NEW YORK – His Excellency Wendall K. Jones, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States, said that as The Bahamas celebrates its 49th anniversary of our independence, Bahamians “are extremely proud of our accomplishments.”
“We have moved from a Fishing Village of the 60’s to a archipelago and a metropolis with arguably the best Tourism plant in our region,” Ambassador Jones said. “As we move into the 50th year of our independence, we have weathered many storms as a nation, almost all of them generated by outside forces, whether its hurricanes caused by how we are affected by carbon emission by developed countries or by conflicts around the world.”
Speaking at The Bahamas’ Independence Flag-raising ceremony at New York’s Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park July 8, Ambassador Jones declared, “Despite these vicissitudes, we are justly proud of our successes, as one of the most stable democratic countries, with the third highest per capita income in this hemisphere.”
Ambassador Jones had earlier thanked the various New York City officials, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and other distinguished guests and extended “warm greetings on behalf of Prime Minister, the Honourable Philip Davis, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Fred Mitchell and the government and people of The Bahamas on this special occasion.”
“July 10, 1973 was a glorious day in The Bahamas when the Bahamian Flag was raised for the first time,” Ambassador Jones recalled. “It represents the aquamarine ocean that bathes our shores, the gold of the brilliant sunshine and the black representing the strength of the Bahamian people.”
Based in Washington, D.C., the top Bahamian diplomat in the United States added: “Our raised flag was the signal for The Bahamas to take our place among the nations of the world in self-determination.
“For long before our independence, we were a people on the move. We were a people who were industrious and gave yeoman’s service in building South Florida and other American States like New York.
“Some Bahamians in the diaspora in New York know the struggles of Bahamians who migrated here in the 30’s and 40’s; coming here by ships and lived in The Bronx, among other places. People like Jimmy Virgil, a Tailor; Arnold Flowers, the Businessman; Sidney Poitier, and Charlie Major were among the pioneering Bahamians in New York.”
Continuing, the Ambassador added: “Then there were the Bahamian Building Contractors like Gerard Roberts, who were instrumental in building this city. The women made their valuable contributions too as domestic workers. Then of course their offspring who were educated here and assumed positions of power and influence in New York. So, we have come a long way together.
“Today we applaud those Bahamians who through remittances help to build The Bahamas. Those who returned after the great depression and even those who worked on projects in building the rails in Miami or who were on the contract as agricultural workers in the United States.”
Ambassador Jones said The Bahamas is grateful for “the help of our neighbor, the United States,” noting that the lion’s share of our visitors to The Bahamas come from the United States.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, we are able to raise our heads, in the words of the Father of our Nation Sir Lynden Pindling, and lift our hearts to the glowing prospects for a greater Bahamas,” Ambassador Jones said.
He added: “It is said that whether it tis in sports, tourism, or other services, that we are punching above our weight. But that has always been the aspiration of tens of thousands of Bahamians; to move beyond the gloomy days and in the words of our national anthem, press onward, march together to a common loftier goal.
“There are more mountains to climb, there are obstacles to overcome because we are a young nation in progress. However, we have faith in our people and in their ability to rise above the challenges that we face in the world today.
“We give load of thanks for our forefathers and the nation-builders of The Bahamas. In addition, we appreciate the long-standing friendships and partnership between our nations, as well as our enduring commitment to the cultural and spiritual bounds that we share.
“God bless the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the United States of America.”
