THERE IS AN OLD CLASSIC to which I used to sing lustily when I was much younger: “Memories don’t leave like people do, they always stay with you, whether they’ve been good or bad, they are always something that you had.” I have grown to see these words unfold before me on numerous occasions and now I am noticing them with even greater frequency.
Sometime in the 1970s Barbadians experienced their first well-planned carnival celebration. It was a forerunner to Crop Over/Kadooment and we were all excited about the pending carefree exciting atmosphere that we would enjoy. The day designated for the parade of bands arrived, three friends along with myself were enjoying a great morning when my Trinidadian friend, the late Andrew Francis, while walking back to the car, said to Frank Bryan and myself: “Guys, you know you have started an irreversible decline in the now well-established high social and moral standards that Barbados is known and respected for.”
I must admit that I was taken aback by his statement. “What are you talking about, Andrew?” I asked. He replied: “Joey, carnival changes people, especially young people. Have you ever heard of a calypso love song, but you have heard of violent steel band clashes? Barbadians wouldn’t like it. In 20 years it will be so different from what you see now, you will be more mature and out of touch with the new music; the make-up and skimpy costumes will be turned into dangerous weapons in ruthless hands.”
Frank and I listened and walked away from the Stadium almost immediately forgetting Andrew’s negative prophesying. Thirty years have now passed, Andrew has passed on, and Kadooment now appears to be reaching the level that we were warned about.
Crime increasing
Crime is reaching a frightening level and it has not happened suddenly. What makes it appear this way is that it has slowly moved out of the ghetto society and is now penetrating the middle and upper class environments, but the hierarchy has remained the same. The ghetto is still providing the labourers, the middle class the mules and the upper class making the bankable money for providing all the requirements.
The warnings were real – David Thompson, before and after becoming leader of this country, warned about the escalating matter of “crime and violence”. We laughed and people like myself made jokes of the warnings on political platforms, while others put it down to purely political ambition spoken without tangible evidence. Mr Thompson has also passed on, leaving us in an anticipated criminally violent environment seasoned by both males and females.
Today we are experiencing gang violence, rampant drug abuse, and availability of guns on the market for hire and sale by known and unknown agents. In the street we are hearing names called, fear is rampant among once decent people, and mature men are being arrested and charged alongside children and teenagers.
Mothers and grandmothers are continuing to suggest that victims and those arrested were sweet little angels who never harmed a fly, yet when you drive through some areas or listen to after-school revised language, bearing threats and warnings, it frightens you.
Criminals are raising their hands in signs of victory and courthouse spectators are cheering, but the victims and witnesses are pleading with reporters, sometimes begging that their names are not published, for fear of a well-aimed stray bullet. Young girls are openly counting money on Facebook displaying their assets, as they do on Kadooment Day or any such well-sponsored advertised bashment gatherings.
Am I witnessing a carefully implemented trend, well choreographed by competently trained evil minds? To tell you the truth, I am glad that I am in the departure lounge. We should have heeded your warnings, David and Andrew.
David ‘Joey’ Harper
