Coming out of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture, we all sat, and spoke of the issues that are plaguing the sector and possible solutions.We dressed nicely; three piece suits, huge grins, full stomachs as we came to talk 'agriculture'. We left the Conference Centre feeling good about ourselves and whatever contributions we made. As I reflected on the discussions had I asked myself of all these participants; Is this just a career? A job? Gainful employment? For the ordinary man in the street is still going without food to eat while we retire to our lavish four+ star hotels, with mini bars and fresh fruit. And I pondered on the question whether or not we truly care. I met a frail, young man of fifteen years hustling a meal. Not money, but a meal. One that he can share with his grandmother and little brother and this made my heart sink.
On Thursday 17th October, we at the University of the West Indies held a Candle Light Vigil to "unite against hunger, malnutrition and poverty". I attended. I attended because somewhere in my world, in my hemisphere, my region, my country, there is someone who is counting on me to find a solution to bring them out of their misery. Sadly though, in a university of more than 15,000 students not even 100 persons attended the function. In an institution that caters to and equips the youth of today to change the world we live, many still do not recognize the need to care.
Someone somewhere is hungry. Someone somewhere is malnourished. Someone right here, wants us to put to action all the fancy ideas that we have and bring about a change.
As we sound the call, we draw the Trumpet Bush.
we can only do what we can. now we have the ideas and the chance to make a difference in our own little patch of heaven, lets do it.
ReplyDelete"Someone somewhere is hungry. Someone somewhere is malnourished" Understandable, but Poverty goes way beyond hunger, if that 15 yr old is successful @ hustling a meal daily 4 his Grandmother & lil bro, will he be out of the poverty bracket....... are sanitation, clothing, shelter, health care or education to be forgotten??? it all starts with education... knowledge is power... teach a man to fish JBBHB :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts on the topic. I agree with you, poverty does extend farther that food on a table, and we need to put support systems in place that addresses the issue of poverty holistically. I guess the way we categorized poverty, perhaps need some restructuring.
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