Dear Editor,
First of all, Independence is a fundamental right for a country and its people under colonial rule. Many countries have suffered in order to achieved it. Now it is free, so why not take it. Right now in the United Kingdom the people are challenging the “Bill of Rights” of the Magna Charta handed down in the Year 1215 (Art.39) – the first 14 Amendments of the British constitution. The people are reminding parliament that they are their boss, and the people are the law, and there is no law if the people don’t want it.
In St. Maarten 60 per cent of the people voted in 10/10/10 to go under the Netherlands because fearing that they will lose their Dutch passport that gave them easy access of traveling to the United States of America. Nowadays, there are many restrictions traveling to that country. 10/10/10 was a huge mistake, it confused the population with the preposition “under” the Dutch, rather than a right, “yes” or “no”, “leave” or “stay”, or “in” or “out”. It is very hard to imagine how a group of people voted for a passport rather than for self-determination. There is only one solution, a call for a new referendum, and let the people decide.
Independence is a good thing for any country, and the people to have full self-control and responsibility over their natural resources. It is not a dream. It is a reality. Independence is also a combination of social, economic and political challenges. It means progress, and getting away from colonists who plundered the country for years. Independence is not for the idealist, but for the realist who is self-conscious of regional and family ties – with also the determination for self-control of their country.
The idea of independence takes us back to the old days of biblical times: Luke (15:11-32) – the prodigal son who asked his father for his portion to leave home. His father gave him his share of the wealth, and he went far away, and he lavished the money. Then famine came, and he had nothing saved. He ran back to his father, who welcome him back with open arms. His father was very happy because his son took the initiative to leave home, and it was a learning experience for him, and for the father to prepare his other son to leave home. In this passage it teaches the basic function of economics, that is, learn to put money in reserve for the future.
The United Nations Charter X1, X11, and X111 for Decolonization for people under colonial rule. The UN are encouraging the dependent people to set their goals and standard to achieve their independence.
The Monroe Doctrine established in 1823 also warned Europe against interfering in the internal affairs of American and Caribbean countries, especially where self-determination is concerned. America is also the protector of these islands regardless who claimed ownership of them.
The commonwealth also laid out certain conditions for countries achieving independence in 1958-60 as follows: 1. There should be a defense force. 2. There should be a diplomatic organization. 3. There should be a Customs union. 4. There is a complete freedom of movement of people within the union. 5. There should be a strong control administration with enough money to run the country smoothly.
The Black Empire – Haiti was one of the richest countries in the Western Hemisphere –exporting sugar to different parts of the world. In 1791 there was a rebellion of the slaves on the plantation against their owners. The slaves took control of the country. Haiti became independent in 1803.
The West Indies Federation Act was passed in 1956, and officially came to existence on August 16, 1960, with its headquarters in Trinidad. Unfortunately, the federation only lasted for one year.
The West Indies Federation gave rise to Caribbean unity, and for the territories to become independent. Jamaica was the first country in the Caribbean to break away from the union and became independent in 1962. Jamaica had its problems: In 1961 the Anti-Federation Political Party led by Alexander Bustamante, and representing the poor constituencies on the island, was told that the people from the smaller islands will come to Jamaica and take away their jobs. Bustamante and the Norman Manley government put forward a referendum to the people with a simple “in” or “out” of the federation, and 60 per cent of the people voted out, and Jamaica became independent in 1962.
Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago followed and became independent also in 1962. Four years later British Guyana in 1966. Dominica in 1978, and Antigua and Barbuda in 1981. St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 1979. St. Kitts and Nevis became independent in 1983. These Caribbean countries took ownership over their nations and also become full members of the Caribbean Community and Common Market founded in 1973.
Finally, self-determination is vitally important for countries and territories under colonial rule. It will take a lot of money to develop major industries and maintain social services. In my opinion the legal system of this country should change from the Coding system and be replaced with the statutes and case laws system. The independence process should start now. It should be debated in schools, the workplaces and the communities.
Joseph Harvey
