A few weeks ago we listened to veteran journalist David Ellis expressing exasperation on air about all the race talk around in Barbados. His position as we understand it – educated Barbadians need to conceptualize positions which would move the country forward. We believe if Ellis were to think a little on that utterance he would realise it was an asinine statement. Bear in mind the issue of race is being discussed in many countries around the globe including the great USA which is described as representing the melting pot of people from all backgrounds. He should also bear in mind the greatest Roman philosophers who we quote freely today were always prepared to enter the public squares to discuss the issues, good and bad with the people. The debate facilitated cross fertilization, more importantly the approach allowed the PEOPLE to vent and for the learned to respond. Hopefully both sides were the richer for the exchanges. It is a model which BU is committed to following for as long as we exist.
For any people including Barbadians to understand who they are and what they want to become, an understanding of their past lives must feature prominently. Decisions in the present cannot be divorce from experiences of the past. The psyche of the Barbadian has been influenced over time based on ALL of our history. Sadly our past is tarred by the experience of slavery and the colonial governance system which enforced it. Today when we survey our system of government, church and other institutions and symbols which support civil society, the vestiges of our colonial relationship remain visible to all who want to see. For us to move forward as a people we have to discuss and debate how institutions which were active in our pre-emancipation period must be reconfigured to ensure a Renaissance which the late Right Excellent Errol Barrow would have envisaged for our small but proud nation when he uttered that Barbados would be friends of all and satellites of none. Sad to say Barbados has progressed admirably if we use economic measures but boy have we neglected the social structures which are the intangibles of equal importance.
To understand the Barbadian and the negative reaction we have had to the large influx of Indo-Guyanese, we have to revert to history.
The Apprenticeship System which was implemented after August 1, 1834, the abolition of slavery makes for interesting reading. Although the slave was announced free they had to serve in an apprenticeship period for six years which was as harsh as that suffered in the pre-abolition period. The dehumanization of the Black slave which led to the conditioning of his psyche; the slaves obviously resisted the idea of working on the plantations during the apprenticeship period. The British rulers quickly realised that sustaining the plantocracy of the time was under threat and a solution had to be found.
1838 signalled the legal end to slavery and the plantocracy turned to Indian labour to keep the plantation production going. Here is where we find the history get interesting. Bear in mind Barbados is the only island in the English speaking Caribbean which did not change hands, it is significant if we are to properly assess the psyche of the dominant host population in Barbados today.
The indentures Indian labourers were brought in to the Caribbean as competition for the Black ex-slaves. Ex-slaves were paid less than the indentured labourers. Of course trade unionism in Barbados only received birth in the 40s. BU believes given the small land size of Barbados most of the Indo-immigrant labour was attracted to Guyana and Trinidad enticed by higher wages and assistance by giving land to accommodate the indentured families. After all those countries had the land space! It explains why Trinidad and Guyana attracted nearly all of the East Indian labour.
Over 150 years later Barbadians can see that the plural make-up of Trinidad and Guyana is in name only. We admit our races work together but do we mix socially? We believe part of the reason why Blacks, Indians, Chinese et al resist full integration and fiercely protect customs has to do with our reluctance to delve and embrace our history. We believe our people can become edified by the process of discovery and benefit from the ensuing self-confidence to proudly preach our history. The result should nurture self-belief and release on the world the positive energy of our Black race. Every where there is a multi-ethnic society e.g. Trinidad, Guyana, Fiji the India populations have expanded in numbers and achieve a dominance of culture and political achievement at the retreat of the Black population.
Is this what we want for Barbados?
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