Letters & Opinion

(Don’t) Call Me ‘Sir’

By David PrescodTHEY’VE done it again. Not satisfied with selling our nationality, they’ve decided to re-colonize us. “Sovereign” and “Independent” are the new watchwords, even as we proceed on bended knee to ask the Queen for permission to mimic her awards and to call ourselves “Dame” and “Sir”.

“Mimic men”! That is what V. S. Naipaul called us, and as much as we love to hate Naipaul, he was, and is, correct. We aspire to nothing more than to imitate the trappings of English nobility, complete with tuxedo, bow tie and fluted champagne glass held delicately in hand notwithstanding the fact that we are in reality a “rum and coke” people.

It is not that there is anything wrong with the trappings in and of themselves, but 37 years into our independence it cannot be that the zenith of our aspirations is to call ourselves by the titles “Sir” and “Dame”.

Before going any further, let me make the point that while criticising our adoption of these titles, that criticism does not extend to the persons to whom they have been awarded. We do a good enough job of disrespecting our own and I have no intention of contributing to it, but the adoption of these titles should be the subject of discussion if only for the generations who will inherit this new infamous legacy.

From time to time the issue of our history, and in particular those issues surrounding slavery and colonialism are brought to our attention, now moreso in connection with the Caribbean’s demands for reparations from Europe. Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of UWI, has written a book on the subject, and heads the Caricom Reparations Commission.

Prime Minister Gonsalves of St. Vincent is outspoken on the subject, his views are well known, and he has been at the forefront of the call for compensation from the former colonial powers. Our Prime Minister, Dr. Anthony, has himself also spoken on the matter, reparations being the subject of his address to the 16th Annual Eric E Williams Memorial Lecture at Florida International University in November 2014

The trouble with reparations however is that it does not resonate with Caribbean people. To quote one recent caller to a talk show, we are now American, having adopted their culture lock, stock and barrel. We have to be reminded of our history, although even when reminded we shrink from the unpleasantness that it evokes. But if any among us thinks that the history of slavery has been erased from our psyches we only have to look to Haiti.

Until Professor Beckles’ lecture, re-broadcast on local media on Emancipation Day somewhere around 2012, many of us were unaware of the price, in gold, which Haiti had to pay to France for its freedom following the Haitian revolution of 1804. Nor that it took Haiti from 1825 to 1947 to complete those payments. Nor were we aware of the support provided to France by the United States in securing this payment.

Neither were we aware of how the payment of those reparations by Haiti to France led to Haiti’s bankruptcy, a condition from which it is yet to recover. We express anger at the disenfranchisement of Santo Dominicans of Haitian descent, but then sweep that matter under a Caricom rug knowing full well that little will be heard of it again.

Few can understand why, following the devastation of Haiti by the earthquake of 2010, little of the aid promised by the developed world has in fact arrived. Or why, of the aid that has been received, little has gone to the Haitian people, the bulk of it being spent on the upkeep of staffing for the aid agencies. It seems that Haiti just can’t escape it, as even when their nationals seek refuge on our shores, one of her daughters is brutalized by our thugs. We should be doubly outraged.

If we think that Haiti is an exception, then we might look next door to Barbados where, at the recent commencement of that island’s year-long celebrations of its 50th Anniversary of Independence, a video presentation containing the statement that Barbados was the “freest black country in the world” unleashed a storm of criticism that still hasn’t died down. White Barbadians want recognition for their contribution to the island’s development and point out that they are as much Barbadian as their black counterparts, while black Barbadians see the contribution of white Barbados through a colonial lens.

Or maybe we might want to provide some explanation for the skin-bleaching craze which has taken hold in Jamaica as dark skinned Jamaicans attempt to lighten their skins so that they become more “acceptable”. Or if not, explain the experience of a dark skinned, young, St. Lucian woman who frequently has to face the comment that “my girl, you real pretty you know … but if only you was shabine”, and who now explains that she can understand the skin bleaching craze.

Our history is alive and well, even if we choose to hide the scars and pretend that all is OK. It is that history, and the fact that it is those who were at the forefront of its recognition during the 1960’s and 1970’s who are now leading us back to emulating the Queen’s awards that makes the new national awards of knighthood more painful.

This, also, is part of that history, as no matter how much we protest our “Sovereignty and Independence”, somewhere deep within us we wish no more than to be seen to be like “them”. We were the Afro generation, living the achievements of the Civil Rights movement in the US as our own, revelling in a rising black consciousness and the recognition that “black is beautiful”. We have failed ourselves miserably.

