SO ALL THE merriment is over, practically. I didn’t get a chance to wish everyone all the happiness during the season partly because I have a hard taskmaster of an editor.
Yes, Bryan is very deadline-oriented while I’m a bit more, what is the opposite of uptight? Yes, I’m that.
So when it appeared as though I would be a minute over deadline, he instructed me not to bother. It’ll be early for next week, he advised.
Well, the column wasn’t and once more I ended up being shelved and since the Christmas period had an expiration date, I had to start all over again.
So happy 2016, the year of our 50th Independence.
Speaking of which, tomorrow is the big kick-off to our golden anniversary celebrations. Apparently, it is to such an extent that schools must be closed and transport disrupted as we parade through the streets and to one big meltdown of revelry and fireworks in Independence Square.
I’m all for marking milestones, but I still have a bit of reservation about these for-the-moment parties that almost come over as extravagant, hollow, self-serving tributes. At the moment there are too many fundamental issues affecting everyday life that have not been properly handled.
Initially, there were the challenges with health care and transportation but suddenly the lack of running water has overtaken them. I cannot see the general population not understanding that rather than have an excessive launch, the state would be diverting the money to fix the bread-and-butter issues.
Easier said than done, you say.
Maybe.
But on my Facebook page I came across a posting from retiree Harry Mayers. It referred to what was happening in Tanzania with President John Magufuli, who was elected a few months ago to lead the African nation of 46.7 million people. In that short time he has earned the moniker “The Bulldozer” as he cut a swath through an inefficient, wasteful and corrupt administration.
‘Shameful’
Despite the country’s stability and, in spite of it being home to two renowned tourism destinations – Africa’s highest mountain Kilimanjaro and wildlife-rich national parks such as the Serengeti – many people live below the poverty line.
Instead of taking up office and continuing with the status quo, Magufuli applied drastic alternatives to clean up the country. Among his first orders of business was to join thousands in the main city Dar es Salaam in a public clean-up, picking up rubbish from the street outside State House. The clean-up was a replacement for elaborate independence day celebrations that would have included a military parade and concert. But the president said it would be “shameful” to spend huge sums of money while the country was facing a serious cholera outbreak.
Ah ha!
I’m not saying to ban celebrations, but what about toning them down and diverting the money towards getting those in rural Barbados back on track with running water? And I don’t mean paying overtime to Barbados Water Authority workers!
Magufuli had also ordered the cost of his inauguration party cut from $100 000 to $7 000. In addition, the president’s cost-cutting measures included a ban on unnecessary foreign travel by government officials.
Ah ha again!
The no-nonsense approach has earned Magufuli a bit of fame on social media where financial crisis situations bear the hashtag #WhatWouldMagufuliDo. In the posts people come up with their own clever and often outrageous money-saving initiatives.
Oh, by the way, when Magufuli came across patients sleeping on the floor of the hospital during a surprise visit, he sacked the head of the institution.
What will it take to get Queen Elizabeth Hospital to the point where the sick won’t have to spend from one day into the next in order to be treated?
What will it take for workers to get regular bus service to work and home?
If health care, running water and transport were in order, it would make life a lot easier for residents. I do not believe it is beyond our ability.
• Antoinette Connell is a News Editor. Email antoinetteconnell@nationnews.com.