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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