A Little Space

 

 

 

Gih muh a little space,

A little elbow-room

To do the things I promised you,

 

I didn’t know it was so bad

When I committed to all

That I said I would do.

 

So much to put in place

After the mess that was made

I can scarcely believe,

 

So, a little wriggle-room

I am begging you,

It’s not meant to deceive.

 

The view that we had had

Was from the outside

But different when we got in,

 

We can now see much better

Since we got the vote

That things are very grim.

 

They had ten whole years

To make all this mess

So, we ask you to bear with us,

 

It would take just as long

Or perhaps even longer

And that is even if we rush.

 

 

But you know the adage

About rushing the brush

And how much paint is lost,

 

So, give us a chance

With our austerity measures

And learn to count the cost.

 

I was forced to call

After three and one-half years

That unexpected election,

 

But it was for good reasons

I honestly assure you

To quell some misapprehension.

 

Misapprehension

On your part

And maybe a little from my team,

 

But now that apprehension

Is out of the way

It is forward full steam!

 

 

Still a little more space

I am begging you,

A little more tightening of the belt,

 

Even if you are feeling in ‘23

A little more than in 2018

After ten years what you felt.

 

It took us three and a half years

As you can see

To become really organized,

 

Oh, we were in a mess

A greater mess than we thought

You can’t imagine the size.

 

Thus, it meant

Rearranging the chairs on deck

Of the sinking ship,

 

Plus borrowing revenue

And sourcing expert personnel

To help save the new republic.

 

And I get you,

Earning, rather than borrowing?

But that is your personal view,

 

I am simply stating

 To Bajans at home and abroad

What we were forced to do.

 

Foreign reserves almost nil,

And our beautiful gem

Its flesh, picked to the bone,

 

Nothing we could do

In prospect of the republic

Nothing that was home-grown.

 

 

 

Father of Independence

I recall what you said

And I do not consider it trite

 

But in addition

To being friends of many,

We are now a roving satellite.

 

Well, there is India

And there is China,

And Africa there or thereabouts,

 

There is Trinidad and Tobago

And oil-rich Guyana

Ever since the oil shout-out!

 

Finally,

A trip to far away Dubai

With large entourage in company,

 

An exchange of culture

Theirs and ours

No doubt, of rich variety.

 

 

Hence,

A case for space

And a little elbow-room

 

As together

My brothers and sisters

Our young republic we groom.

 

Stewart Russell © August 21, 2023

 

Satellites of None

“Friends of all,

Satellites of none”

Admonished Prime Minister Errol Barrow

When this country he had run.

 

Then, it had the ability

To punch above its weight

But this has been called into question

Only here of late.

 

“Friends of all!”

Nothing’s wrong with this

But we must take care whom we join

And with whom we enlist.

 

One country is up in arms

With the very mighty USA

Presumably because its Government

Has contravened the US way.

 

Refusing to recognize

A particular same sex union

It has brought on itself

A colossal problem.

 

America has shown

It is the World’s big bully

Disrespecting the laws of others

As well as their sovereignty.

 

Well, power is might

And this is nothing new,

Developing states must conform

And pay what is due.

 

This US love affair

Has been going on for a while

Even though it appears to me

It is only for style...

 

To make the US look good

Especially in the Caribbean

But the truth be told,

It is all a dream.

 

 

From the Basin Initiative

With its unstoppable hole

All through the Obama presidency

We saw US deceit unfold.

 

A regular intervenor

In local domestic disputes,

That America assumes the big brother,

One cannot dispute.

 

Like the impudent child

Scowling and red in the face

America is telling someone’s diplomats

To leave its place.

 

No extension of contracts

Thus, when the time expires they must go,

This is big bully’s reaction

To a Caribbean country we know.

 

“Satellites of none!”

The great Errol Barrow declared,

It does not matter their size

We must not bow in fear.

 

Giving up one’s sovereignty

Is like giving up one’s birthright,

The right to self-government

Disappears in the night.

 

For indeed, it is night

When one’s freedom is taken,

Especially a sovereign country

That wilts when threatened.

 

America does not care

And her agenda is not hidden,

To allow her absolute control

Must be strictly forbidden.

 

Oh, wretched people we are

When we simply capitulate,

In this ocean of combative bullies

We become only shark bait.

 

Stewart Russell © July 29, 2023