Rafikki in ‘The Lion King’ told Pumbaa, “Look beyond what you see.”

We saw Covid coming towards the BVI for weeks and we were still not as prepared as we should have been. It hardly mattered that the bodies were piling up in its wake.

We listened to politicians speak alternative truths although the naked truth was well known; And there were no repercussions.

We witnessed the cruelty, suffering and death that results from war and we, momentarily, remembered Shaka Zulu; His preference for ‘social and propagandistic political methods’ although the brutality of his war tactics made him notorious.

We do not know where the American president is taking the world; Speaking about sovereign nations as if they were not even entitled to their own sovereignty once fingered by such might and power as he possesses.

The fourth estate keeps us abreast of his tariffs that will likely disrupt the existing global economic model and threaten the very survival of small island states that already have their own, significant, worries with climate change.

So, we fly immediately to Maslow’s pyramid; Away from the higher order needs and to its base where the physiological needs reside; Food, water, warmth, rest, safety, security; And, primarily, we wonder about food.

Will food security in the Territory ever become more than words in political speeches? As tariffs are applied, shipping costs rise and food prices, which change daily and are already in the stratosphere, settle at even more unreachable heights, what does the working (wo)man do to support the family?

For now, we depend on Dominica, St Vincent and Dominican Republic to help to ease the assault from the supermarket shelves. But if things really go south, ‘home drums will beat first’ and those exports to us will stop.

We are disappointed although not surprised that our newly minted market sells more trinkets and cooked food than fruits and vegetables. We saw a similar occurrence when we attended the agricultural fair last month.

We do not produce food as we used to and although we talk about getting into agriculture in a big way, when Hon Omar Hodge brought the opportunity with his green houses, the BVI farming community fought against it with all its might.

We never reaped as much as a single tomato despite the millions of dollars spent. Hurricane Irma, mercifully, rescued us from our folly and destroyed the green houses.

And then there was fishing:

But in that arena, the government has undermined the ability of the fishermen to ply their trade.

In March 2023, enforcement was beefed up. About 20 scuba-fishermen are directly affected. These were mainly the same people whom Hon. Omar Hodge as Fisheries Minister granted the ability to continue to work.

But that was taken away and since then, the government claims to be doing its best to get them back into the water.

The blame is laid at the door of AG Chambers. Fox, in ‘The Sick Lion,’ noted that the footsteps of the animals were seen to be going into the lion’s den with none coming out.

A Junior Minister, his Consultant, A Premier and others, extended a hand to help but do not seem to be able to get past the might of Chambers.

Perhaps ‘Chambers’ should be on the ballot to be held accountable since they affect our lives and livelihood so deeply.

But they are not alone.

The technocrats are fiercely opposed, even without scientific data to support their position. They have created delay tactics that ultimately led the fishermen, nowhere.

Meanwhile, other nations in their large fishing trawlers rape our fishing grounds with impunity and never a word is said about that. Where are the technocrats then? Where is Chambers? Can they only be cannibals at home?

It has now been 2 years that everyone has been claiming to be trying to help these fishermen but no one has offered them any relief to assist with feeding their families.

And to compound their injury, the Hon. Dr. Dawson, who stood with them, is relieved of his position as Junior Minister for Agriculture so, the fishermen are adrift without chart, compass or companion.

Their plight hardly concerns those whose bread is sure and who occupy the higher rungs of Maslow’s pyramid while they (the fishermen) struggle to exist at the base.

But it may all become moot with the tariffs and a tumbling stock market that has lost almost 10 trillion in value since 20th January. 90% of our tourism business comes from the US and if American families must reconsider their budgets, discretionary travel will likely be the first casualty.

So, many of us may be forced to join the bread line alongside the fishermen.

Follow the game.

Follow it on Fridays.

Happy Friday!