A couple of (unusually) unequivocal VOICE editorials in March really caught my attention and made me think, ‘Plus ça change…’ They put me in mind of a very candid speech given in 1990 (the year is highly significant!) by my sister Claudia (now resident in the Czech Republic) when, as a well-respected, popular Resident Tutor, she addressed the graduating class of the St Lucia Teachers’ College, and examined some of the ‘’gut’’ issues of the day together with the various crises of confidence afflicting the society at the time. You will see that that speech could very well be delivered in the Saint Lucia of today and still be more than applicable. I would love to be able to reproduce it in its entirety but it is rather lengthy, so I hope to deliver it in parts. Here is the first.
Her central proposition was that “This Saint Luca is our personal environment and our heritage – this gift that we carry with us into Nationhood – enrichable only by our commitment and indeed, our privilege, in this long moment of time, to preserve, to nurture and to care.” She went on to decry the fact that over the past several months, “our young Nation, barely emergent from itis swaddling clothes has been wracked by a series of public and private controversies of an extraordinary nature which have threatened to destroy the very social fabric of our country.’’
She proceeded: We have inadvertently been caught up in a debilitating and ultimately futile debate on who is right and who is wrong – a debate which frequently yields partial or subjective conclusions, reflecting the particular biases or preferences of the participants, irrespective of which particular bandwagon they may happen to be riding.
And here’s the crux of the matter: It has occurred to me that in the general confusion, many of us, St Lucians, are missing the essential moot: the real, fundamental question which should be exercising our minds and engaging our energies is not ‘who is right’, but ‘WHAT IS RIGHT?’ And I (the writer of this current article) ask, How many Saint Lucians appeal to their higher selves and connect with their better angels in such matters? How many just simply go with that from which they can benefit in material ways, putting themselves up for sale, allowing themselves to be bought, whether directly or indirectly, no questions asked?
‘’For it is only when this society has established and articulated clear, objective standards concerning what is an acceptable code of conduct for holders of public offices that we will have a yardstick against which to measure and assess the rights and wrongs of any given case or action by them.
In many older, more established societies with a long history of self-government, certain time-honoured conventions have evolved leading to a certain tone and atmosphere surrounding the conduct of public business and enhancing the democratic process through sensitive response to public opinion. On occasion, and particularly in times of crisis, these conventions have played an even more significant role than the formal instruments around which they are centred. It is this intangible ‘spirit’ as much as the substance of any Constitution or Law which guarantees its effectiveness and general acceptance.
It is quite clear then that since one cannot legislate for every conceivable eventuality, greater social and political maturity can only be achieved through the development of appropriate codes and standards, securely held and equally firmly upheld.”
She goes on to discuss the nexus between the foregoing and the classroom teacher (remember she’s addressing teachers), as well as the Family and the Polity. And then she arrives at a discussion of the Constitution, with which I shall continue next weekend.
–Nahdjla Bailey
Your sister would make a top notch grant writer to UN agencies on behalf of 3rd world concerns. Boy, we could use her skills for raising clean water access in Africa, too.
But I caution you, Peter Josie would never utilize that much of anyone’s speech including that of the fabled Pearly gate keeper Saint Peter-
with the lone exception of the regurgitated debris that has rolled out from the alimentary canal of the CEO of Chas Inc.
Please play along with my planned romantic hook up between you and Peter Josie.
You my dear, are his best bet for divorce from the occult witch (Queen Mary), psychiatric intake @ laTock and Rockland Psychiatric Center, NY, or banishment to the outer planets on grounds of religious fallacy.
His staggering spiral into Hades Inferno is pronounced, steady and well defined as that of objects approaching The Cosmic Event Horizon.
I can assure you that the Basilica Minor will appoint your saving grace of our notorious local “Judas Priest”to Rome for Canonization-
If you can save Peter Josie from his locked on descent to…………………..you know………..
Still, you remind me of England’s ole Bailey and it’s legal circus shenanigans…….
Tally ho
Hope the ME-109’s don’t catch you in mid scramble haste to your Spitfire cockpit 🙂
Once again a very educational , inspirational, coherent, practical and realistic piece of article written by an objective journalist.
I hope that the citizens of our society take advantage of educating themselves by reading these objective and meaningful articles written by individuals like you who are willing to serve them in a non boas way.
Wonderful piece. Like a breathe of fresh air that the lungs yearn for, in its desperate attempt to keep the body and itself alive in a drowning world of depleting oxygen.
Similar in cases where politicians shamelessly manipulate, misguide and mislead their citizens simply to get elected. Where moral codes or ethical standards are non existent.
Thanks again for enlightening those that seek some sense of meaning and direction in this journey called life.