No brother’s keeper

Imagine walking through Bourda Market on a bright Sunday morning. The vendors are busy as the customers are selecting from the wide variety. There are some bargains but still most of the prices remind the people of the rising cost of living.

But within the hustle and bustle of Bourda on a Sunday morning – this feeling where we know we are at home and we love this part of our culture, chaos erupts.

A young man is accosted by other young men. They assault him. He calls for help and one would imagine that in a packed market like Bourda on a Sunday morning, that not only shoppers, but vendors also would assist him. But no. They are allowed to rob him and make their escape. And the woman from whom I heard this story only a few minutes after it happened, is left visibly shaken. So upset and frightened that she could not complete her shopping but opted to return home. Immediately I started thinking about what my movements would be when I visit the market henceforth. I concluded that I needed to be more careful. In a society where we should feel safe, we often must adjust our actions while those who make life uneasy perhaps experience a freer form of freedom by living on the edge.