The precious Nurse Danae of Biabou has left us

Editor: While loved ones were gathered at West Indies Mission Church at Biabou to say farewell to our precious sister Nurse Danae Bailey Lockhart on Saturday 11th October, my mind drifted back in time.

Just over seven decades ago I was a Biabou boy, as I was a student of the Biabou Methodist Primary School, under the headship of Mr. Esau W Ballah with whom I lived in Biabou. On Sunday, I would have been taking a cool afternoon walk in the company of Danae and other children of the family, going from Biabou to Shipping Bay enjoying the peaceful sea-scape. Or, I might have taken a walk with my adopted village brother Fred Martin to the village of Lowman’s Windward, where we would purchase ripe bananas at a shop there and enjoy consuming them on our walk back to Biabou.

At mornings I joined several others for a sea-bath before going to school.

We envisioned then, that the large pool could have been built on that beautiful beach, so that villagers and visitors could have enjoyed a sea bath without being exposed to the rough waves which could be very angry sometimes. It might have been an item on the agenda of those vibrant members of the Biabou Village Council. So, on the strength of my Biabou citizenship, I am using this sacred occasion to appeal to everyone to participate in the struggle to repair and improve our communities. Get involved in the discussions we should be having over the next several weeks as we endeavour to fashion a way to go forward which offers hope for the next generation to prosper.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves himself, some months ago, drew our attention to the fact, that too many of our people were going about with agony printed on their faces because of the unfortunate circumstances and he appealed to citizens to join in what he labelled, the Season of Respair which he was then initiating.

There is indeed a big repair job to be done! Let us assert ourselves!

We cannot all be the candle on the lampstand of society, but each one of us can be a part of the surface of the box upon which the match used to kindle tomorrow’s flame is scratched. Therefore, in the pursuit of our ideals, let us be not unmindful of the travail of others.

For though we are all but straws in the wind of time, we could be towers of strength to a brother or sister in need. One man by himself may not be able to dam the river, but several men working together diligently, can effectively change the course of any stream- any stream!

Jehovah will give the bereaved the strength to bear this loss. May our beautiful and gentle DANAE now rest in peace!

LeRoy Providence