#BTSpeakingOut – Talk is really not cheap at all

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

I live in a country it seems that does not appreciate greatness. We have some people in Barbados that do not understand that speeches can solve problems. Reputations can be built on mere travel and words.

One does not have to meddle in people’s lives and their social affairs, attempting to do tangible things, making inputs that can actually make a difference. These are interventions that are grossly overrated.

Diabetes is a major problem in Barbados, as is obesity, so why would shoppers complain about the high cost of food when it is better to eat less, both you and the children. And if they go to sleep hungry, that cannot kill them. That means a few less calories to sleep on. So, a hungry belly has its place in our society.

And all these stupid complaints about the high cost of petrol. Come on Bajans, park the damn cars and walk. It is healthy.

If you live in Mount Brevitor and you working at the Grantley Adams International Airport and you have to get work for 9 a.m., instead of moaning and groaning and complaining about the Government not doing anything about gas prices, get up early, perhaps about 4 a.m., and take a nice stroll from St Peter to Christ Church and you will get to the airport before nine.

Not only will you eliminate a lot of the problems associated with gas, but the walk will keep you fit, stave off NCDs and most of all, you will be doing your part with respect to climate change by keeping your car parked.

I now appreciate what is being taught to us, though some of you are hard to appreciate it. But it was a rude awakening that really made me conscious.

I went to a supermarket, got a trolly of items and went to the cashier. I had no money but I took out a copy of our leader‘s speech at the Climate Change meeting and told the cashier to take out my groceries from that.

The woman looked at me like I mad, so I told her again, I am paying you with this speech.

For the love of me, I could not understand why the security guard escorted me off the premises without my foodstuff.

People overseas raving about these speeches, so why the supermarket did not accept this foreign currency?

Anyhow, that was not the worse of it. I later drove into the gas station, told the attendant I wanted $120 in gas and she put it in my car. When she came to me for money, I gave her a print-out of another speech made in the USA before the big wigs there and told her I paying with that and if any change comes back, she can have it.

Now why they called the police is beyond me, and why my brother had to pay for gas that I had already paid for with that great speech.

It was only after this last episode that I decided we Bajans have to learn the importance of talk, and speeches, and one-liners, and cliches, and metaphors, and travel.

It is only when we do this, that we will realise that talk is not really cheap at all. It can take you very far in life, whether at home or you are Missing In Action.
– D. Goddard