JAMAICAN CULTURE: Lost in translation - Is the Patois Bible a waste?

Lost in translation - Is the Patois Bible a waste?

By Franklin Johnston

With every new rendition of the Bible it is diluted.  What did the KJV's "thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's ass" mean 2,500 years ago?  What's my neighbour's ass now?  Car, donkey, meat and transport in one?  Did this apply to all or just those with no ass?

Translation across centuries, cultures and languages means much is lost and things assumed based on what we now know.   Abrahamic faiths — Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Rastafari -- all lose authenticity as they lose touch with the Torah.  We have Christianity in all flavours to suit every taste and some are the ego trips; emotional excrescences of men who do not know the roots of the Church and don't care as long as they make money.  The Old and New Testament were translated from Hebrew and Greek many times.  With those rendered from English versions new errors are made and old errors perpetuated.  Much is lost in translation.

The Bible Society of Jamaica translated the gospel of Luke in patois but not from Greek.   Millions were spent, and to be fair and open, they should name the translators, sources and all involved.  The Bible is our heritage, not words on paper for academics, patois actors and playwrights to render as they like.  Translators are scholars of the original languages and manuscripts, the new language, comparative exegesis, and the task calls for a sense of the spiritual, history, meditation and insight.  We need assurance of the integrity of the process!

The book is titled Jiizas di Buk We Luuk Rait bout Im; to us The Book of Luke.   Patois is our heritage, culture; rich, colourful, fluid; ours to use and change, not by linguists who rule how it must be spoken.   No patois police!   Let patois be free wherever it may be!  I bought a copy in Hagley Park Plaza.

I was told it was for the poor man who speaks patios only, yet costs a day's pay!   Why would a poor man buy a Patois Bible which he can't read when he can get an English Bible free; he can't read it either?  The cover and paper are flimsy, but we love a well bound Bible in the front room to write our births, deaths and "run duppy".

The cover picture is patronising; better if it were a Clovis cartoon!   The section in English titled "How to read Jamaican" deals with "consonants, vowels and symbols".  So a man illiterate in English buys a book in patois, but as he is illiterate in patois too, the writers put the rules to read it in English, Wow!

This Patois looks like Dutch or Afrikaans and has nothing in common with Miss Lou's patois which is what we speak. Check these stanzas:

"Wha wrong wid Mary dry-foot bwoy?

Dem gal got him fe mock,

An when me meet him tarra night

De bwoy gi me a shock!

Me tel him seh him auntie an

Him cousin dem sen howdy

An ask him how him getting awn.

Him seh, 'Oh, jolley, jolley!"

— Extract from "Dry-foot bwoy" by Louise Bennett.

Now compare it with an extract from Jiizas de Buk we Luuk rait bout Im:

"1 Tiyafilas Sa, Uol iip a piipl chrai fir ait dong di sitn dem wa apm mongks wi. Dem rait it dong siem wie ou dem ier it fram di piipl dem we did de de fram di staat, si di sitn dem wa apm an we priich di wod".

— Patois Bible St Luke Chapter 1, verses 1-4. May 2010.

This can't be right! It looks like nothing we know. I will stick with Miss Lou!

FIELD WORK IN THE UK. I used a captive audience of Jamaicans and I also went to Brixton to accost some between NCB branch and the Post Office.   I wore a suit with Her Majesty's ID on my chest. Many, relieved I was not Border Agency, co-operated fully.   But this is informal and the experts must show us their work.   Here's what some people said of "de Buk":

BRIXTON.   I asked each person to read "de Buk" to me. Some said: "A wah dis?   Me neva see nuttin laka dis" or "Oh this is the Patois Bible, I like it" or "A Rasta tings dis, lang time it fe cum!"   Most could not read it and those who did read the instructions first and mouthed each word slowly.   Most people liked the idea of the book and some asked for a copy.

