We wonder what A. J “Tony” Edwards would have said about the presence of Vybz Kartel in the BVI.  We appreciate that he was a ‘recien llegada’ (just come) to the Territory since he only sailed in on a March day in 1982.  

He may, however, have recognized that, when the electorate was asked to vote-in a ‘young,’ green (no pun intended) team in favour of a more seasoned, mature group, they went for youth.

How did they think youth would entertain itself?  And why fuss if youth has its own style?

Certainly, he would have added the torch by suggesting that while he had no issue with youth entertaining itself, it should not have been done with public funds.  

Yet, in his balanced presentation, he may have advised that it was not the first time, and likely would not be the last, that taxpayers’ money is spent on concerts, festivals, entertainers.

He would likely have declined to comment on crowd size.  He would have left that squarely in the domain of the American President.

Edwards was a most courageous man who enjoyed his own outspoken, critical candor and his ability to influence opinions.  He discussed a range of subjects that even included slavery.

If he were still amongst us, we wonder if his topics would have also embraced the release of one of the trio from detention on foreign soil?  Certainly, his pen would have highlighted the fact that when the arrests were made, it was a dark day for the Territory.  

Even god, having been reduced to a personal possession by a member of the trio, must, also, have cried that day.

And would he have chastised the 13 for not even bothering to discuss those matters, on their own accord, in the People’s House with a view to charting a path in policy, if not law, to avoid the use of the structures, powers and authority of government in self-serving lawlessness?

Of course, he would have recognized the role of the COI in seeking to curb such dereliction and erasing even the hint of corruption in public administration.

And his readers would have expected him to thank the British for their singular focus on the COI.

And the recalcitrance of the 13 would likely have forced him to be grateful that BVI is still a dependent territory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

For with all the talk of independence; All the running around the halls of the UN; All the posturing and lip service to self-determination; 

The demonstrated practice of the 13 is their conformity with being ruled from outside rather than governing themselves from within.

A deep disappointment!

They may have hit their comfort zone with dependence on the COI to do, for them, what they should always have been doing for themselves and the people of the Territory.

But although he was speaking on another subject, it may do them well to consider the words of Dr M. Scott Peck in his “The Road Less Traveled.”  

“What does a life of total dedication to the truth mean?  It means, first of all, a life of continuous and never-ending stringent self-examination.”

And of course, Shakespeare in Hamlet would not have been far behind:

“This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”

Some have expressed a feeling of shame in the manner in which our legislators were handled, publicly, by a lone commissioner sent to inquire into the way they did the people’s work.

While others have felt let down by refusal of the same legislators to engage in self-introspection.  They have rejected the suggestion that they should examine the institutions established to assist themselves and bureaucrats in the lawful administration of the trust bestowed upon them.  

That says the Territory still has a long way to go on the road to maturity before it can, responsibly, embrace political independence.

Unfortunately, the C-24 of the UN cannot determine, for us, our readiness to move forward.  That is a matter for the people themselves.

So, it means that the people must figure out how to influence their representatives to work harder for country and, less so, for self.

They are too distracted on frolics of their own figuring out “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom?”

At least, on our Fridays, we challenge each other to do our utmost for country so that it may rise even if the individual falls.

And “the very problems (we) must overcome also support (us) and make (us) stronger in overcoming them.” George Yeoman Pocock.  “The Boys In The Boat”

Happy Friday!