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The road to establishing a democracy with true self-governance in emerging nations could be hazardous and filled with intrigue, generated by the interplay of ambitious personalities and those who are simply victims of the system. ‘Once in an island’ plays out a political power struggle in a small island which unleashes base animal instincts guided by educated and uneducated minds alike.
Marlene a timid, ambitious young nurse of Jamaican origin finds herself caught up by a whirlwind of events which threaten to change her future and force her to relive difficult elements of her past.
True to life characters emerge and display their color, humor and undisciplined greed. Readers understand how the history of the island creates these characters and gives them life. The interplay of these characters is captivating and very dramatic at times. Every island nation has its share of these very interesting personalities.
It exposes the legal systems, as Marlene and Richard pursue justice for their loved ones and brushes against the democratic structures inherited from colonizers and adapted to existing circumstance. It makes us pause and ponder as it demonstrates the inalienable link between the need to respect the rule of law and the fight for justice.
We experience a mother’s overwhelming love and ambition for her offspring as it is firmly engraved in her child’s mind and learn as we do time and again that, ‘You can find a bad egg anywhere’. The story is built on reality, but is fictitious and set in a fictitious island. This is a story for all, as indeed for island people anywhere. Listen to interview here: