THINGS THAT MATTER

Welcome 2017 – A year for Hate, Hype or Hope?

 

“Today is the first page of your big book of 365 pages. Make it a great one!” (Anon)
“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” (William Vaughan, American writer)
 
Well, 2016 is over and we’re into a new year, full of hope and optimism for better things, in a world that sometimes seems to have lost its way and to be full of nothing but greed, hype and hate.
 
The savagery of ISIS and its return to the worst of medieval thinking and actions; the turmoil in the middle East, ironically the birthplace of civilisation but now in prolonged fights to the death of every opponent; the corruption across the world, from China to the Caribbean; and the mindless violence in a world that remains so divided in concepts, culture, religion, wealth and poverty, confronts us every day.
 
Even our “politically correct” neighbours to the North – Canada and the USA - have witnessed the most extraordinary events in the past year, from political and private corruption of enormous magnitude, to psychopathic killings. The extraordinary approval by Republicans of the mouthings of Donald Trump, described by Owen Jones in the New Statesman (December 18, 2015) as the quasi-fascist demagoguery of Donald Trump, is matched only by the astonishing threat of his rival Dr. Ben Carson to abolish Obamacare. Where is his conscience? Ben Carson is one of the last century’s celebrated examples of rags to riches or foundling to fame, who became a famous paediatric neurosurgeon. 
 
Turkey and the rest of Europe are swamped with refugees, while Greece, living through the biggest of all Greek tragedies, with a prime minister winning an election on the strength of not enforcing austerity measures, then forced to do so, bears one of the biggest refugee burdens. Plato and Socrates must be turning in their graves.
 
And in Britain the Scottish vote to stay in the Union was followed by a sweeping victory in the election by the party which had wanted to separate. Meanwhile Britain’s marriage to the European Union is ending by divorce amidst billions of dollars in dowry, which has grown every year! And to the astonishment of millions and Jeremy Corbin himself, this radical left wing activist became the surprise leader of the British labour party.
 
We in Barbados have had our fair share of political controversy and confusion, hype and hypocrisy. Two bright spots are the action at Sam Lord’s Castle and the improvement in tourist arrivals, although we haven’t yet heard of improvement in spending. And across the world a few bright spots are some democratic victories in South America over dictators, and the restoration of diplomatic ties between Cuba and America after 54 years. This of course will have a huge impact on our own tourism, and is a call to arms for recognition, restoration and promotion of our own scandalously neglected heritage, because it’s the historic richness of Cuba that is now attracting huge numbers from North America and Europe.
 
We in Barbados may have punched above our weight in the recent past, but how can we regain that reputation, and the success and self-confidence to take us forward? Our 50th Anniversary of Independence was a Golden opportunity to come together – as families, as communities and as a nation within our Caribbean community – and develop a truly successful society, as independent as is feasible in this inter-linked world. Good leadership is essential at every level, from the village and the business to our Parliament – with the words of our National Anthem ever present on our lips and in our thoughts.
 
Let us determine that 2017 will be the year we justify our 50th Anniversary celebrations with a true spirit of independence and entrepreneurship – with action and not just words – but living out the words of our anthem: “The 
Lord has been the people’s guide” and “strict guardians of our heritage, firm craftsmen of our fate”.
 
AND NOW A 
CONFESSION: This column, up to this point, is a rehash of last year’s New Year’s column with changes only in date and the occasional word, e.g. from “is” to “was”. I’ve done this to make the point that across the world, AND in Barbados, little changed except that our hopes for 2016 often crumbled, and hope was often turned into hate. With President-elect Trump anything can happen. Hype, hypocrisy and hate were the bywords of the election messages and it continues to be so. We MUST make sure that this corruption of the democratic process does not happen here in 2017.
 
One flicker of hope comes from a speech of our Prime Minister at a meeting of the full Social Partnership, as reported in the Advocate on July 19, 2014: “At some stage it may be necessary to widen the grouping due to several agencies “knocking at the door” ... “The Social Partnership has really not changed its stakeholder view since its formation and the stage may well be reached in the not too distant future where we broaden its base to include other social partners who have sufficient purchase in society that their voices need to be heard.” 
 
Like the Prime Minister and the Advocate, I have been advocating this in the Senate for several years, and there are many reasons why this would be valuable in maintaining the integrity of our governance, our society and our elections. Let us all hope, pray and work together for a better 2017 everywhere.
 
SYMPATHY: The year 2016 has seen the loss of many heroes, patriots and valuable citizens of Barbados and our neighbours. The Barbados National Trust lost one of our great founding members, architect and entrepreneur Jimmy Walker, founder of Best of Barbados, a few weeks ago, and this week both dedicated Council Member Lloyd McConney and Paul Foster, the pioneering first Director of the Barbados Tourist Board, founder of Jaycees, President and Director of the Barbados National Trust and so much more. Both Jimmy and Paul lived to a great age, admired by everyone. Both have been mentors of mine, but especially Paul Foster, major mentor and great friend, who sacrificed so much for his love of Barbados and the promotion of so many important developments we now take for granted. Our sympathy goes out to their loving and supportive families.
And to the family of Sir Dwight Venner, who left us a few days ago, and of whom I said in presenting him for his Honorary LLB at UWI Cave Hill: “His brilliant career in international economics, central banking, finance and planning, his erudition and management skills and his wide-ranging interests and hobbies are the very model of a Caribbean Renaissance man.”
 
Professor Fraser is Past Dean of Medical Sciences, UWI and Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology. Website: profhenryfraser.com
 

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