The Comfort of Captivity My thoughts on continued Settler Land ownership, resource control and Mental Slavery in Africa and the Caribbean
H.E. Dean Jonas
“You can’t liberate a slave who has found comfort in his captivity.” This statement captures a tragic truth that continues to plague many African and Caribbean nations: the inability, or unwillingness, to confront the colonial structures that still dominate land and economic ownership. Countries likeKenya, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Jamaica, Barbados, OECS countries, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands have all achieved some level of political independence. Yet the vast majority of their land, strategic industries, and wealth remain in the hands of white settler descendants, foreign powers and multinational corporations. This is not just a matter of economics; it is a condition of the mind. After centuries of colonization, many have grown comfortable in their captivity, clinging to systems that continue to exploit them, while fearing the disruption required for true liberation. We instead, shamefully, beg for reparations!!
Across Africa, colonial powers left behind constitutions and legal frameworks that protected settler land ownership. In Namibia and South Africa, land redistribution has been delayed and diluted under the guise of
legality and reconciliation. In Zimbabwe, the attempt to forcibly reclaim land was met with global backlash, sanctions, and economic sabotage; signaling to other African states that liberation carries a high price. In countries like Ghana and Nigeria, foreign control of land is less visible but equally entrenched through leases, concessions, and corporate takeovers of agriculture, oil, and mining sectors.
In our Caribbean, the legacy is even more blatant. Jamaica, Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands continue to be dominated by the white economic settler “elites” and offshore foreign corporations. Land, prime beachfront properties, hotels, and banks are controlled by a small minority, while the Black majority; descendants of enslaved Africans; remain landless, underpaid, and dependent. In places like Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, the financial sector is virtually a colonial enclave, built on tax loopholes that benefit the global elite while locals struggle with rising costs of living and limited ownership.
A significant part of the problem is psychological. Many of our leaders, educated in the schools of the colonizers, continue to view foreign ownership and investment as superior. They are more interested in maintaining “stability” than pursuing justice. Meanwhile, the masses have been socialized to accept foreign control as normal. We idolize the very symbols of our oppression; European passports, visas to North America, white-run businesses, and foreign-owned development projects; without realizing that they represent continued captivity. Just think about it: the mere hint of visa denial from a white northern country sends waves of panic across the entire Black Caribbean population. That’s the level of psychological grip these nations still hold over us, proof that colonial mindsets and dependency haven’t truly been broken.
Some nations have turned to the idea of reparations. While reparatory justice is a valid and moral demand, the current movement has, so far, yielded little more than symbolic gestures and endless dialogue. The calls for reparations, often led by committees and diplomats, have not translated into tangible change. Meanwhile, the people continue to suffer. The truth is, no amount of reparations; if ever granted; will be enough to reverse
centuries of economic theft and lives lost. More importantly, it should not become a distraction from what must be done now!!
The solution is clear: reclaim the land and control the wealth. This does not necessarily mean violent seizure, but it does mean decisive and unapologetic policy shifts in our laws and constitutions. Governments must legislate land reform, support local ownership, break monopolies held by settler and foreign elites, and empower Black entrepreneurs. Tax incentives, credit access, and legal frameworks must favor national citizens over foreign investors. Where foreign-owned assets are essential, they should nationalized. Where multinationals exploit local labor and land without fair return, they should be taxed heavily or replaced.
Reparations should remain a part of the conversation, but they must not be the main strategy. Waiting on former colonizers to suddenly become generous is a losing game. True liberation will not come from begging; it will come from building and investing together with African and Caribbean nations. From reclaiming. From refusing to remain comfortable in chains. This is where our diplomatic efforts should be focused; not on more reparatory talk but on meaningful land reform and business development in Africa and the Caribbean.
We need leverage!!
Until African and Caribbean nations confront this psychological captivity together and take bold, strategic action to reverse centuries of land andwealth theft, political independence will remain a hollow symbol. And the slaves, though unchained, will still kneel at the feet of their masters; in great comfort.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
I FULLY ENDORSE THIS MESSAGE.