One of the lasting memories of secondary school at St. Mary’s College is that of a student being sent home at the opening of the school term because his afro was too big. He went home but returned with his father who stood up for his son’s right to wear his afro. It was not a hairstyle; it was a statement, and there were those before us who were prepared to defend our increasing recognition of our identity. We wore African dashikis; shirt-jacks were approved formal wear and still make an appearance from time to time.

We went to school during the day, and in the evening assembled on then Columbus Square for political education from first the “Forum” and then “SLAM – St. Lucia Labour Action Movement”. We followed George and Josie as they mobilised the banana farmers of the valley. We looked on at the upheavals prior to the attainment of Independence, and again following Independence leading to the victory of the Labour Party at the polls in 1979.

We supported an amendment to the Constitution to allow a too young Kenny Anthony to become a Senator and Minister of Education, even if by the time of his appointment the amendment was no longer necessary. We had severed the link with our colonial heritage, and we would now forge our own future.

All of that for nothing! What would Bro. George think of these new knighthoods? And how would we have addressed him were he still alive today ¬– Sir Bro. George?

Even with the above, we should have no difficulty with those of our people who accept the Queen’s awards in general, nor of those who accept her knighthoods. Those knighthoods perhaps serve as useful tools for those who have to navigate the Commonwealth corridors of power on our behalf, and few if any of those persons stand on the ceremony attached to the titles in the day-to-day conduct of their lives. This will not be the case with the new national knighthoods as they will be of significance only to Saint Lucia, and will serve only to distinguish us from each other.

Of the fifty-three member countries of the Commonwealth, four, in addition to Britain, previously conferred knighthoods allowing the prefix “Sir” or “Dame” to be used. They are: Australia, New Zealand, Antigua & Barbuda, and Barbados. We know the history of the formation of modern day Australia and New Zealand which were extensively settled by British immigrants, and find that there has been ambivalence about the use of these titles in both of these countries.

While the New Zealand titles with the right to use of “Sir” and “Dame” were instituted in 1996, the Labour government removed that right in 2000 only to have the succeeding National government re-establish it in 2009. It continues in existence today although New Zealand’s highest national award does not confer the right to the use of “Sir” or “Dame”.

In Australia, the right to the titles was instituted in 1976, removed in 1986, re-instituted in 2014, and finally removed in November 2015. Following the reinstatement of the titles in 2014, the leader of the Australian Republican Movement commented that “This is turning the clock back to a colonial frame of mind which we have outgrown as a nation”, and in removing the right to the use of these titles in 2015, the new Australian Prime Minister simply stated that the titles were not appropriate in modern Australia.

That leaves us with Barbados and Antigua & Barbuda. Barbados has always been seen to have strong attachments to Britain, and has often attracted the title “little England” in the Caribbean. Although instituting their awards in 1980 allowing use of the titles “Sir” and “Dame”, Barbados has been considering the issue of becoming a republic from 1979, although the idea was rejected at that time; the matter has resurfaced there from time to time and is now again on the political agenda.

Of interest in Barbados though is Rickey Singh’s comment in the Guyana Chronicle of December 14, 2003 that “In Barbados, national awards are conferred under the Order of Barbados and with them come an increasing number of Knights and Dames of St. Andrew quite a few being high profile politicians.” Note that he was referring to active politicians.

Little can be said of Antigua and Barbuda except to point out that following the recent change of government, that country’s new Prime Minister is reported, in Caribbean 360 of August 18, 2014, as indicating that he would be writing to the new Governor General seeking to void nominations and appointments made by the former Governor General as those appointments brought the awards into disrepute. Apparently, the former Governor General had conferred awards on nineteen persons without the requisite authority, nine of which awards were knighthoods. Of those nine knighthoods, one was allegedly conferred on her son for his role as confidante and legal advisor to herself, the Governor General – son advised mother and was knighted for this.

Thirty-seven years after becoming independent, this then is what we aspire to: a colonial frame of mind which Australia has outgrown and discarded. Ambivalence in New Zealand where, even there, that nation’s highest honour does not confer the titles “Sir” and “Dame”.Difficulty in Barbados with the breaking of strong traditional ties to the monarchy. And then we have Antigua & Barbuda.

“Sovereign and Independent!” we keep shouting to the world, but in reality it should be “Sovereign, Independent, and Colonial!” Or maybe “Sovereign, Independent, and Imperial!” Why do we need this?

