While we were here busily discussing the drawbacks in our desire to advance the causes of our renaissance, we were reminded once again of that salient issue; the slave mentality that continues to act as an impediment to our independent thinking that was being played out in prime Grenadian time and on center stages at the voting precincts for all to see. It appears that our good Cousins in Saint Vincent may have shu-shued in the ears of our Grenadian Brothers and Sisters as we were about to vote on our referendum. They may have said "in the good name of our Queen and with pride in our subject designation...... tell dem we doh want dat".

Our readers here may recall that on November 25, 2009, Vincentians went to the pols and casted their votes to retain Queen Elizabeth as Head of State instead of giving more power to their home-grown politicians vying "to be the King/Queen in their own country". How dare! they. And remembering it was that same Queen, who in 1983, abandoned her Governor General, Sir. Paul Scoon (a Gouyave man to boot) as he took up refuge in a closet with his Wife, awaiting their faiths by "those Revo, Lego beasts". Yet! Yet! just one year earlier, in 1982, that same Queen had no problems sending a flotilla of war ships all the way down to the Falkland Islands in Argentina to protect those way-word, supposedly British citizens down there.

"Somebody! please find Teachers Elsea Williams and Ronald Vincent and tell them it is not my fault for thinking the way I do, 'it was their bloody coakes to my head' that Put me so".

But for those of you who were following this exercise in adult franchise, it is indeed a satisfaction of the tenets of our democracy; a rear undertaking which could not have been more satisfying because It gave our citizenry the opportunity to say yea or ney to the proposed changes to our constitution.

Two of the more striking provision of "The Bill" that pointed to our autonomy and would have brought us closer to our own renaissance were as follows:

(a) The substitution with a Caribbean Supreme Court as the final court of appeals for Grenada instead of that dash! Privy Council.

and

(b) A requirement that would bound public officials when taking office to swear allegiance to the state of Grenada instead of to Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors.

Yes! Gogouyavas, these two Shackles that continue to weigh heavily on our Ankles have not rusted with time. And despite the salinity from the waters of The Middle Passage, they continued to be viewed as "the jewel in the crown" that only subjugation can bring and for which we so proudly wear. The salt, it seems, had done more damage to infest our minds instead and that, we continue to endure to this day.

So last Thursday November 24, 2016 the Grenadian voting populace had made a decision to inadvertently vote "YES" to keep those Shackels of the Crown firmly around their necks and ankles, a setback of another one hundred years to our renaissance. And despite the efforts of our own brilliant minds; having earned the accolade of Doctorate in their respective fields, still it was not enough to convince "the more learned John Public, as it seems" to shed Motha's jewelry of Neck Chains and Ankle Bracelets while singing "God Save Our Gracious Queen".

"Poor jab dem! Dey en know how Mutha would have been pleased to see them, at least try to walk by themselves instead of always reaching out for her hands".

So as one ponders Down Street's question with the thought of "whether we will ever be able to find ourselves", I can bet if Dr. Francis Alexis had consulted with "the entrepreneurs of the Casinos in the Gun Battle section of the French Quarters", they would have advised him to strategized the outcome by securing the services of "an English Gentleman" to present the referendum case to the Grenadian people and all seven provisions of that bill would have been passed, inadvertently or not.

VJL

Vern,I feel your pain, but I will have to prescribe a shot of Bacardi, twice daily {since there is no Rivers up there} and don't call me in the morning.
I am afraid that your dream of a Spice Island Renaissance is just that, a dream like the Revolution of 1979, pipe dreams. Our opportunity to make this leap died 50 years ago, a full half century, and as each day passes, we are drifting further and further away from that seminal experience.

While you view the recent referendum as an opportunity to break free of Mutha's shackles, the voters view was," which Mutha, what shackles, we doh have no Mutha, af free to go anyway ah want, to Canada, Hingland and de USA, what shackles you talking bout. Why should I care about the Privy Council and de CCJ, dat is rich people court, my court is right here where I live"and its free. I would be surprised if the average Grenadian spend a minute per year thinking of our Colonial past, or its effects on the Grenadian psyche.

If I had to offer a word of advice to you Vern, when you have returned, and become the first Grenadian Prime Minister from Gouyave, that is if Tony does not beat you to it, please carry the biggest nastiest garbage can you could find into Parliament, and with cameras rolling,walk around the room, snatching those awful ridiculous powdered wigs, from the heads of those "black hen chickens" posing as latter day Lords and Earls, and dump them into the dustbin I would be pushing right behind you.
Believe me this Uncle-esque move, although symbolic, will signal the arrival of a new dawn to citizens and Neo-Colonialists alike. How could we be voting to break away from Mutha, when the very legislators who must enact the Constitution are sporting the very latest,in 14th Century English wiggery? Free their heads and the shackles will fall off their feet.

After talking to citizens of both St Vincent and Grenada, following their respective referendums, one quickly concludes that these exercises were viewed by the voters, not as an erstwhile attempt to change the constitutions for the benefit of their societies, but attempts by politicians to lead the citizenry down paths they do not want to go, do not understand, or are not trusting of those who are pushing the agenda. Result, the majority of the electorate either refused to vote, or vote a resounding NO. Talk to them, and they will tell you Gonzalves lost, or the NNP lost,without saying anything about the merits or demerits of the Referendums.

This may well turn out to be Grenada's version of Brexit and the rejection of the status quo which seems to be currently sweeping,Europe, America and the planet.

