Hello!

It was interesting watching a media interview with a Government Minister who is a Barrister by profession. I understand The Learned Counsel bestowed the virtues of The British Empire to the media audience, and declared that it was a good thing. The Learned Counsel received polite applause from the media audience. I ask The Learned Counsel:

Good for who?

Yes, it is true that many institutions established by Britain during the glory days of The British Empire, have proved useful, in helping newly independent nations transition from the state of a former colony to administrate its own affairs. It also left behind negative practises that even after independence the ‘chosen ones,’ who were allowed to work in the institutions during Colonial Administration, still wanted to maintain their position, and still exclude those denied from gaining employment.

Those negative practises led to civil conflict. Not necessarily due to an inability of the newly independent nation to govern itself, but where the poison was laid down to divide a nation against itself whether by colour shade, facial features, type of school attended or whatever else to suit its own intents and purposes – where is ‘the good’ in that?

The institutions that were established during Empire were never meant for the benefit of the natives – the term back then used to describe the indigenous local populace. The institutions were good for Britain. The set up, organisation, running of it, record keeping etc, etc were all established for the efficient running of the Colonial Administration. On the advent of a nation’s independence, I have no doubt, all what needed to be removed by the Colonial Administration for safe keeping in Britain was done so efficiently, leaving what was relevant to the newly independent nation.

The reality is, newly independent nations were left with the remnants of Institutions once run by Britain and had to find their own way thereafter.

Empire being a “good thing”, was only good for those who controlled and administrated it, institutions included. Maybe, The Learned Counsel, if times affords, could clarify the statement for those of us who are not as ‘Learned’, and lack the understanding of Empire, never mind some of those who lived through a period of it.

Be good

Louicia