We are truly a study in contradictions, and next week we will look at more of these and how they impact our pride. Then, we will look at how those contradictions are impacting our governance.

15 Comments

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    This is an excellent article, planted in the reality of a mis-educated population suffering P.T.S.S./Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome, also called the After Effects of Slavery. You used the word “Subject” to describe the Negro Subject of this abomination called Queen Elizabeth-II, but they are also called “Commoners”, which is even more of disgusting description of a People enslaved by Elizabeth-I who bestowed these titles of knighthood to Pirates like “Sir” Francis Drake and “Sir” John Hawkins for murdering and enslaving our Ancestors.

    So today we have taken the level of mimicry to new heights, because the effects of Willie Lynch the notorious slaver, with his Sugarcane Plantation in Barbados, has caused a damage so severe that it is manifest in our actions until now.

    When one observes the House Nigger mentalities of a Black Pete Josie, who hates being called “Black”, after stating his hatred of the Black people, describing the Black woman as “Too Black and Uglier”, and other Negroes like the weightlifter who changed his name because it was not “white”enough, to Rick John Wayne who goes around proclaiming that the naked image of the Caucasian, nailed to the cross posts is God Almighty, we can begin to see the damage inflicted upon the minds of the enslaved Africans and perpetuated through the religion of White Supremacy.

    There is nothing these Negro embarrassments love more than being a Caucasian, so Negress women kill their hair with fire and chemicals to make their beautiful natural hair lie dead on their heads like the so-called white woman, and they are complemented by self-hating Negroes like Josie and John Wayne.

    Black Pete Josie, now sounding like a Drag Queen as death beckons him, would love nothing more than to be given a trophy white woman and called “SIR” Black Pete Josie, to demonstrate his arrival at the evolutionary assent from macacakry, joining the other Negroes like Sir Derek Walcott who could find no Black Lucian worthy of his love, so like the Negro Wayne brings home a trophy white woman to demonstrate his love for Black people in St. Lucia.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kf7fujM4ag

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  2. This is a good article. However, I have to say that we and our government have to prioritize when it cone to dealing with issues that adversely affect the nation as a whole. In my opinion there are many more pressing issues that need immediate attention. And these issues should keep on resurfacing on a constant basis until it is dealt with in a satisfactory manner. Gun. Why not make that a topic of priority. The murder rate has drastically increased in recent years. Most of them are committed with guns. Where do these guns originate? Should we hold these countries accountable for these crimes on the same manner to hold some of our citizens accountable for exporting drugs to their countries and want these individuals extradited. The two situations are quite similar.

    1. JULIUS! WHAT is more important than the mental health of our people? Prescod is on point exposing this mental health issues with black people imitating their colonial masters like MONKEYS. People around the world are breaking off the yokes of the British Empire’s legacy of oppression from India to China, except Loocians degenerating into an abyss. All I kept seeing at this papishow, was the huge presence of the white woman pulling the strings of the Black G.G. playing LA WOS imitating their colonial masters. Indeed this is a mental health issue.

  3. Top Priority!
    Emancipation from MENTAL Slavery and Fascist Colonialism as Classified by SOM above.
    SELF HATE and Cultural Suicidal Ideation leads one to grab a bone, a machete etc to create black on black crime -with impunity!
    Loving the fact that Black is beautiful is paramount to our collective survival.
    Once we become comfortable with the external features of our blackness our internal equilibrium becomes balanced adequately.
    It comes as no surprise that the onsets of hypertension & diabetes are highest among blacks!
    We become an internally unbalanced chaotic mess because of our SELF HATING HEART.
    Then we seek COMFORT via JUNK foods and obese diets.
    Its paradoxical that urban blacks adopted the euphemism “BABY” to emote their love for each other when as the statistical data has shown they never meant the UNCONDITIONAL love that bonds a TRUE mother to her BABY/infant.
    Broken households, absent dads, MIA or AWOL bio fathers for the most part are ramifications of SELF HATE , BLACK LEARNED HELPLESSNESS / HOPELESSNESS and MIMICRY of all that is decadent /Pagan in our colonial masters.
    This flirting with cultural suicidal ideation can only be averted via a deep renewal of TRUE LOVE for our collective BLACKNESS……………………..
    Positive soulfulness aligned with Divine Inspiration was a mantra held in high esteem in the advent of the ’50’s – 60’s uprisings.
    Our current generation equipped with global reach smart phones can quote every naughty lyric of SlicK Rick, Flavor Flav or Biggy Smalls BUT
    none of the urgent culture erosion warnings from Stokely Camichael, Muhammad Ali, Angela Davis or Malcom X.
    Some might associate these names with glossed over TV / movie productions BUT miss the deep historical messages of cultural EMPOWERMENT conveyed in their heroic commitments.
    We need to return to Marley’s “ONE LOVE” of our Blackness and the 60’s renaissance of Brotherly /Sisterly love for each other
    only then
    can we stomach the compassion for addressing black on black violence in our communities..n’est pas?

