Dear members and friends of BBC, as we approach this new month in the year 2020 and another Emancipendence, there is cause for celebration and concern.
We celebrate 100 years of witness as a church. We revel in gratitude to our foreparents for their faithfulness, vision, courage, resilience, fortitude and obedience to God as we acknowledge with awe the grace and goodness and mercy of God.
We are grateful to God that despite the country’s COVID-19 increasing number of infected persons, the number of deaths has remained at 10; that we have resumed worship in the sanctuary, and that we are gaining new insights on how to remain grounded in the word in an ever changing world.
Permit me to look as well at two other issues in the news, namely COVID -19 and the economy, and the plight of former farmers, of the Duckenfield Sugar Estate.
How can we make a difference in the new norm of COVID-19?
As we battle with COVID-19 I am reminded of warning statement I saw on Social media, “Places are opening because of the economy, not because it is safe”. It seems like a contradiction on the face of it. Why open the economy if it is not safe? The bottom-line is that to keep the economy closed for too long will mean economic death, and possibly social and physical death for many. No work means no income, no food, no education, inability to pay bills, utilities etc. But there is a risk as covid-19 is still alive, attacking and dangerous. While we go about our business, we must be vigilant in maintaining the behaviour that keeps the virus at bay. What is the motivation for maintaining discipline apart from the reason highlighted above? These should be included,
- Commitment to protect the weak and vulnerable. You may be strong, but it can not be kind and thoughtful to take home the virus to a family member who is not as strong as you are.
- You have a responsibility to take care of your body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
- Since it is expected to honour God, at all times, we must ask, are you honouring God in what you do?
Why be concerned about a handful of Small farmers in Duckenfield, St Thomas?
The other matter I would like to address as we celebrate “Emancipendence”. We must continue to look at current social issues from a sociological, historical and religious perspective. There are many issues which come to mind, but I must zero in on the plight of persons in St Thomas who formerly worked at the Golden Grove Sugar Factory which was closed over a year ago. Many of the employees of the estate and small suppliers of Sugarcane have been engaged in these activities spanning several years and including up to three generations. This is what they have been doing and this is what they know.
The income from linkage to the sugar estate supported their households, sent their children to school, and sustained their families. With the closure of the Duckenfield factory, there is no more income from that source. The Government met with these farmers months ago and promised support for transition in alternate agricultural activity. There has also been a promise to lease over 400 acres of sugar lands to continue farming. To date these plans have not all materialized. A further challenge to the farmers is that they have been asked to vacate lands they have planted cash crops on to make way for Cattle farmers. Now, we know that Cattle farming is not usually for small farmers.
This has led the farmers to seek the intervention of the Public Defender and the National Integrity Action.
There are some questions which call for our attention. Is the government committed to securing justice for poor farmers and their families in this parish? Is this the best that the country can offer after 182 years of Emancipation and 58 years of Independence? St Thomas has a rich history in our country as the place of the Morant Bay rebellion. We do not want what took place in the 1860’s to be repeated, but we are conscious that Paul Bogle and others fought for our freedom, and we must never again embrace colonialism and slavery in any form. Where injustice prevails, justice for all is threatened. . So we cannot just say, “O, just a few little disgruntled farmers in St Thomas, it will be sorted out”. No. we too must lift our voices, like these small farmers, and with these farmers and demand justice in the form of land ownership or leases so that with dignity and pride they can continue to provide for their families.
We pray and work to that end.
Your Pastor
Trevor Edwards