Corto Maltese, a «cult» character of the best of the European graphic novel genre, had official residence in Antigua, where consequences from the anti-EU referendum are expected
by Emanuele Bonini
History proved Corto Maltese was right, in the end. Antigua is a good place for a domicile, not a good a place to live in. Even Gibraltar has become a country just to pass through, a destination probably good nothing but for hit and run visits. And that's true especially today, in time of Brexit, whose waves propagate so far to reach and shake the crystalline waters of the Caribbean. In this part of the world many of the countries under the British crown, both formally and «de facto» still continue to be heavily dependent on the United Kingdom. Commercial supplies, special financing, tourism: the British are worth a lot here, and Antigua make no exceptions. Around the 17.7% of local wealth depends on tourism, driven for one third by UK nationals now not in the condition to sustain higher travel costs. With the UK out of the great play of the EU, import-export flows won't be possible any longer unless new commercial agreements are arranged. Because of British EU membership trade, aid, and investment relations between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States countries, included Antigua, has been with the EU.
In perspective what has been until today can't be taken for granted any longer. After Brexit Antigua, as well as all the CARICOM group, won't be in the position to trade with London because the latter will have become a third Country. New partnership will be needed, with CARICOM not on the top of the British agenda. If living in Antigua could previously seem not to be a good idea, it doesn't appear to be the wisest choice given the current times. So farewell, Corto!
The way of doing business will change. New duties, new alliances, new rules will come. Understanding who will benefit from all of this is certainly the great question that surrounds this stretch of earth located in a paradise suddenly turned into hell. The political turmoil generated by the understimated Brexit will have impact on the official residence of Corto Maltese, the fictional character created by the artistic talent of Hugo Pratt. Even though he, Corto Maltese, never lived in Antigua in practice. He preferred staying in Hong Kong, when the British flag used to flutter over to the ancient Asian colony. Today Hong Kong has returned to China, and also in Antigua, in the meanwhile become independent, things are about to change. And they have already started to change, indeed. Gold doesn't tell lies, not in this case. Money transferred to Antigua by expats refers to a currency that is losing its value. Nowadays it is safer to keep the East Caribbean Dollar than relying on the Pound Sterling. Antigua it is not a good place for searching treasures. What a shame, especially for a seaman like Corto Maltese always devoted in pursuing such a dream.
Not even dreaming the childhood dreams is safe enough. One of most popular fictional character of our times spent his first years of life in Gibraltar, reached by Brexit as in the other parts of the world. Indeed disputes amongst people have never ceased. Here, the course of history does not seem to have changed, but rather having dozed off for suddenly awakening. Never-settled controversies together with old issues come up again with the changed winds blowing from Europe, driving away from the very little that still remained of the world as narrated by one of the its main migrants ever known.
Read more about:
- Corto Maltese
History proved Corto Maltese was right, in the end. Antigua is a good place for a domicile, not a good a place to live in. Even Gibraltar has become a country just to pass through, a destination probably good nothing but for hit and run visits. And that's true especially today, in time of Brexit, whose waves propagate so far to reach and shake the crystalline waters of the Caribbean. In this part of the world many of the countries under the British crown, both formally and «de facto» still continue to be heavily dependent on the United Kingdom. Commercial supplies, special financing, tourism: the British are worth a lot here, and Antigua make no exceptions. Around the 17.7% of local wealth depends on tourism, driven for one third by UK nationals now not in the condition to sustain higher travel costs. With the UK out of the great play of the EU, import-export flows won't be possible any longer unless new commercial agreements are arranged. Because of British EU membership trade, aid, and investment relations between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States countries, included Antigua, has been with the EU.
In perspective what has been until today can't be taken for granted any longer. After Brexit Antigua, as well as all the CARICOM group, won't be in the position to trade with London because the latter will have become a third Country. New partnership will be needed, with CARICOM not on the top of the British agenda. If living in Antigua could previously seem not to be a good idea, it doesn't appear to be the wisest choice given the current times. So farewell, Corto!
The way of doing business will change. New duties, new alliances, new rules will come. Understanding who will benefit from all of this is certainly the great question that surrounds this stretch of earth located in a paradise suddenly turned into hell. The political turmoil generated by the understimated Brexit will have impact on the official residence of Corto Maltese, the fictional character created by the artistic talent of Hugo Pratt. Even though he, Corto Maltese, never lived in Antigua in practice. He preferred staying in Hong Kong, when the British flag used to flutter over to the ancient Asian colony. Today Hong Kong has returned to China, and also in Antigua, in the meanwhile become independent, things are about to change. And they have already started to change, indeed. Gold doesn't tell lies, not in this case. Money transferred to Antigua by expats refers to a currency that is losing its value. Nowadays it is safer to keep the East Caribbean Dollar than relying on the Pound Sterling. Antigua it is not a good place for searching treasures. What a shame, especially for a seaman like Corto Maltese always devoted in pursuing such a dream.
Not even dreaming the childhood dreams is safe enough. One of most popular fictional character of our times spent his first years of life in Gibraltar, reached by Brexit as in the other parts of the world. Indeed disputes amongst people have never ceased. Here, the course of history does not seem to have changed, but rather having dozed off for suddenly awakening. Never-settled controversies together with old issues come up again with the changed winds blowing from Europe, driving away from the very little that still remained of the world as narrated by one of the its main migrants ever known.
Read more about:
- Corto Maltese
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