WELL I THANK God dat Tropical Storm Matthew come, do he stuff and gone long bout he business. I also thank God dat nuhbody ain’t lost duh lives, get hurt, nor we ain’t get as much damage as we had before from even smaller and weaker systems.
When I went tuh bed Tuesday night, from all the reports I was hearing I made sure and left evahthing set up and put in place; so dat if anything unusual should happen during the night, I won’t be scrambling.
The radio was on, all four lanterns, two big ones and two small ones had in brand new batteries, was working and was where I could put my hands pon dem if the electricity went off. I also had a small torch in my bag and a smaller bag wid toiletries in case I had tuh leave the house.
Earlier in the day I made sure that I had water in all kinds o’ containers, big and small and fuh different purposes. I then made sure dat all the windows and doors were secured. I doan take nuh kinda chances wid these systems and I wasn’t taking none wid this one. The other thing is, I heard Kerry Hinds, I think she is the lady from the Disaster Emergency Management saying, dat weather systems are unpredictable and I have tuh agree wid her, especially now after Matthew.
Up tuh the time dat I went tuh sleep all I was hearing the people at the radio stations and someother people calling it, a depression. I cahn even remember now but I know it ain’t had nuh name. The last thing I remember doing is praying and asking God tuh protect the people in the areas where the land does slip, and tuh help the people in St Joseph who ain’t getting water.
Well, I had a good night’s sleep and wake up thinking dat I sleep through the whole thing and was thanking God dat he spare we again. The other thing is, the li’l’ radio like it decide tuh shut down soI decided tuh call my son-in-law who informed medat it aint pass totally yet and dat it gine start li’llater in the afternoon.
Well I open the windows and look outside fuh a while. Evahthing was quiet and still; the only thing ya was hearing was the birds. At dat point I get a li’l uncomfortable but I was still glad dat whatevah was gine happen, was gine happen in the day ratherthan at night.
Then around 12:30 or so the winds start tuh blow a funny way, and quick so outside get dark and the rain start tuh pour down. The unpredictable system was now Tropical Storm Matthew which was about tuh put in his appearance and he did.
From listening tuh the radio stations all during the time, we didn’t get a lot o’ damage, thank God but a few houses got damaged by trees falling pon dem and a few roofs blow off. But I ain’t hear bout nuhbody getting hurt or nothing so. I tell ya hear? Ya cahn predict wha’ gine happen when these systems decide tuh turn up.
We in Barbados have so much tuh be grateful for and a lot o’ people tuh thank for their sacrifice and commitment. We does expect tuh read and hear bout things when duh happen, but we always forget tuh thank the people who does make dem happen.
I talking bout the newspaper, radio and television reporters who does be out and about putting duh lives in danger and the ones who does be working all through the day and night, making sure dat people are informed. I ain’t even gine mention the fire fighters, emergency people and the police who does put duh own lives and duh families pon hold fuh the welfare o’ this country.
We have tuh thank the very competent people at the meteorological office fuh being on top o’ the system from the beginning and keeping the Bajan people, as well as some o’ the other islands, up tuh date pon the development o’ the weather system as it get stronger and closer tuh the islands. But it would seem dat nuh matter wha’ ya do and nuh matter how good ya do it, ya just ain’t gine be able tuh please some people. Some people cahn help but be ungrateful nuh matter wha’ ya do.
But tuh all of you, including the hotel workers who continue tuh give and sacrifice fuh this country; we grateful Bajans say, thank you.
• Mavis Beckles was born and raised in The Orleans. She has an opinion on everything.
