BOTH PRIME MINISTER Freundel Stuart and our distinguished guest for our 50th anniversary celebrations, Prince Harry, expressed the hope on Wednesday that this generation of Barbadians will chart a suitable course for the next 50 years of the island’s Independence.
The comments were made at the reveal of the 50th anniversary of Independence national monument at the Garrison, St Michael.
As high-sounding and motivational as their suggestions were, we would urge Barbadians to remember that the first step is immediately before us – today, tomorrow, next year and the first decade of the next five.
We are best positioned to make this first decade one of restoring harmony, balance and growth based on attitudinal alterations. To start with, we must find a way to turn around social deviance, incivility and indiscipline which stalk our streets, our villages and our homes, fuelled by a new rebellious attitude, but born out of high unemployment and increasing poverty.
It is one thing to face daunting challenges with respect to our limited resources. Because we rely very heavily on our human capital we must equip ourselves as an independent people, on an accelerated basis. Failing that the prospects will be daunting in this first decade of our next 50 years.
Furthermore, we all recognise that insofar as the quality of life of the average Barbadian is concerned, a large gap exists between our aspirations and our desired goals as a proud people, and what our current depressed economic performance permits.Â
In his Independence Day message Stuart said: “As we look forward to the next 50 years, we can do so with confidence. The same Lord who has been the people’s guide for past 300 years is there to be our guide for the next 300. He will do His part. We must do ours.”
These are true and inspirational words from the lips of the head of our Government. But, Mr Prime Minister, before it is the task of the average citizen to stand up and be counted for the country in the way you indicate, the ultimate responsibility is yours not just to articulate the need to set the stage for a prosperous next 50 years. It is the assignment that you sought and obtained. Execution is your mandate.
“It is only by setting the highest possible standards for ourselves and determining to maintain those standards that our young people who must take the baton from us for the next 50 years, will have ideals to inspire them, and that our homes, our schools, our communities, our churches and our places of work will reflect that independence which it is our duty to attain if the dream of November 30, 1966 is to be realised.”
More than ideals, this country needs action, sir.
Therefore our first order of business is to right the wrongs on our present economic trajectory. Promises of a turnaround have remained unfulfilled and sapping assurances for our tax-soaked population.
We have entered the first month of the next 600 that will take us to our 100th anniversary of Independence. December 2016 is no better time for our leaders to make that first step.
