EDITORIAL - Do the right thing

There seems to be a serious problem among many Barbadians, who simply fail to take heed of warnings on critical matters. 

 

Every day this newspaper quotes government officials and other knowledgeable representatives in the private sector, who give advice and issue words of caution to the public in general. Matters of import include preventative health care, preserving and conserving the environment, personal finance management and maintaining social standards, especially amongst the younger population. On occasion, The Barbados Advocate has also voiced opinions on current events and proposed courses of action on how to proceed.

 

Yet, despite all this information, Barbadians appear to be turning deaf ears to the words of wisdom. What they focus on instead is seeking out individuals or organisations to blame for the many ills seemingly aimed directly at them.

 

With regard to health care, Barbadians have been told repeatedly to monitor what they eat, exercise and live healthy lifestyles so as to avoid increasing their risk of developing chronic non-communicable diseases. Educational media campaigns have been launched, free lectures given, inexpensive exercise programmes developed and still people refuse to get on board. Instead, they blame poor health on their low economic status and focus on criticising the quality of health care being provided. Consider this, if one purchases a brand new vehicle from a dealer and drive it off the lot, is it the dealer’s responsibility to maintain its upkeep?

 

The issue of the environment and waste management is another that has been addressed repeatedly. Every year there is at least one massive national clean-up campaign, which sees tonnes of garbage pulled from gullies, beaches, highways and by-ways, and neighbourhoods across the country. These take place in addition to several smaller initiatives every few months, with repeated calls for a change in behaviour to put a stop to littering. Yet, nothing changes. Barbadians continue their delinquent behaviour. 

 

It is true that the Sanitation Services Authority (SSA) on occasion has been part of the problem with poor pick-up schedules, and the state has been less than efficient in the past with managing the overall waste situation in the country, but how many Barbadians actually follow suggestions to reduce the amount of non-biodegradeable materials used, or to separate their garbage in an effort to recycle? Instead, it is an attitude of ‘out of sight, out of mind’.  

 

Even with regard to protecting against mosquito-borne diseases, there is a nonchalance that is unbelievable. For months there were alerts as to the suspected presence of the dreaded Zika virus here in Barbados. However – despite the fact that the mosquito responsible also spreads other dangerous viruses – it took a national exposé on the pests thriving in northern sections of the country to spur on an island-wide national effort to eliminate the harmful threat. And, despite this, there are still disgusting, disrespectful people that continue to place, not only themselves, but their neighbours at risk by disregarding suggestions and providing breeding grounds for these vectors.

 

Finally, with regard to the economy, it may be challenging to follow suggestions as to how to manage one’s money, especially in an economy that is harsh, to say the least. Advice to nurture an entrepreneurial spirit and seek to build on talents in small business ventures may not always pan out. However, even with the strictest of incomes, individuals can seek to reduce their expenditure by being prudent and not incurring more financial responsibilities, taking into consideration that all social behaviours can possibly result in a financial cost. By doing so, it is possible to elevate oneself from being bogged down in debt.

 

In the final analysis, you are responsible for yourself in this life. There is no one to blame, the buck stops at you. Take responsibility for yourself and do the right thing.