By Francis Quamina Farrier

Accompanying and embellishing this feature article of mine, is the photograph of a dartboard. As you look at it, you will observe five darts stuck into the board’s surface. Two blue ones and two yellow ones, are on the lower portion of the board. The fifth dart – another yellow one – is on the bull’s eye. It was an effort of mine in which I was trying for perfection in dart throwing. It’s never too late to keep on trying at anything you desire to perfect. The darts seen on the dartboard, were all thrown by me from just four paces away.

The dart which I got to the bull’s eye was no fluke but rather an achievement after careful study as to why I was previously missing the mark, and the darts getting so low on the board. I realised that I was aiming directly for the bull’s eye.

So, after thinking carefully as to why I was failing so badly, I realised that I ought to aim my throws higher; and so, I did. The result was a bull’s eye hit, after which I took the photograph. I felt a sense of achievement. A sense of joy, in that simple act of achievement. Getting that dart on my 2022 Christmas Dartboard gift, lifted me onto cloud nine, as if by a super-power helicopter. As that song of long-ago states, “Little Things Mean a Lot” so some small achievements can sometimes elevate you as that other popular song states; “You Raise Me Up.”

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

No doubt, you are now expecting me to reveal what were my New Year Resolutions for 2023. So sorry to disappoint. I do not make New Year Resolutions. What I do, is make them anytime of the year, as the need arises. For example, I have been toying with the idea for decades of lobbying for the reopening of Lot 12 Camp Street in Georgetown.

I do not refer to the Georgetown Prison itself, but to that Lot 12 block of Camp Street in Georgetown, which has been closed off to vehicular traffic for decades. Some years ago, I posed that question to then Police Commissioner, Henry Greene, who explained that the closure was for security measure. Maybe a review of that “security measure” would be made again. Just consider how many extra gallons of petrol have been used by vehicles which have to make that detour over the years.

THE THEATRICALS OF PRISON ROOF-TOP DEMONSTRATIONS
The era of the prison roof-top demonstrations can be recalled, when prisoners would climb to the rooftop of the Georgetown prison, overlooking Durban Street, and shout their many grievances to the public. That attracted many citizens who reacted to the demonstrations as being theatrical. However, it was the resolve of the imprisoned men. That stopped when the prison authorities made their own resolution to plug the way to the rooftop.

The issue of the prison being relocated has been on the table for many years. Which begs the question; When will the prison be removed from that block of the city? Will the relevant authority make a New Year resolution about that? Experts have advised that the prison should be relocated outside the confines of “The Garden City” of Georgetown. The recommended new location which was given, was somewhere off the Soesdyke/Linden highway.

The city block in which the prison has been occupying for over 150 years could then be utilised for a much better and purposeful Government project(s). However, it is up to the relevant authorities to make such a decision, but by first making a resolution.

This much is the hope on a personal level; that in weeks, or maybe months ahead, I will perfect my dart throwing skill, in a similar way you will also perfect your chosen field. And that may be no New Year resolution.