By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 16, 2022 – Bahamian diplomats and Bahamians in the diaspora were joined by representatives of the U.S. Government, members of the D.C. diplomatic corps, and a cross-section of dignitaries from around the D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area in officially celebrating the 49th anniversary of The Bahamas’ attainment of independence from Great Britain at a reception held on Friday evening, July 15, at The St. Regis Hotel on Black Lives Matter Plaza in downtown D.C.
In thanking all those present for “joining us for such a momentous event,” His Excellency Wendall Jones thanked “the Prime Minister and the Government of The Bahamas for affording me the opportunity to represent our nation as Ambassador of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the United States of America.”
“As this represents my first Independence here as Ambassador, I am truly grateful to be able to stand before you to celebrate, as the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented us from commemorating this occasion, in-person, for two years,” Ambassador Jones said. “The 49th Anniversary of The Bahamas is a time of reflection as we prepare for our Golden Jubilee. As we celebrate, we also reflect on the will, vigor and sacrifices of those who forged our path towards a free, democratic and sovereign nation founded on Christian values and the rule of law.”
Recalling the historic occasion in 1973 when “we lowered the Union Jack and raised our country’s black, gold and aquamarine flag high and proud,” Ambassador Jones said: “The black represents the strength and vigor of the people. Since then, we have faced victories as well as adversities, but we remain steadfast as we move forward, upward, and onward together.”
Continuing, Ambassador Jones added: “I also wish to highlight that this year serves as 49 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties with our friend and neighbor, the United States, who we continue to share close bonds and friendly relations.
“The people of Bimini are able to see the lights of South Florida on a good night and the late Sir Randol Fawkes, The Father of Labour, once joked that Bahamians believe they have a constitutional right to travel freely to the United States. So, it is a delight to see so many persons of the Bahamian diaspora here this evening.”
Noting that it is “an indisputable fact that Bahamians built South Florida,” Ambassador Jones said, “They were labourers who built Flagler Railroad. They played an integral role in the development of communities like Key West, Liberty City and Overtown Miami.
“We have a great heritage in The Bahamas and a story to tell to the Nations. A story of a small country of talented people who have made significant contributions to America and western civilization.
“We can begin with Bert Williams, a Bahamian-born American entertainer, one of the pre-eminent entertainers of the Vaudeville era and one of the most popular comedians for all audiences of his time. He is credited as being the first black man to have the leading role in a film: Darktown Jubilee in 1914. The grandfather of W.E.B. Du Bois hailed from Long Cay in The Bahamas.
“The first black man to win an Oscar Sir Sidney Poitier was born in Miami when his parents were on an agricultural trip from Cat Island in The Bahamas.
“We can speak of Gerald Roberts, the Bahamian who worked with John D. Rockefeller, designed and built many government complexes in New York.
“Then Bahamians played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights movement in the United States. The late Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. visited The Bahamas multiple times because of the bonds which were forged in the early 1960s with Bahamian leaders. In fact, he wrote the ‘I Have A Dream’ Speech in Bimini.”
Continuing his litany of Bahamians with historical ties to the United States, Ambassador Jones said, “Talking about writers, James Weldon Johnson, who penned the Negro National Anthem, ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’, was a descendant of The Bahamas. His mother Ellen was the daughter of the first black Bahamian member of Parliament, Stephen Dillet.
“We have a story to tell to the Nations. Today, 49 years after Independence, there are thousands of Bahamians who are educated in the Arts and Sciences to take the country forward. Now, Bahamians are being head-hunted by some of the most significant entities worldwide.
“If you travel on this anniversary of our independence in the inhabited islands of The Bahamas, you would see billboards and buntings proclaiming our national pride. The theme is, ‘Proud To Be Bahamian’.
“Without question, that declaration is beyond words or paraphernalia. It is seen in the Bahamian Aeronautics Engineer who led a group of Vehicle Engineers that launched the latest rocket from Kennedy Space Center. It is seen in the White House with the Bahamian who has significant responsibilities there for Cyber Security.
“It is seen from the work of the Bahamian from Andros who was a leading Scientist in developing a COVID-19 vaccine.
“There are legions of Bahamian Medical professionals and researchers who have made and continue to make significant contributions to the store of medical knowledge in some of the premier institutions in the western world.
“What is noteworthy too are the tremendously successful Bahamian athletes who proudly display and wear the Bahamian flag, whether it’s in Major League baseball, basketball or international track and field.
“The progress and prosperity of The Bahamas, with some 400,000 people, can be seen beyond economic growth and development; it is seen in the human development of the people.
“We stand on the shoulders of the great Bahamians who led the country to independence and who laid a solid foundation for a national development. Many of them have passed, but they created a template with so many lessons to keep us on a steady course.”
Noting that the “catastrophic pandemic has been particularly hard on small developing countries like The Bahamas, Ambassador Jones added, “Yet, we have emerged battered but not defeated. The passion of Bahamian patriotism burns brightly in our bosoms and we have joined together to revitalize the tourism industry, the envy of many countries. All of the hotels closed are reopened and are now experiencing up to 90 percent rates of occupancy. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that our future on this pathway is bright.
“It is appropriate that credit is given to Prime Minister Philip Davis, who has been untiring in his efforts to move our country out of the dark days of the pandemic into a spirit of renewal that pervades the Bahamian body politic.”
In keeping with established protocol, Ambassador Jones concluded his address by proposing toasts to Her Majesty the Queen; the Government and People of the United States; and to the Government and People of The Bahamas.
