I was happy to read that Prestige Holdings Ltd reached out to the people of Real Spring in Valsayn with boxes of KFC. Regrettably, Prestige Holdings Ltd failed to extend the same courtesies to the people of Bamboo No 2. I guess Prestige Holdings Ltd would know who their better customers are!
I am still awaiting the arrival of Living Water Community and Feel in Valsayn South. These two institutions of the Catholic Church have always reached out to the East West Corridor when it is under social distress. This flood in Bamboo N0 2 provides an opportunity to these welfare arms of the Roman Catholic Church to expand their outreach and if they cannot do so now, I hope they would be available when the next disaster comes around!
While I commend the social outreach of Seva TT, I cannot help but observe that its choice of meal for victims of natural disasters is Subway sandwiches. I am beginning to wonder if SevaTT is more about a public relations campaign for Subway than engaging in Seva. Are the dietary habits of the people of these floods prone communities being compromised- shifting from roti and doubles to subway? This is a huge marketing breakthrough for Subway! Congrats to Seva TT!
These Subway sandwiches are costing $15 dollars each; not free of charge. It may be heavily discounted, but do we need to direct our donations to Subway when that money can be directed to our mandirs where scores of volunteers are already engaged in preparing and serving meals free of charge to victims of floods.
Only yesterday the Bamboo No 1 Mandir prepared meals and served the Bamboo No 2 community. Is that not the spirit of volunteerism that should be encouraged? Learning of this disaster, the management made available some cash and others prepared the meals and distributed them to the affected families.
Our mandirs have the cooking facilities, the cooks and other volunteers and it is time that they are recognized and empowered. For SevaTT to be appealing to doners to purchase Subway sandwiches and not recognizing the kitchens in the mandirs is to be ignorant of the social reality on the ground. The truth is that some communities are unmindful of those who live or drown but are only interested in their purchases. This brings me back to Prestige Holdings Ltd. How can this company be so blatant in reaching out to one community while ignoring a neighboring community that is worse affected by the flood?
I would not be surprised that some people are finding joy in the disaster that struck Bamboo No 2, the foreign used car and parts capital of the English- speaking Caribbean. I recalled the vicious ‘Bamboo-car’ campaign to denigrate and ridicule this industry but thankfully it has endured. Those who may wish to think that this industry would be knocked out by a flood is going to be disappointed. The industry is going to rebound and expand tenfold.
I hope that the residents of the communities affected by floods are now aware of who are their friends and would respond accordingly. To ignore threats and discrimination against your community is like trying to live with Covid 19; the result is certain death. It is time to be aware of who are your friends. It is time to draw the line and take a side!
