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Bahamas 2012 in Review with Youri Aramin Kemp
By The Bahamas Weekly News Team
Jan 3, 2013 - 12:47:24 PM

Youri Kemp feels that an unsung hero in The Bahamas is Steve McKinney of Hard Copy from Peace 107.5 FM radio

TheBahamasWeekly.com has randomly selected 10 Bahamians to canvas their opinions on highlights of The Bahamas over the year 2012, as well as ask about the upcoming 40th year of independence for The Bahamas, and the direction of the country. Their comments will be shared over the coming weeks.

It is our way of highlighting Bahamians in our community, as well as sharing a wide variety of opinions.

Our second feature is with Youri Aramin Kemp, CEO of Kemp Global:


1) What event do you feel was the most important for The Bahamas in 2012?

The most important event of 2012 in The Bahamas was the retirement of former Prime Minister Hubert Alexander Ingraham. It appears as if his retirement from the House of Assembly had more significance than the actual defeat of his incumbent party, the Free National Movement at the polls in May, 2012.

After such a long tenure having first entered the parliament in the late 70’s, and roughly 15 years as prime minister of this country, after the 2012 general elections, he left and said goodbye, probably for the last time.

Why it’s significant to me is that with his departure from the House of Assembly, he takes with him valuable information and debating skills necessary at this particular point in time of this country’s development, which today’s leader’s can find answers to the burning public policy matters.

With ratings downgrades by two separate ratings agencies, Moody’s and S&P, crime still a vital concern, and many social initiatives left untouched - particularly healthcare and social safety net system agenda that was left on the table, a void has been placed in the spot where the issues that matter most to many Bahamians are held at a premium.  
 


2) Who passed away this year that you feel will be 'most missed' and why?

The Hon. Charles Maynard. It’s quite obvious as he had a colourful history as a member of parliament, and came from a political family. He was once a member of the Progressive Liberal Party, then started another political party called the Coalition for Democratic Reform, and then ended his career as an FNM politician, pre-mortem, campaigning for the North Abaco bye-election for the FNM as their Chairman and previously the former Minister for Youth and Culture during in the previous administration’s tenure during 2007-2012.  

He was surely opinionated and spoke his mind, clearly and often. Never short of words, no matter how it may have come across to some. Good fodder for the political observers! May his soul rest in eternal peace.

 

3) Who was the 'most inspirational / influential Bahamian' in 2012 and why?

The Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie is the most influential Bahamian in 2012. He engineered the defeat of a political giant in former Prime Minister Hubert Alexander Ingraham, convinced a solid majority of Bahamians to choose him and his team over the incumbent party, from all spectrum of the social and political divide, and now holds the seat of power very few people will hold in The Bahamas, ever.

He now holds the reins of power, since May 2012, to change the course of a generation of Bahamians. He will remain, God-willing, for the entire five year term.

All eyes are on him, and whether he understands it or not, much like the former prime minister, we hold on to every word he says to have an idea of what may be in store,  things that are said and not said.


 
4) 2013 is the country's 40th anniversary of Independence. What should we be most proud of in the past 40 years ?

To be honest, we should be proud that we have not descended into utter and total chaos. We still have a fairly decent respect for the rule of law, for the most part. We still have decent people that care about people in The Bahamas. People who know you and can trace where you came from, know what you need - even when you don’t even know you need it yourself.

Yes, we have a crime problem and a temporary economic problem, but Bahamians are not rioting in the streets, storming the parliament on a weekly basis, or descending into full scale civil war. We still have a great deal of people that hold fast to the old ways, even within some younger folks. I find that very special and I am proud to be a Bahamian!

For a small black country with very little resources, with many observers saying that we would not have made it past the first 10 years of independence, it says a lot, even though there is much to do. 


 
5) What/who do you feel is a Bahamian National Treasure and why?  
 
