Have you ever been in awe about something then something comes up to remind you where you came from? I can not believe I partied and feted with millions of people due to the emergence of technology.
On the weekend all Montserratians around the globe and thousands of people from all walks of life tuned into Montserrat via the world wide web (internet) and radio to view and listen to the farewell activities for Soca King of The World – Arrow. I sat by my computers from eight o’clock Friday morning to after one o’clock Saturday morning. Montserrat had a link up live with the radio/television station Antigua Barbuda Broadcasting Services (ABS). Through Radio Montserrat (ZJB) we were able to view the casket, attend the Thanksgiving Service and be entertained by a Concert. ” More than 10 radio stations throughout the Caribbean and in the United States carried the service live.”
I intently tuned in as I viewed and listen to it all from my home in Nassau, Bahamas. I had my laptop on the live video streaming and the desktop on radio Montserrat. As we say back in Montserrat ‘nothing pass me’ (I did not miss a thing). During all of this I spoke to former class mates, family and friends in Europe, North America and the Caribbean. I kindly demanded photographs via Facebook from the media team in Montserrat.
As an aside something can also be said about the beauty of the collaboration between the Antiguan and Montserratian Governments, they spoke on each others behalf, they sang, partied and mourn together on the weekend as it was match made in heaven – the support, the camaraderie, jokes, the humor.
I woke up Saturday morning with endless pains as if I was actually in Montserrat during Christmas festival in December at Sturge Park. Only this time electronically I could have turn to anyone in the world that I was connected with via computer or several telephone calls to express how we were feeling and to get feedback from others as well. Additionally, I did not have to wait on the bus or friends to ‘catch me yard’ (go home) I just got up and slide into my bed in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
Then on Sunday on the television show Amazing Race there was a part of it where the contestants had a detour on their planned path. It reminded me of the time when we had a television antennae secured on our house roofs and we had to go outside and turn the pole in various directions to get a television image. I do remember the days even if it was raining or if a wind passed you had to go and try get back that signal. We used to turn the antennae in various directions ‘ north east south and west’ waiting for someone to shout to us they have picked up a signal. We have come along way in the communication era.
Many of us no doubt has missed being in Montserrat for such an occasion, in spite of our geographic location last Friday we partied and feted as if we were on our own soil giving Arrow a ‘joyous send-off’. We did Arrow proud as we were enamored by his magnetism even in death.
To put it in the words of another great son of Montserrat Sir Howard Fergus “the volume and quality of his [Arrow's] work will constitute an ever living monument with global resonance”
One of the headlines in world news today was the surge in the price of cotton. It is the highest it has been in fifteen years. I am thinking about the inflationary prices of fabrics; shirts, jeans but most importantly on mind is Montserrat Sea Island Cotton. It is a cold comfort, as I recall the many class trips to the cotton ginnery, viewing the ladies weaving the strands of cotton. I can see those finished products, the table cloths, the place mats, the shawls, belts and scarf’s. Sea Island Cotton weaving is still being used for local consumption and retail but not on a large scale for exportation. Today I also recall the first time I saw a cotton tree in bloom in The Bahamas while driving through Stapleton Gardens (New Providence, Bahamas). I was so overwhelmed I stopped, came outside and took a closer look. I touched it with such tender care that you would have thought that I was cotton laborer in exile.
I was not even born when Montserrat had a booming cotton industry. The raw cotton material was exported to Liverpool and Manchester in England; or even around in 1901 when Montserrat first experimented with Sea Island cotton with a sample seed imported from Barbados. Montserrat had turned to cotton production because it required fewer slaves than sugar. Cotton had played an important role in our island’s economy.
In the 1940s and the 1950s there was a mass exodus from Montserrat to England and as a result of this in the 1960s there was a decline in the cotton industry. In 1969 the Chief Minister announced in his budget speech that the cotton industry was losing its significance. Therefore in Montserrat we came from cotton being responsible for our improved finances in 1910 to our economic decline in 1968. When I reflect on the mass exodus of the labors from Montserrat to the UK in 1940 and 1950 I can not help but feel a profound sense of loss and powerlessness as the migration parallels our island’s current situation of the displacement of our people because of the volcano.
In reflection I am inclined to think that it may be because we are a small nation that we do not fare well even in comparative advantage (trade) or perhaps we give up too easily. I say this as cotton sustained us economically in 1910 why not in 1968? Imagine the wealth of a plantation owner in 1683 who was involved in cotton fetching (harvesting) in Montserrat. Then the price was two shillings six pence per pound compared to today’s price of over one dollar per pound.
Today countries such as India has a high demand for cotton as their stock levels are low I wonder where would we have been today if it was not for our people leaving in droves? I recall that we used phrases like ‘cotton picking mind’ (a phrase many find offensive). The whole idea of cotton resonates with me or fascinates me.
No matter what industry or service you work or have worked in chances are you have used cotton before. The next time that you put on a T-Shirt, your favorite jeans or use a q-tip remember that you are touching a part of history. What are you doing now that will resonate with future generations? It may be fascinating to your great, great grand children to find out what you did for a living. They may be amazed to know what you could buy for a dollar. They may find it remarkable to learn why you live where you live, and what activities occupied your time. I implore you to make the best of what you do now and enjoy the fruits of your labour and record it by photos or in writing because history is occurring now right before your eyes.
I can see her now, an old friend who is deceased; her blue green eyes which seemed to take the color of what she was wearing along with her spider like body leaned forward toward me trying to grab my attention as she starred into my eyes as she was telling me about her travel experiences. She said “If you have not been on a cruise you have not lived a life.” It has been a week and I can not shake this conversation out of my memory.
Last week the Oasis of the Seas made its inaugural voyage to Port Nassau. It was raining heavily, to me the heavens poured down in celebration as the people harmoniously gathered by the thousands. The attendance was abundant as they crowded the western coast of Nassau to get a glimpse of this wonder; The Oasis of the Seas is considered the largest cruise ship in the world. My daughter and I also gathered at the nearest vantage point as it left Nassau after spending seven and half hours in port with its 6500 passengers. The ship literally made a 180 degree turn in what seemed like 200 yards in front of me. Tears filled my eyes as I remembered my homeland of Montserrat.
Montserrat 1989, Hurricane Hugo had severely damage Port Plymouth Wharf. A Dutch company by the name of Interbeton was contracted to construct a new Pier/Wharf/Jetty. As Sir Howard Fergus puts it “The British responded generously, in the islands rehabilitation. Shortly after it was completed in; 1992 Montserrat was booming.” I can vividly remember that hundreds of Montserrat flocked to the shore line and hundreds were stationed at the Taxi Stand to get a glimpse of two Cruise Liners (Renaissance 11 and Freewind Cruises) We all felt good and it seems as if we were served a heavy portion of the economic pie relative to our fellow OECS brothers and sisters.
It has been 15 years since the discussion about not living if I have not been on a cruise. It has also been 15 years since Port Plymouth has hummed her lonely chorus as the harbor is now buried in ash. The Jetty that Interbeton built is still there. It smiles as fishermen sail swiftly by, meanwhile my friend’s words reverberate today and memories of Plymouth lives on. I have since looked up information on cruise ships (Ocean Liner Exclusive Luxury Resort, The Queen Mary 2, Cunard Lines, Monarch of The Seas etc. ) and upon reflection, perhaps she was right maybe I do need to go on a cruise and see the world from the sea.
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