Gumelemi Issue 1

gumelemi

Issue 1 Summer 2013

Gumelemi

Issue No.1

© July 2013 Gumelemi Magazine

All rights reserved.

No part of this magazine or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted without written consent.

Editor: Gabrielle Misiewicz Photographer: Elora Williams Cover Design: Ashley Powell, Gabrielle Misiewicz & Elora Williams

List of images, in order of appearance: gum elemi tree, grounds of the National Trust of The Bahamas, New Providence Nassau Public Library, Shirley Street, New Providence Bahamas Port Administration Building, Prince George Wharf, New Providence The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, Collins Avenue, New Providence Statue of Bahamian woman & child, Festival Place, New Providence “Sacred Space”, sculpture by Antonius Roberts, Clifton Pier, New Providence

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gumelemi (gum•elle•em•ee) a magazine created by young bahamians for young bahamians. after the local tree with the same name. the gum elemi tree has a wide range of medicinal uses, especially to resist disease, restore strength after illness, increase energy and improve circulation. gumelemi exists to energise our generation. to challenge us to think critically about our society, circulate our thoughts and then take them to the next level. like the concept of bush medicine, using what is in our backyards to heal ourselves, the makers of gumelemi believe that we have in our country minds which possess the answers to our own problems, the ability to find the answers to our problems. gumelemi is here to inspire confidence in ourselves; to assist us in lifting our heads.

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the first issue of Gumelemi, a magazine created to act as a clearinghouse for essays and artwork produced by our peers. This is a place for commentary on our society, a virtual room where we can meet to share our thoughts and ideas.

The idea for Gumelemi came to me last year. I was working on a documentary on the Women’s Suffrage Movement in The Bahamas, and in my research discovered that several of our nation’s leaders – C.R. Walker, Arthur Foulkes, Randol Fawkes – operated small newspapers as they were agitating for political equality and labour rights. The newspapers were used to spread awareness of the issues, build support around them and make the people’s opinions known. Around the same time, I found out that several of my friends had written essays on social issues from the perspective of their relative fields. I was both impressed and intellectually stimulated by what I read. I imagined how my peers would benefit if they were also able to access the essays, and believed that our community in general would be a stronger, healthier place if we could exchange our ideas. Thus, I encouraged each of them to create blogs where they could share their work publicly and engage more people in conversation; only one of them actually did.

Thinking about the writings of my friends, the newspapers of those Bahamian leaders, and my own interest in editorial work, I dreamt of having my own publication. Now here it is! I know that there must be many more Bahamians out there reading, thinking, and writing, and who would welcome a publication like Gumelemi to share their work and discuss the work of others.

Inside this issue you’ll find 5 articles on a range of topics, from culture to economics. They have been written by Bahamians in their 20s, all of whom grew up in our island nation. If you are challenged or inspired by any of the essays, I encourage you to contact the author or write an essay in response.

Do enjoy!

Gabrielle Misiewicz Founder, Editor July 2013

Contents

Writing Revolution, O’Niel Bain…………………………………………………………….2

Recessionary Tactics, Stefen Deleveaux…………………………………………………….4

A Fruitless Policy: The Agricultural Myth, Lynden McIntosh……………….…………………8

Equal But Not Free, Awa………………………………...…………………..…………….12

Heritage and The Bahamas, Kelly Delancy………………………………………..………15

riting Revolution Â

Writing Revolution O’Niel Bain

There is a kind of writing that is extraordinary. It is unexpected; it makes people uncomfortable; it does not cater to

part, has been governed by a patriarchal order.

In a country where so much of the

the status quo. This kind of writing is

power is held by a small elite group, there

revolutionary in nature.

are a countless number of persons who are

Revolutionary writing is writing that

left out, and who are thus made voiceless in

will invoke change in the social and political

our society. It is by giving voice to these

landscapes of our country. Bahamian writer,

‘forgotten’ people that our work as writers

Lynn Sweeting, aptly describes this kind of

becomes significant. Revolutionary writing is

writing in a paper she presented some years

writing that brings these voiceless people to

ago at a conference held by The Bahamas

the forefront. It tells their stories; it makes

Association for Cultural Studies entitled

them important; it humanises them. We

“The New Bahamian Literature: Writing

cannot progress as a country until we fully

and Art as Revolution,” stating that

understand the important role that each

revolutionary writing comes from “the

and every one of our people must play in

story that has never been told” and “the

the future we imagine for ourselves. We

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voice that has never spoken before”.

cannot continue to discriminate and

Sweeting understands the importance of a

disenfranchise our own people on the bases

kind of work which seeks to deconstruct

of gender, race, income, political affiliation,

hegemonic cultural paradigms, having grown

religion and sexual orientation. It is through

up in a society only beginning to imagine

the use of these designations that the

itself as postcolonial, as well as having lived

fundamental rights of the individual have

as a woman in a space which, for the most

been glossed over time and time again. For

change to occur, there must be people who

Sweeting, Lynn. “The New Bahamian Literature: Writing and Art as Revolution.”

