Fellow Citizens of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas:
I extend every best wish for a happy and safe Independence Anniversary Celebration. This year we celebrate under the theme “38 years – United in Love and Service”.
During the past 38 years we have evolved from a small colony on the periphery of the British Empire into a vibrant democracy and international business centre, proud of our social and political stability and determined to broaden economic opportunities for every citizen. Our success to date is manifested in the fact that we enjoy one of the highest per capita incomes among countries in the Americas.
Nevertheless, in recent years we, like much of the rest of the world, have endured economic hardships, the fallout from the global economic recession. In the face of such adversity we responded by in ways reflective of the theme of this year’s anniversary celebrations. We preserved public sector jobs, increased social assistance programmes, introduced an unemployment benefit, implemented a short term jobs programme, implemented a jobs training programme and accelerated planned infrastructure projects so as to improve service to the Bahamian people while protecting private sector jobs and serving as a catalyst for more job creation.
Those initiatives are now being expanded to include new job readiness training, a new jobs creation programme and special targeted initiatives to support small and medium size businesses. These will all contribute to our planned return to economic prosperity as the world economy and our own continues their recovery.
Sadly, our celebration of this 38th anniversary of nationhood is marred by a continued high incidence of crime. While the Government has mounted a multifaceted response to the problem it is increasingly important that all Bahamians unite in sending a clear message to the small minority of persons who break our social contract of good neighbourliness and who choose to live outside of the law, that we will neither tolerate nor excuse their criminal behaviour.
In this regard, we should all recall and reflect upon the important role that the extended family and the neighbourhood have played in our development as a people who are open and welcoming, who share easily and who believe that service is a virtue.
As is my custom, I wish to once again use this year’s Independence Day Message to thank all those who serve our people throughout the year, those in the private sector, in our churches and civic organizations, and throughout the public sector.
I wish also to acknowledge and thank all those who work in our diplomatic, tourism and maritime services internationally. Many of them will celebrate independence at their overseas post where they pursue our country’s interests internationally. I acknowledge their sacrifice and thank them for their continued service to our country.
We will face many challenges in the year ahead: achieving economic recovery and expansion, protecting our environment from degradation in the face of climate change and sea level rise, safeguarding the supply and cost of energy and of food and winning our war on crime.
We are a hardy people, self-reliant and bolstered by a long tradition of resourcefulness and self-reliance. So as we celebrate this 38th anniversary of our independence we recall those qualities.
Fellow Bahamians, on this special national anniversary I extend my very best for a happy and safe Independence Day and pray God’s blessings upon our nation and upon each and every one of us.
Thank you.
Why they have this Bahamian flag in the back of Papa? They must be made a mistake, it suppose to be a Haitian flag in the back of him. This man don’t represent us, he’s working for the Haitian people.
DEAR BAHAMIAN VOTER,IT WAS THE PLP GOVERNMENT WHO FIGHT SO HARD FOR THIS GREAT COUNTRY TO BECOME INDEPENDENT.WHETHER MR CHRISTIE OR HIS PLP MP’S ATTENDED THE INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION OR NOT JUST BE THANKFUL THAT WE ARE AN INDEPENDENT NATION.DO YOU SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN THE TURKS AND CAICUS ISLAND? THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TOOK OVER THE LEADERSHIP OF THAT COUNTRY WITHOUT AN ELECTION BEEN HELD.THE GREAT SIR LYDEN OSCAR PINDLING BROUGHT THE BAHAMAS FROM THE BRITISH IN 1973 TO BECOME AN
INDEPENDENT NATION.
PAPA TOOK US BACK TO THEM BY SELLING THE CONTROLING SHARES OF 51% OWNERSHIP OF BTC WHERE BAHAMIANS HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO KEEP BTC ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY.IS THIS THE WAY FORWARD PAPA AND HIS FOLLOWERS NARROW MINDED(FNM) MEN?
How come the leader of the opposition didn’t attend the National Independent Celebrations tonight? How come most of the PLP MPs didn’t attend?????
Shut the hell up with that FNM propaganda and take that crap back the same place you came from fool.
The young people did an excelent job at C Park tonight. All is not lost. Come on BP let’s see some thing positive from you for a change.
Encourage the youth.
It is obvious you was not following our broadcast tonight and the praise we had for the young people tonight. We are encouraged by the splendid performances last night and feel for the first time; that the future of the Bahamas is secured!
What distresses us most is the fact that many of our OLD people are CORRUPT AS HELL IS HOT!
BP
UPDATES FROM CLIFFORD PARK >>> Nita and a gang of artists are now on The stage…..
Bahamas Press is remembering the late Jackson Burnside, Keva Bethel, Bishop Michael Hartley Eldon and all those who departed the earth this past year…MAY THEY REST IN PEACE!!!!
UPDATES FROM CLIFFORD PARK >>> Anna Albury, head girl of the Hope Town Primary School and student of the year encouraged Bahamians across the Bahamas to GO LIGHT THE WORLD!
UPDATES FROM CLIFFORD PARK >>> Young Bahamians Students from around the country are being honoured on Clifford Park at this time…
UPDATES FROM CLIFFORD PARK >>> The Church of God Marching Band is now making their way onto Clifford Park for a presentation….
BP this is your best reporting thus far for the year
UPDATES FROM CLIFFORD PARK >>> MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH CHOIR NOW MAKES A PRESENTATION ON THE HISTORY OF THE BAHAMAS. THE PRESENTATION OF SONGS GO BACK TO THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE….
THE BAHAMAS DEFENCE FORCE RANGERS ARE PRESENTING THE FAMILY ISLANDS CREST ON CLIFFORD PARK…
UPDATES FROM CLIFFORD PARK.>>> As the Ecumenical Services comes to an end, celebrations now underway across the country in every island community at this hour.
Rev. Ednal Minnis continues in national prayers across the country on Clifford Park…
UPDATES FROM CLIFFORD PARK.>>> Rev William Higgs of the Methodist conference is now offering prayers over the nation at the 38th Anniversary of Independence’s Ecumenical Service on Clifford Party at this hour…
UPDATES FROM CLIFFORD PARK.>>>
Bishop of the Bahamas from the Anglican Church, Bishop Laish Boyd offers intersessions at this time…
UPDATES FROM CLIFFORD PARK.>>>Thousands of Bahamians are gathered at Clifford Park tonight to celebrate Independence. The Independence Choir will now come and render a selection as prayers continue to be officer by the Christian Council…The Choir sings at this time…..
UPDATES FROM CLIFFORD PARK.>>> Archbishop says lawlessness in the Bahamas is fashionable. “It seems we are losing the character to debate….Bahamians are using weapon like knives and guns….”
UPDATES FROM CLIFFORD PARK.>>> Archbishop says lawlessness in the Bahamas is fashionable. “It seems we are losing the character to debate….Bahamians are using weapon like knives and guns….” Bishop says we are losing ground on Freedom in the country.
UPDATES FROM CLIFFORD PARK.>>> Rt. Rev. Patrick Pinder, Archbishop of the Catholic Church is presently delivering the Eulogy and is speaking on the Top…FREEDOM!
Bahamians are gathered at Clifford Park in Nassau, Bahamas tonight under the stars to celebrate the 38th years as a nation. BP will provide updates for our international audience. At this hour dignitaries are at the site singing the hymn To God Be the Glory Great Things he has done. Live at the site is also HE the GG, Sir Arthur Foulkes and Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham.
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