GUEST COMMENTARY: BY ROSEMARY CLARICE HANNA
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Vikneswaran Nair, Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at University of The Bahamas, was the speaker at a Community Based Tourism Workshop held at the university on Wednesday, May 15, 2019. Rosemary Clarice Hanna, who frequently demonstrates on Facebook that she is a supremely gifted photographer and is also one of the most knowledgeable persons in New Providence on the “history of Over-the-Hill”, covered the event photographically and also wrote some significant comments that I decided to share with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE as a Guest Commentary.)
NASSAU, Bahama — Interestingly, Dr. Vik’s presentation included some of the things that we at Creative Nassau and other groups are already doing regarding the preservation of our Bahamian arts, heritage and culture; and the struggle against outside forces that have been allowed to come into our country and highjack what we have, and which many Bahamians do not appreciate.
There was a very robust Q&A session at the end of the presentation.
Dr. Rita Pratt talked about her museum on Bar 20 Corner and the fact that tourists are told by cruise staff not to purchase Bahamian straw because it has bugs.
Tourism pioneer Nettica Symonette talked about the many struggles and challenges that she encountered over the years and stressed that we have lost much in the quality tourism.
Romeo Farrington also talked about various challenges and the lack of local entertainment; however, he stressed the need to be professional and helpful at all times no matter what the situation.
Freddie Munnings, Jr. spoke passionately about the fact that governments of The Bahamas literally killed tourism and the livelihood of Bahamian musicians and entertainers by allowing the cruise lines to remain open with their entertainment and shops when in port. Furthermore, they are allowed to buy our Cays, where they take their passengers, feed them the food from the ships, served by the foreign staff, so what’s the benefit to the local community?
Andrea Major, who is President of The Bahamas Historical Society, also commented that she gives the tourists who visit the museum an in-depth immersion into Bahamian history and culture; however, the greatest challenge is that visitors tell her that the cruise staff advise them NOT to bring a dollar in cash onshore. Lana also invited Bahamians to become members of and visit the museum, where very interesting and FREE lectures are presented each month.
Mr. Burrows, who is one of the Creative Nassau artisans, spoke about his sponging business and pointed to Eric Carey of The Bahamas National Trust with regard to preservation.
Following the commentary and thanks to Dr. Vik for his presentation, Janet Johnson, who heads the Tourism Development Corporation, assured those present that all comments and suggestions had been taken seriously and that there would be positive changes coming. We will wait and see.
However, as with the Historical Society, the tourists who visit the Market inform our artisans that they are advised not to bring more than $20 on shore.
Further with regard to musicians and entertainers, I reiterated what Freddie Munnings, Jr. and Romeo Farrington and Nettica Symonette had to say. When I was a young woman, there were nightclubs with live bands and other entertainment all over the Island of New Providence, but thanks to the shortsightedness of successive governments of The Bahamas that has DIED, and our musicians and entertainers CANNOT EARN A LIVING in their own country. With regard to the cruise lines, WHY are they allowed to come into The Bahamas and tell us what to do? And they are routinely polluting our waters with their waste.
Surely, as head of the newly established Tourism Development Corporation, Janet Johnson is in a position to “make good” on her assurance that all the comments and suggestions made during the workshop would be taken seriously and “positive changes” are coming.
