Chez Winakabs Europe Publishing Limited

08/01/2025

08/12/2024

BUREAUCRACY AND BLOODSHED

The Assassination That Changed Britain Forever

By Mahatma Wathanguru for MT

On the evening of May 11, 1812, British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval walked into the House of Commons. Moments later, he collapsed to the floor, fatally shot through the chest. His assassin, John Bellingham, a seemingly ordinary merchant, made no attempt to flee. Instead, he calmly declared, “I am the person who shot the Prime Minister.”
What led an unremarkable man to commit such a shocking act? The story is not one of espionage, terrorism, or political revolution. Instead, it is a tale of betrayal, bureaucracy, and the devastating consequences of indifference.

A Merchant’s Misfortune

John Bellingham was a British businessman engaged in trade with Russia. But in 1804, his life took a devastating turn. Falsely accused of debt, he was arrested and imprisoned in Russia. His travel papers were confiscated, and his business collapsed. For six long years, he endured brutal conditions in Russian prisons, where he was tortured and paraded through the streets in chains.

Desperate for help, Bellingham appealed to the British government for intervention. Their response was cold and dismissive: “Not our problem.”

A Quest for Justice

When Bellingham finally returned to England in 1809, he was a broken man—but determined to seek compensation for his suffering. Over the next three years, he exhausted every legal avenue:
* He filed countless petitions.
* He contacted government offices.
* He begged for hearings.

Each time, he was met with indifference or bureaucracy. His grievances were shuffled between offices, buried under mountains of paperwork. Then, in April 1812, a civil servant made a fatal mistake, telling Bellingham: “You’re free to take whatever measures you think proper.”
Bellingham interpreted this as permission to act.

The Assassination

On May 11, armed with two pistols and a coat specially tailored to conceal them, Bellingham entered the House of Commons. At 5:15 PM, he saw Perceval approach. Without hesitation, he fired point-blank into the Prime Minister’s chest.
Perceval collapsed, gasping his final words:

“I am murdered!”

Bellingham, showing no emotion, sat down and waited to be arrested.

A Nation Divided

The trial that followed stunned the nation. Bellingham’s defense was chillingly straightforward:

“I tried every legal channel. The government left me no choice.”

Public opinion was divided. While many condemned the act, others sympathized with Bellingham’s plight. A French observer noted, “You taught ministers they should do justice when asked.”

But sympathy was not enough to save him. After a one-day trial, Bellingham was sentenced to death and hanged on May 18, 1812. His final words were haunting: “I feel no hate for Mr. Perceval. But he led the government that refused me justice.”

A Legacy of Reform

The assassination sent shockwaves through Britain. It exposed the dangers of an indifferent bureaucracy and highlighted the need for change. In the aftermath:

* The government reformed its complaint systems.
* Citizen protections were strengthened.
* No British Prime Minister has been assassinated since.

Ironically, a later investigation confirmed that Bellingham’s claims were valid—he was indeed owed compensation. But by then, it was too late for both the merchant and the Prime Minister.

Lessons from Tragedy

This story is more than a historical footnote. It is a powerful reminder of what happens when systems designed to serve people become their prisons. When humanity is sacrificed for efficiency, and protocol takes precedence over justice, ordinary individuals can be pushed to extraordinary extremes.

In the end, the assassination of Spencer Perceval was not just an act of violence—it was a tragic failure of governance. And it remains a cautionary tale about the deadly consequences of ignoring those in need.

05/12/2024

20/11/2024

HE WHO ABANDONS HIS OAST MUST BE READY TO FOLLOW THE PASTS OF OTHERS

20/11/2024

PRESERVING FAMILY HERITAGE

A Responsibility for Today and Tomorrow

The debate over inheritance policies in the United Kingdom, particularly Labour's proposal to cap inheritance on farmland and lands for development, has ignited widespread protests from over 15,000 landowners and farmers.

Their argument is not just about wealth preservation but the safeguarding of generational legacies. This issue resonates profoundly when juxtaposed with the ongoing erosion of ancestral lands in Marampa Chiefdom, Sierra Leone, particularly those belonging to the Gbammatti family.

In the UK, inheritance is more than a financial transaction; it is a lifeline connecting generations. Farmlands, for instance, symbolise centuries of toil, innovation, and community building. Placing caps on inheritance could risk dismantling this intricate chain of generational continuity, replacing it with transient economic policies that might overlook the broader societal implications. Protesters argue that these policies could fragment family-owned farms and disrupt local economies that rely on them.

Similarly, in Marampa Chiefdom, the Gbammatti family's ancestral lands stand as a testament to their historical and cultural legacy. However, this heritage is under threat—not by external policy but by internal mismanagement. Family members, both directly and indirectly involved, have engaged in selling off and misusing the rental income from these lands. Instead of reinvesting in sustainable development, they have chosen short-term gains that undermine the foundation of their inheritance.

