CaribDE Day Two - Friday, 14th May 2010

Posted by Carla Decker, CUDE 1997

Day Two started off with a deafening tropical rain and a surprise visit by St. Lucia’s Monsignor Patrick Anthony, a slightly built man with a thunderous presence. He greeted us to the abbey introducing us to his work in folklore research. Back in the 60’s/70’s he told us, he began pushing to add to the development agenda the concept of human element development; i.e. people and culture. Absent that, he noted, our people – especially our youth - meander in a space of cultural invasion – where the ‘outside is good’ mentality is akin to mental slavery. Thus awareness, recognition and adherence of indigenous values are the true hallmark of a fully grown society. That is “soul power!” he cried, while angels sang.

He added that only by knowing who we are can we know what kind of development we want to foster for ourselves. Cooperatives, he added are a part of our African heritage. The principle of working together where dialogue and balance exist between individual and community, NOT a society where some people have and others don’t. But where “jan jounen” (originally an agricultural practice) means you invite your partners and friends to help you out today and they’ll do the same tomorrow. Where the concept of jounen prete and sousou in pre-banking communities means I give you one day and you owe me until my day comes.

These are the Cooperative values that we should not lose. And these, he charged, are the indigenous values that we should continue to strengthen and formalize to serve the purpose of today’s society!!! With this message, he led the group in song… the redemption song.

In what was the remaining day, we learned of cultural outreach to children, WOCCU, the US vis-à-vis the Caribbean CU system, and Cooperative social responsibility. Somewhere in the mix, participant Teresa Royer was challenged by an erroneous perception of time and, in gift, led the group in a song of friendship.

Then, we rolled onto skits! The dramatic ability of the group is amazing; equally uncanny is participant Coleen Barnabe’s resemblance to Michelle Obama whom she played at a press conference, bare shoulders and all! In all their hilarity and our roaring laughter, the skits were also poignantly on content!

Miniature Earth opened our eyes to world stats and caused us to check our assumptions and biases.

Thus ended Day Three and our lesson on the 5 C’s… Children, Culture, Catholic, Cooperator, Credit union.