A divorce is not the easiest matter, even in an age of sophistication when it is commonplace for marriages to be dissolved with the greatest of ease. We have become accustomed to couples, especially celebrities, choosing a partner and after very little time, seeking freedom. As you blink, former partners set off again to find replacements and start a new life.

Last weekend, word sped around the globe about one of the most discussed divorces — the European Union (EU) and its former partner, the UK (United Kingdom) have decided to go their separate ways.

As the pace quickened, day and night, with the news flying around the world, the divorce analogy became the phrase of the day, introduced with continental sophistication, by the chief of the European Commission, Monsieur Jean-Claude Juncker. He was quoted in the global media, thinking aloud on how he sees the break-up and how long it will take to settle matters brought on by the separation.

This is no ordinary break-up. Monsieur Juncker declared: “It is not an amicable divorce, but it was also not an intimate love affair.” In other words, “Things hadn’t been going so well behind closed doors. Satisfaction was lacking.” No marriage could survive.

Now that the news of the break-up is out, high drama is on. We have been hearing how people in the UK made the decision to vote for itself, while others came up with an invention titled: “Brexit” or Britain exit. Others are now saying not only were there voters who didn’t know what “Brexit” meant, or even what the EU really stood for. For some people, having voted under information darkness, much blame is going around and questions raised. If they didn’t know, why did they say, “I do”? Was somebody joking?

Like a wedding, the confetti has been thrown but nobody was in a festive mood. As for the EU, the other half of the family “wedding party”, things are worse, now that some Brits, aka Brexits, are seeking a way to delay the final process of dissolution of the relationship. The EU family, meanwhile, wants a clean break, now! Not all the way down in October, as some want the delay to be, instead of as soon as possible.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has been trying to peddle the idea that he will be resigning and stepping down from Parliament in good time to let somebody else bear the responsibility to treat with the EU. Somebody who? Was it not Cameron who introduced the referendum? Now that the crash has come, why is he seeking to drag things out?

On the other side of the aisle, voices are raised against Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Opposition Labour Party who is being “traced-off” for not having been committed enough to ensure that support to remain would have been supported. Hells-a-poppin now! “Confusion is beginning to make its masterpiece,” as Shakespeare, who apparently knew everything, would have said.

Earlier this week, talking with a Jamaican gentleman who was a resident in the UK for many years, his response is that he is not at all comfortable with the current situation. He’s mad as ants about the weak support, which resulted in the current disaster. ‘That is not the kind of UK I knew,” he said. For the voting, his family Up There was divided — daughters on one side voting for Brexit, and on the other, his sons voting in vain for the UK. The gentleman wonders why there was such a lack of education of voters who would have preferred to see Britain remain in the EU, especially in areas where a large population of Caribbean migrants, usually loyal to being British, found themselves left out in the cold.

Whether pro or con, we, family and others are not the slightest bit amused as confusion and regret swirl around them. Just like in a bad, broken union, everybody is asking, “Who is the best divorce lawyer in town and how quickly can we get an appointment?”

If you, dear reader, want to get a hold of as much information on this drama as possible, go online and google like crazy to find out “whatta-gwaan”. What do you really believe is behind the break-up? Who should be blamed? Will Britannia rule again?

Read and learn

Where did it begin? Although Britain had joined the European Economic Community back in 1973, and later the European Union in the 1990s, there have always been some people who were wary of closer ties to Europe.

The UK did not join the Schengen Area, which eliminates internal border controls, nor did they sign up for the common currency, preferring to keep the English pound. Since the financial crises in 2008, where some European countries were hit hard, “Euro-scepticism” has grown. With migrants from poorer EU countries being given refuge in England. Immigration disaffection has grown, and that is why “the marriage” broke up.

The European Union, just as Britain, has been our friend too. Many here in Jamaica may or may not know, however, that the EU has done some really impressive work here for sometime now…funding and carrying out an amazing range of programmes from which we have benefited. What is the future then, for the EU and us? All we can do for now is speculate. Will they abandon small nations, like ours? If they were to change their global direction, if we want to “marry again”, then we may well go looking for another “bridegroom”, but not every bridegroom wants to find another bride. Divorce can bring disillusionment for a lifetime.

We may be more interested in how to start planning on dividing the family property. It is not a joke. The EU has been making it clear that they certainly will not crawl away without serious negotiations to protect their interests. We are mature enough to look out for our own business.

Trickle down

Word from Canada is that the British population there has been increasing as the wave of migration is stepping up. Canada has gained quite a reputation for welcoming immigrants. Apparently, they do not intend to lose their reputation for kindness, so they will accommodate the Brits, many of whom are family joined by history.

On Wednesday, in Ottawa, Canada, they rolled out the red carpet for President Barack Obama, whom they regard as their best friend. It must have been comforting to him, after so much confusion at home, to be so warmly welcomed when he paid a one-day visit to the next door neighbour. The applause went on and on and on as both Houses of Parliament joined in showing how Canada treats a best friend. There was no evidence of an invitation to dinner for a certain badly blown Trumpet, which people across the border indicate they don’t want to hear.

Barbara Gloudon is a journalist, playwright and commentator. Send comments to the Observer or gloudonb@yahoo.com.