La “Bigga” Carousel?
Ndigo Naka - Tuesday, July 17th, 2012 at 8:44 AM
Ndigo Naka
Fungi music aficionados would be familiar with the popular song by Jamsie & The Happy 7 out of St. Croix, “I’d rather walk and drink rum whole night, than to go ride on La Bega Carousel”.
As the story behind the song goes (and I may not have it completely accurate as folk tales vary from teller to teller), some time ago in the Post-emancipation history of the Danish West Indian island of St. Croix, there was this developer named La Bega who used to pay his workers peanuts. While the laboring masses were calling for a raise in the minimum wage, he was busy expanding his business, implementing ideas that would make him more money, and creating more “attractions” for the poor people to spend their two cents on. One of his business ideas was a Ferris Wheel, hence the “La Bega Carousel” song.
Determined not the let the La Bega Ferris Wheel blind them, the people remained focused on fighting their cause for better social and economic conditions, and were so committed to not supporting this Ferris Wheel that La Bega had there, that they were willing (at least one man who inspired the song), to “walk and drink rum all night” before they spend a penny on the La Bega Carousel.
There must be a moral in this story. Amusement is always dangled before the eyes of the people whenever serious implications for their future well-being are at stake. It’s an age-old tactic that is recorded in the history books on the conquests of peoples, globally. The Caribs and Arawaks in the New World, the Native American (or Indians) of North America, the Primitive Africans, they were all offered trinkets and distractions, while their natural resources were being taken away. There lands were confiscated, they were enslaved, they were placed on “Reservations”, they were literally disbarred from taking any real part or having any say in their future survival. The people are eventually blamed, when it is claimed that they “traded” their resources, for the proverbial thirty pieces of silver, bits of shiny stuff, whatever. People are naturally suckers for entertainment, it seems.
Like the La Bega Carousel was an attempt to “hush the noise”, could it be so with the proposed Ferris Wheel for Road Town? Why would we want a permanent Circus atmosphere in the heart of our Capital? I am not sure what’s the logic behind this but it sounds suspect and looks funny. It should be put out to referendum to see if the citizens of this Territory want to go this route.
Some people don’t care much about history, but if you don’t know your past, you will have no interest in protecting your future.
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10 Comments
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The carousel is not for us…..it is entertainment for the cruise passengers!
Perhaps we should be trying to own the entertainment at the pier as locals, so that WE make the money instead of being so darned close minded about everything!
U really small minded lady; an a good critic who knows how to get a point across.
I agree! What Ferris Wheel? Our Emancipation celebration is not enough, we need a Ferris wheel? Strupps!
Wonderful story
OK, I know she said “distraction” — my spelling error.
Ms. Naka is right again! Providing “trinkets and distration” (can we can destruction?) to make people think they are getting something! If developers are saying it will attract the cruise-ship crowd, think again Cruise ships provide their customers every possible entertainment and amusement on board: miniature golf, rock climbing, games, swimming (including waves), Hollywood-style shows. How much better it would be to offer them something unique to our islands, such as an educational eco-tour of the national park, the botanic gardens, and historic points of interest with some knowledgeable tour-guides. Show them Natures Little Secrets — not just another Disney Land!
I am beginning to really like this lady.
My bad! the word “There” in the 4th paragraph, 5th line, beginning a new sentence should be “Their” and not “There”. (Been reading so much wrong spellings lately, its not funny!).
I agree with you miss. We don’t want the stupid coney island in the heart of our development. I think that the developer put that in there on purpose knowing we would reject it so then once they take it out, they could give us the impression that they’re listening. That’s an old tactic used by developers. Put in a few things they know they don’t care to hvae in the final product, let the people have their ‘say’, then take them out, making it seem as if all the noise was for something. It reminds me of the smugglers development where the guy put in a long dock. He knew full well it couldn’t work down there and that people would fight against it. people fought and they were ‘considering’ taking it out. That ferris wheel and merry go-round will not be in that development. Tacky!
remember these ndp’s are tricksters..cant be trusted
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