Submitted by BU family member Chris Halsall

Dear BU Family…

There are times when one simply has to ask just how much Bajans care about anyone except themselves. As seen on page five (5) of The Barbados Advocate (2009.04.14):

Headline: Double parking chaos

Summation: Several drivers decided that it was their right to double park, and to block other drivers (actually, parkers) from being able to leave when they wanted. Even more significantly, the “authorities” were impotent to do anything about this.

Significant quotes:

“At around 4 p.m., one policeman was seen responding to the situation and attempted to calm those drivers awaiting news of whether [sic] or not the inconsiderate drivers had been identified.

“The problem was made worse by the fact that officials co-ordinating entry into the Over-50’s exhibition, announced that without a PA (read: Public Announcement) system to advise of the parking situation and to communicate the registration plate details, it was a matter of waiting on those drivers to return to their vehicles in order to be able to move one’s car.

“Fortunately, just 20 minutes later, the driver at the front of the blocked-in traffic was ready to leave […] and was able to do so through the smallest of gaps between to of the culprit vehicles.

“As the other two drivers then followed suit, even the police officer attending notes that those drivers who’d parked in a parallel line to the the [sic] others were not excising good driver judgment.”

Questions:

1. Why do so many of us consider it acceptable to do whatever we want, no matter how much harm it causes to the “greater good”?

1.1. Why is the “commons” so disregarded?

2. Why was the “police officer” unable to do anything other than to “calm those drivers awaiting news”.

2.1. Why were the offending cars not simply towed away?

2.2. Are our laws so lax that anyone can do anything, and the rest simply have to grit our teeth, and deal with it?

3. Does this not lead to anarchy?

3.1. Although, being Bajan, “anarchy” is a passive aggressive thing. As in, we won’t actually stand up for our rights, but we’re more than willing to piss off everyone else.

Observations:

We Bajans like to claim that we’re advanced. That we’re just coming out of “developing nation” status and that we will be soon be considered “developed”. But, you know what? Our attitudes towards others don’t suggest this. Hmmmmm… Something which might be worth considering….