EDITORIAL

Balanced views needed

Often when critique is levelled at a situation, depending on who is doing the criticising, there is little desire shown for balance. One can agree, for example, that the initial response to the South Coast sewage issue was lacking and still acknowledge the hard work done now to rectify the problem. One can recognise that education of the proper usage of the system should have been better handled and be horrified about what residents and/or tourists dispose of. Balanced views allow for the expressions of complexity that exist in life since many things are rarely polarised into black or white.

However, in politics sometimes those intricacies are not acknowledged as they should, which is unfortunate. And perhaps this is not that surprising; after all, candidates often are selective about the angles from which they attack an issue. The South Coast sewage project, it is clear, is a political football taking place as it does in an election year. One would therefore expect the blame game to be played, and those critical of government’s response to harp on mismanagement of resources, response and the like.

Unfortunately, it would seem that at this most critical stage – after several travel advisories to the South Coast, after unflattering online reviews from tourists – there would be attempts to hyperbolise the public’s fears of a medical catastrophe despite tests done by the Ministry of Health on the safety of potable and sea water in the area. This is a dangerous play on people’s emotions; worse yet, it can misrepresent the situation that can have unintended consequences for Barbados’ image.

As mentioned by BWA officials in another section of the media, now is a crucial time for the public to be further educated about what they should or should not discard in toilets or manholes. The BWA noticed the breach during routine maintenance of the system, one which may well be overtaxed of its original capacity. Based on some of the items described – ranging from feminine sanitary products to disposable diapers – this education process, and tips on basic hygiene, must take place sooner rather than later. As others have commented, there also needs to be a full media or townhall press briefing where all the stakeholders from the ministries responsible for health, environment and water can give a comprehensive overview of the situation that apprises everyone of the relevant information – not just those directly affected – but all of us who live in or are intent on visiting Barbados.

We also have to do some serious introspection as a nation. It is true that Government has to account to its stakeholders and be upbraided if the response is inadequate. However, there’s another stakeholder in this equation that must also play a role – those disposing of garbage in a system that is apparently bursting at the seams. None of us enjoys looking into the mirror, and seeing how we have helped contribute to a problem or have failed to educate our patrons – whether of businesses or hotels – of proper waste management disposal.

Riling up people for a cause without a full examination of all issues of a complex situation may very well achieve short-term objectives. However, it further delays long-term fixes, which really puts the country back at square one.

Barbados Advocate

Mailing Address:
Advocate Publishers (2000) Inc
Fontabelle, St. Michael, Barbados

Phone: (246) 467-2000
Fax: (246) 434-2020 / (246) 434-1000