We Must Build National Consciousness

With the advent of social media and free online publications, these sources have become the main source of “knowledge” for too many of our people. However, because most of these sources deal with the “news of the day”, quickly moving on as new, “hot” issues arise, or sensationalism, not enough people engage in a serious way with deeper issues.

To a large extent, the period of the most rapid growth of national consciousness, in the Caribbean in particular, occurred when free and ready-made tools were not available. People went searching for reading material and often borrowed books and pamphlets. Many never returned, as I found to my own expense. The borrower would often go into denial when asked to return the same.

If the acquisition by the state had occurred then, it would have been big news and lots of discussion. Not all of the exchange of views would have been positive for there was no shortage of ignoramuses then, but we must remember the educational opportunities were limited. But comparatively speaking, we seem to be worse off now, because of our exposure. We ought to know better, to understand where our interests lie.

Clearly though, that does not seem to be the case. Take the announcement on the acquisition of Balliceaux for instance. It represents an acknowledgement that there are issues which carry more weight than gold or silver. Our history, dignity and patrimony are priceless.

Balliceaux is not just an “unspoiled” Caribbean Island waiting for investors, it is a weighty part of our history especially of our ancestors and their courageous battle to fight off foreign domination. Above all, it represents genocide by the British and a deliberate resort to ethnic cleansing, punishing the Garifuna and Kalinago for their resistance.

But, lo and behold, we are so worldly that instead, we find time for the shenanigans of President Trump, especially the news of possible loss of our precious “visa”. We often forget that it is not the USA alone which has visa entry, nearly all countries including our own have theirs too. But when Caribbean people say “visa” without qualification, we mean US visa. And tongues are still wagging and fingers clicking on the issue of the

ECCB’s Governor and the $22 million residence, (sparked by our own PM).

All these are important issues and worthy of debate, but when on the eve of our own self-proclaimed National Heroes Day, Balliceaux is returned to national ownership, no longer up for grabs on the international market, but to become the site of a national monument, not a playground for the heirs and successors of some of the same people responsible for the horrific genocide of 1797, all patriots should be rejoicing. It matters not whether you like Ralph and the ULP or not, that is not the issue, it is far bigger than that.

Following the announcement, an issue raised was that of “compensation” for the purported “owners” of Balliceaux. It is not by accident that this matter has been raised. In the first place our laws provide for compensation for any owner so disadvantaged, but in the case of Balliceaux, those claiming ownership will have to prove legal title to the island. This is more than reasonable because we know that under colonialism land were simply given to friends of the monarch. Those lands belonged to the Kalinago and Garifuna people but their right to it was never respected.

That is why donkey say that “Dis world na level”. If our government refused to pay compensation as is morally right, it would be used to start an international campaign against our tiny island, for allegedly stealing “private property”. Fortunately Dr. Gonsalves is wise enough to avoid that trap.

The issue of compensation for Balliceaux sent me searching among documents. I found a newspaper report of the first ever national panel discussion on National Independence for SVG held at the UWI EXtraMural Centre on Feb. 28, 1975. Then the panellists, UWI graduate Sister Ingrid Williams/O’Marde, and Jim Maloney representing the organisers, YULIMO, raised issues about land redistribution in an independent SVG.

The third panellist, was government minister Hon. Hudson Tannis, widely considered to be the Deputy to Premier Milton Cato. In response to a question from the audience about the government’s position on nationalising the large private estates then existing, Mr Tannis spoke of the “problem of compensation” (not new now, you see). Bro. Maloney retorted quickly, asking Mr Tannis how come he never spoke of, I quote here, “compensation for the Kallinago people who were robbed of their lands, or for the African people for the centuries of slavery to build this country”. These are issues relevant to the Balliceaux discussion and the call for Reparations for genocide of the indigenous people, and the centuries of brutal African slavery.

What they highlight is that with all the welcome focus on education, we are missing an essential ingredient for building patriotism, national consciousness. The Balliceaux acquisition should be welcomed by a national rally to mobilize broad support not only for this necessary action but the larger battles for reparative justice. More on this later.

PS: Heartiest congratulations to Dr Adrian Fraser for the excellent three-part series on the National Hero debate. Hope the PM took note.

• Renwick Rose is a Social and Political commentator.