Well, as we move into 2015, the obligatory wrap up of last year's events must be conducted.
First of all, I thank everyone for reading my submissions and sending me feedback. I thank all of you, from the bottom of my heart.
It's not often the average citizen, like myself, gets a chance to communicate his thoughts, ideas and feelings with a broader audience, regardless if people care about my topic or not. But, I truly do appreciate it and I thank you for being a part.
Well, this 2014 has been a relatively mundane year. Perhaps it's me who's getting older, and the regular things that used to titillate and excite me just don't anymore. But, in all honesty, this year seems like a continuation of the regular. Sad, I know.
The first thing that comes to mind is the upheaval in the Ukraine and the standoff between that country and their former colonizer, Russia, under the former communist bloc, the USSR pre-1991.
The upheaval was bloody, unnecessary and very much avoidable. The situation was also embarrassing for the United States, and particularly President Barack Obama, leading NATO during the crisis.
President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, flipped the entire western world the bird and said that as a result of this crisis, he will annex Crimea - a territory within the Ukrainian border - and no one would be able to do a blessed thing about it.
Those thinking that President Putin was "punking out" President Obama, forgot that Putin did something more egregious back in 2008 to former U.S. president George W. Bush. Not only did Putin induce a war in the sovereign state of Georgia, he also simply took massive tracts of land on the northeastern border of Georgia. That time his intentions were more clear and decisive than in the case of Crimea, because it was a direct response to U.S. missile defense systems being placed in Georgia as installations of first response in the event Russia and America were to ever go to war.
Another thing that has happened, and still happening, is the scandal that comedian Bill Cosby is embroiled in as it pertains to allegations that he raped Hollywood starlets for years and years.
Over 20 women have come forward and stated that Bill Cosby raped them. What was so startling and shocking about this entire affair is the length of time over which these alleged rapes took place. Some women claim to have been assaulted as far back as the late 1970s.
Almost all of the women have the same story: they were invited to Cosby's home, given drinks and in some instances narcotics, drugged to sleep and then woke up and found themselves in compromising positions, with a taxi-cab waiting on them outside and told to get out.
Also - and it seems to feed the stereotype of the ravenous, sex-starved black man, who is only hungry for the poor and defenseless white woman - most of Cosby's accusers are caucasian.
It is too soon to tell what will happen with Bill Cosby. I wish him all the best during his time of trial.
Another major event, albeit very subtle, was the position of the Catholic Pope Francis. He has taken some very interesting positions that were once considered anti-religious and anti-Catholic. He has become more and more vocal in his warmth and understanding towards homosexuals and their lifestyle; something that has angered bishops within his own ranks, and also generated tremendous criticism worldwide, both pro-gay and anti-gay.
Whatever the end game Pope Francis has in mind, his pronouncements are taken very, very seriously. He has a worldwide following, and influences not just Catholics and Christians, but people that look to him as a guiding light of morality and a voice of reason.
Something also very, very important happened this year, a globally dangerous issue for us as peace loving citizens and, in my case, as a follower of Christ, and that is the emergence of the radical Islamic terrorist group, ISIS.
This group of radicalized Islamic terrorists is responsible for the murder of hundreds of Christians and non-Muslims in the Middle East. They have displaced thousands of people inside Iraq and Syria, and sent them on the road to no-man's land and to their slow death by starvation and at the hands of the elements.
Who or whatever started this group is unimportant at this time. I condemn their actions, and so too should you. I condemn their radical form of Islam. And anyone that stands with them are also condemned and should be rooted out, eradicated.
I say that because, oddly enough, there were not only American citizens that went to fight with ISIS, but there were European men and women in addition to, and most puzzling, Caribbean nationals that were reported to have joined ISIS in their Jihad. This puts the peace and conscience of Caribbean people on edge, as we do not have the security or response measures to combat a major terrorist attack on our soil.
Further with regard to the Caribbean, there were a host of issues that resonated with me region-wide. The kerfuffle with the Dominican appointee to head the Commonwealth Secretariat, Baroness Patricia Scotland of Asthal, sparked major controversy.
An appointee that was a British parliamentarian, which was the primary reason persons around the Caribbean cried foul. Foul because how can you have a British parliamentarian sit in on meetings for the Caribbean nations and other former colonized nations and, at worst, be the head of such a grouping with Britain, where her current allegiance lies, as the former colonizer of all of the English-speaking Caribbean - predominant among Caribbean nations?
Folks in these meetings - meetings that are very important because they are few and far between - for obvious reasons, like and need to talk shop. Talking shop means issues sensitive to our former colonizers. Not that anything damaging would be discussed, but some things we just don't want the British government to know.
Speaking of politicians, former premier of the Turks and Caicos (TCI), Michael Misick, was given bail for his corruption charges and is walking around to many a warm reception by his people in the TCI. For whatever it's worth. I wish him all the best.
Also, and this takes me back to my opening salvo that 2014 seems to be a year filled of more of the same, the current upheaval in Haiti. The prime minister, Laurent Lamothe, has been forced to resign amidst allegations of corruption.
Several other ministers have resigned with him. This has put the spotlight back on President Martelly, as he is now the only other person Haitians can blame for things not going right. To me, he was doing a fairly decent job as president of Haiti, notwithstanding his lack of formal skills and training.
Whatever has Haiti bound by this spirit of upheaval and chaos, I pray that one day, and one day soon, it all will be solved. For their sakes.
I wish you all a very prosperous New Year. Thank you for reading and God bless you all.
o Youri Kemp is president and CEO of Kemp Global, a management consultancy firm based in The Bahamas. This article was published with the permission of Caribbean News Now.
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