Comments on: Walcott warns; others walk

By: Bob Knaus

Bob Knaus — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:55:49 +0000

Nicolette – kudos to you for following your heart, and best wishes as you move on!

I’ll put in my two cents worth as an outsider as to why Bahamian culture has difficulty competing on the world stage.

I spent some time in Alaska, and people are often surprised to hear me compare it with the Bahamas. But the comparison holds. The two places have similar populations, similar isolation, and (this is important) similar insulation from competition. The kids that my ex taught in band thought they were hot stuff… until they went to the “Lower 49″ and found out how real high school bands play. Ditto for the debate team, the chess club, etc.

The lesson is to get out there, see other countries, take your lumps, and learn. Loved your comment about Bahamians being the “Americans” of the Caribbean. The only cure for that disease is to get out more and see how things are.

You do that, and the money will follow.

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:23:58 +0000

What the the government put in the pot?
Did they raise all the finds privately to pay for it?

By: Nicolette Bethel

Nicolette Bethel — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:32:27 +0000

I don’t know where you get the idea that culture doesn’t pay its way. I’m in Guyana which has been in an economic slump for years and culture — CARIFESTA — has brought employment to everyone in the Georgetown area who wants to work, and the people and the commenters are calling for something of this nature every year.

Just wondering.

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:27:59 +0000

Very passionate Nicolette.
Stop foreign investment and development?
It’s a good thing his Nobel Prize was for Literature as he would never get one for economics with that recommendation.
If culture and athletes cannot pay their way, should we take tax dollars to pay for them when we cannot even properly educate our children?
Where will it end?
It’s like the county/state paying for a football stadium where only 60-70,000 people can get in, yet ‘everyone’ has paid for the stadium. Meanwhile, the athletes make millions and don’t put a dime into the investment.
What am I missing?
Best of luck with your new career by the way.
Rick.

By: Annie Paul

Annie Paul — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:56:59 +0000

Thanks for this Nicolette, glad to get this kind of instant reportage from Carifesta. and DW is speaking his mind with force something so few do because they’re cronies of the powers-that-be and actually invested in things remaining as they are…

a sobering thought: as i write this on the radio is one of many discussions on how Jamaican govt and business can better support their supercompetitive athletes. and get this in spite of their proven success over and over again there has been very little real investment in facilities to support them, health insurance, stipends etc. Derek is absolutely right, all we’ll be left with are the gaudy monstrosities known as hotels today and the appalling circus that surrounds the tourism industry…

By: Global Voices Online » Bahamas, Guyana: Walcott’s Warning

Global Voices Online » Bahamas, Guyana: Walcott’s Warning — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:00:07 +0000

[...] Derek Walcott warned that regional governments are killing their artists – making Bahamian blogger Nicolette Bethel even more convinced that her decision to resign her post as Director of Culture for the Bahamas [...]