From whence we came – An escape route

19.OCT.07

Editor: Our knowledge of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade does not have its origin in our country. We should be eternally thankful for many books and documentaries which had been and are still available, showing the extent and resolves of twisted minds to inflict irreparable destruction to others whom they deem as inferior to themselves.{{more}}

One shudders to think that at this point in time that there are still in our midst Vincentians who have not been and are still not aware of such a horrible period in our history. The only question that is left to be asked – will they ever?

This ever increasing thrust towards ensuring that every Vincentian becomes aware of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery in general may well be appealing to the basic doubts and fears of the mentally weak ones amongst us, whilst at the same time strengthening the stronger – exploitation, one might say. In fact, in our country presently, we ought to be very much concerned about the letter.

The pillars upon which the success of colonialism and slavery stood/stands were/are divisionism, separation, illiteracy of the masses and a better level of education of a few – Girls’ High School, Grammar School as civil servants to ensure that the-work-to-rule remained the order of the day, and that the ultimate and uncompromising objective – the mass accumulating of wealth.

From whence we came focuses almost exclusively on the perils and cruelty that our forbearers had to endure. The other side of the horrible experiences was their practical exposure of the method our exploiters use to enrich themselves, none more so than in agriculture, even though the need to do processing where the raw materials were – were always inimical to the development of mother country, only to have them return as finished products.

In 2007, we are voluntarily shackled to the said same colonial indoctrination of exporting the bulk of our fresh agriculture produce, only to have them returned to us in may shapes and forms. In fact, even the

president of the local Chamber of Industry and Commerce has pledged to help our farmers to find export markets. The depressant in all of this is the self-indictment amongst our learned ones – dictating to us what we don’t have.

Surely, we must have something. Might there be something that we could and perhaps would do with it if in fact we have?

Stanley M. Quammie