Thursday, January 06, 2011

Diaspora



The author of a number of published works, D. Markie Spring was born in St Vincent and the Grenadines and now resides in Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands. He has an MBA from the University of Leicester, England, and a BA from Saint Mary's University, Canada




Commentary: The Vincentian Diaspora: An educated and influential group to reckon with
Published on January 6, 2011 Email To Friend Print Version

By D. Markie Spring
Turks and Caicos Islands

Over the years, many citizens of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) left its shores to better themselves abroad – some in search for work, business and others seeking higher education. Significantly, the Diaspora has mainly settled in North America (United States and Canada) and England. Today, Ireland and New Zealand have become the newest hotspots for Vincentians. However, of all the reasons to immigrate, the focus here is education – nonetheless the other factors remain important aspects.

Many of the citizens have educated themselves abroad and in diverse fields and an enormous number of them have gained expertise in their fields. Considering this, I encourage more of our citizens to write articles on topics that are important and on topics that would benefit our country. In this sense, I also urge the authors to write in a way that would assist the government in development plans and effective strategies to move the country forward, and share information that every citizen could learn from.

Citizens are reminded that the government and the private sector cannot do it alone. Domestically, both the government and the private sector would have internal data to work with; however, the Diaspora should be the external eyes and ears for the country, while simultaneously offering their expertise.

In addition, the contributors must replace sarcasm and personal issues with facts and other data that would assist the environmental, social, political, educational and economical arenas. Politically, all the supporters of the two major parties must join hands and support the good and, in every way, bring better solutions to bad decision making without insulting and demoralizing each other.

In an effort to achieve workable information, the government of SVG must regularly read articles in an effort to retrieve idea and information that will enhance the country’s status quo. This information can be used as a form of research and development (R&D) -- quality of work carried-out on a systematic basis in an effort to enhance the stock of knowledge; knowledge of society, culture and of man – knowledge, which would invent new applications.

What I have observed amongst our writings – and I stress us for the same reason that I wish not to offend anyone – is that many people’s writings are spearheaded by their political affiliations and if we are going to send the correct message then we need to rest politics aside and present only the fact and important issues that our government officials could rely on.

Far too often we tend to criticize each other without offering any real solution. After studying real critics, they often critique a phenomenon and, thereafter, attempt to provide better, effective and workable solutions for the problem at hand.

In light of this, contributors are also warned that attacking an author of an article does not make sense either. Often, authors of a piece of work are being called names; rather the critics should respond to the content of the article.

Hence, in all aspects I encourage the Diaspora, those who have been contributing in writing, to continue the good work and for those who have not started to get involved to make St Vincent and the Grenadines a better place to live, work and study.

All the best for the New Year.

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