DEATH OF AN ISLAND

Look at their hand
They wear a wristband,
Unwittingly contributing
To the death of an island.

Don't you see what you're doing?
One day you'll be ruing
The beauty of choice, having no voice,
With the death of an island.

Can't you see?
All inclusive
To the locals exclusive,
Taking their living
To Multinationals giving
This is out of hand
The death of an island.

The locals
They suffer
As they try to give succour,
With food and drink
You should pause to think
About the death of an island.

The restaurants
And the bars
To the taxi drivers cars,
Custom denied
As in the hotel you hide
You are killing the livelihood
Of an island.

Why Barbados?
When you don't see the land
You stay close at hand
To mass produced food,
The culture subdued
You're assisting in the death of an island.

Sprawling hotels
And manicured golf courses
Are stripping the resources,
Crops are no more
Local business closing their door
This is the death knell of an island.

It's all take and no give
The all inclusive,
With your grab all wristband
You could be on any island
Though the local economy
Drains like a sieve.

In my favourite island Barbados
Did the Brazilians give a toss,
When 'The Ship' closed for the last time?
No! They sat round the pool not spending a dime
Only the locals and people like me felt the loss.

Phil Hall  October 2013