CAPTIVE AUDIENCE.   The illiterate ones couldn't read it.   Some say "is Polish" as it looks like writing they see every day as they live with Russian, African etc.   Some 80 per cent of the foreigners who speak English understand our patois. English speaking British illiterates could not read it though many use patois slang; a man with degrees read haltingly, said it used English phonetics and if I left the book he would master it in a week. Africans who spoke no English could not read it.   One savvy Nigerian said the words were contractions, variations, broken English.   I said it was an Akan or Twi based dialect. He said firmly "Then do not corrupt our languages further, give them a Bible in Akan!" I was quiet!   A lady who translates patios says court officers understand our prisoners but details matter in Law and so "im did a badda, badda mi an mi get bex an juk juk im" she translated as " after much provocation by my girlfriend I lost my temper and stabbed her".   She tells the Court the "im" is not a man and "badda, badda" is a repitition of the word "bother" which shows intense feeling and "juk juk" means multiple stab wounds. Sadly "Jiizas di buk" means nothing to these men!

The bible society has excellent motives but their "Jiizas buk" may undermine ancient churches, scholarship and mislead many.   Jesus reasoned with scholars on faith and the Torah.   Few apart from Jewish, Anglican, Catholic scholars can do this now.   Many "faith entrepreneurs" can't read the founding articles of the faith.   The unintended consequence of removing the Bible from a prayerful scholarly tradition is men now think they can do with it as they like.   The "Church of Blessed Patois" coming soon to a community near you! Sadly the Patios Bible does not advance our patois, literacy or faith! Stay conscious my friend!

Mrs Enid Golding was a legend to those of us who did teaching practice and classroom observation in her school.   In her day she was a reference point on "best practice" for UWI Prof Gordon Shirley.   Heartfelt sympathy to PM Bruce, Trevor, Douglas and their families.

Dr Franklin Johnston is an international project manager with Teape-Johnston Consultants currently on assignment in the UK.

franklinjohnston@hotmail.com

September 23, 2011

jamaicaobserver

Approximately 25 percent of the persons who have contracted HIV/AIDS in The Bahamas throughout the years have been Haitian nationals, says - director of The Bahamas National HIV/AIDS Centre, Dr. Perry Gomez

Gomez: 25% of HIV/AIDS cases are Haitians

By Royston Jones
Guardian Staff Reporter
royston@nasguard.com

thenassauguardian

Nassau, The Bahamas

Approximately 25 percent of the persons who have contracted HIV/AIDS in The Bahamas throughout the years have been Haitian nationals, according to director of the Bahamas National HIV/AIDS Centre, Dr. Perry Gomez.

“We know over the years that that population has contributed about 25 percent of the data,” he pointed out during an event at the U.S. Embassy, during which grants were awarded to the HIV/AIDS Centre and six other organizations involved in the HIV/AIDS fight.  They were awarded grants that totalled over $48,000.  The purpose of the grants is to promote HIV/AIDS prevention and reduce the stigma attached to those living with the disease, according to U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas Nicole Avant.

Dr. Gomez further pointed out at the presentation that there are persons in the Haitian community, as well as the Bahamian community, who are not aware that they have contracted the disease.  As a result they do not seek help or alternatively seek help too late.

"The point about this exercise is to increase the knowledge of the people in the community," said Gomez. "If they are familiar with what we are doing with our services, they will more readily present and come earlier, rather than coming in the 11th hour.”

The slogan 'Know Your Status' was chosen by the Bahamas National HIV/AIDS Centre because a person can be HIV positive for as long as 15 years and not be sick, whilst still potentially transmitting the disease, said Gomez.  He added that the language barrier between English and Haitian creole speakers is believed to be another factor that contributes to persons, within the Haitian population in The Bahamas, avoiding HIV/AIDS testing.

“We [have been] trying to get more and more of our staff in the clinics to learn [Haitian] Creole over the years,” said Gomez.

The Ambassador's Fund for HIV/AIDS Prevention and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) have partnered to make the grants possible.  PEPFAR is a U.S. government initiative that annually awards small grants around the world in support of local projects that help to save the lives of those suffering from HIV/AIDS.

The other grant awardees include The Bahamas AIDS Foundation, Her Majesty's Prison, the Grand Bahamas Red Rose Ball Committee, the South Eleuthera Mission, Youth Ambassadors for Positive Living and Bahamas United Limited.

The Bahamas National HIV Centre plans to use the grant to establish a 'Train the Trainers' program, according to Gomez.  The project aims to educate bi-lingual speakers within the Haitian community on HIV prevention, transmission and treatment so that they may teach others within their community.

The U.S. Embassy has partnered with all segments of Bahamian society to help increase testing and counseling for HIV, to improve HIV/AIDS data collection, to build capacity in delivering quality services and to raise awareness, according to Avant.

