ONE of the reasons countries seek political independence is, to use the tired cliche, to make things better for their people. Newly independent countries see such attainment as the dawning of a new day. It was so with the African countries and it was so with the Caribbean countries which trekked to Britain from the 1960s to negotiate their freedom from domination by the āmotherā country.
Independence also conferred on those achieving it, control of their respective destinies, the opportunity to set new developmental and other agendas, the overall objective being a better standard of life for all. Indeed, the excitement that came with nationhood was matched by the lofty expectations of material improvement, with economic advancement at the forefront of these ideals. The belief was that once we became decolonized and raised our own flag, everything else would be added onto us.
The euphoria of the moment failed to consider that the world in which we all live goes through cycles, some good, some bad, some providing positive economic results that all can share in, and others producing a harvest of disasters that drive the same countries to the brink of collapse.
Unfortunately there is no school or university that teaches leaders how to successfully develop a newly independent country, but one assumed that by being entrusted with the power to control their own destinies, countries would recognize the opportunities that come with self-determination. Unfortunately, this is where Ssint Lucia and the other independent Caribbean countries appear to have fallen short.
We have in this region the tendency to brag about our bright sons and daughters, the great thinkers that we have produced, but yet at the same time we refuse to give credence to the ideas and suggestions that they advance from time to time aimed at improving our lot. For instance, three years ago, the former Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Sir Dwight Venner put forward the argument that the OECS must be prepared to make a u-turn in their way of doing business if they were to survive in the current international environment.
The way Sir Dwight saw it, while these countries had survived and made steady progress since independence, all the evidence suggested that āthis time is different and that to catch up with the rest of the world and our competitors we must be prepared for significant adjustments to our current policies and modes of doing businessā.
The warning was timely, given the fact that OECS had, at that time endured four years of negative economic growth as a result of the impact of the global crisis. Venner concluded that they had reached a tipping point which would require āour sustained and collective efforts to get our economies on the path to growth and developmentā.
In recent years, the economies of Saint Lucia and the other OECS countries have taken a battering. Some are now beginning to slowly come out of it, with growth rates of between one and two percent. But with burgeoning debt levels, this is not going to take us anywhere no matter how loud our leaders crow. Not only are we saddled with economic problems, the social issues facing Saint Lucia in particular and the other islands in general are staggering breeding considerable decay: poverty, unemployment, crime, drug and alcohol abuse, expensive and inadequate health care etc. But if we cannot achieve simple things like the cleanliness of our environment, the removal of vagrants from our streets, some of whom sleep on the pavement of our most frequently-entered buildings in broad daylight in our capital; if we cannot keep unhealthy-looking animals from roaming our streets and mixing with tourists, how then can we expect to confront the more serious issues?
Again, looking at our own country, we see important institutions collapsing all around us. When such conditions remain unchecked it means that it is only a matter of time before the society itself collapses. The signs are there if only we would recognize them for what they are.
We say boldly, whether it is Saint Lucia, Dominica or Antigua that we ought to be doing better with the power that independence placed in our hands. In each of these poor little islands, there is need for new vision and a pooling of the intellect that resides there so that ideas can be harnessed and put to work for the benefit of the people. Right here in the pages of this newspaper, we have professionals giving free consultancy services to the government and people of Saint Lucia on various aspects of national development, but as far as we can see, no one seems to be listening to them. Because of the alienation of this significant body of opinion and ideas, we are failing to realize our true potential.
I read this piece with flooded eyes and a racing heart. Anyone with an enlightened social conscience should be concerned of our current state.
I am sensing social decay that will vaporize this volatile Saint Lucian brand that we depend upon so heavily.
We need to place social reform front and central in our economic pursuits. Nothing short of extraordinary leadership will do if we want to be relevant and competitive. He who hath ears to hear, let him hear. So help us God.
At this stage
(note all the sociological, economical, psychological, educational ills implied/alluded to by editor)
we might as well be at the edge of the gravitational cascade towards an ‘event horizon’ of galactic proportions.
This can be far worse than a crash landing of our national “Starship Enterprise”.
