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Showing posts from July, 2020

Thursday Quote

One Caribbean Nation. Thursday Quote                                          A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse

Letter From Brooklyn

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One Caribbean Nation. By Michael Headley With all of the medical and social turmoil going on in the world today, I was really emotionally touched by a call, made to Down to Brass Tacks Monday afternoon. The gentleman caller stated that he needed dialysis treatment three days a week and once again his driver had failed to pick him up to take him to the dialysis facility. The caller stated that after the long weekend he needed to get dialyzed so he paid someone else to take him there. And as the moderator, Mr. Ellis, asked him how he was coping with the current Covid-19 situation. He simply said that, as a member of the vulnerable group he was taking all of the necessary precautions but the kidney failure was now affecting his vision, however he is still alive. How remarkable! Despite all of his medical challenges, and being abandoned by his driver more than once, this gentleman had a most calming tone as he candidly related the incident and his life. There was no hint of bitterness in

Re-thinking CARICOM development model after COVID-19

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One Caribbean Nation. by Sir Ronald Sanders                                                                                 Sir RonaldSanders Re-thinking CARICOM development model after COVID-19 Governments around the world, including in Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, have emerged as the principal players in the health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The private sector, for the most part, has taken a back seat with many companies turning inwards and concentrating on safeguarding their own survival, rather than playing a broader role. This occurrence could foreshadow a new model for economic development in the future, particularly for small states. Governments had to embrace extraordinary roles to provide economic relief, including for private sector workers. In richer nations, governments have provided what is called ‘furloughs’. Under this scheme, governments in the United States and some countries in Europe have extended unemployment benefits to these

Race, class and new economic directions for Barbados

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One Caribbean Nation. Race, class and new economic directions for Barbados                                                                Professor Robin Mahon Issues of race, class and money are so intertwined in Barbados that they will require quite some disentangling if constructive conversations are to be had. The panel discussion Race relations in Barbados held by Barbados TODAY on Sunday July 5th made significant inroads into this topic. In my view, if we pursue these discussions they will take us well beyond considerations of race into a discussion of a new economic perspective for Barbados. The race issues are so complicated that statements like ‘white people this…’ or ‘ black people that...’ are meaningless. Yes, there are white people in Barbados who may ‘hate’ black people just because they are black. But they are few and becoming fewer with every generation. Many left at independence and took their attitudes with them. There are other white people who discriminate against

Thursday Thought

One Caribbean Nation. Thursday Thought  The longest day has an end

Tribute to Sir Everton Weekes , West Indies Cricket Genius

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One Caribbean Nation. Tribute – Death only force to stop Sir Everton By Vaneisa Baksh Cricket was always the backdrop, but it was hardly what we talked about. My memories of Sir Everton Weekes nestle within his unpretentious appreciation of beauty, art and the intellect. This is where I will go to find the man I came to know five years ago. His cricketing years had long passed, but he had not paused. Like a puddle that filled itself until it became a shimmering lake, this extraordinary gentleman lived every minute of his life so fully that death after 95 years and 126 days could have been the only force powerful enough to stop him. He didn’t fear death; at 90, his practical mind had already calculated its proximity, but vigilant as ever, he kept an eye out, “I listen to the obituary notices, not to find out if I am there, to see if I recognise anyone, because I don’t suppose I’d be listening to the obituary notice if I am there.” He was so tickled by his humour that it took him a few m

Thursday Thought

One Caribbean Nation. Thursday Thought                                                      A high wind knows where an old house lives