As I cast my mind back through recent years I often turn my nose, with disdain, at a number of social ills that have attempted to cripple the progress of my homeland, Nevis. These range from criminal behaviour and abuse of power to nonsensical comments and idle chatter. Any sane individual would see how these factors have the potential to scar an island as infant-sized as Nevis.
There is work to be done and I think we should believe that we each have a part to play in the growth and development of our island. However, one of the most strikingly positive, heartwarming and self-fulfilling elements of recent years, in my opinion, has been the renaming/naming of landmarks and community buildings in honour of outstanding Nevisians.
As a resident of Brazier’s Estate, a village encircled by the closely-knit communities of Government Road and Hamilton, I feel a sense of pride when I walk from my workplace, within the Bath Hotel, into Charlestown and observe the sign at the entrance of the island’s premier sporting venue: the Elquemedo T. Willett Park. I say to others, on many occasions, “me and he from di same place.” More than a feeling of community spiritedness is the pride in knowing that Elquemedo Willett, in addition to being an outstanding cricketer who had represented Nevis well, is someone Nevisians can identify with.
Imagine my delight when it was revealed, in 2010, that roads in my area would be renamed in honour of Stuart Williams and Carl Tuckett. Again I said “me and dem from di same place” and felt tickled because, like Willett, Williams and Tuckett have contributed significantly to the Nevisian community.
Shifting from my residential district into to the wider Nevisian community, I see even more landmarks that have been named/renamed in honour of “everyday Nevisians.” Just recently, there was the renaming of the Charlestown Public Market to the George Mowbray Hanley Market Complex. While I did not know the late Mr. Hanley, the commissioning ceremony acted as a history lesson for me and perhaps many of my peers.
Past and present netballers, I am sure, would agree that Cicely Grell-Hull, Dora Stevens, Cresenthia O’Flaherty, Jeanette Grell-Hull and Lydia Thompson-Claxton were all deserving of the recent honours bestowed on them. In the same light, business men and women and the island’s politicians should seek to emulate Arthur Evelyn and Uhral Swanston so that one day, they too will have their names archived in Nevis’ history.
It is my sincere hope that this trend of naming/renaming landmarks in honour of outstanding Nevisians continues for a very long time. As a Nevisian, I am proud of the accomplishments of my fellow citizens and believe they should be lauded. When crimes are committed, we are quick to publish the information. When a government official makes a mistake we are quick to discuss it on radio call-in programmes. When a young man or woman ends up on the wrong side of the law, we are quick to blame the parents. So, when Nevisians accomplish great things, let us be quick to celebrate with them.
The time has come for us to put personal and political differences aside in order to ensure the productivity of our island. It is evident that the island’s youth population has been forced to assume leadership roles since some of the “mature” heads have resorted to political divide. I am therefore calling on my peers to show the “mature” heads that we believe in those three words affixed on the coat of arms: Country above Self. Let us demonstrate that we are not political puppets who hop, jump and skip only if politicians tell us too. This land is ours, from the top of Nevis Peak to the shores of our beaches, so, let us promote its development and embrace its people’s successes.
