Dear Editor,
There was a businessman who had a profitable enterprise. He had a favourite employee. This employee was more affable and capable than all the rest. The businessman also had a rich uncle. One day, this rich uncle, who had come to his assistance on many a dark day, and in whose care, he had entrusted his children when they went off to school, came to him and said. “I know you love this employee, but I am sorry to tell you that he has been stealing from you”.
The businessman was shocked. He immediately summoned the employee and confronted him in front of his uncle. The employee protested his innocence and said, “But have I not done this for you and that for you and made your company prosper?”. He then accused the uncle of always having it in for him. He declared that the uncle was jealous of his boss’s success and wanted the riches of the business for himself. He accused him of a nefarious agenda and finally rested his case by saying, “Where would you be without me, your other employees are clowns, what will you do then? “
The businessman, instead of saying to him: “Those things you performed for me were paid for, and handsomely so”, turned to his uncle and said: “I don’t want to hear or see anything you wish to show me pertaining to my servant’s guilt, and should you persist, I will banish you from our home”.
Conscious that he was being watched, the employee banded together with the other servants, whom he had called clowns, and together they urged the businessman to ignore the advice and assistance of the uncle. While they enriched themselves, the business suffered and when famine came, the businessman and his household were destitute with no one to come to their aid. As for the rich uncle, he continued doing just fine.
We West Indians are a joyful, friendly and trusting people. We love our events, in fact we live for them. There is one to be held soon, on Wednesday, in front of the government administration building. But as you lay out your most stunning red, white and blue outfit, pause for a moment and ponder my parable; consider that you are being used as a political pawn, under the guise of patriotism, against your own self interests.
Wishing you all love and light.
Name withheld at author's request.