Conference on Bahamian Art, Culture and Identity. The Bahamas Association for Cultural Studies. Nassau, Bahamas. June, 1998. Paper Presentation.

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will speak out against oppression and complacency through tireless social critique, no matter how dangerous an act this may

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be. It is through the work of writers, those

revolutionary writing must take this risk. In

who refuse to be silenced, that the seeds of

recent years, the world has experienced

revolution are planted and begin to grow in

several waves of activism that have sought

the collective mind of a people.

to eliminate what people felt were gross

Thus, revolutionary writing is

levels of financial and social inequality. The

subversive literature. As described by

influence and importance of these

novelist and literary critic Alison Lurie in

movements should not be downplayed, but

her book, Don’t Tell The Grown-Ups: The

what cannot be forgotten is what in many

Subversive Power of Children’s Literature,

instances leads to them, and what their

subversive literature does not engage in

sustenance can be throughout. It is often

didacticism and indoctrination.2 It calls for

through the work of fearless writers that

individuality, freedom of thought and seeks

the framework for revolution is set long

to empower its readers. Revolutionary

before it moves into the physical realm.

writers cannot continue the tradition of infantilising the Bahamian readership.

Writers of our generation must believe in the critical ability of the Bahamian people,

O’Niel Bain is a senior in the Bachelor of Arts in

and help them to see the role they have to

English programme at the College of the

play in the decision-making processes which

Bahamas. He is also a Learning Coordinator in

affect their lives. To empower them we

the Lyford Cay Foundation’s educational

must continue to promote liberty and call

enrichment programme, FOCUS. He can be

for individuality. By sharing our words, we

contacted at oniel.bain@gmail.com.

help to widen minds, minds that will realise their full potential and help to tear down the current holders of power and the entitlement they feel to that power.

In a country where victimisation is rampant and sometimes blatant, to speak out against oppression is risky business, but

Lurie, Alison. Don’t Tell The Grown-Ups: The Subversive Power of Children’s Literature.

Boston: Little, Brown, 1998.

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3

Recessionary Tactics Stefen Deleveaux

The reality of the global economic

is still the tried and true method of bringing

downturn is well known, no matter where

the economy up out of a recession, even

you go or whom you talk to. It would be

though it has gotten much condemnation in

very difficult to convince most people that

the media lately. When private sector

the last few years were the best we have

spending/hiring/debt is minimal, the

ever had. But what have we done about it?

government can counteract this disparity

In terms of government policy, should we

through spending/hiring/debt. The best way

be doing what other countries, like the U.S.,

to do this is by spending money on

have done, or should our solutions be

infrastructure, such as building or fixing

different?

roads, bridges, public schools, and airports.

The key difference between the

This not only provides temporary jobs for

Bahamian economy and the American

the unemployed but also improves the state

economy, post-recession, is our primary

of the entire nation’s future. Aside from

type of unemployment. In the US, cyclical

infrastructure, the government can also

unemployment has been a serious problem.

lower taxes, increase benefits, or even

Cyclical unemployment is the result of a

lower interest rates to increase demand

very low demand for goods and services;

and revitalize the economy.

since people are buying less, businesses end

Unlike the US, The Bahamas suffers

up laying off workers. This leads to an even

much more heavily from structural

further drop in demand for goods and

unemployment. This is when people are

services, which leads to even further layoffs;

unable to find jobs because they lack the

thus keeping the economy down for a long

skills needed for available jobs, due to lack

time.

of education or specific training. It can also The best way to reverse this

be caused by a lack of job diversity, e.g. if a

problem is normally by implementing public

nation puts too much focus on just one or

spending to put the nation’s economy back

two major industries, which starves off job

in motion. ‘Countercyclical’ public spending

opportunities in other industries. This

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means that structural unemployment can

or provide incentives for employers to hire

persist even during periods of economic

them.