I reject the messenger that took a dose of Ibrahim. And had the opportunity in the Ministry of agriculture to do exactly what is in this message. But the messenger and author SIGNED A DEAL WITH CHINESE GIVING THEM 2000 ACRES OF LAND IN ANTIGUA and BARBUDA…..
Author next time please send the message with JOHN MUSSINGTON….
The author must know that inviting the Chinese to teach our farmers how to farm would soon change the local culture into a Chinese culture.
The author must know that after 300 years on plantations there is very little to learn from anyone about agriculture.
2000 acres of land Dean Jonas signed away to the Chinese. No you do not have the moral authority to write on this topic until you make us whole.
You are a stooge Jonas, you belong to a centrist political ideology and party system , how dare you, you want to scare Gaston white customers in Barbuda PLH land thieves, remember some of the south Africa connection financial institution is funding the white monopoly capital domination project over there in barbuda with buffer zone or Jim crow laws. I guess you just looking some notice. Because you have never known or portrayed any propensity to help black Antiguan and Barbudans, you silently watch Gaston use the military and parliamentary legislation to take their lands.
Mr. Jonas a nice article but you have a perfect example right here in Antigua and Barbuda but you focused all over the Caribbean and Africa to make your point. Yes, land is power but we are giving it back to to Colonials right here in Antigua and Barbuda. The problem is clear in the current situation in Barbuda. It would be great if you could rewrite your article and do an analysis of your own homeland Antigua and Barbuda.
It seems as if Dean Jonas has just waken.up from a deep sleep, what’s the point of naming all these African Countries, that got their Lands stolen through colonialism than those whom sold their lands back to the slave owners and their families, as is the case right here in Antigua and Barbuda. He is speaking about everywhere else, except Antigua and Barbuda, the most perfect example of them all.
Charity begins at home but he’s staying clear of his yard. With all his understanding and concerns, he still failed to acknowledge and condemn the current situations in ANTIGUA/BARBUDA because of fear. Fear of being fired, fear of being ostracized and ridiculed is also a condition of mental slavery too. We might soon hear him say that his account was hacked.
Going along, to get along can be very tormenting. Has Dean Jonas being, so tormented in private knowing what @Melchesidec is alluding to, is some of the reasons why a percentage of our youths, feel so disenfranchised, that they’ve slowly gravitated to more serious and frequent criminal behaviors?
It’s always said, that what is done in the dark (there is no total [dark], for within darkness, there is light?and vice-versa) SHALL and MUST come to light.
Dean Jonas knows what he’s alluding, as well. Action speaks louder than words Dean Jonas. Let’s get some more ACTIONS out of you, by coming CLEAN, on the DIRTY of politics which has once again, SIDELINED you, as a Candidate for Our House, of Representatives.
Please, do a #Tell_All book, and expose on your time, as a Representative of the People. Those chapters on Asot Michael days, that you served together would definitely get SOAP OPERA viewership.
Speak to your role(s), in establishing those private Chinese farms on some very arable lands. Again, talk is cheap! Actions moves mountains. Faith germinates grows and flourishes like a #mustard seed.
#Yes, Indeed! It’s time to #UN_FU*K YOURSELF!
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’Ole Dutty Peg🦶🏽Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
That is literally why I push people to see they deserve better that what ABLP is giving them. But there are folks that are so captivated by their slavery they do not want better, they will literally threaten, lie and kill their rescuers. There are people like Tenman that is literally a victim of the disease you mention in your first paragraph.
The man is saying I am begging job ha ha ha. I went to Antigua and asked for 2 things. My firearms license and a letter from government officials that crime victim advocacy and research serves a national importance. This letter was needed to submit to the US government to expand my profitable business so that I can tap into the billions available for endeavours/businesses like mine that serves victims of abuse, cruelty, crime and terrorism.
So, one of the things I had to prove to the US government is that I am well-positioned to advance my proposed endeavor. This is a fancy way of saying I am equipped to do my work. So, I needed firearm license, letters, and any and all evidence that I am executing such endeavor.
