Today The Bahamas celebrates 40 years of independence. I heartily join in hailing our motto: “Forward, Upward, Onward, Together” … my Bahamaland!
We are a nation of only 320,000 people. Yet not even the political and cultural hegemony of the United States can chasten our national pride.
But this is precisely why we make such a mockery of our “independence” by continuing to pledge allegiance to a British Queen – when we should be referring to Her Majesty as nothing more than our children’s fairy godmother; and by continuing to appeal to a British Privy Council – when we should be looking to our own Bahamas Supreme Court as our court of last resort.
This latter dependence seems particularly juvenile; not least because our politicians behave like two-year olds throwing a temper tantrum every time Privy Council judges tame (i.e., deny) their bloodlust to have a Bahamian murderer executed. But, frankly, if each of the 50 states in the USA can assume the awesome responsibility of deciding whether or not to impose the death penalty, surely our nation can do the same … no?
Incidentally, with all due respect to the Caribbean Court of Justice, I’m on record arguing repeatedly (most recently in “Idle-minded Debate on Privy Council Continues,” The iPINIONS Journal, June 30, 2011) that there’s no point in ridding ourselves of a colonial arbiter of our legal fate only to subject ourselves to a regional one.
The point is that the time has long since passed for us to completely sever the umbilical cords of colonialism and stand proud as a people beholden and answerable only to ourselves.
So, let’s truly “March On, Bahamaland.”
Related commentaries:
Privy Council…
Legacy Note: With over 5,600 posts spanning 20 years, I am easily the most prolific blogger on the most eclectic array of topics on the web. That makes The iPINIONS Journal an unparalleled archive of informed political and cultural commentary. Visit the ARCHIVES section in the sidebar or search by topic. You won’t find a more consistent, independent voice on world affairs.