An SOS to All Barbadians

Who is a “B” or who is a “D”?

Let us open our eyes and see

That for right now

That shouldn’t matter to you or me.

In matters of life or death

Feuding families come together

Ceasing their fight against one another

To combat any stormy weather.

Where there is a common foe

There must be a common cause

And hence a common understanding

Our fights must be put on pause.

There is a greater battle

Than the fight between “B” and “D”,

A distress signal has been issued

And requires national unity.

An SOS to cease all infighting

To abort the skirmishes that distract

And engage the common enemy

In an all out concerted attack.

For the disadvantages are common

Given the enemy’s persistent onslaught

But also to us the benefits

Which our past victories have brought.

An SOS against all crime

That has brought us to our knees

And against every kind of violence

Internal and across the seas.

An SOS to every church

That is named after the name of God

To discern every wicked spirit

And expose every single fraud.

An SOS to all our politicians

Which are seeking their self-interests,

This fight is not about their cause

But for Barbados in which we invest.

An SOS to halt the money laundering

The cleaning of dirty money

And the equally conniving practice

Of out and out wholesale bribery.

An SOS to public and private workers

To render an honest day’s work

And for our unions also to frown

On their charges that constantly shirk.

An SOS to all of our teachers

Whether in nursery, primary or tertiary

To advance the cause of our nation

By accentuating their students’ abilities.

An SOS to the fellows on the block

To be guardians of their community

And to desist from undesirable behaviour

That undermines that security.

An SOS to all Barbadians

Right here in our country and abroad

To be great ambassadors for Barbados

And all her achievements applaud.

Yes, an SOS on this Independence

To stand up for justice and right

A distress signal to every Barbadian

To help Barbados through this night.

To a brighter dawn tomorrow

For all that make the sacrifice

To every Barbadian at home and abroad

That is willing to pay the price.

An SOS, I remind you

Whether you are a “B” or a “D”

To join hand in hand in this national call

And save our wonderful country.

Stewart Russell © November 2018