Shelley has left a legacy and a sharpened sword

EDITOR: It is with a sense of sadness and great loss that a great writer has laid down his pen, the literary sword that sliced the conscience of many a wrong doer in this country, whether they were religious, political or from the business sector, he had no axe to grind, as his sword was always sharp- back and belly !

Shelley Clarke and myself are media persons with great respect for each other, as it is with all local editors, print and electronic. But the issue that drew me closer to Shelley was my submissions to his paper which he printed verbatim, for which I respected him even more. In earlier years I submitted articles under the nom-de-plume ‘Small Axe’ which drew the ire of a few, and I’m sure that he was bombarded with calls to find out who ‘Small Axe’ is, so he pointedly asked me ‘why don’t you just print your name to your articles ?’ so after careful consideration and discussion with my children, I decided to acquiesce. My children argued that the system might want to pressure and hold biases against them because of my writings, but I assured them that whoever pressured them because of what I write will be damned by the Almighty, because I never tell/publish lies on anyone or any issue, just the truth, and the truth always pierces the conscience of many, as Shelley’s writings and editorials did.

Like other editors, Shelley would occasionally call me, especially in recent times, to get my opinion on certain issues as he respected my views as I did his. Shelley never liked the current flag or words of our national anthem and welcomed a republican status for SVG, the latter, is a sentiment which I fully endorse. Shelly was of Indian descent, but Vincentian to the bone. I gave this joke to another editor of Indian heritage that it appears that Indians have taken over the leadership positions of the media in SVG, as two leading papers have Indian editors while the programme manager for the main radio station, along with the chief radio engineer are both of Indian heritage. But that is nothing new, Indians world over occupy CEO positions in reputable organisations.

In some quarters, they are breathing a sigh of relief as their antagonist is no more, but Shelley left a legacy and a sharpened sword, and anyone who picks it up better beware, because if not handled carefully can become its victim, but at the same time, if wielded properly will bring kingdoms to their knees, as, “the pen is mightier than the sword”.

Shelley will be missed by all fair minded persons who for years kept ‘The News” as the most read paper in SVG. Many a time you go to the news stand looking for all three papers and all you can get is two … all the NEWS sold out … that is not to say that the other papers don’t have substance, they do, but some have their biases; and then there are other persons who never read the NEWS but have it read to them.

Shelley boy, you on the journey ahead of us … May your spirit guide the pen that picks it up from where you laid it down. Rest in peace my brother and my friend.
The pen is mightier than the sword !!!

Donald De Riggs