Caribbean people in the region and in the diaspora are celebrating the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States. A huge number of us on the various islands were glued to TV sets, radios and the Internet last night as the results came flooding in. In living rooms and bars, parties were held from Kingston, Jamaica right through to Georgetown, Guyana as the victory was announced.
Today the words of congratulations from the Caribbean poured in to Obama and the people of the United States, as everyone from the government leaders to the ordinary man on the street wants to express their delight. Caribbean nations are feeling a sense of pride, hope and dignity in the election of the first President of colour in the US. Many are hopeful that new government will create foreign policy agreements that are more favourable to the region.
In Antigua the joy has spread right to the top of their volcanic mountain Boggy Peak which will now be renamed Mount Obama! Prime Minister Baldwin Spender has informed Mr Obama of the decision in a congratulatory note and so maybe when Barack and his family need a holiday they will be visiting the Caribbean to walk on his mountain!
In the spirit of Caribbean creativity there are already a number of tribute songs created for Obama. Jamaican reggae artist Cocoa Tea recorded a song after the nomination of Obama in which he sings “It is not Hillary Clinton. ... It is not John McCain. ... It is not
Chuck Norris, and I know it is not John Wayne. ... It is the new trend
setter, Barack Obama!” Many Calypsonians have also added their take on the rise of Obama, the most popular of them is a song entitled “Barack the Magnificent” by Trinidadian Calypso legend the Mighty Sparrow.
As Obama said in his victory speech, it is not just a victory for him or his party but a victory for us all. And those of us in the Caribbean certainly feel that ‘all’ not only refers to all Americans but to all Caribbean people and indeed the whole world. Congratulations to Obama!
