Politics is dividing us. We are not strangers to each other. in-fact, we are relatives, friends, co-workers, acquaintances.
So many have been grafted in that it is inappropriate even to speak of ‘us’ and them. And in time, those who have worked hard to dilute the essence of the Virgin Islander will, too late, realize that they have only succeeded in hurting their children, grandchildren and future generations.
For it is, in part, a question about the beginning of the individual sojourn since we are all immigrants (some voluntary, some forced) and the descendants of immigrants. Of course, if there is a full-blooded native Arawak or Carib amongst us, we withdraw the statement and offer our deepest apologies.
As an example, in the case of the migration to the United States by Europeans, one individual was documented as saying “I didn’t come over on the Mayflower but I got there as soon as I could.”
How the West was won is a matter of history but history is usually written with a bias to the victors.
We were led to believe, these decades, that “All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again.” And yet, he now sits proudly, shell intact, but still on the wall. He is taking a ‘hell’ of a chance; Again.
We applaud the engineer who so easily and efficiently fixed Humpty. Remarkable!!
But our politicians should stop inciting us to hate each other. Their polarization games separate and hurt. In the old days, we had a short campaign season and once the votes were counted, we got on with our lives and the task of ‘building country,’ together.
For some countries, the State is sacrosanct. For others, the individual is dispensable. And still for others the ideology that gives them significance is singular.
How do you fight against an ideology that is inculcated from the earliest moments of existence until death? And how do people who value life above all compete with those for whom life is but a steppingstone?
The announcement was made on 25th March 2026. The NDP is united. In the beginning, they inspired hope. They were accomplished men and women whom we believed could make a difference to the development of the Territory.
And they did. Until self-interest and the thirst for power crept in. Avarice capped the equation. And as the individual members moved, they drew their own share of the supporters.
In their wake stands broken relationships, some having existed from childhood. They have engendered deep disappointment and caused significant pain.
Perhaps the Queen of Hearts suffered the most. She was enticed to give up her friendships of up to half a century for ‘strange bed fellows,’ who did not stand the test of time. One deserted. Two became prodigal sons.
We doubt her memory gets a backward glance for she served her purpose and was already being eased out of the way.
And others, fiercely supportive, sprang up around the Alliance and the rhetoric created sparks. We wonder what will become of some of the issues like the Bank of Asia. Our curiosity even enters the realm of whether newly created enemies must hurriedly become friends once again.
The ‘Reds’ have come full circle. They held promise, inspired hope, and projected confidence. In their day, they were statesmen, united, formidable but indecisive about their leadership.
And then came the scheming, The killing of each other’s projects lest the wrong star peaked; The polarization of the people; The China debacle; The splintering of the Party.
Do they care about the trail of damaged and broken relationships, not to mention, broken hearts, that they left behind? Are they concerned about the disappointment? Missed opportunities; The letdown of ‘State’ at a time when we should have been working closer, harder, for the good of the people.
Do they care about the people or is this simply a ploy to get their hands, again, on the reins of power and perhaps, even, the treasury?
But the core problem has not gone away. Who will lead? One has fire and energy. One has intellect and organizational skills. One holds the cards. One has longevity and patience. And one has credibility and is trustworthy.
But all have the desire to be in charge. So, Humpty Dumpty sits, exposed and in danger. And if they manage not to lead with the hand of credibility, then it is not beyond the realm of possibility that they could be DOA at the polls.
For it is one thing to not trust ‘John Doe’ but it is horse of a different colour if ‘John Doe’ cannot be trusted. The jury is out and in an apathetic mood.
Look at Barbados. For the 3rd time in a span of 8 years, the Prime Minister captured all the seats in her Parliament. Is that worthy of applause when barely over one third of her population was engaged this last time down from 43% in 2022?
How have we come to the place where we do not even care who leads our countries?
Since the elected demonstrate such scant respect for the needs of the electorate. Added to that is the jumping around for positions after votes are cast. The voters are listless and not just in the basin.
So, excuse us if Humpty’s resurrection is not met with thundering applause. For even if he is the first to pass the post, we will wonder about his commitment to ‘country.’ We have ample experience about his commitment to self.
But then, wondering is what we do on Fridays.
Happy Easter and Happy Friday!