    1. Dassault,

      it’s so true that once our mental healing begins, this fratricide will quickly end. As long as we continue to ingest the poison of Self-Hatred fed to us by the Bogus God that teaches Black people that the Naked Caucasian nailed to the Posts is God, who is perfect in beauty, and Power, we will have samboes like Black Pete Judas Josie, and John Wayne

      That Evil Image that teaches Black Children that the perfect one has Blue eyes, Pale skin, thin lips, dead hair, and strait witch-like nostrils, must be totally destroyed. When the victims of this Evil doctrine see perfection/God, he sees himself as the antithesis of perfection and soon resorts to bleaching their skins, killing their hair with Perms Chemicals to get closer to perfection, and soon self-hating Negroes like John Wayne, an Derek Walcott bring back a white woman to let our Black women know how ugly they are, and are not deserving of these Honorary White Negro members of the British Empire. Especially now they are in the company of the pirates Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins.

      Here we see a Negress who bleaches her skin and when asked by the Judge, if she could kill herself and come back white would she do it? She answers yes! and he goes on to address black on black violence.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHfRmrY5smw

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    1. I am just looking at this picture of the courageous queen Angelia Davis, and turned on the TV to the good riddance of Nancy Reagan, whose husband bombed Libya killing Khadffi’s little daughter, and invaded Grenada. The Earth just released a tremendous burden.

      Surah Al-Zalzala
      In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful.

      When Earth is shaken with her (final) earthquake (1)

      And Earth yieldeth up her burdens, (2)

      And man saith: What aileth her? (3)

      That day she will relate her chronicles, (4)

      Because thy Lord inspireth her. (5)

      That day mankind will issue forth in scattered groups to be shown their deeds. (6)

      And whoso doeth good an atom’s weight will see it then, (7)

      And whoso doeth ill an atom’s weight will see it then. (8)

  4. How loud can I say that these people who write such conscious articles with bloggers like DASSAULT and others injecting such potency into the subjects, deserves recognition of gratitude. This article should be homework assignment for all H.S. Students.

  5. St. Lucia as well as most Caribbean islands are multi cultural in nature when it comes to race compositions. Yet we do not have one tenth the world’s problems of racial tension. Why? Because we firstly and most importantly respect others as humans first rather that look at their pigmentation and physical attributes.. Nations become powerful because they abuse other humans in some form. It makes them fell superior somehow. There seem to be that missing element of somehow mistreating another makes them complete. The element of hatred. Normally people tend to go outside their race to establish dominance of others. It makes life easier in their immediate environment. Their race does not see or feel the threat and abuse. Our region has been Blessed. We do not have such a problem. Let us not allow them to change our way of thinking and become them in our minds. Hatred is taught and learned. It is not normal. Evil best describes it. Even though we may be on frustrated at times in wanting to see changes, it is our responsibility, those who take the initiative in becoming the voice for others. Congratulations to the bloggers who choose to fulfill that role. We may stumble at times but our intentions are honorable. It is in those times when we stumble that we need to support and reassure each other in a civil and respectful way, even while disagreeing. Let us demonstrate our unique gifts and talents of civility by proving that even if we do not agree on all subject matter, we still respect each other as humans first and never use race as part of the equation. Let us use the opportunity to speak out against ill negative actions, policies and fear that controllers use so as to maintain power. We have all be Selected and Chosen by a Higher Power to be here. The only reason why we are alive. Let us use that time with some effort to make your domain a better place for all. That is your way of showing gratitude and appreciation for having been chosen.

  6. You really think that people in the Caribbean are not afflicted with racial bigotry? Do you see Allen Chastanet praying to a God that looks like Nelson Mandela or Muhammad Ali ? Our people are the victims of White Supremacy hence such ubiquitous poverty. Black people are trained to see Caucasians as good and kind and rich and pretty. Even with the reality telling us loud and clear, that Caucasians are sick wicked Racists who are the worst murderers in the history of mankind. So even though we are a majority people, Blacks have been shown their PLACE even in Lucia.

