Action speaks louder than words
Ndigo Naka - Friday, July 13th, 2012 at 8:54 AM
Ndigo Naka
Maybe I’m a lover of small things, but what I might consider small might actually be bigger than I think.
I am hearing a lot of talk, and seeing a lot of written expressions about the proposed Cruise ship Pier Park and the Disney fantasy world that developers are promoting. I am a simple minded person and although I have a taste for the finer things of life, such as a clean and healthy environment, with beautiful natural landscapes, well-kept buildings and parks or gardens, I am hesitant about this development because it’s like putting the cake before the bread.
Historically speaking, the people of France revolted against the French aristocracy who at the time were living it up large while the poor little people were suffering. Unemployment, lack of food, unable to pay rent, unaffordable healthcare, inadequate education, and all the other problems associated with poverty were their daily lot/while the rich were partying day and night, feeding off the riches gained from the backs of the poor. When the masses complained to their sovereign leaders, they were told that if they do not have bread, they should eat cake.
This is nothing more than adding insult to injury, because if you cannot afford bread, how will you afford cake?
People can kick up as much as they want, but the leaders of the day will always do what they will, unless their power is forcefully taken away from them, either by a colonial or international force, or by the citizens. The cries of the “small” people will fall on deaf ears, or be met with empty promises while the “aristocracy” continues on its “hell-bent” course to fulfill the fantasies of the favored few, in a quest for economic gains, basically for the favored few.
Sustainable development on an amusement park? Amusement parks do not provide for the basic needs of the people. Who will be going there for amusement? The youths? Like the way they hang out at U.P.s? Why not promote the National Parks areas that are already there for the amusement of tourists who want to explore Nature’s Little Secrets? These parks provide the opportunity to get into the geography, geology, bio-diversity and history of the Land of the Turtle Dove. They offer fantastic scenery. They are pollution-free. They are the perfect places to steer tourist to when they come, whether by land or by sea. If I am the Tourist Board Director I would focus, with single-minded clarity and purpose-driven intensity on Nature Tourism strategies to be the hallmark of the Virgin Islands experience. I have a clear vision as to what I would promote to make this a sure and sustainable success for the Territory.
But I am a simple-minded individual who don’t fancy spending too much time in five-star settings eating cake while my co-citizens are starving for want of bread.
If I am the Minister for Agriculture Affairs I would be enlisting every ounce of resource, human and otherwise, to get the Green House project, and other farming initiatives rolling with food production before I go up in the air with airport expansion. Bigger planes flying in whether empty or full will not produce more food to feed the population. Larger numbers of tourists will not improve agricultural production skills or output, nor foster the appreciation for locally grown, organic food that is important to healthy minds and bodies. Pardon my simplicity, but I fail to see how a bigger airport at this time, or any time in the future, will make things better for small people.
Keeping up appearances
Another thing that my simple mind fails to grasp, is the idea that a huge capital injection into the Capital will make it any better aesthetically, if people cannot get into the simple habit of not littering, not allowing Yellow Doda to take over the plants in front of public buildings, and not cleaning up dead animals that are run over by un-caring drivers. I want to know where the sudden interest in keeping the “BVI Beautiful” is going to spring from when the Litter Warden program is not working, has never been properly promoted and seems to have fallen like trash on the wayside. But that’s just my simple mind, thinking on the small things that nobody else seems to be thinking much about.
Action speaks louder than words. If the simple things I mentioned above were important to the powers that be, we would have been seeing and hearing much more about them, from either side of the floor in the House of Assembly. Imagine, if the same fervor for sustainable development of the people was a cause to be championed, like the cause for economic development is for investment clubs and corporations. It would bring hope to the heavy-hearted. It would be refreshment of the cultural strength which is so needed for national pride and nation-building. For, ever so often, one hears the question: “WHO ARE WE DEVELOPING FOR?” I daresay, if the answer is not yet obvious, then those who are still asking must really be blind-fooleded.
As it stands now, economic development and the development of humanity are going in opposite directions.
Phrase of the day: Public-private partnership – Meaning: Public interest sold out to private companies. It might be the new trend in modern economics but that doesn’t necessarily mean it is appropriate for all parties concerned. Serious dialog between the people and their leadership is urgently needed, and cannot be done with an ad hoc meeting here and there. Public transparency needs to be more thorough, on-going and honest.
Copyright © 2012 by CMS Literary Services
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23 Comments
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Ndigo, I disagree with you. Clearly you are not simple minded. The points that you lay out are real talk. They are points that NDP, VIP, PPA, UP and POP need to soberly discusseed at their caucuses. NDP and VIP need to bring them to the HOA. Moreover, this article is a good read for all citizens. Superb commentary!