“We believe that the work supported by PEPFAR resources will result in a cumulative, positive and enduring impact on the national public health system by increasing health services for all Bahamians, especially those on the Family Islands,” said Avant.  “This is a global fight and there is no retreat and no alternative, until we reach every person whose life has been touched by HIV and AIDS and stem the spread of the disease.”

The PEPFAR agreement will provide The Bahamas with more than $5 million in U.S. assistance over the next several years to support the efforts of HIV/AIDS prevention.

Sep 22, 2011

thenassauguardian

Bahamas Blog International

The Bahamas police are doing their job, but the Bahamian courts are soft on law breakers

Tough laws promised to keep criminals in prison

tribune242 editorial

Nassau, The Bahamas



AN EXASPERATED Police Commissioner yesterday called for stiffer penalties for law breakers.

He said that criminals were not taking the law seriously because punishments were too light.  In other words criminals were just playing a catch-me-if-you can game with the police, while wreaking vengeance on society.

The Commissioner was asked by the press whether the police were doing enough to stop the bloodshed -- which with 100 murders made Bahamian history over the weekend.  As we wrote this column last night a report flashed across our screen that two more persons- a man and a woman- had just been shot in Nassau Village.  They were taken to hospital - the man in serious condition, the woman stable.

One could almost see the Commissioner biting his tongue at yesterday's conference as he tried to gingerly skirt the reporter's question.

He said police officers were arresting the suspects, but after a person was charged it was out of their hands and up to the courts.  He said he did not want to speak on the issue in too much detail.

He might not want to elaborate on what is a sore point in police ranks, but we shall do it for him.

The answer simply put is: The police are doing their job, but the courts are not.

Let's look at a five-day period to give our readers some idea of what is happening.

Between July 12 and 17th this year 39 prisoners were released from HM Prison by the courts.

Of this number 22 of them were in prison on remand. The courts gave them bail and released them.

Of these, six were charged with murder and at least three of them went before the magistrate's court with a well established criminal record.

Also among the 22 released onto the streets within a five-day period were persons charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, armed robbery, rape, housebreaking, possession of firearms and drugs, causing grievous harm, fraud and forgery.  Many of them have prison records, most of them for violence.  Four of them were fitted with electronic monitoring devices.

Examining their records it is obvious that they have been sent back into society without any hope of finding a job or earning an honest crust of bread to keep them alive until their court date.  And so what do they do?

We leave it to our readers to answer that question.  It is easy to connect the dots and understand what is happening in the country.  Commissioner Greenslade has already connected the dots, but does not want to talk about the picture they present -- at least not in public.

In an England gone soft on law breakers, a sudden outbreak, mainly by youth, of rioting and destruction last month, quickly brought legislators to their senses.  Vowing to stop the "slow-motion moral collapse" of his country, Prime Minister David Cameron demanded stiff penalties for law breakers.  The courts immediately responded, so much so that the weak-hearted are sniffling that the law is going too far.  But Cameron is taking no nonsense.  He has vowed to introduce laws to "crack down on lawlessness and promote a responsible society."

He directed his cabinet to look for ways to combat a "broken society" in which "fathers had abdicated responsibility for their children, schools had given up on discipline and crimes had gone unpunished."

The courts' harsh sentences were intended to reflect the authorities' anger at the looting, burning and murder that raged through London and spread to other cities.

For example, a mother who was given a pair of shorts stolen by a rioter was jailed for five months, a student went to prison for six months for stealing a box of bottled water worth about $4, while a man was jailed for four years for posting a message on Facebook to encourage people to start a riot.  Courts also remanded defendants in custody until their court hearing.

Mr Cameron was pleased that the courts had sent a tough message by stiff sentences.  Across the country courts were working extra hours to deal with the offenders, which moved into the thousands.

Police Commissioner Greenslade wants sanctions tough enough to make persons afraid to carry a gun in this country because they would know that they would be removed from their family and friends for a very long time.

Since the courts don't seem inclined to step up to the plate, when the House of Assembly returns from its summer break on October 5 government plans to introduce a number of new Bills to prevent violent, repeat offenders from getting bail.

"We hope that we will provide some teeth, some additional resource, to keep these criminals behind bars," said National Security Minister Tommy Turnquest.

