Remove statues of brutal colonialists

ECONOMIST and tourism consultant Dr Auliana Poon says removing statues of brutal colonialists is a good start to the dismantling of unjust race relations in the Caribbean.

In a media release on the Black Lives Matter Movement and what it means for the Caribbean and the World, Poon provided contextual differences between the experiences of African Americans and those of African decsent in the Caribbean.

She pointed out that in the Caribbean, people of African decsent made up the majority of the population and offered suggestions to form an agenda for action both for the US and the Caribbean.

One of her suggestions included the removal of statues, pointing specifically to those of Christopher Columbus “whose ‘discovery’ of the Americas pave the way for the annihilation of the original Indians in the West Indies.

“No one would like to see and be reminded daily of their violators, far less to have them idolised, and even knighted,” Poon said.

Poon is the founder of a tourism, trade and export consultancy, Leve Global.

She also said slavery was nothing to be ashamed of.

“Shame and false pride appear to be the norm in post-colonial societies. It is a strange thing, that the people who are subjugated to slavery, rape and violation are the ones who are made to feel guilty and inferior and ‘less than...' while the perpetrators run free and are even celebrated.

"It is akin to a child being molested and, in addition to the pain of the violation, must also bear the blame for being molested. Something is just not right here.”

She also suggested alleviating the systemic brainwashing that everything good was white.

“Stop worshipping white. In addition to being violated and treated as less than human beings, Blacks everywhere have the additional burden of being Black. We were taught from early on to worship white, because everything ‘good’ was white and everything bad was black.

“Black is associated with everything negative – negro, dark ages, blackmail, blacklist, black market, black death, darkness, evil, the devil, etc. So much so, that over 400 years of slavery and colonialism, people have come to believe that something is wrong with being Black and that we are inherently inferior.

"It will take some doing to alleviate this systematic brainwashing.”

Poon also said it was important to learn to understand, and “truly believe” that black is beautiful and noted that support for the cause should go beyond donations.

“While it is important to support the cause and provide aid…It is even more sustainable and responsible to promote business, entrepreneurship and trade.

“For people who have been born in the Caribbean, it is truly a privilege. To live in a free and democratic society, where education and health are free; where the environment is pristine; and the air is fresh.

“But we are not yet in the clear.

"Because we are unable to create enough jobs; our major export is people (the brain drain); islanders do not worship the ground we were born on, dreaming about America instead; we do not eat what grows in our backyard or in the sea; and we do not love who we are, wishing we were whiter.

“But the time is NOW. To re-imagine the Caribbean; to create amazing places to work and live; to treat the environment as if it mattered; to eat fresh and organic; to lead healthy lives; to spawn new and innovative (creative) industries that could generate the employment that people love.”

Poon also called on big businesses to play an active role.

“In 2020 we cannot continue to carry on as if slavery did not happen and as if Black lives do not matter. It is high time that we reckon with our history and (also her story, because women also have to tell a valuable story); to understand what made us ‘great;' and to ask for forgiveness for the crimes that we continue to commit wittingly and unwittingly.

"Let us take time to understand; to know and to start loving our neighbours as ourselves.”