Elton Georges was more experienced than most governors appointed to oversee the affairs of the British in the OTs. He served as Deputy Governor for over two decades in the Territory of the Virgin Islands.
He held more than his fair share of novices’ hands and helped those sent to the Territory to navigate the waters between the people’s representatives and HMG.
But it was not a reciprocal relationship. It could never be. Elton was not a part of the internal operations of the kingdom.
For that, the kingdom sent its own people to the Territory and ensured that the secrets they held were only communicated to the appointed governor.
One governor; Two siloed offices split along governance lines.
And Elton had no authority over the UK appointees even when he acted as Governor. And unless it was a matter of the greatest moment that impacted the local side of the Administration, his juniors, by far, were better informed than he was.
If it were not embarrassing it would be laughable. The system we have been operating under for decades is built on mistrust.
So, it should not surprise us that, for all his experience and value to the British, and to us, he could never be appointed governor in this or any OT. That was reserved for citizens of the kingdom.
And it seemed not to matter that the crown determined that citizens of the Overseas Territories would carry UK passports. For, to be British and to be English is not one and the same.
Unfair you say? Whenever one is in a dependent position, the other in the dominant role reserves powers with a claim of responsibilities whether real or imagined.
But in the end, it is not the legitimate and constitutional exercise of power that is troubling, rather, it is the callous disregard for the feelings, opinions and aspirations of the ruled.
And that is where colonialism becomes a crime against humanity.
But by reverting the Ag. Police Commissioner to her substantive role, the Kingdom succeeded in doing for us what we were unable to do for ourselves. It united us even across party lines.
The posters call for “Justice for Jackie” but if the organizers are true to themselves, they would admit that while the movement crystallized around ‘Jackie,’ it looks ahead to constitutional advancement.
Nevertheless, the protest agenda was impressive. Five days of activities that opened with a gathering and speeches outside of the Governor’s Office and culminating with a march.
It caused His Excellency to fly to one talk show to offer, perhaps, an explanation for his actions which all admit fell within the gifts of his powers and responsibilities but outside what would be imagined as his humanity and his well stomped soap box of transparency and good governance.
Perhaps it would have helped had he expounded on the importance of the vetting process for Senior Police Officers of the Crown.
Without vetting, the Officer cannot share in the Crown’s established intelligence apparatus. Without that information, the Officer will not have all the necessary tools to be effective.
Still, the Ag Police Commissioner was labeled as ‘doing a good job,’ certainly superior to that of her predecessor; a well-resourced, Crowd-sourced, appointee.
But the 13, perhaps styled their response based on the strength of that animal, the buffalo. It is one amongst few creatures in the world that charges through a storm instead of running away.
Equally as resilient is the goat that prefers to stand in the open during rainstorms, knowing that to stand under trees risks being wet twice.
So, into this storm of perceived ill treatment and manhandling, the 13 charged. Their solidarity, admirable. Someone turned to speak about parties and wastage but there is a time and place for everything.
But at the base of the demands, the spirit of the words that Portia uttered in that courtroom in Venice (The Merchant of Venice) loomed:
“…. But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthronèd in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice.”
“Will there be justice for Jackie?” The bigger question is whether there will be fair play for the Territory. For when we look back on the courtroom theatrics of the COI;
And when we consider the high-handed and blistering Law Enforcement Review Report Volume 2 that portends the shutdown of our tourism industry at a time when a peer of the realm and her peers were intent on torching our well-regulated Financial Services Industry;
It takes little imagination to appreciate the game plan although it fits well into the atmosphere of mistrust.
But there is strength in unity; In solidarity.
And “(w)hen a community stands at a crossroads, the measure of its leadership and its people is not found in how loudly they differ, but in how deeply they listen…“
Can the 13 surf this wave that has been manufactured for them and work on behalf of the people?
Time will tell.
Fridays can’t.
Happy Friday!