By TAMARA McKENZIE,Guardian Staff Reporter
Persons attending the 275th session of Parliament, representing the third oldest Parliamentary democracy in the Western Hemisphere on Wednesday, received in-depth history lessons from various parliamentarians on the initial sitting of the House of Assembly on September 29, 1729.
Although the 275th celebrations were scaled down because of the devastation of Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, the event was celebrated with a joint sitting of the House of Assembly and the Senate.
Proceedings commemorating the 275th year of Parliament began with a Proclamation read by Prime Minister Perry Christie. He said that during the first sitting of Parliament, 24 members were elected from five districts - Nassau, East, West, Eleuthera, and Harbour Island. At the time, Mr John Colebrooke was elected Speaker, beginning a tradition of appointing Speakers to oversee the privileges of elected members.
Mr Christie said over the past 275 years, the Parliament of The Bahamas has maintained an enviable commitment to the passing of legislation for the peace, order, and good governance of The Bahamas. This commitment, he said, has fostered an unrivaled legacy of stability and democracy.
"The people of The Bahamas are justly proud of this rich legacy of 275 years of interrupted parliamentary democracy," he said, declaring this week "Parliament Anniversary Week."
In his communication on the 275th anniversary, Mr Christie said the challenge of parliamentarians was now to expand its record as one of the more enduring and stronger parliamentary democracies in the world. He added, however, that parliamentarians must remain steadfast in their commitment to democratic values, moving to enhance the integrity and transparency of the electoral system.
House Speaker, Oswald Ingraham, congratulated Bahamians for their patience, dignity, and peacefulness over the past 275 years. He urged all Bahamians to commit themselves to learn as much as they could about the history of the House, as such lessons will ensure parliamentary democracy in The Bahamas continues.
President of the Senate, Sharon Wilson, said the 275th celebration occurs as the country seeks to rebuild after two major hurricanes within a matter of days. Both hurricanes, she said, virtually symbolise the history of The Bahamas over the last 275 years, marking a period of challenges, interfaced with an indomitable human spirit which allows Bahamians to do much with very little.
Opposition Leader in the Senate, Mr Tommy Turnquest, said parliamentarians were grateful to all who sat in the same place many years before them. He said parliamentarians could honor those persons best by resolving to understand and to appreciate even more than they do today, the whole ethos of such a great institution [Parliament]. He said more changes will come, but parliamentarians must resolve to preserve democracy, conventions, etiquette, decorum, excellent ethics, flexibility, and responsiveness.
Leader of the Opposition in the House of Assembly, Alvin Smith, said if parliamentarians continue to nurture and guard the institution of Parliament, he has no doubt The Bahamas will remain a free, stable, prosperous and proud parliamentary democracy.
Leader of Government's business in the Senate, Dr Marcus Bethel, said parliamentarians must work to strengthen its democracy through enlightened leadership, promote transparency, and accountability in their political and social systems, seeking always to provide good governance.
Former Prime Minister, Hubert Ingraham, noted the House of Assembly has been the instrument through which the people of the country have been able to transform themselves from dependents without influence, strewn between disparate sleepy islands, into enfranchised involved citizens of an increasingly informed and technologically savvy nation state. He said it was important that parliamentarians do not forget the difficult road along the way.
Pierre Dupuch, speaking on behalf of Independent members of the House of Assembly, said he is the seventh Dupuch of four generations to sit in the House of Assembly and has played an active role in politics since 1962. He stated that he hopes Bahamians come together to rebuild the nation instead of giving it away. "Preserve the nation for the young people and those not prepared to build should leave," he said.
An exhibition highlighting the first meeting of the House on Sept. 29, 1729, as well as persons and documents that served to ameliorate and abolish slavery in The Bahamas, was mounted in foyer of the House of Assembly, and a special book cataloguing the history of Parliament in segments of 50 years, was presented to House Speaker Oswald Ingraham and Mrs Wilson. The book was published by Jones Communication Limited. A series of informational booklets on Parliament was also issued.
Parliamentarians also heralded the achievements of The Bahamas Olympic team at the 28th Olympiad in Athens, Greece. Gold medallist Tonique Williams-Darling, bronze medallist Debbie Ferguson, and Mark Knowles, who with Canadian Daniel Nestor, won the men's U.S. Open Doubles Championship, were all presented proclamations by Prime Minister Perry Christie.
