Bassy - Love Vine
March 20, 2020
Come Again CARRY-COME, Come Again

AH WAS TELLING Lie-Za how ah laugh me belly full when ah heard on de news, dat SVG’s Prime Minister was among de de Observer Missions from CARICOM, to go help bring ah resolution to de “Mess” dat was created in de counting of de votes in de Guyana Elections.

And den ah had to laugh again when ah read de content of a release from de office of de Prime Minister, published by Kenton Chance’s I-witness- news. Ah quoting from Kenton’s story: “ The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), on Saturday, joined with election observer missions from CARICOM, the hemisphere and internationally in expressing ‘grave concern about the processes and procedures employed in the counting of the votes in the recent Guyana elections in Region 4’ De Release continues: “ It is imperative that the election authorities in Guyana count every vote in accordance with the established law, procedure and best practices so as to lend credibility to the results.”

Ah told Lie-Za dat as ah Vin-cent-shun, ah would ah bin embarrassed to sit round ah table, to comment on what is fair or what is not when come to de Process and Procedures employed in the counting of votes in any Carry- Come country. In SVG the people have been waiting foh four and ah half years foh ah ruling from de Courts in de Elect-shun Petitions here in SVG. How come Carry-Come never thought it was “Imperative dat de Election Authorities in SVG count every vote in accordance with de established Law, Procedure and Best Practices so as to lend credibility to our Electshun results here n SVG. Justice will come one day if not thru de Courts by de next ballots.

CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS

De Coronavirus Covid 19 is causing panic in de country. People running all over de place buying up supplies, already de shelves in de Supermarkets looking scanty. We know bout disaster preparation like Storms and Hurry-Cane, but Covid 19 is ah lickle different. We can’t stop ah Storm from coming but we could delay contracting de Virus by following simple instructions which is basically “Cleanliness next to Godliness!”

And dis seems to be my concern. We not listening to de very simple instructions coming from de Hell’t Authority. We hearing but we not listening or obeying. Or maybe it is too simple to believe, like wash hands wid soap thoroughly; avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth, avoid crowds, hugging, shaking hands. Drink ah lot of water, gaggle with warm water wid ah lickle salt or apple cider vinegar.

My daughter brought me ah Mini Drug Store wid ah supply of Vitamin E, B, B12, D, CoQ10, when ah asked her foh Vitamin C she said “ de Drug Stores run-out.” But she knows me well so she said to me: “ Daddy I know yuh believe in your local remedy, but this Virus is serious!” I really appreciate my daughter’s concern foh her Dad!

But having said dat ah would like to share my own fight wid de Virus using Local Weaponry.

First thing at mornings ah drink ah glass ah warm water wid lemon juice and a half tea-spoon of Baking Soda. Den ah mek my own Smoothie wid only Vincy fruits, grown right hey in SVG: Ah blend ah concock- shun from my supply of Saffron, Carrot, Ginger, Lemon juice, Mango, Banana, Guava, Sorrel, passion fruit, Aloe or prickle- pear; ah use 5 finger sparingly. Foh breakfast is either Touch of Dawn Chocolate or bush tea. My Bush Tea is like ah brew: Kojo Root or Mini Root; Mint, Ginger, Sour Sop; Bay Leaf, Cinamon, and Tamarind, everything in one pot. After drinking ah glass ah Lemon Water wid baking Soda; ah glas ah smoothie, and ah big mug of Bush Brew, de Virus will have ah fight. And den follow de Hell’t instructions. Now my lickle secret dat my Grand-Daughter Zinzi gave me years ago is to visit my Doctor, de Great Physician every night at 3:00 a.m. I renew my Faith, Trust and Confidence in Him. Den he gives me de Green Light.

So what do I recommend? Listen attentively to Dr Friday’s Corona Virus Advisory on Radio. Remember Cleanliness is next to Godliness! And wid dat is gone ah gone again.

One Love Bassy

● Bassy Alexander is a land surveyor, folklorist and social commentator.