might not satisfy you, and we will always need expertise, albeit foreign in one sector or another as we develop.
Make Ourselves Indispensable
As Booker T. Washington wrote, “I think that the whole future of my race hinges on the question as to whether or not it can make itself of such indispensable value that the people in the town and the state where we reside will feel that our presence is necessary to the happiness and well-being of the community. No man who continues to add something to the material, intellectual and moral well-being of the place in which he lives is long left without proper reward. This is a great human law which cannot be permanently nullified.”