Fort Charlotte! Odd, right? But if you look at that Fort, it has stood the test of time - hurricanes, decay, bad weather, and humans. It sits right near the shoreline  with very little to no maintenance. It’s amazing that almost every major national event happens right there, or near there, in Clifford Park and the surrounding areas.
 
It has held grounds to spectacular things in our country’s history, and is used for every day events from jogging paths, to field events; they even use one side of it for a test driving range.

People don’t realize that it is three forts in one: Fort’s Charlotte (eastern end), D’Arcy (middle) and Stanley (western end).

The place is magical.

 

6) Looking forward, where do you feel the country still needs to improve and why?

Social life! Sure, it’s easy to say the economy. And, it is also easy to say crime. Even though nine times out of ten I would pick economic matters to trump all, but considering what we have to date and our current, and in some instances, historical, under-performance as a country,  we have massive social problems that need to be addressed, as a matter or priority before we destroy ourselves.  

There is a strong undertone of post-colonial attitudes, mixed in with modern day wealth expansion for a few select individuals, which has given some the perception, quite wrongfully so, that they are the end all and be all - no one else matters, nothing else matters, unless they are at the center of it all.

This has bred attitudes of resentment and bitterness within the Bahamian people, on both sides. It’s just one side has more money and power than the other. One side doesn’t think you are worth the effort because they have, and the other side “understands” that what the greener-side did to have more isn’t what everyone should be accustomed to or held by, Both sides cannot reconcile. They will never reconcile. For a small country, we know too much of each other. Familiarity breeds contempt. This is quite sad!

I hope we find a way to infuse more people into the mix, tone down our most wasteful and useless attitudes, from both ends, before the side we wish not to have total control finds out that the only thing to having power is to seize it.

If not, then we will have massive rifts, more starkly than what we see today. Then it’s all downhill from there. And the power structure that some have tried to keep for so long is gone, just like that! No more us!

We can turn it around. The leadership just has to see that there is nothing to fear but fear itself. And, what you fear the most will ultimately become your reality and shape your behavior towards that fear.

 
7) Is there an 'unsung hero' you feel should be recognize? If so, who and why?

Steve McKinney of Hard Copy from Peace 107.5 FM radio has to be an unsung hero. I would have placed him as the most influential Bahamian instead of the current Prime Minister Perry Christie, but considering the accomplishment of the current Prime Minister, Mr. McKinney has to place a somewhat distant second.

What Mr. McKinney has done to influence thought in this country is beyond measure. When he is not on the air, I wonder if “they” have gotten to him and if whether or not if “they” have decided to shut him down today, again, this time for good. I become concerned, which is odd for a man I have never met before in my life.

Mr. McKinney always comes with hard hitting information and details, which were digestible and very clear and understandable, need to know information, at sometimes are great risk to his welfare and reputation as a journalist and as a human being.  

He has placed himself, on his own, as a hero in the eyes of many, whether he understands the full weight of that responsibility or not.

No special frills, no fluff, no special friends, family and lovers on his resume, just by him being him. It’s an inspiration in this climate to see people being people, for the good of all of us.  Mr. McKinney is one of those people being people.

To him, my heartfelt thank you and appreciation for his dedication.


 
8) Do you have a Personal Highlight for 2012?

There is not really a personal highlight, aside from the affirmation that God is still God and Jesus saves. A lot of people say it, but it is one thing for an individual to say it and mean it and know it for him, from the things he has seen, experienced and what he has come through.

That’s my personal highlight, on my personal life reel. The way I see and feel God’s love and power is like no other. And I like it that way! To God be the glory!



ABOUT YOURI:

Born in Nassau, Youri Aramin Kemp, is President and CEO of "KEMP GLOBAL", a Management Consultancy firm, based in the Bahamas which serves all markets. Our core competencies are: Business and Project Planning and Design; Project Execution; Market Researching and Analysis; and Operations Development.  He can be reached at ykemp@bestbizpage.com




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