If not much else, it has been touted, and attempts are made to make conditions created by the new 2010 Constitution brought about at least, an awareness of many poor attitudes and wrong doings committed over the years. Habits and wrong doings, illegalities and human denigrations, that are now not even considered but accepted as culture.
Much of these the culprits will blame on the volcanic crisis, but we say it only served to exasperate the situation, bringing out the latent evil that have for a long time existed within our community, when materialism, craving and and even stealing, to move up a new car and/or a house, walked all over morality and goodness. These often ignored the need to be educated about things good in the world, that would lead many to mistake choices that seem to elevate one’s status rather than seeking those which will endear to greatness in dignity and humility, recognising that we exist through, by and for each other.
Can we blame it on a a ‘not too long ago’, renewed and much discussed statement which said, ‘studiation beat education’? Some of it perhaps, since in our view the statement may have been misunderstood by some and misconstrued by others. But there was something else the author of the phrase said, and echoed later in song, by another, our world famous soca artist, both of these well known and even loved men, which had to do with what it now appears to be so engrained and often heard mentioned. That is the sin of grudgeness. Indeed is a root of many evils the major of them being corruption.
At the end of the case Regina vs Warren Cassell where the complainant was an American who managed to convince three men with very mixed up ambitions ‘about’ Montserrat, he was sentenced to five years imprisonment. There was, to TMR anyway, what seemed to be an unusual phase of jubilation, which when questioned, most of the time had nothing to do with whether he deserved to be imprisoned or not.
But just aside when one sees that one of the charges allowed for fine OR imprisonment, or both, taking the circumstances of the case and the circumstances of the persons involved, a certain amount of doubt creeps into the mind as to how everything came about.
In trials, there are times when evidence, some known and unknown do not get into court room which might have impacted the result of that trial. This might have been very easily one such case, but then we await the result of an appeal when we may learn more.
But how could the kind of discussion and rejoicing did take place that did? What was it all about, when everything that was said on his behalf, in the social reports and in the court room could hardly be disputed if at all. Of course they were not tributes or eulogies, when often the hypocrisies are voiced and aired, niceties that make some cringe. So what was it all about? Did have anything to do with the evils mentioned earlier? And who are guilty of these? The scripture verse that speaks to ‘can cast the first stone’ comes to mind.
Maybe we can leave it right here and suggest that it would really be good that all of those people who were rejoicing in the misfortune of an unfortunate situation, may try a search for truth and justice. Already the fruits of some good from the new Constitution may be ripening, but laws are never written for just one set of people, and so they must be exercised with fairness and justice. Sadly, when most are asked about the facts, they know so little or nothing about them. That at the end of the day is a bad reflection of our culture.
Related: http://www.themontserratreporter.com/featured/cassell-convicted-to-serve-5-years-in-prison
