Good morning the Gregg, Bynoe, Abbott, Stowe, Ollivierre, Dasantos, Families of Bequia. Not forgetting the Tannis, Dewars, Snagg, Kydd in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, United Kingdom, USA and wherever a family member is located.

First, we have to thank God for health and strength and for the breath of air we breathe. We are still on the land of the living with a roof over our heads, clothes to wear and a song of praise in our mouth. This is truly a great day for us to remember and be very thankful. Last weekend our families in Canada celebrated their Thanksgiving day, and on 27th of this month, we celebrate our Independence of 38 years in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We have a lot to be thankful for and to God for bringing us to this junction of self-rule.

There are much to be done and will take some time, yet many things that were done have been neglected and will take many years to restore and make the necessary improvement to meet the standards of the 21st century.

We have to look into our political system and decide if the two-party system is working in the interest of every citizen in the Nation. This system has become very corrupt over the last 30 years and has caused a divide in the country we called the homeland. There is no proper example from our elders and the younger people are very good at emulating the bad spin-off effects.

We know that a house divided within itself will not stand and the family that prayers together stays together. Here is where the church needs to get involved and with the Authority given by the Lord Jesus Christ call on the Nation to repent and get back to its first love. Oftentimes I wonder if there is still any hope left for the church to carry out its mandate given by the Father? The message to us is to repent and the nation can be saved in the fullness of time.

My family near and far let us as an individual do our part and leave the remainder to our Lord. All injustice will be met with a fiery dart and God will destroy whatever is the hindrance. Our children have taken a different path and at times seems like they are on the road to no return. I remembered being raised by the community in Southside, Bequia where every adult played an important role in my life. I am still grateful for their input.

People like Aunt Faith, Aunt Gussy, Cousins Rhoda, Vida, Avis, Tina, Veda, Aunt Bell, Uncle Bones, George, Walford, Greshum, Dalton, Stephen Derrick, Claude Hazell, Uncle “Second”, mammy Ada, uncle Clemmie and cousin Doreen, cousin Virggie and aunt Sydna, and I can go on to name everyone in southside.

Those were the days need to e reintroduced in Bequia for this new generation when respect was the norm on the Island. Where the teachers played a role in children lives in and out of school. Where discipline was the # 1 element in raising a child.

The older folks look around to make sure no children were in sight before they curse, where men opened the doors for the ladies, stood still in honour of a passing funeral, where men were men and boys were and should be boys. Where ministers of the church were respected and everyone looked up to the police as their role model. Where the district nurse was the only lifeline in the community and was on call 24 hours a day. The cemetery was a sacred place and how I long to see those days again where children were well protected by the adults.

There were the times as children sneaking into areas like “mango season” to get the first ripe one from the tree and there was a lookout for the owner. Oh, boy, you didn’t want to be caught in “mother’s mango range”, “Shortcut” or up in “Gutter”. You had to know your escape route. Just to sit back and remember those days will make you want to go back in time. Who remembered “Leon valley”? It used to be fun there on Saturday mornings.

God we long to get back to the place where the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines was a safe place to live, where asking for what you need was not a problem, but to steal was not accepted in the community. Where politicians were our servants and not our bosses. God make St. Vincent and the Grenadines a safer place for all to live. Have a nice day.