By D. Markie Spring
In my opinion, the nationalistic views of Barbadians are somewhat disturbing, often criticized for their ethnocentric bias!
The author of a number of published works, D. Markie Spring was born in St Vincent and the Grenadines and now resides in Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands. He has an MBA from the University of Leicester, England, and a BA from Saint Mary's University, Canada
This nation has assumed the centre for economic activities of the Eastern Caribbean and the entire
Caribbean to some extent. Over time, Barbados has become the headquarters for many OECS- and CARICOM-based organizations, including the Regional Security System (RSS), an international agreement for the defense and security of the Eastern Caribbean; the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), a conference of 18 countries and territories; a branch of the University of the West Indies (UWI); Caribbean Examination Council (CXC); and Caribbean Media Corporation, an operation that is largely funded by the various media houses throughout the Caribbean – and also including some international organizations like UNICEF, a US embassy, banks and telephone companies where other Caribbean heads of states have little control. In retrospect, some negotiation and interest is needed!
Here it must be noted that St Lucia and St Kitts and Nevis have the regional headquarters of the Organization for Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank respectively.
Moreover, Grantley Adams international airport has become the hub for the OECS.
In so doing, how do you feel about your bank in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) having to wait on a final decision from the office in Barbados? Or seeking information from your telephone company who refer you to the land of flying fish! Notwithstanding if you need a US visa, you have to book a flight to Barbados!
These important activities and initiatives have promoted Barbados to be the top contender of economic prosperity in the region. This in itself has insinuated and influenced Barbadians’ disdainful and contemptuous attitude toward other Caribbean nationals. Barbados hosting all these organizations is not the problem; the issue is the selfish, apathetic and egocentric sentiments this nation holds. In essence, the region is not benefitting from this initiative, but Barbados!
Meanwhile, as West Indians we have applauded Barbados’s success and we have to respect the governments of Barbados for their consistency and reputation for working in the interest of the people and the governments’ ability to attract foreign investment and build industries – a quality lacking amongst OECS leaders.
Hitherto, this in itself is a good initiative and progress for Barbados; however, Barbadians have described and treated other West Indians in an unwelcome and degrading manner – from taking Vincentians off their LIAT flights when arriving from international destinations; hence, forcing Vincentians to take taxis, buy hotel rooms and food; stalling the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME) initiative; and as stated by sources that Barbadians at Grantley international airport are informing international tourists that there is no need to visit SVG as there is nothing there! Unethical and desperate!
The good thing is people from other Caribbean islands are starting to make their voices heard – the last incident being the alleged finger rape and verbal abuse of a Jamaican female by Barbados officials, which occurred in Barbados, and which sparked a diplomatic row between the two Caribbean nations.
Coupled with this, the daily conversations held by Barbadians about other Caribbean nations is aggressive and aggravating. Here it is fitting to state that other nations are retaliating and engaging in similar discussions about the nation of Barbados.
How can one support such insidious behaviours?
Because many Barbadians are wholly contemptuous of other Caribbean people, most West Indians are of the opinion that Barbados, as a nation, inevitably would fall. However, this is not my wish – as I would like to see our neighbour sustain economic development; however, it is necessarily that this nation changes its attitudes toward other Caribbean nationals and support regional change. Meanwhile, heads of governments in the region must demand and negotiate organizations’ headquarters and branches that would foster economic development and provide a passage for easier access to these organizations and their functions.
In this sense, SVG does not host a single headquarters or branch for any regional or international organizations – and what about Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Anguilla, Montserrat and other Caribbean islands? Ideally, some respect must be given to the SVG PM for continuously cheerleading LIAT and other important regional initiatives.
In my opinion, I believe that regional and international organizations need to be distributed evenly throughout the Caribbean Island. If the current trends continue, Barbados will become an economic powerhouse while other Caribbean islands remain dormant.
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