Congratulations to the 2010 Calypso Monarch Luther B. Big ups to King Henry, Mighty Rockey, Ojinga, aryuh large. King Paido, Makesha, Music Man, congratulations all of you for participating in the BVI Calypso Competition this year. The Nazarene, and Colosso, you both had some good ‘water’ songs.

About a year ago, roughly, I wrote in this column, in this newspaper about the need for a general review of our Emancipation Festival. The following is an excerpt from that article: “…emancipation” is a strong word, and it can be interpreted in more ways than one. Emancipation from slavery in the 1834 declaration was a legal matter. The laws that governed the institution of slavery were changed so that slave traders could no longer kidnap people from Africa to sell as slaves, plantation owners could no longer buy and sell people, force them to work inhumanely, without financial reward, and treat them with less dignity than their horses and dogs.

There’s a saying about talk being cheap. But the fact is, talk is easy. It is easier to talk the talk, than walk the walk. And even so, when it’s time to really talk, some cannot find the right or appropriate words to make their talk make sense, draw out useful information, and make anyone the wiser.

For many years now, I know of persons in authority in the BVI, and elsewhere who believe that they have the power under the law to instruct the editors of our media on what to publish and what not to publish. That is to say; when a story or article favors those in authority; they would say, “publish it!”

Recent incidents involving robbery and attempted robbery with security guards in the midst have some people wondering if this whole industry isn’t a waste of time, and money.

I was talking to a business owner the other day who told me quite frankly that he prefers to invest in an electronic surveillance system that is monitored by the supervisor rather than hiring someone to take up space at his business place. According to this prominent businessman who prefers to remain anonymous, the whole idea of setting up a security firm to employ immigrants is like setting up an industry to give people from outside work.