A picture is worth a thousand words.
This is indeed very true of the one appearing on Page 3 of last Friday’s WEEKEND NATION that showed Barbadians queuing in Heroes Square, The City, for a meal. It is not a sight we are accustomed to here in our homeland.
Yes, the homeless, the poor and those with mental illnesses have always been with us, roaming the streets of Bridgetown and begging for assistance. In recent years, the number of people roaming Bridgetown has increased, with the situation made worse by those whose lives have been destroyed by illegal drugs.
As a society we handle the vagrant problem by leaving it up to the Salvation Army, the agency in the vanguard of reaching out to help these less fortunate souls. Other non-governmental organizations such as the church, the Barbados Red Cross Society and the service clubs have all been lending valuable assistance. Also Government, with projects such as the Clyde Gollop Shelter, is doing its part.
We have been told that the number of people depending on the Salvation Army, whether for food or shelter, is rising. And those of us who can afford do not always respond positively to the calls for help.
However, that photograph in the WEEKEND NATION should cause us to recognize the severe challenges facing an increasing number of our fellow countrymen. Clearly, the situation appears to be going downhill and fast.
The urgent concern must be how best to reach out to those able-bodied and sound-of-mind men and women shown in the line awaiting a meal because of their jobless state and inability to provide for themselves.
For a people known for their pride and industry, this must be most embarrassing to many of those forced into such a situation. It also tells us that the years of economic downturn is taking a serious toll on more of our people, worsening the fallout on both individuals and families.
At the same time, we must join in saluting the efforts of the Barbados Vagrants and Homeless Society, whose youthful leader Kemar Saffrey must be lauded for taking on what is a mighty challenge.
Government’s relevant social agencies need to take note and respond too, not in the usual 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. manner, but in a way to ease the shame these people may feel. The longer the economic crisis prevails, the harder it will be for many. We need to act before the situation becomes a national crisis.
