A GUY'S VIEW: Happy Independence

Tomorrow, November 30, 2020, Barbados celebrates its 54th year of Independence.

Milestones are always good points for a dose of self-examination and a reality check, but maybe on another occasion I may take a look at what Independence has meant to us as a people. For sure, it has not meant independence.

After 54 years, our Governments still give the taxpayers’ money to hoteliers who have no respect for our people. It is pure hypocrisy for people here to pretend surprise at the shabby manner in which the hoteliers are now treating their workers. Disdain for black Barbadians has always been their modus operandi.

We could only be pretending when we do not see the connection between unwelcome black patrons and refusal to pay black staff.

How quickly we forget the battles that black Barbadians have had to fight to even use the beaches that are supposed to be public. These are the same hoteliers who place chairs on a public beach and claim that wherever they place a chair is theirs.

These are the same people that successfully lobbied the Royal Barbados Police Force to join with them to try to prevent contact between black Barbadians and tourists. They try relentlessly to prevent Barbadians from earning a living by operating jet skis and other entertainment activities on public beaches, plaiting hair or selling indigenous materials that might fascinate visitors.

We put on blinkers and drink the Kool-Aid and take up the last resort of staycations to fill the gap when the tourists do not come in sufficient numbers, but that invitation is not evidence of a changed mindset. They are willing to do whatever it takes for the money, except accommodating black Barbadians unless they have no choice.

So in our 54th year of Independence, hotel workers who are being denied their just separation payments, have to either suffer in silence or fight for themselves without any union support because the unions have now become pawns in the government’s inclusion strategy.

In our 54th year of Independence, it is still being suggested to us that the respectful removal of the greatest public symbol of our shame, should be applauded as some great deed of national significance. So we assemble the gullible in the rain under a tent on a public street to watch and applaud the removal of a statue that should have been removed 54 years ago.

In our 54th year of Independence we cannot point to one aspect of our economy or society that is working well. This country is in deep stool and the Government’s defenders are quick to pillory anyone who raises a voice of concern.

The media houses must have been shocked when one of them mistakenly thought that it might be all right to take an objective look at labour issues in the country. After all, given the death of the labour movement, it would only seem reasonable that the defenceless workers’ plight should be highlighted, even if in ever so gentle words. They quickly learned that 100 per cent compliance is required.

Rather than addressing the issues highlighted by the media, the Government’s operatives jumped down the throats of the media and pulled out what was left of their tongues for daring to breach the order of absolute silence.

After 54 years of Independence, this country has one workers’ union, manned by a single individual, to which workers may turn for representation. And that man is a long standing member of the ruling party. Whither Barbados.

Caswell Franklyn is on record as saying that certain political offers were made to him. What happens if tomorrow he decides to place money above workers, like others have, and take one of the lucrative offers that have been shared around? That would mark the silencing of the last voice of reason on behalf of labour in the country.

As we come to 54, crime has proven to be a nasty scar on our social landscape. Businesses try to fortify themselves against invasion by thieves and robbers. Individuals choose to stay at home rather than venture out, even during the daylight hours, for fear of being victims of crime. And, it is quite noticeable, that anything short of murder is not reported on the Government controlled stations.

The state of crime is such now that increasingly, residents no longer bother to report some incidents of crime to the police. When the citizenry loses confidence in law enforcement, the country is on the brink of chaos and vigilantism.

I really wish to say happy Independence Barbados. I must say, God help us.

Postscript

The Royal Barbados Police Force lost one of its unsung heroes last week. Sergeant Frank Goodridge died suddenly while on his job. I wish to extend my sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

Barbados Advocate

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

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