From left to right: Social commentator, Corey Layne; Director of the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES), Dr. Don Marshall; Reverend John Rogers, Rector of the St. George Parish Church; and Principal of the Queen’s College School and historian, Dr. David Browne, during the recent Elsie Payne Memorial Lecture/Discussion at Queen’s College.
THOUGH the year 2066 may seem far away, there is the view that a path should be charted now to ensure that Barbados can meet several developmental goals in the future.
During the annual Elsie Payne Memorial Lecture recently hosted by the Queen’s College Association, an esteemed panel sought to highlight some of these goals which they say would keep the country in good stead going forward.
Reverend John Rogers, Rector of the St. George Parish Church, while stating it is time for a new focus, wished for the development of a national consciousness where all persons in society are regarded as equal, and where classism and all forms of prejudice will become a thing of the past.
“Where persons will not have to give false addresses just to get an interview in one of our places of work. I would love to see a Barbados where love becomes the prime form of interaction between our people. A love that recognises the value of and worth of the human being.
“I believe that we live in a society where we are seeing a lot of development over the last 50 years, but like all things we exist on a Sigmoid Curve. When we get to the top, it is time for a new focus; a revision. I believe we have reached that place at this point in time.”
The outspoken Reverend also made calls for a cleaner running of election campaigns on the island. “I’d like to see in the next 50 years in Barbados where electioneering, vote buying and vote selling are a thing of the past; where there is a greater element of civics.
“That persons understand themselves as a part of a whole, and contribute rather than what seems to currently exist in the society at this time. I would like to see a Barbados where religious institutions focus on the things that unite us rather than the things that separate us. That we respect each others religion.”
Social commentator, Corey Layne, told the audience that without planning, the country would “find itself in a more serious [situation] than we are today”.
He believes that greater focus must be placed on the delivery of the education system and an equal opportunity for Barbadians to receive that education.
He also called for a system that judges each person based on their merits and not only at the academic level. Layne also noted his wish is that the system will also deliver timely justice for the poor and the rich, as well asimproved transportation, water and sanitation.
Director of the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES), Dr. Don Marshall, said that it is his wish that by 2066, the “unfinished business of decolonisation” would have been completed.
“This would see the emergence of an elite group of entrepreneurs prepared to see the ocean as part of our economy, that is prepared to look past traditional industries and ways of earning money and to see solar technology as the way forward.
“I would also like to know that we would have completed the decolonisation process in relation to our restoration of the values that uphold the importance of human dignity. Gender equity-justice, the cross-cutting issue of natural and national importance. That we rid ourselves of any idea of a Caribbean as comprising foreigners, but comprising sisters and brothers. That we begin to see the value of the importance public goods such as water, health and education...”
Dr. Marshall also said he envisages Bridgetown becoming a theatrical and cultural Mecca in the region.
Principal of the Queen’s College School and historian, Dr. David Browne, pointed out that he asked these questions back in 2012 as he highlighted a Nation Building Project for Barbados.
This, he said, included extensive replacement of the water mains, the installation of a reverse osmosis plant and other measures to protect our water supply, protecting the marine environment, cutting back on the importation of basic food stuff that is grown locally. He is also of the view that 30 000 acres of land should be devoted to agriculture.
He said there should also be more high rise housing complexes and a focus should be placed on recycling solid waste.
Dr. Browne said a greater effort must be placed on the lifestyle and eating habits of Barbadians and on an education system which places emphasis on literacy and numeracy at the basic level, but must also reflect the developmental needs of the island. (JH)
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