Some Bahamians are so agitated by the seeming indifference of the courts, that they are now suggesting that maybe there are those in the system who are trying to embarrass the government.

The situation is bad, but we hope that it is not that bad.

September 20, 2011

tribune242 editorial

Long-term Caribbean growth requires more than current China links

By The World Bank


Robust growth over the past decade in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has had one new, key driver: China. The region’s relationship with the Asian giant has proved to be a critical source of stability, both during the global economic crisis of two years ago, the greatest since the Great Depression, and even the current market turmoil that is rolling across Europe and the United States.

So far growth forecasts for LAC have remained positive between 3.5 and 4.5 percent for 2011 and 2012 and inflation rates are expected to stat between 6 and 7 percent this year. Perceptions of sovereign risk continue to be relatively low for the region. In fact, in an unprecedented development, markets now perceive that the sovereign debt default risk of several countries in LAC -- including Chile, Colombia, and Peru -- is lower than that of France.

While the consequences of the current global uncertainties are largely out of the region’s control, it is no time to remain idle. One central question for the region today is whether it can make the most of its relationship with China to turn its recent vigorous recovery into sustainable robust growth for the future. To better understand such prospects, the World Bank’s Chief Economist’s Office for the region has issued a new report, Latin America and the Caribbean’s Long-Term Growth: Made in China?

The study takes an in-depth look at the China-LAC relationship, particularly as it compares to Japan’s interactions with East Asian economies from the 1970s to the 1990s. The report concludes that China’s role in Latin America will need to adapt and evolve if it is going to have a lasting, positive impact.

“There is little evidence that China can play a role in fostering productivity growth for Latin America and the Caribbean,” according to the World Bank’s Chief Economist for the region, Augusto de la Torre. “In this new context of lackluster economic performance in the U.S. and Europe, one key question is whether LAC can leverage its deepening connections with China and turn it into an important source of long-term growth.”

The golden years of the East Asian Tigers were characterized by large flows of intra-industry trade and foreign direct investment from Japan, with significant distribution of technology and knowledge more broadly. The first decade of China relations with Latin America have lacked much of that promising exchange.

China has become the principal trading partner for some large LAC countries. Trade between China and these nations, has revolved around the exchange of the region’s abundant natural resources for low-tech goods from China that are labor-intensive to produce. This type of trade typically limits the potential gains from technology and knowledge sharing.

That is not to say that there have been no gains from the commodity boom in the region, the report emphasizes. Some bright spots show that certain commodity sectors in LAC are benefiting from technological innovation and generating local, quality employment. Extensive networks of local businesses in Peru and Chile, for instance, are benefiting from their ties to mining extraction and salmon farming, respectively, while agricultural producing countries in the Southern Cone have showed new technology deployment and productivity gains.

Until these favourable conditions become more widespread, however, it is difficult to expect that the region will finally begin narrowing the gap with advanced nations. LAC’s growth performance over the 20th century was rather dismal – with per capita income remaining largely steady at 30 percent of the U.S. In contrast, East Asian countries saw their per capita income, which was only about 15 percent that of the U.S. in the 1960s, rise sharply and steadily to reach more than 70 percent of the U.S. by 2010.

The very fact that the region is confronted at this stage with inflationary pressures arising from strong economic activity is a clear reminder that the region tends to bump against “structural speed limits” at comparatively low growth rates.

While the high-performing economies of emerging Asia can sustain annual growth rates in the 6-9 percent range without inflationary consequences, in most of LAC the non-inflationary growth rates that can be sustained over long periods hover below 5 percent.

Some of the factors that help explain these differences in growth potential include:

-- LAC’s road density has declined 15 percent since the 1980s, while it has expanded 30 percent in the Asian countries.

-- LAC’s electricity installed capacity was about 17 percent below that of the Tigers in the 1980s. Now it is almost 50 percent below.

-- LAC’s percentage of population with tertiary education has risen from 9.5 percent in 1990 to 14.2 percent in 2009, but it pales relative to the Tigers, which has gone from 10 to 20 percent in the same period.

On the other hand, De la Torre explains “LAC has developed vibrant democratic systems that in the long term can contribute to ensure that progress in these key areas is sustainable.”

