Judge, Jury and Executioner | THE STAR

Have we been liberated from mental slavery?

I have been quarantined in the village of Labori and on the eve of Liberation Day I decided to write this article.

Here I was drinking a Guinness and trying to strike up a conversation with the bar owner, but she wasn’t interested in my questions. In fact, as she said, there was nothing in this village, everything was slow on this island. Hers was probably one of ten bars on this street, and the last one I walked past with a group of young people – they shouted about sodomy and burning epiphytes – so I chose the lesser of two evils and drank my poison in peace.

I have been on the island for the past three weeks, attending the funeral of my uncle, Dr. Martin Didier. I have been listening to the radio for the past few days and heard that the current government is celebrating its third anniversary in power. From the outset, I want to say that I am disgusted that they are linking the liberation day to the three-year farce and politicizing it. Holding a three-year celebration at such an important time of liberation shows the depths to which these political lackeys of the PT can sink.

I am not one to celebrate, I barely celebrate my birthday – so can you imagine how frustrated I am that I am being asked to force myself to clink glasses and have fun with other like-minded Saint Lucians? Unlike my late father Wilkie Larcher – I have never voted for the Saint Lucia Labour Party and judging by the past three years – they will not have my vote at the next election.

I have more questions than answers. What has the SLP done in the last three years of government except to stir up strife and discord? Once again we have allowed this to happen, yes we have allowed the government and its party accomplices (and I would add the women accomplices) to be our judge, jury and executioner. Wasn’t it only yesterday that the SLP, in opposition, were singing songs about duty, integrity and justice? Those words are dead and buried – I think I saw Creek cremating the sad corpse of the SLP government in Vieux Fort last week.

So, this Liberation Day – have we really been liberated from mental slavery? No, because we still believe that our duty to hold politicians accountable ends on election day. We have not liberated ourselves because we still believe that opening bars and roadside snack bars is the only way to lift people out of poverty. We are, at heart, a people who still believe in the Bible, morality and colonial-era laws. So, we have not been liberated from mental slavery, but have walked straight into modern times, less educated, less aware, and more open to whatever is imposed on us by those in power. Otherwise, why should the minister who is responsible for selling our heritage and passports tell us – that he cannot reveal how many passports were sold in the name of citizens, and we are the ones who voted for this red nigger? Does that make sense?

So on this Liberation Day – I choose war! Against corruption, against politicization of historical issues, against those who uphold the ideals of the colonizers (church, law and government) Sorry, I will not participate!

Yes, soon after I finished my Guinness, I had to walk to Laborie police station to file a report because the young man continued to abuse me and threaten me. Sometimes, the only thing people with power, status and privilege understand is the force of law and order.