I thought that I would share my Christmas wish list with everyone. I have a feeling that some of us might be wishing or praying for the same things. For those of us who are praying people, there is a possibility that what is asked will be divinely delivered.
High on my wish list this year is a cure for the aliment of “convenient laryngitis”. I think that this aliment has proved itself to be selectively contagious and has had an overall damaging effect on the country.
I want to assure everyone, however, that my wish for a cure for “convenient laryngitis” is not a money-making venture. I intend to give it away free to all members of Cabinet diagnosed with the aliment. Chief among them will be the head honcho himself. I want to respectfully suggest that my analysis indicates that he is the primary carrier of the ailment. Given this, and also his propensity for long bouts of this specific kind of laryngitis, most of my wished for stock will go primarily to him.
My next wish, I believe, will absolutely call for some divine intervention, as I am unsure that it will happen anytime soon without it. Can I kindly ask for a north wind to blow the low gas prices that have been tumbling daily across the world our way? I hope that is a reasonable request. I think that we have paid over and above what is required and that it is time for an ease. I had to ask for a north wind because as I said I think that it will have to happen supernaturally.
For this next wish I again need supernatural help. You see my wish is for an abundance of wisdom to come over this Government. This is extremely important on two counts.
Of course, I want them to receive wisdom to take us through this period so that they can make sound economic decisions for the good of the country. However, I also want them to have enough wisdom so that they know not treat the citizens of this country like idiots and understand that we are all impatient and frustrated with tactics that delay the inevitable and Ministerial Statements that deliver nothing. I know that while this might be a tall order for the Lord to deliver, it is a good thing that he is able.
Running water
I wish that I can consistently get up every morning and turn on my tap and have enough running water so that I can stop taking cowboy baths and properly wash the piled up wares in the sink. It is becoming a like a daily game show of guess what will happen this morning – some water, no water, low water. Come on now! There has to be somebody out there that can help with this. Please do not tell me that I will again need to ask for supernatural intervention for this wish to come through.
Relatedly, if one birdie can whisper to his fellow birdie it would be great to ask him to help with the large craters that are daily erupting on the roads right across Barbados. I think we would all be extremely grateful.
I do sincerely pray that Bajans would spend just enough to make merchants and their employees happy but not so much that come March next year the scene will be one of tears and stories of repossessions and bad debts. The same wisdom that we need of this Government, we also need to exercise over our personal finances or we will be up the creek without a paddle. I think that we should exercise discretion now and avoid working God overtime later.
This is a really big one, enormous actually. Can I wish for meaningful public sector reform that will on the one hand encourage public sectors workers to actually want to work and innovate, and on the other hand balance political expediency enough so that public workers will not have to constantly go before the law courts to have their issues resolved?
Finally, I want to wish a really joyful, family-filled and Christ-filled Christmas to all Barbadians. This year has been a trying one for all of us and I think that perhaps more than anything we might just need a bit of good cheer with loved ones as we prepare to face the oncoming New Year.
Blessings and favour to all.
• Shantal Munro-Knight is a development specialist and executive coordinator at the Caribbean Policy Development Centre.