growth. Additionally, although structural

Another much needed solution

unemployment is a much more long term

would be to find ways to connect the major,

phenomenon than cyclical unemployment, it

more profitable industries to the smaller,

does tend to rise alongside cyclical

less proliferated industries, such as

unemployment, since individuals losing their

domestic production and exports. This

jobs in a recession leads to them slowly

would allow these smaller industries to

losing some of the skills (and morale) that

expand their total resources, workers, and

they already had, and employers are less

profitability. Thus, it would be an excellent

likely to hire someone who has been

approach to lowering the unemployment

unemployed for a long time. This

rate and even reducing inequality, and

occurrence is known as “hysteresis,� and

would greatly strengthen our domestic

makes it even harder for currently

economy.

unemployed people to get jobs when they do become available.

In contrast to cyclical unemployment,

There is a very simple reason why the government has done little to connect the larger and smaller industries. Taking the

governments cannot battle structural

time and effort to link them is both more

unemployment by simply spending it away,

difficult and less directly profitable than

although infrastructure spending is almost

simply focusing on tourism and banking,

always helpful. The best solution is to

since they indeed are our largest sources of

increase the efficacy of national education

income. The problem is that both tourism

or to enact widespread job training.

and finance are almost entirely dependent

Employers can also implement their own

on external markets. Recessions and other

training for job positions, or even raise

economic shifts in other countries can hurt

wages to increase incentive for people to

our tourism industry, and new banking laws,

get necessary education and/or training.

such as the Foreign Account Tax

However, because of employer reluctance

Compliance Act (FATCA) implemented by

to hire those who have been unemployed

the US, can hurt our finance industry. Our

for a long period of time, the government

two largest industries are thus highly prone

may need to consider hiring them instead,

to inconsistency, which leaves the entire

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economy potentially unsteady. This is why

Stefen Deleveaux is a graduate of Hartwick

putting more focus on our domestic

College with a B.A. in Economics, with a focus

industries, and making the effort to connect

on government policy and labour markets. He

our smaller industries to our larger ones,

can be contacted at stefdelev@gmail.com.

will make our economy more selfsustainable, and develop The Bahamas into a much more prosperous nation in the long run.

If more is not done to rectify our structural unemployment problems, we will watch as the US returns to its full potential in a few years, while we continue to struggle with the same high levels of unemployment.

 Â

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A Fruitless Policy: The Agricultural Myth Lynden McIntosh

Economic development is an

40%, according to the United Nation’s

obvious concern in a developing nation.

Sustainable Development and Human

How could it not be? Relatively low

Settlement Division. If we also consider our

incomes, inequality, subpar healthcare and

‘D’ average public schools, poor public

education are common features of these

hospitals and so on, economic development

countries and no matter what school of

should arguably be both the first and last on

development theory one champions, the

our list of priorities.

goal is the same: advance, improve and

How do we develop our economy?

grow. The Bahamas is no different.

Many persons truly believe that we are

Although we boast high levels of GDP per

never going to develop our economy until

capita each year, even a novice student of

we expand our agricultural sector. Some

economics can observe that benefits from

even call for agriculture to be the top

this are not realised throughout the nation.

industry in the Bahamas. The lobby by local

Gross Domestic Product (income) is only

farmers for more governmental support has

one metric – one that can be misleading if

many sympathetic ears to fall upon. In an

we do not take into consideration the level

economy with its two major sectors being

of income inequality that exists in the

predominantly owned by foreign

Bahamian economy. The Gini coefficient is

multinationals, the longing is felt throughout

used to measure maldistribution of income

the nation.

in a given economy. Studies reported by the World Health Organization in 2011 shows

The Status of the Bahamian

Gini coefficient for The Bahamas estimated

Agricultural Sector

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around 57%. To put this into perspective,

According to 2012 the World Bank,

the Gini coefficients of small island nations

the Bahamian agricultural sector accounts

such as Barbados and Jamaica are less than

for approximately 2.2% of our gross

1 “Country

Cooperation Strategy”, World Health Organization, 2011

domestic product; employing merely 2.9% of the employed workforce. It has been

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only a tiny piece of the economy for the

to simultaneously maximise their

past 30 years peaking at 3.4% of the

satisfaction while minimising their cost.

