Over the last week, the Caribbean region has lost two of its foremost statesmen, similar in age and political era: former Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Lester Bryant Bird KNH, right, and former Deputy Prime Minister and Governor-General of The Bahamas, Sir Arthur Dion Hanna, left. Photo: Internet Source

Thomas C. Famous. Photo: Provided

Both were part of the political maturation of their respective islands, closely involved in the leadership that took their countries from under the control of Great Britain, to becoming prosperous independent nations.

Both were part of the movements to transform the economies of their individual islands, and the region on a whole, from being primarily agricultural remnants of a plantation era, into the more rewarding high-end tourism.

Both played integral roles in bringing the entire Caribbean region together under the umbrella of West Indies Cricket (WINDIES), Caribbean athletics powerhouses via CARIFTA, The University of the West Indies (UWI), and the Caribbean Common Market (CARICOM).

Family Dynasty

Antigua and Barbuda have lost a son of the soil, former Prime Minister Sir Lester Bryant Bird KNH.

Born in 1938, he served as second Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda from 1994-2004. His father, Sir Vere Bird Sr. was the first Prime Minister.

During his tenure, Sir Lester put great focus on building Antigua and Barbuda as a prime destination for luxury hotels, a safe haven for yachts of all sizes, a gaming industry, and an international/regional airline hub for the Eastern Caribbean.

In doing so, the fortunes of the native Antiguans and Barbudians were vastly improved.

The tourism industry allowed Antiguans and Barbudians to move out of the sugar fields and into industries such as; large and small hotel ownership, car rental ownership, taxi ownership, and the banking industry.

Humble beginnings

In the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, they are now mourning the loss of former Deputy Prime Minister and Governor-General Sir Arthur Dion Hanna.

Born in 1928, Sir Arthur Hanna served as a Member of Parliament for Ann’s Town constituency from 1960-1992. Serving as Minister of Finance from 1973-1984.

During this post-independence era, the Bahamas was establishing itself as an example of economic empowerment of the native peoples.

Utilising the natural beauty of their hundreds of islands, the Bahamian people transformed their economy into that of a tourist haven for millions of visitors, luxury hotels, and harbours full of mega yachts.

As with Antigua and Barbuda, the economic well-being of Bahamians has changed from agricultural workers to owners of almost all spheres of business.

Such was the impact of Sir Arthur on the economic improvement of Bahamians, that the present Prime Minister Dr Minnis has declared that Sir Arthur’s picture would replace the portrait of Queen Elizabeth on a newly designed $100 bill note of Bahamas currency.

True independence

The vision of both Sir Lester and Sir Arthur’s generation was not just political independence from Great Britain. No, theirs was a vision of economic cooperation and economic independence for their citizens.

With economic independence, comes the ability for self-determination and self-empowerment.

Owning car rental agencies, hotels, gas stations, and restaurants is far better than getting up every day to chop sugar cane in Nassau or picking pineapples in Antigua.

Whilst these islands may be far away from the Virgin Islands geographically, they do serve as examples to us that politics is not the be-all to end all of the development of a Nation.

If their people were able to move up the ladder economically, through vision and commitment, there is nothing that should stop Belongers from having similar goals.

We have to learn to put aside instant gratification such as; expensive phones, new cars, boats, and trips. Instead, look to take those same funds and learn how to invest in financial markets.

Take that Vegas trip money and put it into retirement funds or towards our children’s education.

More Belongers must learn the essential technical skills such as auto mechanics, plumbing, electrical and masonry. In doing so they will be able to start their own businesses.

Families should pool funds and collective credit in order to develop properties that can be rented out for the long term. 

In order to experience true progression, we must transition into economic empowerment via property and or business ownership, where our money works for us, versus us working simply to survive.

Essentially, that is what makes you truly independent.