Recharge the Anti-Colonial Batteries

Last week, this column began to focus on an urgent, overdue and still unfinished task of ours- getting rid of as many symbols and relics of colonialism which still mask our existence. We left off on the issue of the need to build and develop the political consciousness of our people, for if we are

not conscious of the effects which these leftovers have on us, we will never see it as a priority. We fought for, and achieved, the reclamation of our independence so that we can exercise the power to “right the historical wrongs”, to quote our Prime Minister.

But to accomplish this monumental task, we must be aware of the nature and origin of those wrongs and how, hundreds of years after the native genocide and slavery, we continue to be affected. So deep are the effects that we have among us, educated people who do not comprehend the extent of the damage wrought by colonial control, not only of our lands and physical assets, but above all our precious minds.

It is true that the matter has been raised at the highest level and put before our people. It is commendable that some attempts have been made at the beginning to address the wrongdoings. The official recognition of the great Kalinago Chief Chatoyer, and his elevation to the status of National Hero are significant actions which cannot, and must not be belittled, for instance by elevating some who are most unworthy of sharing Chatoyer’s pedestal, to that status. It is my view that we are not taking this situation as seriously as we ought to be doing.

What is even more dangerous is that the political leadership of the Opposition does not seem to, or want to take up this matter with the seriousness which it deserves. This creates the space which accommodates the dilly-dallying of decolonisation. There is no great pressure on the government by the party which gained more votes than the ULP in 2020 on issues of such fundamental nature. There is no serious initiative nor proposal by the Opposition, perhaps remorseful about its shameful role in the failed process of constitutional reform.

But we cannot just leave it at that, claiming that the Opposition did not support, worse, opposed vehemently, fundamental constitutional reform, as if to leave the initiative up to them. This is where the people of our country, especially our youth, are so vital. The same commitment we demonstrate towards their educational and social development must also go towards building their political consciousness. We must give them the means to press on with the decolonisation process.

If we had stayed the course, analysed our approach towards the constitutional reform process, then we would have been able to make another attempt, wiser, not deflated, by the referendum defeat. How many of our young, bright scholars have an appreciation or understanding of that process? If not, how could we expect them to lead, to take meaningful initiatives. I know that elections are right before us and the political gurus on the side of the government will say that this is no time to raise this issue, that it will only provide the NDP with political ammunition. But as I have indicated that party has no moral authority to challenge the government on this issue, given its shameful role in the referendum, especially on the Privy Council issue. It was a pity that when retired Justice Saunders delivered his Independence lecture, the PM was also delivering a public address elsewhere. For the purpose of those who missed it, in the context of the finger pointing on both sides of Parliament, he suggested that given the urgency of the matter, both parties, if they agree with access in full to the CCJ, should include in their election manifestos, that whichever party formed government and proposed to move away from the Privy Council, the other would support the move.

It is practical small steps like these which could rev up the decolonisation engine. We should not be, on our biggest national platform, thumping our chests about erasing the name of the colonial Queen Victoria from what was for a long time our National Park. The most practical means of name changing can come from community discussions on the issue. This can reignite the demand for local government thus serving more than one purpose. Initiatives to reinvigorate the building of youth organisations leading up to an independent national body, not affiliated nor attached to any political party, can also become another vehicle to spur decolonisation. We, who were praised regionally for our leading role on such issues as decolonisation and reparation, have fallen out of step. Time for us to fall in line again. It is from the bowels of our people that the clamour for independence was sounded. It was our young people of the late 60s, the seventies and eighties who carried the torch forward. Just remember the warning of national Independence monarch, Vibrating Scakes, and not allow our people to be mere “election tools”.

• Renwick Rose  is a Social and Political commentator.