Tourism: “A Christmas with no lights”.

Dear Sir, Please allow the space in your paper to highlight a national concern that affects our country to the core of its economic survival.

During Hurricane Katrina a then Lieutenant General by the name of Russel Honore gave us five words that changed the mindset of handling any crisis. “Don’t get stuck on stupid”.

I find it very disturbing that we the people of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas continue to allow successive Governments, to render excuses as to why our number one industry, Tourism, continues to fail and why we as a nation allow ourselves to be “stuck on stupid”.

Examine its present state, ask ourselves why many young Bahamians have not embraced the nation’s largest investment, or played an intricate part in fostering or promoting its ideals.  The operational aspects of tourism and its lack of engaging the inevitable change in the region and the world, has been more draining on our economy and has failed to deliver  the desired results. We criticize so many of our government institutions in which we find so conveniently to blame for daily failings. Why is it, our citizens refuse to recognize failings and never correct them, when your car is running out of gas a sensible person would find a gas station.   I can only assume, based on our actions dealing with Tourism, that we are a nation that is “stuck on stupid”.

When you equate the return on investment, Tourism today has been ineffectual and not the best performing industry.  By far, the tourism industry has undermined itself, embraced its own failures, but has yet to understand the social complexities that undermine its very existence.  Every consultant in order to truly learn about the Bahamas, and before they produce “their” study or report, must first talk to, or engage the services of a Bahamian.  The consultants are paid millions to render an opinion or produce a report. This report is enables us to light this “Christmas tree” which we call Tourism.

Unfortunately, they immediately find out that there is no consistent form of electricity in the Bahamas to keep the light on. That failing light is the Bahamas Government, both past and present.

Tourism today does not need any more studies. Tourism simply needs the Government of the Bahamas to make some real hard decision that the Bahamian people have already paid for again, again, and again. As a nation I repeat, we cannot allow our governments to come to power and get “stuck on stupid”.

We must remember, not because a person is elected to Government, they are automatically  experts in the Ministry in which they serve. They are NOT.

This is the cultural mindset that contributes to so many failings in Government Ministries and a prime example of “becoming stuck on stupid”.

Instead of “window dressing” the tourism product, we must first ensure that we have electricity to light this “Christmas tree” I call Tourism. As the looters during hurricane Katrina stole televisions only to find out they have no electricity at home. The Ministry of Tourism must act firm and fast and don’t get “stuck on stupid”. Below are only a few suggestions for their consideration that came from some young Bahamians that we hope would be considered, and it’s free with no consulting fees.

1. Move the Jitneys off of Bay Street so that we reduce the traffic congestion and the fumes that give the first impression when a visitor leaves the Cruise Ship. No Compromise.
2. Engage, not bully, the Straw vendors in Nassau to ensure an amicable solution is reached.
3. Join hands with Urban Renewal to spread your message to the young people who end up on Bay Street shooting each other.
4. Give the Taxi drivers back their concessions providing they bring in approved vehicles. On Saturdays, take them off Bay Street to the side streets with a more structured call up system that does not promote fighting and swearing (cursing) in front of the tourist.
5. Move the container port from Bay Street, and stop playing “political football”. The Bahamian people cannot accept the movement of the container ports from Bay Street to Arawak Cay. This is truly an example of “stuck on stupid”. It is like taking a bath with no water or being half pregnant.  We the people need to make sure the government of the Bahamas do the right thing.
6. Encourage and develop more native entertainment and night life on Bay Street.
7. Demolish or repair those buildings that are not in tune with the development on Tourism on Bay Street.
8. Encourage development up to the Eastern Parade.
9. Reduce the American Fast Food franchises and licensing on Bay Street and in other strategic tourist areas of the Bahamas.
10. Deport all illegal nationals unconditionally and remove the Haitian sloops. Make them dock like everybody else.
11. Ensure that Bahamians get first preference at the Hotel Training College because we must remember; our neighbors in the region are here to study why we are number one in Tourism. It is evident that they have caught on and realize that bananas, coffee, bauxite and rum will only go so far.
12. Grant tax concessions to those businesses on Bay Street that foster the tourist ideals of the Bahamas by upgrading their properties annually.
13. Educate our students from primary school on the importance of this industry.

 

Tourism in its current state will be like “Christmas tree” with no lights, and we as a people would have proved retired Lieutenant General Russel Honore correct by not accomplishing anything because we chose to allow our government to remain “stuck on stupid”.

 

Anthony Bostwick Jr.

Feb 2008

Comments

[JOHNSON]

Sorry for my english I try to do my best.
You all have beautiful beaches and i dont anderstand why there are so many dust on it ! I felt very sad about it. you talk about tourism and it's like bahamian spit on there flag. i really dont anderstand this attitude.

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