We woke early Saturday morning to the news of the bombings. The US President had done in Iran what was being speculated upon for months.
It was war.
Sometimes the appearance of things and the things themselves are not synonymous.
Was it the amassing of equipment and expertise to develop nuclear weapons capabilities? Could it have been the regime’s threat to Israel or its concern to US National Security?
Oil?
In the case of Venezuela, it was advertised as a war on drugs but then some things were done that provoked the belief that the intention included control of Venezuela’s ‘black gold;’ And further, to stem its flow to China.
Remarkably, China has not uttered a word. And if it is the case that Iran is a member of the so called ‘Axis of Resistance’ and an ally, certainly a business partner, then Iran cannot be faulted for harbouring the expectation that help is on the way.
Meanwhile, the US speaks openly about a regime change, which, in the context of the demise of Iran’s supreme leader, is not far-fetched.
Iran is defiant and has been drawing surrounding nations into the war. The jargon spewing from their mouths is concerning. What guarantees our safety? What stops incidents like the Austin Texas murder of 2 and wounding of 14?
And why was the Chinese leader so confident in displacing his generals? Are his humanoids advanced enough to begin to influence his military strategy? We speculate.
What we don’t need is a full-scale world war. What we don’t know is how humanoids may figure in theatre. What we fear to contemplate is the current trajectory of modern warfare.
But what we do know is that the global economy and global shipping are already showing signs of stress and we expect that the cost of living will rise.
And in all of this, we tremble for food security.
And that leads us back to the basin.
Just last week we saw our Leader of Government Business in photo, synchronized in dress with other leaders of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM. He spoke of BVI becoming a full member of CARICOM but that we will not participate in the free movement of people.
The ways of Caribbean leaders! Partially in and armed with fine speeches. Reasonable in our case but it is probably why the West Indies Federation failed so spectacularly. No real cohesion when it is cohesion that gives the subregion a voice and brings respect.
Full membership in CARICOM is held by: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat (British Overseas Territory), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago:
And the first duty of any government is to keep its citizens safe. Our prisons and cemeteries tell parts of the subregion’s story about its successes on that score; Budgets and extant fiscal commitments tell others.
There is not a single warship in the possession of any of the Caricom members. We have no armies. Our police forces are hardly adequate in staffing.
In matters of security, we will be, as an independent BVI, adrift in dangerous, turbulent seas and oceans without chart or compass.
How will we protect our citizens? How will we feed them? How will they travel when we cannot even get the kingdom’s approval, despite prior understandings bordering on assurances, for our runway extension project?
What infractions have we committed against our overlords that they have put our financial services under stress and are, at the same time, undermining our tourism by pocketing decisions coupled with the type of draconian initiatives contained in studies like volume 2 of the law enforcement review report?
Are they intentionally applying undue pressure? We regret that people like Ben Judah (Special Adviser to former Foreign Secretary Lammy) never had the opportunity to see his ideas for greater inclusion of the OTs to fruition.
So, it continues. The high-handed dismissal of our reasoned arguments in matters of our own wellbeing demonstrates a desire to bring us to our knees.
What is the going definition of oppression? How does it figure in governance and diplomatic circles?
Perhaps if we were valued children of the kingdom, we would be managed through the UK Home Office.
Home is where families gather. This seems to be something of what Ben Judah had in mind.
But, instead, we are managed through the Foreign Office together with all the nations of the world. And now, that Office is distracted with a war.
In this context, the way we are treated should not surprise anyone. But it disappoints.
Perhaps we really need to take stock of our true situation. Maybe our politicians need to grow up and stop the nonsense about whose turn it is to be in charge…
While the clock ticks…
…For now, into Fridays.
Happy Friday!