In addition, some of the key external conditions to raise LAC’s growth rate sustainably above the world’s average are in place: large and growing countries with strong demand for LAC exports; high commodity prices; and low world interest rates. Seizing the opportunity on this favorable environment will require a well-designed and adequate policy mix that maintains macro-financial stability while fostering productivity, the report concludes.

September 21, 2011

caribbeannewsnow

Bahamas Blog International

"Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette's admission over his family interest in a company awarded a Bahamas government contract is a 'constitutional crisis" ... What a lot of political hogwash!

tribune242 editorial

Nassau, The Bahamas


"DEPUTY PM's admission over contract is a 'constitutional crisis'" reads the headline on page 7 of today's edition.  The article claims that The Bahamas is now constitutionally compromised because Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette has admitted -- as though it were ever a secret -- that his family has an interest in a company awarded a government contract.

What a lot of political hogwash!  It's now election time -- silly season-- and the Opposition is trying to either knock out or neutralise as many politically strong opponents as it can - the most important of which, of course, is the team of Ingraham and Symonette.

According to Mr Symonette this is an "election attack" by the PLP. We agree.

We understand that a survey of sorts was taken to discover whether the team of Christie and "Mother" Pratt could beat Ingraham and Symonette.  The finding was that it could not.  It is believed that neither can Christie and "Brave" Davis.  Ipso facto, government's lead team has to be broken up.  The chisel has now been put to the base of Mr Symonette, and chipping away has started.

We find it highly amusing who is among those leading the charge against Mr. Symonette on a matter of conflict of interest, integrity and ethics.  There is no space to go into details here, but those who want to understand our sarcastic amusement should read from pages 103 to 109 of the Commission of Inquiry Report (Volume I) December, 1984 into "the illegal use of the Bahamas for the transshipment of dangerous drugs destined for the United States of America."

It is claimed that Mr. Symonette's admission of a conflict has not only doomed him, but should remove him from the seat of government.

The admission to which George Smith, former Exuma MP and minister in the Pindling cabinet, and Loftus Roker, also a former cabinet minister from the Pindling era, refers is announced as though it were a new revelation.  It is not.  The public -- ever since Mr. Symonette's resignation as chairman of the airport board in 2001- has had full knowledge of the fact that although Mr. Symonette personally owns no shares in the company in question --Bahamas Hot Mix Co., Ltd - his children's trust does.

As a matter of fact Mr. Symonette, a highly successful businessman, owns shares in many companies.  Are all of these companies to be denied a right to bid on government contracts, because some member of Mr Symonette's family might own shares?  How many Bahamian jobs are being jeopardised by such a policy?  We agree that when such matters come before Cabinet, Mr Symonette should step aside to remove any suggestion that his presence has influenced a vote.  But we do not agree that he should be removed as deputy prime minister just because certain politicians want to entertain sinister thoughts.

Bahamians must remember that this is a small country.  Our problem is that we have too many lawyers and not enough successful businessmen in the House.  And although on every declaration that he has to make -- and which is public -- Mr Symonette lists all of his interests in the various companies, his success is used against him.  No wonder persons, who really have something to offer this country and who should be serving in parliament, refuse to volunteer.

If we had more MPs with the business acumen and the means to do for their constituencies what Mr Symonette does for St Anne's, this little Bahamas would be a better place.

But many Bahamians with much to offer are discouraged when they see the mean-spirited behaviour of petty politicians, particularly against successful persons like Brent Symonette.  No wonder they want nothing to do with politics.  To them it is a dirty game, best to be shunned.

The company that the PLP are now railing against is Bahamas Hot Mix, founded in 1984 by a group of Bahamian businessmen with construction backgrounds.

It is one of only two hot mix plants -- with the exception of government -- in The Bahamas.

It is the only business of its type with international accreditation.

It has about 255 well paid Bahamian employees -- all earning about $35,000 a year -- who between 7pm and 5am nightly, when most Bahamians are asleep, are now out repairing sewer pipes on Bay Street to make ready for the road improvement programme for downtown.

Were these Bahamians, who also have families to feed, to be denied this government job, just because Mr Symonette's children's trust hold minority shares in their company?

And was the Treasury to forego a savings of about $200,000 on this contract because Mr. Symonette is being judged by the low standards of others?

We think not.  We shall return to this subject tomorrow.

