Continuity is the state of being connected or unbroken without
interruptions.
On its present trajectory of growth and development, the
people across The Bahamas must know that continuity is necessary.
They should now examine what kind of a country they need and the
quality of leadership needed to achieve the desired goals .
The Bahamas is now the envy of most countries in our region
with a quality of governance that has been greatly improved over the
last several years. Almost all indices that matter when one is
evaluating the performance of a nation are pointing in the right
direction.
For this reason and more, the current government deserves
high praise.
Continuity of government is a system of procedures and plans
to ensure that a government can continue to perform essential
functions in the national interest.
We often hear politicians and some of their supporters talk
about the potential of The Bahamas becoming like Singapore. Well,
that country has done very well because of the type of continuity it
enjoyed in its governance over the last 50 years.
Its most successful Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew who served as
Prime Minister from 1959 to 1990, (some 31 years) was a dear

friend of the father of the independent Bahamas Sir Lynden Pindling,
who served for 25 years.
While some argue that those two politicians served too long,
they performed well and were elected by the people of their
respective countries in free and fair elections. Those years were
clearly the most progressive years for The Bahamas and Singapore.
Between 1967 to 1992 in The Bahamas, the country became
independent, educational opportunities increased tremendously,
healthcare improved, massive infrastructural development took
place throughout the archipelago with the construction of airports,
docks, roads and with the population gaining access to electricity and
telecommunications. In addition, a social security system in the form
of National Insurance was put in place to provide assistance to
Bahamians in retirement, unemployment, sickness, and death. All of
this occurred because the Bahamian people voted for continuing the
government for 25 years.
In the mid-1990s the Free National Movement, although
making some improvements in certain aspects of government, was
misguided in what it termed a stop, review and cancel policy, which
in some cases retarded economic growth and development.
The FNM term in office under the leadership of Prime Minister
Hubert Minnis was particularly disastrous. From 2017 to 2021, that
administration demolished without replacing, The Churchill Building,
The Clarence Bain Building and the seven floor Post Office Building –
all iconic structures, which served the public well throughout the
Pindling years.
These acts took place where there was no vision and no plan. The
governments of both Prime Ministers Pindling and Yew followed
national development plans.

Singapore became an independent country in 1965, two years
before Majority Rule was achieved in The Bahamas. Since then, it
has made major strides in its social and economic development,
despite lacking natural resources. It rapidly developed to become
one of the Four Asian Tigers.
As a highly developed country, Singapore has the highest GDP
per capita in the world, and is the only country in Asia with a AAA
sovereign credit rating from all major rating agencies. It is a major
aviation, financial and maritime shipping hub and has consistently
been ranked as one of the most expensive cities for expatriates and
foreign workers. Singapore ranks highly in key social indicators:
education, healthcare, quality of life, personal safety, infrastructure,
and housing, with a home-ownership rate of 88 per cent.
Singaporeans enjoy one of the longest life expectancies, fastest
internet connection speeds, lowest infant mortality rates, and lowest
levels of corruption in the world.
With a multicultural population and in recognition of the
cultural identities of the major ethnic group within the nation, multi-
racialism is enshrined in the constitution and continues to shape
national policies.
In The Bahamas, there is a high degree of xenophobia and
negrophobia.
We have long opined in this space that The Bahamas is grossly
underpopulated with an almost general fear of certain people who
wish to make The Bahamas their home.
The administration of Prime Minister Perry Christie initiated a
national development plan which was incomplete before it was
voted out of office. With Prime MInister Philip Davis as head of

government and continuing with the development of that plan, a
vast number of projects are underway throughout The Bahamas. It is
sincerely hoped that the Bahamian people have learnt their lesson
and would see the wisdom of having continuity of government with
Davis as the Chief Executive. What has been achieved in the last four
years under his leadership is simply remarkable. The economy has
been stabilized and greatly improved; Labour relations are
extraordinary with the government finalizing almost 60 industry
agreements; Tourist arrivals are at an all time high, and the youth
are embracing the opportunities in the Fintech industry and other
aspects of the economy.
Today many Bahamians of goodwill and good sense are hoping
that in the Bye-Election in the next several days, the constituents of
Golden Isles will send a clear message nationwide that the country is
headed in the right direction and continuity is essential.