GUEST COMMENTARY: BY ANDREW J. BURROWS
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Andrew J. Burrows takes and introspective look at the controversy surrounding the Independence Day musical celebration at Clifford Park on Friday night.)
NASSAU, Bahamas — A few thoughts from last night’s show and all the noise that was swirling for the last few weeks. I was always in support of ALL of our talent to be showcased, but understood that there were circumstances that made last night’s show the only option.
I will let Mark A. Humes handle those details because folks catch feelings whenever I speak truth. All I know is we were NEVER against having all of our talents showcased over two nights. That was our original goal, but God had other plans.
I’m still deeply disappointed that people promised to send me clips and didn’t. I know folks took sides in the artificial row and it sucks that it even went there because it didn’t have to. The secular people can tell you I gave them advice. But that’s water under the bridge. Everyone got what they wanted, but it shouldn’t have been at the expense of pitting artists against each other.
Trust me, not all of our secular artists were down with the approach taken and there will have to be discussions on how we do such things moving forward, in unity and RESPECT. Our gospel people were deeply disrespected this last week; both by the campaign by the secular people and by the omission of Bahamian gospel songs. I hope we can all mend those wrongs — and fast — and never go there again.
Imagine giving your all on stage for God and country and then hear fellow performers say you’re not Bahamian, or you’re not a “top gospel performer”. That was wrong and for the sake of the show, also knowing what we now all know, I said let’s be chill and let the singing and performances speak for themselves.
I was also bothered by folks calling for boycotts of the performances. I listened to a radio interview Mark did with a host who was just a pure asshole about it all — rude and very, very closed-minded. I just shook my head. I’d vote for a secular show nine times out of 10 before this year, but I also appreciate and understand that in this creative world, at a certain level, you learn to appreciate that inspiration hits differently for each of us and one man’s vision — even if you can’t see it — can be transformative if you buy-in.
Ronald Simms, Andy and Drew Gardiner and I had to follow the plan. Mark’s job was to come up with a concept; our job was to execute. We did that. Thanks for giving us the opportunity.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Andrew J. Burrows is a former Executive News Director at The Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas, but because of his affiliation with the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), following the May 10, 2017 election, the incoming Free National Movement (FNM) government chose to totally disregard his excellent performance in that position and transferred him to another government department, which apparently had something to do with the planning and execution of the Independence musical celebration on Clifford Park Friday night, which I thoroughly enjoyed.)
