Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • From the Courts
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Prof. J Robinson – Eye of the Needle
      • 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
      • logo
      • logo
      • logo
    • About Us
      • logo
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • From the Courts
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Prof. J Robinson – Eye of the Needle
      • 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
      • logo
      • logo
      • logo
    • About Us
      • logo
      • 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
    Former NDP Gov’t minister passes
    Front Page
    Former NDP Gov’t minister passes
    Webmaster 
    August 21, 2026
    This country has lost another former Member of Parliament with the death on Tuesday morning of Alpian Allen, who represented the constituency of North...
    New ACP Brenton Smith set to tackle  gun violence in SVG
    Front Page
    New ACP Brenton Smith set to tackle gun violence in SVG
    Webmaster 
    August 21, 2026
    ACTING Commissioner of Police Trevor Bailey, said newly promoted Deputy Commissioner Acting Brenton Smith, has been assigned to take strategic command...
    New Democratic Party confirms shift in stance on one-China policy
    Front Page
    New Democratic Party confirms shift in stance on one-China policy
    Webmaster 
    August 21, 2026
    Prime Minister Godwin Friday, has publicly reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of St Vincent and the Grenadines(SVG), to Taiwan with whom it is this ...
    Daughter of Vincentian mother heading to UK ‘Magic Circle’ law firm
    Front Page
    Daughter of Vincentian mother heading to UK ‘Magic Circle’ law firm
    Webmaster 
    August 21, 2026
    by Grace Francis A Vincentian mother who spent 10 years serving in the Royal Navy is celebrating the academic achievements of her daughter, Destiny Ro...
    Deputy CDC Chair promises “changes will come” for VincyMas
    Front Page
    Deputy CDC Chair promises “changes will come” for VincyMas
    Webmaster 
    August 21, 2026
    As the Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) kicks off its promotional campaign leading to the celebration of 50 years of the change over of carnival...
    Gun-Surrender Claim Fails: Chief Magistrate Jails Armed Man
    Front Page
    Gun-Surrender Claim Fails: Chief Magistrate Jails Armed Man
    Webmaster 
    August 21, 2026
    Lawyer Grant Connell has concluded that his Majesty’s Prison (HMP) has now become like the Red Cross, as some people want to go there to get free room...
    News
    AIA starts process towards certification
    News
    AIA starts process towards certification
    Webmaster 
    August 21, 2026
    Fixing the issues at St Vincent and the Grenadines’ (SVG), various airports is high on the agenda of the current administration and one thing that is ...
    Opposition Senator expresses serious concern about “brazen” gun crimes
    News
    Opposition Senator expresses serious concern about “brazen” gun crimes
    Webmaster 
    August 21, 2026
    Opposition Senator Carlos James says the increasing frequency of gun-related incidents and homicides in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is a serio...
    Cashier alleged to have stolen cash from 79-year-old, granted bail
    From the Courts, News
    Cashier alleged to have stolen cash from 79-year-old, granted bail
    Webmaster 
    August 21, 2026
    A cashier who is alleged to have stolen almost $70-thousand from a senior citizen over a span of several weeks in 2023 and 2024 pleaded not guilty whe...
    Vincentian Bishop Ishmael Charles elected Assistant Director of World Missions- Church of God
    News
    Vincentian Bishop Ishmael Charles elected Assistant Director of World Missions- Church of God
    Webmaster 
    August 18, 2026
    BISHOP ISHMAEL PRINCE CHARLES of St.Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), was elected Assistant Director of World Missions at the Church of God’s 80th Int...
    Journey VincyMas 2027: Road to 50 launched in New York
    News
    Journey VincyMas 2027: Road to 50 launched in New York
    Webmaster 
    August 18, 2026
    THE CARNIVAL DEVELOPMENT Corporation (CDC) last Friday, August 14, 2026, blasted off their promotional campaign, “VincyMas 2027 Road to 50,” in the US...

    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