‘All not lost’

Some Barbadians are finding ways to become more resilient and to thrive, even as the country seeks to emerge from the present COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Corin Bailey, Senior Fellow with the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, acknowledged the above recently, as the Caribbean Sociological Association (CASA) hosted its second virtual forum entitled “COVID-19: Social Impact, Recovery and Resilience in the Caribbean”.

CASA hosted the forum as part of its ongoing conversations throughout the region, aimed at highlighting the dire effects of the pandemic on key demographic groups in society, including children, persons living in poverty, the elderly, the homeless and persons living with disabilities. However, CASA pointed out that all is not lost, since Caribbean people are known for their altruism and goodwill towards family members and neighbours and already, there are visible signs of attempts at recovery and acts of resilience.

Speaking to what is happening in Barbados at present, Dr. Bailey suggested that, for example, those in the farming community and also entrepreneurs offering various services are finding innovative ways in which to operate, whilst some Barbadians are doing their best to cope, by finding new ways of doing things in the midst of the COVID-19 environment.

“People are finding various ways to survive and to operate within the confines of what COVID-19 has presented. Small farmers have seen an increase in demand for their products, as a result of a slowdown in imports and it has also created an avenue for increased revenue for some, so some are actually thriving where they would not have been before,” Dr. Bailey pointed out.

“Those able to deliver their products have been able to survive, as people have been seeking ways to obtain food without having to come into contact with people. So the entrepreneurial spirit has been alive and well certainly among Barbadians and that has been evident,” he continued.

“Of course people have been able to make use of unemployment benefits and or public assistance and there have been government and private collection drives, both for food and for money, in order to assist those that are most vulnerable. Recently, the Government identified some 600 families that they deemed particularly vulnerable and have targeted them with assistance efforts and those with access to savings or additional lines of credit have been using these in an attempt to meet their financial obligations,” he added.

“As everywhere else, schools have been operating remotely and while that has presented challenges for parents, it certainly has provided opportunities to still learn, for those that are equipped with broadband and the necessary technology. While people have been cut-off from family and friends, we have all been using the technology, so that we don’t feel isolated from critical networks. Things that we require for our mental health such as exercise and leisure activities, are being carried out at home or through the use of technology. Many are using online gyms or trainers,” he further commented.

Bailey however suggested that from a policy standpoint, Government will need to focus on some key areas to assist with the recovery effort, including going back to agriculture to ensure greater food security for the population in times of crisis, diversifying its industries so there is not a heavy reliance on tourism as in the past and continuing to look out for the most vulnerable in society, post COVID-19. (RSM)