EVERY TIME YA open the newspapers, watch or listen tuh the news, ya does have tuh ask ya’self, what is it going tuh take fuh this or the next thing tuh happen or not tuh happen. It look tuh me like some people believe dat duh large and in charge and could do as duh please, whenevah it suits dem.
Every single week I try hard tuh focus pon something positive, something good, something wholesome, something purposeful, something worthwhile, something uplifting, something dat would benefit this country, me and evahbody else in it…but all ya does be seeing before ya all the time is a lot o’ anger, frustration, death, violence, you name it.
The thing is, it ain’t only here in Barbados but all ovah the world as if people like duh get tired of peace and happiness and decide tuh make evah single law-abiding citizen miserable and confuse.
One time when ya hear bout shootings and killings, it was always somewhere else, not here; and it used tuh make ya ask ya’self if something wrong wid dem sort o’ people so: if it is the water duh drinking, the kinda air duh breathing in or even the part o’ the world duh live.
All kinds o’ questions used tuh guh through ya mind. But now it is as if evahthing get turn ‘round and the very things dat you nevah thought would or could happen here, happening right here in the Gem of the Caribbean Sea.
So my question is this, we gine sit back and accept wha’evah is going on around us, or are we going tuh stop the lot o’ talking and get up and do something bout it?
Of course ya cahn guh and down hands in people who you know fuh sure does be involved in the lot o’ criminal activities; but duh got ways and means tuh inform the relevant people bout it, wid-out anybody knowing.
We know too, duh got mothers and some other family members who know dat duh boy children does be involved in gangs, guns and drugs and refuse tuh deal wid it, but it is only when duh get tek out by the police or other gang people, dem would be the ones bawling and cursing the police, talking bout what a nice boy he was.
So what is it going tuh take tuh find out and deal wid who is responsible fuh the lot o’ guns here in Barbados or dat getting in tuh Barbados? What is it going tuh take tuh get these high powered guns outta the hands o’ these li’l boys who ain’t know the first thing bout aiming and shooting nutten, but hurting innocent people and destroying the image and reputation o’ this beautiful country? It causing tuh much unnecessary pain and suffering.
Issue warnings
I am sure that the tourism people in Europe, London, Canada and New York bussing duh chops evah day tuh get people in tuh Barbados fuh the winter season and looka wha going on bout here. So we gine wait ’til some o’ these countries issue a warning tuh duh citizens bout down here before we take drastic measures and clean up all o’ this mess?
Look, the fellas know dat duh aint gine get nuh licks from the Cat-o-nine tails; duh know dat duh could go before a judge or magistrate and throw duh selves pon the mercy o’ the court and get li’l ease. Duh know dat duh could get bail and walk bout and brag and do bare foolishness again. Duh know dat wha’evah duh do, duh aint gine get hang, so duh does make up duh mind tuh do the deeds, hope duh doan get catch and if duh do, just prepare demselves tuh go up tuh Her Majesty Prison Dodds and come out in a few years.
So what is it going tuh take fuh Barbados tuh become the quiet peaceful li’l island again? Are we going tuh wait ‘til it get outta hand before we do something bout the lawlessness? What is it going tuh take?
• Mavis Beckles was born and raised in The Orleans. She has an opinion on everything.