I was afraid to write this article. At 23, I am still getting used to the rejection and criticism that come with voicing an opinion. The anguish I feel over the inexplicable acts of violence that have resulted in so much pain and suffering has however trumped my fears.
I won’t address a Governor, a Government or a Police Force. I write to highlight what I believe is the most fundamental flaw in our society: Accountability. I write with the hope that maybe my words could inspire others to practice and promote accountability.
I was taught accountability at what was then called the Stoney Ground Primary Schoolwhere Teacher Colin and my other teachers reprimanded my peers and I if we ever fell below the incredible expectations they had for us. They believed in us. They held us accountable for our grades and our dreams. To this day, those memories serve as resounding reminders of who and what I can be if I take hold of my life and my decisions. Those memories have pulled me up on some of my darkest days.
I’ve dedicated my life to living out the ideal that there is POWER IN ACCOUNTABILITY – the ideal that as individuals, and even more as a society, we can cultivate success through our Accountability.
The blame game has been played out. I’m still waiting for the final whistle. As Anguillians, we must stop pointing the finger. We must accept responsibility for our lives and our communities. We must stop playing GAMES. People are dying and we cannot continue to play the blame game.
Accountability is not an easy pill to swallow. I don’t always like when, in my cards, my brother reminds me about accountability – but, true, it starts at home. Not only have I gone through school on Anguilla. I have also played sports and I have found that parents don’t always hold children accountable. Children get bad grades, parents blame the teachers. Children fall below average in sports, parents blame the coaches. Adults suffer economic hard-ships, they blame the Government (past or present). I got a flat tyre….. Blame the Government (past or present).This lack of accountability is sometimes perpetuated by persons who are considered society’s leaders. It’s sad. This lack of accountability is the most uninspiring and WEAK MINDSET. Even more detrimentally, this philosophy, in my opinion, cultivates a culture of anger, jealousy and resentment: of others and of SELF.
Think about it. How sad it would be to wake up every morning knowing that something or someone else had all ruling power over your life – that you had NO CONTROL over who you could be or what you could do. It’s scary, but it’s UNREALISTIC. We do not live in such a society. We have the power of choice, and because we have a choice we have to hold ourselves accountable for our choices. We made them! This accountability has to start at home and proliferate through our communities.
If we continue to support the idea that a Governor or a Government, a Police or a Queen is responsible for what is happening in Anguilla, I fear there is no end in sight. However, if and when we brandish this inherent self-actualizing power, over our lives, we become strong as individuals and as a society. When we can wake up everyday with purpose and promise – with the notion that we can be who we want to be if we work hard and accept responsibility for our lives – we become strong as individuals and as a society.
When we as young men and women are encouraged to truly understand our worth – and find our inner power – we will place a higher value on our lives and consequently the lives of those around us. We will become stronger as individuals and as a society.
Let us hold ourselves accountable for our choices: good or bad. I encourage parents, teachers, church leaders, community groups to once more hold children and each other accountable for what we say and do. You can be whatever you want to be – and achieve what you want to achieve – when you truly believe that your choices determine your results.
“A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes” (Gandhi).
