Learn from the misfortune of others

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - SOME of the comments made following the passage of Tropical Storm Chantal were disturbing, to say the least. That system, which passed about 45 miles north of Barbados last Tuesday, did not do any damage to the island and most Barbadians were relieved that we were spared once again from the adverse weather conditions. But there were those among us who felt there was no need to close down the country, as the predicted path of Chantal would have taken it away from our shores. They said too much was made of an insignificant system given the wind speed of 40 miles an hour. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that some Barbadians have resorted to such comments and behaviour when similar events – like taking extra precautions and closing down the country – were done in previous years with the likely passage of a hurricane or storm.