Happy New Year

2019 has come and gone but left us some unfinished “Dutty Man” miss-behave-yah in de Police Force towards the end ah de year. Even Lie-Za say she feel badly foh Commissioner Collin John how everybody gunning foh his Wuk. He is ah young man who is trying but is confronted wid challenges upstairs, downstairs, inside, outside and out-stay-shun, even pon de Drama stage.

She wants me to tell de Commissioner dat when her Granny uses to keep fowls, and she found ah hen setting pon ah nest ah eggs, she uses to give everyone ah dem Eggs ah Granny 3S Bad-Egg Test. First “S” foh See, she would tek ah good look at de egg see if it dark; second “S” foh Sound, she would note if it Shaking inside, and den de Third “S” she tek ah Smell and if she pick up a stinking Scent, Granny would declare dat is ah Rotten Egg and she would throw it outside. Read Lie-Za Granny’s lips Commissioner John . One shake or stroke and yuh out!.

But de actual Christmas Season was Festive. Nine Mornings continue to attract large crowds. Like Lie-Za my concern is dat Vincy Nine Mornings is first and foremost ah Christmas Festival, it is the Season way we celebrate de Birth or Coming of Christ. Sadly, capital Kingstown was in darkness, ah hope de poorly lit dwelling houses and business places is not ah reflection of hopelessness among de people. We need to get our Christmas Music Genre and Traditions in proper perspective. More Vincy fruits and dishes should be sold at Venues. Years ago Vincy Christmas was blessed wid Bum Drum, String Bands and community choirs, including children serenading from Door-to-Door or House-to-House delivering de message of Christmas. Until we bring dem back, ah giving de Ministries of Culture and Community Development ah big Zero foh doing absolutely nothing, what ah shame.

AN “A” FOH NAH-SHUN ALL LOTTERIES

Wid all de negative Road Blocks confronting us in 2020, ah must add-myth dat de Nah-shun-all Lottery Association (NLA) 2020 Calendar is ah master-piece. De inclusion of de Faces (phases) of de moon, from First Quarter to Last Quarter is important and helpful to Farmers and Fisher-folks. Dat’s how ah does predict Tri Tri time. Apart from Lunar super-stay-shun, clearly de selection of photographs on NLA’s Calendar dis year has ah Theme dat should send a message of Inspiration, Aspiration and Possibilities foh Young people in de field of Sports, Culture and Education. . Among de persons featured is Rawlty Lowe, now in his sixties, a former outstanding SVG Nah-shun-all Footballer of de 1979 successful team, And closer to de cradle is Zariel Nelson, who is only eleven years young, but has participated in over ah dozen Swimming Tournaments winning 107 gold medals. Among de photos is de cream of young Vincy Talent, Musical Maestros in de making.. Persons whom our young people can look to for positive vibes and inspiration dah could mek dem “Set foh Life..” Thanks Lotto.

DE OLDEST LIVING BGS OLE BOY

Man last Friday, when my Primary School Class-mate, Arlene Dear now Mrs Kirton called to invite me to de 100th Birthday Anniversary Service foh Bro Eldon Anderson, de Oldest Living Past Student of de Boys Grammar School, ah tell me-self dat would be an occasion foh me to be donned in my full Grammar School regalia: grey trousers, white shirt, green and yellow school tie, and green blazer with my “Per Aspera Ad Astra” gold crest. It all happened just as ah had hoped, dat ah would be de youngest Ole Boy present, in full School Uniform. Ah warm and friendly gathering of de Anderson Dynasty was at de Calliaqua Anglican Church. Andersons from all over de world, de USA, UK, de Caribbean: offsprings wid dey spouses and siblings. Nieces, nephews, Grands, great grands and even Great-great-grands. Ah got to meet Ardon (Nutty) my ole classmate at BGS who ah ain’t see foh over fifty years. He uses to be skinny, now he is twice de man he uses to be.

And de honoured Guest hails from noble stock, his dad was de famous RM Anderson, Editor of de Vincentian Newspaper many years ago. On Sat-dey morning de 100 not out Batsman sat in ah wheel-chair, very composed and alert, taking in everything; showing elegance and pride, and what’s left of one of BGS’ star athlete in his day. Incidentally, present was one of his grand-daughters (offspring of Earle and Mary) who represented de UK as an Athlete, she is now ah Coach and selector of de British team. While in church dat mischievous Lie-Za kept making signs foh me to look around to see if ah see any GHS Alumni present, to give them ah nice court-see and den ah thumbs up! Wow! Isn’t dat Great? Ah BGS Ole Boy has scored ah Century. Now eat yuh hearts out GHS. Happy Birthday Sir Andy and Happy New Year to all. And wid dat is gone ah gone again.

One Love Bassy.

Bassy Alexander is a land surveyor, folklorist and social commentator.