With the spotlight on the Bahamas due to the most recent mugging of a U.S. Embassy diplomat on Sunday June 9th, 2013 we are left to hold our head in shame. This event lead to the closing of the U.S. Embassy Monday morning, with a temporary halt on U.S. visa issuance, resulting in a rippling effect on the Bahamas and U.S.-Bahamas international relations. Over the past couple months, a series of crimes have been committed against foreign nationals either vacationing or visiting the islands of the Bahamas, including the death of a visitor to the Bahamas last month. As a nation that depends upon the influx of foreign capital, we leverage our most valuable resource, being a place that individuals across the globe desire to experience for a once and a lifetime sensation. However, with these increased attacks on our guests we are defiantly "bitting the hand that feeds us." There is no benefit to being a landscape of luscious turquoise oceans and scenic island escapes if it is accompanied by an ever present DANGER.

The enigmatic irony of the current situation comes as the global economy is recovering from a multinational recession, proposing a resurgence of worldwide travelers possibly to the shores of the Bahamas. With the increase in crime related statistics, we are left to wonder what has become the underlying motive for the increase in crime?

Photo Credit: Christian Lambert Photography / Foter.com / CC BY-ND

The police would lead you to believe that violent crime is down, and that we are turning a corner in the battle against individuals with malicious intent. But with the latest series of attacks on tourists, I doubt that anyone would deny that this is VERY BAD for everyone.

A steady state of local crimes of Bahamians inflicting damaging on Bahamians is a shame and a severely disparaging, but I believe everyone would agree that when these crimes are committed against foreign nationals, we are taking the food out of every one's mouth. With no major exports that substantiate a large percentage of GDP, Tourism and Banking are the two major sectors of the Bahamian local economy that are susceptible to this type of self destruction. Unfortunately, I feel as though we are heading down a path to learn this lesson the hard way, that will result in irrevocable harm on our economy and our global position. Usually, we as a small nation of less than 400,000 take great pride in our accomplishments on the world stage in areas of sports, finance and economic sustenance.  However, we must not become "too big for our britches." Like a beautiful flower, no mater how bright our colors shine, we are still delicate and susceptible to the violent rains and winds of the global ecosystem.

As a youngster growing up in the Bahamas, I remember being taught early on in school that:-

 "if you are to come across a tourist, visitor to this country, make sure you make them feel like Bahamian people are the most courteous people they will ever meet. Because if a person visits the Bahamas and they have a good time they may tell one person, but if they receive poor treatment they are guaranteed to tell everyone."

As I sit back and think about how important customer service was to our country back then I wonder where have we gone a stray? And in an interconnected world where,someone in Zimbabwe can know every detail that is going on in the Bahamas, protecting our brand is even more essential. And I must say my Bahamian people we are doing a poor job of protecting our brand. Although you and I may believe that the Bahamas is the most beautiful, relaxing place on this planet, if we scare the tourist away before they ever get to experience what you and I take for granted, then we will end up being the only ones who believe in that reality.

Right now anyone who googles the news in the Bahamas gets a cursory view that reads, "dead body found on shore", "home invasion," "gang wars plague the country."

*smh*

Have we lost our sense of "BAHAMA PRIDE?" Have we become a nation of "get mines", instead of building ours?

This leaves us to wonder, what is the reason for the decay of our social compass? Why do we have a nation of young adults set on bringing the entire country down? With our quest to become modernized like our big brother to the North, immersing ourselves in every aspect of American pop culture, from violent Rap music  to glorified cinematic assassinations have we lost our home grown mentality? When will we acknowledge that these victims are our Mother's, Daughters, Sons and Father's? Has the church lost its stronghold on the moral epicenter of the people? I do not know. But I hope we can rectify this sinking ship before it is too late.

Sincerely,

Forever Bahamian