I cannot describe the pride and joy of standing next to Cortez Callender from the Police Band as a youngster playing clarinet and getting goose bumps trying to emulate his playing of the melodic runs in Cavalry Brigade or his complete mastery of Pack She Back, Brown Girl or Matilda.
Looking back on those years, first as a cadet rising within the ranks and then as a member of the Zouave Band, the experience made my Independence very memorable and the sense of patriotism it engendered seemed surreal. Cortez Callender retired this year from the Police Band after 52 years of service and therefore will not be participating in this year’s parade.
Left to me and if he was willing, I would give him the opportunity to be the Parade Director of the Mass Band as an appreciation of his long service to Barbados.
In this our 50th year of Independence, I cannot help but reminisce about the ‘good ole days’ but I also feel compelled not to wallow in what once was. There is a deep sense in me to want to take pride in what Barbados has been able to achieve but one still has a very strong nagging sense that better must be done today, otherwise that pride may very well be misplaced.
Anthony Walrond, if you don’t know him, is a local songwriter who has penned a calypso entitled A Golden Jubilee which represents an Ode to the Taxpayer. It hasn’t received much airplay on the radio stations but I feel compelled to share the lyrics of his composition with you and hope that perhaps you may share in the sentiments he has expressed.
Verse one
50th Anniversary Independence Celebration
For you the dignitary with a special invitation
Did they reserve a seat for you up in the front row?
With the pompous and the elite for the ceremony and show.
Someone the ushers had missed,
For there was an empty spot
When they check the guest list,
It was you they forgot
Who should receive any tribute paid
for the best national contribution made
It is you, it is you, it is you
Who is it time and time again, stop the economy gine down the drain
It is you, it is you, it is you
Who is the country’s greatest asset,
To raise revenue and to pay out debt
To replenish Treasury funds,
Cover up them overruns
It is you, it is you, it is you
If anyone truly deserves,
Honours for these 50 years served
And respect long over due
Taxpayer it is you
It is you, it is you, it is you, it is you
Verse 2
Our Golden Jubilee, an appropriate celebration
Of an epic winding journey, down the hard road as a nation
Our leaders just like Moses headed for the promised land,
With no guide to their bed of roses, only footprints in the sand.
Politicians steady and good, they arrived on the shores
Only then they understood, all those footprints were yours.
Who gave him all that confidence,
To go and demand Independence
It is you, it is you, it is you
And gave him all the faith he did need
to make ambitious programmes succeed
It is you, it is you, it is you
For example, education free
Now cut back up there at UWI
National Insurance Scheme and no one supporting me
It is you, it is you, it is you
Other leaders emulate the Skipper of ship of State
Who made up their tireless crew
Taxpayer, It is you
It is you, it is you, Taxpayer, it is you
Verse 3
50th Anniversary, an affordable celebration
Of sacrifice and bravery, by the builders of this nation.
On faith and trust it was founded, pillars never to be shaken
And workers by whom it was grounded, should never be forsaken
Like an anniversary pardon, grant them a little gift
An ease in the tax burden, the nation’s spirit will lift
Who feeling the loss of spending power, though we didn’t devalue we dollar
It is we, it is we, it is we
Land, income, NIS and VAT,
tipping solid waste who absorbing that?
It is we, it is we, it is we
These questions for Ministers ask
Who paid pensioners in the past?
And this golden 7 mil and
10 percent members back pay bill?
It is we, It is we, It is we
50 Barbados who gine cheer
Hip pip… Hip hip hooray
And launch their 5 year Jubilee
Taxpayer, it is we, it is we, Taxpayer it is we
Calypsos and their lyrics have a way of capturing the essence of Bajans and so with these few words, I wish you and your family and very Happy Independence.
(Ryan Straughn is an UWI Cave Hill and Central Bank of Barbados-trained economist who is the endorsed Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate for Christ Church East Central at the next general election. Email: straughn.ryan@gmail.com)
