are we there yet?

I feel like blogging today. I don't know why the expression "are we there yet?" played on my mind, because, honestly, I don't know where I am going with this, but I know that something will come forward. Last week I was mildly surprised to find that the Independence Square tourist guide identifier was back in place. I am not knocking anybody or anything, and I am not going to be funny or sarcastic, just realistic, keeping it as real as I can be, and not bringing any politics here either. So the Independence Square sign is finally back in place. Was it last month the news broke that some foreign agency gave us about $380K to fix up the Square for Independence, two months away? You know we work best under pressure so I expect the usual last minute dash to completion.

I wonder if this signage is part of the $380K? SK is unique and it is not impossible for a sign like this to take 5-years to make, and come back here. I am sure that the Craft House could have made, paint, print and install this signage inside a week, but it look like somebody had to sabotage the Square Signage for 5-years. I am also hoping that the Brimstone Hill Canon that disappeared from the Port Zante tourist entrance might be there in time for for the next tourist season, even though it ain't gone the 5-years disappearing act as yet.

Lest you feel that I am on people's case, be assured that I am not. I take snaps of my beloved country, and wish to see it in its ultimate beauty, its most pleasing view to our visitors and tourists. It is unfortunate that some people cannot appreciate SKN and what we must do to enhance the little that we have, for the public good. We have an abundance of skill and talent in SKN, but it look like some force[s] trying to kill SKN from the inside out. 5-years to make a signboard for the Square? Please!!! Then I can't even read the sign's inscriptions without my glasses from 10-feet away. I don't know who made the sign, and it is better that what I could do, but I think it could be better for SKN. Please do not get upset with me. I believe that I have a right to express what I feel, in relation to what I see in my SKN, especially, all that is in the public domain. I am not an 'engineering expert' but we are all tamarind tree experts, and who have a problem with that, go suck on a tamarind.

I have a plan to visit the Square daily to capture the $380K upgrade, and to capture the Square before the upgrade begins. I am anxious to see how the "new" Square will look, with the digital lights, and maybe close circuit cameras, to see who picking off the flowers and maybe to foil the alleged 'ladies of the night'. You have to admit that SKN is coming a big city Country, and have to move like one. I really hope that nobody borrow the lights and the flowers from the Square. The park benches still there because they are heavy and unique, and I am hoping that a dozen or more benches would materialize. At about US$15,600.00 that is more than affordable for us, the people of SKN. Of course there are durable but cheaper seating available.

One of the big problems I see in SKN is the lack of the word "maintenance" in our vocabulary. And that can kill us big time. I hope that there is also a maintenance program with the appropriate funding and necessary staff, going forward. If we are serious about tourism the 'support' has to be on board as well. These days 'support' is outsourced, but we have to watch the national unemployment, but possibly someone could have factored the 'pep' into this somewhere. I am on the sideline watching, and we can see better than some of those involved, but the thinking is that the tamarind tree people don't know anything because the school of hard knocks ain't give them any degree. Nuff respect to the folks with recognized degrees. We love you all, but you must still listen to the common folks.

I  feel a little lighter now, so maybe I take a walk into the City and visit the Square, capture some images before they are lost forever. Can you imaging what the square could look like with those digital lights? wow!!!  I wonder if when a couple sit under 'a light' and clap their hands, if the lights would dim and go soft for a 10-minutes or so. I wonder if we may ever have to pay a toll to visit the Square, under the guise of upkeep and maintenance? I wonder if the resident visitors will use the disposal bins provided at the exits, rather than eat and drop the Styrofoam containers and the plastic cola bottles under the benches? I wonder if the park attendants are ready to keep the Square spic and span, 24x7, and to summon and lock up those of us who wish to make the Square look like a 'hog' pen? There will be challenges ahead for this 'new' look Independence Square, and I hope we the residents are ready to handle them.

I am tired of having to abort images in the Square because it is untidy, unclean and unsightly, but it seems that as we make 30-years, all that will change, and it is more than time enough. If we can appreciate what we have and modify the mindset, and get the whole of SKN on that highway, not lane, we and our tourism can be set for 2013-2014 and see somethings significant in our output. We must also be aware that there are the discordant few among us, those who just want to kill everything while shooting themselves in their own foot. Nothing new, every country has them, just pray that our few would get wiser and turn away from their wicked ways.

So we ain't there yet, but we hope to be in the not to distant future.