ST. AGNES CHURCH
MIAMI, FLORIDA

INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS

18th July 2004

It is my special honour to be with you the Bahamian community once again in South Florida and the southeastern the United States.  I bring you warmest greetings on behalf of the Governor General Dame Ivy Dumont and the Prime Minister Perry Christie. I wish all Bahamians everywhere but especially in this community a happy 31st birthday.

This year marks the 170th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in The Bahamas.  It also marks the 275th anniversary of the establishment of the Parliament of The Bahamas. It marks the 34th year since the coming of majority rule of The Bahamas. It has been 42 years since women were allowed the right to vote.   These are all important milestones in the history of our country that shows that the advance of history has seen the embrace of the wider humanity of all people and their right to exist as full citizens of our country.

Indeed the history of our country is replete with stories of those who began their lives as despised persons who were able within the context of a socially mobile society to lift themselves up to higher heights whether in government or in business.   The capstone of that recognition of the total humanity of our people was the coming of majority rule, that the sons and daughters of former slaves could within three generations since slavery become the leaders of the country.  In 1973, that destiny became complete when the sons and daughters of those slaves became the masters of their own destiny.  It is that mission which those who serve in the Government today have the responsibility to complete.

It says to us that we as a people are an example of God’s larger grace and embrace of all people no matter who they are.  It bestows upon our generation the mission to continue in the traditions of a liberal democracy, embracing the values of political pluralism, and being tolerant of all people regardless of who they are.  The Bahamas is and should be an example of the equality of all people, that we are all God's children and not an example of the lack of sufferance, bigotry and incivility in our public discourse. All leaders in this generation whether civic or religious ought to fully embrace that mission.  As the victims of prejudice ourselves, we must reject prejudice, lest we betray the struggles of our forefathers.

This too is the lesson of the success of Bahamians in this country.  Those who came to this country and made a way for themselves were embraced even though they were strangers in a strange land. And while the struggle was not easy, this is a society that allows you the space no matter who you are to grow and develop and use your God given talents. It too is an example of tolerance, despite the spikes of bigotry that abound. But in the aggregate our success here shows the value of tolerance and respect for all people, rejecting bigotry, prejudice and incivility.

The great church of St. Agnes where we are today is part of the story of the upliftment of the Bahamian people abroad.  I thank Canon Barry once again for hosting this event.  I wish to thank the Consul General Alma Adams and her staff at the Bahamian Consulate General for their work with the many volunteers to make this celebration the marked success that it is.
 On behalf of the Government, the Governor General and the Prime Minster I wish you God’s richest blessings.