Vision … and VISION

Were one to look at things squarely in St. Lucia at this time and judge by appearances, one would have little alternative but to surmise that our situation – especially as it pertains to crime, the economy and the social fabric of the country – has taken a turn for the worse.
If one had any doubts in that regard, by this coming Monday they should be all dispelled, for the Government has declared that day a national day of prayer, so that Almighty God can intercede and give us some assistance – particularly in the above-mentioned areas – in the hope that His omnipotent hand can influence the course of things in this nation and help resolve the many issues that we obviously cannot deal with ourselves.
Upon his passing away, our last Prime Minister Sir John Compton bequeathed unto us his “vision” for the way forward, whereby we could take matters into our hands and make certain that the citizens of this country are provided with an environment where they can always be assured of the ability to earn a decent living.
Without wishing to minimize in any way the importance of this Monday’s agenda, we just cannot avoid remarking that it is apparently because of a “vision” experienced by a lady in whom our present Prime Minister has the utmost confidence, that he has proceeded to establish the “National Day of Prayer” initiative.
Quietly though, another form of “vision”, more akin to the Sir John Compton variety has manifested itself – not within the halls of Government, but in the world of business, and it is an affirmation of confidence in the potential of St. Lucia and a declaration that there is yet hope on the horizon for the people of this country.
The Consolidated Foods Group of Companies has undertaken (and the project is well underway, to be completed by the middle of this year) to open a huge “Mega-J” outlet, to complement its Super-J supermarkets and its Big J wholesale outlet in Cul de Sac.

What makes this action most worthy of note, is that the Chairman of the Group, Mr. Michael Chastanet, is best known in St. Lucia for his business acumen and is most respected as probably the individual who can most clearheadedly foresee the best place in which to invest his dollar.
Arguably, the most successful businessman in St. Lucia … and where business is concerned, a man of great vision. And one cannot argue with success.
By his actions (putting his money where his beliefs are), Mr. Chastanet is demonstrating to the rest of the country that with hard work fortified by a true spirit of entrepreneurship, there is still room in St. Lucia for anyone to embrace success … and that all may not be as dismal as some may want to believe it to be.
The moral? By all means, take time off this coming Monday and commune with your Creator in order to seek strength and emotional solace to fortify yourself against the day to day struggles that lie ahead.
But as of Tuesday, get yourself up, gird your loins and prepare to toil in the fields, the factories, the hotels, the small business that you are in the process of opening, so that we may ameliorate our lot and put this country back on a footing where our economy is once more on a positive trend,
never forgetting that one of the first stipulations made to us by the Almighty when we were put out of the Garden into this world to see after our own affairs was His decree: “By the sweat of thy brow, thou shalt eat bread.”
With honest sweat and the right kind of vision, we are apt to find ourselves eating more than just bread.