Once the political / The Lowdown

Publication: Weekend Nation
Paper Section And Page: 9
Paper Date: Fri, Sep 1, 2000
Byline: by Richard Hoad



GOOD NEWS, chariot's come! Well, actually not the chariot, but deliverance nonetheless. You remember how Sir Hennery Noraffarandum came on Hatchy's programme saying how the Queen ain't got no powers to help us in time of calumnity?

Well, muh bruthers, help hath arriven from unexpected quarters. For in the last Weekend Nation, "A" Comissiong declares that the Queen has a woogle of powers.

For instance, "A" says how her representative in Australia dismissed the Prime Minister when he was doing something or the other. He says she or her rep decides who to ask to become our Prime Minister, acting PM and Leader of the Opposition. And she "in effect exercises ultimate control over the criminal justice system" by granting pardons, quashing sentences and so on.

All these things have "bolstered" "A" Comissiong. And they should bolster me and you too. Study it this way. Suppose at some time in the future we miss and elect some vagabond to be Prime Minister. And he has us under heavy manners, hanging and locking up all who oppose. Who would you like to be the final arbiter in that situation: a Bajan president appointed by the said vagabond of a Prime Minister? Or a Queen over and away who couldn't be swayed by threats and malfeasantry?

Ponder that, my friends, as we move on. I had a jackass one time, short and plump, named Dusty. She is the one who ran down Worthing Road one morning with my brother Ted in hot pursuit and a towel. And, next thing, a jack-dunkey nearby began to show his excitement. But as Ted swished by, towel flapped open revealingly, he had to retract his sentiments. "Naw Baw! Naw Baw!" he brayed, dismayed, "can't compete wid dat!"

Everybody did love Dusty. But she had one bad fault: she would never reverse, no matter what. Sometimes the cart would jam in a narrow opening and she would keep pulling for the more till she nearly killed herself.

That don't remind you of this Government? Tom Adams backed down over Daylight Savings Time after the people objected. Nothing wrong with that. But today's Bees persist with four different roundabout systems. A tourist the other day was asking me for a roundaboutless route back to her hotel because she was afraid of them. Yet the minister says Jambuster stays; like it or lump it.

So too with Greenland. They are looking at an incinerator, the obvious choice since modern ones are more environmentally friendly than any landfill and produce energy. But still they intend to sink another $3 million into Greenland? To prove what?

For heaven's sake, Owen, have done with the phimotic pussyfooting in your Cabinet and take charge. Give the S3 million to the long-suffering folk in Arch Hall and build the damn incinerator. One lady caller suggested Greenland be used for golf: it has the "green", a lake, plenty mounds; what more could you ask?

My main thrust today, however, is at one of Nalita's callers last Friday. He admitted to her that Greenland wasn't selected by the experts as the most suitable site for a landfill. And then he uttered the most dangerous, banana-republican words ever: "But once the political decision" was made, we had to go along with it.

"Once the political decision" was made, most of us said nothing about roads cut to put houses on the East Coast slopes. Go and see the result. Nor must we say anything about nowhere to park at Mullins Beach; Sandy Lane blocking out the view and spreading scarce building-sand over its fields; or big franchises moving in.

Let me thank Alan Edwards in Canada for clippings about 300 goat-farmers in France who demolished a McDonald's under construction and a field of genetically-modifed corn. And are opposing American hormone-fed beef. As they go on trial, 50 000 protestors from around the world will gather there to condemn globalisation in a battle for "health versus profit; small against big; and local producers against multinationals."

And what about the folk of Tampa Palms, Florida, including nephew Michael Hoad (dubbed the "most reasonable man in Tampa" in a recent Petersburg Times article), who are fighting the giant Stein Mart as they fought Walgreens and McDonalds, to preserve the ambience of their community?

My friends, the future of this country lies not with the snivelling sycophants who support Government's every move "once the political decision" is taken. But with those who are willing to fight losing battles and ask unpopular questions. Like, why can't the Burnside Report on Greenland be made public? After all, we're talking about a garbage dump, not a secret military installation.

Government, for its part, must realise there is no disgrace in reversing a wrong decision. So help us God.

-  Richard Hoad is a farmer and social commentator.