It’s Getting Crazier, Even Becoming Comical

I spent the last week in Barbados and tried mainly through social media to get a sense of what was happening in SVG and it appeared that things were really just get more crazy. The madness I had been speaking about is increasing.

I even felt that things were falling apart literally and otherwise. The shaking of the financial complex as we call it, seemed to parallel what was happening elsewhere. From the online media I was told that people actually ran out of the building. One News report informed about “unexplored tremors.” It stated that “PM Gonsalves acknowledged that the complex had experienced intermittent shaking.” But then this seemed to be accepted as just something we can expect every now and then. At least that is how it appeared to me. There was some suggestion comically, it has to be, that it had something to do with persons going to collect vouchers for appliances. This obviously is a huge ‘give away’ to celebrate our 46th Independence ‘elections’. This apparently is to show what a wonderful job we had done since 1979. Interestingly, Taiwan does not appear to be part of that gift. We are soon to be celebrating our golden jubilee as an independent nation and hopefully, would by then have become a ‘first world country’, leaving Barbados and the others behind. The Barbados PM might then have to cut back on her criticisms of first world countries.

The SVG situation really demands the treatment of the American writer, Donald Westlake (now deceased), who wrote that remarkable book UNDER AN ENGLISH HAVEN, dealing with the British invasion of Anguilla. He described the financial happenings and errant nonsense and visitations by odd grab bags. But while everything looks comical if we sit back and look at it from a distance, it is deadly serious. Today one online publication referred to concrete falling through the hospital ceiling and nurses stopping ‘hands on work’, whatever that means. I am not sure why we were unable to accommodate the Under -19 cricket players from England, the US and the West Indies. I have not heard an official explanation so have assumed that the games would have been played at a time when we were in the heart of the general elections. In any event we missed an opportunity to advertise our readiness for Sports Tourism. But elections there must be!

Money is certainly not a problem now. I note that port workers are receiving a year’s back pay, just under $2 million for 250 employees. We must cheer for them, a well deserved Independence Anniversary gift. At the same time, we are told that mould infection has spread to the Audit office and that there were recent reports of multiple respiratory issues, headaches and nausea. Public Health officials sources stated, claimed that the building has done its time. But to the rescue was trade unionist who apparently visited the site and stated that all that was needed was some cleaning and a fresh coat of paint. These words sounded very Kennedy, the American Health boss. This is certainly not the first time we have been hearing about mould infestation. This happened at the hospital and at schools on the tarmac. Apparently still happening at some of those buildings that were once cleared of the infestation.

A multiplicity of projects are being hurriedly done. While we thought we didn’t have the manpower to do much more at this time, projects continue to be rolled out, as though they are products of a dream, or even nightmare. Actually, what is evident here is an effort to fulfil promises that were made many years ago. My fear is that the speed with which we are proceeding might create problems even in the immediate future.

Then to top this all is the news that an agreement has been made with Sandals Resorts International for the construction of a US $ 500 million (I believe) Beach Resort at Mt Wynne. I hope that there has been consultation with the people of Barrouallie and Layou. This is an issue that really needs to be highlighted, that is, hearing the views of the people living in the neighbouring towns who are likely to be affected by what is happening. For too long that approach has been missing under the guise that once promises are made about the jobs to be gained there is no need for consultation.

In real honesty a lot of what is happening makes little sense to me and I have simply been suggesting that all of this is part of the Silly Season. But really, we have to question a lot of what is happening. They are not good for our country as it approaches its 46th Independence anniversary. Some are having fun, some welcome the handouts in whatever form they take, but I am not sure how many wonder what is likely to happen when the polls are closed and winners announced. Will we be left with a country that can smoothly move on. Will the bitterness and divisions continue? How will we build back our country?

The political conversation about the future of our country and the challenges we face might exist in the minds of some people but to others it might be a question of seeing what they could get out of it. The cries, if they are to be heard will be heard later!

• Dr Adrian Fraser is a social commentator and historian