Thread: National Sovereignty: The Bahamas

http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=135&a=6940

12th January

National Sovereignty: The Bahamas
Dr. Kevin Alcena
As the Bahamas government under the PLP celebrate the “majority rule� it is vital that the nation take stock of the nation itself and how the Bahamas has maintained and sustain it nationhood. In light of this, the concept of national sovereignty becomes of great importance for every citizen of the Bahamas to understand. National sovereignty is of great political and intellectual significance to both our national identity and statehood of any independent country. Sovereignty is a legal concept that exists to give states power and competence to enforce law, both internally and in international affairs. It signifies the status quo of self determination and cultural heritage: the self actualization of nationhood. For centuries, great Empires have risen and fallen by attaining national sovereignty and/or the loss of the same.

Sovereignty is often juxtaposed with nationhood. The achievement of nationhood guarantees our sovereignty. The dictionary defines a nation as "a people who share common customs, origins, history, and frequently language; a nationality." The concept of modern 21st century nations can be traced back to the "Peace of Westphalia" era in 1648 delineating and respecting national autonomy and borders of nations. The world wide nationalist zeal of defending nationhood often in a fanatic and fundamentalist manner demonstrate the value and reverence for a country’s sovereignty. The preservation of the nation-state, however, allows people with a common background and history to share in a common future.

We must realize that national sovereignty goes with responsibility to act responsibly and with integrity regarding all aspects of our national identity. As we approach the 30th anniversary of our independence leading to the supreme sovereignty of the laws of our land, we must ponder on the ramifications of our self-determination. This is very important at this stage of national and global development.

The global landscape's rigid adherence and legal demarcation dictated by the concept of sovereignty is closing-in politically and economically, with the possibility of the elimination of strict national sovereignty regarding the application of the laws of the land. This is epitomized in the emergence of super-states, such as the European Union and other forms of international bodies (U.N.) and treaties (FTAA, WTO, NATO, etc.) binding nations to extra-territorial laws while subjugating national laws to international laws, conventions and treaties.

The question is: how far can the emerging super-states go to eliminate or lessen national sovereignty and governance of a country?

The need for global interdependence is stronger today than at any other time in history. The threat to global peace and security, and economic survival is greater today than ever experienced in history, hence it is imperative that the global community attempts to redefine the absoluteness of the sovereignty concept towards a more relativity approach. This will allow for a good understanding (though unacceptable) of the various manipulations by modern super-powers against the wishes of other states in the name of global peace, security, political affiliation and economic assistance.

Notwithstanding the assurance of these global niceties, the modern reality and the quagmire of elusive national and international peace and stability in the face of ubiquitousness real danger to national existence, the Bahamas and other countries must evaluate the extent of constraints: political constraints (e.g. balance of power, alliances): economic constraints (trade concerns, international economic treaties): and ethical concerns (human rights, environmental protection etc.) that would dictate the exigencies of subjugating our national sovereignty towards conforming to international laws, convention and treaties.

In doing that, it is not intended that the global community be held-up in another super-state sovereignty. Thus, compromising national sovereignty for the sake of attaining global economic and political understanding aimed at improving our living conditions, global political acceptance, and our territorial safety should not enslave us into accepting any foreign influence/domination of our existing national economic and political structures. Our continued national development, both internally and internationally, should be dictated by the need of our common national existence, within the framework of our unique national heritage.

The governments of all countries have the solemn duty to maintain and protect its national sovereignty, irrespective of the exigencies of global understanding and cooperation. The Bahamas must in furtherance to the consolidation and protection of our national sovereignty, look at our national policies both internal and external; to ensure that they conform to our needs and the need for bilateral international relations that guarantees the full development of our country. Subservient international affiliations and co-operations that unintentionally, but manifestly, erode the absolute sovereignty of our 30 years of independence should not be tolerated in this 21st century advanced technological and intellectual horizon.

Since the creation of the United Nations in 1945, it has served as a melting pot for all nations to observe international politicking leading to various understanding, treaties and the resolution of conflicts without undermining the territorial sovereignty of any nation state. Though the UN has been weakened by recent global events, its charter stills provides the world a forum to mediate in matters of global concern.

As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of our national independence, our foreign policies should be directed at ensuring the application of universal proclamations and resolutions passed by the democratic decision making structures at the United Nations without inhibiting our national sovereignty. We must remain committed to upholding our national sovereignty. Our sovereignty provides us the quality or authority of being independent and in charge of the conditions and circumstances under which we all live.

Check the website http://www.mchariinstitute.com , you will know the true nature of this Kevin Alcena.

As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of our national independence, our foreign policies should be directed at ensuring the application of universal proclamations and resolutions passed by the democratic decision making structures at the United Nations without inhibiting our national sovereignty. We must remain committed to upholding our national sovereignty. Our sovereignty provides us the quality or authority of being independent and in charge of the conditions and circumstances under which we all live.

This is an oxymoron.