The Minister of Labour and Commerce Address on Labour Day 1967

Labour Day Speech

June 2nd, 1967

Speaker: Sir Randol F. Fawkes

My Brothers and Sisters:

For 364 days of the year I am the Minister for Labour and Commerce but on Labour Day, I am the Minister for Labour.

It will be a long time before all the people of our country fully understand and succeed in living up to the full implications of an emerging nation.

Meanwhile those of us who are deeply concerned about the task of molding the people of these islands into citizens of a mature and sturdy nation, must pass on our thoughts if perchance some contribution may be made to the welfare of the land we love.

The Ministry of Labour is committed to the fuller development of the old and the creation of new job opportunities so that Bahamians may not only enrich their lives but also shoulder major responsibilities in a free society.

By now I am sure that we all realize that it takes more than a politician to make a nation. It takes more than a statesman to oil the wheels of commerce and to make them move significantly in the right direction. It takes the engineer as well as the labourer; it takes the doctor as well as the garbage collector; it takes the architect as well as the hotel worker; it takes the post office clerk as well as the banker; it takes all of these and more to build a nation. Green, the noted historian, once said that the world is moved not only by the mighty efforts of giants but also by the tiny pushers of each honest worker.

You already know a great number of these nation builders. Some of their names are: Everette Smith of Inagua; Lazarus Dawkins of Cat Island; Maurice Mallory of Grand Bahama; J.L. Thompson of Fresh Creek, Andros; Ira Curry of Exuma.

Remember always whatever your trade or profession may be, there are four basic pillars on which the reputation and the integrity of our country must stand or fall.

The workers, whatever kind they are, must study more, learn faster, think better and work harder than ever before. Every worker contributes to the national growth and wealth of our country. So that when the man or woman forgets this and works three days out of a week instead of five or six days, or works five hours instead of eight or nine per day, he is not only selling himself and his family at a loss but the national production slows down and the prosperity of the whole nation is hampered.

We must remember that the 10th January of this year brought with it many challenges. Constant stressing of the weakness of colonialism is not one of them; that’s already admitted. Things neglected must now receive urgent attention. We ourselves must turn to the healing of the wounds inflicted by our tragic earlier history. No nation can make real progress, however much economic prosperity comes to it, if a large proportion of its youths are unaware of our historical past and of the tremendous opportunities for them in the future. There must be an intensive programme by speech, action, literature and deed to bring home to every citizen the part that he or she must play in the building of the new Bahamas.

Pillar No. 3 is respect for others. Because we are the rulers in our own home does not mean that we have a right to be rougher and tougher than before. The Bahamas has the biggest tourist industry in the Caribbean and because of this, it is incumbent on every one of you to be more courteous and more gracious than ever before. There are a multitude of job openings in this field every day and unless the Bahamians can fill these posts the national image will be tarnished. Remember again that the people who fill the jobs will eventually become the rulers of the land.

The building of a new nation is serious business. Every individual must have a deeper sense of responsibility. The churches, the schools, the labour unions, social groups, trade and professional societies must all play their parts in preparing our people for future tasks. This walking in the streets with a beer bottle in the back makes you a poor substitute for a man. The bottle should be removed and replaced with good books. We must seek out what is redeemable in our history and culture and build on that. It would be good for parsons to take off their collars and deacons to put on working khaki and go out among people in true missionary spirit and teach them how to man the many jobs in the country and so achieve not only a higher standard of living but also a deeper sense of dignity and usefulness in the community in which they live.

Undergirding all of these requirements for the new Bahamians there must be good character which is the essence of the Industrials Relations Charter declared last May.

I cannot remember any period in history when China was not involved in a war. In fact she is still fighting today but there is one story that comes out of China’s experience that I think you should know. One of its generals who wished to render great service to his country constructed a huge wall around China that was well nigh impregnable. No matter how the enemies assailed this wall an entry could not be made. They tried without success to climb over it; it was impossible to penetrate it and it was unthinkable to go under it. But ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters you know how the enemy gained entry? They bribed the gatekeeper and conquered the city.

Labour on the 10th January was the gatekeeper of the city. Labour today is still the gatekeeper of the nation and I want you to know that each one of you has a fort to hold; guard it well.

So ladies and gentlemen: Let a new earth arise, let another world be born. Let a second generation full of courage issue forth. Let love of country be the pulse of our spirits and our blood. Let the skies divide and the thunder roll.

Let the new Bahamian wake up, study, work and take control.