Alred C. Frett. Photo: VINO/File

As Descendants of Slaves, we still suffer disproportionately by COVID-19 because of our Socio-economic conditions and our Youth should be keeping notes of this Period in their History so they can learn from the experience and accurately enlighten their own grandchildren… Furthermore, their voices and efforts may be more important than that of their Elders and their time to act may be now.

After all, their World has been disrupted to such a degree that they are unlikely to experience a normal Childhood; all they see as a Future is the hopelessness of being told what to do, how to do it and when to do it but they dare not ask why they should do it… Confused and disheartened, they drift between persons who think Governments look out for their best interest and persons who think.

It was the hopelessness of Slavery, that programmed our Ancestors to call on Imaginary Friends for rescue and recite ‘this World is not our Home; we are just passing through’… We still do this without recognising it as a subliminal way of doubting our worth and calling for Death… When will we ever claim here as Home and ourselves as a proud emancipated People rather than remnants of Slaves?

I have no desire to be Saint or Martyr so I choose Earth as Home with the full understanding that the existence of every successive generation depends on the Genes of Survival… COVID-19 doesn’t care whom it attacks but the Survival Gene is still active within us and together, we can win, provided we commit ourselves to rejecting defeat and dedicate ourselves to finding answers.

There is no need for us to plan so Near & Narrow:

Unfortunately, the Virus is already among us yet we consume ourselves with hiding from it rather than explore the ways and means that could best deal with its presence… Rampant denial and Political Spin mean nothing to its changing ways and while, no individual may have the answers, together, we can make the difference in blunting the upward spiral and preparing for a Future.

We are truly our Brother’s keeper and even if you feel you owe me nothing, I owe you because we exist to serve each other and whatever I am or have is thanks to you - Facts come before Acts and Truth for our Youth remains the Master Key… To Limit our survival to the good graces of Masters is a hand-me-down Slavery Lesson to be unlearnt for no one will care for you if you fail to care.

Being different made us Survivors and not idiots or robots… Our Identities only exist by recognising these differences as well as similarities… The passage from Slavery to 2020 required answers to tough questions and the deciphering of Facts from Fiction - Anegada is not Atlanta, Jost van Dyke is not Jacksonville, Virgin Gorda is not Virginia and Tortola is not Texas – Yes; we are different.

Because we are not mere clones of our Masters, we possess the capacity to merge both differences and commonalities in order to create the synergy necessary for our survival, growth and progress… We have already asked questions and the Authorities have made changes to accommodate some of our concerns… However, there are still more questions that can better help us survive this Crisis.

If these Questions sound familiar; I heard them from you:

If the present increases in COVID-19 continue our Medical and Social Resources will be overwhelmed, so, are there detailed Contingency Plans to address such an eventuality?

Are there Territorial Plans for the Procurement and Distribution of Food and Medicines?

With Leaders ’Prison 1st mentality’ are we only not locked down 24/7 because they can’t feed us?

Would we be in this predicament if previous Curfew had not been reduced from 10:00pm to Midnight?

Why give Social Security Monies to Politicians for distribution while denying the People’s Stimulus?

Why shouldn’t Quarantined Persons be given this Time off as Social Security Sick Leave Benefits?

Why expose Children to School Settings to become Germophobes for the vulnerable Elderly?

Why not retest Persons with Positive Results – for confirmation - within 2 days instead of 14 days?

Why not equip and train Private Sector Providers to perform the required COVID-19 Tests?

Why pay Civil Servants to entrap Persons and Businesses to collect Fines when we are all broke?

Won’t these Civil Servants be more productive in their Offices serving the needs of the Public?

Believe in yourselves - You the People can make the difference:

May I remind you that when Political Powers opposed them, it was your People Power that achieved the Beef Island Bridge and New Hospital? – While this Pandemic is far more serious, we can still get through it together because you, the People, still possess that Power and any failure to address questions is a failure to deal with the Crisis and could mean the difference between life and death.

PS: I will continue addressing some of your Questions & Comments on Live BVP Radio Programmes