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The Returning National
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After forty years of living away from the area I have finally returned with the intention of remaining here and spending the latter years of my life here. I am continuously having to remind myself that whatever I have achieved in my life I owe gratitude to the island. I was born in Cayon more years ago than I could remember. It was always my intension to return. I believe that it is good to travel, gain experience and expand the knowledge of life, but at some point people should return to their roots if that opportunity is afforded, grow old and die within the peacefulness of one’s culture.
On the first few days of my return I found myself trying to familiarize myself with the area within Cayon. I recognized my old school, which is still standing. I tried hard to familiarize myself with the language and behaviour of the people. Having being away so long I have now become intoxicated with the local colloquialism and the pattern of behaviour. After all these years, which have passed, I have noticed that respect and politeness are still very much adhered to. I tried to compare and understand what the people here think of people like myself who left the islands for long periods. On my return to the home of my relatives, I engaged my young second conversation. I asked her to give me an opinion of natives of St. Kitts who have lived in the United Kingdom. She said: “Well, you are all well off financially and the people here like your accents.” I went on to explain that some people complain of their attitudes to nationals returning form the United Kingdom and that returning nationals feel like nowhere people.
Whilst much has changed from a financial point of view here my walk to Upper Cayon gave me cause for some concern. There are many buildings left in a state of decay. These in their time were the homes of the middle classes who have died and the descending families who have inherited them have left the island and the either not returned yet or have no wish to return. There is a scheme, which is being put into practice of a scenic railway train, which takes tourists around the island. If this scheme is to be successful, surely the sight of building in a state of decay would be off-putting to the tourist. As I walked past what was once a river in my youth, I noticed that the area is littered with refuse and the river no longer carries water. My question therefore is: “Why does the river not run anymore?” Perhaps we need to contact the ministry for the Environment. Putting aside these little misdemeanors, this is a beautiful island. As I look around at the sea with many mountains in the background, I realize how lucky I am to be a Kittitian. |
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