The parallels between these two scenarios are stark. In both cases, the reckless exploitation of inherited assets poses a significant risk to the future. In Sierra Leone, the Gbammatti lands, once a symbol of familial pride and potential, could be reduced to nothing more than a distant memory if current practices persist. Rental incomes, which could have been reinvested into education, infrastructure, or entrepreneurial ventures, are instead squandered. When the land is sold off without strategic planning, the lineage forfeits its economic security, leaving future generations to grapple with poverty and lost identity.

The implications of such mismanagement are dire. Without deliberate action to preserve these inheritances, future generations will face the double burden of economic instability and the psychological impact of losing their familial identity. These lands and resources are not just properties but symbols of history, culture, and resilience.

It is, therefore, the moral and practical responsibility of the current generation to act as stewards of these inheritances. For the Gbammatti family, this means instituting robust mechanisms to monitor and evaluate land use, creating trust funds for rental income, and ensuring equitable distribution and reinvestment of resources. For farmers and landowners in the UK, it means advocating for policies that balance taxation with the preservation of generational continuity.

Ultimately, the preservation of family inheritance is not just about protecting economic assets but safeguarding a lineage's future. For the Gbammatti family and others facing similar challenges worldwide, the choices made today will define the opportunities available to the unborn descendants tomorrow. Whether in Sierra Leone or the United Kingdom, the message is clear: the preservation of inheritance is a duty owed to both the past and the future. Only by embracing this responsibility can families ensure that their legacies endure for generations to come.

06/11/2024

THIS IS WHERE THEY ARE!

21/10/2024

OPINION SO TRUE

The Economic Hitman—A Wake-Up Call for Young Africans

If you’ve never heard of John Perkins, let me introduce you to the man who pulled back the curtain on one of the most insidious operations that have gripped Africa (and much of the Global South) in a chokehold. Perkins, a former Economic Hitman, is the guy who confessed that his job was to make sure countries got hooked on debt, which, as we know, is a type of soft power that keeps nations chained without them realising it.

Sounds like the plot of a spy movie, right? Except, it’s real, and we, Africans, are part of the story.

John Perkins describes himself as the guy who would go into developing countries and sweet-talk their leaders into taking on massive loans for infrastructure projects—dams, roads, you name it. These projects, though they may seem like gifts from wealthy nations or organisations like the World Bank, are nothing short of financial quicksand. Once the country is trapped in debt, they are at the mercy of the lenders, who then dictate terms—open your markets, hand over your resources, or else.

This is where it gets uncomfortable. Africa, with all its natural riches, has been treated like the world’s ATM—endless deposits in the form of minerals, oil, gas, and now even our fertile land—while we get tricked into thinking we’re “developing.” Perkins’ story is a direct challenge to the idea that all foreign investments in Africa are good investments. It's time we recognised that not all who come bearing loans and aid are friends.

But here's where the real wake-up call begins.

For young Africans, the Perkins tale should be a spark that lights the fire of awareness. We are living in the aftermath of deals made decades ago, often by governments that were either unaware or in on the scheme. We must ask ourselves: what are the loans we’re signing up for today? Who benefits from the billion-dollar contracts we see splashed across the news headlines? Is it the people, or just a handful of elites backed by these external powers?

It's not enough to sit back and complain about exploitation; we need to be informed, engaged, and innovative. The youth have the power to demand transparency and challenge the status quo. Armed with information like Perkins’ account, we can push for a new wave of leadership that prioritises African interests. We can say no to shady deals and yes to homegrown solutions.

The good news is that the tide is already turning. From tech start-ups to agricultural innovations, young Africans are showing that we don’t need to rely on foreign hands to build our future. We have the tools, the talent, and the will to craft our own destiny. But we need to stay vigilant, because the economic hitmen of today are still out there—they just wear different suits.

So, let’s be clear: this isn’t just about John Perkins or his confessions. It's about us. We are the generation that can say “no more” to the exploitation of our continent. We are the ones who will put an end to the old games and set the terms for our own economic future.

Are you ready to wake up?

11/10/2024

I once asked a very successful woman to share her secret with me.
She smiled and said to me..

“I started succeeding when I started leaving small fights for small fighters.

I stopped fighting those who gossiped about me..

I stopped fighting with my in laws..

I stopped fighting for attention..

I stopped fighting to meet public expectation of me..

I stopped fighting for my rights with stupid people..

I left such fights for those who have nothing else to fight..

And I started fighting for
my vision,
my dreams,
my ideas and
my destiny.

The day I gave up on small fights is the day I started becoming successful.”

Some fights are not worth your time.
Choose what you fight for wisely.

– Amazing startups

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