"Our unsung heroes have to be the men and women of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force," says Youri Kemp

TheBahamasWeekly.com has once again selected Bahamians to canvas their opinions on highlights of The Bahamas over the year 2013, as well as ask about the direction of the country. Their comments will be shared over the coming weeks.

Through this exchange we hope to also highlight Bahamians in our community, and share their personal triumphs, that may or may not have made the news.

Here is the opinion of  Youri Kemp:

The referendum was important because it was supposed to be a chance for Bahamians to do away with the discriminatory provision in the constitution that states that Bahamians can’t gamble in their own country, own casinos or gaming houses, but foreigners can.

I still can’t believe that in 2013-2014 we are still debating this? We will most likely continue this until someone just decides to right the wrong. It also showed Bahamians a thing, or three, about how some people think about Bahamians, in that Bahamians being incapable of sitting down at a craps table without pinching the hips of a lovely foreign lady, or Bahamians being unable to have a sensible play at the Black Jack table without destroying their souls (like we all aren’t responsible for our own souls) and/or without destroying the entire property when if we lose.

I can say, quite directly, as the results came back “no” for the gaming proposition, in the form it was presented, no one won. The Bahamian people didn’t win; the governing party didn’t win; the opposition political parties didn’t win; the Bahamian gaming operators didn’t win; and The Church leadership, the main opponents to the referendum/opinion poll, didn’t win, because we still have Bahamian and foreign gaming houses still open.

So, everybody lost! Yup, I said it. Everybody lost!

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

My mind says Nelson Mandela, for obvious reasons. He was a great man. His spirit led a world.

But, my heart and personal preference says my uncle, Andrew Alvin Gibson Sr. He passed away in early December. God rest his soul.

I say my uncle because of his lifestyle towards his family embodied what it was to be totally committed to family. A true Bahamian family! True Bahamian family bonding is sorely missing in these days and times.

Religiously we gathered at his house for special events, or just to shoot the breeze on a Sunday afternoon until everyone had to go home. His house was truly an open house. Everyone was welcomed, until you weren’t anymore, but usually you were only un-invited for a very short time. Often times you were asked to consider your option of staying. Often times there was only one option to leave, only to be told a few days later, you took his threats of imminent gunfire too much to heart, or took his delivered promise of expulsion from his house, accompanied with police involvement (a promise that was delivered on several occasions with clear and unmistakable frankness), way too seriously.

As I look on and see my family, and other families, losing, or, not having, that one linking person that bonded the unit, I have to say that the Bahamian family will be missed.  As I remember him, and his family, and while he wasn’t a “great man” by the public’s standards, I am also reminded that as I look around and see the ties that bind families deteriorate, a piece of my mind is saying that Bahamian culture is changing.

3. Who was the 'most inspirational / influential Bahamian' in 2013 and why?

The most influential Bahamian of 2013, and most likely will be for 2014, is the Financial Secretary of The Bahamas, John A. Rolle. The man is committed to change. Changing the old way of how we do business in The Bahamas, one rife with loopholes and less than healthy behavior, to one where we can gauge our economy and our lives in a more orderly fashion.

His focus on the implementation of Value Added Tax in The Bahamas, helping the current administration stay on course with what it is we are doing out here for the Bahamian people, has to stand out. For him to take all of abuses, dealing with the egos, the bottlenecks in the public service, the lack of resources and manpower, the conservative nature of Bahamians in general-- and to take the work load for a whole new initiative and to still keep his eye on the ball with the other matters of our finances, stay the course on this one initiative and still bring some sanity to our financial matters overall, along with the Prime Minister and Minister of State for Finance working with him as the political directorate, FS Rolle has to be one of the stellar persons to come down the pike in the Bahamian socio-sphere in quite some time.

More importantly, he has not overshadowed the political directorate in any way, shape or form. In fact, he adds value (no pun intended) to the matters at hand.  

I can believe that Bahamians are in utter shock that a public servant is staying the course with actual work, doing their job, and doing what they say they are going to do as given by political directorate. A rara avis, indeed.

4. 2013 was the country's 40th anniversary of Independence. What stood out for you in way of commemorating this event?

To be honest? Nothing that spectacular to say it was over and above any other year. It was another year. But, to not note that it is, or should be, a change in generations would be negligent.

So, to answer the question, if you truly believe in spirituality and cosmic change, yes- it is a change. But, I’m not that sentimental about these things. Even moreso as we have pressing matters in The Bahamas to tackle. Pardon me!

