From The Publisher
Posted: 20/01/2007 - 11:20 AM
Author: Evan X Hyde
It is not possible for me to overemphasize how important the next two weeks will be for the citrus industry, the citrus growers of Belize, and the nation as a whole. The issue is the attempt to globalize the Belize citrus industry, and the attempt is well on the way to success, with the assistance of local collaborators. The attempt to globalize Belize citrus is being resisted by a group led by an extraordinary Belizean named Denzil Jenkins. Mr. Jenkins has accused the globalizing group of hanky-panky at different points of the negotiations.
Let me place this situation in context. First of all, we can see where the cane farmers of the Corozal and Orange Walk Districts have fought for more than 40 years to “Belizeanize” the growing and processing of sugar cane in our country. The argument is always, where attempts to globalize our industries are concerned, that we Belizeans need the finance and technological expertise from “outside” in order to be competitive. This is not a spurious argument, but it is used to mask neocolonialism and imperialism of the most exploitative nature, and the neocolonialism and imperialism always come with generous doses of racism, what I usually refer to as white supremacy.
I am no kind of expert on the sugar cane industry. I know that the British multinational called Tate and Lyle has been a major player in the sugar industry here from the time the PUP government cut the deal for the Tower Hill factory around 1963 or so. I know that nationalistic Belizeans in the sugar cane industry have a lot of grounds for complaint, but it has always seemed to me that in sugar cane, unlike the case in the citrus industry, Belizeans in the North have been consistently militant, vocal and reasonably unified.
My second point has to do with Mr. Jenkins himself. I know the man from I am a child, and I hold him in the greatest of esteem. As the years went by, following my return from America in 1968, my life and Mr. Denzil’s life were on what appeared to be completely opposite tracks. I look at those decades now, and to me it is a case of an old dilemma for qualified natives who seek betterment. You can seek to educate and mobilize the masses of your people, as in the case of the UBAD history of Evan X Hyde, or you can prove that you are a world class talent and a don in your field of endeavour, as in the case of Mr. Jenkins.
Mr. Denzil achieved spectacular success as a citrus executive in the employ of giant multinational companies, most notably Nestlé. He remained in the Stann Creek Valley all those years beginning in the late 1960’s, and he became like a distant legend in Belize City. He was seldom seen in the old capital, but here in Belize City we knew of him and enjoyed his triumphs vicariously.
There were other agro-industry Belizeans who went north to Orange Walk in the 1960’s when the sugar cane industry began to explode, and these men also became legends in Belize City - men like Rudolph “Pas” Ellis, Winston “Fry“ Michael and the late Billy Gill. But Mr. Denzil was the greatest of them all.
Now in his senior years, Mr. Denzil is proving just how great he really is. He has come to the realization that his individual success is, ultimately, meaningless if his people are not rising up along with him. This is an unbelievable thing that is happening here. I wish that I could be at Mr. Denzil’s side to give him my support, but I know nothing about citrus, and the Stann Creek Valley was somewhere I just passed through on my way to and from Dangriga. The Valley, somehow, always reminded me of the old South Africa. The place was beautiful, but I never cared for the vibes.
During my time, I have been in battles where the power of my opponents was so formidable, it was only pride as a black man that kept me standing. There were times it seemed like the whole world was against me. I feel that the powers that are organized against Mr. Denzil’s campaign on behalf of the masses of citrus growers, those powers are frightening. We have seen where similar powers, with the obvious support of the ruling party, have won battle after battle here. They call it globalization, because when they come against you it seems like the whole world (the globe) is coming against you.
Much of Mr. Denzil Jenkins’ strength comes from his God. Mr. Denzil is a deeply religious man. This is good, and it will be vital, because the next two weeks will be like David Denzil going against Goliath. For real.
Power to the citrus growers. Power to the people. Solidarity with Denzil Jenkins.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|