I went to numerous government officials, they practically all turned me down. MP Joseph of Jennings ask me to define victims (insulting), PM Browne said he can’t help, expressing he doesn’t help Antiguans achieve and more so hates when they achieve more than him, MP Chet Greene just ignore my request completely, not once did he respond to me asking him for help, but respond to other things. Other MP’s I have given money too, practically demanded more money (I will not say at this time), MP Samantha Marshall who was an MP at that time says she can not write letters in her MP capacity and she can’t do it either in her personal capacity, Chief of Staff Hurst was rude,
During this time, business was so good, I was bringing in about $100,000usd per week (sometime a bit more or less, but averaging that). So, I thought let me expand to Antigua and Barbuda and serve the Caribbean region because the funds was available through grants from the US government and clients was willing and able to pay for the crime, abuse, and cruelty US immigration benefits and US public benefits (cash) they would qualify for. So, I was so excited to expand. ABLP knock the excitement out of me, basic things like timely decision making and refusing to simply say that any idea helping victims should be encourage and supported, supported by simply having the local police expedite granting me the firearms permit and after they granted it to me, which they did, expedite giving me the required firearms class which to this day has not been offered to me. I even provided them with my firearns credentials, license and training from the US so that they could waive that requirement. Not up to this day they responded.
I am too in love with my work, my offices, and the clients I have to be asking for a job in Antigua and Barbuda. I average about $100,000usd a week, what position in Antigua pays that that does not entail stealing and corruption while a political elected or selected position? Only that position with such illegal and unethical acts could compare, so why I on earth would I ask or demand a job from such party?
Anyway, if I continue to hear these nonsense about me wanting jobs from tenman’s post, more personal and not too nice information will be revealed about ABLP. I am a man who can keep information private forever, but in certain times it may be necessary and appropriate to reveal. I have never done it but may have to.
Any and all MP’s I spoke with, pertains to only my endeavor/business, which intended to donate $100,000 to Bolans Village and the additional equipments to Antigua’s police, farmers, and schools. They are literally sitting in storage, of which the COP, AG, MP has pictures and list of items, including the list headquarters gave to me in 2023. All purchased but have not been given and the locals should know they have not been given because of the incompetence and unfair treatment of me and others by ABLP and others in certain agency.
Folks, you deserve better, people who cares for you and leaders who does not show off their lavish vacations with their rich family in foreign lands while you are working harder than they are at home.
It is 2025 and you do not have an unemployment financial program or locals government bonds for you to share in the wealth building or a relatively safe community or support in helping you build businesses by mandating for big businesses and hotels to buy locally from you or having government officials write you a basic letter saying it is a fine thing to help victims or support you in your endeavors when you do not want not even a dime from them. If you vote for ABLP again, you are dunces and fools. They have to substantially change who they are for you to even consider ABLP again. You will never progress and your dream to expand your success will be crushed in Antigua and Barbuda like they crush mine. Remember how small my request was and I couldn’t even get that, imagine what they would do to you and your bigger needs.
When you see them lie on people like me about wanting job from them in politics, they lie about small things like this. Imagine the bigger lies and manipulation you are victims too. I would never ever again believe nothing these people say, nothing tenman, ABLP, and their listed candidates say. I strongly advise you do the same.
I want to leave this with you. Has any of ABLP ministers ever made you a millionaire and then ask me, have I ever made anyone a millionaire? I must say on numerous occasions I have. No one on ABLP has ever made random persons like I have millions but they have gotten a lot of money for themselves and their family and friends. I help everybody. Not them.
Dude who made others not related to him rich or those making just themselves and family better off? Pick which one you will trust?
@ VINCENT PARKER:
…DARN SMART ‘OBSERVATIONALIST’ COOKIE:
***
‘…DJ: AWAKEN FROM DEEP SLUMBER…?
***
THESE ARE NOT NECESSARILY MY FORTE:
***
BUT STILL JUMPING IN WITH ‘…ONE FOOT, THOUGH.
***
PERHAPS:
‘…TO REALITY AND SMELLING THE COFFEE…?
… CAPTURED BY THE ‘…OBSERVATIONS- MI JUMBIE FREN.’
***
WHAT THE HELL…!
***
WALK GOOD.
***