Drastic national initiative to abort our demise beyond the political -economical scenarios that stifle Haiti/Honduras is needed-now!
– Build adequate healthy “green” housing units along the Dauphin/Dennery border n, ear Coastline. Then relocate all who live in the inner city of Castries (perimeter stretching from Vigie-Lanse Road-the Calvary Road-Chausee Rd -with an imaginary extended line that climbs all the hillocks and Morne down to the old Victoria Hospital and the harbor.
DEMOLISH everything save a handful of historical landmarks
THEN BUILD a brand new city along the vision of BRASILIA.
I prefer a mix of the futuristic with borrowed modified traditional styles from around the world- including the Near and Far East. Some Tall buildings can be crowned with nod to some traditional housing forms.
The G Charles airport and the rim of the harbor can be converted along the same engineering plans as BATTERY PARK CITY in Manhattan New York
With deeper water proof pylons (like the ones that enabled the initial construction of the former World Trade Center NYCity) the entire flats of Castries City can be buiit of smart solar powered very high rise buildings that borrow earthquake proof engineering designs from San Francisco’. Plazas of mixed use office shopping deluxe residential can be carved out for an international LEASING market.
The harbor facing slopes of the morne extending to an imaginary extended line of the Chausse rd shal use terraced engineering designs for mid level condominium units
Horizontal electric transport and vertical cable car s will address the people mover needs of that sloping location.
In fact the entire new city will aim at 0 carbon emission standards. The choc cemetery will be converted into a Mausoleum/ Museum . Its immediate beach area reengineered into water recreational facilities aimed at the tourist market.
Initiatives to motivate the revitalization of the areas bordering the new city into well zoned middle class residential enclaves for Civil servants and staff of the new inner city is a priority –
all low income housing is to relocate to the new healthier more secure and enforceable units at the Dauphin/Dennery parish border coastal zone.
Note these are not slum designs but rigorously inspected safe zones that can isolate criminal infestation, while boosting health and education needs. The vision is of a socio-economic ladder out of poverty (on paper) . Building units will not reflect poverty. Instead they shall experiment with collaborative GREEN small Carbon footprint designs .
This Castries model is earmarked for a high end market but its ramifications will streamline the immediate and future developmental needs of the nation.
Slavery is a mentality. Therefore one can walk the world totally free yet is mentally imprisoned. Meaning that irrespective of all the changes that are happening in life we have refused to adjust our way of making changes and enforcing them through media mentioning to say the least. Even more important one has to truly believe in their self and take great pride in being born a human. One who also wants to make a difference for better living.One who knows and understands that at times these changes may require sacrifice. Most important of all are the ones given the opportunity to make that civil difference and always stray away from their dreams and vision because they expect it to be a smooth journey. When did trail blazing journey become easy.? Caribbean emancipation will come when the Caribbean Islands decide to set up Their Own Exchange. Yes, that is a major solution but has to be handled by those trail blazers. The ones who never waiver for better life improvement for all. Our Exchange will empower us in so many ways. The world gets to know us better and trade with us. We all get to promote our major products on the stock exchange. Giving more visible information to the world at world level business. Increases the chances for more world business. These are some ways we can expand our presence to the world. However it has to be done cohesively. That may be the problem. Now since we know the problem then we have to avoid that problem with full determination.
Set yourself free by making changes that people no longer think is possible. Yet they are simple changes. Share your idea if you have one and don’t get caught up in the media mess that someone might steal it. If you are truly free then knowing it was your idea is the true greatness of it all. Let not your mind be imprisoned. Say hi to anyone you come in contact with and try saying it truly from the heart. You might be amazed of your powers in making others think and smile to themselves after meeting you. That is true freedom. It is only when we start thinking and living this lifestyle will there be joy in living once again. If you never tasted that joy, you have not lived. For it should make any one of us feel joyful in knowing that you placed a smile on a stranger’s face. At least for a brief moment their life is joyful because of you. You are joyful knowing you caused someone to smile. Just by being pleasant. Once you tasted it your hearts never stops yearning for it. Live that freedom. That is true power. Everything else is secondary.