Donation Nation

10th October 2024

We’re told the minimum wage in Barbados is $10 that’s approximately £4 or $5 US. The cost of living is high, certainly things cost at least that of the UK and often higher. Most things have to be imported.

The economy is heavily reliant on tourism with the service sector being the biggest employer. There is a small sugar industry, much diminished from its heyday. A small cotton industry produces a successful crop. Rum is huge …obviously it’s part of life. Un-employment is currently about 7%. We have often wondered how people survive far less thrive.

Our new cleaner tells us she has a friend who has just moved home so is in need of everything. We spend the morning resorting all our chucking from yesterday, and put aside things that she might find useful. We size all the sheets and fold all the voile curtains.

We stuff the boot of the car and go off on another adventure to up the centre of the Island to find Donation Nation. Barbados’ island charity shop. All gratefully received. We will be back.

Then we battled the rush hour traffic back up country to the frogs, fireflies and setting sun.