I was moved with indignation recently, after hearing a grown man cried on one of the VOB call-in programs, lamenting his disgust, perplexity and inability to find work any longer in Barbados. It was very hurtful and disconcerting, as he related his story which many Barbadian can relate to, and thus prompted me to write this blog.
However, this adult caller who’s a “first class” carpenter by trade—was lamenting the fact that after 6 months now, he’s unable to find adequate employment so as to ply his trade in the construction field, and as a result is unable to provide for himself and family.
This caller (while in tears) further lamented to the fact that he was once working for $110.00 per day and now is being asked to accept $40.00 per day. Now I personally find this to be very disgusting and ridiculous, to ask a professional Carpenter in this day and age, to lower his standards and accept $40.00 a day, because the immigrant workers are accepting the same. Why are we degrading our skilled workers who’ve always provided values and high quality work throughout the years, to have them succumb to a substantially poorer pay, grossly in disproportionate to that of their kills.
I am at a lost! Because I’m hearing that all’s well in the country and still there seem to be a large amount of persons who can’t seem to afford to put food on their tables or adequately provide for self and family. I think the true status of the country is being craftily and meticulously sugarcoated, with a superabundance of fancy, glamorous talk, so as to distort the real situation and status of the country. The cost of living here is extremely too high, and many Barbadians literally struggle to buy even the basic food items they need to put on their tables, for survival.
I am aware that there’s a lot of well off people here who have more than enough to support their families and self, and so they might find it hard to identify with the real situation here in the country. But turning a blind eye to a problem because it’s not immediately affecting you, doesn’t mean the problem don’t exist, or wouldn’t eventually affect you in the long run! Barbadians are the only set of people who can master the art of “grinning and bearing”, while walking around wearing a mask that says; “all’s well”…
The pride of most Barbadians keeps them from disclosing their actual situation, in the social economic strata, scheme of things. While many struggle relentlessly and desperately to play a bad hand well. However, something has to be done expeditiously, to tackle the high cost of living here in Barbados, before it sparks some civil disturbance later on, like the one we saw 69 years ago, back in 1937, (or worst!).
Author: Lancelott Layne
By: Lancelott
"Boys on the block" this popular phrase which I hate to hear in my opinion was carefully and meticulously crafted to place a certain poor and socially, disadvantage group in a class or category where they can be easily found to be manipulated and oppressed. I see these so called boys on the block as individual in they communities who get together from time to time to "socialize" as it was always the Barbadian culture.
Some of the same people, who are criticizing the youth of today for converging in their communities and sharing new and fresh ideas, have done the same in the past. What’s different now? It has always been the Barbadian culture to share in the camaraderie of friends and to socialize in groups. It happens in bars, night clubs, at parties and dances etc., what’s wrong now with these young people coming together in their localities to share some quality time together?
Instead of degrading and criticizing these young people, we can help to channel them in more positive ways where the information which we share with them is of a more vital, wholesome and edifying nature. I want to see this group of people less criticized and oppressed if at all, and embraced as the future of our country, as we disseminate information among them that will help to make them more self reliant and better people in the future. I’m concerned with how we pick up certain phrases and spread them around like wild fire without first carefully using our conscious minds to analyze them, so as to find out what’s the true purpose for which there was intended.
Another silly popular phrase I keep hearing is one that goes like this; “We’ve lost a whole generation”. My question to these people with this claim is “what are we doing to find this so called lost generation?” I think we look for idiosyncrasies and all kinds of sayings as an escape route from conscious thinking and the effort to solve critical problems in our communities. Let’s try a bit harder with our youths and stop the bashing of them.
Everybody needs a “support group.” Your “support group” can include family members, friends, neighbors, co- workers, a mentor on the job, teachers and coaches or your interenet networking team. It must feature people who share your directions or who have already traveled successfully in the directions you want to go. If you have a business ideas or comments that you'd like to share, feel free to do so.
Everybody needs a “support group.” Your “support group” can include family members, friends, neighbors, co- workers, a mentor on the job, teachers and coaches or your interenet networking team. It must feature people who share your directions or who have already traveled successfully in the directions you want to go.
If you have a business ideas or comments that you'd like to share, feel free to do so.
