We remember the Roman Empire as being way ahead of its time in engineering feats.
The water delivery and disposal systems are still a wonder of the world although that empire fell in 476 AD.
How did they do it?
Of course, it helped to have been a world ruling power. Money, taxes, expertise, flowed into pagan Rome from all corners, all dominions and the empire invested.
Papal Rome did not miss a beat. Its money flowed in on highways of blood, fear and intimidation for, by then, religion was the cornerstone of the world’s economy.
The recent rains in BVI have told us that we cannot continue to do the same things and expect a different result.
And what we have done since the 1980s is dilute the development budget by making every ministry of government a ministry of works and we judge the success of our representatives and ministers on the quantity of concrete they place in the ground and the number of light poles and retaining walls erected.
That is unfortunate.
Perhaps the time has come for our governments to be united with everyone claiming the success of the whole. That way, the current, scarce resources can be directed where they are most needed.
In today’s BVI, they are needed to address infrastructural issues.
We are embarrassed by the Territory’s state of decline. We can point fingers but that accomplishes nothing. We would rather that our governments stop being so partisan and put the community’s experts to work.
Of course, there will always be a place for family and friends for they too may be experts, this being a small community.
We saw the area behind the Administration Complex that the Premier is transforming to hold his music festival. It is beautiful!
If he can do such wonders in such a short time with that site, imagine what he can do with a similar resolve for the territory’s infrastructure.
About the state of the Territory, even our visitors and business affiliates say that it is deplorable.
Can our Premier be a visionary; An H. Lavity Stoutt? Did we need a college; A central Administration Complex; A dual carriage way? A Social Security Scheme? Lavity thought so and fought for them despite the severe criticisms and opposition.
Do we need a government run music festival regardless of public opinion? The Premier thinks so and is pressing on. In any case, King Solomon remarked that to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
Now the question is, will the Premier, as he asked us to witness, ‘allow God to work through (him)’ for the good of the Territory?
If he does, BVI will not see the hand that Belshazzar saw. But we tremble.
However, for now, we agree with Freddy Mercury: “(His) show must go on.” And the Territory waits patiently for its show, a solid infrastructure of which we can all be justly proud.
Fridays give us the opportunity to opine on the condition of the ship of state.
Happy Friday!