September 19, 2011

tribune242 editorial

The Bahamas is in a "constitutional crisis" due to the admission by Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette that his family has an interest in a company awarded a Bahamas government contract... claims former Bahamian Cabinet minister and Exuma MP George Smith

Deputy PM's admission over contract 'a constitutional crisis'

tribune242

Nassau, The Bahamas


THE admission by Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette that his family has an interest in a company awarded a government contract has placed the country in a "constitutional crisis", claims former Cabinet minister and Exuma MP George Smith.

Mr Smith said that according to article 49 of the constitution, a member of the House of Assembly must resign his seat if he becomes interested in a government contract.

He said an exception can only be made if the MP did not know he had become interested in such a contract, or if he formally disclosed the interest to the House and asks Parliament for an exemption.

This should take place "while he is still only interested in such a contract, and before it is actually entered into," according to Mr Smith.

"That is enshrined in the constitution, our most sacred document."

Mr Smith's comments echo those of another former PLP Cabinet minister, Loftus Roker, who said the deputy prime minister should resign or be fired for the appearance of a conflict of interest. The row comes after comments Mr Symonette made about his family's interest in Bahamas Hot Mix, the company awarded the contract to pave roads under the New Providence Road Improvement Project.

Road works

Mr Roker, a former minister of Immigration in Pindling administration, said: "I believe Mr Symonette, (the) deputy prime minister who is one heartbeat away from leader of this country, is in conflict of interest insofar as these road works are concerned.

"As a minister he is restricted in the jobs he can have in this country. He is not like anyone else and he chose to be a minister, nobody put a gun to his head to make him a minister.

"Mr Symonette should resign as minister before (Prime Minister) Hubert Ingraham is forced to fire him because on his own words, in my view, he is in conflict of interest".

In response, Mr Symonette said the call for his resignation was an "election attack" by the PLP.

"The PLP operatives have decided to target me. Don't come with this foolishness just because election time is coming. The PLP operatives are obviously starting their attack on me because they're scared they have nothing else to hang their election hat on and come back to same old tactics they had years ago, he said.

Last week he explained his connection to Bahamas Hot Mix and said his family's interest in the company has been public knowledge for years.

"I do not own any share in that company. The shares are owned by my children's trust, but that is public knowledge. I have investments in many companies in this country. Does that mean that I should not enter politics? I don't think so," Mr Symonette said.

"Bahamas Hot Mix got the contract, not because of me but because they are recognised and well-known road builders in the Bahamas. They are qualified to get the job. If there is a bidding process should they not bid? I am a Bahamian and I am entitled to jobs in the Bahamas just like everyone else."

Shareholder

He added: "Yes, I happen to be a shareholder but I am a shareholder in many companies. So because I have personal wealth does that mean I cannot be a Member of Parliament? Why is he attacking me? There were ministers under the PLP government who got contracts that could be called 'special interest' but no one made a big deal about that."

Mr Symonette has also publicly said his family's connection to the company is not a conflict of interest.

September 19, 2011

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International

In order to put agriculture and the modern Bahamas in proper focus we must start from the very beginning

Bahamian Agriculture, an overview. Agriculture series, part 1

By JOHN HEDDEN
jondgaul@hotmail.com

Nassau, The Bahamas


RECENTLY, much has appeared in the media about agriculture, with senior politicians, pundits, veterinary intellectuals and the regular armchair philosophers making their comments and putting forward opinions.

However, I have seen no comment from the actual farming community about the status and future of farming. This may shroud the real issues involved, and so confuse the general public with rhetoric and other fancy words.

Before the reality becomes smothered I feel that as a genuine 'paper farmer' I can probably help cloud the issue even further.

In order to put agriculture and the modern Bahamas in proper focus we must start from the very beginning.

This first part deals with historical anecdotes and notes which cover geographical, topographical and climate issues, and basic soils and water availability. I have not included dates because these instantly put off any student of history.

However a journey into the well documented archives of our country will verify many of my statements.

In the beginning was the Lucayan, the Arawak, the Taino, peoples who should go down in history as the true Bahamians, and the only people who have sustainably harvested their food from the environment throughout this archipelago.

Unfortunately these people did not survive to modern times.

Since the arrival of the Europeans, and to the present day, no people in the Bahamas have truly subsisted on the products of the native environment.

