A new National motto?

The National motto of Barbados is Pride and Industry. CBC and radio 98.1 may, however, be unintentionally promoting a new motto – Pride in Indolence.

A new advert for radio 98.1 shows a number of workers asleep at their desks. It’s not clear if they are CBC staff or other government workers. A young man walks in, turns on some music and everyone wakes up and sways in time. They don’t go back to work. They’re now happy because they’re enjoying the music of 98.1 .

While happiness is everyone’s goal, it shouldn’t be at the expense of doing your job and being responsible and accountable! This ad is light-hearted but thoughtless, and it’s a potent comment on what’s happening with the decline of our local culture, accountability, productivity and economy. What about a thoughtful and coordinated approach to developing our society to be both happy and productive?

Professor Emeritus Sir Henry Fraser