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
      • 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
      • 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
      • 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
    REPUBLIC BANK CPL TO OFFER FREE HEALTH TESTING FOR FANS ACROSS EIGHT HOST VENUES
    Press Release
    REPUBLIC BANK CPL TO OFFER FREE HEALTH TESTING FOR FANS ACROSS EIGHT HOST VENUES
    Jada 
    August 4, 2026
    ​ The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will partner with regional health authorities and non-governmental organisations to provide free he...
    More than just hurricanes: Caribbean responds to escalating climate impacts
    Press Release
    More than just hurricanes: Caribbean responds to escalating climate impacts
    Jada 
    August 4, 2026
    Caribbean – A new study has found that Caribbean nations suffered $53.2bn of damage from climate-fuelled disasters between 2000 and 2024. While major ...
    GOVERNMENT EXTENDS TEMPORARY RELIEF MEASURES TO CUSHION RISING FUEL AND SHIPPING COSTS
    Press Release
    GOVERNMENT EXTENDS TEMPORARY RELIEF MEASURES TO CUSHION RISING FUEL AND SHIPPING COSTS
    Jada 
    August 4, 2026
    Cabinet Secretary, Dr Marcus L Natta, during the July 28 Post-Cabinet Briefing, announced that the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis will extend its...
    THE BANANA ART AND HOW IT BEGAN
    Our Readers' Opinions
    THE BANANA ART AND HOW IT BEGAN
    Jada 
    August 4, 2026
    During a recent visit to Ethiopia, I had the privilege of spending a few minutes, literally, with Ras Hailu Tefari, formerly known as Bandi Payne. Ras...
    From Belmont to TSMC: Vincentian engineer builds a future in Taiwan while keeping home close to heart
    Our Readers' Opinions
    From Belmont to TSMC: Vincentian engineer builds a future in Taiwan while keeping home close to heart
    Jada 
    August 4, 2026
    By Kemarlie Durrant When Devan Peters left Belmont, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), for Taiwan in 2014 on a five-year Ministry of Foreign Affair...
    Schools reopening pushed back one week
    Front Page
    Schools reopening pushed back one week
    Webmaster 
    August 4, 2026
    THE Ministry of Education,Vocational Training, Innovation, Digital Transformation and Information in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has pushed ba...
    News
    SVG EX Teachers present movie projector to J.P Eustace Memorial
    News
    SVG EX Teachers present movie projector to J.P Eustace Memorial
    Webmaster 
    August 4, 2026
    THE DR J.P EUSTACE Memorial Secondary School, Mesopotamia, on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, was the recipient of a movie projector, compliments the St Vince...
    Cultural Ambassador blasts service of Inter-Caribbean
    News
    Cultural Ambassador blasts service of Inter-Caribbean
    Webmaster 
    August 4, 2026
    VINCENTIAN FILM MAKER and Cultural Ambassador Akley Olton, has given InterCaribbean Airways poor marks for their service and vows that he would not be...
    Forty Two caregivers benefit from Dementia training
    News
    Forty Two caregivers benefit from Dementia training
    Webmaster 
    August 4, 2026
    AS DEMENTIA CONTINUES to affect a growing number of families across St.Vincent and the Grenadines, 42 caregivers, healthcare professionals, and commun...
    Long standing cricket administrator dies
    News
    Long standing cricket administrator dies
    Webmaster 
    August 4, 2026
    THE VENERABLE Lennox John has passed away. John, who served sports in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in many capacities died on August 2, 2026. W...
    Chinese Medics injects new technology into Barbados’ Health System
    News
    Chinese Medics injects new technology into Barbados’ Health System
    Webmaster 
    August 1, 2026
    The eighth Chinese Medical Team to Barbados has introduced two first-of-their-kind medical technologies to the island's healthcare system, while expan...

    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