The beautiful barnacles of SVG

EDITOR: If our state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines could be likened unto a ship which has been sailing the seas for more than twenty-seven years, then some of us citizens will have to be likened to the barnacles which over time will affix themselves to the bottom of the ship.

On examination, barnacles will be seen to be beautiful organisms. They are of regular formation; they are hard and of a pearly whiteness when cleaned, but their presence on the bottom of the boat does not determine or affect the course the boat takes. When present in sufficient numbers they somewhat retard the speed of the boat. So, these beautiful barnacles in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are good people, pleasant people, respectful and respectable people. They are educated and cultured, living in fantastic homes, owning expensive vehicles. They enjoy the good life at varying levels, they are happy with their status, but they do not seem to care “two hoots” as to what direction the country is headed. They exhibit no concern, they express no opinion.

They drive through the communities with the tinted windows of their air-conditioned vehicles rolled up. Thus, they are unseen, oblivious to, and so uncaring for the misery on the faces of the less fortunate whom they pass on the way. If per chance they hear of a blatant injustice being meted out to some defenceless soul, they cannot find the energy to raise an objection. All their energy is conserved to effect their hold on the status quo.