We feeling de heat

Just before any comments on the effects of the heat in our local context, permit me on behalf of all Vincentians to express our solidarity with the governments and people of three countries which have provided us with solidarity and concrete assistance.

The wave of natural disasters which have enveloped many countries all round the globe have, in different ways and to varying extents, affected the peoples of Taiwan, the Kingdom of Morocco and Cuba during this month of September.

Morocco was struck by one of the most devastating earthquakes in its history and at press time with ongoing search and rescue efforts still underway, there have been reports of more than 3000 persons dead and massive damage to life, limb and infrastructure. The damage in both Taiwan and Cuba was not of the magnitude of that in Morocco but was still extensive. In both cases the cause was the same, storm damage, from typhoon Haikui in Taiwan and hurricane Ian in the case of Cuba. Three people were killed in Cuba’s western province of Pinar del Rio, where massive floods severely damaged agriculture and housing while in Taiwan the storm caused damage to infrastructure and left some 217,000 people without power.

Now all three countries have been kind to St Vincent and the Grenadines, especially when we have suffered, and while not possessing the resources to physically help, we can at least extend our concern and solidarity, and as we do in other cases, at least offer prayers. We must never be ungrateful.

Here at home, whilst in the midst of the hurricane season, we are experiencing threats of our own. The meteorologists have warned us that rising temperatures, especially over ocean waters, have increased the chances of hurricane formation and we are in the most vulnerable period of the hurricane season. But even more immediately it is the heat that is killing us, figuratively that is.

It was good to note the sensitivity of the Teachers’ Union in raising the matter as to the effects on schools, students, pupils and teachers and the unsuitability of our schools and dress codes to the current situation. It would be good though if there could be collaboration between the Union and teachers with the Government to try and bring some relief to those encountering difficulties. Let us not have another “bassa bassa” while children and teachers suffer.

The situation brings to the fore the wider context of the suitability of our schools, the furniture and the uniforms. In many cases, our schools uniforms simply took pattern from colonial designs and practices. Why do ties, blazers and material unsuited for the tropics have to continue to be part of the dress, “in dis ya time” as the Rastafarians would say? Do we, in the design of our schools, consider comfort and heat factors? And what about our furniture? Is comfort a determining factor in design and manufacture?

All of this give us much food for thought about how we construct buildings, materials to be used and, always, our environmental context. More attention needs to be paid to such matters especially in these days of drastic climate change and very often, it is situations like these which help to point the way forward towards solutions, There is urgency in these matters, demanding greater collaboration and cooperation.

The matters of climate change, and overdue action to address it, are, in the next few months sure to be top of the agenda on the international calendar. It is worrying to note that on top of all the international problems, the Panama canal is itself a victim of the effects of drought with a build up of ships outside because of the need to reduce the number of ships which can use the canal at any one time. This will bring another unwelcome layer on the cost of trade when already the senseless and suicidal war in Ukraine and the diversion of billions of dollars for destructive purposes increase suffering in the world daily.

A number of high-profile global meetings will be held in the next few months, among them the General Assembly of the United Nations and the crucial Climate Summit in the United Arab Emirates at the end of November. SVG, in spite of its miniscule size, is expected to play its role in helping to advance the cause of the developing nations in these negotiations and in the equally important ongoing struggle for reparatory justice for victims of genocide, slavery and colonial plunder. More on this in succeeding columns.

Renwick Rose is a community activist and social commentator.