Another typical ‘Calypso Saturday morning’, coincides with the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the October 19th, 1983 atrocities that brought the Grenada revolution to a bloody and sordid end.
Thirty years later, while some have found peace and stability through the provisions of the Laws of the State, the complete and absolute truth of that period remains enshrined in secrecy, doubt and hypocrisy.
In fact, one is tempted to ascertain that the political instability and immaturity our Island continues to experience is a direct consequence of activities of thirty years ago and our failure as a people to have those issues fully reconciled, and those who were/are culpable own up to their actions.
Sadly, the reconciliation has not taken place, culpability not assumed, but we face an unfortunate dose of sameness. The political gymnastics of recent times is as a result of the ‘left-overs’ of that era who somehow believe they are owed something by Grenada and Grenadians. The rhetoric has remained the same; the rescue mission was an invasion, Sir Paul could not have requested the help of outside forces, the number of deaths on the Fort was exaggerated, people died in the cross-fire and on and on they go. What we never hear is an acceptance of at least knowledge of the events; it was as if the souls who perished on that fateful day took with them all the information related to the demise of the revolution.
And now thirty years later they engage in varying games of political hop-scotch hoping that we forget their roles in the demise of the revolution and the loss of countless, innocent Grenadian lives, hoping that a new generation of less-informed and less-concerned Grenadians would pave the way for their political fantasies to be fulfilled.
It is against that backdrop that ‘Calypso Saturday mornings’ provided a timely and opportune reminder through the words of the Black Wizard.
Never again must we blot our history,
Or cause us pain as of October ’83,
So it’s important,
To be vigilant,
For false prophets,
Fanatics and hypocrites
This is the third verse of Wizard’s memorable Land of my Birth composition.
As warned in the song the false prophets, fanatics and hypocrites are among us presently. They are easily identifiable; switching party allegiances from one election season to the next, gleefully celebrating a political leader’s loss at the polls and in very quick order (as if the Grenadian public is without memory) hailing said leader for his greatness, prostituting themselves, essentially becoming political band-wagonists for hire, challenging party leadership (a seemingly familiar theme for them).
This time around they are not spewing communist indoctrination, nor handing out guns, but the intent is none-the-less selfish, greedy, parasitic and just down-right disgraceful.
So while Wizard warns us to be vigilant it is also imperative that our recent history is properly and accurately documented and taught throughout the entire school system, lest we fail to provide an entire new generation the chance to also say, Never Again!
Dexter Mitchell