economy in 1997. Surprised? I would be

Although this doesn’t occur perfectly in the

too! The government has invested a lot of

real world, we sure do try to come as close

resources into this segment of the

as possible, while learning from our

Bahamian economy, gaining only little

shortcomings for future transactions. So,

return on investment. The Agricultural

wherever there may be a less expensive

Manufactories Act of 1965 exempts

product of similar quality (whether

agricultural factories from paying import

domestic or foreign) we are going to chase

duties on all materials, equipment and

it over the more expensive product, if left

machineries to be used for the processes

free to do so. As it relates to international

carried out in the factory, and for the

trade, “today intense competition takes

building of the factory. Also, the Bahamas

place on a global basis amid the ongoing

Development Bank offers low-interest loans

development of new products and

to entrepreneurs in the agricultural industry.

production technologies,” says United

Additional assistance is provided by the

States Senator Paul Sarbanes. He goes on to

Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial

explain that world economies “are all

Corporation which facilitates small business

rapidly integrating into world markets with

loans through The Bahamas Entrepreneurial

conscious policies to promote specific

Investment Fund and making Crown Land

industries that increasingly compete with

available for the cultivation of farm goods.

our major industries”. With each nation

What’s the result? An anaemic agricultural

specialising in industries where they possess

sector whose proponents’ main solution is

a comparative advantage- the ability to

throwing more incentives and subsidies at it.

produce at a lower cost than other countries- it is important that the Bahamas

A Crash Course in Economies of

focuses its resources in its most efficient

Trade

industries. Do we have a comparative

Why hasn’t the agricultural industry

advantage in growing agricultural goods?

responded like the policymakers wished it

Larry Smith, columnist at the Nassau

would? One of the answers may be seen in

Tribune says it best in an article: “Bahamian

a quick study of economics. Individuals tend

soils are dry, thin and patchy”. This makes

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them impractical for large agricultural

Lynden is completing his studies at The College

farming. He goes on to say, “Mechanised

of The Bahamas in business economics and

agriculture is restricted by frequent

plans to continue his scholarship in economics

outcrops of bare rock. Water resources are

to the graduate level in financial econometrics.

scarce, and crops require heavy irrigation”.2

He currently works part-time as an Assistant

Add this to the fact that all of our farming

Researcher for the School of Business, College

machinery is imported; we clearly don’t

of The Bahamas.

have a cost-advantage over economies such as the United States.

Agriculture is not a prerequisite for development. Last year, the United States’ agricultural industry was less than 2% of their GDP and the United Kingdom’s agricultural industry is only 1% of their GDP. Japan, a developed island nation, has an agricultural industry employing less than 4% of their workforce. In our region, the Barbadian economy has an agricultural presence of just over 3%. The solution to our economic development will come from a mixture of policies. This must include increasing the productivity of the economy through human capital (the education and training of the workforce) and the modernisation of our infrastructure.

Hopefully agriculture will take a backseat to these issues.

“Agriculture and BS in The Bahamas”, Larry Smith, Bahama Pundit (http://www.bahamapundit.com/2013/02/agricult ure-and-bs-in-the-bahamas.html) 2

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Equal But Not Free Awa

In the Commonwealth Caribbean

A sense of public self-worth, self-

we think of ourselves as a community of

respect and validation, in our society,

people. We identify in groups. I am

derives from an individual’s ability to fit into

Bahamian, I am Barbadian, I am Christian, I

a given definition, a person’s ability to count

am straight, I am a woman. Every one of

herself as an included one. This is not

those labels has a norm, a description, an

recognition of the person. This is

expectation and at times a societal

recognition of conformity

obligation. Societal expectations intimately

In our society we do not have the

intertwined with gender norms run deep

language to recognise the individual. What

within our communities reinforced by our

we hear throughout our lives is no don’t do

history, economic circumstances and

that, no don’t try that because Bahamian

pervasive religious beliefs. The formal

women don’t do that. No don’t do that, no

equality attained by feminists has simply

don’t try that Christian women don’t do

meant that as a Bahamian woman we are

that. No don’t do that, no don’t try that

expected to be heterosexual, married, a

good women don’t do that. Eventually we

mother and educated. This is a good

become terrified to even think that,

woman. This is a whole woman. This is a

whatever that may be; be it our sexuality,

happy woman. This is a woman. Laws have

personalities, family lives etc; feminists need

changed but thoughts have not. Bahamian

to turn their focus to changing this scenario,

societies continue to debate whether

to assisting young women who are in the

marital rape exists, single mothers continue

process of creating themselves. This must

to be looked down upon, childless woman

be done so that the formal equality

are described as lonely and unfulfilled, single

achieved by them can be exercised by

women open themselves to the label of

women living full lives.

