Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Our Readers' Opinions
October 7, 2011

The Banana Crisis – the lies, the bad and the good!

Fri, Oct 7. 2011

Editor: The present banana crisis, caused by shared negligence, disregard for the poor and voting herds and the low priority given to banana farmers and the poor in general by government, continues to bring out the ‘best’ in us.{{more}}

Editor, the fascinating part of this entire episode is the lies. The lies are transparent! The bad is good, and the good to come out of it is excellent! Just great!

The lies! It is indeed a huge lie to suggest that any public officer tried to sabotage! The issue is one of priority. Millions from the sale of the NCB and the other property of the bank went to the airport. Millions went to referendum – millions go towards all the representatives who lost their seats . Why are they priority? They are important in winning elections and keeping power! Not bananas! Shamefacedly, politicians blame public servants because they know that the public servants can’t respond! Good thing, though, sections of the print media are drilling holes in their lies, fabrication and deceptions! Thank you, Searchlight and The News!!!

Why are bananas and/farmers not a priority! You may then ask why? Answer – farmers and bananas not important – government has already secured their votes. Therefore, they have no real value until 2014/2015, and by then government would secure enough galvanise and lumber to purchase that vote again!

What’s bad in all of this is not just that bananas and farmers are under pressure! The domino effect could be increased crime, increased theft, slow down in trading generally, and, critically, an increase in the absence rate of students from rural schools, which can affect the teaching/ learning situation. Imagine a banana and plantain farmer with no other source of income having to support two children at school. Even if he is paid compensation of $400/$500 per acre, he will really struggle! That’s bad, but that’s also good!

This government is adored, glorified, praised, and worshiped more than how God is worshipped and loved! And what does it manifest? It suspends public servants and workers on half pay for doing their jobs well and what’s right, while those who steal and are involved in corruption are given full pay and promotion! It supports throwing the people’s representatives out of parliament. It says yes to criminals in the police force. It glorifies its top wigs who issue threats publicly. It wastes monies taking passengers/or tourists on trips with scarce government funds to Cuba, Europe, Asia and Africa. It pays retirees, big shots, and cronies all sorts of hefty packages and perks, while the nation is ‘brokes’, or so we are told. It leaves potholes in every main road, and feeder roads are impassible! It promised the farmers forthnightly payments for Tomas, and gave them one payment for elections, and another one in April, then blamed the April floods for inability to pay! Yet, the people, especially in the banana belt, worshipped, adored and glorified our prime minister and representative. Now the idols they worship and praise have failed them miserably! Yes! Blame Daniel, but ultimately, it is the Minister of Finance, and PM, who has failed the farmers. Yes! The new ‘real’ god in SVG has failed miserably! That is good! Why?

The failure of idols and tin gods will lead us to depend on the True and Living God! Why? Even if bananas go under, or the crisis persist, God will take care of us! He will provide for the farmers and their families, especially those who know Him personally! They will smile at the crisis! Then they will understand that we must have no other gods, but Jehovah! Love our politicians, greet them, clap them, pray for them, but do not reach the stage where we worship them to the point where we call all their wrongs right!

I know that these are end times, but this is gross negligence by those the people presently worship, which God has allowed for us to reflect, come to ourselves and return to him!

As bad as the situation appears to be, God is the greatest beneficiary. He will provide for His people and we will, hopefully, learn that relying on politicians (yellow or red) is like relying on broken sticks and standing on feet out of joints! In this crisis, men will use talk show listening time, and peddling of political mischief, and man worshipping to be drawn closer to God to get their daily bread, thus this crisis is really a good thing! A real blessing in disguise!

Otto Sam

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Lawyer Grant Connell, Police Commissioner seemingly mend fences
    Front Page
    Lawyer Grant Connell, Police Commissioner seemingly mend fences
    Webmaster 
    May 12, 2026
    LAWYER GRANT CONNELL, will not be pursuing legal action against Commissioner of Police (COP) Enville Williams as the two professionals appear to have ...
    SVG/Cuba Friendship Society hands over donation for Cuba
    Front Page
    SVG/Cuba Friendship Society hands over donation for Cuba
    Webmaster 
    May 12, 2026
    THE SVG-Cuba Friendship Society delivered a donation of EC$19,000 for the Cuban people as part of a humanitarian initiative promoted by the organizati...
    Front Page
    CPEA set for May 13 and 14
    Webmaster 
    May 12, 2026
    THE ANNUAL Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) for students of Grade-6 is scheduled for May 13 and 14, 2026. A total of 1766 students will sit th...
    Another former national footballer shot, killed
    Front Page
    Another former national footballer shot, killed
    Webmaster 
    May 12, 2026
    FIVE YEARS after national football goalkeeper Dwaine “Tall Man” Sandy was shot and killed in Calliaqua, the East St. George constituency was once agai...
    Mixed package rolled out at 2026 North Leeward Carnival launch
    Front Page
    Mixed package rolled out at 2026 North Leeward Carnival launch
    Webmaster 
    May 12, 2026
    NORTH LEEWARD OFFICIALLY launched its 2026 Carnival on Saturday, April 9, 2026, at the Chateaubelair Playing Field under the theme “Lil Mas AhYard,” h...
    Grenadines residents promised a consistent supply of water
    Front Page
    Grenadines residents promised a consistent supply of water
    Webmaster 
    May 12, 2026
    MINISTER OF POST SECONDARY EDUCATION, Terrance Ollivierre, who also has responsibility for Grenadines Affairs, has assured residents of the Grenadines...
    News
    SVG passports ranked 19th Globally
    News
    SVG passports ranked 19th Globally
    Webmaster 
    May 12, 2026
    AS OF APRIL, 2026, the St.Vincent and the Grenadines passport is ranked 19th globally with a mobility score of 146–157 on the Henley Passport Index 20...
    Fire Chief urges more care to prevent house fires, bush fires
    News
    Fire Chief urges more care to prevent house fires, bush fires
    Webmaster 
    May 12, 2026
    FIRE CHIEF and Superintendent in the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), Markneal Ellis, has expressed concerns about the numbe...
    Campden Park woman given suspended sentence for wounding
    From the Courts, News
    Campden Park woman given suspended sentence for wounding
    Webmaster 
    May 12, 2026
    A CAMPDEN PARK WOMAN was given a suspended sentence for wounding another woman who was now in an intimate relationship with her former boyfriend. Reio...
    Child Month activities buttressed by prayer
    News
    Child Month activities buttressed by prayer
    Webmaster 
    May 12, 2026
    THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION launched Child Month, 2026, with a prayer Breakfast, under the theme, “I belong.You belong.We all belong”. Celebrated annual...
    Government to soon unveil ‘Love SVG’ initiative
    News
    Government to soon unveil ‘Love SVG’ initiative
    Webmaster 
    May 8, 2026
    Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, and Sustainable Development, Kishore Shallow, announced that a new initiative titled “Love SVG” will soon be impl...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok