IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR our Commissioner of Police updating the nation at his third Press conference in short time. No one will deny that the country, gripped in agony, confusion and anxiety was close to losing its nerves following the Tudor Street abhorrence coming so close upon the heels of the Bank Hall catastrophe.
Of course, all Barbados is impressed with the speed with which suspects have been apprehended and await the outcome, conscious that one remains innocent until proven guilty. So may it remain thus until time is no more.
Whilst the hands of time move on, we must ponder on the shortcomings in our society which could have led to this fair land giving birth to such “home-grown” occurrences, foreign in every respect to our way of life.
Before it is too late, we must look expeditiously to rid ourselves of rebellious vendors, reeking with passion for a sale whilst oblivious to any discomfort to other citizens. In neighbouring sister countries one is obliged to admire the congregation of vendors in the market place showing the highest regard for both custom and customers.
Roundabouts were never intended to be hosts to vendors. The Independence Arch, once resplendent in its display of the Father of Independence, but more particularly our National Pledge, now lowers its head at the sight of tired and unsightly trays whilst mourning the fallen marble, scripted with words of excellence intended to be a motivator for every man, woman and child.
Proud as we are to be a highly rated tourist destination, we allow our signs along our highways and winding roads to wilt beneath the burning rays of the sun and take cover among the overgrowth of uncared for foliage, only to remain seemingly unnoticed. Does this say that we care?
We have posted signs at our treasured sites and at the airport telling the world we care for challenged individuals and welcome them. Yet along our streets and pavements broken culverts, uneven walkways, open trenches and at the Carmichael and Buckley intersection two large cans testify to a dangerous yawning in the roadway
And this, presumably, is felt to be adequate notice to the physically challenged and unchallenged citizen and visitor.
We are strong supporters that law must rule, but we cannot overlook that “justice delayed is justice denied”. Why is the court timetable bursting at its seams? Are they insufficient courts or legal personnel?
This country has never been known to show unbridled impatience or disrespect for law and order. With every passing day there seems to be an unrequited thirst and dangerously so, for community satisfaction perhaps fuelled when one sees vehicle operators able to chalk up almost 150 infractions and continue to operate public vehicles.
There is need for clean air.