lesbian regardless of their orientation and

The women of my generation

those who seek entitlement to abortion are

expect formal equality; we live in the

murderers.

afterbirth of feminist achievements. We

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understand that the differences between

and legal change they desire will not take

men and women are not an acceptable basis

place as long as the term “gender” is itself a

for discriminatory treatment. Analysing and

double bind; deeply construed along the

understanding the differences between men

societal meaning given to the terms of man

and women and the law’s role in solidifying

and woman. Reconstruction efforts should

them is not our fight.1 What is oppressive

revolve around a framework within which

about our world, and the continual basis for

individuals can plan, create, understand and

persisting derogatory gender norms, is the

value themselves. When women can create

law’s insistence on the regulation of self; the

their own definition of self and with that

law’s continual need to define personhood

definition say, I am a woman and I am

and by extension womanhood.2 The focus

enough, then and only then can it be said

of traditional feminist legal scholarship and

that we are free!

the change they desire to effect has shown young women that we are different from men and that on some occasions that difference should afford us different

Awa is an Attorney-at-Law interested in

treatment before the law; but only if we are

community development, connecting the realms

good women, only if our “womaness” is

of public and private reason, belief systems,

recognisable. It has not given us the space

mega structures and laughter.

to allow us to define womanhood for ourselves. Recognition of our difference in relation to men has not helped us to be free; equal, but not free.

In order for feminist and by extension feminist legal scholarship to stay relevant this must change. Feminist legal scholars must recognise that the societal

Drucilla Cornell, At the Heart of Freedom: Feminism, Sex, & Equality (Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey 1998) 18.

2 Judith Butler, Undoing Gender (Routledge, New York 2004) 41, 56.

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Heritage and The Bahamas Kelly Delancy

Falmouth, Trelawny, Jamaica, is one of the Caribbean’s best-preserved Georgian

management and heritage conservation, which began in Jamaica in 18794.

towns. Continuous restoration effort and

Meanwhile, in Nassau, The Bahamas,

heritage management activities seal the

the remains of a great house and ancillary

legacy of the masons, carpenters, tavern-

buildings of a sisal and pineapple plantation

keepers, mariners, planters and over 3,000

dating to the 1800’s were recently

slaves that occupied the lands and made

demolished to make way for a new highway.

Jamaica the world’s leading producers of

The Centerville House Complex, a former

sugar and rum during the 18th century.

mansion and ancillary buildings of a

Among the lush hills and valleys stands a

rumrunner, which are planned to be

great house called Good Hope that dates to

developed as the central museum in the

1774. Good Hope was owned by John

national museum system, is deteriorating

Tharpe, then the largest land and slave

due to lack of public and private

owner in Jamaica. After emancipation, the

sponsorship and support. And William

estate then grew into a village to support

Wylly’s plantation at Clifton, the last

workers3. Falmouth is an example of a

publically accessible plantation in New

heritage town. It is history on display. It is

Providence, has been consigned to oblivion

a place that visitors walk through fully

due to lack of oversight and negligent

conscious that this is not just another

developers.

overexploited Caribbean port of call, but historic Falmouth, Jamaica. The buildings

The Bahamas has history, but lacks heritage.

and landscape, in unchanged 18th century

This statement is further illustrated

style, tell a unique story made possible

in my recent experience during a field

through effective cultural resource

course in archaeology on one of the family islands. I was glad to be sharing the experience with a young Bahamian high

3

4

visitjamaica.com

The Institute of Jamaica.

15

school graduate interested in anthropology

The words culture and heritage are

and archaeology…and an afro-Bahamian

often used interchangeably, but though they

female at that. One evening, in talking

are related, they are not the same. Culture

about the field of archaeology in The

exists only in our minds. Our dialect, our

Bahamas, she asked, “so… where did black

government, the Vendue House, and other

people come from?” I wasn’t sure if she

man-made things are all products of culture,

was joking or if this was a serious question.

not culture in themselves. Neither is

She was serious. At that, I was shocked,

heritage history. History, simply put, is an

angered, disappointed and ashamed. This

account of events that took place. It backs

demonstrated a complete detachment from

heritage. Heritage can be defined as value

cultural roots and an equal lack of self-

added to things or places that have been

awareness. I was annoyed, not just with the

passed down from generation to generation,

question, but with the apparent failure of

and thus are important to past generations.

