Dickson Igwe. Photo: Provided

And that was the case once more this week. It was the afternoon of Wednesday, November 20, 2013. He received news from an illustrious public figure: a very well known local Commentator. The media guy offered this all ears type, a JUICY PIECE OF UNSUBSTANTIATED INFORMATION: also known as MELE in the local vernacular. Now, hold on to your chairs!

The popular media personality alluded to ‘’GRAND COLLUSIONS, UNHOLY ALLIANCES, and QUESTIONABLE PACTS,’’ at the very top of the Virgin Islands political and social pyramid. According to this bright chap, the only ones who still believed in party loyalty these days were the common folk, the men and women of average means, at the base of the political pyramid. Add blind idealists.

Mr Cold Realist stated that at the top of the pyramid, it was all about self interest: the, “WHAT IS IN IT FOR ME,” crowd. “Greed was the only lasting theme in politics,” he scowled. He further alluded to a dying patriotism. “These days patriotism is for mugs,” he sneered. “How sad!” This fellow Op Ed Merchant thought.

The source, a member of the Virgin Islands genteel: and a rare breed of boyish charisma and local bonhomie, mixed with a world weary cynicism, stated that the recent bloodletting in a certain political outfit was part of that SELF INTEREST dynamic. Apparently, one ambitious Legislator was getting too close to some ultra sensitive home truths. Too close for comfort for some powerful establishment figures, so to speak.

That was why he was jumped on so unexpectedly, by one of his very own: a senior citizen and colleague. These were men and women with SECRETS. So the OLD LION had to roar. His paws were being mashed on by a NEW LION. This was a revelation that was tantamount to a SLAM DUNK for this Mele Lover. He was shell shocked the rest of the day.

Hours later, another formidable personality with a powerful intellect alluded to a SOCIAL REVOLUTION beginning to take place in the Virgin Islands. This brilliant mind asserted that current economic hardships were fertile ground for changes in the VIRGIN ISLANDS SOCIAL DYNAMIC. One reason, he stated, the man in the third faced so much opposition was that he was seen as a threat to some very powerful and entrenched local interests. This small island man was impressed with the type of minds the “CONTROVERSIAL ASSEMBLYMAN” appeared to be gathering around him.

Mr Intellectual even referred to the man as the Virgin Island’s own version of FIDEL CASTRO. The one man concerned about social inequality in the land: the man to BRIDGE THE GAP. “This man is one of only two or three politicians, that truly feel the pain, and hear the cries, of my people,” this intellectual conferred.  And this was how the New Fidel was perceived by a growing demographic of economically hard pressed Virgin Islanders and residents, the ‘Brain’ added. “Fidel feels our pain.”

But even more interestingly, FIDEL possessed a BLUE PRINT for a new revolution that would drastically reduce inequality in the land. This was a MASTERPLAN that was under lock and key, only accessible to a handful of Fidel’s close confidantes, the intellectual stated.   

The only bit of revelation the intellectual was prepared to share with this clearly excited and intensely interested Layman was this: Fidel’s Revolution was not the classic beast of Socialism or Communism: a violent and radical redistribution of wealth. “But it would be just as aggressive in helping the Virgin Islands Small Man, climb the socio-economic ladder,” Mr Intellect asserted. What a thing!  

Now, do remember that both Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher were considered revolutionaries, albeit for the benefit of the wealthy and powerful. Add one COOKIE MONSTA and his STICKY FINGER REVOLUTION of Virgin Islands lore!

OK. This was news indeed. A new PEOPLE’S REVOLUTION in these Leewards! What form will that take? And as with every revolution: there will be winners and losers.

This SOCIAL DEMOCRAT does not care too much if there are wealthy losers, they can afford to allow Joe Average a larger share of the pie. He is mainly concerned about the vast majority of the common and suffering folk. Will they come out better off, and smiling, as a result of the plans of FIDEL to empower his beloved people?

Time will tell: time will always tell!

To be continued…

NB: The above article is not an endorsement of any political party, group, or individual.

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