THE EDITOR:
Within the circle of creation and destruction man must live harmoniously, with ebb and flow, in tune with all that exists. This is the fundamental philosophy that observant sages of former times had distilled from living in a state of nature. Extreme convulsions of nature always come to reside in a place of new balance and harmony, into which an instinct for survival had developed. To those who have learned to live accommodating nature, harmony and balance were (are), more than words. They were what man longed for; and he developed his religion to honour these two – harmony and balance. Later man inserted himself and his life became a search for the new triad constituting, balance, harmony, and his new intelligence.
Based on such understanding, if one were to offer a word to the people of Saint Lucia following the June 6 electoral victory of Allen Chastanet and the UWP, it would be to be aware that balance, harmony, and compassion offer whatever is necessary to heal a people. From personal experience I know how challenging it is to turn away from a vitriolic campaign in which insults, lies and recrimination took center stage, to a new place of compassion and forgiveness. Yet this is what is called for at this time if Allen Chastanet and his new UWP team are to unite the country and create the necessary atmosphere for jobs and progress.
To his credit, former Prime Minister Anthony, leader of the St. Lucia Labour Party has paved the way somewhat by a gracious statement conceding defeat. Allen Chastanet and his UWP team must now put the election campaign behind them and begin immediately to create harmony, balance and trust in building the new Saint Lucia, as promised. The first whatsapp I received at 7 a.m. the morning after the elections read: ‘it seems like a new freshness has descended over our island and overwhelmed it. No blood was spilled! Those who think our people are stupid and uncaring make a big mistake.’ To this I can only add: ‘Amen!’
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Surah Al-E-Imran/The Family of Imran
As to those who deny the Signs of Allah, and in defiance of right, slay the Prophets, and slay those who teach just dealing with mankind, announce to them a grievous penalty. (21)
They are those whose works will bear no fruit in this world and in the Hereafter, and they have no helpers. (22)
Hast thou not turned thy thought to those who have been given a portion of the Book? They are invited to the Book of Allah, to settle their dispute, but a party of them turn back and decline (the arbitration). (23)
This because they say: “The fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days”; for their forgeries deceive them as to their own religion. (24)
But how (will they fare) when We gather them together against a Day about which there is no doubt and each soul will be paid out just what it has earned, without (favour or) injustice? (25)
Say: “O Allah! Lord of Power (and Rule) Thou givest Power to whom Thou pleasest and Thou strippest off power from whom Thou pleasest thou enduest with honour whom thou pleasest, and Thou bringest low, whom Thou pleasest; in Thy hand is all Good. Verily, over all things Thou hast power. (26)
“Thou causest the Night to gain on the Day, and Thou causest the Day to gain on the Night; Thou bringest the Living out of the Dead, and Thou bringest the Dead out of the Living; and Thou givest sustenance to whom Thou pleasest without measure.” (27)
Let not the Believers take for friends or helpers unbelievers rather than believers; if any do that, shall have no relation left with Allah except by way of precaution, that ye may guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you (to fear) Himself for the final goal is to Allah. (28)
Say: “Whether ye hide what is in your hearts or reveal it Allah knows it all. He knows what is in the heavens, and what is on earth. And Allah has power over all things. (29)
“On the day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done, and all the evil it has done, it will wish there were a great distance between it and its evil. But Allah cautions you (to fear) Him. And Allah is full of kindness to those that serve Him. (30)
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-An ominous tropical trough as environmental ambiance
-A statistical HALF of registered voters at the ballot box
-100% of those who are economically solvent do show up
-An assumption that there is a miracle fix in the hands of the entrenched old money.
Conclusion: A populist party depends on very large voter turn out and the hope the incumbency is has major controls on the rudder of the economic malaise, hence, when these two confounding elements conspire with apathy and learned helplessness- the current results at the ballot are inevitable.
The most tragic results of this election is VOTER APATHY.
This informs me that the half the population is on par with the most rural socio economic expectations of BIAFRA (circa 1960’s)
Pete ole boy – your smirk is expected – and to your credit -well VEILED 🙂
as you dust off that loaned Irish top hat and Piccadilly long coat. I would loan you my gloves and baton but I am saving it for a more erotic encounter with you 🙂
So, will you inform this blog on your newly minted official job.
Ambassador to Antarctica is a suitable balance, if not harmony for your natural fiery heat as an acolyte of the eternal cauldron of INFERNO………….
…..I concede this “Battle of the Bulge” for the same tactical relevance of the famous flawed circumstances in “A Bridge TOO Far”
The struggle for the righteous soul of St Lucia lives on. Your 5 year hiatus will your coveted picnic but in the long run a magnificent edifice shall arise on this land with a spiritual mission of Divine Redemption.
Rest assured it shall not be Gothic, nor have flying Buttresses and extended naves to maintain naiveté among the “common everyday” folks…….instead…..THINK cosmic influenced DOMES and Sentinel Minarets!!
To toast your gloating goat, may I suggest a tall triple highball –
LONG ISLAND ICE TEA with crushed mint leaves in a Bavarian Mug with a frozen rim of refined MOlASSES
Tally Ho.
I pause this day at the fantastic resolute iconic representation (albeit hollywood depiction of an actual historical set of events)
to give you a glimpse of vanguard determination and collective PURPOSE.
A Bridge Too Far is truly a factual display of character and commitment in the face of OVERWHEMING ADVERSITY
(A trait that ELUDED Josie @ SLP when the helm was potentially his in then choppy political seas. Instead he slithered sashayed to Flambeau for easy $$$$$$)
It was far easier then to burn a red tee in VFORT and PUT ON a YELLA TEE on the Castries Boulevard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Li65P_3lvM
Someday, Pete ole boy that ole wooden bridge- of your YOUTH- which spanned over the Bacadere -replaced by the modern American Bridge;
shall reinvent itself like a Holy Grail and its environs will rival its northern geo cousin’s prosperity at Rodney Bay.
And you will need a visa to visit.