the Bahamian educational system all around

It can also be thought of as “a mode of

- not just in mathematics. Though this was

cultural production in the present that has

just one person, I was frustrated in thinking

recourse to the past. Thus defined,

about the future of The Bahamas if there is

heritage depends on display to give dying

a population that doesn’t even know, or

economies and dead sites [like Clifton], a

care, where they came from. Though

second life as exhibitions of themselves.

students may opt out of history as an

Display is an interface that mediates and

elective, social studies/history is mandatory

thereby transforms what is shown into

up to ninth grade and what she was asking

heritage”5. It is therefore the bridge that

is very basic knowledge. Furthermore,

links the past to the present, often

outside of structured lessons are societal

intangible and changes over time. With this

events such as Fox Hill Day, Emancipation

in mind, what are we passing on to future

Day and Junkanoo, all of which tell stories

generations of Bahamians?

of the Afro-Bahamian origin. Or have they

Heritage preservation is an

just become another holiday on the

increasingly important aspect of developing

calendar? Again, here is history, without

countries’ economies and societies because

heritage.

Barbara Kirshenbalt-Gimblett. Destination Culture: Tourism, Museums and Heritage.

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there is a direct relationship between

to nations with strong senses of identity and

cultural heritage, national identity and

heritage, such as Jamaica and the United

national pride. Heritage artifacts and sites

States, and adopt elements of those

are symbolic representations of the ideas

cultures (why in the world do Bahamians

surrounding the development of a distinct

celebrate thanksgiving?). It is because who

people and culture6. They help to define

we are as a people is not clearly defined

who we are. The protection and

anymore or appreciated, and that is because

celebration of such allows citizens to feel

who we were as a people is being lost in

connected to past ancestors and helps to

the generational gaps.

establish that need for personal and national

It is important today more than ever

identity. With this, what is it that defines

to protect cultural heritage because the

this generation of Bahamians? Many unify

modern world of industrialization and

around the area code, 242. Most are

globalization has sped the assimilation and

unaware that the area code was originally

marginalization of specific cultural groups

809. This is an interesting example of

around the globe and will in short order

cultural creation and demonstrates the

lead to the loss of tradition7. In the

need for something to bond Bahamians.

prevention of such cultural loss, many

The area code 809 was established in 1958

nations began the process of cultural

and covered a large part of the Caribbean.

resource management years ago, which

It was not until 1996 that the area code,

includes the creation of heritage. Jamaica

242, was utilized exclusively for The

began this process in 1879, Cuba

Bahamas. Moreover, there is the possibility

introduced its first Antiquities legislation in

that as The Bahamas develops and the out-

1928; the Dominican Republic in 1930, St.

islands become more populated, each island

Lucia in 1953 and the list goes on8.

will have its own area code.

Aside from the area code 242, many

The Bahamas has been in a particularly precarious situation with

young Bahamians tend look outside of The

cultural assimilation due to our small

Bahamas to define themselves. And

population size, large tourist industry, heavy

interestingly enough, they tend to be drawn

foreign investment, and lack of heritage

Paul E. Lewis. Protecting Heritage in the Caribbean, 97.

7

6

8

Valerie Garrido-Lowe. Alliance for Change.

Protecting Heritage in the Caribbean.

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professionals or consistent interest groups.

was 20 years ago. The second best time is

Prehistoric and historic sites have been

now�.

tampered with and undocumented artifacts taken out of the country by archaeologists, non-archaeologists and looters since the late 1800’s. In an effort to curb this loss,

Kelly is an Archaeologist with the Antiquities,

the Antiquities Act was passed in 1998. This

Monuments & Museum Corporation. She can

succeeded the National Trust Act (1959)

be contacted at kdelancy@gmail.com.

and Public Records Act (1971) with respect to the management of cultural resources, to form a body that would better address cultural resource management.

As heritage is passed on from one generation to another, public education is crucial in heritage protection and it is something that The Bahamas must improve on immediately. Cultural education from an early age provides the foundation for an enlightened and informed citizenry and facilitates the act of transference. Without heritage protection, we are destined to get into a situation in which our culture has disappeared and we no longer identify as uniquely Bahamian. I encourage everyone to get involved, sponsor local heritage and museum projects, research your own family history, write, think about what it is that you would like to pass on and educate your children. As the Chinese proverb expresses, “The best time to plant a tree

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