“…prayer and confession…”

And for sure, since this pale-shadow brother of mine seems hell-bent on doing what he says he is obliged to do, I pray for him.

And as I pray for him, I call on other Bahamians, their Haitian-Bahamian cousins and all of God’s other angry children in The Bahamas, around the region and further abroad in the world to also pray for this errant brother of mine.

While this brother of mine seems convinced that what he is doing to the Haitian people is just fine, he might want to remember that since the Haitian presence in the Bahamas is forever, he [meaning McCartney] might wish to seriously consider commissioning a real study that would show – with real arguments and real statistics – that the Haitian presence at the work-place is about more than getting workers to work for less and less.

This young man – namely Branville McCartney might yet realize that some of this nation’s finest citizens have roots that take them right back and smack-dab in the middle of a gaggle of men and women on a boat out there on the wide blue sea – all waiting to land somewhere on the southern shore of this island, having been blown thither on the wings of God’s four large winds.

And now, I confess.

For better or worse, I confess that I live in a world where a lot of things matter.

In this regard, it matters to me that: Haiti is the third hungriest country in the world after Somalia and Afghanistan; that the richest 1% of the population controls nearly half of all of Haiti’s wealth; that Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere; that it is the world’s fourth poorest country in the world; that it ranks 146 out of 173 on the United Nations Human Development Index; that it has a life expectancy of 52 years for women and 48 for men; that its’ adult literacy is about 50%; that its’ unemployment is 70%; that 85% of Haitians live on less than $1 U.S. per day; and that Haiti ranks 38 out of 195 for under five mortality rate.

And for sure, money matters.

Sadder still, skin color also matters.

Now consider this, in a world where money, skin color and power routinely cavort, it should matter that I am black, rich and fiercely proud.

I am also today pretty certain that there are some Bahamians who wonder how and why I am so hard-hitting in some of my commentary on matters social and political in my land.

And I am also pretty certain that some of my fellow-Bahamians would want to know why I call on God day in and day out.

The first part is easy enough: I am hard-hitting because I fear no man [or woman for that matter].

In addition, in a world where money talks and where big money talks big, I confess to you – my brothers and sisters – that I am rich; filthy rich, in truth and in fact.

One snippet of information concerning me and some of my money might suffice to illuminate the fact that I have "more money than dog gat guts".

One of my buddies – Charles Soludo – can attest to my great wealth and specifically as to how another big consignment of money is being prepared for shipment to your humble servant, Felix.

The letter I received is written thus - FROM: The World Bank 1818 H Street, NW Washington, DC 20433 USA

Dear Felix,

I have been waiting for you since to come down here and pick your consignment but I did not hear anything from you since then, I have deposited the US$5,000,000.00 with INTERCONTINENTAL COURIER EXPRESS in Benin, because I traveled to Japan to see my boss and I will not come back till next year ending.

I have arranged with the COURIER COMPANY to get your US$5,000,000.00 to you this month and they will be coming to you with the fund inside a black portfolio, I would have deposited the fund with Bank for transfer into your own account but the procedure of Bank is too much and they will required enough fee.

"I dropped your delivery details with INTERCONTINENTAL COURIER EXPRESS but I will like you to re-confirm the information to them again so that there will not be any mistake when coming with the fund…"

Do you need more proof?

Now that you know that I am rich, please note that the only thing that currently separates me from putting my paws on this money [so I am told] has to do with a measly $105 that I am to forward – pronto – to enable them to proceed and get the cash to me.

I am rich.

Now take note of some of what someone or the other has to say about some story or the other produced by some team or the other some time ago in the College of the Bahamas.

That story has something sinister to say about hard-working Haitian people; men and women who are sober, hard-working, family-oriented types who want nothing more and indeed nothing much else but a chance to work, earn, live and reproduce after their own kind.

As Branville McCartney tells me, "In a study prepared by the College of The Bahamas (September, 2005), entitled Haitian Migrants in The Bahamas, 2005 (Pg. 62) a section dedicated to "stopping the migration motor", it states: "The motor which drives migration is the demand for cheap labor, particularly in the construction industry."

"Most migrants arrive intending to work, with the knowledge that previous migrants, who also arrived illegally managed to find work and regularize their stay.

"Employers are willing to employ illegal migrants.

"The lack of legal status in the country obliges these workers to be compliant to employers’ request as they are outside the protection of worker’s rights and it allows employers to pay migrants low wages."

Second, Mister Minister-Man – yes you Mister Minister-Man – please Sir, please hold on.

Sir, Please Sir, Mister Minister, Sir, try to understand that this is just not the case. And Mister Minister-Sir – please check with the notion that suggests that Haitian labor is – by far not cheap.

The very opposite might well be the case in a society where honest, sober, literate labor is so hard to find.

Third, here we thank God for those law-abiding folk who work in our prisons, who work on our farms, who live in our shanties, who work as police-officers, prison and defense officers and who also work as nurses, social workers, hotel and others such in the hospitality industry.

Thank God for these people who know the value of hard work, family, faith and the real value inherent in God-filled community.

This is the note I strike as I say that the current regime [like the one it replaced on May 2nd. 2007] is on the wrong wicket as regards treatment of the Haitian people living, working, striving and contributing to the orderly growth and development of the Bahamas – as they currently do.

I am certain that a day will come – whenever it would come when the Bahamian people – in their vast majority – would see the wisdom in the Word where it says that we should be hospitable to strangers.

Some of them might well be angels.