Maya T Forrester’s Weblog

This one should be rather brief.

I pride myself on being one of those people who invest just about enough effort in being informed. By informed, I mean to the degree that if the world around me was turning into mush, I’d know about it. I try to stay away from discussing politics, but I’m always down to listen to the mindless babble of politicians.

DISCLAIMER: I believe in freedom of speech but I don’t believe that speech is free.

Yesterday I was listening to the Minister of Agriculture’s delivery on the food crisis that Jamaica is facing . Forgive me, I was listening in intervals. However, in his satirical hem and hawing, what struck my attention was his suggestion of the implementation of an “Urban Backyard Programme”. Awwwww. Here’s an excerpt form today’s Gleaner:

Another initiative to boost agricultural production is an Urban Backyard Garden Programme, which will be implemented immediately within 400 households in Portmore and Spanish Town, St Catherine.

Initially, selected residents within these communities will be given free of cost a backyard garden kit, developed by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority.

Tufton said that, by planting two cycles of tomato, cucumber, sweet pepper and pak choi, the average household would save some $12,000 annually.

“This Government believes that we must return to the days when householders grew a little something for themselves in their backyards,” said Tufton

If I had been present I would be cheering him on, giving him the “Black Power Fist”. If I were American, I would vote for Obama – who wouldn’t? The KKK loves him! And if pigs could fly, the world would be perfect and there would be no more suffering and WE WOULD ALL GET ALONG. Sigh*. Face it, most Jamaican’s aren’t tree-huggers, and most of us don’t have a green thumb…except when it comes to a “certain” crop.

What the Gleaner failed to mention was that Tufton stated that politicians themselves would be participating in this Urban Backyard shindig. YEAH RIGHT. Maybe they can pay someone to do it, or better yet, get their pictures taken in someone else’s Urban Backyard. I’m sorry, but I think that Dr. Tufton might alse end up being lumped in with that bunch of non-participants.

That being said, his intentions are noble and we really do need to take steps towards creating a self-sufficient society. I’m not being a naysayer so I guess I wish him, I MEAN, US the best of luck with that. Maybe they can throw in two chickens and a cow per household as well.