By Linda Chéry / Editor in Chef
Photos : Mikhail Nilov | S. Kelly

I thought about leaving Montreal. It has always been a quick flash, probablythe result of mental exhaustion. I was never able to accept that I would no longer be wandering the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal or admiring the mix of modernity and Victorian architecture throughout the city. What especially connects me to Montreal is the soul of this city; of all these memories and the stories I constantly share with my daughter while showing her the exact place where everything happened.

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I am one of the more than 100,000 West Indians who live in Montreal. Francophones or Anglophones, we represent around 3% of Montrealers, originating from 26 Caribbean countries. Most of us are second generation immigrants and are a valuable economic and intellectual force.

Despite this beautiful portrait, I came to the realization that we have a lot of individual accomplishments but few collective success stories.

Our community has no cohesion. Our actions and reactions are isolated, poorly organized, and ineffective. We just need to go back in time torealize that most of usonly react with anger and stop abruptly when it’s time to take concrete action. Talk is cheap!

We are not alone in the world. Others look at us through their windshields as they breeze in our community. Sometimes,some would reach out while pointing their finger at us, ‘‘sorry they couldn’t to do more’’. Divide and conquer.

Let’s recap

In 2023, the City of Montreal put feet, head, and handsin it by refusing the usual permit and funding to the Caribbean Cultural Festivities Association (CCFA), which had been organizing the annual Carifiesta parade for more than 40 years. No parade in 2023.

This year, the City of Montreal has again denied the permit and funding to the CCFA but approved theCarimas, a project presented by a new coalition headed by Barbados House Montreal Inc. A Facebook publication confirms that several associations are part of said coalition. No doubt they have the experience and knowledge for this type of event.

Many will see this as positive news. I can already hear them: “At least there will be a parade this year”. These are the same people who do not participate in the activity, who would not take a penny out of their pockets to support the initiative but are at the forefront when it comes to comparing, criticizing the concept, the organization and the lack of economic benefits.

It’s a very uncomfortable feeling reading the reasons of the City’s refusal. I am even more destabilized by their decision to pass the torch to another organization for the exact same thing! It would be laughable if it wasn’t tragic.

Imagine the Saint-Jean Baptiste Day parade being taken away from the Société Saint-Jean Baptiste or the United Irish Societies of Montreal unable to produce an event that they have been managing since 1928.

Here come the excuses and explanations. But of course.

No organization is perfect. We still remember the sudden cancellation of the Pride Parade on August 7, 2022. But the following year everything went back to normal with the same organization and the same team without missing a beat. There were certainly criticisms, but even the media exercised a lot of restraint in the matter.

As for us, we take great pleasure in self-flagellation. We sometimes waste so much time fighting the so-calledenemy within, we forget that the real threats are outside our communities.

We must face the facts: most Montrealers do not want a bunch of half-naked people Downtown, swaying to the sound of wild music. To be honest, if it brought in a few millions, most would turn a blind eye on their way to the bank. Let’s be honest Economy has a lot to do with this equation.

The City of Montreal, aware of its faux pas in 2023, was not going to repeat the same mistake. Too many silent voices were raised after this resounding slap. It was even more difficult for them to do a complete 360, after certain officials widely criticized the CCFAin the media. But the end goal is becoming clearer by the moment. They want our rythm but not our Blues.

Let’s wash some dirty laundry.

In Montreal, we are clearly winning individually but we have failed as a Black community. We spend more time listing our differences instead of focusing on what unites us. We have ten thousand reasons why we cannot support each other, when we should have only one reason to do so. Lack of professionalism, inflated prices and poor customer service are accepted by others while most of us only have half chances.

Many shamelessly take ownership of our individual successes while they never lifted a finger to contribute.

The CCFA saga should serve as a warning. Our community needs a serious readjustment. It is time for us to return to indestructible union. Our ways and attitude arethe result of an unfortunate historical and social manipulation. It was a question of survival. Today it quietly leading us to our downfall.

Many will probably disagree, but my opinions aren’t up for debate.

As Nene Leakes would say:

I said, what I said. You don’t like it; you don’t like it!