EDITORIAL: Our National Test
BARBADOS, like the rest of the world, continues to be tested with the implications of COVID-19. The deadly virus, which attacks the vital organs, causes severe respiratory distress for those who are infected.
The island has engaged in mitigation exercises, which have borne fruit. Imposing a tough curfew initially, which forced people off the roads between 8 p.m to 6 a.m., was the first step of restrictive movement, which developed into a further combination of measures, including the restriction of movement across this island between the hours of 6 a.m and 6 p.m.
Trips to regular locations for Barbadians were closed off. Social distancing measures adhering to the six-foot guidance between people in lines and in a common space, were added to the national reality.
Barbadians known for socializing were confronted with the necessary actions of staying away from each other. Families, who normally bring friends into their homes, have been forced to the reality of stopping people at the “curtelege” of their spaces and taking whatever items are being brought to them.
These measures have come at a difficult time. With many people not at work, earnings have gone down. Some people work long hours and because of the restrictions, have lost that avenue to the revenues needed to sustain their families.
It has forced many to seek bargains from local farmers and find ways to stretch what they have for longer than they are accustomed to. That is the conundrum of staying at home on a consistent basis. Barring essential services and businesses which have been given permission to open and operate, the ability of owners to pay staff when their businesses have been shuttered needs to be addressed.
At some point, a rescue and revitalization plan needs to happen to place the island on a growth path. With dire economic conditions, this island’s re-opening in Phase 2 today, means that this island’s economic engines must start to fire... but carefully to avoid an explosion of new COVID-19 positive cases.
As this crisis deepens, the public health emergency must meet the economic reality which confronts the country. The longer that this country’s economic engine remains shuttered, the longer any recovery will take to materialize.
What this country has been treated to is the worst-case scenario. It continues to be echoed from various officials about what can go wrong, but precious little about what Barbadians have been doing right.
The majority of Barbadians have adhered to the measures. They have stayed home during the night curfew and ventured out to purchase what they need to survive, yet the appreciation of this reality has been fleeting and the dire tones of dread have dominated the public discourse.
Why would people risk their lives unless it was necessary? Does anyone believe that the elderly would venture out in long lines unless they had no choice? Do you see your elderly loved ones looking at their treasured families and loved ones, and decide that “going into town” is more important?
Those who suggest otherwise are shameful and pay a disservice to our stalwarts, who are not stubborn as has been suggested. The elderly have fought through more challenges than most and understand what hunkering down requires.
This is our national test. The responses so far have just been the warm-up act as the second more crucial act of moving this island back into a productive mode versus the preventative one is upon us.