Look How Far We’ve Come :: The St. Kitts-Nevis Observer

Last Sunday I logged onto my facebook page and one of the posts was of a political convention to be held that day. I began thinking of the political situation in our Nevis and inextricably a memory came to me, one that I have never recounted even when I was experiencing it. A memory that left me with the question… “How far have we come?” Ask this question of almost any Nevisian over 35 years old, and you would almost always hear of how small the houses were as opposed to the mansions now. How bad the roads were. How unreliable the water and electricity. I want to look at another aspect of our progress, (a regression in my mind), and I will introduce it by sharing the memory which I referenced.

It was 1983. There were some British warships anchored off shore. Onshore there was such a palpable excitement abuzz that I was sure that Christmas had been moved to September. I was five and just starting kindergarten. At break times I’d overhear the teachers mention names – Lee Moore, Bradshaw, Simmonds, Daniel. The names did not mean anything to me then, but by the way they were spoken you knew that these were important person whom you should revere. Sometime after the school was told that a man was coming to talk us. By the time I got home I could neither remember what the head teacher had called him, nor the reason for his visit, but that unexplainable reverent tone in which we were told filled me with excited anticipation. The day came and we chatted amongst ourselves as we waited. Adding to the excitement was the fact the teachers has pressed all the students into service cleaning every inch of the school-hall and yard. A policeman in a white uniform entered and all quieted. A man appeared behind him and we all stood at attention. The head teacher was on the stage. “Let us welcome the Honorable Dr. Simeon Daniel, Premier of Nevis.” No sooner had he spoken the words than the hall echoed with applause as this man made his way to the stage shaking hands with the teachers lining the way. The obvious respect and pride that the teachers were showing and feeling made you realize, more that the multitude of threats of punishment levied earlier, that this was a time for you to be on your best behavior.

I can’t say for how long he spoke. But while he did, there was not another sound in the hall, The floor boards did not squeak as the often did. There was not the slightest fidgeting even by the youngest of us. So enthralled were we by what seemed as our teachers’ borderline worship of this person. They responded to him as we did them and we were mesmerized. When he left there was a sense of serendipity, and we were sure that we were made special by this visit.

Sadly, twenty six years on it can hardly be envisioned that any Premier of Nevis would receive, and effect, that kind of a response from any audience. If one really considers it, and think critically of the last 26 years, and answer honestly to how far we’ve come, we would admit that we have drastically regressed in respect for the highest political office in our Nevis, let alone the other Ministers of Government whether elected or appointed. Shamefully, when our leaders are introduced in public forums the prevalence of cheers or scowls is dependent on how many of “their people” are in attendance. One would hear comments like “that’s my Premier”, and “you all Premier” in reference to both the Hon. Vance Amory and Hon Joseph Parry, as if either in office is not the Premier of all Nevisians.

Our system of government has had the corollary of a kind of tribalism whereby we, whether because of blood or treasure, aligned ourselves with a party. And, depending on the thickness of the blood, or the amount of treasure to be had or protected, we seem willing to do and say almost anything in support of that party. Over time we have gotten evermore negative. Trust, benevolence and optimism have been replaced by cynicism, malice, and pessimism. It seems that parties and candidates are now more attuned to making opponents look like the devil, rather than imparting to the electorate why they themselves have the qualities, ideas and ultimately the vision to lead. One gets disheartened when listening to most meetings as personality rather than policy is attacked, and the prevailing themes are corruption and dishonesty. It seems like a recurring script from soap opera tragedy where only the names of parties and/or candidates are substituted. The plot however is the same – Opposition claims Government is corrupt while Government claims Opposition is dishonest. And the pendulum of accusations and innuendoes escalate with each ringing of the bell. When young citizens are looking to our leaders for example, can we really expect them to be virtuous when seemingly their option is to re-elect a corrupt government, or elect a dishonest one. Only recently have I come to appreciate the truth and the wisdom of an admonition of my late father: “When you’ve made your X you will realize that you are not really for the candidate, but rather more against the other one.”

As a child, and hearing adults publically speak of men like Simeon Daniel, Victor J. Martin, Vance Amory, Joseph Parry, more often than not it was positive and spoken with respect and reverence. It was not just the words either. There was a conviction of conscience that inspired. I can remember the first time I met Hon. Victor J. Martin on the basketball court in 1995. I’d heard so much of his greatness and selflessness I almost wanted to run and hide, feeling so insignificant. Everyone on the court referred to him simply as “Honorable”. When he was on the court, though our level of play did not rise much, levels of manners and brotherhood did. No one cursed, no one fought. Everyone wanted to impress him, because he had already impressed us. These men were like giants. We had heroes then. Blueprints to follow. They led by example. You felt a pride at the mention of these men; knowing among other things, that these were your faces to the world.

Sadly it is the opposite today and it is the doing of some opportunist politicians, orchestrated with our indulgence. Anything that is said anywhere seems almost always malicious. The only time you hear positive words about a candidate is in his platform introduction or from the campaign workers and insiders who, if you really analyze them, lack that conviction of conscience in what they are saying. They are simply performing a task for blood or treasure. Candidates and their support staff often spend more time demonizing their opponents than they do promoting themselves. Without familiarity to the names, and a realization of how the game is now played, a casual observer at the typical political rally would be hard-pressed to discern if the person being referenced is a candidate for Government or some criminal bent on further pillage. Our system of government provides for an Opposition so that varying perspective can be brought to bear, and ideas can be debated and perfected so that our leaders can make the best decisions. But over 26 years it has mutated into a malignant growth of negativity, so it seems with few exceptions, that it matters not which party forms the government it becomes the job of the Opposition to castigate, malign and ridicule rather than offering contributory debate to the impasses of our Island.

We need civility if not respect back in the process. I would love for my younger son who is five like I was, to be able to come home a recount a similar story as I did. Undoubtedly it will take some time for the Island to heal given the deep political distrust that is so pervasive. So maybe my son will not recount such a story, but his son might if; with conviction of conscience and preeminent respect for the process and each other, our leaders lead. Just as they have brought us down this path to political conflagration they can take the lead out. And maybe, just maybe, after the next 26 years my son will be observing the political process, reminiscing with pride on “how far we’ve come”.