WHEN FAMOUS economists are mentioned, you never hear the name Teddy Hoad, my father. Yet had his simple precepts been followed, we would still have a country. These were: (1) if you can’t afford to buy it cash, you don’t need it; (2) pay your bills and live off the rest.
International lending institutions, like local banks and hire purchase companies, tempt you with more than you can afford and delight in seeing you squirm, downgraded to junk, ripe for exploitation.
Barbados feels nowadays like a de facto Trinidad colony. It will be interesting to see how this develops. So far it seems Bajan managers are being replaced by Trinis. Will this replacement extend to lower levels?
In former times, we were a producing country. We complemented agriculture with a sizeable manufacturing sector.
Trinidad is a commodity producing country and expanding. When we see productive entities like Paradise Beach Club, Sam Lord’s Castle and the CLICO estates taken over and shut down by our neighbours, the suspicion always lurks that our productive capacity, and ability to compete, are being systematically strangled.
Will Trinidad companies here like Pine Hill Dairy or Roberts Manufacturing be run to support Bajan production? Or to hinder it so that we eventually become just a market for Trini products? When we farmers hear that chickens fed on Roberts’ feed aren’t performing as accustomed, we are understandably worried.
And how will Bajans who marched so proudly and flourished so mightily in the first decades after Independence react to their new second-class status vis-à-vis other Caribbean nations?
The Good Book says it’s hard to kick against the pricks but I, for one, won’t take them lying down. Since the Myrie ruling, which went way too smoothly in one direction for my liking, no Jamaican feed could ever come on my farm no matter if it was the best in the world and cost a cent a pound. Cameron’s insulting comments about Tony Cozier have reinforced this position.
Similarly, if Digicel pulls the plug on Barbados cricket, all Digicel phones will depart from my home and I urge fellow Bajans to follow suit.
There are genuine Trinis but we need to keep the whole process under close scrutiny. Futile resistance won’t stop invading giants but at least they’ll know how we feel.
It’s been a depressing time all around. The Sargassum is showing up the fragility of a tourist industry. Hats off to Bizzy’s recycling firm for doing research into uses, including animal feed. My goats are due for a taste. Let’s hope the speculators taking fertile farmland out of agriculture will feel the wrath of future generations.
The unpopular tipping fee for garbage has had the predictable result: loads of garbage are being indiscriminately dumped in country fields.
Similarly, the Employment Rights Act has made employers wary of hiring anyone, even secretaries. It’s now virtually impossible to talk to a human being at many major firms. Some have their phones answered in Jamaica or other non-English speaking countries.
Farm life has severe challenges apart from the prolonged drought. Dogs killed yet another goat this week and farmers in the area report heavy losses. We caught three dogs (and Andre Williams four puppies) and took them to the RSPCA but there are many more out there.
“Killer”, who keeps cows on the land adjoining mine, has had four of them stolen in recent months; heartbreaking for a man who transports water every day in a tank for his animals. Vegetable farmers are also experiencing major theft. Who cares?
Having said all that, let’s not leave anyone with the impression that Bajans are down and out. The Tridents started with a bang. Chris Sinckler has declared you can eat all the ass or hinney you wish, VAT free.
The new Sunday Sun each week shows more columnist and less column. Soon we may see full monty versions of Al, Albert, Peter and Tony, each picture worth a thousand words.
Julian Hunte needs sponsors to get his calypsos arranged. Hopes to win the car.
Finally, Bonnie, phone-answerer at the Water Authority. She’s pleasant, personable. She contacts supervisors, engineers. She phones you back! Unheard of in today’s world. She gets results.
A few more Bonnies and this country won’t be perfect, but there’ll be hope for a better tomorrow.
Richard Hoad is a farmer and social commentator. Email [email protected].
