Missing links to the case

It does not take the work of a sociologist or a scholar of any sort to provide an in depth analysis of our society, before one can confirm that there are too many missing links among our people today. What is very apparent, however, is that whilst in many societies, issues of corruption, discrimination and victimization are commonplace among those who have harnessed political power, in our local circumstances the problem is different, it appears to reside among us as a people. We are in fact experiencing a decay from “below”. {{more}}

Firstly, there are many who have settled for the illicit “get-rich quick” method of living. There is absolutely nothing wrong with prosperity, however the means by which we attain such should never leave tainted, unanswered questions. The links begin to go missing from very early stages in our Youth. Many of our Youth are joining unlawful businesses at an earlier age and their future is labeled by their far less than circumspect conduct. A change is needed.

At present, many of our social institutions such as the Church appear extremely divided, both among members within and denominationally. This is a threat to the role and function of the Church in our society. Many Churches have been afflicted with what can be considered at best to be the “Break-away syndrome” resulting in the constant mushrooming of miniature bodies in different locations, splitting from the core body. This is a sure sign of division and not cohesion. The effects of this are yet to be properly assessed. Another badly damaged link.

Our judicial system today carries the heavy weight and burdensome ills of our society. As cases unfold in open court on a daily basis, so too many of the hidden vices which contaminate and pollute our people are also being brought to the fore. To dream of a flawless society is more than farfetched. However, in a population of less than 150,000 and 150 square miles, we are slipping along a wrong path.

Too many of the dark sides of the family are today so prevalent that they have become functional to many. The home envelops the primary level and source of socialization. The family must do more, since it plays an integral role in the nurturing of the minds in the important formative stages of any one’s life.

The family like other institutions is in a perpetual state of evolution. The family’s ability to intervene, explain and include social change in the process of socializing its members is one of its strengths. Therefore the role of the family must not be allowed to lose its worth.

In all that we do, we must never grow tired of the timely reminder that the Tourism Industry, towards which there is a positive shift, thrives best in a society which does not allow the apparent misfortunes of social disgrace to be brought to bear on the expectations of our visitors. In building our nation we must compel ourselves to be good citizens.

In moving ahead we must begin to build from our very conversations, as we speak we must not allow ourselves to degenerate into the mere shallows of partisan politics or stale gossip for the sake of speech. Instead, speak about development. In so doing, we must allow the very forces which separate us to be transformed into that which binds us. The question of nation building must not be treated as if it has been thrown out of the window by our people, and only left up to the Government. We must indeed be proactive in our quest for excellence.

As our communities ripen into the very building blocks which constitute our nation, we must begin the pruning process at all levels. Too many of our Youth are going along a wayward tangent, off-course, moving at “break neck” speed towards disaster. More of our people must exhibit a quest for stardom in whatever field they belong. Our tradesmen must become more crafty, our chefs more pursuant of good taste, our drivers more prudent, our farmers reinvigorated, and our people on a whole more productive.

Instead of criticizing with destruction of our neighbor in mind, we must learn to build. We must not trade the opportunity to study the causes of our failures, for any cursory speech on the effects, intended to demoralize the whole. In so doing our disappointments must not be allowed to overshadow us.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is by all means a small space. However, we can prove to the world that we are a people of distinction. Let us preserve the links which hold us together.