It came to pass in those days (mainly nights, actually) that a certain Bajan planter and his son both used to cherish a comely maiden from the village.
Not at the same time, of course. I believe it was what scientists call an “alternation of generations”.
One night, however, the youngster, believing his father to be elsewhere engaged, took the opportunity to do some serious cherishment. Indeed, he was “de facto in loco parentis”, as Hal Gollop might put it, when the old man walked in. And, not in any way perturbed, declared: “You run along, son. This is man business! Man business!”
One shudders to hear Bajan politicians and “intellectuals” posturelating that we should integrate more deeply with other CARICOM territories, even surrendering aspects of our sovereignty. As another St Lucy planter used to say, “egg ent got no right at big rock party!” It would be throwing lambs to the wolves.
The sad reality is that modern governments aren’t run by nice people. Read Desperate Deception on the dirty, underhand, “downright illegal” methods Churchill used to get America into World War II. Check Bush and Blair in Iraq.
David Cameron denies that British troops fought in Libya; the UN mandate forbade such. But British ex-Special Forces were there, paid by the Ministry of Defence. Barack Obama soon abandoned his prinicipled stand against America illegally holding captives without trial in overseas detention centres.
Closer home, we have Jack Warner. Read Dan Levy in Wide Left (February 16, 2012): “Former FIFA VP may be the worst person in the entire world!” Check Desi Bouterse, convicted drug trafficker, wanted by Interpol, accused of murdering 15 opponents. Ask Owen about senior Jamaican politicians in bed with gang leaders. Check Antigua re Stanford and the Russian mafia.
We have never had Government “enforcers” like mongoose gangs or tonton macoutes.
Man business. Those fellows would eat Froon, Owen and Mia for breakfast. We follow rules, abide once we have signed the dotted line.
Other countries can sign to anything because they know how to wriggle or ignore. America has developed a whole new lexicon of terms to get them out of international commitments. Like an “enemy combatant” who has not the rights of a prisoner of war. The Israelis just ignore conventions and kill perceived enemies anywhere in the world.
While others operate on the premise that “the law was made for man” and bend it to their advantage, we remain trapped in our own innocence.
Trinidad and Jamaica block or hinder by devious means our goods entering their markets while we play by the rules. Recent disclosures suggest that the Jamaicans even put performance-enhancing drugs in their racing car fuels!
Wake up, my people. You can’t fight the Mike Tysons of today’s world with your hands tied behind your back. A South African woman recently came here ranting about human rights. Yet, in her country, they charged unarmed miners with murder after police shot their comrades!
We are now helpless to tackle vicious criminals. How much more effective would that minute’s silence have been on Monday if it was punctuated by the clang of the gallows as some scoundrel paid the price for his misdeeds? An act that would have brought closure to a grieving family at least now assured they won’t be meeting his gloating face ever again anywhere.
We could declare a War On Crime similar to America’s War On Terror and ignore all the yellow-bellied “human rights” conventions that hamstring us.
Instead, we play around with convicted criminal Raul Garcia who “threatens” the Barbados Government if not released!
That is small potatoes, Froon. Check THE NATION a while back: ten Bajan fishermen fined and released for illegally fishing in Tobago waters. And then three were rearrested by immigration officials and put back in jail for “illegally entering Tobago”.
So one option is to let Garcia go, rearrest him for illegal entry and give him another 20 of the best. A better option: get Bizzy to drop him by plane, or “Wipers”, a nephew of both Bizzy and me, by boat, midpoint between Cuba and America, the two countries to which he lays claim. Fully provisioned with a raft. It’s only 47 miles either way. Bon voyage, RG!
We meek Bajans may inherit the earth, but we’re sure as hell going to lose little Barbados!
• Richard Hoad is a farmer and social commentator.