Subsistence production during the many very lean years after settlement, relied on non-native species for the major food sources.

These introduced species include cassava, sweet potato, yams, pigeon peas, red beans, sheep, goats, and all poultry. Even the wild hogs of many islands were introduced as domestic breeds before going feral.

The early settlers on several occasions had to appeal to their colleagues on the US mainland for help with staple supplies to prevent starvation on many of the inhabited islands.

The purchase of the Bahamas by the proprietors, and the establishment of plantations on many of the more southerly islands, became short lived, because the thin dry, arid soils were unable to supply sustainable commercial harvests.

In most cases these plantations were abandoned to the slaves and servants to eke out a kind of subsistence involving the sea, and slash and burn methods of coppice (black land) and sandy (white land) cultivation.

To many of the islanders, the Nassau capital may as well have been in Lima, Peru, because communications and transport were non-existent.

The northern pine islands were not exploited to any degree agriculturally, mainly because the pine land was inaccessible, and the 'cap rock' was unworkable with traditional hand tools and manual labour methods. The pine areas were thus appropriately named "The Barrens", even though fresh water was close at hand.

Even the arrival of the Loyalists with their plantation approach resulted in a common survival in which the whites were no better off than their black brothers. All struggled to survive.
The Bahamas went through many years of the most basic provision for sustenance in order to stave off debilitating hunger, and the early church missions often rescued locals from imminent starvation.

Up until the 19th century, church and religious annals take account of the destitution and malnourishment existing in much of the settled Out Islands.

Less than 100 years ago, arrangements were made by the Colonial Service to accommodate workers through contracts in North America. All types of Bahamians took advantage in order to survive the depression and the Second World War.

Many of these migrant workers earned the name "American Boy" after returning with adopted American mannerisms.

Even today there is no continuity of agricultural production over the traditional "lifetimes of farming" experienced in other parts of the world such as Africa and Europe.

There was however a brief spell in our history when agriculture seemed destined to become a major contributor to the economy.

During the early to late 1800s, pineapple and citrus production became a major source of foreign revenue for the islands.

Farming in Eleuthera, Cat island, and southern Abaco became very prominent; as it did in the eastern part of New Providence.

Produce exported to North America and England made significant contributions to the islands' welfare.

However, the rise of Hawaiian pineapple and Florida citrus plantings soon put paid to that flourishing industry. A one cent tax was levied on each imported fruit, thus protecting the US producers.

After the end of the Second World War, the English government introduced the Colonial Development Corporation to various islands in order to foster growth through agricultural entrepreneurship.

The pineapple project on the best land in south Eleuthera failed because mechanisation removed the red soils and introduced raw limestone.

This area would later claim fame as the 'Charolais Ranch' that provided the US with it's prized French cattle breeding stock.

The Andros project failed because the fruit and vegetable land selected behind fresh Creek was a summer swamp when the rains came, and no number of pumps could keep the growing area dry.

It is ironical that here the water was pumped away from the crops, and not to them. Rice would not even grow in the perimeter canals and drainage ditches.

In addition, produce shipped out from Andros by barge did not even survive the journey to Nassau.

Over the years, attempts have been made to introduce sugar cane, large citrus groves, dairy, egg and poultry production to a non-existent agricultural sector.

Some survived for a number of years but mainly because protection against competition was the rule of the day.

In the modern era with the advent of Bahamian accession to the WTO and the apparent barring of protectionism in any form, bleak prospects for agricultural enterprise are looming on the Bahamian horizon.

Many feel disillusioned and upset over the lack of governmental input in order to save the tradition of farming in the country.

The reality is that apart from subsistence production purely for survival, the Bahamian agricultural sector is a myth and a non-contributor to any recognisable part of the economy.

In fact, since majority rule Bahamians have been actively encouraged to move away from agricultural and menial work into tourism and financial services. Today the perception is that agriculture is demeaning and subservient work, close to being on welfare.

The introduction of more modern technology has recently accounted for some apparently successful start ups, and renovated enterprises in Andros.

The use of more modern techniques, even basic ones like efficient irrigation, can dramatically improve yields.

Management of soil fertility and pest control are equally important. These issues will be dealt with in the following article.

September 17, 2011

tribune242

Bahamas Blog International