VZCZCXRO1909
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHBH #0039/01 0212235
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 212235Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6049
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NASSAU 000039 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO PGOV PREL BF
SUBJECT: RENEWED OBAMA FEVER GRIPS BAHAMAS 
 
REF: 08 NASSAU 776 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY:   The Bahamian public and press greeted the 
inauguration of President Obama with unbridled enthusiasm, 
reveling in the historic nature of the occasion which 
transcended social, religious, and political lines.  All 
major media outlets sent teams of journalists to Washington 
to cover inaugural events, some doing live coverage.  The 
state broadcasting network conducted a "Bahama for Obama DC 
Tour", including youth representatives from both major 
political parties, to produce TV and radio features. 
Ordinary people, commentators, and politicians of all stripes 
expressed effusive praise for the U.S. democratic process and 
optimism about future policies.  Enthusiasm reigned despite 
the U.S. economic downturn which has hit the Bahamian tourist 
industry hard, and fears previously expressed about potential 
impacts of Obama administration policies affecting the 
off-shore financial sector (the second most important 
industry after tourism).  Many viewed the inauguration as a 
vindication of Dr. Martin Luther King's dream of racial 
equality in the U.S.  Some, particularly those favorable to 
the governing party, also saw it as a lesson in political 
'color-blindness' for Bahamians to emulate in the future, 
albeit in reverse.  Inauguration fever provided a spike to 
the post-November 5 public diplomacy bonanza.  END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------- 
INAUGURATION RIVETS BAHAMAS 
--------------------------- 
¶2. (U) The U.S. presidential inauguration was the talk of The 
Bahamas.  Ordinary business ground to a halt as Bahamians, 
just as on election night, gathered around television sets in 
homes, bars, and restaurants to watch and cheer the 
proceedings. Cable news commentary blared from cafes on the 
downtown tourist strip in a scene more reminiscent of 
international sporting events.  As they have for months, 
T-shirt sellers hawked a variety of Obama 
inauguration-inspired wares, including the signature "Bahama 
for Obama" paraphernalia. Primary and secondary 
schoolchildren in a number of public and private schools 
gathered in assemblies to watch live TV coverage. Media 
coverage was heavy and all-pervasive, including front-page 
newspaper headlines, full page photo spreads, and in one 
broadsheet the full text of the inauguration speech.  Many 
editorialists drew lessons for Bahamian politics, as they did 
in the wake of the election outcome.  The co-host of a 
popular radio morning program, like many other Bahamians and 
journalists, traveled to Washington to witness the moment 
personally. 
 
----------------------------------------- 
UNITES POLITICIANS, PREACHERS, AND PEOPLE 
----------------------------------------- 
¶3. (U) Bahamians from across the political and social 
spectrum hailed President Obama as a paragon of 
African-American success and a redemptive figure who 
triumphed not only over personal obstacles but the historic 
injustices of racism and slavery, which is also inextricably 
linked to colonialism in the Caribbean.  Bahamians viewed the 
inauguration of President Obama as a testament to the 
strength of American democracy.  In the avowedly Christian 
and extremely socially conservative Bahamas, notably, even 
preachers celebrated the historic victory over negative 
historical legacies without regard to cultural or religious 
concerns, such as gay rights.  Referencing a prominent 
pastor,s emotional commentary, one reporter referred to the 
inauguration as a "symbol of mental emancipation", in a turn 
of phrase that evoked Abraham Lincoln and Bob Marley 
simultaneously.  An editorial in a daily newspaper assessed 
the significance of the Obama story for race relations in the 
U.S. and concluded it was a lesson in political 
 color-blindness, for black Bahamians to emulate in the 
future, echoing sentiments expressed by a variety of 
commentators since the election resulting in a fair bit of 
media controversy.  COMMENT:  The Deputy Prime Minister and 
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Brent Symonette, is a white 
Bahamian from a prominent political and business family whose 
name is often mentioned as a potential successor to the Prime 
Minister, Hubert Ingraham.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶4. (U) In the wake of the inauguration of the first 
African-American president of the U.S., calculations of 
national interest took a back seat to history and 
partisanship was set aside.  A leading opposition politician 
set up TV screens to allow a primary school audience in his 
constituency to view the swearing-in, while a government MP 
aired a political spot on radio associating the Obama 
inauguration with his own win in a court-ordered recount one 
year ago.  Ordinary Bahamians also joined the bandwagon. 
Some congratulated Embassy staff spontaneously, the illegal 
numbers racket (reportedly) did a brisk business in 
Obama-associated combinations, and downtown vendors hoped the 
Obama enthusiasm would give their souvenir sales a prolonged 
 
NASSAU 00000039  002 OF 002 
 
 
lift.  Bahamians followed the recent U.S. election cycle more 
intensely and closely than any in memory due to the candidacy 
of an African-American, with the vast majority supporting 
Barack Obama (reftel). 
 
-------------------------------------- 
PRESS REACTION OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE 
-------------------------------------- 
¶5.  (U) Broadcast networks covered the inauguration fully, 
and media carried overwhelmingly positive views of the 
inauguration of President Obama and the U.S. as a whole: 
 
--The Tribune daily (circulation 15,000) front-page November 
21 read "Bahamians celebrate as Obama makes history" and was 
followed by three full pages of coverage, with a U.S. 
commentary in place of an editorial. 
 
--The Nassau Guardian daily (circulation 15,000), in addition 
to front-page coverage and a photo spread, ran a story on 
grass-roots reactions titled "Bahamians Proud of United 
States" and quoted a well-known pastor and motivational 
speaker at length, "Munroe:  Obama A Symbol of Mental 
Emancipation".  An article in the business section, "Obama 
too busy to talk tax?", quoted a former finance minister who 
speculated that there would likely be no short-term pressure 
"to toughen American tax laws" targeting offshore financial 
centers, as some Bahamians had feared in the run-up to the 
election. 
 
-- The Bahama Journal daily's (circulation 7,500) ran several 
stories, one quoting ordinary people and youth, titled 
"Bahamians Moved By Change". 
ZUNIGA-BROWN