NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS, April 13, 2011 — This is one of the Resolutions passed at the 2nd Annual BlackFood.org Activists Conference that was held at the House of Labour on Wulff Road this past Saturday and Sunday. Events leading up to the two-day Conference included a Movie Night on Thursday night and a Book Signing on Friday night.
The topic of this year’s Conference was "The Politics of Land in The Bahamas: From Colonialism to Neocolonialism". The guest speaker was Chairman Omali Yeshitela of the African People’s Socialist Party – USA.
The Conference gave local activists an opportunity to discuss why most of us don’t have land and the struggle involved in getting it and maintaining it for those of us who do.
In addition, Africa and the world-wide struggle of African people were also the main topics of discussion.
Ean Maura, an educator and the Co-Chair of The Indaba Project, presented on the relationship between foreign direct investment, criminality and land development in The Bahamas.
Dion Hanna – Director of the Eugene Dupuch Legal Aid Clinic – gave a presentation on "Land and Freedom: A Return to the Fishing Village and the Struggle for Justice in The Bahamas".
Charo R. Walker – Co-Founder of BlackFood.org – spoke about the "The Struggle for Land in the Bahamas and the ABC’s of the Real Estate Industry" while Alex Morley – Co-Founder of BlackFood.org – gave a presentation on “The Stolen Land and the Genocide of the Native People”.
Grand Bahama activist Troy Garvey reported on the "The Impact of Land Politics in The Bahamas".
Chairman Omali Yeshelita, in his keynote address, reminded those in attendance that land is the basis of all power. He connected the land question in The Bahamas to Africa and stated that in Azania – the real name of South Africa – despite the election of black leaders the white minority still owns more than 70% of the land while Africans live in cramped shanty towns.
He also spoke about the colonial domination that Africans in the United States face every day and talked about Haiti and the duty that Africans all over the world owe to the Africans in Haiti for the historic struggle that they have waged for humanity.
When speaking about Imperialism, he said that people all over the world are waking up and resisting it. He described this current stage of imperialism under President Obama and other so-called black leaders as white power in a black face.
Chairman Omali Yeshitela stressed that the struggles of African people are inter-connected and that our real power is based on the fact that we are One Africa and One Nation.
Toward the close of the Conference all presentations and reports were discussed and the following Resolutions were passed:
1. It was resolved that Africans in The Bahamas will create alternative means of generating capital to transform this social system.
2. It was resolved that Africans in The Bahamas will reject the foreign legal system that is imposed on us – in particular in regards to land possession – and that we will embrace our African communal system of land possession.
3. It was resolved that it is necessary for African working people to seize power and become the ruling class in this country.
4. It was resolved that Africans in The Bahamas will work to abolish the Grand Bahama Port Authority.
5. It was resolved that Africans in The Bahamas will connect/re-connect with the African Liberation Movement around the world and that we will unite with the struggle of African people in St. Petersburg, Florida.
6. It was resolved that Africans in The Bahamas will reject the White Power holiday called Discovery Day, which is celebrated on October 12th, and that we shall instead commemorate African Liberation Day on May 21st in the spirit of the native people of this land; the Lucayos.
7. It was resolved that Africans in The Bahamas will celebrate National Heroes Day on October 12th.
8. It was resolved that Africans in The Bahamas will unite with the August 20th International Day of Action Against the Wars on Africa and African people.
9. It was resolved that Conference attendees shall form a Coalition of Africans United in The Bahamas who will work to carry out all of the resolutions passed at the BlackFood.org 2nd Annual Activists Conference 2011.
BlackFood.org was established April 10, 2008. It works with a wide sector of the African movement, both nationally and internationally, from a variety of political and ideological persuasions. Its goal is to forge a common anti-imperialist agenda. It is headquartered in Nassau, The Bahamas.
