The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune. SINCE time immemorial, there have been rumours of unusual practices and behaviour in the straw market. There have been strange and unusual scents witnessed and experienced by others to be directed to or concentrated around the stalls they operate, when they did not put it there. These practices have been happening for donkey's years. Stories have it that the successful vendors have encountered this and suspected that the haters or the lazy ill-prepared vendors may have been the perpetrators. But what is so mysterious is that all of these women are from "over the hill," many who also profess to be Christians and some even are ordained ministers/pastors. In fact, the higher up in the church they are, the more trouble caused. Why can't they just get along? How come a group of black women, all working toward a common goal co-exist. What would it take for the "black crab" syndrome to die? Who is working feverishly to keep it alive? What is there to gain from keeping the atmosphere negative? I would hate to believe that there are some that continues to nurture the practice of witchcraft/obeah while under the false pretences of being a Christian. All vendors have a right to work in an environment where they do not have to worry about a fellow vendor setting out to intentionally make anyone else uncomfortable. This practice must die a natural death because, the ones who are guilty, if in fact these rumours are true, must be banished from being around civilised, sensible people. I dare say that the troublemakers should not be given permission to be in the new Straw Market. It is these people, if they exist, who have caused the market to not live up to its full potential. Stevie Wonder succinctly said, "Very superstitious, you believe in things you don't understand and you suffer." Sensible vendors and true believers must remember that "there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Time to clean up the attitude and behaviour of the people who meet and greet our tourists. The dirty people who practice filth must remain with their kind, not in the market. The stigma of the market being a place where evil exists must be a thing of the past, in Jesus name, Amen! IVOINE W. INGRAHAM Nassau, December 4, 2011.