Jeevan A. Robinson
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
How many of us are believers in Montserrat? I am not talking about the wanton social media posts declaring undying love for Montserrat. I have heard the island been written off and left for dead, but what has kept many believers engaged is the belief in the potential of Montserrat. A belief in the future.
However, I do believe that for progress to come there must also be truth and introspection. There are some admittedly who have very little by way of substance to contribute to a discussion on the future of the island, but instead delight in assassinating any hope of progress with futile chatter, without giving the island a chance to breathe.
The island is not perfect. Never was and never will be. But also it is not in the abyss. I repeatedly advocate a view that political meandering is partly responsible for the shortfalls in advancement for Montserrat. I also share a view that the people of the island too must jump on the horse of development and not be onlookers. Even though the people deliver mandates via electoral victory, continued engagement is paramount for optimum delivery of plans with less of the personal shenanigans, contempt, and almost ritualistic blocking of progressive ideas.
Speaking of ritualistic blocking of progressive ideas; in the face of insularity and a refusal to change old ways; or even in the face of seated political allegiance whilst conducting the duties of a civil officer of the people, a government has no choice but to push through with its mandate. Interpret that as you may.
Some say repeatedly why the island has not seen the progress it craves is due to jealousy of each other. Jealousy for, and jealousy of what though? Our brothers and sisters eating well, earning well, driving well, drinking well, travelling well, dressing well, educated well, and other such progressive attributes?
Is that not what Montserrat should be? A nation of prosperity, where the social and economic walls are not so rigid that we detest anyone from a perceived lower social strata seeking to rise up the ranks through innovation, hard work, ambition and persistence. This is the Montserrat I crave and would love to see, for my definition of success is seeing a plan of action being birthed, set in motion, executed and delivered with results. If jealousy is rife and is a hindrance to progress then that speaks volumes.
So in that vein what is Montserrat’s plan of success?
Let us refrain for a moment from speaking about Sustainable Development Plans, Strategic Growth Plans, and all these fancy terms that have become the local vernacular these past 20 years. For truly, who gets what the heck those huge documents are saying? I may understand it, many others may understand it too, but does the common man on the street get it?
They very well may, but the essence of our development I do believe should be how we take the lives of ordinary people and improve their existence wholesomely. What do I mean by wholesomely? It is a view that I shared earlier, where I stated that the children of the less well off in society are the conscience of a nation. To see poor people's offspring strive to achieve throughout and despite the detrimental circumstances that seek to define them should spur any leader to do what best they can to provide not handouts, but access to opportunity. It is opportunity for their children to succeed and have access to what they could not provide, that lifts the spirits of working families struggling to provide education, food and shelter for their children. Access to opportunity for a country's people for growth, empowerment via education, social and economic mobility, is for me, the measure of the development of a nation.
So where does the future of Montserrat reside? Not in political figurehead worship, but in engagement towards development.
One does not need to be political to contribute. The time now is ripened 20 years in redevelopment mode for our people to take hold of the affairs of our country and decide we will advance the cause of the land with the skills that we possess in our various areas of expertise to do so. The time for National Service to Montserrat is now!
To rebuild a nation, its people must become active participants in her growth. No one person, or set of persons should be given free reign to do as they please with a country. They call that dictatorship in some areas of political exercise.
The country belongs to the people. It is for the people to say how they wish their land to progress. Not by blocking progress, but by contributing to national development vocally and demonstrably. The process of engagement should not cease at the vote, for as it was recently enunciated to me, "the words of a politician are often hypnotic."
I agree. But I also believe that the antidote to that, is that the power of the people's collective voice can and should be decisive and revolutionary if needs be.
