In this part Kincaid re-emphasises the colonization of Antigua; more specifically, how almost everything in Antigua is owned by a foreigner and the corruption behind it. She talks about the library and how it closed down. Later the library was situated on the second floor of a dry goods store. The place where the old library was situated is now the headquarters of a circus troupe, because the Minister of Education also happens to be the Minister of Culture (AND Minister of Sport). She talks to a woman who belonged to one of the families who founded the Mill Reef Club (who own a lot of property) about the library and then tried to get an explanation from the Minister of Education (Culture & Sport) but he wasn't available. Kincaid also mentions her mother and how she was expressive and wasn't afraid to go against the current.
Unfortunately, this situation can also be seen in Puerto Rico. Most of the businesses and properties of Puerto Rico are owned by private companies. Currently there's a plan and a debate to privatize the Luis Muñoz Marin airport. The UPR students (and a lot of other people are against it) because while it may seem like a good idea at first, it will have it's repercussions in the future. It's sad that something as vital and important as a library could be in such poor conditions. Libraries hold the history of the country (or island or whatever) so we should preserve and take care of them. I laughed when she mentioned her mother's personality because my mother is exactly like that, even the looks she gets from people she goes against. I could say that I inherited that trait from her, although I'm a bit more reserved than her.
No comments:
Post a Comment