Nostalgia

                                   




Over the past two years there has been great nostalgia in Grand Bahama. A feeling one can almost touch.

The crazy thing is, not only are the people who once knew Grand Bahama to be "grand" wants those days again, but also the people who once lived here.

There are two Facbook groups that Im apart of that I ready often which I mentioned in my last post - "Freeport 60s Kids" and "You Knew You Grew Up in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas if….".

Here I can find great fodder for this blog.

We all want the "grand" old days and the magic to return as if by just remembering them will make the hurt of what it is today to change.

But what is the real deal? What will it really take to bring this change around?

Could it be that by looking back we are all looking for something, one thing, that can hold the trigger to pushing us forward.

There are a number of forums that are being held in Nassau that never seem to reach to Grand Bahama. Of course the real reason for this is the great number of people who live there, with more coming as each new project is announced and started.

The amount of women that attended the Fidelity Women's event two months ago tells me that they were hungry for something; that one thing that could possibly catapult they homes, their ideals, this island into another realm.

Another boost to bring more people here is what is needed but may not be the thing that is on everyone's mind. But more people would help to carry the load.

We have other sites such as www.movetothebahamas.com which seeks to lure investors to help to improve the country on a whole, not just Grand Bahama. That is something else that we can check out.

There are many places that can be bought and repurposed in Grand Bahama. 

My oldest daughter said to me yesterday that some parts of Freeport all we need is a coat of paint.

I remember two real estate agents talking with me two years ago who were very concerned about the look of the island which they felt once improved could entice more investors back.

Some say once the fees to come into the island are decreased we may be able to get some of the old bigger flights back to the island. 

If you build it, will they come? If you paint it, will they com? If you work hard and improve the service, will they come? 

But what else would you have to do?

If you are afraid of foreigners coming in, what can you do to improve your situation that is not just "me" centered? 

Too many people simply want jobs, but not to work. This is not a criticism of Grand Bahama, but around the world. Sometimes it just feels like this is the only place where this mentality lies. 

But when you are at the bottom of a pit, you have to work hard to get out. Lying on the ground won't change it, nor sitting around talking about the old days, but to do something that could replicate the old days. 

I see a new night club is being advertised for Midshipment Road called Cayo, and I believe it is set for the old Jokers Wild building. Question is in numbers. How many people will frequent it? and for how long? 

Again I say the magic is in the number of people and as I heard once, there is only one may to make Bahamians, and if you can't do that over night, then we need to import.

Push forward with the dreams of yesterday and let us march forward.

It is good to know that there are others who feel this same way … they want to see the change; they want to be the change; they want to be part of the great move that will make Grand Bahama "Grand" again.