A month or so back, Peter Boos came by the farm. Big pappy at Ernst and Young. He was showing around his grandsons. Okay.
Not long after, Owen Arthur came by. He was showing around his daughter. Okay.
Maybe a week later, leader of Government business in the Senate, Maxine McClean came by. She was showing around some folks from England. Okay.
Not okay. There is no way three top maguffies suddenly just happen to show up at the same run-down goat farm. Nor was it hard to figure out why.
Mind you, they didn’t say anything. Maybe they didn’t even know themselves. But no doubt subconscious instinct drove them to seek the right man to lead the country at this time.
And I know the One, but it isn’t me.
Let’s spell it out. The big shots who control this world aim to make sure you’re never happy or satisfied. Obviously if you’re happy with your 1990 Mitsubishi, you won’t buy the 1993 model, or the 1997, or the 2010.
The world economy relies on keeping you hooked on consumerism, forever buying more and more junk you don’t need. Indices of human happiness suggest that mankind was way happier 60 years ago with much less, once his basic needs were met. But for economists the magic word is growth. If you’re not growing, you’re in “recession”.
The most successful economies are based on slavery. Prostitution works great too. Make someone bust their tails and kick them out when they’re no longer able.
Slavery and prostitution are frowned on nowadays so the manipulators can’t go there. But if they can get people to work for next skin to nothing, that’s all right. China and India are today’s economic giants with child labour, starvation wages, awful conditions, the works.
Free movement of CARICOM Single Market and Economy labour will put the region’s workers in a dog-eat-dog situation and force them to work for less and less.
The perception is that the last Bees administration created an economic boom with a policy of SOBBING. That is, Sell Out Barbados, Bring In Nuff Guyanese. Of course, they did a lot more. But we’re talking perception here.
SOBBING was wildly successful. Rich developers brought in money. Guyanese workers provided cheap labour in areas where Bajans wouldn’t work for the wages offered.
But did it create a happy Barbados? Was it sustainable or acceptable? Obviously not, for the Bees were unceremoniously kicked out of office in an atmosphere of tension and ill-feeling.
They need to admit they were wrong, apologise, and promise not to go there again.
Enter the David Thompson administration. And let me give credit to the man. Seldom has our country been so free of divisive controversy. No more Nelson talk, no republic. No Greenland. No rampant immigration. Our beloved East Coast declared a no-go area to foreign developers. CARICOM cooling its heels. Way to go!
Unfortunately we’re still between a rock and a hard place. Our economy is under pressure. Trinidad is nicely positioned to take control of our finance centres (banks), food-distribution networks and business-receivership sector, giving them an unbreakable stranglehold.
David Thompson has done us proud, but, unfortunately, he has health issues. He should not be burdened with leadership at a time like this. We need to lay aside the politics and put country first.
My choice for an interim leader would be Owen Arthur, with a clear mandate to get Bajans back to work in tourism, manufacturing, agriculture and any niche areas where we can produce locally and earn foreign exchange. Many will not agree. But Mr Arthur, in my opinion, has the common sense to abandon the BLP policies espoused by the radical elements in that party and put Barbados on the road to recovery without compromising our national sovereignty.
Let’s not forget something else. We are not alone. The Lord has been the people’s guide for past 300 years. With Him still on the people’s side, we have no doubts or fears. Upward and onward we shall go, inspired, exulting, free. And greater will our nation grow in strength and unity.
Those are not the words of wimps and cowards. Bring on your worst, cruel world, Barbados is ready for you.
• Richard Hoad is a farmer and social commentator.