Our view of The Bahamas

A couple of years ago, an American physician, his wife and children were visiting us here in Nassau for a holiday. The evening before they were due to return to the US, the children played in the water until 11pm. In fact, it was difficult to get them to leave the water. They wanted to know when they could come back to The Bahamas.

Ema and I came to The Bahamas with our three kiddies in 1977 after a four year stint in Jamaica. Like Jamaica, The Bahamas shares the same climate as Goa. And like in the case of the children of the American physician, the water, the land and the people of The Bahamas  captivated our hearts. We came with the intention of spending a few years but stayed on to make this our home.

Having visited almost every island in the Caribbean and many countries around the world, we can say without hesitation that The Bahamas and Bahamians are among the most fortunate in the world. We are not saying that there are no negatives in this land. Every place and people have positives and negatives - only that in our experience The Bahamas is definitely one of the best places in which to live.

It is possible that those who live abroad see life in The Bahamas as only a picnic. It isn't. Despite its touristy appearance, there are real people with real lives here. What has impressed us most about The Bahamas is the level of professional expertise, the courtesy extended by the professionals to the poorest of the poor and the effort individuals put in to better themselves, their families and their country.

Yes, the music, the beaches and the world famous crystal clear waters of the ocean beckon many a tourist. To us, it is the friendships that we have developed over the years that are most precious.

Ema & José Colaço
Nassau
May 9, 2002

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