5. 2013 may have been one of the worst years ever for crime in The Bahamas. What are your thoughts and suggestions?

To be fair, we've had worse years, although this year was really bad.  I think that crime has started to really creep up on people that it never used to creep up on. Bahamians are seeing that now as, apparently, the criminals are running out of criminals and marginalized people to victimize and target.

People in middle-Bahamas are being affected more than just with the fear of crime. Prominent persons and public figures are being targeted. God’s house is being robbed of its contents and the parishioners are being put in fear. All of this to go along with the innocent young men, in particular, who are targets and victims just by association at times. Not all of these young men are bad-boys or legitimate degenerates. They are just victims by association.

My suggestion to all of this is rather blunt: Continued patrols and more vigilance on the ground. The honest truth about this is that, because we have neglected the young men and marginalized them and the not-so bad young men in The Bahamas for far too long, there is not much we can do to “save” most of them. This is where this is! Crime is what it is. I just hope that more Bahamians come forward and assist the police with what they have to do to protect us all.

I hope that stiffer penalties are handed out to repeat offenders and violent offenders. Revoke bail, if need be. Regardless of the precedent that was set in the 90’s that started this granting bail for killers and thugs, start a new precedent of locking them away, regardless of the petty ego’s of the naysayers that pop out of the woodwork with this, that and the other to gripe about.

Then, let’s try to dig into the minds of these young people, and try to peel back some of the negative societal norms they have become accustomed that has led them down this path of anti-social behavior. As a young man today, and younger man a few short years back, it’s easy to snap- when you see all of what’s happening around you. And, trust me, those same young men that we write off as out of the loop and unaware of what The Bahamas is and can be at times, see quite clearly the ills of our society for what they are.

So, to encourage all Bahamians for the new year, shape up do right by our

country and let’s beat this crime problem- all encompassing and all the way. 

6. Is there an 'unsung hero' you feel should be recognized from 2013 or prior? If so, who and why ?

Our unsung heroes have to be the men and women of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force. To continually pick up the pieces of the broken families of victims, victims that had their brains splattered out on the asphalt throughout the length and breadth of The Bahamas must be tough.

To continually catch and put away bon-fide animals, the type that kill someone and then roll them out of their car at top speed onto whatever street that deserted where no one can see them, is no easy feat.

To be asked to do a 12 hour shift, on a moment’s notice, while some moaned and complained, but to then suck it up and do it anyways, is stuff that real Bahamians are made of. To be asked to leave your main duties, leave the high-seas, to be asked to help out on regular, mundane, desk jobs, while the detectives are re-assigned to handle the police work they are trained to do- and in a sense, diminishing your duties, while illegal immigrants and thieving poachers roam our waters, must be a hard pill to swallow.

Not a one of us that sits by and fails in any way that allows a criminal-animal to be created, or slide by and thus get a pass because he is a friend, family, or lover, should have anything to say. Nothing! Not one blessed word. Aside from a thanks to the police and defense force for doing the work we can’t do while clearing up our mess! Thank you! 

7. Do you have a Personal Highlight for 2013?

Well, I started the journey, yet again, on weight loss and increased exercise. It seems like just yesterday I came back from London at a prize fighting weight of 210 pounds. All of that progress was rolled back in about a year of Bahamian cuisine. But, from July of this year, I took getting it back more seriously, and started to hit the pavement for some street jogging. So far, I’ve shaved off 40 pounds. I’m still not at an ideal weight. Not even close. But, I’m committed to sticking to it and I’m way better than where I was 6 months back. Way better! I feel better too.

Funny thing was I had a treadmill, and it went bust. But, it wasn’t until I had transportation problems one Sunday afternoon, and had to go to the store to pick up a few items that I decided to jog to my destination. After that, I have been building up my endurance and cardio ever since. I’m up to 3 miles with ease, non-stop, and in good time too! Perhaps I can touch the Marathon Bahamas this year? I still walk to the corner store to this day, even when my transportation is working and available. There is no harm in it, at all. But, I know exactly what you’re thinking out there: lay off the pork chops, macaroni, ribs and ‘tater-salad and the struggle will get easier, Youri. I know, I know!

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

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely those of the author in his/her private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of TheBahamasWeekly.com

MORE REVIEWS:

Bahamas 2013: A Year in Review with Dillon F. Knowles
Bahamas 2013: A Year in Review with Odette Knowles