By T. C. Phipps-Benjamin
Trace the path that many a Kittitian and Nevisian has journeyed. At the end of your investigative quest, ask the question, should individuals born and bred in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis in any way be declared less of a Kittitian or a Nevisian because life circumstances landed them on another continent, in another country, reaping the spoils of their adopted homes, for the betterment of themselves and their families?
The story of our Kittitian and Nevisian citizen begins at a time far removed from our modern 21st century experiences; a time before we could freely and gallantly hop on planes, or cruise on lavish ships, journeying to places of serenity, or brimming with night life. The saga actually begins at a time when more than our physical beings were dragged from our ancestral homes in Africa to foreign lands, alienated from what was dear to us. It began centuries ago when our worth, our pride, our inner souls had been brought to a place where we could never envision living our lives or dying our inevitable deaths. We were hunted, humiliated, robbed, raped, molested and murdered.
Our African predecessors lived to tell their stories of humiliation, pain, hunger and loss, before death came at the hands of their captors. The one strong connection we have with our current existence as descendants of African slaves is the truth about our ancestral past. Rich with deep suffering, yet riddled with bouts of triumph, our past is what defines who we are today. While some of us choose to disregard our roots, others conscientiously learn as much as we can about it. Time and again, efforts to retrace our history have led us back to one place; Mother Africa.
Today's global recession is not the first time the world has encountered far reaching economic setback. The United States experienced bouts of economic depression before the stock market crashed in October 1929, but none had been as severe or as long lasting before "Black Thursday" struck Wall Street.
Typically, economic depressions have moved people of varying ethnic backgrounds from one place to another, often times with a view to make their life circumstances better. When hard times hit the Caribbean as far back as the 1950's, 1960's and early 1970's, many Kittitians and Nevisians migrated to England and North America. It was often difficult to make such life changing decisions, and the intentions then were not in the least bit to outdo another besieged citizen, but rather to save some of the economically sapped souls in Kittitian and Nevisian families and communities. These migrants were the stalwarts of their day, daring to be Daniels, visualizing a window of opportunity beyond the safety and sanctity of the St. Kitts and Nevis they had grown to love.
What many of them did most in their distant travails from home is yearn ever so profoundly for home. Although life circumstances had redirected their lives to travel to parts unknown, their love for their birth home could not be disputed. Migrants of the federation did not just instantly forget from whence they came but rather gravitated to "any" outlet that would reconnect them to St. Christopher and Nevis.
Today, the journey for almost every citizen who leaves the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis will be determined by the circumstances they encounter, whether they grace the halls of a Caribbean, North American, European based University, or travel in other ambassadorial roles, as athletes, professional nurses, teachers, or blue collar workers. Should we classify them as citizens, less in love with their country than citizens who choose not to reside abroad? The love of one's country is a splendid thing," says Pablo Casals, "but why should love stop at the border?"
Citizens who remain or leave our pristine shores do so for multiple reasons. Unlike our ancestors who were forced out of their homes, we are very much like them in that no matter our circumstances, we deeply love our country, we sincerely want what's best for our federation, and we will give whatever we can to see our nation prosper, no matter where in the world we reside.
It is therefore difficult not to marvel at how convenient overseas nationals have become for politicians vying for the high seat of public office. "Here's a free ticket. Come shake a leg and help keep us in office. Better yet, come home and join the fight to get us into office." But the very politicians and their ardent supporters will be the first to join the chorus that the overseas resident bears no weight. "If you don't live here 365 days a year, you have no say here. Come home come vote yes, but keep you foreign founded ideas outta foreign." Strange our reasoning when we become politically shackled.
Should the overseas national, a born citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis, have a voice? Should the voice of the overseas national be stifled by those who claim to have a greater stake in the federation? Is loyalty to country contingent upon one's staying, or is it minimized by one's migrating? If the voice of the citizen in the Diaspora bears no value, there need NOT be one more trip to Canada, England, New York, Miami, St. Thomas or anywhere for that matter, by any of the political hot shots in the federation to engage the overseas resident in dialogue. If the voice of the overseas resident bears no weight, there need not be one more "You Tube" video highlighting achievements or speaking to setbacks in the Federation.
Loyalty to country hinges heavily on what one would do for love of country, no matter where in the world our travels and life circumstances take us. It is the very reason we hold on to, and identify with what makes us Kittitians and Nevisians. By virtue of our birth on our twin isles, we are declared citizens for life.
For all we have lost and gained as descendants of African slaves, as we move from one station in life to the next, the core of our identity will forever be Kittitian and Nevisian first.
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