“But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48
The COVID 19 Delta Variant continues to ravage many states in the U. S. A. and our neighbouring island – Martinique. Now, it is in Saint Lucia. Our government has taken steps to get the virus under control. With the full cooperation of citizens and visitors, it is very possible to see a decline in the amount of daily cases within a week or so.
In spite of the COVID 19 pandemic, those of us who are alive have a lot to be thankful for. After viewing and listening intently to the swearing in ceremony and the Throne Speech last Tuesday, I feel that most St. Lucians should be encouraged. The sentiments of Dr. Martin Luther King came alive once again, and we can all get a sense that Freedom will reign under this new administration.
The spirit of INCLUSION is definitely emerging. That is the one word among all the buzzwords during the campaign that captured my imagination. It became even more appealing to me when it was featured boldly in the Manifesto of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP). It points to unity, and we are all aware that unity is strength. That is the only way we can build together.
Over the several political campaigns I have witnessed in Saint Lucia, in spite of all the rhetoric and damning accusations from the platforms, in the end, regardless of the outcome, the people settle down to fending for themselves and their families so that they can pay their bills and put food on their tables. This time, it will be no different, except for the fact that from the outset all indications are that we will have an honest, transparent, and caring government for the next five years.
The tasks ahead of this new government are daunting. However, with a Cabinet of such a diversified set of skills, supported by experts locally and in the Diaspora, we can be confident that no challenge will be too great for the administration to overcome. As the old saying goes, the government will have to suck cane and whistle, all at the same time.
While sorting out the economic status of the nation, the government should aggressively seek to woo both local and foreign investors. Never again should local Entrepreneurs be ignored. No effort should be spared in developing an Investing/Entrepreneurial culture where our local investors will be exposed to opportunities in all sectors of the economy. Our Entrepreneurs can do much better if they receive guidance, along with technical and financial support in achieving their goal of being successful at what they do.
Finding sustainable employment should be of paramount importance even in this current environment where COVID 19 dominates the thoughts of everyone. Working remotely, and home-based businesses are attracting many individuals at the moment, and are expected not only to change the way persons are engaged in earning a livelihood but are also expected to expand. There is need for a THINK TANK on JOBS where many opportunities that are being employed by individuals can be shared with others. There must be a way to get these ideas ventilated so that more people can benefit from them.
COVID 19 pandemic is on my mind. I watched the U. S. A. rushed to get to a state of normalcy, only to rush back to the protocols and restricted movement in many states. People will always behave the way they have been behaving, and when the protocols are relaxed they throw caution to the wind. The answer is to arrive at a decision of regulating protocols and movement of persons that will be reasonable and sustainable over a long period. We have to learn to live with the pandemic. It seems as though COVID 19 will be here for the long haul. Let us stop applying short-term solutions until there is a clear path for a return to normalcy. There can be no short-term fix.
Let the freedom we seek to enjoy be one with personal responsibility so it can truly reign. We, the people are expected to play our part. I take this opportunity to congratulate Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre and his team, and wish them every success in their endeavours. It is up to us to give our full co-operation to their initiatives.
Keep the faith, Yahweh is in charge. We shall overcome.
Edward Harris
Freelance Journalist/Realtor/Business Consultant
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