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 gumelemimagazine.tumblr.com
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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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
1
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. 1
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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. 17
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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