In the Chinese calendar, 2015 is the Year of the Goat. The goat adapts. He thrives where no other domestic animal can survive. Some years ago during a drought, cows and sheep died of starvation. My goats were sleek on clammycherry, mile trees, sea-grapes, river tamarind, you name it. Consider the goat, O Bajans, adapt and prosper.
A year ago I refused to share in the gloom and doom. That didn’t stop the whiners. They whined their way through 2014 while we laboured and reaped reasonable success. And not us alone. Republic Bank CEO Ian De Souza revealed on Monday night that both 2013 and 2014 exceeded their expectations. “We’re all tired of the gloom and doom,” he said, urging all to focus on the positive and pull Barbados around.
De Sousa is right. If two major, though different, enterprises like Republic Bank and Hoad’s Goatery can make it, so can others. (However, I can’t forgive Ian for waiting until I left on Monday night to whip out his cuatro and steal the show as a solo artist.)
What’s our problem? The Government is woefully short of money to run the country. Was there mismanagement? Way too much, in my opinion. Big swearing-in ceremony at Kensington, free school bus rides, constituency councils, overseas conferences, football competition.
Meanwhile we as a country haven’t been producing to earn foreign exchange or to save on imports. Either we’re waiting on a fairy godfather (godmother?) or we’ve given up hope and are resigned to sinking ever deeper into the mire.
If indeed there is no money, what’s the point of incessant whining about “they promised no lay-offs and 5 000 have gone home,” poor garbage collection, hospital shortages, no free university education, potholes, bus service, income tax refunds, sugar industry tottering?
Government can no longer be giverment. We must “get up off our fat backsides”, as one UWI lecturer used to tell us, and make things happen. Frances Chandler has some suggestions this week, check them out. By the way, it’s good to see young people in my area starting to work idle land. Way to go!
Me, I’m trying to explain a mystery: how come all of a sudden things have been going so well? Good food everywhere I turn, people coming up to me and saying nice things, great music with Guataka, the works?
Last Friday evening, for instance, a Trini girl brought down some friends. We drove on the tractor, ran races on the beach; they ended up in the kitchen making me cassava hats. Saturday night, singing carols at the Cedric Burkes. Pure joy, food and fellowship. Pianos kicking. The likes of Patrick Maxwell and Dosty Weekes hitting descants and arpeggiers. Seldom do I find myself in such august company, and never before in January.
Sunday evening, the daughters put on a spread. Food to die for. And Monday night, as aforementioned, the De Souzas at Royal Westmoreland, if you please. Probably the first time a goat farmer ever got in there. Carol Roberts (Happy birthday, Carol!) promised me a coconut bread. Toni “Sexy” Yarde gave me a hug. A sweet young lady declared herself my wife for the night… need I say more?
It was all too good to be true. And it wasn’t. Marsha, a hot damsel from Rocklyn Hardware, broke the news: “Mr Hoad, that is you? Whuh we hear you dead!” A girl from the gas station brought similar tidings. Oh well, so far it’s okay.
Two last items: Old Year’s Night we watched the fireworks from down by Sandy Lane Golf Course. Daughter lost a chain her sister had given her for Christmas. Searched for over an hour next morning.
No luck. A certain female Nation columnist decided to try. But she prayed: “Lord, if You let me find it, I’ll put a dollar in a jar every time I swear and give it to charity.”
Bingo! There was the chain shining bright. Some charity should be in for a lot of dollars.
Finally, my co-pilot Veoma hopes that I’ll get some “action in 2015”. I don’t know, Vee. It’s been a long time. My instrument is in great shape, but I haven’t performed with anyone lately. Someone might laugh if I fell down in the middle of a piece. Sax calls for regular practice.
Richard Hoad is a farmer and social commentator. Email [email protected]