@ DI – it’s lock, stock and barrel…..google next time
Clearly, it is a typographical error. What was your point?
evolve or die, it’s that simple. Simple minded people don’t stand a chance when the rest of the world is evolving and coming up with more ways to attract revenue.
If your shop only sells chicken and Johnny cake, and I started selling Johnny cake, chicken, pattie and bread n cheese.
Who do you think will get more business?
Keep thinking what we have right now will always be here to support the BVI.
The world shifting away from us and y’all don’t even see or feel it.
I am in agreemnt with your sentiments and your outlook on this matter.
I disagree however, with you referring to yourself as simple minded.
By definition, simpleminded refers to one who is ignorant,foolish and stupid.
I understand your point, but definitions are changing in modern language. However, simple-minded meant exactly what you suggest and there are some who will call me “ignorant, foolish and stupid”. It’s poetic justice to beat them at the punch!
Clever!
You sure had me thinking for a while; Thanks for explaining, and I am happy that you have a mind compare to most of the so-called leaders who don’t have one….
I am a simple minded soul too. Building a pierside project = construction jobs + tourism related jobs. Every country in the world is scrambling to attract new investment to prop up their economy, but you argue we should push it away?
@ Not2Sure: On a point of clarity – I am not against the development per se, however, I think the conditions under which the development is to take place, are questionable at best. Lots of red flags for those who have eyes to see. And of course, in order of priority, there are more urgently needed important things for the leaders to undertake.
ummm, maybe I’m wrong, but wouldn’t the “Disney fantasy world” and an improved airport increase the number of tourists? More tourists=more money for everyone in the BVI.
Hell no!
Amen! Wonderful to hear a reasonable, common-sense essay from someone who appreciates Nature’s Little Secrets and knows the value of preserving the natural beauty of these islands.
Bravo !!!! Now this is without a doubt the absolute finest article I have read in a very long time.
then you need to read more or make better choices
So why u making these topics your stress, again!?!….jusgasmile
Wonderful article Sandra. I am not in agreement with your assertions however, and I have been labelled an NDP Propaganda machine, owing to the fact that I support these national developments coupled with foreign direct investment as crucial neccessity for the future of this country. I do not see any incompatibility between an aggressive develoment modus vivendi, a foreign direct investment culture, and sustainable develoment. If we care about our future, and jobs for our youth, then we have to develop, lock stop and barrel with the rest of the world. I agree though that it must be done in a clean, sustainable, and socially friendly manner.
Presently the government is struggling with providing basic humanitarian services such as clean water, sewage disposal/management, electricity etc. There seems to be no strategic plan for traffic management/control. Yet there is this drive to ramp up tourism – bigger cruise ships, lengthen the runway in order to accommodate jumbo jetliners. What infrastructure do we have to accommodate absorb this projected increase in tourism? No one noticed there is a traffic problem; What are the negative consequences of an increase in footprint on an already stressed ecosystem? Who is looking at our track record for the past 10 years for trash disposal,customer service, crime, community pride – litter abatement, derelict vehicle disposal. I have already mentioned poor “hotel services”. These are the issues that are trending in Nature’s Little Secret. There is no clear track recorded of superior service/infrastructure to support the development envisioned by our planners. These basic issues/services must be resolved before embarking on any major developments. Don’t neglect the simple things in pursuit of grand schemes that ultimately rely on simple things for survival.
Dickson, I enjoy reading your articles for your insight and different point of view. But my problem with the issues that you passionately support is that some are akin to constructing walls or erecting the roof of a house on no or a weak foundation. Without a doubt the house will collapse.
While I understand and agree with some of your points, I must say that in order to do alot of the things that you mentioned we need money.
The Pier Park is not costing us money but will be making us money which we can in turn use for other need projects.
Although I say it’s not costing us money I know that it will be costing us something (up for debate) but in any development there will be pros and cons.
We as a people don’t necessarily like change but we have to make the decisions whether to adopt or get left behind!
*adapt not adopt!
Adapt to our natural environment and preserve it. Use it but do not abuse it.
Adopt all from all over to our detriment, culture and norms have obliterated the quality of life for which we we were noted. Copy,imitate and regurgitate will lead to hate.
Every decision/project has both an explicit and implicit cost. In regards to the pier project, one can ask what is the opportunity of leasing out 4 acres of scarce, prime water front property?
What is the opportunity cost of collecting and paying the developer some the passenger revenue?
What is the opportunity cost of buying out lease at say 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 years before the termination at the 48 year. Moreover, if the resources is not available to fund with paygo where will the money come from for a buy out?
Lets fly like a gaggle of eagles and not wander about like a herd of buffaloes.
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