August 7, 2014

Dear Sir,

Canon James Francis writes “We do not engage in meaningful dialogue on how we as a people should come together and solve the problems of this 21 square mile space”. We tried. Under the former Premier Dr Ewart Brown and his consultant Rolfe Commissiong there were “The Big Conversations”. But at the time they were often condemned and gained very little support from the white Community who did not seem to be very interested in “conversing” with the rest of us. Has he forgotten?

He seems to approve of those who led the Theatre Boycott as “committed”. They certainly were challenging both the status quo and the Government at the time (even if they did not call for the Governor’s recall). At the time they, too, were criticised. They were called “thugs” and accused of “inciting” by those who held power and benefited from the status quo. They certainly were demanding “ultimatums” from the then Government. They were demanding the removal of Government sponsored segregation and that “elected” Government did, indeed, eventually “acquiesce” to their demands.

He perceives the march of Dr Martin King as productive but Dr King was seen as such a threat to the status quo and power structure that he was killed. Canon Francis seems to disapprove of the current challenges to the Government and wants only conversation and the application of the reason by individuals of good will. He, like the letter writer Atticus (The Royal Gazette, July 25, 2014) seems to attach importance to individuals. Atticus reported on the harmonious interracial experience of two individuals. Canon Francis acknowledges that there are many people who have a justifiable reason to be upset about their lot in life. He contends that what we need is to produce plans of action and stated goals and objectives. Certainly rational conversations and harmonious relations between a few individuals alone are not going to solve our problems.

The issue seems to be that the Government which, indeed, has the responsibility to govern is seen by many as not producing plans of action or stated goals and objectives that will address the concerns and challenges of those who have the most reason to be upset with their lot in life, often because previous governments, over decades, deliberately divided this society and equally deliberately excluded and demeaned the majority of the population.

DR EVA N HODGSON

Crawl