My word, what a day that was in the garden. A ‘gang’ of three men arrived bearing ropes, axes and goodwill and declared they had come to cut down the very tall coconut tree which has been pelting all and sundry with its fruit. Great strapping lads, they had perpetual smiles on their faces, and were not a bit put out when I said I couldn’t give them an idea how much the job was worth to them. They had to wait until it was done, and the damage assessed. It took them three-and-a-half hours. Little damage was done, and they cleaned up as you would expect three youngsters to clean up. Afterwards we sat down in the garden with a bottle of anti-freeze and four glasses and talked. About how long they had known me. About the jobs they had done for my wife and myself. Nice young men who were satisfied with what they were paid for the job. I had scores of coconuts from the tree, a gallon or two of coconut water, and plenty of coconut for the cook up. Brooms were made from the leaves, and the remainder was burnt. A successful half day’s work. Repairs had to be done, and everything had to be carried outside and stacked neatly and then the lawn repaired. In a few days it had all been done. The stump of the tree was still in the ground and right beside it was a three-year-old coconut tree. I intended to leave the stump in the ground and allow it to rot. It also provided a home for a multitude of small creatures.
There is always a conflict in deciding just how much development is enough and how much is too much. It is natural that the driving force for development is money. It has little to do with the welfare of the people of the interior or the people on the coast. Eco-tourism is the present name of the game, and if eco-tourism takes off who knows where it will all end. In Peru the very future of Macchu Picchu is in jeopardy because of the highly successful eco-tourist drive, and someone in Peru has got to call a halt to it or Macchu Picchu will crumble away. But who will dare do it? Our own Kaieteur falls into the category of a site of special scientific interest. It is awe inspiring because it is remote and relatively undeveloped. It is an airstrip with just a few buildings. A stopping place on the way to other places. There are no five-star hotels, special viewing platforms or runway development. Eco-tourism will demand facilities for foreign visitors; more and better air traffic control; better and safer viewing areas; better disposal of litter. It gives me a headache just to think about it. And just for a US dollar. The world should pay to keep such places totally inaccessible. Politicians will say that control will be manageable, but they just really have no idea.
Meanwhile back to earth. Take great care of your collection of plants and yourselves, and may your God go with you.
