#BTSpeakingOut – Cheers or musical chairs

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY. 

by Michael Rudder

Say it isn’t so. The first bright idea to come from the new President of the Democratic Labour party is, as I understand it, to set up a commission to look at the needs of youth or the woes of youth or some such. He mentioned the church and school had failed. I don’t recall if he defined ‘church’ or school? Did he mean the body of worshipers and also the institutions which cater for ‘life-long learning?’

Oh dear, oh dear, was he not fortunate that the political neophyte Minister when asked about the cost of the new ID cards did not reply with a question as to whether he should include the cost of the thousands of cards which were ordered by the DLP but were now useless?

Youth

Some say, ‘you are young as you feel.’ Others modify that statement somewhat, which I will not do on this occasion. Depending on the activity or programme the descriptor of youth is sometimes extended to the middle 30’s. Therefore, for practical purposes when one is devising a programme it may be useful to state the age range even though one is certain to capture different abilities in any age range.

In any survey of young people is the question often asked, ‘What would you like to do,’ rather than, ‘What can you do?’ This second question, hopefully answered somewhat truthfully, may help us to develop a ‘skills bank.’

In any event tests have to be devised to determine the level of competence in any skill. I understand that there are training programmes related to construction on-going at present. The need for more tools and training locations notwithstanding it’s a positive start.

The current road and road reserve cleaning by groups of young people, may, I fear give them a sense of ‘I have a job and have to get paid,’ as opposed to ‘I have a job and I have to work in order to get paid.’ I say that since I have observed when passing such a group that there is always a number of them relaxing.

When working, they should also be advised not to denude road reserves, especially those on a slope, because without grass to hold the topsoil subsequent rains may wash it away.

Creative

In any suggested survey of young people and the resulting talent revelations I am sure that we may find some astonishing new talent for whom we will be offering many cheers. I have to ask, however, why this crop (over) of tunes seems to be a sexual musical chairs competition replete with innuendo and naked sexual statements seemingly snatched from minds of not much creativity?

On the other hand, let us look at a group of young people relaxing under a tree and let us go through a process with the group about this tree – shall we say tamarind.

1. What type of tree is this?

2. How long has it been here? (Maybe it’s from years before any in the group was born – research.

3. Has anyone ever told you a story or stories about this tree? (Connections with the people in the area and a little about its history.

4. Any idea why it stopped bearing (if it has)? (May require some research – takes one or more of the group back to the books, the Ministry of Agriculture and more.

5. What used to happen with the fruit before? (The tree is probably in someone’s land, and they may have sold the fruit in previous years.

6.  Any other uses of the tree beside shade? Has any of the group ever used the tree for modelling, photography or videography? (Suggesting different skills that may reside in the group or indeed they might have suggested the same including painting.

7. What else can we learn about this tree? (Many things may come from the group.

Just a few thoughts on interactive creativity with any group. I am sure there are many more thoughts and ideas some of which may also come from a group. Let us begin to explore together and also be open to ideas from the group. Such ideas to include how we may find resources to meet the identified needs.