By Man from Baker Hill :
Marse Sir’s land is not my own. Massuh’s land belongs to his children and their off springs. My forefathers never fought the French or killed the Arawacks to gain possession of Montserrat; but Massah did. So Marse Sir’s properties could never belong to me the descendant of a slave. I feel that Montserrat belongs to the sons of slave master. Give it back to them!
I write to entertain, only. I am! I observe my thoughts; and sometimes I laugh at them as they parade across my mental screen. Although this thought that Montserrat could never belong to the children of the slaves attracts laughter, I found myself holding it for quite some time.
And so, I write to… entertain.
Land, that most important factor of production, the creative element of wealth! Land in the north, what good is it serving the people of Montserrat? Lands from the Silver hills to Bottomless Ghaut have not been productive since ‘Marse Sir’ left it. From productive cotton to useless grass, sheep agouti and iguana, is this the best the brains of Montserrat can do with land? My God, You who rewards for talents used, take back all our non-productive lands! Return it to the Slave master’s sons.
Land is for much more economic activity than to sell a plot here or to sell a plot there. It is the most valuable resource in the universe and Montserrat’s lands must be efficiently used to create wealth and economic benefits, especially for young Montserratians.
History taught us that in the past lime and sugar worked; their production created wealth for Marse Sir. And for a while cotton played its part for ordinary Montserratians. But for the past 50 years Montserrations have retrogressed to buying and selling little plots here and there, waiting on the return of the sons of white Marse Sir for the great sale. We lauded that as the real estate business.
Unfortunately, those days are over; the big sale will not come, except good old Marse Sir’s government (the UK) steps in obligingly. The future now leans favourably towards Leasehold Property Rights for economic production and wealth creation. So land owners beware; cease from hoarding vast acres. Instead make haste and give it up back to Massuh’s sons; enter into wealth creating ventures with them, the white man.
Here is another thought that is crossing my mental sphere. In all honesty, I am being entertained by these thoughts.
It is becoming increasingly difficult for 75 year old Montserratians to think and plan for young people. The belief that an 80 year old man can project relevant pathways suitable for young Montserratians is null and void. In fact, all the planning and political masquerading in the name of volcano since 1996 has failed the young Montserratians.
But it is their time now! Bring the youths to the table and let them think for themselves.
Let them Google the Free Port of Bahamas, Freeport, Maine USA and the economic zone of St Martin so that they can see for themselves the economic possibilities of new age development. Allow them to compare the Rockefeller style hotel development of the 1960’s on Puerto Rico and Virgin Gorda with the floating hotels on mega cruise ships of the 21st centaury. Let the youths determine the course of their future and Montserrat’s.
We need to put our faith in our youths now. They need to be unencumbered as they seek to traverse space and time to derive true economic worth from lands in the north. They must not be burdened down with bits and pieces of family plots. They must be free to move Montserrat forward towards its rightful place among the islands with economic potential. Give them a chance to visualize and materialize.
And in the mean time … I shall write to entertain. Yes in the meantime I shall shout… give back the lands in the north to Marse Sir’s descendants. Yes, take those lands form the sons of the slaves who wait in conservative expectation for a big sale. Give them $99 million more, send them into exile, and banish them from our shores for at least 25 years. Montserrat does not need any Black Marse Sirs!