>>>>>>I am afraid that your dream of a Spice Island Renaissance is just that, a dream like the Revolution of 1979, pipe dreams. Our opportunity to make this leap died 50 years ago, a full half century, and as each day passes, we are drifting further and further away from that seminal experience.<<<<<

Bro, at the risk of placing you on the endangered species list for saying this, there are those who are of the opinion that the Revo of 1979 ....."a chance to get free stuff", was the cure for Grenada's disease that continued up to that period.

And as you mentioned the death of an opportunity that occured 50 years ago, (1966 to be exact) the invocation of the "Gairy period" is enought to agitate those so-called nationalist into placing you "under heavy manners....again". But for those of us blessed with long memories and with understanding of the evolution of unrest, 1979 was a mere coalescing of "the privalleged" for a continuation of their Grandfather's desire to hold on to economic power at any cost. I called it "Granpa's revenge"and if you had looked at some of the players involved, it was just that.

So we  began singing "Massa days was done" but forgot to "drain the swamp" and the infestation of "Trumquitos" came back to bite us in the hass!

But seriously though, I thought our lost opportunity came four years earlier, in 1962 with the demise of the West Indian Federation. It was the proverbial "nail in our coffen" that extended the " mini empire concept" within the Archipelago, with individual Kings and Queens, all fighting to hold onto their kingdoms while our people smile passively. Just immagine if it had come to fruition as " the United States of the West Indies" we would have been 54 years ahead on our way to that renaissance.

>>>>>>>While you view the recent referendum as an opportunity to break free of Mutha's shackles, the voters view was," which Mutha, what shackles, we doh have no Mutha, af free to go anyway ah want, to Canada, Hingland and de USA, what shackles you talking bout. Why should I care about the Privy Council and de CCJ, dat is rich people court, my court is right here where I live"and its free. I would be surprised if the average Grenadian spend a minute per year thinking of our Colonial past, or its effects on the Grenadian psyche.<<<<<

Indeed, it is saddening when ignorence gets morphed into acquiescence. I am reminded of asymptomatic individuals, believing that they are healthy and as such require no treatment.

>>>>>If I had to offer a word of advice to you Vern, when you have returned, and become the first Grenadian Prime Minister from Gouyave, that is if Tony does not beat you to it, please carry the biggest nastiest garbage can you could find into Parliament, and with cameras rolling,walk around the room, snatching those awful ridiculous powdered wigs, from the heads of those "black hen chickens" posing as latter day Lords and Earls, and dump them into the dustbin I would be pushing right behind you.
Believe me this Uncle-esque move, although symbolic, will signal the arrival of a new dawn to citizens and Neo-Colonialists alike. How could we be voting to break away from Mutha, when the very legislators who must enact the Constitution are sporting the very latest,in 14th Century English wiggery? Free their heads and the shackles will fall off their feet.<<<<<

On this one you will get a Amen to that but I would prefer if you did the snatching and Tony free their heads.
This ridiculous attire should be illegal and should come with Gaol time for any violations. "Ah saw a pic of one ah dem, ah grown Black man in full colorful robe wearing one ah dem wig. Not even dem Vieacois Designers from Grampovia could beat back that look".

>>>>>>>Bro, at the risk of placing you on the endangered species list for saying this, there are those who are of the opinion that the Revo of 1979 ....."a chance to get free stuff", was the cure for Grenada's disease that continued up to that period.<<<<<<<

Well I am still awaiting apologies from those misguided salesmen of the snake-oil, which was supposed to cue the ills of Gairyism and our diseased Grenadian society, but I suspect that apology will never come. Seeing as how they are so busy chasing the same Capitalist Dollar, at home and abroad, which supposedly sickened us back then.

>>>>>>>But for those of us blessed with long memories and with understanding of the evolution of unrest, 1979 was a mere coalescing of "the privileged" for a continuation of their Grandfather's desire to hold on to economic power at any cost. I called it "Granpa's revenge"and if you had looked at some of the players involved, it was just that.<<<<<<<

Vern, ah fellah that was around dat time told me of an encounter with a youngster who claimed to be from a group called "Forum" who was interacting with groups which wee forerunners of the NJM.When my friend ask who were involved and he head the list, he said Bwoy, cant you see that these guys are trying to protect their father's property, dem high class fellahs have nutten to do with we.


>>>>>But seriously though, I thought our lost opportunity came four years earlier, in 1962 with the demise of the West Indian Federation. It was the proverbial .Just imagine if it had come to fruition as " the United States of the West Indies" we would have been 54 years ahead on our way to that renaissance.<<<<<<

Sure you"re right. The shortsightedness of the leadership of the day, inserted a flaw in the DNA of our Caribbean community, which would continue to plague us for Generations. The fact that we have to do referendums to join the CCJ today would be laughable if not sad. Had the oversized egos allowed us to naturally come together back in the 60's, the CCJ would have been automatically included, as butter to bread.


>>>>>>>>>On this one you will get a Amen to that but I would prefer if you did the snatching and Tony free their heads.
This ridiculous attire should be illegal and should come with Gaol time for any violations. "Ah saw a pic of one ah dem, ah grown Black man in full colorful robe wearing one ah dem wig. Not even dem Vieacois Designers from Grampovia could beat back that look"<<<<<<<<<<<<

So you are declining my offer to act like a statesman, and dewig those cats.I was simply affording you an opportunity to channel the NOTORIOUS EMG, and earn an instant legacy, to be the subject of rum shop banter 50 years after you have departed for the big seine boat in the sky. Tisk Tisk you must be one of those new Gren X Guaverians.
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