Letter to the GNN editor.
Even though Grenada is celebrating thirty five years of independence, Grenadians back home have not made a lot of social changes in society as expected. The old house slaves versus field slaves mentality still exists. The political culture still remains the same, in terms of moving beyond the colonial ways of dealing with social issues.
There is a big generation gap problem that only the youths can solve by themselves as the older folks passed on. The older generation want the youths to live the same way as they did, without them understanding that Grenada has become part of a global village.
Some of the politicians and other influential elders within the society are a waste of time. Their thoughts have become static. Just because they become successful citizens in terms of material and status; they think that their individual success is the accomplishment for the wider society, and there should not be any more successful people after them.
Unfortunately, it appears as though most of the radicals who fought against Eric Gairy’s regime in the 1970s, are now behaving like Gairy himself. Since they came to power through the electoral process, these former radical are now feeling the might of being powerful, and they are acting up.
They forget that they were the deviant youths who used to be reading subversive literature and dressing in fashion clothing that were against Gairy's government norms. So now it is surprising to see that the former oppressed youths of yesterday, have become the oppressors of today’s’ youths.
In addition, I read Lloyd Noel articles. (Thirty-five years ago- So different. Caribbean Net News, Feburay 3, 2009), He gives some historical details about the fight and strife that took place before Grenada got its independence on February 1974. Unfortunately, Mr Noel did not really say who was wrong or right during that senseless and unnecessary political conflict period.
However, I think that the problem Gairy had with his opponents, was simply based on class and skin colour to some extent. In addition, Gairy was too arrogant and self centred to dealt with the issue in a diplomatic civil manner. In the end, he played into the opposition hands and they forced him out of office on March 13, 1979.
The role of religion and religious people within the Grenadians society is not good for democracy and modernity. They were suffering from the old plantation mentality. They saw Gairy as a house slave kind of Grenadian, who was not worthy enough to be the first prime minister of a former British colony. They had the notion that someone of a more highly recognised family class should be the right person to make such a historical impact on the nation.
Even though Gairy is dead and his political party has lost influence, there are one or two former Gairy disciples, who are being accepted in the new club of influential Grenadians, just because of who they are in terms of social status and geographical location. These people were never treated as Gairy bad followers, even though they are still part of remnants of the GULP political organisation.
In addition, when I look at the activities of Grenada police, in relation to how they are dealing with the youths presently, I don’t see these police men/women any difference from the way Gairy police dealt with youths in the 1970s. Gairy police used to arrest so-called Rastas and black power militants and cut their afro hair and dreadlocks.
Today in Grenada, the police are doing a similar thing. They have the authority to force a young person to wear his/her clothes in a certain way that they think are the social norms for all Grenadians. I wonder what those former radicals within this present government, who opposed Gairy’s tough laws in the 1970s are saying to themselves now.
The role of religion and religious people within the Grenadians society is not good for democracy and modernity. It is very sad to see the level of hypocrisy that is going on with some church leaders and government lawyers, who seem to think that they know what is best for every sub cultures within the society.
The hypocrisy is so blatant, that it makes sensible thinking Grenadians wonder if there is a plot by some lawyers, and religious leaders to keep Grenadians in darkness, while they enjoy their selfishness domain of power unchallenged.
For the thirty five years of independence Grenadians are still divided by religious denominations and political tribalism. If the culture of this political practice continues, Grenadians will be divided along party politics for another hundred years.
Therefore, what Grenada needs is a open society that creates space and freedom for citizens of all sub-cultures. It is easy to see how religious leaders and government lawyers are united on the issue of social morality to control deviant sub cultures that threaten their domain.
Yet, these same religious leaders are divided, in terms of religious denominations, in order to keep the people socially and spiritually segregated. Therefore, these religious leaders are involved in religious deviance.
However, The role of religion and religious people within the Grenadians society is not good for democracy and modernity, because not too many Grenadian men within the population are attending church on a regular basis, and church leaders are scared of that reaction.
Then again I ask my self this question: When will I see a pastor/priest converts those political lawyers in government, who are their social moral friends? It seems as though these religious leaders don’t care about the spiritual values of lawyers, as much as they care about the deviant youths on the streets.
It makes me wonder if those religious leaders think that these lawyers don’t have to face God’s Judgement too. In all those former British Caribbean colonies, only Grenadians fought among themselves over independence, because, a section of the population did not like the Grenadian person who led the country towards independence.
Now look how they all celebrating Grenada’s independence. The colonialist has gone but Grenadians allow a handful of influential citizens to decide their freedom.
Hudson George
Toronto, Canada
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My say:
Mr George makes some valid points.
And while I am not willing to go as far as to blame all "government lawyers" - for the "tribalism" and divide in our society 35 years after Independence, the opinions expressed by the author are some that I've been expressing about the inept NDC - in particular.
What the other 35 years will bring will be anyone's guess.
CNaught.
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