What has become of Antigua ( A Small Place Chap. 3 & 4)

How is it possible that there is no money to repair the library but there is money for the government to steal?  In chapter 3 of ‘’A Small Place’’, Jamaica Kincaid explains how the library was when she was a child and compares it to the current library. When she was a child, the library was in good condition and the librarian was proud of the king of library that Antigua had. When Kincaid returned, she saw that the library was in terrible conditions, had burned and was not repaired. She even mentions that the librarian was ashamed of what the library had become. I personally believe this is a big fail of the education system in Antigua. How can the government provide a good education to the people if they don’t even repaired the library?

                Now I understand why Kincaid mentions that the government is for sale. They answer to the highest bidder. They have a man who was wanted as a developer. They have a stamp system that does not benefit the people. They have a monopoly with Japanese cars, drugs and buildings all own by foreigners. The government has allowed Antigua to be ruled by other people. Things that really need attention like the education and the health care are left unsupervised. Kincaid mentions that ‘’ The hospital in Antigua is so dirty, so run-down, that even if the best doctors and nurses in the world were employed, a person from  another part of the world would not feel confident leaving a domestic animal there.’’(page 65). Sure since all of the rich government people go to other countries to get healthcare, they do not care like for example the minister that had some type of blood disease.

                The government justice system also is failing since they’ve had generals murdered and corrupt ministers steal all the money and make deal with drug dealers. Personally I believe that is the country is not fixed soon, it could lead to a revolution.

                At the end Kincaid tries to save the beauty of Antigua by describing its landscape. She also critics the Antiguan people who she thinks that went from slaves to human being kind of stuck in a small island. I found this book amazing since it showed Antigua like I have never seen it before and it exposes they beauty and horror of the island of Antigua.