Taking our country back, community by community

I am not saying that rural villages are perfect but the cooperative and caring attitude that is seen in our village is something that every village should aspire to achieve.

While we face transportation problems and horrible infrastructure, in this instance, I am viewing the glass as being half full rather than half empty.

As human beings in this "modern world" we tend to criticise those who live in "de old time days." In some instances, however, it might not be a bad idea to go right back to basics.

How many of us can stand by a window and "hail out" the neighbour. . . as a matter of fact how many of us know our neighbours? That is why I believe that some who live in rural areas like Tabaquite are quite blessed. They have stuck to this aspect of "de old time days" and continue to communicate in person rather than picking up a telephone (which is unreliable in any case) or sending an e-mail to a neighbour.

While it is true that crime is horrendous everywhere, in the rural areas there is no need to hire personal security since we are indeed our neighbour’s keepers.

When the meal of the day at your house includes things like "karili" or "baigan", that you may not like, you can just take a trot next door via the track at the side of your house to your neighbour’s house and see what’s cooking there. If that doesn’t suit the taste buds then you can always go to another neighbour’s house. At the end of the day you must find something that you enjoy eating. Who knows maybe your neighbour may enjoy what your mother cooked so you can always "swap" food. Sounds weird doesn’t it? Well in the village this is quite normal.

No hired babysitters are necessary since you can just drop off your children for your neighbour "to watch" and rest assured that they will be well taken care of by "aunty" this or that.

This has led to children feeling as though neighbours are like family and they always show respect to their neighbours.

In communities like this, a child’s parents are not the only persons who can correct a child and set him on the right path. A neighbour or villager can do it too.

This is desperately needed in this country. Children should not be brought up with the attitude that if you are not his parent you do not have the right to correct him.

This is why most teachers are disrespected and this is why there is no respect for those in authority. Just take a look at what is happening in our nation’s schools. It is due to the lack of a community acting like an extended family. Communities need to act like extended families in the lives of children. Children must be taught the "long time" rules that we know. The rule "respect your elders" is quite important and should be a rule that every parent teaches his child.

In our village we of course purchase our food, but when farmers reap their produce, they share with their neighbours first and then they go out to sell.

They know when hardship is at the doorstep, their neighbours will be the ones who stand up for them and in most cases help them out.

Neighbours can be trusted, particularly in Tabaquite. One can leave a neighbour to look after your home and pets and go away for a long vacation and return to find everything just as you left it.

You can also send anyone "in de shop" to purchase an item and you will be sure to get the item with your correct change.

Neighbours in the rural areas are so trustworthy that some folks would send to play "play whe" and win and they would receive their correct winnings. Apart from cooperation and proper communication, honesty among villagers is quite important.

In rural areas neighbours are close knit and understand each other’s problems and it keeps them so close that causing each other distress or harm would never cross their minds.

So when we talk about taking our country back community by community, we should automatically think about reintroducing some of the old time values and we should look to some of our rural communities for examples.

They hold the solution in this case, believe me.