Friday, July 4, 2014

Local Indian Community Gets Wider Recognition

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

In the era of limited long bed bus transportation around the island-

Billy Bee, Queen Bee provided a vital anti clock wise route Castries to the Choiseul-border via the eastern circuit followed by a PM clockwise return along the same route.

So, when all buses along that route were doing a south to north am route and their return from the Castries terminus in the PPM headed points south (along the East Coast) The BEE buses were doing the opposite thereby filling a very vital gap in service.

The name of the bus owners of this lucrative route as required by law at that time (Painted white on black on the drivers door was Rambally)

These drivers and footmen were highly efficient, cordial personable. There was no overt malice or disrespect towards them.

On that note, I do not recall any person of indian heritage (using the extreme outward physiological traits ascribed by....)in the largest indian region (the Southernmost Parish) who was "poor" or marginalized.

My theory for the apparent socio-economic patterns of the St.Lucia "arrival quota" is that being an initially smaller group (compared to Trinidad) in a CATHOLIC dominated island; the impetus to survive and get beyond their initial "bondship" status (not unlike the European indentured servants of Colonial America), doing all it takes to achieve a modicum of independent existence.

It is very apparent that as a group they have exceeded their initial expectations and thrived.

One of the simple human strategies that they deployed included DELAY OF GRATIFICATION.

Their previous experiences within a harsh empire with its bewildering layers of political orders including a most repressive caste system- prepared them to negotiate within the excruciating boundaries of stiff upper lip Victorian ST. Lucia.

One of my fondest memories of the south is that of a strong, slim adolescent to early teens riding a full chestnut horse along the grassy escarpment of the river that borders Beane Field.

I had sighted him on numerous occasions as I rode in passenger vehicles on my south north educational pilgrimage, to know that his ranch like home was near the junction to the current VFSS on the outskirts of VFort.

There are very few moments from my innocent milestones in St.Lucia that I wish to take to NIRVAN with me- one of them is the sight of that gallant, leathery brown "Indian heritage" equestrian, riding freely as if one with his chestnut horse, casually and with care. He had the poise and grace of a junior olympian- in my limited opinion,then.

I wish I knew more of him. Perhaps to teach me about horses and most importantly to get a sense of why his galloping free spirit made me feel imprisoned on the crowded bus.

Why these recollections. Unlike the handsome adolescent my 10-25 % indian heritage does not show overt physical markers.
Nevertheless, I have known only mutual respect and shared exceptional humanitarianism from my relatives who have very distinct markers of their Indian heritage.

Consequently, I pray that all of this "recognition" helps to cement bonds between all STlucians rather than create a watershed of political infighting based on divergent "hues", cultural divergence.

We must be ever vigilant of the Guyana experience with cultural divergence that sparked political and economic discords. Beware of Pandoras Box.

One love.

July 6, 2014 at 6:47 AM

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