I decided to defer comment on the much-talked-about “sending home” of 3 000 public officers until later since, based on recent experience, I’ll probably wake up tomorrow and find that it was just a dream or a figment of my imagination, and in fact no one is going home and “sending home” was actually never even an option.
In keeping with the spirit of the season, I will instead dedicate this column as my Christmas gift to Pat, who would apparently prefer if I would put on my rose-coloured glasses and pretend that Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, CariCRIS, the International Monetary Fund, economists and other professionals are all wrong, our deficit is only a myth, life is rosy and our affairs are being handled well.
While seeking the silver lining in the dark clouds, I found two agricultural entrepreneurs who have risen above the challenges and successfully implemented new, innovative businesses which should earn and save foreign exchange for Barbados.
Kristina Adams, owner of Adams Aqualife, was the winner in the recent inaugural reality TV show Bank On Me. She not only reaped monetary and other rewards, but attracted the attention of Ralph “Bizzy” Williams who invested an additional $80 000 in the project. Kristina breeds and raises red tilapia and red claw crayfish. She works with another local company, Shorelinez, which processes and distributes the fish to hotels and restaurants.
Richard Armstrong, of Armag Farms, has diversified his farming business to add value to his sweet potato crops by producing sweet potato fries. These are becoming increasingly popular with restaurants and the general public, so we hope that soon the imported product will be totally replaced by the new local Sunbury Harvest fries described as “Healthy Bajan Food – a bite away”. I’ve sampled the product and can attest to its high quality – better than the imported.
At last week’s launch, Richard described his journey which started with an idea, added to which was much persistence and the collaboration of others, including the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation. He noted that farmers were not as respected as they should be, in view of the fact that while you may need a lawyer, a doctor or an engineer at intervals in your life, you need a farmer every day, three times a day.
Both these businesses are situated in St Philip, so today I would like to honour our two “shining stars in the East” and hope that others will follow their example and take the plunge in helping to grow our economy. Hopefully we as consumers will appreciate the quality of their products and support them fully.
While Minister Donville Inniss noted that he was against banning imported products, their importation certainly needs to be regulated so they don’t unfairly compete with local products. Certainly countries like Britain don’t allow imports of vegetables during summer when they are available locally. What we need is a Ministry of Food so that the left hand knows what the right hand is doing and local production information is readily available to make sensible and timely decisions on importation.
On another front, I was really pleased to see three Barbadian youngsters performing at the World Dance Council Amateur League in Paris recently, with Tiffani Lynch winning the world title in two categories. Kudos to them for choosing this route rather than the wuk-up route.
Yet another great achievement is the wonderful pictorial history of the sugar industry The King Is Dead, Long Live The King, the manuscript of which was completed by the late Martin Hughes and recently published by two of his friends, Ronnie Burton and Christopher Thirkell.
We must also congratulate the many individuals, businesses and organisations who contribute to making Christmas enjoyable for the less fortunate. It was especially heartening that Eric Hassell and Son decided to redirect their corporate gifts to a well-deserving charity. That’s what the Christmas spirit is about.
Hopefully we haven’t been lured by banks and businesses inviting us to “get everything we want at Christmas and more” by taking loans or credit which we can ill afford, especially under the present uncertain conditions, but instead have spent wisely, supported our local farmers, manufacturers and craftspeople, and thought about the true meaning of Christmas.
A Blessed Christmas to you all!
• Dr Frances Chandler is a former Independent senator. Email fchandler@caribsurf.com.