Alred C. Frett. Photo: VINO/File

Social Crises are all around us, as the USA face a make or break Election, with Sanity and Democracy on trial as thousands of US Citizens prepare to support a crazy and crooked Criminal… The UK is still resisting Accountability and Reparation for her Role and Benefits from the practice of Slavery… Even here in the VI, our Deputy Premier has been fired amongst ongoing and conflicting Claims and Counterclaims.

Whatever the case, the People are always forced to pay the Price… By the time the Bosses pretend to seek our advice, they have already made their decision... Still, we are over-anxious to express our personal opinions without giving a moment’s thought or consideration to the underlying facts and Circumstances… It reminds me of a story, about an old Farmer and the Prize Horse that he depended on for a living.

Apparently, someone left the stable open and the Horse had run off or was stolen… All of his neighbours joined in the expression of empathy and sorrow for his loss, so they couldn’t understand it when he simply said “We’ll see”, and continued his life… Some Months later the horse returned, leading five other wild horses, and the Neighbours rejoiced at how lucky he was to have more than tripled his horses.

Again, the Farmer simply said “We’ll see” and continued his life… Shortly after this, the Farmer’s only Son broke his leg while trying to tame the wild horses... Again, his Neighbours expressed their sympathy for his loss, and again, he simply said, ‘We’ll see”… A few months later, a War required all able-bodied Sons to fight and die… Then, all the Neighbours cried and said how lucky he was that his horse ran away.

We can’t change the Past, but we can shape the Future:

You may be too young to remember that I too was removed from a Ministry… In that case, no reason was ever given, and my Supporters never understood why I didn’t encourage them to march and protest, or why I simply preferred to “just wait and see”… I never considered myself to be unlucky for sticking to my Principles, and I still believe that, no matter the situation, we should at least be true and faithful to ourselves.

Too often we shackle ourselves to the promises and dreams, created and sold to us by others, for their own benefit… Too often we fight more for these than we do for ourselves, when in fact, Life owes us no more than what we are willing and able to put in… We live before we die, and there will be Risks and Rewards; some we win, and some we lose; so be prepared for it’s not the fall that will kill us, but the sudden stop.

Fact is Reality… In my VINO’s Article that asked, “Who Said The Struggle Was Over?”, I addressed crucial Topics, including our only National Hero’s Park, named after ‘Noel Lloyd and his Positive Action Group'… Noel’s recognition and naming of the Park, resulted from his efforts in preventing the VI Governor and Government from selling out our Natural Resources, by recolonising Road Town.

Turning Our Heroes Into Zeroes:

I cautioned that this underlying intent was very much alive, and was demonstrated in the Palmgrove Shopping Centre, fiasco… This Property was Leased/Sold to Locals as a gesture of National Ownership, but is now a vacant plot, in the middle of Road Town, after it and was taken away from these Locals – following Hurricane Irma… The rumour is that Politicians corruptly promised this to Foreigners.

Meanwhile, although Noel’s Park never received the dignity it deserves, at least it was being used by the Public as an area in which to relax and have Lunch, so it is unfortunate when even that is being denied by Government Paid Workers, well equipped with Grass Cutters and Dirt Blowers… I mentioned asking whether they realised that they were polluting Person’s food, and they seemed not to care about that.

Interestingly, they had all stopped to have their lunch, but resumed their cutting and blowing immediately after… They seemed proud to claim that their boss was ‘ a White Man’ as if that carried some special right or privilege… At the same time, they appeared to be Nonlocals, and as I have stated the Park does not belong to me… Furthermore, if Leaders lack National Pride, it is hard to expect it from Nonnationals/

Yes, I play there in an attempt to revive it; especially after Hurricane Irma, when our Territory was in a state of Despondency, with many being Homeless, Hopeless, Ready to give up, and leave the Island… I had written to the Police Commissioner with my belief that playing in the Park, could bring back a sense of normalcy, and unless he opposed it, I would do so… He did not, and I have done so, ever since.

Maybe not All Politicians are Useless:

Today, most have forgotten those terrible days, and we are back to refocusing our efforts on chasing after the God Almighty Dollar… It is unfortunate that the Dirt Blowing Practices continue to chase away Locals and Visitors alike… Again, mine is neither an obligation nor for compensation, and even though there may be some hesitation in stopping, there are other productive ways to utilise my time.

The sad part is, that unless Governments change their Philosophy of Personal Greed and Corruption, we will remain victims of a Bully Pulpit, and our own voices will only be heard on Election Day… That may be 4 years apart, and carry effects that linger far beyond the Cutoff Dates, so before making Decision we should visualise the effects on generations still to come, for with our Eyes closed, we are all equally blind.

It’s no secret… The things I say Today, are things I have said before, but this is all meant to enlighten our Youth and not intended as advice for Politicians… To believe that Politicians truly care about you, or the People in general, is to believe in the Highway across Road Harbour, from Baughers Bay to Prospect Reef, and while you are driving, you can collect your Duty-Free Moon Dust at the Midway Bar and Casino.

I don’t mind being wrong for the People’s right, but every day spent should not be a day wasted… Unfortunately, the unnecessary Bureaucracy within the Labour, Immigration and Health Ministries, continues to hamper National Productivity… They appear to take a Midget Step forward followed by two Giant Steps backward… However, there is a new Minister in Labour, so we may wait and watch for a while.

PS: I will continue addressing some of your Questions & Comments on Live BVP Radio Programmes.