Their Hidden Agenda
Listeners to Winn FM last Tuesday night, 17th April, will have heard Mr. Dwyer Astaphan holding forth about some aspects of what is wrong with our electoral system, and what needs to be done to correct it, all from his perspective of course.
To those who were unable to tune it to that particular programme, as well as to those who simply do not care to have their ears bothered by anything which the likes of Dwyer Astaphan has to throw out, we would say that, in a certain sense, you really did not miss anything, as it was all ‘more of the same’, with a slight rehashing here, and a bit of re-dressing there.
However, in another sense, his utterances will have helped, even the least discerning amongst us, with spotting several of the items on the hidden agenda of SCHEME UNITY, the main one of which relates to the dilution of the voting power of Kittitians in particular.
When Mr. Astaphan ‘recommends’ that Commonwealth citizens should have to reside here for seven years before being eligible to participate in our electoral process, while at the same time advocating that persons of ALL nationalities should likewise be able to vote here, it shows, quite clearly, that even though he is ‘learned in the law’ and has had three parliamentary terms in office as a minister of the crown, his understanding of most of these matters appears to be, at best, superficial.
His ‘observations’ and his so-called recommendations indicate that he is either ignorant of (or just does not care about) the fact that the provisions relating to Commonwealth citizens are based on a very strong background of history buttressed by a powerful element of reciprocity. Then again maybe he knows but just does not care to address those aspects of the matter, as is so often the case with many others of his particular ilk.
If Germans, Russians, Chinese, Arabs and others are made eligible to vote here after seven years of residence, as Mr. Astaphan appears to have been advocating, will Germany, Russia, China and Arabia allow citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis to vote in their countries under reciprocal arrangements? Were such matters considered before the utterances were made, or was it a case of just mouthing off (shooting filth) simply for the sake of having something to say?
There was that time, not too long ago, when we, the people of St. Kitts, were like one large family. We had our personal differences, we argued and fought amongst ourselves, but just like real family, where it came to ‘outsiders’ we were ONE. Undoubtedly there are still with us many who can recall the saying that ‘if you touched one Kittitian you touched ALL’.
Over the years we have sought to enlighten our people about the many ways in which attempts have been made to undermine the people of St. Kitts. One of the major devices employed has been that of fostering disunity amongst us. During the era of the plantocracy the ‘house nigger’ was one of their main tools. Rather unfortunately those traits seem to linger in the character of some of our brothers and sisters.
Another artifice used by oligarchs was that of always ‘importing’ outsiders to undercut the industrial bargaining strength of our people. The use of ‘scab’ labour was common. As recently as the very early 1980’s, PAM indulged in that practice, and our workers in the sugar industry, domestics, gardeners, craftsmen, mechanics, and those of many other categories, ALL suffered, very, very badly.
Thousands had to flee the country in order to seek elsewhere employment which paid them at or near the levels to which they had become accustomed. One result was that a tiny sliver of the Kittitian and Nevisian ‘well-to-do’ benefitted enormously. Another was that large numbers of Labour supporters were removed from the lists of voters, of course a major benefit to PAM.
For those who have always remained on St. Kitts the attempt to further divide us has been an unrelenting effort on the part of that economically powerful minority which is fully determined to rule us, come what may. In 1952 when universal adult suffrage was introduced into what was then St. Kitts Nevis and Anguilla it drove them almost senseless. They have never forgiven Robert Bradshaw and the other leaders of the Labour Movement, neither have they ever forgiven the British authorities for allowing it. They have always seen it as a betrayal, and an undermining of their interests.
In the same way that they were, have always been, and continue to be concerned first and foremost with what is ‘in their interests’, likewise should we the people of St. Kitts and Nevis be always mindful of what is in our best interests.
Over the years they have successfully wooed some of our brothers and sisters into believing that they really care for them, and they in turn have sought to turn many of us against ourselves. The extent to which they have been thus successful is indeed a matter for great concern.
Indeed, the ongoing antics of the Deceiver-in-Chief and many of his minions are glaring examples of just how deeply they have penetrated our ranks, and the extent to which they have succeeded in confusing our people. Their behaviours also remind us of the need to recall and heed the warnings of our forebears.
We of this newspaper appeal to all Kittitians in particular, but to all Nevisians as well, to carefully examine and reflect on the many things which have been said by those now in office, especially what was said when they were trying to get into office, to compare the spoken and written word with their deeds, and to make calm and cool assessments of their real motives and intentions, even as matters play out before our very eyes.
What we advocate is that ALL of our people should pay very careful attention to anything and everything ever said by members and agents of SCHEME UNITY. But we are advising that you should pay even greater attention to what they DO NOT SAY. We are confident that everyone will find such an exercise most illuminating.
So it is with things which are said from time to time by Dwyer Astaphan and others like him. We recommend that you pay very careful attention to whatever he and the others may say from time to time, but pay even more careful attention to what they DO NOT SAY.
Mr. Astaphan’s spiel on Tuesday night will at first strike many as being grounded in objectivity, but, were such a proposition ever to be entertained and implemented, the end result will be that of further diluting the voting power of Kittitians and Nevisians, but especially that of Kittitians.
Kittitians in particular MUST be prepared to reject out of hand anything that even remotely resembles what Astaphan is apparently recommending. It MUST be greeted with a most resounding NO! We have had had far too much of that sort of thing in the past.
But, dear people, do not put anything past these people. The proposal put out on Tuesday night is a warning about one of many items on the hidden agenda of SCHEME UNITY.
When juxtaposed with the proposed legislation now before parliament, it soon becomes clear to all that the real agenda of SCHEME UNITY is hiding in plain view.