Alred C. Frett. Photo: VINO/File

Just this week, there were persons talking; I tried not to listen but I was forced to hear, because my ears have no flaps… It was not surprising that much was about this year’s Festival - and although I think that the persons who took on this year’s challenge made a good effort – considering its absence after all these years – there was minimal praise… Nonetheless, their other topics were not short on merit.

In addition to the usual concerns about the uneven distribution of scarce resources and, the open lack of appreciation for our own home-grown artists, there were mentions of the demotion and transformation of the East End/Long Look Festival into a Rum Fest and Beach Outing… Maybe this was a sore point in the absence of Bert Washasha, since it is claimed to have started here from its Slave Freedom History.

It was hard not to empathise with the speakers when noted that two of the most prominent ministers are from these same areas… Besides, I too had experienced similar political neglect in trying to obtain Work Permits and Processes in order to provide reliable Health Care for these Districts… In addition, we saw two local traditions of Farming and Fishing, politically destroyed in these areas within a mere generation.

The God of Labour and Devil of Jobs:

As usual, Festival is over – Celebrations only last a day or week – whereas, the ability to feed ourselves and maintain our health are lifelong necessities that should never face opposition since the lack of these will signal the termination of Civilisation… Unfortunately, we are moving backwards so quickly that, no matter how deaf we play, pain will arrive, because Moms have always said, ‘who don’t hear will feel’.

From experience, who feels it knows it, and, the pain is already here as Government continues its games of do’s and don’ts with the apparent objective of setting up its People and their Businesses to fail… Government still continues its impediments to Work Permits coupled to, its habit of taking away your recruited Workers at whim and without notice or the need to meet the requirements forced on you.

Furthermore, after taking away your valued Workers and draining your Funds for; Taxes, Social Security and NHI, they further destroy your survival by sending you their handpicked list of, rejected substitutes, and, demand that you contact them rather than they contact you… They fail to understand, that forcing you to beg persons to work rather than have them seek work, flips the process and destroys the System.

Maybe that shouldn’t surprise us since, persons are quicker to argue for full pay on part-time jobs with the most Vacation, Holidays and Time Off… Even those who believe more in the Bible than their own lying eyes; conveniently forget that God worked 6 days straight before taking a break… He was creating the World and its contents - I wonder if we are building New Worlds or simply wrecking this one?

Expression of Truth is the Warrior as the Battles continue:

Perhaps we really think that Ignorance is bliss so, we bask in Rivers of Denial with Sharks swimming all around us… All evidence point to the slavery of ignorance and a political push back to colonial racism – Those still in doubt, should check USA Republicans’ push to abolish their Department of Education and block Historical Truths of Slavery; as well as, UK’s objectives for her Windrush Deportations and Brexit.

Out of desperation, we bargain for small mercies and overlook indiscretions that bring more harm than good – still, we are not idiots; we know right from wrong… Our real fear is, the more we accept these wrongs, the more our People will suffer as our Country is screwed time after time… Ancestral Fretts have never been good Slaves and if I am targeted for doing right it’s because I have no other choice.

Slaves were taught to suffer in silence so they complained about persons who complained and they failed to realise that by remaining silent nothing gets done and problems are never solved… NB:- Our NHI Battle has been long and still far from over but they have finally made real efforts to address our concerns… Now, do you really think that this was accomplished by the art of Silence? Think about it.

Good, bad or indifferent each of us are examples to be followed or avoided and, while we may not win all, it is far more important to do what we can, while we can, rather than waste time and opportunity in worrying about what we may not accomplish… Procrastinators may worry about others benefitting from their efforts, but, think about it; from infancy to now; aren’t we all benefitting from the efforts of others?

PS:Will continue addressing some of your Questions and Comments on Live BVP Radio Programmes