Every so often, a few articles, editorials and commentaries, appearing in Bahamian newspapers, would carry cryptic words and foreboding messages. A dose of social poison was said to await those who seemed unable to heed words which foretold of a dark future, unless something changed.
In June 1942, an article in the Nassau Tribune entitled, Learning A Late Lesson, was one such article.
It tells of the collective merchant rule over Nassau, one aggrieved businessman left sitting alone on a bench, treachery, social throat cutting and the demise of good old Nassau, unless everyone pulled together.
It all reads like a mystery novel, which means it could only relate to politics and big money business in the Bahamas.
Learning A Late Lesson
A lot of things are happening in this town that Bahamian people don’t like. This condition has been growing for some time while people who should have been looking after the country have been treacherously cutting each other’s throats.
Now the merchants are going to get together again.
Not long ago the merchants got together on another matter and when the books were all closed one lonely man was left sitting on a bench nursing his single grievance.
Incidentally, some of the Bahamian people who helped to create the last situation will occupy honoured places in the ranks of the merchants on this occasion. They are going to advise the merchants what to do.
It might be possible to salvage what little is left of old Nassau if it were possible for our people to pull together long enough not to leave a single man sitting on the mourner’s bench.
