– Guest Editorial – Castries, St Lucia
The writings of Martin Luther King, selected by Coretta Scot King, observed the motivation to not sit back and accept the depth of deprivation and racism, that African Americans had to undergo in the United States of America.
The basic principles of poverty, crime, unemployment and human resource development crave the Caribbean region. Debt, under-development, and future generations are recurrent decimals.
Truth and courage should be our guiding post to do what is right on this lifelong journey. This generation must decide whether to walk and talk, in the light of creative altruism and the darkness of destructive selfishness that is now alive and well. To ignore evil is to become an accomplice to it.
In the Caribbean, Saint Lucia included, the “I am alright attitude” part and parcel of the family, friends, and foreigners (FFF) pandemic tourism and preference economics are widely encouraged, while others settle for the given crumbs.
This process by those in power is the most pervasive and insidious development in our society today because it is simply pernicious. In our present society, what has become clear is that moral principles have lost their distinctiveness.
Over the years, the capacity to empathize and care for the underprivileged has seen a noticeable change of direction.
Government’s has failed to comprehend and act on the needs of the majority. COVID-19 has compound this and to the understanding of many, there is a strategy to marginalize and destroy the working class.
The audacity to reason and act differently, apparently goes against the measure of wisdom and culture. Equality, freedom from the fear of being shunned – made to cry – is evident.
There is an urgent need to understand the necessity to break loose from the shackles of colonialism which is embedded in society, with all its prejudice. And in a sense, are evils that now abound. Economic slavery is real.
Civil society, clergy, and governments’ half-truths, downright ignorance, and lies are not helpful. In practical terms, it extents, the ravages of colonialism and subject the conscience of the have-not, the working poor and distressed to further dependency.
Any while oppressed people cannot remain overloaded forever, we must be mindful that every living organism must inhale and exhale. General election is one mechanism available to civil society to exercise civil liberties. COVID-19 is an enormous collateral damage but it must not define us to accept the worst or alternatives of the worst.
The remnants of British colonialism that propagate the government of Saint Lucia and/or political prospects, including parliamentarians that presume who is Saint Lucian and not Saint Lucian [yet engage in citizenship by investment] should not expect the continuation of their exploits much longer.
Governments that become experts of illusion and flashing mirrors like an inept magician, cannot continue indefinitely, as we are reminded that procrastination is the thief of time.
There is an invisible book of life that faithfully records our vigilance and our neglect while the moving finger writes and having writ moves on.
In contrast to a few Caribbean islands, Saint Lucia has a chance to redeem its paralysis and redirect its future socio-economic development.
It is written; hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life as a witness to how polarized Saint Lucia has become. The Christmas season should be a catalyst to illumine the country and regain the highest heights of love, benevolence, and care.
