A Small Place / by Jamaica Kincaid

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A native of the Caribbean island of Antigua, Jamaica Kincaid (born Elaine Potter Richardson) is the renowned author of the novels Annie John and Lucy as well as numerous essays and articles for various magazines. Though moving to the U.S. in her youth, Kincaid's strong ties to her homeland remain fervent, a sentiment resonating in this book in which she shares her opinions on the island's colonial heritage, its transition to independence and modern-day economic problems.
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With lyrical, descriptive prose, Kincaid examines the history of Antigua, first viewing the island through the eyes of the typical North American tourist who, upon descending onto the lush, beautiful island would wonder why an airport would be named after a Prime Minister. "Why not a school, why not a hospital, why not a public monument?" It's because its the only facility on the entire island nice enough to bear such a name. "You have not yet seen a school in Antigua, have not yet seen the hospital in Antigua, have not yet seen a public monument in Antigua". From Kincaid's interpretation, the transition from colonialism to independence has done more harm than good, merely serving to establish a commercial and governmental enterprise that benefits only a select few mostly non-islanders. In effect the everyday people of Antigua are nearly as oppressed, neglected and exploited as they were during British colonial rule.