GUEST COMMENTARY: BY DR. KENNETH ROMER
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This beautifully written essay was posted on Facebook by Dr. Kenneth Romer, Deputy Director General of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, and I had to share it with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE as a Guest Commentary.)
NASSAU, Bahamas, July 8, 2022 — I wear, with great pride and consistency, a lapel pin of our Bahamian flag, as I interact with fellow citizens and other nationals around the world.
While recently attending a ceremony, and reciting what has now become a rehearsed tradition, I listened intently as hundreds joined in reciting our NATIONAL PLEDGE Of ALLEGIANCE, written by Rev. Dr. Philip Rahming. The beautiful irony of that moment was that I literally sitting one row behind Rev. Rahming, who was one of my lecturers as a younger pupil at The College of The Bahamas.
In that moment, wearing my pin, the words of a collective national pledge hit home, “I Pledge my allegiance to the flag and to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas for which it stands, one people united in love and service.” But what does it stand for?
Our NATIONAL FLAG, whose design is historically credited to Rev. Hervis Bain, consists of the black chevron along the hoist side, a black triangle situated at the hoist with three horizontal bands: aquamarine, gold and aquamarine.
The symbolism of the flag: Black, a strong colour, represents the vigour and force of a united people, the triangle pointing towards the body of the flag represents the enterprise and determination of The Bahamian people to develop and possess the rich natural resources of sun and sea symbolized by gold and aquamarine, respectively.
While we undoubtedly have the most beautiful waters in the world, accentuated by sunny skies and untapped natural resources, the main beauty and distinctive attributes of what makes us the jewel among nations, is the strength and vigor of a United people. Our people are the greatest source of our competitive advantage. We, as a people, are the main ingredient in our Tourism Product and National mix. We are a blessed people.
Perhaps it would be wise for us to further reflect on the words of the NATIONAL SONG of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas, “God Bless our Sunny Clime”. Its music was composed by Timothy Gibson and E. Clement Bethel and the lyrics written, again, by the Rev. Philip Rahming. It is powerfully penned, “God bless our sunny clime, spur us to height sublime. To keep men free, let brothers, sisters stand Firm, trusting hand in hand, throughout Bahamaland, One brotherhood, one brotherhood”.
The theme across our National pledge, flag and song is consistent, even if unclear. It is the PEOPLE; the one people, brothers and sisters, strong, resilient, standing firm and united in LOVE and SERVICE.
It is the people like Florence Sawyer at Cafe a La Florence in Treasure Cay, Abaco, to Lorraine at Lorraine’s Cafe in Black Point, Exuma, and the many other service ambassadors standing proud across our 700-islands, rocks and cays who personify what and who we are as Bahamians.
We are Bahamians. We are THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS. Happy Independence!