    HOW TO MAKE A SELF-HATING NEGRO

    https://www.facebook.com/717947878333399/videos/778194482308738/?theater

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  7. Caribbean people are basically the combination of roughly five races. Black, white, Spanish, Indian and the native Carib or Arawak. That makes us multi racial. To deny one segment of our racial composition is to deny oneself. However that being said, it becomes our responsibility to speak out against abuse or injustices. The SON-OF-MAN, I applaud you for taking a stance and using the proper channels to make the suppressors know of your right to a happy and proper existence. You might be labeled a terrorist because you will be seen as a threat to them at some point. Who knows if they will use their assassins or drones to eradicate anyone who challenges their authority. That is what is presently happening. The other victims who perish from the arsenal of their deadly weapons, will be labeled as victims of circumstance or supporters of or harboring terrorists. I know that you and I are both aware of the risks we take in speaking out. But that is what emancipation involves. Fearless Freedom fighters . we choose words over physical violence as a means of getting our point to the public. Respect.

  8. //

    JULIUS

    Language is one of the greatest gifts from Allah to his creatures; indeed, the pen is mighty. How it is used is of the utmost consequence of Truth or Falsehood; Light or Darkness. As a people of African Ancestry we are a people deprived of our own Language, Names, History, Culture, even as we are about to Celebrate the the European Pagan Goddess of Fertility and the Spring Equinox, Estore/Easter. Sadly this destruction of the Original People is not limited to Western geographic locations but is a global reality.

    The Language of Truth is powerful, with the ability to decapitate Falsehood.
    “A Truth that disheartens because it is True, is of far more value than the most stimulating of Falsehoods”.
    All creatures have Language – the Ant, the Bee, the Bird, the Dog, Cat, even the Tree has language, but most of Mankind don’t understand.

    The Religion of White Supremacy sedates the mind, and whenever serious inquest is made into matters of great importance, the All-Knowing Priest say, THAT’S A MYSTERY, MY CHILD”. There are No “MYSTERIES” in my Religion of Islam, but we know the Arabs use Religion to practice much mischief in the Earth, and they are some of the worse racist on Earth today, wanting nothing more than a White woman as is being played out before our very eyes in living color, with Dr. Juffali, Josie, John Wayne, and Derek Walcott.

    I truly do not understand your definition of “SPANISH” in your demographic statement, since many “Spanish are people Columbus called “Indians” even as we are called “WEST INDIANS” with our African selves. Please Listen to this sister you call “SPANISH”

    https://www.facebook.com/brenda.pineda.5602728/videos/1536757446643111/

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  9. ” Spanish” is simply being used in describing the origins of certain groups of people who through migration, were said to be from documented words, travelers who made contact with others that were of a different culture from theirs. They said Columbus sailed from Spain. If that is true then the residents of that state are Spaniards. Most importantly I believe the greatest of Creation is making all individuals different. Had all of use look the same, think the same, then all would be depressing. Being different also means using those differences to help better improve human’s life. Life is a thin balance. When we condemn another’s action or behavior, we have to also understand that we should not impose our ideas onto others, but use our ideas as educational options, allowing others to make a responsible decision. If we do not conduct our lives in that manner, we are no different from our oppressors. Challenging race is saying “God, Allah, Yahweh” is like saying how dare you create them and not more of us. What gives us that right? What we have to challenge are methods of thinking and behavioral patterns. Evil is easily found in every race. That makes no race better than another. However abusing another because of race should be totally unacceptable on all levels.

  10. Malcolm X said that he always viewed the white man as evil until he travelled to Mecca on his pilgrimage. There he witnessed every race upon the earth making that sacred journey. Does his statement no represent total truth. He also confesses by making such admission. To me that is Greatness. Having the humility and being that dignified human in admitting that at times our beliefs were wrong. That truly represents the absence of arrogance while displaying total humbleness in one”search for truth.

  11. JULIUS, Elijah Muhammad taught that, THE WHITE MAN IS SATAN. MALCOLM saw all Races in the Hajj. But it’s sad to say, not even the white Muslims have escaped the western poisoning of white Supremacy. America is the most influential mind manipulator in history, and they are high in rankings for top Racialists. Arabs are even more racist. See Dr. Julaffi? He is not divorcing a black woman. That Arab, like the king of Jordan, came to America to find a white woman, and add Walcott to that bunch. So if we are truthful, my eyes aren’t lying.

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