James Michener, in fiction, has helped us to see the development of many places around the world, including from the point of view of the indigenous people.

In his ‘Caribbean,’ he did not leave it to the imagination that it is a special, beautiful and vulnerable place.  In the earlies, the outcome of battles in the region determined hegemony in Europe.

Of course, the region’s precious metals, her artifacts and produce made many Europeans wealthy.  And the law made it possible to accept it all as fair play.

But in modern times, the Caribbean has been under economic threat from the very Europeans who have benefited so handsomely by her exploitations.  She now dares to compete in her own right and demand a seat at the table; And for that, she must be punished.

Perhaps, nowhere is the story of Europe’s involvement in the Caribbean better told than at Brimstone Hill fortress which resides in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis.  It is a remarkable story.

But we still only have to consider the Caribbean’s strategic importance to the world to know that the curtain cannot now fall on its existence; To understand that we are not as helpless as circumstances may have us believe.

Cuba, the Panama Canal and the Anegada passage are testaments to the Caribbean’s importance as is the former Danish West Indies that has taken our very name with impunity and without compensation.

With the Trump tariffs and abandonment of strategic and global organizations, a vacuum is being created and the unintended benefit will be a serious coalition of certain groups in the world that will learn to live without the #1 consumer on the planet.

So, by the time the Americans wake up, the US dollar may be well on its way to being replaced as the world’s reserve currency.  The freezing or confiscation of wealth under various compliance initiatives will, then, become a serious challenge.

But far worse for the world, democracy would have taken a beating as a guiding philosophy in human development.  

For, without raising a voice, the curtained countries are seeing a movement to their side by those who believe they have spawned democracy and freedom.

‘Imitation is the highest form of flattery.’

It is obvious that science is also taking a hit reminiscent of the 1543 postulate by Nicolaus Copernicus that the earth was not the centre of the universe and that it and the other planets revolved around the sun.

Almost a century later, The Roman Inquisition found Galileo “vehemently suspect of heresy” for upholding, with proof, Copernicus’ views.  He was placed under house arrest until his death.

For as long as we have recalled, the BVI has held a deep dependence on the US.  We are almost an extension of them.  But as xenophobic tendencies move centre stage, our strategic planning apparatus should kick into high gear.

Zimbabwe, under President Mugabe, was suspended from the commonwealth in 2002 for breaching the Harare Declaration. By 2003, Mugabe withdrew Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth.

His words were simple but direct.  ‘If to us the Commonwealth is only a social club, then we can join other clubs.’

Far from being great again, it seems that in our lifetime and before our very eyes, we are witnessing the fall of an empire.  The intelligentsia is already in flight.  They are uncomfortable with the rhetoric that seems to be reminiscent of Mein Kampf.

But, in the Territory, we have other fights on our hands.  Our irresponsibility has backed us into the crosshairs of the overlord.  

Our refusal to police ourselves has invited others to send in their police.

Our failure to discuss the plight in which we now exist has caused the overlord to discuss it for us and devise solutions of their choosing.

Why all the barking now that the jewels have already been taken?

For, with the swing of a pen from someone else we do not know, who came in on the recommendation of a lone commissioner whose COI report has taken on biblical significance to Whitehall, we are again seeing proof that the pen is mightier than the sword…

…That the British are probably the greatest strategists on the planet; Definitely the most experienced diplomats.

However the cards play out, we are with Freddie Mercury (Queen). “The Show Must Go On.”

And, certainly, we are also with Fridays.

Happy Friday!