A Small Place

“If you were to ask, you would be told that the banks are encouraged by the government to make loans available for cars, but loans for houses not so easily available; and if you ask again why, you will be told that the two main car dealerships in Antigua are owned in part or outright by ministers in government.”

Kincaid notes that when tourists drive through Antigua, they may be puzzled by the fancy cars and comparably poor houses. Kincaid explains that this is due to government incentives that make ministers richer rather than care for Antiguan citizens. The phrase “if you were to ask” is repeated throughout this first section of the text, highlighting how tourists usually don’t ask these kinds of questions.

“Will you be comforted to know that the hospital is staffed with doctors that no actual Antiguan trusts; [...] that when the Minister of Health himself doesn’t feel well he takes the first plane to New York to see a real doctor; that if any one of the ministers in government needs medical care he flies to New York to get it?”

The hospital is one of many institutions in Antigua in a state of disrepair. Kincaid points out that the government ministers know the hospital is unfit for medical care, but instead of fixing the problem they leave the country for better care. Most Antiguans don’t have this luxury, highlighting the wealth inequality that underlies Antiguan society and the theme of government corruption.

“And so you needn’t let that slightly funny feeling you have from time to time about exploitation, oppression, domination develop into full-fledged unease, discomfort; you could ruin your holiday.”

One of the key themes of the text is tourism as a form of neocolonialism. In this passage, Kincaid illustrates that many white tourists traveling to poorer nations—especially ex-colonies—recognize that they’re continuing a legacy of exploitation. However, tourists never let these feelings fully develop because of their greater feelings of self-interest in enjoying their holidays.