Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Bassy - Love Vine
October 29, 2021

Ah Miss De Water, Is De Well Dry???

Ole people say: “Yuh never miss de Water till de Well run dry.” Rain or shine, ah always look forward every In-de-pen-dance Day, at 6:00 a.m. to de familiar sound ah de bass drum: “Bum! Bum! Bum!” Just ah simple “one, two, three,” de official ‘Call to Order’ of de Grammar School Cadets, to line-up and march down to de police station, way dey will join de full formation of SVG’s Military and Para-military might: de SVG Royal Police, Fire Brigade, Auxiliary Police, Coast Guard; Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Rangers, Cubs, Brownies, Red Cross, Boy Brigades, Nurses, practically any organized group dat wears ah uniform. Sometimes, dey’s ah visiting Battle Ship in port, and dey too would take part and lend to de unique flavour of our annual parade.

From de Police Barracks, de parade would head along Back Street to Victoria Park, to be welcomed by ah massive crowd, anxiously awaiting dey arrival. Victoria Park was like ah sea of colour, ah kaleidoscope, with pavilions, bleachers and de grounds packed, jam-up wid school pick-me, all dressed in de nah-shun-all colours, waving dey Blue, Green and Gold mini-flags, cheering as de troops and dignitaries arrived.

Unfortunately it has always bin ah full military affair, no room foh Cultural Expressions or recognition for youth achievement during de year. Mainly lots of drills, salutes, marching back ’n’ forth and around de Park to de sweet rhythmic sound of de combined Police and Cadet Bands.

Den dey would be ah break in de spirited program wid calm-pain or pull-it-tek-all speech by de sitting Pry-minister. Interestingly though, de high point of de Parade at Victoria Park was de Salute to de Nay-shun, dat’s when ah batch of military officers would execute ah drill/formation dat displays de numbers (42) represented in de age of de Nay-shun, And of course everybody looked forward to de appearance of de late Stuarty Gill, ah legend, de eldest Scout on Parade who every year distinctly brought up de rear of de parade.

However, In-de-pen-dance Day Parade had its lighter moments. Dey was de period when an unofficial Fashion Parade evolved among de Ladies in Society, de wives of invited guests, VIP’s and other dignitaries. In fact de “look forward to” was de arrival of de wives of den ministers of Go-venom-mint as dey displayed fashionable, Royal Family style, broad rim hats or head pieces. Until one year, fronting miss Lie-Za and she friends turned up in some top fashion head-pieces from China; so much so, school pickney say dat de country-wives out-dressed de town-wives.

KOVD or no KOVID, all ah we lively happy Vincy Spirit went thru de back door long time. People asking if is de Well or de Water dat run dry, because long before KOVID 19, is ah lot ah things dat was not happening, especially foh In-deep-an-dance. We miss de Best Community Award, in fact way all de Communities gone. We miss Best School, no Best Garden, We want back Best Dressed Ladies, our ladies deserve recognition; and Lie-Za say want de Best Dress Men. We Miss all ah dat!

Is it dat things so bad dis year, even de customary display of flags and buntings on Go-venom-mint buildings social distancing? But dat is how it is, when de vehicle foh meaningful progress and uniting de people is parked aside. De country is so divided our name is high on de unofficial list of Most Divided Nay-shuns.

Dis year In-deep-an-dense, ah Miss de water but ah know de well aint dry. So ah meking an early plea foh fresh water come next year.. And wid dat is gone ah gone again.

One Love Bassy

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

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Domestic worker killed at Long Wall
    Front Page
    Domestic worker killed at Long Wall
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    FAMILY MEMBERS of a woman who was killed at Long Wall say they suspect their relative was hacked by a person they all know very well. On Tuesday, Sept...
    NDP never built a single house in SVG – Finance Minister
    Front Page
    NDP never built a single house in SVG – Finance Minister
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    THE IDEA THAT HOUSING is a right, that every Vincentian has a right to safe and secure housing, and that the government has a role to play in ensuring...
    No bail for Police officer charged with attempted murder
    Front Page
    No bail for Police officer charged with attempted murder
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    A POLICE OFFICER, who allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend 26 times about her body was remanded even as his lawyer argued that the Royal St Vincent and...
    New ULP Administration will roll out AI policy
    Front Page
    New ULP Administration will roll out AI policy
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    A NEW UNITY LABOUR PARTY ADMINISTRATION will be rolling out an Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy to embrace its positives and guard against the nega...
    Sandy Bay Secondary School marks 20th Anniversary
    Front Page
    Sandy Bay Secondary School marks 20th Anniversary
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 9,2025 was a memorable day for the staff and students of the Sandy Bay Secondary School, which was marking its 20th anniversary wi...
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    News
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    THE ASHLEY LASHLEY Foundation, with support from the United States Government, is implementing a local-level project entitled “Community-Driven Strate...
    News
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    News
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    THE ASHLEY LASHLEY Foundation, with support from the United States Government, is implementing a local-level project entitled “Community-Driven Strate...
    Skills not available locally, non-nationals have to be hired says Finance Minister
    News
    Skills not available locally, non-nationals have to be hired says Finance Minister
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    NON- NATIONALS ARE being hired to fill several jobs in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) simply because locals did not have the required skill sets....
    Montgomery Daniel squashes rumours that he’s sick
    News
    Montgomery Daniel squashes rumours that he’s sick
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER Montgomery Daniel has sought to clear around rumours that have been circulating relating to his health. Speaking on NBC radio on...
    $1.3 billion in Tourism investment to yield 2,000 jobs – Camillo
    News
    $1.3 billion in Tourism investment to yield 2,000 jobs – Camillo
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    The GOVERNMENT of St Vincent and the Grenadines is set to sign agreements for tourism investment of $1.3 billion on mainland St.Vincent. On Monday, Se...
    Bagga’ man pleads guilty to illegal gun, ammo possession
    From the Courts, News
    Bagga’ man pleads guilty to illegal gun, ammo possession
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    A BARROUALLIE MAN will be sentenced next week after pleading guilty to being in illegal possession of a firearm and eight rounds of ammunition. Demron...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok