The Lucknow Sentinel, 1978-03-29, Page 9S� Vincent beautiful
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
poor.
In the country most people are
very friendly and seem pleased -to
see you. Little unpainted shacks,
mostly on stilts. Stilts indicate a
squatter; foundations a landown-
er. A common denominator is a
bunch of little black kids, usually
naked. If they are half dressed - it
is the top half. Here and there a
not -so -black little black , one
suggests maybe a white man in
the woodpile.
They have terraced gardens of
fruits and vegetables. When you
see the steepness of the slope's
you know that many of these
people work mighty hard -
without much reward for their
efforts.
Most of the animals I see -
belong to these poor - actually
they own most of the livestock, 5
or 6 hens kept in a shed at night, a
pig tethered under the house. It
eats left overs, rotten bananas,
small fish. A cow and calf, ajoat
or a pair of sheep tethered on a
patch of grass. These animals
provide food or a bit of cash in
time of an emergency.
I don't do any private practice,
even after work hours. When I
charge it goes back into' the
government. In return we have
full-time use of my working
vehicle they supply all the gas
and maintenance. (incidentally
gas is $2.66 a gallon).
60% of the clients can pay
nothing: 20% can pay for the
drugs and the rest can pay a fee,
mileage and drugs. There are no
night calls - in the rural areas the
lights go out when the sun goes
down.
The cost of living is very high -
one wonders how in the world
these people manage - corn flakes.
$4.30, hamburg $3.75 lb., wien-
ers $3.50, carnation milk 95c,
instant coffee, 8 oz. $16.79,
Rum, by the way, is $3.50 for
26 ounces. 'It's the big alcoholic
drink of course. Mary and I went
to a New Year's Eve celebration
at an Inn next door. It is a tourist
resort - "The "Sugar .Mill Inn",
built on the remains of an old
sugar mill. Down here it's called
"The Old Year's Night". Break-
fast is part of the program. You
might consider that for your next
New Year's dance. We stuck it
out till 2.30 but did not make the
breakfast.
The other complication (after
-then-cost of living) isi petty theft.
Mostly money and groceries. We
were warned bht didn't think it
would happen to us. It did twice -
money and the next time grocer-
ies. The lower windows have bars
- now the top ones have barbed
wire and we have a watchdog. Not
very big but what is called a
"Good Watch". Some are biters,
some are barkers and some are
biter barkers. She belongs to the
last class. A neighbour gave her
to us. He'll take her -back when
we leave.
Unemployment runs some-
where between 40 and 60%, so
there is bound to be .stealing.
That is probably the saddest thing
about . St. Vincent - there are
many .who want to work but there
are no jobs for them.
As far as I know I'm the only
white person in the Ministry of
Agriculture. Apparently there
was a shake-up in this ministry
about 4 or 5 months ago - part of a
drive to improve the lot of the
farmer and increase food produc-
tions. There are now somevery
fine people in it - who are really
trying to help their country. I'm
responsible to the Chief Agricul-
ture Office and his deputy. They
STARTING NEXT WEEK
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•••404040••••••
.and the Chief Livestock Officer,
with whom I work with a lot are
very fine people. They work very
hard and they have a big variety
of problems.
Some of the politicians like
some of the unemployed are
suspected of being on the sneaky
side. However there are a lot
more people deserving of help
than there are people who are
helping themselves to what
doesn't belong .to them. That is
what makes it interesting and
we're really glad we came.
Possibly you might like to
consider the following as a project
- a $250.00 drug order plus air
freight, which could easily be $70
or $80.
The problem here is this. The
veterinary budget is just about
gone, We don't get anymore
money until July. We've been
promised an increased budget
then. Also I'm applying to
C.I.D.A. to help with a consider-
able supply of basic drugs and
equipment and with funds for a
parasite control program if we get
this we'll be in good shape.
However at the best we are
going to be practically out of
supplies in about a couple .of
months. Already on a couple of
occasions I've had to say "sorry
but we've nothing to treat that
with".
Your contribution would be a
big help - and a lot of needy
people would benefit because of
it. It would fill in a bad gap.'
If you decide to do this you
might consider it as a contribution
to "St. Vincent's efforts to
increase food production".
Here would be how to do it. Do
not send the money, It.would...get
..
all tied up in the Treasury
Branch. I'll write a letter to Mr.
Tom Carroll, Armitage -Carroll
Ltd., 1025 Hargrieve Road,
London, Ont. I'll explain what is
going on. Then on your instruc-
tions they ship it out and bill you
for it. They'll send us both,
invoices. This is a small
Canadian Vet. Supply company
and are very good to deal with.
Please consider this request on
what you believe are its merits
and not as a personal request
from me.
Best wishes to all,
Brock.
P.S. Visitors would be welcome.
I'll report again regardless of
your decision.
Brock.
Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, Mar. 29, 1978 --Page 9
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